EGO Power+ CS1613 16" Chainsaw Kit vs Stihl MSA 220 C-B
Quick take: The EGO Power+ CS1613 16" Chainsaw Kit costs $561 less; the EGO Power+ CS1613 16" Chainsaw Kit is lighter at 8.9 lb.
| Spec | EGO Power+ CS1613 16" Chainsaw Kit | Stihl MSA 220 C-B |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $329 | $890 |
| Rating | 4.5★ (5,963) | — |
| Power Type | Battery | Battery |
| Use Case | Homeowner | Farm & Ranch |
| Engine | — | — |
| Rated Power | — | — |
| Voltage | 56V | 36V |
| Kit Battery | 4 Ah | 7.8 Ah |
| Bar Length | 16" | 16" |
| Bar Range | 16" | 14-18" |
| Chain | 3/8" low-profile pitch / .043" gauge, 56 DL | 3/8" Picco pitch / .050" gauge (PS3 low-profile) |
| Weight | 8.9 lb (tool only, without battery) | 10.4 lb (with AP 300 S battery, no bar/chain (6.4 lb bare tool)) |
| Warranty | 5-year tool / 3-year battery | 2-year consumer and commercial (Stihl battery products) |
Pros & cons
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 is the longest in the battery-saw class
- ✓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
Stihl MSA 220 C-B
- ✓78 ft/s chain speed cuts noticeably faster than most consumer battery saws
- ✓40-48 minutes of real trigger time on the 7.8Ah AP 300 S in mixed cutting
- ✓6.4 lb bare tool / 10.4 lbs with pack — light enough for all-day limbing
- ✓Tool-less chain tensioner and captive bar nuts, no scrench needed
- ✓AP battery works across dozens of Stihl landscape tools
- ✓Dealer network for service, unlike box-store battery brands
- ✗Kit-equivalent price around $890 — the battery and charger cost nearly as much as the saw
- ✗Runtime falls off steeply in hardwood over 12 inches; a second battery is a real-world necessity
- ✗Low-profile Picco chain dulls fast in dirty or ground-contact wood
- ✗Scattered owner reports of weak or clogging bar oilers
- ✗Stihl's battery warranty is 2 years — Echo covers consumer battery saws for 5