Wahl has been around for over a century now and as they say, experience makes everything better, it has made Wahl better for sure. And you have to be really good at what you do to last this long and Wahl is just that, really good.
Most professionals regard Wahl as the number one brand when it comes to professional and personal clippers and rightly so. The diverse range of its products has a piece for everyone.
The clipper we have picked for review today is part of Wahl’s professional line of clippers. Magic Clip Cordless.
I got mine some time back and it has served me well for my home hair-cutting adventures and is turning out to be an even better investment in Corona lockdown.
Yes, this review will have it all, the good, bad, and the ugly about Wahl Magic Clip Cordless and no sugar-coating to sell this off to you. Stay with us.
Table of Contents
- Corded and cordless convenience
- A lightweight clipper that doesn’t tire you up
- Staggered teeth stainless steel blade for effortless fades and blends
- Thumb-adjustable lever for changing the cut length on the go
- Powerful rotary motor producing 5500 RPM
- Comes with eight guide combs ranging from 1.5 mm to 25 mm
- Blade guard for protection against accidental falls
- Runs 90 minutes cordless on a fully charged battery
- Vibrant and stylish design
- Easily available replacement blades
- Noisy
- Blades get hot after continuous use
- Blades get rusty after some time
Wahl Magic Clip Cordless Review - Does It Work Like Magic
For any company to stay at the top it requires constant innovation and keeping abreast of the problems your consumers encounter. Luckily, Wahl has kept it in perspective and came up with something that not only benefits you but your clients as well.
Some of you might think the only difference between this clipper and the old Magic Clip is merely a cord. However, it is not the case as this product, besides being cordless, it offers much more than its predecessor. You might notice some similarities in fundamental design but overall, it is a different product altogether.
We will explain all of this in the forthcoming section.
First Impression and Aesthetics - Traditional Wahl Looks In A Standard Wahl Box
The Magic Clip comes in a standard box that has no bells and rings attached to it. On opening the box, you would not notice anything extraordinary as it has the same looks as most of the Wahl’s clippers. It is when you hold the clipper the difference in the weight from standard becomes apparent.
While designing this product Wahl took this into account and came up with a light-weight clipper. Barbers who are used to heavy clippers might need some time to get used to it, but in the long run, you would benefit from it.
It essentially feels like holding a light-weight shaver that doesn’t cramp your hands and keep you comfortable. You might end up doing more haircuts and beard styling than usual if you get used to it.
If you are skeptical about the light-weight clipper because they might not provide as good as ergonomics as bulky clippers, Wahl has got you covered. The Magic Clip has designated areas where you can slide your fingers and support them with your thumb from above. It provides a solid and sturdy grip which gives you total control over the clipper. To cut it short, you would not have any problem holding or gripping the Wahl Magic Clip.
The clipper comes in a plastic body, which is not cheap by any means. It is sturdy and solid enough to withstand, don’t quote me on this, a few chair-level accidental drops. However, no matter how strong it is, you always have to be a little bit careful with the handling as in the end it is plastic and it can break.
Blade and Motor - A Bit Noisy But So Is Every Beast
The Magic Clip runs on a rotary motor which is the best choice when it comes to power and cutting the bulks. The motor operates by producing less frantic blade movement and more back and forth parallel to each other. Therefore, the usual risk of misalignment of the blades becomes minimal.
However, as it starts cutting the hair the sounds remain the same unlike most of the clippers. Some barbers use that sound as a tool to know that the clipper is making the cut. Therefore, the likeability of this motor would depend on the type of barber you are and the techniques you use for the job.
If we talk about the power of motors, it delivers 5500 RPM (revolutions per minute) which is the range you are going to find in top-of-the-line clippers. It is powerful enough to cut the thickest of hair. The point is, you would not have any problem with the performance of this motor. However, the sound of the motor may take a while for you to adjust.
Wahl Magic Clip features Wahl’s zero-overlap 2161 blade or otherwise known as the staggered-tooth blade. The teeth on this blade are different from most of the other Wahl clippers. This blade is preferred by many professionals for its effortlessness at skin-tight fades and smooth blends.
The blade has anti-rust stainless steel construction and is a two-hole blade which means the blade fits securely and does not rattle. However, reviews are anything to go by, the blade does tend to rust after some time but if you lubricate your blade regularly that should be a problem. In addition, like most Wahl blades, replacement blades are easily available.
