Brio Beardscape V2 Beard Trimmer Review: Better than V1 & Braun Trimmer?

Brio Beardscape V2 has been one of the most feature-heavy, futuristic and skin friendly beard trimmers that has undergone my scrutinizing assessment.

It doesn’t rely on raw sharpness or aggressive motor power. Rather, it gives you the opportunity to choose the amount of power you want as the input.

There are many things I appreciate about the Beardscape V2, while some areas feel like the brand could’ve done better.

Also, to appease the research-enthusiastic groomers, I’ll be comparing the V2 with the V1 from the same line as well as Braun’s iconic beard trimmer - so stick around for that by the end!

Brio Beardscape V2 Trimmer: Specs

This technical specifications section is like a feature-summary, all in one place so that you can make sense of what we’ll be dealing with today!

• Dimensions: 17.5 × 4.4 × 3.5 cm
• Weight: 8.1 oz
• Colors: 2 (Black, Gray)
• Guards: 4
• Blade Type: Ceramic
• Blade Gap Adjustment: Yes (1.0 mm - 1.9 mm)
• Motor Power: 5,000–7,000 RPM (5 Levels)
• Waterproof: No
• Battery Runtime: 3 Hours (Depends on Motor Speed)
• Battery Indicator: Smart LCD Display
• Charging: USB Type-C + Charging Dock
• Travel Lock: Yes

Pros & Cons

Let me swiftly go over the pros and cons for the Beardscape V2 to set the baseline for this unique, comfortable beard trimmer!

What I Like

• Skin-safe ceramic blade is very safe, catering to sensitive skin users
• Blade gap adjustment enables blended beard looks
• Variable motor power allows torque control for specific skin areas
• Long battery life spans between 2 to 4 hours, depending on motor speed
• Smart LCD shows you every necessary information
• Travel lock, lighter weight and USB-C charging render it travel-friendly

Areas for Improvement

• Cannot create crisp outlines due to lack of zero-gap
• Guards are low in quality, also oversized
• Bulky handle & futuristic design can overwhelm some groomers

Verdict

Brio Beardscape V2 is a control and safety-first beard trimmer that lets you customize the device’s inputs as per your requirement. With a ceramic blade, easy to adjust blade gap and variable motor power, it resonates well with sensitive skin, irritation-free beard grooming.

Unboxing the Brio Beardscape V2

Let’s unbox the Brio Beardscape V2 now! It’s a tall, robust box that slides out toward you, exposing the handle and the dock stashed firmly into their slots.

Upon pulling the trimmer and the dock out, as well as removing the plastic holder, you’ll gain access to the two accessory boxes.

These boxes have illustrations to tell you what each contains. Inside one, you get the charging adapter, the other box houses a cleaning brush, lubricant and blade guards.

I reckon the overall box is compact for delivery, but not small enough to take with you for travel. 

What’s Inside the Box: Brio Beardscape V2 Trimmer, 1 Charger (USB-C), 1 Charging Stand, 4 Guide Combs, 1 Cleaning Brush, 1 Lubricant, User Manual.

Brio Beardscape V2 Trimmer: Which Features Stand Out?

In this section, I’m going to give you a highlight of the features that I believe to be the backbone of the V2 and right after I’ll break those down one by one.

Feature Highlights

• Ceramic blades glide safely on skin, especially ideal for sensitive neck and jaw
• Blade gap between 1.0 mm to 1.9 mm can be adjusted with a slider
• Adjust your motor torque between 5,000 to 7,000 RPM in 5 increments
• Blade gap adjustment allows you to create blended beard styles
• 8.1 ounces of weight and ergonomic handle enable higher control over glides
• Around 3 hour battery life feels sufficient, USB-C & dock charging make it even better

Modern, Tech-Forward Aesthetics

The housing design for the Beardscape V2 is symmetrical and elongated. Thus, the handle gives the trimmer a futuristic, tech-forward look.

My color variant is the black one, where a white ceramic blade sits up top and a golden tooth is placed on its back. It’s not minimal, instead, I’d call the design functional.

There’s a lot going on in the front. All the buttons and screen might seem overwhelming, but once you get to know it, you’ll see these all become conveniences.

Matte-Finished Grip

In terms of housing texture, there’s a matte plastic coating going on to improve grip levels and prevent slipping in case you have sweaty palms.

Its sizable handle of 17.5 mm length calls for a full hand bear grip. Fingertip control is not a possibility for this. Your thumb has a natural resting spot near the gap slider.

