Comparison · 2026
DeWalt DWE402 vs Milwaukee 2880-20: Angle Grinders Compared
Researched by Dmitrii Pakhomov and Daria Govorina · SavingsHook editorial · Published October 16, 2026
The short answer
Verdict based on specifications, manufacturer documentation and owner reviews. We did not lab-test these products.
| Product | Key specs | Main drawback | Not for |
|---|---|---|---|
| DeWalt DWE402 (4-1/2 in. 11 Amp Corded Angle Grinder with Paddle Switch) | 11 Amp AC/DC motor 11,000 RPM no-load speed 4-1/2 in. (115mm) wheel diameter | No brake or kickback protection; a jammed wheel keeps spinning. | Buyers who need cordless or a brake |
| Milwaukee 2880-20 (M18 FUEL 4-1/2 in./5 in. Brushless Grinder with No-Lock Paddle Switch, Tool Only) | M18 FUEL brushless Wheel 4-1/2 in / 5 in 8,500 RPM | Sold as a bare tool, so battery and charger are extra | Non-M18 owners; heavy daily grinding |
| Makita GA4530 (6 Amp 4-1/2 in. Slim Corded Angle Grinder) | Wheel 4-1/2 in Motor 6 A, 720 W, 120 V Speed 11,000 RPM | 6 Amp motor with no overload protection or soft start | Anyone needing overload protection or soft start |
How we picked these products
We compare product identity, specifications, pros/cons and retailer links. Until approved retailer API access is available, current Amazon price, star-rating and review-count data are not republished here.
Prices at a glance
| Product | Price | Stores |
|---|---|---|
| DeWalt DWE402 (4-1/2 in. 11 Amp Corded Angle Grinder with Paddle Switch) | from $120.50 · Tanner Bolt | 9 stores |
| Bosch GWX10-45PE (4-1/2 in. 10 Amp X-LOCK Ergonomic Angle Grinder with Lock-On Paddle Switch) | Price not listed | 7 stores |
| Makita GA4530 (6 Amp 4-1/2 in. Slim Corded Angle Grinder) | Price not listed | 5 stores |
| Milwaukee 2880-20 (M18 FUEL 4-1/2 in./5 in. Brushless Grinder with No-Lock Paddle Switch, Tool Only) | from $229.00 · SupplyHouse | 5 stores |
| Metabo HPT G12VE2 | from $230.00 · Levi Sink Co | 6 stores |
| Ryobi PCL445B (18V ONE+ Cordless 4-1/2 in. Angle Grinder, Tool Only) | Price not listed | 4 stores |
Prices are snapshots. Check the current price with the store.
The six grinders here run from a 3.1 lb, 6 Amp Makita to a 4.6 lb, 10 Amp Bosch, and only one of them stops the wheel in under two seconds when you let go of the trigger. Corded versus cordless is the other split: four plug in, two run on batteries that are not in the box.
DeWalt DWE402
The DeWalt DWE402 is the 11 Amp corded workhorse: 11,000 RPM no-load, 4-1/2 in wheel on a 5/8"-11 spindle, paddle switch with a lock-on button, one-touch guard that rotates 360 degrees, and Quick-Change release for tool-free wheel swaps. Dust Ejection System and oversized auto-off brushes are DeWalt’s durability pitch. It weighs about 4.3-4.6 lb, runs 12 in long on a 6 ft cord, and carries a 3-year limited warranty with 1-year free service. The trade-off is safety hardware: no brake, no kickback brake, no E-clutch. Owners report years of jobsite use and call the 11 Amp motor more than enough for metal; listings sometimes blur it with the DWE402N, which drops the lock-on button.
Bosch GWX10-45PE
The Bosch GWX10-45PE is a 10 Amp, 11,000 RPM corded grinder whose only real difference is X-LOCK: wheels snap on and release with a lever, no spanner wrench, and Bosch claims changes up to 5x faster. The catch is consumables: X-LOCK wheels cost more and are harder to find in stores, and standard 7/8 in arbor wheels do not fit this mount. It weighs 4.6 lb, measures 11.1 x 5.1 x 4.65 in, and has a multi-grip lock-on paddle with lock-off. There is no variable speed, no overload protection, no kickback control and no electric brake. Warranty is one year.
