TPOB Mini Skull Shaver Review: Is the TPOB Skull a Better Pocket-Pick?

TPOB brand has recently seen a huge amount of success in sales with their unique, budget grade, pocket foil shavers.

There are two unique variants to choose from in this case, both of which belong to the Skull series by TPOB.

You can guess by the title which one of the two is in the foreground in today’s article, and that is the TPOB Mini Skull.

So, what will you learn today from this TPOB Mini Skull review? On one hand, all the effortless shaves you’d be able to get using the device and on the other, the limitations such entry level shaving tools tend to have.

“TPOB Mini Skull is the perfect fit in your pocket foil shaver with a very sleek design, meant for easy and quick shaves anywhere you go and doesn’t chunk out your wallet while purchasing!”

Unboxing TPOB Mini Skull Shaver

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When I handled the TPOB Mini Skull package, it felt like I was unboxing a smartphone because of the overall design.

The case is sturdy and can be used for safe storage in idle times. The Mini Skull shaver sits in the crevice firmly and there are two bevels where you can dip your fingers to pick it up.

Underneath the plastic holder you’ll only receive the two accessories along with the user manual, and those are the charging cord (no adapter) and a cleaning brush.

It’s worth noting that the Mini Skull has a cap built using the same material as the handle, so that’s an added safety feature for your travel days!

What’s Inside the Box: TPOB Mini Skull Shaver, One Charging Cable, One Cleaning Brush, User Manual.

Specifications: TPOB Mini Skull Shaver

This technical specifications section should tell you about the basics of this electric razor, including the weight, foil types, motor power and so on.

• Dimensions: 10 x 4.7 x 1.9 cm
• Weight: 3.2 Ounces
• Colors: 4 (Slime, Candy, Black, White)
• Accessories: 2
• Foil Type: Anti Allergy Gold
• Motor Power: 9,000 RPM
• Waterproof: No
• Battery Indicator: LED Light
• Battery Runtime: 40 Minutes

TPOB Mini Skull Shaver : Standout Features

Despite the small size, there’s much to be said about the TPOB Mini Skull foil shaver. I’ll move on to the advanced feature later on in this article, but first let me describe the design elements of the shaver!

Slender Design

TPOB Mini Skull is unorthodox in many ways, one of which is its tiny size yet its ability to retain grip. I’ll discuss its aesthetics, grip level and build quality here in this order.

Punchy Aesthetics

The color aesthetics of the TPOB Mini Skull are loud in general. There are four color choices to choose from – slime (vibrant, lime green), candy (a strong pink), black and white.

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Out of the four, I bought the slime color because it costs less than the other three colors. It’s worth noting that different color variants don’t offer anything extra.

Other than these colors, the TPOB text is written using a holographic font which reflects if any light falls there, giving it a depth in design elements to please the consumers.

Fingered Grip

You might wonder what actually fingered grip is. By this term, I’m implying that you cannot wrap your fingers around the handle like you would with larger, advanced electric shavers.

Instead, you’ll have to rely on your fingertips, placing down the foil shaver on four of your fingers and fasten it on the other side using the thumb.

This way you can easily twist your wrist to get the shaving job done instead of having to vigorously move around your arm.

Also, the grip level is comforting and very satisfying because of the rectangular shape, matte plastic finish and the beveled edges all around.

Lasting Build Quality

I was quite unsure whether the quality of this foil shaver would disappoint me considering the price, but it is indeed made of good materials and everything feels to be built with care.

The housing material is strong enough to protect the inner parts, the foil element has sufficient thickness for coarse hair removal, but I’m quite skeptical about the foils’ durability.

Overall, I have no doubt about the durability for TPOB Mini Skull and the affordable price you’re going to pay is certainly going to be a worthwhile one!

What I Like

What Could be Better

TPOB Mini Skull Shaver : Additional Features

Here we are now in the additional feature discussion section where you’ll get to learn about TPOB Mini Skull’s maneuverability, foils, cutting elements, motor and battery life.

Very Light Weight

I think TPOB Mini Skull is the most lightweight foil shaver I’ve ever come across. It weighs only 3.2 ounces with the lid on and it implies the device will feel almost weightless!

Because of such weight, your shaving sessions will not only be effortless, but also carrying it around will never become an issue.

This is one of the main reasons for regarding TPOB as a prime travel shaver – not to mention, the lid that keeps the foil safe even when it’s inside your pocket or luggage!

Single Hypoallergenic Foil

The unique factor about TPOB razor is the single foil design. Usually, most foil razors tend to contain at least two foil rollers, for instance the BaBylissPRO FoilFX02 shaver.

