Click here to read our detailed review of the Panasonic Arc 3. A single pass was all that was required to leave the area completely hair free. Below we will take a detailed look at the leading shavers from each big manufacturer. Theres no integrated pop-out trimmer either. Many people find that rotary shavers are move comfortable to use and perform better along contoured areas of the face such as the jawline or under the nose. Being able to shave anywhere at anytime is something that traditional shaving just cant offer. Your skin needs to be trained to adjust to the pulling/shearing action of electric shavers. The close shave came at the cost of comfort. In fact, most low-end electric shavers down right sucked when it came to providing an effective shave. Other than that, the display will also show notifications for cleaning, replacing the blades, travel lock and a reminder to disconnect the shaver from the outlet in order to use it. While the above reasons may just be speculation, one thing was very real all our testers experienced the break in period. Heres how you can do that: Again, check that the device isnt on or plugged in before removing the head assembly. Or in this case, right person. But this weakness is its strength in this situation. Things like the coarseness of the hair, beard density, frequency of shaving, and cleaning will have a great influence on the lifespan of the blades. Also, be mindful that while older electric shaver models may seem like a bargain, you may find that when the time comes to replace the razor blades, they are no longer available. Depending who you ask you will get a very different answer. We were still able to buy a Panasonic Arc 3 2011 model even though it has been upgraded twice since (once in 2014 and once in 2016). But you do have this option nevertheless. If you look closely you will see that there is no clear pattern, each hole varies ever so slightly in size and shape. Brauns cleaning detergent refills come in a hard plastic container (Braun calls this a cassette) and are alcohol based.
And part of the reason for the F5-5800s great shave is that it can be quite aggressive. In many cases the extra features were just a gimmick and could not justify the dramatic spike in price. Backed by the deep pockets of Proctor & Gamble, Braun is an advertising powerhouse. The Norelco 6800 has a 50-minute runtime, whereas the Norelco 7100 has a 60-minute runtime for shaving. Also, you can see that each shaving head has two concentric tracks, featuring different slots for capturing both short and longer, flat-lying hairs. This can be tricky if your bathroom is already running short on space. I shaved dry most of the time using my pre-shave lotion of choice from Speick which made the shave even more comfortable and allowed the head to glide with less resistance on the skin. They shave is poor due to heads that dont float (less range of movement) and the shaving heads themselves are imprecise. These shavers are hugely popular in Japan, and to a lesser extent across Europe, for the sole reason that they give a darn fine shave. The clean was satisfactory and removed all visible hair clippings from the outside and inside the shaving heads. Maybe we were missing something. Their current line up of electric shavers is AMAZING. We do not recommend either the 7300 or 7700 shavers. Our site can best be viewed with the latest version of Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome or Firefox.
Customer service even acknowledged that this was a common complaint but is not covered under warranty due to being accidental damage. Remington Dual Foil Remingtons attempt at a foil travel shaver. There is no barrier of separation which results in an incredibly close shave. The Series 7 is perhaps the most recommended shaver on the internet. The Philips Series 6000 models available in Europe/internationally are the S6650/48, S6680/26, S6630/11, S6620/11. While the low price of a Braum or Fanasonic electric shaver may have been tempting they quality looked dubious (and buying them is illegal). You need to learn a new shaving technique and mistakes when starting out. And the shave is now comparable to the newest model of Arc 3, even though it has an extra cutting element. We left these in the collectors case. When shaving with a foil shaver you will use up and down or left to right movements. Pressing it again will deactivate the Skin Guard mode and the shaver will run again at full power (normal mode). Theres nothing worse than starting your day with a poor shave that leaves stubble or irritation on your skin. And it is continually being updated! The return period and terms vary depending on the manufacturer. Unlike Braun and Panasonic that build their trimmers into the body of the electric shaver, Philips Norelco includes it as a separate accessory. None of the Series 6000 variations come with an automatic cleaning station, which means the shavers must be cleaned by hand after each use. There are also various recipes online that you can