1. Health and fitness
  2. Personal care

The Best Electric Razor

By Dan Koeppel and James Austin
Updated
An electric razor next to a jar of cotton balls and a jar of q-tips.
Photo: Michael Murtaugh
In testingOct 2023

Modern electric razors can deliver impressively close shaves, but they can’t quite match the closeness of manual razors. Over more than 10 years of testing, 13 electric razor testers have buzzed and clipped a path toward what we hoped would be silken-jawed nirvana—and we’ve found that Braun’s Series 7 shavers are the best electric razors for removing facial hair. The Series 7 razors consistently produce close, comfortable shaves and are easy to use and maintain.

Everything we recommend

Our pick

All Braun Series 7 models give consistently close, comfortable shaves.The 7071cc comes with the accessories we think most people want or need, including a cleaning system and carrying case.

Buying Options

Upgrade pick

Braun’s top-of-the-line electric razor offers the best shave—even for heavy beards—at a higher price.

Buying Options

Budget pick

A solid foil shaver, the F5-5800 is durable, and it performs well for its low price.

Buying Options

Also great

The top-of-the-line Philips Norelco model is the best rotary shaver we’ve ever used.

Buying Options

Our pick

All Braun Series 7 models give consistently close, comfortable shaves.The 7071cc comes with the accessories we think most people want or need, including a cleaning system and carrying case.

Buying Options

Braun’s Series 7 razors have been around in various forms for more than a decade, and they have built a reputation for producing close shaves, being durable, and providing convenience and value. The Series 7 has been our pick since 2015. It’s still our favorite razor, and it has become an even better choice because it’s significantly less expensive than it used to be.

The 7085cc and the 7020s provide the same high-quality shave as our pick, but they each come with different sets of accoutrements. We think the 7071cc has the features that most people want or need, but prices tend to fluctuate, and if you find one of the others for significantly less you won’t be missing a lot by picking that model up.

Upgrade pick

Braun’s top-of-the-line electric razor offers the best shave—even for heavy beards—at a higher price.

Buying Options

Braun claims that the Series 9 can tackle three days’ worth of heavy beard growth. (We’ve generally considered two days’ worth of typical growth to be as much as a typical electric shaver can handle well.) We found that this razor was as good as its marketing, with an important asterisk: The Series 9 set a standard for performance and speed that most of our testers agreed exceeded that of every other shaver we tried, but most people who shave their facial hair—whether they’re five-o’clock-shadow-by-noon types or light-and-wispy-bearded—don’t need the performance boost. Nearly everyone can get a shave that’s just as velvety from the Series 7.

Budget pick

A solid foil shaver, the F5-5800 is durable, and it performs well for its low price.

Buying Options

We believe the Braun Series 7 is worth its higher price, but the Remington F5-5800 is a surprisingly competent budget alternative. It provides credible stubble-leveling results at an affordable price. None of our testers thought it was on the level of a Braun, and unlike the Braun Series 7 and 9 models, this Remington doesn’t come with a cleaning system—but then again, it’s usually less than a quarter of the price of our top pick.

Also great

The top-of-the-line Philips Norelco model is the best rotary shaver we’ve ever used.

Buying Options

Based on our research and testing, we believe a foil shaver produces a better shave for most facial hair. But if you prefer a rotary style, consider Philips Norelco’s Shaver 9300 (or another model in the brand’s 9000 line). Rotary shavers operate differently than foil shavers, using floating heads that grasp and remove hair, which some people find more comfortable.

Dan Koeppel is a razor enthusiast and loves playing with both manual and electric razors. In the time he has been writing about razors for Wirecutter—since 2015—he has personally tested more than 30 models: the full lines from Braun, Panasonic, and Philips Norelco, as well as one-off brands and used shavers (don’t do it!) that he found in the deepest, darkest corners of eBay.

Over the years, he has monitored other reviews of electric razors—especially the extensive advice in Tyler’s Electric Shaver Guide—and comments on shaving forums such as Badger & Blade, Reddit’s r/shaving, and multiple threads on Ask MetaFilter. He also visited one of the last brick-and-mortar electric shaver shops in North America: Canada’s Centre du Rasoir. In spring 2019, he stopped by the Montreal branch and viewed every model of Braun and Philips shaver on offer, side by side.

