Remington PR1855 Review: a tough, basic shaver that focuses on the essentials

I’ve been using the Remington Virtually Indestructible PR1855 for a few weeks now, after my old foil shaver finally gave up. I didn’t buy it because it looked cool or high-tech. What sold me was the price, the long warranty, and the whole “virtually indestructible” claim. I’m not especially gentle with my gear, so anything that can survive a few drops around a bathroom sink gets my attention.

Right away, this shaver feels like a tool, not a gadget. It’s a bit bulky, black and yellow, and doesn’t try to impress you with a fancy display or a million modes. You get an on/off button, a pop-up trimmer, a stubble guard, and that’s basically it. If you like simple stuff that just does the job, that’s a plus. If you enjoy techy features and battery percentages on screen, this one feels pretty old-school.

I used it almost daily, sometimes dry, sometimes with foam in the shower, just to see how it behaved. I usually shave every 1–2 days, and my beard is fairly thick on the chin and jawline, weaker on the cheeks. That’s important because rotary shavers can struggle a bit if your hair is very flat or if you leave it too long. I tried it on one-day stubble, three-day growth, and also quick touch-ups during the week.

Overall, it gives a decent to good shave for the price, with a few annoyances that you need to accept going in. It’s not a premium Braun or Philips, but it doesn’t cost like one either. If you want something robust, simple, and easy to rinse, it makes sense. If you want a close, baby-smooth shave and a ton of feedback on battery and status, you’ll probably find it a bit basic and slightly frustrating.

For the price level this usually sits at, I’d say the value for money is pretty good, as long as your expectations are realistic. You’re not paying for premium materials or smart features. You’re paying for a robust body, a long warranty, basic but reliable performance, and simple maintenance. No cleaning station, no subscription fluids – just rinse it and occasionally use the little brush. That alone saves money and hassle compared to some brands that push you into buying cartridges.

Compared to higher-end Braun or Philips models I’ve tried, the shave is slightly less close and the overall feel is less refined. But those cost several times more. One Amazon user even mentions replacing a much pricier Braun with this and being happy with the trade-off: similar shave, easier cleaning, far cheaper. I’m in the same boat: if you’re not obsessed with getting the absolute closest electric shave, this Remington is good enough for daily use and easier on the wallet.

The main things that hurt the value a bit are the lack of battery indicator and the somewhat basic feel of the plastic. You also don’t get extras like a pouch or stand. So if you like a more “complete” package, you might feel it’s a bit stripped-down. On the flip side, you do get waterproofing, a pop-up trimmer, a stubble guard, and a 5+1 year warranty, which many similarly priced shavers don’t offer all at once.

So, from a purely practical point of view: if your priorities are durability, simple maintenance, and a fair price, this shaver is good value. If you want something sleek, ultra-close, with a digital display and all the bells and whistles, you’ll probably need to spend more and look elsewhere. It’s a budget-friendly workhorse, not a luxury gadget.

Design-wise, this shaver is not trying to win a beauty contest. It’s black with yellow accents, a bit bulky, and the plastic is very obviously plastic. Remington calls it a “virtually indestructible” polycarbonate body. That basically means it feels more like a rugged tool than a sleek bathroom accessory. If you want something that looks premium on a shelf, this won’t do it. But if you want something that can fall off the sink without shattering, the design makes sense.

In the hand, it’s actually more comfortable than it looks. The weight (around 220 g) gives it a solid feel without being too heavy. The shape fills the palm well, and the curves give you a good grip, even when your hands are wet. I used it with foam in the shower and didn’t feel like it would slip out. The on/off button is placed where your thumb naturally rests, so you don’t have to adjust your grip to start or stop it. It’s simple, but that simplicity works.

The head is a classic rotary setup: three round cutters on a pivoting neck. The whole head assembly flexes to follow your jaw and chin. You feel it adjusting as you move around your face in circles. For me, it handled the curve of the jawline and under the chin pretty well. On the cheeks, it’s easy. On the neck, you still have to do a few extra passes, but that’s pretty standard for a rotary shaver at this price.

