Sekoda Pro 8 / Neksong C003 Review: a cheap rotary shaver that gets the job done if you’re not too picky

I’ve been using foil shavers from big brands (mainly Braun) for years, so buying this Sekoda Pro 8 / Neksong C003 was a bit of a gamble. Unknown brand, price on the low side, and a product page full of buzzwords. I picked it up because my old shaver battery was dying and I wanted something cheap to leave at my partner’s place. Basically a backup shaver, not my main one.

I’ve used it for just over two weeks now, shaving almost every day, and I tested it in a few conditions: dry shave before work, quick wet shave with foam in the shower, and a couple of three-day beard situations to see how it handles longer hair. I also tried the pop-up trimmer and the nose hair attachment, because if a product claims to be “all-in-one”, I want to see if that’s true or just marketing noise.

Overall, it’s not some miracle gadget, but it does what it’s supposed to do: it shaves. Sometimes it takes a few more passes than I’d like, and it’s clearly not on the same level as the big brands, but given the price and the fact it’s from a brand I’d never heard of, I wasn’t disappointed. I’d call it “pretty solid for casual use”, with some clear compromises.

If you’re expecting the comfort and speed of a high-end Philips or Braun, you’ll probably grumble. But if you just want a simple electric shaver that you can rinse under the tap, throw in a bag, and not worry too much about, then it starts to make sense. The rest of the review goes into the details: what works, what’s annoying, and who I think this is actually for.

In terms of value, it really depends what you expect from it. For the price range it usually sits in (budget segment, clearly below big brands), I’d say it’s decent value. You get a waterproof rotary shaver with a long-lasting battery, a nose trimmer head, and basic trimming functions. It shaves well enough for everyday use if you’re not too demanding, and the battery life is honestly better than some more expensive models I’ve owned.

On the flip side, you feel the compromises. The shave isn’t as close or as fast as mid-range Braun or Philips shavers. The build quality is okay but not reassuring in the long run. The accessories are minimal, and there’s no real brand reputation or strong support behind it, which could be an issue if something breaks after a few months. You’re basically trading performance and long-term confidence for a lower price.

For someone on a tight budget, a teenager getting their first electric shaver, or someone who just wants a second shaver for travel or for keeping at a second home, it’s actually a pretty solid deal. You’re not paying for a logo, and you’re getting enough features to cover most basic grooming needs: shave, trim, nose hair. If you only shave every few days and don’t mind spending a bit more time in front of the mirror, it’s fine.

If, on the other hand, you shave daily, have a thick beard, and want something very close and very fast, I’d save up and go for a more serious model from the big brands. You’ll pay more upfront, but you’ll get better performance and likely better durability. So, value-wise, I’d call this shaver “good for what it is”, as long as you’re honest with yourself about your expectations and usage.

The design is pretty straightforward: one big button in the middle, slightly curved body, and the classic three-head rotary system on top. The “Supreme Edition” name sounds fancy, but visually it’s just a black/grey shaver with a few shiny accents. Nothing ugly, nothing stylish, just average. If you’ve seen cheap Philips-style copies before, you’ll know the vibe.

The ergonomic part is actually not bad. The body has a slight curve that fits the hand well, and the single button is easy to reach with your thumb, so you can turn it on and off or switch modes without shifting your grip. It doesn’t have rubber all over it, but there are some textured zones that help when your hand is wet. I used it in the shower a couple of times, and it didn’t feel like it was going to slip out of my hand.

The 4D floating head sounds fancy, but in practice it just means the head flexes in several directions. It does follow the jawline and chin decently. On my neck, where hair grows in weird directions, I still had to go over the same spots a few times, but that’s true for most rotary shavers I’ve tried. The head pops off easily for cleaning, which is nice, and swapping to the nose trimmer head is quick enough. The pop-up trimmer for sideburns and edging is integrated on the back and slides up with a small switch.

One thing I didn’t like: the plastic around the head feels a bit thin, and when you press too hard, you can feel a slight flex that doesn’t inspire tons of confidence long term. It hasn’t broken on me, but compared to my old Braun, you can tell where they saved money. Overall, the design is practical and user-friendly, but clearly budget-oriented and not exactly built to impress on looks.

