Electric Shaver Review

Philips Norelco S9000 Prestige Review – Is it Worth the High Price Tag?

Well, it was time to part with the high price tag for the joy of testing, using, and reviewing the Philips Norelco S9000 Prestige shaver and the model that uses the QI wireless charging pad.

Philips has a line of S9000 electric shavers that are their top of the range of shavers available including the S9987/55 and S9820/88. These do not include the QI wireless charging pad and can come with various accessories and attachments, but they are all the same shaver.

This review is about the Philips S9000 Prestige which includes the model numbers SP9860/13, SP9862/14, SP9820/87, and SP9863/14 (which includes the wireless charging pad).

Just for easy reference for readers that are looking at any of the Philips 9000 series shavers. The standard 9000 series has an S (i.e., S9987 ) in the model number and the prestige begins with SP (i.e., SP9863/14), and the / after the main number always denotes what accessories come with the shaver.

The Brand – Philips the company and brand that was founded in 1891 is based in the Netherlands and is known worldwide for its electronic appliances. The first Philips shaver came on the market in the 1930s named Philishave and in the US their shaver was named Norelco, and then Philishave was phased out during 2006 to Philips, and now worldwide the shavers are known as Phillips Norelco in the USA and just Philips elsewhere. Philips shavers are all rotary-type shavers.

Let’s take a look at the all-important features of the Philips Norelco S9000 Prestige and then let you know how it performed after testing it out for the last month, and finally who it is best suited for.

Description & Features

Unboxed a buyer gets the prestige shaver, the Qi charging pad (with the model which I bought), and accessories like the precision trimmer and exfoliator. The S9000 also comes with a hard leather case for users to store the shaver and its accessories inside for travel.

• Blades – The blades are named NanoTech Precision. These are said to be strengthened with nano particles that enables the blades to last longer, and to be extra strong while being very sharp to enable users to get a precise and close shave. These blades offer up to 150,000 cutting actions per minute.
• Blade Flexibility – Phillips calls their blade flexibility a high-control suspension system. This basically means the blades flex while shaving with the contours of the face.
• Cutting Rings – The three cutting rings are coated with anti-friction metallic pigments that aim to make skin contact smoother for a user.
• BeardAdapt Sensor – This sensor checks hair density 15x/second and automatically adapts the shaver to your hair. Many of the top-end shavers, whether rotary or foil, have this feature.
• Shaving Modes – A user can choose between three power modes or comfort settings which can be adjusted based on how much growth the person has and how comfortable they would like to shave.
• Motor – Philips named this motor a top-spin digital motor, their most advanced motor for high-speed efficiency. They claim it can shave a 7-day beard efficiently, which is a bold claim.
• Flexing Heads – The 360 degrees of head movement can move in various directions in flow with the contours of a user’s face.
• Charging and Battery – The shaver is charged with the Qi charging pad only when purchasing the model with the QI Pad. The shaver is just placed on the pad that is plugged in and charges. Users may get a quick one-shave session when charging for 18 minutes, or for a full charge it takes up to 3 hours. A full charge should give users 60 minutes of shaving time. Other models that do not come with the QI pad that charges from the plug socket take an hour for a full charge that provides a user with 60 minutes runtime. A quick charge of 5 minutes can also provide a shave.
• Safety Lock – Press and hold the on/off button for three seconds to lock and unlock the travel safety lock.
• LED Screen – The LED screen indicates in percentage of how much charge is left and there is a safety lock, shaving mode, cleaning, replacement blade, and warning indicators. The red exclamation mark warning indicator shows if the shaver is overheating while it is charging, if the shaving heads are blocked and if any foreign objects are on Qi charging pad.
• Wet & Dry (+ 100% waterproof) – The Philips S9000 Prestige can be used for wet or dry shaving and users may use their favorite shave cream or gel. The unit is fully waterproof and can be used in the shower or bath.
• Warranty – Philips offers a 2-year warranty period on shavers. Register your shaver with the Philips website for your country to ensure everything is registered for the warranty.