Staff writer James Austin has reviewed everything from board games to umbrellas and has participated in a number of test panels since joining Wirecutter in 2015.

Two of the reasons you may prefer using an electric razor on your face instead of a manual razor are convenience (being able to shave anytime, anywhere without water) and safety (no risk of nicks).

If you find manual shaving too rough on your skin, try electric. Although neither method is specifically more gentle, people who have problems with one kind of shaving or razor often do better when they switch. Those with especially coarse or curly facial hair can be particularly predisposed to ingrown hairs and razor bumps, and the less-close shave of an electric razor, or shaver, can help.1

Though most manufacturers insist that their electric devices can smooth your face as well as a traditional blade (and this may be true for some people), the physical mechanics—how electric shavers actually remove your stubble—create a closeness limit that some owners will certainly notice. If a close shave is your top priority, you may find that an electric razor simply cannot compare to a manual one.

Electric shavers vs. manual razors

Manual razors (whether an old-fashioned, single-blade straight edge or an ain’t-this-ridiculous seven-blade modern non-marvel) all operate under a simple principle: A sharp blade glides across your face and slices your whiskers close to the skin. Multiple-blade systems add a theoretical second action (razor makers call this “hysteresis”) in which the first blade pulls your whisker outward and subsequent blades—a second, third, fourth, onward to infinity—cut that pulled follicle even closer. But no matter how many blades your manual razor boasts, the fundamental mechanics—a knife-like slicing—remain the same.

Electric shavers work on a totally different principle. Foil-based systems use one or more cutting blocks mounted beneath the thin metal head. The foil’s perforations guide the whiskers into the block, where a pair of opposing blades slice them off. The action is more like what you’d get from a pair of scissors than from a knife. Rotary shavers use similar perforated surfaces to guide whiskers toward their cutters, but instead of snipping, hundreds of tiny blades slice hairs with a circular motion. Imagine the horizontal spinning blade on a power lawn mower—but with teeth—and you’ll get the idea.

The foils and circular heads of electric razors keep your skin and the cutting mechanism from achieving contact, making it impossible for them to “shave as close as a blade.” No matter how thin those barriers are, you’ll never get the cutting part of an electric shaver as close to your face as a standard razor blade.

One way shaver makers have tried to improve closeness, to compensate for the barrier layer between shaver and user, is by employing mechanisms that lift, cut, and guide facial hair into the cutter. In addition to including multiple heads, foil shaver makers add jagged guide blocks that are designed to capture longer, tougher hairs; the variable patterns are intended to act as whisker-trapping labyrinths. Rotary shaver makers use beard lifters that are built into the dozens of tiny, spinning blades; they’re generally scythe-like, so hairs are (in theory) scooped up and pulled taut from beneath the skin line, at which point they can be cleanly cut. Both rotary and foil shaver manufacturers add pulses and vibrations to their higher-end models. These are designed to get your whiskers standing a little straighter, for better contact with the shaver’s cutters. (In practice, we’ve found that shavers with higher pulse rates do tend to smooth the face a little more efficiently, and they reduce the amount of pressure needed to get a clean shave.)

A selection of three of the razors tested for our review of the best electric razors.
Photo: Michael Hession

One thing that makes choosing an electric shaver confusing: Nearly all manufacturers offer their razors in accessory- and feature-laden (or not) “Series” sales schemes. Some come with cleaning systems; some don’t. Some can work in the shower with shaving cream; some can’t. Some have digital readouts showing how much battery is left in the shaver or whether it needs to be cleaned; others offer simpler LED displays.

Here’s the thing: The razors within a given line all provide the same shave. Any Braun Series 7, regardless of accessories and features, will shave your face just as closely as any other Series 7. The same goes for anything in Panasonic’s various series designations, and for Philips Norelco and Remington models. But adding or subtracting a feature or two can shift the price of a shaver by as much as $100. For that kind of money, it’s important to decide what’s worth it to you—and what isn’t.

We examined customer reviews at Amazon and other retailers to find the top-rated, best-selling electric razors. (This was more difficult than it sounds, since the multiple layers of same-shaver-with-different-accessories model-number chaos means multiple listings for what is essentially the same razor.) While we looked at a variety of features, we decided early on that our judgment of the winning shaver would be based almost exclusively on the closeness of the shave. That’s because ultimately it’s the most important thing—and because nearly all of the shaver makers offer versions of their various devices with and without bells and whistles.

