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Worx WG322 Review

This cordless electric chainsaw is our favorite 20V model for small, quick projects around the yard
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worx wg322 battery chainsaw review
Price:  $130 List
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Manufacturer:   Worx
By Ross Patton ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Oct 8, 2020
61
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#10 of 12
  • Saw Performance - 35% 6.0
  • Ease of Use - 30% 7.0
  • Battery - 25% 4.0
  • Noise - 10% 9.0

Our Verdict

The Worx WG322 is quiet, light, and easy to operate. Its compact size makes it ideal for home use and jobs that don't require a long bar. We were pleasantly surprised by the cutting performance and battery life that the WG322 delivers considering its small low-voltage battery. That said, the battery did not last especially long compared to much of the competition during our assessments, and it does take a long time to charge.
REASONS TO BUY
Compact
Light
Quiet
Affordable
REASONS TO AVOID
Mediocre battery life
Slow at making cuts

Compare to Similar Products

 
worx wg322 battery chainsaw review
This Product
Worx WG322
Awards Top Pick Award Editors' Choice Award Best Buy Award  Best Buy Award 
Price $130 List
$129.99 at Amazon
$450 List$399 List
$399.00 at Amazon
$299 List
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$290 List
$282.29 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
61
83
82
72
66
Star Rating
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Pros Compact, light, quiet, affordablePhenomenal sawing performance, quite for high performance, simple operation, boost modeTop-notch cutting performance, long-lasting battery, easy chain tensioning system, affordableEasy to use controls, metal bucking spikes, flip-out lever on oil capSpectacular battery life, two chain speed settings, barely consumes bar and chain oil
Cons Mediocre battery life, slow at making cutsLong charge time, priceySo-so wind-up timeSo-so performance, loudNot the strongest cutting power, plastic chain tensioning system, electronic controls slow down sawing
Bottom Line This cordless electric chainsaw is our favorite 20V model for small, quick projects around the yardA top-tier battery-powered model that cuts even faster with a setting that increases power deliveryOne of the best options if you're looking for bar length, battery life, and tool-free chain tensioningA decent battery-powered chainsaw that falls about in the middle of the pack for overall performanceA good degree of performance and an exceptional battery life at a reasonable price
Rating Categories Worx WG322 Husqvarna Power Axe... Ego Power+ CS1800 Ego Power+ CS1613 Husqvarna 120i
Saw Performance (35%)
6.0
9.5
9.0
7.0
6.0
Ease of Use (30%)
7.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
6.0
Battery (25%)
4.0
7.0
8.0
7.0
8.0
Noise (10%)
9.0
8.0
6.0
6.0
7.0
Specs Worx WG322 Husqvarna Power Axe... Ego Power+ CS1800 Ego Power+ CS1613 Husqvarna 120i
Model Number WG322 350i CS1800 CS1613 120i
Bar Length 10 inches 18 inches 18 inches 16 inches 14 inches
Measured Weight 6 lbs, 10 oz 14 lbs, 6 oz 12 lbs, 4 oz 14 lbs, 3 oz 10 lbs, 11 oz
Measured Battery Weight 1 lbs, 10 oz 4 lbs, 2 oz 3 lbs, 8 oz 4 lbs, 12 oz 2 lbs, 12 oz
Included Battery Size 2 Ah 7.7Ah 5 Ah 4Ah 4.2 Ah
Nominal Voltage 20V 36V 56V 56V 36V
Measured Runtime 22 minutes 51 minutes 60 minutes 25 minutes 40 minutes
Measured Run Time Eco Mode n/a n/a n/a n/a 54 mins
Measured Battery Charge Time 3 hr 2.75 hr 1.5 hr .8 hr 2 hrs
Measured Average Cutting Time 38.382 seconds 7.07 seconds 5.876 seconds 7.21 seconds 13.486 seconds
Measured Wind Up Time 2 seconds .25 seconds 1.25 seconds .5 seconds .5 seconds
Measured Decibel Reading at 48in 80.0 dBa 82.1 dBa 88.8 dBa 90.6 dBa 85.9 dBa
Control Type Thumb safety Electronic button, palm safety, and chain brake Side safety w/ chain brake side safety w/ chain brake Electronic button, side safety and brake
Chain Replacement and Tensioning Type Tool free Tool free Tool Free Tool free Tool free
Metal Bucking Spikes No Yes Yes Yes No
Oil Conservation 8 9 8 8 8
Bar & Chain Tank Location and Type Top Side Side, Screen Side, Screen Side, flip-up
Measured Body Dimesions 13x8x7.5 inches 18.5 x 8 x 6 inches 16x9x8 inches 17 x 8 x 6.5 inches 19x7x7 inches

