I’ve Been Cutting My Hair for Years—These Cordless Clippers Are the Best I’ve Tried (2025)

You can’t shop for grooming devices without running into Wahl, as it is the name in hair clippers. I mean this literally, as Leo J. Wahl is credited with inventing the modern hair clippers. The Wahl Professional 5 Star Cordless Senior Clipper keeps this legacy alive, which is why it’s a favorite among barbers. Chulpayev loves its unmatched power and durability, estimating that the clipper can handle around 50,000 total haircuts and last barbers at least five years.

He also praises its ergonomic design for precise handling. Cassondra Kurtz, barber and founder of Beyond the Beard in New York City, also relies on the Senior Clipper for clients. This high-performance tool runs at 7,000 rpm, includes tough, long-lasting guards, offers an 80-minute cordless runtime, and can switch to corded use when needed.

I’ve been using my Senior Clipper for over a year, and it’s clear why so many pros back it. The 7,000 rpm motor is no joke, plowing through hair with ease. I rarely, if ever, find myself going over one area multiple times. Plus, the adjustable taper is easy to use without sacrificing any stability (a common nuisance with clippers), so it’s perfect for any kind of fade, and you don’t have to worry about accidentally changing the length. The stainless steel blades never tug at hair and glide across your dome.

A few months ago, I used these clippers to fully buzz my head, and the entire process couldn’t have taken more than ten minutes. That’s how powerful and precise these are. These are professional-grade clippers, so there are a few drawbacks for newbies. At 13 oz, the Senior is heavier than other options. Another killer Wahl device, the Magic Clip, is over 2 oz lighter, for example.

DIY haircuts involve a lot of twisting and contorting your body to reach the sides and back of your head, so an extra couple of pounds will be felt. Similarly, if you’re new to cutting hair at home, these might prove too powerful and result in a more drastic cut than you were aiming for. But once you get the hang of using clippers, you won’t find a more reliable, effective option.

Read More: Best Clippers for Men

If you dig a fade, pay attention to the taper level on your cordless clipper. This lever actively adjusts the blade's cutting length between guide comb settings, allowing you to fine-tune the cut and achieve more precise fades. For the best available, look to Wahl’s Magic Clip, as its taper is even more user-friendly than the Senior.

The lever not only switches between blade lengths more smoothly, but the feel of it (backed by its overall lighter design) is more comfortable and intuitive. Kurtz uses Wahl Professional 5 Star Cordless Senior on her clients, but recommends the Magic Clip for anyone new to cutting hair. This is due to the expansive dexterity and directional abilities the lightweight Magic Clip offers. Heavier clippers are going to be much more difficult to swing around your head, especially if you’re not very flexible, like me.

They are also equipped with a consistently powerful battery that can operate for up to 100 minutes of runtime per charge. The high-power and high-speed motor also makes it versatile for a slew of hair types and styles. Plus, the blades are coated to keep them cooler for longer, and come with eight blade guard attachments for any hair length.

Read More: Wahl Magic Clip Review

Chulpayev loves the BabylissPro for one major reason: its rpm. This clipper slices up to 13,600 slices per minute, and 6,800 rpm. Sure, the BaBylissPro GoldFX+ cordless hair clippers’ quality holds merit with its powerful motor and high-torque engine, but it also impresses with its sharp design. It has the vibe of a vintage ribbon microphone that Elvis would have used, but upside down, and gold. I’ll admit, I always feel a bit fancy whenever I hold this glittery clipper (despite chaotically cutting my own hair in a tiny bathroom).

The battery life is also top of the market at three hours (though it’s more accurately 2 hours and 50 minutes), so I rarely have to charge it. I understand that dropping over $200 is a lot for something many people look to as a way to save money, but if you can swing it, these clippers will pay for themselves after a few uses.

The Bevel Pro All-in-One Clipper and Trimmer checks all of the necessary boxes for a quality hair clipper, with some innovative features tossed in for good measure. There are swappable clipper and trimmer blades, a digital taper adjustment for razor-sharp precision, and magnetic snap-on guards for quick length changes. The full package is built for smooth, efficient cutting.

While Bevel designed this tool with textured and curly hair in mind, it works on all hair types. I have straight hair, and this is my go-to when I’m giving myself a short cut, as it gets closer than any other clipper I’ve tried. Much of this is due to the digital taper, which unlike other traditional options, is controlled through an LED display, so that you always know exactly how closer you’re cutting.

This results in a precise cut that’s easy to replicate once you find the taper levels you prefer. It also packs a standout four-hour battery life, which is far beyond any others on this list, and features a smart LED display so you’ll never run out of power mid-cut. It’s the ideal tool for fades and short hair styles, like buzzes or crew cuts.

The Andis Master Cordless Clipper runs at a powerful 7,200 strokes per minute with a rotary motor and a carbon-steel blade built for ultra-precise cuts. Its sleek aluminum housing isn’t just for looks, it adds serious durability. With up to 120 minutes of consistent cordless runtime and the option to plug in when needed, this clipper offers pro-level performance. The overlapping blades deliver sharp, detailed lines and adjust from size 000 to 1 for added versatility.

Like many cordless clippers, performance can dip slightly near the end of its charge. I find it lasts more like 110 to 115 minutes. Still, it’s surprisingly lightweight for its power. The motor does get loud, especially during longer sessions. I don’t mind it after years of living in New York City, but if you’re accustomed to silence, it could certainly be frustrating mid-cut.

If you’re looking for a cordless clipper to also take care of your beard and body hair, the Philips Norelco All-in-One Trimmer Series 9000 is it. Unlike other cordless hair clippers on this list, this tool is not designed for professional barbers. It’s for the average dude who doesn’t want or have the space for multiple devices to achieve their grooming goals.

The set comes with 21 pieces to tackle head hair, beards, body hair, and nose hair with interchangeable self-sharpening blades. Best of all, the battery lasts up to 6 hours. While it cannot operate with the cord, it does have a 5-minute quick charge.It won’t give you the most detailed cut, but if you’re just buzzing or doing a simple style, it can certainly handle that.

Plus, the expansive grooming options make it a great option for travel. Though, my standard caveat applies: veer away from using the same tool for your face as your body to avoid cross-contamination.

Read More: Philips Norelco Multigroom Series 9000 Review

Are Cordless Hair Clippers Better Than Corded?

As mentioned, the benefits of corded hair clippers are continuous, consistent power and never needing to wait for your tool to be charged. Chulpayev adds that corded hair clippers also tend to last longer. “If you took the corded machines that were made 30 or 20 years ago, you see some barbers that still use them,” he says. However, cordless devices like the Magic Clip, will only last about four or five years before performance starts to drop off.

The benefits of cordless hair clippers are the convenience and flexibility of clipping your hair without dangling cables that restrict your movement. Cordless hair clippers also make for a better on-the-go option. “From a travel point of view, a personal point of view, and from a dexterity point of use, a cordless hair clipper is the way to go,” Kurtz says.

While corded hair clippers offer abbreviated power, the best cordless hair clippers also offer consistent power for prolonged periods of time. Ultimately, like most grooming tools, it comes down to a split between preference and quality products.

Meet the Experts

• Daniel Chulpayev, barber and founder of Made Man Barbershop in New York City.
• Cassondra Kurtz, barber and founder of Beyond the Beard in New York City.

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