DeWalt 4-1/2 in. Angle Grinder (Corded, 6.5 Amp) vs FLEX 24V Brushless 4-1/2 in./5 in. Angle Grinder

Multiple FLEX owners — including a tile worker who uses it daily — confirm it eats batteries faster than competing cordless grinders. That's not a dealbreaker if you have spares rotating, but if you're buying one battery and expecting a full day of grinding, you'll be disappointed. The DeWalt just runs. Plug it in, grind all day, done.

Users who've run both Milwaukee and Ryobi cordless grinders side-by-side with the FLEX say it's not subtle — the FLEX is noticeably harder to stall and cuts faster. The DeWalt corded is no slouch at 6.5 amps, but the FLEX's brushless motor delivers cordless power that actually competes with corded performance, which is rare at this price point.

The FLEX's variable voltage means you can dial it down to use as a polisher — that's a genuinely different use case, not a marketing bullet point. The DeWalt runs at one speed and does grinding work well. If you need a polisher too, the FLEX saves you buying a second tool entirely.

The FLEX is a Lowe's exclusive, which means your batteries only work with FLEX tools — you can't share them with Milwaukee or DeWalt if you already own those. The DeWalt corded has zero ecosystem dependency, which is either liberating or irrelevant depending on how you look at it. If you're starting fresh, the FLEX ecosystem commitment is a real consideration before you spend $200 on a kit.