The shaver doesn't satisfy as far as shaving around the sideaburns, ears, and nose areas. Yes, it may be fine in the neck area, however that is a small part of a normal shave for me. I prefer the other style.

After a long research and checking almost any review I finally decided on the Arcitec 1090.
It will never give you a closer shave as you can get at a barber but is the best electric shave.

After using my Norelco Quadra for about 8 years and having absolutely no issues to with it I thought to myself, why don't I try a new razor. Since Quadra never gave me the close shave, I thought I experiment and see how technology has evolved over the years. I purchased the best: The Arcitec. What a disaster it was. It gave me terrible irritation, cut the hair very slowly and refused to pick up some. My face would not adjust to it. I struggled with it for a month and returned it to Norelco who hopefully will refund my money. Since I no longer had my old Quadra Action, I decided to give Norelco another try and purchased the 8151XL. I only shaved with it once, however, it was the best shave in my life. It picked up all uneasy hairs without struggle and I never expected the closeness it gave me. I love it and actually look forward to my next shave. I strongly recommend purchasing any shaver from XL line up.

I happened to have a pretty thick beard and they grow all different directions. I had an older version of Norelco and used it for quite some times and only changed the blades possibly once every two years and it still does a pretty good job. This shaver really is not worth the difference so in another words, you are not getting what you are paying for. It has a slik design and a very nice stand and that's about it. I would recomment sticking to a less pricey ones as that all seem to be the same and even a little less noisey :-)

Norelco Arcitec Razor - 1090X

I have been using a Norelco Spectra 8894XL for many years and decided to "upgrade" to the new Arcitec with the modern design. Mistake!! It is not as good as the old one!

Ok, first i've gotta say this is my first review of a product ever.. But i felt i had to because i did hesitate a lot to buy this product after a lot of mixed reviews, several visits to stores to see the product itself compare it with others and the fact that it's been less reviewed than the Braun Pulsonic which might reflect in less popularity, etc etc.. i decided to take the risk and go again with Norelco, after all if it didn't work for me i have the warranty to return the product.

And now after the first time I used it.. i can tell you that I'm not planning to return anything and keep it for a long time !! My previous razor was a SPECTRA 8890XL wich was doing good but the plastic thing that holds the head was very fragile and broke for the 3rd time so.. i decided to upgrade.. and i'm very pleased with the results it says as with every Norelco razor that you should give 3 weeks of adjustment so the growth of the hair can be adjusted to the new system... so I can't wait to see how will this perform by the 3rd week :D

I know beards are differents and performance might depend on the shape of the face and kind of facial hair, so here it is: I've got a thick black beard with a skinny and curvy jaw IT DID and deliver really good.

All i can say that is a great shaver.. yes the trimmer is almost invisible but nothing that I can't used to, and as a previous review mentioned if you don't care about the digital display and nice extra lights go with a cheaper version... personally i'm kind of unorganized and always on the run so to know exactly how many minutes are left is a must for me, but again if you can live without all those "lights" go for the other models.

The shaver is very convenient to clean. Battery lasts longer than I expected--4 weeks of daily shaving.

This is my first time using Amazon.com for purchases other than books and software. So after carefully examining the various razors and reading previous purchasers critiques I decided to go all out and buy the "TOP" of the range product the Philips Norelco arcItec 1090XD Men's Shaving System.
This was not a snap decision as I also physically examined the model in Booths chemist. And after admiring the self cleaning aspects of the so called "SYSTEM" I gave myself a little treat and placed the order. This order also included an extra carton of cleaning lotion and a spare set of cutters.
I duly received the product but low and behold no cleaning "POD". How can this razor be accurately described as a shaving system. Surly a top of the range "Shaving system" includes the cleaning pod.

Enough of my woes but buyers beware. Once bitten twice shy.

On the razor itself I cannot say enough to express by satisfaction with this product.
I have over the pass 40 years always used an "electric" razor. Including 2 Braun and more recently 3 Philips or Norelco models.

The razor is a joy to use. It gives a lovely and almost silent cut. It looks and feels fantastic. The humble "electric" razor has certainly come along way and progressed to the development of this model. The design is so well balanced between the cutting heads and the main body it's as if the cutters were attached to the top of your thumb. The charging system does exactly what it say on the box and is fully charged in 60mins. It does remind you to empty and clean the cutter head after every use. But this is a relatively straight forward exercise and not as off putting as other commentators have suggested. The recharging stand complements the razor in both design and usefulness. It has suction pads on the bottom to ensure that the stand and razor won't move from its correct place. OK the trimmer is not as big as on my current model. But it does exactly what I need in tidying sideburns and trimming over ears etc.
Look it's a Razor not a hair grooming machine.

