Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer 5500 Review

Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer 5500 could easily place high on a “Mid-range” trimmer list. With Philips’ Lift & Trim technology, self-sharpening steel blades (twice as many as regular trimmers), and ergonomic shape, Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer 5500 could go toe to toe against some high-end trimmers for an affordable price.

Out of hundreds of trimmer and shaver brands, Philips is inarguably the most popular and widespread brand on the global scale. They have been making shaving products since the 1930s, and even to this day, they have never compromised their quality.

Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer 5500 Reviews

1. Inside The Box

Neither too big nor fancy nor too small and compact, the Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer 5500 comes in a perfectly sized box. You can see your Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer 5500 before you open it, thanks to the half-transparent box. Once you open the trimmer box, you will find:

• 3 Different combs ranging from 0.4 – 10 mm to 10.4 – 20 mm 
• 1 Cleaning brush
• A stylish carrying bag
• A charger
• User manual
• Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer 5500

2. Lift & Trim System

Like many other Philips Trimmers, Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer 5500 uses Philip’s Lift & Trim PRO technology. If you are not familiar with it, this technology allows the trimmer’s comb to capture low-lying hairs and lift them towards the razor-sharp dual blades for an even trimming all across your beard. This system makes sure that you don’t miss a single spot, which saves your time and energy.

3. 40 Different Length Settings

Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer 5500 offers users total freedom over their desired beard length. With 40 individual length settings, starting from 0.4 mm to up to 20 mm in 0.2 mm (1/128″) increments, Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer 5500 will trim your beard to your needed length in no time. Next,  attach the right comb and spin the zoom wheel to adjust your desired length.

4. Double Blades

What do you need in a trimmer to cut faster, more precisely, and more evenly? 

The answer is straightforward. More blades.

Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer 5500 is made with twice as many blades as an average trimmer. As soon as I unboxed the trimmer, the abundance of shiny razor-sharp steel blades caught my eyes. All these extra blades give the trimmer a gorgeous look and make it a beast of a machine. This ensures a better and faster trimming experience for the user. Ideally, you do not have to go back to a missing spot because, with these dual blades, it is very unlikely that you will miss even a single hair.

5. Incredible Battery

Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer 5500 comes with a powerful Lithium-ion battery. With just 60 minutes of charging, the trimmer runs seamlessly for 90 straight minutes. Yes, you read it correctly—90-minutes runtime with only 1 hour of charging.

The speed and performance are not affected at all by how much power the battery has. Therefore, it is possible to have a quick trim without worrying about anything, only 5 minutes of the fast charging session.

6. Self-Sharpening Blades

Have you ever picked up your trimmer for a quick trim and then realize the blades are not working properly because they lost their sharpness? Most trimmers require some tending of their blades from time to time. It would help if you oiled them properly at regular intervals to keep them in shape. If you don’t, the blades get rusty, and the trimmer becomes unusable. You have to either replace the blades (finding the right blade is trouble most people won’t go for) or get rid of the trimmer altogether.

These powerful blades are self-sharpening. It means that if the trimmer is in use, the blades will keep their sharpness. Using oil is not necessary at all to keep the trimmer in shape. Make sure to clean the blades after you use the trimmer.

Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer 5500 is here to take care of you; you do not have to take care of it.

7. Both Wired and Wireless

As mentioned before, this trimmer can run for a quick trimming session even after only 5 minutes of charging. But what if you do not have 5 minutes to spare? This great beard trimmer still got you covered in an occasion of an emergency. Even when the battery has no charge remaining, you can plug it in and use it immediately. An excellent and necessary feature that even some 100 dollar trimmers do not have.

8. Charging and Hair Length Indicator

A charging indicator may not be the most mind-blowing feature of a trimmer, but I think it is essential because I am the kind of person who often forgets to turn on the switch after I plug in any device to charge. So when my Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer 5500 lights up after plugging in, I feel assured.

This trimmer does not have a LED display to show battery life and length settings (which is very rare in this price range). But the indicators on the length wheel are LED.

9. Cleaning and Washing

Most trimmers these days are somewhat water repellent, but they don’t offer total protection against water. Running the beard trimmer in the shower is not recommended as it is not entirely waterproof. Water might seep into the device and cause electrocution.

Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer 5500 blades are fully washable. Turn on the shaver and put it under running hot water to clean it thoroughly from hair cuts. The trimmer blades are removable by pulling them upward, and you also can clean the inside area with running water. Let all the parts dry, and then only assemble them back before use.

10. Shape & Size

The older models of the Philips Norelco 5000 series are primarily straight in shape, requiring the user to hold his hand at a certain angle while trimming his beard (which could be a good thing for some people.). But Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer 5500 is slightly curvy towards the top. It makes the trimmer a lot more pleasant to hold. The trimmer also has a dotted texture on the grip that gives a real comfortable feeling when you grab the trimmer.

