Dangerboy
I’ve got the SLXs my friend has XTs.
If you don’t need the free stroke adjust then get SLXs (unless you really want that ‘XT’ logo on your bike).
Someone mentioned something about different materials? No idea where that info came from but it’s not correct. Both are metal and plastic in all the right places.
It’s a lot cheaper for manufacturers to make products that share parts. It’s only when you drop down to Deore that things become noticeably different – google some pics.
SLX vs XT the detail-
The caliper is exactly the same (different paint of course), both have ceramic pistons and both are ‘two piece’.
SLX has a split pin and XT has the ‘screw pin’ pad retention. (The SLX caliper being the same is threaded so it could take the screw pin).
Same hoses / olives / bangos etc.
The lever bodies are the same. The hole for the free stroke adjustment is plugged up on the SLX lever.
The lever assemblies that fit into body are different.
The reservoir caps are shaped differently.
Different paint job.
And the SLXs look nicer.
Identical power / modulation / feel. Impossible the tell the difference.
Cheers