Remington Balder Boss Review – It Has A Turbo Fitted!
Remington Balder Boss XR7120
The Remington Balder Boss has a slimmer design than the previous Pro model and a few other important changes, including the Turbo feature. I mostly find it an improvement, but the present additional cost is not very buyer-friendly (that could change soon, though!).
Pros
Good ergonomics and easy-to-hold
Comfortable and quick head shave
Two power settings, including turbo
Offers convenience and no mess shave
Blade-cutting ability is good
Practical and useful blade and head movement
Cons
A bit pricey
Not having a plug attached
I'm not sure everyone will need the turbo option (marketing gimmick?).
The Remington Balder Boss XR7120 is an upgrade from the popular Balder Pro, which I have used and reviewed previously.
I wasn’t sure Remington would offer an upgrade from the Remington Balder Pro to the Balder Boss.
The Remington Balder Boss was first available outside of the USA–named the Remington RX7 (an upgrade of the RX5). So, I am glad to see Remington eventually made the Balder Boss available to head-shaving gents in the US.
I am a fan of the Balder Pro, and that’s why it joined my best electric head shavers roundup page. The page offers a roundup of reviews condensing all the information from all the head shavers I have tested and used. Let’s see if the Balder Boss deserves a spot!
In this review, I will run through what I like and don’t like so much about the features and design, share its performance after shaving, and suggest who it might be best suited for in the final thoughts.
Spoiler Alert! While I am happy with the new features of the Balder Boss compared to the Balder Pro, the additional hike in the price –is way too much (this might change–and I hope it does).
Video Review
You might find parts of the video review of the Remington Balder Boss that I created very useful, especially if you need more visuals of the shaver and/or need to see it in action– head shaving.
Description & Features
Unboxed, we get the shaver, blade cap cover, cleaning brush, a small bottle of oil, USB cord, and a small instruction manual.
- Handle/Body—The shaver’s body is the handle. The sides of the shaver are rubberized for grip while shaving.
- Blades and Blade head—The five blades are rotary-type cutting heads with dual-track blades on each cutter. These blades move inwards and outwards when shaving. The neck of the blade head also moves the head in various directions when in use.
- Turbo Speed-The Balder Boss has an extra button and mode for shaving at turbo speed. Remington states that the turbo speed is designed to tackle denser growth.
- Cordless Operation—Like most shavers, the Balder Boss has a built-in rechargeable battery that you recharge via a power supply lead. The power cord is USB without an attached plug.
- Charging and Battery—Remington states that the shaver must be charged for 2 hours to fully charge the first time. A fully charged battery provides a maximum of 60 minutes of Runtime.
- Wet and Dry—The shaver may be used wet or dry with shaving foam, soap, or cream. Remington states that it is 100% waterproof.
- Detail Trimmer-–A pop-up-style detail trimmer can be released from the front of the shaver to trim near the sideburns and unwanted hairs.
- Light Indicators—The Balder Boss has an LED light that shows moving segments that reduce when the charge amount is reduced. The light also moves and flashes while it is on charge.
- Warranty– Remington offers buyers a limited 5-year warranty. You are also entitled to a 60-day money-back guarantee.
Changes/Additional Features Compared With The Balder Pro
It’s worth mentioning briefly what has changed on the upgrade from the Balder Pro to Balder Boss.
- Additional 30% Blade Flex. This is noticeable when comparing the differences in the height of both blade sections, and this enables the blades to flex more.
- The body design is slimmer on the Balder Boss.
- Turbo Speed Function. This basically gives users an extra option to speed up the shavers’ rotary blades speed.
- The rubberized grip on the sides has changed.
- An additional 10-minute runtime (60-minute Runtime compared to 50 minutes).
- USB cord rather than a plug lead (you must provide your own adapter)
- The LED indicator light has improved and shows segments of charge left.
As you can see, some fairly big changes have been made. A full comparison will cover this very soon.
Balder Boss vs. Balder Pro Video
I have also made a video of the Boss vs. Pro to show viewers and readers more details about the different features you can expect.
More About The Features — Pros and Cons
While it’s useful to have a list of the main features, we need more detail about what these features are supposed to do and what they actually do—both what’s good and what’s not up to standards—without the jargon.
Build Quality & Ergonomics
While everything is plastic and rubber apart from the blades, the shaver is solid enough. I have owned Remington head shavers since 2011 and have had no breakages or coming apart business going on.
The top end of the shaver body is wider or larger than the bottom (which slims down), and it fits nicely in the hand when in use. The rubberized sides offer enough grip while shaving, too.
So far, so good!
Pivot Head & Flex Blades
A useful feature is that the blades move inwards and back outwards, which I find works well when shaving along the various contours of the head. However, unlike the head shavers I have used from the Skull Shaver brand and the MicroTouch Titanium, the individual blades do not flex, which offers that extra bit of comfort.
The head also pivots in various directions, which is useful for shaving the various and sometimes tricky contours of the head. The pivoting head is a feature that the Skull Shaver brand and MicroTouch I just mentioned do not have.
Turbo Speed Function
The turbo speed function means the Balder Boss has an additional button that will speed up the shaver’s speed.
While it is great that the shaver has speeded up when using the turbo, I found that I don’t need the optional slower speed. Not many of us are going to use a shaver that shaves slower, right?
While I think this feature is part of a sales gimmick, I can see why Remington might provide the two speeds. This could be to save battery power at a slower speed and/or show that they have a superior product that provides more speed.
