Philips Norelco All-in-one 9000 Review: The Do-it-all Groomer

The Series 9000 is the range-topping model from Philips Norelco’s All-in-one (former Multigroom) line of trimmers.

Marketed as a versatile tool designed to handle all your grooming needs, the All-in-one 9000 appears to have it all.

A premium metal build, fantastic battery life, and a plethora of attachments and accessories make the 9000 a no-brainer for someone who needs a single, do-it-all groomer.

But how good is it in practice? Also, there’s the All-in-one 7000, which offers very compelling features for less money.

In this long-term review of the Philips Norelco All-in-one 9000, I will share everything you need to know after using the groomer for a couple of years.

I’ll also be comparing it to the new Body Groomer 7000 and see which one would make more sense for your needs.

All-in-one 9000 model comparison

In the USA, the All-in-one 9000 Series is available in 10 variations.

To make your choice easy, there are only 3 things that really matter:

• The number and type of accessories
• Battery capacity
• Metal vs plastic body

Here’s a table that showcases all these differences:

Model	Battery	Accessories	Price
1. MG9575/49 (metal)	6 hrs	23	Amazon
2. MG9580/40 (metal)	6 hrs	25	Amazon
3. MG9585/49 (metal)	6 hrs	28	Amazon
4. MG9740/40 (metal)	6 hrs	18	Philips
5. MG9510/60 (metal)	6 hrs	21	Philips
6. MG9520/50 (metal)	6 hrs	23	Philips
7. MG9570/49 (metal)	5 hrs	24	Philips
8. MG9522/50 (metal)	6 hrs	25	Philips
9. MG9525/40 (plastic)	2 hrs	24	Amazon
10. MG9526/40 (plastic)	2 hrs	24	Philips

The actual performance is identical, but a larger battery and the metal build are noticeable upgrades.

The MG9575/49 is arguably the pick of the range in the latest All-in-one generation.

Its price, as well as the bundle of accessories, make this model a suitable option for the majority of users.

In my opinion the large battery (6 hours) and the metal body are a must-have.

Moreover, the MG9575/49 also includes a very nice and useful hard travel case, while some other models only include a soft textile pouch.

You should only consider the range-topping MG9585/49 if you have to maintain a longer beard (1 to 20mm), as it has an additional larger adjustable beard guard.

Philips Norelco All-in-one 9000 MG9585/49

See the price on Amazon

The best-selling MG9575/49 comes with 2 beard guards that top at 7mm.

But even in that case, you could just use one of the larger hair guards included with it.

Now that we know the main differences between the various All-in-one 9000 Series, let’s check out the main features.

My review unit is the MG9510/60 that I bought 2 years ago when the All-in-one family was called Multigroom.

Side note: In Europe, Philips still calls it Multigroom.

Nevertheless, both All-in-one and Multigroom refer to the same groomers and they are identical, so it’s only a marketing move by Philips.

Features overview

1. Hair, beard and body trimming

The most compelling trait of the All-in-one 9000 Series has to be its versatility.

Because it comes with pretty much any cutting attachment you will ever need, it can effectively cut and trim everything, head to toe.

While a bit limited in several aspects (which I’ll address in the performance section), this groomer can really do it all.

From a buzz cut to edging & fading your beard and trimming body hair, the Norelco All-in-one 9000 is, at least on paper, one of the most capable multi-purpose trimmers out there.

It can even be used on sensitive areas like the armpits and the groin (with the right attachment).

2. Brushed metal body

The All-in-one Series 9000 has a premium metal build that makes it look and feel expensive.

In this price range, you almost always get a plastic body and that’s the case with other trimmers from the competition like for example the Braun All-in-One Series 7.

My old Multigroom 7000 has the same metal body and even though I’ve been using it constantly for more than 3 years, it still looks great.

European All-in-one (Multigroom) 9000 models, as well as a couple of USA models, come with a plastic body.

And while there’s nothing wrong with it, the steel body is just a lot nicer and more durable.

3. 6-hour battery

The Philips All-in-one Series 9000 is a cordless-only trimmer.

The top models are fitted with an internal rechargeable Li-ion battery that can provide 6 hours of cordless operation.

That is impressive and makes up for the fact that the All-in-one 9000 only works cordless.

In contrast, the old Multigroom 7000 generation can also be used while charging. That one has however been discontinued.

