Philips (Norelco) Beard Trimmer Series 3000 (BT36** Models) Review – Back to Basics
Philips (Norelco) Beard Trimmer Series 3000 BT3620/40
The updated version of the Philips (Norelco) Series 3000 Beard Trimmer is here and just as slick as it was before. It doesn’t offer any magnificent upgrades, but it is still sleek and gets the job done with the minimum amount of fuss, at a reasonable price.
Pros
The 40 possible length settings give many options for beard lengths
The blades are self-sharpening, and no oiling is required
The whole trimmer is 100 percent waterproof
The 5-year warranty is very generous
It is affordable, with no bells or whistles, but it does the job
Cons
The battery takes 4 hours to fully charge
The motor feels underpowered and needs to go over facial hair multiple times to cut correctly
I’ve used and reviewed plenty of (Norelco) Philips Beard trimmers. Recently, Philips decided to update their models of the beard trimmer, and I got a chance to review their upgraded (Series 5000 (BT57**/** Models) and the newly introduced (7000 Series (BT76**/** Models).
The upgraded versions of the Series 5000 and Series 7000 are definitely worthy beard trimmers based on price point. They are solid trimmers with all of their basics covered – I found them pretty good overall.
Now, let’s see if the Series 3000 will measure up to the same level as the other two.
In this review, I’ll outline the pros and cons of the Series 3000 features (as I experienced them), its actual performance, and who I believe it’s best suited for. As always, this is based on my own hands-on experience — no fluff, no hype, just a real perspective.
— Related: Best Beard Trimmers – Tested & Reviewed
Description and Features
This generation of the 3000 Series begins with BT36; what follows after BT36 (i.e., BT**/**) is just about what accessories that model comes with and the country in which it is sold. All BT36**/** models will perform the same!
For this review, I was using the Series 3000 model number BT3620/40.
My Series 3000 (BT3620) comes with the trimmer itself, two attachable guards, a USB cord to charge the trimmer, a small cleaning brush, and the user manual. A basic kit.
Previous BT32** Models
The previous Series 3000 beard trimmers (which I used and reviewed – Series 3000 BT32**/** Beard & Stubble Trimmer) had model numbers beginning with BT32. These models are not discontinued, so providing much of a comparison won’t offer a lot of value – unless you have the old model and are thinking about purchasing the new version reviewed here.
There are a lot of similarities between the BT32 and BT36. However, the body design of the current version is more rounded, which I guess I prefer, as rounded designs generally feel more comfortable in my hand. The version reviewed here also has more settings, which is obviously a plus.
The older version did provide 90 minutes of runtime, which is an extra 10 or 20 minutes (depending on the B36 model).
Anyway. The BT32 version is discontinued, so let’s move on.
Build Quality and Design
The Series 3000 is a solid design. It is all one piece and doesn’t feel fragile at all. If I drop it, the Series 3000 isn’t going to break apart or get crushed. It is solid and durable.
Build & Design Ratings
Why would I drop it? One of the features of Norelco Philips Trimmers is their Waterproof design. That means that I can trim my beard in the shower if I need to, which can enable a trimmer to slip out of my hand more easily.
The middle of the unit has the scroll wheel for setting the length of the guards. It moves in 0.5mm increments and is very solid. It takes some force to move the wheel, which means I won’t accidentally change my length settings mid-trim.
The power button is also recessed, so I can’t accidentally turn it off mid-trim either.
Ergonomics and Grip
The Series 3000 does not look like it would fit into the hand easily. It is more or less a straight post with some textured portions around the cutting head. However, looks can be deceiving. For me, it fits into my hand very easily. I don’t feel uncomfortable holding it for long periods of time. Though I would worry about it slipping out of my hands if they were wet and soapy.
Ergomomics & Grip Ratings
The Trimmer is also extremely light, so it didn’t fatigue the wrist while I was trimming. When I take a long time trimming, heavier trimmers can just make it feel fatiguing while I am just trying to be meticulous with my trim.
Blades
The 3000 Series comes with only one blade, unlike the other Series 5000 and Series 7000, which come with larger blades for doing work around the neckline, and smaller blades for detail work around the sideburns or edges of your mouth. The blade is hard stainless steel with rounded teeth, and is designed to be self-sharpening.
Blades Ratings
The rounded teeth help to mitigate any irritation it might have against my skin, so trimming along the edges of my beard without any guards didn’t cause any issues. Also, I found I didn’t have any issues with catching or tugging on my beard hair.
I did find that the other specialized blades from the Series 5000 and the Series 7000 actually slotted in and worked with the Series 3000. So if I wanted to buy the blades separately, or if I got one of the other trimmers and need to use a Series 3000 for any reason, those same blades will work.
I show how easy it is to detach and attach the blades in the next video clip, plus how the additional specialized blades from the 5000 and 7000 fit perfectly.
