8 Best Wahl Clippers For Every Occasion [2024]

Whenever you explore grooming products, especially hair clippers, Wahl almost always surfaces as one of the top brands crafting the most amazing hair grooming tools!

By this time, even if you want to categorize your search in the market solely by Wahl clippers, you’ll be mesmerized to find tons of products available for purchase.

But which one should you get? What are your needs out of a clipper? Which particular Wahl product is good enough to meet your demands perfectly?

My article today vows to answer all of these questions and by the end, I’ll pick a favorite that I think is capable of performing better than most other clippers you’ll find today!

Historical Background of Wahl as a Brand

In the olden days, the primary versions of electric clippers would trim hair with the help of an external motor to keep the blades vibrating rapidly.

Leo J. Wahl revolutionized the way we perceive electric clippers and laid the foundation of modern designs that we are so very accustomed to these days.

After the World War I in 1919, Leo J. Wahl secured a patented design of a clipper unit that embeds the motor within the clipper housing, making it a compact model maximizing flexibility, diversity and mobility.

Year after year, Wahl’s factory kept improving that design and pleasantly surprised the grooming industry with the effortless outcomes that are unmatched by any other method.

The practical design grew over time in the Wahl factory which is currently owned by the Wahl Clipper Corporation situated in Illinois, USA.

This journey, acceptance, credibility of over a century and quality products have established Wahl as one of the top and premium grooming brands in the entire world!

8 Best Wahl Clippers: Masterclass in Performance

It’s time for us to investigate my top 8 Wahl clippers and put them to test, in hopes of finding out their true potential in different circumstances!

Note: The star ratings for each trimmer is solely for ball trimming capability and doesn’t represent their overall status.

Wahl Magic Clip Cordless

I’m starting off my list with the introduction of the premium clipper from Wahl 5-Star, the Magic Clip device. This one is ideal for both home and barbershop usage due to its unmatched capabilities!

First off, the blades in this clipper are magnificent! The technology used to craft the blades is referred to as ‘Crunch Blade Technology’ and it has to do a lot with the cutting sound as well as feeling.

Wahl Magic Clip Blade

It means, when you clip hair with a blade of this sort, the crunching sound will tell you exactly what you need to hear – a tug-free clipping is going on and hair in bulk is efficiently being removed.

Magic Clip endorses a Stagger Tooth blade (#2161) which derives the name from the staggered look at the sharp ends.

Wahl Magic Clip Adjustment Lever

There’s an adjustment lever at the side of the head that allows you to change the gap between the blades and the teeth.

The minimum closeness you can achieve by lever alteration is 0.5 mm while the maximum is 1.2 mm, meaning, you’ll get no zero gap with this clipper out of the box.

Much like any other good clippers, this unit contains the blades fastened with strong screws and removal requires you to undo them with a screwdriver.

Wahl Magic Clip Blade Unscrewed

I’ll highlight the types of motors used in Wahl clippers later on in this article, just know that this clipper in particular has been endowed with a precision-engineered rotary motor.

I’d say this motor never struggles to perform its obligations and it’s better fitted for doing the side portions as well as mass clipping up top.

Wahl Magic Clip Weight

As per the housing design, it’s quite brilliantly done! From the weight of 10.2 ounces to the grip level maximized with finger-placement crevices and a thumb-rest that’s placed ideally.

Color choice pays homage to the traditional Wahl 5-Star clippers with burgundy taking over the lead tone, black plastic back, silver accents and texts written in gold.

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Mind you, the housing is very sturdy and made with durable materials. I’d say the device passed my drop test successfully, so minor bumps or accidental drops wouldn’t hamper its functionalities.

The power switch sits right underneath the lever and well out of way from a full grip. Additionally, a blue LED is situated at the feed and the power socket right underneath.

Wahl has blessed this clipper with a li-ion unit of battery that has lasted for over 80 minutes with a full charge for me. I’d classify this clipper as one of the better battery-durable units for the mentioned battery life.

Wahl Magic Clip Ergonomics

For home users, this battery life is more than sufficient because you might have to charge around once a month.

Barbers can go through the day effortlessly because Magic Clip is usually utilized for fading and texturizing, which doesn’t take much long. Even if you do run out of charge, you can plug it in with the charging cord to keep using it.

If I begin talking about versatility, I must mention the 8 cutting guides of 1/8”, 1/4”, 3/8”, 1/2”, 5/8”, 3/4”, 7/8”, and 1” that come inside the package.

