Philips Head Shaver Pro 5000 Series Review – It Beats Most Of The Competition
Philips Head Shaver Pro 5000 Series
The Philips Head Shaver Pro 5000 Series — introduced in 2025 alongside the 7000 and 9000 Series – proved to be one of (if not) the best options available. It gives a comfortable and quick head shave, and the generous warranty period makes it shine even more.
Pros
It gave very comfortable shaves without any kind of irritation
It is ergonomically friendly, and the design works well for shaving the back and sides of the head
The blades' flex helped me to maintain skin contact throughout the shave
Very quick to use when shaving daily or every other day
The warranty period on offer and the peace of mind that the company will honour the warranty are a major plus
Cons
It may seem a little bulky for some guys compared to some other head shavers
It will not shave as close as a manual razor, and a slight sandpaper feel can be felt on certain areas (standard with dedicated head shavers)
Philips introduced a new lineup of dedicated head shavers in 2025: the Head Shaver Pro Series 5000, 7000, and 9000. I covered the flagship 9000 Series recently, but in this review, I’m focusing on the entry-level model — the Philips Head Shaver Pro 5000 Series.
The 5000 Series is the cheapest of the three. It does not include some of the advanced features (minor) and accessories found on the 7000 and 9000 models. However, it still shares the same most important aspect — performance.
In this review, you’ll get my experience and views, including pros and cons of the features and design, how it performed, and thoughts on who I think this dedicated head shaver is best suited for.
For 2026 and onwards, I am really pleased to announce the inclusion of the Philips Head Shaver Pro models, including the 5000 Series, in the Best Head Shavers Roundup For The Year. You’ll see why in this review!
Description and Features
The Philips Head Shaver Pro 5000 is a rotary-style, palm-held design shaver designed specifically for head shaving, like all other dedicated head shavers I have tested and reviewed.
The Series 5000 HS5980 bundle I purchased only comes with a USB-A power cord. There is no adapter. I also got a protective blade cap, a fabric travel pouch, and documentation. The 5000 comes with fewer accessories than the 7000 and 9000 models.
Design and Ergonomics
The overall size is somewhat larger and taller compared to very compact models like the Remington Balder Pro or the Freebird Flex Series. For those who prefer a lower, more “ball-in-hand” feel, the 5000 Series might feel a bit bulky at first.
Design & Ergonomics Ratings
However, this is not a deal-breaker to me because of the other pros the Series 5000 has over these other shavers with a smaller ball-like body, which includes using it with the cupping method that I will share about next.
The design allows us to cup the shaver between our fingers (as shown in the next video clip) and the head—a technique made popular by Skull Shaver’s patented design. This provides me with control for manoeuvring around the back of the head and up the sides.
The 5000 Series doesn’t have the deep finger grooves that Skull Shaver models do (as shown in the next video clip), but we can still cup it between our fingers in a very similar way. In practice, it fits well enough and feels natural.
The top section of the shaver body has a matte finish with textured lines for grip. While I would have preferred a fully rubberized grip for added grip, it still feels secure enough in the hand, even during a wet shave.
Blades and Head Sections
The 5000 Series has four rotary cutters—that’s plenty. Some brands push 7D or 8D multi-cutter designs, but in my experience, this design is mostly for marketing purposes. I have found that four or five cutters are more than enough for effective head shaving with enough blade coverage on the scalp.
Head and Blade Movement Ratings
The shaver heads have two ways of flexing:
- All four cutters flex together as a unit, adapting to larger contours of the skull.
- Each cutter also flexes individually, improving contact on uneven or tricky areas.
This next video clip shows how they flex.
This makes it easier to maintain skin contact throughout the shave, and also helps provide comfort and an even shave.
The 360° Flexing Head feature means the whole head also flexes in all directions. This adds additional ability to help the cutters maintain skin contact along the various contours. This flexing head feature is functional when shaving in the normal style, but it does not have a use when using the shaver with the cupping method (i.e., it will not flex). The head can also be removed easily and reattached, which would only be useful for any attachments (which the shaver does not come with).
