Customer Reviews

Norelco Mens Electric Razor

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I concur that previous reviews of the Norelco Quadra Action 7885 posted on Amazon.com were not reflective of this product's true performance. I have owned other Norelco models, as well as Brauns, and I find the new Norelco Quadra Action to be a superior shaver. At first I, too, was skeptical about the mix of slots and holes in the shaving head. I thought this may be a marketing gimmick. After significant use of this shaver, I have found that it does in fact shave closer than any other electric shaver I have used, including two previous Braun foil shavers.
I also agree with an earlier reviewer who questioned the need for lotion-dispensing shavers, and shavers that must be cleaned in a special container with a proprietary cleaning solution. I think this is just additional cost that does not contribute to increased shaving performance. The new Norelcos' can be simply rinsed clean under warm running water, with no need for elaborate cleaning devices or costly cleaning solutions. I have found that it takes 2-3 recharging cycles until the LCD meter "learns"
and then accurately reports the remaining shaving time left, however, it is now fairly accurate. The unit holds sufficient charge for approximately 45 minutes of cordless shaving per one-hour recharge. The built-in reminder in the LCD display to clean the shaver is nice, but I generally rinse the unit after each shave anyway. I do not see an appreciable difference between this shaver and the Norelco Spectra model, other than the significant cost. Save the extra $ and purchase the Quadra Action. My congratulations to Norelco for taking electric shaving to a new level.

This is the latest shaver in Norelco's Quadra system. The shaving heads are mounted in such a way that gives them the freedom to depress independently of one another, to better adapt to the unique contours of your face. Another advantage to this razor is that the shaving heads can be washed under the faucet. This is a feature that the Quadra system razors share with the more expensive Spectra system razors.

This razor is light-years better than my previous Norelco. My last Norelco was the 885, bought back in 1991. That razor always irritated my skin, especially the neck area. Although it did last nine years. Three years ago, I switched to the Braun Syncro system. The Braun worked very well for me. Anyway, I decided to give Norelco another try. I was very surprised, and impressed, to say the least. This Quadra shaves just as close and just as comfortable as the Braun Syncro. And, it is very quiet. So far, I am only getting 35 minutes of shaving time per charge. But, I believe that the battery will reach its full capacity after a few more discharge and charge cycles.

For me, it is an even choice between this Norelco and the Braun. I can readily recommend either one. I suppose you just might have to try both and see which one will work better for you. One thing is obvious though. Either one will save you money in the long run, compared to using a blade shaver like the Mach 3, for example. The long-term cost of periodically buying replacement blades for a Mach 3 or Sensor Excel can easily exceed the price of either one of the electrics. I will admit, however, that neither of the electric razors can match the closeness of the Mach 3.

I had a 710RL that just finally started sputtering after 10+ years. So I have been using the Norelco triple head system for years. I had a foil before that and won't go back to those. I only occasionally shave with a blade when I have grown out the goatee and need to take the coarse stuff all off after trimming.

This razor is quiet! I was always worried about waking the baby in the next room with my old corded razor.... And the 7885XL contours to the face VERY Nicely. The individual movements of the heads allow it to go over the chin and around the mouth area very easily. I haven't gotten through my 30 day trial period yet so don't have a full history shaving with it yet. But the technological advancements in the last 10 years show.

Price was comparable to the low end Spectra's and I didn't see a need for the spring adjustment for sensitivity.

Cleaning has been much easier than my old triple head system!

This review follows 4 months of shaving almost exclusively with the 7885XL and 10 years of shaving with a Philips/Norelco 805RX. I decided to purchase the new shaver when my old Philips needed another battery replacement. I figured another 10 years of technology would have had some beneficial impact on electric shavers. I was both right and wrong.

The good:

This shaver gives me the best shave I have ever had with an electric shaver. I went from an exclusively blade shaver to electrics about 10 years ago. Since then I have probably spent $500 on a Panasonic, a Braun, two Remingtons and two Philips. I quickly discovered I like the skin on my face and gave all but the Philips away. The 7885XL gives a very good and comfortable shave. Stubble appears by early evening so its not a blade shave but its very good and much better than any shaver I have tried in the past.

The shaver is quiet and has a comfortable feel in a dry hand while in use.