It is perfect in size as well. It comes in 8.82 inches in length. The trimmer weighs only 14.1 ounces (400 grams). Neither too light nor too heavy has this given you the perfect gripping experience. Needless to say, when you have a proper grip, you will have more control over your trimming. Thus, Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer 5500 gives you the precision and accuracy you need for trimming your beard or your head perfectly.

11. Warranty

This trimmer comes with a 2-years warranty. This may not be the most exciting product, but there is a 45-day money-back guarantee if you are unhappy with the beard trimmer.

Why Buy This

Philips Norelco is undoubtedly one of the top shaving product brands in the industry, if not the very best one. They have proven their credibility over the years with popular series like Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer 3000. 

Norelco 5000 series has earned more trust and reliability among the users worldwide, and its newest model, 5500, surpasses its predecessors in terms of performance, durability, and user-friendliness. It has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 out of 2000 reviews on Amazon. It is currently sitting comfortably in #24 in the all-time beard and trimmer list and could move up in the future.

Comparison Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer Series 1000, 3000, 5000 and 7200

Name	Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer 1000 (BT1217/70)	Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer 3000 (BT3210/41)	Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer 5500 (BT5511/49)	Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer 7200 (BT7225/49)
Picture
Rating	4.4 (363  Ratings)	4.5 (2,261 Ratings)	4.6 (1,958 Ratings)	4.3 (497 Ratings)
Price	Around $20	Around $30	Around $50	Around $120
Waterproof	No	No	No	No
Vacuum	No	No	No	Yes
Weight	0.4 lbs	0.6 lbs	0.875 lbs	0.5 lbs
Blade Material	Stainless Steel	Stainless Steel	Stainless Steel	Stainless Steel
Trimming Length Setting	1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm and 5 mm	10 (0.5 mm – 10 mm)	40 (0.4 mm – 20 mm)	20 (0.5 mm – 10 mm)
Battery	60 minutes (8 hours charging)	90 minutes (8 hours charging)	90 minutes (1-hour charging)	80 minutes (1-hour charging)
USB Charging	Yes	No	Yes	No
Battery Type	Lithium-Ion	Lithium-Ion	Lithium-Ion	Lithium-Ion
Use While Charging	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Attachment	4 beard trimmer guard	1 Trimmer guard	1 beard trimmer guard2 hair clipping guard	1 Trimmer guard1 Precision trimmer2 precision comb (3 mm & 5 mm)
Voltage	100V – 240V	100V – 240V	100V – 240V	100V – 240V
Warranty	2 Years	2 Years	5 Years	5 Years
Price	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price

1. Price

Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer 5500 is in the third spot as the other two models Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer 1000 and Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer 3000 is priced at around $20 to $30. For below $50, this model is rated among the best beard trimmer in the market at this time.

2. Battery

Among all four models for Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer above, the 5500 model is the champion in battery performance and capacity, surpassing the most expensive model Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer 7200. With only 1 hour of charging, you can use this beard trimmer cordless for around 90 minutes. The 1000 and 3000 series require 8 hours of charging to achieve the same 90 minutes cordless trimming instead of only 1-hour charging for 5500.

3. Trimming Length Setting

Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer 5500 can be set up to 40 minutes in different length settings with 0.2 mm adjustments. Compared to the other models in this beard trimmer series, 5500 is superior to the other three models, even the 7200 with a price above $100.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it possible to outline without using a comb?

Yes, you may use it without the comb.

Is there any limit to how long you may cut your hair? 20mm?

The Philips Norelco Series 5000 Beard Trimmer can trim up to 20mm of hair.

Is it waterproof?

This device is not waterproof, but it is only water-resistant, and the blades are washable under running water.

Is it possible to use it when the power wire is connected?

Yes, you may use the Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer BT5511/49 cordlessly and with a cable.

Is it true that the charger is multi-voltage?

The charger for the Norelco Beard Trimmer 5000 runs on a 100-240V power supply.

Is it true that this one vacuum while cutting?

Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer 5500 (BT5511/49) does not vacuum.

Is this beard trimmer can be used as a hair clipper?

Yes, you can. It comes with two hair clipping guards.

Is there a carrying case included?

A travel case is not included with the Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer BT5511/49.

Is it possible to use this in the shower?

This beard trimmer is not waterproof, so it is not recommended to use it in the shower.

My Final Words

Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer 5500 may not be the best out there, but it could easily compete with some of them at a price that is far below the line of top-tier trimmers. It might not be capable of doing various other tasks, but it does what it does perfectly. 

Dual Cut, along with the Lift & Trim PRO system, will provide you with the perfect, smooth, and even trimming experience that no other trimmer in this price range will provide. The fast charging and the ability to use it while charging, it will make sure you never really have to worry about your battery life at all. The waterproof feature makes it super easy to keep this trimmer neat and clean. By tuning in to one of 40 different length settings, you can get the exact look you are looking for.

Aside from the technical features, Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer 5500 has a stunningly elegant look. The shape and the attachments make it an easy yet efficient and highly capable trimmer.