Philips Norelco Shaver 5000X with SkinGlide Coating, X5006/85

For the past 11 years I've been using a 5-blade shave club razor, badger hair brush and traditional shaving soap (cake). With those implements, I was getting VERY close shaves, but also a good bit of nicks, razor burn, and mess. Also, it takes awhile for the hot water to reach the master bath in my house, and it's COLD up here in the Smoky Mountains in winter. Often I'd skip shaving altogether for two or three days. Last time I'd used an electric shaver was in the '70s, when I was in my early 20's; the results were unimpressive, and typically raised acne problems. As the saying goes, "You've come a long way, baby". Fast-forward to last month - I got tired of standing around waiting for hot water, and then subjecting myself to that final, pore-closing COLD water rinse, only to be rewarded with the need for copious amounts of styptic liquid. So, I took a chance, and after reading reviews, I bought the 5000x electric. The instructions stated that it might take up to 41 days (interesting number...) for my skin to become accustomed to the electric, and results might not be great until then. Ok, fair enough... Well it's been 30 days, so I'm a little shy of what's recommended, but, I think my skin has adapted to the new deal. So here goes - if things change in 11 days, I'll update this review. First - does the 5000x shave as close as the best result from the 5-blade/shaving soap method? No. BUT it comes pretty darned close (pun intended). If I spend the same amount of time as I did with the blade/soap, I get a very close shave; a perfectionist will still notice a VERY light stubble, but it is in no way visible, and many times, the blade/soap system left similar results if I wasn't 100% on my game (and who is, first thing in the AM?). On the occasions where I got a really close shave with the b/s method, more often than not, there was blood; sometimes a tiny bit; other times, the phrase "like a stuck pig" comes to mind. This 5000x is greatly superior in several ways: First - no waiting for hot water, or the messy shaving soap to soak the whiskers (although I could still do that with the 5000x - it's waterproof and will shave with soap, gel, cream, or just plain water - all of these will lubricate the skin and make the whole thing more comfortable, at the cost of time and mess). Dry shaving with the 5000x is not uncomfortable; it's just a bit smoother wet... but not enough to justify it. I've discovered that, after the initial shave with this thing, if you wait about 10-15 seconds for your skin to "reset", another pass or two will provide an even closer shave, with even less stubble remaining - ALMOST "blade-close". Just keep in mind, no electric will shave as close as a good blade or five, but it will be easier and safer. Cleanup is incredibly simple - press the button on the shaver's head and the three-rotary blade assembly pops up, revealing all that nasty stubble around the drive shafts... lightly tapping the 5000x's head dislodges most of it, to be easily washed down the drain. As previously mentioned, it's waterproof, so you could rinse it if you like. I choose not to, for the same reason I hand-wash and dry my good kitchen cutlery. And that leads me to my one and only complaint with this purchase; Phillips/Norelco obviously went to great lengths in engineering an efficient, effective, and simple to use shaver at a reasonable price. They even include a nice case and a trimmer head for sideburns or beard edge trimming. But they did NOT include a simple, inexpensive cleaning brush, to get all the stubble out of the drive/blade areas. Luckily, an unused toothbrush does the job nicely. Charging is pretty fast, and the (non-replaceable) batteries last for well over a week's worth of thorough shaves. The charging cable is semi-proprietary (not a USB mini or C) and relatively short, but it's sufficient. The shaver won't turn on with the charging cable connected. Good safety feature - it would be...unpleasant, if the power cord came in contact with a sink full of water. So; while your mileage may vary, I would recommend that you give this electric a try. As the headline for this review states: I'm sold. This thing is too convenient, and does too good a job to go back to the slice-and-dice of blade shaving. As a bonus, I don't have to splash icy cold water on my face if I don't want to. Yay. UPDATE: Ok, 4 months to the day of purchase. If anything, this thing works better than when I last reviewed it. I don't know if my technique has improved, my skin as acclimated to the razor, or if the shave-fairy just waved his/her magic wand at me. So I will say that though it doesn't give me a straight-razor-barber-shop close shave, it's at least as good as my 5-blade, shave-club razor in terms of closeness, and still, not nicks, cuts, or bleeding of any kind. I DID experience ONE pimple, but I can't really say it was from the 5000x. VERY Satisfied (but still can't understand why they didn't include a cleaning brush)...

