Reviews You Can Rely On

Wahl LifeProof Review

A decent razor with a great price tag, a few bells and whistles, and a battery that never gives up
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Wahl LifeProof Review
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Price:  $70 List
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Manufacturer:   Wahl
By Jason Wanlass ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Apr 20, 2024
64
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#15 of 16
  • Shave Quality - 35% 6.0
  • Run & Charge Times - 25% 7.5
  • Ease of Use & Versatility - 20% 5.0
  • Ease of Cleaning - 20% 7.0

Our Verdict

The Wahl LifeProof does everything well enough to be considered an average-Joe kind of razor. Across the board, its performances were OK — nothing glaring but nothing to write home about. It was destined to take its place in the annals of averagedom, but then we tested its battery life and quickly began reassessing our opinions of the LifeProof. This average razor produces above-average run times on a single charge, crushing everything in our current lineup. So, if battery life is your key concern, you can't go wrong with this model.
REASONS TO BUY
Great battery life
Waterproof
Travel-locking power button
Great pivoting head
Good shave
Drop-proof case
REASONS TO AVOID
Not very compact
Trimmer sits too low
Lacks battery indicator
A little loud

Compare to Similar Products

 
wahl lifeproof
This Product
Wahl LifeProof
Awards Top Pick Award
Best for Battery Life
Top Pick Award
Best Head Shaver
Best Buy Award
Best Bang for the Buck
Top Pick Award
Best for Body Grooming
 
Price $70 List
$55.99 at Amazon
$70 List
$59.94 at Amazon
$60 List
$59.94 at Amazon
$50 List
$35.50 at Amazon
$40 List
$34.96 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Bottom Line A mid-range razor that is drop-proof, waterproof, and can run for hoursOur favorite dome shaver because it's less expensive and it gets the job doneA good razor for a great priceOur favorite grooming tool because it's inexpensive but powerful and effectiveA basic, 3-head, rotary razor that shaves well enough for daily use but doesn't cost an arm and a leg
Rating Categories Wahl LifeProof Remington Balder Pro Braun Series 3 ProSkin Philips Norelco One... Philips Norelco 2400
Shave Quality (35%)
6.0
8.0
7.0
6.0
6.0
Run & Charge Times (25%)
7.5
5.6
6.5
6.9
6.6
Ease of Use & Versatility (20%)
5.0
8.0
7.0
8.0
7.0
Ease of Cleaning (20%)
7.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
7.0
Specs Wahl LifeProof Remington Balder Pro Braun Series 3 ProSkin Philips Norelco One... Philips Norelco 2400
Blade Head Type Foil Rotary Foil Vibrating cutter blade Rotary
Run Time On Full Charge (Measured) 152 min 76 min 79 min 198 min 67 min
Time to Full Charge (Measured) 150 min 201 min 110 min 273 min 71 min
Time to Fast Charge (Measured) 5 min 10 min 5 min 15 min 5 min
Usage Options Wet/dry Wet/dry Wet/dry Wet/dry Wet/dry
Case included No Yes No No No
Trimmer Pop-up Pop-up Slide-up Built-in Pop-up

Our Analysis and Test Results

A sturdy, waterproof shell and a battery pack that never says die make this unit somewhat of a razor superhero.

Performance Comparison


wahl lifeproof - testing the lifeproof's shave quality and glide -- not perfect but...
Testing the LifeProof's shave quality and glide -- not perfect but certainly good enough.
Credit: Jason Wanlass


Shave Quality


A month-long daily log of decent shaves earned the LifeProof average scores in this metric. None of our testers were left with perfectly smooth skin, but this model shaves well enough for average day-to-day needs.


A thicker, drop-proof exterior shell protects the entire body of the LifeProof, including the foil shaving head. This is a great safety feature, but it unfortunately results in a wider overall design. Our testers found it difficult to maneuver the LifeProof into harder-to-reach areas of the face and neck.

Comparing our LifeProof against a standard-sized foil razor to study the difference in size and width.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Its wider shaving head also made it harder to determine the overall placement of the head, especially when shaving without a mirror. That said, it still provides a decent shave and contours well, thanks to a fully pivoting head assembly.