Wahl Magic Clip Accessories

Using these cutting guides and the adjustment lever, doing seamless blends and textured side as well as nape hair would be this clipper’s speciality.

Also, you can bulk remove facial beard but it lacks the precision of a trimmer due to the wider blade system.

Overall, for what it’s worth, Magic Clip is placed in a great position to be your regular home-grooming clipper or a permanent assistant to a barber to survive the longest and most hectic days!

What I Like

What I Don’t Like 

Wahl Senior Cordless

While Wahl Magic Clip ranks as a highly versatile clipper in the Wahl series, Senior might have a couple of tricks up its sleeves to edge Magic Clip in terms of dynamic outcome and looks!

For the blade, Wahl hasn’t disclosed any technology implemented behind the design. But from my assessment, it oddly resembles the surgical system from the Wahl Balding clipper.

Wahl Senior Blades

However, the capabilities of the blade are quite different from the former clipper. Senior’s (#2191) adjustable 0000 blade is able to zero gap perfectly, all thanks to the teeth gap.

This adjustment can be achieved using the lever at the side. Pushing it all the way in aligns the blade and teeth equally for a zero cut. Pulling it out grants the teeth the highest gap of 1.2 mm.

Wahl Senior Adjustment Lever

When it comes to the motor, Senior too contains a rotary motor but it has some variances from the one installed in Magic Clip.

Primarily you can get almost every work done with such a powerful clipper from fading to texturing. But, bulk hair removal might be slightly less effective than the Magic Clip.

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In my opinion, Wahl Senior contains the best housing design in the entire lot of portable clippers from the brand.

Two prominent colors are black and silver with the upper side glossed utilizing the dark finish. Even the texts are scratched out of silver paint, rendering the clipper a duotone masterpiece!

Wahl Senior Ergonomics

Prepare yourself for a metallic grip at the underside because that’s what you’re going to feel with a palm grasp, as opposed to the plastic finish of Magic Clip.

The metal part is ergonomic and very comfortable to hold on to at any angle. 13 ounces of weight grants the clipper some gravity to conveniently maneuver for a wide array of cutting techniques.

Wahl Senior Weight

I should clarify that the lever and power switch at the left side don’t interfere with ergonomics in any way and I expected nothing less from the smart Wahl designers.

In terms of the battery life, it lasts a little shorter duration compared to the Magic Clip, still an astounding range of 70 minutes at one go!

The 2.4 meter power cable can aid you should you run out of juice mid clipping but that would only come in handy for barbers since the battery should suffice easily for home use.

Wahl Senior Grip

You’ll get only 3 premium cutting guides with the clipper. For most parts, these guards along with the lever adjustment should allow you to push the clipper at its full potential.

If you ask me what’s so special about this clipper, I’d have to stress on its ability to zero gap perfectly! While it may be a stretch to use on beards due to the high sharpness of the blades, zero fades would be its ideal area of delivery.

Wahl Senior Accessories

On top of that, old-school tapers and precision fades can be nailed using the clipper as well as comb over cuts to a perfect degree.

This can replace the styling tool for a barber due to its diverse facilities and all the grand features mentioned above justifies how much Wahl is selling these for today!

What I Like

What I Don’t Like 

Wahl Detailer Cordless

Let’s move our attention from fading clippers to the ones that pay attention to even more miniscule tasks concerning hair – the Wahl Detailer introducing itself as a consumer choice in 2023!

While most other clippers focus solely on hair, Wahl Detailer is made for both hair and beard, a feat that makes the purchase of this device even more worth it.

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Attached to the clipper comes a #2215 Adjustable T-Wide Blade. This blade’s name itself tells us two things: it’s wide so this can cover a larger hair area, requiring fewer passes from your side.

And the second is the blade system is a T-Blade. If you don’t know what a T-Blade does, let me tell you: these blades are ideal for outlining and texturizing hair.

Due to the sharpness and closeness of the blade teeth, the results I’ve seen are sharp, crisp and very close, even neater than Wahl Senior to some extent.

All thanks to this short teeth design, you can even use it over your beard not only for outlining, but also for removing chunks altogether.

I wish I could say the same for bulk hair removal at the crown because this seems to be its only limitation for not having deeper teeth like the Senior or Magic Clip.

Wahl Detailer Blade

The blading operations are powered by a rotary motor, able to maintain an optimum torque without faltering. It removes any room for discomfort and cleans out the hair area within seconds!