Would I recommend the razor? Most definitely YES, it's a man's razor. And thankfully as previous ladies have comment on its does not suit their needs. So hopefully I will not see my wife borrowing it either.

However be careful where you buy the product and don't get stung like me.
Philips Norelco arcitec 1090XD Men's Shaving System

This is a decent shaver to own whether it's for a man or for a woman. It shaves great with no worries of cuts like with a conventional razor. I am a diabetic and risk infections easy which is why I use an electric shaver instead of razors. I have tried other brands and found the Arcitec to be one of the best I've used, and it's price is comparable to the other brands. I highly recommend this product.

Great shaver...and really cool looking!!!!!!!!!
Gave it to my husband as a Christmas present. He loves Norelco razors!

it shaves so so I guess, not great, not bad. It is comfortable though and doesn't irritate your neck.

It's a good razor, but it's not worth such a premium price. The much less expensive Norelco shavers with rotating heads do just about the same job.

This top-of-the-line NORELCO electric shaver, the Arcitec 1090, is absolutely, and by far, the BEST electric shaver I have ever owned, and I am 74 years old on 31 August 2008. It performs quietly and efficiently, it is easy to clean and maintain, and you definitely know you have in your hand a beautiful and outstanding product. It is expensive, but like all things in life, you get what you pay for !

Ray Martel

I have traditionally been a Braun shaver user, but have always wanted to own a rotary. In the past I have tried several of them, but have not been sufficiently satisfied with the shave they gave. When I recently decided to look at a new shaver I decided to look into the much touted Arcitec. Unlike most people, I didn't think the appearance of the shaver was particulary cool. (In fact, I would say it's just short of "weird" though the 1090X is better looking than the 1060X model generally seen in stores.) However, looks are less important than performance and valued features, so when I saw a promotional code available on the Internet that allowed me to pick up the 1090 for the same price as the 1060 at my local Wal-Mart I jumped on it. Here is the overview:

Shave and Handling:

The razor gives a good shave, especially if you give your beard/face the adjustment period (21 days) recommended. The only drawback is that can take a little longer to get a really close shave than would be ideal. (I believe it might actually shave a little closer/quicker if the heads were slightly LESS flexible.) Just as advertised, I find that the razor is easy to hold and that the flexibility of the heads gives you the ablity to rotate the shaver from almost any angle and while still keeping contact with your beard. Its new design allows me to cut around my goatee much better than any rotary I've ever tried before.

Indicator Lights/Warning Beeps:

I like the minutes of power left and low batery display features in particular. I find this really comes in handy as exactly when to recharge a shaver can otherwise be a bit of a guessing game.

Precision Tube Trimmer:

Not good. As many other posters have commented, the placement is awkward at best. This must have been the only place Philips/Norelco could place it and still keep the felixibity and ergonomics they wanted, otherwise it is simply inexplicable.

Cleaning:

Fairly easy. The heads are washable under water and there is a brush included if you want to do it the old fashioned way. I believe you can also buy a cleaning unit and use Norelco's cleaning fluid if you wish, but there is significant ongoing expense choosing that route.

Accessories:

The charging stand works well and (if I keep the surface of my bathroom counter fairly clean) the suction cups placed on bottom for stabiliy work fine. The power pod that the razor can be charged in/stored for traveling also works well, but it would have been better if it had been designed so that the razor could go in there with the protective razor head cap on the heads. As for the head cap itself, I don't leave it on the razor between shaves as recommended in the manual because I want to make sure the razor heads are thoroughly dried out (from past experience w/ other washables failure to so can eventually lead to a mildew smell coming from the razor blades) and, frankly, I think the cap makes the razor look sort of "clownish" when it is on.

Other Observations:

The shaver is quiet compared to my Braun and seems to better conserve power too. It is also fairly light-weight and feels pretty sturdy.

Conclusion:

For some people this razor will not be worth the money even if they get a reasonable deal as I did. However, if you are not daunted by the price (which is lower than Braun's current premium "Pulsonic" model) and want a razor that combines good overall performance with the bells and whistles associated with an upper-end shaver, I believe you will be satisfied with the the 1090X model.

I bought this product for my husband's birthday and he hated it. He said the hair always clogged up inside and then it just didn't shave correctly after that. I'm returning it today for a refund.

My husband says this is the best shaver he has ever used. It is fast, light to handle and non abrasive. He will never use another type of razer again. When this one wears out he will order another. He says it is worth ever penny.

