As of: February 7, 2024, 1:06 p.m
By: Patrick Hauser
Comments
Press
Split
With the right beard trimmer you can save yourself a trip to the barber.
© Wavebreakmedia/PantherMedia
A well-groomed beard can be a challenge.
Top beard trimmers can help.
Discover the test winners from Stiftung Warentest.
Note to our readers:
We create product comparisons and deals for you.
To make this possible, we receive a commission from partners.
This doesn't change anything for you.
A well-groomed and beautifully styled beard makes a lot of impression.
Precise hair lengths, smooth transitions and clearly defined contours not only look good, but also give you a good feeling in your external appearance.
However, getting your beard into the right shape is an art in itself, which is why many people go to the barber and regularly spend a lot of money on the right beard styling.
With a little practice and the right device, you can easily trim your beard yourself.
Stiftung Warentest helps with the huge selection of beard trimmers: The consumer organization tested a total of nine beard trimmers from different brands for its November 2023 edition and chose the test winner.
We show you the top models.
Philips Beardtrimmer series BT5515/15: Good (2.2) – only €62.99
Remington TouchTech beard trimmer MB4700: Good (2.3) – €62.99 instead of €109.99
BaByliss Japanese Steel Beard Trimmer T890E: Good (2.4) – €61.33 instead of €89.90
Panasonic ER-SB60-S803: Satisfactory (2.7) – only €129.22
Braun Beard Trimmer BT5420: Satisfactory (2.9) – €43.55 instead of €64.99
Stiftung Warentest: this is how the beard trimmers were tested
Stiftung Warentest gave the final grade of “good” a total of four times, while another four beard trimmers received a “satisfactory” rating.
Only the Braun Beard Trimmer BT9420 failed the test and received a “poor” rating.
In order to test different models under conditions that were as realistic as possible, 25 beard wearers had to trim their beards once a week in a laboratory under scientific supervision.
Each test subject used each device, a different one for each half of the face.
The test team also had the trimmers cut bristles from a horsehair broom for 40 hours, which was intended to simulate a useful life of about seven years.
Finally, the trimmers were sent to a pollution laboratory to examine the components for hazardous substances.
The following criteria were proportionally included in the final grade of the tests:
Trimming and styling 40%
Skin protection 20%
Handling 20%
Durability and environment 15%
Pollutants 5%
These are the best beard trimmers according to Stiftung Warentest
Almost all of the devices in the test solved the main task of trimming and styling well, and the Braun products were particularly convincing in this regard.
However, pollutants were found in the actual flagship model Braun BT9420, which meant the device took last place in the comparison.
The nine comparison models cost between 15 and just under 150 euros and were mostly comfortable to hold.
Before you buy, think about whether you value a long-lasting or replaceable battery and what type of operation is important to you.
Test winner – Philips Beardtrimmer series BT5515/15: Good (2.2)
Philips BT5515/15 Series 5000 beard trimmer incl. attachments © Philips
Trimming and styling, skin protection, handling as well as durability and the environment were convincing in the test with a grade of “good”, and Stiftung Warentest even gave it a “very good” (1.0) for harmful substances.
Only €62.99 at MediaMarkt
☑️innovative Lift & Trim Pro technology |
☑️40 cutting length settings |
☑️particularly skin-friendly metal blades |
☑️Metal blades cut cleanly even with heavy hair growth |
☑️Fast charging in 5 minutes |
☑️incl. Precision trimmer for precise trimming of contours |
Clean beard trimmer regularly
If possible, the trimmer should be cleaned after each use.
Hair collects on the head of the device when cutting, which is unhygienic and damaging to the mechanics in the long term.
According to the manufacturer, most of the tested devices are waterproof and can be rinsed under running water.
To clean, simply remove the comb attachment, tap it out, rinse it if necessary and then let it dry thoroughly.
Then remove the trimmer head and use the included shaving brush to remove the hair from the device.
