Braun XT5 Review – It Should Be More Than Just A Beard Trimmer
Braun XT5 Hybrid Trimmer
The Braun XT5 is a hybrid multi-tool that aims to trim, shave, and body groom –all in one. Is it possible for a small device like the XT5 to adapt to these tasks easily or not?
Pros
Good build quality
Could make a travel companion
Compact size
Easy to switch combs
Powerful motor for a small device
Ergonomically friendly
Cons
Only stubble shave results
Tugging hairs during facial shaving
Not as good as a dedicated shaver, razor, or trimmer
It takes a long time to shave and manscape
Long charging time
Braun is well known for its top-of-the-range electric shavers, which I cover in many electric shaver reviews and of course on the Best Braun Shavers Roundup. However, among other product lines, they also have a line of stylers and trimmers.
A popular shave, trim, and style tool from the Braun Styler and Trimmer range is the Braun XT5, which is up for review today.
A close comparison to the Braun XT5 is the Philips Norelco OneBlade, and the XT5 is likely Braun’s answer to their biggest competitors’ (Philips Norelco) Face and Body shaving and trimming tool.
Overall, I was not that impressed with the XT5 and expected better. It does manage some trimming and even body grooming; however, the negative aspects –with the main negative aspects being the hair tugging and length of time it takes to get the job done –didn’t encourage me to keep wanting to use this device.
Braun XT5 Models
It is always worth mentioning the various models and numbers available to help you guys with any confusion that Braun might cause with its various model numbers.
It is the same trimmer and shaver if the product model number begins with 5xxx (e.g., XT5 5300 or XT5 5100).
- 5100
- 5200
- 5300
The only difference is the amount of comb guards it comes with, a travel pouch, and a stand. Check the XT5 model you are about to buy and make sure it includes accessories that are important to you.
Let’s look at what the Braun XT5 Hybrid Shaver/Trimmer can do for my facial and bodily shaving/trimming needs, its features, how it performs after a month’s use, and who it would be best suited for.
Description & Features
Unboxed (XT5100), I got the shaving device, 4 face combs, 1 body comb, a protective cap, and a charging adapter. This model had no travel pouch for some reason, but that’s a non-issue for me.
- Wet & Dry: The XT5 is waterproof and can be used in the shower or dry like a regular electric shaver. It can also be used with shaving cream and other lubricants, including electric pre-shave lotions.
- 4D Blade: The blade can shave in four directions. This 4D feature is not explained in any detail by Braun.
- Facial Combs: The two-way facial combs allow users to trim their beards at various lengths. The sizes include 1mm, 2mm, 3mm, and 5mm.
- Body Comb: The body comb sizes available are 0mm and 3mm.
- Replacement Head: Braun advises users to replace the head that contains the blade every 6 months for optimal performance.
- Handle: The ergonomically friendly handle has rubberized sides to promote grip.
- Rechargeable: The battery takes up to 10 hours to fully charge, providing 45 minutes of runtime.
- Indicators: The XT5 only has simple charging indicators.
- Warranty: 2 years warranty.
More About The Features — Pros and Cons
Let’s look at these features more closely and highlight the pros and cons I have found.
Head and Blade
The blade design on the X5 is unique –well, apart from its similarities with the OneBlade. You might look at it at first and wonder how it can shave.
The stainless steel blade’s top and bottom outer edges do all the trimming. And the face of the blade does the shaving. The unseen inner section is the blade that cuts when the hair gets through the small pinholes.
The head flexes back and forth, which is standard for many types of razors and useful. However, I found an issue when attaching a comb; the head movement was restricted and did not move back and forth much (that is a design fault, as far as I am concerned).
Braun does not provide much information about the 4D (4 directional feature) and just states that a user can shave in four directions. All I experience is the flex movement of the head, shaving back and forth.
The head can also be removed for blade replacement. The head and the blade are one unit!
Ergonomics and Grip
The handle design of the Braun XT5 is simplistic and ergonomically friendly –fitting in the hand very well. The rubberized grip on the back and front of the slim shaver offers plenty of grip when in use.
Comb Attachments
The comb attachments attach and detach easily enough, and both sides of the combs can be used to shave or trim when moving the shaver back and forth.
