Milwaukee M18 Fuel Circular Saw 2732 Review

We update our initial review 6 years later with new testing data and conclusions!

I remember checking out the newest Milwaukee tools at their 2018 New Product Symposium (now called Milwaukee Pipeline). There, Milwaukee announced the “Next Breakthrough.” They released a series of M18 Fuel tools that took advantage of their 12 Ah High Output battery and large frame motors, producing more power. One of those products was the Milwaukee M18 Fuel 7-1/4 inch circular saw (model 2732). Given the Makita XSR01 rear-handle saw and DeWalt having both a sidewinder and worm drive style saw on their FlexVolt platform, I wanted to know exactly where the Milwaukee M18 Fuel circular saw fit.

Key Features

Milwaukee isn’t missing anything with their new flagship cordless circular saw unless you’re really hoping for a One-Key version. Whether you’re just trying to keep your workspace cleaner or you’re cutting fiber cement board, the dust port attachment is a nice addition. There’s only one Phillips head screw to remove to swap it in. In our testing, I did notice that you get slightly faster chip ejection (and better performance) if you remove the dust port when not using a dust extractor.

Here’s the entire feature list:

• Blade right sidewinder design
• Brushless motor
• Rafter hook
• Dust port attachment included
• Electric brake
• Magnesium shoe and guards
• LED light
• Cutline blower

Ergonomics

The Milwaukee M18 Fuel Circular Saw is one of the heavier cordless options available, weighing 12.6 pounds with the 12Ah battery and blade. That drops to 11.6 pounds if you use the XC6.0 Forge battery. That’s slightly less than the Makita rear-handle saw (12.7 pounds) and over a pound lighter than DeWalt’s rear-handle saw (13.7 pounds).

For sidewinder comparisons, the Makita GSH01 is nearly 11 pounds loaded with a 5Ah XGT battery, and the DeWalt FlexVolt DCS578 is just over 11.5 pounds. Realistically, the weight isn’t going to hurt your ability to make the majority of your cuts. It might even help stabilize the saw. You may notice it when carrying it around the jobsite.

The handle design and push-down trigger safety are both to my liking, making it a very natural saw to pick up and use without overthinking it.

Battery Options

As an M18 Fuel product, any Milwaukee M18 battery will work in the 2753, but kits typically include 12.0Ah high-output batteries. For even more power, add an XC6.0 Forge battery, and this tool really takes off.

Testing Cutting Speed and Power

The big question is how this saw compares to the other high-performance cordless circular saws available. Our standard speed test is a series of rip cuts through stacked OSB. We pull each saw on a sled using a 10-pound weight attached via a series of pulleys. We follow that up with a full-depth (2-9/16 in.) “bury-the-blade” test on four layers of OSB pulled by a 20-pound weight.

With our benchmark CMT Orange Tools Zero Gravity Xtreme framing blade installed, Milwaukee sets the new speed record with a cut of 10.74 seconds, beating out both the Makita Rear-Handle Saw and FlexVolt Worm Drive Style from DeWalt.

Hands-on Testing Results

After crunching the data, I was able to draw some very interesting conclusions. Our speed test has the saw ripping through two sheets of stacked OSB. This is a power-to-weight ratio test as it doesn’t push the saw to its limit but rather sees how well it performs under a realistic load. The combination of weight and power really affects this test, giving an edge to lighter-weight tools that couple that with sufficient performance. This real-world test saw Milwaukee taking the top spot among more than a dozen competitors.

To gauge true power, we dropped 20 pounds of weight to pull the saws through 4 layers of stacked OSB with the blades fully buried. The Milwaukee churned out sawdust as it cut, making for an excellent time and coming in third place with the Forge battery.

Additional Field Notes

The cutting depth and bevel knobs are easy to lock/unlock and adjust smoothly. The guard action is also very smooth.

Price and Value

Here’s a breakdown of pricing in this class:

• Milwaukee 2732: $199 bare, $399 (kit with 12.0Ah battery)
• FlexVolt DCS575 (Sidewinder): $179 (bare), $379 (kit with two 2.0/6.0Ah batteries)
• Makita XSH06 (Sidewinder): $199.99 (bare), $369.99 (kit with two 5.0Ah batteries)

Given the performance and feature set, Milwaukee’s pricing is right in line. While the Makita rear-handle saw used to stand out as an excellent value in this group, recent price increases have dropped that brand down a notch, in my opinion (Makita prices are often only topped by Hilti these days—and sometimes not even then). As a premium cordless option, Milwaukee offers an excellent value.

The Bottom Line

The Milwaukee M18 Fuel Circular Saw stands out as one of the highest-performing cordless circular saws available against all current competition. That includes Makita’s Rear-Handle and DeWalt’s FlexVolt Worm Drive Style. There aren’t any glaring drawbacks, making it an outstanding choice if you’re in the market for a premium option.

Milwaukee M18 Fuel Circular Saw Specifications

• Model: Milwaukee 2732
• Power Source: M18 RedLithium battery (12.0 Ah High Output included in kit)
• Blade Diameter: 7-1/4″
• No Load Speed: 5800 RPM
• Max Cutting Depth @ 90°: 2-9/16 in.
• Max Cutting Depth @ 45° 1-7/8 in.
• Bevel Capacity: 50°
• Weight: 9.2 lbs with blade, 12.6 lbs with 12Ah battery
• Warranty: 5 years