Philips Norelco 8140XL SpeedXL Men's Shaver
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List Price: Our Price: $128.00 You Save: $11.99 (9%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Health Care See more product details |
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Customer Reviews of Philips Norelco 8140XL SpeedXL Men's Shaver
Customer Review: Test of time: Aced!
Summary: 5 Stars
According to my Amazon's purchase records, I bought this shaver back in June 2008 and I've used it almost exclusively up until recently when it was replaced by a Philips Norelco arcitec 1050 Men's Shaver not because it stopped working but because the Arcitec was on sale for a price where it made more sense to buy a brand-new shaver than to replace the old SpeedXL's shaving heads. As of now, the SpeedXL is still in perfect working order and it's likely to be one of my kids first shavers when they are going to need a first shaver (soon).
I am writing this only to testify to the quality of this product. I had no problems with it whatsoever, it never let me down, the battery still holds enough charge for maybe half a dozen shaves, runs as silently as on day one and it's a near-zero maintenance item, requiring nothing beyond the heads cleaning after each shave by placing them under the faucet. The one issue I had was that the skin on my neck got irritated from time to time but it was never anything major that wouldn't go away after a few hours.
Si, it's goodbye to the SpeedXL for me (hello Arcitec) but it's not this shaver's end of career. It's going to be in service, again, in about a year or two, who knows for how much longer :)
Customer Review: Close shave but can bite.
Summary: 3 Stars
The New Speed XL systems work ok but remember, this is very subjective as faces differ. I've tested several of the Speed Xl series and found them all adequate provided I don't press too firmly. They can quickly irritate the skin or actually cut. Not sensitive skin friendly by any means. This shaver has 3 rows of rotating blades which cut perfectly well but don't do as well as a good foil shaver in my case, even after the 21 day recommended break in period. You might need that much time to adjust but you'll know up front how any shaver will perform new as it is the sharpest. There is a lot of plastic and cheap feel but the heads and motor seem well built. I compared this shaver to my Panasonic pro curve linear and Braun activator. Both shavers did much better overall than the Norelco. The Braun is decent but the head quality is not the best. The Panasonic, on the other hand, did very well and seemed much better in quality. There's nothing really wrong with the Norelco and I can recommend it if you must have a rotary. If you don't, the Panasonic is the best going. Meanwhile the Norelco must be used with care and they're a bit pricey. Make sure to stock up on Remington's shaver saver spray. It sharpens and lubes the heads of any good shaver and lengthens life of the head. As always, follow the directions.Customer Review: Takes 60+ Days for a Great Shave
Summary: 5 Stars
I used a Norelco Quadra 6865XL for several years. It took 30 to 40 days before the razor (or my skin) adjusted to give a good shave. The Speed XL takes longer.
I tried a Spectra. Was as good as the Quadra. However, the plastic cap would not stay in place. And the shaver head detached and flew off when I pushed the release button. The Quadra was worse -- the cutters would drop out during cleaning. Speed XL does not suffer from either problem. The plastic cap fits very well. And the cutters stay firmly in place. The motor is very quiet and, initially, I felt the blades were too slow. Be patient, the shaver works very well.
I have an average beard and it took 15+ minutes for a good shave. It dropped to 10 mintes in 4+ weeks and now, at 3+ months, it takes 7 minutes. The shave is particularly close on the chin (despite a cleft) and moustache. The clipper is quieter and nick free, compared with the Quadra.
The design of the carrying case is brilliant. I wish I had done it. Small and perfect for inter-continental trips, as it packs easily into a briefcase.
The charging stand takes too much space in the bathroom. I plug the wall wart into the shaver when needed; improves battery life and is eco-friendly, as the charger is unplugged between charges.
Customer Review: Had to switch to electric...
Summary: 4 Stars
I had to switch to an electric razor due to irritation caused by using a blade. I wasn't thrilled about it, knowing that an electric will NEVER give as close a shave as a blade. This did indeed prove to be true, however, I will give this razor more credit than I thought I would. It is extremely lightweight and quiet. Cleaning it couldn't be simpler, simply rinse under hot water. Charging and simple maintenance are both as easy as cleaning it. As others have said, it will give a good, close shave on the cheeks and other broad flat areas. On the neck, especially under the chin/between the Adam's apple area and either side, it is lacking. I go in different directions, and gently pull the skin, etc. and still I can't it as close as I want. That said, however, it is convenient to shave with an electric. The manufacturer claims that the shaving head should be changed once a year. Since the hair on my face is closer to the wire bristles you'd find on a wheel mounted to a grinder instead of hair on a person's face, I figure changing them twice a year will be a better idea for myself. All in all I'm satisfied with this item, and the price I paid for it. I rated it four stars because this is my first experience with an electric so I don't know what would constitute a five star product.Customer Review: Great Razor but "Automatic Charging" IS NOT Automatic
Summary: 4 Stars
This is my first electric razer since shaving with a blade for the past 20+ years. I really like the convenience of shaving without cream, water, etc. The razor is nice and light and is very comfortable shaving. With a little practice, it gives a nice, clean shave. So far, I have not required any pre or post shaving lotion/cream to stay comfortable. It's also very easy to clean the heads..just put them under running water and out comes the hair. My only gripe is the "automatic charging" claim. Everytime you want to charge the razor, you have to plug it in. They recommend unplugging the charger when not in use because it shortens the battery life otherwise. It would be nice if you could just leave it plugged in and forget about it. However, so far it recharges very quickly, only taking about 15 minutes 1x/week and the "full charge" blinky light tells you when to unplug it. A previous review reported using it for 3 weeks without charging. If you run the battery dead, it takes only 3 minutes charging for 1 shave, so you don't have to worry about the charge state too much. Besides that one gripe, it's a great razor and I highly recommend it. While shaving with a blade I was skipping days because of the hassle. Now it's a shave every day, and I actually look forward to shaving!