If you’re looking for the finest of rotary shavers out there, many would recommend you to buy something that costs an arm and a leg with more advanced AI-tech implementation.
But what people often miss out on is the fact that you don’t need such advanced technology if you know how to operate a rotary shaver by yourself.
And slides in the Norelco 5400 from Philips that comprise the best elements with limited AI features that can save you some bucks and offer a greater value for money.
In my article of Philips Norelco 5400 review, you’re going to learn exactly how this unique rotary shaver can give you all the modern benefits without costing that extra sum!
“Philips Norelco 5400 is the best of both worlds – it’s not as expensive as the newer Norelco rotary shavers yet it comes with a similar amount of cutting actions, blades and raw motor power, not to mention a great degree of ergonomic relief!”
Contents
- 1 Unboxing the Philips Norelco 5400
Unboxing the Philips Norelco 5400
Unboxing the Norelco 5400 has been a straightforward affair, although I personally don’t prefer the package design Norelco rotary shavers are currently delivered in.
These packages open up at the larger face of the box that’s fasted with a basic paper fold which rarely holds off. I often find the box unlocked automatically due to the fragile design of the box.
Inside the box, there’s not a lot of accessories to deal with. You’ll find the electric razor, a protective cap, a charging cable (without the brick) and a cleaning brush.
The inner crevices are generic for every Norelco rotary shaver and protects the device from external pressure.
What’s Inside the Box: Norelco 5400 shaver, one protective cap, charging cable (USB Type-A), cleaning brush, user manual.
Specifications: Philips Norelco 5400
Philips Norelco 5400 has some technical aspects we should know about to fully understand its potential as a rotary shaving beast.
- Dimensions: 17.1 x 4.5 x 4.5 cm
- Weight: 7.3 Ounces
- Color: Black & Teal Blue
- Accessories: 3
- Foil Type: Rotary Double Ring
- Blade Type: 45 SteelPrecision Blades
- Cutting Actions: 90,000 CPM
- AI Tech: SenseIQ
- Waterproof: IPX7
- LED Display: Yes
- Battery Runtime: 60 Minutes
- Pop-up Trimmer: Yes
Philips Norelco 5400: Standout Features
Some of the features in the Norelco 5400 are more alluring than the rest. We’ll be discussing all of these one after the other, but let’s get the basic design factor up front for discussion first!
Revamped Design
From the older and wider handle design in the Norelco razor series, the 5400 feels like a fresh breeze with its revamped design. Let’s see how the housing and ergonomics are in this device!
Sleek Aesthetics
The handle design in the Norelco 5400 looks quite similar to the newer Norelco 7200. But in my opinion, the extra ergonomic dip toward the top part of the handle feels better to hold on to!
Norelco 5400 doesn’t have any color alternatives. This model features a duo-tone design as most of the handle is covered in charcoal black.
The remaining accented at the chest is a teal-blue color with a matte finish. However, the foil cutters are silver due to the stainless steel making.
A reflection of this shiny silver is extended with the gray ring around the blades, the unhinge button at the shaver head, the Norelco text line and the surrounding outline of the power button.
Confirmed Grip
To ensure maximum grip, Norelco 5400 has modified its handle design by narrowing it down to a significant extent.
Also, the visible change has taken place toward the top part of the handle as it offers a higher degree of grip by the rubber texture placed around.
The lower half is less ergonomic but the discrepancy of width between the top half and the bottom half of tha handle allows room for a firmer grip.
Therefore, no matter which mode you shave in – be that wet or dry – there’s always going to be a significant degree of grip offered back to you by this Norelco razor!
What I Like
- Unique handle design sets it out from other Norelco shavers
- Looks much better than older devices
- Grip levels are ensured by smart shape deviation
What Could be Better
- Could come with more than one color choice
Build Quality Meant to Last
Whereas quality of the build goes, Norelco 5400 razor is indeed one of the finest to choose from the premium category electric shavers at this moment.
The rubber paddings are here to stay no matter how sweaty your hand might get, I saw no sign of wearing off after months of use.
Blades don’t get dulled out very easily and remain usable for at least a year or even more. Motor unit in the 5400 rarely shows any trouble and it’s confirmed by a wide array of consumers.
