EGO Power+ CS1613 16" Chainsaw Kit vs Ryobi 40V HP Brushless 18" Chainsaw Kit
Tinted cells mark the better figure on that row alone: more engine, longer bar, lighter, cheaper. A lighter weight is only a win on the same basis.
What owners like and complain about
EGO Power+ CS1613 16" Chainsaw Kit
- Best kit value in the 16" battery class — saw, 4.0Ah pack, and charger for $329 when rivals charge $500+
- 56V ARC packs interchange with EGO mowers, trimmers, and blowers, so the battery investment compounds
- Tool-free dual-dial chain tensioning that owners say actually holds, unlike lever-style tensioners
- 20 m/s chain speed with strong instant torque — cuts noticeably faster than the old CS1611 it replaced
- 5-year tool / 3-year battery warranty matches the longest terms in the battery-saw class, alongside Milwaukee, Ryobi and Kobalt
- Metal bucking spikes and a clearly indicated kickback brake — features skipped on most homeowner battery saws
- Weeps bar oil when stored — the classic EGO gripe; owners keep it on a drip tray
- Power is throttled on batteries smaller than the included 4.0Ah, so bare-tool buyers with 2.5Ah packs get less saw
- New chains stretch fast and need re-tensioning every tank of oil at first
- Sustained bucking of hardwood drains the 4.0Ah pack in well under half an hour — a second battery is near-mandatory for firewood duty
- The .043" narrow-kerf chain dulls quickly in dirty wood and replacement options are thinner than 3/8"/.050 standards
Ryobi 40V HP Brushless 18" Chainsaw Kit
- Cheapest 18" battery saw kit from a major brand — $120+ under EGO's 18" kit, half of Makita's XGT
- 40V 6.0Ah pack shares with Ryobi's popular mowers, blowers, and trimmers
- Claimed 90+ cuts per charge is realistic for light bucking, per owner reports
- 5-year tool warranty — longer than DeWalt or Makita offer
- Standard 3/8"LP/.050 62-link chain with cheap aftermarket replacements everywhere
- Quiet, push-button operation that converts frustrated gas-saw owners in droves
- Chain derailment and constant re-tensioning are the most repeated complaints in Home Depot reviews
- Bar-retention knob loosens during use — owners check it every few cuts
- Battery overheats under sustained cutting and must cool before recharging, stalling one-pack owners
- Noticeably slower in hardwood than EGO, Milwaukee, and DeWalt's big saws — the 40cc claim is optimistic
- Plastic-heavy build and a basic oiler reflect the price point; this is not a saw for weekly firewood duty