Like another reviewer said, I really wanted to like this shaver. I used it for a couple of weeks and ended up going back to my Norelco 9190XL. I find the 9190XL gives me a smoother shave, a faster shave, has a much better trimmer, can be charged without a cradle, has a larger whisker reservoir, has better ergonomics, and has a better travel case. The Arcitec is definitely cuter, but unfortunately cute doesn't get you very far in shaving.

i purchased this razor thinking it would shave better than my old norelco but i was disappointed. i got a better shave with my old norelco. i don't like this razor.

This is a very nice razor (quiet and smooth) but it does not seem to work on the neck like the comercials would have you believe. I often have to use a regular razor on my neck from time to time.

That said, I do shave my head and it does a great job up there.

After 75 years (Well I didn't really shave during the first 15 years of my life) I decided to switch from a blade razor to an electric razor. Therefore I can't really compare the Norelco to another electric razor. I did find that electric is much more convenient but doesn't give as close a shave as the blade razor.

I've been on a quest for a new electric razor since Christmas. I went astray and tried a Panasonic Foil type, and I won't make that mistake again. So now I knew it was Norelco or nothing. So which one? The top of the line 1090 was just too expensive for me to justify but then the price dropped and I got Amazon Prime all on the same day! Now it was doable and I'd get it the next day? Too much to take... I had to finally get it.

This razor is the undisputed champion of electric shavers. No shaver can come close to the looks, performance, and useability of this razor. All in all the best razor I've had. The new cleaning method alone is worth the price if you are a Norelco fan. It's so quick, and no removable combs and cutters to mix-up in the sink. Just flip 'em open and shoot a little hot water in there or run the whole head in hot soapy water. Done. Waaaay better system than any other Norelco shaver. It charges in only an hour and stays charged for a lot of shaves. 65 minutes worth. That's a lot of shaves.

The quality of the shave is on par with other high-end Norelco shavers I've had in the past (wishful thinking, see the update below). Especially with a little 'Lectric Shave splashed on ahead of time.

Lastly, let's talk about something that really doesn't matter. The looks. This thing is gorgeous. The pictures on this website don't do it justice. For one thing the materials it's made from are all top of the line. Carbon Fiber panels, and super rich "Black Chrome" accents on the front. Surround all that with a brushed stainless steel bezel and it's about the best looking shaver ever made. It's even got that nice "rubberized" back so it won't get scratched up in the drawer. Of course this thing is so good looking you might just be tempted to leave it out as an "art object" for all to see.

If you like nice things and can appreciate a top of the line gadget. Get this bad boy. It's a ton of fun to have and it's great shave. I just like looking at it...

UPDATE: Well it's been about a month with the new shaver and as much as I like how it looks, I have to send it back to Amazon. My SpeedXL shaves much faster and closer than this new bad boy Arcitec. I really wanted to love this razor, but in the end, I buy a razor to use, not to look at.

I don't know how people can say this thing shaves better than the old ones. It absolutely does not. It sure looks damn good though... Maybe Norelco can improve the heads on a future model and I'll give it another shot in a year or so.... For now? Stick with your old Norelcos. They do a better and faster job.

I have owned several Norelco electric razors in the past and I have always thought that they provided a consistently close shave. The new Arcitec 1090 gives an even better shave. The flexible heads easily fit the contours of your face and neck better than any previous Norelco model. There are two minor drawbacks to this razor, well maybe three if you count the exhorbitant price. The first is the trimmer is usless on this model. Even if the tiny trimmer worked, you could not see what you were trimming because the shaving head blocks your view. The second irritant is that you have to clean the razor after each use. Granted, it's a minor annoyance, but if you don't clean it each time you will end up with tiny hair pieces on your clothing and countertop because the collection recepticals are too small to hold more than one days beard growth.

This is the best shave I have ever had. Does an excellent job on my neck with the absolute least irritation ever. Love the rinse under the faucet feature. The sideburn trimmer leaves a lot to be desired. It is to small.

i have bought two of these shaving systems, one each for my husband and my son. they both love them. my husband says it is easy to clean, and my son says that his travels well. they are a bit pricey but if you divide the price by the number of times you use it, it gets cheaper every day!

The shaver is great, nice design, cool looking, but thats not why we buy a shaver.
The head is very flimsy, feels like its gonna break as you press it against your skin. You can press softly or roughly, no matter what you do, it gives a NOT-SO-CLOSE SHAVE. I had to shave ever day with this unit. It gives very bad irritation around the neck area, no matter how many times you use it. I have very sensitive skin. Around the mouth area, same thing, irritation. The shaver is nice, but for the price and what it can do, I would NOT RECOMEND THIS UNIT.

