With the men’s grooming market exploding to the tune of $23m in 2020, things are very much on the up for the best beard trimmers around. But, beard trimmers are like pets, phones and childhood sweethearts: your first one probably wasn’t a keeper. You need to find the right one and, thankfully, there’s plenty of choice now. Even the most cost-effective trimmer can come with a swell of peripherals for managing errant sproutings all over your body.
As much as buying a decent beard trimmer is now a foolproof process, buying the best available remains more of a challenge. Getting an even shave isn’t guaranteed, build quality can be variable and there are little things like waterproofing and fast charging that can make a big difference. Especially when you’re in a rush and need to scrub up fast.
That’s why WIRED has surveyed the market to find the most trustworthy option. We tested trimmers from the likes of Braun, Philips and Babyliss to find a trimmer worthy of all occasions. It had to feel good in the hand and be able to squeeze into your carry-on. Be able to survive a trip in the shower and not run flat on battery when you need it most. Most importantly, it had to deliver a quality trim for all schools of facial hair. And if it can do the same for down under that’s a bonus too.
What’s the best beard trimmer in 2021?
From the shaving basics to convenient extras like waterproofing, Philips Beard Trimmer 5000 (£55) is a simple device with four handy attachments that gets everything right. It’s the best beard trimmers you can buy right now. The feel in your hand feels quality behind its low price and its secure guards make for a carefree shave.
View the Philips Beard Trimmer for £55 on Amazon
If you can live without a few of the Braun trimmer’s more refined skills then the Wahl Aqua Blade (£53) is our best trimmer for shaving. That’s thanks to its wide, powerful head which scythes through facial hair to deliver a close, neat trim even at the margins of your beard. However, its attachments are finicky to use and its overall build quality can be cumbersome.
Philips Beard Trimmer 5000
Many of the top beard trimmers around right now fall into the category of jack of all trades. Doing everything while doing beard trimming pretty well too. All this applies to our former top pick, the Braun 10-in-1. The Philips Beard Trimmer 5000 (£55) takes things to the next level with added levels of convenience and a design that feels luxurious beyond its price.
Philips gets the basics right, with your average beard trim producing the desired results. This trimmer’s high levels of accuracy—rarely leaving a hair out of place—is partly down to its Lift&Trim Pro system. This innovation aims to perk up the low lying beard hairs so they aren’t missed. And it works. Self-sharpening blades are here too, to continue to get a clean finish after several months of use.
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A small flaw might be resolved by a little lesson in labelling for Philips. You might be forgiven for thinking this trimmer would only be suitable for shorter beards, with the 0.4-10mm attachment labelled as for beards while the longer attachment (10.4-20mm) gets put in a hair trimmer box. In truth, these labels can be ignored. Both do a solid job in the other’s, seemingly, designated scenario. Each guard fits more robustly than most trimmers, featuring two long stems that enter the trimmer rather than just clicking on at the top—as many rivals do.
The added convenience of this Philips trimmer shines brightest in its waterproofing. If you’ve ever cleaned a stubborn trimmer or had one conk out from an accidental dip in the sink, this is a godsend. You still need to get in there with the provided cleaning brush sometimes but complete waterproofing means you clean up most rogue hairs with a rinse after each use. So simple and a huge time saver. The controls are handy too, with a rotating dial for you to scroll to your desired length setting. And, it even lights up. 5-min quick charge—with one hour required for a full charge—and a 120-minute runtime are delightful inclusions as well.
Remington T-Series Precision Trimmer
Remington knows what it’s doing when it comes to value-for-money beard trimming, with the G4 Graphite (£35) our previous favourite budget option. The Remington T-Series Ultimate Precision Trimmer (£35) has now come along to offer a trimmer that feels premium beyond its value-for-money price while living up to that braggadocious name.
The precision of the T-Series trimmers comes from one clever touch that leads to a couple of positive consequences. The key piece of the puzzle is the slim stem of the top of the device. First, chunkier beard trimmers can often impede your view when you’re shooting for accuracy – that’s much less of an issue here. Second, the lower curved shape at the bottom combines with the slim stem to create comfortable but purposeful control. Despite many options priced well above this Remington, few match it on feeling like you are able to get meticulous results.