The battery is honestly one of the strongest points of this thing. The brand claims 2 hours of charging for up to 3 months of use. I obviously haven’t had it for 3 months yet, but in just over two weeks of almost daily shaving (around 6–8 minutes each time), I only had to charge it once out of the box. That’s pretty good. The LED indicator is basic, but it gives you a rough idea when it’s time to plug it in.

Charging is done via a simple USB cable, which is handy. You can plug it into a phone charger, laptop, or power bank. No proprietary charger to lose, which I appreciate. A full charge took me a bit under 2 hours the first time, which matches the description. You can technically use it while it’s plugged in, but the manual clearly says not to use it near water when charging, and given it’s a cheap, waterproof device, I actually listened for once.

In terms of battery consistency, I didn’t feel any big drop in performance over the first charge cycle. It shaved pretty much the same on day one and day ten. Only at the very end, when the LED started showing low battery, did I feel the motor slow down a bit. For someone who travels or hates charging stuff all the time, this long battery life is a real plus. You can throw it in a bag for a week-long trip and not worry about the charger at all.

If I compare it to my older Braun (entry-level), the autonomy is clearly better here. My Braun needed a charge about once a week; this one looks like it can easily go a few weeks for the same usage. So while the shaving performance isn’t on par, the battery side is actually ahead of some more famous brands, which is pretty funny for a budget unknown-brand shaver.

On comfort, I’d say it’s okay but not great. On one-day stubble, dry shaving is pretty smooth. The rotary heads glide reasonably well, and I didn’t feel much tugging unless I rushed it. After a week of using it every morning, my skin wasn’t red or irritated, which is a good sign. I have fairly normal skin though, not super sensitive. If your skin reacts easily, you might want to stick to wet shaving with foam.

On a three-day beard, things change. The motor can handle it, but you feel more pulling, especially on the neck and under the jaw. I had a couple of times where it caught a longer hair and gave a small pinch. Not unbearable, but not exactly pleasant either. I had to slow down, use small circular motions, and go over the same area multiple times. If you usually shave every 2–3 days, you’ll probably notice the difference compared to a stronger, more expensive shaver.

Using it with shaving foam improves comfort a lot. The head slides better, and I had fewer small pinches. The downside is you have to clean it more thoroughly afterward, which is a bit annoying but manageable since it’s waterproof. Noise-wise, it’s not too loud. You can still hear the TV with it running, and it doesn’t scream like some cheap clippers. It’s a slightly higher-pitched buzz, but nothing that woke anyone up in the next room.

After about 10–15 minutes of shaving, the body doesn’t heat up much, which I appreciated. Some cheap shavers get warm around the motor; this one stayed fairly neutral. In short: for daily or every-other-day shaving, comfort is pretty solid for the price. For longer beards or very sensitive skin, it’s not painful, but it’s not exactly pleasant either, and you’ll probably prefer a higher-end machine.

On durability, I can only talk about what I’ve seen in a bit more than two weeks, but I can still give an idea. The body itself feels reasonably solid. I dropped it once from about waist height onto bathroom tiles (my fault), and it survived without cracks, just a small scuff on the plastic. The head clicked back in place without issue, and it kept working like normal. So it’s not ultra-fragile.

Where I have doubts is the head assembly and the pop-up trimmer. The plastic around the rotary head is on the thin side, and when you press on it you can feel some flex. It hasn’t broken, but it doesn’t give that confidence you get from thicker, denser plastic. The pop-up trimmer also feels a bit flimsy; the mechanism works, but I could see it getting loose over time if you use it a lot. This is the kind of thing that might be fine for a year or two, but I’d be surprised if it still felt tight after heavy daily use for several years.

Cleaning-wise, I opened the head after each shave and rinsed it under warm water. No rust or weird discoloration so far; the blades still look clean. Being made in China isn’t a problem in itself, but you can tell they’ve cut some corners to keep the price low. It’s not the shaver I’d buy expecting 5+ years of loyal service. I see it more as a backup shaver, a travel shaver, or something for occasional users who don’t stress their gear too much.

So, short term, durability seems acceptable. Long term, I wouldn’t bet big money on it lasting as long as a big-brand model. If you’re gentle with your stuff and don’t drop it every week, you’ll probably be fine. If you’re rough on your gear and want something that can take abuse, I’d look elsewhere.

