WE ARE IN a golden age of men’s grooming, specifically when it comes to personalized facial hair. Take one ten-minute walk around Brooklyn, and you’ll likely see 15-plus different variations of just mustaches. Add in beard styles, and you’ll probably lose count. A lot of this is thanks to the sophisticated, highly specialized tools we now have at our disposal. Unfortunately, these tend to cost triple digits to achieve these unique, varying beard trims. Unless you opt for the King C. Gillette Pro, of course.

Best Budget Beard Trimmer

King C. Gillette Beard Trimmer Pro

Cons

• Long charge time (8-10 hours)
• Attachments can feel a little flimsy

Motor	Undisclosed
Blade Material	Metal
Corded or Cordless?	Cordless
Battery Life	45 days
Attachments	2
Case Included?	Yes

At a hair under $50, this beard trimmer packs 40 length options at a fraction of the price of similar models. It also holds a much longer charge (up to 45 days!) than those more expensive options, perfect for those of us who tend to forget to regularly charge our devices. As someone who rarely plans five minutes ahead, forget days or weeks, this is where the King C. Gillette Pro really strives for me. While I tend to use other tools when I’m working on a longer, lumberjack-type beard, the Pro is perfect for small to medium trims.

Plus, not everybody likes to change their facial hair multiple times a year (or, as is often in my case, a month), so there is less need for a beard trimmer with a stronger motor. Not every dude is down with dropping $150 on a beard trimmer either, and that’s more than okay. The King C. Gillette Pro is the working man’s beard trimmer: it’s affordable, effective, and built to last.

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King C. Gillette Pro is simple in the best way. Its design is giving budget Braun Series 9, as it features a similar rotary dial that allows you to seamlessly switch between lengths during a grooming session. In fact, just like the Braun Series 9—which is three times the cost—the King C. Gillette Pro offers up to 40 beard length options. Better yet, it does this with the use of merely two attachments. Given that both Gillette and Braun are subsidiaries of the same company (Procter and Gamble), it’s fair to assume similar internal specs are being used for both due to their external resemblance and function (the Pro is even slapped with a Braun logo at the bottom of the handle).

So if you’ve had your eye on the Braun Series 9 trimmer, but can’t justify the $150, this is the perfect compromise. The major difference between the two, however, is motor power. Interestingly, neither discloses their official cuts per minute, but after using both regularly, I can confirm the Series 9 defends its cost here, and is more powerful than the King C. Gillette Pro. That’s not to say the Pro is a slouch, to be clear, just not quite up to the level of Braun’s more high-end model.

Outside of value, the King C. Gillette Pro tops even the most luxury beard trimmers on the market when it comes to how long it can last off a single charge. For example, the barbershop-quality Bevel Pro, which retails for over $300, lasts four hours off one charge. King C. Gillette Pro? 45 days. Of course, you wouldn’t be able to let it run for 45 days straight, so it’s not exactly a one-to-one comparison, but I’ve never used a beard trimmer that lasted longer than the Pro.

Out of courtesy, I popped the attachments off and trimmed my stubble with this device every morning for a week straight, and it lasted through it all—never had to be recharged. The downside to this longevity, however, is that when it is time to charge the King C. Gillette Pro, it also takes longer than most trimmers I’ve tried, up to ten hours when it’s completely dead. I find it’s best to do this overnight, which helps offset the charge time. While it’s a soft pouch rather than a hard shell, this trimmer does come with a case for storage, as well. It’s not the best for travel, but since there are only two attachments and one charging cord, there are never any issues fitting everything in the pouch.

While the motor might not be as powerful as other, more expensive options, it is consistent. I’ve been using this beard trimmer for months, and the blade speed hasn’t let up at all. It can effectively handle most trim jobs, as well. I found it works best for short to medium beards, as the metal blades plow through beards of up to six weeks to two months, depending on how thick your hair is. That being said, when I’ve had larger beards that require a bit more precision, I’ve found myself either going over areas multiple times or having hair clog up the blades.

Still, the multiple length options are super handy here, and the dial works as seamlessly as the similar Braun Series 9 design, offering shift switches mid-trim that saved me time switching out attachments. The way the dial works also allows for more specific measurements and length specifications than most trimmers. While traditionally beard trimmers offer options by whole numbers (1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, etc.), the Pro’s dial moves by half measures (0.5 mm, 1 mm, 1.5mm, etc.). This allows a customizable trim that is second only to the Braun Series 9, which, again, is three times the cost.

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The battery power is no joke, either. While it doesn’t seem to hold a charge quite as long as it originally did out of the box, months in, I still rarely have to charge it. I typically get at least five to seven full trims off one charge. Sure, the case might be a bit soft for super tight packers, but I often find myself grabbing this tool when traveling, especially if for a week or longer, because I don’t even need to bring the cord. Plus, you’ll only need one of the attachments unless you’re doing some drastic fades on your beard.

This is where the King C. Gillette Pro really stands out among other devices on the market. At less than $50, this beard trimmer is by far the best value available. Given the easy-to-use rotary dial, 40 length options, and substantial battery life, this tool is a legit bargain. Not to mention, the motor feels powerful beyond the price. Although it does leave a bit to be desired when dealing with larger beards or more complex styles.

Still, the only device that comes close to the Pro in value is the Philips Noreclo OneBlade, but that’s designed more for detailing and shaving than beard trimming. Not to mention, it has roughly 35 fewer length options. For a versatile and effective trimming experience equal to the King C. Gillette Pro, you’d have to spend at least twice the cost for something of similar quality, like the Manscaped Beard Hedger, or a slightly elevated performance for three times the cost, like the Braun Series 9.

Sure, the motor isn’t quite as powerful as those two options, but it’s certainly not half or a third of their power, and is more than enough to handle most trims with ease. We recently pegged the King C. Gillette Pro as the best budget beard trimmer in our beard trimmers roundup, and it’s a stance I certainly stand by.

While the device itself isn’t fully waterproof, the head and blades are, so you can’t use this in the shower, but it is easy to clean. I simply brush off the hair I can with a brush or finger, and quickly run the tips of the blades under water to axe any stranglers. The two attachment guards also feature a pretty spacious design, so hair rarely gets stuck between columns (unless you’re rocking a very large beard) and flushes out in seconds under the faucet.

I like to think of the King C. Gillette Pro as a quality, top-of-the-market commuter car. While it might not have the luxury add-ons of more expensive options, it’s durable, effective for daily use, and gets you where you want to be without any hiccups. At under $50, this is a serviceable, long-lasting trimmer that can be your daily driver for months or even years to come (and you’ll barely have to charge it). The rotary dial is really its only sexy feature, but it is one that makes the trimming experience easier and more customizable. If you’re looking for something simple that will give you a quality trim without breaking the bank, the King C. Gillette Pro is well worth the minimal investment.

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Sean Zucker is the Grooming and Commerce Editor at Men’s Health. He brings over half a decade of experience covering health, wellness, and lifestyle. When Sean’s not writing about hair products, you can find him running for exercise, or toward the nearest food truck.