The lid is the reason to change
If opening a can means wrestling with a sharp lid afterward, OXO’s Smooth Edge model offers a different mechanism. It cuts around the side of the can below the edge, and built-in pliers lift the separated lid. The cutting wheel is designed not to enter the food.
That changes the workflow: attach the opener in the correct orientation, turn the side knob, then use the lifting feature instead of fishing with a finger. Familiarity with a traditional top-cutting opener does not mean the first use will feel identical. Read the instructions before deciding that a different cutting position is a fault.
Keep the tradeoff in view
The nonslip handle and larger knob are useful design features, but individual grip comfort still needs checking. OXO recommends hand washing; this is not a tool to leave wet in the dishwasher without checking care guidance. Choose it if lid handling is the part you dislike. Keep your present opener if it works comfortably and the different mechanism offers little benefit. Smooth-edge design reduces one nuisance; it is not a blanket guarantee that every can or opened lid is harmless.
The decision before checkout
The first trial should follow the illustrated attachment instructions: a side-cutting mechanism sits differently from a conventional top-cutting opener. Do not force a slipping tool. Examine the opened can and detached lid rather than treating smooth-edge branding as permission to ignore all edges.