For 15-20 yrs I've been using several inherited high-end Philips shavers made in Holland, but when the time came to replace them I couldn't justify the $200-$400 price tag for the top models. However, for under $100 this basic Series 5000X is a perfectly fine replacement. It has a good weight and balance and provides a close, comfortable and quiet shave. No harsh cuts or nicks and the shaving heads are not surrounded by flat areas that can cause skin drag. I did not want a charging stand and this is one of the few models that does not use one. The flat bottom allows it to stand vertical which is nice, but since the plug is on the bottom you can't charge it while upright. It does not have a charge indicator, nor a trim-level adjustment but these are not big deals for me. Using the side trimmer involves changing attachments, but I prefer to use a separate Philips trimmer anyway. The hard travel case is also nice but a little bulky and barely has enough room for the charging cable. Overall, an excellent quality shaver from a reputable brand. Four stars + a fifth for great value.

A lot to like with this shaver: It's quiet, easy to grasp, and it cuts quickly. However, it does not trim my beard as closely as my foil shaver, even after multiple passes. It works best for me after using a pre-shave lotion. I tried it using shaving creme upon the recommendation of several, but I found no great advantage. My skin feels somewhat irritated after shaving either way, so a post-shave lotion or balm is helpful. This shaver's trimmer head is a separate piece, which is less convenient than a built-in type. By itself, the shaver doesn't do a great job getting next to mustaches or beards either. Overall, a pleasant shaver to use.

Very pleased with this new electric SHAVER from Philips, I know I give them a bad review for my 1st shaver, now getting old I found more value on an electric shaver compared with blades, even I use 5 blades razor. This model, I notice the technology has been improved, better shaves, I like the color and weight. The only bad thing was that is not compatible with my older shaver since that one has extra tools that i really like them. This one only has the 3 blades and the sideburn trimmer but is not possible to graduate how much you want to cut like in the older model I have. If in this one I can use the other tools, I would give 5 stars... Also I would like that users can change batteries when are old, let give some responsability with the planet on this thing. Battery last as described, very smooth shaving no issues, no burns, no rough cuts... very well manufactured. Very well packed and the case for travel is AMAZING!!! YES!, I do recommend this model.

Great quiality

I love using the Philips Norelco 5000 because it’s a shaver that truly delivers on comfort, precision, and convenience. With its SkinGlide Protective Coating and 360° flexible head, I get a close, smooth shave every day without irritating my skin, and the long battery life lets me go weeks without needing to recharge. It’s easy to clean with the 'One-Touch' open button, and the travel lock and case make it perfect for trips; while some users mention mixed feelings on the build quality and charging speed, for me, the Norelco 5000’s performance and ease of use make it a top recommendation for anyone seeking a reliable, quality electric shaver.

Like others have said, hoping for "one shaver to rule them all" will leave you disappointed. However, I don't imagine I'd get much better unless I was willing to spend upwards of $200 for a higher end model. As others have also commented, the trimmer leaves much to be desired. I, too, had to pull out my 15-year-old Norelco with the flip-out trimmer to cut down longer whiskers before shaving and to get clean edges. Not only that, but the new razor can't trim things down to a nice stubble, if that's your preference. On the plus side, the shaver is lightweight and easy to hold. It seems to give about the same moderately close shave as my old Norelco, but I didn't get any razor burn. And, of course, the handy USB charging is a big reason for my purchase. The razor itself gets 3-1/2 stars, but the trimmer attachment is a two, so... a three star overall score, rounding up. Hopefully, since the trimmer is an attachment, Norelco will offer a better trimmer as an accessory purchase. UPDATE: After trying it for a few weeks, I've decided to return it. On average, the shave is no closer than my 15 year old Norelco, razor burn still does happen (though, admittedly, slightly less often), and that trimmer is truly awful. I'm better off buying fresh heads for my old shaver. Oh... and the new one can't do a plugged-in emergency shave, like the old one.

My dad was hesitant at first to use it. Since I bought this for him he has not gone to hairdressers. He likes his head bald and this does the job perfectly. It’s very comfortable to use, easy to carry when we travel. Definitely has given the value for money.