The Norelco trimmer line from Philips provides some of the finest devices you could ever require for your beard grooming.
From a plethora of beard trimmers existing in the market, I’ve found Norelco to deliver products that outclass a large portion of the competition.
So, if you’re interested in finding the best Norelco beard trimmer of this year, you can find my top 5 in this article.
By using a wide variety of beard groomers from the brand over the course of time, these 5 tools are the ones I feel obligated to recommend to you to enhance your beard game!
Best Norelco Beard Trimmers: Only 5 Tools You’ll Ever Need
Let’s individually discuss the finest Norelco beard trimmers to learn about their true potential along with the limitations they might contain.
- Philips Norelco Multigroom 9000 – Overall the Best
- Philips Norelco Multigroom 7000 – Cheaper 9000 Alternative
- Philips Norelco Multigroom 5000 – Best for Ergonomics
- Philips Norelco Multi Groomer 3000 – Best Budget Choice
- Philips Norelco OneBlade 360 – Pro Best for Close Trims
Philips Norelco Multigroom 9000, MG9520/50
From the best Norelco beard trimmers, the Multigroom 9000 will always be my favorite because of all the things this kit has to offer against the price.
Once the package arrives, you’ll notice that the Multigroom 9000 is cased inside a durable, cloth carry pouch along with all of its accessories, thus making it travel-friendly.
Inside the pouch, the Multigroom 9000 resides inside its own chamber, across the additional trimmer heads, guide combs and more.
As per the housing goes, it’s constructed with stainless steel and the durability is top-notch in my opinion.
Up front, a rubberized grip pad surfaces over the power button and gives you a dedicated spot where you can rest your thumb while trimming.
Other than this, the handle contains textured extrusions to prevent slippage at any given condition and angle.
The beard blade in this tool is also made with stainless steel and not zero-overlapped to ensure safe grooming.
It has self-sharpening properties and sufficient sharpness to chop through every density or texture you might have on your beard.
With the combination of such a blade and a powerful yet surprisingly quiet motor, beard grooming has seen new heights with the Multigroom 9000.
Also, those with sensitive skin can also benefit from this instrument as the BeardSense technology takes care of motor power based on your needs.
If you want to trim your beard inside the shower or wash the entire thing for easy cleaning, the IPX7 rating implies it’s protected from any sort of water leakage.
You’ll get 4 adjustable beard guards between the lengths of 1 mm to 20 mm. The shortest guard even gives you the flexibility to alter guard length by 0.2 increment points – a great feat for stubble grooming.
Furthermore, some groomers prefer one device to do all of their grooming duties and the Multigroom 9000 lives up to that standard.
With its dedicated clipper blade head, body blade, precision trimmer head, foil head and nose trimmer, you won’t be needing anything else to trim your hair from head to toe.
I must highlight the Multigroom 9000’s capability as a body groomer as I’ve experienced one of the most comforting outcomes with this trimmer head.
For the battery life, it’s insanely lasting – for 5 hours with a full charge and it takes about 2 hours to recharge the battery.
A 7.6 ounces handle is certainly well-balanced and made for superior beard results – be that very short or even the long, stylish ones.
Therefore, with such flexibility, versatility and outstanding quality – the Multigroom 9000 price point is justified and I’d never spend this amount for any other tool in the market!
What I Like
- Versatile usage for all grooming needs
- Can take care of every beard length
- Durable, powerful, quiet and great value for money
What Could be Better
- Blades are not zero-overlapped
Philips Norelco Multigroom 7000, MG7910/49
Moving down in order in the Norelco line, the Multigroom 7000 is almost an identical device from its big brother Multigroom 9000.
In terms of looks, these two trimmers are twins of each other – the only visible difference can be discerned by closely inspecting the serial number imprinted at the back.
Otherwise, there’s no visible difference or even performance gap among the two tools, but then you might wonder – why the gap in price?
Because Multigroom 7000 features the exact same stainless steel housing design with the rubberized grip spot and steel extrusion points.