Testing the LifeProof's fully pivoting head to see if it makes a difference in contouring. Our results were average.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

The one thing we don't like is the hair trimmer. We agree with online consumer complaints that the trimmer teeth are a little too sharp. Additionally, the entire assembly sits below the foil cassette. This is particularly problematic when trimming sideburns because it allows the shaving head to sit a little too close to the head. This could result in an unwanted haircut.

Slightly more aggressive teeth. You can feel the difference just by...
Slightly more aggressive teeth. You can feel the difference just by touching them.
We didn't like that the trimmer sits below the foil head.
We didn't like that the trimmer sits below the foil head.
By default, a shorter trimmer arm places the foil head a little too...
By default, a shorter trimmer arm places the foil head a little too close to hair that you don't want to trim.
Aggressive teeth and a shorter trimmer arm were two of our complaints.

Run & Charge Times


Gold medal run times earned LifeProof our highest scores for this metric. In our side-by-side testing, we were simply stunned by its ability to keep plugging away long after the competition lost its spark.


We're still scratching our heads over how well this unit performed during our charging and running tests. On two separate occasions, the LifeProof produced nearly identical results. It was fully charged in about an hour and then continuously ran for impressive 2.5 hours. None of the models on our list came close to these results. The one thing we didn't like was that the LifeProof didn't have a low battery life indicator, so you never knew how much battery life you had left.

Displaying the ONLY light on the entire razor. It lights up to say the unit is charging and turns off when its charge -- and that's about it.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Ease of Use & Versatility


A basic design, oversized body, and limited indicator lights resulted in middle-of-the-road scores for what the LifeProof offers in terms of ease of use and versatility.


Despite receiving a lower score for this metric, the LifeProof still has a few notable features that stood out to us. Physically, it's easy to grip and comfortable to hold. We also really liked its travel-lock power button. Simply press and hold the button for three seconds to lock and unlock — and say goodbye to a buzzing gym bag or carry-on.

Testing the power button's travel locking function.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

We also liked this unit's reinforced drop-safe shell. We even tested it by dropping our razor from a hip distance onto hard flooring and found it reasonably protective.

Despite its lightweight feel, the drop-proof shell actually works quite well. We dropped our unit three times onto hard ceramic tile without any damage.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Our negative feedback focused largely on this unit's limited user interface. As mentioned, the LifeProof offers zilch when it comes to battery life detection. In fact, the user manual basically says to charge the unit whenever it seems to be losing power. Additionally, we feel the power button sits too low, making it hard to reach with the thumb.

wahl lifeproof - comparing the lifeproof's power button placement against a similar...
Comparing the LifeProof's power button placement against a similar foil razor. A higher placement is simply easier to find without having to look for it.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Ease of Cleaning


We liked this model's easy cleaning and maintenance routines but were a little unhappy with the lack of immediately accessible user information and necessary cleaning products. The result was a solid score for this metric, but certainly not the best score available.


Cleaning the LifeProof is a breeze; simply remove the foil cassette and rinse it and the cutting blades under running water. For a more detailed cleaning, the manufacturer recommends regularly brushing the blades to remove hair buildup. However, we were disappointed that our razor arrived without instructions, forcing us to search online for user guidelines. We also didn't like that the manufacturer requires that the unit be regularly treated with Wahl Oil, but it doesn't explain where to purchase it, and it wasn't included with the razor we received.

Cleaning the LifeProof is a snap.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Should You Buy the Wahl LifeProof?


The Wahl LifeProof is waterproof and drop-proof, and it boasts incredible battery life. Users who need one (or all) of these specific features will be happy with this model. Of the three, we think its battery life is its greatest strength, as this model is very basic and comes with a price tag that may indicate dubious longevity.

wahl lifeproof - putting the finishing touches on our neck whiskers. we never had a...
Putting the finishing touches on our neck whiskers. We never had a perfect shave, but it was still good enough.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

What Other Electric Razor Should You Consider?


Our favorite razor is the Braun Series 9 Pro. If price is not an option, we recommend a glance at its review before making any final decisions. We also think the Remington F5 Foil is worth considering for additional comparison.

wahl lifeproof - a protective shell and impressive battery life are what sets this...
A protective shell and impressive battery life are what sets this model apart.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Jason Wanlass
 

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