Number 2 – Remington TouchTech Beard Trimmer MB4700: Good (2.3)
Remington TouchTech beard trimmer MB4700 © Remington
Stiftung Warentest awarded the grade “good” for trimming and styling, skin protection, handling and harmful substances.
The Remington beard trimmer only performed “satisfactorily” in terms of durability and environment.
43% cheaper at OTTO
☑️Easy adjustment of the cutting length thanks to the touchscreen interface |
☑️Device automatically selects the last length setting |
☑️Blade speed adapts to facial hair |
☑️a total of 175 length settings |
☑️Titanium coated blades |
☑️for up to 50 minutes of operating time |
A beard trimmer is not enough
Even if beard trimmers enrich the styling results for your beard: individual areas of the face should always be cleanly shaven, for example on the cheeks or neck.
You can find good wet razors for little money on Amazon.
We recommend the electric razor test from Stiftung Warentest to those with beards who prefer to shave electrically.
The surprise – BaByliss Japanese Steel beard trimmer T890E: Good (2.4)
BaByliss Japanese Steel Beard Trimmer T890E © BaByliss
The beard trimmer from BaByliss was rated particularly well in terms of skin protection (grade 1.9), and it also earned the grade “good” for trimming and styling, handling and harmful substances.
32% off at Amazon
☑️Integrated comb attachment for precise results without skin irritation |
☑️lockable comb guide at any length setting |
☑️a total of 24 cutting lengths from 1 - 12 mm |
☑️incl. Hard case for travel |
☑️20 min quick charge for 20 minutes of use |
☑️for up to 120 minutes running time |
3 tips for beard care
1. Wash your beard as often as you wash your head hair.
While a shampoo or shower gel is sufficient for a three-day beard, you should use a special beard shampoo with a low pH value for a longer beard.
Through care, the beard becomes smoother and the thick beard hairs can be trimmed better.
2. Brush your beard daily with a natural bristle beard brush.
This distributes skin oil and detangles longer hair.
3. Massage beard oil into dry hair with the beard brush to give it shine and nourishment.
A normal day cream is sufficient for a three-day beard.
Premium beard trimmer – Panasonic ER-SB60-S803: Satisfactory (2.7)
Panasonic ER-SB60-S803 beard trimmer © Panasonic
Although the Panasonic beard trimmer scored “good” in 3 out of 5 evaluation criteria (trimming and styling, handling, durability and environment), it narrowly missed out on an equally good overall grade.
With this device, the test subjects complained about the relatively low level of skin protection; cuts or reddening of the skin occurred comparatively frequently during the test.
Buy on Amazon
☑️Patented linear motor: Power transmission from the motor to the shearing blade without friction |
☑️Ergonomic design, also for left-handers |
☑️Adjusting wheel with 19 cutting levels from 1 - 10 mm |
☑️incl. 2 comb attachments |
☑️Special precision attachment for styling mustaches or goatees |
☑️for up to 60 minutes running time with one hour charging time |
Price-performance winner – Braun Beard Trimmer BT5420: Satisfactory (2.9)
Braun Beard Trimmer Series 5 BT5420 © Braun
Although the Braun Beard Trimmer earns top marks in the areas of trimming and styling (1.8) and skin protection (1.7), Stiftung Warentest only gives a “satisfactory” conclusion.
This is due to the high benzo(ghi)perylene value - a pollutant for which the Braun trimmer is just below the limit of the GS mark (grade 3.9).
The beard trimmer is the cheapest device among the top brands.
33% discount: Only €43.55
☑️Easy trimming at home using the included styling tools |
☑️ultra-sharp blades trim every beard evenly |
☑️40 length settings with precise 0.5mm increments using the precision wheel |
☑️100% waterproof |
☑️incl. extensive accessories with storage bag for storage |
☑️Lithium-ion battery with 100 min. running time |
You can find the entire test from Stiftung Warentest here.