Husqvarna / Battery
~$490
Husqvarna 535i XP
40cc class (by bar)
- 40V
- pack
- 14 in
- bar
- 5.29 lb
- bare
Tradespeople and light tree-care crews who already own BLi-X batteries and want the lightest pro rear-handle saw available.
Professional
Husqvarna calls this the first rear-handle battery chainsaw with a clutch, and that is the engineering point rather than marketing: a centrifugal clutch lets the motor keep turning when the chain stalls in a pinch, instead of the drivetrain taking the hit. It is the reason this saw can be pushed harder in bigger wood than the clutchless battery saws around it. Output is 2.4 hp with 79 ft/s chain speed, 91 dB at the ear, and an IPX4 rating for working in rain. At 6.83 lb bare it sits between the 540i XP and the gas 440 on weight. The price to be clear about: $710 buys the tool. Add a 40-B330X and a charger and this is a $1,200-plus setup, which is the honest comparison against a 50cc gas saw. The 16-inch maximum bar is also the ceiling — battery or not, this is a 40cc-class saw.
Best for: Professional crews who want a battery rear-handle they can lean on in bigger wood without stalling the drivetrain.
Specifications
Manufacturer figures except the engine class and single-pass cut, which are derived here. What each spec means
- First rear-handle battery saw with a clutch
- 2.4 hp, 79 ft/s chain speed
- IPX4 rated for rain
Where it is strong
- Centrifugal clutch protects the drivetrain when the chain binds — unique among rear-handle battery saws
- 2.4 hp and 79 ft/s chain speed put it in 40cc gas territory
- IPX4 weatherproofing means rain and wet snow are rated conditions, not risks
- 6.83 lb bare tool, lighter than any 40cc gas saw with a comparable bar
- 91 dB at the operator's ear versus well over 100 for gas equivalents
- BLi-X platform shares packs with Husqvarna's professional trimmers and blowers
Where it falls short
- $710 tool-only; a 40-B330X pack and charger push the working total past $1,200
- 16-inch bar ceiling — it will not replace a 50cc gas saw for felling
- .043 narrow chain costs more and is less widely stocked than .050
- Runtime depends entirely on which pack you buy, and the big ones are expensive
Written from the spec sheet and the maker's documentation; owner reports for this model were too thin to summarize.
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