Each of us is unique, and that includes the shape of our face.
This contour will determine the type of electric razor we’ll need.
Men that have more rounded facial features will appreciate the rectangular shape of a foil shaver.
But if your face has more angles, then a foil razor might not cut it.
Men with sharper facial features will appreciate the contour hugging properties of a rotary razor. And Philips is one of the best at manufacturing such.
The Norelco 9300 is one of their latest rotary shavers that they claim can cut up to 20% more facial hair.
It’s got the new shaving head with cutting elements that move independently in 8 different directions. And you can use this to wet shave.
Like their main competitors Braun, this product comes with a clean and charge station that cleans the shaver for you.
Here’s the best part, it’s cheaper than a Braun.
A quick look at the features
- Each cutting element pivots in both directions (8 in total) to help this razor maintain contact with your skin
- V-track precision blades help this cut your facial hair 30% closer
- Aquatec system allows you to use this as a wet or dry shaver
- Three-speed settings give you full control depending on your skin and beard type
- SmartClean system cleans, lubricates, dries and charges your shaver
- 50 minute run time and 1 hour charging time
- LED user interface
- Comes with a deluxe travel case
- 2-year warranty
Pros
- A cheaper option than the Braun 7 series
- Gives you the flexibility of shaving wet or dry
- Excellent at shaving trouble spots like the neck and chin area
Cons
- SmartClean system takes too long to dry (4 hours according to reviews)
- The complex design makes manual cleaning tedious compared to a foil razor
- Does not shave as close as a foil shaver
- Expensive
What to expect from the Norelco 9300?
There is a lot to like from the Norelco 9300, and let’s start with where the rubber meets the road – shave quality.
Philips calls this their most advanced wet & dry electric shaver that cuts up to 30% closer thanks to the V-track precision blades that are angled.
These blades also “self-sharpen,” according to Philips, so it should last around a year before you need to replace them.
Contour Detect Technology
Three round cutting elements pivot independently in 8 directions designed to hug the contours of your face.
This contour hugging feature keeps the blades in contact with your face and helps cut around 20% more facial hair.
If there anything that sets a rotary shaver like this apart from a foil shaver, it would be this feature, and Philips is a market leader here.
Comfort Settings
In addition to the contour detecting blades that hug every contour of your face, the 9300 also comes with 3 settings that will fit your skin type and facial hair type.
These settings include sensitive, normal, and fast.
The sensitive setting has the lowest speed setting to minimize irritation suited for men with sensitive skin.
If you don’t have sensitive skin and have normal beard growth, use the default setting.
Reserve the fast setting for those days that you’re in a hurry.
Just in case you have thick beard growth and also have sensitive skin, do yourself a favor and apply some shaving cream and go the wet shaving route.
Dual Blade System
Underneath the outer shell is 2 blades that Philips calls “dual-blade lift and cut action”.
This works similarly as a disposable razor where the first blade raises the hair, and the second blade comfortably cuts it under skin level giving you a close shave.
Wet and Dry Shaving
Another feature that this razor has over the Braun Series 9 9090cc would be the ability to shave with shaving cream or without it thanks to the Aquatec technology that makes this razor waterproof.
Again, this feature makes this razor suitable for men who have sensitive skin because shaving cream adds a layer of protection and lubrication.
The best part is you don’t have to spend over $250 to have access to this feature, this razor costs less than $220.
SmartClean System
Using this every day will take a tool on any shaver. Gunk, hair, and dead skin can clog inside and weaken the performance if you don’t clean regularly.
This is where the SmartClean comes in; it is a cleaning and charging base in one. It does four functions – cleans, disinfects, dries, and charges the razor.
But the downside is that you have to replace cleaning cartridges once every two months.
Expensive refills
These cartridges aren’t expensive though costing around $16++ for a pack of three. This isn’t bad considering the convenience it provides for you, not having to open the shaving head and manually cleaning it by yourself.
You still have the option if you don’t want to spend extra on cartridges or if you’re traveling to clean the heads by yourself.