4. Waterproof for easy cleaning

The Philips All-in-one 9000 can be safely rinsed with tap water.

It’s a fast, effective and convenient way to keep it clean and running smoothly.

The self-sharpening blades also don’t require any lubrication.

5. 2 year warranty

Philips only offers a standard 2-year warranty for the All-in-one 9000.

In the past, when this series was called Multigroom 9000, it came with an impressive 8-year warranty (except for the cutters/blades and guards).

It’s disappointing that we’re not getting that extensive warranty anymore.

Side note: European Multigroom 9000 models only come with the standard 2-year warranty.

It includes defects in materials or workmanship.

In the USA, you also get a 45-day money-back guarantee if you’re not happy with the trimmer.

For that, you would need the original sales receipt and send the product to Philips no later than 45 days after the date of purchase.

Included accessories

My All-in-one 9000 (in the MG9510/60 variation) comes with a 21-piece grooming kit.

As we saw, different models will come with different accessories.

Let’s break it down and see what it’s all about.

Side note: we can consider these accessories as being either active or passive attachments.

The active ones are actual cutters (that use shearing blades or foil elements) and do the actual cutting.

The passive attachments are plastic guards, either fixed or adjustable, that fit over an active cutter to allow trimming to the preferred hair length.

These accessories can be grouped into 3 distinct categories, although there can be some overlap.

1. Face trimming and styling accessories

From left to right, we have the following attachments:

• Standard trimmer
• Precision trimmer
• Foil shaving head
• Nose hair trimmer
• Eyebrows guard
• Precision adjustable guard (1-3mm)
• Adjustable guard (3-7mm)

The standard trimmer/blade (32mm width) is the one you’ll probably be using the most, as it’s the most versatile and works with the adjustable guards but also with the fixed body guards which we’ll get to later on.

This blade is designed for beard and body hair trimming and can be used with or without a guard.

You should not however use it without a guard on sensitive body parts like the armpits or the pubic area.

It can and will nick the skin and there is another attachment specifically designed for those areas.

The precision trimmer is a similar blade, only that it’s a lot narrower and allows you to trim, edge and shape with great precision.

It’s particularly useful for a goatee or moustache.

The foil shaving head has a single foil element so it’s pretty basic. It’s only intended to be used on the face, not on the rest of the body.

It can only work effectively on short stubble and I would only use it to clean the cheeks or neck close to the beard line.

The eyebrows guard fits over the standard blade and as the name suggests, you would use it to trim the length of your eyebrows.

The last active attachment in this category is the nose and ear hair trimmer.

It’s basically a steel cylinder with a few cutouts and a blade that rotates inside of it, cutting the hairs that enter through the slots.

Since the blade doesn’t touch the skin, it’s a safe way to remove hairs in difficult to access areas like the nose and ears.

Finally, we have two adjustable guards you would mainly use to trim, maintain and fade your beard.

However, they can also work on the body or even for cutting the hair on your head.

The first guard, called a Precision guard, can be adjusted between 1 and 3mm in 0.2mm increments.

That level of precision is quite uncommon and allows you very granular control over the hair length.

You can adjust the guard by rotating the dial to the desired setting.

With the old Multigroom 9000 generation, you only get two fixed beard guards (1 and 2mm) instead of this precision guard.

The second 3-7mm adjustable guard is carried over from the older model and you can set the size in 1mm steps.

With these adjustable guards, there’s always a small compromise in terms of ergonomics and I’ll get into more detail in the performance section.

2. Hair clipping accessories

The Norelco All-in-one 9000 Series can also work as a basic hair clipper. For that, we get the following attachments:

• Extra wide trimmer
• 5 hair guards (2-16mm)
• 2 fading guards

The extra wide blade is exactly that, a standard shearing blade, only wider (40mm vs 32mm) and intended mainly for cutting the hair on the head.

It can be used as it is or with the larger hair guards; it will not work with the two adjustable guards above.

I will say however that you can use it to edge your beard as well.

Because it’s wider than the standard blade and sticks out on the sides more, you can better see what you’re doing.

The teeth are slightly larger, so it can’t cut the hair quite as close to the skin as the standard blade.

We also get 5 hair guards: 2, 4, 9, 12 and 16mm.

While you could use them to trim the beard as well (if you have a beard that’s longer than the 7mm of the larger adjustable beard guard), the teeth are rather sharp and can feel a bit scratchy on the face.

