It was Christmas time, December 2007. For some obscure reason, I had this urge to get something new, something good for myself. Something… luxury. This happens every year (and I ended up upgrading my computer even I didn’t really have to, buying some weird gadgets and many more). I have a Philishave 8894 (a.k.a the “James Bond” shaver) for around 4 years and I’ve decided that it’s time to get a new shaver. Err, at least, I assured myself that I need a new shaver. So, I bought the Philishave Arcitec RQ1075 (or 1050CC) Shaver.

After some research on the latest bells and whistles that a shaver can offer (I haven’t followed any updates on the shaving technology), I’ve decided to get the new Arcitec series from Philips, the RQ1075 for AUD$429.95 (excl. $50 Cash back). With a 60 day money back guarantee, I felt no regret at all.

Now, there are 4 different Arcitec series made by Philips, only to confuse you.
There is the Arcitec RQ1050, 1060, 1075, 1095 (in Australia). To make it more confusing, in some countries, you’ll see 1050, 1050CC, 1051, 1060, 1085, 1090, 1095!! So what are the differences?

As far as I know of, there are only 4 variant in the series in terms of “functionality” (whatever numbers they may be) :

• The one that doesn’t tell you how many minutes left on the battery
• Same as above + the Jet Cleaning System
• The one that tells you how many minutes left on the battery (digital indicator)
• Same as above + the Jet Cleaning System

In terms of the materials/overal look (according to ProductReviews.net) -  The Philips Arcitec 1090 is carbon fiber, the 1060 as a silver finish and the cheapest of the lot is the Arcitec 1050 which has a black lacquered shell. Have a look on the Amazon website to see a bigger picture of each series.

Apart from that, they basically have the same feature, the same blades, the same smoothness, the same power, etc. I had confirmed this with the staff from Shaver Shop (where I got mine from). So how does the shaver perform? (I won’t bother listing the specifications + full features as you can find this easily on the web or on the shops)

Shaving Experience The Arcitec does give a close shave but I won’t say the closest. You’ll find that a manual shaver (the one with the blades) will give you the closest shave. However, I “don’t have the time” to apply a shaving cream every time I want to shave. What I want is a simple and quick shave, so I can be on bed longer before going to work ^^ Although the Arcitec gives a closer shave than my old shaver, I still have to shave a certain area over and over. It’s not a shaver where you can close your eyes and do the shave blindly. It takes a few shaving session for you to adjust to the Arcitec.

If you are not happy on the first try, don’t give up! It’ll take some time for you to “handle” the shaver (which is light-weighted) and after some time, you’ll be familiar with the angle and the circular motion that you need to do for the best shave. Philips Arcitec shaves easier around my neck area, thanks to the “Flex and Pivot” feature. The head of the shaver is flexible enough to follow my neck’s contour (where most of my hairs are).

Next: The Shaver, The Jet Clean System, and the Conclusion

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