Series 9 razors are notably bulkier than Series 7 razors, and some testers found the Series 9 razors tough to maneuver in tight spots (like the equally ginormous Panasonic Arc5, which this Braun line somewhat mimics). 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. It’s held up remarkably well and, aside from a dip after a little more than a year of use which was remedied by replacing the foil, the shave quality has remained consistent. 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.
They are also easy to clean as they feature a QuickRinse system which lets you rinse them under the tap. So whether you are going to attend a party or a business meeting, shave your beard off with the help of these Philips shavers. Unlike manual shaving, these shavers are very easy to use and you don’t have to plug them into a power socket while shaving. That’s why most people prefer going to a barber shop to shave the unwanted facial hair. An affordable and easy solution for this is to bring home an electric shaver.
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals. •Shaving heads are surrounded with ComfortGlide rings, a special protective coating with skin gliding properties, to shield your face from irritation. My face was left with some redness that faded within an hour or so. It wasn’t a huge deal for me, but I could see how that would really irk someone’s nerves.
We first tested the Panasonic Arc5 in 2015, then tried it again against our top pick, the Braun Series 7, in 2021. This top-of-the-line Panasonic shaver includes a total of five blades—a quartet of foils and a single oscillating lift-and-cut center trimmer. The Arc5 is quieter than the Series 7, but the noise it does make is much higher pitched, which some may find annoying. If you find that Braun models aren’t working for you, the Arc5 might be a better option for your skin or hair type. For most people, foil-style electric razors typically provide a closer shave. But if you prefer a rotary-style shaver, we recommend the Philips Norelco Shaver 9300, which includes a cleaning system.
The magic ingredient in most pre-shaves is isopropyl myristate, a synthetic oil created by compounding alcohol and a fatty acid. Combined, the two provide lubrication (the substance is also a key ingredient in Liquid Wrench) without a greasy feeling, so claims that they help an electric philips electric razor razor to glide are probably credible. If you can’t find the 9300, get whichever 9000-series model is cheapest. In 2019, we tested the S9000 Prestige (pictured), which includes a digital battery meter—a nonessential upgrade—but unlike the 9300 doesn’t come with a cleaning system.
Instead of having a visible blade similar to a regular razor, it has three blades that are covered by circular pieces. You’re supposed to rub the trimmer in circles on your face so your hairs go into the little blade covers and get trimmed by the blades. Philips made and marketed a line of Norelco professional video cameras in the United States in the 1960s and 1970s. CBS was a notable customer, using models PC-60, PC-70, PC-72, PCP-90, the LDH series, and later the LDK series. By the 1980s, the Norelco name was dropped in favor of Philips.
Foil-based systems use one or more cutting blocks mounted beneath the thin metal head. The foil’s perforations guide the whiskers into the block, where a pair of opposing blades slice them off. The action is more like what you’d get from a pair of scissors than from a knife. Rotary shavers use similar perforated surfaces to guide whiskers toward their cutters, but instead of snipping, hundreds of tiny blades slice hairs with a circular motion. Imagine the horizontal spinning blade on a power lawn mower—but with teeth—and you’ll get the idea.
In addition, we weighed each model and measured the noise (decibel level) of each razor during operation. We didn’t test battery life, specifically; all of the models we philips razor picked were capable of running for about an hour on a full charge. For an update to this guide, James tested the revamped Braun Series 5, 6, and 7 models for a month.