Greenworks vs Ryobi Lawn Mower (2021): Which Brand Should You Go With?

Battery-powered lawn mowers are great if you only have to mow small to medium sized lawns. They offer excellent maneuverability and, while not quite as powerful as gas-powered ones, they are still capable machines. The Greenworks G-max 25302 and the Ryobi RY40180 are two very popular battery-powered lawn mowers from trusted brands. In this article, we compare the two to find out how they fare against each other so that you can make a smart choice before buying.

Greenworks vs Ryobi Lawn Mower Comparison Chart

Performance

The Greenworks G-max 25302 has a dual battery system while the Ryobi RY40180 is operated with a single battery.

With its dual battery to power the 40V system, the Greenworks G-max 25302 has a mowing time of around 60-70 minutes. This runtime is when 4Ah and 2Ah batteries are used. Of course, you can go with dual higher capacity batteries to increase runtime even further. Charging the included 4Ah and 2Ah batteries will take around 2 hours, which is very good.

The Greenworks G-max 25302 comes with Greenworks’ SmartCut technology, which allows it to adjust its power depending on the surface that you’re mowing. With this technology, the Greenworks G-max 25302 can deliver a smooth operation with low noise and save battery life in the process.

On the other hand, the Ryobi RY40180 comes with a single 5Ah 40V battery that gives it a runtime of around 35-40 minutes. It doesn’t have a dual battery system but it does come with a battery compartment for another battery. You can just swap batteries to increase the mowing time if you need to.

The Ryobi RY40180 also comes with a load-sensing technology that is very similar to Greenworks’ Smart Cut technology. It can increase power output when dealing with tough and thick grass and it will power down when mowing thinner turf, to conserve battery life. The Ryobi RY40180 also has a low noise operation and it even comes with bright LED headlights if you prefer mowing during nighttime.

Cut Quality

The Ryobi RY40180 has 7 cutting height settings while the Greenworks G-max 25302 has 5.

Even though both lawn mowers offer excellent performance, being battery-powered, they still come with limitations. For the most part, they will cut tall and thick grass but they are more suited for grass with moderate height. The Greenworks G-max 25302 has 5 cutting height options from 1.15 inches to 3.5 inches. In contrast, the Ryobi RY40180 has 7 settings from 1.5 inches to 3.75 inches.

When dealing with moderate height grass, both lawn mowers will perform excellently. With their 20-inch cutting width, you can thoroughly groom and trim your yard beautifully consistently and fast. Since they both have low-noise operations, they are both great for night time mowing as well. However, with the Ryobi RY40180’s bright LED headlights, they will be more suited in low light environments.

As for disposal, both lawn mowers come with mulching and bagging options. Both lawn mowers will dice up the clippings finely so that there are no build up or clumping for easier disposal. When it comes to mulching, the Ryobi RY40180 can cut the clippings more finely, so it’s a bit better in that regard. However, the difference is not that significant and the Greenworks G-max 25302 still performs well in that area.

Handling and Safety

Both the Ryobi RY40180 and Greenworks G-max 25302 have safety features in place.

Since the Ryobi RY40180 is a push button starter, concerns over accidental start up are warranted. Fortunately, Ryobi implemented a safety feature where you’ll need to hold down the bail lever before it would start. It also requires a fuse key, so everything is covered with regards to accidental start ups.

Similar to the Ryobi RY40180, the Greenworks G-max 25302 also has safety features in place to prevent starting the machine by accident. Even though it is also a push button starter, you’ll need to first connect the safety plug and give its speed handle a tug before it would start. In the event of an emergency and you need to kill the motor immediately, pulling the safety plug will do the trick.

Both machines are lightweight enough that they are easy to maneuver. Weighing 42.5 lbs., the Greenworks G-max 25302 is a little bit lighter than the Ryobi RY40180, which weighs 45 lbs. One advantage that the Ryobi RY40180 has over the Greenworks is that it has telescopic handles that you can adjust for the best comfort.

When it comes to storage, the Greenworks G-max 25302’s handles can be folded to save some space, but it still takes up a lot. The Ryobi RY40180, on the other hand, can be stored vertically so it requires less space when stored.

Maintenance

There’s not much maintenance needed with both the Greenworks G-max 25302 and Ryobi RY40180.

One of the reasons why battery-powered lawn mowers have gained popularity is that there is minimal maintenance needed with them. For the most part, you just need to keep the blades sharpened and keep the batteries charged. After that, you don’t need to do much. You don’t have to buy fuel, replace spark plugs, do engine maintenance and any other maintaining.

Greenworks offers a 3-year limited warranty with their lawn mowers while Ryobi offers a 5-year warranty period.

Verdict

The Greenworks G-max 25302 is more suited for medium-sized lawns due to its longer runtime while the Ryobi RY40180 is better equipped for night time mowing.

You can’t go wrong with either lawn mowers since they both perform very well. That said, the dual battery system of the Greenworks G-max 25302 allows it to have a longer runtime so it is better suited for medium-sized lawns. As for the Ryobi RY40180, it comes with bright LED headlights that will prove useful during night time mowing or in low light environments. You won’t be disappointed with either lawn mowers and choosing one will depend on specific factors such as those mentioned.

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