Husqvarna 120i Review – A Compact Chainsaw with Lots of Power

The Husqvarna 120i is categorized as a “casual chainsaw” by Husqvarna, which basically means it’s intended for light-duty usage and targeted for homeowners who want a high-quality chainsaw in a compact, easy-to-use package. In our review of the Husqvarna 120i you’ll learn why it’s a good buy in 2024 and holds up nicely against the Dewalt 60V Flexvolt but they’re two different animals for different applications. Which animal are you?

Well, the Husqvarna 120i has proven itself, over time, to be a very capable (and reliable) battery-powered chainsaw. It’s fairly priced for a brand like Husqvarna. who consistently manufactures excellent chainsaws. Yes, this is more expensive than many consumer chainsaws but you’re paying for the quality of components in the saw.

Intro : Battery Chainsaws / Husqvarna 120i

Technology has reached a point where battery chainsaws can hold their own alongside gas machines. These days, high-powered brushless motors give the watts needed to cut at a rate that easily matches that of gas, whilst retaining an excellent power to weight ratio. Many cordless chainsaws today have reached the equivalent power as a 40 to 45cc gas-fueled engine. For example, EGO’s 52V chainsaw is equal to that of a 40cc gas chainsaw. The EGO battery system is a good example of how technology has evolved over the years.

Cordless chainsaws are the most convenient choice for homeowners and can usually accomplish everything the average person needs to cut. Gas chainsaws provide the most power but they require maintenance and have many negative characteristics due to the use of the combustion engine. Most people are aware of these problems. Corded-electric chainsaws have many good qualities, but you always have the extension cord to contend with, and I personally hate having to manage a cord. But, a quality electric chainsaw can be quite effective at cutting and they’re typically the cheapest type of chainsaw.

A Powerful Modern Cordless: EGO Power+ CS1613

Limitations in battery life have been overcome, to some extent, by producing higher voltage batteries with a better amp hour rating. Modern batteries give much longer working times than they did in the past. By now, most people who depend on battery power for their tools have come to realize the benefit of having an extra battery or two to extend the time that they can work without disruption.

Battery-powered chainsaws have very low running costs. There’s no need to buy gas or two-stroke oil and your service costs are virtually non-existent. You need to make sure that you have oil to lubricate the chain and the cutting teeth will need sharpening periodically and you need to keep the chain clean. That’s the total extent of your regular maintenance, there’s no spark plug, air filter or engine oil to replace.

Anyone who’s used a gas chainsaw knows, that keeping the air filter free of sawdust and wood chips is a constant bother. Then there’s the ease of use, a battery chainsaw starts with a touch of a button. No more pulling on a recoil starter and worrying about getting the chainsaw going on a cold morning. There’s no choke and wondering whether you’re flooding the engine. Finally, noise levels are reduced quite considerably and there’s no fumes and CO2 emissions, making them ideal for homeowners who don’t want to upset the neighbors.

Video | A Closer Look at the Husqvarna 120i Battery Chainsaw

When you look at the price of battery-powered tools they can be slightly higher than others. Once you add the cost of obtaining a few extra batteries, you may be wondering if this cost is justifiable. If you take into account the cost of gas and the routine maintenance that you’ll be paying on a gas chainsaw, the price of the battery alternative suddenly makes a lot of sense.

Even with all the advanced technology used to develop battery chainsaws, they are limited to smaller sizes. If you’re looking for a larger chainsaw, you’ll be stuck with gas. Battery chainsaws are generally around 12”-16” mark, which is a very good size for most home users who want to fell trees around the garden and cut firewood.

So, if you’re ready to get a battery chainsaw, the Husqvarna 120i battery chainsaw is definitely worth considering. The brand is synonymous with high-quality gas tools and machinery and has impressed many of us for a long time. Their range of battery powered garden tools proudly continues this heritage. Along with the Husqvarna 120i chainsaw, you’ll also find a hedge trimmer and string cutter that use the same battery.

Husqvarna 120i Review — Battery Chainsaw

Ideal for light-duty cutting tasks, such as : pruning, cutting branches, and felling small trees.