It does compromise shaving efficiency to some extent but on the other side, you’ll be able to remove facial hair from tighter areas with more ease.

Also, the golden foil with circular holes to feed your hair is coated with an anti-allergy element to protect your skin from irritation or allergic reaction.

Krunch Blades

TPOB Mini Skull comes packed with a Krunch Blade that works underneath the foil elements. These blades rapidly vibrate to trim off the facial hair fed through the foil meshes.

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From my personal assessment, these blades are indeed very sharp but the construction method feels a little finicky.

On the upside, the blades never really break even after consistently removing coarse hair, but there’s the risk of dulling out after 3-4 months of regular use.

Powerful Motor

Another unbelievable factor in this tiny Mini Skull razor is its motor power. An astounding torque of 9,000 RPM is relentlessly generated by this shaving instrument, something even brands like Braun come short of at times!

While the brand advertises the device to be quiet, it’s not really the case. TPOB Mini Skull is quite loud and you’ll hear the crunchy sound when your beard is being removed.

Due to such power, I thought black men would be able to find the Mini Skull to come to their aid, but the thin vents fail to pick up on those thicker facial hair, therefore the efficiency of cutting is reduced.

Average Battery Life

Budget-grade grooming tools often come with a lot of shortcomings and the battery unit can be underwhelming if you compare the runtime with the TPOB ad.

At best, I was able to squeeze out 40 minutes of battery life, although the final 10 minutes did show signs of the motor slowing down.

You can understand that there’s bound to be some limitation with the battery life due to the tiny size and the affordable price point of this tool. In my opinion, 40 minutes is good enough as it can deliver at least 4 full shaves comfortably.

Easy Charging

TPOB Mini Skull is innovative in the sense that the foil razor includes a USB Type-C port for charging it.

A cable is included in the package, but feel free to use the charger you use for your mobile phone or similar gadgets.

Additionally, you can even recharge this shaver through a power bank while traveling, sparing you the pain of manually going to the wall socket for the purpose.

What I Like

What Could be Better

My Experience with TPOB Mini Skull Shaver

As I’ve extensively used the TPOB Mini Skull razor and even took it with me on a couple of trips to experience the practical side of it, let me share my findings with you in this section!

Shaving Closeness

Shaving with TPOB is very easy but it’s quite a strenuous job to get it very close to your skin the way other superior shavers manage to do.

While the singular foil design allows me to shave my neck region or around the facial contours utilizing the pressure sensitivity, I need to make additional passes to get things done.

If you’re in a hurry, a few glides over each section will give you a clean enough shave but you’ll be able to feel the hair heads with your fingertips, so this is something you should keep in mind.

Foil Comfort

I have a mixed feeling about the foil quality in the TPOB Mini Skull shaver. Don’t get me wrong, it is indeed comfortable for the price I had to pay.

But if I compare its comfort level with rotary razors, there’s absolutely no contest at all, TPOB falling short and probably not the better pick for sensitive skin.

I managed to apply shaving lotion to reduce friction between the foil and my skin, this helped out a lot reducing skin stress and a further cold water wash calms the skin down.

Otherwise, TPOB Mini Skull isn’t really the most comfortable for going in raw and I’d rather suggest something like an Andis ProFoil if comfort is your first priority.

Cutting Efficiency

As you can tell, where shavers like Panasonic ARC5 LV67 are going for four-foil design to increase efficiency, a single-foil razor like TPOB won’t match the same efficiency.

I mentioned already that you’ll need additional passes to get things done and that’s not only true for ensuring closeness, but also to clean out all of your facial regions.

Because keep in mind that the foil is quite narrow and therefore leaves behind hair patches demanding repeated glides.

Also, the Mini Skull doesn’t work on a stubble growth over two days, implying it’s a shaver to use on a regular basis. Otherwise you’ll have to trim down a longer beard for applying it to full effect.

Dry Shaving

Shaving in dry condition is the only available method for TPOB Mini Skull since it’s not waterproof or does not even promote wet shaving.

So, it’d be wise to prepare your skin beforehand, like going through a proper pre-shave routine if you want to increase the cutting efficiency or skin comfort.

However, for daily shaves, I’ve experienced that you can do without skin preparation, but washing the skin and applying a little shaving lotion do make things much easier!

Cleaning & Maintenance

While washing the Mini Skull is not an option for you, the only way to properly clean out the foils is to remove the foil head.

Then, grab the cleaning brush and reach inside to pull out the dirt. You can even dunk the head on the sink for the larger portion of stray hair.

