Where the range starts
Eight pieces or nine, and does the range matter more?
Both are entry all-in-one kits from Braun and Philips. The specification that separates them is where the length range begins.
| Compared on | AIO3545 | MG3946/15 |
|---|---|---|
| Pieces | Eight | Nine |
| Length range | 3–21 mm (0.12 to 0.83 in) | 0.5–12 mm (0.02 to 0.47 in) |
| Length settings | 14 | 12 |
| Nose and ear trimmer | Not included | Included |
| Body attachment | Not published | Intimate comb that shields the skin |
| Adjustable comb | Not published | 3–7 mm (0.12 to 0.28 in) without changing attachment |
| Blade maintenance | Not published | Self-sharpening, no oiling required |
| Runtime | 50 minutes | 90 minutes |
| Charging | Not published | USB-A, no wall adapter |
| Storage | Pouch included | Not published |
| Listed on amazon.com | Yes | Yes |
A tick marks the better answer on that line only. Counting ticks does not decide the page — the two verdicts below do, because these products answer different questions.
Take the Braun only if you keep a beard at 3 mm (0.12 in) or longer and want a pouch in the box. It reaches 21 mm (0.83 in) where the Philips stops at 12, which is the one place it wins outright.
Take the Philips for almost every other reason. Starting at 0.5 mm (0.02 in) means it holds a stubble; the nose and ear trimmer adds a job the Braun does not do; and blades that need no oiling remove a maintenance step entirely.
Because the settings below 3 mm (0.12 in) are the ones a stubble lives at. A kit that starts there can trim a beard and cut hair, but it cannot hold a two- or three-day look.
Here, yes, because the ninth is a nose trimmer — a different job rather than another comb length. Count the jobs a kit covers, not the objects in the box.
8-in-1 · 14 lengths, 3–21 mm (0.12 to 0.83 in) · 50 min · washable attachment
Braun's entry all-in-one: eight pieces for beard and hair, fourteen length settings between 3 and 21 mm (0.83 in), fifty minutes of cordless runtime, and a washable trimmer attachment with a case.
Best for: A first all-in-one, for a beard kept at 3 mm (0.12 in) or longer.
≈ $100
9-in-1 · 12 lengths, 0.5–12 mm (0.02 to 0.47 in) · nose trimmer · no oiling · 90 min
Nine attachments covering beard, hair, nose and ear hair and body, with twelve lengths from 0.5 to 12 mm (0.02 to 0.47 in), an intimate comb that shields the skin, and blades Philips states never need oiling.
Best for: One tool for everything, on a body that will not be oiled and cleaned on a schedule.
≈ $59