It is worth mentioning that the blade is not zero-gapped, but you can easily do it on your own.
Coming back to the utility, some people regard these blades as “crunch” blades because they combine close cuts with excellent fading potential. Because of its ability to cut the coarsest of hairs, it made our list for best clippers for black men.
Another good thing about this clipper is that it does not get hot with continuous use. It gets warm at best but never hot. But, the blade does get hot because of constant friction with the hair and the skin. So, do give it some rest after about an hour of use.
Cordless Usage - One of the Best Around
You can use Magic Clip both corded and cordless. And both of them have their own pros and cons in general. Cordless use gives you freedom of movement and corded gives you continuous use at better power.
To be honest, I was not quite sure about the cordless performance of the clipper considering my recent track records with such products.
However, the performance of this battery left me in a bit of awe which was quite a surprise for me. Usually, the problem with cordless clippers is they run great with the cord but once you remove the cord the power comes down.
Fortunately, it was not the case with this battery as it didn’t matter if it was plugged or not, the batteries always provided their 100%. I have been using it for almost two months and I never encountered a power issue with this battery.
Another praiseworthy feature of its battery is, unlike most of the batteries, it provided peak power till the last drop. Normally, the power starts to go down as the battery drains but fortunately it wasn’t the case with this one.
Moreover, the liberty of moving around freely is the best part about this clipper and it boosts your confidence as well. You do not have to stand in a restricted space while making the cut. Furthermore, you do not have to watch your steps every time you move. This for me was the best and something that it enjoyed probably the most about this clipper.
By the way, the clipper gives about 90 minutes of cordless use and that can give you around five to six cuts. However, in case you run out of batteries you can connect the cord in and start using it as a corded clipper.
It would have been wonderful if it could charge the batteries while you are using it with a cord but it is so much it can do.
Accessories - Comes With Everything You Need
The Magic Clip comes with eight attachment combs that enable you to customize the size of cuts it makes. However, if you have used a Wahl clipper before, you would know that the sizes of these combs differ from other clippers.
These combs fit perfectly secure to the head and do not produce much of a wobble. You would, in fact, enjoy cutting with these combs if you have never used Wahl before. These combs range from 1.5 mm to 25 mm or from 1/16 inch to 1 inch, which means you have plenty of choices to make the style you want. You can also use to trim and line up your hair and your beard for crisp clean lines.
By the way, Magic Clip also has the thumb-adjustable lever which allows you to change the cut on the go. In this lever, when it is closed you are at 0 mm and open gives you 0.5 mm and that is a convenience for your fades.
With this clipper, you also get a blade guard that protects the blade against accidental drops and keeps it sharp. It is quite a handy accessory that can increase the life of your blade. Moreover, it comes with a cleaning brush to clean the debris from the blades and oil to lubricate them.
Price - Reasonable Price For An Outstanding Clipper
Price of the Wahl Magic is market competitive and for a performance like this, I would say it deserve every penny. I have been using it for quite some time now and never once I have regretted the purchase. In fact, it is one of the best purchases I have ever made.
Wahl Magic Clip Cordless Vs Corded - Are There Any Differences?
The first thing one notices while comparing these two is the price difference which is massive. The Magic Clip cordless costs almost twice the corded one which might make you wonder if it is worth it. It may seem that both clippers are the same except for the cordless feature but it is not the case.
For starters, the Magic Clip Cordless has lighter weight compared to the corded one. The difference is quite significant and you would notice once you hold both of these in hand. The former provides a better grip and the lightweight does not tire your hands up.
Furthermore, the motors of these two clippers are different as well. The corded clip features a V9000 electromagnetic motor which is usual for the classic clipper of Wahl. The cordless clip, on the other hand, has a rotary motor which is not as powerful as V9000 but it is more than enough for the job done.
The type of blades in these two clippers is also different in that the Cordless features 2161 stagger-teeth blade and the corded incorporates 2191 blade. The former set of blades combine close cuts with great fading potential while the later are fade-ready blades with zero overlap.
The last, but not the least, difference, which is quite apparent from the names of these products, is being corded and cordless. The cordless provides the liberty of moving around without worrying about stepping onto wires. Moreover, it allows you to step outside of that restricted space because you don’t have a cord to watch.
