Philips Norelco SensoTouch 3D review

Viewpoints and Philips Norelco sent me a SensoTouch 3D (model 1250X) electric shaver to review, and what follows is my honest review of the product.

First things first. Philips Norelco makes a bewildering array of electric shavers, and many of them are similar in looks and operation to the SensoTouch 3D (model 1250X) that I recieved. As best I can tell, this particular model sells for about $180 at Target, which I consider to be a pretty lofty price for an electric razor. There are some more expensive models, but there are also many shavers that are much less expensive than the 1250X.

I last used an electric shaver about 20 years ago, when I bought a Remington model. It cost perhaps $60 and I used it for a couple of years, then went back to using blades. Lately, I've been shaving with Gillette Fusion three-blade razors and have been pleased with their performance.

Now on to the Philips Norelco SensoTouch 3D (model 1250X).

What it is

The Philips Norelco SensoTouch 3D is a battery powered electric shaver that docks in an upright stand for charging and storage. The shaver has three heads, each about an inch in diameter, supported at one end of a tapered black handle. The handle has an on/off switch, little metal nubs that make contact with the charging dock, and a variety of lights. The batteries inside the SensoTouch 3D are supposed to last for 60 minutes or more of operation, but I recharge after every use.

The Philips Norelco SensoTouch 3D can be used either dry or wet, and the shaving head can be rinsed off under a faucet for easy cleaning. There are instructions to disassemble things for a more thorough cleaning but I have not yet tried to do that. The Philips Norelco SensoTouch 3D weighs just a few ounces and it is easy to hold. Take a look at the pictures on the right to see the razor and how I used it.

Using it

I first tried to use the Philips Norelco SensoTouch 3D shaver the same way I shave with blades: I splashed some hot water on my face and start shaving. Honestly, this isn't the best way to shave with a blade, and it was no better with the Philips Norelco SensoTouch 3D. Using just water, the Norelco shaver really dragged and just didn't feel like it was doing a good job. The friction against my skin made it impossible to completely shave the sideburn area in front of the ears. Although using only water is not the best way to shave with a blade, I consistently get better closer shaves with a blade with water than I get with the Philips Norelco SensoTouch 3D shaver with water. In particular, the blade razor can easily get all the sideburn area.

So I switched to using a shaving gel with a product called "Edge." With shaving gel, shaves with the Philips Norelco SensoTouch 3D were much more comfortable and it was easier to guide the shaver over stubble that was hard to reach using only water. Even better, warming up the shave head under some hot water made shaving with the Philips Norelco SensoTouch 3D a very pleasant experience. If you are going to use the Philips Norelco SensoTouch 3D (or a similar unit), I strongly recommend using a shaving gel and warming up the shaving head with some hot water before use .

When all was said and done, the Philips Norelco SensoTouch 3D did a good job on my cheeks and in the mustache area, but it always left some stubble behind at the jaw line. Compared to the blade I use (Gillette Fusion), the Philips Norelco SensoTouch 3D left noticeably more stubble at the jaw line. The Philips Norelco SensoTouch 3D also takes longer to shave with than it takes me with a blade.

However, I do enjoy the sensuous feel of shaving with the Philips Norelco SensoTouch 3D head warmed with some hot water. It really feels good. This electric shaver is surprisingly quet, too. And it never once nicked me in a dozen or more shaves. I occasionally got nicked by my old Remmington shaver but the Philips Norelco SensoTouch 3D has been more gentle.

The Philips Norelco SensoTouch 3D is easy to clean under a faucet, but you can't run the shaver as you rinse it off. One other quirk is that that I initially held the power button down as I started to shave. Within a couple of seconds, the shave turned off and would not turn back on -- I had to consult the manual to learn that holding the button down for three seconds puts the shave in "locked" condition. Holding the button again for three seconds unlocks it.

Other Observations

The Philips Norelco SensoTouch 3D's instructions are quite complicated about charging, including interpreting the flashing lights on the handle. The instructions say to unplug the charging dock/base after the shaver is charged, and this is something that almost no one is actually going to do. I shave before going to work, then I'm not home for at least nine hours. There's no way that my life is going to be ruled by the charging cycle of my electric razor. And all the blinking lights... Philips Norelco should have a light that blinks to indicate charging, which then stays on when the battery is charged. Nothing else is needed with respect to charging.

The charging dock/base is quite lightweight and depends on the small suction cups on the bottom to give the unit some stability when charging. However, I had a hard time getting the suction cups working reliably and some counters (such as textured ceramic tile) will not work at all with suction cups. There should be a few ounces of weight in the base to keep it stable... suction cups are not sufficient.

Why I will go back to a blade

Although I get an occasional nick when shaving with a blade, I also get a closer shave and it takes me less time when compared to the Philips Norelco SensoTouch 3D. The blades I use (Gillette Mach3) cost about $30 per year, and a can of gel will last for a couple of years because I use gel only occasionally when blade shaving. However, I need to use gel every time with the Philips Norelco SensoTouch 3D, so I'd probably go through a can every six months. Couple that to the $180 cost, and that's probably 6-7 years of blade shaving. I doubt the Philips Norelco SensoTouch 3D will last longer than 4-5 years.

The bottom line for shaving is that it costs less to shave with a blade and I get a closer shave with a blade.

Summary

The Philips Norelco SensoTouch 3D (model 1250X) is a nice electric shaver, and you will probably enjoy it if you prefer using an electric shaver. However, I prefer blades and think I will stick with them. Still, there is something pleasurable about a warmed-up Philips Norelco SensoTouch 3D gliding across my gel-covered skin and I don't get a similar pleasure from a blade. What I do get from a blade, though, is a closer shave. Shaving with a blade is faster too, and I don't have to worry about unplugging a charger to preserve the batteries.

I enjoyed using the Philips Norelco SensoTouch 3D but think that I will stay in the blade camp for now. The Philips Norelco SensoTouch 3D is the best electric shaver I've used but it still isn't quite as good as a blade. Still, if you like electic shaving, you definitely should consider the Philips Norelco SensoTouch 3D.

One final note about my rating: I recommend the Philips Norelco SensoTouch 3D to men who prefer electric shavers. I think they will appreciate the Philips Norelco SensoTouch 3D, especially when using gel. Compared to the Remmington shaver I had years ago, the Philips Norelco SensoTouch 3D does a MUCH better job. That is why I give this shaver four stars and a recommendation. However, I still prefer shaving with a blade, despite obvious improvements in electric shaving.