Review Summary Editor's choice
Pros: excellent body shaver & trimmer, comfortable, suitable for sensitive areas, adjustable trimmer, outstanding battery life, good build quality, wet & dry use, easy to clean, no lubrication needed, inexpensive replacement shaving head
Cons: very basic battery level indicator, the lowest trimmer setting could have been lower, pricey, no extra-long handle attachment
The Bodygroom 7000 (BG7030/49, BG7040/42) is the latest addition to Philips Norelco’s line of dual-headed body groomers.
Combining the functionality of a shaver and a trimmer into a single machine, the Bodygroom 7000 is an evolution of the older (and very popular) Philips BG2040 and, at least on paper, it looks extremely promising.
An all-in-one body groomer is a practical and versatile solution and should address anyone’s grooming needs: it can handle everything below the neck.
In this review we’re going to find out just how good the latest Norelco Bodygroom 7000 (BG7030/49) really is and also how it compares to other similar groomers.
Table of Contents
Features overview
Before getting started, it’s important to note that the Philips Norelco Bodygroom 7000 comes in two variations:
- BG7030/49 — this is the basic bundle that only includes the groomer; it’s also the model we’ll be testing in this review;
- BG7040/42 — this is the more premium package that includes a hard travel case and a spare replacement head.
Whether you opt for the BG7030 or the BG7040, the groomers themselves are absolutely identical and the only differences are related to the included accessories.
The BG7030 is usually cheaper, but if you can get the BG7040 for not a whole lot more, I strongly recommend you to get that one instead.
Philips Norelco Bodygroom 7000 BG704/42
The travel case is quite nice and practical and a replacement shaving head is always welcome.
With that out of the way, let’s take a quick look at the most important features.
Dual-sided design
This is pretty much the hallmark of the Norelco Bodygroom 7000 range and in my opinion the key feature that sets it apart from the competition.
The BG7030/49 (BG7040/42) is fitted with two shaving heads: a shaver for cutting the hairs at skin level and one adjustable trimmer for cutting the hairs at a specific length.
You can switch effortlessly between the two depending on the area you’re shaving.
For example, you can trim the hair on your chest and then use the shaver head to shave your armpits completely.
Rounded tip blades
The shaver part of the groomer features a foil flanked by two cutters, similar to the ones on a hair clipper.
However, unlike the ones of a regular hair clipper, the blades of the Bodygroom 7000 have rounded tips to prevent nicks and cuts, thus allowing you to safely shave sensitive areas like your groin or armpits.
Adjustable trimmer
The trimmer end of the Norelco Bodygroom 7000 has an integrated comb with 5 predefined length settings, ranging from 3 to 11 mm.
You can easily select one according to your needs; the comb can also be removed completely for easy cleaning.
80 minutes of cordless use
This is another highlight of the new Series 7000 groomer.
Philips promises 80 minutes of cordless use from a one hour charge, which is outstanding. We’ll see if it lives up to this claim later on.
Since it’s fully waterproof and suitable to be used in the shower, the Bodygroom 7000 will not work with the cord plugged in as a safety precaution.
5-year warranty
Philips offers a very generous 5-year warranty for this groomer (at least in the USA). Moreover, it is maintenance-free, meaning you won’t have to oil the blades.
Build quality and ergonomics
The Philips Bodygroom BG7030/49 looks very stylish and aesthetically pleasing.
Purely from a design perspective, I think they absolutely nailed it.
The silver plastic surface has a very unusual bronze tint that looks great in person and because of its texture and brushed finish, it actually resembles metal.
The two-tone color scheme further adds to the upmarket look and feel of the groomer.
The build quality of the Bodygroom 7000 (BG7030/BG7040) is really good and a step up from the previous models.
One of the main issues with this type of trimmer is the comb attachment. They’re often flimsy and don’t seem to stay securely in place during use.
Luckily, there’s no such problem with this groomer. The integrated comb is very solid and this time around it has a matte finish instead of glossy, greatly improving the way it glides over the skin.
Unlike the one on the BG2040, the teeth of the combs are joined together at the top, eliminating any flexing and greatly reducing the risk of them breaking.
The shaver end of the Bodygroom 7000 can still flex in 4 directions (up and down, left to right), but the range of motion is now a bit smaller and it’s not jerky during use anymore (more details in the performance section of the review).
