I previously had a Remington DA 307. After several years and several replacement screens, the battery no longer held a charge for very long. It is unfortunate they don't make replaceable batteries rather than soldering them. I tried, but failed locating replacement batteries in order to attempt to solder them in myself.
Since I wasn't completely happy with it, I decided to try another model. I decided to go with what was available locally with one concern being able to finding replacement screens. I found the
MS2-280 and decided to give it a try.
The
MS2-280 is a rechargeable dual foil razor which touts its
Titanium MicroScreen. However, I never understood whether the foil was Titanium coated or just the trimmer blade. Neither did I understand what being Titanium was supposed to do for you. Supposedly, it "protects the trimmer blades". It has a 3-position trimmer, a green charging indicator light, and comes with a detachable charger and supply cord, a cleaning brush, and a storage pouch. It automatically converts AC voltage between 100-240 volts. Voltage adapter plug is not included. The power adapter and supply cord is only for charging. It does not work while shaving.
One charge is supposed to last 60 minutes. Since I shave until the stubble is removed and have never timed myself, I don't know if it lasts the whole 60 minutes. The DA 307 usually lasted 7 days so it was easy to remember to charge on the same day of the week. It usually gave warning of low charge as you could hear the motor slowing down. When the
MS2-280 started losing its first charge, I wasn't sure if it was slowing down, but within 10 seconds, it dropped off to just barely running. After several charge cycles, it may give a few seconds more warning, but for the most part it's an "all or nothing" charge. The length of charge life is shorter than the DA 307. I find the
MS2-280 initially lasted about four to five days. After just slightly over a year, it has dropped to only three days. Without any advanced warning of a low battery and less than a weekly cycle, it makes figuring out when to charge much more difficult. Their top model of the series, the MS2-390, has a low charge indicator warning when approximately five minutes are left.
The manual says you can leave it plugged in between shaves. But it also says you should fully discharge it every six months. Instructions for its corded/cordless models give the indication that frequent charging reduces battery life. After charging it for 24 hours, the shaver body feels warm to the touch and so it must still use current when fully charged. Without wanting to waste electricity keeping it on the charger all the time, no matter how little, I use it until it runs down. Sometimes, I don't get finished shaving before the charge runs down, and so plug it in. After about a half hour, it's usually charged enough to finish. So, plan your life accordingly. I then plug it back in to finish fully charging it.
I woke up in the middle of one night to a faint beeping noise. I had difficulty locating where it was coming from, but finally found it was coming from the shaver. This was after one time of charging a short time to finish a shave and then putting it back on for a full charge. The charge light was flashing and emitting a faint beeping sound. I've only noticed it when having to charge to finish a shave and then putting back on for a full charge. I'm not sure, but it seems like it lasted fewer days after those times, than when charged continuously for 24 hours.
The manual says you need to allow three weeks "for your beard to adjust to the new shaver". That seems an odd statement to me. It can't mean the beard cut off "adjusts". Maybe they mean your skin. But does that mean you need to develop calluses or get used to abrasion? Probably something else, but I noticed my first shave was closer than with the old shaver. I thought it may be a little quieter, too.
Cleaning it was just as easy as the old one. The included brush works well enough, but you must use care around the screen and cutters. You're supposed to be able to clean it under water, though I never did. The rubber seals around the cutter assembly appears better attached than the old shaver, so maybe it would keep water out. I have noticed the rubber seal over the on-off button appears to be getting thin or starting to crack after one year. I don't think it will really affect operation, but just will look bad. But the battery may not last that long so I might be replacing it soon, and so it won't be an issue.
Worth price paid. The manual gives instructions on how to remove the battery for proper disposal. However, it then says to only do this when you are ready to dispose of your shaver. If you don't like to subscribe to a throw-away-world, maybe another shaver would be better, although I don't know of any with replaceable batteries. The battery quality seems to be lower than with the previous shaver. I don't know if this is a tendency with batteries overall or not. I once had a Remington which was bulkier, but its battery seemed to last a long time. And, a shaver repair place replaced them. Another throw-away attitude is the old screens don't fit the new shaver. The replacement screens (SP-67 for screens, SP-69 for screens and cutters) are different from the old shaver. I guess standardization of parts was only for the beginning of the industrial age.
Not only does each manufacturer have their own blade design, but within a manufacturer, they have numerous designs. Why manufacturers can't make about three different types of blades, and have about three different sizes of batteries, I don't know. Other than the obvious: That wouldn't sell as many shavers.
Probably won't get this model again.
Update:The battery life soon dropped to less than three days. Noticing it had a 2-year warranty, I thought I would call them and see if it covered the battery. They said it did! I received a replacement and have completed one charge cycle. It lasted seven days and I noticed on the seventh day, the power started dropping slightly alerting me there wasn't much time left. Towards the end of the shave, the power dropped off completely, but the warning time seemed much longer than the original one. Could I have had a sample defect? Time will tell.
Anyway, I was really impressed with Remington for replacing it! I may not buy the exact same model next time, but I very likely will buy Remington.
Remington takes care of their customers!