Customer satisfaction is very high with the Husqvarna 120i: cordless chainsaw. They praise it for its lightweight and easy-to-use design, adjustable chain speed capabilities, long battery life, and quiet operation. Customers generally feel that it’s great value for money considering the brand and the price. They particularly enjoy how comfortable the saw is to hold during extended use sessions due to its ergonomic design as well as minimal vibrations when cutting different materials. In short, customers feel that this saw is a great choice for anyone looking for an affordable yet reliable chainsaw.

Quotes from real customers:

• “I’m really impressed with the performance of this chainsaw. It’s lightweight and easy to operate, making it perfect for my DIY projects.”
• “The adjustable chain speed was great; I could easily switch between cutting thin branches and thick logs without any issues.”
• “I love how relatively quiet this saw is—it’s a great choice if you don’t want to disturb your neighbors when you’re working!”

Features: 120i Chainsaw

✓ View or download the MANUAL or the PARTS DIAGRAM for the Husqvarna 120i.

Overview | Husqvarna 120i

No one can dispute that a lightweight chainsaw makes life a lot easier. Here’s where the Husqvarna 120i will win points with many people. It weighs only 6.6 LBS (that’s without the bar and chain), with the 14” bar, which is the maximum length recommended for this chainsaw, you’re still looking at a weight of only 10.8 LBS. This weight, combined with its compact design (33” X 9.2” X 9.4”) and excellent soft-grip handles means that you can comfortably wield this powerful machine around with ease.

You no longer need to be a burly lumberjack to handle a chainsaw. The chainsaw’s ease of use is further aided by an intuitive keypad.

Video | See the Husqvarna 120i Battery Chainsaw in action

A brushless motor, with power supplied from a 36.5V 4AH lithium-ion battery, gives you adequate power and reasonable working time. It’s never easy to determine your exact working time on a battery because of varying power demand, though I would guess that you should get around 20-30 minutes normal use on a single battery before recharging.

The Husqvarna 120i has a power saving mode that they’ve dubbed savE. Essentially, this will reduce the power output to maximize the time that you’ll get from the battery. The chain speed at maximum power is 37.73 FT/S, it uses a 0.05” chain. A chain tensioning knob means that there are no tools required to remove, replace or tension the chain. The 0.42-pint oil tank is transparent so it’s easy to keep an eye your oil level and the filler cap makes it easy to top the oil up without spilling.

The chain guard is sturdy, well placed and easy to see through. For added safety, it has an inertia activated chain brake. Suburban dwellers will be very pleased to hear that the Husqvarna 120i is incredibly quiet for a machine of this power. They guarantee a noise level of 101dBa, but the actual noise level when measured is lower than this – 97dBa.

If you’re homeowner looking for a lightweight, easy to use chainsaw then you’ll certainly appreciate the value of the Husqvarna 120i. It’s backed by a long and proudly US heritage for quality and reliability. It comes with a 2-year warranty and I’ve always found backup service for Husqvarna machines to be excellent.

Tech Specs:

• Motor : Type BLDC (brushless) 36V
• Battery runtime, with SavE activated : 44 minutes
• Type of oil pump : Automatic
• Oil tank capacity : 0.42 US pint  / 0.20 litre
• Weight : Chain saw without battery, bar and chain, empty chain oil tank :  6.6 lbs. / 3.0 kg
• Chain/bar : Recommended bar lengths :  14 inches / 35 cm
• Usable cutting length :   13 inches / 33 cm
• Drive sprocket : Spur / 6 teeth
• Maximum chain speed / (savE), m/s : 11.5 (10)
• Approved Batteries:
  • Battery : BLi20
  • Type : Lithium-ion
  • Battery capacity, Ah : 4.2 (VTC4) / 4 (HD2)
  • Voltage : 36v / 36.5v
  • Weight  : 2.6 lbs. / 1.2 Kg

Learn more by visiting the Husqvarna site.