The 5 trimmer settings now depict the actual hair length corresponding to each one instead of a meaningless numbered list.
This is a minor touch, but I do appreciate this type of attention that improves the user experience.
It is a rather large machine, especially when compared side by side to other similar products.
For example, it is a bit longer, taller and heavier than the BG2040; however, it is still manageable and very well balanced.
I personally prefer the BG2040 for its larger and grippier rubber insert and because it has a rounder profile of the body, so your hand wraps around it in a more natural manner.
However, it’s not a big deal and I didn’t have any major issues because of this.
Another small gripe is with the ON and OFF buttons; you can sometimes accidentally press them during use if you hold the groomer really tight in your hand.
Also, the battery indicator is still as basic as they come; it will only flash orange to signal a low battery when you have around 10 minutes of shaving time left.
A simple 5-bar indicator would have been so much better, but it is what it is.
Included accessories
As mentioned earlier in the review, the Philips Bodygroom 7000 BG7030/49 is the basic variation of the two and comes with the following accessories:
- Charging cord
- Cleaning brush
- Soft travel pouch
- Warranty card, leaflets, and instructions.
With the BG7040/42, Philips will throw in a travel case and an extra shaving head, so you may want to consider that one if the price is right.
There’s no charging stand with any of the two models and the groomers can only be charged by plugging the cord directly into a charging port.
Battery life and charging
Great battery life is in my opinion one of the key aspects of a decent body trimmer.
It’s a lot more important than in the case of a regular electric shaver since a session will usually take a much longer time.
For example, if you trim the hair on your legs, arms, stomach and genitals, that grooming session will easily stretch for at least 40 minutes.
Imagine the battery dying and leaving you with one hairy leg or arm. It happened to me and it’s no fun.
Philips promises 80 minutes of cordless use for its BG7030/BG7040 which is significantly better than the previous models that could only provide around 45 to 50 minutes worth of shaving time.
So I was very curious how these numbers will translate into real-life use.
I’ve been using the Norelco Bodygroom 7000 (BG7030) for two months before writing this review, so I had plenty of time to thoroughly evaluate the battery performance.
For that, I actually timed my trimming and shaving sessions and kept a log in an Excel spreadsheet.
Well, I’m happy to say that the battery is absolutely outstanding. It actually exceeded the official number and I would constantly get more than 90 minutes of use from a single charge.
The Philips Norelco BG7030 is one of the best body groomers I’ve used so far with regard to battery life. It just kept going and going.
The low battery light would usually turn on after approximately 85 minutes; once that happened, I could still continue using the groomer for 10 more minutes before the battery was drained completely.
Philips doesn’t specifically mention a quick charge feature with the Bodygroom 7000, but if you charge it for 5 minutes — from 0% — you’ll get around 5 to 6 minutes of use, just enough to trim the fuzz of a forearm for example.
As mentioned previously, I am not a fan of the battery indicator, it’s pretty much useless from a practical standpoint.
Charging the groomer takes just under an hour; it ships with the standard Philips cord that plugs directly into the groomer.
On the back there’s a charging port covered by a rubber flap. I do appreciate the fact that it remains attached to the trimmer, so you won’t lose it.
I personally prefer this to a charging stand like with the older BG2040. Actually, a stand is ok as long as you have the option to also charge the shaver directly, so you won’t have to always carry the stand with you.
Overall, the Bodygroom 7000 provides phenomenal battery life and it’s a major step up from its predecessor.
In my opinion this alone would be enough to choose it over other Bodygroom models.
Performance review
All right, let’s now get to the most important part of the review and see how well the Philips Bodygroom 7000 (BG7030) actually performs.
Since this is a hybrid groomer, combining the functionality of a shaver and a trimmer, we’ll evaluate each of them separately.
Shaving
The shaver part of the groomer is basically a foil flanked by two trimmers.
The foil (which is hypoallergenic) is extremely similar to what you would find on a regular foil electric shaver.
Its purpose is to shave hairs very close to the skin.
The two trimmers will cut the longer hairs, even when they lie flat on the skin. The foil can then shave them at skin level.
