When a little shaving start-up called Bevel first released their hair and beard trimmer back in 2016, it was a revelation: a trimmer with the weight and precision of a barbershop-grade blade, housed inside Silicon Valley-level hardware, and all for your very own sink ledge.
Back then we called that original device the best of the year, and that it has routinely ranked highly among our favorite beard trimmers (it's hands down the best for sharp, clean lines). We dug it, and have continued to dig it, primarily for the physical heft it has over the competition—it's the same logic that give a safety razor muscle over a standard-fare shaver. Plus, guys who need regular hairline shape-ups get double the mileage out a Bevel, because it isn't just a beard detailer. You can take it to your brow between visits to the barber and trust that you won’t slip up and trim too closely into the rest of your mane. That’s where its weight and design are its biggest benefits—they force you to go slow and allow you to confidently cut clean, straight lines.
So, naturally, we were psyched to find out the brand was releasing a new iteration of the trimmer. And we were lucky enough to get an early look at it too.
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Bevel
First impression: Yep, still looks cool as hell. The all-black upgrade is just as geometrically beautiful as its predecessor, with a 48-face midsection that catches the light at every angle. Only now it’s somehow even sleeker (there's something a little 007 about the all black).
Under the hood, however, is where Bevel really juiced things up for this new model. Primarily, the battery life: It now holds up to 8 hours per charge and keeps that power for 180 days. It stays cooler and runs quieter than the original (which I type with confidence as I turn it on and off in a quiet cafe—and, no, I’m not actively trimming my beard over a latte). The quiet factor is a huge plus for the guy who'd rather shape things up at night or early in the morning when the rest of the household is asleep. The all-black version is a limited edition run—available only while supplies last—though you’ll still enjoy the quieter, cooler, juicier benefits if you buy the blade in its silver body moving forward (at the same $200 price point).
As a guy who gets scissor haircuts, I use the Bevel primarily for my cheek lines, beard neckline, and rear neckline. My favorite part about it is actual clip—it juts out a good deal farther than a standard trimmer, making it perfect for use underneath my nose (to snip the tippy-tops of my mustache that tend to detract from its ultra-symmetrical star power). (If you’re into the of shaping your beard or mustache, may I point you to Lebron James’ own example, for which the Bevel will be your best bet.) Most beard trimmers can’t do that cleanly, and I end up cutting more than I’d like to. With Bevel, I can practically see each and every hair as it enters the teeth, and I know exactly where I want to stop. That’s the same reason it gives you a steady, even clip across your hairline, too.
One thing to note if you're looking at Bevel primarily as a beard trimmer: it doesn’t come with interchangeable heads or guards. It’s an all-or-nothing clip, perfect for detailing the perimeter, or for shearing everything (back hair, legs, Hobbit feet, whatever). It gives you a close cut, and its teeth are tight enough that it doesn’t catch your skin in the process or leave any shave bumps in its wake (I’d still avoid using it on your junk, though). The good folks at Bevel have assured me that future phases of this device will incorporate multiple guards and heads, but that their priorities with this latest model were the improved duration, volume, temp, etc.
Overall, it's still an outstanding device, both for its performance and design. The upgrades aren't Earth shattering, but if you were on the fence about investing one, they certainly make that decision a lot easier. If you’re a guy who needs routine hair lineups or beard detailing, then you’re going to get plenty of mileage out of it. It’s already a favorite of many barbers, and my guess is that those guys are going to eat up this latest all-black model too, since it’s the coolest looking trimmer on the market, and serves as the best base for an A+ fade, too.
Bevel
Check out Bevel’s entire line of shaving and skincare products here.
