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Head-to-head · Best Beard Trimmers

Panasonic Cordless Precision Beard Trimmer vs Panasonic ER-GB42 Wet/Dry Beard Trimmer

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Panasonic ER-GB42 Wet/Dry Beard Trimmer comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.1 vs 4.0). Panasonic ER-GB42 Wet/Dry Beard Trimmer is best for: Short beards and stubble, frequent travelers, and anyone who wants one length dial instead of a bag of guards. Read the strengths below before deciding.

Panasonic Cordless Precision Beard Trimmer
Ranked #3 in Best Beard Trimmers
Panasonic Cordless Precision Beard Trimmer
2 sourcesall derived$134.99as of Oct 11

The ER-SB40 runs a linear motor at 9,800 cuts per minute behind a dial that steps through 19 lengths from 0.5mm to 10mm. GQ found it clears thick growth quickly with few pulls and rates it a strong tool for short beards and stubble, but a large one, awkward to steer around a jawline and heavy in a wash bag. It is waterproof and runs 60 minutes off a charge.

Strengths
  • — High-performance linear motor delivers 9,800 cuts per minute for efficient trimming of thick, dense hair, per GQ.com
  • — 19 precision length settings (0.5MM to 10MM) with quick-adjust dial for customizable styling, per Average Guy Tested
  • — Waterproof design allows for cordless trimming in the shower and easy cleaning
Watch-outs
  • — 60 minutes of runtime per charge is modest for the price
  • — Large and heavy, awkward around the jawline and noticeable in a travel bag, per GQ.com
  • — The battery gauge shows only full, mid or low, with no minutes-remaining readout, per GQ.com
$134.99 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
Panasonic ER-GB42 Wet/Dry Beard Trimmer
Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Beard Trimmers
Panasonic ER-GB42 Wet/Dry Beard Trimmer
1 source$59.99as of Oct 16

The Panasonic ER-GB42 is a compact wet/dry beard trimmer that sets length with a single dial across 19 settings from 0.5 to 10 mm and charges on a cordless stand. Shaving Advisor's tested roundup rates it 8.0 out of 10 and calls it its go-to recommendation for travelers and short beards, praising the grip and a motor so quiet it barely makes any noise, but notes the small cutting head needs extra passes, can clog, and the blades need regular oiling. In a video review, owner Jaytee's found it powerful without tugging and far handier than a box of separate guards.

Strengths
  • — Rated 8.0 out of 10 in Shaving Advisor's tested roundup
  • — 19 length settings from 0.5 to 10 mm on one dial, so there are no loose guards to keep track of
  • — Motor so quiet it barely makes any noise, per Shaving Advisor
Watch-outs
  • — Small cutting head means more passes and can clog with hair quickly, per Shaving Advisor
  • — Blades need regular oiling; Shaving Advisor finds once a week enough
  • — 50-minute battery and a slow recharge compared with modern lithium-ion units, per Shaving Advisor
$59.99 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

Panasonic Cordless Precision Beard Trimmer

The Panasonic Cordless Precision Beard Trimmer sets 19 lengths from 0.5mm to 10mm on a dial, where the WAHL USA Stainless Steel Lithium Ion 2.0+ Slate Beard Trimmer uses 10 guide combs. It is waterproof, as is the Philips Norelco OneBlade 360 Face + Body. Its 60 minutes of runtime compares with the WAHL's 3.5 hours, and it costs more than the other three trimmers.

Panasonic ER-GB42 Wet/Dry Beard Trimmer

The Panasonic ER-GB42 Wet/Dry Beard Trimmer and the Panasonic Cordless Precision Beard Trimmer both set length with a dial across 19 settings from 0.5 to 10 mm. The ER-GB42's linked listing is $59.99 against $134.99 for the Cordless Precision, and Shaving Advisor gives the ER-GB42 50 minutes of battery to the other model's 60.

Specs side-by-side

SpecPanasonic Cordless Precision Beard TrimmerPanasonic ER-GB42 Wet/Dry Beard Trimmer
Blade Typehypoallergenic stainless steel—
Battery Life60 minutes—
Charging Timeone hour—
Length Settings19 (0.5MM to 10MM)19, from 0.5 to 10 mm, set by dial
Attachmentscomb attachment—
Dimensions1.78 x 1.89 x 7.05 inches; 2.88 ounces—
Power SourceRechargeable—
Trimmer Heads19 adjustable—
Model—ER-GB42-K
Wet/Dry—Yes, fully waterproof
Battery—50 minutes, per Shaving Advisor
Charging—Cordless charging stand
In the Box—Trimmer, charging stand, cleaning brush and blade oil, per Shaving Advisor
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