Project Farm put eight string trimmers through identical head-to-head tests on the same 8x24-foot patch of thick, overgrown grass. The EGO Power+ 56V finished in 1 minute 20 seconds, faster than every other mainstream consumer trimmer. It maintained high RPMs throughout without the bogging that plagued cheaper models, and the grass clippings dispersed cleanly instead of piling up in front of the cutting head.
The Line IQ and Power Load system sealed the deal. Tech Made Easy spent three years with this trimmer and consistently praised the auto-feed mechanism: line advances to the optimal length without bumping the head on the ground, and when you need to reload, the Power Load feature mechanically winds up to 23.5 feet of fresh line with a single button press. No more sitting on the ground hand-threading a spool.
Pro Picks highlighted the carbon fiber shaft as a genuine differentiator. It keeps the tool rigid (no flex during aggressive cutting) while shaving weight where it matters most, at the cutting end. The included 4Ah battery and rapid charger deliver 50 to 55 minutes of real-world runtime, and the charger refills it in under an hour. At $349 for the complete kit, the EGO bundles premium power with the kind of convenience features that make you actually look forward to trimming.
What It Won't Do
This thing weighs nearly 14 pounds with the battery attached. Project Farm measured it as the heaviest mainstream consumer trimmer in the lineup, and you will feel every ounce during overhead work or long sessions along fence lines. The carbon fiber shaft helps with balance, but physics wins eventually. Tech Made Easy also noted the telescoping shaft feels a bit short for anyone over six feet tall, even fully extended.
The Ryobi 40V pulled off something remarkable in Project Farm's testing: it cleared that same thick grass patch in 1 minute 57 seconds, just two seconds behind the $319 Kobalt 80V. That is 40-volt performance matching an 80-volt tool, at $259 with a 4Ah battery and charger included.
Project Farm measured the front end at just 3.63 pounds, the lightest cutting head in the test group. That light front end, combined with a 1.3-second trigger response (faster than the Kobalt or Husqvarna), makes the Ryobi feel snappier and more nimble than its spec sheet suggests. It adjusts between a 14-inch and 16-inch cutting swath depending on the job.
For anyone already running Ryobi 40V tools (and there are millions of them, since it is the best-selling battery platform at Home Depot), this trimmer slots right into the existing battery collection. No new chargers, no new batteries, no ecosystem lock-in anxiety.
What It Won't Do
The Ryobi vibrates hard. Project Farm measured 40 millimeters per second of handle vibration, the worst in the non-commercial group. Combined with 96.3 dB of noise (louder than some gas trimmers), using this tool is a genuinely rough sensory experience. The narrow debris shield adds insult to injury: you will be covered in grass clippings and dirt by the time you finish.
Who Should Buy Which
EGO Power+ ST1623T 56V String Trimmer
The most powerful mainstream trimmer with hands-free line management
- Medium to large yards with mixed grass and weeds
- Anyone who hates manual line winding and wants Power Load automation
- Users who do 30+ minutes of trimming per session and need sustained power
- Homeowners who value quiet operation (88.6 dB vs 96+ dB competitors)
- People building out an EGO 56V ecosystem for multiple outdoor tools
Ryobi 40V String Trimmer
40V power that keeps pace with 80V trimmers at a fraction of the cost
- Budget-conscious homeowners who need real cutting power under $260
- Ryobi 40V ecosystem owners who already have batteries on the shelf
- Small to medium yards with standard lawn maintenance needs
- Users with short trimming sessions who tolerate vibration and noise
- First-time battery trimmer buyers who want a low-risk entry point