Philips Norelco Shaver 7500, Rechargeable Wet & Dry Electric Shaver with SenseIQ Technology - Ink Black

I never expected to write a less than excellent review of any Norelco shaver, and I am extremely disappointed to be required to do so at this time. I have been using Norelco rotary shavers for approximately 25 - 30 years. Once you try a Norelco rotary shaver you become a lifelong Norelco user. The two fundamental reasons are 1) Norelco rotary shavers give the closest, cleanest, quickest and most comfortable shaves, and 2) Norelco rotary shavers are typically extremely durable and reliable, and have exceptional longevity. The Norelco Model S7783/84 – 7500 Series is a new, mid-tier shaver. It has Norelco’s newer body configuration with a slender, non-contoured handle and a separate three head shaving unit gimbal mounted above. I have been using a 9-10 year old Norelco 8240XL shaver, which has the older, original “hockey stick” Norelco body shape with the shaving unit integral to the handle. The S7783 has a textured rubber gripping surface on two sides, but I find that the older style, traditional Norelco shape provides a more comfortable and more natural grip. Additionally, the traditional shape Norelco accommodates a higher grip on the shaver, allowing a natural grip around the shaving heads, providing better control and more comfortable operation. The Norelco S7783 package includes the shaver, a travel case, Quick-Clean Pod with fluid cartridge, corded wall charger (charging port on bottom of the shaver handle), a small cleaning brush and User’s Manual. Notably absent is the plastic Protection Cap which is typically included for covering and protecting the shaving heads. Each of the five Norelco shavers that I have owned, have included both a travel case and a protection cap, which is clearly an inexpensive item, but which serves an important purpose. The S7783 may be used for wet or dry shaving. I have never wet shaved with an electric shaver, nor do I intend to. Among the reasons for abandoning blade razors and shaving cream decades ago, was the convenience and comfort of dry, electric shaving. Because it may be used for wet shaving, the S7783 is restricted to battery use, only. If the battery fully discharges during a shave, it cannot be plugged in with the charger to finish the shave. The quick charge capability allows a single (appx. 3-4 minute) shave after 5 minutes of charging. If hurried, that additional 5 minute wait for battery charging may be inconvenient. Norelco claims that a full, one hour charge of the Li-ion battery provides 60 minutes of shaving. The S7783 incorporates “Sense-IQ” “smart” features. The S7783 microprocessor is supposed to adjust motor speed based on the load on the motor. It monitors the battery state of charge and also interacts with an accelerometer for interfacing with the Norelco GroomTribe phone app. It also controls the LED icons on the shaver handle and connects with smartphones via Bluetooth. After fully charging the battery, I installed the Android version of Norelco’s GroomTribe app. The app requires creation of a Norelco web account and password. Next is Bluetooth pairing. The shaver can only be paired to one phone at any time. Once paired, the product registration process for warranty is initiated. The app identified the shaver as a “7000 Series” shaver, but the correct model number (S7783/84) is not in the app’s product table. GroomTribe misidentified and registered the shaver as an S7940/84. The search feature in the app fails to find any other 7000 series models. Moments after registration, the app installed a firmware update on the shaver. There is no way to determine if the firmware update was correct for the S7783 model, or if it was really for the firmware for the S7940 model which the app misidentified. GroomTribe cannot display the Firmware Version installed on the shaver for verification that the correct firmware was installed. If the incorrect firmware, for the incorrect S7940 model was installed by Norelco’s smartphone app and servers, this S7783 shaver is potentially corrupted. Norelco Support was immediately contacted, but was unable to resolve the issue, and escalated the matter with a promised response in 3-5 business days. Norelco Support has still not provided a resolution after 11 calendar days (6 business days) and numerous follow-up telephone calls to them. The foregoing issues with the possibly incorrect firmware being downloaded to the shaver by the Norelco app, coupled with the Norelco Customer Service / Technical Support delays, is the primary basis that I cannot recommend this shaver model, unless and until those issues are definitively resolved. There is no synchronization of information between the app and the web portal, other than the login credentials. GroomTribe monitors