Table: Wahl Magic Clip Cordless Vs Corded
Feature | Wahl Magic Cordless | Wahl Magic Corded |
---|---|---|
Blade | Stagger-Tooth Blade | Precision Fade Blade |
Weight | 0.6lbs | 1lbs |
Comb attachments | 8 | 8 |
Runs cordless | Yes | No |
Motor | Rotary Motor | Electromagnetic Motor |
Wahl Magic Clip Vs Senior- Which One Is Better
Both of these clippers are part of Wahl’s professional line. Being from the same line, both show some resemblance but there are some differences.
For starters, the Wahl Senior has a metallic body that is lustrous contrary to the plastic body of the Wahl Magic. The metallic body obviously has a nice feel but the plastic body is not cheap as well. Though encased in plastic, Wahl Magic can endure a couple of accidental falls without being broken. However, the metal definitely performs far better when it comes to surviving the abuse and accidental falls.
Although the bodies of both clippers are made up of different material there is not much of a difference in their weights. The Senior weighs around 13 oz compared to the 10 oz of the Wahl Magic Clip. Therefore, you would not notice much of a difference between the feel of these two when you hold them up.
The type of motor in both these clippers is rotary but the powers they deliver are significantly different. The Senior delivers 6400 RPM as opposed to 5500 of Magic Clip making it slightly underpowered. However, the difference does not translate much in the performance as the Magic Clip despite being underpowered gets the job done perfectly smoothly.
If we talk about blades, the Cordless Magic Clip features a stagger-tooth blade that provides two cutting paths. This results in texture production that resembles a paintbrush and aids in blending. Senior, on the other hand, features a fade blade and has a one cutting path which makes it more precise, clean, and straight.
Besides these, there is a difference in the accessories of these clippers as well. The Cordless comes with eight comb attachments while the Wahl Senior has only six of them. The runtime of the Wahl’s Senior is 70 minutes compared to 90 of Wahl’s Magic Clip.
Table: Wahl Magic Clip Vs Senior
Feature | Wahl Magic Clip Cordless | Wahl Senior Cordless |
---|---|---|
Body | Plastic | Metallic |
Motor Speed | 5500 RPM | 6400 RPM |
Runtime | 90 minutes | 70 minutes |
Blade | Stagger tooth blade | Fade Blade |
Guide Combs | Eight | Six |
Wahl Magic Clip Vs Designer - Which One You Should Get
Wahl Designer is one of the most popular models Wahl has produced to date. It belongs to the same line of clippers as the Magic Clip, intended for professional use. If we talk about the fundamental design, you would find some similarities but as you go deeper you begin to start noticing the differences.
The body of the Wahl’s Designer clipper is metallic which is rugged and can withstand a decent degree of abuse. Wahl Magic, on the other hand, has a plastic body which is strong but not as strong as Wahl Designer. Looks-wise, the Magic clipper has a trendy modern design compared to the simple design of the Designer.
As mentioned earlier, the Magic Clip features 2161 blades which are great for fading and blending. The Designer, on the other hand, has 1005 universal blades that are versatile and can be used for different cutting purposes. Therefore, if you need something strictly for blending and fading Magic Clip is the way to go but as a whole Designer is a better option.
Besides, there is not much of a difference between these two. The runtime is the same at 90 minutes and so are the accessories that come with them. The price, however, is different from Magic costing almost 50$ more than the designer.
Table: Entailing Wahl Magic Clip Vs Designer
Feature | Wahl Magic Clip Cordless | Wahl Designer Cordless |
---|---|---|
Body | Plastic | Metallic |
Run Time | 90 minutes | 90 minutes |
Blade Type | Fade Blade | Universal Blade |
Weight | 10 oz | 10.2 Oz |
Wahl Magic Clip Vs Andis Master 01557 - How Do They Fare Against Each Other
Andis is also a big name in hair clippers and their Master series is considered one of the best. When we compare the Andis Master 01557 with Magic Wahl Magic Clip Cordless, it is a worthy match. Master is a corded clipper with aluminum housing that gives it a lustrous appearance.
Wahl Magic Clip, on the other hand, has a plastic body that is not as shiny as Anidis Masters. However, if you compare the ergonomics the Wahl Magic has a much better design and provides a steadier and firmer grip.
