Wahl USA Lithium Ion 2.0+ Beard Trimmer Review

Quick Verdict

The Wahl 2.0+ is a good buy if you want one tool for beard trimming, line-ups, stubble, nose and ear hair, and light touch-ups, and you’d rather have a heavy metal trimmer with a long battery life than a light plastic one. Its 3.5-hour runtime is longer than most beard trimmers, and its blades, heads, and charging cord are sold separately by Wahl.

The trade-offs: the body isn’t waterproof, so you can rinse the heads but not the trimmer itself, and you can’t use it in the shower. It won’t run while plugged in. And it uses individual snap-on combs rather than a length dial, which means more pieces to keep track of. If you want a trimmer you can rinse under the tap, look at Wahl’s wet/dry Lithium-Ion+ (9898), a Braun All-in-One, or a Philips OneBlade.

Built to Last

The Wahl 2.0+ has a stainless steel housing rather than the plastic shell most trimmers in its price range use, so it feels solid and heavy in your hand. Wahl Clipper Corporation has been making clippers and trimmers since 1919 and is still headquartered in Sterling, Illinois.

Durability here is less about the metal shell and more about serviceability. The heads detach, so if the T-blade dulls or gets damaged you replace the head, not the trimmer. Wahl sells replacement T-blades, detail blades, and foil shaver heads on its own site, along with the USB charging cord. The trimmer is covered by a 5-year limited warranty in the US, which is longer than the two years Philips lists for the OneBlade.

If you’re tired of replacing cheap trimmers every year, this one is built to stick around.

Performance and Attachments

Here’s what comes in the box, per Wahl:

• Stainless steel self-sharpening T-blade for general beard trimming, necklines, and light haircuts
• Precision detail trimmer head, a narrow blade for mustaches, goatees, and edges
• Ear and nose trimmer head
• Dual-foil shaver head for a clean-shaven finish on cheeks and neck
• Eight fixed guide combs: 1/16” (1.5 mm), 1/8” (3 mm), 3/16” (5 mm), 1/4” (6.5 mm), 5/16” (8 mm), 3/8” (9.5 mm), 7/16” (11 mm), and 1/2” (13 mm)
• 10-position adjustable guide
• Beard comb, cleaning brush, blade oil, charger, zippered storage case, and a styling guide

Wahl’s spec sheet counts this as 10 guide combs in total. The combs snap onto the bottom of the blade, and Wahl’s manual says to trim with the direction of hair growth for blending and against it for a closer result. The longest fixed comb leaves half an inch of hair, and the adjustable guide covers settings in between and beyond the fixed combs.

Wahl describes the blades as self-sharpening, meaning they’re designed to keep their edge for a long time. They still need care: Wahl recommends a few drops of its clipper oil about once a month, with the trimmer running and the blade pointed down, then wiping off the excess. Wahl’s manual also says the trimmer works as a family trimmer for light haircuts and touch-ups between barber visits, though it isn’t a replacement for a full-size clipper.

Battery Life That Won’t Quit

Wahl rates the 2.0+ at 3.5 hours of runtime per charge, and its quick-start guide says a full charge takes 1 hour. Wahl also lists a 3-minute quick charge for when the battery is flat and you need a fast tidy-up.

A few charging details matter day to day:

• It’s cordless only. Trimming is disabled while it’s plugged in, so a dead battery means waiting for the quick charge.
• The LED tells you when to charge. It pulses while charging, stays on when full, and flashes when less than 15% of the battery is left, which Wahl says is enough to finish a trim.
• Worldwide voltage. The charger works on international outlets, and a travel plug locks the power button so it can’t turn on in your bag.
• The battery isn’t user-replaceable. When it eventually wears out, Wahl’s manual says to send the whole trimmer to Wahl for a battery replacement rather than opening it.

A 3.5-hour runtime is well above most competitors. Philips rates the OneBlade 360 Face + Body at 60 minutes, and Braun rates its All-in-One Series 7 at 100 minutes.

Cleaning and Water Resistance

This is the biggest practical limitation. The Lithium Ion 2.0+ body isn’t waterproof. Wahl’s manual says to remove the heads before rinsing them in water, let them air-dry completely before reattaching, and keep the trimmer body away from water to protect the motor, battery, and electronics. Its safety instructions also say not to use it in the bath or shower.

