![4 Of Best Makita Jobsite Radios [Comparison]](https://bettertoolz.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/4-Of-Best-Makita-Jobsite-Radios-Comparison-1190x298.jpg "4 Of Best Makita Jobsite Radios [Comparison]")
All of the Makita cordless jobsite radios look the same, what's the difference between them...
Right?
There are a few different feature variations with each model but other key elements like run time and price are what really sets them apart.
I made this page to decipher some of the main differences between the different Makita (cordless) radios out there and tried to make a note of all of the little things.
I laid out each product and dove into some of the difference in features between them, talked about pricing, what stood out, what could be improved and other factors to gather a comprehensive comparison guide.
I hope it helps out!
1. The Makita XRM04B - The Highest Rated Jobsite Radio Makita Makes
The Makita XRM04B was the highest rated cordless radio that Makita makes and it is one of the models that also has some of the best features.
The XRM04B is Bluetooth compatible and has a decent runtime, 20 hours with a 5.0Ah battery. It wasn't the best runtime but is decent and will accommodate half of a "standard" work week.
The XRM04B will accommodate most Makita batteries (old and new), both pod and slide styles which is an added benefit for people who have older batteries lying around.
The XRM04B had more than 250 reviews at the time, from multiple sources online and was available just about everywhere.
The price was at the top end though, close to $150 at the time, so it isn't the most affordable model.
PROS
CONS
What Stood Out Above Other Models
The XRM04B was the highest rated Makita radio out there, looking at total number of reviews and overall feedback score.
This is always a major consideration and gives the tool a lot of weight, in my opinion.
The XRM04B could be found just about anywhere I looked online and off. Amazon, Home Depot and other retailers had this radio in stock and available (when I looked).
Availability is always something that I value and something most people don't think about that often.
The Bluetooth capability for the XRM04B was an added bonus and is only a shared feature with one other Makita radio (the XRM06B). Syncing is easily done (according to reviewers).
What I Noticed That I Didn't Like...
The XRM04B was at the higher end of the pricing spectrum, coming close to the $150 mark but it is because of the features included with the model.
The XRM04B, like all of the other Makita jobsite radios did not serve as a battery charger, when the AC adapter is used.
Some manufacturer's also integrate a battery charger into their radios and why Makita doesn't, is a mystery.
From some of the reviews I read online, some people reported quality issues with some of the features (volume control mainly). You can always return it or trade it in for another one but is somewhat of a hassle to do.
2. The Makita XRM02W - The Best Makita Radio For The Money (Value And Performance)
The Makita XRM02W is the model that really was a balance of feature and price. It had a lot of the features that the higher end radios had at a much more reasonable price (closer to the $100 mark).
The XRM02W also uses a wide variety of Makita's batteries and ranged from 7.2V batteries, all the way up to their 18V ones. The back allows for different batteries and there is 3 different slots for each type of battery.
The runtime for the XRM02W was at about 19 hours, using a 3.0Ah battery (according to Makita). This was a pretty decent stat and comparable to the XRM04B, if a 5.0 Ah battery was used.
The XRM02W was another highly rated model that had nearly 120 reviews at the time and an overall rating of 4.4 out of 5, which was a little better than the XRM04B.
PROS
CONS
What Stood Out Above Other Models
The biggest feature that stood out was the fact that the XRM02W was a feature rich model that comes at a fair price. It doesn't have every feature under the sun but the most important ones, in my opinion.
The price point was another great feature that stood out and I have mentioned it a couple of times but it was a huge factor in my decision process and really stood out above the other models.
The XRM02W was another one of Makita's radios that could run off of nearly all types of batteries (Makita brand).
This makes using older batteries a possibility or using your 18V batteries for your tools and another one for the radio, which makes the 18V battery available for the "important stuff".
What I Noticed That I Didn't Like...
The biggest complaint (by far) related to the XRM02W was that the antenna was missing. I did a little more digging around and found that the antenna was hidden in the packaging and was overlooked.
I think Makita could easily remedy this by attaching the antenna at the factory, which would eliminate this problem all together.
Storage would also be ideal (for all models) and for the XRM02W as well. I also didn't notice a USB port on board for charging purposes, which would be another great addition to this radio.