For the blade, I felt no difference in sharpness, width or quality – even I was able to interchange the blade head between the 7000 and 9000 with ease.
It means you won’t be getting a zero-overlapped experience but the overall comfort on skin remains at its peak.
Multigroom 7000 too comes with the BeardSense technology which adjusts motor power automatically sensing your beard density – rendering efficiency in grooming.
So, the major differences should be disclosed now – Multigroom 7000 offers two adjustable beard guards between the gradients of 1 mm and 7 mm.
Thus, this tool is restricted mostly for stubble and medium beard trimming. Another difference is at the blade head accessories where the Multigroom 7000 doesn’t offer a body blade.
If you’re an avid traveler, the carry pouch in the Multigroom 7000 is not as sophisticated as its newer successor.
Also, the package design is very basic, however, the green plastic holder that houses all of the accessories along with the handle is definitely handy.
But the carry pouch is made with cloth fabric and jumbles everything together without offering a safety cushion – something travel enthusiasts might be unnerved by.
As it weighs the same 7.6 ounces as the newer rendition, maneuvering and portability feels exactly the same.
In terms of battery life however, it felt like the Multigroom 7000 offers around 3 hours of runtime – but it could be very specific to my device only.
Also, being an IPX7 rated waterproof beard trimmer, it gives you flexibility to choose between wet and dry at your convenience – both for trimming and cleaning.
The Multigroom 7000 is also a very versatile kit and is capable of catering to different beard patterns, with its maximum length limiting long beard grooming to some extent.
Those who desire the finesse of the Multigroom 9000 but don’t want to spend the extra for body grooming, a couple of guards and a solid carry package – Multigroom 7000 should serve you just right!
What I Like
- Versatile toolkit for different sorts of beard and hair grooming
- Powerful yet quiet, caters to sensitive skin
- Waterproof, long battery life & easy to use
What Could be Better
- Not as versatile as Multigroom 9000
Philips Norelco Multigroom 5000, MG5970/49
Philips Multigroom 5000 is a story of its own and completely different beard trimmer from the ever popular Norelco line.
Compared to the newer stainless steel devices, the Multigroom 5000 is built with durable plastic with sufficient grip points.
The dark gray housing leaves behind a huge crevice where you can wrap your fingers for a firm hold and it allows you to maneuver the trimmer across your face with superior control.
While the power button is extruded from the handle and highly tactile, it hasn’t caused me any issues like accidental presses so far.
It weighs only 5.8 ounces, credit is due to the plastic material used for the construction instead of something more heavy duty.
This build also prevents any sort of dent from accidental falls, which cannot be said about the stainless steel housings of the newer variants.
For the blade, Norelco seems to be pretty adamant on the same design they utilized in the Multigroom 7000 and 9000.
It’s not zero-gapped and comfort on skin without any guard on feels premium – no cuts, tugs or pulls experienced.
As per sharpness goes, I’m really pleased with how effortlessly it chops through even curlier hair without ever complaining.
This blade unit made with stainless steel comes equipped with the self-sharpening property – meaning, you’ll need to replace the blade less frequently than other tools at the same price range.
Out of the box, you’ll locate every accessory and blade head to be placed inside their designated crevice – almost identical with the Multigroom 7000.
You’ll be receiving additional blade heads like a clipper head, a precision blade head to refine your beard and a nose hair trimmer head.
One way this tool lacks supreme performance against the Multigroom 7000 is in the motor unit – the performance is less powerful and to some extent, generic in nature.
But this never let me down one bit and even performed well for body grooming, and to some extent, pubic hair trimming.
However, for both of these cases, I made sure to attach a guide comb because otherwise red patches surfaced on my skin.
Another lacking compared to Multigroom 7000 is that the Multigroom 5000 comes with a single adjustable beard comb useful for stubble grooming.
If you want to groom a longer beard into different styles with ease, you’ll have to manually attach and detach the fixed length guards available in the package.
With a 2 hour battery life, the Multigroom 5000 offers you a cloth pouch – similar to the one with Multigroom 7000.