three metrics and uses two of them to provide shaving advice. GroomTribe reports the remaining battery capacity of the shaver. This is important, since having the shaver battery die during a shave results in at least 5 minutes of delay waiting for enough recharge to resume shaving. GroomTribe monitors the duration of each shave, defining a maximum interval of 4 minutes. Shaves exceeding 4 minutes result in a notification to “watch your time”. GroomTribe, using the shaver’s accelerometer, monitors the shaving motion and reports both in the app and with an LED icon on the shaver handle. A near continuous circular pattern elicits a good report from the app, coupled with a green LED icon of approval on the shaver. Failure to meet GroomTribe’s threshold for sufficient circular motion results in a message on the app and a red LED icon of disapproval on the shaver. The app can be used in the live, guided shave mode, or can sync stored data from the shaver I have never timed shaving. The shaving patterns and techniques that I have employed for decades always results in excellent, clean shaves irrespective of which Norelco model I am using. Other than for determining percentage of battery remaining, I found the GroomTribe app to be of no value. In fact, given the problem with misidentifying the shaver model and possibly installing the wrong firmware, I am compelled to conclude that the app is problematic. The S7783 has some notable physical differences from my other Norelco shavers. First, the three rotary shaving heads are mounted in large, blue pentagonal shaped “Comfort Glide Rings”, described as having a “special protective coating with skin gliding properties”. I found that the large pentagonal rings actually created additional drag (friction) during shaving, due to their large surface area and high friction coefficient. Additionally, the large margins between the shaving heads and the edges made it more challenging to trim close to my moustache, sideburns and lips. The overall dimensions of the shaving unit, and the spacing of the shaving heads are larger. The S7783 shaving heads are 4mm from the edge of the Comfort Glide Rings on the narrow sides and 6mm on the wide side. The traditional 8240XL shaving heads are only 2mm from the edge, facilitating easier shaving close to moustaches, sideburns, etc.. The S7783 shaving heads are separated by 8mm, with the overall distance between the outer edges of adjacent shaving heads being 50mm. This wide separation results in one shaving head intermittently, but frequently not being in contact with skin while shaving, leaving only two heads in skin contact. The 8240XL shaving heads are separated by only 4mm, with the overall cross section being 46mm. All three shaving heads maintain good skin contact while shaving. Another significant difference is that the shaving heads of the S7783 are not “floating heads” which allows each of the shaving heads to move independently in any direction and angle, therefore maintaining skin contact and comfort. All of my Norelco shavers have had Norelco’s floating head system, and its absence is notable. The shaving heads of the S7783 are mounted in a fixed, near flush position in the “Comfort Glide Rings”. Those rings pivot on one axis to help conform to facial shape characteristics. However, floating shaving heads allow superior continuous contact, conformance to facial contours, improved comfort, efficiency and speed. This important, desirable feature is included on even more basic, less expensive models Norelco lists that the S7783 has 45 blades. More blades result in faster shaving. However, there is only a single shaving track, rather than three shaving tracks as are provided on some other models, including my older shaver. Norelco asserts that three shaving tracks offers “50% more shaving surface for a fast, close shave”. Additionally, the S7783 shaving heads are not “Lift and Cut” blades. The S7783 has a pop-up trimmer which works well for sideburns, moustaches, beards and hairline trimming. The hinged shaving unit opens easily for cleaning. I have yet to utilize the cleaning pod, however it appears that it will be a convenient way to accomplish thorough cleaning and blade lubrication. The S7783 is manufactured in the Netherlands. This new Norelco S7783/84 shaver provides clean, close shaves. I find it to be less accommodating to facial contours as a result of the distance between the shaving heads, coupled with the lack of floating heads. Although the S7783/84 does not include several preferred, desirable Norelco features, it is still a competent shaver. Based on the problems with the Norelco app potentially installing the incorrect firmware, which still remains unresolved by Norelco Customer – Technical Support, I cannot in good conscience recommend the Norelco S7783/84 shaver.