3. The Makita XRM06B - The Best Runtime Out Of All Of The Other Makita Radios
The Makita XRM06B the radio that had the longest runtime, out of all of the other models. The RM02 came close but is a 12V model, not an 18V model.
The XRM06B boasted a very impressive 35 hours runtime using 1 5.0Ah 18V battery! This was also the most expensive radio out there, close to the $150 range.
The XRM06B had about 70 reviews at the time, a pretty decent amount to look through and an overall rating of 4 out of 5, from all of those reviews.
Makita stated that it can run off of 7.2V, 12V max, 12V max CXT, 14.4V, and 18V LXT batteries.
I'm not sure if that is the same as 7.2V – 18V, like other models show but it can use a wide range of Makita batteries, which is a big advantage.
PROS
CONS
What Stood Out Above Other Models
The main thing that stood out about the XRM06B was that it had some of the longest runtimes out of all of the other radios I looked at. 35 hours with a 5.0Ah battery (18V) and up to 14 hours with a 2.0Ah battery (18V).
Users reported that the sound quality was decent and one user even upgraded to the XRM06B because of the improved sound quality.
The third thing that I wanted to mention is that the XRM06B is another Bluetooth model. The Bluetooth is easy to setup and connects very easily to devices (reported by users).
What I Noticed That I Didn't Like...
The biggest complaint users had about the XRM06B was that there is no storage for the AC adapter, so you have to bring it with you and it won't store anywhere inside or outside the radio.
Another point to bring up is that this is the most expensive model in the lineup. It isn't a negative thing but is worth mentioning and stood out from the other models.
For being one of the best Makita radios out there and still having no battery charged integrated into the radio is a big disadvantage, especially compared to other manufacturers.
4. The Makita RM02 - This is What A Longer Title Will Look Like
The RM02 form Makita was one the radio that was really different in just about every aspect, compared to the other models.
It is a 12V model and will only run off of a 12V battery, unlike the other radios, which can use a wide range of Makita's batteries. The RM02 was the most affordable model, coming in at around $50.
The RM02 had a decent runtime of roughly 30 hours, using a 4.0Ah battery (12V). It doesn't have Bluetooth capabilities and can only be used as a radio (AM/FM) and mp3 player (aux. port).
The speakers are some of the smallest in comparison but for a radio listener, it is compact, gets great reception (user reviews) and is a great price.
PROS
CONS
What Stood Out Above Other Models
The main thing that really stood out to me regarding the RM02 was the price. It was around $50 at the time and was by far, the most affordable model out there.
People who seemed to like the RM02 were "radio listeners" for the most part and they boasted about the great reception the radio got and the portability aspect of it.
Even though it is a 12V model, the RM02 has an estimated runtime of about 30 hours, using a 3.0Ah battery. (according to Makita).
What I Noticed That I Didn't Like...
The biggest thing that stood out to me was the fact that the RM02 was not nearly as weather and dust resistant as some of the other models.
I realize it is a much simpler radio but having protection is a huge bonus, especially considering the user base that will end up using this radio!
A couple of other things that I thought Makita could improve on regarding the RM02 was the small speaker size and the fact that there is no clock display, two small but important things!
A Makita Speaker That Is Also Something Worth Checking Out
The Makita XRM08B: Makita makes this portable speaker (Makita XRM08B) that are also cordless and will plug into an mp3 player, phone or smart device.
You don't get the radio functionality out of these but it is an option for people who want to listen to their own music library.
This XRM08B is pretty small (smaller than it seems) and is Bluetooth compatible.
Other Makita Radios That Didn't Make The List
The Makita MR051: This was a very compact radio, as you can see in the photo on the right.
I didn't include this Makita radio because it didn't have very many reviews and the handful it did have, were not very good.
It is also hard to find online and is, in fact only available on Amazon through 3rd party sellers.
amazon.com
The Makita XRM03B: The XRM03B was a lot like the XRM06B and the XRM04B and it didn't have any other features that really set it apart.
It did have an iPod docking station on top of the unit (slot that holds your iPod) but users reported that they need an adapter for it because it was the old iPod connection.
On top of those two reasons, there weren't a whole lot of feedback on the XRM03B and was hard to find.
