When it comes to grooming, I’m a big fan of multitasking products, especially when they can help save me time and luggage space. Panasonic’s MultiShape checks both of these boxes. The modular tool uses one core rechargeable battery base with five interchangeable heads: a beard/body trimmer, electric foil shaver, nose/eyebrow/ear hair trimmer, extra-fine toothbrush and multi-fit toothbrush. I’ve tested the MultiShape over the course of a year to determine if it’s truly as versatile as it seems. Read on for my in-depth Panasonic MultiShape review.
There are a lot of terrific multitasking devices out there, pairing the functionality of beard trimmers with electric shavers and beyond—and with swappable heads like this tool. What intrigued me the most about the MultiShape, though, is that it’s positioned to be the best device across each of those categories, instead of other tools that promise to do all of their respective tasks “well enough.”
Panasonic MultiShape All-In-One Grooming Kit
Operating time: 90 minutes | Charge time: 1 hour | Dimensions: 5.04 x 1.3 x 1.26 inches | Weight: 4.23 ounces | Attachments: 3-blade shaver head, 4-comb trimmer head for beard, hair and body, nose & facial hair trimmer head, extra-fine toothbrush head, multi-fit toothbrush head
Best for:
- Facial hair maintenance
- Those who want a nick-free shaver and reliable beard trimmer in one device
- Frequent travelers or minimalists
Skip if:
- You already have one or some of the above and don’t need the others
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Panasonic MultiShape Features
Top-Tier Quality And Durability
I love a grooming device with heft, and this is one a barber would be happy to own. The body has weight, and the plastic guard heads aren’t flimsy and waiting to break apart—plus they’re easy to swap out, click into place and rinse clean. The foil shaver (with its two foil heads and hair-lifting crossbar) is the best I’ve ever tested on a multi-tasking groomer. Usually, that shave option is itself a secondhand thought after the trimmer; here it feels like one of the most important offerings.
All of the blades in these attachments are made of Japanese stainless steel. Plus, the lithium ion battery doubly outperforms its consumer promise (giving me 181 minutes instead of 90). Panasonic’s multitasker runs slightly steeper in price than most competitors, but given that it also wants to be a top-tier device in each category, I think it succeeds in four out of the five heads. (I haven’t said much of the nose hair and eyebrow trimmer, but I very much enjoyed the sound of my too-long nose hairs being mowed down to a respectable size, plus I zapped a few stray eyebrow hairs with ease. Perfect.)
The one extraneous attachment for the MultiShape is the toothbrush head. On the one hand, it’s nice that there are two different brush head options (multi-fit and extra fine; I found the latter to be more thorough at cleaning).
However, the toothbrushing option kind of felt like an afterthought to go along with a vibrating base. I found the vibrations more of a distraction in this design than a boost, like in dedicated electric brushes. I wouldn’t count on this as your go-to toothbrush, maybe as a spare or for easy packing.
Power And Precision Where You Need It Most
While you can choose between a lithium ion battery and an Ni-MH option, I’m going to make it simple for you: Put up the extra $10 for the lithium ion. While the brand claims it holds a 90-minute charge, mine lasted exactly 181 minutes in my timing test—with continued use, too. Compare that to the approximate 50-minute charge the Ni-MH battery offers (not to mention, I got a killer 20-minute continuous runtime off a 3-minute quick charge, which is more than enough time for a thorough cleanup). Should you ever need to charge it up in a pinch, it’ll give you the power you need, fast. But you also won’t have to do this often, considering how much juice it holds.
Secondly, there is some serious muscle in that battery, because I happily endorse this for its trimming, clipping and shaving heads alone. If you want a multitasking device in those categories, this thing can mow, and you won’t be needing many second passes as you go. One minor gripe is that when I switched to a bare trimmer blade for my neckline, I experienced a bit of redness when I trimmed with the teeth pointed towards my skin (instead of flush against my skin). I righted the wrong and finished with it flush, but wish that the bare blade had a little less bite to it, because ergonomically it feels easier to trim with the teeth facing the skin as you draw a beard neckline.
Well-Designed Attachments For Customizable Cleanups
One of the things I liked best here (among many) is that I could navigate between lengths easily, especially since I used multiple ones across my facial hair, neckline and back hair. I wouldn’t have guessed that having clear labeling would be something I value in a device. But to borrow a term from web design, the user experience behind this device is so intuitive, especially considering it can trim up to 58 different lengths (in half-millimeter intervals) with the 4-comb beard/body trimmer and 39 with the 2-comb trimmer. Each head has a dial with very clear millimeter marks (and halfway options between each), and a row that explains the length you’ll get based on the guard you’re using.
There are four guards for the 4-comb beard/body trimmer, A, B, C and D (the D guard is for body shearing, to protect your skin from the teeth but still deliver a barely-there shave), and two for the 2-comb trimmer. Based on which of those guards you’re using on the respective head, you can easily navigate to the length you need using the rotating dial. While my description takes longer to read than it took me to figure out in real life, I suspect most would have an easy time getting whichever customized cut they need, in each respective part of their body.
Is The Panasonic MultiShape Worth It?
The MultiShape allows you to customize your purchase with the heads and base you need. Here is what I recommend from the options offered.
- Choose the lithium-ion base. No debate here; it holds a longer charge, allows for a quick charge and a red light also indicates when it needs a recharge (rather than puttering out on you mid trim—worry not, it’s plenty of warning to finish the task at hand).
- Absolutely get the shaver and 2-comb trimmer heads. Every guy needs both of these things, and the MultiShape offers you top-tier options in one singular device. If you periodically trim up your neckline at home, then the 2-comb trimmer will suffice.
- Get the 4-comb trimmer and nose hair trimmer if needed. This device has the muscle to merit using it as your DIY buzz cutter. But if you prefer visiting the barber for that, this head is probably not necessary. You’ll also miss out on its body grooming functionality, but honestly the brand’s own body groomer remains its biggest competition in that field and is a great option to use on your underarms, back, chest and more. As for the nose/ear/eyebrow trimmer, if you don’t yet have one, get this attachment head, too. I think the electric options are far superior to manual ones, and even if you use it infrequently, at least you have a reliable choice for when you do.
- Skip the toothbrush head. This was clearly an afterthought in the product’s current design.
My Expertise
I have been covering the grooming industry for nearly a decade. I regularly contribute to GQ, Men’s Journal, Gear Patrol, SPY, Robb Report, UltraNYC and more (and have also written for Esquire, Byrdie, Men’s Health and Men’s Fitness). I have tried nearly every product, brand and device under the sun, and am constantly using my own skin and hair as a testing ground to better inform readers about their best options in the grooming landscape.
How I Tested The Panasonic MultiShape
In addition to testing each of the MultiShape’s five guards, I wanted to gauge how seamlessly this device could accomplish each task, in addition to testing the quality of the device (since its price tag places it in the upper tier). It was of particular importance to test the lithium ion battery, to see how long it took to charge (51 minutes compared to the advertised hour), how long it held that charge (181 minutes compared to the advertised 90) and how long it could run on a 3-minute quick charge (20 minutes). It made for a lot of white-noise humming in the background as I went about the day writing emails and articles. Then, I took the device to my month-old beard and back hair, overgrown neckline, plus my eyebrows, nose and teeth (twice over on the teeth, to test both brush heads).