The asymmetrical fading guards are for a very specific use case. Precisely, for trimming the hair above and around your ears.

I personally never use these types of guards when cutting my hair, but could be useful to others.

3. Body grooming accessories

Finally, a multipurpose hair trimmer wouldn’t be that versatile without the ability to cut body hair.

For that, the Norelco All-in-one 9000 includes the following accessories:

• Body shaver attachment
• Body guards (usually 3mm and 5mm, but can vary depending on the model)

The Body shaver head is a rather unique attachment that according to Philips can safely trim body hair down to 0.5mm.

Moreover, it’s very gentle and skin-friendly, allowing you to safely trim the groin area and armpits as well.

The body guards fit over the standard blade and generally come in two sizes: 3mm and 5mm.

Apart from these attachments that you must fit to the groomer, my 9000 Series also includes a nice travel case, a USB charging cable and a small cleaning brush.

The MG9575/49 and MG9585/49 have the best travel case of all the models.

Philips calls it a Premium travel case.

And it does look and feel premium and there’s enough space inside to neatly fit the groomer and all the accessories, including the cable.

The case is sturdy, doesn’t flex at all when you apply pressure and will offer plenty of protection against mechanical shocks.

On the outside, there’s a rubber-like material and the zippers are very hefty and of good quality.

Build quality and ergonomics

The All-in-one 9000 Series is all about that metal body.

I know inexpensive and pricey are relative, but I think it’s quite remarkable that Philips manages to sell a groomer with a stainless steel construction and a plethora of accessories at this price.

Holding the trimmer in hand gives a feeling of solidity and heft without it being too heavy.

The brushed metal surface also has a faint bronze-like sheen compared to the previous model, which looks quite nice.

It’s arguably the groomer with the best build quality I’ve seen yet.

It even looks and feels a bit more refined than before. The subtle texture also helps in that regard.

Philips Norelco All-in-one 9000 Series

See the price on Amazon

There’s absolutely no creaking when you squeeze it firmly and it seems indestructible.

Compared to the previous generation, the rubber sleeve is larger and this improves the grip.

There’s also a thin rubber-like fascia that serves as a thumb rest when using the groomer to trim the beard or the hair on your head.

The ergonomics are really good for the most part but the type of attachment you’re using can have an impact (more details later on).

Also, you can’t really press the power button by accident which is something that would happen sometimes with the old Multigroom Series 9000.

That’s partly thanks to its placement and also because the button is now a lot harder to operate.

You must press it firmly right in the middle as the active area of the button is quite small.

Unfortunately there’s still no active travel lock on the All-in-one 9000 that can be activated via a long press.

On the bottom of the trimmer, we have the charging port.

And while it may at first look like the usual Philips two-prong port, it is different and any previous Philips chargers you may have won’t work.

There’s a plastic divider (red arrow) right between the two prongs which will prevent the old connector from fitting.

So you will always have to rely on the included cable, which has a USB-A connector at the other end.

There’s no charger part of the bundle, so you must use your own USB-A charger or a USB-A wall socket.

As mentioned earlier, one of the things that makes the All-in-one series so appealing is the multitude of accessories you get.

The quality is good or very good and the way you use and swap them is pretty seamless.

The default cutting attachment is the standard size blade which works with the adjustable combs and the body guards.

Removing any cutting accessories is simply done by pressing the top part down with your thumb.

It will pop right out and you can then fit another attachment.

Important: there are two springs inside the groomer that will push the blade out with quite a bit of force, so make sure to catch it or not to drop it on a hard surface.

Except for the two steel blades, all the cutting accessories have a symbol on them showing you where to press down to remove them.

Attaching one is very straightforward: you start by first inserting the notch at the bottom and then pressing it in place all the way until you hear a soft click.

Here’s a quick video I took that shows how to change the cutters.

Even though these accessories are very easy to remove and come right out, I never had any issues with the cutters coming off during use by accident.

You will also notice that all of them come pre-greased with some white (probably silicone-based) compound to minimize the friction between the plastic part and the motor shaft.

The fixed guards are of good quality, the plastic feels sturdy and there are no rough edges.

The two adjustable guards, in particular the precision 1-3mm which is a bit wonky and thick, will rattle slightly because it has two overlapping parts.

To fit a guard over the blade, you start at the front, making sure it sits properly over the blade and then press the bottom part firmly until it snaps into place.

