The Philips OneBlade is a big deal in men's grooming. For the beard-owning, globe-trotting man that likes to keep costs down and unwanted whiskers to a minimum, it has long been an affordable trimmer for keeping facial fuzz tidy. Now, Philips is done with replaceable trimmers in favour of the premium, pricey OneBlade Pro 360.
Larger, sturdier, and decidedly more expensive than previous iterations, the Pro 360 is ostensibly a trimmer you're meant to invest in. With an aluminium brushed-metal handle and an LED display that keeps you abreast of your battery life, it's designed for the travelling man who takes his grooming seriously. Obvious parallels, both financially and visually, can be drawn between this model and GQ's current favourite beard trimmer, the Philips Prestige Series 9000, but does it do enough to unseat the most popular beard trimmer from the top table? I've been testing it out for a month to find out.
One close trim
Where the OneBlade steps away from the built-in blades and combs of traditional electric shavers and trimmers, the Pro 360 edition utilises a flat blade head that's designed to last through four months of trimming but offers a much more precise shave than some of the larger options available. For this reason, it's a solid choice for skin-close shaving, as the blades move at a rapid 12,000 motions per minute, leaving no follicle safe from its nick-free clutches.
My beard is a little longer – around 3cm – which certainly stretches the OneBlade Pro 360's capabilities to the limits. You get an adjustable trimming comb that ranges from 0.4 to 10mm, so I had to get a bit creative with shaping the longer, outer edges, but with patience and skill, I managed a similar shaving experience to some of the more expensive options out there.
The comb's teeth pull beard hair in the same direction to get a consistent cut, but the head has a fair amount of flex to glide around the edges of my chin, jaw and cheekbones. The blades themselves are easily interchanged with a pop-clutch and replacement heads are reasonably priced, so the trimmer itself is a budget-friendly model to maintain, though the £130 up-front cost is comparatively spennier to the previous devices.
The handle is a premium brushed metal finish that houses the power button and an LED display to notify you of your remaining battery. Speaking of battery, I was largely impressed with the staying power of the Pro 360, which lasted a full two week's worth of shaving (roughly an hour and a half total over several days), though we'd argue your own experience will come down to the thickness of your beard and the dedication to perfecting it.
A great travel companion
Since Philips' OneBlade trimmers tend to be exceptional travel companions for a quick tidy-up on the go, it's worth reiterating that this is no different with the Pro 360. It comes with a hard-shell travel case to protect your trimmer and keep debris and hair away from your clothes in transit. And if you forget to bring the case, simply hold the power button for three seconds to engage the travel lock to avoid any embarrassing bag searches for vibrating luggage.
I didn't go on any meaningful trips away, save for a brief weekend camping trip in Kent, so I can't attest to its globe-trotting pedigree. If this device can cope with a somewhat grimy toilet block in a field in Faversham, it's going to do alright in a Barcelona Airbnb.
Philips OneBlade Pro 360 verdict
Philips has long been my go-to brand for all my grooming-related needs, not least because almost everything it produces has a knack for quality, but the OneBlade Pro 360 sits in an unusual space among the family of devices.
It's more expensive than the GQ-favoured Philips Series 9000 trimmer but doesn't quite feel like it deserves the higher price tag. Given its travel-focused design, paying £130 for what will mostly be used to touch up a few whiskers on your next trip seems like a high price to pay, especially when you could get a cheaper OneBlade without the flexible head or LED display and get similar results. Still, if nothing but the best will do for your suitcase essentials, this does an exceptional job at carving out quality facial fuzz with minimal effort.
The Philips OneBlade Pro 360 beard trimmer is £130 and available at amazon.co.uk, philips.co.uk, boots.com, currys.com & johnlewis.com