During a stroke, depending on the angle of the groomer relative to the surface of the skin, only the first blade will cut the hairs, while holding it at a slightly larger angle will allow the foil to come into contact with the shin and shave any remaining hairs.
Because the shape of the shaving head is rounded and the foil sits higher than the two blades, you can even use just the foil without the blades coming into contact with the skin.
So the shaving head of the Norelco Bodygroom 7000 is very versatile and you can use it how you see fit.
Most of the time though, the trimming and cutting will involve both the foil and one of the blades. You can even use up and down strokes over the same area, but the most efficient way is to lead with the lower blade.
The rounded tips of the two blades ensure great comfort most of the time. Unless you’re very sloppy and rush through it, they will not pinch the skin.
I used the shaver of the Philips BG7030 on my genitals and armpits and the results were great. It shaves fast and comfortably and the groomer is very easy to use despite its rather large size.
The shaving head can move up and down and also sideways. In my opinion this is unnecessary for a body trimmer and it was actually extremely annoying with the previous BG2040 as it caused the head to skip over the skin and occasionally pinch.
Well, I’m glad to say that these problems are gone with the BG7030/BG7040. It is really smooth and efficient and it takes me less time to shave compared to using other body groomers.
In order to get the best results, use your free hand to stretch the skin and keep it taut; this will allow the shaver to cut the hairs more efficiently and will minimize the risk of pulling the hairs or pinching the skin.
The motor is adequately powerful and you could definitely use it to shave your entire body. I tend to get quite a nasty folliculitis if I shave my legs, arms or chest, so I only use the adjustable trimmer of the body groomer on those areas.
But for armpits and manscaping, the shaver worked great. It shaves very close and most importantly, it’s very comfortable.
So if you’re looking for a very capable shaver for down there, the Philips Bodygroom 7000 will be more than suitable.
And yes, you can use it directly on the testicles. Just make sure to use slow, controlled strokes as it can still pinch the skin and trust me, it’s no fun.
Trimming
On the opposite end of the Norelco Bodygroom there’s a trimmer with an integrated adjustable comb.
Its purpose is obviously to trim body hairs at a certain length while protecting the skin from being nicked by the blades.
And speaking of the blades, they’re regular blades, just like the ones you would find on hair clippers.
So they don’t have rounded tips like the ones on the shaver end of the BG7030, so they will cut the skin if you use them without the comb, which you totally shouldn’t.
I personally trim the hair on my legs, forearms, chest, and stomach area using the trimmer of the BG7030.
My groomer of choice for this used to be the Philips BG2040 and it worked fairly well.
However, the Bodygroom 7000 is now the new number one.
I have been testing it for over two months, so I think I have a good idea of its strengths and weaknesses.
First of all, it glides so much easier over the skin compared to other trimmers like the one on the BG2040. It’s not quite as good as the Panasonic ER-GK60-S for example, but a lot better than other Philips groomers.
In the past I had to apply baby powder as the combs would simply stick to the skin and hop all over the place. Moreover, this constant rubbing would cause me severe irritation.
This was the most obvious improvement when first using the BG7030. The comb attachment itself also feels a lot more solid and durable.
The trimmer is fast and quite efficient at capturing and cutting the hairs, even though you will have to go over the flat-lying ones a few times.
But overall, it works great for trimming the fuzz on your body.
My main (and only gripe) with it is the minimum hair length setting.
3mm is just a tad too long for my liking. I always use the lowest setting as I like the hair to be as short as possible, so 2mm or 1.5 would have been just perfect.
Yes, you could use the other end, but for some of us that’s not an option.
In my case, because of folliculitis and irritation, I cannot shave the hair at skin level on most body parts, so I must use the trimmer.
If Philips will release a newer iteration of this Bodygroom 7000 line with a lower minimum hair length setting, that one will be a clear winner, at least in my book.
Using the Bodygroom 7000 in the shower
Philips also promotes the wet & dry capabilities of this groomer quite extensively.
Personally, I’ve never been a fan of shaving in the shower as it just makes everything more difficult and tedious, but you can do it if you choose so.
I only tried it briefly a couple of times. Using the shaver end worked surprisingly well. However, trying to use the trimmer was futile. The hairs would stick to the skin and lie completely flat, making it impossible for the trimmer to cut them.
