Philips OneBlade review

I could overview them, however in all honesty I’m a little bit of an electrical razor sceptic. In reality, I’m worse than that: I’m the type of weirdo who makes use of an old style double-edged security razor and badger hair brush – even a Gillette Mach3 is just too high-tech for my stubble.

All of that preface is so as to add some context to what I’m about to say subsequent: I completely love the Philips OneBlade, and I’m actually unsure I might fault it.

That’s nonetheless true now, 4 years on, when Philips have despatched me the upgraded OneBlade 360 to attempt. However because it stays extraordinarily just like the unique, I’m updating this overview to easily add in my ideas on the newer mannequin.

Value and availability

Right here’s the very first thing I like concerning the OneBlade: the value.

$50/£50 will get you the upgraded OneBlade 360 direct from Philips, along with a spare razor head, charging cable, and some pores and skin guard and comb heads.

If that’s feels a little bit steep, head to Amazon and also you’ll discover various different bundles for each the unique mannequin and 360 (that are appropriate with the identical shaving heads). You should purchase the older razor physique for a bit much less, then improve to a 360 head in the event you really feel the necessity – although for what it’s value, you won’t have to.

Blades are a little bit dear, round $35/£25 for a three-pack and more for the 360 blades, however since every blade is meant to final 4 months that may very well be sufficient to cowl a full yr of shaving – although remember that within the small print Philips notes that’s primarily based on two full shaves per week, not day by day use.

Both manner, with another rotary and foil shavers costing nicely upwards of $100/£100, the OneBlade is undeniably aggressive on value, even with the long-term blade dedication taken under consideration, and nonetheless compares pretty favourably with most guide razors over time.

Design and construct

• Compact design
• Grippy and waterproof

Right here’s the subsequent great point: the design.

I’m not going to fake that the OneBlade is the prettiest shaver I’ve ever seen – the
Remington Heritage in all probability wins that prize – however who actually cares how their shaver appears to be like?

What issues is that that is light-weight, compact, and extremely transportable, which means that is nearly assured to be my de facto journey razor for years to return. It’s barely greater or heavier than most manuals, regardless of packing in a motor and battery, which is kind of an achievement.

Setting them side-by-side, you may see not a lot has modified within the 360 model, which has added a silver-y patch to the physique however in any other case left issues fairly unaltered:

The black and inexperienced end is a bit daring, however the textured grip on the inexperienced sections assist maintain it regular even if you wish to use it within the bathe – it’s waterproof, naturally – and the curved form is fairly ergonomic.

Philips ships it with a small clip-on cowl for the blade, which is helpful to maintain it secure within the cabinet or whereas travelling, and it’s fairly simple to clip it on and off or connect and detach the trimmer combs.

Options and efficiency

• Pretty shut shave
• 360 head isn’t a lot of an improve
• Glorious battery life

Lastly, right here’s what I actually love concerning the OneBlade: it simply bloody works.

Philips touts (arguably oddly) that the OneBlade doesn’t shave as shut as most razors, suggesting that this helps scale back pores and skin irritation and razor burn.

I definitely haven’t had any razor burn from utilizing it, however I’m truly additionally proud of how shut the shave is. Certain, it’s not the closest shave I’ve ever had in my life, and it might’t fairly match my old style security razor, but it surely principally removes all my seen stubble, and leaves my pores and skin clean sufficient to rely, if not fairly baby-faced.

Extra importantly, it’s constant. My expertise with most electrical shavers includes making a number of passes over the identical patches of pores and skin to get outcomes, which not solely takes extra time however provides to the chance of pores and skin irritation.

With the OneBlade I’ve discovered that one or two passes does the job nearly each time, and since the pinnacle is so compact it does a exceptional job underneath my jaw and alongside my neck the place rather more costly razors have struggled.

Dominic Preston / Foundry

The 360 head is meant to deal with this space even higher, with a much less inflexible design that enables the pinnacle to maneuver with the contours of your face extra comfortably.

I’ll be sincere: I haven’t seen a distinction in any respect. Shaving with the 360 definitely isn’t worse, but it surely additionally isn’t appreciably higher, so don’t really feel the necessity to pay additional for OneBlade 360 shaving heads – the originals do the job simply superb.

So: the OneBlade offers me a reasonably shut shave, with no pores and skin irritation, and rapidly. That latter level helps battery life too – formally it supplies 45 minutes of use off a single cost, however because it’s so fast to make use of that’s in all probability extra shaves than you’d anticipate. I discover that with a shave each few days, I can simply go weeks between fees, and that holds true for the 360 too.

Once you do need to, sadly there’s no fancy charging stand, and it doesn’t use a handy customary like Micro-USB, so you’ll have to carry the cable with you, and a full cost takes a whopping eight hours.

The unique OneBlade ships with a charger that connects to a toilet energy socket, however the newer 360 as a substitute makes use of a cable the place one finish goes into the razor, and the opposite is a regular USB connector, so that you’ll have to plug it into one other USB charger to re-charge the razor.

Nonetheless, the marginally awkward charging is principally the one criticism I’ve concerning the OneBlade, which is absolutely saying one thing.

Verdict

The Philips OneBlade is as near excellent because it will get. Slap a Micro-USB port on and lower the cost time down and I’d name it flawless, however as is I can’t see any good cause to not advocate this razor to principally everybody.

The OneBlade 360 isn’t a lot of an improve, however the value has stayed related and it’s definitely no worse. Present OneBlade house owners shouldn’t stress about making an attempt to improve to the 360, and new consumers ought to positively take into account the older mannequin if it’s out there, however each are wonderful buys.

I’ve lengthy held that no electrical razor might ever tempt me away from an old style guide blade, and it’s with no little resentment that I admit that the OneBlade lastly managed to do it.