Product · Makita
Makita DUH523RF 18V with 52 cm blade and 3.0Ah battery
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The DUH523RF is a mid length Makita hedge trimmer sold with a 3.0 Ah battery, which makes it a sensible starting point for a typical suburban hedge. Its main selling points in the listing are comfort features rather than raw size: a cushioned frame to soak up vibration and a soft rubber grip. At a listed 3.4 kg it is also the lightest Makita in our hedge trimmer guide.
- Blade length
- 52 cm
- Cutting capacity
- Not stated
- Voltage
- 18 V LXT
- Weight
- 3.4 kg
- Battery and charger
- 3.0 Ah battery included, charger not stated
In its favour
- The listing describes five cushions between motor and handle to cut down vibration.
- At a listed 3.4 kg it is the lightest Makita in this guide, good for shaping above shoulder height.
- A battery warning lamp blinks red when charge runs low, so you are not caught mid cut.
Good to know
- The listing says it is an international product sold from abroad, so labelling and instructions may differ.
- It names the 3.0 Ah battery but does not say whether a charger is in the box.
Our take
Comfort features Makita lists
Makita describes an anti vibration structure in which the motor and crank section are linked to the handle section by five cushions. Vibration is one of the things that makes hedge cutting tiring, so a design that isolates the handle is worth having if you cut for an hour or more at a time.
The grip is rubberised for a sure hold, and a lamp blinks red when the battery is running low. That warning is a small but practical touch, since it lets you finish a section rather than stopping halfway along a hedge top.
Blade and cutting rate
The blade is listed at 520 mm and made of stainless steel. That length suits most garden hedges and is easier to manage around shaped shrubs than a 60 cm bar. Amazon lists a speed figure of 1,350, though it is not clear whether that is strokes or cuts per minute, and the listing does not state a tooth gap.
What is in the box, and a caution
The title names a 3.0 Ah Li-ion battery, but the listing does not say whether a charger is included. If you have no Makita 18V charger, confirm this before ordering.
The listing also states that this is an international product sold from abroad, and that fit, labelling and instructions may differ from the local version. That does not change how the trimmer cuts, but it is worth knowing if you care about English manuals or local after sales support.
Where it sits among the alternatives
The Makita DUH602Z gives you a longer 60 cm bar on the same batteries but arrives as the bare tool. The Flexman 20V 56 cm model includes a battery and a fast charger and states a 19 mm cutting capacity, which the Makita listing does not, but it comes from a lesser known brand with less detail about build.
Verdict
The DUH523RF suits owners of ordinary garden hedges who want a light, well damped trimmer and are happy to stay on Makita 18V. Check the charger situation and the import note first. If your hedges are long and straight, the DUH602Z covers more per pass, and if you want everything in the box with a stated capacity, the Flexman is the alternative.
Compared with alternatives in: Best cordless hedge trimmers
Amazon listing title: Makita DUH523RF LXT Hedge Trimmer with 3.0Ah Li-ion Battery