Andis is a century-old iconic brand that has found a loyal fan base among professional hairdressers and barbers. It is one of those remaining few brands today that manufacture powerful, non-nonsense shaving tools that do exactly what they are advertised to do. Andis Outliner 2 and T-Outliner are two of their most revered models and I am going to explain why.
Both models allow you to neatly edge-up and outline your hairline without burning a hole in your pocket. They don’t require sick barber skills either, which makes it ideal for newbies too who want to get creative with their hair and beard styles.
Due to such stark similarities, a lot of people have a hard time selecting the right model for their needs. As someone who has had the fortune to try out both devices, I think I’m qualified and capable of settling the Andis Outliner 2 vs T Outliner.
I’ll start off the discussion with detailed reviews of these two products followed by feature-by-feature comparison. Let’s hope that by the end of this article, you will have your answer.
So let’s get to the business:
Table Of Contents
Andis Outliner 2 vs T Outliner Comparison Table
| Features | Andis Outliner II | Andis T Outliner |
|---|---|---|
| Wet/Dry | Dry | Dry |
| Cord Length | 8 feet | 8 feet |
| Motor speed | 7200 spm | 7200 spm |
| Blade | T blade (smaller teeth) | T blade (larger teeth) |
| Motor type | Magnetic | Magnetic |
| Attachment Usability | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 11 oz | 12 oz |
| Voltage | 120V | 120V |
| Includes | Blade Oil | Blade Oil |
| Price | Check Price | Check Price |
In-Depth Review of Andis Outliner II 04603 Go Professional Outliner
I had heard years ago about Andis before from a friend of mine who likes to get very creative with this beard. Being a disposable razor guy, I wasn’t sure about how much use I am going to get out of an equipment like this. The existing reviews seemed promising, so I decided to give it a go. Here’s my takeaway after using this trimmer for almost half an hour:
What I loved the most about this trimmer is the simplicity. It is not trying too hard to be a 5-in-1 tool that does everything. The appearance is pretty basic but the performance isn’t. The blades on these are made from high-quality carbon steel featuring super fine teeth on the edges. It’s perfect for edging up, outlining, fading and trimming stubble.
It can effortlessly take down my thick and coarse beard, leading to a flawless tapered beard look with neat neckline. Unlike most electric trimmers, it cuts pretty close to the skin. Not nearly as close as a traditional razor blade, but you got to be reasonable here.
On most days, I use it for a quick dry shave. I like to keep my beard medium short and it gets the job done in minutes without any pulling. Despite having coarse hair, it cuts pretty close to my skin. Thus I can safely assume that people with thin facial hair will be able to receive a proper clean shave with it. You can also shave your head with it as long as you don’t mind leaving some traces of hair on the scalp.
It doesn’t come with comb attachments, nor it has a rechargeable battery which is okay considering the price. Good news is you can separately purchase comb guides for its square blades. They come in the following sizes: 1/16″, 1/8″, 1/4″, and 3/8″.
The cord on it is 8-foot long which allows it to be quite flexible. The contoured housing fits nicely in my hand and provides a strong grip. I would also like to add that you can adjust the blade by simply unscrewing the top and realigning the blade.
Zero gapping the blade will definitely ensure a tighter crop and crisper edges. I’d suggest zero gapping if you are going for the 5 o’clock shadow look. It will enable the blade to cut as low as 0.2mm.
I don’t usually have to adjust it unless I am in the mood for a very tight trim. The upkeep is minimal. Just give it a proper cleanup after each use and oil the blades after 3-4 uses. Use a disinfectant spray if multiple individuals are going to share the same device.
Apart from impeccable fading and edging abilities, this trimmer is also remarkable for its skin-friendliness. Anyone who is sick of dealing with a cluster of razor bumps after every shave deserves a product like this. The fine-tooth edger doesn’t cut the hair beneath the skin which reduces the risk of ingrown hair growth.
Above all, it’s easy to use with no redundant features. The edger is not too long which makes perimeter detailing easier. It’s a pretty heavy-duty unit which is clearly built to survive the test of time. To conclude, Outliner 04603 is one of the best tools available for shaping and defining both beard and haircuts.
People with thin-textured hair will also be able to get a decent clean shave with it. Although this product isn’t exactly cheap, you’ll have to usually spend a lot more to get similar features and functionality.
Minor Drawback
The trimmer tends to heat up a little after heavy-duty trimming for around 10 minutes. The rest is close to perfection.
In-Depth Review of Andis Professional T-Outliner Beard/Hair Trimmer
T-Outliner is an unassuming beast, filled with raw power that’s hard to guess from its fairly plain exterior. The casing of the equipment is made of polymer which makes it strong enough to withstand heavy abuse. Be assured that this thing won’t give up even if you accidentally drop it on the floor a couple of times.
If you are a barber or hairstylist on the lookout for a professional-grade edger/trimmer that means business, T-Outliner is certainly worth having a look.
At 5.5”, the T-blades are a bit longer than I’d have preferred but it’s not that big a deal for me. Unlike Outlier II that houses a square blade, Andis T-Outliner sports a T-shaped blade which makes a lot of difference. Carbon steel-made T-shaped blades allow for more precise trims and better contouring ability.
