Philips Norelco Shaver 3500 S3212/82, Storm Gray, 1 Count

I have used Norelco razors for many years and this new purchase shows my brand loyalty. I was looking for replacement blades for my Norelco razor and they weren’t the actual brand name. The reviews were not good. Saying the blades didn’t cut very well, didn’t fit exactly, etc. In this case spend the extra money on the name brand.

I've been using these since it was just "Norelco" without the "Philips". The model 3900 is neither the cheapest nor the most expensive of their line of shavers. I think it's a good compromise between the budget models and the luxury models. It gets the job done reliably without a lot of extra features you don't really need.The main difference in this shaver compared to the model 3800 I purchased 5 years ago, is they have changed from a 15v charging/battery system with a proprietary charger, to a 5v system that works with any 5v USB charger you have sitting around. And surely, after all these years of phones and accessories, who doesn't have a collection of left over 5v chargers sitting around doing nothing? So, I see this change as favorable, increasing the versatility of the shaver and meaning you no longer need the special charger; just the adapter cord to fit the shaver socket.Other than that, it's pretty identical to similar shavers they've been making for a long time, and I can't see any difference from previous models.I understand why they don't make these with a user replaceable battery; it would cut down greatly on the number of shavers they sell. Likely, with occasional blade replacements, these shavers would last two or three times longer than the lithium battery lasts. But then they'd be selling replacement batteries, not replacement shavers, and that would be a a lot less profitable.

