Customer Ratings & Reviews

The Philips Norelco 7940 is the latest entry by Philips in a new generation of connected consumer personal care products. It incorporates a number of important advancements in shaving technology and is designed to provide the ultimate in sensitive skin care of any shaver available. Norelco shavers are manufactured by Philips North America (the tradename Norelco comes from North American Philips electrical Company.) which is a unit of Koninklijke Philips N.V. , a $20 billion Dutch electronics, lighting and medical products company founded in 1891. Among its best-known consumer products are Norelco grooming devices, Sonicare oral health products, Magnavox & Philips audio and video products, Philips kitchen appliances and personal healthcare. Here is a summary of the key features: • Model: Philips Norelco S7940/84 • SkinGlide Rings around cutter blade assemblies with microsphere technology to reduce friction and skin irritation • GentlePrecision Blades designed to minimize tugging and the need for multiple passes • Multi-direction ContourDetect flexible heads follow facial contours without the need for pressure, minimizing stress on skin • BeardAdapt Sensor measures beard density and adjusts power as needed for maximum efficiency • Bluetooth 4.1 connection to smartphone GroomTribe app which monitors shaving and customizes setting (Normal, Sensitive, Extra-Sensitive) for best skin results • Shaves dry or wet, using water, soap, shaving foam or gel • Waterproof, may be used in shower • Fully washable • Personal shave plan • SmartClick precision trimmer for mustache, sideburns, eyebrows • 50 minutes of cordless shaving time, lithium ion battery is fully charged in 60 minutes • 15 volt, 5.4 watt/360 mA charger • SmartClean automatic cleaning/lubrication/charging stand • Travel lock to prevent activation when stored in luggage • Shaver Dimensions: 6.4 inch height, 2.6 inch depth, 2.3 inch width; Weight: 8 ounces • Cleaning/Charging Stand Dimensions: 10 inch height, 5.7 inch depth, 4.8 inch width • Two year warranty on parts and labor I have used Norelco and other premium quality electric shavers for many years so I know what to expect and demand. This new Norelco 7940 is replacing a Norelco 9160 XL which was the previous top-of-the-line model and has given me flawless service for the past dozen years. See photo comparison of the new and old shavers. Like all Norelco shavers the 7940 is elegantly styled and very ergonomic. It is a nice combination of steel blue, silver and black. It is lightweight, but feels substantial in your hand. There is rubberized grip material where your index finger and thumb would grasp the shaver and your remaining three fingers cradle the bottom of the shaver’s body. It is a bit longer than my older Norelco and a bit lighter. Hidden icons on the front of the shaver (which are visible only when lighted) indicate connection status, sensitivity setting, a notice to clean the shaver, the Travel Lock status and the battery condition. The included cleaning/charging stand is rather bulky and it will consume about 20 square inches of your bathroom counter space. It is glossy black plastic with the top portion holding the shaver and the base containing the replaceable cleaning cartridge. LED icons indicate the charging status, the cleaning cycle and an alert notice when it is time to replace the cleaning cartridge. However, before you can use all of the 7040’s features you need to download the “GroomTribe” app to your smartphone. This requires pairing the shaver with your phone through Bluetooth but the process is very simple. Once paired, the app will offer a “guided shave” which monitors your shaving progress and provides tips to improve it. Usually the tip is just “Use smaller circles” or “Move the shaver slower. ” You will also be asked questions about skin irritation and the app will adjust the comfort setting between Normal, Sensitive and Extra-Sensitive accordingly. You can also manually select any of these settings, but only through the app. (You cannot change settings using just the shaver.) The app also has a number of helpful illustrated tips to improve your overall shaving experience. So how well does it work? Superbly! The shaving function is the most effective I have ever experienced. It is quiet (no loud buzz like some electric shavers) and it removed every trace of my stubble with absolutely no irritation to my skin. I am accustomed to very good shavers and this is certainly the best I have ever used. I did shave for about 10 minutes, more than the suggested 3 – 4 minutes, but I am not about the break the habits of a lifetime just to stay within Norelco’s concept of an ideal shaving time. Did the “Guided Shave” help? No, not really. It just made me nervous to have my $1,000+ smartphone sitting on my bathroom counter so that I could watch the screen for instructions. I kept imagining the phone being destroyed by getting knocked off the counter onto my marble floor tiles. I think the concept of a Bluetooth-connected shaver, guided by an app, is techno-overkill. As I noted earlier, the advice given by the guided shave feature is pretty trite and unnecessary. Perhaps a neophyte to electric shavers might find it useful but I don’t think it added any value. I suggest that you spend some money on a good, lighted, magnifying shaving mirror and you will achieve far better results than by relying on the advice of this app. When finished, I rinsed the shaver and put it into the cleaning/charging station. The station activated the cleaning cycle and for the next ten minutes the shaver would periodically run for a few seconds, stop, then run again. At the end I opened the shaver head and it was spotlessly clean and glistened with a light lubricant fluid which had a nice aroma. So I give this feature top marks for effectiveness. The downside is that the cleaning cartridges need to be replaced every three months at a cost of about $6 each time. Not a huge cost but something to keep in mind. However, I was curious if just rinsing the shaver heads would actually clean out all of the clippings. The next time I shaved I opened the shaver head and saw my beard clippings filling the head. I closed it up, then rinsed the head under running water and opened it again. It was completely clean! I am amazed by this since my old Norelcos always required me to flip open the shaver head to clean out the clippings. The new design somehow allows water to flow through and clean the heads thoroughly without opening them! So if you want to forego using the cleaning system I think you will still have a fairly clean shaver by just rinsing it. The separate trimmer head is a big improvement over the old, flip-out trimmer on previous models. It gives much better control and visibility. Nice design, Norelco! The shaver comes with an elegant, form-fitting travel case. But there is no room for the charger in the case! I wish that Norelco would change the design of its chargers to a USB-C system. That way a simple USB-C cable could recharge the shaver and eliminate yet another electronic item to pack on trips. Norelco makes the assertion that a full, 50 minute charge is sufficient for 17 shaves, but most men will shave longer than 3 minutes, which means that you can really only expect 5 or 6 shaves before depleting the charge. Another issue I have with the travel case is that Norelco does not include a protective plastic cover for the shaver head. See photo of my old shaver’s protective cap. Why did Norelco eliminate this very inexpensive, but extremely valuable item? A careless drop can damage the expensive shaver head but a plastic cap can eliminate that risk. OK, so how do I rate the Norelco 7940? For pure shaving function, it certainly deserves five stars. But the irritation created by the various issues noted above (size of the cleaning station, techno-overkill of the connected app, inability to change the shaver settings without using the app, lack of a protective cap, etc.) drop the overall rating to just four stars. I really like this shaver but I wish that Norelco would drop its obsession with Bluetooth connectivity and just invest in a better (USB-C) charger. Then this shaver would be perfect! You may disagree with my grumblings about some of the minor issues associated with the Norelco 7940 but I can assure you that you will agree with me that it delivers an absolutely superb shave every time!