The next clip shows how the head flexes and how easy it is to detach and attach the head section.
Hair Collection Chamber
A very useful feature is the hair collection chamber beneath the top cap. We can pop the cap off easily, and it holds a good amount of the cut hair, helping to keep some of the mess off our shirts and out of the sink.
It does not collect all of the debris. Some collects in the cutters, and a minimal amount also falls, but it helps capture quite a lot.
Battery, Charging, LEDs, and Travel Lock
The runtime and charge time of the battery are pretty standard, and the LEDs are simplistic. It is not a bells and whistles head shaver, but it does come with a useful travel lock, which I like to have.
Battery, Charging, and LEDs Ratings
- Runtime: We get 60 minutes of cordless runtime from a full charge. While this is less than the 90 minutes offered by the 7000 and 9000 series, 60 minutes is still plenty enough for multiple full head shaves. I would say 60 minutes was about right in my experience before I needed to recharge.
- Charging: Philips states it takes around one hour for a full charge, which was accurate for my shaver. It uses a USB-A cord (not USB-C, and some users might prefer the Type-C), but it’s a proprietary Philips connector, meaning you’ll need to keep their specific cable handy. A wall adapter is not included, which is typical these days with Philips shavers (I got plenty of adapters anyway).
- LED Indicators: The charge indicators are basic. We don’t get the segmented light bar or percentage indicator that some prefer, and I do like to have. Instead, a light will illuminate when the battery is running low and when the unit is charging, then turn off when fully charged. This is perfectly functional, and as this version is cheaper, I would not consider it a deal breaker.
- Travel Lock: A very handy feature is the travel lock, activated by holding the power button for a few seconds. This prevents accidental activation in our travel bags, saving the battery.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Cleaning and maintenance of the shaver is pretty straightforward. I do recommend giving some of your attention to maintenance of the shaver.
Cleaning & Maintenance Ratings
My recommended cleaning routine:
- Dry Clean (After every shave): Pop the top cap off, blow and brush out the hair from the chamber and cutters.
- Wet Clean (After every 4th shave): After dry cleaning, put a few drops of antibacterial liquid hand soap on the cutter heads, add a small splash of water, and run the shaver for 10-15 seconds. Rinse thoroughly.
- Deep Clean (Once a month): The system allows you to easily remove the retainer in the center of the blade head by turning the cog. This lets you take out each cutter and clean them individually to remove any collected debris or ‘gunk’ that can slow the shaver down over time. I highly recommend doing this at least once a month.
Next is a clip of my wet cleaning routine.
Doing this monthly helps maintain performance and ensures the motor isn’t strained by buildup.
The 5000 Series does not come with the rinsing tub accessory that is included with the 7000 and 9000 Series, but the manual wet cleaning routine works perfectly well.
Philips recommends replacing the cutters (Part Number – HS740) every six months. Mileage will vary based on usage and hair type.
Philips does not mention oiling the cutters. However, I do this and recommend users to oil them with a drop or two of clipper oil on each cutter after every wet clean or wet shave.
Warranty & Reliability
This is where the Philips Head Shaver Pro lineup truly excels and, in my view, tops many of the smaller, dedicated head shaver brands.
Head shavers are prone to faults over time. Philips offers a standard 2-year warranty, which you can easily extend to an impressive 5 years just by registering your product within 90 days of purchasing the shaver.
Having the backing of a major, reliable brand that consistently honors its returns and warranty policy provides genuine peace of mind. This factor alone makes it a significantly better investment than some of the smaller brands (despite wanting to promote the smaller guys more).
Head Shaving Experiences
I tested the Series 5000 shaver daily, with two and three days of growth, and after trimming—using a trimmer without a comb attached.
As with all dedicated head shavers, the best, fastest, and most comfortable result comes from shaving daily or every other day—doing so allows for a full head shave in just a couple of minutes.
