Electric Shaver Review

Philips 5000X Shaver Review – An Unusual Yet Practical Middle Ground

After using the Philips 5000X recently, I have no idea why it’s a 5000. It should have been a 4000 (there isn’t one), but the company has its reasons, I guess.

The slimline body of the 5000X is not like any other Philips; however, other companies do have somewhat similar shaver designs.

It sits just under the mid-price range for shavers, just above the Series 3000 and just below the 5000 Series, which makes it a 4000 in my mind.

If you want a rotary style shaver that does not cost quite as much as a Philips S5000, but want something that offers more than the S3000, then the 5000X is worth taking a look at.

Models: There are only three models available at the moment. The X5004/00, X5012/00, X5012/05 and X5006/85 (Norelco). The only difference between these is the color (or rather the shade of color above the grip area). These and any other models that get released will be the same shaver with the same performance.      

As per usual, there are too many (however’s and maybe’s) to give a two or three-line answer, so do follow along with my thoughts and experience of the features and design, and how the shaving experiences went.

Description & Features

I purchased the US Philips (Norelco) X5006/85 model, and this came with a blue fabric travel case. It also came with what comes with all 5000X models: a standard USB cord (no adapter), trimmer attachment, blade cap cover, instructions pamphlet, and a small cleaning brush.

The 5000X is a no-frills shaver that does not come with all the bells and whistles or a lot of accessory options. No frills is a good thing for some users who are budgeting, and/or just dont need the additional stuff.

Build Quality, Design & Ergonomics

What stood out to me right away was the slim and tapered design compared to all other Philips shavers. It’s definitely slimmer than other Philips shavers I’ve used and unique within the Philips range.

There’s a patterned grip in the middle section, though it’s not rubberized. A rubber grip would’ve made it more comfortable, but as it stands, it’s still good enough.

My forefinger naturally rests behind the neck of the shaver, which is useful when holding it while shaving. It is shaped well and helps make it feel quite secure in the hand.

Another design perk: the flat base. You can stand the shaver upright, which is a small but handy feature if you prefer not to leave your shaver laying flat.

The build quality seems to be fine, but it is all various plastics, of course. The 5000 series and shavers like the Braun S5 feel a bit more solid to me, which I think is more about the additional rubberized sections they have.

I can see some guys really liking this slimline design that other brands introduced some time ago, while others might not like it. For me, it was odd at first, and then I adjusted and did not notice any difference or have any issues.

Cutting Actions

Cutting actions are always a weird feature to rate, as it always depends on how many shaving elements a shaver has and the types of blades. However, they are always worth mentioning, as well as comparing them with others to see where a shaver stands among others.

Philips states the 5000X provides 55,000 cutting actions per minute (CPM), and that’s with three rotary heads all having nine self-sharpening blades (9×3 = 27 blades). To give you some context, the Philips S5000 provides 90,000 cutting actions per minute, and the 3000 Series offers the same as the 5000X (i.e., 55,000 CPM).

You might be able to see why I say this shaver is a 4000 Series, really, as it shares similarities with the 3000 (i.e., same blades and CPM) and some of the 5000 Series (longer design rather than wide fat design like the S3000).

Shaving Head and Blades Movement/Flex

The 5000X features a 360° pivoting head along with flexible individual shaving heads. I find this dual movement helps the shaver glide over facial contours, especially around tricky areas like the jawline and chin.

It’s an important design and feature, and it does help maintain close contact with the skin, even during quick shaves.

Each rotary blade does not press in (flex) like the S5000 and other shavers. Im sure that extra flex helps when shaving the contours, but it should not be a deal breaker, if you are trying to reduce the cost of what you spend on a shaver (keeping in mind this is a below mid-range shaver).

Trimmer Attachment

The 5000X doesn’t have a built-in trimmer. Instead, it comes with an attachment trimmer head. I’m okay with that—I mostly use it for tidying up sideburns and I dont have much of that to do.

The trimmer does sound a bit rattly and doesn’t offer the cleanest trim (many don’t give a great trim, nothing new).

It’s functional, but not great.

Some users might find the lack of a built-in trimmer inconvenient (and maybe even a deal breaker), as we have to remove the head and have a separate shaver component. It’s great that we have a quick-release head that is part of the shaver and does not detach from it, but then we have the separate trimmer attachment.

Battery Life & Charging

You’ll get about 50 minutes of shaving time on a full charge, which is a bit less than the standard 60 minutes that many shavers offer, but a 10-minute difference isn’t major. There’s a quick-charge feature too—5 minutes of charging gives you enough juice for one shave.

I would say, based on my experience and usage so far, that the above battery specs are correct (not that I timed every minute).

It charges via USB (no wall adapter included), which is fine by me—I’ve got plenty of those laying around.

There’s also a travel lock feature. Hold the power button for three seconds to activate it (and again to deactivate), which is useful for travel or keeping it from turning on in a drawer.

Cleaning & Maintenance

One of the features that Philips has added in recent years that I like a lot is the one-touch head release. A simple touch pops open the head, making it super easy to clean.

My routine is simple: after a shave, I give it a quick blowout, brush out the debris, apply some antibacterial hand soap on the blades, rinse it under water, and leave it open to dry.

