Remington F4 Shaver Review – Passes As A Budget Option
Remington F4 Shaver
I found the Remington F4 to be an option worth comparing with other budget-range shavers. It incorporates some of the useful features of mid-range-priced shavers at a lower cost; however, the quality, as expected, is somewhat lower.
Pros
It provides a fairly close and comfortable shave for a budget shaver
Shaves best daily or every two days
The flex head and blades help the shaver move along the contours well and maintain skin contact
It's budget-friendly
Replacement head and cutters cost less than many others
Cons
The head removal section seems like it could wear quickly when removed frequently
Does not quite have the same quality look and feel as a Braun shaver, but not far off
Takes quite some time to clear up stubborn patches
After recently reviewing Remington’s “Virtually Indestructible” shaver, which, to be blunt, was one of the lowest-scoring shavers I’ve used and reviewed. So, I wasn’t expecting much from the Remington F4.
However, I’m happy to say that the F4 turned out to be quite a different experience from the Remington Virtually Indestructible.
Overall, it’s a shaver that provides a good, comfortable shave for its budget. It doesn’t please my coarse whiskers and tricker straggler hairs like my high-end shavers can; however, for the money, you can’t really expect it to compare to a Philips Prestige or a Braun Series 9 Pro, can you? It holds its own well within its budget category.
In this review, I’ll outline the pros and cons of the F4 features (as I experienced them), its actual performance, and who I believe it’s best suited for. As always, this is based on my own hands-on experience — no fluff, no hype, just a real perspective.
Description & Features
Unboxed, I just got the shaver, blade cap cover (which also serves as a stubble attachment), charging cord and plug, and a mini instruction manual.
Some models may come with a USB cord and no adapter, which could be country-dependent. Mine came with the plug adapter.
When I first unboxed the Remington F4, I found that it doesn’t feel as solid or premium as, say, a Braun Series 5. It’s essential to remember that the F4 is significantly cheaper.
The F4 is available in two colors: one is fully black, and the other, which I purchased, has blue sides. I think the black model looks better!
Design & Ergonomics
The side panels of the shaver have a slightly different texture, designed for improved grip. It does provide some grip, though I think it could be improved with a more rubberized finish, similar to the Braun Series 5.
Design & Ergonomics Ratings
There’s also a rubberized section just above the power button, which I find handy for thumb placement while shaving, adding to the overall grip.
I’d say it fits well enough in the hand. However, it’s not quite a snug fit compared to shavers like the Braun S5, S6, and S7 or the Panasonic Arc 5, which offer the best snug fit possible.
Head and Blades
One feature I appreciate is the flexibility in the head. It moves back and forth, much like the “SensoFlex” head on the Braun Series 6. This flexibility is useful for shaving along the various contours of your face, like your jawline and chin, helping to maintain consistent skin contact.
Head and Blades Movement/Flex Ratings
While the flex head is only a simple back-and-forth feature, I found it to be effective.
The F4 features three independent shaving elements: two foils that perform the main shaving, and a trimmer located in the center between the foils. These elements flex independently, again helping to follow contours and maintain skin contact. The central trimmer is designed to pick up flat-lying, longer, or otherwise difficult hairs.
Removing the cassette head is fairly easy – you just grip the sides and pull it out. However, I did find it feels a little “cheap,” and I wonder about its long-term durability with frequent removal.
Detail Trimmer
The detail trimmer easily pops up when pushing the slider on the back of the shaver. As with many built-in trimmers, it is not as performant as dedicated trimmers, but it is useful for cutting in the sideburns and picking up stray hairs that the shaver elements miss.
Blade and Stubble Guard
The blade cap cover that comes with the F4 isn’t just for protection; it’s also designed with a section to act as a “stubble reducer” for longer beards.
I’ve never actually used it for trimming down a beard, and it strikes me as a bit gimmicky.
If you’ve tried it and found it useful (or completely rubbish!), I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
Noise Level Compared
For those who are particular about shaver noise, the F4 is slightly quieter than some other foil shavers, such as the Braun Series 5, which can be quite loud. The F4 has a lower-pitched hum. I suspect this is because it doesn’t have quite as much power as higher-end models. Still (again), considering the price, it’s acceptable.
You might find the video comparison of the F4 with the Braun S5 below helpful!
Battery Life and Charging Indicators
The F4 offers approximately 50 minutes of runtime, which is fairly standard for a shaver in this price range. It’s more than enough for most shaving routines. Top-end shavers mostly provide 60 minutes of runtime.
We can also give the shaver a quick 5-minute charge to get one shave if needed, which is useful when we might not notice that the battery has drained.
The LED indicators are very basic: they indicate when the battery is low with a flashing green light, a steady green light during charging, and then the green light switches off once the battery is fully charged. Simple and as expected for a budget shaver.
Cleaning & Maintenance
Cleaning the F4 is straightforward. After popping off the cap, I give it a good blow to clear out most of the hair. You could use a brush, but a blow usually does the trick for me. Then, I add a couple of drops of antibacterial soap and a splash of water directly onto the foils, let the shaver run for about 10-15 seconds to work the soap into the blades, give it a good rinse, shake off the excess water, and leave it to air dry for a few hours.