At the back, there are some textures for the secondary gap along with heat dissipation. I’d say Beardscape V2’s grip is comfortable for extended grooming despite being sizable.

Solid Build Quality with Some Tradeoffs

Unlike Norelco trimmers, the Beardscape V2 is made with plastic. It’s durable to a certain extent. Ceramic blades are there for comfort, but the dulling tendency is faster than SS.

However, the inner components like motor or battery do hold up for a very long time. Based on my tests, Brio’s housing can survive normal drops.

But it’s not something you’d want to use inside a barbershop. The longevity is good enough for home groomers at the given price point.

Balanced but Noticeable Weight - 8.1 oz

I personally measured Brio Beardscape V2’s weight and it’s 8.1 ounces to be exact. While it seems average, I believe it’s heavier than compact beard trimmers like Manscaped.

The weight improves stability of your strokes and gives you higher precision, longer grooming sessions might require you to take breaks every now and then.

It’s still portable, don’t get me wrong. I’d categorize the Beardscape among the bulker travel-centric devices.

Hair clippers are generally much heavier than this. Brio ranks in between clippers and trimmers, weight-wise, the balance seems perfect though.

Adjustable Ceramic Skin-Safe Blade

What works for the Beardscape V2 is its rounded ceramic teeth blades. The glides are meant to be safer for skin with such blade materials. It’s not zero-overlapped and the shortest trim you can get out of this is 1.0 mm.

While it’s not the closest trimming device, blending is definitely a great benefit with this tool. Using the blade gap slider built into the handle, you can widen the gap up to 1.9 mm with 4 increment points.

You won’t be getting crisp outlines or sharp edge up works. There is a separate stainless steel blade purchase option for the V2 in case you require such results, but it’s not going to be as safe.

5,000-7,000 RPM Multi-Mode Motor

Another factor contributing to skin safety for the Beardscape V2 is its variable motor power. You can alter between 5,000 to 7,000 RPM with 5 increment points.

The plus/minus buttons on the handle let you toggle the settings. Lower settings generally cater to mustache trimming, sensitive areas or generally less coarse facial hair.

Higher speed settings are meant for bulk trimming as more torque improves efficiency. The operations are generally quieter and produce less vibration.

Long Runtime with Smart Power Management

I can’t pin down a particular battery life duration for the V2 because it depends on the motor speed setting you’re operating on.

If you’re using lower torque, the battery life goes up to 4 hours. For higher RPM modes, it barely crosses 2 hours. Thus, I can conclude that the 2,200 mAh li-ion battery lasts for an average of 3 hours.

USB Type-C charging is certainly an added benefit for traveling groomers. Home groomers can utilize the charging dock for easy recharging and storage.

Informative LCD Screen

Brio Beardscape V2 probably hosts the largest LCD screen I’ve ever found on a premium beard trimmer. This display contains all sorts of information for you.

For instance, it shows numeric values for the motor speed, blade gap, remaining battery time in minutes. Also, a 5-bar visual battery indicator makes it easier to discern.

The fonts used are clear and legible. Since it’s a feature-heavy tool, this LCD screen does come in handy. It also shows whether the travel-lock is engaged or not (pressing down the power button for 5 seconds engages/disengages the lock).

4 Functional but Underwhelming Guards

You’ll find four dual-sided blade guards inside the Brio box. These guards do not feel practical in my opinion, mainly due to their large size and average build quality.

While these guards are somewhat alright for bulk beard trimming, these don’t feel capable of precision work.

The guards are: 1-2 mm, 3-6 mm, 9-12 mm, 15-18 mm. Flipping around gives you access to either length on each guard. Guards snap on but don’t arouse confidence.

How was My Experience of Using the Brio Beardscape V2?

Here, I’m going to shed light on my personal usage, likings and discontentments about the Beardscape V2’s practical aspects.

Experience Highlights

• Minimum cutting length of 1.0 mm lets you safe blends & natural beard styles
• Rounded ceramic blades remove chances of nicks, redness or irritation
• Adjustable motor offers good efficiency by balancing comfort with power
• Versatile enough for all sorts of facial hair grooming, some body grooming also possible
• Battery life varied based on some factors, but never ran out before 2 hours
• Guide combs felt too bulky for comfort

Not that Close Trims

As you could see from the features highlights that the closest the V2 can trim at is 1.0 mm, when you fully close the slider.