To remove it, you must press the back part of the guard with the thumb and it should pop out fairly easily.

The Norelco All-in-one 9000 (metal body) weighs 216 grams (7.6oz) with the standard blade and no guard.

It’s a bit heavier than most other multipurpose trimmers but still very manageable.

Key takeaway

Overall, apart from a couple of rather minor niggles, the Philips Norelco All-in-one 9000 has a fantastic build quality with good ergonomics.

I feel like you’re getting a lot of trimmer for the money and you should also expect it to last for many years.

Battery life and charging

Apart from the solid metal construction, battery runtime is another area where other brands can’t even get close to the All-in-one/Multigroom line.

The Series 9000 boasts an industry-leading 6 hours of cordless operation.

That’s one hour more than the All-in-one 7000 for example and a lot more than any groomers from Braun or Panasonic.

And while I haven’t been able to track it in the most accurate manner (I would sometimes forget to start a timer before using it), that 6-hour claim is legit.

In fact, depending on the attachment you’re using, it seems to last beyond the 6-hour mark.

This remarkable longevity on a single charge makes the cordless-only operation a non-issue.

The chances of the battery dying on you are slim and I don’t know how many of us would use it with a wire plugged in anyway.

There’s also a 5-minute quick charge function that allows you to charge the groomer just enough for a quick 10-minute trim.

The battery indicator is a basic LED that will flash orange when the battery is almost depleted.

When that happens, you should plug it in using the included cable.

Charging my All-in-one 9000 from an almost dead battery to full took approximately two hours using a basic USB-A charger.

And that’s very impressive given the large Li-ion battery.

When charging it, the LED will flash white and then light up continuously once the battery is full.

If you don’t unplug the cable the LED will turn off after a while.

In conclusion, I really don’t have anything to complain about regarding the battery life of the All-in-one 9000.

Even if it will only operate cordless, I don’t think it will matter for the vast majority of users.

If cordless&corded operation is a must-have, then your only option would be the old Multigroom 7000 (MG7750/49) if you can still find one.

All-in-one 9000: Performance review

So far things are looking great for the Philips All-in-one 9000 Series.

But let’s see if all these things also mean a great real-world performance.

Since the All-in-one Series 9000 is supposed to be a jack of all trades, the potential use cases are plentiful.

I will address each one separately after using the groomer regularly for almost two years now.

There are some similarities and differences vs other devices like the All-in-one 7000 or even a Body Groomer 7000, so I will refer to those as well.

Trimming body hair

Like most other hair trimmers, the Philips All-in-one 9000 is what I like to call a push-style trimmer.

This means that you’ll be pushing it against the hair instead of pulling like you would for example with a Philips OneBlade.

Basically, with a push-style groomer, your hand will be behind it (pushing it). This has some surprisingly significant implications.

Both types have their pros and cons, but in the case of push-style groomers like the Philips All-in-one 9000, the main drawback is that it can sometimes skip and hop over the skin.

That can happen if the quality of the blade/guards is low and especially if the skin is a bit damp.

Luckily, that’s not the case here and the guards glide smoothly over the skin.

When trimming body hair, you will be using the standard blade and the guards of your choice.

The All-in-one 9000 usually comes with two guards specifically designed for trimming the hair below the neck.

There’s a 3mm and 5mm guard and these will be suitable for most users.

I prefer leaving the hair somewhat longer on my legs and forearms and shorter on my abs and chest.

So I used the 5mm and 3mm guards, respectively, to achieve that.

I would have liked a small and a large guard as well, but since we don’t get them, I actually used the adjustable beard guards and they worked just fine for body hair as well.

If you want an even shorter trim, there’s the Body shaver attachment that according to Philips will cut the hair at 0.5mm.

I actually think it gets even slightly closer and it works really well.

The closeness would be similar to using the standard blade without a guard, but it is safer and more forgiving.

Using this Body shaver head also turns the All-in-one 9000 into a pull-style trimmer as you’ll be pulling it toward you for most of the time.

The Body shaver head has two edges, so in theory, you can also push it, but it’s quite cumbersome and you don’t have much leverage.

But getting back to trimming body hair, the Philips All-in-one 9000 turned out to be highly capable, with a torquey motor, very sharp and effective blade and high quality guards.

Using the 5mm guard and the standard blade, I was able to trim the hair on my legs without much effort.

