Jacob Shick may have invented the first electric shaver but Philips elevated it. Philips pioneered the Philipshave, a rotary electric shaver in 1939. Invented by Philips engineer Alexandre Horowitz, the shaver—nicknamed "the Cigar" due to its shape—used rotating cutters instead of reciprocating cutters that were used in previous electric shavers. The rotating cutters were better for speed, accuracy, and creating smooth finishes due to continuous, high-speed cutting action.

Flash-forward to now and we have the latest in a long, storied line of electric shavers, the i9000 Prestige Ultra. At its core, the i9000 Prestige Ultra promises a close shave, courtesy of its NanoTech Dual Precision Blades with a 360° rotating system. So how close is "a close shave"?

Using Philips proprietary "lift-and-cut" feature, the first blade "lifts each hair shaft away from the skin" while the second blade "cuts the hair shaft at skin level". For the i9000 Prestige Ultra, its blades lift and cut hair at up to -0.08 mm root-level. On the shaver head are the 360° rotating NanoTech Dual Precision blades that catch 25 per cent more hair per stroke and we were ensured that the shaver can cut through one-day stubble; a three-day growth; a full week’s beard, no problem.

The shaver head has a hydrophillic coating that holds up to 500,000 microtech beads per square centimetre. It delivers 50 per cent smoother glide on the skin, which means less friction and maximum comfort.

The i9000 Prestige Ultra has the SkinIQ PRO tech, which gives users five personalised shaving modes. With each mode, comes a specific built-in Active Pressure & Motion guidance system. Synch the shaver to the GroomTribe App, where it guides you through the shaving process. As you shave in circular motions around your face, it responds with how well you're doing with real-time feedback through the light around the shaver's head (green for "good"; red for "OHMIGOD EASY ON THE PRESSURE").

Because this is the age of AI, the i9000 Prestige Ultra now as a smart skincare companion. The AI Skin Analyzer uses the GroomTribe app to take a picture of your mug and evaluates your skin via nine skin health metrics. From hydration levels to skin sensitivity, it helps users understand and care for their skin long after the shave is done.

Other things of note: you can now charge it via a a the i9000 Prestige Ultra has a 7-year warranty and longer battery lifespan to ensure that the shaver is built to last. Keeping with the company's commitment to sustainability, the shaver is also made from recycled plastics and recyclable materials.

The Philips i9000 Prestige Ultra retails for SGD749 and is available online and at all good electronic stores like Best Denki, Harvey Norman and Tangs.