Beyond the closeness of the shave, we considered:

  • Rinsability: The ease of rinsing a shaver in the sink—especially when you’re traveling—is important. A little warm water and a gentle brushing will clean your razor as well as a standard cleaning system.
  • Cleaning systems: Though you can clean almost any shaver manually, a cleaning and charging dock automates the process. It’s especially convenient to be able to shave and then just pop your razor into a docking station and have it charged and ready to go the next morning. Note, though, that automatic cleaners are generally loud (some roar, others just whirr) and bulky, requiring counter space, which may be at a premium in a small bathroom or an apartment. Although you can usually purchase a cleaning system separately, if you’d like this feature, buying a shaver that comes with one is almost always more economical.
  • Ergonomics: A shaver should be comfortable to hold and should easily maneuver around the contours of your face.
  • Display: We looked for models that offer, at a minimum, a lighted battery indicator. We found more elaborate digital displays nice but not necessary.
  • Other extras: The often-overlooked carrying case is a big plus. The heads and foils on electric shavers are delicate and need protection. Most shavers come with some kind of carrying or protective device. Lower-end shavers tend to come with plastic head guards that snap on for transport; they work, but we managed to lose almost every one of them during our testing.

For the first iteration of this guide, we enlisted a panel of 12 to test a dozen electric razors each. Our physically and ethnically diverse panel included people with heavy beards who shaved daily, people with light beards who shaved as little as once or twice a week, and people who had tight, inward-curling facial hair, which frequently leads to razor bumps.

We asked testers to evaluate each razor for closeness of shave, speed, and irritation. First, testers used the razors at whatever their standard “I need a shave” interval was. We then asked for a double-growth test—skipping a shave—and, as a go-for-broke scenario, a triple-growth test.

We had the testers keep the top-performing razors for extended periods to allow for break-in time. We asked testers to shave one side of their face with one razor and the other side with another so that they could perform direct closeness comparisons (compensating, of course, for problem areas; many people find that one side or portion of their face is tougher to shave than another).

In addition, we weighed each model and measured the noise (decibel level) of each razor during operation. We didn’t test battery life, specifically; all of the models we picked were capable of running for about an hour on a full charge.

For an update to this guide, James tested the revamped Braun Series 5, 6, and 7 models for a month. Following the same procedures as the original panel of testers, he compared each new Braun’s performance against that of the others as well as our budget pick.

We’ve recruited people with diverse facial hair types and shaving preferences to test our picks long term.

A Braun Series 7 electric razor.
Photo: Michael Murtaugh

Our pick

All Braun Series 7 models give consistently close, comfortable shaves.The 7071cc comes with the accessories we think most people want or need, including a cleaning system and carrying case.

Buying Options

For a consistently close shave, plus the convenience of an included automatic cleaning system at a reasonable price, we recommend the Braun Series 7.

Building on the research and testing we’ve done for 10 years, we’ve looked into new models from competing brands that have been released, and we’re confident that the Braun line of foil shavers is the best available. And the Series 7 offers the best mix of effectiveness, features, and affordability of the line.

If you look at the lower four Braun series offerings—the 3, 5, 6, and 7—you’ll notice that they use fairly similar designs when it comes to the foils. Each is fundamentally a double-foil shaver with a trimmer mechanism located between the foils. The Series 9 is similar but has an additional trimmer between the foils. If you observe the razor when you turn it on, you’ll see that the trimmer has openings that vibrate when activated; the idea is that the vibration captures the toughest parts of a beard with a high-speed scissoring action.2

A close up of the blade on a Braun Series 7 electric razor.
The Braun Series 7’s foils surround a scissor-like center bar that captures whiskers and guides them toward their eventual doom. Photo: Michael Murtaugh

The most obvious difference that sets the Series 7 apart from other Braun models is the flexibility of the shaving block at the top. The Series 5 remains fixed, the Series 6 pivots up and down, and the Series 7 pivots up and down and left and right, keeping the cutting block in contact with facial curves more of the time.

