The new shavers with SkinIQ technology are equipped with advanced sensors that read and adapt to you. Connected models allow to track your routine, and advise you for a shave that’s best for your skin. The Philips razor also comes with an efficiency cap, an attachment no other razor in my testing included. This piece snaps on over the regular shaving head and serves to comb hair up so you can remove more of it in one pass.
Daily shaving – While I am not a daily shaving fan I did test it out and it was fine, although I did get some neck irritation on the second day of daily shaving then decided against shaving the next day. The last two Philips shavers are at philips razor the opposite end of the scale in terms of costs and functions, and this shaver stands just in the middle of these. My expectation was that it should offer quite a lot more than the 3000 and not quite as much as the 9000 and 9000 Prestige.
The precision trimmer located just behind the head, outperformed many of the shavers in this guide, making facial hair maintenance a breeze. After an hour’s worth of charging, the Lifeproof can run for 90 minutes. If you’re in need of a quick shave and forgot to charge it, a five-minute charge provides just enough runtime for a single shave. If you neglect to clean your electric shaver, you risk the chance of shortening the razor’s lifespan and also running dirt across your face when shaving. A dirty razor can result in uneven shaving, as well as cause ingrown hairs or acne. The good news is some razors come with cleaning stations to help you remember.
Like Braun’s basic model, the Philips Series 3000 still works quite well for wet and dry shaves, but it’s not ideal for handling thick beard growth. The Series 3000 also doesn’t come with any smart features or cleaning stations and has a bulky design. The Series 5000 is going to be your next step up, offering an improved shaving experience that’s more comfortable than the Series 3000 and equipped with smartphone connectivity to the Philips app. It’s much more advanced than the Series 5000, as the Series 7000 is capable of handling thicker beard growth and is built to cater to those with sensitive skin. The Series 7000 promises smartphone app capability and an optional cleaning station. To help alleviate discomfort, I recommend applying a protective barrier between your face and your new shaver.
Simply place the shaver into the pod and the cleaning solution inside will clean and lubricate the 9500’s blades, ensuring that it’s ready for the next time you need a shave. The Pod’s cleaning solution needs to be replaced on a regular basis, but the 9500’s shaving heads can also be rinsed off under a running faucet. Our Grooming Editor, Garrett Munce, has been testing electric razors for the past decade, when they first shot to popularity, so he absolutely knows what he’s talking about.
And, its lightweight, easy-to-hold design made shaving feel almost effortless. Its hair-catch (located under the blades) can be removed for cleaning with the press of a button. I liked that its small charging stand makes for easy storage in tight spaces. The 9500 comes with a Quick Clean Pod that makes post-shave cleanup a breeze.
Cleaning is easy as you just pop the head open and rinse thoroughly. I’ve been a lifestyle reporter and editor for more than a decade, covering beauty topics like grooming for a number of magazines and websites including Elle, O, The Oprah Magazine, Martha Stewart Living and Allure. I’ve tested many hair removal products including IPL devices, epilators (ouch!), DIY wax strips and refillable safety razors (which I really like). I have always been a manual razor person for my legs, though I have used an old Philips trimmer for years. With an electric razor, shaving against the grain results in a cleaner shave so it’s kind of whack to not really have that option.
This will inevitably create some razor burn, especially on sensitive skin. The correct response would be to invest in a more capable shaver, such as our Best Overall or Best Value picks. I also felt that the Arc3’s battery life display was a nice feature.
When shopping for an electric razor and using one for the first time, there are a few things you should keep in mind. When powered on, the Arc5’s display employs an LED dashed circle that slowly disappears, piece by piece as the shaver’s battery level drops. Included in its beard styling package is a detachable trimmer head that comes with 5 trimmer comb guards. As well as a secondary detachable head accompanied by 4 sets of comb covers designed for maintaining different beard stubble lengths.
I found it to be effective and helpful for sensitive areas like my underarms. With a charge time that clocked in at just over an hour in my testing, the Philips SatinShave Prestige blew away its competition by charging the fastest by a long shot. By comparison, our best value pick takes around an hour and a half to charge but isn’t as fully featured. Philips warrants its products for a specific period of time after the date of purchase. Defects due to faulty materials and workmanship will be repaired or replaced at the expense of Philips, as long as a valid proof of purchase is provided within the qualifying period.