I must admit, I was super super excited to receive this product. Everything I kept reading about this, really pointed in the direction for minimal razor burn. It’s been a few years since I’ve used an electric razor because I just couldn’t find one that didn’t give me razor burn. When I’m not keeping a close shave, I usually sport a quarter inch or 5 o’clock shadow… Just depends on the month and my mood. I must be honest, I’ve only used it once and got a super close shave following the slow circular motion it recommends. I was a bit surprised though when I opened the box and there was a note that said “razor burn will decrease over the next three weeks.” Basically as if saying, hey! Try this a few times and it’ll either go down or return it. Needless to say I was a bit uneasy. Out of the box you have some great things. Decently long charge cord, nice comfortable, smart app capable, smartclean cartridge, and cleaning station. At first I felt the cleaning/charge station was on the bulky side, but it doesn’t take up a lot of space on my counter. Some might feel it’s too big, so this product might not be for those minimalists. I did find a nice feature was a charge port in the bottom of the razor and cleaning station. It also provided a nice travel kit so I can take it with me. First use: Battery didn’t take too long to fully charge and has about an hour of run time. This razor felt great in my hand. It’s super light weight and felt like it glided along my skin. When I turned the razor on, I was surprised with how smooth and quiet the device was. I was able to get a close shave considering it’s an electric razor. Sadly it caught my neckline a few times and gave me a pretty bad razor burn. It was very noticeable, so I’ll have to be more careful the next shave. Aside from the razor burn, I really enjoyed it. It does say it gets better, so time will tell. I’m still getting use to using the GroomTribe app on my phone. All you do is pair the devices and it helps monitor your shaving progress. It also provides feedback on how to improve your shaving experience, so I’m really interested to see what it has to say. I’ll update the review after a few sessions. It’s interesting to note that you can adjust comfort settings in the app, but not on the razor itself. Was the app helpful? Not necessarily this first go round, but time will tell. I do like their feature though about razor burn, so maybe I’ll look into that a bit more with the app. Pros: Close shave Battery life Precision trimmer Felt great on skin with slow circular motions Glides smooth Can use on dry skin Can use on wet skin Can use with shaving cream or foam GroomTribe Smartapp Travel case Waterproof Cons: Skin irritation (note with machine said it gets better after 3 weeks) Bulky size cleaning station (not a deal breaker) Replaceable heads will run you between $24-45 per year, pending where you shop SmartClean will run about $16 for pack of 3 Power Overall, I think I’ll have to test this product a few more times for a more full review. I’ve had the razor for about a week and have only used it once. I plan on using it again this weekend, so I’ll update this review as I go. I was able to get a very close shave this first time, so I’m super pleased about that. Only thing though... I got really bad razor burn along the neckline. Maybe it was user error, maybe it wasn’t. I’ll be able to tell the next few times I use it. The smart app is a really cool feature, but I think I was concentrating on that instead of inspecting my shave. The great thing though is that it’s super smooth as long as you do the slow circular motions like it recommends. I’d recommend this to those that don’t have super sensitive skin.

