Hands-On Review: Ryobi 4 1/2" Circular Saw (PCL400)
Ryobi’s new mini circular saw surprised me with how lightweight, solid, and smooth-cutting it is. At the current price of $49.88 with a 2.0Ah HP battery included, it’s an outstanding value for quick cuts, precision work, and grab-and-go convenience.
Home Depot released a new Ryobi 4.5" compact circular saw as a Black Friday doorbuster, bundled as a $49.88 kit with a 2.0Ah HP battery. I bought it, tested it, and here’s my full take.
Build Quality & First Impressions
The saw’s build quality is solid for its size and price. Nothing feels flimsy, the guard tracks smoothly, and the base plate sits square.
The standout attribute for me was that it’s extremely lightweight.
This is the kind of saw you can grab with one hand and comfortably make controlled cuts with.
Cutting Performance
I tested it on a standard 2x4 stud, which are actually 1.5" thick - just within the capacity of the saw's 1 9/16" cut capacity (which is not a coincidence).
My experience:
- cut smoothly
- stayed stable in the cut
- didn’t bog down under normal pressure
It uses a brushed motor, which isn’t ideal, but real-world performance is more than adequate for light-duty or supplemental work.
Blade Installation Tips
This saw has a few quirks worth pointing out:
- The blade screw is reverse-threaded.
- There are two washers, and the blade sits between them.
- When installed correctly, the blade teeth should point upward at the front of the saw.
If the orientation looks odd, that’s normal for compact circular saws.
Value of the $49.88 Kit
The deal is excellent. The included 2.0Ah HP battery is one of my favorites in the Ryobi lineup. It's perfect for drills and impact drivers because of its light weight.
Even if the saw itself were mediocre, the kit would still be worth buying for the battery alone. But the saw is actually very capable.
Runtime & Use Case
A 2.0Ah battery on a circular saw will give limited runtime, so expectations should be realistic. I also would be wary of making many repeated cuts with the saw over a short period of time, as the brushed motor could overheat relatively quickly compared to larger, brushless counterparts.
I wouldn’t rely on this as my only circular saw for serious construction work. But as a companion tool, it shines:
- quick grab-and-go cuts
- trimming pieces to fit
- straight cuts that might otherwise be done with a jigsaw
- tight spaces or overhead use where a full-size saw is cumbersome
- precision cuts where lighter weight helps
It fills the niche between a jigsaw and a full-size 7 1/4" circular saw, and in my opinion, does it better than the 5 1/2" version (PCL500) which is taller, heavier, and has all the same limitations vs. a 6.5" or 7.25" saw.
Here is a comparison of the latest Ryobi circular saw lineup:
| Specification | PCL400 (4.5") | PCL500 (5.5") | PSBCS01 (6.5") | PBLCS302 (7.25") |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motor Type | Brushed | Brushed | Brushless | Brushless |
| Speed | 5200 rpm | 4700 rpm | 4900 rpm | 5000 rpm |
| Max Bevel | 45° | 50° | 50° | 56° |
| Max Cut (90°) | 1.5625 in | 1.6875 in | 2.25 in | 2.5625 in |
| Max Cut (45°) | 1.125 in | 1.1875 in | 1.5625 in | 1.8125 in |
| Bevel Detents | — | — | — | 0/15/22.5/30/45/56° |
| Arbor Size | 0.375 in | 0.375 in | 0.625 in | 0.625 in |
| Blade Diameter | 4.5 in | 5.5 in | 6.5 in | 7.25 in |
| Blade Location | Left | Left | Left | Right |
| Handle Type | Barrel Grip | Top | Top | Top |
| Weight | 3.4 lb | 4.2 lb | 5.0 lb | 6.5 lb |
| Length | 13 in | 12 in | 11.75 in | 13.5 in |
| Height | 6 in | 8 in | 10.5 in | 11 in |
| Width | 6.25 in | 7 in | 6.5 in | 7.25 in |
| View full comparison |
Final Verdict
The new Ryobi 4.5" saw is:
- lightweight
- solidly built
- surprisingly strong for its class
- paired with a great battery
- priced aggressively
For $49.88, it’s one of the best-value compact saw kits Ryobi has released recently. A great supplemental cutting tool, perfect for quick, accurate, lightweight work.