Review (3/5): It’s Insane to Keep Trying
“The definition of ‘insanity’ is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
Apocryphally attributed to the late, great Albert Einstein (among other famous historical figures), that cogent adage perfectly describes my reaction to this RUNWE Rechargeable Cordless Rotary Shaver with Pop-Up Trimmer.
I’ve shaved with a blade for my entire adult life, mainly because I have a fetish for close, smooth shaves. No electric shaver that I’ve ever tried, reciprocating or rotary, has been able to shave as smooth as I like. The few other electric shavers that I’ve gotten through the Vine program didn’t work for me because they didn’t shave close enough. But hope springs eternal, right?
Sadly, however, I was doomed to disappointment again.
Oh, this shaver is lightweight enough, with a nice, firm, rubber-like grip that makes it very easy and secure to handle. The power switch slides smoothly and authoritatively into the ON and OFF positions (although the reason for the little locking button escapes me). The three rotary heads articulate to track the contours of the face, and they whirl very quietly. The pop-up trimmer is a nice feature if you need it.
But it just doesn’t shave close enough for me. It’s not better or worse than other electric shavers I’ve tried—it’s the same, in that it leaves a detectable stubble that I don’t want. If you favor the five-o’-clock shadow look, then it may work for you, but don’t expect it to match a blade shave.
Here’re two more observations: 1) I plugged in for at least 12 hours, and the red CHARGING light never went out, even though the instruction manual says charging time is 8 hours. I assume the light was supposed to go out when it was fully charged (the manual doesn’t say), but mine never did; 2) Speaking of the manual—the step-by-step guide is fairly detailed, if a bit lacking in describing some features, but the illustrations are 20 tiny, half-inch-square, dark-gray-shaded, white-line, icon-like drawings crammed in a grid arrangement onto one page of the 3-by-5 inch booklet. I needed a bright flashlight and a magnifying lens to make them out. YMMV, of course. I mean, using an electric shaver is not rocket science, but geez, why can’t the manufacturer at least TRY to convey information in a useable way?
If you’re looking for a close shave, you may have to draw the same conclusion that I did after I confirmed the definition of “insanity” by trying this electric shaver after having had no success with several others. Bottom line—they just don’t cut it for me.