Philips Series 9000 SkinIQ Shaver
The Philips Shaver Series 9000 Wet & Dry Electric Shaver with SkinIQ (S9985/50) is engineered for those who demand the very best in shaving precision, comfort, and smart technology. This premium shaver combines AI-powered SkinIQ technology with Philips’ most advanced blade system, delivering a shave so close it cuts at skin level — even on five-day beards — while protecting sensitive skin. Its standout Lift & Cut system gently lifts each hair before cutting it right at skin level (up to 0.00 mm), delivering unmatched closeness without the blades ever directly touching your skin. The Dual SteelPrecision blades perform an astonishing 150,000 cutting actions per minute, capturing hairs growing in any direction thanks to 360-degree rotating action. The built-in Pressure Guard Sensor gives real-time feedback to ensure you apply optimal pressure for the perfect balance between closeness and comfort. Fully flexible 360° heads follow every contour of your face, and the Motion Control sensor (linked via Bluetooth to the GroomTribe app) helps refine your shaving technique with personalised insights. The shaver includes the Quick Clean Pod for fast, deep cleaning, an integrated pop-up trimmer for detailing, and a protective travel case — all powered by a long-lasting lithium-ion battery with 60 minutes of cordless use.
The Philips Shaver Series 9000 Wet & Dry Electric Shaver with SkinIQ (S9985/50) is engineered for those who demand the very best in shaving precision, comfort, and smart technology. This premium shaver combines AI-powered SkinIQ technology with Philips’ most advanced blade system, delivering a shave so close it cuts at skin level — even on five-day beards — while protecting sensitive skin. Its standout Lift & Cut system gently lifts each hair before cutting it right at skin level (up to 0.00 mm), delivering unmatched closeness without the blades ever directly touching your skin. The Dual SteelPrecision blades perform an astonishing 150,000 cutting actions per minute, capturing hairs growing in any direction thanks to 360-degree rotating action. The built-in Pressure Guard Sensor gives real-time feedback to ensure you apply optimal pressure for the perfect balance between closeness and comfort. Fully flexible 360° heads follow every contour of your face, and the Motion Control sensor (linked via Bluetooth to the GroomTribe app) helps refine your shaving technique with personalised insights. The shaver includes the Quick Clean Pod for fast, deep cleaning, an integrated pop-up trimmer for detailing, and a protective travel case — all powered by a long-lasting lithium-ion battery with 60 minutes of cordless use.
The Philips Shaver Series 9000 Wet & Dry Electric Shaver with SkinIQ (S9985/50) is engineered for those who demand the very best in shaving precision, comfort, and smart technology. This premium shaver combines AI-powered SkinIQ technology with Philips’ most advanced blade system, delivering a shave so close it cuts at skin level — even on five-day beards — while protecting sensitive skin. Its standout Lift & Cut system gently lifts each hair before cutting it right at skin level (up to 0.00 mm), delivering unmatched closeness without the blades ever directly touching your skin. The Dual SteelPrecision blades perform an astonishing 150,000 cutting actions per minute, capturing hairs growing in any direction thanks to 360-degree rotating action. The built-in Pressure Guard Sensor gives real-time feedback to ensure you apply optimal pressure for the perfect balance between closeness and comfort. Fully flexible 360° heads follow every contour of your face, and the Motion Control sensor (linked via Bluetooth to the GroomTribe app) helps refine your shaving technique with personalised insights. The shaver includes the Quick Clean Pod for fast, deep cleaning, an integrated pop-up trimmer for detailing, and a protective travel case — all powered by a long-lasting lithium-ion battery with 60 minutes of cordless use.
The Philips Shaver Series 9000 Wet & Dry Electric Shaver with SkinIQ (S9985/50) is engineered for those who demand the very best in shaving precision, comfort, and smart technology. This premium shaver combines AI-powered SkinIQ technology with Philips’ most advanced blade system, delivering a shave so close it cuts at skin level — even on five-day beards — while protecting sensitive skin. Its standout Lift & Cut system gently lifts each hair before cutting it right at skin level (up to 0.00 mm), delivering unmatched closeness without the blades ever directly touching your skin. The Dual SteelPrecision blades perform an astonishing 150,000 cutting actions per minute, capturing hairs growing in any direction thanks to 360-degree rotating action. The built-in Pressure Guard Sensor gives real-time feedback to ensure you apply optimal pressure for the perfect balance between closeness and comfort. Fully flexible 360° heads follow every contour of your face, and the Motion Control sensor (linked via Bluetooth to the GroomTribe app) helps refine your shaving technique with personalised insights. The shaver includes the Quick Clean Pod for fast, deep cleaning, an integrated pop-up trimmer for detailing, and a protective travel case — all powered by a long-lasting lithium-ion battery with 60 minutes of cordless use.
in 6 offers
The lowest price for Philips Series 9000 SkinIQ Shaver right now is $299.00 at Harvey Norman, compared across 6 retailers.