I only had some trouble when cutting the hair on the hamstrings; using a push-style trimmer to get the flat-lying hairs on the back of my legs is always tricky.

A pull-style head with a guard like the Bodygroom 5000 or 7000 is better in this very specific scenario. But I got it done nevertheless after a bit more work.

If you want the hair longer than 5mm, your only option would be to use the larger beard guard in the 7mm setting.

That one also works fine but it is a bit scratchier than the body guards as the teeth are sharper.

If you just want to debulk and need an even larger guard, you are somewhat limited.

The 9 to 16mm hair guards that fit over the wide blade are really pointy and scratch the skin, so it won’t be a good experience to use them on the body.

So for trimming body hair, the All-in-one Series 9000 is usually limited at 7mm — that is the length of the remaining hair.

If you need more than that, the old Bodygroom 7000 for example comes with an adjustable body guard of up to 11mm.

But that one cannot be used to trim your beard; it’s only meant for body hair and it’s getting difficult to find nowadays.

The MG9585/49 with its larger 2mm guard could be a solution, although it costs quite a bit more than the MG9575/49.

Trimming chest, abs and forearm hair posed no issues and the Philips All-in-one 9000 was very effective and enjoyable to use.

The body guards have blunt teeth that don’t scratch the skin and glide very smoothly.

As mentioned earlier, the Body Shaver attachment cuts the hair really short (less than 0.5 mm), so I only used it for pubic hair and armpits which I’ll address separately in the next section.

Key takeaways

The Philips All-in-one 9000 is very effective at trimming body hair if you want the remaining hair length to be anywhere between 0.5mm to 7mm.

It’s just as good on short and long hair and even if you have a lot of body hair it’s more than capable with its sharp blade and a powerful and quiet motor.

But again, if you just want to trim some of the bulk and the post-trim length of the hair must be longer than 7mm, then you should check out some of the alternatives at the end of the article.

Also, the All-in-one 9000 doesn’t include an extra long extension for trimming the hair on your back.

If that’s something you’ll be needing, the Body Groomer 7000 is a trimmer that comes with such an accessory.

Groin/pubic hair and armpits

Trimming the genitals and other sensitive areas is different than trimming hair on the rest of the body and I think it warrants a separate section.

The Norelco All-in-one 9000 with the standard blade (and no guard) is not suitable to be used on these areas as it will nick the skin.

So you would have to use either one of the 3mm or 5mm body guards or the Body Shaver attachment.

Most men however will want a close trim down there so the Body Shaver head is the one to use.

If you just want to tidy up, the two body guards work really well, they’re not overly bulky and they’re easy to use.

However, if the hair is lying flat on the skin (and that’s often the case with pubic hair for example), the bigger the guard, the more difficult it will be to catch and cut those hairs.

As a result, some of them will not get cut. But it’s the same with any other trimmer, so I can’t really fault this one.

The Body Shaver head is on the other hand very effective even if the hairs are curly and stay flat on the skin.

It’s a rather unique cutting head with two edges that have rounded teeth and a plastic guiding comb.

This comb however sits flush with the metal blade, so it doesn’t have an impact on the closeness.

Its purpose is to guide the hairs into the shearing blade and probably also to prevent any potential nicks.

And I must say that in that regard it is outstanding.

It’s arguably the most forgiving cutting head designed for sensitive areas that I’ve used so far.

And yes, it’s even more forgiving than the foil head of the Philips Body Groomer 5000 or 7000 which can still cut the skin if a hair gets snagged.

I’ve tested the Body Shaver head constantly and not once did it cut the skin while using it to trim pubic hair.

You still need to apply only light pressure and use slow, controlled strokes against the direction of hair growth.

Also, the longer and denser the hair, the slower you should move the cutting head to avoid any hairs getting snagged.

The Body shaver attachment is quite slim and as I mentioned in the previous section, it turns the All-in-one 9000 into a pull-style trimmer.

And that is ideal when cutting pubic hair.

I only have two minor gripes with this Body shaver attachment.

The first is that if the plastic comb breaks, this will affect its performance and effectiveness. I have no reason to believe that it will break, as it seems quite sturdy.

I also have a Bodygroom 1100 which uses a very similar design, but that one had a much flimsier guiding comb which did break after a few months of use.

Again, it doesn’t seem to be a problem here, but I just think it can’t hurt being extra careful with it.

