Philips Norelco has long been one of the leading names in the rotary shaver market. However, many users felt that the older Philips Series 9000 models did not fully justify their premium price tags, mainly due to concerns about build quality and overall performance. To address those criticisms, Philips introduced the Philips Norelco S9000 Prestige; a completely redesigned flagship shaver rather than a minor upgrade of the previous Philips Series 9000 9700 and Philips Series 9000 9300 models. The S9000 Prestige promises better shaving performance, a more premium design, and several advanced features aimed at delivering a truly high-end shaving experience. But does it really live up to Philips’ claims and justify its expensive price tag? In this review, I’ll share my experience with the shaver and see whether it’s actually worth buying.
Pros
- Solid build quality.
- Premium design and feel.
- Extremely comfortable shaving performance.
- Delivers a close shave, even on longer hairs.
- High-quality travel case.
- Suitable for both wet and dry shaving.
- Relatively quiet operation.
- Includes SmartClick precision trimmer.
- Fully waterproof design.
- Excellent for sensitive skin.
Cons
- The Premium price may not suit every budget.
- Manual cleaning is less convenient than a cleaning station.
- No lubricant oil or protective cap included.
Insights
On paper, the Philips S9000 Prestige offers several premium features and design improvements. But specifications alone don’t tell the full story. In this section, we’ll take a closer look at the key aspects of the shaver and how they actually affect the overall shaving experience.
Lift & Cut System: The Philips Norelco S9000 Prestige is engineered with Philips’s advanced Lift & Cut shaving system to deliver a closer and more comfortable shave.
The technology works in two stages. First, the shaver gently lifts each hair slightly away from the skin. Then, the blades cut the hair precisely at skin level before it retracts back naturally. This process helps the shaver achieve impressive closeness without the blades aggressively scraping against the skin.
In everyday use, this means you can enjoy a cleaner, smoother shave while experiencing less friction and irritation compared to many standard rotary shavers. The Lift & Cut system is especially helpful for users who want a premium close shave without sacrificing skin comfort.
Self-sharpening NanoTech Blades: One of the notable changes in the Philips S9000 Prestige is its upgraded SH98 shaving blades. Unlike older Philips Norelco models that used a dual-blade cutting system, the Prestige features self-sharpening NanoTech precision blades designed to improve shaving efficiency and comfort.
In use, the blades provide a close and smooth shave, especially on longer or dense hairs. Another useful advantage is that the SH98 blades are also compatible with older Philips Series 9000 shavers, that allows existing users to upgrade their shaving performance without buying a new device.
Anti-friction Comfort Rings: The Philips S9000 Prestige uses upgraded SkinComfort rings around the shaving heads to reduce friction during shaving. Lower friction generally means less irritation, especially for users with sensitive skin.
Compared to older Philips Norelco Series 9000 models, the newer comfort rings are designed to glide more smoothly across the skin and help make the shaving experience noticeably gentler and more comfortable.
SmartClick System: Like other high-end Philips Norelco rotary shavers, the Philips S9000 Prestige also features the SmartClick attachment system. This allows users to quickly swap the standard shaving head with other grooming attachments, such as the SmartClick precision trimmer or facial cleansing brush.
While the SmartClick system itself is not exclusive to the Prestige model, I find it a practical feature that adds extra versatility and convenience for everyday grooming.
Shaving Mode Selector:
The Philips S9000 Prestige offers three manual power settings, allowing users to adjust the shaving speed based on beard thickness and skin sensitivity. Unlike some high-end shavers that automatically control power output, the Prestige gives users direct control through dedicated increase and decrease buttons.
Lower settings can provide a gentler shave for sensitive skin, while the higher setting delivers more cutting power for thicker or denser facial hair. This added flexibility makes the shaver easier to adapt to different shaving needs and preferences.
Pivoting Head: The Philips S9000 Prestige features an 8-direction flexible shaving head designed to follow the contours of the face more closely. This flexibility helps the shaver maintain better skin contact, making shaving around areas like the jawline and neck feel smoother and more effortless.
However, the 8-direction pivoting system is not exclusive to the Prestige model and was already available in older Philips Norelco Series 9000 shavers, it remains an important feature for improving comfort and shaving convenience.
100% Waterproof: Like most modern premium electric shavers, the Philips S9000 Prestige features a fully waterproof design for both wet and dry use. The shaver can be safely rinsed under running water and is also suitable for use in the shower.
According to Philips Norelco, the shaver is designed to handle water exposure for up to 30 minutes, which adds extra convenience for manual cleaning and daily use. Moreover, waterproof design also provides better protection against accidental water exposure.
Wet/dry Shave: The Philips S9000 Prestige supports both wet and dry shaving, allowing it to be used with water, shaving foam, or gel depending on personal preference. Like other high-end Philips Norelco models, it is designed to maintain consistent performance during wet shaving without noticeable loss of power or efficiency.
For long-term performance and hygiene, you should clean the shaving head thoroughly after each wet shave.
Power Source: The Philips S9000 Prestige is a fully cordless shaver powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. A full charge takes about one hour and delivers roughly 55–60 minutes of shaving time, which is generally enough for several weeks of regular personal use.
The shaver also supports quick charging; provides enough power for a single shave after around five minutes of charging.
Travel Lock: A travel lock is an essential feature for any cordless grooming device, especially if you travel frequently or carry it in a bag. It prevents the shaver from accidentally turning on due to an unintended press of the power button, helping preserve battery life and avoid unnecessary wear.
