Philips i9000 Shaver Models Comparison – i9000 vs i9000 Prestige vs i9000 Ultra vs S9000

In 2025, Philips threw a curveball at us with its i9000 models.

I say this because Philips released three models right after introducing the new, slightly upgraded Philips S9000 Prestige, their previous flagship.

This move disrupted the model number sequence for me and meant I had to compare three i9000 models at once, while also being aware that some of you guys would be considering the S9000 Prestige.

i9000 (X90**)

i9000 – Full Review

i9000 @ Amazon

i9000 Prestige

i9000 Prestige – Full Review

i9000 Prestige @ Amazon

i9000 Ultra

i9000 Ultra – Full Review

i9000 Ultra @ Amazon

Prestige S9000

S9000 – Full Review

S9000 @ Amazon

I’m going to run through the feature differences, and also share my findings after using all three models and the S9000 Prestige in a series of side-by-side comparison shaving tests.

I tested the i9000 with the i9000 Prestige, i9000 Prestige with the i9000 Ultra, and the i9000 Ultra with the S9000 Prestige. It was quite a time-consuming task after previously testing and reviewing each model individually.

Features Comparison

Let me provide a bit more detail and my take when comparing these features and specs that we can’t really measure (look good on paper, though):

• Blade tech: The difference here is that the S9000 and i9000 Ultra have NanoTech Dual Precision rather than Dual SteelPrecision. This sounds good on paper; however, the i9000 models all share the same cutters (i.e., Part Number – SH91) and there is no other specific information from Philips that tells us what makes the two shaver models have NanoTech and the others dont, so I take this feature with a pinch of salt and see it as more about marketing.
• Cutting Actions: Also known as CPMs (cutting actions per minute). The i9000 Ultra and S9000 have an extra 15,000 (10%). I can’t measure any of that and just have to take it that Philips is telling us the two flagship models are upgraded.
• Cutting Motions: All models have 7 Million / min, except the i9000 Ultra, which has 8 Million / min. Another feature we can’t measure, which Philips tells us that the Ultra is superior (this did seem to be the case in my shaving tests, and it stood out).
• Shave Closeness: I have no idea how to tell that the i9000 Ultra cuts at – 0.08 mm (Sub-Skin), which is supposed to be closer than any of the other models. That’s another thing that Philips tells us that makes the Ultra superior. I have no evidence after testing that the Ultra is closer (quicker, but not closer)

Revised Heads

The i9000 models all have slightly more rounded and slimmer shaver heads compared to the S9000 Prestige and the heads on the S9000, among other models. They are not completely round like the models that were available before the S9000 Prestige (and others), but they are a slightly improved angular-shape.

Next are features that we can see or experience that I can compare.

Motor Speed

Philips does not provide any documentation on RPMs for these shavers and shares the output measurement of CPMs (Cutting Actions Per Minute) and Cutting Motions. As mentioned above, I have no way of measuring this apart from seeing the speed at which each shaver cuts and gets the job done.

However, the ideal way of comparing these was just to see the difference with a sound test. I have tried my best to provide that test for you in the next clip.

All i9000 models, including the Ultra (on regular mode), sound exactly the same. The Ultra sounds faster on Intense and Custom mode, and the S9000 Prestige also sounds faster on its highest setting.

The i9000 Ultra and S9000 sound very similar, making the 165,000 CPMs in the specs look correct. Just as a reminder, the other i9000 models provide 150,000 CPMs.

Ergonomics

The S9000 has been the best fit I have found among all these shavers (see next video clip). The design tapers down slimmer, it’s not as long as the i9000 models, and the grooved design on the back of the shaver is perfect for resting the finger while it is in use.

The i9000 Ultra has a better-designed grooved design on the back of the shaver compared to the i9000 and i9000 Ultra, but it does not have quite the exceptional snug fit of the S9000.

While the i9000 and i9000 Prestige are comfortable to hold in the hand, they are just more square-like shaped and not quite as ergonomically friendly as the Ultra or S9000.

You can see the differences in the next clip.

Shaving Modes

The shaving modes were first introduced on the S9000 Prestige, and to be honest, I only used the shaver in its highest mode. Others looking for a milder shave for whatever reason might make use of the other two modes, but I haven’t.