Cleaning & Maintenance Ratings
I recommend adding a couple of drops of lubrication oil to the shaving elements after each wet clean, as I do. It will help maintain the blade cutters and shaving elements.
The cassette and two inner cutter blades are to be replaced every 12 months according to Remington. This is about the standard, and each of us will differ in mileage based on usage and beard density.
Replacement part number for the cassette (head) and two cutters is SPF-PF.
To remove the cutters, we first remove the head and then pull each cutter off its spring post with the black section attached, which is easy enough.
Shaving Experiences
After using the F4 shaver on various stubble lengths – daily shaves, two days of growth, and three days (+) of growth – I have a good understanding of its capabilities.
Shaving Experience Ratings
I found that it takes too long to shave with three days or more of stubble, and I had to keep going over the same areas multiple times to clear up leftovers. I have coarse growth, so others may experience shaving with three or more days of growth with more ease than I did.
Shaving every two days or daily is what this shaver is preferred for, in my experience.
Let’s provide you with a little more detail.
Contours and Skin Contact
The flex head, which moves back and forth alongside the flex shaving elements, allowed the F4 to follow the contours of my jaw and chin area very well.
The shaving elements maintained skin contact well, too, giving me a fairly even shave.
Comfort
I’d say the F4 is fairly comfortable on the skin and gets the okay from me.
The first main pass without going over the same area is comfortable. It’s only when I had to keep going over the same areas on my neck that it started to become uncomfortable against the grain (this is nothing new for my neck area).
Tricky Hairs/Areas and Leftovers
I did not get any hair tugging or pulling. However, I did not test the shaver with more than three days of growth (purposely, as I knew its potential limits), which is the level at which the hairs are long enough to be pulled.
The area under the nose (mustache area) and around the mouth and chin were pretty good, and I would say it shaved very well there (see video clip below).
I did get my usual stubborn patches around the sideburns and the far corners of my jaw when I shaved with three days’ growth; however, going over the areas a few times cleared them up (see video clip below).
When shaving against the grain on my neck (which is necessary for a truly smooth shave due to my hair growth pattern), it did start to feel a bit rough. While it managed to get rid of most of the visible patches, I could still feel slight stubble when rubbing my fingers against the grain. I avoided going too overboard to prevent irritation, which can happen if you overwork an area.
Speed and Closeness
It’s definitely not at the same level of speed as other, pricier shavers. Still, for a budget shaver, I would rate it as fairly quick.
More time is spent on clearing up leftovers and small patches than some other higher-end shavers I have used and reviewed (as expected).
It will give me a shave that is just as close as most shavers, but it requires multiple passes, and going over the same area does cause some irritation.
Post-Shave Feel & Debris
About 15 minutes after the shave I demonstrated in the YouTube video, my face felt pretty good for a shaver in this price range. I experienced minimal irritation, which an aftershave balm easily alleviated.
I was quite impressed on this occasion with the closeness, and the F4 did a great job of collecting the cut hairs inside the shaver head, with very little debris ending up on my shirt.
Wet Shaving
Like most modern electric shavers, it’s 100% waterproof, allowing for wet or dry shaving.
I tried it wet with traditional shaving cream. Unsurprisingly, I didn’t find any extra benefit in comfort compared to dry shaving.
You have the option to wet shave, though, if you need to give it a try.
Overall Shaving Performance Ratings
Value for Money
The Remington F4 falls firmly into the budget shaver category, typically costing around $50 in the USA and £40 in the UK. In my experience, this is usually the minimum I’d recommend spending on an electric shaver to avoid something that feels extremely low-quality or “tacky.”
Value for Money Ratings
An important ongoing cost to consider is the replacement of the cassette and cutters. These cost about $20 in the USA and £15 in the UK. Compared to many other brands, that’s a fair price and not a significant extra expense over time (replace every 12 months, approximately).
Final Thoughts – Verdict (Whose It For?)
Considering its budget-friendly price, the Remington F4 is a comparable shaver to others in the $50/£40 range, such as the Braun Series 3 (310 model) or some Philips 2000 series models. It provides a decent, comfortable shave, especially for daily or every-other-day use.
It’s important to manage expectations; this shaver won’t provide the “wow” factor of premium models like the Philips Prestige, Panasonic Arc 5, or Braun Series 9 Pro. But it’s not trying to – it’s offering good performance for its price.
If you’re looking for an affordable electric shaver for regular, short-stubble shaving, the Remington F4 is definitely worth considering. Just be mindful that on longer, 3-day-plus growth, it might require more time and effort to achieve a clean result.
When comparing other shavers, I found that to match very similar features, the most comparable shaver I have used and reviewed is the Braun Series 6, which costs nearly twice the price. The S6 has the same head and blade movement, but it has a better design and other features.
If the Remington F4 doesn’t quite meet your needs, or if you’re curious about what else is available, I regularly update my “Best Electric Shavers for Men” page. There, you’ll find my top-ranked shavers across various price points and types – from budget-friendly options to high-end performers, and rotary to foil. It’s a great resource to help you weigh your options.
Do drop a comment below if you have further questions about the F4 or if you have any experience with the shaver you would like to share.
