Review (1/5): Disappointing!
I read with interest, the most favorable review for this shaver. This person mentioned that this is their first electric shaver after a lifetime of using blades. I guess if that is the case, the reviewer doesn't have much to compare this product with. Having had previous Norelco models as well as a Remington and a couple Brauns... I have a bit more actual experience with competing products.
A few years back, we bought a second home. We decided to stock our vacation home with everything needed so that we would not have to carry luggage and we could just head to an airport and go. I had used Norelco shavers for a number of years. About 10 years ago, my wife bought me a Braun 7 series shaver. What a difference. It gave me a much smoother and closer shave with less chafing and discomfort. I wasn't and still am not impressed with the so-called cleaning system that Bruan has designed. But the shaver itself was terrific. About 2 years ago, the battery in my beloved Braun started to fail. So I bought a new 790CC Braun Shaver. This one was even better than the first. So as we gathered things to take to our second home, I asked my wife to pick up another Braun shaver. The 790CC is not an inexpensive product. So my thrifty wife, knowing I had used Norelcos in the past, picked up the Arcitec shaver on sale.
What a disappointment! To be honest, I can't find anything that is a distinct positive about this product. Let me organize my thoughts just a bit...
1. Size - The shaver head is just too big. It is hard to maneuver in tight areas such as at the upper lip and nose. Requires using the trimmer to get acceptably close.
2. Performance - I do not have a heavy beard. I find that 24 hours of growth is the limit for this shaver. If your facial hair is allowed to grow for any longer than that, the shaver will not cut it. If you have a heavy beard, this shaver simply wont do the job.
3. Cleaning - The heads clog very quickly. Once they do, the shaver will not cut at all. The Braun by comparison, can usually go a week before cleaning.
4. Trimmer - As others have said... Small and in an awkward position. It's foolish to suggest that the shaver head should be removed to facilitate trimming. Better to suggest that the Phillips/Norelco engineers should take a crack at a better design.
I have used this shaver intermittently for the last two years. My older Norelcos were far better than this one. So that being said, I finally decided enough is enough and ordered another Braun from Amazon.