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
Wahl LifeProof Review
A decent razor with a great price tag, a few bells and whistles, and a battery that never gives up
Credit: Jason Wanlass
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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.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product Wahl LifeProof | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best for Battery Life | Best Head Shaver |  Best Bang for the Buck | Best for Body Grooming | |
| Price | $70 List $55.99 at Amazon | $70 List $47.99 at Amazon | $60 List $59.94 at Amazon | $50 List $35.50 at Amazon | $40 List $34.96 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | A mid-range razor that is drop-proof, waterproof, and can run for hours | Our favorite dome shaver because it's less expensive and it gets the job done | A good razor for a great price | Our favorite grooming tool because it's inexpensive but powerful and effective | A 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%) | |||||
| Run & Charge Times (25%) | |||||
| Ease of Use & Versatility (20%) | |||||
| Ease of Cleaning (20%) | |||||
| 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 |
Show full specification detailsHide full specification details
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
A protective shell and impressive battery life are what sets this model apart.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
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Jason Wanlass
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