I think most users will be better off using the trimmer on dry skin.
Overall, the trimming and shaving performance was among the best I’ve experienced from any body groomer.
Finally, I must mention battery life again. It is absolutely phenomenal and one of my favorite parts about the Norelco Bodygroom 7000.
I can easily finish a shaving/trimming session covering the entire body and still have around 30% battery left.
Until now I never managed to do that with a body groomer from a single charge. I’m not very hairy, but I do tend to be very thorough, so battery life was often an issue.
Cleaning and maintenance
By far the easiest way to clean this groomer is to just rinse it with warm water.
It’s fully waterproof, so there’s nothing to worry about.
After using the shaver end, simply wash the head with tap water.
I actually prefer to remove the head and rinse it separately as it allows me to be more thorough.
In order to clean the trimmer head, you must first remove the comb attachment by pressing the settings button and sliding it all the way up.
With the blades exposed, press down on them with your thumb and the flap will simply open.
There’s a small brush included in the package, so you could use that to remove any hair clippings from the inner chamber of the trimmer.
But again, the simplest and most effective way is to clean it with water.
After that, you can shake off the water and optionally pat everything with a cloth. I prefer to let the groomer air dry on the countertop with the flap open and the shaving head removed.
Philips explicitly states that there’s no need to lubricate the blades and foil of the Bodygroom 7000. However, I do use an electric shaver spray cleaner & lubricant every once in a while.
Apart from lubricating, it also dissolves any mineral deposits from the blades, which can be a problem in time, especially if your tap water is hard.
Replacement parts availability
With the Bodygroom 7000 (BG7030/49 and BG7040/42), the only part that will need to be changed once it wears out is the foil head.
It’s the same part used by other Philips body groomers and has the part number BG2000 (in the USA) or TT2000 (international).
According to the manufacturer, it should last for up to 12 months and from previous experience, I can say that it’s definitely achievable.
The part is readily available and the price is pretty reasonable as well.
To remove the foil head from the groomer you simply place your thumbnail behind one of the four plastic corners and pull forward. It will pop right out.
The blades of the adjustable trimmer are not replaceable and should last for years of use.
Wrapup — who should buy the Bodygroom 7000?
Well, any man that needs a robust, reliable, fast and efficient body groomer. And we all do.
The Philips Bodygroom 7000 is one of the most capable body trimmers you can currently buy. And I’ve used quite a few throughout the years.
The ability to shave and also trim body hair makes it extremely practical and useful.
The integrated adjustable trimmer, along with great battery life are the highlights of this groomer as most other products get at least one of them wrong.
I guess the only downside of the Bodygroom Series 7000 would be that it doesn’t have an extra-long handle attachment, so if you shave your back yourself, you should consider a groomer that comes with such an accessory.
But if that’s not an issue or your partner can help you with it, the Norelco Bodygroom 7000 should be on the top of your list.
Alternative body groomers
Philips BG7030/49 vs BG2040/49
I’ve mentioned quite a few times throughout this review the predecessor of the BG7030, namely the BG2040.
So how do they compare to each other?
The newer BG7030/49 is superior in pretty much every single aspect, battery life and the improvement of the trimmer and shaving head being among the most important ones.
However, if for some reason you cannot get the BG7030/49 or the BG7040/42, I guess the BG2040 would be the next best thing.
However, depending on where you live, it may not be a viable option anymore as the price seems to have spiked lately.
This, along with the performance improvements of the BG7030/49 make it a far better option when compared to the BG2040/49.
Philips Norelco Bodygroom 5000
If you need an extra-long handle attachment for shaving your back, the Series 5000 (BG5025/40) is probably the best option out there.
Again, only if this accessory is a must-have or your budget is smaller, otherwise the Bodygroom 7000 is objectively a better product.
The Bodygroom 5000 features the same foil shaving head, but it’s fixed, so not quite as easy to use depending on the area you’re trimming.
Also, it uses click-on comb attachments that aren’t as practical as the adjustable guard of the 7000.
There are only 3 of them: 3mm, 5mm and 7mm.
However, for most users, these should be enough. I do think including a fourth 9mm or 11mm guard would have been great.
The battery isn’t as large (60 minutes of cordless use) and you don’t have that second trimmer head.