The slider itself is handy though, letting me alter the blade gap from 1.0 to 1.9 mm with four positions where the blades remain locked.

These positions are highlighted in the LCD panel for convenience. Although the shortest trims are stubbles, the blended outcomes felt natural and easier to attain!

Outstanding Skin Comfort

I’m blown away by the skin comfort the Beardscape V2 has been able to offer me even without the guards on. If anything, the guards feel worse than direct blade contact.

I believe three things factor in here - the ceramic blade, the significant gap between blade teeth and the gentle, adjustable motor.

Utilizing these three aspects, the cutting actions against the most sensitive skin areas have been kind, tug, irritation and redness-free! Certainly recommended!

Good-enough Efficiency

When it comes to efficiency, I’m not gonna call the V2 the fastest beard trimmer out there. It certainly has its flaws and it mostly stems from the conservative ceramic blade.

It does make up for that to some extent by the faster motor. You may bulk trim your beard but it could take slightly longer than the sharper, stainless steel units like Wahl or Multigroom 9000.

I’ve witnessed trimming to be swifter on lighter density and finer textures. If you have kinky facial hair, you should consider the Brio trimmer only for styling and maintenance purposes, not bulk removal.

Beard, Stubble, Mustache - Versatile Enough?

Beardscape V2 is indeed versatile but not in the normal sense. For instance, it’s not going to cater to all beard types or textures.

But it will certainly deliver the precise amount of power needed for your stubble, mustache or medium length beards utilizing the adjustable motor system.

Also, the alterable blade gap slider will allow you to add tapers or gradients to your beard. If you’re overly interested, you may use it for basic body grooming, thanks to the safe ceramic blade.

Cleaning & Maintenance

Since the Brio V2 is not a waterproof tool, you have to do all of the cleaning in dry mode only. So the basics are there to be performed - brush, wipe and lubricate.

The cleaning brush inside the box does come in handy here as you can use it to remove debris and stray hair after each session.

Oil the blades at least once a month to keep it smooth, although there’s no threat of rusting. Since the handle is matte, you may need to wipe it more frequently than other devices.

How was the Brio Beardscape V2 Trimmer Tested?

Other than stress tests of motor and battery, or close inspections of each of the external elements, I took the Beardscape V2 through my standard assessment system.

The tests spanned between long, medium and short beards, mustaches, sideburns, neck hair and so on. All the blade gaps and motor speed combinations were tried.

Special tests were carefully observed over sensitive skin areas. Guard-on groomings informed about the build and performance quality other than comfort.

I also incorporated feedback from other V2 consumers - both regular and ones with sensitive skin. This article is a combination of all such information and knowledge.

Who Should Consider Buying the Brio Beardscape V2 Trimmer?

The primary consumer group to find the Beardscape V2 an interesting prospect are groomers who have sensitive or reactive skin.

Secondly, if you’re into blended, tapered or gradient beards with soft finishes, Brio certainly is here to satisfy your needs.

In case you’re a new groomer and wish to buy something that’s not too aggressive and has margin for error, Beardscape V2 excels at that.

From what I’ve seen, younger consumers find the V2 more alluring than consumers who don’t prefer futuristic gadgets. There’s certainly a learning curve to the system and it’s not exactly a cheap trimmer.

Brio Beardscape V1 vs V2 vs Manscaped Beard Hedger: What are the Differences?

It’s a triple-threat battle today between the older and newer Brio beard trimmers and the sophisticated Beard Hedger by Manscaped!

Let me first get the Beardscape V1 and V2 comparison out of the way since there aren’t many. The following section should answer all the questions you have.

Brio Beardscape V1 vs V2: Worth the Upgrade?

There are more similarities than differences between the V1 and V2. For instance, the ceramic blades, 5-speed motors and 2,2000 mAh 2-4 hour battery life remains the same.

Also, the grooming operations and outcomes are nearly identical, not much to distinguish with authority.

The only difference I’ve noticed is in the grip levels. V2 offers higher traction with its revamped matte housing. Also, V2’s LCD screen is miles better as V1’s looks sub-par to say the least.

Lastly, for travel enthusiasts, Beardscape V2 has added a travel lock. A minor change in the V2 is that its round power button now contains an LED backlight which is absent in the V1.

Verdict: In case you already own a Beardscape V1, the upgrade to V2 is not worth it. If you’re going to buy one of the two, go for the V2 if you have the budget for it.

Brio vs Manscaped: Battle Between V2 and Beard Hedger!

