Side by Side Comparison of: Philips Norelco vs Panasonic

Blades do very well on a lower end Norelco which I have owned for many years. Took me awhile to figure out what I needed, the model number wasn't obvious but fine print under hair trimmer had this information. This is my go to travel razor, reliable but it took time to accomplish things. With new blades after, 5 years shaving goes much quicker.

Don't wait 18 months to order a replacement head for your Norelco! I can now get a shave of similar quality of a razor using these new heads. If you're like me you don't replace unless broken but, never again, as I now realize I wasted five minutes every day trying to shave with dull heads. If one purchases each year for $30 it is much cheaper and more convenient than blade shaving every day. However, blade shaves are still the highest quality and most refreshing.

Works great. Have had my electric razor at least 11 years. I kept putting off buying new refills due to me forgetting but I'm glad I finally remembered to. I have had my prior blades over a year and a half. WOW what a difference. After the replacement s were swapped out it was night and day. Didn't have to push as hard to get a close shave and didn't have to go over and over the same spots to get the few missing follicles of hair.

This has been a great product. The company suggests changing this item each year but I find they work very well for about a year and a half. If they are kept clean they can be stretched to almost two years. I like this product and have been using these razors for over 50 years. Just one problem with this product, the packaging was correct but the product in the package was the wrong one for my razor. I double checked the owners manual and this is the one it calls for but the product is the wrong product. It won't work in my razor.

These are the best shaver heads I've ever used. Notice how they have 3 concentric rings, giving you much more shaving area. Fastest and smoothest shave possible. They are more pricey and you hafta have a pricier shaver that uses them, but so worth it.If you have been using these for a while and then make the mistake of buying a cheaper electric shaver with single-ring heads (which I did), you will be gravely disappointed. Once you get used to them, nothing else comes close.Don't be fooled by those other Norelco's with the pivoting thin joint (flimsy). If you don't have the pivoting joint, you just move your hand around to match the angle you want. Simple as that. Trust someone who tried this and other options: these big heads give you the fastest smooth shave, bar none.

I use my electric shaver about 90% of the time and a blade the rest. While nowhere near as close as a blade shave, the electric does a fast and very decent job, especially for touch-ups before an evening out. I replace the electric blades whenever I think to do so, probably about every 3 years or so and usually go through a couple of sets before the shaver itself no longer holds a charge. For me, the shaves after head replacements are noticeably closer, easier, and faster. And that was the case with my most recent set as well.I'm pretty good about emptying my shaver of clippings frequently, and I use the suction hose of a vacuum to really get the shaver clean. If you do this, be very careful of the heads themselves and their plastic retainer plate; a strong suction and they're gone.PRO's: exact fit, easily replaced, shaving experience much improved for meCON's: none

So good, I bought a second one! Very well made wet / dry shaver whose battery lasts a very long time. My first one lasted 5 years before the battery started to fade. It would hold very well for two shaves if I kept it charging overnight. With the new one, one charge gives me many shaves and I don't charge it until it drains to 0% for about a week.

Long time user of the Panasonic shavers and the ES-RT51S is the latest great value. Spending much less than $100, it gives you a great shave and the charge last close to a month before needing re-charging. I in most cases use a little shaving cream which seems to give a closer shave. It's not as close as the blade, but I probably use it 6 out of 7 days a week when I'm not meeting anyone important.

My old Norelco Coolskin, which provided the closest, easiest shave of anything I had ever used up until I started using it, required that I use little packets of a lotion. It was abandoned by Norelco/Nivea recently, so I needed a new shaver. (They stopped marketing the lotion in packets).
This Panasonic gives me a closer shave, and is very quick. The only downside is that I have to use shaving cream, and take the time to put it on, then rinse after shaving. I'd say that this is better than the Norelco because I will not have to depend on the manufacturer to provide me with anything else.

Two years and still like new. I've used all sorts of disposable razors and electrics from Norelco, Remington, a few others, and this became my first Panasonic. Right out of the box, it blew away the Norelco not only in giving a nice, close cut, but also in doing it with basically skin irritation. No other razor has ever been able to do that for me.

Two years in, it still shaves like new. No indication it needs a new blade and I do use it every day. The only downside is that the trimmer is pretty utilitarian. It will do. But you are probably going to want a grooming trimmer. This makes sense with most any razor anyway.

Bottom line: a product that does what says and should do so without trouble. I'd recommend it.