Also, Philips gives you the option to directly plug in the cord on the charger itself for travel purposes because the SmartClean system is quite substantial.
Click-on Trimmer
Let’s say you’re the type who likes to keep your mustache intact, the Norelco 9300 also comes with a click-on trimmer that you attach in place of the shaving head.
This tool will help you shape and trim the mustache or sideburn area.
Travelling Case
Men who travel a lot for business trips will appreciate having a case for this razor.
It saves them a few bucks not having to buy a separate one. The downside though it does not include any storage for the trimmer.
Run Time
A full charge will give you around 50 minutes of run time (or about 17 shaves). And it takes a full hour to recharge this.
You also have a quick charge option where you can plug it in for 5 minutes. This will give you enough time for a single shave.
There is a LED indicator in front that tells you battery status.
Product Specification
Model | Norelco 9300 |
Battery | Li-Ion |
Run time | 50 minutes |
Type | Rotary |
Mustache / Sideburn Trimmer | Yes |
Wet Shaving | Yes |
Dry Shaving | Yes |
Water proof | Yes |
Charging/cleaning stand | Yes |
Travel pouch | Yes |
Length | 6.2" |
Warranty | 2 years |
See It In Action
Here’s the Philips 9300 going head to head against a BIC disposable razor…
Even with a long beard, this razor was able to trim and then shave very close.
Surprisingly at least according to the man in the video, Philips 9300 did a better job than the BIC disposable, and it is much easier to clean using the SmartClean system.
Customer Reviews
Consumers say that the Norelco 9300 is a solid performer, especially on the neck and chin area, spots with a lot of angles.
This is an area where a rotary razor like this shines. The individually flexing cutting elements bend in eight different directions that help it maintain contact with the skin.
Will not shave as close as a foil.
It won’t shave as close as a foil shaver, but consumers recommend this if you’re considering buying one to save time shaving with a safety razor because if you use the right technique which is using clockwise motions, you will not cut yourself.
Less noisy
Compared to the Braun foil shavers, this one is less noisy. If that is a significant factor that can sway your decision, then go for the Norelco 9300.
The cleaning station didn’t get as much love as the shaver itself.
Takes longer to clean than Braun
While it does everything without you lifting a finger, it takes very long. According to reviews, it takes a whopping 4 and 10 minutes to complete the clean, lubrication, drying, and charging cycle. Drying takes the longest – as much as 4 hours.
Braun’s clean and charge system only takes half the time.
Other downsides
Another downside would be the time it takes to manually clean this razor. Mind you, it is a necessary process to maintain the performance of the blades.
Because of the complexity of a rotary shaver, it takes longer to clean because you will have to remove each cutting head individually. It does come with a tool that helps you remove these cutting elements do, please do not throw it away.
Overall this razor will not shave as close as a foil shaver like Braun, but for trouble areas under the neck, lip, and chin, this will be able to cut closer.
Maintenance cleaning will take a lot longer though whether you use the SmartClean system or if you manually clean it by yourself, but this product is an excellent buy for under $200.
Where can I buy this?
You can buy the Norelco 9300 from Amazon, and it’s eligible for the 2-day free shipping if you join Prime. If the 2-year warranty isn’t enough, then there’s an optional extended warranty that Amazon offers. It’s up to 3 years just in case you need that extra peace of mind.
Another option is buying directly from the Philips online store.
Take note that if you purchase any of the links above, I may earn a commission, but at no additional cost to you, so it’s a win-win for both of us!
To Wrap Up
The Norelco 9300 would be great for men who have sharper facial features to maximize the contour-detect technology feature.
It can shave wet or dry, so if you have sensitive skin, this product will help you shave without irritation.
Philips is probably the best at manufacturing rotary shavers, and 9300 is an excellent example of why.
It’s got a twin blade system under each cutting head that shaves close, and since this is a rotary, it will produce less noise.
The smaller shaving head means that it will do better on areas like the neck and chin area. Combine that with the flexible head, you’ve got yourself a beard mowing tool that will help keep you clean-shaven in less time.
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