Last edited by Primas02 on 2026-6-22 14:09
The MOVA 16-inch InstaLoad brushless string trimmer just arrived. Here is a breakdown of the assembly, a first look at the unit, and my initial thoughts.
This unit was purchased for personal use, and this first look is not sponsored, approved or otherwise affiliated with MOVA.
What’s Included
The kit (model GT616TC) includes the battery-powered trimmer with 16-inch cutting width, adjustable handle, trimmer guard, 2.5-Ah battery (GBA625) with a 430-watt 6A charger, an extra 13 feet of 0.095-inch line, comfort strap, hex wrench and user manual.
A higher capacity 5-Ah battery (GBA650) is sold separately for a whopping $349 on MOVA’s site.
Assembly
The unit comes in the box unassembled. The power cord that connects the shaft and the handle is spiraled (like a landline phone cord) and appears non-removable.
MOVA says this allows the unit to be disassembled and folded in half, taking up less space for storage in the off-season.
Getting the spiraled cord inside the shaft to connect the handle was tricky. Take care not to bend or damage the cord during the process.
There are two separate screws that need to be tightened directly where the handle and shaft meet, and one additional screw farther down that is already inserted.
One of the screws near the shaft and handle connection was missing from my unit. I found it loose in the box.
The handle attaches via a hand screw. There is also a flip-up lever on the unit that allows you to adjust the length of the carbon-fiber shaft.
The bump head comes pre-fed with plenty of line.
Charging & App Setup
My battery came with about a 40 percent charge out of the box. Charging was very quick. A full battery charge requires only 30 minutes.
This is a smart trimmer with Bluetooth connectivity.
Once your battery is charged, insert it into the unit and hold down the button on the back until the LED blinks blue. The trimmer will enter pairing mode.
You can either scan the trimmer’s QR code or find the specific trimmer model, GT616TC, in the list of products in the MOVAHome app to continue pairing.
The app is rather limited and includes a temperature sensor, energy meter, usage log and most importantly the ability to update the firmware.
First Run
With the trimmer assembled and paired, I headed outside to edge along my enclosed back wooden fence.
During my first attempt, the lower cover assembly flew off, forcing me to hunt for a metal spring in the 95-degree heat.
With the cover off, the existing string immediately unraveled to the point I couldn’t get it back in place.
Learn from my mistake and ensure the cover assembly is securely locked in place from the factory before starting for the first time.
As frustrating as this was, it did allow me the opportunity to use the InstaLoad feature right off the bat.
The manual says to load the trimmer, start by removing the battery. Next, press the release tabs to unlock the cover assembly and remove any old line. Once the head is clear, snap the cover assembly securely back into place (including the spring), making sure to align the arrow and hole with the top notch. Insert one end of your new line into the hole, feeding it straight through until it exits the opposite side. Pull the line so that both ends are of equal length. Reinstall the battery, then press and hold the button near the bump head to automatically wind the line. Finally, release the button once roughly 5.5 inches of line remains visible on each side.
That’s fine if your line is somewhat straight. My string was already spiraled, so I ended up opening the cover and manually threading the line through the white spindle, then the holes in the cover before replacing the cover with the spring. Finally, I pushed the InstaLoad button.
Once set up properly, the InstaLoad feature worked quickly. However, the cover assembly with the unattached spring was cumbersome and took several minutes to get just right. The spring needs to be permanently attached to one part of the bump head and should not just pop off when you remove the cover.
Performance & Battery Life
My backyard is slightly sloped and the grass tends to remain thick and wet around the fence line requiring a trim weekly.
During my first run, the trimmer started off slowly on the lowest gear but quickly ramped up as I put greater pressure on the trigger.
Unlike my Ryobi which requires a manual switch between high and low modes, the MOVA trimmer can adjust the rotation speed and gears on its own with its variable-speed trigger.
Additionally, you can manually choose from three separate speeds (4500/5000/5500 RPM) using the mode button. If using the manual option, the trimmer will remember which speed you selected during your last operation.
The trigger itself has a safety lock and there’s a display at the top of the trimmer that provides battery and operational information.
At 60 volts, the MOVA trimmer outperformed my 18-volt Ryobi by a long shot.
The torque provided by the 900-watt motor combined with the longer 16” cutting width and thicker 0.095-inch line meant I needed far fewer passes to chew through the tough, wet grass near the edge.
By comparison, the 0.080-inch line on my Ryobi frequently breaks and jams inside the bump head, requiring constant manual adjustments.
While the 18-volt Ryobi isn’t in any way a fair comparison, it is worth noting that the MOVA trimmer did cut my backyard trimming time in half.
Although MOVA claims an IPX4 waterproof rating, I ended the initial test early due to rain to avoid any potential damage. The following day, I tested the battery's full capacity by running the trimmer in the default mode from a 100% charge until it completely died.
MOVA claims a maximum battery life of 40 minutes with the included battery. I found that close to accurate. I managed to get 34 minutes allowing the trimmer to adjust gears itself.
At this point, I have about 60 minutes of runtime on this trimmer, plenty sufficient to form a reliable first impression.
Weight and Comfort
By itself, the MOVA trimmer weighs 9.26 pounds. When you snap in the included 2.5A battery, which weighed 3.1 pounds on my scale, you’re looking at a total carrying weight of 12.36 pounds for the whole assembled kit.
The weight differential between the MOVA trimmer and my 9 lb. Ryobi was noticeable.
The MOVA trimmer felt top-heavy and awkward to hold primarily because of its wide battery brushing up against my elbow. Attempts to adjust the handle and shaft length using the telescopic height-locking clamp didn’t help much.
That said, users coming from heavier, gas-powered models will likely appreciate the MOVA trimmer's lighter profile.
Warranty
MOVA includes a 6-year warranty with the 16-inch brushless string trimmer, but the battery only has a two-year warranty. This exceeds most house brands from big-box hardware retailers.
However, unlike those brands, you can’t just take the MOVA trimmer back to a retail store for a quick swap.
If possible, I’d recommend keeping your box and packing material to make any future warranty claims less of a hassle.
Final Thoughts
Although this was just the first few intial uses, the MOVA 16-inch brushless string trimmer has made a positive first impression.
The build quality is high, it has very little vibration, and it runs silently except for the whirring of the trimmer line. The trimmer appears to have plenty of power for home use and the marketed InstaLoad feature does work.
Battery life seemed adequate and the included charger is fast.
Based on my short experience, the MOVA 16-inch brushless trimmer is comparable to other brands in this class and appears to be a solid prosumer choice for those looking for an upgrade.
The MOVA 16-inch trimmer retails for $349 and is available on MOVA’s website.
As always, look out for my usual 60-day review. I’ll be testing it in tougher yards to see how it holds up, and I'll report back on whether the unit becomes more comfortable to use over time.
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