I've tried numerous electric razors over the years. I started with a 3-head rotary system similar to this, then switched to a foil cutting system, and back to a 3-head. None ever seemed to give me the close shave that I expected...until now. Right after I got this charged up, I gave it a go and was simply amazed. The shave was close and smooth, and it didn't feel like it was eating my face alive! The ease of cleaning makes this razor a no-brainer too. Simply open up the heads and rinse under hot water after shaving. If you want it cleaner than that, you can then close the heads and submerge the cutting heads into soapy water or Norelco's cleaning solution and turn it on for about 30 seconds. The only drawback I could think of with this razor is that it cannot be used while it is plugged in. I know after a few years, my old razor wouldn't hold a charge for very long, so I generally just used it plugged in. We'll see how this one does a few years down the road!

I bought the 1090 to replace my Norelco bb9190xl as it's heads seem to slide around. The 1090 works quite well except that the heads seem to flip a bit. The heads need to be a little tighter. Also it would benefit greatly if there was a small ridge/ledge at the curve above the switch for us to put our thumb against. This would improve the handling; especially for us with arthritus in our hands.
I do like seeing around the heads while shaving and the fact that the cutter assembly does not fall apart while cleaning. The heads have no resivor so I have to rinse the heads every time I use the razor and leave it open to dry. I wonder about using the razor with washed heads without spraying with lube after each use.

I received the 1090 and it gives a very comfortable shave.

Having read the negative reviews before purchase, I cannot agree with any of them.

There is no excessive noise and it is quieter than my older model Norelco. It shaves smoothly and there is no razor burn.

I make one exception to my statement above. I also do not think it is worth $240, but then no razor is worth that kind of money.


Bill
Northern Ky

The new design is a very big improvement from the traditional Nelcro. It is easy to clean and you can see better for close areas like the side burns and nose. It is not cheap but well worth the improvement in technology.

This is a pretty decent shaver and does a reasonable job on fairly dense hair/beards. It is fast and will get the job done, and for men that have to shave more than once during the day, it's great to just carry along in the car to do quick touch-ups, just charge it during the weekend then stick it in your car or briefcase for that quick second shave during the workday. The floating head is very comfortable, leaving no razor burn, and it definitely does the job faster than using manual razors. The ease in which the unit cleans is also nice. Simply rinse the head under water and let it dry in the charging stand. The Arcitec has a super long battery life along with a quick charge feature. When fully charged it doesn't have to go back on the charger for almost three weeks. This makes the unit very portable if you so desire. On the downside, it doesn't seem to shave as close though as a 2 or 3-head razor, and the trimmer is poorly designed and of little use. It's pretty pricey too, and debatable that the performance really warrants the price.

Norelco offers a no questions asked 40 day return policy on the razor, a good indication that they really stand behind this product.

This is my third high end Philips/Norelco shaver in the past 10 years. I bought this arcitec 1090 with high hopes that it would do an even better job than my previous 8894xl.

I'm sorry to say that after 3 months of using it almost every day... I consider this a step backwards from the 8894xl. In their quest for a really cool design, and I have to admit it does look really good, they have lost sight of the fact that it actually results in a worse shave.

I find myself having to cover the same ground many more times than in the past and have to concentrate much more to check for missed hairs and spots that I have to go over even more. Also, the statement that the new design improves the ability to shave your neck is not true, I think it is also worse in this regard.

My advice, dont bother with the cool Arcitec design, buy the top of the line traditional Philips/Norelco model instead.

I have been using Norelco razors for the last 26 years. This razor gives the best shave of all of them hands down. The heads follow the contours of my chin, face and neck perfectly resulting in a significantly closer shave than the Spectra 8894 it replaces.

This is the best razor, of the world, I tried several razor, and I decided to buy this one, thustly always in norelco, wowww this machine is the future, when I used it the first time it was awesome, I always had several problems cutting the hair around my neck, but this one in a flash momment cutted the hair around my neck, and I feel so good, Highly Recomended, The BESSSSSSSSSSSSSTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!

This product is WAY too noisy compared to every other Norelco shaver that I have had. Also, even two months after starting to use this item, I still am getting the occasional "pinching" effect EVERY time I shave. Something else that I'm not used to with a Norelco. Seriously considering going back to my older model and using this as my travel version. Wonderfully light, and beautiful to look at, but........

I have used this product for about a month. I find that it does a good job of shaving my face and neck. It is quieter than my old 9060 Norelco shaver. It is maybe a bit better and easier to hold than the 9060. Simpler to clean but after three days of not shaving(I hate to shave), I need to empty the small space under the blades half way thru the shave. I like the numbered battery meter, but you will pay dearly for this feature. The hard case makes traveling with this razor a breeze. The holding stand with it's magnetic hold is very convenient. The charging cycle is quite long at 2.5 hours. Overall a very nice product.