The bad:

I'll start out by saying I wish I had done my usual battery replacement and stayed with the 805RX. Unfortunately I threw it away.

Battery life is a bit worst than the 805RX which gave me 45 minutes on a full charge versus 32 minutes which is the highest I've seen on this shaver. I followed Philips battery conditioning instructions scrupulously.

The charger is a separate unit as opposed to being built-in as on the 805RX. With the larger profile of the 7885XL and 10 years of advancements in electronics packaging this is really dumb. Yet another electrical box to have to store or remember to bring along on trips.

Cleaning the shaver is a pain if you use the convenience of water:

You cannot close the head or the blades will still be wet in the morning giving you a truly uncomfortable shave. The cap that protects the head is designed in a manner that won't snap on when the head is open. So, a wet shaver that likes to roll away (more on this later) and needs to dry out with all those delicate little parts exposed to whatever may come their way. Also, we live in south Florida where its humid when the ac is off. I towel dry the head before I place it in a newly "protected" area in a drawer. There is no second shave if an evening requires it as it needs a full day to dry.

If you're traveling, leave the 7885XL at home. Not only do you have to pack another device (the charger -- if you need more than 30 minutes of shaving) but if you pack it wet you shave with it wet. Or, you leave it wide open on a hotel room sink hoping the cleaning lady will not send it rolling onto the floor with its cutter head wide open.

The shape and texture of the shaver is smooth and when wet can easily slip out of your hand. Mine has hit the tile floor twice so far.

The shape of the 7885XL is rounded and must have been designed by the same group that designs those Black and Decker power tools that roll off any place you lay them (especially when you're up on a ladder). You have to be careful when you put it down or it may go tumbling into the sink/floor or whatever.

The cutter head unit must be opened to clean it. The head is poorly secured to the shaver body and if you shake out the water before wiping it dry it will come flying off and those delicate blades will take a serious, if not fatale, bump on the countless hard surfaces bathrooms have.

To get the best shave I've ever had takes time. My guess is the shaver will get an equivalent shave to the 805RX in an equivalent amount of time. However, to get the shave the 7885XL is capable of giving you have to keep shaving for another few minutes. Its worth the time but its about as long as a razor will take including prep and clean-up time.

The materials for both the 7885XL and its packaging are noticeably below those of the 805RX. Given the price and the advancements in technology Philips must be making a fortune on this shaver.

Overall:

The 7885XL is a great cutting machine marred by too many design glitches. It screams designed by people who have never worked on an electric shaver, never used an electric shaver and never bothered testing what they designed. On the other hand, Philips did a great job on the cutter head.

In summary, I would have done another battery/cutter head replacement on my old 805RX rather than purchase this shaver. While it gives a better shave, there are too many glitches to make the 7885XL a satisfying ownership experience. After 4 months of use I still can't live with the design elements of this product.

Looking at this product and the many other models Philips currently offers I would suggest many of the limitations in the 7885XL are shared by other Philips shavers. This is unfortunate.

I bought this model to replace my Norelco reflex action 5825XL. The motor on the razor sounded like it was going to go so I decided to try the quadra action because supposedly its better. Right away I noticed that my shaves took longer using the quadra action because those small holes just took away slots and they really didnt cut anything. I'd have to go over shaved areas again and again just to get all the stuble. Today I just became frustrated and took out my old reflex action and voila I was done shaving in 1 minute. This model is overpriced and not worth it. Sure you can wash it under the tap but the water causes the hair in the chamber to clump up until finally there is just a whole bunch of gunk in there thats very difficult to clean out. My old reflex action was munch better because all I had to do was open it up and the powedered hair just came out. Save your money. Get a reflex action instead of this.

I just wanted to point out a few things. Firstly, I'm not sure why I was more fortunate than most others writing their reviews, but the battery in my norelco, although it is about a year old, lasts me a good 50 minutes of shaving for every time I charge it. It exceeds what the manual claimed. Also, for me, it does not take a full day to let the water dry. After I have thoroughly rinsed it clean, I close the head, (and no, my head does not fly off like others have said) and shake it well, then open the head, and let it dry. It takes maybe a few hours, not much more. Also, if I blow in it for about 3 seconds, before I let it dry, it seems to blow all the large droplets out, so it dries quicker. Overall, I feel this is an exceptional shaver. It curves to your face well, and seems to be quicker and perform better than other shavers I have tried. I definitely recommend this product.

