Philips Multigroom 5000 Review: Is the Multigroom 3000 Similar?

Do you believe it’s really possible to have everything between a solid build quality to a long battery life, not to mention multiple blades - all in one device on a budget price?

It’s not a fantasy, it’s reality. And that reality is evident in the Philips Multigroom 5000 trimming device, compressing a shockingly high amount of value in one tool.

Let’s not pretend it’s going to perform like a luxury powerhouse such as the 9000 series, but it gets the job done quietly, consistently and serves itself to the budget-conscious groomers.

Based on my experience with it, I can certainly claim that it’s not a gimmick, rather something that’s highly reliable in the mid-tier card. Today, let’s dive into ‘why’.

Philips Norelco Multigroom 5000, MG5750/18: Specs

Before we go any further, let me go over the technical specifications for the Philips Multigroom 5000, from its dimensions to the warranty duration, all in one place.

• Dimensions: 16.2 × 3.0 × 3.0 cm
• Weight: 6.5 Ounces
• Housing Material: High-grade plastic with rubber grip
• Main Blade: DualCut Self-Sharpening Steel Blade
• Additional Blade Heads: 3
• Guard Attachments: 18+ (depending on variant)
• Water Resistance: Fully washable (including attachments)
• Battery Runtime: 3 hours (Lithium-ion)
• Charging: Full charge within 1 hour
• Operation: Corded + Cordless (depends on region)
• Warranty: 4–5 years (varies according to vendors)
• Variants: MG5970/49 (18 accessories with Ti blade & pouch); MG5910/49 (same, without the blade & pouch); MG5750/49 (older, no adjustable comb)

Pros & Cons

I’ll briefly mention the things I absolutely love about this trimmer and highlight a few of the shortcomings.

What I Like

• Strong performance that gives you great value for money
• Beginner-friendly, lightweight and easy to maneuver
• DualCut blades are self-sharpening, and remain so for a long time
• Includes almost every necessary attachment for beard, hair and body
• Washable design, same goes for the attachments
• Remains quiet during the grooming operations

Areas for Improvement

• Housing is crafted mostly with plastic
• Not as powerful as the more expensive trimmers
• Guards might feel flimsy at times

Verdict

Philips Multigroom 5000 can be regarded as one of the best mid-level grooming kits you can hope to buy. It’s versatile in many different ways, caters to your beard, hair and body grooming tasks and it’s super easy to use, even when you’re a beginner in the field!

Unboxing the Philips Norelco Multigroom 5000

Philips Multigroom 5000 will arrive at your doorstep inside a compact box. The box doesn’t look premium like the top-end Norelco models, but rest assured, everything remains safe inside.

Once you take a peek inside the box, past the sleek and functional presentation, you’ll locate a cloth travel pouch that holds all the accessories inside.

On the plastic crevice, the trimmer itself sits along with the blade heads and a couple of accessories at your disposal.

Everything in here is compact, lightweight and designed to be a ‘grab and go’ system for easy storage and safe traveling. 

What’s Inside the Box: Philips Multigroom 5000 Handle, 1 Trimmer Blade, 1 Detail Blade, 1 Nose/ear Head, 1 Clipper Blade, 6 Hair Combs, 2 Body Combs, 2 Fixed Beard Combs, 1 Adjustable Beard Comb, 1 Charging Cord, 1 Cleaning Brush, 1 Storage Pouch, User Manual.

Norelco Multigroom 5000: Which Features Stand Out?

Let’s dive into the feature analysis for the Multigroom 5000 - seeking what stands out to be admired by general groomers.

Feature Highlights

• 6.5 ounces handle makes grooming less straining
• Blade remains sharp and doesn’t require lubrication
• Guards cover the range between stubble to medium length beard
• 3 hour battery life ensured by li-ion unit
• Easy to clean due to fully washable design
• Plastic Build, But Surprisingly Durable

You should know that unlike the Multigroom 9000 or Multigroom 7000, this device is not crafted with metal.

But don’t underestimate its plastic build - created with ABS plastic to keep it lightweight, yet it absorbs shock if dropped accidentally.

The feeling isn’t cheap by all means, its black matte finish with the chrome accent lays bare the fact that it’s a mid-range design, created in the past.