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The T-Series Trimmer comes with eight attachments to help you get the specific look you’re after. However, it does favour the shorter beard, with far more customisation on offer via an adjustable 1mm to 5mm dial comb. At longer beard lengths, you’ll be choosing between separate 12 and 15mm guards – and 15mm won’t be up to snuff for many long-running face warmers.
In use, this customisation produced suitably accurate results. The level of comfort and control made using this trimmer feel far from a hassle. You’ll rarely feel like you need to apply additional force or go over the same patch again to get your desired outcome.
Braun MGK7221 10-in-1 All-in-one
Most beard trimmers take the name very literally. The attachments they come with vary by length but when it comes to shaving clean around the edges or taming an unruly ‘tache they can often be left wanting.
But with eight attachments for different lengths and a Gillette razor included in the box, Braun might be better off calling its MGK7221 10-in-1 trimmer (£35) a ‘body hair management tool box’. This is a beard trimmer full of versatility. From a long comb that maxes out at 21mm to a mini foil shaver, its accessories have pretty much every crevice and cranny covered, so you won’t need to invest in another accessory to finish the job. Its ear and nostril trimmer mean you’re not just limited to the bottom third of your face either.
The two longer comb attachments only adjust in 2mm increments, so you can’t be too fussy about the length, but they’re all incredibly easy to attach, even the ones that require you to change the entire cutting head. While the adjustable ones perhaps don’t fit as snugly as on the more expensive trimmers available, and the mechanism itself is a bit looser as well, it never feels like it’s about to slip.
This Braun beard trimmer’s waterproof chassis is surprisingly weighty (in a good way), and while the build falls slightly short of Philips’ Series 9000 (below), it feels solid in the hand, with a rubberised thumb rest and power button, plus a subtly textured pattern on the back. Its AutoSensing motor assesses the thickness of its hairy nemesis every 13 seconds and adjusts the power accordingly, so it has no trouble getting the blades to go through heavier growth without snagging.
Philips Series 9000
Nothing makes a beard owner’s blood run cold like the realisation that they’ve just scythed into their painstakingly cultivated facial hair with the trimmer on the wrong setting or the guard not attached properly. All that hard work, wasted.
If you value the effort that went into growing yours and want to invest in order to keep it looking suitably smart, beard trimmers don’t come much more premium than Philips’ Series 9000 (£140). Rather than the chunky plastic that most are made from, its weighty body is made from stainless steel, with a built-in metal comb that’s never going to flex under pressure, and a flat plastic base that allows you to store it standing up.
That high-end feeling is let down a little by the plastic attachment that’s required if you want to go longer than 5mm, but it doesn’t affect the brilliant job it does of keeping unruly whiskers in check. It chomps through hair with noticeable consistency, keeping things even across your whole face, although the cutting head is pretty narrow.
As well as the financial cost, you’ll also have a debt to pay when it comes to cleaning up afterwards. There are minimal nooks and crannies around the top for the offcuts to collect in, so while there’s no need to stop halfway through and clear it out, you’ll be surprised by how far and wide it can fling tiny shards of hair.
That’s by no means unique to this trimmer though and shouldn’t detract too much from the fact that it gives a suitably high-quality cut. What else would you expect for £120?
Panasonic ER-GB86
There was a time when the only people you’d see sporting beards big enough for woodland critters to hide inside would be lumberjacks, castaways and gamekeeper friends of fictional wizards. Of course, that’s no longer the case. Nowadays you’ll see everyone from baristas to bankers hiding their chins beneath pretty hefty bristles – but without the necessary upkeep, it’s pretty easy to veer into Hagrid territory.
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Panasonic’s ER-GB86 (£53) is one of the few trimmers that caters for beards of up to 30mm, with most maxing out closer to the 10mm or 15mm mark. Not only that, but it adjusts in half-millimetre increments with a total of 58 different cutting lengths, so it’s not just for those cultivating something long enough to hang on to.
Everything about the ER-GB86 bellows sturdiness, whether it’s the rotating barrel-style adjustment that sits under your thumb, the three plastic comb attachments that fit securely over the blades, or the textured, waterproof chassis that makes it easy to clean. There’s also a hole that allows you to rinse the cutting head right through.
Inside there’s a high-torque motor which, when combined with its wider-tip blades, munches through even the densest face thickets without a hint of pulling, although it can quite quickly get clogged with hair. That means you might need a few passes to get the job done, particularly considering the cutting head isn’t the widest, but there’s no doubting the Panasonic’s quality.
