Braun's XT5 Review: The Everyman's Multigroomer (2025)
GroomingStraddling the fine line between body and beard trimmer, can the XT5 excel at both tasks?By Tom WigginsJanuary 20, 2025Save this storySaveSave this storySaveAll products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.When it comes to choosing a tool to tame your facial hair, the majority fall into one of two camps: trimmers or shavers. Braun’s XT5 aims to straddle the line, offering a hybrid blade that combines a foil for close shaves and two cutting edges for shearing and shaping. Perhaps it should be called a "trimver" instead. But can a device that sits between two tasks do either of them particularly well? Can it contend with some of the best beard trimmers, best body hair trimmers, best back hair shavers, and best electric shavers on the market? To find out, I've been testing the XT5 for a few weeks.Braun has been responsible for some iconic products during its century of existence – the brand's ET 33 calculator is said to have inspired the look of the calculator app on your iPhone – and while the XT5 isn’t going to be remembered as fondly as the T3 pocket radio or classic Sixtant SM 31 electric razor, it’s a nicely designed electrical that could probably pass for more than its $55 price tag.XT5$60 $54 AmazonPros & ConsAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronProsGood for stubble and precision trimming on short beardsComes with a travel bagConsScratchy build qualityNot the most versatile for longer beardsThe designDurabilityThe grey plastic handle has a black rubberized section closest to the blade, plus textured panels where your thumb and forefinger rest that help to stop it slipping – handy if you’re taking advantage of the fact that it’s 100 percent waterproof and using it in the shower. Braun reckons it’ll survive a fall of up to a meter, which isn’t much use if we decided to drop it on the floor while standing in front of the mirror, but should stop anything too calamitous from happening if it's accidentally knocked off the sink.BladesOn top is the stainless steel 4D-Blade, which twists off easily when it’s time for a new one. Braun reckons you should switch it out every six months. That’s based on just a couple of shaves a week, so if your facial hair grows as quickly as Homer Simpson’s or you like to keep things looking sharp with daily touch-ups you might find yourself replacing it more often.AccessoriesYou get six comb guards in the box with the XT5 – four for your face and two for your body, and while we tested all of them, they aren't all of equal value. The longest beard the trimmer will accommodate is just 5 millimeters, so this really isn’t a trimmer for anyone sporting a full Hagrid head of hair, but it's still enough to maintain much more than just a 5 ’clock shadow. The other face guards are 3 mm, 2 mm, and 1 mm, so unless you’re committed to a 4 mm beard there’s scope to go shorter and neater.The guards feel quite loose when you slide them over the cutting head and don’t snap on with any real authority, but once pushed all the way down they don’t feel like they’re going to slip or move while shaving. The head itself pivots back and forth, which, when combined with the two-sided blade, makes it great for general trimming to length as it follows the contours of our face for a smooth finish.The two grey comb guards are meant for taming body hair. Aside from the color, which allows you to easily tell them apart for hygiene reasons, they’re almost identical to the black ones, although the guards on the 3 mm one overhang the sides a little more, presumably for extra peace of mind when trimming more sensitive areas. The 0 mm attachment also leaves the foil fully exposed for those who like a close shave. Again, the pivoting head is handy here, and you never feel in danger of nicking yourself somewhere painful.Braun XT5 verdictBraun describes the XT5 as an all-in-one trimmer, and that's largely what this device does best. It won't blow you away with top-tier results as you'd see from the Philips Series 9000 or Panasonic's best offerings, but frankly, it doesn't need to when it's available for well under $50. Those who like to feed several grooming birds with a single scone will appreciate the versatility here, even if it's not quite up to scratch when it comes to longer, thicker hair. That means you’re likely to need a second trimmer or razor to finish the job, although you can save money on the XT5 by opting for a model that comes with fewer comb guards and no travel pouch.
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
When it comes to choosing a tool to tame your facial hair, the majority fall into one of two camps: trimmers or shavers. Braun’s XT5 aims to straddle the line, offering a hybrid blade that combines a foil for close shaves and two cutting edges for shearing and shaping. Perhaps it should be called a "trimver" instead. But can a device that sits between two tasks do either of them particularly well? Can it contend with some of the best beard trimmers, best body hair trimmers, best back hair shavers, and best electric shavers on the market? To find out, I've been testing the XT5 for a few weeks.
Braun has been responsible for some iconic products during its century of existence – the brand's ET 33 calculator is said to have inspired the look of the calculator app on your iPhone – and while the XT5 isn’t going to be remembered as fondly as the T3 pocket radio or classic Sixtant SM 31 electric razor, it’s a nicely designed electrical that could probably pass for more than its $55 price tag.
The design
The grey plastic handle has a black rubberized section closest to the blade, plus textured panels where your thumb and forefinger rest that help to stop it slipping – handy if you’re taking advantage of the fact that it’s 100 percent waterproof and using it in the shower. Braun reckons it’ll survive a fall of up to a meter, which isn’t much use if we decided to drop it on the floor while standing in front of the mirror, but should stop anything too calamitous from happening if it's accidentally knocked off the sink.
On top is the stainless steel 4D-Blade, which twists off easily when it’s time for a new one. Braun reckons you should switch it out every six months. That’s based on just a couple of shaves a week, so if your facial hair grows as quickly as Homer Simpson’s or you like to keep things looking sharp with daily touch-ups you might find yourself replacing it more often.
You get six comb guards in the box with the XT5 – four for your face and two for your body, and while we tested all of them, they aren't all of equal value. The longest beard the trimmer will accommodate is just 5 millimeters, so this really isn’t a trimmer for anyone sporting a full Hagrid head of hair, but it's still enough to maintain much more than just a 5 ’clock shadow. The other face guards are 3 mm, 2 mm, and 1 mm, so unless you’re committed to a 4 mm beard there’s scope to go shorter and neater.
The guards feel quite loose when you slide them over the cutting head and don’t snap on with any real authority, but once pushed all the way down they don’t feel like they’re going to slip or move while shaving. The head itself pivots back and forth, which, when combined with the two-sided blade, makes it great for general trimming to length as it follows the contours of our face for a smooth finish.
The two grey comb guards are meant for taming body hair. Aside from the color, which allows you to easily tell them apart for hygiene reasons, they’re almost identical to the black ones, although the guards on the 3 mm one overhang the sides a little more, presumably for extra peace of mind when trimming more sensitive areas. The 0 mm attachment also leaves the foil fully exposed for those who like a close shave. Again, the pivoting head is handy here, and you never feel in danger of nicking yourself somewhere painful.
Braun XT5 verdict
Braun describes the XT5 as an all-in-one trimmer, and that's largely what this device does best. It won't blow you away with top-tier results as you'd see from the Philips Series 9000 or Panasonic's best offerings, but frankly, it doesn't need to when it's available for well under $50. Those who like to feed several grooming birds with a single scone will appreciate the versatility here, even if it's not quite up to scratch when it comes to longer, thicker hair. That means you’re likely to need a second trimmer or razor to finish the job, although you can save money on the XT5 by opting for a model that comes with fewer comb guards and no travel pouch.