The unique shape of the blade lets you clean up hair from tricky spots like the neckline, upper lip, back of the ear and so on. These specialized blades are used by barbers for precise line-ups, edging, fading and intricate designs.
By zero-gapping the blades (which can be a little difficult at first for complete beginners), you can get a smooth and close shave on short to medium-length beard. This basically eliminates the need for a razor, unless of course, you have a thick forest to take down. You can also shave your head bald with it. Just make sure to cut them short with a scissor beforehand.
The rest are all the same as Outliner II. It’s a corded device designed to operate on standard US household voltage. If you are traveling overseas, you will need to use an adapter.
Speaking of, the lightweight unit makes for a great travel companion too. The package includes a small bottle of oil which I’d suggest using after every 3 uses to keep the blades running smoothly.
Also, make sure to clean the shaving head thoroughly after every use as the excess hair tends to get easily trapped inside the blade. If you don’t clear them out, the unit will heat up quickly.
Minor Drawback
Like Andis Outliner II, this model is also notorious for its overheating issue. That being said, it’s not going to be a big problem as long as you limit your use to shaping, edge-ups, line-ups, and low-duty shaving. It begins to heat up after around 15 minutes while most touch-up jobs take 10-15 minutes tops.
Andis Outliner 2 vs T Outliner – The Similarities
Below is a list of identical features present in both Outliner 2 and T-Outliner:
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Motor
These two Andis Outliner series models are powered by the same 7200 SPM (Strokes Per Minute) magnetic motor. It can handle fading, shaping, trimming and small-scale shaving jobs like a champ. You can feel the raw power the moment you begin to drag the blades against your skin. Having said that, don’t expect it to shave like a traditional razor blade.
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Zero-gap settings
You can zero-gap the blades on these two devices if you want to trim down your hair as short as 0.2mm. You just have to unscrew the head and tweak the height of the blade. It’s not really as easy as it sounds but you will get the hang of it after one or two attempts.
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Appearance
As I have said before, Outliner 2 and the standard T-Outliner model have a no-frills design. The ergonomic body is made from hard plastic which can gallantly survive a few slip-ups.
The non-gloss finish doesn’t bother me since I prioritize performance over looks any day. Each device is equipped with a simple on/off switch and an 8-foot long cord. No speed adjustment or comb guides are included in the package.
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Basic Functions
None of these models are designed to handle heavy-duty shaving. Use them for defining the edges of your hairline, cropping short hair shorter, lining and fading only. If you have small and thin hair, you should be able to shave quite close to the skin by zero-gapping the blades.
A lot of users have been successfully using them for keeping their head as well as body hair in check.
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Maintenance
Both tools come with a small bottle of oil for the blades. I suggest greasing the blades after 3-4 uses to keep them running smoothly. Also, don’t forget to clean up the inside of the cutting head as the blades can be easily gunked up with excess hair strands. The replacement blades for these two models can be easily found at affordable prices.
Difference Between Andis Outliner 2 vs T Outliner: Final Showdown
After lots of hair-splitting analysis, here are a few subtle differences between these models that should be points of consideration before taking a pick:
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Blade Shape
Outliner 2 uses a square-shaped blade with micro-fine teeth on the edges as opposed to the T-shaped blade found on T-Outliner. The former blade is smaller, narrower and has slightly larger teeth compared to T-Outliner.
While small blade makes Outliner 2 easy to maneuver and great for dry shaving on sensitive skin, it has a small limitation. It cannot shape-up the hair in hard-to-reach spots like a T-shaped blade. T-outliner is a better option for complex edging and detailing jobs as it ensures a better coverage while doing straight lines.
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Ease of Use
Extending my point above, Outliner 2 is a great fading trimmer for beginners who will mostly use it for dry shaving, line-ups, fading and edging.
T-Outliner is more geared towards people with little to moderate experience with hairline shaping and outlining. It won’t be easy for a rookie to position the T-shaped blade at the correct angle on difficult spots e.g the area behind the ears.
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Available Accessories
Unfortunately, you cannot separately buy any compatible comb guides with the T-blade of T-Outliner. Fortunately, you can find comb guides for the square blades of Outliner 2, if you want to play with varied trim lengths.
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Noise
T-Outliner features a larger blade compared to Outliner 2 which makes the former slightly noisier. Outliner 2 is definitely quieter which makes it more comfortable to use.
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Weight
T-Outliner weighs 12 ounces while Outliner 2 is an 11-ounce device. The gap of an ounce doesn’t make any difference, though. It’s the smaller length of the blade that makes Outliner 2 a tad easier to pivot around a large surface area.
In Conclusion: Which Model is Better for You?
The two models I’ve reviewed in this segment are well capable of adding depth, definition, and drama to your hairline without nicks and razor bumps. These are two of the best trimmers for sensitive skin you can find today.
Having said that, I would place T-Outliner above Outliner 2 as the former offers greater control and precision on different types of cuts, especially around the difficult spots. It’s powerful, durable and never misses a beat, no matter how complex the task is.
I’d recommend the Outliner 2 for rookies who are looking for a quality dry shaver and edger for maintaining stubble and fade haircuts.
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