Splitting axe – x27 or x25 if you prefer a shorter handle, that’s the super value tool choice. Husqvarna s2800 sightly more, slightly heavier and for some a better tool.
The artisan choice is the granfors.
I disagree completely re no need for a better maul. These tools are hard work and take a toll on your body. Cheap ones batter you through vibration back up a fibreglass handle, plus the overstrikes will break it quickly. Pay more for ash or best hickory stick. Spend more for one with an overstrikes protection. Better tools also have far better steel, and keep an edge, they may also be suitable to hammer wedges, cheap ones won’t, they will mushroom badly. Cheap ones will come loose on the handle too. However most of all a bad maul will stick if it doesn’t split, alot, and freeing it is hard. Good mauls have a good shape and don’t stick. I have a Stihl pro cleaving hammer and it is a beast. The cheap maul from screwfix i had before was awful. I got the stihl for £35 but it’s worth the full retail of £85. However, if i could get one, I’d spend my money on a fiskars isocore maul. Except fiskars UK don’t sell it and have no plans to (i asked). There are one or 2 sellers that will ship from Amazon.com but it’s then well over a hundred quid with import tax and shipping, twice its US cost. However, as mauls go, the isocore is the daddy.