I can’t find any similarity between the Brio Beardscape V2 and Manscaped Beard Hedger, except for the fact that these two beard trimmers are safe for skin. Let’s take a look at the differences!

Housing, Grip, Weight

The housing principles for these two trimmers are quite different as Brio went for a fully matte finish contrasting Mascaped’s glossy-matte combo.

Also, the Beard Hedger weighs significantly less at 6.3 ounces, Brio cranks the length as well as weighs up to 8.1 ounces.

From my perspective, Beard Hedger is more pleasant and easygoing to glide around my face. Brio is good enough, as long as I take frequent breaks.

Blade Type, Material & Teeth Gap 

Blade design is another strong varying factor for the two despite being skin-friendly. Beardscape endorses a wide, ceramic blade whereas Beard Hedger blade is a zero-gapped T-Blade.

The latter also performs better when it comes to bulk removal and outlining. Brio blades have the capability of blending your beard.

Brio’s blade gap slider is unique for a beard trimmer, allowing you to alter the teeth gap between 1.0 mm to 1.9 mm with a flick of your thumb.

Motor, Power & Adjustment

Manscaped Beard Hedger’s DC motor is static and torques at 7,200 RPM. In terms of noise, vibration and heat, both are quite similar.

The Beardscape V2 motor has 5 speed settings between 5,000 RPM to 7,000 RPM. They both cater to similar beard textures and densities.

But the great thing about Brio is that you get to pick a particular speed setting for a precise cause. On Manscaped, you have to rely on whatever you get.

Battery, Charging & Indicator

Brio Beardscape V2 is futuristic with its large LCD screen which shows every necessary information. It generally resonates with younger groomers who claim themselves to be tech-savvy.

Beard Hedger’s indicator is traditional yet modern-looking - a three-bar LED indicator system. It also comes short in terms of battery life, lasting only an hour with a full charge.

 Brio’s battery life is one of the longest in a beard trimmer, between 2 to 4 hours. They both employ a USB Type-C port for charging. Brio extends convenience with the inclusion of a charging dock.

Guards, Wheels & Travel-Lock

The Beardscape V2 comes short in the guard combs. They are poorly made and the rotating design can be confusing. The range spans between 1 mm to 18 mm.

On this note, Beard Hedger’s built-in zoom wheel with the complementary adjustable guard is a clear winner. It’s convenient and ranges between 0.5 mm to 10 mm. Neither caters to longer beards.

For travel enthusiasts, Beard Hedger’s compact, solid case is a blessing. Brio doesn’t have anything like this as you’ll have to make do with the travel lock feature.

Key Takeaway: Those preferring closer trims on your beard and wish for a convenient guard length alteration, Manscaped Beard Hedger should be the one you consider.

 Groomers who prioritize skin safety over everything else, enjoy natural blends on beards and particular speed setting for individual facial hair areas, Brio Beardscape V2 is going to treat you just right!

FAQ

Last but not the least, these FAQs on Brio Beardscape V2 should give you further information on these comfy beard and mustache trimmer!

Q: Is there a sharper blade option for the Brio Beardscape V2?

Ans: Yes! There is a separate purchase option for the Beardscape V2 in the form of a 0.2 mm stainless steel blade. It’s sold by Brio themselves and this lets you craft outlines and closer stubble results. However, it’s not as safe as the ceramic blade. There are two color choices - black and gold.

Q: Can the Brio V2 be used while charging?

Ans: Technically, you can use the Beardscape V2 while it’s connected to power via a USB cable. But for safety reasons, I’m not going to recommend it. Let it charge up fully and then harness the power of the beautiful cutting system.

Q: What’s the charging time for the Beardscape V2 from Brio?

Ans: From zero to hundred, Brio V2 takes around 3 hours. The USB Type-C cable has proven to be faster in terms of charging. The dock might take 30 to 50 minutes extra to charge up the same amount.

Concluding Remarks

In conclusion, the Brio Beardscape V2 announces itself as a valid comfort-focused and customizable beard trimmer.

It prioritizes smooth and irritation-free glides over all skin conditions. Also, the styling concentrates more on natural blends instead of sharp, crispy beards.

The combination of the adjustable blade and motor along with a long battery life, Brio V2 vows to become your daily maintenance tool and frequent travel companion.

The price may seem overwhelming, but considering its predictable and comfortable results with minimum effort, both veteran and amateur groomers can realize its value for money!