Polaris PMR 0714RC Ultimate shave 5D Pro razor review

Polaris PMR 0714RC Ultimate Shave 5D Pro is a compact and stylish rotary shaver, which is positioned by the company as a product from the premium series. Despite the fact that the price of the device is significantly lower than that of flagship models of other brands, this statement is quite justified: the shaver has an elegant design and makes a pleasant impression at first glance.

^* Contrary to popular belief, this is not a period after which the device will necessarily break down. However, after this period, the manufacturer ceases to bear any responsibility for its functionality and has the right to refuse to repair it, even for a fee.

The razor comes in a compact cardboard package, designed in the Polaris corporate style: black background, glossy design elements, an image of the device and a description of its key features and characteristics.

Inside the main package we found a travel case containing the razor, attachments and accessories, neatly placed in a special tray. For additional protection, all elements were packed in plastic bags.

So, having opened the box, we found:

• the razor itself with a protective cover,
• a trimmer attachment,
• an attachment for trimming hair in the nose and ears,
• an attachment for facial massage,
• a charger with a detachable USB Type-C cord,
• a cleaning brush,
• a travel case,
• instructions, a warranty card and advertising materials.

The first thing that caught our attention when unpacking was the travel case, which also serves as a storage bag. We saw a compact case made of synthetic material that resembles a combination of soft-touch coating and leather.

The case closes with a zipper and has a tray for a razor and accessories lined with gray fabric inside. There is a mesh pocket on the inside of the lid. Although we understand that the cost of such an accessory is low (similar bags for storing small items can be found on various marketplaces), in this case the travel case turned out to be very successful.

The manufacturer really took care of comfort, creating not just a bag for packaging, but a functional travel case that adds convenience.

As for the razor itself, it is made in the form of a compact and very light cylinder, the weight of which with the standard attachment installed is only 163 g.

The shaver's motor unit, which also serves as a handle for easy holding, has a plastic body. The lower part of the body is designed in bronze or steel colors, while the upper part is made of matte black plastic.

There are not many elements on the front side of the device. There is an on/off button, and a little higher, on black plastic, there are LED indicators, which are almost invisible when turned off.

However, the cord could be longer. Since the razor is corded, if you plan to shave without unplugging the cord, the outlet should be close enough to a sink or mirror. The included charger is a standard one that outputs 5V at 1A.

At the top of the motor block there is a connector for installing attachments. It has the shape of an octagon. The attachments are installed (snapped) with a slight press.

The torque from the motor to the attachments is transmitted via a central pin with a triangular recess.

The attachments can only be installed in one correct position.

Judging by the first impression, the razor body is made well: all the elements look solid and well assembled. No complaints, but we missed a specially designated grip zone with an anti-slip coating.

Now let's pay attention to the attachments. First of all, we are interested in the razor attachment. We immediately notice the «steel» (or «bronze», depending on the color) frames in which the knives are located. The manufacturer took care of the uniform style of the razor's appearance.

The head cover is spring loaded and can be easily opened by pressing a button located at the front of the housing, allowing access to the blades (for replacement or cleaning).

The torque is transmitted to the knives through three plastic pins, which can easily be tilted in any direction and are slightly recessed into the housing for better grip on the knives.

The attachment consists of two parts, which allows you to easily remove the brush for rinsing without exposing the module connecting the attachment to the razor to water.

In addition, the kit includes a double-sided brush for cleaning the blades and a bottle of oil for lubricating them.

The user manual is a compact brochure printed on high-quality glossy paper. Russian, Ukrainian and Kazakh languages ​​are presented.

The device is switched on and off by a single mechanical button. During operation and charging, the display shows the current battery charge level in the form of five segments of a circle.

In the center of the circle, a lightning bolt icon lights up during operation: white if the shaver is running on battery power, red if it is running on the power adapter. Below that is a lock icon (activated by pressing the button for three seconds) and a tap icon that lights up when the shaver thinks it is time to clean, presumably using a simple counter to measure how long the device has been running.

Before first use, the manufacturer recommends fully charging the razor, which takes about an hour. However, in our case, the device was almost fully charged «out of the box».

The shaving rules are standard: press the razor to the skin and make circular movements, going along and against the direction of hair growth, gradually treating unshaven areas. Dry shaving should be done on clean, dry skin, after which it is recommended to use an aftershave cream to prevent irritation. Wet shaving involves the use of foam or gel to moisturize the skin and reduce friction.

Using a trimmer is also easy: install the appropriate attachment and trim the hair in the direction of its growth, holding the trimmer perpendicular to the skin. To trim the nose and ears, simply insert the tip of the trimmer into the hole and slowly rotate it, slightly changing the depth of immersion.

The facial brush should be used before shaving with a cleanser, devoting 20 seconds to each area (cheeks and forehead).

Since the razor can be powered from the mains, you do not have to worry about the discharge at an inconvenient moment, which is an important advantage — no one wants to waste extra time in the morning, especially if they are in a hurry to work or other things.

Overall, we did not encounter any difficulties or problems during operation. All the actions are standard, and no special knowledge or skills are required to perform them.

The razor requires regular cleaning, which is recommended to be done every week. The shaving heads should be cleaned after every 30 uses.

Maintenance includes cleaning the shaving heads and the space under the shaving module with a brush. The shaving cavity should also be thoroughly rinsed under running water and then dried well.

If necessary, the shaving heads can be cleaned with an alcohol-containing liquid and lubricated with sewing oil.