For everyday cleaning, brush loose hair off the blade and body with the included brush after each use, put the blade guard back on, and oil the blade about once a month. If you want to trim in the shower or rinse the whole trimmer under the tap, Wahl’s Stainless Steel Lithium-Ion+ (9898) is the wet/dry version. It drops the foil shaver head (three heads instead of four) and Wahl lists it at $69.99.

2.0+ vs. 2.0 vs. Lithium Ion+: The Names Explained

Wahl’s naming for this trimmer is inconsistent, so it’s easy to buy the wrong one.

• Lithium Ion 2.0+ (9864SS) is the name on the Amazon listing this review links to, in brushed stainless steel.
• Slate Stainless Steel Lithium Ion+ (09864) is what Wahl’s US store currently sells, in a darker slate finish. Its spec list describes it as a Lithium-Ion 2.0 trimmer with handle model SS2L, the same four heads, and the same combs. In practice, “2.0”, “2.0+”, and “Lithium Ion+” are all names Wahl has used for the 9864 family.
• Stainless Steel Lithium-Ion+ (9898) is a different trimmer: handle model WSS3L, wet/dry, three heads, no foil shaver, with eight fixed combs in the same 1/16 to 1/2 inch range and a 2 mm to 11 mm adjustable guide.

Wahl also sells 9864-based versions outside the US with different accessory sets and battery ratings, so if you’re buying abroad, check the model suffix and runtime on the box.

Made in the USA

“Wahl USA” in the product name refers to the brand, not to where this trimmer is made. Wahl’s product page and manual for the 9864 don’t say it’s made in the USA, and Wahl says it runs six manufacturing facilities around the world. The company itself is American: it was founded in 1919 and is still headquartered in Sterling, Illinois, where its repair department handles US warranty service.

If buying an American-made trimmer is important to you, check the country of origin printed on the box before you buy. What you do get from Wahl is a US-based warranty and repair department and replacement parts sold directly from wahlusa.com, which is rare in this category.

Downsides?

It’s not waterproof, which is the main reason to look elsewhere if you trim in the shower. The steel body is heavier than plastic trimmers. It can’t run while charging. And the comb system uses separate snap-on guards rather than a single dial, so it takes a little trial and error to learn which comb gives the length you want, and more pieces to store.

Wahl 2.0+ vs. Philips OneBlade vs. Braun

Philips OneBlade 360 is a different kind of tool. It uses a single double-sided blade that trims, edges, and shaves, and it’s fully waterproof, so you can use it in the shower with gel. But its comb tops out at 5 mm, it runs for 60 minutes on a 4-hour charge (the face-only QP2724 is 45 minutes on an 8-hour charge), and Philips recommends replacing the blade about every four months. Choose it for stubble and clean edges; choose the Wahl for longer beards and more battery life.

Braun All-in-One Series 7 is the closest match to the Wahl’s kit approach. It has a beard trimmer, detail trimmer, and ear and nose head, and its PrecisionWheel sets 40 lengths in 0.5 mm steps, so you don’t swap combs for every length. It’s 100% waterproof and runs for 100 minutes. The Series 9 version runs for 180 minutes and costs $149.99. Neither includes a foil shaver head like the Wahl’s. Choose Braun if you want waterproofing and a length dial; choose the Wahl for longer runtime per dollar and a foil shaver in the box.

Who Should Buy It, and Who Should Skip It

Buy it if you want one cordless kit for beard trimming, detailing, shaving, and nose hair; you value long battery life and a metal body; and you trim at the sink, not in the shower.

Skip it if you want to trim wet or rinse the whole tool (get the Wahl 9898, a Braun All-in-One, or a OneBlade), or you want a single length dial instead of separate combs. If you’re switching to a blade for a clean shave instead, see our best manual razors guide.

Final Verdict

The Wahl Stainless Steel Lithium Ion 2.0+ is a solid, serviceable all-in-one trimmer: four heads, eight fixed combs plus an adjustable guide, a 3.5-hour battery, and a five-year warranty for $89.99 at Wahl’s list price. Its weak spot is water. The body has to stay dry, so it’s a sink trimmer, not a shower trimmer.

If that fits how you groom and you want to stop replacing your beard trimmer every year, the Wahl is a reliable choice. If you want waterproofing and a length dial, Braun’s All-in-One Series 7 costs more but covers both.