I’ve never shaved whilst on the move so gently, quickly and quietly before
18.6.2026
Translation: machine translated
Pictures: Lorenz Keller
The Philips Shaver Series 700 gives me a shave on the go that’s quieter and gentler than I’ve ever experienced before. Unfortunately, it also has one annoying flaw.
At home, I enjoy a traditional wet shave with a safety razor, shaving cream and a brush. It requires a lot of equipment and, above all, time. When I’m on the go, however, it has to be quick and easy. I often only have a few minutes before I have to head back to a press conference or attend trade fair appointments.
That’s why I keep coming back to travel razors: the Panasonic 900 S, which gives a close shave but is very expensive. The Philips PQ888/06, which is far too big. Or the elegant Laifen models made of aluminium.
No model has completely won me over yet. Not until now.
Gentler than any other
I was blown away after just the first shave. I run the Philips Shaver Series 700 over my cheek – and feel nothing. The two spring-loaded blades vibrate very gently against my dry skin. No pressure, no tugging, no scraping – and yet the hair is gone. So gentle and thorough – I’m absolutely thrilled.
As someone who’s used to wet shaving with foam and a blade, my skin isn’t used to electric shavers and dries out straight away. The Series 700 causes absolutely no problems. For me, it’s the most comfortable electric shaver I’ve tested so far, and at just over 110 francs or 190 euros, it impresses me even more than top-of-the-range models costing more than twice as much.
The travel model shaves thoroughly and precisely. It tackles the cheeks and chin in a single stroke. Only directly under the nose and in the dimples on my chin do I need several passes until all the hair is gone.
The shave is so gentle and effective that I could easily use the travel model at home as part of my daily routine. Expensive top-of-the-range models have an advantage in just one area: the tricky areas around the nose and mouth are easier to reach with blades that are even more flexible. They also cope better with longer stubble.
After a few days on the road, I’ve been using the Philips daily on damp skin. I find this even more comfortable than shaving on completely dry skin. Wash my face, shave straight afterwards, apply some balm – done. This routine takes just a few minutes.
Not too small, but still travel-sized
The Philips Shaver Series 700 measures nine centimetres in height, six centimetres in width and three centimetres in thickness. It isn’t ultra-compact, but it is smaller than most electric shavers. It fits easily into your luggage. The battery, motor and metal casing account for its weight of 147 grammes.
The shaver’s metal surface feels high-quality. Two features are particularly useful when travelling. The magnetically attached cover protects the blades – and is easy to remove. An elegant faux leather case protects the shaver in your toiletries bag.
The Dutch manufacturer includes a second attachment for trimming nose hair. Unfortunately, this works rather poorly. It took me far too long to get everything trimmed. An affordable nose hair trimmer costing between 10 and 20 francs is much more efficient.
Quiet and long-lasting, but still impractical
I’m surprised at how quietly the travel shaver operates. I measured 68 decibels right next to the device. By way of comparison, the top-of-the-range models: The Philips i9000 measured 70 decibels, whilst the Braun Series 9 measured as much as 76 decibels. The human ear perceives an increase of ten decibels as a doubling of the volume. The Braun Series 9 is therefore, at least to our ears, almost twice as loud.
I’m in for a second surprise when I test the battery life. The manufacturer states 60 minutes; I measure 85 minutes. This means the shaver not only significantly exceeds Philips’ claim, but also lasts longer than the top-of-the-range models, which offer 60 to 75 minutes.
It’s a shame that Philips continues to use its own proprietary charging connector. A standard USB-C cable won’t do the job. Still, a single battery charge lasts for 16 to 17 days based on a five-minute shave per day. As I rarely go on trips for longer than that at a time, I don’t need to pack the cable. What’s more, the Philips can also be charged wirelessly if necessary – on any Qi charging pad. I haven’t seen this function on any other shaver yet.
There is one disappointment, though: the controls. Philips has done away with buttons and opted for a touch slider instead. This means I have to touch a strip with my finger and then slide it upwards. That switches the motor on. Sliding it down stops it again. It looks classy, but in everyday use it’s a nuisance, as I often need two attempts before the shaver starts working. That’s unnecessary. At least the slider works just as well – or just as badly – even with wet fingers.
Replacement blades cost around ten francs each. According to Philips, they need to be replaced every two years. The maintenance required remains manageable.
This is where I can also see why the Series 700 performs so well. The blades are, in fact, the same as those in the top-of-the-range model.
In a nutshell
The almost perfect travel shaver
I almost gave it five stars. The Philips Shaver Series 700 shaves more gently than anything I've ever tested. And thoroughly enough for a top rating. It also works quietly and lasts a long time. The high-quality look and practical extras are also convincing.
At this price, Philips has to deliver top marks in all areas. Probably for design reasons, the manufacturer uses a touch slider instead of a conventional button. Unfortunately, the slider is too imprecise and annoying in everyday use. The manufacturer also uses its own charging cable. At least the battery lasts a long time and can be charged via any Qi charging pad.
Pro
- gentle shave
- long battery life
- beautiful and high-quality
- quiet
Contra
- expensive
- inaccurate touch operation
- chargeable only with the Philips charging cable
Lorenz Keller
Senior Editor
Lorenz.Keller@digitecgalaxus.chGadgets are my passion - whether you need them for the home office, for the household, for sport and pleasure or for the smart home. Or, of course, for the big hobby next to the family, namely fishing.
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