One design detail I liked is the pop-up trimmer at the back. You slide a little switch and it pops up quickly. It’s not super wide, but it’s enough for sideburns and cleaning the neck line. It’s not powerful enough to mow down a full beard, but for finishing touches it’s handy. Overall, the design is a bit old-school and not very stylish, but in practice it’s ergonomic, grippy, and clearly built with durability in mind more than looks.

Battery-wise, Remington advertises up to 60 minutes of use for a 4-hour charge. In real life, that seems roughly accurate. With my routine (5–7 minutes per shave, almost daily), I managed around 10–12 shaves before it started feeling weaker. That’s roughly two weeks of use on a full charge, which lines up with what some other users mention. So in terms of autonomy, no complaints. For a mid-range shaver, that’s perfectly acceptable.

The charging is via USB, which I actually like. I just plugged it into my phone charger or laptop and left it there for a few hours. No weird proprietary connector, just a basic USB cable. It’s convenient if you travel or if you already have chargers everywhere. The downside is there’s no quick-charge feature mentioned, so if you forget to charge it and it dies, you can’t just plug it in for 5 minutes and get a full shave. You either plan ahead or you’re stuck with half a shave and a dead shaver.

The biggest weakness for me is the non-existent battery indicator. There’s a tiny light, but it doesn’t show the level. It just sort of blinks when the battery is low, and it’s not very bright. So most of the time, you have no idea where you stand: full, half, almost empty? You only find out when the motor starts to slow down and then suddenly stops. Several reviewers point this out, and I 100% agree – it feels like a silly omission in 2024, when even cheap toothbrushes show some kind of battery status.

In practice, I ended up just sticking it on charge once a week to be safe. That solves the problem, but it’s not ideal. If you’re someone who travels a lot or hates surprises mid-shave, you might find this frustrating. If you’re more relaxed and don’t mind plugging it in regularly, the overall battery experience is fine, just not very smart or user-friendly. It’s functional, but it could clearly be better with just a simple 3-level LED or something similar.

On the comfort side, I was actually pretty happy. I have fairly sensitive skin on the neck, and with some shavers I get redness or that burning feeling after a couple of passes. With the PR1855, I didn’t have much irritation, even when I pressed a bit harder than I should. The dual track rotary blades seem to cut without tugging too much, at least on 1–2 day stubble. On 3 days and more, you can feel it working harder, and you sometimes need more passes to get a clean result.

Dry shaving is where I used it most. On dry skin, it glides decently, but not as smoothly as some higher-end models with fancy coatings. You feel a bit of friction, especially if your skin is very dry. I found that washing my face first and drying it properly helped. You just move in small circular motions and let the flexing head follow your face. After a couple of uses, you get used to the motion and it goes pretty fast. For me, a full shave (cheeks, jaw, neck, moustache area) took around 5–7 minutes with a decent result.

With foam or gel in the shower, comfort is even better. The water and product help the head glide more easily and you feel less heat on the skin. The shave is about the same closeness-wise, but the feeling is nicer. The good part is that you don’t worry about the shaver getting wet, since it’s 100% waterproof. I just rinsed it under the shower head, flipped open the head, and let the water run through. That combination of wet use and easy rinsing makes the whole routine less of a hassle.

In terms of closeness, be realistic: this is not a razor blade. You get a good everyday shave that looks neat for work or going out, but if you run your hand against the grain, you’ll still feel a bit of stubble, especially on the neck and jaw corners. If you’re okay with that and you value comfort over ultra-close, it’s fine. If you want proper baby-smooth results, you’ll probably still need a traditional razor now and then, or move to a more expensive shaver.

The big selling point here is the “virtually indestructible” polycarbonate body. I obviously didn’t throw it off a balcony, but I did treat it like I normally would: it fell from the sink to the bathroom floor once, got knocked around in a gym bag, and got rinsed under pretty strong water flow. No cracks, no weird noises, no parts getting loose. It feels tougher than the usual shiny plastic you see on cheaper shavers.