I am happy with the extra speed I get from the Balder Boss. After all, electric shaving is all about speed and convenience.
Hair Capture Chamber
The Remington Balder Boss has a good hair-capture chamber, which is visible when the blades are removed. This chamber captures all the shaving debris.
A head shaver that has this feature gets the thumbs up from me, as others I have used that do not have this can clog up more easily, and/or they are trickier to clean.
Detail Trimmer
As always, I am quite critical of these attached trimmers. Sometimes called precision trimmers, they often lack cutting–never mind precision.
While the pop-up trimmer is tucked away and designed very well, it does not cut in sideburns very well at all. It might pick up a straggler hair you could not shave off, but other than that, it’s not very useful.
The detail trimmer is no deal breaker, and many electric shaver precision trimmers dont work very well.
Charging and Battery Life
The Balder Boss gives us 60 minutes of Runtime, and I have used it for a month, shaving every 2 or 3 days without having to recharge it.
I have four Remington head shavers, and none of their batteries have failed so far. However, since I frequently test various grooming products, I don’t use them on a daily basis, which makes it challenging to gauge their longevity.
It’s not operable while connected to a cord and plugged in. I personally favor the option to use it while plugged in–in case there are any battery charging issues. If the battery does run out suddenly, though, you can give it a quick 5-minute charge for a couple of head shaves.
USB Cord and No Adapter?
Today’s devices are all in tune with a USB connection that can connect with various power outlets, so in a sense, it is positive that a power cord can be used with various adapters or devices (think laptops). We all have mobile phones with adapters, too.
Some users will prefer a cord with a plug attached, though. I totally get that!
My thoughts are this should reduce the cost, but that does not reflect in the cost of the Balder Boss. I could be expecting too much, but I don’t know!
Cleaning & Maintenance
The cleaning process is easy with the Balder Boss. Blowing and brushing out the shaving debris is always the first part of my routine, and this is done easily with the removal of the blade section and the large hair collection chamber.
It can also be cleaned under a running tap, but you dont need to do this every shave. Add a blob of anti-bacterial hand soap for extra cleanliness and a fresh smell, as I do, if you wish.
A small bottle of oil that comes with the shaver kit can be used sparingly on the blades. I only use oil every few shaves and not after every shave.
The head section can be easily removed with a pull, and two hexagon segments can be matched to detach the head again.
As advised by Remington, the blades should last 6 months, based on shaving every 2 days. This will depend on the coarseness of your hair. I have had blades on the Balder Pro (RX5 UK version) for well over a year, but I don’t know how many times I used the shaver–many times, though.
Head Shaving Experiences
I have been using Remington head shavers since 2020 and first reviewed the RX5, which is the Balder Pro, in January 2021. So, I have enough first-hand experience with them all.
Remington states that we can get a 90-second shave done with two days of hair growth. Yes, that is true; it barely takes two minutes.
When I first used or returned to using any of the Remington head shavers, the bottom of the back of the neck felt slightly sore. This soreness passes after using the shaver three times, and it can be made easier by using the Balder Boss a couple of times, shaving wet with shaving cream.
I dont get quite the same level of comfort while shaving that I get with one of the Skull Shavers, like the Skull Shaver Gold Pro, but I get the same efficiency.
The wide blade area provides plenty of coverage while shaving, which gets the job done quickly. Still, I do notice the wide-area creates a little overlap at certain points, and that means it is not hugging to the head as it could (if that makes sense—and if it does not—watch my YouTube videos).
I have shaved wet with light shaving cream, and while I found it more comfortable, it misses the point of shaving with an electric head shaver, really. In terms of –I might as well get a manual razor out if I am going to get messy. The wet shaving option is there, though, if you need it!
I enjoy having a quick head shave with the Balder Boss, and the slight soreness and blade overlap are not deal breakers. It slightly outperforms the Balder Pro, which is a plus (if the price is right!).
Value for Money
At this point, I fell out with Remington over the cost of the Balder Boss (this might change, and the price could come down—hopefully).
Keep in mind when I bought this, I did not get a travel pouch and no plug on the cord (I know, that is a pro and a con!).
–Cost — $99.00 (Balder Pro = $59.99)
–Replacement Blades Cost — $29.99
That’s a 40% increase. That’s not good. $20 is Okay, but not $40.
Here is an added twist on Amazon that Remington has for sale: the Remington Balder Deluxe XR7100. The deluxe is the same shaver but with the travel pouch added, which you would already get with the Balder Pro. The deluxe is advertised on Amazon as having titanium blades (nothing about that on the Remington website). This deluxe model costs $122 (what?).
To add insult to injury to my American friends, the Balder Boss in the UK (RX7) costs £69.99, and the Balder Pro (RX5) is £59.99 (that’s only 15% more—deal). And the UK model comes with a travel pouch!
Don’t skank my American head-shaving friends, Remington!
Final Thoughts – Verdict (Who’s It For?)
If Remington brings the price increase from the Balder Pro down similar to the UK prices of a 15% difference, then I am saying buy this Remington upgrade as most of the features are an improvement.
Until they bring the price down, I would go with the Balder Pro.
I am a fan of the Balder Boss and the Pro–when comparing them to all other head shavers, I have tested and reviewed.
If you are still unsure, check out my best electric head shavers roundup, which rates all the head shavers I have used.
Don’t rip my USA friends off with the travel pouch scenario, Remington!!