The motor is advertised as “powerful low-noise”. I’d say the low-noise part is fair, the powerful part is a bit optimistic. The sound level is actually pretty reasonable. It’s more of a soft buzz than a harsh whine, and it doesn’t suddenly spike when it hits thicker areas of hair. That’s a plus if you’re shaving early in the morning and don’t want to wake everyone up.

In terms of raw power, you can feel its limits when you let your beard grow for a few days. On one-day stubble, it runs smoothly and doesn’t slow down. On 3-day growth, you can hear the motor working harder. It doesn’t stall, but it loses some speed when you press too hard. You quickly learn to use light pressure and small circular motions instead of just pushing it like crazy. The dual-track blades help cover more surface, so you still move at a decent pace, but don’t expect the same haircutting strength as a premium rotary.

I didn’t notice big performance drops as the battery drained, which is good. Some cheap shavers get weaker as they lose charge; this one stayed pretty consistent until it was almost empty. Only near the end did I notice a slight drop in speed, which the LED warning more or less matched. The waterproof claim also holds up: I used it several times in the shower, rinsed it under the tap after every shave, and the motor still runs like day one.

So, performance-wise, it’s stable, quiet enough, and okay for regular stubble. It just lacks that extra punch for thicker beards or people with very dense hair. If your beard is on the lighter or average side, you’ll be fine. If you’ve got a heavy, coarse beard, you’ll probably feel like it’s working a bit too hard.

When you open the box, you can tell right away this isn’t a premium product, but it’s not junk either. You get the shaver body, the 4D rotary head already attached, a small pop-on nose hair trimmer head, a little cleaning brush, a basic charging cable (USB, no wall plug), and a short manual in slightly clunky English. No travel pouch, no stand, nothing fancy. Just the basics.

The shaver itself is fairly compact and light. The brand name on mine is Neksong, which already tells you they’re not fully consistent with their branding (Sekoda Pro 8 on the listing, Neksong on the device). That doesn’t change how it shaves, but it does feel a bit generic, like one of those rebranded Chinese products you see under different names. Still, the housing doesn’t feel like it’s going to fall apart in your hands. The plastics are standard, slightly glossy with some matte areas for grip.

The manual claims IP6X waterproof and “full body washable”, which basically means you can rinse the whole thing under the tap and use it for wet shaving. I did that several times, and it survived just fine. There’s a basic battery indicator light, but no screen, no percentage, just a simple LED that changes when it’s charging or low. In practice that’s enough, but don’t expect detailed feedback.

So overall, the presentation is simple: you get a rotary shaver with a couple of attachments and a cable, nothing more. If you like neat accessories and a nice case, you’ll be disappointed. If you just want something that works out of the box without a pile of extras, it’s fine. It feels like a no-frills kit meant to keep costs down rather than impress you when you unbox it.

On pure shaving effectiveness, the Sekoda Pro 8 / Neksong C003 does the job, but it’s not on the same level as big-brand mid or high-end models. On my cheeks and moustache area, it shaves fairly close. After two passes, I’m presentable for work and don’t see obvious patches. Running my hand against the grain, I can still feel a bit of roughness, but visually it’s fine. If you’re not obsessed with a perfectly smooth face, it’s good enough.

The neck is where it struggles more. I have hairs that grow in different directions there, and I had to go over certain spots several times, changing the angle and pressure. The 4D head helps a bit, but the cutting power just isn’t that strong. It eventually gets there, but it takes more time and patience than with my old Braun. I’d say a full shave that takes me 5–6 minutes with my usual shaver took closer to 8–10 minutes with this one, especially when I hadn’t shaved for two days.

The pop-up trimmer is okay for sideburns and cleaning the neckline, but it’s not super sharp. It works if you go slowly and make several passes, but don’t expect barbershop-level clean lines. The separate nose hair trimmer head is actually decent: it trims quickly and doesn’t pull much, which surprised me a bit. It’s not as comfortable as my dedicated nose trimmer, but for an all-in-one device it’s usable.

In practice, I’d rate effectiveness as “good enough for someone who wants to look clean without chasing perfection”. If you’re the type who checks every patch in the mirror and wants a super-close shave, you’ll probably find it a bit lacking, especially on the neck and jawline. But if you just want to be reasonably clean-shaven without using a razor blade, it does the job.