I used Norelco floating head razors for over 3 decades--I always found them to be comfortable, face-hugging, and offered a smooth, close shave with relatively few caveats. That is, until about 6 years ago when I tried my hand at the Arc line of electric razors. I personally found their shaving performance to be superior to Norelco's floating, three-head design for one very simple reason: the larger, flat surface of the Arc razors offered more resistance and a larger, uniform cutting surface across a larger area of my face at any given time. This made for a "harder" shave (i.e. I felt the pressure of the razor on my skin to a greater degree), but one that felt closer and smoother when it was over. Recently, I tried my hand at one of Philips Norelco's updated shavers to see if things had changed any. I mean, this one has specially treated shaving heads to make them glide even MORE effortlessly over your skin...even MORE independent floating action for each cutter/comb set than I'd ever seen in this line, and the promise of a useful, app-connected shaving environment that spoke to my ever-growing technophile sensibilities. Was it enough to sway me back to the Philips Norelco family--um, not entirely. First, the good. Philips wasn't kidding when they said that the special coating on the shaving heads made for a silky-smooth, nearly effortless shave where the razor basically glides across your face. Couple that with the dramatic tilting/floating range of motion of each of the three shaving heads which pivoted around every contour and facial feature, and this razor cleared the stubble on my face without much effort at all. Even during the transitional week adjusting to a new razor, I never experienced one hot spot of razor burn. Based on my feeling, and that of my wife, the Norelco's resultant shave was every bit as close and smooth as the pricey competition. If you have to shave virtually every day (as I do), and if you have particularly sensitive skin, the Norelco's design is probably the surest bet you can make at achieving a close shave without worrying about irritating your skin. This particular model comes with a black plastic cleaning "pod," a two-piece stand that includes a container of cleaning fluid designed to clean the shaving heads even better than running them under tap water. The razor senses when it's placed upside down in the pod; once turned on, a special cleaning cycle engages (indicated by the blue LED on the display) that pulls the cleaning solution up through the shaving heads through various pulses and surges of the shaving heads. This runs for about a minute before automatically shutting off. It's ingenious and kind of cool to watch; but at least as of this writing, I can't find replacement solution pods on the Philips website or online retailer, so I don't know how long it will be before I'll be able to utilize that feature for more than the first month of ownership (the instructions suggest changing the cleaning fluid about every month or so depending on frequency of cleaning). Other contents in the box include a fitted travel case and small cleaning brush for the cutters/combs. Sadly, the travel case does not have enough room or cutout to accommodate the charger so if you are on the road for an extended period of time, you'll need to pack the charger separately. Philips projects a full charge should take only an hour and last about 20 shaves, but you only get a 3-segement charge meter to judge battery level. The pop-out trimmer is an odd-duck, sticking WAAAAYYYYY out from the body of the shaver compared to other electrics I've used in the past (I've provided a side-by-side comparison shot against an Arc 4 below to give you an idea as to the length of the trimmer assembly). In practice, the trimmer works fine at cutting a straight line for sideburns, but I found it a bit awkward feeling, especially for trimming hairs that start to brush down around the ears because it's so long...it felt a bit imprecise to hold, kind of like trying to write while holding a pencil near the back rather than up close to the point. Sadly, there is no snap-on plastic shaving head protector included with this model, nor is there a stand for storage when the razor is not in use (you could leave it perched upside-down in the cleaning pod, but at least a small portion of the shaving heads may still be in contact with the cleaning solution). The display offers reminders to clean the heads and other "helpful" advice about whether or not you're using the razor properly (i.e. a green or red swirl using small circles rather than cutting straight swathes across your beard) or whether you should head into the companion app to get some advice. It's an interesting, if not over-indulgent, feature and may have some appeal depending on your needs. The Philips GroomTribe app offers a few interesting features like AR-enabled projections of various beard styles on your own face, shaving tips and how-to's for achieving various well-manicured beard patterns, and diagnostics about your razor (how long it was used, exact battery capacity, etc.) and your shaving habits in general. There's a guided assistant that helps advise you as to proper shaving technique that even includes troubleshooting for things like redness, pimples, or ingrown hairs. You can adjust your "shave plan" in the app (i.e. do I just need to be clean shaven or am I aiming for a particular beard style) and the razor will give you an icon on the screen to let you know if you need to check the app for feedback based on the results of your latest shave. Thankfully, you don't need to have a phone with you or the app open while you're actually shaving...the app syncs to the razor's memory and downloads the telemetry data when they're in BT range. For me, this feedback has generally been in the form of "your shave took a little longer than normal" or "use more frequent, smaller circles during your