The all-time low was $124.95 on 27 Nov 2025 — today's price is 139% above the lowest ever. It has been notably cheaper before — worth setting a price alert.
Prices last updated 8 June 2026.
Last updated at 08/06/2026 14:17:32
Philips Shaver Series 9000 with SkinIQ Technology - Chrome
Philips Shaver Series 9000 SkinIQ
Free delivery between 15–18 June
Philips Shaver Series 9000 SkinIQ
Delivery between 11–23 June $10
Philips Shaver Series 9000 SkinIQ - Chrome Silver
120-day returns
Philips Shaver Series 9000 SkinIQ Chrome Silver - S9985/50
Free delivery between Thu – Mon
Philips Shaver Series 9000 SkinIQ
Free 30-day returns
originally posted on philips.co.uk
If you like disco lights and bluetooth app connectivity instead of quality shaving, this is the device for you. If you want a premium quality shave then buy something else.I'm used to having shavers lasting quite some years, also, this is not my first Philips shaver experience. I thought purchasing a such high priced "premium" product would bring a premium quality shave but sadly the reality is different and I should have taken more heed of negative reviews prior to purchase.The product is badly designed and engineered - Like most people, I do not have squared corners on my face or a gap around the edges to where my hair grows yet the head has squared angles around the outside and several mm from the edge to the cutting heads. This can be seen in the picture but ... MoreIf you like disco lights and bluetooth app connectivity instead of quality shaving, this is the device for you. If you want a premium quality shave then buy something else.I'm used to having shavers lasting quite some years, also, this is not my first Philips shaver experience. I thought purchasing a such high priced "premium" product would bring a premium quality shave but sadly the reality is different and I should have taken more heed of negative reviews prior to purchase.The product is badly designed and engineered - Like most people, I do not have squared corners on my face or a gap around the edges to where my hair grows yet the head has squared angles around the outside and several mm from the edge to the cutting heads. This can be seen in the picture but you naturally assume it has been engineered in such a way as to not be a practical issue.The sound effects, display, disco lights and bluetooth are simply an environmentally damaging waste of energy. Unnecessarily bluetooth is always on unless the unit is put in lock mode instead of being able to be activated only when you want to connect to the app.Whilst there is a travel case, there is no protection cover for the head so it is unprotected when on the Charging Stand. At least you can wash it if it gets dusty/similar.The Quick-Clean Pod system is obviously value engineered to very low quality and one wonders if it is better than rinsing the head in some soapy water. After taking the thick plastic lid off the Cleaning Cartridge, despite being careful, the foiled top failed to peel off as the plastic backing peeled off it instead (If you have arthritis or grip issues this would be very hard to try to peel). You'd expect, being so robust, the screw lid should be for use as a waterproof, protective and dust cover for the pod or similar but it appears to just be wasted whilst there is no cover for the pod.There is much dark coloured plastic without type identification which must cause a recycling problem for the waste lids or at end of life of other parts.The paper instruction illustrations supplied with the product are most unclear and even numbered wrongly in one place.Shaving quality doesn't appear any better than much cheaper shavers.As, save reviews, there doesn't appear to be an official feedback route, we can only hope Philips will take note of the design flaws then change and improve engineering and sustainability of future products.