Its housing design looks like a hybrid between Magic Clip and Senior, borrowed the silver back from Senior as the frontal bits mimic the burgundy-gold color tone of Magic Clip within a limited area.

At the back of the clipper, there are dotted textures for a slip-free grip which is highly important to perfectly deliver precise and detailed outcomes.

On the side, you get the ergonomic power switch that slides up and down for turning the device on or off.

Wahl Detailer doesn’t contain any adjustment lever since it already comes zero gapped and that closeness is the major charm for the clipper.

Wahl Detailer Accessories

Instead, you’re blessed with a Pro-Set Tool inside the package, allowing you to change the gap between the clipper’s teeth from zero to your more preferred length.

It’s a game changer to be honest, getting this degree of flexibility with your blade. As an addition, you get 3 T-wide trimming guides (1/16″, 1/8″, 3/16″) for your impeccable outlining and texturing jobs.

I think Wahl Detailer has the biggest battery life of them all! Running over 90 minutes with a 40 minute charge is massive!

And I’d call it a perfect detailing tool for barbers due to the inclusion of a charging stand that lets you rest it as well as power up simultaneously while using other clippers.

It might come off as an overworked clipper for home groomers, but hear me out – getting this would remove your requirement to keep a separate trimmer for your beard.

This two-in-one clipper/trimmer from Wahl can certainly become your solo companion with its features, and from the durability I’ve experienced – this one is made to last years without a hiccup!

What I Like

What I Don’t Like 

Wahl Balding Clipper Corded

You can call the Balding Clipper a wired version of the Detailer due to the uncanny similarity in the blade’s shape along with the resemblances in clipping outcomes.

However, due to being constantly plugged into the cable, there are certain advantages and disadvantages of the clipper unit if compared with the Detailer.

Wahl Balding Clipper Blades

First of all, the motor is quite different in this clipper from all of the other devices I’ve mentioned in the list so far.

It’s an electromagnetic motor in the place of a rotary motor, namely v5000 powerhouse capable of running at the maximum of 14,400 SPM.

While there may be no button to alter the motor power level, the screws at the sides can be utilized to turn up or down the output.

Wahl Balding Clipper Housing

If it’s set in the default position, you might hear a loud noise coming out of the motor. At the optimum setting, it’s still quite loud but no more than something like Oster Classic 76.

In the blades department, Wahl has featured a #2105 Balding 6 x 0 Blade capable of performing the most sensitive grooming tasks with perfect accuracy.

Wahl Balding Clipper Weight

This blading system is called ‘Surgical Blades’ because of its agility and sharpness like the medical blades used for operating on patients.

You really can’t expect it to deliver like typical head shavers, rather clipping down to the degree of a zero trim all over your head.

Wahl Balding Clipper Grip

From this, you can imagine what would be the strong suits for this clipper unit aside from maintaining bald heads on a regular basis.

It can outline and texturize your hair the way Wahl detailer does while zero gapping and fading like Senior at any given point.

Wahl Balding Clipper Ergonomics

I’d say you can use it on seamless cuts around the head as well as the beard, but zero cutting beard or bulk removing coarse hair up top would be where I draw the lines.

This clipper contains one of the most foundational housing designs ever developed by Wahl for their clippers.

A bulky body, seamless burgundy color over the entire housing and Balding Clipper written in golden fonts – the Wahl way of introducing their most down to earth clipper.

Wahl Balding Clipper Power Adjustment Screw

Despite the bulky size, it weighs only 16 ounces and provides sufficient grip areas for the clipper to be held at any desired angle without exhausting your fingers.

Prices significantly below $100, this level of lasting material and sturdy, durable housing is a steal if you’re someone interested in the capabilities of the Balding Clipper.

It is true that barbers will have to deal with the cord at some point of operation, but the 2.4 meter long power cable remains well out of way while performing every type of fades or tapers.

Wahl Balding Clipper Accessories

Inside the box, only two comb guides of 1/16″ and 3/16″ are provided for your convenience. There are other aftermarket blades and comb guides available for your purchase should you need one.

But for the most orthodox outlining, fading or trimming tasks at this bargain of a price point, I’d call it the best Wahl corded hair clipper for men any day of the week!

What I Like

What I Don’t Like 

Wahl Legend Cordless

Wahl Legend has two variants, much like most other cordless Wahl clippers, and my opinion ranks the Legend cordless to be in higher order than the corded variant and here’s why.

This is where old meets new – the premium features from the older Wahl clippers have been infused with this modern and improved portable variant capable of doing everything a good clipper’s supposed to do but without any wire!