DeWALT 60V Flexvolt Chainsaw / DCCS670X1

 60V MAX Brushless Chainsaw

Features:

• Low Kick Back 16″ Oregon Bar and Chain for construction and outdoor cutting applications
• Tool-Free chain tensioning and bar tightening knob for proper bar clamping force
• Auto-Oiling for continuous lubrication. Quarter-turn oil cap for quick oil re-fills
• Chain brake for kick back protection
• Up to 70 cuts per charge* *on a 6″” x 6″” pressure treated pine wood
• Includes 3.0 Ah battery and charger
• 3-year warranty

Overview | DEWALT FLEXVOLT  DCCS670X1

An excellent alternative to the Husqvarna 120i has to be the DeWalt DCCS670X1. It’s a larger chainsaw with a 16” Oregon low kickback bar. It costs a bit more than the Husqvarna but, then again, it is a larger machine.

The most remarkable feature of the DeWalt 60V Flexvolt has to be the 20V/60V FlexVolt battery. This model comes with the standard 3AH battery but there is also an option of getting a 9AH version of the same battery, offering three times as much working time. For those who are not yet familiar with the DeWalt FlexVolt battery that was introduced late in 2016, let’s take a look at why these batteries have become so popular.

They have a really good working time – up to five times as long as previous DeWalt batteries. However, their biggest advantage is the fact that this is a dual voltage battery and can deliver either 20V or 60V, depending on the tool that they power. This means that the battery can be used in any of the new FlexVolt tools that run on either 60V or 120V (some high-power FlexVolt tools use two 60V batteries in series to step the power to 120V). Because the battery can be switched to 20V by changing the cell configuration, they are able to be used with the DeWalt 20V Max range of tools, which is extensive with well over 100 tools that use the same battery.

The DeWalt comes at a slight weight disadvantage when compared to the Husqvarna. The DeWalt DCCS 670X1 weighs 12.2 LBS. I don’t have noise levels for the DeWalt, but it’s probably roughly the same as the Husqvarna – if anything, the DeWalt may be slightly louder.

For the rest, the DeWalt is a close match to the Husqvarna. It also has a tool-free chain tensioning knob and has a very ergonomic design for comfortable operation. The chain guard is strong and well positioned, offering quite a good line of sight without much obstruction to your view of the bar. The chain is self-lubricating with an easy to use oil-filler cap.

Like Husqvarna, DeWalt is an American brand with an outstanding reputation for quality and service. The DeWalt warranty is one of the best. The standard warranty on this product is 3 years with a 90-day money back guarantee and a 1-year free service agreement.

Learn more about the innovative DeWalt Flexvolt system in our comprehensive article that covers it in detail including reviews on many of the Flexvolt power tools.

Chainsaws: Husqvarna 120i vs Dewalt 60V Flexvolt

As a DIY enthusiast and chainsaw enthusiast for more than 20 years, I’m always looking for powerful tools to help me get the job done faster and better. Two of today’s most popular cordless models are the Husqvarna 120i and Dewalt 60V Flexvolt chainsaw, which we review next.

When it comes to power and performance, both brands have created impressive machines that can easily handle larger tasks such as felling trees or cutting lumber. The Husqvarna model offers a maximum chain speed of 12 m/s (8 m/s in ECO mode) — slower than the Dewalt at 15.24 m/s. It’s capable of cutting through 24-inch thick trunks if you need it to, but realistically these chainsaws are ideal to cut wood  between 12” to 14” in diameter, with minimal slowdown.

The main difference between these two models lies in their weight; with the Husqvarna 120i weighing only 8.1 lbs., with the bar and chain, and the Dewalt weighs 13.2 lbs. That’s a 5 lb. difference and an important factor for most people. That is also an indicator of the overall build quality, with the DeWalt is built tough and made for serious work. The Husqvarna is a light-duty chainsaw for casual wood cutting. The Dewalt 60V Flexvolt chainsaw is one of the top 3 cordless chainsaws on the market, so it’s hard to beat. Both are great in their own way.                                       

Customers have given both chainsaws high praise with both having a long-term rating of over 4.5 out of 5. These are fantastic ratings and I agree with the sentiment of the average customer. You can’t go wrong with either of these. If you’re looking for a serious chainsaw to cut firewood, and fell trees, then the Dewalt Flexvolt is the right chainsaw for you. The 120i is an easier chainsaw to use due to its lightweight, and ergonomics. It’s still a very capable chainsaw when you need it to be, but it doesn’t have the heft and power for those bigger cutting jobs.