The Worx WG170 GT Revolution is the best value-tier cordless trimmer for owners of small flat suburban yards who care more about ease and weight than raw cutting power. At 5.5 lb with battery clipped on, it's roughly half the weight of the EGO ST1623T or Ryobi 40V picks above, and it converts in seconds to a wheeled edger or even a mini-mower. The trade-offs are real: T3 noted it chokes on anything thicker than quarter-inch growth, and the 12-inch cutting width forces more passes. For under-quarter-acre yards with maintained grass, none of that matters and the lightness and 3-in-1 flexibility win the day.
Full review
Cutting Power and Real-World Use
Gardening Products Review tested the WG170 GT Revolution on a 0.17-acre property and reported it cut and edged the entire lot twice on a single battery charge. The 12-inch swath is the narrowest in this category but adequate for maintained lawns and tight landscaping. The brushless 20V motor spins the head at 7,600 rpm — competitive with similar-class trimmers.
T3's review was less complimentary, observing that the trimmer choked on anything thicker than quarter-inch foliage and called the cutting power lackluster for thicker vegetation. The honest read is that this is a maintenance trimmer, not a clearing trimmer. If your weekly use is keeping already-trimmed lawn edges crisp, the Worx is fine. If you're clearing ditches or annual weed growth, look at the Ryobi or EGO above.
Worx specifically targets the GT Revolution at users who'd otherwise skip a string trimmer entirely — its small form factor and 3-in-1 design speak to homeowners who want a tool they'll actually use rather than another piece of equipment to wrestle into the garage.
Weight and Ergonomics
5.5 lb with the battery clipped on is the headline number. That's roughly 60% lighter than the EGO ST1623T and 130% lighter than the Husqvarna 525L gas pick — a real difference for anyone with shoulder or wrist issues, smaller users, or people just done with hefting heavy tools. The light weight pays off most on edging passes, where you're holding the head at an angle and the weight transfers to your wrist.
The telescoping shaft extends from about 35-3/4 inches to 55-1/2 inches — Gardening Products Review specifically called out that the GT Revolution is a full foot longer than previous Worx generations and accommodates taller users comfortably. The pivoting head reaches into tight corners and the rotating shaft lets you angle the cutting plane for edging without contorting your body. Anyone moving from a heavier corded or gas trimmer to the Worx routinely comments on how much less back fatigue they experience after a full lawn session.
Three-in-One Conversion
What sets the WG170 apart from other value-tier picks is the toolless conversion between three modes: string trimmer, in-line wheeled edger, and mini-mower. Gardening Products Review described the conversions as taking seconds and called the resulting cuts professional-looking. For a small-lot owner this replaces three separate tools.
The two caveats: the support wheels can get in the way during normal trimming and need to be removed for full freedom of motion, and the conversion instructions in the manual are less clear than they should be. Once you've done it a few times it's second nature.
The mini-mower mode is genuinely useful for tight spots a push mower can't reach — under low decks, between landscape boulders, around AC condensers. It's not a replacement for a real mower on open grass, but for small landscape pockets it saves the work of dragging out separate equipment. The in-line edger mode produces clean vertical cuts along sidewalks and driveways.
Battery Life and Runtime
The included 4.0Ah pack delivers up to 45 minutes per Worx's spec, and Gardening Products Review confirmed real-world runtime good enough to trim and edge a 0.17-acre lot twice. T3's testing was tougher and they logged closer to 30 minutes before depletion — likely reflecting harder material than typical lawn grass.
The Power Share battery is shared across more than 75 Worx 20V tools, so platform owners get real value. Recharge is around 90 minutes on the standard charger. There's no rapid-charge option, which is the main runtime ceiling — for half-acre or larger lots, plan on owning a second battery.
Battery aging plays out roughly as expected for a budget-tier 20V system: figure 300-500 deep cycles before noticeable capacity loss, which translates to 4-6 seasons of weekly homeowner use. Replacement packs run roughly $40-60 each, which is roughly half the cost of equivalent EGO 56V replacements — meaning the long-term cost of ownership stays low even as batteries get retired.
Line Feed and Refilling
The Command Feed system dispenses line at a button push — no bumping the head against the ground. Product Analogy specifically called this a game-changer, but Gardening Products Review noted the motor stops and restarts each time the button is pressed, which interrupts workflow momentarily. The mechanism uses 0.065-inch line (the thinnest in this category), which limits cutting capability but reduces motor draw.
Spool capacity is small at 10 feet, meaning frequent reloads for users on bigger lots. The reload itself is straightforward — pop the cap, wind on fresh line. Worx includes a bonus feature: Free Spools for Life mail-in program, which softens the small-spool inconvenience over time.