The Series 5000 also costs significantly less than the Series 7000, which is probably its greatest pro over it.
Since it has the same foil head, the performance is really similar, minus the ergonomics of that swiveling head.
For all the details you can check out my Philips Bodygroom 5000 review as well.
Philips Norelco Multigroom 7000
Finally, if you need a versatile groomer that can also handle facial hair and can even be used as a hair clipper, definitely check out the Philips Norelco Multigroom 7000.
Some users want a do-it-all groomer that will work as a beard trimmer and that’s where the Multigroomer Series 7000 shines.
It has various guards and cutting attachments for trimming the hair on the body, face and head.
It does however have the same problem as the BG7030 — the lack of a small guard for trimming body hair.
Precisely, it only comes with two body guards (3 and 5mm) and the exposed blade cannot be used on the body as it doesn’t have rounded tips.
So while it lacks some of the body hair trimming capabilities of the Bodygroom BG7030, it makes up in versatility (beard trimmer + hair clipper).
With over 5 hours of cordless use, the battery life is fantastic. On top of that, it will also work corded.
The body is made of brushed aluminum and looks and feels very premium.
The main problem is the battery. Not replaceable. I’ve got 2 Bodygroom over the year and They were working fine but the battery was dead. I managed to change those battery but I was a total pain in the ass and the razor wasn’t fully waterproof afterward.
So, since this is made by design so we have to replace the whole Thing after a couple of year, I don’t want to give my money to philips anymore.
Hi Jean,
Sorry to hear about that. I know batteries are not user replaceable and the waterproofing will be compromised afterward if you do manage to change it. I personally haven’t had any battery issues with any of the body groomers I’ve used so far (some of them have more than 5 years). I will update the review in case anything like this happens, so far it’s too early to say anything about the reliability of the product.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Absolutely! I’ve had bad experiences with two previous models of the Bodygroom. The shavers work great, but not for long. Compounding the problem, Philips customer support has been little-to-no help. (Got the same one-two punch with their $200 Diamondclean toothbrush) So – I avoid Philips products now, and if the common failure modes aren’t self-repairable it’s off the table.
Thank you for your comment, Ken. Sorry to hear about the problems you’ve had. A quick update: I’m still using the bodygroomer in this review as my main body trimmer and so far it still works flawlessly, the battery life is solid and it still uses the original shaving head.
Weird, I’ve head my previous DiamondClean toothbrush for years and I finally killed it by dropping it too many times (slippery sucker in the shower, lol) and has zero issues with battery. I loved that brush so much that I got their newer version ($300 CAD) DiamondClean with Bluetooth and app. I stopped using app after about 6 months, because it was too much work. So far I only dropped this one once so cross your fingers 😉
I have had the same problems, now bought my third body groomer, since the previous one battery died, and is not replaceable
Hello!
How close can the BG7030 shave as compared to the BG5025?
I am someone looking for a body shaver that can give me the closest shave possible, any advice?
Hey,
They’re very similar (they even use the same foil head). The BG7030 is however a superior groomer (more versatile, better battery, better construction).
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
What is the difference between the 7030 and the 7040?
As mentioned in the review, the 7040 comes with some extra included accessories (replacement shaving head and leather case). Other than that, they are identical.
Why can’t I purchase the BG7040 from a retailer in the UK?
You can find it on amazon.co.uk for example, along with other variations of the Series 7000 line (BG7040/42, BG7025/13).
–Ovidiu
Can this trimmer be used on Face as well? Although it advertised as a body groomer.
I would strongly advise against using it on the face. A typical foil shaver for the face has a thinner foil, the blades oscillate at a much higher speed and doesn’t have the two rows of clipper blades. The Bodygroom is really designed to shave body hair.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Does the BG7040 use the exact identical replaceable foil head as the BG2040? I I know the BG7025 uses the same foil head as as the BG2040, but this model may utilise slightly improved blades. I have extra foil heads and wish not to dispose of them hence the question.
Postscript: The AC adapter for this model is inconveniently short. I noticed Philips made them more short compared to inclusions with models previous. The case is inconveniently small also; it should have been more large to accommodate the AC adapter and foil heads.
Yes, the BG7040 uses the exact foil head as the BG2040, so it will fit perfectly.
