Ryobi RBC36X26B vs Einhell Agillo 36/255

The Ryobi RBC36X26B and the Einhell Agillo 36/255 are unusual among cordless brush cutters in that both ship with a genuine metal blade rather than a line-only head, so this isn’t the usual “blade vs no blade” comparison. Instead, it comes down to motor technology, battery inclusion and which platform you’re prepared to buy into.

At a glance

	Ryobi RBC36X26B	Einhell Agillo 36/255
Power	36V MAX Power, brushed motor	36V (2× 18V PXC), brushless
Cutting kit	Line head + TriArc 3-tooth steel blade	255 mm metal blade + 300 mm line
Battery supplied	Yes — 4 Ah pack included	No — sold bare (“Solo”)
Weight	Heavier than an entry trimmer, bike-handle build	~6 kg without battery fitted
Handle	Bike handle	Loop/bike handle
Best suited to	Tall grass, light scrub, occasional brambles	Tall grass, light scrub, brambles
Our rating	8.1	8.2

Motor technology: brushed vs brushless

This is the clearest technical difference between the two. The Agillo runs a brushless 36V motor, which typically means better efficiency, more runtime per charge and a longer service life since there are no brushes to wear down and eventually replace. The RBC36X26B uses a conventional brushed motor on its 36V MAX Power platform — a proven, cost-effective design, but one that will eventually need brush replacement and generally draws a little more from the battery to do the same work. Neither is a dealbreaker at this price tier, but if long-term running costs and motor longevity matter to you, the Einhell has the more modern setup on paper.

What’s actually in the box

Here the picture flips. The RBC36X26B is genuinely ready to work the moment you charge it: it includes a 4 Ah battery, along with both a line head and a hardened TriArc 3-tooth blade. The Agillo 36/255, despite matching it blade-for-blade with a 255 mm metal disc and 300 mm line option, is sold as a bare “Solo” tool — no battery, no charger. That means the sticker price alone doesn’t tell you the real cost of getting either machine running; the Agillo’s headline price looks lower, but you need to add two 18V Power X-Change batteries and a charger before it will cut anything, unless you already own that platform.

Two different battery ecosystems

Buying into either machine really means buying into a battery platform, since neither is much use without one. Ryobi’s 36V MAX Power system is a single, larger-format pack rather than two smaller cells, and Ryobi buyers often benefit from crossover with the huge 18V ONE+ range even though it isn’t the same battery. Einhell’s Power X-Change platform runs two 18V packs per tool and spans a very wide range of garden and workshop equipment, with packs generally considered good value to buy into from scratch. If you already own batteries on one platform, that alone can settle the decision before blade type or motor technology even come into it.

Weight and handling

Both are built around a bike handle for the control a spinning blade demands, rather than the light single-hand loop you’d find on a pure line trimmer. The Agillo weighs around 6 kg without its batteries fitted, which is on the heavier side for this class — a direct consequence of the gearbox and blade mount needed to swing a 255 mm disc. The RBC36X26B is a similarly substantial, bike-handled tool for the same reason; neither is designed to be featherweight, and both ask you to plant your feet and work through resistance rather than swing casually all afternoon.

Choose the Ryobi RBC36X26B if…

• You want a battery included so you’re cutting the same day, not waiting on a separate purchase
• You’re already invested in Ryobi’s 36V MAX Power or wider ONE+ ecosystem
• A proven brushed motor at a lower entry hurdle is fine for your workload
• You want both a line head and a TriArc blade ready to switch between

Choose the Einhell Agillo 36/255 if…

• You already own, or plan to build out, Einhell Power X-Change batteries
• Motor efficiency and long-term brushless durability matter more to you than day-one convenience
• You’re comfortable pricing in separate batteries and a charger before comparing true cost
• You want the largest blade of the two (255 mm) plus a generous 300 mm line option

Which should you buy?

If you want to unbox a brush cutter and start cutting the same afternoon, the RBC36X26B has the practical edge — a 4 Ah battery and a steel blade are both in the box, and Ryobi’s ecosystem is hard to beat for breadth. If you’re already on Power X-Change, or you specifically want a brushless motor’s efficiency and longevity, the Agillo 36/255 is the stronger long-term pick, provided you price in the batteries it doesn’t include. Work out which battery platform you’re actually buying into first — it matters more here than the blade size or the motor spec sheet.