Review (4/5): Philips Norelco 8020X Moisturizing Shaving System
A very good shaver. I use it in the shower as a completely wet system and it performs very well. The heads flex to accommodate facial contours just as advertised and overall I like the feel and operation of this unit. It is lightweight and easy to hold and use. The shave is very good, close without cutting or irritating the skin. I've been using electrics for some time so I'm well beyond the habituation period. I keep a three blade on hand to touch up the neck and nose areas, a good idea with any electric.
I have not used the built in moisturizer. I use a common shaving gel applied directly to the face and it works very well. This is just personal preference. The moisturizer they sell as part of the system is more expensive and not as readily available as common gel. You also are told to periodically replace the entire cassette that holds the moisturizer (sold together) for sanitary purposes. This seems a little wasteful and unnecessary. Also, use of the built-in system seems to mandate more frequent and elaborate cleaning. I may or may not use it at some point, but it is definitely not necessary, particularly when you're in the shower.
This is not a high RPM shaver like the Panasonic wet and dry units. It does not have the same sophisticated feel as those shavers although it functions very well. It has a red light that comes on when the built-in battery is low, but does not regulate the charge like the Panasonic does. You have to put your charger on a lamp timer for eight hours or you'll ruin the battery, which I do not believe is replaceable.
At $80 it's overpriced. It should have a built-in charging regulator to protect the battery as do the Panasonics (although this unit is lighter than the Panasonic). You CAN ruin this unit by overcharging. You will also have to replace the heads at some point, so actual life span under daily use is open to question.