The Philips S9000 includes a convenient built-in travel lock that adds an extra layer of security when the shaver is not in use. Activating it is simple; just press and hold the power button for three seconds, and the device will lock automatically. To unlock it, repeat the same process by holding the power button for another three seconds.
LED Display: The Philips S9000 Prestige features an advanced LED display that makes the shaver easier and more convenient to use. It clearly shows important information such as the battery level, travel lock status, and selected power mode, so you always know how the device is operating.
A padlock icon appears on the display to indicate whether the travel lock is active, while the shaving modes are displayed with simple level indicators. One standout feature is the lift-to-wake technology, similar to what you find on modern smartphones. By simply picking up the shaver, you can check the remaining battery level without turning the device on.
This thoughtful feature gives the Philips S9000 Prestige an advantage in convenience over competitors like the Braun Series 9 Pro+ and Panasonic Arc6, which do not offer lift-to-wake functionality.
ClickOn Trimmer: All Philips Series 9000 shavers come with a SmartClick precision trimmer designed for finishing touches after shaving. It works well for shaping sideburns, defining edges, and maintaining a mustache with good accuracy.
However, the trimmer is more suitable for light grooming rather than detailed or professional beard trimming. The Prestige model uses the same traditional Series 9000 trimmer attachment and does not offer additional trimming power or enhanced cutting performance.
While the trimmer is practical for everyday touch-ups, Philips could further improve its quality and performance to better match the premium nature of the Prestige shaver.
What’s in the Box?
The Philips Norelco s9000 prestige comes with the following items:
- The Shaver Itself.
- A Sturdy Travel Case: The travel case included with the Philips S9000 Prestige feels well-built and more premium than the basic pouches commonly included with many electric shavers. It offers enough space to store the shaver along with accessories like the charger and SmartClick trimmer, that feels convenient for longer trips. For shorter travel, however, some users may find the case slightly larger than necessary if they only plan to carry the shaver itself. Still, it works well for keeping the shaver and accessories organized and protected both during travel and at home.
- Cleaning and Charging Pod: The newer versions of the Philips S9000 Prestige come with an automatic cleaning and charging pod that makes daily maintenance much more convenient. After each shave, you can simply place the shaver on the pod, and it will clean the shaving heads while charging the device at the same time. It also keeps the shaver stored safely and ready for the next use without creating extra mess on the countertop.
- Cleaning Cartridge: This is a liquid to use inside the cleaning pod that is used to clean the shaver head hygienically
- Charging Cord: The Philips S9000 Prestige includes a charging cord with a universal power adapter. You can use it to power the cleaning and charging pod or connect it directly to the shaver for recharging.
- The Click-on Precision Trimmer: The trimming attachment, stated in the insights section.
- A Nasal Trimmer: The package also includes a nose trimmer attachment designed for quick and comfortable nose hair grooming. It trims hairs efficiently without pulling or causing noticeable discomfort during use.
- User Manual.
Note: The Philips Norelco S9000 Prestige is available in multiple packages and versions, and the included accessories may vary depending on the package, supplier, region, and purchase time. Some versions may include additional attachments like mine while others may come with more or fewer accessories.
Personal Experience
When choosing an electric shaver, I always focus most on shaving performance. You can read product specifications and online reviews all day, but the real experience only comes after using the shaver from different angle. After testing the Philips Norelco S9000 Prestige on both dry and wet beards, I genuinely felt it delivered a premium rotary shaving experience.
What impressed me most was the shaving comfort. I noticed the comfort rings and flexible shaving heads helped the shaver glide smoothly across my skin without irritation. The NanoTech precision blades and powerful motor cut through hair quickly while avoiding pulling or tugging. Compared to many rotary shavers I’ve used before, this one felt noticeably smoother and more refined.
I was also impressed by how close the shave felt. While no electric shaver can completely replace a traditional safety razor, the S9000 Prestige came surprisingly close. It handled both dry shaving and wet shaving with cream very efficiently, and the contour-detect head adapted well around difficult areas like the jawline and neck.
One thing I particularly liked was its ability to shave longer hair. Many electric shavers struggle after a few days of beard growth, but I found the S9000 Prestige handled 4–5 days of growth much better than expected. This made the shaving process easier and more comfortable without needing multiple passes.
I also found the SmartClick precision trimmer useful for grooming sideburns, shaping edges, and trimming longer hairs before shaving. Since it’s a separate attachment, I felt it was easier and more comfortable to use compared to many built-in popup trimmers.
In short, I found the Philips S9000 Prestige an excellent all-around rotary shaver that provides altogether comfort, closeness, and strong performance in daily use.
Verdict
The Philips S9000 Prestige targets users who prefer a premium rotary shaving experience and are comfortable with a higher price range.
In daily use, the Philips Norelco S9000 Prestige stands out for its refined build quality, quiet operation, and comfortable shaving performance. However, the premium pricing may not suit every buyer, especially when some accessories are not included in the package.
In short, it is a sturdy option for users who specifically prefer rotary shavers and want a more premium and comfortable shaving experience.
Should You Buy the Philips Norelco s9000 Prestige Shaver?
- Yes, if you want a special rotary shaver for satisfactory shaving results but the higher price is not your concern.
- Yes, if you want a robust shaver that feels sturdy and premium.
- Yes, if you do not shave frequently and need to shave longer stubble since it can handle up to 7 days beard.
- Yes, if shaving comfort is your priority or you have sensitive skin.
- No, if you are in a tight budget.
- No, if you do not want much premium options and only regular shaving is enough.