Phoenix, Arizona, Mid January 2026. A crisp morning in the valley of the sun saw Awesome Earthmovers escorted to John Deere’s world class testing ground.
Awesome Earthmovers were recently invited by the US giants John Deere to witness an unveiling strategically placed a month ahead of the biggest show of the year. Deere had something to share, and they were not going to be outshone by anyone else. With competitors CAT taking the limelight at CES the week before, Deere took to their own turf to reveal the new generation of their medium size excavators.
A New Generation of P Tier is here to stay
At the event Deere ushered in a bold new era of earthmoving with the debut of its New Generation PTier Midsize Excavators. Redesigned, developed and tested inhouse, the distinguished lineup goes all in to deliver the most advanced John Deere excavators yet. Launching with the 210, 230 and 260 PTier models in the 20metricton class, the new generation sets a standard for jobsite performance, operator experience and next level features and technology.
Awesome Earthmovers spoke directly with Justin Steger, Excavator Product Marketing Manager at John Deere who talked us through the thinking behind the new machines:
“Just about everything has either been reimagined or redesigned, to really update our fleet of excavators. There are more standard features and technologies in base, but there are also a lot of upgradeable technologies.
You’ve got to have a dependable, durable machine that shows up to work every day. We’ve done a lot of extensive testing to make sure that we’re hitting the mark. We’ve also got JD Link which is free from subscriptions, free for the life of the hardware and all enabled through John Deere Operator Centre. Alongside this we have attachment centre which allows operators to edit the auxiliary capabilities of the new models. We wanted to make everything easy to access and simple to understand.”
During the development and design process, each new model was rigorously tested in real world applications with participation from hundreds of customers and operators, resulting in over 165,000 operating hours and counting. With real operator insights at the forefront of design, the new P Tier Excavator models enable optimal jobsite confidence while delivering advanced performance and capability.
Enhanced Jobsite Performance
The new P Tier models offer smooth, powerful hydraulics and smart design enhancements for impressive overall performance. The combination of structures, hydraulics and integrated technology is optimized to support a balance of performance and total cost of ownership. Featuring increased dig force and lift capacity, the new P Tier excavators offer excellent power and performance for trenching, grading, craning and truck loading while refined hydraulic tuning enables fast, smooth cycle times. Performance modes, including Dig, Lift and Eco, help match jobsite power and manage fuel usage. Operators can also adjust the hydraulic response with speed and control modes, allowing operators to match the performance of the machine to the response rates they choose, based on operator preference or applications the machine is working in.
Operator Comfort and Safety
Delivering the largest, most operator friendly cab yet, the 210, 230, and 260 P Tier models boast more than 27 inches of legroom, added storage, ten points of seat adjustability and tool free armrest and joystick modifications.
The new G5 Plus 12.8 inch display provides an intuitive touchscreen for monitoring machine health, managing attachments, and viewing camera feeds, in full or split screen mode. Blending the Sealed Switch Module (SSM) with all other controls into one location, operators have the option to adjust settings by utilizing the new CommandARM™ for ultimate flexibility.
Each feature is designed to boost productivity and scale with customers as their needs evolve. With innovative connectivity like Remote Display Access (RDA) for remote viewing, integrated grade control, cameras, and sensors give operators near real time information. Whether it’s remotely adjusting settings, reviewing equipment diagnostics or troubleshooting equipment on the job, RDA enables customers to quickly find resolutions to help maximize uptime – without a subscription.
The new Remote Display Control (RDC) allows customers, and customer approved dealers and third parties to remotely navigate the monitor and adjust settings as if they were in the cab – streamlining troubleshooting, training, and machine setup. Machine damage avoidance and virtual fences help protect the machine and surroundings by defining jobsite limits above, below, and around the excavator. Optional Advanced Vision and Object Detection Systems further enhance visibility and jobsite awareness.
Additional optional advanced safety and support features include fully integrated cameras with surround view intuitive displays, and smart sensors that provide operators with critical information. This helps operators get their work done efficiently and with confidence that they’re in control.
Advanced Technology Features
Enabling ease of operations, new EZ Control technology simplifies the control of the boom, arm and bucket for underground work, making lifting and craning smoother and more intuitive for operators. Attachment Manager technology, now available on 20 metric ton models, provides easy setup, calibration tracking and customizable settings for up to 20 attachments, keeping productivity high and operations accurate. This solution also ensures each attachment is properly configured for optimal performance for features like grade control, virtual fences, machine damage avoidance and SmartWeigh™.
SmartWeigh delivers dynamic weighing, leading accuracy and easy calibration without needing a known weight, as the machine uses sensors and technology to calibrate and maintain accuracy.
The new auto laser catch feature, part of the new John Deere 2D Grade Control system, assists the operator as the laser catcher on the machine breaks the plane of the rotating laser on the jobsite. There is no need to stop and press a button on the joystick to maintain a vertical reference, enhancing the productivity advantages and usability for the operator.
All P Tier Midsize John Deere Excavators offer 2D Grade Control that is upgradeable to the optional full 3D SmartGrade™ with either Topcon or Leica giving customers the flexibility to match their grade control needs.
Dealer Support
Lastly, the new generation of John Deere Excavators is backed by John Deere’s trusted, authorized dealer network, including their highly trained, certified technicians, and ready access to genuine parts. With the John Deere
Operations Center™ now integrated with Shop.Deere.com, parts ordering is easier than ever, helping to keep machines up and running. When service or routine maintenance is needed, John Deere dealers stand ready to help operators stay productive and perform at their best.
Having spent the day with John Deere we were able to see the dedication and passion that still burns in every employee for what they create. Only 11 years away from their 200th anniversary the company shows no sign of slowing down, with more announcements and unveilings planned for ConExpo in March 2026.
“WE WANTED TO MAKE EVERYTHING EASY TO ACCESS AND SIMPLE TO UNDERSTAND.”