Wahl Legend Blades

I don’t know where to get started about this clipper, whether the blade dynamics or the ergonomics that makes it a professional’s favorite clipper (at least the sales suggest so).

Let’s get it on with the blade unit I’m very much in love with. The most perfect blade ever designed by Wahl for fading purposes is the ‘Wedge Blade’ that comes attached to this clipper.

Wahl Legend Lever

The great thing about this blade is its dynamic range between 0.7 mm to 1.7 mm – all in one clipper that you can alter using the built-in lever at the side.

Despite being a 10 ounce clipper, Wahl seems to have ignored that fact and made the #2228 Wedge Blade 1.8 inches wide.

Such a width allows for efficient hair removal and coverage of head space comfortably faster than you would with most other Wahl blades.

Wahl Legend Grip

The sharpness is similar to Magic Clip and Senior to some extent but this Wedge design puts it in a league of its own.

Not only the blade resembles Magic Clip and Senior, but also the motor too! This clipper has embedded a rotary motor inside to keep the sharp blades running at an optimum rate.

It allows for the clipper to remove any degree of hair without ever having to struggle – be that fine hair or curly, coarse textured.

Wahl Legend Housing

As the housing goes, Legend has walked in the path of some traditional Wahl clippers for its design and color choice, highlighting the LEGEND text boldly in a vertical path down the middle.

Grip feels good with all the minimal ergonomics smartly placed by Wahl with this design. The lever and power button have a good clearance from the grip and fatigue of long operations is out of the question.

Wahl Legend Ergonomics

From my assessment, this clipper lasted up to an hour of relentless performance, although it’s worth noting that it can get quite warm if run without a break.

Your li-ion battery status will be indicated with the LED light at the bottom, much like all the other portable Wahl clippers. I’ve broken down the implications later on in this article.

Wahl Legend Weight

Wired operation is possible if you ever run out of power. The long 2.4 meter cable can be swapped with the other Wahl clippers and used while plugged in.

With the clipper comes 8 premium cutting guides (1/16″ – 1″) that make bulk hair removal at a particular height a straightforward matter.

Soft line fades, seamless blends and other longer fades are made-easy with the help of the widest lever arrangement in this clipper.

Wahl Legend Accessories

Many say that it can operate on wet hair, but I’d say it’s more like slightly damp hair because the clipper is not waterproof. It’s worth mentioning that this damp operation can be undertaken by almost every Wahl clipper.

Wahl Legend is an all-round clipper and has the potential to serve multiple purposes without making any additional purchases.

Especially, the dynamic range of blade teeth adjustment would most certainly be appealing to the barbers as it opens doors for every type of fades with one move of the lever!

What I Like

What I Don’t Like 

Wahl Chrome Pro Corded

Could you ever imagine owning a premium looking clipper from Wahl at a price point under $50? Well, I’d say Chrome Pro is a valid option in this regard and your spent bucks will certainly be well worth it!

The corded variant of Chrome Pro is a budget end clipper from Wahl. And despite the cost cutting at some departments while developing this unit, the performance is almost as good as the top big boys from the lot!

I’ll admit that the Chrome Pro doesn’t come with fancy blades or motors that are categorized among the top devices.

Wahl Chrome Pro Blades

But whatever Wahl has done with these sharp Precision Blades or the electromagnetic vibrating motor, it seems to have worked the charm on many, including myself!

These blades don’t zero gap out of the box but you can make that adjustment if you have the technical prowess to get that right.

Wahl Chrome Pro Lever

The cutting length stands between 1 mm to 3 mm and it can be adjusted with the lever on the side. Although Wahl’s top clippers have plastic levers, Chrome Pro’s one in particular felt a little cheap but not fragile.

This blade has a cutting width of 45 mm, matching with the standard width for efficient bulk hair removal.

As per the motor, Wahl claims it to have a 35% additional performance boost over their general motors like the ones in Peanut or Color Pro and I’d most certainly agree with them.

Wahl Chrome Pro Power Adjustment Screw

I couldn’t believe a budget end clipper to generate so much power out of the box! I had to adjust the power level using the screw on the side according to my preference.

This has been made possible due to the relentless power input using the long 3.09 meter cord – the longest one I’ve reviewed in the Wahl department.

Wahl Chrome Pro Housing

Visual aspects in this clipper are striking to be honest! A combination of shiny silver and matte black is bound to captivate the groomers and the Wahl design team has exploited that successfully!