Do These NanoTech Precision Blades Equate To Sharp Cutting Action?

Something that stood out to me as soon as I switched on the Philips Prestige was how quiet is was, and that this will mean it does not cut well or close enough.

However, I was very surprised to see that they cut very well and with heavy beard growth and that quietness has little to do with its cutting power.

I could see after using the shaver and taking the blades out that they are in fact high quality, even if the words like NanoTech just sound fancy they do in fact perform and should last the two years that they are supposed to (no reports as yet stating they do not last).

Are The LED Indicators Useful?

While any indicator lights on a shaver are not deal breakers when it comes to choosing a shaver they can be useful, especially for battery power left.

The percentage of charge shown on the front of the S9000 Prestige is very useful and the other indicators add a little something to the shaver overall.

Is The Motor Powerful?

Philips states the blades are powered by a top-spin digital motor that powers up to 150,000 cutting actions per minute. This is more than what the very powerful Panasonic Arc 5 powers, which is still a whopping 70,000 cross-cutting actions per minute.

Is The Cordless Qi Charging Pad Just a Cool Sales Gimmick?

Before receiving the Philips SP9863 Prestige and forking out the £350 I must admit I did believe that the charging pad would be a useless item or at least offer no benefit over wired shavers I have.

It’s quite odd as I have come to really like just placing the shaver on the pad and leaving it to charge up. However, there are some cons that come with the Pad.

The first con that comes with having the Pad is that it has boosted up the price of the S9000 series –although the SP models have other better features. The second is that it takes 3 hours to fully charge on the pad (but this is only the first charge) and then the third it cannot be used with a cord plugged in.

Another negative is these SP series have no cleaning and charge station, unlike previous S9000 models. This would be a matter of preference though as to whether a buyer really needs the cleaning and charge station more than the Qi charge pad (both are not required really).

Does The Movement of The Head and Cutters Assist With The Various Contours of The face?

The 360° flexible head makes a lot of difference in terms of the shaver moving along the contours of the face, and the flexibility the blades offer (Philips names high control suspension) improves this even more.

Many of the top-end shavers have improved in the flexibility of blade heads and the actual head, so there is nothing new here. However, Philips does seem to have nailed it on this model and it all runs smoothly.

Is The Attachment trimmer Any Good?

The trimmer is attached after removing the shaving head which clips on and off. It can be a little tricky pushing the head or an attachment back on (see note).

Note: If the attachment does not go on easily, do not force it. If it does not attach easily it will be because the centerpiece of the head and the center part of the attachment are not aligned. If the other part of the head is aligned properly, it will be these inner parts that are the issue. Worth noting, as I could see these getting broke if a user pushes and forces too much.

The trimmer like most trimmers that come with electric shavers, is okayish but never great. It’s not very good for cutting in the sideburns but it was quite good to trim down a few days’ growth closer to the skin before shaving.

Do You Like The travel case?

The travel case is strong and has a good layout inside for storing the shaver and everything that comes with it. It’s good quality!

How well does the Philips S9000 Prestige perform and Shave?

As usual, I spend about a month testing out an electric shaver on various beard growths (i.e., 1,2, 3 and so on days) and also test out shaving wet and dry which can be done with the all waterproof Philips Prestige.

I always like to do a head shave as well and did with this shaver even though it is not a designated head shaver.

First impressions – As mentioned above, the motor was so quiet on the shaver that I thought it was not going to be powerful enough. I was wrong –it had all the power required!

I did find it quite light to hold and have a preference for heavy shavers as I might have some sort of belief it is better quality then. Some guys prefer something lightweight!

3 -4 days growth – I was surprised to see how efficient this shaver was when chopping away at 3 and 4 days worth of growth. Of course, I had to run over the same areas a few times; however, it was not difficult, and cleared it all up very well and easily enough.

