The distinctions between an electric shaver and a beard trimmer are significant, so it’s critical to understand them in order to choose the one that best suits your needs.

Electric shavers (or razors) are designed to cut short stubble hairs very close to the skin, just like a razor, while the other (beard trimmer) has thicker teeth for cutting long hair, it’s more for styling a beard or long stubble and won’t cut close to skin level. However, things can get trickier when you consider that certain electric shavers have choices for lengthier hair trimming and that beard trimmers have settings that are fine enough to be used as a stubble shaver.

Bottom line, you’ll need both, a trimmer to remove the bulk of the beard, and a shaver to go a close smooth finish.