Philips Norelco OneBlade Face and Body Hybrid Review

This razor is super precise. Its stand-out feature is its compact, micro-thin cutting head that pivots and stays close to the skin. The thing we liked even better was its appealing price tag.

Performance Comparison

Shave Quality

Our testing process compares products side by side, so when directly pitted against the other models in our lineup, the OneBlade consistently earned average scores for this metric. However, this is a niche product, so when we base its performance solely on the merits of its specific design, it performs rather well.

Run & Charge Times

None of the products in our testing group could touch the run time of the One Blade. This razor never says quit. It's also fairly quiet, and if you wake up to a dead battery, it can be ready for a single shave after a quick charge of 15 minutes.

During our battery-life testing, our unit continuously buzzed for nearly 3.25 hours, besting our top razors by as much as 1.5 hours. On one single charge, our testers used the One Blade two to three times per week for more than a month. The only downside to this amazing endurance is a very lengthy charging time (among the longest in our entire group). The owner's manual says charging time is approximately four hours, our model required four and a half. On the more positive side, the One Blade is quite small, so we were also impressed that the manufacturer found room for a battery status indicator light, which flashes orange when the battery is almost empty and green while it's charging.

Ease of Use & Versatility

The One Blade is lightweight, easy to hold, and simple to use, earning it impressive marks for this metric. Its compact, dual-edge, pivot cutting head allows it to shave in both directions and quickly clean up problem areas. It also is perfect for fine-tuning key contour lines (like the jawline area on beards) so that everything looks great.

The main razor head is rugged, very thin, and has two cutting edges (front edge and back edge). The One Blade also comes with several grooming attachments, which range from one to five millimeters, as well as two comfort guards that make body grooming easy and safe. Although easy to use and effective, it's important to reiterate that this device is not a standard electric razor, so an additional product will need to be purchased for a full shave. This need for two separate products swayed our testers to hold back on our best scores for this metric.

As for an interface, this razor is very simple. It has a single centralized power button for on and off. We like that it can be used for wet or dry shaving and that the blade attachments slip on and off the cutting head with a simple snap. For this metric, the One Blade has one glaring negative: it lacks storage. Although we loved using its various attachments, this shaving system doesn't include a safe place to store all of its loose parts when they are not in use. At the very least, we think a simple drawstring bag would do the trick, especially when packing for travel.

Another drawback is this razor's cutting blade is thin and fragile, so care must be taken not to damage it. Although the One Blade comes with a very basic plastic guard that snaps around the blade, we think the entire razor should have its own protective case because the entire product lacks a bit of brawn.

Ease of Cleaning

A very basic cutting cartridge makes the One Blade super easy to clean and maintain. In fact, many of those on our testing panel felt it was the easiest of the whole bunch to clean.

The manufacturer recommends cleaning the One Blade after every use. This extra requirement bumped down our overall scores; however, the actual cleaning process is quite basic. Simply blow on the cutting cartridge to remove any loose hair, power up the device, and run it under warm water for about 15 seconds.

Should You Buy the Philips Norelco OneBlade Face and Body Hybrid?

If you prefer manicured facial hair that is precise and well-maintained, you'll love the accuracy of the OneBlade, specifically its ability to carve clean edges along the jaw, upper lip, and sideburns. This razor is a perfect choice for those who wear full beards or like to sport stubble with sharp edges. Both of these looks, and anything in between, will greatly benefit from this device's ability to trim, form, and shape. Additionally, those who are big on body grooming will like this razor's compact design, as well as its ability to safely shave hard-to-get places. However, keep in mind that we don't feel this blade is stout enough to handle a complete head-to-toe trim of all body hair. Instead, it's primarily designed to work on specific areas.

What Other Electric Razor Should You Consider?

Most of the standard razors on our list have small additional slide-up hair trimmers for basic grooming. They all roughly offer the same quality and precision, but the ones we liked most were on the Braun Series 8 with PowerCase and Remington F5 Foil. For basic trimming, we also really like the Philips Norelco S9000 Prestige. It comes with an entirely attachable hair trimmer that mounts onto the main gear drive. This provides a lot more power to the trimmer and results in a more effective trim.