Battery is also durable if you manage not to squeeze out the entire juice every time and recharge properly to keep it in mint condition.
What I Like
- Durable handle that resists damage
- Ergonomic texture don’t get worn off easily
- Premium materials used in construction
What Could be Better
- None that I can think of
Philips Norelco 5400: Additional Features
Other than the aesthetics, grip level and durability, there’s much more to discuss in this Norelco 5400 review that focuses on the cutting efficiency of this tool!
Significantly Light Weight
Norelco 5400 is very lightweight and therefore fun to use for a longer period of time. Not that it requires a lot of time to shave your beard with this, but it’s great knowing that the weight class won’t be an issue.
Older men can find it useful if they lack the strength to maneuver heavier electric razors around their faces to clean out their beard regularly.
Also, this makes traveling with the device very easy going since it’s not going to add too much weight to your luggage due to its 7.3 ounces weight class.
Storage and portability is often the name of the game for rotary razors and the Norelco 5400 certainly doesn’t disappoint in that regard!
45 SteelPrecision Blades
I’m absolutely awed by the 45 blade inclusion in this Norelco 5400 device as so many cutting elements crank up the efficiency by a significant margin!
These blades are made with stainless steel and called SteelPrecision blades by Philips. With the help of the oscillation from the motor heads, the cutting actions are rapid yet kind.
I’d definitely call these blades sharp as my coarse and thick-textured beard didn’t seem to tug or pull while I shaved countless times with this shaver.
If you shave every other day, these blades can last for over a year as they self-sharpen and it’s a great value for money investment in the long run.
90,000 CPM Motor
So, what’s the motor power like in the Norelco 5400 electric razor? It’s a shady affair to measure up RPM in rotary razors or in general since the brands don’t disclose the value directly these days.
However, we can make an educated guess at the motor power by calculating the advertised CPM and cutting units.
Norelco 5400 comes with 45 blade units and it’s branded to perform up to 90,000 cuts per minute or CPM.
Therefore, the motor is basically a 2,000 RPM unit - industry standard for rotary shavers since this power suffices to clean out all the mess in the most delicate manner and without making roaring sounds.
Dual Ring Foil Units
The introduction of dual foil ring design has drastically upped the game for the Norelco rotary shavers and the 5400 is one of the first devices to receive this upgrade.
If you pay close attention to the foil rings, you’ll see that the outer ring takes precedence with its honed design that efficiently grabs your flat lying hair to feed the blades underneath.
The inner ring is much narrower and it’s meant to refine the cut down to mimic a close shave outcome that almost matches the output of a manual razor.
Overall rings aren’t individually pressure sensitive, most of the adaptation is done through the individual ring segments that are prone to pressure during shaving.
Wireless Operations
Norelco 5400 is a top-rated portable electric razor because of its wireless capabilities. The li-ion battery in this device can power it up for around an hour with a full charge.
The charging time is very low, one hour to fill it up to the brim from zero. This makes frequent charging redundant since I can squeeze out the battery life to last almost 3 weeks with a full charge.
Some of the older Norelco devices used to come with a charging stand and even in the 5000 series, you may find different variants to be of such caliber.
But in my opinion, a charging stand isn’t really necessary for home grooming since it’s something you’ll less likely use at a professional scale.
SenseIQ Feature
As I mentioned the Norelco 5400 has limited AI capabilities, it’s still blessed with the SenseIQ feature - a trademark AI tech in the Norelco rotary line.
This tech reads your beard density 250 times per second and adjusts the motor power accordingly 14 times per second.
Note that this is also featured in the newer Norelco shavers and this makes shaving comfortable especially for consumers with sensitive skin.
In the LED indicator, the SenseIQ logo shows up aside from the cleaning indication, travel lock icon and of course, the battery levels in three incremental bars.
What I Like
- Very light weight for easy maneuvering
- Comfortable CPM paired with AI-tech for skin-friendliness
- Sharp foil cutters powered by long battery life
What Could be Better
- None that I can think of
My Experience with Philips Norelco 5400
Time to shed some light from my personal use of the Norelco 5400 electric shaver since experience dawns on features and exposes some untold aspects about a razor!