EDIT January 2016: the razor began displaying a blinking 0% charge and it no longer charges when plugged in. The razor is made for recycling the battery so I disassembled it to see if this is a battery issue. The power source is basically a AA-NiMH Panasonic battery, so I replaced those with a set of Panasonic Eneloop AAs and the razor works again, still displays the blinking zero. So I think the razor is dead. Given how it DID work well for over two years, I will order another one. Note: I do not recommend taking it apart as this would void any warranty and you could break the device or injure yourself.

Edit January 2016 part 2: Ordered a second razor. I know this is a great product at a good price so there's no reason to risk trying another brand.

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH!! Granted, I'm coming from a very old women's Remington (26009HE). Here's a list of the Pros and Cons from what I've experienced thus far:
Pros:
-Charges very quickly (again, my previous model took 15+ hours according to the manual). This took only a couple hours.
-Quiet (my shower borders my neighbor's wall, and I HATE that they can normally hear my shave. No more!)
-Great for sensitive skin (I've never been able to use an electric razor behind my knees before, but I could with this. Also, no razor burn when shaving very short stubble)
-Close shave on thicker hair (ex: armpit, bikini, and thicker leg hair, which for me is only below the knee)
-The extendable trimmer is a nifty addition, great for the bikini area

Cons:
-It really sucks on very fine hair (ex: leg hair on the thighs), but I know many women don't shave there. I'm a little disappointed, but can't say I'm surprised because it IS a men's razor.
-No cleaning brush is included (you can run this razor under water with soap to clean), so hang onto your brush from your previous razor if you have one.

I LOVE this shaver. I bought it to shave my legs. Shavers that are for women are horrible!!! They don't work. I had just bought one recently and it didn't cut at all! I couldn't find the receipt so I ended throwing it out. This one is really great because it actually cuts and the "side burn trimmer" works great on the bikini line. What I also love about it is that there is a digital readout that tells you how much charge you have left to go. That is so great because that's what died on my last shaver. The charger no longer worked. So with this shaver when it reaches 100% you unplug and you don't overcharge. LOVE IT!! I HIGHLY recommend this shaver FOR WOMEN!!

This is the 4th or 5th "refill" of these heads for me on my Norelco. I have actually purchased and returned two of the newer Norelco shavers because they do not shave as close and smooth as these heads do, so I decided to stick with what works until the shaver dies. Hopefully by then Norelco will have a shaver with heads that work as well as these. I have a "medium" beard, and often use a mug/brush and double-edged razor when I want a really long lasting shave.....

I still love my Norelco shaver, and this is the 3rd set of heads ordered and used. I change the heads every couple of years and it makes a big 'comfort' difference, with less yanking on the longer hairs. (No I don't shave every day!) Cheaper advertised prices tempt me to upgrade the shaver but the 'never' models do not offer any new, significant features! Cheaper to just change out the heads. Simple to do, and takes less that a couple of minutes.

A couple of years ago, I bought my husband a new Norelco Sensotouch razor to replace his old razor. First, the charging stand on the new razor wouldn't work, so he ended up using the cord from his old razor to charge the new one. Then, right after the warranty had expired, the new razor wouldn't turn on at all. Fortunately, he still had the old razor. I ordered these replacement heads, he popped them into the old razor, and it's working good as new again! That's what I should have done in the first place!

As far as replacement heads go these are fine. They are easy to install when you read the instructions. I use my electric shaver usually 4 days a week. My only knock is that I don't notice that much difference in the shave. They seem to work better initially but not for very long, maybe a couple months. I've had them for 6 months now and I think I need new ones already even though their description on Amazon says replace every year for best results. I also find myself going over the same spot multiple times to get all the hairs, but I'm not sure if that's the blades or the overall razer's fault.

Irate husband needs new razor. Wife checks on Amazon discovering available replacement heads which arrive in 2 days. Husband happy but quickly again irate because heads fall out each time he uses razor. Wife remembers pictures of how to replace the replacements on the Amazon website, (a clue that the fix might be more than simple) but husband will not use a computer complaining that the replacements are faulty and the paperwork from manufacturer makes no sense. Comparing pictures on website with paperwork, wife tries repair of razor. Result: happy husband with wife once again an Amazon fan.I would have given the product five stars if the manufacturer had included the large easy to see replacement directions from the Amazon web site in the package. In this case five Stars to Amazon and 4 to Norelco.

