Why Philips' OneBlade Pro 360 Trimmer Is the Ultimate Travel Companion
Plenty of grooming tools are what you would call "all-in-ones". These multi-use gadgets typically include a standard head guard, a separate comb for beard trimming, a foil head for clean shaving, skin-safe combs for body grooming, ear and nose hair attachments, and, in some cases, even detachable electric toothbrush heads.
Sounds ideal for travelling, right? All the grooming devices you could need morphed into one handy, cost-effective tool? Sure, on paper. But the problem I find with these do-it-all, Swiss Army Knife-style trimmers is that, while they certainly cover all the bases when it comes to male grooming, they rarely master any one. As for compactness, they also tend to fall short.
Which is why, as someone who's tested pretty much every beard trimmer and electric shaver going, I'd recommend opting for something that focuses on versatility and packability, over anything else.
Case in point, the Philips OneBlade Pro 360. It doesn’t have ear and nose attachments, nor can you brush your teeth with it. But when it comes to practicality, both at home and abroad, few alternatives come close.
OneBlade Pro 360
Battery and Charging
Philips claims the OneBlade Pro 360 offers up to 90 minutes of cutting time on a single charge. That's decent, but pretty unremarkable compared to other trimmers on the market. The Braun Series 9, for example, offers 180 minutes of cordless runtime. Philips' own flagship beard trimmer, the Series 9000, last for 120 minutes. For me, the OneBlade held on for almost two months, using it three or four uses per week – which is ample for trips away. If your manscaping needs are more demanding than mine, the charging dock makes the battery life somewhat immaterial anyway, and keeps the trimmer neatly stored upright in your bathroom. It also only takes an hour to fully recharge, should you get caught out.
But it shouldn't ever come to that. That's thanks to the digital battery level display on the front of the device. The LED screen shows a percentage of the trimmer's remaining power compared to a full charge. It also alerts you during use if your battery is low; it even indicates charging progress when it's plugged in. No other trimmer I've tested matches this level of insight. Most competitors leave you second-guessing when to re-charge, bar perhaps a flashing light indicator, and tend to die without prior warning, invariably at the most inconvenient times.
Ideally, the OneBlade would have a USB-C port. Instead it comes standard with a standard USB cable hooked up to a 5V-1A port. Mine also came with a bathroom-safe cable, which hooks up to the charing dock. The USB version is what I'd suggest travelling with, but only if you're travelling for more than a month.
On the Move
Away from home, the OneBlade's travel case keeps all the other attachments – of which there are relatively few – neat and organised. The case itself is shell-like – hard enough to protect the interior and its contents but not over rigid or bulky – while the velcro buckle on the exterior seals everything shut, albeit leaving a rather frustratingly gap around the case. Inside, there's an indented area for storing the trimmer and 14-length precision comb. There's no obvious home for the body comb, skin comb and charging cable, but you can just about squeeze them in nonetheless. Activating the travel lock on the trimmer before packing also avoids your hand luggage from vibrating when you're on the move.
Performance and Usability
As for trimming and shaving, I found the razor head gives a far closer end result than dedicated beard trimmers. The OneBlade Pro 360's shaver head looks unique, more resembling a disposable razor than the typical tooth-shaped vibrating blades you find on most trimmers and clippers. Philips' version cuts hair 12,000 per minute, is dual-sided and flexes in all directions – hence the name 360 – allowing it to hug the contours of your face and so minimising the need to re-do sections you've already gone over. I found it great for detailing and quickly tidying up my neckline, too. The main downside, though, is that the heads get duller quicker than standard trimmers and need replacing every four months. But I quite like that you can switch the blades out when they go dull as opposed to being stuck with a built-in head that's expensive to replace down the line.
Switching between settings was a breeze thanks to the 14-length precision comb. The circular dial clips onto the blade head and gives you the option to trim hair from 0.4mm up to 10mm, which you might find is too short if you have a longer beard. It also comes with a 3mm comb for body trimming and a skin guard for more sensitive areas. I'd suggest proceeding with caution with the latter, but for chest hair and other non-sensitive parts of the body, it works well.
The Philips OneBlade Pro 360 is the most expensive in the OneBlade series, listed for £99.99 at most retailers, but is often on sale for less. That's not an insignificant amount for a shaver, granted. But viewing it as two devices in one may soften the blow. You could also opt for one of the more basic options. The only differences really are in the build material and extras, like the charging dock and case, as opposed to the actual trimming experience. You also lose the LED battery display.
Philips OneBlade Pro 360 – Verdict
The Philips OneBlade Pro 360 is as close to complete as I've seen yet from a hybrid trimmer/ shaver for travelling. Dedicated trimmers like the Braun Series 9, Philips Series 9000 and Manscaped Beard Hedger are, in my honest opinion, more powerful and deliver a more consistent beard trim for regular home use. But no other device I've tested rivals the OneBlade Pro 360 for versatility both at home and when travelling – it's unmatched when it comes being able to trim and deliver a super close shave. It's not perfect, but when you factor in the battery life indicator, travel case and docking station, for me it's a clear winner for life on-the-go.
More Grooming Tech Reviews
You Might Also Like
