BaByliss Super‑X Double Foil Shaver Review: a close, quick shave if you keep your stubble short

I’ve been using the BaByliss Super‑X Double Foil Shaver (FS996DU) for a few weeks now, mainly for daily shaves and sometimes after leaving my beard for 2–3 days. I’m not new to electric shavers, but I usually end up going back to a manual razor because the shave is either too rough or not close enough. With this one, I really tried to see if it could replace my razor for workdays.

First takeaway: it gives a properly close electric shave, closer than most rotary and cheap foil shavers I’ve tried. It doesn’t totally match a fresh razor blade, but it gets close enough that my face feels smooth to the touch in most areas, especially on the cheeks and neck. For me, that’s already a win compared to the usual “sandpaper by lunchtime” feeling from weaker shavers.

That said, it’s not perfect. It clearly prefers short stubble. If I push it past 2–3 days of growth, it starts to tug a bit unless I trim first. Also, you have to use a light hand. Press too hard and it gets warm and less comfortable. Once I got the technique right (short strokes, low pressure, skin stretched), the experience was much better.

Overall, my first impression is that this is a good performer with a few conditions: keep your beard short, accept that it’s a bit weighty, and don’t expect magic on longer growth. If that fits how you shave, it’s a pretty solid option. If you want one device to mow down a week‑old beard, this isn’t it.

Price wise, this sits clearly in the higher bracket for consumer shavers, around the £100 mark at launch. For that money, you’re getting a close shave, solid build, long battery life, and a decent brand behind it. But you’re not getting a full grooming kit or a massive list of accessories. So the question is basically: do you want to pay more for a focused, decent‑quality foil shaver that does one job well?

Compared to cheaper foil shavers, I do feel the difference in shave quality and power. The motor doesn’t bog down as easily, the shave is closer, and the whole thing feels less toy‑like. On the flip side, it doesn’t completely blow away every mid‑range option on the market. It’s better, yes, but not some magical level that justifies any price. If you find it on discount, it becomes a lot more attractive. At full RRP, I’d say it’s good, but not an obvious bargain.

One thing that will affect long‑term value is foil replacement cost. If replacements land under, say, £25 a year and are easy to find, then owning this for several years makes sense. If they’re expensive or hard to get, the total cost over 3–4 years climbs fast, and you may as well have bought a higher‑end Braun or similar from the start. Right now that part is still a bit of a question mark.

So in terms of value: if you shave daily or every other day, care about cordless performance and build quality, and can grab it on sale, it’s pretty solid. If you’re more casual, shave once or twice a week, or you’re tight on budget, there are cheaper models that will “get the job done” even if they’re not as nice to use.

The design is simple and boxy, more like a traditional barber foil shaver than a modern curvy gadget. Silver metal body, dual foils on top, single power button on the side, and a small LED battery indicator. No screen, no silly modes, no app nonsense. Personally, I like that. It looks clean and does not scream “toy”.

The metal casing feels smooth, almost too smooth sometimes. Dry in the hand, it’s fine and quite comfortable, but once it’s wet or you’ve got shaving gel on your fingers, it starts to feel a bit slippery. There’s no rubberized grip or texture, which I think is a miss for something that’s sold as wet & dry. I had to adjust how I held it in the shower to feel safe, especially when moving around the neck.

One thing I really liked is the magnetic top cover and foil head. The protective cap snaps on and off easily and stays in place in a bag. The foil head itself is also held by magnets, so it pops off for cleaning with a firm pull. No fiddly clips to break. It sounds like a small detail, but when you’re cleaning it every day, that kind of thing matters. It just makes maintenance less annoying.

There’s also a travel lock: hold the button for a couple of seconds to lock/unlock it. I tested it in a bag and it didn’t turn on by accident, so that works. Overall, design wise, it looks good and feels solid, but BaByliss could have added some grip texture somewhere. If you mainly shave dry at the sink, you’ll be fine. If you love shower shaving, just know it can feel a bit like holding a wet bar of soap with blades.

The battery on this thing is very solid. BaByliss claims up to 2 hours of cordless use from a 3‑hour charge, and from my use that seems realistic. I shave for around 4–5 minutes per session, and I easily got a couple of weeks of daily use before the battery indicator dropped low. I wasn’t timing it down to the second, but I never felt like I had to constantly recharge it.

The USB‑C charging is a big plus. I can plug it into the same charger I use for my phone or laptop, which means no special dock or cable to remember when travelling. It doesn’t come with a wall plug, just the cable, but that’s standard now. The shaver also has a 10‑minute quick charge that gives roughly a 10‑minute shave. I tested this once from almost empty: plugged it in while I showered, came back, and had enough juice for a full face. That’s actually useful, not just marketing.

The LED battery display is basic but handy. You can see vaguely how much battery is left instead of guessing. I’d rather have that than some flashy screen. Also, the shaver can sit for a while between uses without losing much charge, so if you’re more of an occasional user, you’re not punished by constant top‑ups.

Overall, if battery anxiety is something you hate with cordless gear, this shaver is pretty reassuring. For travel, you’re covered: long battery life, USB‑C, travel lock, and a protective cap. The only thing I’d have liked is a small rubber plug for the port just for peace of mind with moisture, but in practice it charged fine even after rinsing, as long as I dried it properly first.