originally posted on philips.co.uk
Philips 9000I have been using Philips shavers for half a century now, and even when I have occasionally tried an alternative I always return to them.My previous shaver was the 9000 Prestige, so that is my main point of comparison, and I have been using this new model for two months so this review is more than an initial reaction.It improves on the Prestige in a number of respects, not least the charging method. I could never see the point of the ‘wireless’ charger of the Prestige, which itself had to be plugged in and was really quite large and unsuitable for travelling, leaving me once without its use when we were locked down abroad at the start of the pandemic and I had not taken the charger. This newer model has a much smaller wired charging stand which ... MorePhilips 9000I have been using Philips shavers for half a century now, and even when I have occasionally tried an alternative I always return to them.My previous shaver was the 9000 Prestige, so that is my main point of comparison, and I have been using this new model for two months so this review is more than an initial reaction.It improves on the Prestige in a number of respects, not least the charging method. I could never see the point of the ‘wireless’ charger of the Prestige, which itself had to be plugged in and was really quite large and unsuitable for travelling, leaving me once without its use when we were locked down abroad at the start of the pandemic and I had not taken the charger. This newer model has a much smaller wired charging stand which charges the shaver in about an hour, compared with the 3 hours the wireless one took. A full charge gives about 100 minutes of shaving which lasts me a little over 3 weeks.You can use it wet or dry, and I find I get a better shave using it wet with soap, but for a quick trim before maybe going out of an evening a dry run over is OK.Lights below the head indicate whether you are pressing too hard or too softly on your face, or just right. I soon found my pressure was OK and so switched this feature off, but it is useful to get started with.The cleaning station is an improvement over earlier Philips versions as it is independent of charging the shaver and does not itself need to be plugged in.Philips have returned to a flip out long hair trimmer on the back of the shaver, rather than having to replace the shaving head with a trimmer as with the Prestige.A weakness is that there is rather a lot of surround of the actual cutters on the shaving head, and this makes it difficult to get into tight places such as under the nose, so you have to use the trimmer to shave that area.Then there is the App. Well, I suppose everything has to have an App these days, so you can’t blame Philips for trying, but if they think I am going to stand in a steaming bathroom over a sink of hot water with a shaver in one hand and my phone in the other, well…But in the end this is a new model and not particularly cheap (depending on what offer you might get), so the main question has to be, does it give a better shave?The answer, for me at least, is yes, but only just. The 9000 Prestige was a quantum leap from its predecessor, and while this does improve on that, it is only marginal. But then that is the law of diminishing returns and Philips have now reached a point where improvements are incremental rather than game changing. Overall though I do recommend this shaver as Philips’ best shaver yet.
originally posted on philips.com.au
This shaver gets 4 stars for closeness of shave and comfortability as it gives minimal or no shaving rash and is easy to clean, but 3 stars overall as it fails in some important areas.Due to the chunky head design with a rather thickish square edge profile, it is difficult to cut the hairs directly under my nose to a close finish like the rest of my face.This shaver head design consists of 3 largish Pentagon shapes with thick chunky square edges, rather than the conventional rounded and slim cutter head body shapes found on the early 9000 series and latest lower series.As a result there is too much distance between the cutter edge and the Cutting head body, limiting how close you can get to the noes, nostrils and ears etc.Adding to this issue ,is the Coarser ... MoreThis shaver gets 4 stars for closeness of shave and comfortability as it gives minimal or no shaving rash and is easy to clean, but 3 stars overall as it fails in some important areas.Due to the chunky head design with a rather thickish square edge profile, it is difficult to cut the hairs directly under my nose to a close finish like the rest of my face.This shaver head design consists of 3 largish Pentagon shapes with thick chunky square edges, rather than the conventional rounded and slim cutter head body shapes found on the early 9000 series and latest lower series.As a result there is too much distance between the cutter edge and the Cutting head body, limiting how close you can get to the noes, nostrils and ears etc.Adding to this issue ,is the Coarser Trimmer cutter found on this new 9000 series ,which seems less effective than my old 9000 RQ1250, making it difficult to trim facial hair under the nose as well.On close inspection of my old 9000 series RQ1250, the shaver definately has a finer trimmer allowing for a closer cut!I find the new 9000 series body unnecessarily large as well to hold and doesn't sit as nicely in the hand as the my old RQ1250 9000 series.On a positive note, the shaver head flips open nicely to allow easy cleaning ,and is a nice touch.Other nice but gimmicky features are the new visual pressure light indicator and digital battery percentage readout.The cleaning pod was an added bonus that came with this purchase but i wonder how pricey refils will be.Battery life seems good but does it compare to my 10 years plus old RQ1250, which still has its original battery.....we shall see!Overall , the shaver was expensive considering its added issues and i seriously wonder if i can interchange the Shaver head for a more streamlined , conventional rounded head model???See added pictures for comparisons and possible explanations of worrying differences between old 9000 series and new.
