These days we are surrounded by ‘smart’ devices; from our tvs and phones through to the way we listen to music and even see the world (looking at you Rayban Meta). But does everything need to be a smart device, and is it always worth it?
WHAT IS IT?
The Philips i9000 is the newest addition to Philips’ high-end rotary shaver range, sitting just below the “Prestige” models. It’s designed to give you a close, comfortable shave with a bit of smart tech thrown in. Think of it as the sweet spot between performance, design, and practicality built around Philips’ SkinIQ technology, and is aimed at people who want a premium shave that feels effortless but don’t necessarily need every fancy bell and whistle.
DESIGN & QUALITY
The i9000 looks and feels every bit the premium product. The body has a nice matte finish, a slim ergonomic handle, and that signature Philips rotary head design. The overall feel is comfortable, balanced, and well-engineered. The shaving heads flex in all directions, hugging the contours of your face and neck. They’re slightly smaller and more tapered than Philips’ older designs, making it easier to reach tricky spots like under the nose.
It’s fully waterproof so you can use it wet or dry (in the shower or with shaving gel), and it’s built around Philips’ SkinIQ technology, which adjusts the motor power depending on your beard density. It’s meant to sense what your skin and hair need in real time and adapt automatically. To clean it you can just rinse it under water, and depending on the kit you buy, you’ll usually get a travel case, cleaning brush, and charging stand. Some packages include Philips’ Quick Clean Pod, which automatically cleans and lubricates the heads in a minute, a nice little luxury if you hate maintenance.
THE DAY-TO-DAY
If you regularly need a close and clean shave, the i9000 makes life very easy. While it doesn’t have adjustable heads for stubble lengths It cuts cleanly through one to three days of growth with minimal irritation. The motor cleverly adjusts its speed depending on how thick your beard is, which means it rarely tugs or skips during. Hair also collects within the head rather than spitting out across the bathroom bench which makes clean up much easier. It even has a little pop-out trimmer for trickier bits that require a flat-edge cut.
This reviewer also had minimal irritation after dry shaving, which is a huge bonus for those with more sensitive skin. The SkinIQ pressure sensor gives you gentle feedback if you’re pressing too hard or not enough, and while that might sound like a gimmick, it’s genuinely useful for the first week or two until you get the hang of it. After that, you’ll just enjoy how consistent the shave feels.
The battery life sits at around 60 minutes on a full charge, which is pretty standard for a high-end Philips shaver and in-line with the competition from Braun for example. A quick 5-minute top-up gives enough juice for one shave if you’ve forgotten to charge. Cleaning is easy, just flip open the head and rinse under running water, or use the cleaning pod if your set includes it. You can pair the shaver with a Philips ‘Groom Tribe’ app for an ever-better routine and technique. Via the app you can get real-time guidance and personalised skincare insights and a skin analyser however when rushing around in the morning trying to get a shave in, this reviewer never found the time to utilise this feature.
Overall, the i9000 nails everyday convenience. It’s quiet, comfortable, and effective; exactly what you want from a premium shaver that doesn’t demand too much fuss.
THE NUTS AND BOLTS
According to Philips, the patented Triple Action Lift & Cut shaving system lifts the hair gently from its root to cut it precisely up to 0.00mm skin-level, without cutting skin. Fully flexible and smaller, compact heads with skin stretching patterns dynamically adapt to every curve of your face. For constant skin contact with 20% more precision to catch difficult hairs on the neck and under the nose.
The 360° rotating Dual SteelPrecision blades catch hair growing in different directions. With 7 million cutting motions per minute, for efficient shave even on a 1, 3 or 7-day beard.
VERDICT
The Philips i9000 is a classy, capable electric shaver that finds the right balance between performance and simplicity. It gives you that high-end Philips experience; close, comfortable shaves, clever adaptive power, and easy maintenance without going full-on with the technology.
If you want a top-tier rotary shaver but don’t need the coaching lights and app connectivity, the base i9000 is an excellent choice. It’s reliable, elegant, and easy to live with.
What are we Addicted to ? Quality of build and feel, Ease of use, No/minimal irritation when dry-shaving, Fully waterproof
What do we need to be more Addicted?: Doesn’t really need an app, Big price jump between levels of spec, High entry-price point
The Philips i9000 and i9000 Prestige are now available from Shaver Shop, JB Hifi, Harvey Norman, Amazon, David Jones & Myer. The Philips i9000 Prestige Ultra is available from Shaver Shop, JB Hifi, Harvey Norman and Amazon. For more information head to philips.com.au
- Philips i9000 from $599
- Philips i9000 Prestige from $799
- Philips i9000 Prestige Ultra from $999