Why you can trust TechRadar
We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
Philips OneBlade 360 electric shaver: two-minute review
The Philips OneBlade 360 is a cost-effective, jack-of-all-trades razor that can tackle both facial and body shaving effectively. I tested the OneBlade for two months and was impressed with its reliable performance and how gentle it was to use. While it doesn’t excel in any one area or provide the closest shave I’ve ever had, there isn’t much you can’t do with the OneBlade.
The smaller head, for example, is perfect for precisely covering areas where a traditional foil-shaver would struggle. Considering the head doesn’t generate much heat either, razor burn isn’t an issue at all, making the OneBlade the perfect choice for those with particularly sensitive skin.
An ergonomic design, decent battery life, and full weather sealing make the OneBlade 360 an extremely competitive choice if you’re on a budget. It can handle both wet and dry shaving without any issues – just note that the shaver does come with a long-term running cost since the replacement heads can cost nearly as much as the shaver itself.
Annoyingly, the OneBlade 360 also doesn’t feature USB-C charging like many other modern electric razors. Instead, you have a traditional razor charging input, which means you’ll have to pack an extra cable in your travel bag. Not a deal-breaker, but inconvenient nonetheless.
That’s the short version; read on for my full Philips OneBlade 360 electric shave review.
Philips OneBlade 360 electric shaver: price & availability
- List price: $39 / £39 / AU$169
- Launched: March 2023
When it comes to pricing, the OneBlade is a mixed bag. At $39 / £39, the shaver itself is a bargain considering how well it performs. The issue, however, is that it will require replacement blades for long-term use, and those can cost as much as the razor itself for a multi-pack.
You’ll probably want to stock up on heads when they’re on sale, as they inevitably are around Black Friday and other major sales events.
I’ve read reports of these heads dulling relatively quickly, but my review sample is still holding up as good as new after two months of use. Your mileage may vary, however (Philips states that a head is intended to last on average for four months). As a positive, OneBlade heads are widely available from big retailers, so replacement parts are extremely easy to attain, unlike some proprietary parts.
- Value for money score: 4 out of 5
Philips OneBlade 360 electric shaver specs
|
Waterproof: |
Yes |
|
Battery life: |
1 hour |
|
Charge time: |
4 hour |
|
Charger type: |
Shaver/USB-A |
|
Accessories: |
5-in-1 trimming comb, skin guard, body comb |
|
Suitable for: |
Face or body |
Philips OneBlade 360 electric shaver review: design
- Simple and elegant design
- Waterproof and easy to clean
- Included trimming attachments
The OneBlade is more akin to a traditional safety or manual razor rather than most electric razors. It’s a little longer than some, but its relatively slimline form factor means it’s easy enough to fit into a travel bag or similar. It’s pretty damn light too, being barely heavier than a safety razor.
Despite being reasonably priced, the OneBlade is also solidly built. The razor feels great in the hand with a nice rubberized grip on the shaft. It’s an extremely ergonomic design that’s comfortable to use in both dry and wet environments, which is handy considering the OneBlade is fully waterproofed.
The OneBlade is refreshingly simple to operate, making it an ideal choice for anyone who value a straightforward, no-fuss grooming tool. All you have is a simple on/off switch, a port for charging, and a release catch for detaching the head. All the included attachments simply clip onto the razor head.
Overall, it’s hard to fault the OneBlade in terms of design, but there is one glaring omission in that the shaver doesn’t feature USB-C charging.
Instead of adopting the ubiquitous USB-C port, Philips has stuck with its proprietary shaver connector. While this isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker, it does feel like a step behind the times, especially when plenty of other personal care gadgets have made the switch. It also introduces a minor inconvenience: you’ll need to pack the specific Philips charger whenever you travel, rather than relying on a single cable that’ll work for everything. That’s slightly annoying for a product that otherwise nails everyday practicality.
Philips OneBlade 360 electric shaver: performance
- Extremely gentle in use
- Inconsistent results with 5-in-1 comb
- Works best without any attachments
The OneBlade is a jack-of-all-trades razor rather than a superlative performer in any one area. The OneBlade head is smaller than a traditional foil razor head. That means it covers less surface area, but it’s also much more precise when it comes to trimming.
Despite its smaller size, however, the OneBlade’s head provides enough power and surface area to cut through relatively thick facial hair. Generally speaking, I’d say a foil shaver is a little quicker, but the OneBlade still provides a close shave and it’s also extremely gentle. Unlike with a foil head, the OneBlade doesn’t heat up under heavy use so you’re never going to get any form of razor burn.
The OneBlade’s smaller head is also perfect for reaching the slightly trickier areas where foil razors can struggle. Again, the OneBlade is much more like a manual razor in this regard, which makes it perfect for trimming sensitive body hair.
As previously mentioned, the OneBlade comes with a few attachments for specialized trimming, including a skin guard and a 5-in-1 adjustable comb for stubble.
Of the attachments, I found the skin guard relatively superfluous since the OneBlade is already extremely gentle in use. I also found the comb a little inconsistent when it comes to maintaining stubble on my face, with patchy results on the lengthier presets. The comb attachment definitely works better on the shorter presets, such as 1mm or 2mm. Bear that in mind if you’re looking for a dedicated beard trimmer.
In terms of battery life, one full charge will get you one hour of continuous usage with the OneBlade. While the device takes a while to reach full charge (four hours), that was enough for a few weeks of use in my case – roughly using the shaver every other day for facial hair trimming.
In terms of longevity, I have no issues with the OneBlades’ battery life – this shaver definitely lasts longer than some traditional foil razors. The only annoying thing, again, is the lack of a dedicated USB-C charging port.
- Performance score: 3.5 out of 5
Should you buy the Philips OneBlade 360 electric shaver?
|
Attributes |
Notes |
Rating |
|---|---|---|
|
Design |
Well thought-out design and simple in operation. Annoyingly lacks USB-C charging. |
4 / 5 |
|
Performance |
Covers both facial and body trimming well. Works best without any attachments, however. |
3,5 / 5 |
|
Value |
Extremely cheap upfront but replacement blades will add up in the long run. |
4 / 5 |
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Philips OneBlade 360: also consider
How I tested the Philips OneBlade 360
- Tested for two months
- Used every other day
- Tested in both wet and dry environments
I used the Philips OneBlade 360 as my primary shaver every other day over two months, putting it through its paces for both facial and body trimming. In that time, I was able to use the device in both wet and dry shaving conditions to assess not only the closeness of its shave but also its durability and water resistance. Throughout the testing period, I ran the device from a full charge down to empty to get a clear sense of its real-world battery life, also paying close attention to how easy the device was to clean.
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DAicdxfAZQ4W4dRcgCJrGJ.jpg
Source link
alex.whitelock@futurenet.com (Alex Whitelock)