Moving on, the motor featured in Wahl Magic is rotary while Andis Master has an electromagnetic motor capable of 14,000 cutting actions per minute. The Wahl’s Magic, on the other hand, has a motor that delivers 5500 RPM.
As said, there is no direct measure to compare both a rotary and an electromagnetic motor, but in this comparison here, both of these motors are powerful enough to cut through all types of hairs.
Like most professional clippers, both of these have levers to adjust the blades. However, the Andis Master allows you to change the blade altogether which makes it more versatile than Wahl’s Magic. Therefore, you can put it to different uses by changing and adjusting the blades.
When it comes to accessories, Andis Master comes with nothing apart from oil and blade guard. Wahl Magic, on the contrary, comes with eight different comb guides that come in handy.
Pricewise, Wahl Magic costs understandably quite higher than the Andis Master because of its features. To be honest, I personally find Andis Master a little overpriced as it does not feature anything extra-ordinary than the standard corded clipper yet it has a higher price. Corded clippers are generally cost less than cordless clippers and this is what we see here.
Table: Wahl Magic Clip Vs Andis Master 01557
Feature | Wahl Magic Clip Cordless | Andis Master 01557 |
---|---|---|
Body | Plastic | Aluminum |
Weight | 10 Oz | 20 Oz |
Comb Guides | 8 | None |
Cordless | Yes | No |
Motor | Rotary | Electromagnetic |
Wahl Magic Clip Cordless Vs Andis Master Cordless Clipper CL-12470
We compared a corded version of Andis Master with Magic Clip’s cordless version, so it would be unwise to not compare it with a cordless Andis Master.
First of all, Andis Master Cordless CL-12470 has a metal aluminum casing as opposed to plastic casing of the Magic Clip. However, this does not translate into a higher weight of the Master Cordless. In fact, both of them weigh about the same at 10 oz. However, Master Cordless does seem top-heavy and there is no thumb rest. It is shiny and catches smudges and fingerprints as opposed to the relatively matte finish of Magic Clip.
Both of these incorporate a rotary motor and going by companies’ claims, Magic Clip gives 5500 revolutions per minute (RPM) and Andis Master Cordless deliver 7200 strokes per minute (SPM). Remember these are two different characteristics. RPM refers to the speed of the motor and SPM gives the speed of the blade, so there is no direct way to compare these. However, we can tell you that both of these clippers are fast and efficient.
When we compare the blades for each, Magic Clip has a stagger-teeth stainless blade. Whereas, Andis Master Cordless features the same blade as the much-hyped Andis Fade Master’s which is a carbon-steel blade. Stainless blades are generally more resistant to corrosion but get hot rather quickly when in use. Carbon-steel blades ensure durability and better heat distribution. As we know by now, Magic Clip Cordless is good for fades and blends and the same can be said for Andis Master Cordless.
One major difference is the guide combs as Magic Clip Cordless comes with as many as eight guide combs and Andis Master Cordless has none.
In terms of similarities, you can use both these clippers both corded and cordless. Plus, they both incorporate lithium-ion batteries which give a similar runtime of around 90 minutes. In addition, there are adjustable levers on the side that do pretty much the standard job.
Thus, if I have to decide between Wahl Magic Clip Cordless and Andis Master Cordless, I would pick Wahl Magic Clip Cordless every day.
Table: Wahl Magic Clip Cordless Vs Andis Master Cordless CL-12470
Feature | Wahl Magic Clip Cordless | Andis Master Cordless |
---|---|---|
Casing | Plastic | Metal |
Guide Combs | Eight | None |
Motor | Rotary | Rotary |
Blade | Stainless Steel | Carbon Steel |
Cordless Runtime | 90 Minutes | 90 Minutes |
Best For | Fades and Blends | Fades and Blends |
Conclusion:
Wahl Magic Clip Cordless is an excellent clipper overall. There is so much to like about it from a lightweight ergonomic design to a powerful motor and from a unique efficient stagger-teeth blade to very long cordless runtime.
If you are a professional, it gives you a powerful motor that can cut through any hair type effortlessly. Moreover, it gives you the most sought-after blades which would make fades and blend smooth and seamless.
If you are an individual, it gives you everything to meet most of your grooming needs. It has eight different guide combs to line up your beard or make your home haircutting easier than ever.
There are a few things where Wahl can improve in Wahl Magic Clip Cordless, but on the whole, it is a hair-cutting machine to be admired and owned.