Where It Falls Short
Three real weaknesses. Cutting power stalls in anything thicker than quarter-inch weeds, per T3's testing. Runtime around 30-45 minutes on the 4.0Ah pack limits lot size. And the 12-inch cutting width forces multiple passes that wider trimmers wouldn't need.
Gardening Products Review also flagged the main handle as causing hand cramping during extended use for those with smaller hands, and the Command Feed button as occasionally requiring multiple presses to advance line. None of these are deal-breakers for the intended use case, but buyers expecting performance closer to the EGO or Ryobi picks will be disappointed.
Who It's Best For
Owners of small-to-mid-sized suburban lots — generally under a quarter acre — with maintained grass and modest annual weed pressure. Anyone with shoulder, wrist, or upper-body concerns who wants the lightest possible cordless trimmer. Owners of Worx 20V tools who want platform compatibility. People who'd like to replace a separate edger or push trimmer with one tool.
Skip it if you have heavy weed pressure, lots over a quarter acre, or any need for sustained cutting power. The Ryobi RY402110 above is the right step up. Skip it also if you don't have a power outlet for the charger reasonably close to your storage area — Worx's charging time penalizes infrequent users.
How It Compares to Alternatives
Against the Black+Decker GH3000 corded pick below, the Worx wins on cordless freedom and 3-in-1 conversion but loses on continuous cutting power (the GH3000's 7.5-amp motor doesn't tire). For owners of small flat lots near an outlet, the GH3000 actually outcuts the Worx in heavier material; for owners who want freedom from extension cords, the Worx wins.
Against the EGO ST1623T or Ryobi 40V picks above, the Worx is a different category of tool — it trades cutting capability for half the weight and a third the price. Buyers should match the tool to their actual yard, not the marketing copy.
Long-Term Durability and Platform
Worx's 20V Power Share platform now spans more than 75 tools and the battery footprint is shared with their 40V and 80V tools (you stack 2 or 4 20V packs to make higher voltage), which makes the entry investment go further. Long-term Amazon and Target reviews for the WG170 family span multiple years and the consistent complaints are battery longevity (lithium aging is normal) and the small spool, not mechanical failures of the trimmer body itself.
Worx ships a 3-year limited warranty on the tool, which is competitive at this price tier. The Free Spools for Life program softens the small-spool grievance significantly over the life of the tool — you mail in proof of purchase and receive periodic replacement spools at no cost. That alone offsets several years of consumable purchases for typical homeowner use, and meaningfully changes the long-term cost calculation compared to non-platform competitors.
Strengths
- +Just 5.5 lb working weight makes it the easiest pick on the wrists
- +Three-in-one design converts between trimmer, in-line edger, and mini-mower
- +Command Feed dispenses line at a button push — no bumping required
- +20V battery is shared across 75+ Worx Power Share tools
- +Telescoping shaft accommodates users from 5'2" to 6'4"+
Watch-outs
- −12-inch cutting width is the narrowest of any pick here
- −Battery life around 30-45 minutes on 4.0Ah pack falls short of larger-format competitors
- −Cutting power stalls in anything thicker than light grass or quarter-inch weeds
- −Small spool capacity (10 ft) means frequent reloads
How it compares
Just over a third the weight of the EGO ST1623T (5.5 lb vs 12.6 lb) and a quarter the cost. Forfeits the cutting width and runtime of the Ryobi RY402110, but the 3-in-1 conversion (trimmer / edger / mini-mower) is something none of the other picks here offer. Lighter and quieter than the Black+Decker GH3000 corded pick but with the cordless freedom.
Who this is for
At a glance: Owners of small to mid-sized suburban lots (under 1/4 acre) with maintained grass who prize light weight and the 3-in-1 conversion over raw cutting power.
Why you’d buy the Worx WG170 GT Revolution 20V 12-Inch
- Just 5.5 lb working weight makes it the easiest pick on the wrists.
- Three-in-one design converts between trimmer, in-line edger, and mini-mower.
- Command Feed dispenses line at a button push — no bumping required.
Why you’d skip it
- 12-inch cutting width is the narrowest of any pick here.
- Battery life around 30-45 minutes on 4.0Ah pack falls short of larger-format competitors.
- Cutting power stalls in anything thicker than light grass or quarter-inch weeds.
Rating sources
“Cuts a nice, wide swath and the 12-inch diameter handles lawn maintenance effectively.”
“Powerful enough to cut through grass and light foliage, but it choked on anything thicker than a quarter of an inch.”
“12-inch cutting diameter delivers a nice wide swath; 5.5 lb total weight.”
Our 4.2 score is the average of these published ratings. Ratings marked * were derived from the reviewer’s written analysis or video transcript — the publisher didn’t print an explicit numeric score, so we inferred one from their own words. Click through to verify. More about methodology.