I've been using electric shavers for over thirty years. In addition to Norelco, I've also owned electric shavers made by Remington and Braun. Of the different razor brands/types I've tried, I like Norelco shavers the best. Why? I find that I get a better and faster shave with the Norelco three-rotary-head design over foil-type shavers. Also, Norelco shavers are noticeably quieter than foil shavers.Shaving Performance: This shaver shaves very well. Several years ago I purchased one of Norelco's expensive top-of-the-line models. I found that it didn't shave any better than the mid-priced models I usually buy.Pop-Up trimmer: This is the worst thing about this razor. It doesn't work very well when I use it to trim my sideburns and mustache. I find it difficult to get a straight line on my sideburns. I ended up buying a dedicated trimmer just for my sideburns and mustache. The poor performance of the pop-up trimmer is the reason I rated this razor at four stars instead of five.Shaving Time Per Charge: I get at least forty-five minutes of shaving on a single charge. As with other devices that use a rechargeable battery, you can expect the number of shaves per charge to diminish as the razor ages. It takes approximately one (1) hour to recharge the razor.Indicator Lights: This razor is equipped with three white lights on the housing that indicate the charging status (the owner’s manual provides full details). An orange light will begin to flash when you have no more than five (5) minutes of shaving time remaining.Housing Shape: Compared to some of my older Norelco razors, the housing shape of this razor is a little more square and less rounded. At first I didn’t like it as much. But I’ve gotten used to it. Overall, it fits comfortably in my hand.Blades: Norelco says to replace the blades once a year. I find this to be a good recommendation. I once went eighteen months on an older Norelco before buying new blades. The razor got to the point where it wasn't shaving very well. A new set of blades fixed the problem. Note: When you purchase a new set of Philips Norelco blades, they come with a matched set of slotted combs. Tip: I once purchased some cheaper third-party blades not made by Philips Norelco. That was a mistake. They didn't shave well at all. I returned them, and now I only buy genuine Philips Norelco blades. They’re more expensive, but they’re worth it. Look closely when buying replacement blades. Many third-party brands try to make you think you’re purchasing the genuine article. All of the genuine Philips Norelco blades that I’ve purchased were made in the Netherlands.Shave Wet or Dry: I like that I can use this razor wet or dry. When I want the closest possible shave, I first cover my face with a light layer of hair conditioner. It creates less drag too.Quality: The fit and finish of the razor is excellent. I found no nicks, scratches, or poorly fitted parts.Power Button Location: Some of my previous Norelco razors had the on/off button located right where your thumb grips the razor. While it was convenient, it meant that I sometimes accidentally turned the razor off when shaving. The power button on this razor has been moved a little lower on the housing. The location is not quite as convenient, but I’ve yet to turn the power off by accident.Day to Day Cleaning: For day to day cleaning, just flip open the top and hold the underside of the shaving head under hot running tap water (it's normal for water to drip from the bottom of the razor after rinsing).More Extensive Cleaning: Facial oil and hair (especially longer hair), will eventually accumulate in the blades and slotted combs that aren’t removed entirely by rinsing under hot water. Extensive cleaning requires that you remove the blades and combs from the shaving head. Norelco's previous design made reassembly of these parts a bit tricky. But the newer design of this razor makes the process much easier.Here's my cleaning process: Word to the wise. If you're going to do this in the bathroom, close the stopper in your sink. If you accidentally drop a blade or a comb in the sink, there’s a good chance it’ll fall down the drain, and you’ll have to disassemble your plumbing to retrieve the parts. 1. Flip open the top. There's a knob in the center of the retainer that holds the blades/combs in place. Twist the knob slightly and lift the retainer out. Note: Before continuing, it's important to remember that the blades and combs are matched sets. Do not mix different blades with different combs. 2. Remove the blades and combs from the shaving head. Soak them in some isopropyl alcohol for a couple of minutes. 3. Use a soft toothbrush to gently brush away any hair on the blades and combs. 4. When the blades and combs are clean, place each blade back in its matching comb, then place the combs back in the shaving head (it doesn't matter which comb goes where). 5. Set the retainer in place, and give the knob a slight twist to lock it in position (you can feel it lock in place). Note: If you can’t easily lock the retainer in place, or you’re having difficulty closing the shaving head, it most likely means that the retainer isn’t positioned and/or locked properly. I've used this cleaning method for decades, and it's worked well for me.Note: Some of Norelco's more expensive razors include a solvent-based cleaning system. I've used it, and I personally think it's not worth the extra cost.Charging Stand: This razor includes a charging stand. But I don’t like using them. When my razor needs to be charged, I simply plug the charging cord directly into the razor.Warranty: A two-year limited warranty is included. But understand that the warranty doesn't cover worn out blades. In addition, Philips Norelco offers a forty-five (45) day money back guarantee if you’re not happy with the razor (see owner’s manual for details).Dislikes: I have three complaints about this shaver:1. If you run out of juice before you're through shaving, you can't finish your shave by plugging it into a wall outlet (the included power cord is for charging the battery only). However, I find that if I charge the battery for just five minutes, it gives me enough of a charge to finish shaving. Pay attention to the orange flashing light on the body of the razor. It tells you that you’ve got less than five minutes of shaving time remaining.2. It wasn’t made in America. Sorry, but no American manufacturing jobs were created when you purchase this razor. I'd willingly pay more to see "Made in USA" on this shaver, but I know I'm in the minority. This razor was designed in the Netherlands and was made in Indonesia. All of my previous Norelco razors were made in the Netherlands.3. The pop-up trimmer is junk. Buy yourself a dedicated trimmer for your beard, mustache, and sideburns.My Review: I did not receive a free razor, any compensation, or any other free items from Norelco or Amazon for my review. My opinions are my own.

Excellent Shaver and the battery last a long time before having to recharge it. It provides a clean shave and easy to clean.

I like the ease of electric shavers. It's easy to do a quick clean up. When I used to get Norelco shavers decades ago, they didn't seem to work as well, not as close as a razor shave. But that was when my beard was coarse and dark. Now, as an older guy, my beard is white and probably thinner. Or it could also be that the shavers got better. Which it probably is because they are more powerful now and have rotating heads. In any case, I now get a good clean shave which appears to be as good as a razor shave.

One of the best electric shavers I have ever had. It was the first time I purchased this electric shaver from Philips, and I'm delighted. It works perfectly fine, is well-designed, easy to clean, reasonably quiet, and has a reasonable price. I will highly recommend the Philips electric shaver.

The razor itself does a good job at providing a smooth shave, even in those difficult places to reach on the philtrum right under the nose. However, I bought this razor only 11 months ago and after regular use (3 or 4 times a week) it no longer works. The battery continues to recharge but the motor itself will no longer turn the blades. However, it's performance was good enough, and the price was inexpensive enough compared to other options, that this time I purchased a 3-year extended warranty. The $9 3-year warranty was much less expensive than the $70 or so dollars I'd have to pay to replace it with the same product. Even with the warranty it still provides good value.

I liked the product, it works well, I recommend it! - my previous version lasted for years!