Totalling at 17 accessories with the device, Norelco Multigroom 5000 is indeed a bargain for its price and ergonomically the best one in the list in my opinion!
What I Like
- Ergonomically superior and comfortable to use
- Similar blade unit as newer, more expensive models
- Offers good features & accessories at affordable price
What Could be Better
- Limited number of adjustable beard guards
Philips Norelco Multi Groomer 3000, MG3740/40
One of the best Norelco beard trimmers is also a highly affordable choice for consumers who don’t want to spend extra on their grooming tools.
This is titled differently than the newer variants since the versatile grooming concept for Norelco was at its inception point.
Therefore, the Multi Groomer 3000 or commonly referred to as Multigroom 3000 can be identified as one of the initial beard trimmers from Norelco.
The Multi Groomer 3000 housing is traditional in every sense, more sleek and minimal – a design choice I personally enjoy very much!
Its gripping area is even sleeker than the Multigroom 5000 but the holding area is sharply creviced – something that a lot of the groomers might not prefer.
As far as housing goes, the build material feels very cheap and that’s a reason Norelco was able to price it in such a way.
There are sufficient textures on the crevice to keep the handle stuck to your fingers, and the 3.7 ounces of weight marks it very easy to move around.
The blade unit in the Multi Groomer 3000 is very basic and fortunately, zero-overlapped. But due to the cheaper stainless steel used in making it, the sharpness can be scary at times.
I’ve nicked my beard a couple of times when I wasn’t paying attention or pressed the blade too hard against my skin.
Thus, I’ll urge you to attach a beard guard for quick strokes in crafting a beard style of your preference to keep yourself safe.
One great thing about this build is that the power button is a slider, minimizing the threat of accidentally setting it off.
As expected, the motor power is very average and struggles across dense or coarse beard for bulk removal.
Refining the beard seems straightforward for any type however, things like lining up or evening out the extra length are part of its forte.
The guide combs in the package are all fixed lengths – between 1 mm to 16 mm – rendering both beard and mustache grooming possibilities.
Aside from the trimmer blade, you’ll be receiving a precision blade to fine tune your beard and a nose hair trimmer head.
Let me give you all the downsides apart from the risk of cuts – the Multi Groomer 3000 offers only 45 minutes of battery life and the recharge time is around 8 hours.
Also, despite having washable properties, there’s no waterproof rating – thus wet beard trimming should not be pursued using this tool.
Without a charging indicator light, there’s no way of knowing whether the battery is being recharged – you’ll have to wait and turn it on to check that manually.
But the extremely affordable price point makes up for all of these shortcomings and with some skill around your face, you’ll easily be able to craft out some crispy and neat beard results!
What I Like
- Blades deliver sharp and crispy beard outcomes
- Easy to maneuver due to sleek ergonomics and light weight
- Great value for money
What Could be Better
- Blades can be too sharp
- Long charging time
- No charging indicator
Philips Norelco OneBlade 360 Pro, QP6531/70
The last Norelco device I’m going to discuss today is the OneBlade Pro 360, the more robust and advanced version of the older OneBlade Face+Body edition.
It’s a very different beard groomer than what you’ve seen so far from the Multigroom series as the OneBlade 360 Pro is capable of delivering close shaving outcomes other than trimming.
That’s why this device can be categorized as a hybrid between a razor and a trimmer with abilities to function as both – very much versatile in one sense.
However, if you look at the blade, you’ll realize that it’s meant for very specific types of beard grooming and not all of the beard styles can be crafted using this tool.
The 360 facial blade is the one you should expect inside the package which tilts in multiple directions to better adapt to your facial contours.
Its blade head is flat and can be pressed against the skin directly with lesser threats of causing tugs or agitation.
Since there are sharp blades on both sides, it enables you to stroke your beard in both directions for a clean shave with better efficiency.
But it’s only possible if you want a complete shave. Otherwise, there’s an adjustable guide comb with 12 length settings – from 0.4 mm to 10 mm.
