Customer Reviews

Philips Norelco 7340 Men's Shaving System

5 star:		(102)
4 star:		(74)
3 star:		(28)
2 star:		(15)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

I've owned 3 Norelco shavers in my life. Each lasting more than 10 years. The local repair shop who has serviced my previous 2 Norelco's noted that the new ones aren't the quality of the old. Time will only answer that question but I can state that the 7340 system sold here is a much changed version of what I have used in the past.

First the 7430 is light....extremely light. It is very quiet, something that takes getting used to. It's also the first Norelco I've owned without the comfort control setting. I was initially reluctant since on my previous 2 Norelco's the comfort control setting seemed to affect the closeness of the shave. This particular razor has the HQ8 heads. The higher priced models use the HQ9s. From my research the biggest complaint about the HQ9 head is that it seems to take more time to get a clean shave. Based on 3 weeks of use of the 7340, even without the comfort control, not only do the HQ8 heads shave as fast as my older Norelco's but the shave is also closer.

This shaver also allows the use of water to rinse the heads clean. This is a major advantage over my older Norelco's since I use a pre shave product that can cause the blades to need frequent cleaning. Now the after shave rinse to the head assembly keeps things much cleaner without having to disassemble the heads, which was what I previously had to do.

On the negative side the razor is delivered bare bones. No case to store or transport it in. It won't fit even my older cases. My previous Norelco had a battery gauge which allowed me to know when to recharge the shaver. This razor has a charge indicator but its only purpose is to indicate when the shaver is being charged and that it has reached full charge.

My older Norelco's would slow down as their batteries started to fail. This one just stops when the voltage falls below certain level. Obviously not a good thing if you have no available AC outlet at the time. To get the best battery life you do need to let the batteries run down. If you constantly plug it in to keep it "topped off", you will be replacing batteries on a more frequent cycle. Note that this service normally must be done by a service person since the batteries are soldered in. In past experience I got at least 4-5 years service out of one set of batteries.

Overall this is a good lower cost Norelco. It's Chinese made so from my stand point I will have to wait and see if it holds up as well as my former shavers that were Holland manufactured.

I bought the shaver from Best Buy for $52 three weeks ago. I'm 63 and have been using Braun shavers for the past 25 years because I felt they gave a closer shave than Norelco.

This Norelco, which although is made in China, seems very well made. It is remarkably quiet and comfortable, a pleasure to use. After three weeks of getting my beard accustomed to the shaver I can say it seems to shave reasonably close and gets all the hairs - something my Braun had a problem with.

I just completed a test, shaving half my face with the Norelco, half with my old Braun (not in the best shape), and after judging my beard the next morning, the Norelco easily won. It's not as close as a blade - by 5 p.m I notice a stubble, but considering how easy it is to use (and washable) I really can't complain! an excellent shaver at a reasonable price.

[It's now Dec. 2010 - 2 years later - and it shaves every bit as good as when I bought it. I use it every day and I have probably an a little less than average beard... what can I say, it's a great shaver!]

The good: a good shave; plenty of battery life (at least when brand-new); corded or cordless use; when corded, it shaves really well even if the batteries are nearly depleted; easy to clean (the heads can be rinsed under the tap).

That said: I would have liked an indicator when the battery is down far enough that recharging is indicated, like my old Norelco had. I guess it doesn't matter, since if it stops dead you can finish up with the cord, but I still would have liked a "Time to Recharge" indicator.

The instructions say that, for best battery life, you should use it cordless as much as possible, and run the batteries almost all the way out before recharging. I'd rather have a razor I can use corded all the time, but this is the next best thing.

This is the first electric razor I've purchased. I read many reviews and decided Norelco seemed the safest bet. I chose this model because a slightly more expensive model seemed like it had the best reviews, and this razor is virtually identical for $30 less with only a couple differences:

1. Charge time of 8 hours instead of 1 hour.

2. Stated on the box that it can be used as a corded razor. Reviews stated the more expensive one could be used corded, but it didn't say so on the box. So I felt safer getting this cheaper model and it saved a bit of money.

I went with this one instead of an even cheaper model because the razor-cover-guard thing has little holes in addition to slots. The holes are supposed to create a closer shave. I wouldn't know since this is my first, but decided a closer but still safe and easy shave is best.

I considered shaving a hassle, but not anymore. I can shave while in front of my computer reading articles on the internet. Wonderful. Normally I consider time spent shaving to be a waste. And it doesn't irritate my skin unless I press very hard and repeatedly. Or maybe that was just the first times. I haven't had any irritation at all after the first week.

Everyone says to run water over the blades to clean them. I find it even more convenient to simply blow on them really hard. The stubble is a gritty dust with fairly frequent use, so it disappears on the carpet and I vacuum it up whenever I vacuum.