After fighting with the packaging to get to the actual product (I used heavy-duty gardening shears) the installation was fairly easy, although you should take a close look at how the old cutters are placed and locked in the holder before you casually dismantle things.The surprise came when I examined the old parts carefully. The cutting heads were so completely jammed with debris from snagging longer hairs that I was surprised that the shaver motor could still turn them. After cleaning them (be sure not to mix up the cutters and their respective foils) they looked like new. Whether they would have cut like new... I don't know, I didn't try them, but it would be an interesting experiment.Hold onto your old cutting heads in any case, just so you'll have a spare should you drop or bang your razor into something and damage one of the foils.I rated this four stars instead of five because of the packaging, and because I think the cutters should last longer than they do.

I am remodeling my bathroom and have no way of shaving using the traditional means. So, I bought this to get me through. It seems to do the job. But, it does cause me irritation. This is why I went back the basics. But, i do recommend. I have curly hair and it if I cut it too close it grows weird. So, go for it!

So after about a month or so of use, let me tell you a bit about this puppy over here.

Pro: *The battery is a champ. it last practically a week with daily use.
*Close shave! I have sensitive skin and a lot of thing irritate me.This surprisingly did not. I like to the fact that you can dry or wet shave. I think you get a really nice shave either way. Obviously this to clean away stubble. Dont try to take on a full beard here haha.
*works with shaving lotions and oils! I can't tell you how awesome that is.
*Easy clean up. You literally stick it in water and bam! clean.

Cons: You get some stragglers. Im not sure if its just my face but i end up with annoying hairs that just no matter how much i try to get them , they stay in place. More often then not i have to use my razor to finish the job.

Over all B. I would def recommend it but know that you're probably going to need a razor to finish the job anyway.

Charges just as advertised-- very quickly. Does seem to be adequately waterproof, as I usually clean it under running water and have done so many times now. Does a good job retaining the shavings/whisker dust as well, so I can walk around the house or use it while reading the computer screen, etc...

Doesn't really shave any better than other razors I've used, and probably not as well as my old (corded) Remington. I wonder if, like power tools, battery-powered razors just don't have the vigor of AC powered electronics?
And it's certainly not as good as a blade, but I've never had a shaver that was.

Anyway, it's a decent deal for the price, and probably a good choice for anyone needing a travel razor, or just likes the convenience of rechargeable.

I've had 2 of these. I found the shave to be quite close and comfortable. I shave in the shower and generally would get about a week out of a charge. It would recharge quickly, and had a feature that would allow you to plug it in for a few minutes and get one more shave out of it if it was discharged. I found the price to be reasonable. So, generally, I was satisfied with the product.

However, both of these failed in the same way after about a year or two, where the battery indicated fully charged but when I flipped the switch it would immediately show a 0% and not turn on. Since rechargeable batteries have a finite lifespan, I accepted this as basically the cost of wet shaving with an electric razor. If it had just been the razor I am rating, I would have given it 3-3.5 stars.

However, this last time I sent the unit in under warranty, since it was just under 1 year after I purchased it. I figured I would be out a shaver for a few weeks, then get a refurb to use until that one failed. Instead, in one week, I was shipped a brand new unit, and not the same model as I had, but their top of the line model (ES-LV61-A). I have to rate that as supreme customer service and it garners at least an extra star. The ES-LV61-A is even better by the way, but that will have to be a separate review.

this shaver is pretty good, considering i've been a mach 3 guy for as long as i can remember. i've never had an electric razor before, because i never had a reason to switch. but ingrown hairs caused by blades have caused me to try something new, and this razor has not let me down. i've used it for a little over a month and am pretty happy with it. it gets really close, better than i expected, and doesn't irritate my skin like i thought it would. it's a wet/dry shaver, but i've only used it dry so can't comment on wet use. my only complaint, and it's a very minor one, is that you can't use it with the charger plugged in, but that's probably because it's a wet/dry, so they don't want you to get electrocuted. understandable in my opinion. that's why it gets 4 stars. it charges fast, shaves fast, shaves close, doesn't hurt, and it's cheap! win, win, win, win!

I bought these because I thought the three cutting rows might work better than the newer single row cutter. Wrong. No better than the old heads it replaced.

This is the second time I have installed new cutter heads as a replacement part. The original cutter heads with the new shaver lasted about three years. The first replacements lasted about one year. The current replacement heads were more costly than the first and I considered purchasing a new shaver. I do like Norelco Shavers and have owned several, but these replacement heads are questionable.