This next clip runs through the S9000 Prestige shaving modes.

Only the i9000 Ultra has shaving modes, and five of them (Foam for wet shaving, Sensitive, Regular, Intense, and Custom). I only found the faster Intense and Custom modes useful. The Custom mode has to be set in the mobile app, and this is slightly faster than Intense. Once the Custom Mode is set up in the app to our preference, it stays that way until we change it.

This next clip runs through the i9000 Ultra shaving modes.

The i9000 Ultra does give me a faster shave on the intense and custom mode that is quite notable.

One use case for changing modes might be for guys who shave daily for a few days and prefer sensitive mode, then switch to higher modes when shaving with two or three days of growth.

I previously criticized this shaving mode type of feature on electric shavers as a gimmick. However, I do now see its potential use, even if it is not for everyone (including me).

Give me an i9000 with just Intense mode, thanks!

GroomTribe, Bluetooth, and Shaving Guidance

I will be polite here and just say that my own personal experience since this Groomtribe app stuff was introduced with the S7000 a few years ago, was not great—I am not a fan of it (I’m still not)—and have found no use for myself whatsoever.

I have taken screenshots to provide you with a quick glance, using the i9000 Prestige as an example of the in-app stuff!

However, for the more tech guys out there, it could be useful, fun, or maybe both.

This tech steps up in what it can do, the higher the i9000 model goes. So with the i9000 Ultra, we get the GroomTribe App, real-time shaving guidance, and light rings around the top section of the shaver to show how much pressure we are applying and if we are circling the shaver enough (i.e., pressure & motion guidance).

This next clip will give you an idea of how the light rings function.

Keep in mind this has no effect on how well the shaver will shave at all—it is purely shaving guidance tech stuff that I doubt many will need, if they already have experience using a rotary style shaver.

Check out the individual i9000 model reviews I have if you need to dig deeper into this tech stuff.

Built-In or Attachable Trimmer?

The detail trimmer and whether it is built in or not is something that is important to some users, especially if they use it for trimming the sideburns frequently. It can be a deal breaker for some!

The i9000 and i9000 Prestige have a built-in pop-up style, which, on one hand, offers the convenience of not needing to attach a trimmer, but it does make the shaver body slightly more bulky and more squarish in shape.

Two positives for attaching a trimmer (i9000 Ultra and S9000 Prestige) are that it is a slightly better quality trimmer, and I believe it enables the shaver body to provide a better fit in the hand (i.e., more space left on the shaver body).

The i9000 Ultra trimmer is what Philips calls a Beard Styler. The Beard Styler offers different settings for beard trimming, so if you shave your beard (for example) but keep a goatee beard, you may get some use out of the styler. It can be used without the attachable comb too!

I actually like having the better fit in the hand body when using the attachment. However, I can get away with not using a trimmer on my sideburns very often, as I mostly use the shaver cutters and never grow my hair long (as you may have seen in my bald head shaver reviews).

Some users switching over to attachments (if they use the detail trimmer frequently) might find that an annoyance. I get that!

User Feedback Worth Noting: One potential issue that I did not think about, mentioned by a viewer on my YouTube channel, is the taking on and off of the trimmer, wearing the connection over time. This is a great point and worth noting if you frequently need to take the head attachment off and on. This is not something I see mentioned often, though!

LED Display

I will keep this simple and just mention—the higher the i9000 model, the more advanced the LED screen is and its functions.

I dont give this aspect much attention or credit in a shaver comparison as it is part of the bells and whistles. Plus, a basic good battery charge left indicator suffices in my opinion, but a percentage battery indicator is preferable.

The i9000 standard suffices; however, if you are a person who needs more tech for whatever reason, then you might want to go higher up in the i9000 lineup.

Accessories/Bundles

Accessories are just that (addons), and none are needed to make the shaver any better. However, they can be useful, and here is my experience and thoughts on them with these shavers.

Travel Case

This is probably my number one item I like to get with all shavers, and not just for travel, but for stowing the shaver away at home. Most, if not all, including the standard bundle, will come with a travel case, and the S9000 came with a larger hard case that was of better quality.