I have a hard time getting a good, close shave. My skin is sensitive and so I inevitably end up with razor burn along with unsightly nicks and cuts all over. I’ve tried many different types of razors throughout my life (handheld, electric, and even a single-bladed straight razor) and none of them seem to work ‘just right’ for me. I love the convenience of an electric shaver but hate having to clean them and sometimes they just don’t do as good of a job as handheld razors. Fortunately, I’ve had the chance to try out this amazing electric shaver from Philips Norelco — the 7900 SmartClick and SmartClean Wet/Dry Electric Shaver. The 7900 SmartClick and SmartClean Wet/Dry Electric Shaver does a great job of providing a smooth, close shave without leaving behind bumps, redness, or discomfort. I’ve been using it consistently (at least once every other day) for about a week now and I can really tell a difference between the quality of the shave it gives me versus other shavers I’ve used. I just attended a three-day conference out of town and I depended heavily on the 7900 shaver to keep me looking professional instead of scruffy. The handle of the shaver is designed to be ergonomic. It’s easy to hold and has a soft grip covering that ensures that I can keep a firm grip on it while I shave — even if it gets wet. I also really like that the shaver is a wet/dry shaver which means that I have the option of shaving with it in the shower or simply over the sink. One of the benefits of using this shaver over a handheld one is that I don’t end up using shaving cream with it. So, there is less of a mess involved at shaving time. In the past, when I’ve attempted dry shaving with electric razors, I’ve ended up with razor burn. With the 7900 SmartClick and SmartClean Wet/Dry Electric Shaver, I’ve not had that issue. I think it is due to two things, one the shaver and two the iOS app that I have been using to monitor how I shave. The app has given me advice and has told me to slow down while shaving and make smaller circles, thus helping me with my redness. This shaver also comes with a very useful cleaning stand. For me, this is a big selling point since I hate having to clean out shavers and this one is self-cleaning. You simply place the shaver in the stand and it is charged and cleaned. The cleaning cartridge that comes with it is designed to last a very long time, too. And, while I’m on the subject, it’s easy to reorder said cartridge from Philips (or other online stores). In the past, I’ve had trouble finding a cleaning solution for electric shavers so it was really nice to be able to find the replacements for the cleaner right away. One of the most unique features of this shaver is the GroomTribe app. The app tracks your progress — much like a Bluetooth-connected toothbrush — and adjusts advice to ensure users get the best skin results. It is a nice tool that has been added to this shaver package. Also included is a SmartClick attachment for grooming. I used this the first day I received the shaver to cut my hair down enough so I would not experience any pulling of long hairs. I’ve really enjoyed using this shaver so far. It provides a really nice shave and has a lot of great features to it.