Ergonomically this clipper is magnificent! Since the matte black portion is made with rubber with a dent for thumb rest, there’s no way it’ll slip out of your hand at any angle!

Wahl Chrome Pro Ergonomics

Underside is a black plastic-built housing allowing well-placed curves to fit within grip, much like the portable clippers I already mentioned.

One downside is its weight, 20 oz ranks it to be the heaviest Wahl clipper in my list. But the balance is ideal and doesn’t compromise maneuverability in any way.

Wahl Chrome Pro Weight

There are sufficient accessories provided with the clipper – 8 guide combs between 3 mm to 25 mm – meeting standard quality in build and outcome.

Power switch and adjustment lever have clearance enough not to entangle with your grooming operation since most of the bulky housing will already consume the attention of your full grip.

Wahl Chrome Pro Grip

Different types of fading can be performed with this clipper, mostly the longer blends and smooth transitioning.

For newer grooming enthusiasts, it has two ear guide combs for each side so that you don’t have to struggle nailing that area with perfect trims.

Wahl Chrome Pro Accessories

It even comes with a solid storage case where you can stack up not only the clipper but also all of the accessories it comes with.

Since the case is built like a handled briefcase, you are free to carry it around at will, rendering traveling with it the easiest task ever!

Wahl Chrome Pro Case

So, who is this clipper precisely for? I’d say – it’s for the home groomers who want a personal clipper that can perform most of the hair grooming tasks at home easily.

Additionally, it’s for barbers who are looking for a new clipper and for consumers who want to learn the clipping basics without paying a hefty amount.

Does it win my approval? Definitely! Its capabilities have the potential to make other more expensive clippers shy and I’d suggest you to get this as a stepping stone into your self-grooming or professional journey!

What I Like

What I Don’t Like 

Wahl Peanut Classic Corded

Wahl Peanut is probably the most handy clipper in the list of best Wahl clippers due to its compact size that makes maneuverability the most effortless task in grooming!

Some regard this classic device to be both a trimmer and clipper due to the type of blades it contains as well as the flexibility in mode of operation.

Wahl Peanut Classic Blades

Unlike most other clippers, this one carries detachable blades that you don’t need to unscrew using a screwdriver as it clicks off on command.

The blade system is a 2068-300 setup, kinder on skin and trims/clips effortlessly due to uncanny sharpness.

Wahl Peanut Classic Grip

I’ve used this blade on hair for bulk removal, drawing fades and outlining. While it may not be the best clipper for any of these categories, it delivers sufficiently satisfactory results based on the size and price.

It even works perfectly on beards for heavy trimming mimicking close to a zero cut and overall shaping along with outlining.

Wahl Peanut Classic Housing

I’d say this tiny device should be the best clipper for kids as the motor isn’t too loud, it chops through regular hair nicely and doesn’t over-vibrate on the scalp.

A basic rotary motor keeps the blade running and I was sort of astounded to witness its power while grooming – not something you’d expect out of a clipper sized so little.

Wahl Peanut Classic Weight

This probably has to do with the corded powering method, saving up some space since there’s no battery and relentlessly keeps the clipper running at a constant pace.

I have no issue with the cord length, 2.2 meters for this lightweight clipper weighing 4 ounces seems like the perfect balance ensuring grooming freedom.

Wahl Peanut Classic Different Grip

When it comes to the housing design, the size offers different types of gripping techniques and makes it more versatile than a lot of other heavy clippers you’ll find in the market.

Built with plastic, the housing is sufficiently sturdy and durable. The power switch is tactile and situated at the side, no risk of accidentally flicking on or off.

Grip doesn’t feel like ever slipping because of the smart and minimal ergonomic aspects. However, if you have bigger hands or fingers, you may want to adjust your grip type.

Wahl Peanut Classic Accessories

You will receive 4 trimming guides (1/8” – 1/2”) with this clipper that work nicely and add diversity to your hair removal tasks.

I wouldn’t ask you to use it as a bulk hair removal since the blade isn’t wide enough, therefore consuming more time and effort to get things right.

Wahl Peanut Classic Power Button

What you can achieve with this is a pain-free and easy-going grooming operation both for your hair and for your beard.

Kids will love this as the blade’s size and teeth depth isn’t scary and harsh on their scalp skin. Also, the tiny size and its looks would be intriguing to encourage them for grooming every time.

