6 Best Beard Trimmers in 2024 – 11 Tested and Reviewed
At Shaving Advisor we pride ourselves on making sure to test and review our beard trimmers rigorously. We put a great deal of work into writing each experience-based professional reviews.
However, we also recognize that sometimes you, the reader, just want to know if the trimmer in question gets a pass or a fail on our scale.
To that end, we have taken a look back at all the trimmers we have reviewed throughout 2023 and 2024 and broken down our reviews in condensed format with rankings to help you make the best choice.
1. Philips Norelco Series 9000 Prestige Beard Trimmer – Best Overall Performance
Starting off as strong as possible, with one of the best trimmers I have tried.
I call this one a lightsaber just by how it looks: stainless steel with a circular tube design. Also with some serious heft to it.
Brief Description and Features
The circular design of the unit fits extremely well in the hand.
The on button is slightly recessed into the housing, so you aren’t going to accidentally hit it while you are shaving. You’d be surprised how often that has happened to me while I am trying out a new trimmer.
The settings wheel is also slightly recessed so you aren’t going to hit it on accident either. It has some very fine settings, measuring 0.2mm between each of the settings. With the provided guide, you are going to get 30 different length settings for your beard. More options are always better.
The whole unit is waterproofed, so cleaning the unit is extremely easy as well.
The one downside when it comes to the design is the unit is heavy. After shaving with this trimmer, I seriously feel like my wrist has got a pretty good workout.
Performance
Have you ever mowed a lawn with a freshly sharpened blade? Cuts through the grass and weeds like a dream.
This is like that, but smaller and on your face. I am the king of tortured metaphors.
This trimmer cuts like a dream. The blades move easily over the face, and there is no need to make any second or third passes. It cuts everything on the first try and doesn’t leave any stray hair left behind. I was seriously impressed.
Things to like
Things to Dislike
Final Thoughts
Overall, this is my favorite trimmer that I have ever had the opportunity to use. It cuts well and has a sturdy frame. It charges fast and is durable enough to survive rigorous use.
The one downside is that it is expensive. You are looking to spend at least USD 100 to get this unit. That 10 pizzas for scale. That might be more than someone wants to spend on a beard trimmer.
2. Panasonic ER-GB42 Beard Trimmer – Best Travel Trimmer
This one and the Philips Norelco 9000 were rivals for the top spot. I had a hard time deciding which one I liked better, but overall it came to the quality of the trim.
Brief Description and Features
One of the first things that come to mind when I use this trimmer is the amount of curves. If the Philips Norelco Series 9000 is a smooth lightsaber, then the Panasonic ER-GB42 is a sports car.
It’s got the best kind of curves and a rubberized grip so it is a dream to hold and use.
The charging stand is very unique when it comes to most trimmers. There are no charging cables to get tangled or cluttered, which is a huge plus for me.
The only real downside is that you do need to make sure to keep up with the maintenance. The blades are very close together and designed for a tight cut, therefore according the the manual, you need to re-oil them after every use.
I have found that to be somewhat annoying. You should be okay if you just oil it once a week.
Performance
When using the Panasonic ER-GB42, the first thing that always strikes me is how quiet it is. I am so used to trimmers that let out this loud buzzing that sounds like an angry cicada. In this case, it is so quiet that it barely makes any noise.
It cuts like a dream as well. The tight, extra-sharp blades make sure to cut deeply into your beard, making sure to get any matted or curled-up hairs.
The only issue is that the cutting head is somewhat small, so you are going to need to make more passes than normal to make sure to get your entire face.
Things to like
Things to Dislike
Final Thoughts
Overall, this trimmer is a really solid option for guys with shorter beards who want a professional flourish on their facial hair.
The Panasonic ER-GB42 is a great option if you are traveling often. It can be packed away easily and carried in any kind of bag without the need to worry about the cords getting tangled.
3. Remington Vacuum Beard and Stubble Trimmer 6000 – Most Unique (and Useful) Design
The Remington Vacuum Beard Trimmer is a huge leap forward when it comes to design features in beard trimming. The vacuum chamber collects all the stray hairs that normally end up in the sink.
If you are anything like me, that will help you keep a cleaner bathroom and a less clogged drain.
Brief Description and Features
The Remington Vacuum Beard Trimmer is very light in the hand, it feels light so it is very easy to use. Unlike the Philips Norelco Series 9000 which is very heavy, this Remington option is light and easy to use without any worry of fatigue in your wrist.
The vacuum chamber is the real selling point of this trimmer. I don’t know why more trimmers don’t have this option. It collects almost all of the hair cut by the trimmer goes right into that vacuum chamber and it is so much easier to clean up after a good trimming session.
Unfortunately, the vacuum chamber itself is somewhat awkward to empty. Not difficult, but awkward. You aren’t going to be able to just shake it out over the trash. You will need to get some kind of tool to scoop out the hairs.
