Philips Shaver Series 5000 (S5887/13) Review: a straightforward everyday shaver that does the job

I’ve been using the Philips Shaver Series 5000 S5887/13 for a few weeks now, mostly for daily shaves and a couple of 3‑day beard situations. I’m not a grooming nerd, I just want something that cuts cleanly without chewing up my skin. I came from an older Braun foil shaver and a cheap Philips rotary, so I have a decent point of comparison. Right away, this one feels like a proper step up from the cheap stuff, but it’s not some miracle device either.

The first thing I noticed is the balance between power and comfort. It doesn’t feel like a lawnmower on your face, but it also doesn’t stall when you hit thicker patches on the neck or jawline. On a 3‑day beard, it took me a bit longer than with a fresh daily shave, but it still cleared everything without me having to press like crazy. Skin afterwards: slightly warm, but not red or burning, which for me is acceptable.

I’ve mostly used it dry, in front of the mirror in a hurry before work. I did one wet shave with foam in the shower just to test the waterproof claim. No drama: it handled steam and water fine, and it rinses easily under the tap. That’s a big plus if, like me, you’re lazy about maintenance. Quick rinse, pop the head open, done. I only used the little brush once to remove some stubborn hairs.

So overall, my first impression was: this is a solid, no‑nonsense mid-range shaver. It’s not magic, it doesn’t give you razor‑blade closeness, but it’s good enough for work‑ready smoothness and it doesn’t tear up my skin. If that’s what you expect, you’ll probably be pretty happy. If you’re chasing ultra‑close barbershop results, you might feel it’s just decent, not more.

Price-wise, the Philips Series 5000 S5887/13 sits in that mid-range zone where you expect a clear step up from entry-level, but you’re not paying premium prices like for the Series 9000. For what it offers – waterproof design, decent battery, flexible heads, integrated trimmer, travel pouch and stand – I’d say it’s fairly priced. You’re not paying just for looks; you actually get a shaver that handles daily use well and doesn’t feel cheap.

Compared to cheaper models I’ve used, the main differences are comfort and consistency. With budget shavers, I often had to go over the same area many times and my skin would complain afterwards. Here, I get a cleaner result faster, with less irritation. That alone justifies the extra money for me. On the other hand, if you already own a fairly recent mid-range Philips, this one might feel like an incremental upgrade rather than a big step. The SkinIQ and sensor stuff is nice, but in everyday use it just feels like a well‑tuned motor, not some magic technology.

Running costs are moderate. You don’t need cleaning cartridges, just water and occasionally the little brush. Replacement heads every couple of years will cost something, but that’s standard for electric shavers. Electricity use is minimal, and the battery life means you’re not charging it constantly. So the ongoing cost is mostly just the future head replacement, which is normal.

Overall, value is pretty solid. It’s not the cheapest way to shave, but if you want a reliable electric shaver that you can use daily without babying it, the price makes sense. If your budget is tight and you shave only occasionally, a cheaper model might be enough. But if you shave several times a week and want a decent balance between comfort, performance and price, this one sits in a good spot.

The design is very Philips: three rotary heads, carbon grey body, and a slightly curved handle. In the hand, it feels neither cheap nor premium – somewhere in the middle. The plastic doesn’t creak, the seams are clean, and the finish is decent. It doesn’t scream luxury, but it also doesn’t feel like it’s going to fall apart. I’d call it a clean, practical look that won’t annoy you on the bathroom shelf.

The handle shape is comfortable for my medium-sized hands. There’s a bit of rubberized texture on the back that helps with grip, especially when your hands are slightly wet. I used it a couple of times after washing my face and never felt like it was going to slip. The weight is well balanced – not top heavy despite the three heads. At around 540 g including packaging, the shaver itself feels light enough for long sessions but not like a toy.

The display is simple but useful. You get a three-level battery indicator, cleaning advice, and a travel lock indicator. Nothing fancy, but it’s clear. The travel lock is easy to activate and deactivate, which is good if you actually throw this in a bag. I tested the lock by pressing the button in my hand bag; it stayed off, so that feature is not just marketing text. The power button has a clear click, so you know when it’s on or off.

One thing I liked is how the shaving head opens for cleaning. You press a small release and the whole top flips open, so you can rinse out hair quickly under the tap. No messing around with tiny parts. The heads themselves are flexible and can move in multiple directions, which helps follow the contours. I wouldn’t say the design is pretty, but it’s logical and user-friendly. If you care more about function than looks, you’ll be fine with this design.

The battery life on this Philips Series 5000 is one of the strong points. The brand claims about 60 minutes of runtime after a full 1‑hour charge. In real use, I was getting roughly 10–12 shaves of 4–5 minutes each before I felt like I should recharge. That’s pretty close to the spec and more than enough for everyday use. I’m not constantly worrying about it dying mid-shave, which is what matters for me.

The 5‑minute quick charge is not just a nice line on the box – it actually works. I deliberately drained the battery until it wouldn’t turn on, then plugged it in while I brushed my teeth and got dressed. After around 6–7 minutes, I could complete a full shave without it cutting out. So if you forget to charge it, you can still get out the door on time. That’s the kind of feature you only appreciate the day you really need it.

