Ryobi vs Greenworks: In-Depth Electric Lawn Mower Comparison

Hey there lawn care fanatics! If you‘re scoping out new battery-powered mowers, odds are good you‘ve narrowed it down to two top options: the Ryobi 40V and Greenworks 80V models. Both brands make some seriously capable cordless electric mowers packed with features and technology.

But you‘re probably wondering…which is BETTER for my yard? I‘ve done some serious digging on the specs, capabilities, and real-world performance of Ryobi and Greenworks‘ mowers. Keep reading for the full scoop so you can determine the ideal pick!

Why Go Electric for Yardwork?

First, let‘s recap why battery-powered mowers like the Ryobi 40V and Greenworks 80V should be on your radar in the first place:

They‘re much quieter – No noisy gas engines disrupting you or your neighbors! Consumer Reports found electric mowers test at just 60-70 dB on average versus 95-100 dB for gas mowers [1]. That‘s a huge difference you‘ll appreciate.

Lower maintenance – With electronically commuted motors, no dirty carbs to clean or air filters to change. Just sharpen or swap blades occasionally.

Cleaner for yard and environment – No direct emissions polluting the area like gas mowers produce. Much more eco-friendly!

Convenience factor is high – Push button start and no trips to the gas station. Just charge up and go mow.

Cost savings over time – While pricier upfront, not paying for gas or motor upkeep really helps total cost of ownership over years of use. More on this later!

I don‘t know about you, but those benefits sound pretty appealing to me. Now let‘s see how Ryobi and Greenworks‘ electric mower offerings measure up.

Side-By-Side Specs and Features Breakdown

Here‘s an at-a-glance visual rundown comparing core metrics and capabilities between the Ryobi 40V and Greenworks 80V mowers:

Let‘s unpack the details on each category:

Battery Power
Right off the bat in their names, you see that the voltage outputs differentiate these machines.

• Ryobi 40V Battery
• Greenworks 80V Battery

Higher voltage allows more peak power. But you also have to account for battery capacity, measured in amp hours (Ah). Think of it like a fuel tank – more Ah gives longer runtimes per charge.

The Ryobi utilizes a 6Ah battery for robust capacity and life per charge while the Greenworks houses a 4Ah pack.

Cutting Width
Both have a 21 inch cutting deck width, which is plenty spacious for average property plots up to around half an acre.

For truly huge yards or commercial scale mowing, Greenworks also offers a 25 inch model and other brands produce larger walk behinds upwards of 30 inches. But 21 inches strikes a great balance of clipping power versus maneuverability for most homeowners.

You‘ll also commonly see compact 16-20 inch electric mowers intended for tiny urban lots. However, the usability tradeoffs of smaller decks often don‘t justify tight spaces savings unless you absolutely NEED it.

Cutting Modes
Both mowers feature 3-in-1 cutting versatility supporting side discharge, bagging, and mulching. This allows managing clippings however you prefer:

• Side discharge shoots them out of a rear chute for quickest yard clearing
• Bagging contains them for easy disposal or composting
• Mulching cuts grass finer to put nutrients back into the soil

So no limitations here – how you LIKE to mow is covered regardless!

Cutting Height

You‘ll again find close parity in height adjustment ability with both mowers providing 7 fixed increments ranging ~1-4 inches. Yard pros actually recommend keeping grass 3+ inches tall for optimal lawn health [2]. Good to know!

Single-lever height adjustment also simplifies switching levels compared to changing each wheel manually. Huge convenience benefit there.

Self Propulsion
Now here‘s an obvious difference in how the mowers operate – the self propulsion technology utilized:

• Ryobi = variable speed rear wheel drive
• Greenworks = 3 preset rear wheel speeds

The Ryobi enables smoother speed transitions from a slow walk behind pace all the way up to a jogging speed via a variable trigger system. Think of it like cruise control levels ranging from 1-10 mph hypothetically. Very intuitive.

Meanwhile, the Greenworks clicks between LOW, MED, and HIGH presets. So less granularity in speed adjustment, but still gets you moving.

Warranties

Both brands provide good protection programs, but Ryobi edges out Greenworks here by a full 2 years:

• Ryobi – 5 year warranty
• Greenworks – 3 year warranty

If backing is a big priority, Ryobi having your new mower covered for 5 years definitely provides more long-term peace of mind.

Pricing

MSRPs for tool-only (bare tool no battery) is fairly comparable at just under $500. However, kits bundled with batteries and chargers tell a different story:

• Ryobi (with two 6Ah batts) = $799
• Greenworks (with one 4Ah batt) = $549

Even comparing kit to kit, the total investment gap is sizable at $250 more for the Ryobi equipment package. Now you do get the advantage of having two beefy batteries with 50% more capacity each compared to just one smaller Greenworks battery.

But still – that‘s a big dollar difference to reconcile if your budget is tight. And while no retailer sells at full list pricing, the delta tends to remain proportionate at any discounted sale price too.

