Philips Norelco 6800 Review: A Mid-Priced Rotary Shaver

by Garrick Dee | Last Updated: July 28th, 2020

Not all men’s faces are created alike.

If you have an angular face with lots of steep curves, a rotary razor might work better for you.

A foil razor may not work as well because of design limitations, and these are noisier.

The Philips Norelco 6800 is a great mid-priced option for men who prefer a rotary style razor.

Priced at just a little over $100, this razor will fit into the budgets of most men.

It has the GyroFlex 2D technology wherein the whole shaving head can rotate 360 degrees with the three individual cutting elements tilt inward.

You can use this shaver with shaving cream or dry without it. So it’s pretty flexible, which is excellent if you have sensitive skin.

Unlike the Norelco 7300, the 6800 does not have any cleaning station. But cleanup is not a problem. The cutting elements are easily opened and can be rinsed under running water.

A quick look at the features

• Comes with a skin-friendly 5-length trimmer attachment for trimming your goatee and sideburn area
• Aquatec technology means this shaver is waterproof
• Comes with a traveling case and foldable charging stand
• Dual precision heads have slots to shave longer stubble and holes to cut even the shortest stubble
• Automatic voltage – 100V to 240V (you can use this anywhere in the world just make sure that the plug fits)
• The lithium-ion battery will give you 60 minutes of run time after a 1-hour charge
• 2-year warranty
• No cleaning base
• Pivoting cleaning head

Pros

• Long 60 minute run time
• Lithium-ion battery means minimal power fade
• Comes with a traveling bag so you can bring this with you when traveling
• You can use this for dry or wet shaving
• Easy to clean even without the cleaning station

Cons

• You cannot plug the cord directly on the shaver
• Separate trimmer means you can easily misplace this
• Battery can’t be replaced

What to expect from the Norelco 6800?

Sporting a mostly-black finish with gray accents, the Norelco 6800 is a helpful looking razor and very ergonomic. It is made from a combination of plastic and rubber, which gives it an excellent grip even under wet conditions.

2D Contouring Technology

This term simply means the whole shaving head can pivot in a circular motion, and the 3 individual cutting elements on top can tilt inwards, following the contours of your face.

If you want the full 3D contouring technology, you’d have to spend a little bit more on an 8900.

Wet or Dry Shaving

Underneath the exterior shell is a fully waterproof seal that allows you to use this shaver with or without any shaving cream.

It’s really a personal preference as some men would love to have the additional protection and lubrication of shaving cream while others want to save time and go straight to the shaving process. This is the flexibility that this razor brings to the table.

Whether wet or dry shaving, you still need to prep your face to shave correctly. And this includes taking a hot shower or soaking your face with a hot towel.

DualPrecision heads

DualPrecision heads have slots to cut longer strands of facial hair and holes to shave off even the shortest stubble. The patented lift and cut blades smoothly cut on the surface of the skin to avoid any irritation.

Precision Trimmer

This also comes with a precision trimmer that you can use to trim your mustache and sideburn. It is a separate piece that you attach in place of the shaving head, which is good because it gives you a clear view of the area you’ll trim.

60 Minute Run Time

A full charge will give you around 60 minutes of run time, and since this uses a lithium-ion battery, it is lighter, and there’s virtually no power fade throughout the charge cycle.

But the downside is you cannot use this razor while plugged in. Philips says that this is a safety feature to prevent accidental electrocution.

Charging Stand

Since you cannot directly plug the cord onto the shaver, Philips provides a foldable charging stand that is lightweight and does not take a lot of space just in case you need to travel.

What comes in the box?

Out of the box, you’ll get the Norelco 6800 shaver, traveling case, foldable charge stand, plug, cleaning brush, and trimmer.

Easy to Clean

Despite the lack of a charging station, it is pretty easy to clean the 6800, but you have to be religious in this task for it to last for years.

One way is to clean it under running water with the shaver turned on. Don’t worry, it’s waterproof.

Second and a more thorough approach would be removing the shaving head and tapping on the sink to remove any gunk and excess hair then letting it dry before putting it back.

Product Specification

Customer Reviews

Most men who left a review were happy with how this razor shaves. Some even call this the best electric razor.

Consumers had mostly good things to say about the Norelco 6800 – it gave a close shave, lighter than a Braun, and no-irritation. Some even switched from Braun, yes also loyal Braun users switched to the Philips after using it.

It could be another case of the 2D FlexHead being more suitable for their facial type. Remember that a foil shaver’s head is flat, and even though with the flexible head, it won’t do as well on your face if it has a lot of contours.

Complaints include this not shaving well, but this of another case of Your Mileage May Vary (or YMMV) because a rotary shaver will not work well on all facial types hence the complaints.

Another potential issue would be quality, as some complained about the trimmer attachment prematurely breaking. The separate trimmer wasn’t popular with some because there’s the risk of misplacing it.

But this process is straightforward, so it wasn’t an issue with the majority.

Lastly, the charging stand was a bit cumbersome for some who traveled a lot. The lack of a direct plugging feature also was a downer.

Where can I buy this?

You can buy this rotary shaver in Amazon, and it is eligible for their free 2-day shipping if you join Prime.

Please note that I will earn a commission if you buy through the link above, but at no extra cost to you, so it’s a win-win for both of us!

Conclusion

The Philips Norelco 6800 is an excellent mid-priced electric shaver for men who don’t want to break the bank on a top of the line Norelco. It gives you the flexibility of wet or dry shaving, and it comes with a traveling case.

However, you cannot plug the cord directly onto the shaver, which was an issue to some who often travel because of the need to bring the charging stand,, but if you don’t mind packing something extra, this is a good deal at just a little over $100.

It does come with a traveling bag, so it’s additional savings for you.

The shave quality is pretty good based on a majority of reviews with a minority saying that it did not perform up to par, but that is a case of the razor not fitting the facial features or poor technique or lack of prep, so take it with a grain of salt.