| Product dimensions | 7.3 x 6.8 x 18 cm; 1 Kilograms |
| Country of origin | Netherlands |
| Special feature | Wet, dry |
| Power source | Battery Powered |
| Blade material | Alloy Steel |
Philips Shaver Series 9000 with SkinIQ Technology - Chrome
Philips Shaver Series 9000 SkinIQ
Free delivery between 15–18 June
Philips Shaver Series 9000 SkinIQ
Delivery between 11–23 June $10
Philips Shaver Series 9000 SkinIQ - Chrome Silver
120-day returns
Philips Shaver Series 9000 SkinIQ Chrome Silver - S9985/50
Free delivery between Thu – Mon
If you like disco lights and bluetooth app connectivity instead of quality shaving, this is the device for you. If you want a premium quality shave then buy something else.I'm used to having shavers lasting quite some years, also, this is not my first Philips shaver experience. I thought purchasing a such high priced "premium" product would bring a premium quality shave but sadly the reality is different and I should have taken more heed of negative reviews prior to purchase.The product is badly designed and engineered - Like most people, I do not have squared corners on my face or a gap around the edges to where my hair grows yet the head has squared angles around the outside and several mm from the edge to the cutting heads. This can be seen in the picture but ... MoreIf you like disco lights and bluetooth app connectivity instead of quality shaving, this is the device for you. If you want a premium quality shave then buy something else.I'm used to having shavers lasting quite some years, also, this is not my first Philips shaver experience. I thought purchasing a such high priced "premium" product would bring a premium quality shave but sadly the reality is different and I should have taken more heed of negative reviews prior to purchase.The product is badly designed and engineered - Like most people, I do not have squared corners on my face or a gap around the edges to where my hair grows yet the head has squared angles around the outside and several mm from the edge to the cutting heads. This can be seen in the picture but you naturally assume it has been engineered in such a way as to not be a practical issue.The sound effects, display, disco lights and bluetooth are simply an environmentally damaging waste of energy. Unnecessarily bluetooth is always on unless the unit is put in lock mode instead of being able to be activated only when you want to connect to the app.Whilst there is a travel case, there is no protection cover for the head so it is unprotected when on the Charging Stand. At least you can wash it if it gets dusty/similar.The Quick-Clean Pod system is obviously value engineered to very low quality and one wonders if it is better than rinsing the head in some soapy water. After taking the thick plastic lid off the Cleaning Cartridge, despite being careful, the foiled top failed to peel off as the plastic backing peeled off it instead (If you have arthritis or grip issues this would be very hard to try to peel). You'd expect, being so robust, the screw lid should be for use as a waterproof, protective and dust cover for the pod or similar but it appears to just be wasted whilst there is no cover for the pod.There is much dark coloured plastic without type identification which must cause a recycling problem for the waste lids or at end of life of other parts.The paper instruction illustrations supplied with the product are most unclear and even numbered wrongly in one place.Shaving quality doesn't appear any better than much cheaper shavers.As, save reviews, there doesn't appear to be an official feedback route, we can only hope Philips will take note of the design flaws then change and improve engineering and sustainability of future products.
Philips 9000I have been using Philips shavers for half a century now, and even when I have occasionally tried an alternative I always return to them.My previous shaver was the 9000 Prestige, so that is my main point of comparison, and I have been using this new model for two months so this review is more than an initial reaction.It improves on the Prestige in a number of respects, not least the charging method. I could never see the point of the ‘wireless’ charger of the Prestige, which itself had to be plugged in and was really quite large and unsuitable for travelling, leaving me once without its use when we were locked down abroad at the start of the pandemic and I had not taken the charger. This newer model has a much smaller wired charging stand which ... MorePhilips 9000I have been using Philips shavers for half a century now, and even when I have occasionally tried an alternative I always return to them.My previous shaver was the 9000 Prestige, so that is my main point of comparison, and I have been using this new model for two months so this review is more than an initial reaction.It improves on the Prestige in a number of respects, not least the charging method. I could never see the point of the ‘wireless’ charger of the Prestige, which itself had to be plugged in and was really quite large and unsuitable for travelling, leaving me once without its use when we were locked down abroad at the start of the pandemic and I had not taken the charger. This newer model has a much smaller wired charging stand which charges the shaver in about an hour, compared with the 3 hours the wireless one took. A full charge gives about 100 minutes of shaving which lasts me a little over 3 weeks.You can use it wet or dry, and I find I get a better shave using it wet with soap, but for a quick trim before maybe going out of an evening a dry run over is OK.Lights below the head indicate whether you are pressing too hard or too softly on your face, or just right. I soon found my pressure was OK and so switched this feature off, but it is useful to get started with.The cleaning station is an improvement over earlier Philips versions as it is independent of charging the shaver and does not itself need to be plugged in.Philips have returned to a flip out long hair trimmer on the back of the shaver, rather than having to replace the shaving head with a trimmer as with the Prestige.A weakness is that there is rather a lot of surround of the actual cutters on the shaving head, and this makes it difficult to get into tight places such as under the nose, so you have to use the trimmer to shave that area.Then there is the App. Well, I suppose everything has to have an App these days, so you can’t blame Philips for trying, but if they think I am going to stand in a steaming bathroom over a sink of hot water with a shaver in one hand and my phone in the other, well…But in the end this is a new model and not particularly cheap (depending on what offer you might get), so the main question has to be, does it give a better shave?The answer, for me at least, is yes, but only just. The 9000 Prestige was a quantum leap from its predecessor, and while this does improve on that, it is only marginal. But then that is the law of diminishing returns and Philips have now reached a point where improvements are incremental rather than game changing. Overall though I do recommend this shaver as Philips’ best shaver yet.
