Philips Norelco 6880/81 Shaver 6800, Rechargeable Wet/Dry Electric Shaver, with Trimmer Attachment

Pros- closest shave of any electric razor I've owned- performs well in shower with or without cream/gel- low price for unit and replacement heads compared to other Norelco models- easy to clean- long, wide grip, easy to hold- head assembly does not pop off during difficult shave cycles- great battery life- additional low speed option for closer shave and less irritationNegatives- something in head assembly catches slightly at times when shaving difficult facial spots- still have to use straight razor at the end to complete perfect shaveAfter my Norelco 8950 died a couple weeks ago, I decided to snag this 6880 model as I’d heard many positives about it over the past few months. Well, after using it for a week, I have been more impressed with this unit than any unit I’ve owned over the past 20 years. First, it has not lost a step when performing in the shower. But, most impressive to me is that it shaves fast and closer than I have ever experienced with any other Norelco model. Normally, I have great difficulty in shaving my jawline and around the Adam’s apple, but, though I still have to use my straight razor to get a perfect shave, I have a whole lot less trouble in hitting those tough spots with this shaver. Hence, I use my straight razor for much less time than in the past. I have also used the new feature which reduces the shaver speed in order to reduce irritation and to improve shave quality if necessary, and this feature works quite well. But, I have mostly used the unit at regular speed with great results. Further, the unit remains easy to clean as are recent previous Norelco models. Another surprising perk is the noticeable drop in price for the unit and its replacement heads. In 2016, I paid around $122 for the 8950, so I was quite surprised in the nice price drop. I paid around $60 for the 8950 replacement heads and only $43 for these replacements. I have also enjoyed, at least for the past week, that the head assembly attached to the shaver unit has not popped off once during a shave as I experienced many of these occurrences with my previous shaver which was quite frustrating. Also, the grip for this shaver feels much more comfortable in my hand than previous models. The handle is longer and a bit wider around and seems easier to grasp, especially during more difficult parts of a shave. Unfortunately, I have noticed a slight "catching" sound in either the head assembly or the motor when I’m hitting tough spots; I don’t think it’s a huge problem and it may be due to having to press slightly harder than normal for those areas. Finally, as for previous models, this unit also has great battery life and I think it may charge faster than previous models as well. Of course, there are other features involving the display, but, honestly, I don’t utilize those often. In short, I really think for the price and performance, you will reap great rewards in giving this great unit a try!

I needed to replace my 2005 Norelco Spectra. I searched on Amazon for a similar Norelco brand shaver. As I searched and hit comparison on Amazon I found 1 that looked very similar. I thought it was the Norelco Max-T. My mistake it was not a Norelco. It was a very cheaply made knock off of the old Norelco. It did shave pretty good however it did not charge, so back it went. Next I replaced it with another low priced knock off. A Lavieer shaver it had all 5 star reviews. It gave me razor burn on my neck. I called Amazon and setup a return and that morning ordered a REAL Norelco shaver. Amazon did a great job and had it at my house that same evening.The 6880 shaves better than my old norelco spectra. Very good close shave! I am not used to having to clean it every night but it's just running it under warm water. Only thing I was not happy about was that it does not come with a stand like my other 2 norelco shavers had. It is definitely worth paying twice the price compared to the knockoffs. Side note it is not made in China, it's made in the Netherlands. I am also no getting paid for this good review.

I've used electric shavers for 40 years. I've always been a fan of Remington Microscreens but have gotten to the point where I just can't stand the noise. So I decided to try this Norelco 6800. I read all the reviews and have been pleasantly surprised that I have not seen any indications of many of the reported shortcomings. I've been using the shaver now for 2 weeks. The shaver is exceedingly quiet compared to the micro screen shavers (Remington, Braun, etc.) and it gives just as close a shave. A quick shave that will pass muster takes about 2-3 minutes. A very close shave good for 24 hours will take 4-5 minutes. These times are about the same as with my prior micro screen shavers. I only clean the shaver every few days by popping off the head and shaking and brushing out the whiskers. Given the small volume behind the cutters, the rotary shaver will have to be cleaned more frequently than the Remingtons (which easily can go weeks between cleanings). The four downsides compared to a Remington Micro Screen are: the battery life is about 7-10 close shaves (the Remington would go 20-30); there is no pop-up trimmer (which I've always found to be very useful); the Norelco won't work when the battery is dead and the charger is plugged in (this is a major drawback); and the shape of the Norelco is such that it takes up more room in my travel kit (I travel a lot - the micro screen shavers were much more compact). Of these the most serious to me is the recharge issue. The Remingtons I've had allowed me to run the battery until it died, then plug it in and finish my shave. I never had to worry about not finishing a shave. Not so with the Norelco. If you use the shaver until the battery is dead, you will have to wait 5-10 minutes while it charges before finishing. This can be a real inconvenience and could be a sign of a design suffering from real cost cutting. Each of my Remington shavers lasted many years, and none ever failed due to a worn out battery. It will be interesting to see how the Norelco holds up, but for now I'm very pleased. The absence of noise while receiving the same quality shave offsets the other drawbacks.