Your zero look, stubble, medium and semi-long beard should benefit from this guard but the attachment itself feels a little finicky if you have dense facial hair.
Similar issues can be experienced at the blade head – its locking mechanism is fragile and prone to breakage over time or rough usage.
The push lever at the blade head’s root releases it from the mechanism and that comes in handy should you want a thorough cleansing or substitute to a body blade.
Yes, this fabulous beard trimmer has the capacity to be used as a manscaping tool if you purchase a body blade separately.
In terms of the housing, it’s thinner than the rest of the devices but more robust than the previous OneBlade instalment.
Due to the durable material and its texture, gripping it and moving it around are equally convenient and the power button placement is ideal in my opinion.
The handle weighs only 4 ounces – very convenient – and the motor power is sufficient for almost every sort of trimming or shaving actions.
Also, there’s a 3-bar LED battery indicator which should tell you where you are along the 80 minute battery life.
Since it’s IPX7 waterproof rated, you’re free to wash it under a tap and apply shaving foam for a clean beard shave.
For longer beard trims with the guard, damp hair is not the best idea as the lengths do not remain even, therefore dry operation should be the better option.
All of these abilities across different beard lengths, although limited in certain aspects, come at a lucrative price which I’m sure many of you out there would be willing to pay!
What I Like
- Can both shave and trim beard
- Adjustable comb is effortless to use
- IPX7 rated waterproof with good battery life
What Could be Better
- Not great for longer beard
Why Trust My Verdict?
My beard grooming routine always demanded a top-notch trimmer which is capable of delivering me the precise results I want.
Therefore, I know exactly what a good beard trimmer should contain and most of the time, I found the maximum number of such elements in Norelco devices.
From time to time, I’ve fashioned beards of different lengths and from my vast experience in the field, I believe I have sufficient authority to make comments on the top devices.
Also, the tests I ran on the mentioned Norelco beard trimmers were intensive and experiential to give you an objective as well as realistic verdict.
Test Results for the Best Norelco Beard Trimmers
So about the tests I ran – you’ll find a comparative analysis among the top Norelco beard trimmers in this section based on the assessment criteria.
Blade Types
There are a total of 3 blade types in my top 5 Norelco tools – four of which are made with stainless steel.
Norelco Multigroom 9000, 7000 and 5000 share the same stainless steel blade with sufficient gap between the teeth to offer skin safety.
These blades are sharp and no sort of beard type or texture has been able to halt their progress – some of the finest in the market in my opinion.
Multi Groomer 3000 blades are sharp but the closeness has proven to be harsh on skin. OneBlade Pro 360 blades are completely different as they cut both ways and give you closer trims without the risk of cuts.
Ergonomics
The ergonomics in the Norelco beard trimmers are very unique and some even stand out from a lot of the beard groomers in the current industry in a good way.
In the end, it’s actually about the preference of the groomers that should help them find the suiting ergonomic design. This much I can tell you – all 5 of the trimmers here are very much grippy.
That said, the stainless steel housing in the Multigroom 9000 and 7000 are toward the heavier gradient of things and therefore offers better control at precise strokes over the beard.
Multigroom 5000 is average-weighed and covers grip points for wet trims. Multi Groomer 3000 and OneBlade 360 Pro are very lightweight, making longer trimming less exhausting.
Accessories
You need accessories for your beard grooming as these make the process easier and open up doors for unique beard maintenance tasks with the least amount of effort.
One thing is certain that the Multigroom 9000 is best-fitted for versatile beard styling with all of the adjustable beard guards, closely followed by the Multigroom 7000 with one less guide comb.
Multigroom 5000 offers only one beard adjustable guard, thus making its blending operations limited to stubble to medium beards.
The same is applicable for the OneBlade 360 Pro as the unique blade type isn’t meant for long beard trimming. While the Multi Groomer 3000 does offer lots of combs, none of them is adjustable, thus altering guards increases grooming time.
Battery Life
In order to have a comparative understanding of battery life, I’ve given you a table in this section to make things comprehensive at a glance.