This shaver gets 4 stars for closeness of shave and comfortability as it gives minimal or no shaving rash and is easy to clean, but 3 stars overall as it fails in some important areas.Due to the chunky head design with a rather thickish square edge profile, it is difficult to cut the hairs directly under my nose to a close finish like the rest of my face.This shaver head design consists of 3 largish Pentagon shapes with thick chunky square edges, rather than the conventional rounded and slim cutter head body shapes found on the early 9000 series and latest lower series.As a result there is too much distance between the cutter edge and the Cutting head body, limiting how close you can get to the noes, nostrils and ears etc.Adding to this issue ,is the Coarser ... MoreThis shaver gets 4 stars for closeness of shave and comfortability as it gives minimal or no shaving rash and is easy to clean, but 3 stars overall as it fails in some important areas.Due to the chunky head design with a rather thickish square edge profile, it is difficult to cut the hairs directly under my nose to a close finish like the rest of my face.This shaver head design consists of 3 largish Pentagon shapes with thick chunky square edges, rather than the conventional rounded and slim cutter head body shapes found on the early 9000 series and latest lower series.As a result there is too much distance between the cutter edge and the Cutting head body, limiting how close you can get to the noes, nostrils and ears etc.Adding to this issue ,is the Coarser Trimmer cutter found on this new 9000 series ,which seems less effective than my old 9000 RQ1250, making it difficult to trim facial hair under the nose as well.On close inspection of my old 9000 series RQ1250, the shaver definately has a finer trimmer allowing for a closer cut!I find the new 9000 series body unnecessarily large as well to hold and doesn't sit as nicely in the hand as the my old RQ1250 9000 series.On a positive note, the shaver head flips open nicely to allow easy cleaning ,and is a nice touch.Other nice but gimmicky features are the new visual pressure light indicator and digital battery percentage readout.The cleaning pod was an added bonus that came with this purchase but i wonder how pricey refils will be.Battery life seems good but does it compare to my 10 years plus old RQ1250, which still has its original battery.....we shall see!Overall , the shaver was expensive considering its added issues and i seriously wonder if i can interchange the Shaver head for a more streamlined , conventional rounded head model???See added pictures for comparisons and possible explanations of worrying differences between old 9000 series and new.
Historically I used a series 9 Braun but the sound and cleaner times (and sound) made it difficult when I use in morning and family asleep. The shave is consistently closer than the older 7000 series Philips. The irritation and shaver effectiveness is amazing. Shaving every day has no problem- I use 'lecteic shave to reduce irritation while I used to shave every other day because of this. I also use the shaver on my head, and say it works much better than Braun did. I do not repeat back and forth over the same sections. The pop up trimmer is okay for light sideburns or over the ears. But will not work on hair trimming. Surprisingly the shaver can cut four days of hair growth on my head or face-you just have to rinse the shaver head as hair builds up. Impressive ... MoreHistorically I used a series 9 Braun but the sound and cleaner times (and sound) made it difficult when I use in morning and family asleep. The shave is consistently closer than the older 7000 series Philips. The irritation and shaver effectiveness is amazing. Shaving every day has no problem- I use 'lecteic shave to reduce irritation while I used to shave every other day because of this. I also use the shaver on my head, and say it works much better than Braun did. I do not repeat back and forth over the same sections. The pop up trimmer is okay for light sideburns or over the ears. But will not work on hair trimming. Surprisingly the shaver can cut four days of hair growth on my head or face-you just have to rinse the shaver head as hair builds up. Impressive shaver and glad I gave this a try. Much quieter and pleasant to use.