Wahl Peanut Classic Blade Removed

So who is this clipper for? Those who don’t want to deal with heavy-duty clippers, go through rigorous cleaning and maintenance, want an all-round clipper for beard and hair within a limited budget – I’d say Wahl Peanut is perfect for all of these!

What I Like

What I Don’t Like 

Wahl Color Pro Cordless

Let’s say you’re new to grooming, want to learn how a clipper works with all of its attachments and don’t want to spend tons on this new learning curve. What should you purchase? There’s one right answer, and that’s Wahl Color Pro!

It’s also a great clipper that you can present to someone as a gift! It has to do with the intuitive way of picking up the utilization and putting the clipper to good use straight out of the box!

Wahl Color Pro Blades

This clipper won’t complicate matters with an advanced blade system where you have to educate yourself on the blade dictionary for other agile clippers.

The blade is quite a generic one that can be interpreted both as a clipper and trimmer blade system. However, the blade teeth have the depth to remove hair in bulks.

Wahl Color Pro Housing

Its motor isn’t a highly powerful one, rather a regular rotary unit that sufficiently powers the sharp set of blades for almost any type of basic grooming task.

Housing won’t feel the most expensive and you can understand the quality based on the price point it comes in. I’d say it’s the best budget Wahl clipper in my entire list considering everything.

Wahl Color Pro Ergonomics

The grip is really great due to the size, 8 ounces of weight and ergonomic textures etched upon the plastic body.

This clipper even contains an indent to place your thumb to guide the clipper at your will without any risk of slipping.

Another aspect of cost-cutting is seen in the battery department. Instead of a li-ion battery, Wahl incorporated a NiMH Rech battery unit.

Wahl Color Pro Grip

It charges up quite fast and delivers around 50 minutes of power, however, it slows down slightly after the 40 minute mark.

This battery system works out in the end because the motor isn’t demanding and if it’s drained, you still have the liberty to plug it in using the cord and keep the work running.

Wahl Color Pro Accessories

Now comes the grand part – Wahl Color Pro brings home 14 cutting guides that are color coded and the belly of the housing shows the length of each guide.

All you need to do is assess how long you want your hair to be, if you want fades or trimming around the ear region, see the color indicator on the housing and attach the same-colored guide comb.

Let me give you another incentive – this clipper is meant to be for everyone in the family! From the husband’s hair clipper or beard trimmings needs to the wife’s basic hair maintenance or even for the kid’s haircut – it can do ALL!

Wahl Color Pro Color Guide

I won’t say you’ll get the same picture-perfect outcome the way you’d receive from a professional barber, but it can replicate somewhat similar results once you’re accustomed with the device.

Although Wahl tells you that the clipper is wash-friendly, it’s not waterproof so don’t hold it under running water for cleaning.

Use the brush, unscrew the blades once in a while to wipe out the inside, lubricate and put everything back together to keep it running in the family for the upcoming years!

What I Like

What I Don’t Like 

How I Tested & Rated These Wahl Clippers?

I’ll tell you one thing to begin with – no matter how many feature variance there are in the top Wahl clippers, I realized that the brand is so widely adored for valid reasons!

Because I tried sorting down the top Wahl clippers for purchase based on consumer reviews, Amazon sales ranking, consulting with a couple of professional barbers and some expert reviews.

I was hoping to list down the top 5 Wahl clippers, but it seemed impossible to make that list so short and ended up including 8 clippers in my cart.

Once they arrived, I unboxed and checked each product closely, ran them relentlessly, unscrewed the blades, lended a barber friend to use on consumers as the primary clipper for the day.

It’s great that I could overlap some tests with my assessment for the most premium hair clippers in the market, still I had to take the extra time for a couple of additional devices.

I divided my assessment into 7 measurable categories and rated each clipper out of 5 to come up with an overall score.

Since it’s not a test of specific tasks, the criterias are basic and broad, consuming more time to come up with a verdict for every unit.

Test Results: Which Wahl Clipper is the Best?

Let’s see how the 8 clippers of my top choice perform in each unique department to measure the overall best unit from the lot at the end!

Clipping Quality

Clipping quality implies the degree of outcome as opposed to desired result, level of comfort while clipping and efficiency.

By my assessment, three clippers have tied for the top spot in this category and they are: Magic Clip, Legend and Senior.

At second spot, I’d call it a tie between Detailer and Balding Clipper as their ability of bulk hair removal is slightly less efficient than the top three.

Chrome Pro is a valid option after the mentioned clippers, all thanks to the powerful motor and unique design powered relentlessly.