Correction: BG5025.
Hey 🙂 Thx for an excellent review. I’m going to buy one of these for myself for Christmas, but only model available in Norway seems to be the BG7025/15. Do you know what the difference is between that and the BG7030/7040?
Hi Torstein,
Thank you for your comment. Yes, it’s exactly the same. BG7025/15 is just the name used for the groomers sold in Europe.
Happy Christmas!
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
what a wonderful piece of review. I appreciate that. honestly, I really don’t know how you guys make up for the time and energy spent in makin a review on a product other than what we, your readers gain when choosing a product. All the same I must say “well done”. however, I kind of want to know if you’ve seen the size of its battery( I mean BG7030) probably the specifications of the battery if it is AA size and probably 1000mah or not, you know that kind of thin b’cos I have in mind of modifying it if I eventually get one. I really careless about warranty as long as I get the best from what I buy. Just like you rightly mentioned above ” battery longevity” is the minus I keenly need to make plus when I have one.
Thank you so much for the kind words, much appreciated.
I haven’t opened it so I can’t say this with certainty, but my guess is that the battery size is larger than AA. Philips also doesn’t mention the capacity, so again I’m afraid I don’t have that information.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Has anyone experienced their trimmer getting REALLY loud over just a few months of use? When the side with the foil Is turned on and in use, it is incredibly loud to the point where I want to buy a new one because my entire apartment building knows I’m doing something that’s interrupting their peace and quiet. I’ve had the older version of this trimmer and it was fantastic, however it got really loud over time as well. Do I just have a defective one? Or is this common with any of y’all?
Mine is pretty loud as well — when the foil part is on it vibrates a lot and makes quite a lot of noise. I’m not exactly sure how loud it got over time as I recall mine being pretty loud from the very first use. The culprit is the swiveling mechanism of the foil head that allows it to move up and down — because it’s not fixed, it vibrates a lot and amplifies the perceived noise. Over time it might get looser, which can make it even worse. I don’t think there’s much you can do about it.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
mine has started doing this after just a few weeks
Hi,
How can i fix the foil head on the device? It keeps falling out all the time while i’m using in my legs. It’s really annoying!!
Hi Diogo,
First of all, make sure it’s properly inserted in place (it should snap in place with a crisp click). Also, you should clean the inner part of the groomer where the head fits in; if there’s a lot of debris and hairs it will not stay securely in place. If it still falls out easily, inspect the plastic sides of the head closely to see if there’s anything broken.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Can the 7040 or 7030 be used for shaving the beard ?
I think it might work if you’ll be using the trimmer side (with the adjustable comb). However, this groomer was really designed to be used below the neck, so a beard trimmer would better if you need to use it constantly to maintain your beard.
Hi,
Is the charger universal voltage? Thanks
Hi,
Yes, it is (100 – 240v).
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Is the shaver safe for shaving the scrotum? I used a far inferior and older trimmer from philips just recently and i got a really bad nick, it was bleeding for hours and the pain at that moment was literally shocking. Also, what is the life expectancy of the trimmer blades on this one? You mention years, that could mean 4 but it could also stand for just 2. Can you be more specific about this in particular?
Thanks for the review.
Hi Adam,
The foil head with the two edges that have rounded/beveled blades should be safe (I personally never had any issues). Do proceed with care, take your time, and don’t apply excessive pressure. The other end with the adjustable comb should not be used on the scrotum.
The life expectancy of the blades depends on how often you use the groomer. For example, mine still works great after 2 years. I still have some older Philips body groomers that have the original blades.
They are (at least in my experience) some of the more reliable blades I’ve used.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Also if i may add thank you for stating that 7025/15 is essentially the same as 7030/49, just the code used by european retailers. I ordered 7030/49 for over 200 euros then i stumbled upon your comment and throughout a quick search i found the 7025/15 at almost 1/4th of the price
That is correct, and you got a great deal on the 7025.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I’ve read here that you say the 7025 and 7030 are essentially identical
When I look them up on Philips website, you seem correct except for one key difference; the 7025 has a two year warranty while the 7030 has a 5 year warranty! Quite a crazy difference!
Any idea why this is?
