Freebird FlexSeries vs Groomie BaldiePro – Which Is Best?
After testing and reviewing the Freebird FlexSeries and Groomie BaldiePro consecutively, these head shavers had some very clear similarities. I noticed these similarities as soon as I unboxed the BaldiePro, straight after reviewing the FlexSeries.
These significant similarities while unboxing and even what both companies offer in terms of a subscription service and lifetime warranties led me to compare them side-by-side and let you guys know my findings.
Let’s take a look at the similarities and differences between these palm-held head-shaving devices and give you some experience about how they performed.
Freebird vs Groomie
It’s worth giving some details about both of these US-based companies as customer service and what backup a company offers if all is not well with a head shaver matters.
The FlexSeries and BaldiePro head shavers are the main product or flagship products of the companies. They both offer branded head care and shave products as well as head shavers for pre-shave and post-shave stuff.
Moneyback Guarantee & Warranty
Freebird provides a 30-day money-back guarantee, and Groomie is a bit more generous with 60 days. The guarantee is a satisfaction guarantee and not just for faulty goods.
Both companies have a similar 1-year warranty and then a lifetime warranty on the shaver when the customer is subscribed to a blade replacement subscription. However, Freebird is more generous with the lifetime warranty, as you can have two replacements per year while Groomie only offers one.
I advise you to check out the terms and conditions if warranty and money-back guarantee conditions are an important part of your buying experience –as terms and conditions and small print do not always favor every buyer.
Marketing & Reviews
Most, if not all small men’s grooming brands, including Freebird and Groomie do a lot of marketing via promotion on social media like Instagram and offer Influencer or Ambassador programs. The trouble with these programs is that many guys get free products and incentives but only give a positive review, photo, or video.
There are many —this is the best thing I have ever used in my life –blah blah— kind of comments and reviews, which makes it hard to sift through and get to the honest reviews.
Contact I Have Had With Both Companies
I usually contact these types of brands and companies to see if I can get a freebie product to test, based on an honest review –and not favoring them because of the free product.
Groomie was helpful immediately and understood we are not influencers and provide only honest reviews –then sent a shaver kit.
However, it was peculiar with Freebird. I was referred to the Instagram page and person, and after months of no response after the initial response (they stated they would get back to me, to cut a long story short), I contacted them again from the UK. They stated they do not deliver outside of the US and Canada, and then I immediately ordered and paid for a shaver kit and had it delivered about a week later. I sent Freebird the link to the website review page on Instagram, stating you told me you do not send outside the US/Canada, and I have had no response.
If I had 10’000 + followers on Instagram, I am sure a free shaver kit would have arrived.
Shaver Features –Similarities
The BaldiePro and FlexSeries have obvious design features because they are both palm-held devices and can be used shaving wet or dry. They also both come with the exact same kit of accessories, but I am not covering anything about these accessories in this article –it’s all about the head shaver!
They also share a five-rotary blade head with blades that flex, and the head moves in various directions that help the shavers move along the different contours of the head.
The estimated charging time of 90 minutes and runtime of 90 minutes are the same. Groomie was much clearer about this on their website and within the instructions.
Both shavers come with a USB cord without an adapter included. Buyers have to purchase a 5V adapter separately, but these are very common adapters that many of us use for mobile phones.
The blades open for cleaning purposes are exactly the same on the shavers. The blades unclip separately and the center blade is removed separately.
Shaver Features –Differences
Within this section, I will highlight the differences between the shavers and which might be best or what feature I prefer to help in this comparison.
Body Design – Ergonomics
While both shavers are ergonomically friendly, the body of them differ. The BaldiePro is slimmer and longer than the FlexSeries. I don’t feel like this difference makes a huge difference when shaving. However, I do favor the design of the BaldiePro –it just feels more right!
Blades and Power
Groomie states their shaver motor provides 10’000 RPM, while Freebird states theirs offers 8’500 RPM.
I would not have noticed this difference at all, but when I switched both shavers on and off next to each other, the BaldiePro sounded significantly faster.
A point definitely goes to Groomie on the motor power front!
The only difference I can see with the blades or blade head is the color of the BaldiePro blades around the edges are black. In fact, they are so similar that the blade heads can be switched between these shavers as the fittings are the same.
Grip While Shaving
The FlexSeries has a plastic-lined panel on each side of the shaver, providing grip for users. However, I did comment in the review previously that this could be improved by being rubberized.
While the BaldiePro has no rubberized sections for grip, the top section has a non-slip finish and a useful engraved section under the blade head. This engraved section is a well thought out design feature as the fingers and thumb naturally have to be placed on this area.
Both companies could improve on grip if they rubberized the sections. However, I favor the thought that has gone into the Groomie design; it’s quite simple and clever!
LED Indicators
LED’s are not a deal breaker when choosing between shavers, but they are a nice additional feature.
The BaldiePro has a numerical countdown display displaying the amount of charge time the battery has left, which is something preferred over the indicator warning light flashing red on the FlexSeries.
While they both have a charging status light, the BaldiePro has an additional indicator light for its safety travel lock.
Freebird FlexSeries vs BaldiePro Performance
After testing and reviewing both shavers and then testing them side-by-side, it was very hard to find any significant differences in performance.
I thought the BaldiePro would shave faster because the motor provided a higher amount of RPM (1500 RPM more), but that was not the case.
I did try facial shaving with both shavers, and while neither of these makes a good facial shaver –I felt the blades on the BaldiePro was rougher and pulled hairs a few times. However, this difference was not apparent when head shaving, and the BaldiePro did not pull any hair on my head.
The FlexSeries and BaldiePro equally shave the head quickly and provide the same closeness at the end of the shave. Unfortunately, we will not get razor closeness from these electric shavers, and that’s normal.
Price Comparison
Both shaver companies have a retail price on the shavers, offering discounts and sudden price reductions. So it is worth watching the websites if saving a few pennies and getting a discount is important to you.
The retail price is around $79.99 for the BaldiePro and $73.95 for the FlexSeries.
The price will reduce if you purchase the head shaver kit with the blade subscription service.
If you were to purchase the shavers from Amazon, the current price for both is the same –$79.99 each.
Replacement blade costs are similar –a one-time purchase of $24.95 or $29.99 and a reduced price when subscribing to a blade delivery subscription every 4 – 8 weeks (Freebird also offers a 12-week option).
Final Thoughts –Which Head Shaver Is Best?
While the initial experience with Freebird could have been more favorable for people like me in the men’s grooming community looking for collaboration –I haven’t let that stand in the way of comparing both of these shavers fairly.
Based on performance and the end-shaving result, there is nothing between the FlexSeries and BaldiePro. They both give a fast and ergonomically friendly head shave.
I do favor the shape and the grip of the BaldiePro, and I guess finding out on the website that the motor is quicker or more powerful (it sounds that way) than the FlexSeries, leans me toward the BaldiePro.
Another aspect that leans me toward the BaldiePro more is its uniqueness in its design. In contrast, the FlexSeries almost resembles a poorer copy of the Remington Balder Pro (aka, Remington RX5), with a blade head design exactly the same as the Groomie BaldiePro.
Keep in mind that if you need to save money, then either company or both might have offers, including discounts for Father’s Day and other holidays that could get you a better deal.
