Comparison Braun Series 3 BT3042 vs Philips Series 3000 QT4015

— Clipper. The clipper is designed for cutting and modeling hair on the head. Usually, they have a fairly wide blade, which allows them to capture a large amount of hair at a time. It is usually equipped with a wide range of nozzles, as well as additional hairdressing accessories and service materials.

— Multifunctional clipper. Multifunctional devices come with an extensive assortment of attachments, allowing you to perform tasks like hair cutting, beard and mustache trimming, as well as nose and ear hair removal. These devices cater to comprehensive grooming needs for the head, face, and neck. Typically featuring a powerful motor, a multifunctional device excels at various hair care tasks. Many times, it's accompanied by a case or a comprehensive docking station.

— Set clipper + trimmer. The set consists of two separate devices, a hair clipper and a trimmer. The hair clipper allows you to cut and model the hairline on the head. The trimmer is also used to care for the beard and mustache. The sets are good because they allow you to comprehensively approach the care of hair on the head and face. Thanks to the division of devices into a clipper and a trimmer, the set acquires higher reliability and durability than in universal models with many attachments.

— Beard trimmer. Devices created for trimming and sculpting beards, mustaches,...and sideburns have distinctive features. They set themselves apart from hair clippers through their narrower blades and smaller teeth, ensuring precise and accurate results.

— Beard and nose trimmer. The beard and nose trimmers belong to the universal category. For the care of beards and mustaches, classic serrated knives with a width of 10 to 40 mm are used. To shave hairs in the ears and nose, blades in the form of a tubular nozzle are used.

— Trimmer for beard, nose and eyebrows. The trimmer for a beard, a nose and eyebrows is completed with an expanded range of nozzles. For eyebrows, narrow serrated blades are used, and for beards and mustaches, nozzles with a wider cutting edge are used. To care for the hair in the canals of the nose and ears, special tubular blades are used that easily shave off the hairs in the most inaccessible places.

— Nose and ear trimmer. Nose and ear trimmers come with a cylindrical attachment designed to navigate easily within nasal and ear passages. This specialized attachment effectively and painlessly manages hair removal from hard-to-reach areas. The majority of nose and ear trimmers rely on replaceable battery packs for power.

— Body trimmer. A body trimmer combines the features of an electric shaver and a conventional trimmer. It facilitates both hair cutting and precise shaving for a smooth appearance. The body trimmer is effective in removing hair from areas like the neck, chest, abdomen, and back. Numerous models are battery-operated and feature a waterproof casing, enabling their use directly in the shower.

— Eyebrow trimmer. A dedicated trimmer designed for refining eyebrow contours. It features an elongated nozzle with a slender blade at the tip as its cutting head. On the opposite side of the blade, there might be an additional comb-like blade with a fixed height. This comb aids in shortening the length of eyebrow hair across the entire area without risking complete removal. Eyebrow trimmers are often equipped with attachments for nose and ear hair care.

— Trimmer for body and eyebrows. Using a body trimmer is practical for removing excess hair on the torso, legs, and arms. These trimmers are often accompanied by attachments for eyebrow, nose, and ear hair care. The body trimmer's cutting head can feature a regular blade or a mesh-covered blade. With the former, hair is cut at the root, leaving stubble behind. Conversely, a combined head (blade + mesh) ensures hair is fully removed, leaving no stubble.

— Set trimmer + electric shaver. The kit includes two separate devices. With the help of a trimmer, you can take care of your beard and mustache. The electric razor is designed for smooth shaving of stubble with small and medium length hair. The use of separate devices has a positive effect on the reliability and durability of the kit.

— Trimmer + razor set. The set contains a full-fledged trimmer and a clipper with classic blades for a smooth shave, with foam application. In advanced sets, the clipper can be used both separately and in tandem with a trimmer. Most often, the razor included in the trimmer kit has a head for replaceable blades.

— Animal clippers. Clippers, which are positioned by the manufacturer as devices for animals. They have solid power, which contributes to comfortable work with thick, coarse hair.

The cutting height is influenced by the type of cutting element and the inclusion of detachable combs. Toothed blades can trim hair as short as 1 mm. By coupling a toothed blade with a detachable comb, the cutting height can range from 2-3 to 20, and even 30 mm – the precise height hinges on the provided comb attachments. There are defined minimum and maximum cutting heights. The minimum pertains to the blade's inherent capabilities, devoid of attachments. The maximum cutting height is determined by the detachable comb type.

The number of haircut length options provided in the design of the clipper or the design of the nozzle. The more such options, the more versatile the clipper and the more cutting options it provides.

The width of the operating tool (blade) of the clipper. A wide blade is important for head hair trimmers, as it allows you to capture more hair in one pass and cuts faster. In turn, beard and mustache clippers use narrower knives, which is useful for fine work to give facial hair the desired shape.

