I tried them on a daily basis, after three days and – in a bid to be more scientific – I grew a bit of a beard and then trimmed it to 3mm with one of our best beard trimmers (opens in new tab). Philips Norelco philips shaver Shaver 2500 gives you a consistent, convenient clean shave. Self-sharpening ComfortCut blades, a pop-up trimmer, full-washability, and a storage pouch make the shaver easy to use and excellent value.
An electric razor needs break-in time—not for the razor, but for your face. If you’re switching from a manual to an electric, or even from one electric style to another, generally you’ll need to give your skin two weeks to adjust to the new tool. We couldn’t figure out exactly why this break-in period is necessary. Different sources give different answers, ranging from new-user error to the need to “train” skin as it adjusts from healing the scrapes caused by a manual razor to dealing with the pulling and shearing mechanisms of electrics.
CBS was a notable customer, using models PC-60, PC-70, PC-72, PCP-90, the LDH series, and later the LDK series. Later marketed using the BTS—Broadcast Television Systems Inc.—brand name in a joint venture with Bosch, the division was subsequently sold to Thomson’s Grass Valley, then to Belden. James has been using the Series 7 to shave a portion of his face (growing a pandemic beard after initial testing decreased his use somewhat) since first testing for this guide in 2020.
In a compact size that’s perfect for storing in a dopp kit, you’ll get up to 60 minutes of use with floating heads that automatically adapt to the contours of your face. This is a rotary shaver and so you use it by rubbing it on your face in a circular motion. The Series 9 is light, ergonomically sound, waterproof to 5 metres and easy to clean. As with its Philips rival, the 50-minute battery life, from just a one-hour charge, is great. The slide-up beard trimmer is nothing to write home about, but at least it’s always there, unlike Philips’ clip-on one.
On top of that, the three slim foil blades also move independently from side to side. The upshot is a shaver head that mooches around the face like a caterpillar, snipping here, there and everywhere until there isn’t a bristle left in sight. I was frankly astounded by how close it shaved, even ‘dry’ straight out of the box. However, if you really want the absolute best electric shaver, pay that premium and get the Series 9000 Prestige. This will deal with 5 days worth of stubble and comes with a wireless charging pad that also works on compatible phones. It’s also notably more premium in terms of look and feel than any other shaver.
The top-of-the-line Philips Norelco model is the best rotary shaver we’ve ever used. The 7085cc and the 7020s provide the same high-quality shave as our pick, but they each come with different sets of accoutrements. We think the new 7071cc has the features that most people want or need, but prices tend to fluctuate, and if you find one of the others for significantly less you won’t be missing a lot by picking that model up. Braun Series 8 models are now more widely available through various retailers. We’re retesting our picks against newer models—including Braun Series 8 shavers—and will update this guide with our findings. Easily turn your shaver2 into a beard styler, a precision trimmer or a cleansing brush.
Now, while this technology is really amazing, I am not sure it really leads to the shave being any better, but if you suffer very bad skin irritation as a result of heat, it could be worth a try. Overall performance is perfectly acceptable, although not on par with the more premium shavers. Thanks to a new blade design and more generously sized foil holes, the Philips Shaver Series 9000 Prestige can tackle thick stubble – up to a week’s worth, even. Where other electrics force you to hack away over and over if you’ve missed a few days, you can pretty much just run this over once, and then look for only a few minor spots that might need a second go.
Chad Beightol, founder of grooming boutique Consigliere, recommends it as a solid all-around wet and dry razor, meaning you can use it in the shower, too. Beightol says the 3800 is a straightforward shaver with features you’d find on advanced models, like an 60-minute battery life and a pop-up trimmer for cleaning up facial hair. If you need an electric razor and don’t want to think too much about extra bells and whistles, you can’t go wrong with the 3800. If you’re someone who’s constantly fighting those pesky neck hairs, then this powerful new shaver brings AI into your bathroom and harnesses it to deliver an epic close shave. The rotary heads make it easy to move with you skin, and the pressure sensors alert you when you’re pressing too hard or not enough.