Buying advice
With shavers and hair clippers, the first thing to settle is whether the device can be used wet or only dry. Wet-and-dry models can be rinsed under running water and used with foam or gel, which is often more comfortable on sensitive skin. A second point is the supply of spare parts: shaving heads and blade blocks wear out, and how long a manufacturer offers matching parts affects how long a device stays usable. Third, it is worth looking at the charging setup, meaning whether fast charging is possible, whether the device can run from the mains and whether the battery can be replaced if needed.
Simple dry shavers and clippers for occasional use mostly cost somewhere between about 30 and 70 euros. If you want wet shaving, longer battery life and several attachments, you often end up at around 80 to 150 euros. Above that, from roughly 200 euros, you mainly add comfort features such as cleaning stations, displays or more flexible shaving head suspensions; the actual cutting performance does not rise to the same degree. Well-known brands such as Braun, Philips or Panasonic cover all of these ranges, so comparing within one price class usually pays off more than moving up.
You can recognise a good deal by a price clearly below the average of recent weeks, not just below a high list figure. Previous-year models are often worth a look, because little tends to change between generations. Discounts typically cluster in November, around the turn of the year and before Father's Day. Also factor in running costs: replacement shaving heads are usually due every one to two years, cleaning cartridges regularly. A cheap device with expensive wear parts can cost more over the years than one that seemed pricier at first.
What to look for
- Foil shavers cut particularly close, rotary shavers follow contours more easily; which feels better depends on your beard and skin.
- Cleaning stations are convenient, but they keep costing money for cartridges.
- With beard trimmers and hair clippers, what matters is the length settings, the battery life and whether the blades are easy to clean.