Braun’s spring-loaded foils make it easier for the shaver to follow the contours of your face. Video: Michael Murtaugh

The Braun Series 7’s cleaning and charging system is typical of those available for our other picks. A large docking station holds the shaver, head down. Inserting the shaver and pressing the power button starts a process that includes charging and evaluating how much cleaning the shaver needs. Once that’s determined, the docking unit immerses the shaver in cleaning fluid—this comes in consumable cartridges, each of which lasts about three months—and then cleans the shaver and conditions the blades. (If you choose to clean manually, you’ll have to condition the blades yourself with a purpose-built solution like Remington’s Shaver Saver.)

You’ll need to replace the foil on your shaver more or less annually, depending on use. Series 7 foils have traditionally run about $40.

All Braun shavers include a two-year warranty, which covers everything but the foil and cutting block.

Long term test notes

James has been using the Series 7 to shave a portion of his face (growing a pandemic beard after initial testing decreased his use somewhat) since first testing for this guide in 2020. It’s held up remarkably well and, aside from a dip after a little more than a year of use which was remedied by replacing the foil, the shave quality has remained consistent.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

Although we appreciate that the Series 7 comes with a trimmer attachment—a device meant for maintaining sideburns or other smaller, more precise hair-cutting tasks—it’s now a separate piece that is easy to misplace and a hassle to use compared with the built-in attachments on our other picks.

The Braun Series 9 electric razor, our upgrade pick for best electric razor.
Photo: Rozette Rago

Upgrade pick

Braun’s top-of-the-line electric razor offers the best shave—even for heavy beards—at a higher price.

Buying Options

While the Series 7 is powerful enough for most shaving situations, Braun’s Series 9 is the top-performing shaver we’ve tried that we find worth the additional expense—at least for certain situations. 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.

At first glance, the biggest difference between the Series 9 and the Series 7 is size. The Series 9 is longer, has more girth, and is more top-heavy, all due to its quadruple-headed shaving mechanism. That four-way head sticks to Braun’s traditional two-foil design but adds a pair of cutting mechanisms—a “direct & cut” trimmer and a “hyper-lift & cut” trimmer—that better snag wiry, unruly whiskers, the company claims.

Most of our testers agreed that the Series 9 is an amazing shaver. When Dan tried it on his three-day beard, he found that it worked better than any electric shaver he had ever used—though it paled in comparison to a standard blade when confronted with his iron curtain of a half-week’s whiskers.

That extra power and performance come at a dollar and design cost. Series 9 razors are notably bulkier than Series 7 razors, and some testers found the Series 9 razors tough to maneuver in tight spots (like the equally ginormous Panasonic Arc5, which this Braun line somewhat mimics).

Braun’s Series 9 clean-and-charge base uses the same cartridges as the Series 7 base (and those of all other Braun shavers) and is functionally identical. Replacement cartridges last about three months and cost about $25 for a four-pack. Replacement foils are considerably more expensive for the Series 9; they currently run about $50, compared with about $30 to $40 for the Series 7.

The Remington F5-5800, our budget pick for the best electric razor.
Photo: Michael Hession

Budget pick

A solid foil shaver, the F5-5800 is durable, and it performs well for its low price.

Buying Options

Among electric razors under $50, the Remington F5-5800 outperformed lower-end Braun and Panasonic models in our testing. Each of our testers said it gave a sufficiently close shave.

The F5-5800 has the look of a Braun clone and uses a proven dual-foil system with a center lift-and-cut trimmer mated to a pivoting head. But unlike the Braun Series 7 foil block, which pivots along two axes, this less-expensive shaver pivots only up and down. Although no cleaning system is available, you can easily rinse the shaver under running water. The battery life is about 60 minutes, a bit less than what Braun’s model offers, but that should be more than enough for most people, even when you’re traveling.

Remington’s center bar design isn’t as sophisticated as Braun’s, but our testers found the shaver to work almost as well. Photo: Michael Hession

Remington’s replacement foils are around half the price of Braun’s and Panasonic’s (though you may have to replace them more often—not because they’re any less durable, but because the Remington comes only with a cheap plastic head protector that’s easily lost). The Remington offers generally good performance, but you’ll likely find the shaving experience to be buzzier and potentially more irritating if you don’t maintain a very light touch.