Performance
Where this trimmer does take a hit is in the performance area. It is not stellar. The two trimmers above this (Philips Norelco 9000 & Panasonic ER-GB42) cut so much better.
You will need to go over your beard multiple times to make sure to get the best and most even trim.
Maintenance is very easy though as long as you rinse the blades and keep the vacuum chamber empty, this trimmer will work well.
Things to like
Things to Dislike
Final Thoughts
Overall, this trimmer is only this high on the list because of the cool attachment in the form of the vacuum. Honestly, it makes clean-up so much easier and quicker.
If I could somehow combine this with the Series 9000 cutting blades, then I would have the perfect beard trimmer.
4. Philips Norelco Series 3000 Beard & Stubble Trimmer – Best Budget Option
So far we’ve looked at some of the more expensive options available for guys looking to improve their trimming game.
However, you don’t have to drop a fortune to get a good trim. Philips Norelco has you covered when it comes to solid option that won’t break the bank.
Brief Description and Features
Unlike the Series 9000, the Philips Norelco Series 3000 is smaller, blockier, and more compact than the heavier Series 9000.
That isn’t to say it is fragile, though. The compact design is more economical and lighter, but it also feels much more solid than something made of plastic.
The lighter weight also allows for a much more maneuverable trimmer when shaving, so your wrist won’t get so tired.
It is also easy to disassemble to clean. Just be careful that you don’t get it too wet, as it isn’t completely waterproof.
The exterior is also rubberized plastic, so it is very easy to hold on to.
Performance
With all of the positives I have said before, then why isn’t this number one?
Unfortunately, the Philips Norelco Series 3000 fails in the performance department.
The dual-cutting “lift-and-trim” system is great at making an even cut, but it has issues with longer straggling beard hairs. You will need to make multiple passes to get everything.
This doesn’t mean it won’t work at all; you just need to spend much longer getting the correct trim compared to other options on this list.
Things to like
Things to Dislike
Final Thoughts
The Philips Norelco Series 3000 has a few faults when it comes to the performance department, but there is nothing that is deal-breaking.
What is great is the price line: which is at the time of writing is about 30 to 40 USD on Amazon. That is an amazing price for a trimmer whose only downside is you have to go over your face a few more times than with the others.
5. Manscaped Beard Hedger Trimmer – Most Adaptable Design
Manscaped is a relative newcomer to the shaving scene compared to the other big names on this list.
And it certainly holds its own against the big boys. You can tell that because it is on this list.
Brief Description and Features
The Manscaped Trimmer is a very blocky design with clean lines that make it look extremely angular.
You’d think that would make it uncomfortable to trim with, but actually it is quite comfortable in the hand. It is nice and light as well, so it doesn’t wear out your wrist at all.
The charging port and cable are USB-C, which is a huge plus. That means it should be easy to find a replacement cable if you lose or misplace the one that comes with it.
The only problem I have with the design is that it takes a few trims for you to find the angle for the regular cutting edge. You need to find the right index to make sure to trim correctly.
Performance
Performance-wise, the trimmer did the job of cutting and trimming my beard hair quite well.
It didn’t leave any strays or mess up along the way, but it wasn’t a one-and-done either. I needed to go back over a few times to make sure I got an even cut over my beard.
Things to like
Things to Dislike
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Manscaped trimmer is a pretty good option for most guys. I had some issues with finding the correct cutting edge for the blade was somewhat awkward. My only real reservation is the asking price (80 USD). You could get the Panasonic ER-GB42 for 50 bucks.
6. Philips Norelco Series 5000 Beard Trimmer – Best for Length Variety
For when you really need a solid product that has all the length settings possible.
The Philips Norelco Series 5000 has the best options if you want to experiment with different beard lengths.
Brief Description and Features
The Philips Norelco Series 5000 is the middle child between the Series 3000 and the Series 9000. It is slightly larger than the Series 3000, but not as heavy as the Series 9000.
It has so many settings that it outstrips most of the other entries on this list. So why is it so far down?
Well, the outside looks sleek and nice, but it feels like cheap plastic. When I was shaving with this trimmer, I honestly felt like it was going to break in my hand and fall apart.
It feels hollow like there is a great deal of space inside of the trimmer. The seems of each piece of molded plastic are loose and you can almost see into the trimmer.
This also applies to the plastic guides, which all felt like they were going to snap if I put too much pressure on them.
Performance
I will say that the Philips Norelco Series 5000 did the job of trimming my beard, and it had a huge amount of options for length.
The actual trim was nice and even, but I did find that I had to make at least 2 or 3 passes to make sure and get all the stragglers.
The major takeaway while using the trimmer was how loud it was. I could hear this trimmer going off multiple rooms away from it.