I’m pleasantly surprised. This Norelco 7900 series (specifically, the S7940/84) is the best floating three-head shaver I’ve ever used. The very first Norelco shaver I used was one my father found at an estate sale back in the early 70’s, when I was in junior high. He brought it home, fixed some electrical issue it had, cleaned it up, and that shaver took me all the way through high school. Remember the Norelcos that were advertised during Christmas, with Santa riding them through the snow?! This was like that. I still have the spray lubricant that we got at a shaver shop — kept it running all those years. But I digress… This is probably my 4th Norelco. The shape, weight, and power source has changed quite a bit since that first shaver, but not a whole lot in the last 10 years — until this one. Enter bluetooth connectivity. What!? Yes, bluetooth. I broke with tradition and actually went over the manual before firing this thing up. Doing as told, I loaded the app on my phone and went through the setup process. Using the information I had provided, the app actually set the shaver to a specific trim setting. In my case, it was Normal. There are 3 settings: extra sensitive (XS), sensitive (S), and Normal. After shaving, I gave feedback on the app as to the feel and comfort of my face. On the Normal setting, there were areas on my neck that felt a bit irritated because the cut was so close. The app has now set the razor to “S.” This brings up the first potential issue with this model — the ONLY way to set the shaver’s settings is through the app on your phone. Don’t get me wrong, everything worked out great. Some people, however, may not like the idea of one product relying upon another. That being said, once the shaver is set the way you want it, it’ll stay that way…as far as I know. There was something in the manual about “checking in” every 20 days or less, or when there’s a notification symbol flashing on the shaver. Doing this should keep everything in sync. I know that Norelco has been using this for some time, but the SmartClean contraption is going to take some getting used to, at least for me. Right out of the chute, I could see that there was now going to be extra expense as time goes on. But I’m making a pact with myself to actually use this as directed. To me, it makes logical sense — it keeps the shaver clean and lubricated. The expense comes when it’s time to change the cleaning solution cartridge, which I think is about every 3 months if you use SmartClean at least once a week. The rest of the time you can easily remove the head and clean everything under warm, running water. I think I’ve found a 3-pack online for about $17. I also read of someone washing out the tank and making their own solution. DIY at your own risk…? One more thing about the SmartClean — it’s one more thing to clutter up the bathroom counter. It’s not huge; it’s not ugly, but it is what it is. Something different from my last Norelco (and all the others), was that this one has a separate beard/sideburn trimming head, instead of the old pop-up ones that I had in the past. I like it. I don’t miss catching goatee hairs in the shaver heads while trimming it. Those were too close for comfort. No chance of that happening with this shaver. I see this as a plus. As for the shaver itself? Amazing shave. Granted, I’m used to the circular motion that is recommended for Norelcos. After having used a Braun that my sister got me a couple years ago, this was like going back in time. It’s nice to be back.

Easy to use right out of the box. Close shave with not having to go over the same areas multiple times. Lightweight and holds a charge for a long time.

I have been a life long Norelco user (well as long as I have been shaving...) and this one has to be one of the best ones I have used. I previously had an 8000 series shaver, and I am getting a much better shave with this one. I have had it for less than a week, so I haven't had a chance to fully test out the battery life or use the included cleaning system. The interesting thing about the shaver is that it has an associated app. Unfortunately the instructions don't tell you the name of the app and the link doesn't work. However, I was able to find it. It is called 'GroomTribe' (the name is pretty unintuitive and I hope they decide to rename it...). But the app is actually useful. They have guided shave feature where the shaver connects to the app and monitors how well you shave. It gave me suggestions on how to improve the quality of your shave.