Philips OneBlad
A do-it-all trimmer that’s truly affordable, Philips’ OneBlade (£47) claims to be a true gamechanger in the category of men’s grooming kit. It certainly looks the part, shedding the bulky black aesthetic of its many rivals for something brighter and more slender. In the hand, it feels like a souped-up razor with slimline ergonomics and clear carry-on potential.
As things turn out, portability is exactly where the OneBlade’s strength lies. Where rival trimmers blithely dominate half your wash bag, the OneBlade can squeeze itself on vacation among a litany of toiletries in order to maintain the chiselled visage you eked out before the trip. Just snap on one of its easy-to-use attachments and graft away.
Keeping a five o’clock shadow in shape is really where this beard trimmer excels, as opposed to cutting five days worth of growth down to size. Then you’ll notice uneven hair lengths – especially around the edge of your stubble – and the whole trimming experience takes a little bit longer than with a full-sized device. Even though OneBlade might not be all you need in the long run, it’s a solid pick for frequent travellers. Not quite revolutionary then but we admire its good intentions.
Simple and easy to use with great ergonomics
If you’re looking for something a bit different that still gets the job done then BaByliss MEN Japanese Steel Beard Trimmer (£36) is a good alternative to the status quo. Admittedly, beard trimmers have one job so how much room for differentiation is there beyond doing the job well or doing the job badly? Well, with its interesting modern design, this BaByliss trimmer does bring significant ergonomic improvements.
This beard trimmer is far slimmer than your average device, such as the Braun, Philips and Wahl models on this list – meaning you can get a solid grip around the whole of the BaByliss. Any chance of dropping this trimmer is further lost with the honeycomb design on its underside. The impressive ergonomics continues with a straight bend in the shape about two thirds up the trimmer, allowing you to easily apply light or tougher pressure.
Strong ease-of-use here exists outside of its shape too. It’s one of the easiest beard trimmers for adjusting length, with many opting for a method of pushing the side of the head up and down. The BaByliss Japanese Steel beard trimmer opts for a rotating dial that’s extremely easy to adjust but also stays in place really well.
Shape, grip and ease-of-use won’t matter all that much if performance is poor but this BaByliss trimmer delivers for the most part. It’s one of the most accurate trimmers for getting a uniform length across your whole beard, according to the millimetre you’ve set it to, particularly at shorter lengths. However, the performance of the trimmer does reduce slightly the longer you go – meaning those with larger beards should look to more adaptable rivals like the Braun MGK7221.
Pros: Unique look; great for uniformity, especially at lower lengths; tremendous ergonomics
Cons: Takes a bit of getting used to; no waterproofing
Wahl Aqua Blade Beard and Stubble Trimmer
Truth be told, we feel quite conflicted about the Wahl Aqua Blade (£53), which is probably more conflicted than anyone should feel about any beard trimmer. At its absolute core, this is a quality product. Close to the best of the bunch we’ve tested here in fact.
Although you might not be too familiar with Wahl, it’s been in the grooming game for 100 years. Chances are you have your hair cut every month by a pair of Wahl-made clippers, which goes a long way to explaining the quality of this product’s trimming abilities. With a wide, pin-sharp head, the Aqua Blade breezes through bushy growth and – if you pair it with a decent shaving foam – does a great job fine-tuning your stubble when many beard trimmers struggle at such short lengths. So much so that we emerged from this close cut scenario with nary a scratch.
The downside? It doesn’t quite exude the air of a premium device. A rubberised grip on its sides allows for close control, but the general build quality almost falls on the Fisher-Price side of plasticky. More notably, its attachments for altering trim length feel flimsy and attaching them to the Aqua Blade is awkward. The same goes for reattaching this trimmer’s head if you remove it for cleaning. As such, the Aqua Blade isn’t quite the slam dunk that it really should be.
Strong performer at a very low price
The ergonomic design of the King C. Gillette Cordless Beard Trimmer Kit (£20) doesn’t stand out much; aside from the Harrys-esque packaging here, beard trimmers that look like this are ten a penny.
The proof is in the pudding, though, and, for just £20, it’s hard to argue this budget beard trimmer doesn’t offer strong value for money. Admittedly, those with longer beards or who like precision trimming will want to look at higher-priced devices. However, for those taming a short to mid-size length beard, the performance of this beard trimmer is more than good enough.