Hi Dan,
The warranty period for Philips personal care products is typically 2 years in Europe. Since the 7025 is a model sold on the European market, I think that’s the reason for the difference.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
A very nice review. I’m getting this hands down. Does the BG7040/42 have 100 – 240v charger? Can the trimmer side be used for trimming down hair? (Head) Have you experimented on this?
Also which hair trimmer would you recommend?
Thank you very much!
Thank you for your comment, Barry, glad you found it useful. Yes, the charger can take 100 to 240v. I am not entirely sure that I understood your question — by trimming down hair, do you mean trimming the genital area? If so, then yes, it works really well for that.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
Thank you for your reply. By trimming down hair (head), I meant can the BG7040/42’s trimmer side be used as a hair clipper for a short hair cut? And have you experimented on this? Would the BG7040/42 also work well for this purpose?
If not, can you suggest me a good hair clipper?
Thanks again.
You are very welcome. In that case I must say that I have never used it to trim or shave the hair on my head. I honestly don’t know how well it can handle that as it was not supposed to be used in that manner, so I think it would be best to consider a dedicated head trimmer/shaver. There are various types available depending on what you need (and what you prefer), so check out this guide I wrote a while back where I get into all the details.
Also, if you only need a regular hair clipper, the Wahl Magic 5 star cordless would be a really good choice, especially if it comes with the so-called premium guards. I’ve been using one myself since the lockdown and it’s been great.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Yes I’m looking for a regular hair clipper for home use that’s user friendly. 🙂 First time hair clipper user. :”)
Is this the Wahl 5 star Magic hair clipper you meant?
https://www.amazon.com/Wahl-Professional-5-Star-Cordless-Magic/dp/B00UK8WFQO
Have you posted your review on this clipper? What did you like about it? What did you mean by premium guards? Aren’t they usually included in the box?
Which would be your second best go to hair clipper after the Wahl 5 star? I’ll be sure to read the post you’ve suggested anyway. Looks like a long one! ))) Although, your reviews are to the point and helpful. Covers everything. So thank you once again for your efforts and time.
Yes, that would be the one. I mainly liked the fact that it’s very lightweight compared to my previous clipper, so extremely easy to use. It also cuts the hair extremely well, doesn’t pull hair and doesn’t vibrate a lot during use. Wahl usually includes two types of guards, the standard and the so-called premium guards. The premium ones are reinforced with metal and feel a lot more sturdy and of higher quality. The Magic clipper can come with either of those, so make sure you check the description or ask the vendor. I never posted a review as this blog is primarily focused on electric shavers, but I might in the future.
I’m afraid I can’t really recommend a second-best as the previous one was pretty bad. 🙂
By the way, the post I’ve mentioned previously only discusses head shavers as I thought you were looking to get one of those, not a regular hair clipper.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
Thanks for your feedback on the Wahl 5 star Magic hair clipper! Those are some really nice Pros you have mentioned! I wonder why they have released different quality guards for the same product? Is there a difference in price? If premium guards are included, would that be mentioned on the box? How to find out for sure?
I tried amazon.com. Unfortunately they don’t ship this trimmer to my country (India).
Yes since I am looking for a trimmer, I was a bit puzzled at first, when I saw an article on shavers and not trimmers. :))) None the less, I am pretty impressed by the Remington HC4250. And they do ship to my place. Reasonably priced. This does work as a pretty good, handy trimmer with the attachments, doesn’t it? Something really different. But has 4 hrs charge time and only 40 minutes usage! Have you tried this one out Ovidiu?
You are very welcome. Couldn’t say exactly why, but the prices can vary depending on the shop that sells the clipper. On the back of the box there’s a picture showing the content and you can tell the premium guards apart from the regular ones by the silver/metal parts.
The HC4250 is a really good option if you’ll only be doing very basic haircuts (like for example a buzz cut). It doesn’t have an adjustable lever for skin fades and with that large blade you won’t be able to blend some guidelines for example. But for very basic haircuts it should work fine. The battery isn’t very large, but you can also use the trimmer corded if it runs out of charge.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks for the tip Ovidiu. Though, the amazon page doesn’t show the backside picture of the box. So there is basically no sure way to tell what one will receive through amazon. Did you get yours through amazon Ovidiu?
