Hey everyone! I'm checking out the 6.0 amp M18 forge battery, but I noticed it's priced the same as the 8.0 amp version. Can anyone explain what the actual differences are between these two batteries aside from the cell capacity?
4 Answers
Yeah, the 6.0 amp battery uses those pouch cells, which can be more expensive to produce, especially if they’re custom-made for Milwaukee. The 8.0 uses cylindrical cells that are more easily available and cost-effective. It's interesting why they chose pouch cells for the 6.0 instead of more traditional ones—what benefits do they really offer? It seems like a strategy that might frustrate some buyers since those batteries are pretty pricey already!
The main difference is in the battery types. The 6.0 amp version uses pouch cells, which are more specialized and tend to be pricier. The 8.0 amp version, however, has standard cylindrical cells that are much more common and less expensive. If they’re the same price, I’d definitely go for the 8.0—it has a slight edge in size and comes with air vents for better cooling while charging, especially with the Super Charger that helps keep things cool.
Totally! I like the 8.0 too, but I'm looking for something lighter for my circular and track saw. The 8.0 is a bit bulky, while the 6.0 feels too light to be worth it for just a tiny weight difference.
From what I've read, the 8.0 amp forge battery performs closer to a 12 amp in actual power, while the 6.0 is more like a 9. If you're using more demanding tools, the 8.0 might give you a better experience overall!
That makes sense! It seems like the 8.0 is definitely worth considering if you're looking for peak performance.
Some folks actually prefer the 6.0 amp battery because it's lighter, which can be a plus for people looking for mobility. However, it really comes down to a very small weight difference—about 0.2 pounds!
Yeah, exactly! The 6.0 weighs around 2.1 pounds while the 8.0 is about 2.3 pounds. Not a huge difference for the benefits of the 8.0!

That’s a good question! I’ve heard that pouch cells can provide higher energy density, which can be great for certain applications. But with prices being high, it's hard to understand why they wouldn't just stick to the more common design.