Beretta Evolves the 90 Series with the New 94X Performance

Beretta is continuing its streak of releases for the year of their 500th anniversary. Unlike the Titan MSR and the SO10 EELL History, now we’re seeing a new pistol with a clear commercial pathway.

More Beretta @ TFB:

• Beretta Celebrates 500 Years with the SO10 EELL History O/U Shotgun 
• Beretta Celebrates 500 Years Premiering the Titan One-Off
• Ruger & Beretta Announce Strategic Cooperation Agreement
• The New Bronzed & Comped Beretta 80X Cheetah Tactical Special Edition

Beretta 94X Performance: Introduction

Below we can find the product description in Beretta’s words:

“Built around the new Vertec® Pro frame with extended geometry, the 94X Performance is engineered to deliver a higher, more natural grip and a 20-shots capacity with flush magazine. An upswept beavertail and raised trigger undercut enhance comfort, control, and stability during rapid fire. The RDO slide cut, positioned 3 mm lower than previous designs, further reduces the center of mass for improved recoil management, while enhancing optic-to-barrel alignment and minimizing the risk of optic interference.

The 94X Performance cold-hammer forged barrel features an advanced steel formulation designed to extend barrel life even under extreme round counts. Paired with a redesigned firing pin and extractor, now incorporating a new integrated elastomer buffer, the pistol delivers exceptional consistency and unwavering long-term reliability.

Reshaped grip panels with a palm swell, combined with aggressive frame checkering and newly contoured serrations, ensure unmatched control at speed.

Refined, low-profile safety levers integrate seamlessly with the frame, allowing for an uninterrupted grip and more precise, confident handling under recoil.

At the core of the pistol, the state-of-the-art Xtreme-S® trigger system delivers an extremely short, fast, and intuitive reset—translating every input into crisp, immediate action, while fully preserving Beretta’s uncompromising safety standards."

Main Features:

• Longer Vertec® Pro frame
• Upswept beavertail profile
• Raised trigger undercut
• 3 mm lower RDO slide-cut
• Xtreme-S® trigger for short, fast, and instinctive reset
• Cold hammer forged barrel with reinforced steel formulation
• 30% wider and deeper, 15° inclined serrations
• Redesigned safety levers: flush in the back, wider on the front to improve contact
• 1 mm fiber-optic front sight
• Blacked-out, serrated, and negatively inclined rear sight
• Slide catch lever with thinner and angled profile
• Revised longer firing pin geometry
• Increased extraction reliability with an integrated elastomer buffer
• Graphite Grey finish
• Redesigned polymer grip panels with palm swell
• Reversible magazine release button
• 20-shot capacity flush magazines

Launch Edition:

• DLC finish with acid-green accents
• Aluminum grips with polymer Beretta 500 3D-printed insert
• Orientable and reversible magazine release button

The model, which in the name choice seems to suggest a stronger departure from the 92-named predecessors, is a competition-oriented evolution of the 90 series. Its main features revolve around ergonomic upgrades on the steel frame, with the most obvious one being the more traditional beavertail shape, compared to that of the 92X Performance. The slide appears to inherit the lower RDO cut, as premiered on the 92G Elite LTT II.

Two different versions are going to be offered: a, limited, Launch Edition (pictured here) and a Production model.

Price and Availability

We couldn’t find data on the MSRP and availability of the Beretta 94X Performance, and the company website invites the user to contact the local Beretta dealer. We can speculate that the MSRP for the standard model will be in the range of the 92X Performance series, while the Launch Edition will surely command a premium.

For those interested in a competition-oriented 90 series Beretta, the company offers a handy chart comparing the 94X to the earlier 92X models. Spoiler alert: “94X magazines are compatible with the Series 90; Series 90 magazines are not compatible with 94X”. 

What do you, TFB readers, think? Do you think this is the pinnacle of the 90 series evolution? Would you like to see its features in defense-oriented models?

As usual, let us know in the comments.