I later tried over 3 days of growth a few times and it was not great and left stubborn sideburns area patches (stick with 3 or fewer days is best). This is the same as with all electric shavers.

Note – Although Philips claim the shaver can shave a 7-day beard they also mention it was only tested for 1 – 3 days. Over 3 or 4 days is pushing it and a trim would be best done first in my opinion (look after those blades).

2 days growth – This is when as usual this Philips electric shaver performed at its best for me. It’s usually a quick and comfortable shave when I have two days of growth.

Daily shaving – I am not a fan of daily shaving because of irritation problems and the Prestige did not change my dislike. I didn’t get any irritation, but I just don’t feel my skin was thanking me for it –without enough stubble there to get shaved. For those gents that shave daily, the Philips is likely to please and the fact that the comfort (power) level can be toned down really helps.

How close and how comfortable were the shaves?

The closeness of shaving was very good and at the top of the charts among the best electric shavers.

Comfort was also great and it’s what stood out for me compared to other top shavers like the Braun Series 7 and Series 9, and the Panasonic Arc 5 after a few side-by-sides (one side of the face with one shaver and the other with another shaver).

The skin was left feeling very comfortable after shaving with the Prestige compared to the Arc 5 and Braun 7 which left some slight stinging feeling when first using them (should give the skin time to adjust to a new shaver, anyway).

How was shaving wet with shaving cream?

Shaving with cream was fine and maybe a little more comfortable. However, it was not necessary because the shaver performs well enough without cream, and there’s no mess or hassle either.

When using cream or foam I would suggest keeping plenty of soap on the face to prevent the shaver from juddering on the skin. This is quite normal when wet shaving with electric shavers.

Did the Philips S9000 perform well as a head shaver?

I’m well aware that the Prestige is not designed for head shaving; however, as a balding guy that head shaves I always test a shaver out and I can say that the S9000 Prestige does a fantastic job.

Rotary shavers are generally better than foil shavers for head shaving. This is because the shaver’s head has a better ability to move along the contours on the top and back of the head.

I tested it out wet and dry on my head and found that shaving dry without shaving cream works well enough.

Trimming the hair down with hair clippers without a comb first makes the job much easier. This prevents struggling with stubborn leftover hair patches.

It’s as close to a good designated head shaver like the Skull Shaver that buyers can get and with the advantage of being a very good facial shaver.

Related: See our choice of the best electric head shavers .

—Bottom Line: The Philips S9000 Prestige shaves close and as good as any other top electric shavers, and offers more comfort than most others. Super quiet as well!

Build quality and ergonomics – 8/10

While the ergonomics are fine and it holds well in the hand I still find it’s quite plasticky and doesn’t feel that solid for an appliance that is so expensive.

I guess if it lasts the years it should then I will be happy, but I do like something a bit more weighty.

It feels very light, which some users may like.

Cutting power – 10/10

As mentioned above the shaver is so quiet that it seems like it is not powering strongly when in fact it cuts through hair remarkably well. This quietness and excellent cutting power are quite unique.

Charging and battery life – 8/10

The Prestige S9000 models that come without the QI pad takes an hour for a full charge that provides a user with 60 minutes runtime. A quick charge of 5 minutes can also provide a shave.

The model that comes with the QI charging pad takes up to 3 hours to charge fully which is not going to be favored by everyone. This is the longest any shaver takes to charge.

However, a nice thing about the QI pad is after shaving the shaver it is always placed on the pad and can top up the charge so in fact, it is only the first charge that has to take so long (3 hours). The obvious thing to do is not let the shaver battery charge get too low!

The issue with the QI charging pad model and not an issue with the pad is it’s the only option that can be used to charge. There is no option to attach a power lead.

I had reservations about this charging Qi Pad and after a few days, I really got to like it.

The charging indicator keeps a user up to date on the percentage of charge left.

Cleaning and maintenance – 8/10

Many guys including myself have become accustomed to having a shaver that comes with a charging and cleaning station. I never thought these would be useful, and they were, just like my experience with the Qi Pad I got to enjoy having them.

