Philips Norelco arcitec 1050X

Reviewers and owners mostly say good things about the Philips Norelco arcitec 1050X. They say this is a striking-looking shaver, with its carbon-fiber exterior and three protruding, pivoting heads. Reports say that the arcitec shaver is a very comfortable shaver and that the pivoting heads cover a lot of ground. The shaver is also easy to clean because each of the heads pops open individually and can be run under the tap. The 1050X is the most basic shaver in the arcitec series, but experts say the difference between it and pricier models -- such as the Philips Norelco arcitec 1090X (*Est. $215) -- is in the realm of bells, whistles and styling rather than shaving performance. If you are in the market for a less expensive rotary shaver, the Philips Norelco 8020X Moisturizing Shaving System (*Est. $80) could be worth a look.

Philips Norelco arcitec rotary shavers -- including the 1050X -- have attracted a fair amount of attention at shaving and gadget sites. The shaver is included in ConsumerReports.org's roundup of foil and rotary shavers. Though model numbers differ, the arcitec shavers are also available in Britain, and several of those razors 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.