I have been using this razor for about a week now and really love it! Philips-Norelco really put together a whole package from all the cool accessories to an awesome app. I love the travel case and the charging station! The charging station also has the ability to SELF CLEAN! Use it, rinse it under warm water and then place it in the charing station! It’s that easy! I have not used the trimmer feature as I have a small razor specifically for my side burns that I like but I did test the trimmer by popping the razor head off and putting the trimmer on. It works as advertised and was very easy to pop off and on again. I have dry shaved with this razor and prefer a wet shave with a shaving gel so this review will be from the perspective of using a shave gel when shaving with this razor. The instructions said that it takes 21 days for your face to get used to using an electric razor but my face doesn’t feel any more irritated than when I used my 5 blade high end handle razor. I would say using this razor is less irritating to my face than a 5 blade razor if anything. I have a thick beard and have to do two passes with a traditional razor and I have to do two with the Philips-Norelco as well so I’m not really gaining any huge time savings. But… No more Knicks and cuts and a more even shave overall is a huge benefit over the 5 blade razor. As far as how close a shave I get, I would estimate about the same maybe a little less close than a perfect swipe with a 5 blade razor but I don’t miss patches with the Philips- Norelco that I always do with a 5 blade razor. With the 5 blade razor I was always feeling around for the missed rough patch and swipe, swipe, swiping (knick and cut, cut) to get the close shave. Not so with the Philips-Norelco. It’s a smooth and even shave which I really love. It’s also fun to use compared to the handled 5 blade razor. I don’t feel like I am scrapping the first layer of my face off with this razor, it’s just a nice hum with zen like little circles and a close shave. I’m also in a job that requires me to have a clean shaven face. If I had a “5’ O’Clock shadow” I would hear about it! I shave at 0600 and leave work about 5pm and no one has noticed I have switched razors which is perfect! It’s also really light weight which surprised me and the build quality of the unit and accessories is top notch. I am also really impressed with the shaving app they put together. It’s called “GroomTribe” and it keeps track of my shaves and motion of my shave and has a guided feature that helps ensure you get an awesome shave! Sometimes companies incorporate useless tech features but Philips-Norelco smartly incorporated a helpful, fun and useful tech tool to enhance the shaving experience! You don’t have to use or open it if you don’t want to, your razor just sends the info to the app and you can review later or real time or just not bother at all. It’s up to you but I love it! The blades are supposed to last for 12 months which I love as well! I hate buying the 5 blade razors every month and they’re so expensive! This razor will pay for itself and then some in a year with not having to buy the 5 blade razors! You can’t go wrong with this razor! I was a little skeptical with an electric razor versus a 5 blade handle but I can’t imagine ever going back now! Just a great razor! I actually look forward to shaving!

This was a replacement for a 7500 that was several years old. It does give a nice shave for an electric. The $50 price jump from my old razor is not really justified by any extra performance. I do like the included cleaning system. It is quick and as easy as hitting a button.

It’s my first electric razor. It gets the job done. Close shave but I have to shave every day. Idk how are the other ones. It’s reasonably quite. The motor doesn’t sound very strong but it works. No pulling or cutting. Very easy to clean.

Have used Norelco Razors since first beginning shaving in high school and have seen quality in design improve over time. For many years, Norelco razors only seemed to give a good shave for me with short stubble. If your beard was 4-5 days or older, the razor's would pull and it was a painful shaving experience. Norelco has definitely solved that problem with this new design! This Norelco razor provides a sensitive painless shave, even for the longer beard growth. The razor is very easy to clean, recharges quickly, works easily for wet and dry shave with equal ability, and so efficient in its cutting that I have minimized my shaving time from 8-minutes, down to 4-minutes. No difference in the quality shave in less time!!! Another nice feature is the interchangeable shave and trim heads. The trim head is more precise and efficient than the past Norelco featured pop-up trim heads. Highly Recommend this Purchase!

Closets shaver I have owned, perfect right out of the box. Lol, I've never had a razor that has an app. The directions doesn't show how to insert the charging plug into the smart clean. A picture is posted on the review. It goes in at a 45' angle.

Outstanding! I've long been a fan of Norelco shavers and have been considering a Smart Clean razor, mostly because I can never seem to keep one clean enough and I tend to run out of battery time as well. This razor solved both problems AND had given me the closest shave I've ever had! I like to shave my head and neck and trim up my beard and this Shaver, plus the unlocked l included trimmer attachment, has greatly improved my personal grooming.