I took advantage of the sale and picked up a 9800 series.Packaging is good, not impressive like buying a new iPhone or Samsung to the unboxing experience felt less exciting considering the purchase price.Accessories. This unit came with a charging stand, travel case, brush, cleaning pod and cleaning solution. I am impressed with the cleaning pod and solution but it only lasts 30 shaves. Charger is plastic and feels it.The shaver. Let’s get the biggest con out of the way. Shaving around the nose is tricky due to the design but after a few goes you’ll figure it out. Using the shaver with the app has been very useful. It give clear advice and if you follow it you’ll get a great shave. Lights to guide you are super useful to avoid razor burn. Economics of the ... MoreI took advantage of the sale and picked up a 9800 series.Packaging is good, not impressive like buying a new iPhone or Samsung to the unboxing experience felt less exciting considering the purchase price.Accessories. This unit came with a charging stand, travel case, brush, cleaning pod and cleaning solution. I am impressed with the cleaning pod and solution but it only lasts 30 shaves. Charger is plastic and feels it.The shaver. Let’s get the biggest con out of the way. Shaving around the nose is tricky due to the design but after a few goes you’ll figure it out. Using the shaver with the app has been very useful. It give clear advice and if you follow it you’ll get a great shave. Lights to guide you are super useful to avoid razor burn. Economics of the shaver it is very comfortable to hold and use. It allows for quick movements and rotating motions to give you the best shape possible. Personal note dry shaving after cleansing is the way to use this product.The app. It’s a must have especially in the first three weeks. During this bedding in period to allow the skin to get used to the new shaver from your previous razor. The articles to read and assist you in looking after your face and to get the close shave are amazing. I never knew I was doing it wrong and now I have a perfect experience and little to no razor burn or ingrown hair.All in all I recommend this shaver to anyone but the winning difference is the app and the guidance it provides the user. These things together make the series 9800 a great buy. Glad I jumped to electric.
I've had several Philips shavers and all of them have provided an excellent shave. This new model is the Rolls Royce of them all however. Best of all, the new design is really robust. I like the fact that the head of the shaving unit flips open so you can clean it yourself very easily just by running it under a hot tap or dipping the shaver head in a shallow basin of warm water. I also like that it comes with a newly designed quick cleaning mechanism that uses Philips cartridges. The cleaning device runs off the shaver itself and cleans it in under a minute. To dry the unit all you need do is flip the head open and it dries itself remarkably quickly. It's all down to the shaver's brilliant design. The shaver has various high tech features such as a pressure sensor ... MoreI've had several Philips shavers and all of them have provided an excellent shave. This new model is the Rolls Royce of them all however. Best of all, the new design is really robust. I like the fact that the head of the shaving unit flips open so you can clean it yourself very easily just by running it under a hot tap or dipping the shaver head in a shallow basin of warm water. I also like that it comes with a newly designed quick cleaning mechanism that uses Philips cartridges. The cleaning device runs off the shaver itself and cleans it in under a minute. To dry the unit all you need do is flip the head open and it dries itself remarkably quickly. It's all down to the shaver's brilliant design. The shaver has various high tech features such as a pressure sensor that connects to both coloured lights in the shaver head that indicate the pressure you're using and report it to a smartphone App. You can actually track how effectively you've been using the shaver like this. I've been using the shaver for a month now and am delighted with it.
