Freebird FlexSeries vs. Remington Balder Pro Comparison
November 13, 2024 • 8 min read
Stuck between choosing Freebird's FlexSeries and Remington's Balder Pro? You're looking at two popular head shavers that cost under $70, have five heads, and claim to give you a smooth dome without nicks. It can be challenging to pick the right one.
But here's the catch: one of these shavers will cost you more in the long run.
I compare both shavers in terms of design, performance, value, and customer feedback. When we're done, you'll have a clear picture of which shaver fits your needs and budget.
While Remington offers the Balder Pro and Balder Boss models, we're focusing on the Balder Pro for this comparison since it's Remington's most popular model and more closely matches Freebird's FlexSeries in price and features.
A Quick Verdict
Both shavers work. Let's get that out of the way.
The FlexSeries and Balder Pro are solid rotary head shavers with powerful motors and five-blade systems. They're waterproof, they shave close, and they both offer 60-day trials.
Esquire even tested the FlexSeries and called it the closest shave they found. Many grooming pros say that the FlexSeries is one of the best shavers out there.
But when you put them head-to-head, the FlexSeries wins in almost every category that matters:
- 40% cheaper when you grab the subscription ($ vs $64.99)
- Lifetime warranty (for members)
- $60 worth of free attachments
- Longer battery life (90 minutes vs 50 minutes)
- Shorter charging time (1 hr vs 4 hrs)
- Cheaper replacement blades ($17.95 vs $29.99)
The Balder Pro's only real advantage? A quick charge feature that gives you enough juice for one shave after five minutes of charging. That's useful if you forget to charge overnight, but not exactly a game-changer.
Unless you're in love with the Remington brand, the FlexSeries gives you more accessories, and more bang for your buck. It's the smarter pick for anyone who wants a reliable head shaver without breaking the bank.
Winner: Freebird FlexSeries
$39 at MyFreebird.com$59 at Amazon
Design and Build Quality
Design
Both shavers nail the basics. They're designed for baldies. The FlexSeries has an ergonomic design making it easy to hold and maneuver when shaving. The same can be said for the Balder Pro. It's comfortable to hold and fits well in your hand.
The Balder Pro's upside is its rubber grip on the sides of the motor, which gives you confidence you won't drop your shaver in the shower.
Winner: Balder Pro
Build Quality
The FlexSeries is a durable and lightweight shaver. You don't have to worry about minor-shaver-dropping mishaps.
Matt from Bald and Happy mentioned that the FlexSeries felt strong, stable, and long-lasting. Overall, he was impressed with its durability for a lightweight shaver.
The Balder Pro, like most Remington products, feels solid and durable. It's heavier than the FlexSeries, which some guys prefer.
Both shavers are durable enough to handle accidental slips here and there. Drop them once or twice? They'll probably be fine.
Winner: Tie
Performance and Features
Attachments
Who doesn't love freebies? Freebird has $60 worth of free attachments and wins this category, hands down. Here's what you get in the box:
-
Precision Clipper
-
3, 5, 7mm Safety Guards
-
Nose & Ear Trimmer
-
Exfoliation Brush
-
Silicon Scalp Scrubber
The Balder Pro is a "shaver only" deal. That's it. If you want accessories, you can buy them from the Remington website.
A nose and ear hair trimmer from the Remington website sells for $9.99 each. Freebird includes one for free.
Winner: Freebird FlexSeries
Waterproofing
If you prefer a wet shave or use shaving gel and cream while you shave, both shavers deliver. The FlexSeries (IPX6) and Balder Pro (WETech) are waterproof. Users can enjoy wet and dry shaving with no worries.
IPX6 waterproofing means the FlexSeries can withstand high-pressure water splashes from any angle, meaning you can shave in the shower without any issues.
The Balder Pro doesn't specify its IPX rating, only stating that it's waterproof using their WETech technology. "WETech" seems to be a Remington-specific thing, and isn't very clear about what that actually means and how it compares to the standard IPX ratings.
Winner: Freebird FlexSeries
Blades
The FlexSeries has five ScalpSafe technology blades, making it safe for baldies with sensitive scalps. The Balder Pro also has five heads with hypoallergenic blades, which Remington claims are gentle on sensitive skin. Both blades are sharp enough to cut through coarse and thick hair.
Freebird says that its ScalpSafe blades generally last 50 shaves before needing to be replaced. Remington has no information on how long its blades last. Our article on how often you should replace blades discusses this in detail to give you an idea.
Now, let's compare the design of Balder Pro blades with the FlexSeries blades. The FlexSeries blades have a concave profile and flex, closely following the natural shape of your head, giving you a smoother and closer shave.
One gripe users have with the Balder Pro is the blade design. Its convex shape makes it harder to follow your head's shape. While the blades are spring-mounted and flexible, they don't shave as closely as concave blades.