shave," but then I have to shave every day and cannot sport a beard in uniform so my needs are relatively simple. I can see where the advice for someone going for movie-star stubble, or one of the many creatively named beard styles in the app, might find some value or useful information in the app about getting the results they're after. Where things falter for me is inherent in the design of the shaving heads themselves. As I mentioned right off the bat, if you need a close, comfortable shave, and have very sensitive skin, it's hard to beat Norelco's design. BUT, the floating heads have SO much range of motion that they also tend to feel "floppy" against my skin. Yeah, they pivot around the curves of my chin or jawline, but they also don't hold solidly in one place if I have a spot that is proving troublesome to shave. And because there are three circular shaving heads, there's a large "dead zone" in between the head assemblies where no contact is made at all between your skin and the cutting combs/blades. This is why you need to use small, frequent circular movements (the app calls this shave motion the "movement ninja"); but in practice, it's sometimes difficult for me to shave whiskers down in areas near ridges or small delicate features like the philtrum or labiomental groove--precisely because the cutting surfaces are so small, the gaps between them so large, and the razor head pivot and tilt motion is so great. Ultimately, this was why I moved away from the three head-design of the Norelco shavers and went for something with a larger, more uniform contact patch like the Arc line of razors. Whether any of this proves to be an issue for you or not obviously depends on your face type and shaving style, and whether your face is particularly prone to redness and burning that may come with larger, harsher razors or shaving techniques. In the end, I can say that the Norelco still delivers a compelling, close, incredibly comfortable shaving experience...it simply may not be for everyone. But for for those of you who already know what you're getting into, this latest outing from Philips Norelco definitely has a lot going for it.

I've used several Philips shavers and this improves all around. This particular model is made in Netherlands (Philips home country), which is where usually the newer models are made. The shaving heads are very flexible so they're much better than other shavers at following the contour of the face, and the surface around the shaving heads has a coating and pattern that makes it easier to glide. Those would be the most important features. It does a great job around the neck and cleans everything between nose and top lip. Those are the trouble spots on other shavers I used. The engine is relatively quiet and did not pinch nor pull hair even with a one-week beard, which cleaned in about 3 minutes. Daily shaves take about 90 seconds. The top shaving head can come off and Philips sells several accessories with their 'SmartClick' system (including different models of beard trimmers). This model also comes with a built-in trimmer, which does not require removing the shaving heads. It's on the back of the shaver like in their older models. The battery run time is rated to about 60 minutes, and I had over 80% charge after a week. It charges in about 1 hour using the proprietary plug in most Philips products. While Philips uses this same plug on every battery-shaver I owned (Because I started shaving when one had to actually plug the shaver to a wall plug), it's perhaps a good time to move to an USB-C connector, or support wireless charging, so to avoid traveling with unnecessary plugs. Compared to older Philips shavers, the handle on this one is longer and thinner. So it's a lot longer and doesn't fit as easily in a cabinet shelf as their older models. This version also comes with a self-cleaning base that is more compact, and requires a new type of cleaning cartridge that lasts from 1 to 3 months depending on use. The cleaning formula has no alcohol and also keeps the blades lubricated. The cleaning base doesn't need any power, as the shaver itself produces the foam, and takes about 1 minute to run it's cycle. I find that is better if I then open the shaver and let it air dry, otherwise it's still slightly moist the next day. Indicators along the body of the shaver include 3 bars for charge level, cleaning remined, and circular motion reminders (Which are hard to see while actually shaving). And for the feature I didn't know I needed, this shaver has Bluetooth, which connects to a phone app that reports battery level, run-time charts and amount of time shaving in circular motions, or when applying too much pressure (There are sensors on the shaver for that). Thankfully, the phone is not required, and when paired, it doesn't need to be near the shaver. The app also has some other shaving tips. The thing I did not like about this is that the shaver advertises it's Bluetooth name all the time, unless the shaver is in travel lock mode (holding the power button 3 seconds), which I find wholly unnecessary and also drains a small amount of power, so now I would really need to remember to keep it locked when traveling. It also comes with a semi-rigid traveling pouch that holds the shaver (but not the power adapter), but unlike every other Philips shaver I used, this has no plastic cover for the shaving head. I find this very weird. Had to go over the manual to confirm it was not missing, and the same model without the cleaning base does have a cover. Not sure why they would do this on a premium shaver. Besides this small annoyance and the ill-featured 'always on' Bluetooth, it's a great shaver. Clean shaves every time, no hair pricking. Glides very well and the spring-loaded shaving heads work very well at following facial angles and works better than other shavers in the chin and neck areas. Did I say this is made in Netherlands?

