Ryobi / Battery
~$249
Ryobi 18V ONE+ HP Whisper 12" Chainsaw
30cc class (by bar)
- 18V
- pack
- 12 in
- bar
- 6.4 lb
- bare
ONE+ owners with small yards who want a zero-ceremony saw for pruning and light cleanup.
Homeowner
A 10-inch bar rated for branches up to 8 inches thick, about 70 cuts on the kitted 4.0Ah pack, and a brushless motor Ryobi says cuts 30% faster than the saw it replaced — this is the ONE+ saw most people actually need, as distinct from the one they think they need. Owners who leave reviews on it come back to the same two things: it is lighter and quieter than expected, and the oiler leaks onto whatever it is stored on. Chain tension adjustment also draws repeated complaints, which on a saw this size means re-checking after the first few cuts of every session rather than a real defect. Store it on a rag, keep the tension honest, and it does limbing and brush work with no fuel, no pull cord, and no ceremony.
Best for: ONE+ owners who want a grab-and-go limbing saw and will never ask it to fell anything.
Specifications
Manufacturer figures except the engine class and single-pass cut, which are derived here. What each spec means
- Branches up to 8 in.
- About 70 cuts on the 4.0Ah
- 9.9 lb with the battery
What owners like
- Light and quiet enough that owners reach for it instead of the gas saw
- Brushless motor is a real step up from the older P546 it replaces
- Shares the ONE+ pack with over 300 other Ryobi tools
- About 70 cuts per charge is generous for the bar length
- Bare tool (P2502BTL) at $179 for owners who already have 18V packs
Common complaints
- Repeated owner reports of the bar oiler weeping during storage
- Chain tension needs re-checking early in every session, per owner reviews
- 8-inch branch limit is a hard ceiling, not a soft one
- .043-gauge chain is the narrow stock — fewer aftermarket options
- $229 kit price sits awkwardly close to Ryobi's 14-inch ONE+ saw at $259
Nearest alternatives
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