The whole construction feels tight. The head opens and closes with a solid click, the pop-up trimmer doesn’t wobble, and the on/off button still feels firm after repeated use. There are no metal premium touches, but nothing creaks when you squeeze it. I’ve had more expensive shavers where the head assembly felt more fragile than this. Here, it really feels like it can handle everyday abuse without crying about it.

One thing I appreciate is the 5-year warranty + 1 extra year if you register it. For a shaver at this price point, that’s pretty generous. It tells me Remington is at least confident the motor and body won’t die after 12 months. Obviously, you still have to clean it regularly and not treat it like a hammer, but the combination of sturdy plastic and long warranty is reassuring. Blades will dull over time like any shaver, but the body itself should hold up.

Is it literally indestructible? Of course not. If you slam it hard enough or drop it on tile repeatedly, something will give. But for normal bathroom accidents – falling from the sink, getting knocked over, tossed in a bag – it feels more robust than average. If you’re clumsy or you’ve broken fragile shavers before, this model makes sense. You’re clearly trading fancy looks for a tough shell that can take hits without complaining.

In terms of pure shaving performance, I’d put the PR1855 in the “pretty solid for the price” category. On 1–2 day stubble, it clears the face without too much drama. The dual track rotary heads help pick up more hair per pass than older, single-track rotaries I’ve used. Around the cheeks, moustache, and chin, it does a clean job. I usually need two passes on tricky zones like right under the jaw and along the Adam’s apple, but that’s normal for me with most electrics.

On 3-day stubble, it’s still manageable, but you feel the motor working harder and you’ll need more time. Sometimes you’ll get a bit of tugging if the hair is very flat or growing in different directions, especially on the neck. That’s where taking your time and using circular movements in several directions helps. The shaver doesn’t choke or stop, but you can tell it’s not a powerhouse like some higher-end models. It does the job, just a bit less quickly and with more passes.

The pop-up trimmer is decent for outlining and tidying. I used it for sideburns and to clean the back of the neck. It cuts fine but it’s not a beast – don’t expect it to replace a dedicated beard trimmer. Think of it as a finishing tool. The 3-day stubble guard is a nice extra if you want to keep a uniform short stubble instead of going fully clean-shaven. It clips on easily and lets you run over your face to level everything. For me, it gave a neat, even look without patchy spots.

Noise-wise, it’s not silent but not crazy loud either. A standard electric buzz, nothing more. No weird vibrations or rattling. I never felt it overheating or getting uncomfortable in the hand. Overall, the performance is reliable and consistent once you understand its limits: very good for daily or every-other-day shaving, a bit slower and less comfortable if you wait too long between shaves, and not meant for super thick multi-day beards in one go.

Out of the box, the PR1855 keeps it pretty barebones. You get the shaver itself, a 3‑day stubble guard, a small cleaning brush, and a USB charging cable. No wall adapter, no travel pouch, no fancy stand. So if you’re expecting the full kit, you’ll be a bit underwhelmed. Personally, I just plugged the USB into my phone charger and it was fine, but it’s worth noting if you’re used to brands that include a power brick.

The shaver is marketed as cordless, wet & dry, 60 minutes of use for 4 hours of charge. There’s no charging dock, just a simple USB cable. It’s 100% waterproof, which means you can rinse it directly under the tap and even use it in the shower. That part is actually practical – I shaved with gel under the shower and then just opened the head and rinsed everything quickly. No special cleaning fluid, no cartridges, just water and the little brush.

Where it feels a bit cheap is on the “user feedback” side. There’s no battery level indicator, just a basic light that doesn’t really tell you much. It doesn’t show if you’re at 80% or 20%. It just blinks when it’s basically dying. Several buyers mention this, and I agree: it’s annoying. You have to guess based on how slow the motor sounds, or just stick it on charge regularly. If you’re the type who likes to know exactly how much juice you’ve got left, this will bug you.

In day-to-day use though, the simplicity is also a relief. No app, no modes to choose between, no weird icons. You take it, press one button, shave, rinse, done. So if you want something straightforward, the overall package is simple but coherent: tough body, basic accessories, nothing fancy, but enough to shave and maintain the device without buying extra stuff every few months.