A pivoting shaver head is especially useful when you’re navigating the angular parts of your face, such as the jawline. Video: Michael Hession

As with the more expensive Braun models, this Remington comes with a two-year warranty. Remington recommends annual replacement of the shaver’s cutting block and foil, which are sold as a combo pack for about $40.

James used the Remington for two years, and it held up well during that period. It handled daily shaves without complaint and powered through more days of growth without too much issue.

The Philips Norelco S9000 Prestige, our also great pick for best electric razor.
Photo: Michael Hession

Also great

The top-of-the-line Philips Norelco model is the best rotary shaver we’ve ever used.

Buying Options

For most people, foil-style electric razors typically provide a closer shave. But if you prefer a rotary-style shaver, we recommend the Philips Norelco Shaver 9300, which includes a cleaning system.

Like the Braun models, these shavers are marketed in series. If you can’t find the 9300, get whichever 9000-series model is cheapest. In 2019, we tested the S9000 Prestige (pictured), which includes a digital battery meter—a nonessential upgrade—but unlike the 9300 doesn’t come with a cleaning system. It shaves the same as the 9300 does.

Rotary shavers have a totally different design philosophy than foil models: They capture and cut your facial hair by spinning, similar to the way a circular sander works. Photo: Michael Hession

The 9300 can be unwieldy. For starters, the trimmer is a separate attachment that requires removing the floating head. And because the triple-headed shaver isn’t as compact as a foil shaver, it needs a larger case, which takes up more space in luggage.

Philips Norelco doesn’t integrate cleaning systems across its model line like Braun does, and though we think the brand’s cleaning bases work well, they’re a little unwieldy to use compared with Braun’s, and cleaning cartridge replacements are harder to come by. Because of their shape, Philips Norelco razors need to be held in the cleaning base by a kind of stalk-like support, which means an extra step of inserting the razor. You’ll have to decide whether the convenience is worth it; maintaining your shaver manually with the included cleaning brush is certainly easy enough.

The 9300 requires annual cutter replacement. The shaver includes an indicator to let you know when the time comes, and, at the time of publication, the cutters are $90.

Rotary shaver fans say that three independent heads hug facial contours better than foil designs. Video: Michael Hession

All Philips Norelco shavers come with a two-year warranty.

Dan has been using this razor near-daily since 2018, and it still performs well. Its shave has remained close and comfortable and is still strong enough to mow through multiple days of growth when needed.

An electric razor needs break-in time—not for the razor, but for your face. If you’re switching from a manual to an electric, or even from one electric style to another, generally you’ll need to give your skin two weeks to adjust to the new tool. We couldn’t figure out exactly why this break-in period is necessary. Is it your face? Your shaving style? The razor itself? Different sources give different answers, ranging from new-user error to the need to “train” skin as it adjusts from healing the scrapes caused by a manual razor to dealing with the pulling and shearing mechanisms of electrics.

We did a literature search and found no independent, non-industry-supported research on the topic, though judging from our experience, the break-in period is real. Your first electric shaves will be patchy and probably painful, and you shouldn’t touch things up with a manual razor (which defeats the purpose of the break-in period). All major shaver makers offer a 30- to 60-day money-back guarantee, and we recommend that you give your new shaver time to reach peak performance—but if it doesn’t, don’t be shy about requesting that refund.3

To get the smoothest, most comfortable electric shave, no matter which shaver you choose, you need to remember that electrics can’t easily get as close as a blade. Most electric shaver makers offer advice on how to get the optimal shave. Unfortunately, that advice sometimes conflicts. Braun, for example, suggests shaving first thing in the morning. (“We recommend that you shave before you wash, since the skin tends to be slightly swollen after washing.”) Philips Norelco says to wash but not shower (“…otherwise your skin will be hot, puffy…”). Our testers used different techniques. Dan has dabbled with electric razors most of his adult life, and his technique is based mostly on saving time. Since he has two kids, he’s always in a rush first thing in the morning; when using a manual razor, he shaves in the shower. But with an electric shaver, he waits to shave during a calmer moment midmorning.