Peanut ranks above Color Pro due to the degree of comfort, power output due to the corded design and overall result.

Adjustable Lever

Adjustable lever measures the build quality and dynamic range between the blades to offer a wide array of fading outcomes.

By my calculation, Wahl Legend has the best adjustable lever in the lot. Built with metal, shifts precisely and locks in at the desired length for any sort of grooming operation.

Magic Clip and Senior have similarly built levers out of premium plastic. Adjustment convenience is somewhat similar to Legend for the two, but their scores have taken a hit due to the build quality.

Chrome Pro’s adjustment lever functions well but the build quality is quite finicky, appropriate for the price range the clipper comes in.

Remaining four clippers don’t have any lever installed on the device, thus they’re excluded from this assessment and the lack of score doesn’t affect their overall rating.

Blade Sharpness

It’s a raw assessment of how sharp the blades are and the ease they are able to chop through any type or density of hair with.

Balding Clipper surgical blades are the most agile in my opinion because of their unrelenting ability of hair removal.

Magic Clip, Senior and Legend are tied for second as their unique blade systems are very sharp, just a little shy of the Balding Clipper.

With similar abilities as the Balding Clipper, Detailer ranks behind the three big boys in the lot and for the price, I’d say the sharpness is still over my expectations.

Peanut’s sharpness has been compromised a little by the detachable blade design. However, for daily grooming, the ferocity of the blades receive a green signal from me and ranks above the Color Pro.

Maneuverability

Maneuverability has to do with a clipper’s weight, balance and mode of operation (whether it’s cordless or corded, or how long the cords are).

Considering all of these factors, Peanut Classic remains as the most agile clipper despite being connected to a long cable! It’s tiny and lightweight, rendering grooming an untiring experience!

Magic Clip, Senior, Detailer and Legend are the top four portable Wahl clippers renowned for their superior mobility.

These are perfectly balanced clippers weighing at the ideal range for personal grooming as well as long days of toil in a barber shop.

Balding Clipper is ranked a little lower due to the weight class and the bulkiness of the body which can unnerve some consumers with smaller hands.

Color Pro ties with Balding Clipper for the same reasons. Although maneuvering with Color Pro feels a little better due to the weight, the balance is better in Balding Clipper, thus a tie.

Lastly, Chrome Pro sits at the bottom of this ranking solely due to its weight and bulkiness that isn’t meant to satisfy everyone’s taste. I have no issue with it whatsoever, but I do have to consider a broader opinion for a general assessment.

Versatility

Versatility of clippers imply the range of cutting techniques a single unit can explore without seeking refuge in another device, so to say, how dynamically capable a clipper is.

Senior is the most versatile of all due to its zero gapped blades that can taper, zero fade, create textured looks and overall bulk hair removal.

Legend is a little way behind senior but is still an agile clipper with a wide dynamic range that can cater to longer fades as well as tighter ones with the flick of the adjustment lever in seconds.

Magic Clip, Peanut and Color Pro are versatiles on their own accord. Magic Clip can do almost anything that the top two products can achieve.

Peanut and Color Pro can not only be used on hair but also for beard grooming. These family-friendly clippers are all-round devices for every grooming purpose.

Detailer and Chrome Pro are different types of clippers but have the potential to go out of their way to perform some extra duties like mass hair removal, outlining or general maintenance.

Balding Clipper, while it’s a great clipper for the unique purpose it was designed to serve, sadly the clipper fails to deliver in other departments in the same manner as the rest were able to contribute to.

Ergonomics

Ergonomics suggest the degree of grip, the existence of texture to ensure slip-free grabbing and maneuvering of each clipper. It’s more tactile and operation-based than visible metrics.

Chrome Pro is hands down the most ergonomic clipper in my list, all thanks to the rubber texture and plastic crevices ensuring maximum grip a clipper could afford you.

Senior is the second most ergonomic clipper and the degree must be felt rather than told. Once I grab this clipper, very few can match the level of comfort because of the smart design and housing materials.

Magic Clip, Detailer and Legend are similar to hold on to for operations, each allowing texture to wrap hand around and protect from slipping out mid-action.

Balding Clipper, Peanut and Color Pro ranks below the rest of the Wahl clippers but that doesn’t mean they’re not good enough.

Balding Clipper is shaped for ideal grips, Peanut is tiny so some may face hurdles if their fingers are longer and Color Pro offers plastic as texture, so the grip level fails to match the top devices in this category.