My Norelco is 8 years and I have never changed the blades so I thought maybe I would give it a try. I noticed a slight difference only; but not enough to say wow what a difference. I will most likely will not be buying another set of replacement heads.I still get 3-4 weeks off from a charge on my Norelco and I think it is a great razor. Hopefully the replacement heads last until my razor dies . . . a few more years.

In replacing the heads on an older (Top of the line) shavers I have to say these heads are ok. I don't know if its me but based on some reviews that I have seen I have to agree that it seems like the older heads were just as good (being at least 11yrs old). But alternate between the electric and razor blades . Heard the new Norelco electric razors and so so also.

This product is just okay. I am not sure of the metal mixture these heads are but in my opinion they do not give the shave I got from the original Norelco factory heads. The next time I will order replacement heads from Norelco only. I will not recommend this product to prospective buyers. My advice in this case is to spend the extra few dollars and order from Norelco.

Purchase ~8/1/13. I had resharpended my old heads and found that this helped but durabilty was not as good as the original. Received the new heads and installed them. I an confident the installation was good.Shaved. Ouch. I do not have a heavy beard. Anyway, the shaver sounded like a rock rattling around in a soup can. It was painful as hairs were pulled from my face (not cut off). If I skipped a day, oooh, much worse.I contacted PhillipsNorelco via their chat function on their website help page and described the problem. My helper did ask a bunch of questions - probably following some kind of decision tree approach. But if arrived at the same conclusion I had - the heads were either defective or possibley repackaged or counterfeit. He never explored that with me, but did offer to send me a new set of heads direct from PhillipsNorelco. Free.I think my calm approach to the chat was important. The heads are not under warrantee, but it seemed obvious that they were bad from the get go.I noticed that there are several others here who have left negative reviews for the same problem. I kinda wonder if this is a QC problem. But I give them three stars for standing up and offering a replacement set.

After about 3 years of owning this razor, it just died. It no longer holds a charge, and it happened suddenly. Even after charging to 100%, it goes completely dead after a few minutes.

Regarding shaving quality, it's ok. It frequently misses spots and I have to go over the same spot many times. When the blades get dull after about a year, the shaving gets really bad - a lot of irritation, ingrown hair, missed patches, etc.

The replacement blades and foil are expensive and together cost almost as much as the shaver itself! If you like it, might as well just buy a new one once a year. It'll still be cheaper than using cartridge razors .

I wouldn't buy this again. I just order a higher end electric razor, also a Panasonic, and hopefully it'll be worth the investment.

This is a great shaver But BE WARNED! I used this shaver for 3 weeks and something broke loose inside the motor. I sent it in for repairs or replacement to PANASONIC, following all the warranty rules as noted. 4 weeks went by and I had not received any info about the shaver at all. I called customer service and they gave me the case# and date they had received the shaver. I emailed the repair / replacement center in Texas 3 times. I called them finally and they said they were going through a system renewal. I told them that it had been 2 months since they had received my shaver and asked when I could expect my replacement. She couldn't answer. Finally, I emailed AMAZON CUSTOMER SERVICE and told them of my predicament hoping they could intervene for me because I HAD NO RESPONSE FROM PANASONIC. Well guess what? AMAZON sent me a replacement shaver the very next day.
I was amazed. What a huge contrast in Service! Panasonic should be ashamed of their behavior. I still haven't heard from them. The shaver is swell when it works. It is fast, smooth, ultra quiet and sharp. It charges in a jiffy and holds it's charge for a long time. Just don't expect help from Panasonic if it goes bad. Thank goodness for AMAZON.

(Review is a year late but I've encountered some things worth noting)

This is my fourth shaver after a bunch of cheap Remingtons with which I wasn't careful and broke the foils and it was the same price for a new shaver vs new foils/blades. Enter this shaver.

The first little thing is just the cost of the shaver versus replacement foils. I paid $55 for this shaver in February 2012 and replacement foils are about $30, meaning it's almost more worth it just to buy a new shaver rather than replace the foils. I clean them every month or so and they're still good; my thin facial hair obviously doesn't cause much wear on them.

The second problem is what's really annoying, starting a couple months ago. It's the battery life. It goes 100%-80%-60%-0. That is, if you're on 60% for a while, turn it off, and it's close to 40%, it suddenly goes to 0% and is dead. What's weirder still is I tested it from 100%, let it run non-stop, and it went to 0% normally. I took it apart and the batteries appear to be AAs, but with proprietary ends. I haven't seen anything about replacement batteries for this shaver anywhere.