Not so bad if you are living alone, but if you live with family or roommates then EVERYONE in the house knows you are trimming your beard.
Things to like
Things to Dislike
Final Thoughts
Overall, this isn’t a bad option, but there are better options on the list already.
The Philips Norelco Series 5000 is basically just an oversized version of the Series 3000. I would recommend the Series 3000 much more than the 5000, hands down.
7. King C Gillette Beard Trimmer
Those of you who are regular readers here on Shaving Advisor know that I am a fan of most King C Gillette’s beard supplies.
Just check out my reviews for King C Gillette Beard Oil, King C Gillette Soft Beard Balm, and King C. Gillette Beard & Face Wash.
But as for this trimmer from the company that claims it is “the best a man can get,” there are better options.
Brief Description and Features
The King C Gillette Beard Trimmer has some issues in its design.
It is not very comfortable to hold, with weird angles that make it just awkward to handle.
The power button has issues because it is very delicate and can be turned off mid-trim.
The guides are also hard to use, having to hold down the button and slide it up and down. It is very easy to miss the setting you want and have to go back and forth until it slides into the length you like. Not deal-breaking, but very annoying.
Performance
This trimmer has problems in the power department.
While it will cut and trim your hair, you need to go slow. Especially if you have thick beard hair. If you don’t go slow, it will clog and even slow down the motor inside of the trimmer. I almost had it stop on me at one point.
I also had to run over my beard multiple times to get all the straggling hairs.
Things to like
Things to Dislike
Final Thoughts
King C Gillette is great for other products, but it falls at the finish line with this trimmer.
The only real benefit I could see in getting this product is, it is actually inexpensive (around 30 USD). However, even the Philips Norelco Series 3000 is about the same price for a much better trimmer.
8. Wahl Stainless Steel Lithium-Ion Beard Trimmer
Wahl is a known brand in the shaver and trimmer sphere, but not as well known as Philips or Panasonic.
This work-a-day trimmer isn’t too bad, but it has one MAJOR downside that made it the bane of my existence.
Brief Description and Features
I like the way this trimmer feels in the hand is nice, though there is no place to grip it. So it feels good, but it also feels like it is going to slip out of your hand constantly. Make sure your hands are dry before you start shaving.
The major downside I mentioned above comes in the fact that not only is it not waterproof, it has plenty of small cracks that will almost immediately collect water as you clean the trimmer.
When water leaked into the trimmer, it caused a short in the power button. The trimmer kept turning itself on and off all on its own. That or I have a ghost in my bathroom.
Performance
The shave itself was nice and pleasant. I had no issues with the trim other than the fact that the motor felt somewhat underpowered. Not as much as the King C. Gillette option, but it did have trouble when I let my beard grow longer than normal.
The great part is the amount of attachments that come with the trimmer. It works great as a nose hair trimmer, and it has so many options for trimming lengths you can style your beard however you want.
Things to like
Things to Dislike
Final Thoughts
Does the amount of options on offer overcome the design flaw of being leaky?
Perhaps.
Maybe I just got a one-off fault on the production line.
That being said, I cannot justify spending almost 90 USD on this trimmer, when other options for less money would give me a better trim.
9. Panasonic ER240 Beard and Mustache Trimmer
Finally, we come to the last option for Panasonic.
This is the most recent review I have penned, meaning memories of this trimmer are more fresh in my mind.
That could be a good thing…or a bad thing.
Brief Description and Features
This trimmer is a tiny little pocket rocket of a beard trimmer. It is like what you would get if you took an average beard trimmer and cut out every extraneous option until you got just the basics.
It only has 5 length settings, but those settings are easy to use.
It is also pretty robust. I like that this trimmer feels like it could be dropped multiple times.
The size plus the fact that it doesn’t use lithium Ion Batteries means it can travel very easily.
The Double As is both a good and bad thing.
The good is no charge time, and easy to replace when power runs out.
However, I am always weary of Double As around the sink. Where I grew up in Texas, we had hard water with more than our fair share of dissolved solids. That meant any batteries that would get wet could and would corrode on us with a nasty blue crust on everything.
You also will need to keep changing out the batteries when they run dry. Multiple Batteries in this Economy?!
Performance
The Panasonic ER240 is small, but it does the job. I got a decent trim during the few weeks I used to review it.
The major problem is that it is underpowered and tended to clog very quickly.
Even if I didn’t space out the trims, I still had issues where I had to stop multiple times during the trim just to clean out the guide so I could keep going.
I honestly just wished I was using a different trimmer the entire time I was using this trimmer.
Things to like
Things to Dislike
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Panasonic ER240 would be great if you wanted just a no-frills trimming option that you can travel with everywhere.
This trimmer is not for guys who need to trim regularly and have access to better options. It is about the same price as the Philips Norelco Series 3000. You can tell which one I would choose if given the option.
