Review (3/5): Newer is not better
Well, I've owned this razor for over a year now and I think I'm going back to my old Norelco 9160XL (similar to the current 8200 series). What don't I like about the Arcitec model?
1) It's loud--loud enough for my wife to complain in the morning when she is still trying to sleep. It is much louder than my 9160 which is nearly silent.
2) I don't think this new HQ10 blade set cuts as well as the HQ9 set. I believe I get a closer cut from the old razor, and with less effort. I find it easier to shave my neck with the 9160, which is exactly what I had hoped the Arcitec would do better, but it doesn't.
3) I don't like the hair trimmer design. The design on the 9160 (and current 8200) is much better. It's much more convenient to use and it trims better.
4) It's nearly double the price of the 8200 series.
What do I like about the Arcitec?
1) I like the design of the handle much better. It's thinner, longer, and feels better in your hand.
2) I can get about 1 month of daily use out of a single charge.
If it was quieter and it cut better I'd highly recommend it; but it doesn't. If I had to purchase a new razor today I'd buy the 8240. By the way, I've been using Norelco razors for decades. I've not had any problem whatsoever with my razors since they moved away from NiCad batteries (at least 5 years ago). The old razors batteries used to die and they were not replaceable, so you'd have to throw the whole thing away. But this is now very much a thing of the past. I highly recommend the brand.