Quick verdict
The same 14-inch, 12.5 amp, 28.2-pound corded mower as PowerSmart's standard model, with a bullhorn-profile handle, soft-grip overmolding and a single-lever height adjustment from 1 to 3 inches. It suits a small flat lawn and an owner who notices vibration and handle shape. The caveat is the same as every 14-inch corded mower: narrow passes and a cord you have to manage.
Strengths
- Bullhorn handle with soft-grip overmolding to cut vibration
- 12.5 amp copper motor, more than the usual 11 amp
- Single-lever height adjustment, six positions from 1 to 3 inches
- 10-gallon catcher, large for the class
- Light at a stated 28.2 pounds, handle adjusts to three heights
Weaknesses
- 14-inch deck suits only small lawns
- Extension cord not included
- Mulch and bag only, no side discharge
- Value brand with thin parts support
The overall YardToolLab Score is out of 100. Section scores are out of 10.
Who this mower is for
PowerSmart sells two versions of its 14-inch corded mower. This is the ergonomic-design one: the same deck and motor, with a bullhorn-profile handle wrapped in soft-grip overmolding. It is for the owner of a small lawn who has used a cheap corded mower before and remembers the buzz in the hands and the awkward straight-bar handle more than the cut. If that is you, the handle is the whole reason to pick this listing over the plain one.
This review is based on the maker’s published specifications and on recurring owner feedback. We have not run this product ourselves.
What you get
The mower with its handle assembly, the 10-gallon catcher and the mulch plug. The maker lists a 14-inch deck, a 12.5 amp pure-copper motor, a single-lever height adjustment with six positions from 1 to 3 inches, a three-position handle height, and a weight of 28.2 pounds. Dimensions are 17 by 39 by 42 inches. No extension cord is included and no blade speed or warranty term is stated in the listing.
Cutting and power
The 12.5 amp motor is the strongest argument for either PowerSmart 14-inch model. The class standard is 11 amps, and the extra current gives a little more reserve before the motor slows in thick grass; the maker also points to the copper winding as better at shedding heat, which is what kills small corded motors. The limits are the ones that come with the size. A 14-inch blade covers a strip of lawn not much wider than a doormat, so a lawn of a few thousand square feet takes a lot of back-and-forth, and tall growth has to be taken high and then low. In weekly maintenance owners of this class report a clean, even cut.
Handle, vibration and control
A bullhorn handle curves out and back toward the user rather than running straight across, which puts the hands wider and the wrists at a more natural angle. On a light mower that you steer around beds and along fences, the wider stance gives more leverage for turning and the soft overmolding takes some of the motor buzz out of the grips. It will not change the cut, but it changes how the twenty minutes feel, and that is a reasonable thing to pay a little for on a mower you will use every week. The handle also sets to three heights, which tall users will appreciate.
Height, bag and mulching
The single lever moves all four wheels at once through six positions from 1 to 3 inches, so there is no bending to adjust each wheel. The 10-gallon catcher is large for a 14-inch deck and means fewer stops. Mulching is available with the plug in place and works in short, dry growth; there is no side discharge, which is normal at this size.
Cord and reach
Buy a 12-gauge outdoor extension cord if you need 100 feet, mow away from the outlet, and keep the cord on the cut side. If the lawn needs more than one outlet or has trees and beds to snag the cord, a small battery mower is the better buy. The compensation is steady power with nothing to charge.
Living with it
Sharpen the blade each spring, unplug before clearing the deck and hang the mower by its folded handle. PowerSmart is sold mainly online, so plan for slower parts support than with a big-box brand. Check the product page for the warranty.
Alternatives to Consider
PowerSmart’s standard 14-inch 12.5 amp mower is the same machine with a plain handle for anyone who does not care about grips. The Sun Joe MJ401E 14-inch is the long-running rival at this size. If the lawn is bigger than a strip, a Greenworks 20-inch 12 amp corded mower cuts far more per pass for a modest step up.
Verdict
Buy the PowerSmart 14-inch ergonomic-design mower if the lawn is small and within cord reach and you want the softer, wider handle. Skip it if the lawn is more than a few thousand square feet, if cords are a nuisance on your lot, or if the plain-handle version is cheaper on the day and you do not mind a straight bar.
Full specifications
PowerSmart 14-Inch 12.5 Amp Corded Electric Lawn Mower, Ergonomic Design with Bullhorn Handle FAQs
The deck, motor, bag and weight match. This version has the bullhorn-shaped handle with soft-grip overmolding, which the maker says improves leverage and absorbs vibration, and it calls out the single-lever height adjustment.
On a light mower that you steer rather than push hard, a wider, angled handle gives better control around beds and makes turning at the end of a strip easier. It is a comfort gain, not a cutting gain.
Use a 12-gauge outdoor cord for up to about 100 feet with a 12.5 amp motor, or 14-gauge up to 50 feet. The cord is not included.
Slowly. Set the height to 3 inches, take half-width passes and come down a notch on a second pass. A 14-inch corded mower is built for weekly maintenance, not reclaiming a field.
