Customer Ratings & Reviews

My very first electric shaver back in the 70’s was a hand-me-down rechargeable Norelco rotary shaver very much like the one Santa rides in their early commercials. I loved it!. Fast forward almost 50 years and dozens of electric shavers later, they remain my go to. For my beard, I’ve always felt Norelco rotary shavers give me a faster smoother shave over foil devices and the twin-head Norelco Compact shaver doesn’t disappoint. Unlike my prior “travel” shavers, which used AA batteries, the Norelco Compact Shaver is rechargeable.This means your first step is to charge the shaver. It takes about an hour for a full charge that gets you about an hour of run time. If the unit dies, a five minute charge will get you five minutes of runtime so you won’t be late to work. This unfortunately, is where my biggest complaint comes in. The shaver charges via USB, however, the cord is not a standard USB-C cord but it has the familiar Phillips plug on one end and USB A on the other. This means another cord you may have to travel with rather than using one from your laptop or other devices that you would already have on your trip. You also do not get a charging brick. Not a huge deal, most have these laying around but important to know. Using the compact shaver is no different than any other rotary blade shaver. Turn it on and shave. Because the blades are round and there are only two, your movements need to overlap but this isn't a big deal. It is important to note that anytime you start using an electric shaver, you need to allow at least a couple of weeks (Norelco says 21 days) for your skin to adapt to the new way of shaving. I find the shave to be smooth and clean, as good as a blade. This is a wet & dry shaver so you can use it in the shower with shave cream. I can’t speak to this method. The selling point to this shaver is its size. Just a bit larger in dimensions than a credit card, the Norelco Compact Shaver is the smallest travel shaver I’ve seen.The power switch is an actual push button but it has a travel lock to prevent it from accidentally turning on. Making it perfect when you just toss it in a backpack, briefcase or gym bag. There is an included zippered travel pouch but it adds to the bulk and unlike every other shaver i've had, there is no included cleaning brush. Not that they don’t just end up in the back of a drawer, but for this price it's a miss. Know that if you are looking for your first rotary shaver, this might not be the best first experience. There are less expensive full size models better suited for first time users. Otherwise, the Norelco Compact Shaver will be a worthy addition to my travel case and will get a lot of use. I recommend it for anyone looking for an excellent compact travel shaver. I am knocking off a star for the charging cord. To all manufacturers, if you are going with USB as a power source, go all the way and use a standard cord!

The build quality is very good and it works exactly as expected. It’s easy to use and performs well. Definitely worth the price and I would recommend it.

I have gotten to appreciate the simplicity and utility of a blade for shaving. I don’t usually like electric shavers because they seem like a hassle, they are expensive, they are harder to clean, they have batteries that need charging or replacing, and they often don’t even work as well. This shaver may be better than most. It’s not the cheapest, but it seems to be well constructed. After several uses, it seems like it shaves as close as I would expect from my blade. It’s comfortable and easy to operate. Two features in particular are worth comment. WATERPROOF I have never used an electric shaver that is waterproof, so this is new to me. I’m not sure if this is really a benefit though. I thought part of the attraction of an electric shaver is that you don’t have to fuss with water and shaving cream. But I guess if you want to you can do that with this shaver. I tried it once and it didn’t seem like it made a difference over using it dry. But maybe for some people this is useful. On the other hand, the waterproof design makes it easy to clean. You can simply rinse it under the water tap during or after a shave to get most of the particles out. Cleaning instructions contradict themselves by saying never to clean the shaver while it’s on, immediately followed by directions to clean it by putting it in a stream of water and turning it on. So who knows. Of course to do a full clean you still have to take it apart and clean the blades and other pieces separately, and it seems like you’d want to let it dry before putting it away, but water still makes the job a bit easier. CHARGING I love that this has a rechargable battery. However, there are several problems with the charging design, which is why this is not a 5-star review. First and most importantly, the charging cord has a proprietary design. Even though it plugs into a standard USB charger (not included) you can’t use a standard USB charging cable. Don’t lose the cable that comes with the unit! To make matters worse, the provided cable does not fit in the nifty storage case they provide for the shaver. So, as nice as the case looks, it’s kind of useless for travel since it doesn’t hold the essentials you’d need to take this on a trip (unless it’s a short trip and you won’t need to charge it). Charging is relatively slow. They say 5 minutes of charging gives you 5 minutes of shaving. On the other hand, the battery is large enough that you don’t have to charge that often. After I gave it about 5 uses, the battery indicator still claims a full charge.