The main issue with the combs –as you will see in this review, is they are small, and the shaver does not cover a wide area. These combs are fine for beard trimming but not very good for body grooming over large areas.
Charging and Battery
The battery runtime is quite good at 45 minutes. If, like me, you use it for body grooming, then that 45 minutes can go pretty quickly, and if the battery goes flat, you have to recharge it (10 hours to fully charge, that is!).
The battery runtime and 10-hour charge will not be an issue for everything other than having a lengthy manscaping session.
Cleaning & Maintenance
The X5 is easy enough to clean, but while grooming and maybe trimming a beard, the hair collected must be blown out frequently as it gets clogged quickly.
The blade can also be cleaned under a running tap with warm water.
The blade head is easy to replace and has to be replaced every 6 months, approximately. How long the blade lasts will naturally depend on how often the shaver is used. When it stops shaving very well or hair tugging increases, it indicates the blade needs a change.
How Well Does the Braun XT5 Trim, Shave, and Groom?
Putting the Braun XT5 to the test required a significant amount of time, over a month. Braun boasts about the X5’s multiple functions such as edging, trimming, body grooming, and facial shaving (However, does it do all these very well or not?).
I dedicated approximately a month to experimenting with this device, using it on different areas with varying levels of hair growth. The goal was to assess the results comprehensively and determine what grooming tasks it could do well.
Facial Shaving 4/10
I’m not going to beat about the bush here. It was awful!
It took a long time to shave, and I kept getting tugs, especially around the mustache area. I came back three times to shave my face, thinking I was doing something wrong, but it was always just as poor.
I know from experience with the OneBlade and other electric shavers that they do not shave as close as razors, but that wasn’t the issue; it honestly just felt useless.
Facial Edging & Trimming 7/10
As I do not have a beard at the moment, I cannot comment from experience about trimming, although I feel this is probably the best task the X5 could do. A large tool is not required for beard trimming, so a small device like the XT5 is useful.
I tried edging a goatee with only a few days of growth, and the XT5 could deal with that fine.
Body Grooming 4/10
The Braun XT5 worked well around the groin and pubic area –and it was just about okay on the armpits. However, any large area like the chest was a huge chore that took ages, which led me to pull out a larger trimmer I have.
I would say it was a big failure for me as a manscaping tool. A trimmer or hair clippers work a lot better and quicker!
There was no way I was letting this anywhere near my gonads without a comb attachment to see if it could shave them. No thank you!
Head Shaving 4/10
While Braun does not suggest the XT5 can shave heads, it certainly should be able to because the hair on our heads is much softer than facial or body hair. So, I gave it a go!
Unfortunately, I gave up after about 5 minutes as it was way too slow, and I kept having to go over the same areas to get rid of hair patches.
Any Common Consumer Issues, Complaints, or Positive Reports?
As expected, a lot of comments within the reviews online mention the Philips Norelco OneBlade and compare it with the X5. The OneBlade gets the thumbs up over the X5 from most users, and it’s easy to see why.
Quite a few guys mention the XT5 does not shave close enough and not as close as other shavers. That is true, but a trimmer shaver like this is supposed to provide comfort rather than closeness, and Braun does not claim it can give a manual razor type of closeness.
A few other reviewers have mentioned the blade and combs clogging up quickly, as I experienced.
There are more than enough comments on Amazon, YouTube, and other sources that have men stating the X5 is a good tool, but there are too many negatives for my liking to outweigh the positives.
Value For Money
Based on the Braun XT5 not being great at many tasks and only having the ability to trim and edge beard efficiently, I don’t find it a product worth spending much cash on at all.
The XT5 costs approximately $40 USD (£35 GBP – €40 EU) for the cheapest XT5 5100.
The replacement head XT10 (part number) costs around $20 (£15 – €18 EU).
Final Thoughts – Who do I recommend buys and uses the Braun XT5?
I wanted to like the XT5 a lot more than I did, and I expected it to compete with the OneBlade. However, my experience with it was poor, and I can only see it being useful, as mentioned, for beard trimming and maybe minimal manscaping jobs.
Who do I recommend buys it? Unfortunately, nobody!
I recommend checking out the Noreclo Philips OneBlade or buying a dedicated electric shaver, trimmer, or body groomer. A dedicated shaving or grooming tool always performs better.
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