Recent Improvements and Innovations

Excitingly, both companies continue rolling out technological improvements almost every new model year. Here‘s the latest when it comes to the 40V Ryobi and 80V Greenworks:

Ryobi 40V

• New brushless motor for more torque and run time
• Upgraded variable speed self propulsion drive
• Integrated battery fuel gauge for charge status

Greenworks 80V

• Boosted 4Ah battery capacity by 25%
• Enhanced lever-activated self propulsion
• Built-in battery charge level indicator
• USB port in battery to charge devices

Brighter LED work lights, ergonomic adjustments, smartphone app connectivity, and eco-friendly materials are some other shared enhancements. So we‘re seeing better motors, drives, batteries, and premium features added with each revision.

Battle of the Batteries: Voltage, Capacity, Charging Compared

Alright, let‘s talk more tech! When it comes to batteries, key metrics like voltage and capacity can make a BIG difference in mower performance:

Voltage
Outputs energy flow strength – higher volts enables more peak power. However, voltage alone doesn‘t directly indicate total runtime.

Capacity
Battery size essentially, measured in amp hours. More Ah equals longer runs. Capacity x voltage = total power.

Think gallons of gas for range. Right? Or another analogy is RAM on a computer…more is better for working storage.

Now let‘s look at charging rates and cycle life, meaning recharges before batteries wear down.

What does this show?

• Greenworks 80V outputs stronger peak power
• But Ryobi 40V battery holds WAY more juice at 6Ah
• So both end up delivering similar runtimes per charge
• Ryobi charges slightly faster at 2+ hours 0-100%
• Yet total lifetime cycles trails the Greenworks battery

There are always tradeoffs! Nothing is perfectly superior across the board. But the main point is that despite lower voltage, the beefier Ryobi 40V battery capacity keeps pace thanks to more Ah.

Just note that replacement 40V battery packs run $150-200 each upon end-of-life after those 500 cycles. So a higher lifetime cycle count battery can save money over the long run through years of mowing seasons.

Cost Saving Projections: Electric vs Gas Mowers

Alright, let‘s crunch some numbers and talk dollars. Because electric mowers do carry higher sticker prices, will you actually SAVE money over time going battery-powered?

First, average upfront costs:

Over 2-3x pricier upfront admittedly. But electric models offer HUGE cost of ownership differences over years:

Gas Mower Operating Costs

• Gas: $15-25 per month
• Oil changes: $100 per year
• Air filters, spark plugs, blade sharpening
• Potential repairs (starters, carbs, belts)

Electric Mower Operating Costs

• Battery charging: pennies per month
• Blade sharpening: $25 per year
• Battery replacement: $150-200 every 3-5 years

When you run the numbers over a 5-7 year lifespan, electric mowers actually save $500-1,000+ in the long run through lower operating expenses and fewer parts to maintain.

And that‘s BEFORE considering the value of your time. No trips to buy gas every couple weeks? Priceless convenience!

Ideal Yard Situations and Lawn Care Scenarios

Considering all capabilities compared above, how do Ryobi and Greenworks‘ offerings align with different landscaping needs?

The 21 inch deck widths suit average residential plots up to around a half acre nicely. Plus the batteries deliver 45-60+ minutes of reliable runtime for knocking out typical suburban cuts.

So if your yard matches that description, either mower will pull its weight sufficiently without leaving you stranded mid-mow!

For truly huge yards or commercial-grade needs, these aren‘t the absolute BEST solutions however. You‘d want to look at some wide area walk behinds up to 30 inches OR make the leap to a riding mower.

That said, if you pair either the Ryobi 40V or Greenworks 80V models with supplemental battery packs, they CAN tackle larger lawns of 3/4+ acres nicely. It just requires having more charged backup power at the ready for quick hot swapping.

For tiny urban lots under 1,000 sq ft, compact 16-18 inch mower models may meet needs with less bulk. However, smaller decks come with some maneuverability tradeoffs. So the 21 inchers here aren‘t inefficient "overkill" by any means.

Really comes down to your unique mowing environment!

Verdict: Which Is the Best Cordless Electric Mower Overall?

We‘ve covered a LOT of ground comparing these two battery-powered smart mowers. Each has pros and cons and both Ryobi and Greenworks produce fantastic lawn maintenance machines.

However, when weighing everything top to bottom – voltage, capacity, features, warranties, accessories, long term costs – I give the victory to…the Greenworks 80V brushless mower!

That higher peak voltage, while sacrificing some battery life compared to the Ryobi, provides snappier torque and speed for eating through thick grass. Plus the insanely competitive pricing and lighter chassis enhance overall value and usability.

While Ryobi touts excellent 5 year consumer protection (a big perk!), the Greenworks still wins as a more affordable solution while matching key cutting specs.

And with smart accessories like Bluetooth modules, you can‘t go wrong trusting Greenworks as an industry leader in lithium powered outdoor tech. Invest here for a future-proofed electric mowing system!

I hope this fully detailed cordless mower comparison guide helps steer you to the perfect battery-match for your lawn care lineup. May your turf be verdantly vibrant and endlessly even this entire grass-growing season!

References