Remington Foil Shaver Review: Shaves Closer than Braun Series 3?

Today we’ll take a dip into the more classic side of foil electric shavers because antiquity often delivers great results!

The same could be said about Remington Foil Shaver, particularly the F5 5800 model that’s the epitome of traditional foil shaving with some advanced elements!

One of the most remarkable factors about this device is that the price range is quite affordable and you won’t have to empty your wallet to grab one.

Although it’s a dry-only foil razor, the results will surprise you and I personally believe it to outperform any other dry razors in terms of performance on sensitive skin!

“Remington Foil Shaver, the F5 5800 model is probably the finest electric razor you’d get that’s priced almost one-third to the premium tools with similar performance. It caters to men with sensitive skin and shaves closest to your skin like a beast!”

Unboxing Remington Foil Shaver

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Remington Foil Shaver consists of a unique package design which is quite similar to the Norelco 5400 – featuring a transparent section to take a peek at the actual device.

Once you open up the package, you’ll see the F5 5800 resting on a white plastic bed that separates it from the robust paper holder at the back.

On the other side, there are the charging adapter, cleaning brush, a foil protective cap to keep the foils safe while traveling and the user-manuals.

What’s Inside the Box: Remington Foil Shaver, One Foil Cap, One Cleaning Brush, One Charging Adapter, User Manual.

Specifications: Remington Foil Shaver F5 5800

Here, you’ll get to learn the technical details for the Remington Foil Shaver which includes its weight, cutting elements, battery information and so on.

• Dimensions: 15.0 x 6.0 x 4.0 cm
• Weight: 8.0 Ounces
• Colors: Black and Ashen Silver
• Number of Cutting Elements: 3
• Cutting Action Type: 3-Stage Interceptor
• Pop-up Trimmer: Yes
• Washable: Yes
• Battery Level Indicator: Yes
• Battery Runtime: 60 Minutes

Remington Foil Shaver: Feature Analysis

Our discussion will initially present you with the key features of the Remington Foil Shaver and in the latter part of the article, I’ll evaluate these aspects from a practical usage perception.

Classic Design

Remington Foil Shaver is quite classic to look at, reminding you of the electric razors from the 90s or early 2000s. Let’s see how it looks, feels to hold on to and how long it can last after regular use.

Plastic Aesthetics

Off the back, the handle for this Remington Foil Shaver is made with quite average plastic. Then again, for the price, I wouldn’t expect anything better.

It’s not completely damage-proof but can absorb rough use for a long time. The central part of its handle is draped in an ashen silver color and is surrounded by a matte-black plastic area.

Up top, you’ll see a shiny silver accent to the pivoting foil head. The foils are also silver in tone and the color palette is therefore minimal as well as soothing.

Shape-Ensured Grip

Quite a lot of consumers don’t prefer handling wide-handled electric razors but Remington Foil Shaver’s bread and butter is its bulky size.

Due to this shape, you’ll be able to confirm maximum grip at any given point and the plastic textures make sure your thumb won’t slip away from the traction points.

Thinner foil shavers like the Panasonic ARC5 are much more comfortable to hold on to, but this Remington unit never felt odd despite the much wider housing.

Mediocre Housing Build

Taking the discussion back to the build material and durability so that you get a clear-cut idea of how long it may last after purchase.

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Many consumers out there have claimed that the Remington Foil Shaver has lasted for years after regular use. But I believe these consumers have taken proper care of the device and kept it safe.

Some argued that the pop-up trimmer is quite fragile and it breaks off very easily. Mine didn’t meet such a fate but I can’t deny there’s a good chance of that happening with excessive pressure.

Overall, motor, battery and external housing should last up to 2-3 years without running into any issue while the foils should require replacement every 6 months.

What I Like

What Could be Better

Remington Foil Shaver: Additional Features

Other than the outsides, there is more info to be had on the inner bits of Remington Foil Shaver, like the motor, foil design or battery. I’ll discuss these and more in this section!

Appreciable Weight

Since this Remington device is built with average plastic, this led to the lightweight design development which is quite handy for elderly men.

This weight allows you to maneuver the device around for as long as you want. Since it’s a dry-shave electric razor, the shaving time is generally slightly longer in general.

In addition, traveling is made easy due to the weight along with the foil guard. Throw it inside your luggage and be on your way tension-free!

Agile Cutters Underneath

Remington hasn’t explicitly mentioned the cutting units that work underneath the foils, but from a wider spectrum – the blades are very sharp indeed!

From men with feeble facial hair to the likes of black men’s coarse beard, nothing is an unconquerable challenge for the Remington Foil Razor.

The blades do remain sharp for a long time and don’t require replacement frequently, unless of course, the foil rings give in to the perils of time.

Loud & Powerful Motor

Let me get it clear off the front, this Remington device is quite loud! It’s not going to make subtle sounds like the Series 9, rather it’s more harsh and audible.

I’ve explored many electric razors in my lifetime and have experienced even noisier devices, so this sound level didn’t feel very unnerving to me.

The reason behind such noise level is because of the raw power of this motor. Again, no numbers can be mentioned explicitly but it’s certainly robust enough for diverse hair types!