Comfortable Grip

Despite the lack of metallic ergonomics, the plastic build does enhance grip in different ways. There’s a rubberized pad to support thumb rest, that’s convenient even in wet conditions.

It has a slight curve to the design that fits better with your hand’s contour during a firm hold. If you’re grooming delicate or tighter areas, this confidence in grip indeed comes in handy.

Overall, there’s sufficient traction that’s ensured by the material, size, shape and rubber reinforcement. Even with sweaty palms, it’s never going to betray your trust!

Lightweight at 5.8 Ounces

I reckon weight class varies based on preference. While I personally enjoy heavier trimmers while I’m doing precision trimming, for bulk grooming - lightweight is what floats my boat.

That said, the 6.5 ounces weight class makes the Multigroom 5000 accessible by beginners, teens, travelers or even elderly men with limited movement.

There’s no threat of fatigued wrist, nor is it finicky in some regard. Rather, it’s easy to maneuver at tighter areas, responds instantly to touch and is definitely going to make your grooming tasks easier.

DualCut Stainless Steel Blades

The trimmer blade (the one that comes pre-installed) is made with stainless steel and Philips has branded it as DualCut.

It’s a self-sharpening unit that isn’t really zero-gapped. The closest outcome you might get out of it is around 0.5 mm - good enough for tight stubbles.

This blade is mostly meant for trimming your beard and mustache. Philips has intended this 32 mm wide blade for body grooming duties as well, more on that later.

3 Additional Blade Heads

There are four more blade heads delivered inside the package for your convenience, to enhance its versatility. Let me walk you through them briefly.

You can see the ways you can put the three additional blade heads to good use. The detail trimmer does feel very useful in case you’re a perfectionist about your beard or mustache.

 Nose/ear trimmer head cleans up those extra, sassy hair poking out of your facial holes and puts them into the right place within seconds.

The hair clipper blade isn’t something extraordinary, but they get the job done if you’re looking for basic hair trimming, especially on shorter hair. You can’t really expect a multipurpose, budget kit to perform like a top-notch hair clipper now, can you?

Decent Motor for Light-to-Medium Work

As Philips doesn’t disclose the motor power for their trimming units, I can tell you this much that the Multigroom 5000 motor isn’t high-torque, but does deliver better than expected.

You should expect it to handle medium to shorter beards effectively, it won’t snag unless your beard is very dense or highly textured.

The trimming duration might be slow, needing a few extra passes but doesn’t feel like a dealbreaker. The sound is a smooth, low hum and remains cool, unlike a lot of other cheap trimmers.

Complete Kit with Accessories

As there are quite a few variants available on the market, the number and varieties of accessories can differ from one to the next. Let me share what I got inside the box.

I wasn’t very much impressed with the quality of the guards. The body combs do work out quite well, but the attachment is sub-par.

The adjustable beard guard does maintain the length it promises, and adjusting it has been effortless for medium beards. Stubble blades are also functional, if you can ignore the fidgety contact.

Hair blades also maintain the expected length but flexes slightly on longer hair, prone to tugs or longer grooming durations with extra passes.

Fully Washable Design - Can it Perform Wet Trimming?

Call me an erratic consumer if you will, but I’ve always used Philips washable products under the shower without ever facing any issue.

While the threat is not leakage, the problem lies elsewhere. Since the motor in Multigroom 5000 isn’t aggressive, it struggles to trim through damp hair - be that facial or body.

That’s why you should kiss shower grooming goodbye, for the efficiency of things. But if you believe taking a shot at pubic hair trimming inside the shower with a couple of extra passes gets you off - why not?

3-Hour Battery Life

Despite its budget-friendly concept, the Multigroom 5000 holds juice for a surprisingly long time - 3 hours with a full charge.

The battery might slow down toward the end and there’s no battery indicator to give you a heads up, only a charging light exists. But most grooming tasks finish well-within the 3-hour threshold, so shouldn’t be a concern.

As per charging goes, it only requires a full hour for recharging. This particular variant doesn’t offer corded use, only a very old variant used to offer this feature and it’s been disabled by Philips due to safety concerns.

How Was My Experience Using the Multigroom 5000?

It’s time to pull out the big guns - after dissecting the features, let’s test out how it actually performs in different real life scenarios!