I've had roughly the previous 5 generations of the top of the line Philips shavers so I feel I have some good experience when writing this review. I did NOT buy the previous 9000, on account of the fact they had the ridiculously pointless wireless charging. Thankfully Philips saw the error of that gimmick and have re-introduced FAST charging that they nailed down to 1 hour - so I went for this!To the first most glaring new addition - the LED "SkinIQ". This I honestly believe is merely a gimmick, and I have switched the LED off. If you're paying this much, chances are that you've bought previous Philips shavers, so you'll already know how to shave effectively with them. But this generation is far more than just a gimmick - it is a radical new design, and not just ... MoreI've had roughly the previous 5 generations of the top of the line Philips shavers so I feel I have some good experience when writing this review. I did NOT buy the previous 9000, on account of the fact they had the ridiculously pointless wireless charging. Thankfully Philips saw the error of that gimmick and have re-introduced FAST charging that they nailed down to 1 hour - so I went for this!To the first most glaring new addition - the LED "SkinIQ". This I honestly believe is merely a gimmick, and I have switched the LED off. If you're paying this much, chances are that you've bought previous Philips shavers, so you'll already know how to shave effectively with them. But this generation is far more than just a gimmick - it is a radical new design, and not just with the shaver itself.When I first saw the plastic surrounds around the shaving heads, I again instantly thought "gimmick". However, when I thought about the design, it seems that they're designed to encase the shaver heads completely, and possibly protect them from staining and possibly even damage from shaving gel - which for me is perfect because I CANNOT dry shave comfortably as my skin is horribly sensitive.The next extremely welcome design change is the re-introduction of the flip up side burns trimmer. I saw many comments from Philips users bemoaning the removal of this in the previous couple of generations and I completely agreed with them. This is a really welcome return - but it might be the cause of the one downside to the design - and that is that the position of the power button has been raised higher - to pretty much exactly where your thumb rests holding the shaver when shaving with it. This is going to take some getting used to.Another radical redesign is the cleaning station - which is now a "pod". So radical, in fact, that the cleaning pod does not even need a separate power supply - instead you plonk the shaver into it and press the power button on the shaver!The display on the shaver looks like something from a sci-fi film now - I LOVE it. But don't think it's all style - this shaver is very much substance.The shave itself is comfortable, and the performance is strong. Of course it misses hairs at times - there is no shaver on the planet that won't - and anyone who tries to suggest otherwise is being economical with the truth. The trick is to take note of the areas you're still finding hairs after the shave, and pay extra attention to those next time around.All in all, this is the best package Philips has ever done with the 9000 series. The cleaning solution is great because it's space saving, and fast. The return of the sideburns trimmer, the dropping of the wireless charging gimmick and return to the 1 hour charging that we all love. Philips do not make the best of EVERY product, but in shaving I honestly believe that they are unrivalled. And I HAVE tried the rivals.
I also have a Braun Series 9 for context. I wanted to try the Philips S9987 as the Braun pulled beard hairs when shaving next to my beard (they would get trapped in between joints in the shaver). The Philips definitely doesn't do this. My issues with the Philips is that the pressure sensor sweet spot is really hard to stay in. I'm always going too hard apparently when following contours. The shave is patchy when my stubble is longer and means I have to go over it more than once to get my skin smooth. The biggest nuisance is that unlike the Braun the cleaning station and charging station are separate and there is no dryer either. This means I can't just put the shaver onto charge, press a button and have it cleaned, dried and charged. I have to instead clean it in ... MoreI also have a Braun Series 9 for context. I wanted to try the Philips S9987 as the Braun pulled beard hairs when shaving next to my beard (they would get trapped in between joints in the shaver). The Philips definitely doesn't do this. My issues with the Philips is that the pressure sensor sweet spot is really hard to stay in. I'm always going too hard apparently when following contours. The shave is patchy when my stubble is longer and means I have to go over it more than once to get my skin smooth. The biggest nuisance is that unlike the Braun the cleaning station and charging station are separate and there is no dryer either. This means I can't just put the shaver onto charge, press a button and have it cleaned, dried and charged. I have to instead clean it in one place, leave it to drip dry for some time then remember to put it on charge later in the day. It's a faff and unnecessary.