From the chart, you can make out that the Multigroom 9000 is an absolute beast, with a battery that lasts for almost an entire month on a full charge.
All of the Norelco beard trimmers are commendable in terms of battery life, only the Multi Groomer 3000 shows weakness in this department.
Motor Power
When it comes to motor power, none of the Norelco devices show raw power that exceeds the comfort levels, yet are good enough for daily beard grooming.
Multigroom 9000 and 7000 host identical motors with the maximum power in the lot and are capable of all sorts of grooming.
Multigroom 5000 is slightly behind in this department, yet it offers the BeardSense feature for better efficiency.
OneBlade Pro 360 is powerful enough for a dense beard despite its size, leaving the Multi Groomer 3000 with the least powerful motor unit in the lot.
Maintenance
Maintenance seems effortless for almost all of the Norelco products as each of them are equipped with an IPX7 waterproof rating, except for the Multi Groomer 3000.
That said, the 3000 is still washable in terms of design and thus can be rinsed easily under running water.
For the rest of the Multigroom beard trimmers, the blades contain self-sharpening properties and don’t require manual lubrication.
As per cleaning goes, the flexibility is there to choose from dry brushing to wet rinsing, making lives easier and reducing maintenance time by a huge margin.
Buyer’s Guide: Pick the Best Norelco Beard Trimmer
To clear out your confusion once and for all, this buyer’s guide section will tell you which of these Norelco beard trimmers is the most suitable for your particular expectation.
First of all, the Multigroom 9000 is a complete kit and delivers the best beard trimming outcomes, with additional benefits of body, hair and nose hair grooming.
Multigroom 7000 is simply a budget alternative to the 9000 in terms of beard maintenance, lacking only body grooming capability and a couple of guide combs for convenience.
If you’re more into ergonomic devices that are grippy and easy to maneuver, Multigroom 5000 should be your way to go. Also, it costs much less and the blade performance is similar to the Multigroom 7000.
For a budget choice, Multi Groomer 3000 is the ideal beard trimmer. It has zero-gapped blades, very lightweight and the price is definitely within reach.
Lastly, OneBlade Pro 360 is for those preferring a closer trim across their beard and this too is a budget-friendly option. Its versatility can be enhanced by purchasing a body blade and additionally using it as a body groomer.
FAQ
This FAQ section aims at providing you much-needed information on the best Norelco beard trimmers and answers some basic queries by the consumers.
Q: How does the Philips OneBlade Pro 360 compare to the Multigroom series?
Ans: OneBlade Pro 360 is built very differently than the Multigroom series. The former is designed closer to an electric shaver whereas the Multigroom series is an authentic trimmer line. Their blades are different, cutting actions vary largely and Multigroom gives you greater control over stubble or longer beard grooming.
Q: Do I need to oil the Norelco trimmer blades?
Ans: Not all of the Norelco trimmer blades need to be manually oiled as the Multigroom 9000, 7000 and 5000 stainless steel blades contain self-sharpening properties. OneBlade 360 Pro doesn’t come with a traditional trimmer blade, thus no need to oil it either. Only blade that requires lubrication is the one in Multi Groomer 3000.
Q: Can I use the Norelco beard trimmers to shave my head or body?
Ans: It depends on the Norelco beard trimmer you own. If you have a Multigroom 9000, it has separate body blades and hair blades for serving such purposes. Multigroom 7000 and 5000 can only cater to hair grooming only. OneBlade 360 Pro can be used on the body if you buy the body blade. But for shaving your head, I’d recommend going for a dedicated head shaver for better results.
Concluding Remarks
Let’s conclude our discussion on the best Norelco beard trimmers at this point as I believe I’ve covered everything important that should help you make up your mind.
One thing is certain – Norelco beard grooming tools are definitely well-built even if the brand uses cheap materials.
Not only are the warranty periods longer than any other beard trimmers in the market, they actually last a long time without malfunctioning.
No matter which of these Norelco tools you choose for your beard maintenance, I’d say nothing could go wrong and your beard game is bound to take a step forward!