Length Settings and Guards
Two length guards come with the Series 3000. One is for smaller cuts ranging from 0.5mm to 10mm, and a larger one that starts at 10.5mm and goes up to 20mm. They slot into the top portion of the trimmer via a pair of plastic arms that connect to the mechanism that extends the guard up and down with the scroll wheel.
Length Settings and Combs Ratings
My one major concern with this is the same thing I always bring up when dealing with the Philips Norelco line of trimmers. Removing the trimming guards is somewhat awkward and requires some force. Because of that, I feel like I am going to break the guards every time I swap them out, though I have yet to break any of them. I might just be too paranoid.
The guard edges are not sharp at all, and I found them comfortable on my skin.
Cleaning and Maintenance
The Philips Norelco series of trimmers is very easy to maintain and keep clean. The 3000 comes with a cleaning brush, and that is all one needs to keep everything clean. The blade pops out, allowing me to brush out and clean the inside.
Cleaning & Maintenance Ratings
The waterproofing means it is easy to rinse it off, but just be careful to keep the water away from the charging port.
The blade itself doesn’t need any maintenance in the form of sharpening or oiling the blade at all, so as long as it is kept clean, I don’t need to worry about maintaining it.
With the 5-year warranty in place on the BT36, I would not expect having to replace the blade before that 5 years is up. Though, should something go wrong, like if I were traveling and somehow lost the blade, I can purchase a replacement from Philips (part number – CP0911).
Charging, Battery, and LEDs
The battery life versus charging time on the Series 3000 battery leaves something to be desired. Unlike most other trimmers I have reviewed, the battery life on the Series 3000 is only 70 minutes of continuous use for the BT3620/40 I bought. Granted, I don’t know why a person would need more than an hour to trim their beard, which is significantly less time than the two hours the other Philips Norelco trimmers have.
Charging, Battery, and LEDs Ratings
I found that different models of the BT36 line offer different runtimes from 60 to 80 minutes. These differences are quite odd, and in my mind, they should be the same throughout the BT36 models.
In addition to the lower battery life, the trimmer also needs about four hours’ worth of charging time. It doesn’t sound like much, but in my experience, most of the trimmers I have used and reviewed have only needed one to two hours of charge time.
The 3000 has one LED on the front that only comes on when it is charging. It is a single white light that flashes as it is charging; solid white if it is fully charged, and off at all other times. Very basic, as expected for a budget-type trimmer.
Trimming Experiences
My beard is what some people would call scraggly. It is mostly made of long, thick hair that is very sharp. It requires brushing out on a regular basis and needs time to grow for it to look very full. Because the individual hairs are so thick, it will normally take multiple passes to cut everything.
Trimming Performance Ratings
For this trimmer, I have spent multiple weeks trimming with the Series 3000, then taking a break and coming back to it. This was specifically to highlight any differences in the multiple trimmers I review on a regular basis.
When I trimmed my beard, I went with a 0.6 on the length. I find that it is long enough to keep my beard looking full while also being short enough that my mustache doesn’t turn into a real soup strainer. I move slowly to make sure I get as much as I can on any pass. Then, when I am done with the trim, I will take off the guard and use the blade to clean up the edge of my beard around my neck, sideburns, and cheeks.
I didn’t have any issues with snagging or tugging on my beard, but I did have the problem of having to go back over areas I had already trimmed. Even now, as I write this, I can feel places in my beard that did not get trimmed evenly. Be prepared to go back and trim over areas again to make sure everything is evened out.
The next video clip should offer you some decent trimming visuals and experience.
Value for Money
At the time of writing, the Norelco Philips Series 3000 is for sale on Amazon for only 50 USD. For those following along at home, that is about 5 pizzas on our scale.
Value for Money Ratings
Overall, that is a pretty solid deal for a trimmer like the Series 3000. The trimmer is stripped down to just the basics, but that isn’t a bad thing. The Series 3000 will do the job and keep my beard trimmed. Unless someone is looking for something truly barbershop quality, this is the best deal a person can get for their home grooming needs.
Final Thoughts – Verdict (Who’s it for?)
The Norelco Philips Series 3000 trimmer is a good and solid choice of trimmer. It is not fancy, and it comes with just a basic blade and guards. However, it is comfortable to hold, easy as hell to use, and will travel well.
Everything a person could need (not necessarily want) is a part of this trimmer.
I would highly recommend this trimmer to the guy who wants to experiment with growing a nice, trimmed beard. This really is for the beginner guys who don’t want or need all the bells and whistles and features of something like the Brio V2 or the Series 9000. This is especially good for younger guys who are growing out their beard for the first time and don’t want to spend a boatload of money on a trimmer they may not like.
If you own the previous BT32 version and are thinking about renewing it with the BT36 version reviewed here, then hopefully you like the changes as I do.
If you are not sure whether the Series 5000 BT35**/**is for you, then you might want to check out the roundup page. This wraps all the beard trimmers I have used in a condensed format and rates which were best – (See Best Beard Trimmers Of The Year).