use to create your own cleaning detergent for a fraction of the price. The 7000 Series is made up of two different rotary shaver models. A careful balance that saw the Series 9 regarded highly by many of our testers. While it is nice to find a rechargeable shaver at such a low price point, the shave was less than satisfactory. In my opinion the main reason for the excellent comfort is the introduction of the new shaving heads, the SH60. If you are using a rotary shaver your should use small circular motions while shaving. Its definitely a nicer product than what Ive seen in the past from Philips in this price range. The SmartEdge required so many passes to get an effective shave that it would have been quicker for us to use a traditional razor. The 9000 Series are absolute beasts at tackling the contours of your face. Before shaving for the first time you should charge the razor to 100%. Gone is that cheap, plasticky, hollow feel of the aforementioned models. A very time consuming and ineffective shave. Click here to read our detailed review of the Braun Series 5. So its less necessary in the case of rotary razors like Series 6000. The design is as ugly as it gets. norelco multigroom trimmer
As we touched on above, The whirring sound given off by the cleaning station is loud enough to wake someone sleeping in the next room over. Click here to read our detailed review of the Remington HyperFlex. Once youve cleaned them, place the guard, blade and ring back into the holder and lock the ring by turning it clockwise. These strokes will be instantly familiar to you if you are swapping over from a manual razor. It will never look that good again, fingerprints and watermarks are very visible on the reflective surface. Now this break in period does mean that you will have to test your electric shaver for a few weeks before you will know if it is the right one for you. It feels great and testers remarked that it helped eliminate razor burn. With the exception of the Series 9, flat laying hairs proved to be the biggest problem with Braun shavers. The Wahl 5-Star is solely aimed at barber shop owners and other professionals. Where these trimmers excel is detailing.
While each Series shaver comes with a different looking station, they all offer the same great clean. If you are not careful the trimmer can actually pinch the meaty part of your hand. There are three models available: Each of these shavers provides you with an identical shaving experience. Each requires a different shaving technique on your part. The SH60 blades are already available for purchase. Multiple passes were required for them to be cut to a satisfactory length. Most commonly found on the shelf of your local drug stores, these models of shaver failed to impress. The real novelty of the Series 6000 is however the new SH60 blade set, designed specifically for these models (more details later on). Testers agreed that the Panasonic models of electric shavers cut closer than any other brand. Unsubscribe at any time. From tearing the thin foil heads to the Bump-Free model dying on us completely, no other brand let us down as badly. From all outwards appearances it seems a winner. I have very sensitive skin and I cant shave with most rotary razors without also getting some irritation or razor burn. With one exception, all major brands replied to our queries within 72 hours giving detailed and well thought out responses to our questions. As I discovered, coordinating this many people and products was very similar to herding cats. Powered by two AA batteries, the shaver could be best described as weak. Because the hair is cut back just above skin level, the curly hair is less likely to grow downward and cause irritation. The HyperFlex not only dazzled us with its good looks but felt great when held in the hand. (, Philips Kitchen+ app - tasty airfryer recipes & tips, Norelco If we had known the amount of work that would have gone not only into co-ordinating a review like this then we probably would have quit before we had started. When we say current we are talking about the Arc 5 and Arc 3 in particular. Heres how you should go about doing each of them. Braun Series 1 is one of the worst shavers we have ever had the displeasure of using and we are unsurprised that Braun doesnt even bother to advertise it. If you are feeling patriotic and want a shaver made right here in the USA then Wahl is your only choice. Thats pretty much it; as mentioned, this cleaning routine should be performed after every shave. norelco multigroom motorised hc9450
