The 7100 vacuum Philips Norelco beard trimmer will manage stubble and thin to thick beards easily, using an innovative vacuum system that will cut cleanup time in half. This is a self-contained system that captures the hair as you shave, so no sweeping or cleanup is required. The trimmer’s variety of length options, combined with the contour comb will provide precise, professional looking cuts.
Overall, this model allows for a hassle-free, quick, and painless trim that can keep your facial hair tamed and you looking polished.
Table of Contents
Overview and Features
Phillips Norelco’s newest beard trimmer offers a new take on trimmer design with a built-in vacuum system that’s designed to suction up hair as you shave and trim, in order to cut down on cleanup time. This is a very compact vacuum system, complete with a cannister that can easily be emptied out after each shave. If you’re looking for a trimmer that can cut down on the amount of time you spend cleaning up hair clippings after a shave, then the 7100 is it. Aside from the innovative vacuum system, the trimmer itself is pretty powerful and comes with plenty of cutting length options ranging from stubble to the thickest beard.
The 7100 operates on a lithium ion battery, for a longer charge, and more operating power.
This package includes:
- Trimmer
- Cleaning brush
- Power cord
- Contour comb
Runtime
The trimmer has a one hour runtime, which is about average for a trimmer in this price range. It takes approximately eight hours to fully charge the battery.
Vacuum Design
The trimmer features a unique vacuum system that works by suctioning up the loose hair as you’re trimming and shaving. The vacuum will trap the hair inside the trimmer’s handle. If you’re guilty of leaving a mess behind in the morning, each time you shave or trim your beard, then this vacuum powered trimmer is the perfect solution. To empty out the vacuum, simply unscrew the handle and empty the small cannister in the garbage.
Blade
The cutting blade features a stay sharp design, so you’ll shave with a tough sharp blade each time, for a smooth clean look and a minimized risk of skin irritation and ingrown hairs.
An Even Trim
Most trimmers have five to ten length settings to choose from. This model features a total of eighteen length settings. The length settings range from one millimeter for stubble up to eighteen millimeters for thicker beards. When you’re experimenting with a new hair length, simply use the trimmer’s zoom lock wheel to lock the length setting in place.
Contour Comb
The contour comb can be used for a cleaner, well-groomed look. To use, gently guide the comb along the trimmer’s blades as you move it across your face and you’ll enjoy a pro-quality look each time.
Cordless and Corded Use
Not all cordless trimmers come with a power cord that you can use when the battery is running low, but this model does. You can use the trimmer for a period of one hour before it runs out of juice. If you find that the trimmer is not working with the type of power it normally does, simply connect the power cord.
the built-in battery indicator light will begin to flash once the battery starts running low.
Durable Construction
The first thing you’ll notice about this trimmer is how wide the blades are. The wider design is what makes trimming easier. However, some may find that the wider blade design can make it difficult to trim smaller areas or edge.
Performance
This is one of the best stubble trimmers in this price bracket and it does an impressive job of meeting your goatee and beard grooming needs. It’s body is well constructed and features a nice balanced weight that makes it comfortable to hold and easier to guide and control.
Beneath the trimmer’s blade you’ll find a slot where the suction tool connects. The biggest advantage of this tool is obviously cleanup. Since the trimmer is equipped with a built-in vacuum, you also won’t have to worry about hair clogging the blades.
The overall shaving experience is quite good. The product runs smoothly and doesn’t make much noise. Also, the comb has a spring base that allows it to follow the shape of your face. While this clipper comes with a comb and other attachments, if you want a closer, shorter shave, you’ll need to remove the comb feature and use the blade.
This trimmer is a powerful tool that allows you to experiment with your look or trim your beard, goatee, mustache, or sideburns down to a more manageable length for a polished look. The trimmer can also be used to determine how short and thick you want your beard to be, based on the look you’re after and your face shape. If you’d like to learn how to choose a beard style based on the shape of your face, click here to read our article on beard shape for round face.
However, if you have a longer beard, thinning out your beard may be somewhat of a challenge since the blade doesn’t extend very far beyond the plastic guard. This can make it difficult to style any of the hard to reach areas such as the bottom of the neck or the cheek line.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Pros
- Lightweight design
- Built-in vacuum
- No worry of clogs
- One hour runtime
- Can be used with a power cord when battery is low
Cons
- Eight hour charge time
- Large vacuum port can get in the way
- Wide blade design can make detailed edging difficult
- Vacuum can be difficult to empty
How the 7100 Measures Up
The Philips Norelco Multi Groomer trimmer is another popular model by this manufacturer and it’s one that has a lot of great features to offer, but how does it measure up against the 7100? The Multi-Groomer is a self-oiling trimmer, just like this model, however, it also has a self-sharpening design. It may not come with a built-in vacuum system, but it does offer a five hour runtime, while this trimmer has a one hour runtime. Additionally, it offers a total of twenty-three setting lengths instead of the nineteen. The Multi-Groomers cutting guard design consists of strong fiberglass that’s designed to prevent the guards from buckling and bending during use. Overall, the Multi-Groomer is just more powerful compared to the 7100. It has more length settings, a long runtime, and a stainless steel self-sharpening blade design that ensures you’re cutting with the sharpest blade for a cleaner look. However, while it offers a better runtime, it’s also available for just a fraction of the price that the 7100 is. In terms of longevity, while the Multi-groomer offers a faster, more powerful performance, we found that this model is one that’s built to last and designed to handle daily use, while the competing trimmer will experience a dip in performance after a few months of use. However, if you’re on a tight budget, it’s a great option and a trimmer that’s designed to handle most trimming and shaving jobs.
Conclusion and Rating
Product Rating:
As you can see, this trimmer has a lot more to offer than just it’s unique vacuum system, although it’s one of this model’s biggest selling points. Built tough, easy to use, and available at a reasonable price, Norelco definitely outdid themselves with this trimmer.
To sum it up, the 7100 vacuum trimmer comes with a handy built-in vacuum that sucks up ninety percent of hair clippings when you’re shaving. This feature alone will save you a ton of time otherwise spent on cleanup. The trimmer also comes with eighteen length settings so you can experiment with your beard length for the perfect look. Changing the settings is simple, thanks to the control dial, which allows you to quickly adjust the setting length. Overall, this trimmer offers a great shaving experience, thanks to its smooth performance and powerful motor. We gave this trimmer a rating of four and a half out of five stars.