On comfort, I’d say it’s very decent as long as you respect its limits. On 1–2 day stubble, dry shave, it glides well and doesn’t leave me red or burning. The dual floating foils do follow the contours pretty well, especially around the jawline and chin, and I don’t get that scratching feeling I’ve had with cheaper foils. I can use it before work without looking like I’ve sanded my face.

When I tried it on 3+ days of growth without trimming first, that’s where it got less friendly. It can snag and pull individual hairs, especially on the neck where hair grows in random directions. The built‑in trimmer bar between the foils helps a bit, but it’s not a full beard trimmer. Realistically, if you regularly let your beard grow for several days, you’ll want a separate trimmer to knock it down first, then use this to finish. Used that way, it’s much more comfortable.

I also noticed that pressure matters a lot. If you press hard trying to chase every last hair, the foils get warmer and the skin starts to feel a bit irritated, especially on the neck and upper lip. With a lighter touch and short, repeated passes, it’s smoother and the results are actually better. So there’s a small learning curve, but nothing dramatic. After a week I knew exactly how much pressure to use.

Noise level is moderate – you can hear it, but it’s not a loud buzzsaw. My skin type is normal to slightly sensitive, and this shaver is acceptable for daily use. Not completely irritation‑free in every situation, but good enough for a daily commuter shave if you’re not abusing it on long stubble and you take 3–4 minutes instead of rushing in 60 seconds.

In the hand, the Super‑X feels sturdy. The metal body doesn’t flex, the magnetic head doesn’t wobble, and nothing rattles when it’s running. It definitely feels more solid than the cheap plastic shavers I’ve owned before. After a few weeks of daily use, there are no obvious marks or signs of wear, apart from the usual tiny scratches you’d expect on smooth metal if you’re not super careful.

The foils themselves are Japanese steel, which sounds fancy, but at the end of the day they’re still thin foil – you need to treat them gently. If you press too hard when cleaning or drop the shaver on a hard surface, you can dent them, and then your shave will go downhill fast. So far mine are fine, but I’m careful: I tap the hair out gently and use the little brush or rinse under water instead of poking at them.

BaByliss gives a 3‑year warranty, which is reassuring for the motor and battery side. The real unknown for me is the cost and availability of replacement foils for this exact model, since it’s fairly new. On other BaByliss shavers, replacement heads can vary in price, and if they end up being £25+ a year, that starts to add up. The listing says foils should last about a year to a year and a half with normal use, which sounds reasonable, but we’ll see what the real‑world prices look like.

So, durability overall: body and motor feel like they’ll last, no problem. The usual weak point is the foil head, like with any foil shaver. As long as replacements are easy to get and not overpriced, this should be a long‑term tool, not a throwaway gadget. If replacement parts end up being hard to find or pricey, then the value drops quite a bit over time.

Performance wise, this is where the Super‑X is actually pretty solid. On short stubble (0–2 days), it gives one of the closest electric shaves I’ve had. My cheeks feel basically smooth, my neck is about 90–95% of what I’d get with a fresh razor, and the result lasts reasonably well through the day. By late afternoon there’s regrowth, but that’s just normal hair growth, not because the shave was bad in the morning.

The dual foils do help with speed. You cover more area per pass, so you don’t have to go over the same patch as many times as with a single‑foil travel shaver. For a full face, I’m usually done in 3–5 minutes depending on how picky I’m being. The built‑in trimmer bar catches some of the slightly longer hairs, but let’s be honest: this machine is made for regular, short stubble. When I tried it after 4–5 days of growth, it struggled, and I had to either trim first or accept some pulling.

On wet shaving with foam or gel, it’s comfortable, but not dramatically closer than dry shaving. The main advantage for me was comfort on the neck when my skin was a bit grumpy. With gel, it glides easier and the skin feels calmer afterwards. But it also gets messier and the already smooth body gets more slippery, so I ended up mostly using it dry and only going wet when my skin felt sensitive.

Detail work like around the moustache and under the nose is a bit less precise. Both foils are the same height and the head is pretty wide, so getting into tighter spots is awkward. You can do it, but it’s not as nimble as a small trimmer. For a clean‑shaven look all over, it’s good. For fine edging or fancy beard lines, I’d use another tool.

Out of the box, the Super‑X feels like BaByliss is aiming at the more “premium” crowd. You get the shaver itself, a USB‑C charging cable, a soft storage pouch, a small cleaning brush, and a magnetic protective cap for the foils. No bulky charging stand, no weird proprietary charger, just a cable you can plug into any USB charger, which I appreciate. Less clutter in the bathroom.

The shaver is heavier than average at around 235 g, and you notice that right away. It’s not brick‑heavy, but if you’re used to cheap plastic shavers, this one feels more solid and dense. Some people will like that “solid tool” feeling, others might find it tiring if they have weaker grip or wrist issues. Personally, I got used to it after a few shaves, but it’s something to know.

The manual is basic but clear: they tell you straight up that it’s meant for short hair under 0.7 mm, which basically means daily shaving or every other day. That matches my experience: when I ignored that and tried it on longer growth, it complained a bit. It’s also rated IPX7, so shower use and rinsing under the tap are fine, and there’s a 3‑year warranty, which is better than a lot of cheaper models.

In terms of overall package, it’s pretty straightforward: no fancy stand, no big kit of guards or heads, just a focused foil shaver with the basics. If you’re expecting a full grooming kit with multiple attachments, this isn’t that. It’s more “one job, done properly” – but you’ll probably still want a separate trimmer if you regularly deal with longer beards.