He’s written for Esquire, New York Magazine, Spotlyte, and Very Good Light and held staff positions at GQ and W. For starters, the Braun Series numbers are like the different types of performance levels. A philips body groomer Series 7 has fewer specs than a Series 8, and the Series 9 has better specs and features than both. The next big release will be the Series 10 from Braun, which has yet to be announced by the German maker.
We first tested the Panasonic Arc5 in 2015, then tried it again against our top pick, the Braun Series 7, in 2021. This top-of-the-line Panasonic shaver includes a total of five blades—a quartet of foils and a single oscillating lift-and-cut center trimmer. The Arc5 is quieter than the Series 7, but the noise it does make is much higher pitched, which some may find annoying. If you find that Braun models aren’t working for you, the Arc5 might be a better option for your skin or hair type. Cleaning an electric razor is straightforward—no fancy equipment needed.
Philips Norelco, however, went one step further and rounded the teeth on both blades and covered the part you put flat on your face with a Glide coating. The coating also serves as a notice for when you need to replace it. The brand says every four months, but the coating also wears away when it’s time to switch.
If you buy a high-quality razor—think a $200 model and above from any of our recommendations—then it’s possible you get several years out of your device. Ideally, you want to clean your electric razor after every use to keep the blazes sharp. Rinse your razor under water to remove hair and dirt, then take a light brush to your foil to remove any gunk buildup. It’s important to maintain the foil on your razor, as that is what helps give you a nice and even shave. If your foil gets dented or damaged, make sure to replace it immediately as that piece is the proverbial bread and butter to your shave. While foil blades are louder than rotary blades, and also says, “foil shavers are best used moving in a straight, long back-and-forth movement of the face and neck” for the closest shave possible.
A rechargeable trimmer with the tools to guide you through a smooth shave, it’s a great travel companion and a decent shout for your day-to-day stylings too. Wireless charging and super-sharp NanoTech blades help contribute to this Philips model’s wallet-busting price point. If you want all the bells and whistles in a formidable package though, this is one of the best options out there. With a charge time that clocked in at just over an hour in my testing, the Philips SatinShave Prestige blew away its competition by charging the fastest by a long shot.
American-made Wahl offers a range of affordable options, while Dutch-led Philips counterbalances that with a plethora of male grooming items that are worthy of space in your bathroom. I let them all charge up and then put them to use on my blond, relatively fine hair and sensitive philips trimmer blade fair skin. I tried two at a time on my legs, underarms and bikini line to compare the results directly and eliminate the lesser one. I then pitted (sorry) that one against the next in the lineup, setting razors aside until I had four that performed relatively well.
Easily turn your shaver2 into a beard styler, a precision trimmer or a cleansing brush. Just click the attachment you want onto the handle to complete your look. Our shavers (5000 Series and above) have 360-D flexibility, to keep optimum contact along your facial contours. This enables a more even distribution of the shaving pressure, for higher skin comfort. It also comes with a wireless Qi Charging Pad for charging, click-on facial cleansing brush and beard styler to complete your look.
If you have particularly curly or coarse hair, or if you wish to shave less frequently but achieve the same level of closeness, this may be the shaver for you. For a consistently close shave, plus the convenience of an included automatic cleaning system at a reasonable price, we recommend the Braun Series 7. We believe the Braun Series 7 is worth its higher price, but the Remington F is a surprisingly competent budget alternative.