This is one of the best purchases I have made. No more wasting my time shaving in the mirror. No more giving myself irritated red skin on my neck trying to adequately shave in that tricky area. Yes, it works on my neck. It also catches all of the shavings, so you could shave while driving to work if you wanted to. But since it is no hassle, I don't see why I would wait until the last minute to do it. I keep it by my computer, and shave whenever I happen to notice a bit of stubble.

I purchased this one because I had Spectra 8825 XL that started acting funny; this is very close to it as a successor, as I think the 8825 was discontinued. The only thing different really is there is an adjustment for closeness that is not on this one and they incorporate more plastic to the body, but they make up for it with rubber grips on the side. The cap for the heads is worthless as they cut it to nothing, and save your old carrying pouch because this one does not come with any. However, I gave 5 stars because those are minor concessions to corporate cutbacks, as the main product itself is still very functional and a great men's shaver, and it also is still washable so that you can stick it under water to wash the heads and the shaving holder. (Norelco now has a symbol on the back of shavers to show you can do that with a certain model.) Also rechargable. No problems that I've seen in operation.

I got it for Christmas. The last one I had/have is more than 10 yrs old and the battery is starting to have issues, but ten years is a great run! This 7340XL is the 4th Norelco shaver I had.
Two things come up when it's compared with the old one: Lighter and very quiet. Like all other Norelco's I had over the years, it gives a great shave. Plus you can wash the heads under the hot water tap!

If this is your first one: Give it 5-10 days for your skin to get used to it...you'd love it afterwards!

I just bought the Norelco 7340 from Best Buy. The razor is like all of Norelcos units...well made and simple.

My only problem is I used 3 other Norelcos...cordless...and this one seems like the battery is 'about to die' when fully charged. The heads barely turn...and I can feel them 'cut' my beard one by one almost.

Exactly like my old norelco when the battery was dying! So I took it back and EXCHANGED it for another..thinking the batteries were bad.

Same on the new one.

I think I'll take it back and go for the model without the 'double blades' and see if the battery situation is better. This just may be the 'new' technology of batteries but I dunno.

Specifically it shaves very well, close as I would expect new 'blades' to do...with any Norelco. But the batty thing worries me....

I haven't seen this addressed on any reviews so it must just be me.

Good luck otherwise!

For those of you considering switching from a blade to an electric, be cautioned that no matter how slick the advertising an electric (in my experience) just doesn't give quite as close a shave. Now on to my review:

This is probably my third Norelco as my last one finally gave up for good after several years of reliable service and I have been shaving with an electric for some years now. I have found this latest Norelco to be lightweight, comfortable to hold and to the point - it gives me a very good shave. After my initial charge (8 hours or so) the battery lasted about 12 days worth of shaves - not bad at all. Even if I had run the battery down, you can shave with the cord as well - something my prior Norelco wouldn't do.

The shaving head pops open for cleaning with running water, green lights tell you when it's charging (steady light) and when it's completed charging (blinking green lights). All things considered I'm very pleased although I DO wish this model gave me some sort of blinking light when the battery was about to die. As it is, you just have to listen and when the RPMs of the shaving heads slow down noticeably - it's time for a charge.

Hats off to Norelco for another good mid-range priced electric razor. A heads up that it came so packaged in a plastic carton as to need a sledgehammer, scissors and heavy gloves to get it open lest the plastic rips you to shreds.

Bought Phillips7340 New Years Eve 2008 online at Future Shop's website for sale price of 69.99, reg 94.99. I woulda bought it out of the US which woulda been cheaper but shipping cost & time delivery factor did not make it worth it and I live an hour away from the US border so i didn't bother to drive (GAS$).

This Shaver is Better than my old Remington R842.

Phillips HQ 7340 Electric Shaver

Pros:
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-LIGHTWEIGHT (lighter than my old model, not that weight was ever an issue)

-BLADES DON'T PULL AT LONG HAIR (not even with long hair even on the very first shave. My old model did that pulled at long hair and it hurt so i'd use the side burn trimmer to trim it down before i'd use the 3 head blades, this model DOES NOT PULL AT THE HAIR AT ALL, Big + superior blades/heads)

-VERY QUIET RUNNING (i never found noise an issue with my old model, but i will say the sound of this 1 when fully charged sounds similar to that of my old shaver when it was winding down on battery power, so it's very misleading you think when you first use it that it's low on juice NOT SO.

-NICE GRIPS

-CLEANING VERY EASY!!! MAJOR+++ (blades water proof, charging unit are waterproof sealed so to clean it basically pop the head which is spring loaded (easy to take off or on) and dump hair in garbage then rinse under tap with hot or cold water. Then leave the head open to air dry. Makes it SO EASY TO CLEAN. Vast improvement over my old model.
*** WARNING!!!!! DO NOT USE IN SHOWER OR SHAVE WHILE DRENCHED WITH WATER! NOT FOR USE IN SHOWER!! **** this model says waterproof because the blades are waterproof to corrosion & the battery unite is water sealed FOR RISNING ONLY! IN THE TAP...IT IS NOT MEANT TO BE SUBMERGED IN WATER!!!that what they mean when for this model when they say waterproof just so you understand & clearly states so in the manual.