I've been shaving with Philips Norelco shavers for many decades and have had all the flagship shavers including the James Bond and the Smart Touch XL and currently own the AT830, 8900 series and the 9721 shaver with cleaning station. I tell you this so that you are aware that I know a thing or two about Philips shavers.I'll concentrate solely on the shaver itself since my previous review was declined. The shaver's handle is squarish and non-ergonomic making it difficult to hold for anyone (like myself) with arthritic hands. Unlike the Prestige or the older 9000 series (i.e. 9700 and 9300) that were contoured, this handle is simply long and uncomfortable to hold and maneuver. Secondly, the heads are squared off making it difficult to shave under the nose and under ... MoreI've been shaving with Philips Norelco shavers for many decades and have had all the flagship shavers including the James Bond and the Smart Touch XL and currently own the AT830, 8900 series and the 9721 shaver with cleaning station. I tell you this so that you are aware that I know a thing or two about Philips shavers.I'll concentrate solely on the shaver itself since my previous review was declined. The shaver's handle is squarish and non-ergonomic making it difficult to hold for anyone (like myself) with arthritic hands. Unlike the Prestige or the older 9000 series (i.e. 9700 and 9300) that were contoured, this handle is simply long and uncomfortable to hold and maneuver. Secondly, the heads are squared off making it difficult to shave under the nose and under the sideburns and close to the ears. The only way to achieve even a modicum of closeness in these areas is to turn the shaver 90 degrees so that either side faces these areas because the sides of the head plates have less area from edge to combs/blades. While it is possible to achieve a reasonably close shave by doing this maneuver, it is not easy nor comfortable. This is, in my opinion, a design flaw that needs to be addressed by Philips. I could say more about my experience owning this shaver (I bought it; it was not part of a promotion) but I'd rather have this review okayed so that other potential buyers can be informed.
I have primarily used Norelco shavers since I was a teenager and an early maturer. I started shaving when I was 13. I have flirted with other brands, only to come back to Norelco, because of its close shaves. However, all shaver brands have caused skin irritation for me, in the past, especially around my chin.Around six months ago, I upgraded my older series 9000 to the newer shaving head, the SH98, after trying out my brother-law's model Prestige 9000, with the Qi charging pad. I found that it did reduce my skin irritation by quite a bit and that shaving head actually fit my model, the series 9000 with the cleaning cartridge. It did make a difference, but I still was not using it every day. Well, my sister sent me a present as a thank you, for some help that I ... MoreI have primarily used Norelco shavers since I was a teenager and an early maturer. I started shaving when I was 13. I have flirted with other brands, only to come back to Norelco, because of its close shaves. However, all shaver brands have caused skin irritation for me, in the past, especially around my chin.Around six months ago, I upgraded my older series 9000 to the newer shaving head, the SH98, after trying out my brother-law's model Prestige 9000, with the Qi charging pad. I found that it did reduce my skin irritation by quite a bit and that shaving head actually fit my model, the series 9000 with the cleaning cartridge. It did make a difference, but I still was not using it every day. Well, my sister sent me a present as a thank you, for some help that I had done for my brother-in law. She sent me the Qi model, but this is mostly like my series 9000. However, the new S9987 had just come out, so I thought that I would trade that in for this new model, which had the senseIQ. It's less expensive than the Qi model and has the new AI and cleaning pods. After talking to customer service (they were extremely friendly and helpful), they told me that the reviews for this new model were better than even the Prestige 9000 with the Qi charge pad, so I made the decision to buy this one. I waited until I found it on sale and ordered it. I used it for the first time today, after using my body groomer to get the longer hairs on my face and neck, the prior evening. I really didn't expect it to be much different, but I was wrong. The shaving was a breeze and definitely the shortest shave that I've ever had. It was quiet, smoother than any previous shaver that I've ever used and the pressure sensors worked perfectly. I honestly dodn't ever remember enjoying a shave before. It was always something that I just had to do, like brushing your teeth. So, yes I was wowed. Having the pop up trimmer back on the shaver was nice, too. The cleaning pod is so much more efficient than the the old type and only takes a couple of minutes to use, instead of having to charge up the shaver, before it starts to clean. I used to not use it, because I didn't want to charge the old shaver every time, when it was still over 90 minutes of shaving time. I think that doing that all the time would shorten the shaver's battery life over time. With this model, a minute or two and you're done. Having the stand is nice, too. It secures the shaver to the charger and can charge in it, unlike users who complained that the first iteration had to be charged, while in the pod, leaving the cord swinging in the air. With the 9987 the cord plugs into the stand and only had to be charged when you need it to be.CONGRATULATIONS PHILIPS! You hit this one out of the park. The only thing that I could suggest is that they throw in the protective cap for keeping the shaver stored on the stand. I had to buy one through the Philips online accessories, even though it's inexpensive at $5.95 plus shipping, it would have been a nice touch, considering it's your new gold standard model, imho.
| Product dimensions | 7.3 x 6.8 x 18 cm; 1 Kilograms |
| Country of origin | Netherlands |
| Special feature | Wet, dry |
| Power source | Battery Powered |
| Blade material | Alloy Steel |