I’m not looking for a very close trim or shave. What I have in mind with the HC4250 is to use the largest attachment. As I don’t want my scalp to show through an extremely short haircut. Can such a cut be achieved with the largest attachment? I have no idea what skin fades or blending guidelines are. :”) But the product video on their amazon page they say fades are possible with the HC4250. Watching more user videos on this product and about trimming in general are very much needed before I make a purchase or even touch a trimmer! :))
Thanks for the very detailed review. I’ve just purchased a BG7030. I used the previous model and my only complaint is regarding to the not replaceable batteries.
Glad to know that the battery of this model is better, even still not replaceable.
You are welcome, Thiago, glad you found the review useful. I wouldn’t worry too much about the longevity of the battery. It has a great track record — in fact, I’ve now had my BG 7030 for four years and it still holds the same charge. And I’ve been using it consistently from the moment I got it.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
how would you compare this to the Braun Series XT5 in terms of “closeness”? I know you did not review the XT5 ….However, based on the head of the two shavers, which one would provide a closer shave?) …. im considering to shave my body including the public area, considering how small the XT5 is to maneuver through the skin
Hi,
I’m actually using the XT5 now but I will need to test it more before publishing a review. It shaves surprisingly close and there’s also a sensitive skin attachment that actually doesn’t hurt the closeness at all, so even if you use it you’ll still be able to get a close shave on the pubic area. The closeness is very similar to the Bodygroom 7000 (that has blades + a foil cutter), but the XT5 is not as fast and you’ll need more work to get all the hairs. I would still pick the 7000 over the XT5 for shaving the groin area.
The XT5 is a nice little trimmer, very easy and enjoyable to use on the rest of the body, but I wouldn’t recommend it if you have lots of body hair as it’s not quite as powerful as others (including the Bodygroom 7000 or 3500) and the battery is decent at best (around 45 minutes from a full charge).
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello, thank you for all the research you’ve done, very helpful. But I have a question. I am female, will the 7000 shaver remove all hair from legs for a smooth shave without nicks? In a close up pic of the shaver used on the chest, I can still see hair. Thank you for your response.
Hi Roseann,
Thank you for the comment, much appreciated. The Bodygroom 7000 or any other Philips groomer with the same shaving head can cut the hair at skin level and do so without nicks (as long as you’re reasonably careful). That said, it will not give you that perfectly smooth finish of an epilator (with tweezers) or a razor blade. If that’s not a deal-breaker, it can definitely be used by women as well.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hey,
Can you please share what is the latest model?
BG2039/42 or BG7040/42 or BG7030/49 (I leave in Germany)
Hi Mike,
BG7040/42 and BG7030/49 are the latest (and better than the BG2039). You can get either one, the shavers themselves are identical, but the BG7040/42 comes with an extra replacement shaving head and a travel case.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello, thanks for your review of this – based on the review I ordered one and have just given it a spin – works very well, did the job nicely, and very easy to clean as well. Also seems very safe to use.
Hi Ian,
That’s awesome, glad you like it.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you for the great review. I’m just wondering about something. How loud or quiet is it? I’m hoping it’s quiet or at least in the middle.
Thank you, Alex, much appreciated.
I’d say it’s among the loudest I’ve ever used. The foil head in particular is very loud when in use (each of the two heads has its own motor). It also vibrates a lot. The second head (with the adjustable comb) is quieter since it doesn’t vibrate as much.
If you need a very quiet body trimmer, I would consider the Philips Multigroom 7000 or the Manscaped Lawn Mower 4.0, but the latter comes with some serious drawbacks as I said in my review.
The Multigroom 7000 is quiet and a great versatile groomer overall, but its only con is that you can’t use it without a guard to trim the groin area. It will cut you, unlike the Bodygroom 7000 with the specially designed blunt blades.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you for your reply. It’s very disappointing that the bodygroomer is loud, although the multigroomer shouldn’t be used in the shower which ruins it for me. Do you think the sound of the water will able to cover the bodygroomer a little bit?
You are very welcome. If you’re referring to the Multigroom 7000, that one is waterproof and can be used in the shower — just not with the cord plugged in, of course.
As for the Bodygroom, it depends on how loud the sound of the water is, but it will still be noisy. Don’t really think it’ll solve the issue.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu