I wasn’t sure what to expect from a battery-powered chainsaw, but I could tell upon pulling the Husqvarna Power Axe 350i Cordless Electric Chainsaw out of the box that this was a high-quality machine. While it may be one of the more expensive battery-powered chainsaws on the market, it’s also one of the most efficient.
In addition to regular mode, I powered through thick trees less than 17 inches—and I did so quickly thanks to a boost mode button. The 40V battery offers enough horsepower to handle almost all jobs. In addition, various safety features keep me in one piece as I do my yard work. I wish the machine wasn’t as heavy, but at least it didn't vibrate much or sound too loud, which made for a better experience.
Read my full review to learn more about this chainsaw's design and performance on small and big jobs. Then, check out our best chainsaws guide.
Alex Temblador is an award-winning Dallas-based author and freelance writer. She has covered home, design, architecture, and art for various publications. Recently, she bought a 103-year-old Sears & Roebuck house with a wraparound porch and original features. She also enjoys testing products for buying guides and reviews while embracing her first-time homeowner life.
Husqvarna Power Axe 350i: Key specs
| Model no.: | 970601202 |
| Fuel/power source: | 40V battery |
| Horsepower: | 1.6 |
| Size/dimensions: | 18.9"L x 8.8"W x 9.4"H |
| Blade length: | 18 in |
| Weight (without battery): | 7.72 lbs. |
Husqvarna Power Axe 350i: Price & availability
At $479.99, the Husqvarna Power AXE 350i Cordless Electric Chainsaw isn’t the most expensive chainsaw Husqvarna provides but is not the least expensive. It sits in the lower mid-range of chainsaws they offer. There are considerably cheaper battery-powered chainsaws on the market, though I believe the price reflects the power and features this chainsaw offers.
You can purchase this chainsaw on the Husqvarna site, as well as from Amazon, Lowe’s, Acme Tools, Grainger Industrial Supply, and more.
Score: 8 out of 10
Husqvarna Power Axe 350i: Setup
As I mentioned above, I could tell right away that the Husqvarna Power Axe 350i Cordless Electric Chainsaw was a quality chainsaw with an 18-inch bar. It arrived on my doorstep in a single box. The entire chainsaw is put together, so you just have to charge the battery provided with the charger, and then you’re ready to use it. Even the chain was nearly tightened to perfection. I only had to make a slight adjustment before cutting.
The one thing that surprised me was that Husqvarna didn't provide chain oil in the box. Now, I’ve tested three battery-powered chainsaws recently and none of them provided chain oil, but it would have been nice if a small packet was included. I’ve seen this done on lawnmowers I've tested in the past. Instead, I had to go to Lowe’s and buy a bottle of Husqvarna chain oil.
I like that this chainsaw comes with a single 40V battery. However, I was surprised it wasn’t a 60V battery, which would have offered even more power and battery life than a 40V. Still, as you’ll discover from my testing feedback below, the 40V did a great job.
Score: 8 out of 10
Husqvarna Power Axe 350i: Design
The Husqvarna Power Axe 350i Cordless Electric Chainsaw is designed with safety in mind, which I appreciate. You can never be too safe when using major yard tools. After testing a couple of chainsaws, I found that this one has the most safety features.
Before we get into safety features, let’s start with the basics. This chainsaw has an 18-inch bar, an S93G chain with a .05-inch gauge, and a Spur 6 sprocket type. Rather than using tools to tighten or loosen the chain, you simply turn the built-in tension mechanism on the side of the machine to the left (to loosen) or right (to tighten). Convenient, right?
Oil must be poured into the chainsaw before attaching the battery. I’m not an avid fan of the oil chamber being on the side of the machine. I had to lay the machine on its side and try to pour oil into the hole without getting it on the machine itself. Thank goodness for a funnel. I also wanted to know how high or low the oil level was. The oil chamber viewfinder is slightly opaque but not enough for me to see the oil level readily.
The battery fits into the middle of the chainsaw body. Once the battery is in, the chainsaw is much heavier than without it. I found it heavy, but perhaps that’s to be expected of an 18-inch chainsaw.
There are handles behind the battery and in front so you can hold the chainsaw with two hands. In addition to pushing a power button on the control panel to turn the machine on, you’ll need to press and pull two triggers to get the chain moving. The back handle has two triggers – one that you grip and the other that you push forward and down. Without pressing both triggers at the same time, the machine won’t start.
At the front of the chainsaw, it almost looks like there are two handles – but one is not. The handle closest to the battery is a handle. In front of the handle is a chain brake. This is a fantastic safety feature that automatically stops the chain from moving if the machine feels the chainsaw kickback. It can be pushed forward to lock the chain in place or backward to unlock the chain. I used the chain brake to lock the chain when I didn’t want to turn the power off. I needed to set the chainsaw on the ground to move cuttings out of the way. Better safe than sorry!