Shaver 3300, Norelco Also, in order to reset it, press and hold the power button for 7 seconds. The Philips Norelco Shaver 7100 provides a close shave while minimizing skin irritation. A lot of people do not realize that with continued use, the blades of your electric shaver will begin to dull. I may earn a commission from the affiliate links on this site. You would expect a prompt reply with a solution to your question. Now the problem with a test as long as 10 months is that new electric shavers were released and older models were discontinued. If you like that stubbled look then you may be happy but those of you looking for a close shave will be very disappointed. Unfortunately this saw us cut the lovely electric shavers from Hitachi and Toshiba. So if you dont usually shave very often, it could be a good option. The front of the shaver has this high-gloss fascia, but again, doesnt feel at all cheap. The main problem is that its getting pretty difficult to find as the old Series 5 is being gradually replaced by the newer models (which are a step down in terms of performance). Its a very comfortable shaver as well, definitely among the best in Philips lineup in that regard. The older Series 5 is another viable alternative to the Philips Norelco Shaver 6800. But what about the rest of the Panasonic shaver range? The module holding the three combs and cutters also installs identically on the Smart Click bottom piece on both shavers and is interchangeable. . Comparing the two shavers the heads combs appear to be identical which surprised me seeing the difference in price of the two shavers. To me, that is a sign of quality as the basic rotaries from Philips only have a single large plastic bracket. The testers had one simple goal. It works well on both short and longer facial hair and can be used wet or dry, making it very versatile. And again, I didnt quite get it. As you can see in the image below, theyre extremely similar to the SH98 used by the Prestige line. While it was effective at this, it just wasnt powerful enough to be used as an every day shaver. It snags on all but the flattest sections of your skin. All electric shavers in the Arc series have the same trimmer. Note, cheaper models of Philips Norelco electric shavers have a pop-up trimmer in the body of the shaver. When presented with an electric shaver that came in multiple variations, we chose the one with the most features. The HyperFlex is Remingtons top of the line rotary electric shaver. But at the end of the day, if you want to experience the closest possible shave then you are better of sticking to traditional wet shaving. I have this shaver and it seems to be excellent on my very fine hair beard. Unfortunately the quality of the foil heads really is lacking. Interestingly the Braun range of electric shavers ranges dramatically depending on where you live in the World. Part of the new and updated Series 6000, the Philips Norelco 6880/81 Shaver 6800 is one of the most compelling mid-range rotary shavers you can currently buy. The built in sonic cleaning mode will allow you to simply rinse your shaver clean under running water. While the Arc 4 may have been the star of Panasonics line up back in 2011, since the release of the Arc 5 it has been relegated to the back seat. Rinse them thoroughly with warm tap water and remove any visible grime. Not good.
The cleaning detergent ships in sachets and will need to be manually mixed with water before you can use it. I also recently got a open box Philco Norelco S9721 on eBay for about half price compared to the Amazon listing. Instead we will be closely examining each electric shaver and cover its pros and cons. bodygroom norelco This was due to the shaver requiring more passes to achieve a uniform shave. I only send a few emails per year.
The current line up of electric shavers would make Victor Kiam roll in his grave.
Because they get right up to the skin, those of you with sensitive skin may find that you are left with a nasty case of razor burn after each shave. Wrapup Who should buy the Philips Norelco 6880/81?
But what about Remingtons other electric shavers? And tested it. With the exception of the Series 7, most models had their trimmers obstructed by shaving head. norelco bodygroom shaver The undisputed king of Rotary shavers. And despite the addition of sonic vibrations to help the hair stand on end, in a blind shave test, participants could not tell the difference in the end result. Braun MobileShave The cheapest electric shaver in Brauns line up. Cheaper foil razors will most probably need screen replacements more frequently. It could show scuffs and scratches more easily though. For foil-head electric shavers, check if the oscillator is working. 7000 Series Shavers Replacement Blades - 2 Pack - Philips Norelco SH71/52; The shaver looks very slick in the official product photos and even better when you actually hold it in your hand. He is an embarrassment to your family just like the Series 1 is an embarrassment to the Braun Series family. Foil shavers, particularly the ones from Panasonic, are able to cut the hairs closer to the skin thanks to the very thin screens. The result is the most complete electric shaver test on the entire website. It will require constant polishing on your part to keep the shaver looking its best.
Those of you swapping from one model of an electric shaver will also have to endure this break in period. Rather than using a fan to dry the shaver, it uses induction heating.