Experience Highlights

• Blade closeness is commendable, remains sharp over time
• Better to attach a guard while body grooming
• Motor power will limit consumer variety and expectations
• Detail blade is surprisingly functional and precise
• Cleaning is done in less than 30 seconds (brushing/rinsing)
• Trimming Closeness — Beard, Hair, Body

Let me describe the closeness you should expect for each of the blades. The beard blade goes as close as 0.5 mm, thus marking it ideal for shorter beards for regular maintenance or daily stubble touch-up.

Precision blade has proven to be useful, allowing me to fine tune my beard into a perfect look. Since it’s no line up trimmer, you might have to bring in a dedicated tool in case you want those crispy lines.

Clipper blade’s closest cutting length is around 0.6 mm, something balding men might find useful for regular use. But note that the grooming duration is going to be longer than a dedicated hair clipper.

For body grooming, I reckon 0.5 mm is not that bad of a length, although it’ll always come shy of a manual razor.

Comfort on Skin

All of the blades included have been designed as skin-friendly and I am yet to experience any sort of irritation, credit is due to the rounded design.

Nose/ear trimmer doesn’t tug or pull, they are very sharp and yet safe. Clipper blade is also marked safe to use directly on the scalp, even with sensitive skin.

The only area you might feel any discomfort is if you put the trimmer blade on your body without a guard. It has left me with red patches, and I won’t even dare to use it as my ball trimmer.

Grooming Efficiency

Well, objectively speaking, the grooming pace is good enough only on less dense hair and fine texture - be that on your beard, body or hair.

Anything more is going to struggle in terms of efficiency, and mostly hair trimming is susceptible to this limitation.

But considering its price, I wouldn’t call this efficiency horrible. Picky consumers won’t be pleased, but for most, regular groomers - it shouldn’t be a dealbreaker.

How Versatile Is the Multigroom 5000?

Even though the degree might vary, the Multigroom 5000 is indeed a versatile tool of its own accord, boosted by its library of blade heads and guards.

From beard styling, mustache detailing, short hair cleanup, body grooming to even ear or nose hair trimmer - this compact thing can perform it all!

Interpret it as a starter grooming kit which offers to cover all of your basic grooming needs without spending tons and tons on individual products.

Wet Grooming Experience

I wouldn’t call my wet grooming experience to be an ideal one as the motor unit is just not good enough for the purpose.

But if you still feel inclined to pursue this avenue anyway, let me give you a few silver linings. For instance, none of the blades rust if exposed to water.

Also, if you’re looking for a quick touch up during your shower, Philips Multigroom 5000 can certainly help out in that regard. Just don’t submerge it into a bowl of water.

Cleaning & Maintenance

Multigroom 5000 is one of the least demanding trimmers I’ve ever used and tested. You can brush the blades, rinse it under the tap or even separate it for a better cleansing.

All of it takes only half a minute or less, trust me on that. The same is applicable for the guards. Use, rinse, dry, store - that’s the sequence I’ve been doing.

Unlike hair clippers, you don’t have to perform thorough cleansing from time to time, or oil the blades on each go. Let’s call it a ‘lazy groomer’s’ trimming device.

How Was the Philips Multigroom 5000 Tested?

I introduced different scenarios to the Multigroom 5000 to test out its true potentials and identify the limits.

It was utilized on daily stubble trimming at different lengths, neckline cleanup, hair trimming or outline edging, body grooming with and without guards and so on.

I’ve had this tool in my arsenal for around 3 years now, and it’s still going strong. I didn’t even have to replace the blade, although I have to admit, it wasn’t my go to device for certain stretches of time.

Informed by other first-hand users, the blades remain sharp, none experienced motor stalling or heating up issues. Some long-term consumers run into battery trouble, but that’s rare and many years down the line.

Who Should Consider Buying the Multigroom 5000?

Now I’m going to address the buyers - those who are going to potentially find the Multigroom 5000 to be the most useful.

Firstly, beginners who wish to start their grooming journey with a complete kit that takes care of every need. It can be students or teenagers - the range is quite broad.

Secondly, travelers who are looking for a compact, lightweight kit that easily fits inside their backpack.

