Review (4/5): Good razor
I've used the Arcitec 1050 for about 3 months and like it with a few caveats. The shave is a good, close shave. Most days I shave as soon as I stumble out of bed at 4:30AM, without so much as washing my face. The shave is good, stubble starts to show by late afternoon. The days I shower first, 12 hours later it is like I just shaved. I am getting 25 shaves per recharge, better than advertised.
As stated by Norelco, it took several weeks for the razor to be really comfortable. May not have helped that those first few weeks were very cold and dry. I have used a Norelco for 15 years, didn't expect to need the 3 week break in, but I did.
I am not thrilled that the razor has to be washed daily, but it is easy to do. However, it means the razor sits open drying most of the time which is no real problem, but annoys me. On the plus side, after 2 months I poured a little isopropanol in the cup I got with Norelco cleaner fluid 15 years ago, stuck the razor head in it and ran the 1050 for 30 seconds. Much easier than having the take all the heads out and swish them one at a time as with my old 7825. The shave improved too, so periodic thorough cleaning is (as with all Norelcos) a must.
The trimmer is fair. It's fine for sideburns, terrible for my mustache. I bought a mustache trimmer, which works much much better than any razor's trimmer. So maybe that the poor 1050 performance was a good thing.
My one big concern. The first 1050 I bought died after 18 shaves. Just would not turn on. Would not charge. I returned it to the store and exchanged it, and the second 1050 has had no problems. But there are more electronics in the Arcitec than in my car. I suspect that caused the failure. So I am concerned about the robustness of the design. Although electronics tend to die early, or last a long time.
Oh, and the shape is the easiest I've ever handled.