Our Analysis and Test Results

This saw has a lot to offer for those that don't require a long bar or tons of battery life. The short bar length and small battery make the Worx WG322 much lighter and more compact than most cordless electric chainsaws on the market. The light weight can alleviate some pain from your back and arms, making small duty trimming, bucking, and pruning easier than ever. The tool-free chain tensioning system makes tightening the chain as easy as possible, but we noticed that the WG322 requires a bit more monitoring than models that use a tool.

Performance Comparison


worx wg322 battery chainsaw review - the worx wg322 is the way to go when it comes to small bar 20v...
The Worx WG322 is the way to go when it comes to small bar 20V versions.
Credit: Laura Casner

Saw Performance


We divided saw performance into two halves for our first metric — we timed several individual cuts with dimensional wood and took an average of several trials. We subjectively judged the feel and cutting power of every model while bucking logs into firewood. This section of our assessment accounts for 35% of our total score.


The Worx WG322 is far from the highest-scoring model in this metric, but we were astonished by this saw's abilities considering its size and weight. On average, it took 36 seconds to cut through our dimensional lumber. This may sound like a long time, but this is nearly as fast as models that claim to have twice the power.

worx wg322 battery chainsaw review
Credit: Ross Patton

Ease of Use


We dedicated the next 30% of the score to how easy each saw is to use. For this metric, we weighed each model to double-check the manufacturers' claims — some of which often list the weight without the batteries attached. We then carefully inspected the switches, triggers and toyed with the various chain tensioning systems. Finally, we subjectively judged how quickly and easy each saw was to get going from storage modes to making cuts.


In the world of power tools, we often find that simplicity is key. Because the Worx WG322 only has one power output setting, there is no reason to have any more switches other than a safety button and a trigger. We are also fans of bar & chain oil tanks that have the fill cap located on the top of the saw body rather than the side as this alleviates any need for awkward positioning while filling and lowers the chances of spilling.

worx wg322 battery chainsaw review
Credit: Ross Patton

The chain tensioning system on the WG322 is as easy as can be to operate. It simply requires the user to spin the dial one direction in order to align the bar, tighten the chain, and lock everything in place all at once.

worx wg322 battery chainsaw review - the worx wg322 bar & chain tensioning system is a cinch to use.
The Worx WG322 bar & chain tensioning system is a cinch to use.
Credit: Ross Patton

Battery Life


The next 25% of the total score is allotted to battery performance. With the batteries fully charged, we strapped the saws down to a large table and ran them with no load in order to time the battery life of each model. Once the saws were completely out of sauce, we plugged them into their chargers and carefully stood by with a stopwatch to see how long they take to get back to 100%.


This was not a strong metric for the Worx model. It only ran for a total of 22 minutes, and it took 3 hours to charge. However, we should mention that it did outperform models with much higher voltage batteries, and we love how small the battery and charger are compared to most of the opponents.

worx wg322 battery chainsaw review - the worx battery does not last especially long and this model takes...
The Worx battery does not last especially long and this model takes a bit of time to charge, but considering the size of the battery and charger this is to be expected.
Credit: Ross Patton

Noise


To measure noise, we used a sound pressure level meter from a few feet away from each saw running at full throttle to gain some objective data. Next, we had a panel of judges stand at a distance of 50 feet to let us know if there were any particularly offensive squeals or whines that each tool produced. These combined assessments account for the final 10% of our overall score.


The Worx WG322 did fantastically in the noise department. The judges decided they could barely notice it running from 50 feet away and that it was hardly annoying to have to listen to. When we broke out the SPL meter, this model registered a mere 80.0 dBa.


Value


We were shocked by the price versus performance ratio we discovered while testing the WG322. This model outperforms other top-ranked battery chainsaws that cost more, in many cases, a lot more. If you don't need to make large cuts or need a long-lasting battery, this saw is the way to go if you want to save some money.

Conclusion


When it comes to low voltage short bar models we can't imagine finding a much better cordless electric chainsaw than the Worx WG322. It's affordable, compact, light, and it won't bother your neighbors but still rips through small logs with relative ease.

Ross Patton
 

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