Next to the power button is a boost mode button. Press it once to turn boost mode on, and press it again to shut it off. I could hear the difference in engine output when boost mode was turned on.
Overall, this Husqvarna chainsaw is made of top-quality materials and designed very well.
Score: 9 out of 10
Husqvarna Power Axe 350i: Performance
I tested the Husqvarna Power Axe 350i Cordless Electric Chainsaw in two places—my yard and my parents’ yard—to understand how the machine worked. I started by cutting through various pre-cut logs in my wood pile and worked my way up to an old tree with limbs over a foot wide.
The chainsaw cut through small and medium-sized logs without effort. I could feel right away that this chainsaw had a lot of power. I quickly moved on to some old trees with limbs that needed to be sawn off. Even in regular mode, the chainsaw powered through without issue. I barely had to maneuver or push the chainsaw – it worked its way through thick tree limbs easily.
I tested the boost mode on 16-inch limbs. I could feel and hear the difference between boost mode and regular mode. In boost mode, the chainsaw slices faster through the limb. I probably don’t need boot mode for most jobs unless I’m slicing through a really thick tree 15-17 inches in diameter. I think regular mode would do just fine and save some battery power.
Even after testing the chainsaw twice for 30 minutes each, I was surprised that the battery was still over 50 percent full. The 40V Husqvarna battery is efficient in horsepower and battery life. It took about an hour to fully charge.
While gas-powered tools are loud and usually vibrate, this chainsaw is. It’s heavy, so my arms were tired but not sore after each use. Plus, this chainsaw isn’t as loud as the gas-powered ones.
While testing this Husqvarna chainsaw, I measured a noise level of 90 dB, equivalent to riding a motorcycle or a subway train. While it wasn’t the quietest chainsaw I had on test at the time of writing (that was the Sun Joe 24V-X2-CS16 48-Volt IONMAX Cordless Chain Saw), it is still a quieter option than gas-powered rivals, which often exceed 110 dB.
I felt really safe and secure using this chainsaw. The handles are well placed to balance the chainsaw as I cut. As I cut through large limbs, the bumper spikes provide superior leverage and control. I loved the fact that I needed to hold two triggers at the same time and press the power button for the machine to start up. The chain brake also gave me peace of mind when using the chainsaw.
This chainsaw comes with a bar cover, which should be used when storing it. It doesn’t take up too much room and can easily be stored on the wall without the battery.
Score: 9 out of 10
Should you buy the Husqvarna Power Axe 350i?
| Attribute | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price & availability | Somewhat expensive but comes with a 40V battery, boost mode, and is widely stocked. | 8/10 |
| Setup | Quality construction and ease of use | 8/10 |
| Design | Battery-powered chainsaw with an 18-inch bar, multiple safety features, and a control panel with a power button and boost button. | 9/10 |
| Performance | Great sawing performance for small and large limbs with plenty of control; slightly heavy. | 9/10 |
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
How does the Husqvarna Power Axe 350i compare?
The Sun Joe 24V-X2-CS16 48-Volt IONMAX Cordless 16-inch Chain Saw is a lighter chainsaw that’s less than half the price of the Husqvarna chainsaw I tested. With a 16-inch bar, it can’t cut anything over 15 inches, but that’s still a fairly large limb. In my testing, I found that it doesn’t have the power (or even a boost mode option) of the Husqvarna, but it cuts fairly well.
The Dewalt 60V Max 18-inch Brushless Battery Powered Chainsaw will cut the same width as the Husqvarna, and it might do so with a little more power thanks to a 60V battery. Unfortunately, you’ll have to use a tool to tighten the chain. At least it’s more affordable than the Husqvarna.
If you don’t want interruptions to your chainsaw projects, opt for the Husqvarna 450 Rancher Gas Powered Chain Saw. It’ll allow you to prune thicker trees thanks to a 20-inch bar. Sure, the chain needs to be tightened with a tool, and starting the machine will require some cranking. However, it’s a high-quality, heavy-duty chainsaw that will complete most home jobs. Surprisingly, it's $30 cheaper than the battery-powered one I tested.
How I tested the Husqvarna Power Axe 350i
The Husqvarna Power Axe 350i Cordless Electric Chainsaw arrived in December. After charging the battery and buying chain oil, I tested the chainsaw a few times in various places around my yard and my parents’ yard. This included cutting through logs and limbs off trees. I made sure to test all the features of the product to provide an in-depth review.
Find out more about how we test.
- First reviewed: January 2024