Without the ability to wash, the maintenance does get a little tricky but it is something you must perform after each grooming session.

For additional cleansing, you may use a cloth rag to mop up the foils from the inside or use a thick cotton bud to serve the same purpose.

If you have some shaver oil at arm’s reach, don’t hesitate to drop a couple of drops on the foils as well as the motor head to keep it running optimally.

How I Tested the TPOB Mini Skull Shaver?

Other than taking the TPOB Mini Skull with me on a couple of trips, I tested how robust the handle plastic is and if it succumbs to pressure.

Also, the foils felt a little feeble in my opinion and I’d suggest not putting in too much pressure on your skin with it while shaving.

On top of that, I hand-tested the battery life, charging time, cleaning and shaving performance, plus took notes from consumers with different hair types.

All of that knowledge has contributed to my TPOB Mini Skull review article, so my gratitude for everyone who helped out with the first-hand information that I added to mine for a broader perspective.

What I Like

What Could be Better

Who is TPOB Mini Skull Shaver For?

I can think of three groups of consumers who would find the TPOB Mini Skull to be interesting. One such group, as I already mentioned, are travelers.

During travel days, the Mini Skull is convenient to carry inside a pocket or even in the backpack as it doesn’t consume much space and the uses are straightforward.

Other than travelers, beginners or teenagers would definitely love the Mini Skull as their first electric razor since the learning curve isn’t steep at all.

Lastly, those who have a very tight budget can rely on the TPOB Mini Skull because it’s the best for its price in my opinion. Otherwise, you’d have to spend almost twice to buy something from a renowned brand.

How to Use the TPOB Mini Skull Shaver?

Since the TPOB Mini Skull caters to a lot of beginners, I feel obligated to break you down the process of using this device to generate a clean shave.

Wash Your Skin

First, prepare your skin even to the bare minimum level. By bare minimum, I mean washing with a face wash to clean out all the dirt as it interferes with the foil elements and causes discomfort.

Apply Shaving Lotion (Optional)

Other than this, you have the liberty to apply a shaving lotion for smoother glides and a higher skin comfort. But mind you, this makes cleaning the foil more difficult due to the residue build up.

Fully Charge the Shaver

It’s better to fully charge your Mini Skull razor if you’re not feeling confident or you’re new to grooming. A solid charge level minimizes any risk of tug or pull, so the experience should be a painless one.

Go Shaving

Once you’re ready, turn on the Mini Skull and place it on your skin horizontally and at 90 degrees using all of your fingertips.

Then, twist your wrist quite fast so that the foil is allowed to pick up on your flat lying hair. Move from one section to the next to keep track of things.

If needed, stretch out your skin as it allows the foil to get closer and deliver a smoother result. Same method can be applied on your neck as well.

Re-Check the Beard & Glide

Once you’re satisfied with the result, check for any unshaved patch using your fingers. There’s often beard patches left that are unseen through the mirror but a tactile sense can lay that bare.

Glide a few times again on those patches until you feel nothing with your finger. This should conclude your shaving session.

Apply Cold Water

While cleaning your face after the shave, apply some cold water to calm the tension of your skin. Should you have any irritation, this step will make that go away.

Moisturize

Do not apply aftershave lotions since most of such elements are based on alcohol which dries out your skin.

Rather, apply a natural moisturizer to hydrate your skin and it should keep your face healthy in the long run. Don’t forget to clean out your Mini Skull right after!

About TPOB

TPOB is the acronym for ‘ThePissedOffBarber’ as suggested by their website. The brand was founded in 2018 with the vow to go against the trend and make grooming products affordable!

These grooming tools from the brand generally contain modern features but cost less than other revered brands on the market.

Barbers are the prime target of this brand, so you can realize the quality of materials they use to construct their grooming equipment.

Other than electric razors, TPOB manufactures clippers and trimmers for every hair grooming needs so that you don’t have to feel sorry for your wallet.

TPOB Shaver Contest: Large Skull vs Mini Skull – Which One to Pick?

There’s very little difference in pricing between TPOB Mini Skull and TPOB Skull, also known as the Large Skull, but the variance in quality is indeed there.

That’s why this TPOB Mini Skull vs Skull section has been developed to give you the insight on these unique foil shavers with a side by side comparative assessment.

Color Choices

While TPOB Mini Skull is a fiesta of color choices, the Large Skull falls a little shy in that area. Mini Skull, as you know, has four color options to choose from.

