Torlaist FK-399A Electric Razor Review: a cheap 3‑in‑1 shaver that does the job without fancy branding

I’ve been using this Torlaist electric razor for a couple of weeks now, mainly for daily face shaving and a bit of beard clean-up. It’s clearly a budget product from a brand nobody has heard of, made in China, with the usual long Amazon title. I bought it expecting something pretty average, just to see if a cheap 3‑in‑1 kit could replace my older Philips rotary shaver that’s on its last legs.

Right away, I’ll say this: it’s not some miracle grooming tool, but it does get the job done better than I expected for the price. The marketing on the page is a bit over the top, but in actual use it’s just a simple, basic shaver that mostly does what it says: it shaves, trims sideburns a bit, and cleans up nose hair.

During these two weeks, I used it in three different ways: full dry shave in the morning before work, quick touch-ups at the end of the day (neck and cheek lines), and two wet shaves with foam in the shower to see how it handled water. That gave me a pretty clear idea of its strengths and weak spots, especially compared to my older, more expensive branded shaver.

If you’re wondering whether it’s worth grabbing for yourself or as a Father’s Day or birthday gift, my view is simple: it’s a decent budget option if you keep your expectations in check. It’s not perfect, it feels a bit cheap in places, but it’s practical enough, and for basic shaving routines it holds up better than a lot of generic stuff I’ve tried.

For me, the main argument for this Torlaist shaver is value for money. You’re getting a 3‑in‑1 device (shaver, sideburn trimmer, nose trimmer), USB‑C charging, waterproofing, and an LED display, all for a budget price. It’s clearly aimed at people who want something practical and cheap rather than a fancy brand-name gadget. In that sense, it does its job pretty well: it shaves reasonably close, trims basic areas, and the battery life is solid.

Compared to a mid-range Philips or Braun rotary shaver, you do feel where the cost has been cut: the plastics are cheaper, the shave is slightly less close, and the comfort on longer stubble isn’t as good. But those branded models can easily cost two or three times more. If you’re not obsessed with having a big brand and perfect finish, this one gives you maybe 70–80% of the experience at much lower cost. For students, as a backup shaver, or as a simple gift for someone who just needs a functional tool, the value is pretty decent.

On the downside, I wouldn’t say it’s the best choice if you’re looking for a long-term, heavy-duty daily driver for a very thick beard. In that case, spending more on a known brand with stronger motors and better blades might be worth it. Also, spare parts and replacement heads for a no‑name brand like this might be harder to find down the line, which affects long-term value if you want to keep it for many years.

Overall, if you look at it as a simple, budget-friendly grooming kit that covers the basics, the value is good. It’s not a steal of the century, but for what you pay, you get a functional, fairly complete package that handles everyday shaving tasks without drama. Just don’t expect premium build or top-tier performance, and you’ll probably be satisfied with what you get.

Design-wise, this shaver is pretty straightforward. It’s black, slightly curved, with a 4D rotary head and a small LED display on the front. No chrome accents or fancy textures, just plastic with a light rubberised feel in some areas. It definitely looks like a budget device when you put it next to a Philips or Braun, but not in a terrible way – more like “basic tool” than “nice gadget”. If you don’t care about it looking premium, you’ll be fine.

The 4D rotary head is flexible enough to follow the contours of the face. It tilts and pivots when you move it along the jawline and chin, which helps avoid missing patches. The triple floating rings aren’t as smooth as higher-end models, but they move well enough. The rest of the body is quite compact and light, so it’s easy to hold and manoeuvre, even in awkward spots like under the nose or along the neck.

What I did like is the LED display. It shows the battery percentage clearly, and you also get icons for charging and the travel lock. Holding the power button for three seconds locks it, which is handy if you throw it in a bag. No random buzzing in your backpack or suitcase. That’s the kind of small feature that actually matters in real life, more than some flashy design detail you never use.

If I had to nitpick, the plastic around the head and the attachments feels a bit thin. It doesn’t look like it’ll break immediately, but it’s not tank-like either. I wouldn’t want to drop it on tile from a height. So, design verdict: functional but clearly budget. It’s easy to use, easy to understand, but if you like things that feel heavy and premium in the hand, this won’t scratch that itch.

The brand claims 90 minutes of use for 1.5 hours of charging, and honestly, that’s not far off. I charged it fully once when I got it, then used it almost every day for around 5–7 minutes each time. After about a week and a half, the battery indicator was still above 30%. I finally plugged it back in just to be safe, but it definitely seems capable of going a couple of weeks on a single charge with normal usage.

The USB‑C charging is a big plus. You don’t have to deal with a proprietary cable like on some older shavers. I plugged it into my phone charger and also once into my laptop USB port, and it charged fine both times. The LED percentage display makes it easy to know where you stand: no guessing if you’re about to run out of juice. When it’s low, the indicator warns you instead of just dying suddenly mid-shave.

One thing I noticed: even when the battery was below 20%, the power didn’t drop drastically. Some cheap shavers slow down and start tugging when the battery is low; this one stayed fairly consistent until it got very low. Then it just needs a top-up. In a pinch, you can plug it in for 10–15 minutes and get enough charge for a quick shave, which is handy if you forget to charge it.

Overall, I’d say the battery life is one of the strong points of this shaver. For travel, it’s pretty convenient: light, USB‑C, travel lock, and more than enough runtime for a week-long trip without recharging. For the price range, I can’t really complain here. It’s not some monster battery, but it’s more than adequate for normal use.

In terms of comfort, I’d say this shaver is good enough for normal skin, but not the softest thing I’ve ever used. On a one‑day beard (so daily shaving), it glides reasonably well and doesn’t tug much. You feel the rotary heads working, but it’s not painful or harsh. I used it dry most mornings, and aside from a bit of warmth on the skin after a full shave, I didn’t get major irritation or burning.