The second niggle is that the Body Shaver attachment doesn’t cut the hair quite at skin level.

So if you want a very close and smooth trim in the groin area, you won’t be able to get it with the All-in-one 9000.

You would need to get a Body Groomer model instead that uses a hybrid head with a foil element that can cut the hair closer to the skin.

With the Philips All-in-one 9000 and the Body Shaver head, the result isn’t perfectly smooth and has that sandpapery feel.

I think for many men it can be good enough and also the risk of irritation and razor bumps will be minimal (I didn’t get any at all).

But again, it won’t be the closest shave you can get.

For armpit hair, I think the Body shaver head is a great attachment and works really well.

I don’t mind that it cuts the hair at 0.5mm and in fact, I think it’s better that way as the skin in that area can get irritated very easily.

By not cutting the hair as close to the skin, the risk of getting bumps and irritation is very low.

Again, you can just use the standard blade with a 3mm or 5mm guard on the armpits as well if you want some extra length there.

I prefer a short trim, so the Body Shaver head would be my pick.

Do not try it with the standard blade and no guard because it can cut the skin.

Key takeaways

The Norelco All-in-one 9000 Series can provide an effective, safe and comfortable trim even on sensitive areas using the included Body Shaver Attachment.

The closeness of 0.5mm is not however the best out there; a Philips Body Groomer will cut the hair closer to the skin for a smoother finish.

Again, if you decide to get a Body Groomer instead, that one can only be used below the neck, so it won’t work as a beard trimmer.

Trimming the beard

Most of the cutters and guards included with Philips All-in-one (Multigroom) 9000 are specifically designed for beard trimming and styling.

As such, it should allow you to do pretty much anything to your beard.

The cutter you’ll be using the most is of course the standard blade that works with the two adjustable beard guards.

Using it without any guard will allow you to do some precise cuts and edging and the blade cuts really well and smoothly.

You can also trim down an entire beard effortlessly before shaving (should you ever need to do that).

While with the old Multigroom 9000 there were 5 fixed guards of different sizes (7, 5, 3, 2 and 1mm), with the current All-in-one models we get at least two adjustable guards:

• 1–3mm
• 3–7mm

The first one, also called a precision guard, can be adjusted in 0.2mm steps.

That level of control will come in handy when fading the beard or simply to get a very precise beard length.

But it also has a downside, in the sense that it makes the guard quite thick and bulky.

The whole mechanism is built into the guard itself and has a rotating dial for selecting the length.

This dial is usually integrated into the trimmer’s body as it’s the case with the Braun All-in-One Series 5 for example which uses a much simpler (and thinner) guard.

But with the All-in-one 9000, everything is packed inside this guard.

As you can see in the image above, it’s quite thick and wonky and also wobbles a bit.

Because it’s so tall, it means you’ll be holding the trimmer at a 90-degree angle relative to the face.

And it’s just a bit awkward; normally you would hold a beard trimmer at a sharper angle.

However, it still works perfectly fine.

I only had a problem with it when trimming my neck as the back of the guard (the rotating selector) would be touching the skin during an upward stroke.

But again, it was manageable and I think it’s overall a worthy compromise.

You basically have 11 guards in a single piece and you don’t have to constantly switch between them.

The other adjustable guard is a larger and simpler attachment that can be adjusted between 3mm and 7mm in 1mm steps.

Because of that, it is thinner and feels more robust as well.

Selecting a particular length is as simple as moving a tiny green lever to the corresponding number.

It works very well and it’s even easier to use since it’s not as tall and doesn’t protrude as much at the back.

If you want a beard longer than 7mm, you would need to switch to the extra-wide blade and use one of the larger fixed hair guards (9mm to 16mm).

Those are meant for clipping the hair on the head, but they should work just fine for the beard as well.

Side note: there are a couple of larger adjustable beard guards available separately. More details on that in the Replacement parts availability section.

The very narrow precision blade is something I didn’t use much as it’s meant for fine detail work around a moustache, goatee and so on.

The foil head attachment transforms the All-in-one 9000 into a very basic foil shaver if you need a clean, smooth shave on a small area.

And I say small area because it can’t really handle anything else.

It has a single narrow foil element that can cut short hair at skin level.

You can use it to clean the top of the cheeks or your neck of any remaining stubble and get quite close to the beard line.

