Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

The RQ12+/62 replacement head reviewed here is the exact same head that's on Norelco's new top-of-the-line 9000-series shavers. There are many 1-star reviews of this replacement head from customers that have 8000-series shavers yet the average review score for the 9000-series shavers on Amazon is 4.5 stars. That doesn't add up. The head assembly, combs, and blades are exactly the same on the 9000-series and the RQ12+/62 replacement heads. And as far as a shaving experience, those parts ARE the shaver. The 8000-series shavers originally used the RQ12 head. This is the head that now goes for ridiculous prices by scalpers - $130 and up - since it apparently it is no longer being produced by Norelco as a replacement part. So what's the difference between the original RQ12 and the new RQ12+ reviewed here? Each head on the RQ12 is mounted on one of three vertical pivots that make up the base of the head assembly. This allows each head to move independently up and down. The RQ12+/62 has all three heads on a single base with no vertical pivots; as you're shaving, if one head moves down the others have to move up like a lever. The RQ12+/62 heads do, however, pivot laterally as they move across your face. The RQ12 heads don't. Each head on the RQ12 is mounted on a hinge. The heads individually pop up for cleaning. On the RQ12+/62 you remove all three heads at once as a single assembly. To entirely remove the blades for thorough cleaning on the RQ12 you snap open a small retainer, also mounted on a hinge. On the RQ12+/62 to remove the blades you unsnap them with a provided plastic tool. (Note that the RQ12+/62 actually takes less effort to get really clean than the RQ12 since it's much easier to directly access the heads and blades.) Each RQ12 cutting head has three rows of blades. The outermost row has the Lift and Cut mechanism. The innermost row has round holes on the surface of the comb to cut stubble more efficiently. The RQ12+/62 has two rows of blades. The outermost row has Lift and Cut, V-shaped slots in the comb, and V-shaped blades that Norelco says give a 30% closer shave (the RQ12's blades are straight). I'm using a new RQ12 head that came with my 8100 (1250X) shaver and a new RQ12+/62 replacement head that I bought to see what the fuss was all about (I was going to have to buy one eventually anyway). What I've found is that the original RQ12 looks more substantial. It's more high-end and complex in appearance and then there's those fancy hinges on the cutting heads. It also feels somewhat more comfortable on your face than the RQ12+/62. The replacement RQ12+/62 has a more pedestrian appearance and looks less sophisticated. Perhaps that might help explain why there's such a discrepancy between the 9000-series shaver reviews and the reviews for the RQ12+/62. Here people are comparing the new head to something they're used to. On the 9000-series page they're just using the shaver (again, with the exact same heads) and telling you about the results of shaving with it. And while it may feel slightly less comfortable than the RQ12 the RQ12+/62 gives you a closer shave. I shave every day and have somewhat thick hairs and the RQ12+/62 feels more like I shaved with a standard razor than if I use the RQ12. Between the two I'd rather use the RQ12+ replacement head. Overall, for me anyway, getting a closer shave without having to use a standard razor outweighs everything else. And sorry, but some of these extremely negative comments just don't match up with what I've experienced.