Shaving Closeness
I’m highly satisfied with the shaving closeness the Norelco 5400 offers considering it’s a rotary electric razor.
I felt smoothness without any hair heads popping out particularly in my cheek region. But for the tighter parts on my neck, I wish I could say the same.
It takes strenuous scrubbing to trim down the neck region and still then, the closeness fails to match the one on the facial region.
That’s why people tend to rely on foil shavers to seamlessly generate close shave outcomes that rotary shavers like the Norelco 5400 simply come shy of in the tighter spots.
360 Degree Full Flex Contour Adaptation
The shaver head dictates how well it’s going to adapt to your contour and the 360 degree Full Flex shaver head in the Norelco 5400 vows to do exactly that.
As I mentioned, the results in tight spots aren’t impeccable but due to the adaptive nature of the razor’s neck, it does deliver results in a significantly limited amount of time.
With my older rotary shavers, like the Norelco 3800, mimicking that rotating animation for shaving was a nightmare due to the lack of a flex head.
From that generation, Norelco 5400 is a drastic improvement in this area as contour adaptation has become much more feasible and puts skin through less tension while shaving!
Shaving Efficiency
I’m actually happy with the shaving efficiency of this Norelco 5400 electric razor because of quite a few variable factors.
First of all, the 45 blades work in unison and the foil elements do manage to grab all the hair to the blades efficiently.
This efficiency is further enhanced through the hair guiding channels (the lines you’d see on the particular segments containing a foil ring each).
In newer models, these channels have been refined for further efficiency, but for the price I’m having to pay for the Norelco 5400 - there’s not much to complain about really!
Wet Shaving
Philips Norelco 5400 shaver is an IPX7 waterproof rated device and therefore can very easily be used inside the shower. I’ve done it multiple times and the shaver showed no hint of leakage.
Also, this waterproof rating paves way for the Wet & Dry shaving actions to come into the play. From my experience, wet shaves are much more efficient and comfortable than the dry.
Dry shaves aren’t messy as all of the stray hair is collected into the chamber. You are free to wash the device as you’d like to cut down on maintenance time.
If you must feel the obligation to shave in dry mode, make sure to apply a little bit of shaving lotion or similar moisturizer so that the scrubbing action is fluid and doesn’t irritate your skin.
Cleaning & Maintenance
Cleaning out the Norelco 5400 is pretty basic and almost effortless. For dry shaves, press the ^ button up top to release the blade head for cleaning.
Then, you can easily brush out the dirt or you could go for a rinse since it’s a waterproof device. For wet shaves, there’s no alternative to rinsing the blades and the motor heads.
You should grab a hold of some lubricating agent to apply into the blades as well as the motor heads to keep things running efficiently for the longest time.
Norelco 5400’s low-maintenance ranks it as a highly desirable travel shaver if you manage to find a carry case in which the shaver can fit without consuming huge space!
How I Tested the Philips Norelco 5400?
For my part, I tested out the Norelco 5400 by using it personally. Initially, I began by shaving over different stubble growth to draw the line at a maximum of 3-day stubble.
Then, I went on to try out both wet and dry shaves. Both are comfortable enough for sensitive skins but I’d still side with wet shaves for comfort as well as efficiency.
The battery life meets Philips claims and water resistance turns out to be promising based on the water-dip test, shower shave test and rinsing test.
To full-proof my opinions, I cross-checked my findings with other first-hand consumers on the internet and took all of the information in constructing my unbiased opinion on the tool.
What I Like
- Highly comfortable on skin
- Cuts efficiently and follows contour well
- Easy to clean and maintain
What Could be Better
- Not the closest outcome
- Wet shaves are better than dry
Who is Philips Norelco 5400 For?
Philips Norelco 5400 razor is mostly meant for home groomers who shave their stubble on a regular basis.
Note that the device comes with a pop-up trimmer like most of the Norelco shaver line, so there’s no need to own a separate tool to line up your hair.
If you don’t shave at least twice a week, you’ll find it difficult to make things work. Men with coarse and fine hair will find the Norelco 5400 to be the most effective.
For kinky or curly facial hair, Norelco 5400 may not be the best option to settle for. Rather, look into devices that specialize in black men shaving to receive a finer treatment.