Other than that the shaver is great, no problems. But having to charge it every other day or two gets old quickly.

Update: When it went from 60%-0%, the blades would click/move ever so slightly, making a 'tik-tik-tik' sound. Instead of charging it when this happened, I let it do this for what turned out to be another two days, then it truly died. My power started going from 60%-0%, to 60-40-0, and after letting it tik-tik-tik to death again/charging, it now goes 60-40-20-0. So it seems like you just have to power cycle the battery.

This was my fist electric shaver so I have zero experience here.

I ordered this because my skin gets easily irritated from regular razor; my neck was the worst, so I figured switching to an electric razor might do the trick.
Although I have noticed less irritation when using this shaver, especially around my mouth and neck, it was fairly difficult and time consuming to complete a shave. I am not sure whether my hair type isn't very compatible, but I have noticed it did a slightly better job at certain lengths. What I did for a while was use a trimmer on my face and then shave with this and even doing didn't really give me the best results. I found myself at times still going back with a regular razor for some touch ups.

I currently only use this now to shave my mustache when it starts looking crusty and just let my beard be for a couple days and then use a regular razor again whenever I need to get a clean shave.

Overall, I would recommend trying another product, I might try some of the higher end models and hopefully they get the job done. Since I'm only 22, I think I will wait a couple more years for that investment.

After the first shave, I was ready to return the product... I AM SO GLAD I DID NOT DO THAT! Once I tried this razor with a wet shave, I was hooked. I use a Neutrogena shave lotion, some warm water, the the Panasonic performs just like a razor without the burn or cuts! I actually enjoy shaving now.

The razor is quiet and very smooth. Previous razors left long hairs -- it has been almost two months and I have not seen one. It does take some time, not perfect on the first pass, however once complete my face is as smooth as a razor without any cuts, redness, or irritation. Very pleased.

The battery does not last as long as previous razors, however I am easily getting 5-6 shaves out of a charge and I am sure I shave longer than most. So you can probably expect 8-10 shaves.

And clean up takes seconds. Pop the top, run cover under water, run razor under water while turned on (it accelerates to remove hair), dry it off and you are done.

Only con: I wish it came with a better bag/case. But for the price, it is hard to complain. (I am using my old Remington case)

I have used Braun and Remington in past - always dry shaved. This Panasonic is easily my favorite razor to date.

UPDATE>>> it has been seven months and the battery is going quickly. Down to less than 5 days of shaving and originally I was at almost two weeks. Panasonic says they will take care of, however now I have to find time to send back and continue to shave while my shaver is gone... not pleasant. And... I just replaced the blades last month... aghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Down graded to three stars...

The replacement heads certainly don't seem to last very long. I have had several Norelco razors over the years. Years ago, the replacement heads lasted about 6 months, now, I get about 2 months, yes I think it is intentional! Unfortunately they have you by the short hairs. I used to love Norelco razors, now I am looking for another brand.

These blades must be re-conditioned blades and not a good job at that. You can shave with them for maybe a month and then they are real dull. Burn your face if you try to use after month. This is the second set I have purchased thru Amazon so in the future I must purchase elsewhere. Would recommend you do the same

Should have changed these a year ago, but very pricy. My initial review was glowing as it literally took a swipe or two for a clean shave. Before the switch, it took me 10-15 minutes to shave, after just 5 minutes with cleaning after every shave. BUT that lasted a little less than a month and now it's back to 10-12 minutes.

Never had an issue with these blades before, but the last two sets have not done the job as well as the original blades. It seems that the whiskers that lie flatter than the others are missed over and over again making a straight edge razor far more desirable.

I went many years with orginal heads (not a heavy beard and not an every day shaver). So I finally replaced with these and I am just not feeling like they are all that much better. I really expected a lot closer and smother with new heads. Then again, go read shaver reviews and you'll see nobody likes their shavers any more so I guess not all that surprising.

Poor quality. This has been apparently an issue with all Philips Norelco replacement heads lately. They tug and do not cut anywhere close to the original heads. You are better off buying a new shaver. Even the cheapest new Norelco model cuts better than the most expensive replacement heads.