I've had my Quadra 7886XL for three months now and really like it. This 86XL version is intended for the discount stores and the Norelco phone rep I talked to said its the same as the 85XL except for color ..... in fact it shares the same users manuel. I purchased mine at Cosco for $90.

The shaver is a replacement for a Norelco 710RL which lasted over 10 years. I considered buying the low end Reflex Plus but it seemed a little too cheap and flimsey. So I decided to move up to the Quadra line and have been very pleased.

1. Its provided a very smooth and close shave without irritation from the start. Head/blade design has come a long way in a decade. I have a VERY thick and tough beard and am able to complete a shave in 5 to 7 minutes ...... this may seem long but it took 12 to 15 minutes on my old shaver.

2. The LCD Display is great ....... remaining charge time is right there as well as a periodic cleaning reminder. The battery does a complete recharge in about one hour and provides 40 to 43 minutes of use.

3. Its light and easy to hold.

4. The sideburn trimmer seems sturdy and does the job.

5. Cleaning with warm water once a week is a snap and it dries quickly.

6. Its very quiet.

7. The charger is built right into the power cord plug. There's no separate unit to clutter the sink top when recharging.

My only gripe is that Norelco does not provide a hard case for the shaver. The soft travel bag is OK for packing on trips but isn't convenient for use in the house. The shaver has a small flat spot on the back and can be placed on a shelf but if you have to put it into a sliding drawer it has a tendency to rock over on its side. Oh well, you can't have everything!

Bottom line: this shaver is the real deal. Get one at a discount store if you can ........ but even at $130 its a winner.

The Norelco 7885XL Quad action shaver is the best I have ever used. In the past I have tried everything from other shavers to razor blades. The Braun and Remington shavers were a joke. They never seemed to give me the close shave with no irritation that I desired. I have very sensitive skin so going to a blade was a hard decision but I tried the Mach 3 turbo. As far as blades go they aren't bad and give a close shave but for my sensitive skin no way. Not to mention they get a little pricy as people know who use the Mach 3. Then I tried the Norelco and I never looked back. 1) close shave 2) no irritation 3) extremely easy to clean 4) initial cost may seem high but in long run saves alot of money 5) not that it matters much but looks very stylish. Overall fantastic best on the market.

I've been a sceptic of electric razors for years, preferring a blade shave while more and more friends told me that they've come a long way with electrics. My wife got me this Norelco for Christmas and it has completely sold me.

First, shave quality is very good. You can either enjoy a good shave in under a minute or else give a few extra moments (3, maybe 4 minutes max for me) and get near-blade-quality closeness. Either option leaves you with no mess to clean up and no cuts or irritation. The user manual recommends that you use the shaver exclusively for the first month so that your skin can get used to the shaver. This is also good a good time for the user to get his technique down - you do need to figure out which way your beard grows on all parts that you shave. During this period, I also noticed that you need less and less pressure as your face gets acclimated, so the comfort just gets better and better.

So maybe all electrics deliver a good shave these days - what makes this one stand out? First and foremost, ease of use. The Quadra rinses clean under hot water and even displays on the LCD when it needs to be cleaned. It also shows how many minutes of charge that you have remaining; recharging the unit to a full 40 minutes takes less than an hour and you can use it while it charging with the included cord. The flip-up trimmer is great for sideburns and over the ears. If you've got a sudden appointment or event want to look cleaned up like you just came from the barber shop, then it does a fine job.

Finally, all of this functionality is packed inside a lightweight, attractive, durable case. This little wonder has won over a long-time blade proponent.

I recently tried out the Braun Synchro System, thinking it would be great to wake up every morning with a clean, well-oiled shaver. Although certain areas of my face were easy to cut, I just couldn't get the shaver to get the short hairs on my chin and neck. I would spend at least five minutes on those areas alone. Thinking it was just a face thing and that, eventually my skin would adjust, I carried on past the trial period until well over a month of use. Finally, I gave up, took the shaver back, and tried the Norelco Quadra. What a difference! The Quadra took to my skin immediately and within two days, I was getting almost every hair that the BSS wasn't. So now I'm a faithful Norelco fan. Sometimes we fall in love with technology at the expense of the quality of the shave. I learned my lesson.