Matt from Bald and Happy wasn't happy with the Balder Pro's blade design. He had to make numerous passes to ensure he got an even shave.
The Balder Pro's larger shaving heads may cover a larger area, but they make it harder to maneuver in tight spots like the back of the ear.
Winner: Freebird FlexSeries
Battery Life & Indicators
The FlexSeries is powered by a 600 mAh battery that lasts 90 minutes between charges. Its power is good enough to keep you groomed while on the go.
The Balder Pro has less juice; it can only give you 50 minutes of cordless operation, but it does have a neat quick charge feature.
Battery indicators help monitor the remaining battery life to prevent your razor from dying in the middle of a shave.
Both shavers lack exact battery percentage indicators, a useful feature found in other shavers.
The FlexSeries and Balder Pro both have an LED light battery indicator. The FlexSeries indicator turns red when charging and green when fully charged. The Balder Pro has two LED indicators: low battery and fully charged plus charging in progress.
Here's the kicker: The Balder Pro takes about 4 hours to fully charge. One tester clocked it at 3 hours and 21 minutes, more than twice its actual runtime. The FlexSeries charges in about an hour.
Winner: Freebird FlexSeries
Price and Value
Subscription and Regular Prices
The Freebird FlexSeries costs $ with a blade subscription. If you don't want the subscription, the FlexSeries still only costs $59.95.
The Balder Pro is the brand's lowest-priced head shaver, costing $64.99. Remington has no subscription model.
You can change or cancel your Freebird subscription anytime, no questions asked.
Winner: Freebird FlexSeries
Blade Replacement Cost
FlexSeries replacement blades start at $17.95 for members.
Balder Pro replacement blades cost $29.99, and Remington does not offer a subscription or discount model.
Freebird offers replacement blades at any frequency you prefer. Their subscription provides a 20% discount for every blade replacement and a free Lifetime Warranty, added perks that make the deal even better when buying the FlexSeries.
Winner: Freebird FlexSeries
Money Back Guarantee
Have you ever been stuck with a bad shaver? You spend some serious cash on it only to find out that it doesn't work for your hair or skin type.
What do you do with the shaver? Make it an expensive paperweight?
We have good news for FlexSeries and Balder Pro buyers. Both come with a 60-day money-back guarantee.
If your shaver doesn't work, you can return it for a refund, no questions asked.
Winner: Tie
Customer Reviews
The Freebird FlexSeries and the Balder Pro have very high ratings on their official websites and above 4-star ratings on Amazon.
Winner: Tie
Warranty
While Remington's five-year warranty is longer than most other electric head shaver's one-year warranties, it doesn't quite match the FlexSeries' lifetime warranty (with a blade subscription). Freebird also provides a hefty 3-year warranty for non-subscribers.
Giving a lifetime warranty means you're confident about the overall quality of your shaver.
We're not saying that Remington shavers are inferior or that the company doesn't believe in its razors. Remington is a well-known and trusted brand.
Freebird wins this category since a lifetime warranty always trumps anything less.
Winner: Freebird FlexSeries
The Final Verdict
Freebird's FlexSeries and Remington Balder Pro are two of the most popular and highly-rated electric head shavers on the market.
While the Balder Pro has a more established brand, the FlexSeries beats the Remington shaver in almost every other aspect in this showdown.
The FlexSeries is nearly half the price, has a much more affordable blade replacement subscription program, has ScalpSafe blades that adapt to the contours of your head, and is safe for baldies with sensitive scalps.
Add a lifelong warranty and a bundle of free attachments, the FlexSeries provides way more value than the Balder Pro.
Overall Winner: Freebird FlexSeries
FAQs
Which Head Shaver Gives the Closest Shave?
Based on several reviews like the Men's Health article we mentioned, the Freebird FlexSeries provides the closest shave among shavers tested.
Does the Balder Pro Leave Stubble?
Rotary shavers, like the Balder Pro, usually shave close enough to not leave any stubble. If you prefer a buzz cut with some stubble left, a hair trimmer or clipper is the best tool to use instead of an electric rotary shaver.
Does the Freebird FlexSeries Leave Stubble?
No. Based on user comments and reviews, the FlexSeries gives one of the closest shaves for a rotary shaver. If you want a close shave with some stubble left on your head, there's a free hair clipper attachment included in the FlexSeries shaving kit you can use for a buzz cut.
How Long Do Balder Pro Blades Last?
Remington does not say how long its blades last, but they generally last 3 to 6 months, depending on hair type and how often you shave.
How Long Do Freebird FlexSeries Blades Last?
Freebird claims that their FlexSeries blades last 50 shaves.
Can I Use These Shavers for Body Grooming?
Yes, both shavers work for body grooming. The FlexSeries is better suited for it with its ScalpSafe blade design that prevents nicks in sensitive areas, and the waterproof design makes shower shaving easy. The Balder Pro technically works for body grooming, but Remington markets it specifically as a head shaver.
