* including battery and charger
The WORX WG163 is an inexpensive but solid quality cordless string trimmer – it offers a nice edger adjustment and several other interesting functions. It’s lightweight, provides a good battery time, but also a few disadvantages.
Pros:
- Good edger
- Lightweight
- Solid battery working time
Cons:
- Guide wheels cannot be repositioned (see below)
- Battery recharge time
Key specifications:
- Edger:
- Weight: 5.3lbs
- Battery time (according to users): 2x 20 minutes
Lightweight and Easy To Use
The WORX WG163 is a new, slightly different version of the popular WG175 – it’s cheaper, offer some new functionalities but also lacks some. So let’s structure this review a bit as a comparison of these two trimmers.
The classical advantages of cordless weed eaters are still present – complete freedom of movement, no messing with the cord (and winding it up after trimming) or switching outlets. Also no maintenance, noise or vibrations typical for gas trimmers.
It’s even lighter than its older brother (5.3 pounds), easy to handle and maneuver, quiet and the assembly is quick and easy as well.
Not a Gas Trimmer
Keep in mind this unit is not a gas powered trimmer. It’s meant to be used for regular cutting, edging and cleanup on smaller properties – and in these conditions it gets the job done. But don’t expect it to clear large areas or cut through some tougher weeds.
The WG163 takes line feeding to a next level, introducing a convenient button on the handle that releases more string when pressed. However, while some customers liked this system, they were also some who reported it still wastes too much lines.
Also, it still uses the small WORX spools with only 10ft of line (compared to most common 30ft) which means more frequent changing. And some users mentioned the line breaks quite frequently.
Solid Battery Time But Long Recharge
The GT 3.0 comes with not only one but two batteries and each would give you about 20 minutes of work. That’s completely enough to maintain a regular-sized suburban lawn, but if you own a larger property, this unit won’t be the right one for your needs.
WORX advertises you can use one battery for trimming while recharging the other, however this system simply does not work as it takes almost 3 hours to recharge a depleted piece. At least there is a light indicator telling you how much power you have left (the older WG175 lacked that).
It is also part of the WORX 20V lineup so if you own any of these tools, you can share the batteries between them.
Edger and Adjustments
When talking about adjustments, the older WG175 is still ahead. We have the dual wheels here as well but they cannot be repositioned so the mini mower function is no longer available.
On the other hand, most of the functions remained – the shaft is telescopic so you can set its length according to your height and the angle of the front handle can be adjusted as well. Plus you can tilt the trimming head to access hard-to-reach areas more easily.
And last but not the least, it can be quickly converted to an edger (no tools necessary). Thanks to the dual wheels it works really well, your arms won’t be as tired and it’s easy to hold the right direction – most users reported they really enjoy this feature.
Conclusion: If you need an inexpensive trimmer with an edger function, the WORX WG163 GT 3.0 would be a great choice for you – it’s lightweight, offers several useful adjustments and a good battery time. We can recommend it to you.
However, it’s designed mainly for lighter/medium jobs – so if you need a tool for heavy trimming, brushless or gas machines are the way to go.
>> Read more or buy the WORX WG163 GT 3.0 here
Specifications:
- Brand: WORX
- Type: Cordless
- Edger:
- Tilting head:
- Battery time (according to users): 2x 20 minutes
- Battery power indicator:
- Weight: 5.3lbs
- Cutting swath: 12"
- Line: 0.065 single string
- Feeding: pressing button
- Warranty: 3 years (battery and charger 1 year)
- Includes: 2 batteries, charger, spool
Frequently asked questions:
How to change the line spool?
How should I treat the battery to ensure maximum lifetime?
Always store the batteries inside your house in reasonable temperatures – never leave them on direct sun or outdoors during winter! Also recharge the battery as soon as it is out of power.
What is included in the package?
The weed eater itself, 2 batteries, charger and spool.
Are there any accessories I should buy?
We recommend getting the spool replacement package and if you have a large yard, consider buying a spare batteries.
Is there any maintenance needed?
No, the motor is an enclosed unit so no maintenance is required. Just ensure a proper care to the battery (see above) and clean the machine from dead grass occasionally.