THE BREAKDOWN: The Norelco wet and dry shaver 7500 delivers a decently smooth shave and I have to admit with less skin irritation than my other electric shave. The shaver came packaged in retail packaging. It was very well put together. Inside the box was the Shaver, a travel case, power/charging cord and a small cleaning brush. The shaver battery was almost completed depleted when it arrived. I fully charged the battery before first use. You can also charge the battery for one hour and it gives about 60 minutes of shaves and depending on the time you take to shave. This shaver has very flexible heads that does a good job of keeping contact with your skin. The heads are also surrounded by ComfortGlide rings. These rings have a protective coating to help reduce skin irritation. I found them to work very well. They also claim the they have 90,00 cutting actions per minute and that it also has self-sharpening blades. For the week that I have used this I cannot really tell if they do self-sharpen. I used the shaver in both wet and dry conditions and both seemed to work well. I did not notice any difference in either condition. The pop-up trimmer worked well especially trimming my sideburns. The shaver came with a cleaning base that cleans and lubricates in just a minute. I felt that this feature worked well and for me the only drawback is that you have to keep buying the pods to clean your shaver. The LED display on the shaver itself was great and intuitive. It has a three level battery level status, cleaning advice and a travel lock indicator. The shaver has intelligent sensors that reads facial hair density and auto adapts for your facial hair. It also tracks your motions when shaving and can guide you to shave better in fewer passes. The shaver also links to an app to track your shaves. I liked the app but for me I felt it was just a bit gimmicky. PRO’s: -ConfortGlide Rings -Great and intuitive display -Cleaning base -360 degree contour heads -Wet or Dry shave CON’s: -Constantly have to replace the pod cleaning solution SUMMARY: Overall, this product worked well and as intended, and I would recommend this to a friend if they are in the market for device like this.

Really easy to setup right out of the box. Comes with a precharge on it and you're ready to use it right away. Charging cable, cleaning brush, cleaning solution and shaver. Having this on hand has been a time saver and a real comfort to me. The shaver is easy to operate with the push of a button. Works very well against days old stubble and clears up your face and gives you that smooth soft shave. Small circular motions really clean up your face well, and this shaver is super comfortable. I've had other shavers in the past that left my neck a bit red and nicked. This new Philips Norelco shaver is excellent and didn't leave me with any razor burn at all. Smooth shave and quick efficient process. The trimmer on the back works effectively and is precise with it's cut as well. I have been able to sync this shaver up with the Philips GroomTribe app on iOS. The app can assist with guiding you in how you're doing during your shave and how long to shave for the optimal time. Best shave I've had with an electric shaver and am really pleased with it. Looks really nice with it's color scheme and stands apart from the previous Philips Norelco razors that I've had. This is a fantastic shaver and I'm really pleased that the comfort level is the best I've ever experienced. Fits well in your hand and makes it easy to maneuver across your cheeks, chin, and neck areas. PRO: Close and comfortable shave Stylish looks Cleaning tool and holder CON: None

I have used multiple electric razors in my life and I almost always reverted back to classic blade razor after a few weeks/months. This may prove to be the exception to that pattern. First off, this thing has Bluetooth! I mean, who doesn't love Bluetooth? When I told my wife it had Bluetooth, she thought my excitement was a little silly. She may have been right, but I don't care. KInda' cool to download the app and let it "train" you how to most efficiently shave. Pretty cool. Another unique feature is the cleaning pedestal. Simply open the cleaning fluid, place it in the pedestal, tighten lid. Then you insert razor head, press the "Clean" feature and one minute later, your razor is clean as new. Another note for reference, it is a wet / dry razor so you can use it in shower and with shaving gels etc. End of the day, it's a razor. It's job is to keep my ugly mug and bald head smooth and clean. This does an excellent job at that and it delivers in an incredibly comfortable way. End of the day, this a GREAT razor. Best I have ever used. Hands down. I would whole-heartedly recommend it to a friend.

