Philips 9000 Series Electric Shaver Review

The Philips 9000 Series is the most advanced rotary shaver on the market today, and offers 2 models.

The 9700 is fully loaded, whilst the 9300, is missing a couple of features but sells for around $100 less.

Both share the same sleek Philips styling, the all new V-Track Precision Blades, the new Contour detect Technology, and both come with a Smart Clean System, to clean, lubricate, dry and charge your shaver.

We have selected the 9700 (9721/84) as the number 2 best electric shaver in our Top 10 Electric Shaver list, although many would argue that it deserves the number 1 spot.

Philips 9000 Series 9700 (9721/84)

These shavers are claimed to shave 30% closer than previous Philips models , and to cut 20% more hair than earlier Philips shavers. This is all thanks to the combination of the new V-Track blades, and the “Contour detect technology”.

As these are critical new features we will take a look at each in turn.

The V-Track blades take their name from the shape of the slots in each of the three shaving heads, and the similarly shaped cutters below.

The Blades are self sharpening.

The newly designed cutting slots, direct and position the hair in the center of the cutting range, allowing the hair to be lifted and cut optimally.

The actual cutter is a two part blade, the first element lifts the hair, and the second cuts it at skin level, so when released the hair slips back and is actually cut below the skin.

The result is a shave that is 30% closer, and more comfortable than previously available from a Philips Electric Razor.

The Contour Detect Technology relates to advances in the range of movement available to the cutting heads.

The Philips heads have previously been able to flex outward, tilt inward, or pivot.

These enhanced heads can each move in 8 different directions, (independently of each other) to allow them to follow every Contour of your face.

This results in reaching and cutting 20% more hair in each pass.

The development and operation of these blades is best understood from viewing the following brief video.

Next comes the addition of the three adjustable speed settings.

Simply selected by buttons either side of the body, this feature allows you to reduce or increase the operating speed of the shaver. The slower the speed, the more gentle on the skin.

This feature was first introduced by Braun with its Series 7 range, and allows you to reduce speed settings easily to adjust to more sensitive areas of the face or neck.

Rounding out the changes, on the Shaver itself, are new visual displays on the two Shavers.

That brings us to the Smart Clean System

Another response to a Braun system, this time the Clean and Renew system.

Like Braun, this uses a cartridge to deliver the cleaning solution, but this is an alcohol free solution. The Smart Clean system separates the cut hair, shaving gels etc from the cleaning solution, drawing them down through a vertical filter, before trapping them in a horizontal sedimentation filter as depicted in this video.

You will notice the digital progress displays on the unit in the video. This addition appears only on the Smart Clean Pro which comes with the 9700 model. The unit on the model 9300 functions in the same way, but without the progress display

So those are the new features, and the differences between the two Philips 9000 Series shavers.

Whether the digital display on the shaver, and the progress bar on the Smart Clean Pro unit adds $100 in value is a decision for you.

If you prefer the cheaper 9300 (9311/84) you will find pricing and availability info here, but for the best available check out the 9700,(9721/84).

By the way if you see models 9311/87 or 9721/87 they are the same shavers, simply in a softer pack.

Either shaver will deliver a close, quick shave, with little irritation, and both will be cleaned and maintained by the Smart Clean process.

If you want a rotary shaver, these are simply the best available today.