It is a lot cheaper than the new Series 7000 as well. For the most part they only change the look of the shaver and the model number while keeping the shaving heads identical. The sides are covered in a very grippy rubber-like material with dimples for extra security, while the back features a matte plastic. All rights reserved. A light mineral oil like clipper oil would the best option. But we feel the work was worth it. Branding aside, Philips shavers excel at shaving problem hairs that grow in every different direction and testers noted they performed exceptionally well along the jawline.
With that out of the way, lets quickly check out the main features. For the most part the Series 5 is a better version of the Series 7. Shaver 3100, Norelco
Beard and skin type can vary dramatically from person to person, a good mix of test subjects were required. Again, Philips doesnt recommend lubrication in the case of the Shaver 6800 or any of the Series 6000 models, but doing it properly can be beneficial. So far the premises for a great shave with the new Philips Series 6000 S6880/81 are all there. It has an integrated pop-up trimmer thats sharp, effective, and easy to use. Buying cleaning detergent in bulk will see better value for your money. 
And part of the reason for the F5-5800s great shave is that it can be quite aggressive. In many cases the extra features were just a gimmick and could not justify the dramatic spike in price. Backed by the deep pockets of Proctor & Gamble, Braun is an advertising powerhouse. The Norelco 6800 has a 50-minute runtime, whereas the Norelco 7100 has a 60-minute runtime for shaving. Also, you can see that each shaving head has two concentric tracks, featuring different slots for capturing both short and longer, flat-lying hairs. This can be tricky if your bathroom is already running short on space. I shaved dry most of the time using my pre-shave lotion of choice from Speick which made the shave even more comfortable and allowed the head to glide with less resistance on the skin. They shave is poor due to heads that dont float (less range of movement) and the shaving heads themselves are imprecise. These shavers are hugely popular in Japan, and to a lesser extent across Europe, for the sole reason that they give a darn fine shave. The clean was satisfactory and removed all visible hair clippings from the outside and inside the shaving heads. Maybe we were missing something. Their current line up of electric shavers is AMAZING. We do not recommend either the 7300 or 7700 shavers. Our site can best be viewed with the latest version of Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome or Firefox.
Customer service even acknowledged that this was a common complaint but is not covered under warranty due to being accidental damage. Remington Dual Foil Remingtons attempt at a foil travel shaver. There is no barrier of separation which results in an incredibly close shave. The Series 7 is perhaps the most recommended shaver on the internet. The Philips Series 6000 models available in Europe/internationally are the S6650/48, S6680/26, S6630/11, S6620/11. While the low price of a Braum or Fanasonic electric shaver may have been tempting they quality looked dubious (and buying them is illegal). You need to learn a new shaving technique and mistakes when starting out. And the shave is now comparable to the newest model of Arc 3, even though it has an extra cutting element. We left these in the collectors case. When shaving with a foil shaver you will use up and down or left to right movements. Pressing it again will deactivate the Skin Guard mode and the shaver will run again at full power (normal mode). Theres nothing worse than starting your day with a poor shave that leaves stubble or irritation on your skin. And it is continually being updated! The return period and terms vary depending on the manufacturer. Unlike Braun and Panasonic that build their trimmers into the body of the electric shaver, Philips Norelco includes it as a separate accessory. None of the Series 6000 variations come with an automatic cleaning station, which means the shavers must be cleaned by hand after each use. There are also various recipes online that you can use to create your own cleaning detergent for a fraction of the price. The 7000 Series is made up of two different rotary shaver models. A careful balance that saw the Series 9 regarded highly by many of our testers. While it is nice to find a rechargeable shaver at such a low price point, the shave was less than satisfactory. In my opinion the main reason for the excellent comfort is the introduction of the new shaving heads, the SH60. If you are using a rotary shaver your should use small circular motions while shaving. Its definitely a nicer product than what Ive seen in the past from Philips in this price range. The SmartEdge required so many passes to get an effective shave that it would have been quicker for us to use a traditional razor. The 9000 Series are absolute beasts at tackling the contours of your face. Before shaving for the first time you should charge the razor to 100%. Gone is that cheap, plasticky, hollow feel of the aforementioned models. A very time consuming and ineffective shave. Click here to read our detailed review of the Braun Series 5. So its less necessary in the case of rotary razors like Series 6000. The design is as ugly as it gets. norelco multigroom trimmer 
As we touched on above, The whirring sound given off by the cleaning station is loud enough to wake someone sleeping in the next room over. Click here to read our detailed review of the Remington HyperFlex. Once youve cleaned them, place the guard, blade and ring back into the holder and lock the ring by turning it clockwise. These strokes will be instantly familiar to you if you are swapping over from a manual razor. It will never look that good again, fingerprints and watermarks are very visible on the reflective surface. Now this break in period does mean that you will have to test your electric shaver for a few weeks before you will know if it is the right one for you. It feels great and testers remarked that it helped eliminate razor burn. With the exception of the Series 9, flat laying hairs proved to be the biggest problem with Braun shavers. The Wahl 5-Star is solely aimed at barber shop owners and other professionals. Where these trimmers excel is detailing.