The i9000 Ultra model (bundle) I purchased for this review did not come with a travel case. However, it came with the UV Charger, which I use for storing the shaver, but I do prefer an additional travel case. Other Ultra model bundles come with the standard or larger hard travel case.

I have all the other travel cases with other i9000 and other Philips shavers.

Quick Clean Pod

The Quick Clean Pod is a simple, non-electric cleaning device that I find very useful. While any of these shavers are very easy to clean manually, and you most definitely don’t have to have one, you might find (like I have) that it is useful for giving the shaver a good clean.

It only takes a minute to run through a cleaning cycle, as shown in the next clip below.

It will clean it, keep it hygienic, and keep the blades lubricated. A good cleaning fluid (not just about the cleaning pod) is something I find useful.

The main drawback is the need to replace the cleaning pod cartridges; however, we can purchase alternative cleaning fluids and refill the current cartridge with the new fluid, which is a more cost-effective option.

Charging Stand

The charging stand is a very lightweight, cheap kind of plasticky thing. However, the shaver does stand up in it and charge.

I can do without this accessory, but I would like it and want it more if they made a solid, heavier stand.

Incoming Gripe: They could spend money on a better accessory, like upgrading the charging stand, rather than some less-than-useful shaving guidance tech. Or even a really high-quality travel/storage case, or electronic cleaning station!

UV Power Charger (i9000 Ultra Only)

Braun introduced its charging case (Braun PowerCase Review) some time ago, so it was no surprise that Philips introduced a competing product.

Philips has actually gone one up on Braun and enabled it to sanitize the shaver.

It is very solid and stands upright, unlike the Braun case that lies flat. I reckon this will be favourabel fro soem and not for others. I don’t mind, and it reduces space when standing rather than lying down.

Of course, I can’t see if the case has sanitized the shaver heads, but I can’t see Philips making that up.

It is very useful for travel, looks good, cleans up bacteria, and provides the shaver with an extra charge, but of course, it is not a must-have.

This is worth having if a person finds it comes in a not too pricey i9000 Ultra bundle (i.e., not much more than other models/bundles). When I purchased it, my bundle was expensive, and I only bought it at that price for review purposes, so I could share everything about the i9000 Ultra.

QI Charging Pad (S9000 only)

The QI Charging Pad, a wireless charger, is only available with some Prestige S9000 models. I thought it was gimmicky at first, but as I started to use it, I really liked it.

We just lay our S9000 on it, and it charges. It does take 3 hours to fully charge the shaver, which is quite long; however, we only need to pop it on the pad and go about our business.

Nose Trimmer

The standard i9000 comes with a nose trimmer, which I did not get in my bundle. It comes with a more standard set.

I would not make this anything to do with choosing these shavers or any shaver at all, as these nose trimmers are cheap to purchase as a dedicated nose trimmer.

Shaving Comparisons

As I mentioned at the start of this article, I tested all of these side by side (i.e., each shaver got one side of the face) as well as using each individually.

I have compared the i9000 Ultra with the S9000 Prestige only because the S9000 was the flagship, and now the Ultra has taken its spot.

1. i9000 vs. i9000 Prestige

I had moments while using these that made me feel like the i9000 Prestige was more comfortable. But this was slight and probably due to me trying too hard to find a difference (almost creating it).

The only additional benefit of the i9000 Prestige is being able to use the Motion and Pressure Light Rings around the top of the shaver. However, that has nothing to do with the shaving experience.

• Verdict: Same performance and finish.

2. i9000 Prestige vs. i9000 Prestige Ultra

Because of the higher speed, the Ultra feels quicker and easier to use. The increased power allows for a lighter touch, which I believe must provide the better skin comfort aspect I experience.

For additional speed, the Ultra has to be set on Intense or Custom Mode, and Custom Mode is slightly faster than Intense; otherwise, the Regular Mode is the same as standard on the i9000 and i9000 Prestige

Both provided a very close, high-quality shave. The end result in terms of smoothness is nearly identical; the difference lies in how quickly and comfortably I get there.

• Verdict: The Ultra is the superior choice for those who want the fastest shave possible with less manual pressure.