Finally, all of you who are looking into beard, body and hair grooming options within budget, as one Multigroom 5000 is going to solve all of your problems!

Philips Multigroom 5000 vs 3000: The Battle of Budget-end Trimmers!

Budget conscious consumers often ponder over Philips Multigroom 3000 and 5000, stuck between choices - which one is going to be ideal?

In this section, I’ll answer just that! By placing these two cheap devices side by side, we should see where they are similar and the areas of differences, all in one place! 

Similarities

• Both utilize stainless steel self-sharpening blades that are not zero-gapped
• Offer a kit design with blade heads, combs within budget
• Support beard, hair, nose and ear trimming

Norelco Multigroom 5000 and 3000 are similar in many regards. For example, there’s very little difference in their blade unit, although the 5000 is known to flaunt its DualCut blade which is essentially the same.

hey are both marketed as complete grooming kits - one purchase to solve every grooming needs with extra blades, combs - that too within budget.

Their shared traits are functionality on beard and nose or ear trimming. Philips suggests that the Multigroom 3000 is capable of hair grooming as well, but it doesn’t offer a dedicated clipper blade. 

Differences

• Multigroom 5000 attachments are more versatile
• Multigroom 3000 is more lightweight, simple, affordable and compact
• Multigroom 5000 offers better battery life and charging time
• Multigroom 3000 housing is pretty basic, 5000 offers a more durable, grippy handle

The differences between the Multigroom 5000 and 3000 are much broader than their similarities. For instance, the former offers a better accessories library - more diverse, covering better range (i.e. adjustable beard comb) and more robust in build quality.

On the other hand, Multigroom 3000 weighs almost as half as the 5000, giving you more liberty of maneuverability and traveling. It’s also smaller in size, which might appeal to certain consumers.

When it comes to battery, Multigroom 5000 is a beast with a 3-hour battery life against its competitor Multigroom 3000 that lasts only an hour. Also, it has a longer charging time. 

Heads From the tactile sense to overall build quality, Multigroom 3000 reeks of cheap plastic with less ergonomic spots. Multigroom 5000, despite the plastic build, feels long-lasting and has rubberized grip spots.

Also, the 5000 is better equipped for hair grooming, the guard qualities are indeed better and the washable trait is further nuanced with added safety.

Key Takeaway: Multigroom 3000 is the cheapest possible grooming kit you could ever find on the market. It’s compact, lightweight and serves the bare minimum at a lesser price.

But if you want to squeeze out more performance on a budget expense, with additional versatility, better grip and overall higher longevity, Multigroom 5000 should be a no-brainer here.

FAQ

Some brief FAQs before pulling the curtains. I believe these are essential knowledge to help you align your purchase expectations with reality.

Q: Can the Multigroom 5000 handle thick beards?

Ans: Well, technically it can handle thick beards, but you’ll have to apply additional passes and might experience a few tugs or pulls. It’s better equipped for short to medium beards.

Q: Does the Multigroom 5000 work for bald head shaving?

Ans: It’s actually a better tool for maintenance, in case you already have a short or bald head and wish to perform daily grooming. Otherwise, the limited efficiency is going to weigh you down and the experience is not going to be pleasant.

Q: Is the Multigroom 5000 loud?

Ans: No, the Multigroom 5000 is not loud at all. The motor sound, or even the trimming sound, is a low, comfortable hum that’s actually soothing for the ears.

Q: Does the Multigroom 5000 heat up?

Ans: For regular usage, no, the Multigroom 5000 remains surprisingly cool. Unless you’re letting it run for a long time at a stretch, without shutting it down at all. Then, you might experience mild heat - nothing unnerving in my opinion.

Concluding Remarks

I will indeed vouch for the Philips Multigroom 5000 to be a reliable, balanced and multipurpose grooming kit even if I don’t consider its cheap price point.

This trimmer isn’t seeking glory, nor is it trying to claim luxury. Rather, it’s something very practical, useful and accessible by a diverse group of consumers.

Those with a very simple grooming routine that adds a flair of fine tuning beards or mustaches, with additions of basic hair grooming or body hair trimming - Multigroom 5000 is more than capable of doing all that.

With its quiet and cool demeanor, Multigroom 5000 holds the potential to slowly become your reliable grooming partner, your go to trimming device.