Accessories

My final category for the assessment is the number and variety of accessories, especially guide combs, included in the package with the clippers.

While there are other aftermarket attachments available for Wahl clippers, my metrics take into account only the ones you’ll get upon a basic purchase.

Without a shred of doubt, the Wahl Color Pro is the champion in this category with its astounding number of 14 guides, uniquely color coded for general convenience.

Magic Clip, Legend and Chrome Pro are tied for second spot with their 8 piece comb guides each. However, Chrome Pro attachments cater more toward newer groomers while the other two serve professionals.

Peanut comes with 4 quality comb guards that are the most basic and essential for all-round grooming – be that hair or beard related.

Senior and Detailer comes with 3 premium comb guards – Senior’s adjustment lever itself offers diversity, thus a large number of guards isn’t required.

Detailer is meant to be applied naked for precise tasks, the comb guards are additional aspects to nail different types of fades.

Balding Clipper too is meant to be used without any guide, however, Wahl included two basic guides to add depth in its clipping outcomes.

Buyer’s Guide for the Best Wahl Clipper

I’ll keep the buyer’s guide simple and easy for you to help you pick out the best Wahl clipper according to your particular expectations out of a device.

From this guide, you can identify which is your specific need and grab the clipper meeting that ideal description.

However, it’s worth noting that some of the portable clippers are quite pricey, like the Magic Clip, Senior and Legend clippers.

It’s because of their quality to serve in a hectic barbershop condition and keep on delivering without any drop of performance for a long time to come.

While these can be used at home too, more basic and affordable clippers are available from Wahl as well, for instance, Peanut, Chrome Pro and Color Pro.

Detailer and Balding Pro are niche clippers, each with their unique ability to outline, cater to heads with less hair length and sketch out detailed cuts.

Maintaining and Cleaning Wahl Clippers

Wahl clippers are quite easy to maintain as there are two major aspects you must ensure to keep them running effectively for a long time in the future. One is regular cleaning and the other is frequent lubrication.

Cleaning

After the end of each clipping session, DO brush your clipper’s head to remove the stray hair. Not doing so would compromise the sharpness, allowing build-ups to form that can tug or pull the hair.

Also, the longer you leave the blades uncleaned, the highly likely it is for your clipper blades to go dull.

Lubrication

After every cleaning, your clipper requires some degree of lubrication to reduce the friction between blades and keep them safe.

Also, from time to time, you’ll need to unscrew the blades and apply grease to the motor. It increases the motor’s efficiency and durability.

What Does the Blue LED in Portable Wahl Clippers Mean?

The blue light in Wahl clippers is usually seen as the indicator for charging. However, it’s not a static light, rather there’s more to it than it shows to the naked eye.

Want to learn all the meanings behind it? Let’s go!

• Blinking Light: It indicates that the clipper requires charging.
• Solid Light: It means two things. One, the clipper is being charged, or two, the clipper is currently running.
• Light Off while Clipper Plugged in: It implies that the clipper is fully charged.

Did you know that these smart lights were capable of doing it all? Now you know the complete picture!

FAQ

Wahl as a grooming brand arouses some queries in people’s minds and it’s my obligation to address some of them to maximize clarity.

Q: What is the Wahl 5 star series?

Ans: Wahl has different series of grooming products and each signifies something in particular. The 5-Star Series refers to the most premium clippers in the line that endorse old-school technology, built with durable materials and usually are ideal choices for professional spaces.

Q: What is the strongest Wahl motor?

Ans: According to Wahl, their strongest motor is installed inside Wahl Senior that’s capable of running at 6,500 RPM.

Q: Why are Wahl Clippers so loud?

Ans: Wahl clippers evidently include some of the most powerful motors and such capable power units tend to make noises louder than other generic clippers. All of the top brands like Oster or Andis have developed similarly loud clippers so this noise level is something quite familiar in the industry.

My Choice

Although in my ratings, Wahl Legend edges out Wahl Senior by a miniscule margin, my favorite still is the Senior due to a number of aspects I found to be praise-worthy.

Firstly, the design is superb and probably the best one from the Wahl lot. The way it’s designed is complemented by the powerful motor, sharp surgical blades, different types of fading outcomes and zero gapped blade design.

The balance of weight in this clipper is perfect and very few clippers are capable of reaching the level or versatility the Senior has established itself at.

Some may claim it to be a luxury clipper, my opinion says it’s worth that much because every large and small positive aspects add up to pose Senior as ‘the Complete Wahl Clipper’.