Every month or so, I will do a deeper clean by removing and washing each blade head one by one. Just follow the arrow guides inside the cap when removing each cutter—it’s straightforward. I suggest doing one blade head at a time so you know how they go back together.

Note: This shaver doesn’t work with Philips’ cleaning pod systems. That’s because the rounded (non-angular) head design doesn’t fit into the pod like other models (such as the S5000 and S7000), so keep that in mind if you are interested in the Philips Quick Clean Pod.

LED Indicators & Travel Lock

As I have mentioned, this is a kind of no-frills shaver but has a couple of extras. One useful extra is the travel lock, which is activated when holding the power button for three seconds and then held for another three seconds to deactivate it.

The indicators are as simple as an orange light that flashes when it is time to recharge the battery, and a light that shows when it is charging and charged.

Accessories

Again, without wanting to repeat myself, it’s a no bells and whistles type of shaver.

They will all come with a handy blade cap cover and trimmer attachment, and some (like the one I purchased) come with a fabric travel case. The travel case is simple and useful!

That’s about it, simple!

Shaving Experiences

I tested this shaver over several sessions, including side-by-side comparisons with the standard S5000.

I tried it on four, three, and two days of growth, and also shaved daily for three consecutive days.

It tackled three and four days of course growth very well, and it shaved well enough on two days. On the third day of shaving daily, I picked up some irritation and stopped there (that is quite normal for my sensitive neck).

Under the nose required a bit of maneuvering, as expected with a rotary shaver. I kind of push my nose to the left and right to make sure I clear up there properly. We can also use the trimmer attachment right under the nostrils if needed.

Contours

As I have mentioned in the features section above, the blades flex individually, and the 360° head movement enables the shaver to move along contours very well.

It moves along the jaw and chin with ease.

Comfort

I noticed it was not as comfortable to shave with as the S5000 and S7000 straight away. For me, comfort has become at the top of my list of preferences.

It feels slightly aggressive, which is not always a negative trait, as it usually means a shaver can plow through coarse growth. It’s just that if you are quite sensitive in areas, or you shave daily, then it’s something to consider.

Tricky Hairs and Leftovers

I had minimal leftover hair patches around my standard leftover prone areas (sideburns and corners of my lower jaw). What I did have left was cleared up easily.

I had no flat lying or longer hairs that were left unshaven when using the 5000X.

I did notice after a couple of hours that I could feel some slight stubble on my neck area when brushing my hand against the grain. I could have gone back and shaved over these against the grain; however, I would irritate the skin, so I left it (it was minimal). I dont fight and struggle to get that BBS (Baby Butt Smooth) shave every time, anymore!

Speed

All shave tests were completed in a few minutes, so it was all done in no time at all.

Some of those recent foil shavers I’ve used and reviewed felt faster on that first main pass. However, with those, I found myself spending more time going back over patches. So, while the foil shavers seemed quicker initially, they left more work to do after.

With this one, without timing myself, all I can tell you is that I get quick shaves.

Closeness

A very close shave on the cheeks, like any other electric shaver.

As mentioned, I had some light stubble patches left on my neck area, and left those to prevent an irritation flare-up.

The bottom line is that I am happy with the closeness it gives for a below mid-range priced shaver.

If you are not looking for perfection, then you are good to go.

Keep in mind, guys with softer, less coarse hair than mine are likely to get a closer shave, and without any patches. My younger self would have gotten an all-over close shave with this!

Wet and Head Shaving

I tried out wet shaving as I usually do for testing purposes and to give you guys feedback.

The shave felt comfortable when using traditional shaving cream lather and the shaver.

There was no additional comfort and no added discomfort, so if you use electric shavers for wet shaving, then it should work fine with most shaving lubricants. Just dont expect any major changes, based on my experience.

As I am a balding guy so I gave it a couple of runs head shaving. It was okay, and got the job done quite quickly. However, I would say the end result was the same as dedicated head shavers I use and review, which leave some minor stubble areas.

It will also take a bit longer to shave the back of the head than dedicated head shavers (these have a better design).

You could most definitely use the 5000X head shaving if you were also going to be using it for facial shaving.

Value for Money

In the US, a 5000X can be bought for around $70 – $90, £70 in the UK, and €90. Prices vary and change frequently.

Using the USA as an example, this shaver is just above the cost of an S3000 and below the cost of an S5000. $70 is a fair price.

Keep in mind, these prices change, and I did see a model in the UK priced at £169.99 (way too much, I say).

If I were to see an S5000 on sale for the same price (i.e., $70), I would snatch the S5000 without a doubt.

Keep in mind that the SH30 replacement blades, which are to be replaced every 12 – 24 months, cost around $25, £23, or €27.

Final Thoughts – Verdict (Whose It For?)

This is an option for someone looking to step up from the 3000 Series without spending more on a 5000 or 7000 Series. If you’re not fussed about having a built-in trimmer, and you like a slim design that’s easy to handle and clean, the 5000X is a solid choice.

If you require as much comfort as you can get from a shave, though, or you pick up irritation easily, then I lean more towards the 5000 Series.

I found I missed that more rubberized feeling that I get from the likes of the S5000 and Braun Series 5 (plus S6 and S7), though.

I think of it as the unofficial 4000 Series—positioned nicely between the 3000 and 5000 in price and performance.

Comments

---