The best beard trimmers in the Amazon Prime Day sale 2023: Tried and tested by GQ's grooming editors

Skip to: How we test the best beard trimmers | What kind of beard trimmer do professional barbers use? | How do you maintain a long beard? | How do you shave shorter beards? | How do you clean a beard trimmer? | What’s the difference between beard trimmers and multi-groomers? | Can I trim my beard in the shower? | How much should I spend on a beard trimmer | What are the best grooming tools for men?

Where possible, our team of grooming experts included beard trimmers that we've personally tried ourselves. We've tested both budget and premium models from the likes of Braun, Philips and Babyliss on different beard styles and stubble lengths. Key to any beard trimmer scoring our recommendation is its balancing ergonomics, aesthetics and ease of use whether its owner happens to be a trimming pro or an absolute beginner. Elsewhere, we've looked at a combination of user reviews, specs, and features – combined with those years of grooming expertise – to pick the cream of the beard trimmer crop.

Amazon Prime Day

In case you've managed to dodge the incredible amount of advertising flying around social media this week, the best Amazon Prime Day deals are almost here, and they're an absolute godsend for those looking to save cash to upgrade their grooming arsenal this summer. We've got plenty of guides to help you navigate the best offers that our shopping editors really care about, but if it's grooming specifically you're after, we've got you completely covered. Curious to find out more? Check out all we know about this year's Prime Day sale.

When is Amazon Prime Day?

Amazon Prime Day 2023 will launch at just-gone midnight on July 11 (a Tuesday if you need to mark it in the calendar) and will run for two straight days, ending at midnight on July 12. Across those two days will be thousands of offers on those must-have items you've been saving up for, but to keep you interested, we've seen offers set up across Amazon's massive website already, so check out our best deals guide to learn more about the current offering.

What is Amazon Prime Day?

Still not quite sure what this day of sales is? It's easily the second biggest online shopping event of the year – behind only Black Friday – with the digital store giants dropping huge discounts on everything from fitness gear to trimmers. The two-day sale has thousands of offers to help you save on those essentials you really can't wait to own, but it's worth clueing yourself up ahead of time to avoid disappointment.

For example, some offers are considered “lightning deals” that offer heavy discounts but only last a few hours or flash sales on specific categories like all Oral-B electric toothbrushes or Shark vacuum cleaners.

And if Amazon is not where your allegiances lie, check out our roundup of the best alternative sales that are going on at the same time.

Best beard trimmer deals in the Amazon Prime Day 2023 sale

If your beard trimmer just isn't cutting the hair anymore, then allow our grooming experts to guide you through this most fortuitous time. Prime Day is a dream for any and all beard-owning men, not least because almost every single trimmer we've tested and featured below is typically discounted throughout the sale. In fact, we've seen as mich as 50 per cent off the most expensive items in years gone by, dropping costs well below £100 for the premium models.

Below we've highlighted any discounts applied throughout the sale to help you spot the right ones for you, though keep in mind that prices may vary throughout the sale with the release of the aforementioned lightning deals.

Looking to emulate the pros? Mills says, “Personally, I use the Babyliss Custom FX Clipper. The reason being they have a great battery life, is easy to handle and have a great blade and guard selection. I prefer a hair clipper as it has the power and battery life for what I need. It will get through a full beard or help maintain my stubble depending on which route I’m going down. Wahl also has a great selection as well but I prefer Babyliss.” Regardless of the brand you choose, you need to make sure your trimmer has a marathon-level battery, exceptional guiding combs and the versatility to cultivate an epic beard without difficulty.

In general, corded clippers are more powerful, which is why barbers still often use them for hair. The downside, of course, is that they take up more space and limit where you can comfortably groom yourself. Almost all beard trimmers these days are cordless lithium-ion rechargeable affairs, and with good reason — they’re far more practical and more than powerful enough to get the job done in between a full charge. If you're not fussed about waterproofing, charge times and wire-free use, though, then a powerful corded trimmer can be a joy to use.

Joe's guide to maintaining a long beard is simple. “Trimming and shaping a long beard is a different skill from trimming stubble,” he says. “If you want to try this at home, it's all visual. Take your time and remember less is more as once you cut it's done.”