2+1 Foil Design

It’s surprising how well-made the foil elements in the Remington Foil Shaver are! Two foil rings in silver color sit on either side with the ‘interceptor’ cassette down the middle.

This cutting element takes care of longer stubble and makes your beard short enough to be fed through the foil vents effortlessly.

Yes, it’s going to take you numerous glides to get things done, but the clean outcome over longer stubble makes the journey worth it!

That’s why this Remington device feels like one of the finest foil razors in the current market, regardless of its efficiency.

Pop-up Trimmer Included

At the back of the handle, a trimmer head can be popped out and used for not only outlining your beard, but also to trim down the neck areas that are hard to reach.

It’s really not very efficient and the trimmer struggles to deal with a coarse beard. But ones with less beard density can truly expand on its usage.

One thing I’ve already mentioned is that the trimmer is quite finicky and thus must be handled carefully, otherwise you might end up with the same fate as many – a broken pop-up trimmer.

Useful Battery Reader & Battery Life

The battery unit inside the Remington Foil Razor is a lithium-ion and it holds juice for around 60 minutes with a full charge.

It means, with daily use, the battery will last you for over a week with a full charge. I should mention that the motor runs at its maximum power with a charged battery and the device can be used while plugged into power.

A recharge from zero to hundred takes around two hours. There’s an LED area to depict battery life and charge level in ten increment points – quite handy I should say!

What I Like

What Could be Better

My Experience with Remington Foil Shaver

While my experience of using this Remington Foil Shaver can be a little personal and subjective, I tried to incorporate the experiences of other first-hand users to broaden the discussion.

Shaving Closeness

I’m absolutely awed by the closeness the Remington razor provides and this alone is a good enough reason to qualify it as one of the most premium electric shavers at the present time.

The central cutting element paired with the Pivot & Flex technology to move the shaver head back and forth work quite well together.

My cheeks have rarely been this smooth after a shave but the limitations start to show at the neck region.

I reckon it’s mostly due to the large shaver head and the closeness there improved once I started to stretch out my neck skin.

Comfort on Skin

Another good enough reason to choose Remington Foil device as your regular shaving device would be its comfort on skin.

Based on data collected from a wide array of consumers, almost all of the responses have been positive, especially those with sensitive skin.

This razor doesn’t irritate, arouse tugs or pulls, trigger allergic reactions and nothing of that sort. It’s probably the most comforting dry shave device I’ve used so far, and it says a lot about its convenience!

Cutting Efficiency

This is where the performance of Remington Foil Shaver dips a little bit because of the limited cutting efficiency compared to the more expensive razors.

It means, you’ll have to make a few extra glides because come on, it’s not going to generate a smooth outcome with a single pass.

How long do the shaving sessions take? For me, a complete shave takes around 6-8 minutes once you’re familiar with the animations you’ll have to make based on your beard type and condition.

Dry Shaving Only

It’s been reiterated multiple times that the shaver in concern is solely a dry shaving device. Despite this mode, it’s surprisingly comfortable to use and that’s a major selling point.

If you want a little extra comfort on your skin, you may apply some shaving lotion so that the friction between skin to foils is reduced.

Also, for those who notice some minor redness on skin after using the Remington shaver, just apply cold water to those spots as that should take care of such occurrences.

Is It Fully Washable?

Remington proffers that their foil shaver is washable. It’s debatable whether you can take it inside the shower, but one thing is certain that the shaver head can be safely rinsed under the tap.

It’s worth noting that this washing capability doesn’t imply the device can be used for wet shaves. Your shaves must be dry, otherwise you may cause damage to its cutting elements, motor or battery.

So, the answer would be, it’s not ‘fully’ washable, rather the foil head and blades are the two things you could wash to make the cleaning straightforward. Otherwise, just use the brush.

How I Tested the Remington Foil Shaver?

I was so drawn to the fact that the Remington Foil Razor can remove longer beards with its unique technology that I had to perform a limit test.

So, different stubble growths were put forth for the assessment and this shaving device was able to fully remove the beard growth of maximum 7 days.

Anything longer can still be shaved using the cutter down the middle, but it’s going to take a long time and the more efficient way would be to use a different trimmer to shorten things down.

Other than that, I analyzed shaving closeness, skin comfort, battery life, charging time, durability and so on – these have been the foundation of my Remington Foil Shaver review article.

What I Like

What Could be Better

Who is Remington Foil Shaver For?

I’d say the Remington Foil razor will mostly be beneficial to home consumers for regular shaving tasks, for instance, daily morning shave before heading out to work.

It can also be used as a travel shaver due to the lighter weight. Beginners can also pick this device as their learning tool since it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.

In addition, Remington razor may cater to professionals in particular scenarios, but note that the foil unit might give in if it’s used carelessly or roughly.

So, barbers should consider this factor even if the price looks inviting. In short, home groomers with sensitive skin and dry-shaving preference should ideally purchase this device.

Remington Foil Shaver vs Braun Series 3: Which One Performs Better?

Braun Series 3 performs quite similarly to Remington Foil Shaver despite belonging to a higher price-point category.