While each Series shaver comes with a different looking station, they all offer the same great clean. If you are not careful the trimmer can actually pinch the meaty part of your hand. There are three models available: Each of these shavers provides you with an identical shaving experience. Each requires a different shaving technique on your part. The SH60 blades are already available for purchase. Multiple passes were required for them to be cut to a satisfactory length. Most commonly found on the shelf of your local drug stores, these models of shaver failed to impress. The real novelty of the Series 6000 is however the new SH60 blade set, designed specifically for these models (more details later on). Testers agreed that the Panasonic models of electric shavers cut closer than any other brand. Unsubscribe at any time. From tearing the thin foil heads to the Bump-Free model dying on us completely, no other brand let us down as badly. From all outwards appearances it seems a winner. I have very sensitive skin and I cant shave with most rotary razors without also getting some irritation or razor burn. With one exception, all major brands replied to our queries within 72 hours giving detailed and well thought out responses to our questions. As I discovered, coordinating this many people and products was very similar to herding cats. Powered by two AA batteries, the shaver could be best described as weak. Because the hair is cut back just above skin level, the curly hair is less likely to grow downward and cause irritation. The HyperFlex not only dazzled us with its good looks but felt great when held in the hand. (, Philips Kitchen+ app - tasty airfryer recipes & tips, Norelco If we had known the amount of work that would have gone not only into co-ordinating a review like this then we probably would have quit before we had started. When we say current we are talking about the Arc 5 and Arc 3 in particular. Heres how you should go about doing each of them. Braun Series 1 is one of the worst shavers we have ever had the displeasure of using and we are unsurprised that Braun doesnt even bother to advertise it. If you are feeling patriotic and want a shaver made right here in the USA then Wahl is your only choice. Thats pretty much it; as mentioned, this cleaning routine should be performed after every shave. norelco multigroom motorised hc9450
Shaver 3300, Norelco Also, in order to reset it, press and hold the power button for 7 seconds. The Philips Norelco Shaver 7100 provides a close shave while minimizing skin irritation. A lot of people do not realize that with continued use, the blades of your electric shaver will begin to dull. I may earn a commission from the affiliate links on this site. You would expect a prompt reply with a solution to your question. Now the problem with a test as long as 10 months is that new electric shavers were released and older models were discontinued. If you like that stubbled look then you may be happy but those of you looking for a close shave will be very disappointed. Unfortunately this saw us cut the lovely electric shavers from Hitachi and Toshiba. So if you dont usually shave very often, it could be a good option. The front of the shaver has this high-gloss fascia, but again, doesnt feel at all cheap. The main problem is that its getting pretty difficult to find as the old Series 5 is being gradually replaced by the newer models (which are a step down in terms of performance). Its a very comfortable shaver as well, definitely among the best in Philips lineup in that regard. The older Series 5 is another viable alternative to the Philips Norelco Shaver 6800. But what about the rest of the Panasonic shaver range? The module holding the three combs and cutters also installs identically on the Smart Click bottom piece on both shavers and is interchangeable. . Comparing the two shavers the heads combs appear to be identical which surprised me seeing the difference in price of the two shavers. To me, that is a sign of quality as the basic rotaries from Philips only have a single large plastic bracket. The testers had one simple goal. It works well on both short and longer facial hair and can be used wet or dry, making it very versatile. And again, I didnt quite get it. As you can see in the image below, theyre extremely similar to the SH98 used by the Prestige line. While it was effective at this, it just wasnt powerful enough to be used as an every day shaver. It snags on all but the flattest sections of your skin. All electric shavers in the Arc series have the