The GoldFX 870G is built for working barbers rather than occasional home use, reflected in its price, all-metal construction, and dual-voltage cord/cordless design. It suits someone who wants one clipper that can be plugged in at a fixed station for all-day reliability but can also be picked up cordless for detail work, travel, or use with different mains voltage. The built-in 5-detent taper lever is aimed at users doing fades and blending across hair textures, not someone who only needs a single fixed guard length.

What sets the GoldFX 870G apart is that it doesn't force a choice between corded and cordless: the dual-voltage design lets it run plugged in for unlimited working time or cordless off the lithium-ion battery, and the 5-detent taper lever and coated blade are built to handle fading work across hair textures without needing a second clipper or blade swap for that task.

Charge the clipper's lithium-ion battery before first cordless use, or plug it in directly to use it corded — the dual-voltage design supports both. Set the desired closeness using the 5-detent taper lever built into the clipper body, moving between its five fixed positions for fading and blending, or attach one of the 8 included guide combs over the blade for an even, fixed cutting length. After use, remove hair from the blade with the included cleaning brush and apply the included clipper oil to the blade teeth. Hang the clipper on its built-in detent hook for storage, and fit the blade guard over the blade when not in use.

Pros: dual-voltage cord/cordless operation means the clipper keeps working even if the battery runs down, and it can be used with different mains voltages when traveling; the brushless motor avoids the wear-prone brushes found in older motor designs; the DLC/titanium-coated blade resists dulling and corrosion better than an untreated steel blade; the 5-detent taper lever is built into the clipper, so closeness can be adjusted without a separate blade. Cons: the lithium-ion battery's roughly 2-hour cordless runtime is on the shorter side for a full day of cordless-only use without recharging or plugging in; the all-metal housing that adds durability also adds weight compared to a lighter plastic-bodied clipper; and at over $200 CAD, it's a higher up-front cost than basic corded-only clippers.