However…….

Do I need the cleaning station? No, I get along very well with self-cleaning the Philips S9000 Prestige, and if needed, I can use shaver cleansing fluid while placing the shaver in a container. I use antibacterial hand soap placed on the head and then run the shaver under warm water, which cleans it up sparkling and fresh and cuts out shaving fluid replacement costs.

If a cleaning station is important then this shaver isn’t for that person, but if charging is more important then the S9000 with the Qi Pad could be ideal.

Replacement Blades – The shaving head replacement is quite pricey, however, a user gets up to 2 years of use out of the head and blades when taken care of properly. Costs approximately $60 (£60 – 55€) which equals less than $3 a month.

Removing the blade top is easy enough and it just clips on and off. The blades can all be taken apart and cleaned thoroughly as well. Warning though, they are a bit fiddly and I was concerned I wouldn’t be able to put them back together (I did).

Value for money – 8/10

A buyer does get to buy a very high-quality shaver that shaves close and comfortably. It has great features and a unique charging method if a user has the QI charging pad model.

However…..

It is still very pricey and right at the top pricing level for a shaver. A buyer doesn’t need to spend quite as much to get a good quality electric shaver. But, if the features above suit a buyer and they can part with (approx: $ 290 – 350 USD, £299 – £330 GBP, and €270 – €300 Euros), then why not go for it.

Any Common Consumer Issues, Complaints, or Positive Reports?

Most consumers agree it’s pretty expensive and that is the biggest downside even for those that love the Philips S9000 Prestige.

There has been some agreement with myself about the body seeming flimsy. There are no reports of the casing breaking though, but just feeling low quality.

A heck of a lot of users state this is the best shaver ever, especially in terms of comfort and closeness.

Final Thoughts & Who is the Philips S9000 Prestige best suited for?

The first group of people that spring to mind that the S9000 Prestige would suit is those with deeper pockets if buying the QI charging pad model. The next and/or same group would be those that have used other very good electric shavers and wish to upgrade.

Buyers who like the idea of laying down the shaver and letting it charge and don’t care too much for a cleaning and charging station will enjoy this new method of charging a shaver. However, buyers can save some money when purchasing the S9000 without the QI charger and get the same shaver performance.

This shaver beats most if not all on the comfort front and is a close second to the Panasonic Arc 5 shaver for closeness. It outdoes them all in quietness.

A high-performing shaver with the main negative being its price tag!

Alternative Shavers

There is no doubt about it that the Philips S9000 Prestige is a top of the range and impressive electric shaver. However, there are alternative shavers that will be cheaper and offer fewer features or performance, and then there are others that may offer other features that are required and worth taking a look at.

Panasonic Arc 5

The Arc 5 is a foil shaver that is a high powered mean hair shaving machine. This may give a slightly closer shave than the Prestige but there is a lot more that is different about it which will be a pro for one guy and a con for another (you gotta look into all aspects of the shaver).

The Arc 5 has an attached trimmer and the head movement can be locked into place or unlocked to allow movement for assisting in shaving the various contours of the face. It also comes with a cleaning and charge station.

See Review: Panasonic Arc 5 and there is now an Arc 6 (See Panasonic Arc 6 Review)

Braun Series 9

The Braun Series 9 is another top of the range shaver that’s a foil type that rates highly among consumers. The Series 9 does offer very good comfort and enough power to get a close shave that’s close to what a user gets from the Prestige.

The Braun 9 offers five shaving elements to try and get to every hair possible, and it has a beard density sensor just like the Prestige and Arc 5. A top rated shaver worth comparing with the Prestige.

See Review: Braun Series 9 and there is now a Braun Series 9 Pro

Previous Philips S9000 Models

The above two shavers are great shavers to compare with the Prestige on power, performance, and closeness of shave. However, for those that want a rotary type razor and would like to reduce the costs then the previous S9000 models can be picked up for quite a lot less and they perform very well.

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