The design is a definite upgrade from last year's model. I like how they decided to place the trimmer(that works rather well) on the body of the shaver instead of having it as an attachment like the previous iteration. The heads do slide over the face with relative ease and the battery life is great. It is self cleaning, for the most part. And does so relatively quickly. And the hard carrying case is cool. It comes with a starter cleaning pod and cleaning dock. They even went so far as to give you an app to help monitor your shaving habits for a more satisfying experience. But that's about all the good you're going to get out of this thing. As for the shave itself. It honestly doesn't get close enough to warrant the price tag. You can use wet or dry, but if you want the best results, you'll want to opt for a wet shave with gel. The dry shave leaves you needing for. A face full of stubble, to be more accurate. Like I said, the trimmer works well, but you're not going to shave your whole face with it. The cleaning pod solution will last you anywhere from 1 to 3 months, depending on your shave frequency. 1 month being that you shave every day, because it's recommended that you clean it after every use. Keeping with the cleaner. The shaver will go into self clean mode when placed into the cleaning pod and pressing the start button. That takes about a minute, if you've opted for the dry shave. If you use gel, you're going to want to thoroughly clean out as much gunk as possible before placing it in the pod. That can be a pain. Simply put, it just feels like more work than convenience(Not everything needs an app) . I'd say pass on this one, unless you're a fan of the stubble. Nice design and they cut it close, but just not quite close enough.

The redesigned Norelco Shaver 7500 by Philips not only gives a close shave but protects the skin while doing so. It has been engineered with Philips’ patented SenseIQ technology to personalize your shave, and it offers an app to help you accomplish the best that the razor has to offer. I have purchased several electric razors over the years, and this model offers just about any feature you could want. To start with, it has been designed to work as a wet/dry razor that can even be used in the shower. It comes with a zip travel case and the razor can be locked from turning itself on by holding down the on/off switch for 3 seconds. The Li-ion battery charges quickly and last up to 60 minutes of use which is very reasonable since it does not take long for a quick shave. The Norelco 360-degree contour razor head is again comprised of 3 different circular razors, each designed with comfort glide rings that exist to offer maximum skin protection. There is even a ‘one-touch pop up trimmer’ for hard-to-reach facial spaces like the upper lip, etc. This is definitely the razor you want if you are trying to care for sensitive skin. The Razor heads are easy to clean and replace when needed. There are several lights on the handle, which for some could be overwhelming, but each is clearly identified in the instruction booklet. It really does not need to be overwhelming because the lights just deal with battery power, on/off, cleaning and one of the most important features of this model, the SenseIQ technology. The SenseIQ technology actively detects your shaving behavior. When the green light is lite, then the shaver detects that the correct motion of circular movement is being used for a close-up perfect shave. When the orange color lights, the shaver is indicating that the shaving motion could be improved upon. The app is simply a blue toothed connection to your smart phone or tablet that you can choose to use or not use, but it will give additional details on how to improve your shave and other shaving advice. Within 21 days, your shaver will come to develop its own personalized technics based on your personal use of the shaver and ease the effort and time of future shaves. Philips must be confident in this product because the company gives a 45-day risk free money back guarantee. So, use it for up to 45 days and if you still do not like it, return it. Besides the rotary heads popping open with one touch to rinse and clean the razor, the razor also comes with a cleaning pod that sanitizes the razor and cleans the blades thoroughly giving the razor a deep clean in just 1 minute. While cleaning, the razor lubricates itself as all metal against metal parts need to do in order to last a long while. This product carries a full two-year warranty which means it covers parts and labor as long as the razor has not been intentionally damaged, dropped or broken. Limited warranties often just cover segments of what a warranty should cover, but this warranty covers the product for two full years from the date of purchase and offers the agreement by Philips that they will repair or replace the product without charge. I highly recommend the Norelco 7500. It is the best electric razor that I have ever used. It is very easy to use, and it does a great job!