3. i9000 Prestige Ultra vs. S9000 Prestige (Previous Flagship)

The i9000 Ultra feels more comfortable on the initial pass. This, I would have thought, is because of the new motor’s higher speed settings (Intense and Custom modes), which the S9000 Prestige lacks.

As the S9000 provides 165,000 CPM (which is the same as the i9000 Ultra), it does seem slightly more efficient than the i9000 and i9000 Prestige, but that difference is not huge.

• Verdict: The i9000 Ultra is technically superior in speed and comfort (and I felt and experienced that) due to its faster cutter speed, but the S9000 Prestige still holds its own in terms of closeness and comfort.

Shaving – Bottom Line

The i9000 Ultra is the only one that really differs due to its additional faster shaving modes, although the S9000 does feel like a slight step up from the other i9000 models. They will all get the same end result, but the S9000 will get there slightly quicker, and the i9000 Ultra, even quicker.

I did express in the videos that I was finding some slight differences between models other than the i9000 Ultra. However, after a few more tests, I came to realise this was me looking too hard to find a difference, and possibly due to which shaver I used with my dominant hand.

Anyway. Rest assured, I tested them to the hilt, almost over the top!

Warranty and Costs

As you can see by the table above, the i9000 Ultra comes with the longest warranty period of 7 years, and the i9000 (standard) and i9000 Prestige still come with a generous 5 years. The S9000 Prestige only comes with a 2-year warranty, so we can see Philips has become quite generous with shaver warranty on the i9000 lineup.

A good warranty matters for electric shavers.

I can’t be too specific about costs as they change so frequently, and we get all types of bundles available (accessories included). These prices jump around with whatever sales are going on, which can make a model like the i9000 Ultra with a good bundle of accessories the same price as the i9000 Prestige (for example).

• Currently in the USA, the i9000 lineup costs from $200 – $500, and the Prestige S9000 is around $300.

Which Is Best For You?

They are all top rotary shavers that a rotary user can’t go wrong with. However, here is a breakdown that might help with choosing:

• i9000 (X90**) – Budget Option – The standard i9000 is the obvious choice for those trying to keep their budget tighter, but still want a high-end rotary. It has fewer bells and whistles, may take longer to shave than the i9000 Ultra and S9000 Prestige, but will get the same result, a decent close shave. It has a built-in trimmer, which might be useful for some guys. You can also consider the Series 9000 (not i9000 or S9000), as it provides a very similar shave experience, but I chose not to cover that here, as the models are priced the same and some are priced higher, so it did not make sense to me to overcomplicate this comparison (plus it wont be long until the 9000 Series is unavalable).
• i9000 Prestige – Extra Tech Stuff – This is a tough one because all that steps up with the i9000 Prestige compared to the i9000 (X90**) is the tech stuff and LED display (i.e., no difference shaving vs i9000 X90**). If you like those features and dont mind paying the extra, then go for it.
• i9000 Ultra – Best Performance – This is the one that I found has the most worthwhile benefits over the others; it shaves more quickly and comfortably. Comfort is a big thing for me, and still being able to shave very close, plus fast, puts the i9000 Ultra a cut above all other rotary shavers I have used and reviewed.
• S9000 Prestige – 2nd to Ultra – I was sold on the previous flagship S9000, and I still prefer the body design. However, keep in mind that the i9000 Ultra is priced currently at only an extra $50. Availability is also starting to lack, so it is likely that it will become discontinued (parts will still be available, though).

Finally, another aspect that may make a difference in your choice is the bundles available. They all differ with the models, so you need to decide what you don’t want, and one model might not have what you would like to have. However, for many of us, it comes down to budget and shaving experience above all else!

That whole i9000 adventure was time-consuming, but fun and revealing all the same!

Drop a comment below if you have further questions, if I missed something, or if you would like to share your experience and views.

i9000 (X90**)

i9000 – Full Review

i9000 @ Amazon

i9000 Prestige

i9000 Prestige – Full Review

i9000 Prestige @ Amazon

i9000 Ultra

i9000 Ultra – Full Review

i9000 Ultra @ Amazon

Prestige S9000

S9000 – Full Review

S9000 @ Amazon

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