After using my trusty Mach 3 for years with shaving gel, I decided that a faster alternative would be more desirable - hence, an electric shaver. I had used my friend's old $70 Braun, and thought that it gave a crappy shave, took too long to get any closeness, and was way too hard to clean (needed to pop the top off and clean out with a brush). So, based on the quality and inconvenience of that shave, I decided that I definitely was looking for something of a higher quality. So I narrowed my search down the top-of-the-line Norelco, Panasonic, and Braun. The Braun seemed like it would give a nice shave, but had the same design as my friend's model - but, to get around the cleaning hassle, Braun developed a base station that cleans and scents the shaver overnight for you. That sounded attractive, but I really wasn't interested in the hassle of refilling cleaning solutions, and the possibility of that device breaking or something, so I ruled that model out. I chose the Norelco over the Panasonic because the Panasonic model is a linear shaver, while the Norelco seemed more advanced - three independently floating heads, all sitting on floating plates, constantly adjusting to the individual contours of your face. So I chose the Norelco.
When the shaver came, I was pleasantly surprised to find many nice accessories (which I didn't know where included in the box), such as a leather travel case, a stand for the shaver, a plastic cover to protect the heads, and a brush to manually clean out hair - thoughtful. So I did the charging and gave it a try. First let me say that I just love the LCD screen - it's readable in all light conditions, and can be customized to display what you want, although I find the default setting just fine - it tells me how much shaving time I have remaining (battery life), how long I just shaved for, and also alerts you when you need to clean the shaver (but I do it every other day anyway). It charges very quickly, and there's even a quick charge feature for a 3-minute shave. The feel of the unit is fantastic - fits the hand nicely, with all the right grips and buttons, and a nice weight to it. I love the pop-up sideburn trimmer right on the back. Anyway, the shave was amazingly close and comfortable. I love getting such a close shave without the annoyance of a blade! All the hard-to-reach spots were easy to get to, and the shaver did a great job making things quick and easy. I suggest starting on the S (sensitive) setting and working your way up to N (normal) in case your skin is very sensitive, but my face handled it with ease. It was quick, comfortable, and my face feels even smoother than after using the Mach. I also like how Norelco suggests shaving with a dry face, but if you want to use lotion that's an option. If I want a little stubble left on my face for that look, I can always use the S setting, or if I want a closer-than-close shave I can use the N setting - fantastic! When you're done, hit a button, and all the heads pop up, allowing you to simply wash your hairs away in the sink for simple cleaning. I love this thing! I couldn't have spent the money any better.


Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 170
Noise Level: More quiet than most