— Stainless steel. The standout feature of stainless steel is its exceptional resistance to rusting. When the clipper or trimmer boasts a sealed casing, the stainless steel cutting head can be conveniently cleaned using water pressure. While stainless steel is common in lower-tier devices and its blades can endure high temperatures, they tend to lose sharpness relatively swiftly.

— Titanium. Titanium alloys showcase impressive durability against substantial mechanical strain. The titanium cutting edge adeptly manages hair of various thicknesses and densities, retaining its sharpness admirably. Tools equipped with a titanium blade are reliable for frequent usage, notably in beauty salons. However, the drawback lies in their notably steep expense.

— Ceramic. Ceramic offers remarkable strength; its blades remain cool and sharp over time. Machines or trimmers featuring ceramic blades effortlessly handle even the thickest hair, allowing for frequent and prolonged use. Interestingly, models with ceramic blades often come at a more affordable price compared to those with titanium blades. Nonetheless, fragility is a significant drawback of ceramics; these blades are susceptible to damage from impacts and falls. Clippers and trimmers that are equipped with a ceramic cutting part must be handled with extreme delicacy.

— Diamond. Diamond-coated blades have increased edge strength. Typically, these blades are based on steel, most often stainless, but thanks to diamond coating, the knife acquires higher reliability and durability. Of course, the presence of diamond coating on the blade significantly increases the cost of the device.

— Steel. Steel blades are the budget-friendly option. Steel performs effectively in devices used sporadically, mainly for home purposes. Although steel edges tend to lose sharpness relatively swiftly, their durability can be enhanced through the application of protective coatings like diamond, ceramic, or titanium. Clippers or trimmers with uncoated steel blades typically fall into the low-cost category.

— Graphite. Graphite coating is typical for stainless steel blades, it allows the blade to glide more easily through hair and skin and generally increases the efficiency and convenience of working with such a device. Most often, detachable trimmer blades are equipped with graphite coating.

— Li-Ion. Lithium-ion (Li-Ion) batteries currently dominate the market due to their high energy density, compact size, and light weight. On average, Li-Ion batteries last for approximately 400 charge-discharge cycles. They exhibit minimal self-discharge and lack a prominent "memory effect" (capacity decrease when charging a partially discharged battery). However, these batteries are sensitive to cold temperatures and require precise charging current conditions.

— Li-pol. Lithium-polymer (Li-Pol) batteries maintain stable output voltage even during significant discharge. On average, Li-Pol batteries offer a lifespan of around 800 charge-discharge cycles. These batteries don't exhibit the memory effect and remain stable across a broad temperature range, from -20 to +40 degrees Celsius. Their drawbacks primarily involve vulnerability to deep discharge and overcharging. This highlights the necessity for specialized chargers that employ optimal power delivery methods tailored to the lithium polymer context.

— Ni-Cd. Nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries are engineered to handle substantial charge and discharge rates. They can be stored either charged or discharged without issue. These batteries aren't impacted by heat and maintain their capacity in cold conditions. However, the primary drawback is the "memory effect," which emerges when the battery is p...rematurely charged with residual capacity. Despite being outdated, Ni-Cd batteries are occasionally employed in clippers.

— Ni-Mh. Nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries excel at managing substantial charge and discharge rates, making them suitable for demanding electric motors and facilitating quick charging. Contemporary Ni-MH batteries offer a prolonged lifespan of up to 1000-1500 charge-discharge cycles, while being environmentally friendly. In comparison to Li-Ion batteries, they appear bulkier and add weight to the device, yet they come at a more affordable cost. This battery type has replaced the previously mentioned nickel-cadmium technology.

— LiCo. Lithium-cobalt (Li-Co) batteries are renowned for their impressive energy storage within a small and lightweight structure. These batteries exhibit minimal self-discharge and lack the "memory effect". They maintain voltage stability almost until complete discharge. However, Li-Co batteries aren't engineered to handle substantial charge and discharge rates.

The typical duration of uninterrupted operation for a clipper powered by a self-contained source (battery or rechargeable batteries, refer to Power Source) without requiring a recharge or battery replacement. Extended continuous operation time becomes particularly crucial when intending to use the clipper in locations where recharging or battery changes are unavailable, such as during long trips.

Time to fully (from 0 to 100%) charge the battery of the clipper. For rare cases of using the model, charging time is not so relevant, but for everyday use it is better to choose fast charging clippers.

The clipper offers the capability to adjust its operating voltage, typically ranging between 110 and 230 V. Given the varying electrical network voltages across different regions (e.g., 230 V in the CIS and Europe, 110 V in North America), this feature proves advantageous when using the clipper abroad. Some devices possess an automated voltage adjustment feature, requiring no user intervention, while others necessitate manual adjustment. It's important to emphasize this aspect before commencing clipper operation, and in cases of manual adjustment, it's crucial to verify the correct setting on the switch.