The razor gives a good shave, Easy to get into tight places. Very easy to keep clean, and charge.

Great razer, close shave, easy to clean, keeps a charge. Packs easy for travel.

Not a bad razor but for some reason, you need to download an app to your phone in order to change the closeness of the shave. So, I have a razor with a bluetooth connection. The shave is good and I like the cleaning/charging station but the bluetooth connection is silly and not needed. It just adds to the expense of the razor.

A very good dry shave, best i have had before with my old shaver. My first wet shaver and it is superb. My first wet shaver and it is super close shave and in less time than dry shaving. The cleaning is fast and easy, and the cleaning option keeps the razor sanitary.

Close shave and lightweight to use. I only use this brand as it has held up for years. I have this over a year and works like the first day purchased! Best quality and style in the market!

I found this to be a really great electric shaver. My skin is easily susceptible to razor burn, but I had very minimal irritation after my first shave. I also have very coarse facial hair and still got a nice smooth shave. I'll start by writing about the few minor things with this shaver that don't really work for me. - Location services are required to be turned on to be able to sync with the shaver. I can understand bluetooth needing to be on, but I can't figure out why my exact GPS coordinates are needed. - The only way to activate the shaver's extra-sensitive mode is via the Philips GroomTribe app. It would have been nice if there were a way to access that mode directly on the shaver itself. - The shaver comes with a trimmer attachment, but nowhere to store it. I was kind of surprised there wasn't a spot on he charging/cleaning station or a pouch in the travel case. Nor is there room in the travel case to store the charging cord. - The app isn't very intuitive. It took me a good ten to fifteen minutes of fumbling around before I had the shaver up and running. Also, for me the app doesn't have much use, aside from changing the settings on the shaver. These are all really minor things, none of which take away from the shaver itself. Now, what I like about the product. - The shave. As stated previously, my beard is pretty coarse but I still got a close shave with very minimal irritation. - The charging/cleaning station. While it does take up a bit of space on the counter, it is worth making room. It will clean your shaver and charge it at the same time. - The travel case. There's nothing special about it. I just think it's a nice incusion. I'm a sucker for keeping things organized and protected. - Versatility. It can be used for a dry shave (recommended) or wet. It also features SmartClick technology, which allows you to easily swap the shaver head with the trimming head. - Quick charge. Charging for 5 minutes will give you enough power for a single shave. Or you can charge for an hour for a full battery charge. - Impressed with customer service. I received a shaver with a faulty charging port or battery. After a quick email, I had a brand new shaver on my doorstep in 2 days. I should also note that I did receive this item at no cost in exchange for an honest review. Some things to consider before purchasing: - It is recommended to replace the shaver heads every 12 months. I couldn't find replacements on the shaver's website or at BestBuy.com, so I'm curious about the expense. - Cleaning fluid eventually needs replaced. Although I don't feel this is a huge expense at $17 for a 3-pack of cartridges. - According to the GroomTribe app and included manual, it can take up to 3 weeks for your skin to acclimate to a new shaving regimen. So, if you're switching to an electric shaver from a different method, keep that in mind if your skin starts to break out.

I was hesitant to buy this razor because I haven’t used an electric razor in years because they gave me horrible razor burn/skin irritation. I wanted a quicker way to get my shaving done, so I started doing some research and came across this razor. I am so glad I gave it a try. It was the first electric razor that didn’t irritate my skin. If you have sensitive skin, give this razor a try. I think you’ll be pleased after you have used it a couple times. I know they say that you have to use it a couple times before your skin gets used to it and stops getting irritated, but it worked well for me the first time!!!

After using my philips norelco shaver for 10 years, its charger started to break, and difficult to find the blade that fit my old one. So I decided it is time for me to get a new one from philips. And I'm still happy with their product for sure. Same close shave I got from my old one. Actually, better since it has newer blade. Like the fact that it has cleaning charging station too. I'm sure it will last me another 10 years before I have to replace this with new one but at least I know I got a quality shaver.