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Greenworks G-MAX 40V Review

A mediocre saw that's fine for smaller jobs and people that own the battery and charger from another G-MAX tool
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Greenworks G-MAX 40V Review
Price:  $250 List
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Manufacturer:   greenworks
By Ross Patton ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  Oct 24, 2019
60
OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#10 of 13
  • Saw Performance - 35% 5.5
  • Ease of Use - 30% 6.0
  • Battery - 25% 6.0
  • Noise - 5% 7.4
  • Weight - 5% 7.3

Our Verdict

The Greenworks G-MAX 40V is a solid chainsaw overall, but it isn't quite worthy of an award. While it does exceed the performance of some of the models near the bottom of our list, it is far from being at the top. It has a middle-of-the-road price tag and landed near the middle for all of our testing. It doesn't offer the same level of functionality and power as the top-tier models, but it makes sense to purchase the “tool only” only option if you already own a G-MAX 40V battery and charger.
REASONS TO BUY
Quiet
Metal bucking spikes
Light
Quiet
REASONS TO AVOID
Slow wind-up time
Not the best battery life
Unimpressive performance

Compare to Similar Products

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Awards  Best Buy Award
Best Bang for the Buck
  Top Pick Award
Best 20V Model
Price $250 List
$192.81 at Amazon		$399 List
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$299.00 at Amazon		$250 List
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$104.71 at Amazon
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Bottom Line If you already own any tools that use this same battery, this is cordless chainsaw is satisfactory for smaller jobsIf you want an easy-to-use cordless electric chainsaw with a long-lasting battery and a long bar this is the oneA decent battery-powered chainsaw that falls about in the middle of the pack for overall performanceWith a high level of performance, this is not a bad choice for an efficient cordless chainsawIf you're in the market for a 20 volt model, this saw does the trick for quick and small jobs
Rating Categories Greenworks G-MAX 40V Ego Power+ CS1800 Ego Power+ CS1613 Ego Power+ CS1400 Worx WG322
Saw Performance (35%)
5.5
8.5
6.5
6.5
5.5
Ease of Use (30%)
6.0
8.0
8.0
6.0
7.0
Battery (25%)
6.0
8.0
7.0
6.0
4.0
Noise (5%)
7.4
6.6
6.3
7.1
7.9
Weight (5%)
7.3
6.2
6.4
7.4
9.4
Specs Greenworks G-MAX 40V Ego Power+ CS1800 Ego Power+ CS1613 Ego Power+ CS1400 Worx WG322
Model Number 20312 CS1800 CS1613 CS1400 WG322
Bar Length 16 inches 18 inches 16 inches 14 inches 10 inches
Measured Average Cutting Time 12.582 seconds 5.876 seconds 7.21 seconds 9.452 seconds 38.382 seconds
Measured Battery Charge Time 2 hrs 1.5 hr .8 hr .75 hr 3 hr
Measured Weight 12 lbs 14 lbs, 11 oz 14 lbs, 3 oz 11 lbs, 10 oz 6 lbs, 10 oz
Measured Battery Weight 2 lbs, 15 oz 4 lbs, 13 oz 4 lbs, 12 oz 2lbs, 14 oz 1 lbs, 10 oz
Measured Body Dimesions 16x8x8 inches 16x9x8 inches 17 x 8 x 6.5 inches 16x9x8 inches 13x8x7.5 inches
Included Battery Size 4 Ah 5 Ah 4Ah 2 Ah 2 Ah
Nominal Voltage 40V 56V 56V 56V 20V
Measured Runtime 27 minutes 60 minutes 25 minutes 24 minutes 22 minutes
Measured Run Time Eco Mode n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Measured Wind Up Time 2.25 seconds 1.25 seconds .5 seconds 2.5 seconds 2 seconds
Measured Decibel Reading at 48in 83.8 dBa 88.8 dBa 90.6 dBa 85.3 dBa 80.0 dBa
Control Type Electronic button, side safety and chain brake Side safety w/ chain brake side safety w/ chain brake Side safety w/ chain brake Thumb safety
Chain Replacement and Tensioning Type Tool free Tool Free Tool free Tool free Tool free
Metal Bucking Spikes Yes Yes Yes No No
Oil Conservation 7 8 8 8 8
Bar & Chain Tank Location and Type Top Side, Screen Side, Screen Side, Screen Top

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Greenworks G-MAX 40V falls somewhere in the middle of a saw that we have great things to say about and one that we can't recommend to our readers. We wouldn't actively dissuade you from buying it, but it might make sense to get something with a little more power if you're demanding on your tools or a lighter, cheaper saw for smaller jobs. The best thing that it has going for it is it is one of the quieter models that we've gotten to test.

Performance Comparison


greenworks g-max 40v - the greenworks g-max is your run of the mill electric chainsaw.
The Greenworks G-MAX is your run of the mill electric chainsaw.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Likes


During our saw performance tests the Greenworks model did fairly well. With an average cutting time of 12.6 seconds during our dimensional wood test, it falls in the middle of the pack. When we took it to the wood yard, it performed better with wet wood than it did with the dry wood at the lab.

greenworks g-max 40v - between the controls, the wind-up time, and the mediocre cutting...
Between the controls, the wind-up time, and the mediocre cutting performance, the Greenworks G-MAX is not the easiest saw to make cuts with.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Although we aren't the biggest fans of extraneous power buttons, we do like that it has an audio indicator to let you know that the saw is on so you don't have to physically look down to find the light.

greenworks g-max 40v - we find electronic power buttons to be a redundant feature when...
We find electronic power buttons to be a redundant feature when there's already a chain brake, safety switch, and trigger on most models.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

We are always a fan of metal bucking spikes — the Greenworks G-MAX 40V is one of only a handful of saws that we've reviewed that comes with this feature.

The metric that is easily the best for the G-MAX is noise. With a measured decibel level of 83.8, it is one of the quietest cordless chainsaws that we've tested.


Dislikes


Aside from the redundant power button, there are still a few other elements of the Greenworks that we aren't very fond of. It's got a pretty poor saw performance, especially considering that this saw has an exceptionally lethargic wind-up time.

We aren't fond of the G-MAX chain tensioning system. It requires you to turn a wheel with each hand which doesn't leave much of a way to hold the saw itself to get any leverage.

greenworks g-max 40v - the greenworks g-max chain tensioning system is not our favorite.
The Greenworks G-MAX chain tensioning system is not our favorite.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

The Greenworks had a satisfactory runtime of 27 minutes during our testing, but with a 2 hour charge time, we weren't able to give it a good score for the battery.


Value


The Greenworks G-MAX is relatively cheap, but with a level of function that is less than impressive we recommend purchasing a chainsaw that offers better performance for a similar price

greenworks g-max 40v - the g-max has a medium weight when compared to the rest of the field.
The G-MAX has a medium weight when compared to the rest of the field.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Conclusion


All in all, we find the Greenworks G-MAX to be particularly mediocre. If you have already invested in a different G-MAX 40V product it may make sense to stay with the same brand. Otherwise, we would recommend a different model.

—Ross Patton

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