Features That Caught My Attention:
Runtime ForThe Cordless Makita Radios Is Key...
The runtime was one of the things that really stood out when looking at the different Makita jobsite radios.
The range depended on the model of the radio and what battery was used (2.0Ah, 3.0Ah, 4.0Ah or 5.0Ah). The typical runtime ranged from 6 hours (2.0Ah battery) all the way up to 35 hours (5.0Ah battery) or more.
Even though the models looked similar and had similar features, their runtimes differed GREATLY!
The XRM04B: Said to run for about 6 hours with a 2.0Ah battery and approximately 20 hours with a 5.0Ah battery. This was for 18 volt batteries.
The XRM02W: It was stated by Makita that the radio can run up to 19 hours using an 18V 3.0Ah battery, much different than the XRM04B (above)!
The XRM06B: Makita stated that this radio (which had the best runtimes) can operate for roughly 14 hours (2.0Ah battery) and up to a whopping 35 hours, using a 5.0Ah battery!
The RM02: On Makita's website, it stated that the RM02 can run for up to 30 hours using a 12V 4.0Ah battery.
Battery Compatability Is Another Thing I Ran Into:
All of the Makita cordless radios were compatible with nearly all of the different batteries Makita makes, except for the RM02, which only uses a 12V battery (newer/pod style).
They are stated to work with 7.2V - 18V batteries and be compatible with the slide-styles and pod-style batteries.
The back of the unit opens up and there are three different slots for the different types of batteries, like the picture below illustrates..
makita.com
Radio, Mp3 Player, Or Both?
All of the models had the capacity to play radio stations on bot AM and FM frequencies and all had the ability to plug in an auxiliary cord, which would work for a mp3 player, smartphone, etc.
Charging Ports For Devices On Some Models...
Two models had USB charging ports, located on the front of the radio that are concealed by rubber weather flaps (shown in the picture below). One side has the auxiliary port and the other houses the USB port.
This comes in handy for charging devices, mainly mp3 players and cell phones and is a great feature for jobs where no power is readily available.
makita.com
Bluetooth Capabilities [For Some Makita Radio Models]
The two models that used Bluetooth technology were the XRM06B and the XRM04B, both are signified by the letter "B" at the end of the model number. It is an easy setup process from what I've read (reviews).
It was hard to find a range on the Bluetooth but from what I gathered it is about 20' - 30', which isn't that bad but I would have liked to see a much larger range.
To be honest, this is probably due to the fact that after about 20 or 30', the music can't be heard as well anyways, so I see why the range is so low, it makes sense anyways.
Pricing And Availability Is Important...
Pricing Overview (The Big Picture)...
The "overview" of the pricing for the Makita cordless radios were between $50 and $150. I found that it is a pretty significant difference but features really made all the difference in the world, in relation to price.
The RM02 was the simplest model and was the cheapest on the list and the two Bluetooth models were the most expensive and had the most features.
Price Comparisons: I looked on various websites online for price comparisons and found them to be very similar with only a $5 - $10 difference, on one occasion.
The price comparison was made between these websites: Amazon, Home Depot, CPO and Ebay.
Where Is The Best Place To Find One?
The XRM04B: The XRM04B was a pretty popular model and was pretty available just about everywhere I looked. Amazon had it in stock and it was a Prime item. Home Depot also had them in stock at my local store and at just about every surrounding store as well.
The XRM02W: Amazon had the XRM02W in stock and was a Prime item as well and Home Depot was not as helpful.
There were no XRM02W's in stock at my local store and none at any surrounding stores either. It could be shipped to a store or my house, but wasn't available in store.
The XRM06B: The XRM06B was available at Amazon (was Prime as well) but Home Depot did not sell this model at the time. I could not find it anywhere and it did not seem to be a model they sold.
The RM02: The same availability was true for the RM02 and it was readily available at Amazon but not at my local Home Depot or any surrounding stores. It would have to be shipped to a store or my house.
Lowes did not carry any of the cordless Makita jobsite radios. Not sure if they ever will or used to but when I checked, they did not have any available.
Did I Leave Anything Out, Or Forget Something? - If I did, please let me know in the comments below. Feedback is always appreciated and helps me improve the article. Thanks!