This is a very nice and convenient travel electronic shaver. I love the small form factor of this, as it fits nicely in the palm of my hand. Due to the size, this can easily be taken on travel trips, or remaining in the car when I need a quick shave before work. It comes with a soft shell case for making travel good. The great part of this other than the size is that it is very quiet, not noisy at all. The two blades gets a really close cut to the skin and it doesn't cut up the skin at all. I like that this glides on my skin and doesn't create any stubble remnants or any skin burns. The battery lasts a very long time, the slated battery life is about two months on a single charge. I have been using it two weeks straight and it has not died or has need of charging at all. I don't like that the power cord for this is unique to this. It is the double base cord type, not a usb-c or type a which would make sense in today's cord world. This is also IPS7 rated so it can be used in the shower or with the skin wet. And it still glides on my skin and no resistance. Overall, a good shave to have during travel or in need.

This shaver from Philips-Norelco is a nice-sized compact unit that can do duty as an everyday shaver or for traveling. Since I already use a full-size triple-head S9000 Philips shaver, I see this strictly for traveling as a replacement for the cheesy battery-powered shaver that I’ve been struggling with for a while. From my standpoint, although I might give this product a top rating as a compact daily shaver, there are some drawbacks to it as a travel shaver that are my reason for knocking it down a star. This is a compact device that has a very nice feel in my hand. It’s easy to hold and use without having to grip it too tightly. The dual rotary heads float in usual Philips style and it has a full IPX7 rating for use in the shower or (more commonly) for cleaning it under running water. A hard-sided carrying case is also included. I’ve used it for shaving several times and can say that the quality of the shave is close to that of the larger device but it takes a bit more work simply due to the coverage area of the shaving heads. I also had to adjust my grip so as not to accidentally press the power button with my thumb while shaving. There are of course no adjustments as far as blade speed or other features generally found on full-featured shavers. But it will certainly serve me well on long or short trips! The drawback that I see as a travel device has to do with charging it. As is common, no charger is supplied but the included cable has a USB-A connector that can plug into charging bricks that most people already own, or even into a port on a laptop or PC. However, the other end of the cable has the same proprietary connector that has been used for years on Philips and Norelco shavers. While this is good for commonality, it would be really nice if they went to a more universal standard such as USB-C; in that case, I could use the same charger and cable that I already take along for my phone and tablet. Instead, it will be necessary to take this special cable along and keep track of it. If the included carry case had a place to store the cable this problem would be alleviated, but unfortunately it does not. I haven’t had it long enough to see how long it holds a charge, so maybe this is not that big of a deal, but something to be aware of. (The photo is for comparison with the full-size shaver, which is obviously not a part of the product!)