But the Large Skull offers only three colors, excluding the white design from the lot. So if that was the color choice you were going for, Large Skull will not satisfy your aesthetic taste bud!

Shaving Efficiency

This topic is quite subjective and the verdict varies on what you prefer out of your shaving tool. Mini Skull is inefficient in direct comparison, however it performs better in tight spots.

The reason behind it is the single foil design and its ability to fit easily into the tighter crevices or folds of your skin.

On the other hand, TPOB Skull shaver has two foils in stainless steel color and coated by a hypoallergenic alloy.

But the width of two foils often hamper your shaving at narrow areas like the mustache or neck, although overall the Skull is the faster and closer shaver of the two.

Motor and Speed Modes

In the numbers game, Mini Skull feels ahead with its 9,000 RPM motor as opposed to the 8,800 RPM Skull Motor.

The difference is negligible in hindsight, but the Skull does feel more juicy to perform on coarse skin.

Also, TPOB Skull offers two speed settings, opposing the single-speed concept of the Mini Skull.

Lower speed setting will allow you to comfortably glide past your sensitive bits of skin and the higher setting is meant for other generic areas and a faster shave.

Battery Life & Corded/Cordless Use

As the TPOB Skull is the thicker and bigger of the two foil razors in contention, therefore it has the luxury of hosting a larger battery unit inside.

Due to this, the Skull offers over 80 minutes of usable battery life for robust shaving activities and an additional 15-20 minutes to work on finer hair.

TPOB Mini Skull in this case is restricted to its 40 minutes of runtime. Another win for the Skull is the fact that you can use it while the power cord is plugged in.

This grants barbers flexibility of using the Skull even when the battery is drained, a quality that caters to professional consumers to offer relentless performance when needed.

Maintenance & Washing

In terms of maintenance, I disclosed my annoyance with the Mini Skull as it’s not washable and the cleaning must be done manually.

TPOB Large Skull is also the victor here, the brand allowing you to wash the foils after detaching the head from the body.

Mind you, the Skull isn’t a waterproof device and the housing can in no way get close to water during the washing session, only the head is the washable part.

Still, this freedom of cleaning saves up tons of time and also renders the maintenance a much easier and more thorough activity.

Verdict: If you’re looking for a foil shaver for faster shaving, a slightly closer outcome and a professional-grade instrument, TPOB Skull is your answer to this problem.

On the other hand, if you prefer something very light and easy to carry, no learning curve required, can clean out the tight areas of your face and a tool for your personal grooming needs, you should settle for the TPOB Mini Skull.

It’s worth noting that both of these TPOB shavers are affordable and the prices don’t vary much – all is left up to your preference.

FAQ

Let’s stroll through a few basic FAQs on the TPOB Mini Skull foil razor to solidify our knowledge on this handy pocket device!

Q: Can TPOB Mini Skull be used in a barber shop?

Ans: TPOB Mini Skull is not really meant to be used in a barber shop, rather it’s a personal shaving tool to be kept in your pocket. If you must, you may opt for the Large Skull for your barber duties or use the Mini Skull for finishing up fades or tapers, but nothing more than that.

Q: Are there foil and blade replacements for the TPOB Mini Skull?

Ans: Yes! Foil head and replacement blades for the TPOB Mini Skull are available for purchase online and they don’t cost a whole lot of money. If you shave daily or every other day, you may want to replace these elements every 3-4 months and you can place your order following this link.

Q: How long does TPOB Mini Skull take to charge completely?

Ans: TPOB Mini Skull contains a lithium-ion battery and therefore the charging time is significantly fast. It takes only 30 minutes to fully recharge the shaver from zero, which is something very useful if you’re traveling with this electric razor.

Final Thoughts

I believe, thus far you’ve gathered sufficient knowledge from my TPOB Mini Skull review to make a decision.

If I were you and looking for a foil shaver that doesn’t cost much, pretty basic and using it isn’t very demanding, I’d definitely go for TPOB Mini Skull.

While the razor has its downsides due to the size and price point, it still feels like a win considering all of the flexibility I’m able to gain from it.

In the end, buying the Mini Skull razor is absolutely your decision, but I should tell you that there’s none other better than this one at this price tag.

Score
Sharpness	4.4
Motor Power	4.7
Foil Material	4.4
Maneuverability	4.9
Modes of Shaving	4.4
Contour Adaptation	4.5
Overall	4.55
Verdict TPOB Mini Skull is a solid travel shaver within budget, or one that beginners or teenagers can pick out to learn their way into the foil system, the durability, performance and modern design poses the razor as a desirable tool amid grooming enthusiasts.