Philips OneBlade Intimate: sharp cutting - but not into the skin, please
11.4.2025
Translation: machine translated
Pictures: Mia Kuchen
The Philips OneBlade Intimate promises a safe shave, even on sensitive skin areas. The test shows that the blades are well protected - but the shaver also has weaknesses.
Normal razors or trimmers have one major disadvantage: the more precisely and accurately they cut, the greater the risk of pinching or scratching the skin. This is less of a problem on the face or head. However, nobody wants to cut themselves under the armpits or on the «private parts»
How well does the new OneBlade Intimate from Philips manage the balancing act between thorough hair removal and good protection?
The first cut - without any cutting
The OneBlade Intimate consists of three parts: The battery and motor are built into the hand part, and I attach a blade to it. If required, a green plastic attachment is placed on the blade, which increases the distance between the blade and skin by three millimetres
I start very carefully under the armpits. As soon as I switch on the OneBlade Intimate, it vibrates slightly. Well protected by the additional attachment, I run the blade over the skin. This shortens the hair down to three millimetres.
The first impression is excellent. Trimming is comfortable and, thanks to the double-sided blade, I can easily get anywhere without having to contort myself too much.
The second cut - without any protection
But if I'm going to prune, I want to get rid of everything. That's why I don't use the comb attachment for the second cut. I now run the blade directly over the skin - and am pleasantly surprised. It feels like I'm running the back of a metal spoon over the skin: no resistance, no scratching, no skin irritation.
I feel almost nothing, but the hair still falls out. But what I also notice straight away: one stroke is not enough, I have to run the razor over the same area several times until everything is evenly trimmed. That's not so bad because I can pull the blade very gently over the skin.
Finally, I venture into the intimate area. The double blade makes shaving much easier. I can cut in two directions without having to make any major changes to the position of my hand. The protected blade also gives me peace of mind: I'm not afraid of cutting myself.
In fact, the shave is also successful here without any cuts, redness or small pimples.
The finishing touches are missing in these areas
However, not everything that is cut is smooth and shiny - literally: Compared to wet shaving, the OneBlade Intimate is less thorough. So if you want it as smooth as possible, you won't be satisfied. The Philips also struggles with longer hair from around two centimetres. I need several strokes to get them all off. With the 3-millimetre attachment, even fewer of the longer hairs are captured.
The same applies to thick hair. I don't have that many of them on my head anymore, but they are still quite thick, especially at the back of my head. That's why I used the second blade supplied with the OneBlade Intimate to shave my head. However, the Intimate blade is not suitable for this. Although cutting is also very pleasant here, it takes me far too long. The small motor in the Philips shaver audibly struggles to get through the thick areas. It also doesn't cut everything equally short per stroke. So I have to go over it again and again until everything is shortened nicely.
I also think it's a shame that the manufacturer doesn't use USB-C, but a proprietary connection. So I have to use the Philips cable, but at least I can connect it to any charger with USB-A. Incidentally, the manufacturer does not supply a charger, just the cable.
Unfortunately, charging the OneBlade Intimate takes forever: eight (!) hours for a tested runtime of just 28 minutes. If the device is plugged in, you can't switch it on - it only works on battery power.
Diversity of blades for one device
The test shows: The Philips is ideal for regular, uncomplicated and quick trimming as well as hair cutting in the intimate area. This is where the protected Intimate blades really come into their own. I can press my finger on the blade during operation and not get cut. In return, I am happy to accept certain compromises in terms of thoroughness.
A blade lasts around four months according to Philips if used to trim underarm hair and intimate hair twice a week. As I only tested the device for three weeks for this review «» , this is difficult to estimate. However, experience shows that the figures are quite accurate. You should be able to get by with three to four blades per year, which corresponds to an additional cost of 45 to 65 francs.
OneBlade is a whole series of razors. So if you already own a handpiece, you can simply order the new Intimate blades separately. The same applies if you buy the OneBlade Intimate: You can also buy other blades and use them with it. There are normal razor blades for the face or those with special glide protection.
If you don't just want to trim your intimate area, it may also be worth buying a complete system from Philips with a movable shaving head, two hours of battery life and a trimmer attachment with various adjustment options. Simply use the Intimate blades as a supplement.
In a nutshell
Gentle and safe - with small incisions
OneBlade Intimate makes it possible to trim hair regularly and quickly, for example under the armpits or in the intimate area. However, the well-protected blades also come into their own wherever the skin is sensitive or there is a risk of cuts. I didn't notice any redness, irritation or pimples after shaving during testing. You have to compromise on thoroughness - the Philips system does not come close to a wet shave with a good blade.
Another positive aspect is that the various OneBlade components are all compatible with each other. This means you can find the right blades or attachments for every part of your body. However, you have to replace the blades regularly, which means running costs. Another irritating aspect is the excessively long charging time for the small battery.
Pro
- Minimal risk of cutting
- double-sided blades
- No skin irritation
- Compact handpiece
- Compatible with all OneBlade blades and handpieces
Contra
- Extremely long battery charging time
- Not as thorough as wet shaving
- Annual blade costs
Lorenz Keller
Senior Editor
Lorenz.Keller@digitecgalaxus.chGadgets are my passion - whether you need them for the home office, for the household, for sport and pleasure or for the smart home. Or, of course, for the big hobby next to the family, namely fishing.
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