After several years of using a Panasonic ES3831K Travel Shaver as my primary razor, I decided to get this and keep the ES3831K for travel. I'v found that the ES-RT51-S charges remarkably fast and is well made. However, it just doesn't give me a close shave. I have a full beard and use a razor for my neck and to trim beard and mustache. The trimmer is OK, neither specially good or bad. But the shaving itself is a pain in the neck... I've tried both wet and dry shaving, following the instructions in the box, but even after 2 or 3 minutes of running the darned thing, I've yet to get a single close shave...after FOUR months of trying to get used to the thing. I see from your Q & A section that some folks seem to get a close shave with this model while others do not. You may be one of the lucky ones, but I wouldn't take the chance on it if I were you.

Pretty disappointed with this razor. I've had it for about a year now and while it has always taken a while to shave with it, I could at least put up with it because it gave a pretty close shave at first. Now, it barely looks like it got anything done before it ran out of battery. Started at 80% and died before I even got through it.

Not a great razor if you have a thick beard, or want a relatively quick shave.

I purchased this razor to replace my last Panasonic razor which my son broke accidentally and for which I could no longer get parts. Although, considerably more expensive than my previous Panasonic razors, it was still the best value as compared to other brands. Initially it performed well. The wider head, meant less passes on my face and allowed for a faster shave. I thought the power indicator was a nice feature. With a full charge, I got about 5, 4 minute shaves. So I only had to charge it once every 5 days. Charging was much faster than my old razor at about 20 minutes. The charge level drops in 20% increments. But within about 6 months I noticed that the razor did not perform well when the power reached about 20%. Within a year that symptom started at 40%. Now, at about 16 months the razor dies once it reaches 80%. The battery is clearly dying. The case is sealed, so there is no way to replace it. And unlike my old razors, it cannot be used while plugged in to a wall outlet. This is the case with most electric razors these days. The only option is to purchase a new razor. I really can't justify paying $50 or more each year for a new electric razor. So I've decided to go back to using an old fashioned safety razor. The shave is much closer than electric or cartridge razors, the blades are readily available and relatively inexpensive. It takes a little longer to shave with a safety razor and there is more razor burn. But in the long run, it's a lot cheaper and better for the environment.

Longtime Norelco user. After replacing cutters/combs on a Norelco I'd used for two years, the quality of the replacement blades was so poor that I decided to switch to another brand. After what I hoped was adequate research, I settled on this model by Panasonic. It is very well made if just a bit heavy. The wet/dry feature is nice as using shave cream definitely improves the comfort.

OK, now for the disappointing part. This razor does a very poor job on more than a few days growth. If you shave every day or every other day, it might be OK for you but for me, even on 1 or 2 day's growth, it was only adequate. Shaving with this razor requires an excess of facial gymnastics to cut every whisker as it seems to be very sensitive to the direction in which the hair grows. I suppose this is understandable as the combs on the cutting head are unidirectional, but the number of passes it takes to get a clean shave is excessive and frequently resulted in shaver burn when shaving dry.

I think if you have a very round face and a very light beard this razor may work well for you. It is easy to clean and does work somewhat better, or at least more comfortably, when using shaving cream. As for me, I am returning to Norelco and hoping that whatever the reason for poor quality replacement blades has been addressed.

I have used mine for about 2 weeks - its a replacement for my Panasonic ES3041 that died prematurely. While it has some bells and whistles that the 3041 didn't have, it doesn't do the job nearly as well. I don't care about multiple, pivoting shaving heads, LCD charge indicators, etc. - I just want a fast, close, clean shave. I have a tough beard, and the 3041 cut quickly and closely on the first pass, with very light pressure and no razor burn. This one requires much more pressure, several passes, and leaves a slight razor burn. I am satisfied to the point that I won't be returning it, but if I could find another ES3041, I'd deep-six this one in a New York minute.

02/11/2014: After about a year of everyday use, I have to downgrade my rating to 2 stars. The problem is the battery - it is deteriorating rapidly. The shaver has an LCD display that shows the approximate charge remaining in 20% increments. For the first few months I could run the battery down to 0% before the shaver would stop. Then after a few more months it would shut off at 20%. Now several more months later, it runs down to 40% and shuts off. The shaver uses a Lithium ion battery, not the outmoded Nickel Cadmium type that most cheap-quality, battery-powered consumer products come with. At this rate of deterioration, I'll be back to using the old Braun I replaced with this piece of Chicom Crap when the old Panasonic ES3041 died!