It is worth noting that during testing, we simply rinsed the razor under running water, and this was more than enough to maintain it in proper condition.

When it is time to replace the blades, you need to open the shaving module cover and remove the shaving unit with three rotor blades. You can also remove the blade unit for deep cleaning, but it can be difficult to reach the cutting elements with a brush, so do not abuse this opportunity.

When testing cordless razors, we traditionally measure the operating time of the device when fully charged, as well as the time it takes to fully charge it. The manufacturer claims that the razor can work for up to 75 minutes without interruption. However, we do not recommend checking this claim directly, since the blade unit noticeably heats up during operation, which may negatively affect its durability.

To measure the battery capacity, we repeatedly turn on the device at 5-minute intervals. Our razor worked for 10 full 5-minute intervals, and then another 4 5-minute intervals, but with the low-battery warning turned on. As a result, by adding one minute, we got about 70 minutes of operation. This almost matches the data declared by the manufacturer, although it is worth considering that we conducted measurements without a load, and in real conditions the operating time may be slightly less.

A full charge of the battery using the included adapter took 1 hour and 10 minutes, while the power consumption during charging was about 5 W.

During the testing process, we assessed the shaver's performance, checked the trimmer, and tested the dry and wet shaving modes. As usual, we did not pay attention to the nose and ear hair trimming modes, as well as the massage and facial cleansing functions. It would be impractical to compare the performance of these attachments, which are included with different razors.

We started our testing by testing the trimmer by growing a relatively long beard on our face to assess its effectiveness. Here's what our test subject looked like when we started the experiment.

We decided to trim some of the hair on our cheeks and shape the contours of our beard to prepare for shaving. When we turned on the trimmer, we noted that it successfully copes with the task. Although there is no feeling of high power and performance — the trimmer works quietly, and the cut hairs do not fly away — it neatly cuts even long hairs on the first pass. It is also worth noting that the trimmer does not pull individual hairs, although this can sometimes happen, but only in rare cases.

When we are working with an area where the hair grows in different directions, you will have to go over it several times. However, overall, the results showed that the trimmer perfectly shapes the contours and effectively cuts long stubble, which makes it useful before the main shave. In addition, it copes well with the hair on the moustache, which can be a problem for some other devices.

After using the trimmer, the stubble remains quite short. It successfully copes with the main task — cutting long hair and forming clear transitions. Now you can move on to shaving.

Result: excellent

Our razor supports both dry and wet shaving. If it is possible to use special moisturizers, we do not see the point in dry shaving, as it can lead to greater skin irritation and does not provide noticeable advantages in quality. However, for the sake of experimentation, we will first try dry shaving, because in the past we have encountered cases where it turned out to be more comfortable than wet shaving.

In 1.5 minutes, we shaved one side of the face and were pleased with the result.

The main part of the face was shaved in one pass, which took about a minute. The rest of the time was spent removing individual hairs, since it is impossible to achieve complete hair removal in the first pass, regardless of the type of device.

We would subjectively rate the quality of the shave between «good» and «excellent». With sufficient care and accuracy, you can achieve absolutely smooth skin, which in smoothness is close to the result obtained with a classic T-shaped razor.

Overall, we found the razor to be a success in our testing. We rate skin irritation as «below average.» It is present, of course, but we feel it is quite normal for using rotary razors.

Result: excellent

For wet shaving, we applied a special cream to the other half of our face and turned the razor on again.

This time, the sensations were much more pleasant. The razor glided smoothly over the skin, causing almost no discomfort.

The shaving quality can again be assessed as excellent. Problem areas arose mainly on the neck, especially where the hair grows in different directions. They can be left as is or you can spend additional time, spending another 2-3 minutes on thorough processing.

The rest of the face — cheeks and chin — was shaved smoothly and without significant flaws on the first pass. It is especially worth noting that the razor dealt with the remains of the moustache, which is not always possible with other models and can cause discomfort to users.

Result: excellent

The razor with the long name Polaris PMR 0714RC Ultimate Shave 5D Pro showed excellent results in our tests and proved itself as an excellent device in its price category. The shaving quality pleasantly surprised us, being at a high level. In addition, the device itself looks stylish and attractive.

Among the advantages are a three-year warranty, the presence of replaceable shaving heads (which are recommended to be changed every two years) and a high-quality travel case, which also serves as a storage case.

Minor disadvantages include a trimmer, which is quite easy to use. It is only suitable for shaping the contours of a mustache, beard and sideburns, as well as for removing long stubble before shaving. If you need more, for example, adjusting the length of the stubble or finer work, this device is not for you.

The razor copes well with daily shaving: it takes about 1.5 minutes for each half of the face with quick use without striving for an ideal result. To eliminate roughness and individual hairs in difficult areas, you need to turn on a good backlight and spend about 3 more minutes.

Among other advantages, it is worth noting the support of wet shaving and the ability to work from the mains. This allows you to shave even when the razor is completely discharged, if there is a socket nearby (the length of the standard charging cable is 1.2 meters, but you can use any other USB Type-C cable).

The operating time without recharging almost completely corresponds to the declared characteristics: 70 minutes versus the declared 75. However, the testing was carried out without a load, so in real conditions it is worth focusing on about an hour of operation, which should be enough for several weeks of daily shaving.

Pros:

• high quality shaving
• availability of a simple trimmer
• wet shaving option
• mains powered
• stylish design
• attachments for trimming hair in the ears/nose and for massaging/cleansing the face

Cons:

• low power trimmer and lack of replaceable combs for adjusting hair length