It only works well on short hair, so you will sometimes need to pre-trim that area with the blade attachment and no guard.

Key takeaways

Overall, the Philips All-in-one 9000 is a highly capable beard trimmer and the compromises made are in my opinion worth it.

I’m referring particularly to the adjustable guards that are very practical and useful despite some rather minor quirks.

Hair clipper

With the extra-wide blade and 5 hair guards (plus 2 fading guards), the Norelco All-in-one 9000 can be a decent hair clipper.

I’ve actually been cutting my hair myself since the lockdown and during this time I’ve become quite interested in hair clippers and trimmers.

In my opinion the All-in-one 9000 can only be used regularly (as your main clipper) if you need a very simple, uniform buzz cut.

Five guards with significant size differences between them and no adjusting lever for the blade are just not good enough for anything more than that.

Also, there’s the problem I mentioned previously: you must hold the trimmer more upright vs using a dedicated hair clipper (because of the angle of the blade).

It makes holding the trimmer a bit uncomfortable and puts some stress on your wrist.

Here it is next to a Wahl Magic Clip showing the angle of the blade&guard relative to the body:

Again, if you only want a simple buzz cut (with no fade), it will be perfectly fine.

But otherwise, even the most basic inexpensive corded clipper will be better.

Nose, ears and eyebrows

The nose and ear hair trimmer works surprisingly well and it attaches to the groomer just like the other cutters.

It’s essentially a metal tube with a rotating blade inside that cuts any hairs entering through the openings.

The trimmer cuts the hair very smoothly, without any pinching or pulling.

You can safely use it to cut the hairs inside the nose and ears, so you won’t need another separate tool for this.

The eyebrows guard fits over the standard blade and it’s just like a regular guard, but a lot narrower.

There’s no size info for this particular guard, but I measured it and the length of the remaining eyebrow hair is just over 5mm.

For most of us, it should be a safe size and it works well enough, especially if you trim your eyebrows less often and the hairs are longer.

If the hairs are only slightly longer than 5mm, many of them will not get cut since they usually stay flat.

If you happen to prefer shorter or longer eyebrows, you should be able to use the adjustable beard guards as well.

Just make sure to start with a larger guard as you can always trim more if needed.

Noise during use

The Philips All-in-one Series 9000 is fitted with a powerful and smooth motor that also happens to be very quiet.

That said, the level of noise during use will vary depending on the cutting attachment you’re using.

When there’s no cutter fitted to the groomer, the noise is barely perceptible.

With the standard and extra wide blades, you can definitely hear it but it’s still reasonably quiet and refined.

There’s a constant, low hum that doesn’t get much louder when the hairs are getting clipped.

The noise increases slightly with the Body Shaver attachment.

The loudest are (at least to my ear) the nose trimmer and the foil head.

When those are used, the noise is similar to a typical foil shaver, so rather loud.

Luckily, with the cutters you’ll be using the most, the All-in-one 9000 remains fairly quiet and refined.

A Philips Body Groomer 7000 for example is louder, rattlier and vibrates more (when fitted with the foil head attachment).

Cleaning and maintenance

Electric shavers and trimmers should be cleaned regularly to ensure good hygiene and to keep them running smoothly.

The Philips All-in-one 9000 is fully waterproof, which makes cleaning it very straightforward and simple.

After every use, you should thoroughly rinse the groomer and the cutter with warm tap water.

The trimmer should be turned off and the charging cable detached.

It’s highly recommended to remove the blade/cutting attachment as well, give it one final rinse inside out and also clean the inside of the groomer.

Some clipped hairs will get trapped inside the hair chamber and if enough of them plus some grime will accumulate in there, the shaft may not turn freely.

If there are still some stubborn hairs left after rinsing, you can use the included brush to remove them.

After that, I like to shake off the excess water and let everything air dry.

Tip: don’t attach the blade (or any other cutter) to the groomer while it’s still damp as it will take a lot longer to dry.

Also, only store the groomer in the case once it’s fully dry.

The All-in-one 9000 is basically maintenance-free: you don’t have to lubricate the blades, which stay sharp and don’t get overly warm.

That said, using a spray lubricant for clippers on the standard and extra wide blades can only be beneficial.

I like to spray them every once in a while just to keep them cool and running very smoothly.

My spray of choice is the Andis CoolCare Plus; it’s a very effective lubricant that also cleans the blades of sebum and grime and protects against corrosion.