This is the same equivalent to original equipment. Original has more blades in cutt re. These are perimeter cutters only.On no use because I allowed retried to expire. But your product of is inferior!

I find it irritating that Norelco does not designate the replacement heads with the same model # or cross reference it with the replacement heads. Making getting a replacement head after one year almost impossible to buy. Is this obfuscation intentional on Norelco's part?

The photo shows the replacement heads in the frame that holds them in place. I needed new heads and a new frame because the old frame was worn out but the product is just the heads. Now I have new heads in a worn out frame and the razor works no better than before but my wallet is considerably lighter.

became dull very quickly. stopped using the razor and went to a safety razor instead. much happier.

Two times I ordered the HQ9 heads to match the heads on my shaver. Two times the box showed the matching heads but contained heads that did not match. See pictures.The HQ9 heads are "triple track heads" the ones in the box are single track dual precision heads. I hate to say this but I guess I will have to search elsewhere.Sorry buyer beware

Interesting enough I have had my shaver for 6 years. I love it. I decided to give it a new replacement head. In all fairness I only use my razor 2-3 times a week because I use a bald razor to trim my beard. After 6 years I was excited to try my razor expecting a better, faster, smoother shave. NOT. My 6 year old head gave me as good a shave as the new head. I don't think the replacements are as high a quality as the factory new ones you get with your new shaver. Shame on you Norelco! Feel like I got had!

Sorry...I've used an electric razor for years, but this was horrible! I've always used the rotary type (which I've gone back to using). This plain and simply didn't cut the whiskers unless I went over them 4 or 5 times, or more.

Shortly after I purchased this item, I found I couldn't even get 3 shaves on one charge. I thought maybe I was a slow shaver, so I finally grabbed a stop watch to time my shaves for 3 days after a full charge. Total shave time was only 13 minutes! The box says I'm supposed to get 45 minutes of shave time, or about 2 weeks, not 13 minutes or 3 days. Even worse, it will show the battery as 80% charged when it doesn't have enough power left for even a single shave.

As a lifelong Panasonic Razor customer, I have always enjoyed their razors and understand they need to be replaced every few years. However, this latest model died on me within six months. Specifically, its batteries will not hold a charge... it dies within a day of being fully charged. Making matters worse, I'm going on five weeks of trying to get Panasonic to honor its warranty for the razor but the best they have offered so far is to replace the charger (not the razor or its battery mind you.. the charger). Given the daily need for my razor, I think I've been overly patient with Panasonic's warranty department. Needless to say, I'm very disappointed and will be purchasing another brand from now on. I'd advise you to either buy a different model if it has a different battery or shop for a different brand, or realize this is likely to be a 'disposable 6 month electric razor.'

I cant understand how this shaver got such good ratings. I've used it for two months now and there's little change in the way it shaves, which is BAD. I have shaved with a blade for 40 years without complaint, other than time spent. With this shaver, I assumed that my time would be cut, but in fact it takes 3 times longer. I go over the same area 4 or 5 times before the whiskers are gone. My beard is light to normal, not heavy. I've seen long hairs growing in areas where I might have gone over them tow or three times and they still aren't cut. Then I have to use the sideburn cutter to get rid of them. I wouldn't recommend this shaver to anyone.

This unit was a replacement for a more expensive Panasonic shaver (ES8075) I had for at least 6 years. This model has less perks but performs as well and costs half as much. The LCD battery life indicator is a great feature. I get about 7 shaves per charge. The shaver is fairly quiet and can be easily cleaned dry with a tooth brush or with a stream of water if you prefer.
I think I got a good product for the price.

UPDATE: After 7 months of usage, the battery failed. A fully charged battery would quit working at 40%, instantly dropping to zero. So 40% was actually zero! Shaver had 2 year warranty which stated I had to ship it back to Panasonic at my expense with a week to 10 day turn around. What ended up happening: three week turn around, was given a "rebuilt replacement", and a note which said my shaver now only had a 90 day warranty. So, the shaver ended up costing me $12 more plus I lost a year of the 2 year warranty!
Its now become a "not such a great deal". Lowered to 3 stars from 5 stars!

UPDATE 2: The replacement shaver which came with only a 90 day warranty is now failing. The shaver power level reads 60% and goes completely dead. It appears to be battery issues with these units. Although it gives a great shave, I now have to recharge it twice a week and have been caught in mid-shave when it dies! This is not acceptable. Lowering rating to one star and buyer beware!