This Philips Norelco Compact Shaver (PQ888/81) will be replacing the pocket shaver in my travel bag I’ve been using for over a decade. I’m most excited about having a built-in rechargeable battery versus always replacing AA disposables. The unit charges quickly in one hour and a 5-minute quick charge will give you enough power to run the unit for around 5 minutes. On a full charge, you’ll get 1 hour of use e.g. about 2 months with 1-minute daily shaves. It is compatible with 100-240V power for charging but cannot be operated while plugged in. The shaver comes with a zippered leather case and USB-A charging cable with a model-specific connector, so even though I have other Norelco products, those plugs will not fit this unit. Note that a wall adapter is not included, but you can request a splash-proof one (part number HQ87) for free on the Philips support website after registering your product. This shaver is small and lightweight making it perfect for stashing in my toiletry bag for travel. The unit is IPX7 waterproof so can be used in the shower or rinsed under running water. There is a plastic cap to protect the two circular shaving heads that feature 18 of Philip’s self-sharpening ComfortCut blades. With 37,000 cutting actions per minute, these floating heads flex to follow the contours of my face and neck for a clean, close shave. Since the device can be used wet or dry, you can run it over your face each morning for quick touch-ups even without water. The flexible heads do a nice job of cutting hairs along the jaw line, neck, and chin with full skin contact without requiring a lot of pressure. I didn’t feel any pulling, pinching, or snags during use, and the shaving experience was comfortable overall. That said, there is no built-in trimmer, so if you’ve got more than 3 days worth of hair growth, you’ll likely want to knock it down with a separate trimmer first. Personally, I found dry shaving the first couple times with this razor caused some irritation and redness, especially around the neck, but this is typical with new razors until your skin gets used to it. Philips recommends a 21-day acclimation period to adapt to new shaving systems and offers a 45-day money back guarantee if you’re not satisfied with the product. It’s also backed by a full 2-year warranty. For a closer shave, pulling your skin taut will raise up the stubble, so the blade can cut it “below” the skin surface as the hair will retract into your skin when you release it. I found that using shaving cream/gel helped reduce friction and skin irritation which allowed me to get a closer shave overall with greater comfort and less after-shave care. The shaving unit can be pulled off the top for cleaning it and the hair chamber beneath. You can just wash them under running warm water for quick and easy cleanup. The two cutters can also be removed from their guards for deep cleaning or replacement when they get worn down. The lock between the cutters twists to unlock, however, be careful not to mix up their placements as they are specifically oriented though not marked. If you swap the cutters by mistake it can take several weeks for the self-sharpening action to re-hone the blades for optimal shaving performance. There is a handy travel lock you can enable by holding the power button down for 3 seconds to prevent the shaver from being turned on accidentally in your bag. To unlock the unit, hold the power button for 3 seconds again and start shaving or simply plug the unit in to charge. This Philips Norelco compact shaver is perfect for folks who prefer to maintain a clean shaven face every day, as it doesn’t have its own trimmer for prolonged beard growth. It works efficiently, delivers a smooth and close shave, and is comfortable to use. It’s great for travel as it occupies less space in your bag with little added weight versus a full-sized trimmer or electric razor. It works great out-of-the-box, though some folks may need a few weeks with it to acclimate their skin.

First impressions, feels comfortable in the hand, ergonomically speaking with convenient power button. Small, stores away well in overnight kit and good for quick later afternoon shave. Fast charge, USB cable included - not standard USB plug on shaver. Charge has held well for my trims. Shower safe. Have a light beard which regulates most of my shaving to neck and facial cheek areas for cleanup. The compact shaver will do the job on the neck cheek, though it is not it is not a quick shaver and requires effort accomplish the job. It is handy in light trimming strands of hairs that stick out from beard and moustache and smoothing back the top layer. Though has a tendency of jerking individual hairs out when smoothing the moustache. It’s a mixed bag, of convenience, particularly for travel and quick cleanup shaves, though not the fastest shave. The shaver is quiet yet seems underpowered for the job. That said, people differ in facial hair makeup and believe when my son, who has lighter facial hair, comes in this weekend for Labor Day he may spirit the shaver away to school.

If you are need of a quick shave on the go or when traveling, this new compact shaver by Philips/Norelco does the job. Comes with traveling case, charger, and the PQ888. After charging for a few hours it was time to test this new shaver. Note: I purposely didn’t shave for 3 days to test. Currently I shave with a razor and shaving cream and also use and own the Norelco 5000 about 50% of the time which has worked great over the last year or so, but with the amount of traveling that I do, I wanted something a little more compact and smaller to travel with. After testing this product over the last 3 days, these were the Pros and cons I experienced. Pros: smaller and compact to literally fit in your pocket. Comes with a durable traveling case. Cuts close for smooth shave. Great battery life. Can use in the shower. Gets the job done. Can use anywhere at any time. Cons: Not so great on longer hair growth. Having just the two blades forces you to take more passes back and forth to achieve a smooth shave. Might be frustrating for some. Overall this is a solid product and does what I need it to do.