In the kit, you get a short beard comb, long beard comb and stubble comb. The short beard comb does a good job of doing away with stragglers and neatening up your look but it does miss the odd hair, meaning you may end up carrying out a longer shave than you might with more capable trimmers. This is slightly worse in the long beard department; definitely avoid if you’re sporting a more substantial face warmer. Both combs are easy enough to adjust, with a slider on the side to move between lengths.
The stubble comb also does what it says on the tin and keeps your stubble uniform, which isn’t always guaranteed with budget models. Cleaning is simple too, with a cleaning brush included and easy access to the inner workings where those awkward hairs build up. The advertised 50-minute battery life lives up to expectations too, meaning you shouldn’t need to charge more than once per week.
For those who may be excited to see something new from Gillette, via the new King C. Gillette branding, it is worth noting that the company has worked with Braun on this beard trimmer – and it’s very similar to its budget offerings rather than something completely new.
How long should a beard trimmer battery last?
The battery life of beard trimmers can vary quite a bit, with some focused on home use and others made for travel. If you trim your beard every day, you should look at the top-end of things which is a three-hour battery life – to avoid the hassle of charging every single day. If regular charging doesn’t bother you, your shave run time is short or you don’t shave that often, trimmers that offer 50 minutes and above may suit you just fine.
Beard trimmer vs multigroom – which is best?
Whether you buy a traditional beard trimmer or multigroomer is a complete matter of personal preference. If you are someone who carefully hones their beard, you may want a beard trimmer laser focused on providing you with the accuracy you want. A multigroom trimmer, meanwhile, can do the job of hair clippers, nose and ear hair trimming and more. However, this isn’t to say that multigroom devices can’t provide a good beard trim, with our top pick being particularly strong when it comes to taming the longer beard.
Can you use a beard trimmer in the shower?
You can absolutely use a beard trimmer in the shower, just look out for the right one. Many beard trimmers will state whether are waterproof and/or great for shower use. For example, there’s the Wahl Aqua Blade (£70) which is fully washable – making it ideal for wet use.
Corded vs cordless – which beard trimmer is best?
Whether you’re buying online or instore, cordless beard trimmers are the main variety you’ll come across these days – likely taking over in popularity due to their portability and the fact they’re easily stowed away after use. However, if you feel like cordless beard trimmers just aren’t doing the job and you need something more powerful, that’s where corded trimmers come in.
Can beard trimmers rust?
While some beard trimmers may tout their anti-rust capabilities in product descriptions, rusting is always a possibility when metal is involved. To prevent it, always clean and dry your beard trimmer after use – including taking advantage of any bundled in brushes that’ll let you access the small and hard to each places.
How often should you trim your beard?
There’s no hard and fast rule when it comes to trimming your beard, especially if you are fluctuating between keeping it trim and growing it out. However, once a week is a simple timetable to follow to keep your facial hair uniform as you grow it out. Larger beards, that you’re aiming to keep in check may require more regular attention, with longer hairs more easily going awry.
How long do beard trimmer blades last?
There’s no one answer to this question, with the length of time a beard trimmer remains viable depending on how frequently you use it and the trimmer itself. If you care about a long-lasting trimmer, look out for models that tout self-sharpening capabilities and offer waterproofing. However, the best way to judge is from the results. If you think your trim is becoming less effective then it’s likely time to upgrade.
Should you trim your beard all the same length?
Absolutely, yes. The answer in the affirmative is more about ease of consistency than anything else. If you switch up lengths to try and get a certain desired result, you’ll likely find it hard to match next time out. Sticking to one length across your whole beard means you can do the same time and time again. Of course, you can switch up lengths for each shave but during is something you should avoid.
Which trimmer size is best for a beard?
There is no ideal trimmer size for a beard, with the different lengths variously working their magic on different sizes and shapes of faces. If you are still working out your ideal length, pick up a beard trimmer with a range of trimmer attachments so you can work out what length you’d like to go with down the line.
Should you trim your beard up or down?
You might think the answer to this question is one or the other. It isn’t. If you are looking to reduce the overall length of your beard then you should trim against your hair growth (the grain). If you are looking to neaten things up then simply trim with the grain to get rid of any excess. You’re welcome.
