Husqvarna 440 vs Husqvarna 440E: Which One’s Best?

Review Summary

The Husqvarna 440 series is intended for light to medium chainsawing uses. Although the line is not supposed to be the brand’s most impressive chainsaw, many people find them helpful for around the yard due to their lightweight, power, and ease of use.

The two chainsaws within this series are the 440 and 440E. At first glance, the two chainsaws look identical, and they are in many ways. They offer the same chainsaw power and specs, and they even cost the same on most retailer sites.

With that being said, there is one notable difference between the two: the 440E includes an on-board toolless tensioning system. In contrast, the 440 consists of a tensioning system that requires a T-wrench. This is the only difference between the two, meaning that the 440E is a replacement of the 440.

I know, that is a super technical difference, but it matters a lot. The 440E is easier to use because of it. You don’t have to worry about keeping up with or using the T-wrench when you choose the 440E over the 440.

For this reason, the 440E is the better of the two. Since they cost the same and offer the same power, there is no reason not to go with the 440E.

At a Glance

Let’s look at the key points of each product.

Overview of the Husqvarna 440:

The Husqvarna 440 is an affordable, efficient, and lightweight chainsaw. It is 18 inches and features a 2.4 horsepower X-Torq. For you, this means that it uses less energy and reduces emissions, which are better for both the environment and your budget. At the same time, it is powerful enough for light to medium sawing.

In addition to the power and energy savings, the 440 also includes a LowVib antivibration system. This system reduces the vibration from the machine. As a result, you should be able to wield the chainsaw for longer periods of time without fatigue.

To make the 440 even easier to use, it also includes an Air Injection Centrifugal air system. This then removes large debris before it touches the filter. The system elongates the filter’s life, which means you don’t have to change it as often. Similarly, it includes a snap-lock cylinder cover that makes changing spark plugs and cleaning easy.

Even the chain tensioner is easier to access than on other chainsaw lines. It is side-mounted, which makes it easy to access the device. However, you will need to use the T-wrench provided to fix the tensioning system.

Overview of the Husqvarna 440E:

If you take a quick glance at the Husqvarna 440E, you probably will think that there is no difference between it and the 440. But that is not the case: it has one simple design change. This design change makes the chainsaw wholly more accessible, which many people admire.

The only difference between the 440 and 440E is access to the tensioning system. The system on the 440E includes an on-board toolless chain tension. This means that you don’t need the T-wrench, or any other tool for that matter like you did with the 440.

Although this may seem like a minor change, it makes the chain more accessible and useful. Its design makes it easier to access by yourself, and you don’t have to keep up with the T-wrench, which, let’s face it, we are guilty of losing from time to time.

Other than the toolless chain tensions, the 440E is exactly like the 440. It is nearly identical in terms of weight, performance, and abilities. All of the features mentioned in our overview of the 440 apply to the 440E, with the obvious exception of the T-wrench. We will not repeat the specs so as not to make you read through them more than once.

All in all, the 440E is basically an exact replacement of the 440 with one minor update. However, this update makes the 440E slightly more expensive on certain websites than the 440 (though it is the same price on many websites). The difference in cost is almost nonexistent.

What are the differences between them?

Since the 440 and 440E are so similar, they are difficult to compare; they have nearly identical specifications. We will look at both chainsaws’ key factors, nonetheless, so you get a better feel of the Husqvarna 440 and 440E.

Performance

Edge: No Edge

Once again, the 440 and 440E are identical in nearly every single way. As a result, neither model has the edge over the other in terms of performance.

Performance-wise, both chainsaws perform well under light to medium sawing loads. Since these saws are so lightweight, they are not suitable for heavy-duty or professional use. They will NOT perform well under these environments. The Husqvarnas are great for everyday, personal use, though. The 2.4 horsepower engine is more than enough easy sawing for around your home and yard.

Durability

Edge: No Edge

Since there is no difference between the 440 and 440E, both models offer the same design, materials, and features, all of which affect durability.

Overall, the 440 series is not meant to be Husqvarna’s most durable or impressive chainsaws. As a result, they aren’t the most durable saws you can find, but they are durable enough for light use as their intended.

They both are made with durable materials that come with a 2-year warranty. This warranty will come in handy if something should happen, though that isn’t often the case for the 440 series.

Convenience

Edge: 440E

The only area where there is an edge is convenience. Since the 440E comes with an on-board toolless tensioning system, it does not require tools to add tension. This means that you don’t have to go through the hassle of finding your T-wrench and using it on the chainsaw.

The 440, on the other hand, requires the use of a T-wrench to tighten the tensioning system. Even though this isn’t the most difficult thing in the world, it can be terrible if you lose the T-wrench… some might say it would through a wrench in your plans to lose your T-wrench (chuckle).

Anyhow, the 440E is much more convenient since it doesn’t require any tools. This is great for beginners and experienced users alike.

Price

Edge: No Edge

Amazingly, the 440 and 440E cost nearly the same. I say “nearly” because the exact price depends on the retailer, and there are some slight variations. Most retailers sell them for the exact same price, however. With the 440 and 440E costing the same amount, it seems like there’s no reason not to choose the 440E.

What the Users Say

Knowing what other people are saying about a product matters greatly. To find out how our reviews compare to others’ experiences, we looked online for product reviews. This is what we found:

Husqvarna 440

Almost all of the reviews of the 440 were positive. Many users claimed that it worked like a charm around their yards and that it was easy to use, clean, store, etc. Several users noted that they are new to chainsaws and found the model incredibly lightweight and manageable. The power provided by the lightweight model was also a favorite among online reviewers.

Of course, some reviewers were not as pleased with its performance. The fact that it can’t withstand anything above light use was cited against it more than once. With this in mind, don’t buy this saw if you need it for more intense purposes. Some reviewers also noted that it frequently dies after use.

Husqvarna 440E

The 440E had more positive reviews than the 440, saying something since the 440 had many positive reviews itself. Online reviewers liked the power that this small saw offers and say that it’s great for personal use. As we expected, more people were excited about the on-board toolless tensioning system, claiming that it was a small touch that was nice.

Several users did note that the saw idles out of the box frequently, which they found to be caused by a loose idle screw. Keep an eye on that screw.

We did not find any reviewers who explained WHY they chose the 440E over the 440 or who used both, unfortunately.

Conclusion

Though the 440 and 440E seem to be sister tools, the 440E is just a replacement of the 440. It offers all the same performance capabilities and features as the 440. Still, it is easier to use due to the on-board toolless tensioning system. For this reason, the 440E is better than the 440.

You can go with the 440 if you want, but there’s really no need to. Since they cost the same, you will get a better, newer product for the same price by going with the 440E. You really won’t go wrong with it as long as you use it for light sawing purposes.

Get the 440E (or the 440 if you prefer, that’s cool too) and tell us what you think!

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