Where it struggles a bit is on longer stubble (2–3 days). When I let my beard grow for a weekend and then tried to go straight in with this, I felt a few tugs, especially on the neck where the hair is more stubborn. It still got the job done, but I had to go over certain areas a few more times, and the skin felt a bit more sensitive afterwards. If you tend to shave less frequently or you have very coarse hair, you might prefer trimming down first with a proper beard trimmer and then finishing with this.

Using it with shaving foam in the shower definitely helps with comfort. When I did a wet shave, the glide was smoother, and I had less redness around the neck. The IPX6 waterproof rating seems legit: I rinsed the head under running water several times, and nothing weird happened. No water getting trapped in the display or weird sounds. For someone with slightly sensitive skin, I’d recommend wet shaving with foam or gel rather than dry.

Overall, comfort is decent but not outstanding. If you’re used to mid-range or high-end shavers, you’ll feel the difference. But for a budget device, it’s acceptable for daily use as long as your beard isn’t super thick and you don’t skip too many days between shaves. For a teenager, student, or someone who shaves every day for work, it should be fine, just don’t expect ultra-smooth luxury comfort.

It’s always hard to judge durability after just a couple of weeks, but I can at least talk about the general build quality and how it feels in the hand. The body is all plastic, with a light rubberised texture in some spots. It doesn’t creak when you squeeze it, and the buttons don’t rattle, which is a good sign. The magnetic heads still snap on firmly after many swaps, and nothing has loosened up so far.

That said, it still feels like a budget device. The plastic around the rotary head and on the attachments is on the thinner side. If you drop it on tile or a hard surface from a decent height, I wouldn’t be shocked if something cracked. I’ve knocked it gently against the sink a couple of times while rinsing it, and it survived fine, but I’m not going to test it with a proper drop on purpose.

The IPX6 waterproof rating seems legit in everyday use. I’ve rinsed the head thoroughly under running water after several shaves, opened it to clean the inside with the little brush, and so far no rust, no weird noises, and no water trapped in the display or buttons. As long as you actually clean and dry it reasonably, it should hold up. The stainless steel blades haven’t dulled noticeably after two weeks, but that’s too short to really judge blade life; still, they look okay and don’t show signs of damage.

My realistic take is: it’ll last if you treat it decently. If you’re rough with your stuff, toss it around, or drop things a lot, this probably isn’t the most durable device out there. But for normal home use, putting it on a shelf or in a toiletry bag, rinsing it after use, it feels like it should easily last long enough to justify the cost. It’s not built like a premium shaver, but it’s not flimsy junk either.

Out of the box, you get the main shaver body, three magnetic heads (rotary shaver, sideburn trimmer, and nose trimmer), a USB‑C charging cable, a small cleaning brush, and a basic user manual. No charging brick, which is normal now, so you’ll need to plug it into a USB charger, laptop, or power bank. The packaging is fairly simple but not ugly – more like a generic Amazon product than a big brand, but nothing that screams super cheap either.

The first thing I noticed is that the magnetic heads actually snap on quite easily. You don’t need to twist or force anything, they just click into place. Swapping from the shaver to the nose trimmer takes a couple of seconds. In everyday use, that’s pretty handy because you’re not fighting with awkward clips or tiny plastic tabs that feel like they’ll break. The heads sit straight and don’t wobble, which I was half-expecting with a no‑name brand.

The manual is short but clear enough: basic instructions on charging, using the travel lock, and cleaning under running water. Don’t expect fancy diagrams or a long guide, but for a simple device like this, I didn’t really need more. One detail I appreciated: they actually explain the LED icons properly (battery level, travel lock), which is not always the case on cheap devices.

Overall, the presentation is pretty solid for the price. It doesn’t feel premium, but it doesn’t feel like a toy either. Everything you need is there, nothing more. If you’re buying this as a gift, the box is decent enough that you won’t be embarrassed handing it over, but it’s clearly not a luxury grooming kit. It’s a straightforward, budget‑friendly package that focuses on function over style.

Let’s talk about what matters most: does it actually shave well? On a daily basis, I’d say yes, it does a pretty solid job. On a one‑day growth, I can get my face clean enough for work in about 3–5 minutes. The 4D rotary head follows the contours fairly well, and if you move it in small circular motions, it picks up most hairs without too many passes. It doesn’t give the same ultra-close result as a fresh razor blade, but for an electric shaver in this price range, it’s absolutely acceptable.

On trickier areas like the neck and under the jawline, I had to go over spots a bit more and change the angle. It tends to miss a few flat-lying hairs if you rush. After two weeks, I got used to the right motion and pressure, and the results improved. So there’s a bit of a learning curve, but nothing dramatic. Compared to my older Philips rotary, it’s slightly less efficient, but not by a huge margin considering the price difference.

The sideburn trimmer head is okay for basic edging and cleaning up lines, but it’s not a full beard trimmer. It works best for trimming sideburns straight and tidying the neckline. If you try to shape a beard with it, it’s a bit imprecise, mostly because the head is small and not super powerful. The nose trimmer head, on the other hand, is surprisingly decent: it clears nose hair without pulling too much, as long as you don’t push it in like crazy.

So overall effectiveness: it’s nothing special but effective. It will keep you clean-shaven or neatly groomed if you use it regularly and you’re not expecting barbershop-level results. For someone who just wants a quick, practical shave without spending a lot, it does the job. If you’re very picky about a perfectly close shave or you have a very dense beard, you’ll probably want to look at higher-end models, but for everyday use this one is perfectly serviceable.