Head Shaving Ratings
Comfort and Contours
- Comfort: The shave is very comfortable. The cutters feel smooth and glide easily over the scalp, which is a big advantage for minimizing irritation and just making it a more comfortable experience.
- Contouring: This shaver’s contouring ability is very good. The combination of the flexing head and the individually flexing cutters ensures the blades maintain contact with the scalp across various contours, including the tricky lumps at the back of my skull. When holding it with the cupping method, the maneuverability up the sides and around the back of the head is excellent.
Here is a quick demo of it shaving along contours and maintaining skin contact.
Speed and Closeness
When shaving daily or every other day, the speed is fantastic. Even with three or four days of growth (the maximum I would recommend), it handles the job well, though it takes a little longer, especially on stubborn areas like my receding hairline at the sides.
In terms of closeness, it delivers a fairly close shave—about the best I can expect from a rotary head shaver.
“Like most dedicated head shavers, I was still left with a slight, sandpapery feel in some areas, but not as much as with some other shavers I’ve used. It’s not the baby-butt smooth result of a manual blade, but it’s very good.”
The side-receded areas required me to stretch the skin slightly to get a closer finish (as shown in the next video clip). Stretching the skin definitely improves the closeness.
I found the overall finish to be more than satisfactory for an electric head shaver. If you are new to electric head shaving and have been using a manual razor, then you will need to lower your expectations slightly for the closeness you might want.
Wet and Dry Use
The 5000 Series is fully waterproof (IPX7 water-resistant), giving us the option to use it wet or dry. I personally tried it with a traditional shaving cream lather. While it works fine, I rarely find that a dedicated electric head shaver provides a huge extra benefit from wet shaving. However, the option is there if you prefer to shave in the shower and with your favorite gel/cream.
Facial Shaving
While some users can use these dedicated head shavers for facial shaving, and some brands promote them as being good for facial shaving, they are not best suited for that because of the large blade area and awkward body design.
The design of the Series 5000 and the awkwardness of how tall it is led me to not even try. I have better shavers for this task!
Price & Replacement Costs
The Philips 5000 Series has a suggested retail price of around $80, but realistically, I expect that to settle nearer $60 as more retailers stock it.
The latest price I have seen in the UK on Amazon here is £59.99. I am not getting any consistent prices in the EU.
Replacement cutter heads (HS740) cost about $35, and as mentioned above, Philips recommends replacing them every 6 months.
As the three Philips head shavers are pretty new on the market, we are going to see some ups and downs in the prices, and Philips has put itself in a position where it can play with the prices to entice us into buying one model or the other.
Final Thoughts – Verdict (Who’s It For?)
The Philips Head Shaver Pro 5000 Series is a very good head shaver that will join my 2026 Best Head Shaver Roundup.
It delivers excellent contouring, a comfortable and fast shave, and is backed by an industry-leading warranty.
Who I Recommend It To:
- Budget-Conscious Buyers: If you want good performance and features (like the cupping grip and flexing head) without the premium price of the 7000 or 9000 Series.
- First-Time Electric Head Shavers: The Series 5000 is a good option if you are testing out whether electric head shaving is going to be suitable for you. It makes sense to keep it simple; it does not have much in terms of additional features or accessories, but it is more affordable, making the investment risk lower.
- Anyone Concerned with Reliability: The 5-year warranty from Philips is a monumental selling point, especially if you’ve had bad experiences with the aftercare of smaller brands.
- Daily or Every-Other-Day Shavers: This is where the speed and comfort of this machine truly shine.
Who I Don’t Recommend It To:
- Those Chasing Manual Razor Closeness: No electric shaver will give you the same baby-butt smooth feel as a manual razor.
- Users Wanting Maximum Runtime: If 90 minutes of cordless use is a must, you’ll need to look at the 7000 or 9000 Series models.
If you can pick this up for around the $60-$65 or £60-£65 mark, it’s a solid, smart buy.
It will be included in my 2026 roundup as one of the best dedicated head shavers available.
