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Head-to-head · Best Battery Chainsaws

Husqvarna Power Axe 350i vs Milwaukee M18 FUEL 16" Chainsaw

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Husqvarna Power Axe 350i comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.6 vs 4.0). Husqvarna Power Axe 350i is best for: homeowners cutting larger limbs and storm debris who want gas-like speed from a battery saw. Read the strengths below before deciding.

Husqvarna Power Axe 350i
Higher ratedRanked #3 in Best Battery Chainsaws
Husqvarna Power Axe 350i
2 sources$479.99as of Nov 1

The Husqvarna Power Axe 350i is an 18-inch, 40V battery chainsaw with a boost mode that draws extra power for hard cuts. TechGearLab ranked it third of 12 battery saws, measuring a 7.07-second average cut, a 0.25-second wind-up and 51 minutes of runtime, and it found the saw quieter than most it has tested. Top Ten Reviews cut limbs over a foot wide with it and found it had the most safety features of the saws it tried. The downsides are weight, price and charge time: Top Ten Reviews found it the heaviest of three saws it tested, and TechGearLab timed a full recharge at two hours and forty-five minutes. It suits homeowners cutting larger limbs and storm debris who want gas-like speed without a gas engine; anyone who wants a light pruning saw or a cheap one should look elsewhere.

Strengths
  • — Among the fastest cutters GearLab tested, with a boost mode that cuts faster still
  • — Winds up to full speed almost instantly
  • — Long runtime: 51 minutes at full speed in GearLab's test
Watch-outs
  • — Slow to recharge: 2 hours 45 minutes in GearLab's test
  • — Heavy once the battery is in
  • — Expensive next to budget battery saws
$479.99 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 16" Chainsaw
Ranked #4 in Best Battery Chainsaws
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 16" Chainsaw
1 source$279as of Nov 1

TechGearLab called the Milwaukee M18 FUEL 16-inch chainsaw (2727) a strong-performing battery saw that winds up instantly, and Milwaukee rates its brushless motor as matching a gas engine up to 40cc, a comparison Woodbrew and Handmade Haven echoed. It runs on a single M18 battery shared with Milwaukee's wider tool line. TechGearLab measured it at 14 lbs, 4 oz, one of the heavier saws in its test, though it found the weight often helps cutting. This model fits users already invested in the Milwaukee M18 ecosystem, while buyers who don't want to keep lifting extra pounds should consider a lighter saw.

Strengths
  • — Milwaukee rates its POWERSTATE brushless motor as delivering the power and performance of a gas engine up to 40cc
  • — Onboard scrench tensioning that TechGearLab found gives more precise chain tension than tool-free systems
  • — Offers instant start-up with zero wind-up time, eliminating pull-cords or choke adjustments
Watch-outs
  • — Weighs 10.7 lbs bare per Milwaukee, and TechGearLab measured 14 lbs, 4 oz, one of the heavier saws in its test
  • — Owners report noticeable battery drain on cuts bigger than about 6 inches, and some report packs overheating
$279 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

How they stack up

Husqvarna Power Axe 350i

The Husqvarna Power Axe 350i carries an 18-inch bar, longer than the 16-inch Ego Power+ CS1613 and Milwaukee M18 FUEL 16", and TechGearLab scored it 80 against 71 for both of those saws in the same test. It costs less than the Milwaukee M18 FUEL 20" Dual Battery Chainsaw, which is the bigger, more powerful saw for dense hardwood.

Milwaukee M18 FUEL 16" Chainsaw

Like the DeWalt DCCS620 12-Inch Cordless Chainsaw, this model runs on a single battery, unlike the two-pack Milwaukee M18 FUEL 20" Dual Battery Chainsaw. It is heavier at 10.7 lbs bare compared to the Dewalt’s 9 lbs, making it less suitable for one-handed use.

Specs side-by-side

SpecHusqvarna Power Axe 350iMilwaukee M18 FUEL 16" Chainsaw
Bar Length18 in16 inches
Battery40V (battery and charger included in kit)—
Weight (without battery)7.72 lb—
Chain TensioningTool-free—
Boost ModeYes—
Measured Runtime51 min (TechGearLab, full speed, standard mode)—
Measured Charge Time2.75 hr (TechGearLab)—
Measured Noise82.1 dB at 48 in (TechGearLab)—
Model Number970601202—
Chain Pitch—3/8-inch low profile
Weight—10.7 lbs (tool only)
Voltage—18V
Motor Type—Brushless
Battery System—M18 REDLITHIUM (1 battery; 2727-21HD kit includes HIGH OUTPUT HD12.0)
Chain Gauge—0.043-inch
Drive Links—56
Chain Speed—12.7 m/s
Length—33 inches
Dimensions—35"L x 11.5"W x 10"H
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