Unpacking and Build Quality This Philips Norelco compact shaver comes nicely packed in a sturdy box and includes a durable travel bag. The bag is resilient and won’t be crushed if packed in a suitcase. The charging cable has a USB A on one side and a proprietary Philips charging port on the other. The shaver features a dual-blade system, and the build quality is sturdy. Its compact size makes it ideal for travel. Once fully charged, the battery lasts about an hour, as claimed by Philips. Functionality and User Experience The shaver is ready to use right out of the box. I simply charged it, long-pressed the button to unlock the travel lock, and then operated it with a single press – one push on, one push off. I shave every other day. I own other Philips Norelco products like a hair trimmer and a shaver, and I appreciate their durable build quality. This compact shaver is my first experience with an electric shaver, as I usually shave with a blade. I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to use. The shave was smooth, with no skin irritation. I used it with my regular shave gel, and although it took some time to get used to this new method, the result was a clean and smooth shave with no nicks, cuts, or irritation. I was very satisfied with the experience. The speed of the blades seems consistent, which is impressive, especially for a travel-sized shaver. Strengths * Compact size * One-hour battery life * Smooth shave * Sharp blades * Easy to use * Includes a travel pouch Weaknesses Today, most electronics with rechargeable batteries come with a USB-C charging port. Although this shaver includes a charging cable, it lacks a USB-C connection on both ends. Instead, it has a USB A on one side and a proprietary charging port on the other. It would have been more convenient if Philips had included a USB-C port on the shaver itself, making it completely travel-friendly with no need to pack a separate charger. Another drawback is that there is no dedicated space in the pouch for the charging cable. However, aside from these two issues, I find this shaver to be nearly perfect. It gets the job done and can be used for both dry and wet shaving. Overall, a USB-C port would have made it even better.

Cuts close as advertised, easy to clean as well. This shaver must be charged first out the box, and it takes about 1hr. The presentation is very professional and u will like the mini travel bag. The performance works just the way I expected actually, sometimes u don’t know. So I do have a beard but I used this shaver for the cleanup for the neck area and thank you, because it leaves a smooth feeling, but also, there is no minor nicks when circling. I normally use liners because it cuts close but then u sometimes get minor cuts from the liners being sharp. With the Norelco, I can just cut without hesitation. I actually appreciate going in the circular motion, it actually cleans my neck more better. It is waterproof but more than likely I won’t use it in the shower because it is so compact and easy to clean and it doesn’t leave a lot of loose hairs. This shaver does the trick and yes, for that quick shave, this was definitely made for that occasion. U have a little shadow, u running late for work, this will complete the job without creating a mess, especially if u are already dressed.

For most of my life I only used regular razors to shave until I used the Philips one blade system and ever since then, 99 percent of my shaving is with an electric. The one blade doesn’t give you that baby smooth shave like a regular razor which is how I like it, but sometimes I do want that baby smooth shave. This Philips Norelco compact shaver will give me that smoothness in a nice take anywhere shaver that I can use wet or dry. You get the device and a small USB A charge cable. Philips states a battery life of up to two months. The shaver has just the two blades, so if you need edging capability this doesn’t have that. The shaver is actually smaller than it looks in pictures, it about the size of a pack of playing cards, maybe a little bigger. When using it, it’s really quiet, you can easily use it while someone is sleeping in the other room and not disturb them. If you’re looking for an on the go shaver that doesn’t take up much room, this Philips Norelco compact shaver is a great option.

Giving this a 3 star rating only because it left me with really rough razor burn after having only used once. The mere touch of water to the skin on my face (cold or warm) practically had me in tears. I've always used electric razors and have never had a reaction like this before. I bought it because it's compact and easier to travel with. However, I don't think I'll ever be using it again due to the reaction I had. A little steep in the price. Charges quickly and maintains its charge for awhile. Pretty easy to clean too.

I do like its compact size, but i have to push to get a closer shave and it literally cut my skin in several spots lightly applyingpressure to try to get a close shave. Its a cheap razor. I really like the compact design but wish there was a better quality option for loghtweight travel size.

My dad really enjoyed how smooth of a shave he got from a small portable razer.

Works good on one or two days growth. It is quite for an electric shaver. Happy with product overall. For the price I think it's a good buy.

It's give a smooth clean cut It's awesome to used on the go

Portable, strong, and long-lasting. Bought this a couple months ago, have not had to charge it yet.

[Employee of bestbuy] Well worth the price, easy to clean with a usb type c charger

This is the perfect travel shaver, I use this in case i forget to shave at home or don’t have time.

Purchased this for my husband, he is handicapped and this is the best thing since sliced bread. Its comfortable to hold and so so rasy to clean, the charge lasts for a month as is stated overall, the best razor he's ever owned.