Again, it’s not required and Philips explicitly says that you don’t have to do anything of the sort.

Replacement parts availability

Almost all the included accessories are available for purchase separately from Philips Norelco’s Encompass shop.

So if you lose a guard or it gets damaged, you can buy another one.

The cutting attachments are also available, including the standard and extra wide blades and the Body Shaver attachment.

There are also a couple of large adjustable beard guards: 9-13mm and 16-20mm.

These are not included with the popular All-in-one 9000 MG9575/49 and could be useful if you want a longer beard.

Or you can just get the MG9585/49 variation that includes these larger guards as well.

The price of most of these accessories is pretty reasonable, but some are a bit expensive, like the Body Shaver attachment or the foil head.

The two blades are however the most important and normally you shouldn’t need to replace them for years (unless you ding or lose them).

Philips doesn’t even mention a replacement interval in the user instructions.

Takeaway: Should you buy the All-in-one 9000?

The Philips Norelco All-in-one 9000 is a highly versatile, effective and durable trimmer that can handle pretty much everything.

It’s built to last, comes with many useful accessories and the battery life is outstanding.

See the price on Amazon

Granted, there are a few compromises, which is always the case with all-in-one groomers.

The adjustable guards are a bit bulky and the All-in-one 9000 isn’t as impressive when used as a hair clipper.

But other than those two pet peeves, it’s a very compelling package that offers a lot at this price point and comes with a fantastic build quality.

If you ever wanted a single tool with the fewest shortcomings to handle all your grooming needs, literally from head to toe, I think the All-in-one 9000 is among the very best.

Let’s now see when you should consider other options depending on your needs and budget.

Alternatives

Philips All-in-one 7000 vs 9000

We have of course to mention the 7000, which is a highly popular (and compelling) sub-series in the All-in-one lineup.

Here are the three main differences between 7000 and the 9000:

• The All-in-one 9000 has a larger battery (6 vs 5 hours)
• The All-in-one 7000 doesn’t include the Body Shaver attachment
• The All-in-one 7000 only comes with a flimsy textile pouch
• There are usually fewer guards included with the more affordable 7000 models

Now, the All-in-one 7000 can often be bought for quite a bit less than the 9000:

See the price on Amazon

And if the cons listed above aren’t deal breakers, then I think it makes more sense to get the 7000 instead.

It’s just as capable and powerful, features the same metal body and the battery is only slightly smaller (depending on the model, just like in the case of the 9000 Series).

It comes with the same excellent and useful accessories, but you only get a very basic cinch pouch case instead of the nice travel bag.

Personally, I think the All-in-one 9000 is worth the extra money.

The Body Shaver attachment is very useful for a reasonably close trim on the genitals and other sensitive areas, while the hard travel case keeps everything well organized and protected.

So unless you can buy the 7000 for a lot less, I would pick the 9000 instead.

Philips Body Groomer 7000 vs All-in-one 9000

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If you only need a trimmer to be used below the neck, I would suggest the Body Groomer 7000 instead of an All-in-one 7000/9000.

Considering you don’t need the beard trimming functions, a Philips Body Groomer is a more effective tool for a very close trim in the groin area (and the rest of the body).

Because it uses that unique foil+blades head, it can shave closer than the Body shaver attachment that comes with the All-in-one 9000.

It also has a standard blade attachment + adjustable guards (1–7mm) for the rest of the body.

However, I would again only recommend the Body Groomer if you need a close shave, in which case its foil head works better than the All-in-one 9000.

Otherwise, the latter is just better and offers more (much larger battery, metal build, many accessories).

The Body Groomer 7000 does have a back extension, which could be useful to some men and it’s a rather unique accessory.

Panasonic ER-GK80-S

Finally, if you just need a body groomer for a quick tidy-up, meaning you just want to trim the bulk, I think this Panasonic is a worthy alternative.

See the price on Amazon

In fact, if you prefer to keep some length, this is arguably a better option.

The two guards allow you to set a hair length between 2 and 12mm, and the unique grip makes it super comfortable and easy to use.

But again, if you need a close trim, this won’t be ideal.

It’s also only meant to shave body hair, unlike the Philips All-in-one 9000, which can do everything.

That pretty much wraps up my review of the Philips All-in-one 9000 Series.

If you have any further questions or you’d like to share your experience with it, make sure to leave a comment below.