These devices share added factors like pop-up trimmer, wide handle, 3 cutting elements and so on, but the differences are stark and should help you determine your choice of the next electric razor.

Shaving Technology

Remington Foil Razor endorses an Intercept Shaving Technology with its 2+1 cutting element design. Basically, the foils are pressure sensitive horizontally with the vertical movement ensured by the tilting neck.

Braun Series 3 works with a 3-Flex head system – which in short is the horizontal movement of the three cutting elements for contour adaptation.

It seems Remington has a higher degree of movement and flexibility to work around your contours than the Series 3.

Realistically, the difference these technologies make are miniscule and flexibly adapting to the facial edges are quite similar in these two shaving units.

Wet/Dry Use

Remington Foil Razor is strictly a dry electric shaver and it must be complied to ensure the safety of your device.

Also, due to the corded use function, it’s rather risky for yourself to be shaving in wet mode – thus, dry shaving must be the only way to go with it.

Braun Series 3 is a wet/dry razor, particularly excelling at its wet-shaving operations. Shaving with gel or foam tends to offer added skin comfort and that’s how you should be using the device.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Cleaning is slightly easier on the Braun Series 3 since the entire handle is waterproof and thus washing isn’t necessarily something you should be doing with utmost attention.

Remington Foil Shaver’s head can be removed and rinsed under the tap, so can the blades that run underneath.

In both cases, cleaning out with a brush is a valid option and applying lubricants to the blades, motor heads and foil ring hinges are of essence to prolong their lifespans.

Battery Life and Charging

When it comes to battery life, Remington offers a longer usability with its 60 minute runtime on a full charge. Also, it can be used while plugged in as mentioned earlier.

Braun Series 3 has a much limited battery duration – 40 minutes of usable time. However, this device takes around an hour for a recharge whereas Remington requires two.

In terms of battery level indicators, Remington is the better tool since it’s divided into ten increment points as opposed to the three-bar design of the Braun Series 3.

Comfort and Skin Sensitivity

Braun Series 3 is definitely the more comfortable of the two razors but that’s ensured mostly by its wet-shaving mode.

When it comes to dry shaves, Remington smokes the Series 3 by a long shot and the comfort level almost matches Braun’s wet shaving at certain times.

Similar can be claimed about the shaving closeness as Remington’s dry shaves are quite similar to Series 3’s wet shaves. It’s remarkable if you think about it!

Braun Series 3 however outranks Remington shaver in efficiency, the latter device takes a few more glides to meet the same degree of closeness as the former.

Noise Level

I wouldn’t call Braun Series 3 a low-noise electric razor, but in contrast, Remington Foil Shaver does make somewhat more sound than the Series 3.

But that tells you another thing about these two tools – Remington possesses the more powerful motor unit and equally removes every hair texture and density with ease.

For Braun Series 3 to be able to function at such a level, sometimes you must go through a pre-shave routine or at least dampen your beard, otherwise Remington seems like the better tool.

Verdict: The verdict today is easy – if you want a close shave electric razor that functions really well in dry mode, Remington Foil Razor is the definite answer for you.

Otherwise, if your preference is a wet shaving device for added comfort, Braun Series 3 would be the better choice for such specific needs.

FAQ

In this FAQ part of the Remington Foil razor review, let me answer some commonly asked questions so that you can gather extra knowledge on this shaver!

Q: Can I use the Remington Foil Shaver in the shower?

Ans: No, Remington shaver is not fully waterproof and therefore it cannot be used inside a shower. Also, wet shaving isn’t allowed on the device since it can cause leakage and also prove to be unsafe.

Q: Can I use the Remington F5-5800 on my head or body?

Ans: Basically Remignton Foil Shaver is a beard-only razor because of its unique design. Other areas like the head or body may struggle with hair removal since the hair type and textures are much different than the face.

Q: Does the Remington F5-5800 come with a travel lock?

Ans: While the lighter weight encourages you to carry this Remington F5 5800 razor during your travel days, it doesn’t contain a built-in travel lock. Therefore, you must keep it encased in something solid to avoid accidental set-offs while traveling.

Final Thoughts

This marks the concluding point of our today’s Remington Foil Shaver discussion. I hope the journey has been pleasant and informative enough for you to make a decision.

I know that this Remington device doesn’t look fancy from the word go. But the quality aspects to become a true and convenient foil razor are definitely there.

Especially, two factors must be highlighted, other than the affordable price point, to know how good this tool actually is.

One, the unmatched closeness you’d get using this dry-mode razor and the other is its comfort on sensitive skin despite the lack of wet shaving.

These two factors are good enough for me to purchase my electric shaver for daily usage, and so should it be for you!

Score
Shaving Comfort	4.8
Shaving Quality	4.7
Ergonomics	4.4
Ease of Use	4.5
Dry Shaving	4.7
Cleaning & Maintenance	4.8
Overall	4.65
Verdict Remington F5 5800 Electric Foil Shaver is a dry-only shaving tool for home groomers with its super-powerful motor, comforting foil elements, additional cutting tool for longer stubble, more than sufficient battery life with an LED indicator and last but not least, comes at a convenient price point.