A cordless string trimmer either replaces your gas trimmer for good, or it ends up as a backup tool you reach for only when the gas one won't start. WORX's WG163 is a 2-in-1 trimmer and edger built around the company's Power Share battery system, with over 28,000 ratings and a #1 ranking in its Amazon category. We went through the full spec sheet, the manufacturer's own description, and a wide spread of real buyer reviews — including two genuinely useful complaints — to see how it actually performs in real yards.
What's in the Box
This is a battery-powered 20V trimmer that ships with two 20V Power Share maxLithium batteries and a charger already included — no separate battery purchase needed to get started. The package also includes the trimmer/edger head, a safety guard, a flower/spacer guard, an edger wheel, and the line spool.
At 5.5 lbs, it's built to be genuinely light to carry through a full yard, and it runs at 7,600 RPM with a 12-inch cutting width using 0.065-inch line. Real-world battery life reported by buyers ranges from about 15 to 30 minutes per charge depending on how thick the grass is and how often the trigger is held down, though having two batteries included means you can swap in a fresh one and keep going while the first recharges.
The 2-in-1 Conversion
The core pitch is straightforward: this converts between a string trimmer and an in-line edger in seconds, without needing a second tool. The head tilts 90° specifically to make that edging function work, and rubberized wheels guide the edger along a straight line for cleaner results than freehanding it.
An adjustable spacer guard is built in specifically to protect flower beds and landscaping features from accidental string contact — a small detail, but one that shows up repeatedly in buyer reviews as genuinely useful rather than an afterthought.
Who This Is Actually Built For
This is worth calling out directly, because it's a consistent theme across real reviews: buyers with reduced physical strength or stamina specifically praise this trimmer. One buyer described switching from a gas model due to reduced lung capacity, noting the WORX was significantly easier to use without needing to stop and catch their breath. Another buyer, 75 years old, specifically called it perfect for a medium-sized yard precisely because it isn't built for heavy-duty jobs — it's light and easy to manage instead.
A third buyer made a more direct comparison, saying they shelved a pricier EGO-brand trimmer specifically because it was too heavy and aggravated back pain, switching to the lighter WORX instead.
The Command Feed Line System — Being Honest About It
This needs to be addressed directly rather than glossed over, because it's a real, repeated complaint rather than an isolated bad review. The push-button Command Feed system is meant to release line automatically at the press of a button. Amazon's own review-summary data flags this directly: some buyers report the string breaking and not cutting well.
Two separate detailed reviews describe the same core problem — the line breaking to a short length repeatedly, especially in thicker grass, requiring manual unwinding to compensate. One buyer specifically said none of the standard troubleshooting suggestions resolved it for their unit.
This isn't universal — plenty of buyers report no issue at all — but it's common enough, corroborated by multiple independent sources, that it deserves real weight in your decision rather than being dismissed as user error.
A Real Spool Compatibility Warning
One detailed buyer review flagged something worth repeating clearly: only WA0004 replacement spools are compatible with this trimmer. WA0010 spools look visually identical and are sold as similar-sounding WORX accessories, but they will not work correctly on this specific model. If you're buying replacement line down the road, double-checking the exact spool part number before ordering will save you a return.
What Real Buyers Are Saying
At 4.3 out of 5 across more than 28,000 ratings, with 67% five-star, the overall pattern is solidly positive despite the line-feed complaints pulling some ratings down. Buyers consistently praise the versatility of the 2-in-1 design and describe strong battery life for typical residential yard work — one buyer specifically noted getting through a full trimming-and-edging session on a single charge without worrying about the battery dying halfway through.
"Right out of the box, it feels well-built, sturdy, and thoughtfully designed... strong battery life, good build quality, easy handling, and the versatility of trimming and edging make it a solid 5-star purchase."
Assembly is another mixed point — one buyer specifically criticized the printed instructions as disorganized, with diagrams and steps spread across many separate pages, but noted that YouTube assembly videos solved the problem faster than the manual did.