Makita GA4530
The Makita GA4530 is the light option: 6 Amp, 720 W, 11,000 RPM, 4-1/2 in wheel on a 5/8"-11 spindle, at 3.1 lb and 10-1/2 in long with a 2-1/4 in barrel grip. It has a lock-on slide switch, externally accessible brushes, labyrinth dust sealing, machined bevel gears and a metal gear housing that rotates 90 degrees. Warranty is 1 year. It lacks overload protection, soft start, anti-restart and electronic speed control, which the successor GA4530R adds. Owners and tests are thin for this exact model, so durability claims rest on Makita’s own design and its long track record.
Milwaukee 2880-20
The Milwaukee 2880-20 is the cordless pick: M18 FUEL brushless, 8,500 RPM no-load, rated 11A corded-equivalent, accepting 4-1/2 and 5 in wheels on a 5/8"-11 spindle. RAPIDSTOP stops most wheels in under two seconds, and an electronic clutch handles kickback. It is a bare tool with no battery or charger; every M18 pack works, High Output packs perform best. Milwaukee claims up to 135 cuts of 1/2 in rebar per charge with an XC6.0 High Output battery. Tool-free FIXTEC changes, T27 and T1 clip-on guards and an anti-vibration side handle are included. Warranty is 5 years on the tool.
Metabo HPT G12VE2
The Metabo HPT G12VE2 is the feature-heavy corded option: 12 Amp AC brushless motor rated 1500 W max output, six speeds from 2,500 to 8,500 RPM, 4-1/2 in wheel on 5/8"-11, at 3.75 lb without the guard with a 2-13/64 in grip. Safety set is broad: soft start, kickback protection, zero-voltage restart, overload and overheat cutoffs, rotation recovery control. Tool-less guard, 3-position anti-vibration handle, fine-mesh dust filter and spindle lock are included. Warranty is 1 year. The manual restricts it to grinding: no sanding, wire brushing, polishing or cutting-off.
Ryobi PCL445B
The Ryobi PCL445B is the budget cordless entry on the 18V ONE+ platform: 4-1/2 in wheel, 5/8 in arbor, up to 9,000 RPM, 3-position auxiliary handle, 3-year warranty, sold as a bare tool. Battery and charger are not included. Weight, dimensions, guard type, spindle lock and brake are unverified, and no independent test or owner discussion was located for this model. It makes sense only if you already own 18V ONE+ batteries.
What separates them
Four of the six are corded (DeWalt, Bosch, Makita, Metabo HPT) and two are cordless (Milwaukee M18, Ryobi ONE+). Corded units need no battery math but need an outlet; cordless units are bare tools, so the battery and charger are extra. Only the Milwaukee has a brake that stops most wheels in under two seconds. The Metabo HPT adds kickback protection, soft start and zero-voltage restart, but no electric brake is listed. The DeWalt, Bosch and Makita have no brake and no kickback control. The Ryobi’s brake status is unverified. Weight runs from 3.1 lb (Makita) to 4.6 lb (Bosch); the Metabo HPT is 3.75 lb and the DeWalt 4.3-4.6 lb.
Bottom line
Buy the DeWalt DWE402 if you want a proven 11 Amp corded grinder with a lock-on button for long cuts. Buy the Bosch GWX10-45PE if you swap wheels constantly and will absorb X-LOCK consumable costs. Buy the Makita GA4530 for overhead or extended work where 3.1 lb matters. Buy the Milwaukee 2880-20 if you are on M18 and want a brake and kickback protection. Buy the Metabo HPT G12VE2 if you want variable speed and a broad safety set on a 12 Amp corded body, and can live with a 1-year warranty. Buy the Ryobi PCL445B only if you already own 18V ONE+ batteries and need an occasional cordless grinder.
Prices and specs collected from manufacturer/retailer listings and public reviews; always confirm current price and stock on the linked page before buying.