same trimmer. Note, cheaper models of Philips Norelco electric shavers have a pop-up trimmer in the body of the shaver. When presented with an electric shaver that came in multiple variations, we chose the one with the most features. The HyperFlex is Remingtons top of the line rotary electric shaver. But at the end of the day, if you want to experience the closest possible shave then you are better of sticking to traditional wet shaving. I have this shaver and it seems to be excellent on my very fine hair beard. Unfortunately the quality of the foil heads really is lacking. Interestingly the Braun range of electric shavers ranges dramatically depending on where you live in the World. Part of the new and updated Series 6000, the Philips Norelco 6880/81 Shaver 6800 is one of the most compelling mid-range rotary shavers you can currently buy. The built in sonic cleaning mode will allow you to simply rinse your shaver clean under running water. While the Arc 4 may have been the star of Panasonics line up back in 2011, since the release of the Arc 5 it has been relegated to the back seat. Rinse them thoroughly with warm tap water and remove any visible grime. Not good.
The cleaning detergent ships in sachets and will need to be manually mixed with water before you can use it. I also recently got a open box Philco Norelco S9721 on eBay for about half price compared to the Amazon listing. Instead we will be closely examining each electric shaver and cover its pros and cons. bodygroom norelco This was due to the shaver requiring more passes to achieve a uniform shave. I only send a few emails per year.
The current line up of electric shavers would make Victor Kiam roll in his grave.
Because they get right up to the skin, those of you with sensitive skin may find that you are left with a nasty case of razor burn after each shave. Wrapup Who should buy the Philips Norelco 6880/81? But what about Remingtons other electric shavers? And tested it. With the exception of the Series 7, most models had their trimmers obstructed by shaving head. norelco bodygroom shaver The undisputed king of Rotary shavers. And despite the addition of sonic vibrations to help the hair stand on end, in a blind shave test, participants could not tell the difference in the end result. Braun MobileShave The cheapest electric shaver in Brauns line up. Cheaper foil razors will most probably need screen replacements more frequently. It could show scuffs and scratches more easily though. For foil-head electric shavers, check if the oscillator is working. 7000 Series Shavers Replacement Blades - 2 Pack - Philips Norelco SH71/52; The shaver looks very slick in the official product photos and even better when you actually hold it in your hand. He is an embarrassment to your family just like the Series 1 is an embarrassment to the Braun Series family. Foil shavers, particularly the ones from Panasonic, are able to cut the hairs closer to the skin thanks to the very thin screens. The result is the most complete electric shaver test on the entire website. It will require constant polishing on your part to keep the shaver looking its best.
Those of you swapping from one model of an electric shaver will also have to endure this break in period. Rather than using a fan to dry the shaver, it uses induction heating.
It is a lot cheaper than the new Series 7000 as well. For the most part they only change the look of the shaver and the model number while keeping the shaving heads identical. The sides are covered in a very grippy rubber-like material with dimples for extra security, while the back features a matte plastic. All rights reserved. A light mineral oil like clipper oil would the best option. But we feel the work was worth it. Branding aside, Philips shavers excel at shaving problem hairs that grow in every different direction and testers noted they performed exceptionally well along the jawline.
With that out of the way, lets quickly check out the main features. For the most part the Series 5 is a better version of the Series 7. Shaver 3100, Norelco
Beard and skin type can vary dramatically from person to person, a good mix of test subjects were required. Again, Philips doesnt recommend lubrication in the case of the Shaver 6800 or any of the Series 6000 models, but doing it properly can be beneficial. So far the premises for a great shave with the new Philips Series 6000 S6880/81 are all there. It has an integrated pop-up trimmer thats sharp, effective, and easy to use. Buying cleaning detergent in bulk will see better value for your money.