Manscaped 3.0 Plus vs 4.0 Pro vs 5.0 Ultra: Tested & Compared
I have used and reviewed the Manscaped The Lawn Mower® 4.0 Pro, 3.0 Plus, and 5.0 Ultra. After giving each model some time in my grooming routine, I gained enough experience to compare all models.
In my experience, the 3.0 Plus and 4.0 Pro trimmers manscape well from the neck downwards (especially down there in the nether regions), but the 4.0 Pro packs in a few more bells and whistles.
The Manscaped 5.0 Ultra, on the other hand, does all that below-the-neck trimming and also shaves (that is the main difference, but not quite all of them).
Below, I’ve broken down the similarities and differences, as well as my experience, and I’ll recommend which makes sense based on your budget and priorities.
Key Features Comparison
- Size: The 3.0 Plus and 4.0 Pro are the same size, while the 5.0 Ultra is slightly longer and wider.
- Trimmer Blades: All three trimmers use the same SkinSafe™ ceramic blade, and the 3.0 Plus and 4.0 Pro have the same 32mm blades. The 5.0 Ultra blades are slightly wider 34.4mm, and the bottom area is metal rather than having a plastic section that the other two have.
- Combs/Guards: All three models come with 2 adjustable combs—2mm to 6mm, and 8mm to 12mm. The 5.0 Ultra comes with an extra 1.4mm comb, perfect for a very short, close trim.
- Travel Case: 4.0 Pro and 5.0 Ultra only. These come with a hard-shell travel case that neatly holds the trimmer, cords, combs, etc, and the 5.0 Ultra case is slightly larger. The 3.0 Plus doesn’t include a case.
- Travel Lock: 4.0 Pro and 5.0 Ultra only. A lock prevents accidental power-on. It is activated by holding down the additional button (with the unit off) under the power button. The 3.0 Plus has no travel lock.
- Wireless Charging: 4.0 Pro and 5.0 Ultra only. It works with various wireless charging pads, but I have not tried it yet. The 3.0 Plus does not have this feature.
- Spotlight: All three have an LED to illuminate hair areas. The 4.0 Pro has a wider span of light compared to the 3.0 Plus. The 5.0 Ultra has an even larger area that lights up, plus it provides two light tone options (i.e, bright white and a toned light).
- Grip: 3.0 Plus features a rubberized, embossed grip, while the 4.0 Pro and 5.0 Ultra have a partial matte finish with a shiny section. I found the 3.0 Plus’s grip to be better, but the 4.0 and 5.0 models look more attractive.
Design & Grip
All groomers share Manscaped’s slightly curved “banana” shape designed for tricky areas. The 4.0 Pro and 5.0 Ultra have a sleek matte coating finish and part gloss, while the 3.0 Plus has a more rubbery grip with embossed side sections. In practice, I noticed the 3.0 Plus felt grippier in my hand, thanks to that textured rubber.
The next video clip shows the difference between the 3.0 Plus and 4.0 Pro finish and grip, and you can consider the 5.0 Ultra as the same as the 4.0 Pro.
5.0 Ultra – It’s Slightly Wider
As the 5.0 Ultra is a slightly wider device with a slightly wider trimmer blade, it can naturally trim larger areas a bit quicker—it really is only slight, though, and a matter of a few millimeters (see next photo below).
LED Spotlight
All models include a built-in LED illumination at the front of the blade to help us see what we’re trimming—a feature I found extremely useful around the groin area and my crown jewels. I found the 4.0 Pro’s light (which Manscaped calls a spotlight) to have a wider angle beam than the 3.0 Plus, but the 3.0 Plus seems strangely brighter and more of a spotlight.
The next video below shows the 3.0 plus and 4.0 Pro spotlights.
The 5.0 Ultra has an even wider light area than the 3.0 Plus and 4.0 Pro, and it has two light temperatures (warm and cool). I couldn’t say I favored one over the other, nor did I need the dual option.
The next video shows the wider light of the 5.0 Ultra.
I have no preference between the spotlights as they all work very well. Of course, it is helpful to have the wider option that the 5.0 Ultra provides, but it’s not a deal breaker.
Charging and Runtime
In use, I get roughly an hour of trimming from a full charge on each. All three charge via USB-C, but the 4.0 Pro and 5.0 Ultra also supports inductive wireless charging (with various wireless charging pads). I rarely need a quick charge, but it’s there on the 4.0 Pro and 5.0 Ultra if you do, and 5 minutes of charging gives a few minutes of runtime.
Trimming (and Shaving) Performance
I didn’t find any difference in trimming quality or even speed, despite the 5.0 Ultra being slightly wider.
As you can see in my individual reviews of these I have created, I am a big fan of how they don’t nick (well, not as often) or cut, and while they take a little longer to trim larger areas (due to the small blade width), they are better than most, as good all-rounders — and beat the rest at below the belt trimming).
The bidirectional shaver head is the main additional feature of the 5.0 Ultra. The shaver did shave close on most of my skin areas, but it did take some time to get the job finished and it was not manual razor close all over. However, for guys that like to electric shave their body parts, the 5.0 Ultra will do the trick—just don’t expect a perfect even shave all over.
Pros and Cons
- Lawn Mower 5.0 Ultra:
- Pros: Includes travel case, travel lock, quick charge feature, and wireless charging. Slightly wider dual LED spotlight for tricky areas. Has a shaver head and shaves all areas as well as trims.
- Cons: More expensive (around $110). Grip is okay, but not as grippy as the 3.0 Plus.
- Lawn Mower 4.0 Pro:
- Pros: Includes travel case, travel lock, quick charge feature, and wireless charging. Slightly wider LED spotlight for tricky areas.
- Cons: More expensive (around $90). Grip is okay, but not as grippy as the 3.0 Plus. No shaver head inlcluded.
- Lawn Mower 3.0 Plus:
- Pros: Roughly $20 cheaper (around $70). The rubberized embossed grip is very secure. Still has a very good, bright LED spotlight.
- Cons: No travel case/lock, so less convenient for travel. Only USB-C charging (no wireless). No quick-charge option. No shaver head inlcluded.
Which One to Choose?
In my experience, the 3.0 Plus is a fantastic core trimmer for most people. It’s cheaper and does the job well. If your budget is tight and you just need a reliable groin/body groomer, go with the 3.0 Plus. You still get Manscaped’s SkinSafe™ blade, LED light, and a trimmer that will trim well, especially below the belt.
However, if you do travel often, the 4.0 Pro’s extras might be tempting. The wider built-in spotlight, wireless charging, and travel case/lock make grooming on the road a little easier. For me, having the case and lock was worth the extra cost; if I need to toss one in a suitcase for my travels, I am sorted.
The main reason to go for the 5.0 Ultra is if you want to try the body shaver and while the additional features like the dual spotlight, larger travel case, additional 1.4mm comb, a couple of mm extra width are useful, they are most likely not deal breakers for most.
So: Budget-focused? 3.0 Plus. Convenience/minor nifty-features-focused? 4.0 Pro. Need to shave? 5.0 Ultra.
Have you tried these tools? Let me know your experience in the comments below!
Also, drop me a comment below if you have a question that is not answered in this article.
