Kobalt 80V 16" Chainsaw Kit vs Kobalt 40V 14" Brushless 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
Kobalt 80V 16" Chainsaw Kit
- Frequently $199 complete with battery and charger against a $299 list
- Metal wrap-around handle rather than the all-plastic shells common at this price
- Electronic chain brake and quick-adjust tensioning
- 110 cuts from only a 2.0Ah pack — the bigger 80V Kobalt batteries extend it a long way
- 12 m/s chain speed is the slowest in the 16-inch battery class by a wide margin
- 15 lb with a small 2.0Ah battery is heavy for a 16-inch saw
- 2.0Ah pack is the minimum viable size; a spare is a near-certain purchase
- No manufacturer site — specs and support exist only on the Lowe's listing
- List price swings by $100 between promotions, so timing matters more than usual
Kobalt 40V 14" Brushless Chainsaw Kit
- 8.2 lb bare makes it one of the lightest 14-inch battery saws sold
- $179 with a 4.0Ah battery and charger is strong value even against bare tools
- Brushless motor and pro-style bar clamping at a price where neither is standard
- 200 ml oil reservoir keeps up with the bar without constant topping
- 14-inch bar and .043 chain put a hard ceiling around ten-inch wood
- 40V Kobalt is a narrow platform — far fewer tools share the pack than on Ryobi or Greenworks
- No manufacturer website; parts and support run entirely through Lowe's
- Listed hp figures from house brands are not comparable to engine ratings