No matter when you shave, be sure to follow some basic-technique tips. Men’s Health UK offers a fairly extensive tutorial, but the takeaway is: Go lightly. Don’t press those cutting blades into your skin. Instead, gently pull the skin taut with one hand and let the razor glide over your face in slow, steady strokes; experiment with circular motions and straight strokes, and going with or against the grain (you’re looking for the perfect balance of closeness and post-shave comfort). All of the razors we recommend have pivoting heads, so maintaining a proper angle is easy, but if you’re using a shaver with a fixed head (such as a Wahl), make sure to hold the head at a right angle to your skin. Nearly every shaver manufacturer—in a tacit admission that these devices don’t really shave as close as a blade—recommends that you snag your longest, toughest facial hairs first, using the shaver’s built-in trimmer. Several of our testers said they used a manual razor to get those hairs at the end of the shave, which to us felt kind of like a “what’s the point?” proposition.

One question we’ve been asked a lot is whether to use a pre-shave. The best known of these is Williams Lectric Shave, an alcohol-based solution that helps “the shaver glide with less irritation.” It used to claim—see this advertisement from a 1982 issue of Field & Stream—that it made a “beard stand up.” How much this actually happens isn’t easy to establish, and in our group, Dan was the only tester who actually used and liked a pre-shave. The magic ingredient in most pre-shaves is isopropyl myristate, a synthetic oil created by compounding alcohol and a fatty acid. Combined, the two provide lubrication (the substance is also a key ingredient in Liquid Wrench) without a greasy feeling, so claims that they help an electric razor to glide are probably credible.

Our writers don’t regularly use Lectric Shave—for Dan it smells too much like his Uncle Larry’s bathroom. His preferred pre-shave, Kyoku for Men Electric Pre-Shave Optimizer, contains that key ingredient, which he says does make his skin feel smoother and more taut for shaving. Other pre-shaves include powders, which are effective but messy according to Amazon customer reviews, and thicker creams (such as in Mennen’s Afta), which tend to gunk up the shaver, making it tougher to clean.

You can use shavers in the shower, but a dry face is generally recommended to get the smoothest electric shave. We found that using shaving cream made for a foil-clogging, extra-gooey experience. Using shaving cream is likely to increase the amount of time you spend shaving, if you want to reach the closeness you’d get going dry.

Cleaning an electric razor is straightforward—no fancy equipment needed. Most shavers are rinsable, and you can easily clean them under water with a quick brush of the foils. Some, like the Braun Series 7 and 9 models we recommend, come with cleaning stations. Generally, replacement cleaning cartridges last about three months and cost a little over $5 each if you buy them in six-packs. You should also follow the manufacturer’s instructions for replacing foils and cutting blocks. Braun recommends replacement every 18 months (the block and foil come as a single unit, running about $30 for the Series 7 and $50 for the Series 9); Philips Norelco and Remington recommend annual replacement.

One warning for those on the go: The foil heads found on most electric units are fragile, and if you dent or bend one, you’ll need to replace it. Most shavers come with some kind of case or shaving-head protector. It’s a good idea to use that.

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. While the abundance of foils did a comparable job to the Series 7’s when mowing through stubble in our original testing and in our more recent comparison, they make the Arc5’s cutting block noticeably chunkier than that of the Series 7, which makes working around smaller facial areas—like under the nose or around an existing beard—more difficult. 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.

We’re retesting our picks to compare them with models from Braun’s Series 8 lineup, which are now more widely available (including through retailers other than Costco, which, for example, sold the 8370cc only to store members). We’re also testing the Panasonic Arc6, a six-blade version of the quiet-but-bulky shaver we recommend as a Braun alternative, as well as additional rotary shavers. We’ll update this guide with our findings.

The series at the lower end of Braun’s foil shaving line that we tested—the Series 5 and Series 6—each performed fine in our testing, and with a bit more work and time all eventually gave the same shave as the Series 7. But neither outperformed our budget pick.

Braun previously sold a Series 8 shaver only at select retailers, but additional models in this series are now more widely available. We're testing them.

We tried Philips Norelco’s lower-end rotary models but determined that the brand’s 9000 series performed better, and it was so closely priced that it was a better buy for most people. In our experience, the 4000-series razor didn’t shave closely enough to be worth their bargain prices. However, one member of our test panel has been using a 4000-series model for years, and they still love it, even after trying much more expensive models.

