Makita BL1850B-2 18V LXT Lithium-Ion 5.0Ah Battery, 2/pk, Black

I have nothing but nice things to say about this battery. It is almost identical in dimensions and weight to the BL1830's, but adds an additional 2 amp hours of runtime, the battery capacity gauge, and Star protection. The battery capacity gauge works well. Activating it requires depressing a small push-button switch on the back of the battery. This is a plastic "bubble" style magnetic switch found on devices like kitchen timers. This style of switch is not the most durable, and seems to be the weak link in what is otherwise a very well-made product. So far so good, though, so perhaps this will not be an issue over the life of the battery. Star protection is Makita's name for an internal circuit that will not let you overheat the battery, or run the battery down to such a complete state of discharge that it cannot be recharged, which can be an issue with some lithium battery systems, like Makita's own BL1830 batteries.The best feature of this battery over an 1830 is the warranty: 3 years instead of just one. That makes this a pretty reasonable investment for any regular user. Also note that the additional capacity should mean fewer recharge cycles, and thus longer life.While I have nothing but nice things to say about this battery, I do have some less-nice thing to say about Makita. The Star protection is great, but they sold non-Star tools and batteries for a number of years, leaving a lot of customers such as myself with a significant investment in these products. While Star protection is marketed as a feature of the new generation of tools and batteries, a more honest evaluation would be that Makita sold a tool/battery system with a significant design flaw for quite a while. This battery represents what is essentially a totally different battery system. It looks the same, is still called "LXT," and uses the same chargers, but it is physically not compatible with the old tools without warranty-voiding modification. If you have non-Star tools, you can easily take a chisel to the small tab that prevents this battery from mating with them, and this battery will power them just fine. However, this modification definitely voids the tool warranty, and might void the battery warranty as well-- these batteries do contain a memory chip, and I have not been able to find any definitive information on whether or not they log interfacing with a non-Star tool. It also means that the battery will not be protected by the Star circuitry when using that tool.I am currently "playing it safe" and using this battery only with my Star tools. I'm not quite sure what I'll do if my non-Star tools outlast my dwindling BL1830 fleet. As much as I love my Makita tools, unless Makita offers some kind of trade-up program, I have a feeling that the solution might be yellow and black.

After a couple of years in advanced homeowner class use, I have put these through the paces for long enough to share opinions. Overpriced, but they do perform. I have an older generation tool set (~ 2007?) and was able to modify them to accept these type batteries. Have had zero issues. Love the longevity and charge meter on the 5.0!

I know the title sounds like someone who works for the seller wrote it, but it's the best price I found for a makita battery. And it's a real makita battery, not a handful of AA's in a imitation shell. It works amazing with all my tools.

These factory batteries are very powerful. Got them to run my excellent Makita handsaw.Makita XSH03Z 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 6-1/2" Circular Saw, Bare Tool Only.I also bought a new charger for them. Makita DC18RC 18V Lithium-Ion Rapid Optimum Charger in Retail Package thinking my two older Makita DC18RA chargers could not handle the larger batteries.But the older DC18RA charger can charge these batteries, and just as fast. Now I have three chargers. Sigh.These batteries also fit my other 18v Makita tools that came with the smaller 2Ah batteries like the Makita LCT400W 18-Volt Compact Lithium-Ion Cordless 4-Piece Combo Kit and the Makita XWT06Z 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Square Drive Impact Wrench, 3/8-Inch.As my older 2Ah batteries are now either 5- or 8-years old, and are beginning to show their age, these new batteries are a welcomed addition with only a small weight and size penalty.I use a stable of lightweight, reliable, high-performance Makita tools all the time. Two 1/2" drills, two 1/4" impact drivers, a 3/8" impact wrench and a 6-1/2" circular saw. All great and seeming never to wear out. These 5Ah batteries fit and power them all really well. Yeah, I could have purchased after market batteries for less, but genuine Makita is a one-time fee that will last for ten years at least.

Great product

I think they should make them more impact resistant, like the milwaukee batteries have some rubber on them that absorbs the shock a bit

Mikita is a great brand, I really like the Mikita lawnmower. This was a very good price for two lithium batteries.