- GOOD BATTERY++ (Seems to have very good battery life done at least 9 shaves since first charge of 8 hours and still running, have not charged it a second time yet. Used it on the 30th Dec now Jan.14th,09. The manual claims 35 min of continual shaving or 10 days worth.

-BATTERY RECHARGEABLE OR WALL PLUG IN (if ur batteries are low you don't have to wait for it to charge up like my old shaver, you can just plug it in the wall & run of electricity & it will charge while also running. (another big reason for buying a model like this because my old unit if the battery was low you couldn't plug into the wall and use it, it would just try and charge and u would drain battery by trying to use it while plugged in) (HOWEVER i did read a review that said the battery just stops hence stoping the unit when out of power there's no slow down noise (as i mentioned it already runs that quiet) I DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW YET.....i haven't had to charge it a second time yet so I can't say for sure but that is what another user had posted.

-FULL CHARGE DISPLAY ( flashes green when fully charged, BUT does not turn unit off, just indicated when fully charged via the flashing green light.)

- HEAD MOVEMENT (the heads flex to the countour of ur face because not only do the blades push in but the triagular part the head is in flexes down.....not a biggy but some razors don't have that.

-According to it automatic selection of voltage 120/220 worldwide voltage although I have yet to try it out and i thought i read somewhere u need some type of adapter. BUT IM NOT SURE ON THIS PART.
==========================
CONS:
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* There really isn't much
-Although I think it is decently built some might feel it has a somewhat feel of plastic cheapnesss. But I only somewhat feel that way most part I think it's designed and feels good.

-Sometimes i feel i have to do extra looking around my face to make sure i've got all the hair , but i think it's more its more my face adjusting.......because right from day 1 it has had a smooth quality shave it really does.
- I wish the side burn trimmer u pushed up out instead of releasing , cuz normally u go with the grain of the hair but if u choose to go opposite the release way it will push up & close (not a big deal but noteable). Also i do sorta feel the side burn trimmer on my old model was better than this one. But it does the job.

-The heads/blades are like 57.99 to replace in Can. Unless u can find a better deal.

-I can't really call it a con but it's worth mentioning....the overall size of the unit is prob 2 inches longer than my old unit and because it is a leathery Norelco case it JUST fits into it, some people have said it does not fit into there old case. Worth mentioning. ALSO this unit does not come with a case so you know.

-If you wanna call it a con it's made in China .....but then again what isn't.

- The Cord has a bulky power unit on it which is a pain in the @$$ if u wanna store it in ur case. Cuz u can't my old cord was just a spaghetti type cord with a 2 prong plug this has the 2 prong plug but it's in a larger casing. (again not a big deal)


OVERALL: A VERY GOOD RAZOR I CAN'T COMPLAIN PERFORMANCE / $ COST RATIO.

- Best electric shaver I have had to date. I would reccommend others buying but not at 94.99 Walmart carries it for 79.99 and deals out of the USA are much cheaper still.

WHY I BOUGHT THIS MODEL:

-BRAND NAME PHILLIPS/NORELCO my father has a Norelco 825RX for now 16 years batteries replaced once & heads/blades replaced once. I've always heard PHILLIPS/NORELCO were good.

-I can plug it in the A/C outlet and run it even when the batteries are run down THAT WAS IF NOT THE #1 A MAJOR REASON WHY. (other models as well clearly have this feature)

-Price on sale 69.99 seemed reasonable for a product in CANADA regularly priced around the 100 dollar mark. I wanted a 100mark quality razor for much less=69.99 rather than a 69.99 dollar razor for 10[..] off.

- The fact it is waterproof in the sense I CAN RISE IT UNDER TAP EASY CLEANING!

-The colour and looks appealed

-Had a full battery Indicator.

ME: THIS IS MY 2ND ELECTRIC SHAVER in 9

i am in my early 20's and have had a electric shaver since 99/2000 and since then have not bothered with manual razors since i got my Remington R842 the blades are now dull on it, the side burn trimmmer needs constant oiling, and it cannot plug in and be used whent he batteries are dead. My now 2nd shaver Phillips 7340 i like better.

I have depended on an electric shaver for about 30 years and have used mid-range price models from Phillips, Remington and Braun, including both rotary and mesh screen models. After three weeks of use, the Norelco 7340 has provided the closest, cleanest shave I have ever had. The shaver is very quiet and may give the impression of being underpowered but the shave is excellent. It fits in my hand very well and is easy to clean. The first charge lasted two weeks. It doesn't come in a case but that is not a problem for me. Overall I am delighted with the quality and value of the product.