If the 9300 is unavailable or you’re shopping for an even-more-budget rotary, we recommend opting for any Philips Norelco model rather than one of the many inexpensive—and face-mangling—three- or four-headed knockoffs popular on Amazon and eBay.

We initially wanted to look at the legendary Wahl 5 Star shaver; the maroon-colored model is beloved by barbers, who have nicknamed it “The Brick.” But since it’s generally sold via pro barber-supply sources, we opted for a close cousin, the company’s Custom Shave, which is no longer available. The Custom Shave is about as generic-looking an electric shaver as you can find—a tapered hunk of black plastic with a non-floating head and an on/off switch. It comes with a trio of interchangeable foils: one for standard closeness, one for sensitive skin, and another for “ultra closeness.” The foils are visibly different—smaller holes mean a less-aggressive shave. Owners should “never begin with the ultra head,” Wahl spokesperson Steven Yde warns. “It will eat you alive.” A couple of our testers really liked the basic look and feel of the Wahl and found that the shaver cut powerfully and smoothly. That said, you can’t clean the Wahl shavers under water (you use a brush), and they don’t have a terribly good reputation for longevity, according to Amazon customer reviews.

Unlike our picks, the lightweight Andis 17150 ProFoil Lithium Titanium Foil Shaver is not waterproof, and it is warrantied for only one year (whereas all of our picks are covered for two).

We’ve also tried a few oddball electric razors. These include Hitachi’s well-regarded-but-not-available-in-the-US S-Blade RM160, a shaver that features a unique cutting technology that’s a sort of foil-rotary hybrid: A rotating blade sits underneath a foil head; the cutter spins like an old-fashioned push lawn mower, rather than lying flat, as the car-wax-buffer-like discs on Philips rotaries do. We also tested the sub-$10 Aokai T01 and the sub-$10 Kemei Classical Multifunction Model 5600. These cheapies showed us that technology and craftsmanship do matter and that there’s a limit to how low in price a shaver should go. Both of these models dip significantly beneath that waterline, though the Kemei gets a few goofball style points because it 1) has a fake, stitched-leather finish; 2) looks like an oversize cigarette lighter; and 3) has a built-in mirror. (We especially loved the built-in mirror—what a great idea, we thought, except, of course, that you can’t actually look into it while you’re shaving.)

Finally, simply for style—they’re gorgeous—we bought a couple of vintage shavers on eBay: an original Schick from the 1930s, as well as Ronson and Remington models from the 1960s. As lovely as these vintage shavers are, electric shavers require regular maintenance, so buying a used one is generally a dead end because replacement parts simply aren’t available.

This article was edited by Tracy Vence and Kalee Thompson.

  1. Is it an electric razor or an electric shaver? The Oxford English Dictionary states that the latter term “now especially” refers to the “small electrical appliance” rather than to a manual blade-and-handle unit. And manufacturers prefer the term shaver—every model we tested for this guide is described as such on its packaging. But some people seem to prefer calling them electric razors.

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  2. There’s no direct way to compare motor strength when evaluating shavers. When Braun’s Pulsonic system claims “10,000 vibrations” compared with Panasonic's “13,000 cycle linear drive,” for example, you’re dealing mostly with marketing terminology—though in our experience, the higher-end occupants of any one manufacturer’s product line did seem to run stronger than their cheaper stablemates, as measured by shaving speed.

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  3. Braun (60 days): Mail in a form (PDF). Philips (45 days): Request a form from customer service by calling 800-243-3050. Remington (60 days): Mail in a form. Panasonic (30 days): Request authorization via phone, 800-338-0552.

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Meet your guides

Dan Koeppel

Dan Koeppel is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter. He specializes in deep dives on topics ranging from treadmills to razors. His books include Banana: The Fate of the Fruit that Changed the World, and he received a James Beard Award for his writing on bananas. He is also a screenwriter whose credits include Star Trek: The Next Generation.

James Austin

James Austin is a staff writer currently covering games and hobbies, but he’s also worked on just about everything Wirecutter covers—from board games to umbrellas—and after being here for a few years he has gained approximate knowledge of many things. In his free time he enjoys taking photos, running D&D, and volunteering for a youth robotics competition.

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