The charging stand is light and basic, but it keeps the shaver upright, which is handy in a small bathroom. You can also plug the cable directly into the shaver if you don’t care about the stand. I didn’t notice any weird heating while charging; it gets slightly warm, nothing more. The battery indicator on the handle is clear enough: three bars that go down as you use it. No exact percentage, but honestly, for a shaver that’s enough for me.

One thing to note: you can’t use it while it’s plugged in (for safety, since it’s waterproof). So if you completely forget to charge and don’t even have 5 minutes to spare, you’re stuck. For me that’s not a big deal because the battery lasts long enough that I charge it maybe once every 1–2 weeks. Overall, battery and charging are solid, low-maintenance and predictable, which is exactly what I want in a bathroom gadget.

Obviously I haven’t used it for years yet, but from what I can see and feel, the build seems decent. The body feels sturdy, no loose parts or rattling when you shake it. The head mechanism opens and closes with a firm click, and after several rinses and openings it still feels tight. Philips says the blades are self‑sharpening and should last around 2 years, which matches what I’ve seen with other Philips models in the past. So far, after a few weeks, I haven’t noticed any drop in cutting performance.

The waterproofing also seems reliable. I used it under running water and in a steamy shower without any issues. No fogging inside the display, no weird sounds afterwards. I always shake out the water and let it dry with the head open, and the next day it’s good to go. If you’re a bit rough and just rinse and throw it in the pouch, I still think it will cope, but I’d at least let it dry a bit to keep the head from getting musty.

In terms of wear, the only part I could see aging quickly is the plastic of the head cover if you drop it often. Rotary heads don’t like big impacts, so if you’re clumsy, I’d be careful not to knock it off the sink. The soft pouch protects from scratches but not from drops. The finish on the handle hasn’t shown scratches or fading yet, but time will tell. At least it doesn’t have glossy plastic that shows every mark, which is a plus.

Given Philips’ general track record and the 5‑year warranty claim for the shaver brand, I’m fairly confident this can be your main shaver for several years if you don’t abuse it. You’ll probably need to replace the shaving heads at some point, which is normal. So, not bulletproof, but feels reliable enough for everyday use. If you want a tank, you’d probably have to pay more for their higher-end models, but for this price level, the durability looks reasonable.

In terms of performance, I used it in two main scenarios: daily shaving (24 hours of growth) and every 2–3 days when I got lazy. On a daily basis, it handles my beard very well. I do circular motions like Philips recommends, and in about 3–4 minutes my face is clean enough for work. It cuts evenly on the cheeks and upper lip, and it deals reasonably well with my tricky neck area. I still have to go over the neck a few extra times, but that’s normal for me with any electric shaver.

On a 3‑day beard, it obviously takes longer. You feel the motor working harder, and you need more passes. But it still gets through it without painful pulling. I only had a couple of minor tugs around the jawline when I moved too fast. If you slow down a bit and let the heads do their thing, it’s fine. The result is not as close as a wet razor, but for an electric shaver it’s pretty solid. Running my hand against the grain afterwards, I can still feel very short stubble in some spots, but visually it looks smooth.

Skin comfort is decent. My skin is slightly sensitive around the neck, and with some shavers I end up red and itchy. With this one, I got mild redness the first two shaves, then my skin seemed to adapt. After that, as long as I didn’t press too hard, it was okay. No burning sensation, just a bit of warmth. Using it with foam in the shower felt even gentler, but I don’t always have the time for that. If you have very sensitive skin, you might still want to use a balm afterwards, but for normal to slightly sensitive skin, this is manageable.

Overall, I’d rate the performance as: good daily shaver, decent for 2–3 day beards, not a razor-blade replacement. It does what it claims in terms of cutting power and comfort, but don’t expect a perfectly glass-smooth finish. For me, it’s efficient enough that I actually keep using it instead of falling back to manual razors all the time, which says a lot.

Out of the box, the Philips Series 5000 S5887/13 is pretty straightforward. You get the shaver, a small charging stand, a soft pouch, a protective cap for the head, a cleaning brush and the integrated pop‑up trimmer that’s built into the body. No fancy cleaning station or tons of attachments, just the basics. For the price range, that’s about what I expected. The charging stand is small and light, more like a plastic dock than a heavy base, but it keeps the shaver upright on the counter, which is handy.

The pouch is soft and flexible, not a hard case. It’s fine for tossing into a travel bag, but don’t expect much impact protection. It will stop the shaver from getting scratched or full of dust, but if you sit on your suitcase, it’s still just a fabric pouch. The protective cap clicks over the head nicely and doesn’t fall off easily, which I appreciate for travel or just throwing it in a drawer. The little brush is basic but does the job for cleaning around the blades if you don’t feel like rinsing every time.

The integrated pop-up trimmer is on the back of the shaver. You slide it up when you need it, so you don’t have to carry an extra attachment. In practice, it’s handy for sideburns and cleaning the line around the neck, but it’s not precise enough for detailed beard shaping. It’s more of a utility tool than something for stylish beards. Still, it’s better than nothing, and I used it a few times without any problems.

Overall, the package is pretty simple: no gimmicks, just the essentials. If you like a ton of accessories, this will feel a bit bare. If you just want a shaver you can charge, throw in a bag and use, it’s fine. Personally, I would have liked a slightly more rigid travel case, but for the price bracket I can live with what they include.