Best men's electric shaver Braun Series 7 760cc *Est. $210
Best rotary electric shaver Philips Norelco 8240XL *Est. $75
Wet/dry foil shaver Panasonic Vortex ES8109S *Est. $110
Best travel shaver Braun MobileShave M-90 *Est. $24

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Philips Norelco arcitec 1050X

Discontinued

Reviewed

June 2011

Pros

Comfortable, close shave
Pivoting shave heads
Easy to clean
Attractive design

Cons

Expensive
Ineffective trimmer
Noisy operation

Where to Buy

for $164.99

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Reviewers and owners have mostly good feedback about the Philips Norelco arcitec 1050X. A similar model, the Philips Norelco arctic 1060X (*Est. $180) differs only in color; the 1050X is black, and the 1060X is a white and silver combination. They say this is a striking-looking shaver with its carbon-fiber exterior and three protruding, pivoting heads. Reports say the Norelco arcitec electric shaver is very comfortable to use and that the pivoting heads cover a lot of ground. Each of the heads pops open individually and can be run under the tap for easy cleaning, too. The Philips Norelco arcitec 1050X and 1060X are the most basic shavers in the arcitec series, but experts say the main difference between these and pricier models, such as the Norelco arcitec 1090X (*Est. $215), is in the realm of bells, whistles and styling rather than shaving performance. Hence, the 1050X is a better value if the quality of the shave is most important to you. If you're in the market for a less expensive rotary shaver with more features, the Philips Norelco 8240XL (*Est. $75) could be worth a look.

Philips' line of Norelco arcitec rotary shavers -‑ including the 1050X ‑- have attracted a fair amount of attention at shaving and gadget sites. Though model numbers differ, Philips Norelco arcitec electric razors are also available in Britain, and several of those shavers have been reviewed by U.K. publications, including Which? and The Sunday Times. Philips Norelco arcitec razors also attract quite a few posts from owners at Amazon.com and Walmart.com. Unfortunately, the Philips Norelco arcitec 1050X is not tested in ConsumerReports.org's latest round of testing.

Where To Buy

Philips Norelco arcitec 1050 Men's Shaver

(239 reviews)
Buy new: $179.99 $164.99 10 New from $140.73

In Stock.

Our Sources

1. Which? magazineDetails/Subscribe

Which? is a British magazine similar to Consumer Reports. For this report, a panel of men try 16 electric shavers, both rotary and foil. A Philips Norelco arcitec shaver is awarded a Best Buy designation for its comfort and portability.

Review: Electric Shaver Reviews, Editors of Which? Magazine, Not dated

2. The Sunday Times (U.K.)

This article offers comparative ratings of six electric shavers that were tested informally. David Phelan says the arcitec shaves well in difficult areas, such as the curves of the neck, although it is uncomfortable at some angles. He says using the long-hair trimmer is inconvenient.

Review: Test Bench: Electric Shavers, Alex Pell and David Phelan, Jan. 20, 2008

3. 3Luxe.com

The Philips Norelco arcitec 1090X is listed as one of the top three electric shavers at 3Luxe.com, where editors praise it for providing a close shave without having to go over the same spot numerous times. The 1090X is the top-of-the-line arcitec model, but reviewers say the 1050X shaves equally well.

Review: Norelco Arcitec 1090X, Editors of 3Luxe.com

4. Amazon.com

At Amazon.com, the Philips Norelco arcitec 1050X draws comments from about 230 owners with widely divergent opinions about the quality of the shave. Overall, it receives a middling average rating of 3 stars out of 5. The styling is attractive to most, and many say the unit is comfortable in the hand because it is small and lightweight, but the trimmer gets lots of criticism for delivering a slow, harsh shave.

Review: Philips Norelco Arcitec 1050 Men's Shaver, Contributors to Amazon.com

5. Walmart.com

The Philips Norelco Arcitec 1050X earns more favorable feedback than that found on Amazon.com, with an average rating of 4 stars out of 5 in more than 55 reviews. Most owners are impressed with the battery life, but some expected a closer shave.

Review: Philips Norelco Arcitec Razor, 1050X/20, Contributors to Walmart.com

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