Philips Norelco 5400 vs 7200: Worth the Upgrade?
| Feature/Quality | Norelco 5400 | Norelco 7200 |
|---|---|---|
| Model Number | S5880/81 | S7887/82 |
| Blade Type | Double Foil Stainless Steel | Double Foil Stainless Steel |
| AI Feature | SenseIQ | SenseIQ |
| Accessories | 3 | 3 |
| Travel Case | No | No |
| Cleaning Pod | No | No |
| Battery Life | 60 Minutes | 60 Minutes |
| See On Amazon | See On Amazon |
Many people are considering upgrading to the newer Norelco 7200 or torn between 5400 vs 7200 since their price tags are very close.
If you find yourself in either of these positions, what should you do? From the table, the differences seem non-existent yet there’s something to talk about to help you make up your mind.
There are only three major differences between the Norelco 5400 and Norelco 7200, the first of which has to do with ergonomics.
Norelco 7200 features a slimmer handle design as opposed to Norelco 5400 but the latter allows a dent to offer firmer grip. In the end, it’s highly preferential and subjective, so no comment on that.
Secondly, Norelco 7200 has revamped the hair feeding channels with beaded designs (Nano SkinGlide technology) and it indeed feels more comfortable to scrub on as opposed to the Norelco 5400.
Finally, Norelco 7200 offers a learning AI that tracks your animations and teaches you how you can improve your shaving motion to be more efficient and effective. This AI is absent in the Norelco 5400.
Verdict: If you’re a beginner to rotary shaving, looking for enhanced skin comfort - then pick the Norelco 7200 over the Norelco 5400. The price gap is very little and the return value is worth better.
Now, if you already own a Norelco 5400, then it’s not really worth the upgrade if your shaver is running in mint condition.
Between the two, yes - Norelco 7200 is the better electric shaver but it’s not worth purchasing by discarding a Norelco 5400 that you already own!
FAQ
Finally, we’ve arrived at the closing stages of this article but it doesn’t end until I answer these FAQs about Norelco 5400 commonly asked on the internet!
Q: How often should I replace the shaving heads on the Philips Norelco 5400?
Ans: There’s usually no definitive answer to this question since not everyone has the same beard type, texture or shaving routine. The rule of thumb dictates you should replace your Norelco 5400 shaver blades once every 12 to 18 months. My advice would be to replace the blade as soon as it starts tugging or pulling when you shave.
Q: What should I do if my Philips Norelco 5400 shaver is not holding a charge?
Ans: There are a couple of things you can do if your Norelco 5400 doesn’t hold charge. First, check if the power outlet is tightly connected to deliver electricity. Then, check whether your shaver gets fully charged. If not, you may want to try a different power cord. If it does charge fully and drop rapidly, you might need to replace the battery unit of the device.
Q: Is the Philips Norelco 5400 suitable for sensitive skin?
Ans: As I discussed in the article already, Norelco 5400 is a great electric razor for sensitive skin. From its foil elements, contour adapting shaver head, low-torque motor to the delicate cutting actions - all of these come together to offer you maximum skin comfort during your grooming sessions!
Concluding Remarks
At this point, I can finally claim this is the end point of my Philips Norelco 5400 review after scrutinizing every possible detail about this convenient rotary razor.
The norelco rotary shavers are closely priced, therefore it’s tough to pick out which one is better than the other without using any of those first-hand.
At this precise price range, I’d say none can beat the prowess of Norelco 5400 when it comes to comfortable electric shaving.
That said, you’ll always find better alternatives when you’re willing to pay extra. But for what it’s worth, Norelco 5400’s price to performance ratio hits a sweet spot for home groomers!
| Score | |
| Shaving Efficiency | 4.6 |
| Closeness | 4.7 |
| Comfort | 4.8 |
| Water Resistance | 4.9 |
| Battery Life | 4.8 |
| Durability | 4.8 |
| Overall | 4.77 |
| Verdict
Philips Norelco 5400 is a great tool for home groomers with its 45 stainless steel blades, comfortable dual foil rings, 90,000 CPM motor power, IPX7 water resistance, 60 minute battery life and more - a dream-come-true for men with sensitive skin. |
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