“Use a comb or brush and really work it through the beard after you have used a beard wash. This allows you to see what you have to work with. Then look at what areas you want to trim or shape. If it's on the lower neck then think about how much you want off. There will be a selection of clipper guards with your clippers so try them off the clipper almost as a comb to see how much length they will remove and leave and you may find you have a guard that is perfect. Take your time, using the mirror and comb to keep checking before you trim. Often using the clipper in a downward motion allows you more control as you are going with the hair growth.”

In addition, make sure your trimmer can handle thicker facial hair without breaking a sweat. Something like the Philips Series 9000 Prestige, which has an integrated metal comb and sensor for checking hair density, is ideal.

“Using the guards that come with the trimmers, find your optimal length that suits your beard," says Mills. "Do this with the guard off the trimmer so you can use it as a guide. If you are unsure, start longer and see how you go, as you can always go closer.”

As you'll be making larger, sweeping cuts into your facial hair, you want a trimmer that can move and flex along the contours of your face, as well as sharp blades to cut the shorter hair and stubble. Many options, like the King C. Gillette, come with a wet razor to tidy up any leftover gristle once you've passed over with your trimmer, so we recommend one of these.

It's not all fun and games though, as there's a lot to be said about hygiene. Mills says, “Keep the clippers clean and you may have to give them a quick brush during the process, also let the trimmer do the work and don’t rush the process. Look after your trimmer and always check the blades are aligned.”

So how do you clean them? Mills tells us, “The best and most hygienic way is to first use a small bristle brush (most sets come with one) and then a sterilising spray such as clippercide. This keeps the blades lubricated and clean and should be done after each use really to keep the clippers at the optimum. If they are chargeable keep them topped up and be careful not to drop them as the blades will get damaged and need to be reset in position.”

Beard trimmers do exactly what you’d expect: they trim down your beard using adjustable guards and comb attachments that ensure clean, even beard lengths for a smarter look. Multi-groomers work in the same way but also have different attachments for tackling other body hair from head to toe, without risking any nefarious cuts that might otherwise ruin your day. Many people opt for a multi-groomer to keep bathroom cabinet clutter to a minimum. Multigroomers are essentially improved body hair trimmers

However, we'd recommend having one trimmer for your body hair and one for your beard – we're sure we don't have to explain the hygiene issues with using the same razor everywhere on your body, so it's worth expanding your grooming arsenal with the right gear.

There’s no denying that cleaning a sink after trimming your beard is the worst part of the whole process, but there is an alternative. Most beard trimmers and multi-groomers are waterproof, allowing you to use them in the shower for an instant, easily washable clean-up. Having said that, there are a few things to consider, such as using an anti-fog mirror so you can see what you’re doing and ensuring that trimmer blades are patted dry after each use.

Neat stubble can be tricky to achieve if you haven’t got a suitable precision trimmer. Ideally, you want one that offers a very close, precise shave, which means you’re looking at spending a little more money for trimmers with a multitude of precision length settings. Alternatively, you can spend less on a trimmer with separate guard attachments, which will be cheaper than an adjustable one, although it’ll take up more room in your travel bag/cupboard.

If you like to keep an eye on your budget before you pull the trigger on a purchase, you should be concerning yourself with how much money you should be spending to get the quality you need. Down at the bottom of the pile, trimmers under £40 are decent for a trip aboard or for managing chin tufts if you're not so engaged with shaping, precision trimming or particularly long hair. Options like the Philips OneBlade are sensationally good at this price, offering decent cutting ability at affordable costs.

For those who can spend a little more – between £50 and £100 – there's another level of utility available. Options like the Panasonic ER-GB86 or the Philips Series 9000 Prestige are your best bet around this cost, with superb cutting capabilities, long-lasting batteries and weighty, ergonomic handles to make it all smoother. These ones will also more likely be waterproof so you can trim and shave in the shower or bath.

At GQ, we're dedicated to ensuring you look and feel your absolute best, so we've gone to many lengths to test, assess and recommend only the best gadgets, gear and products that are going to help you along that journey to grooming nirvana. To get your beard under control, we'll point you in the direction of our roundup of the best Philips beard trimmers, before guiding you to our many individual reviews of the top-end products we absolutely love, like the Philips Series 9000 Prestige, the Panasonic Multishape, the Philips OneBlade 360 Pro or the Panasonic ER-GB86.

If it's a hair clipper or a spot of nose hair trimming you're after, we've also got you covered, or anyone looking to manage their teeth should head over to our electric toothbrush and water flosser guides.

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