Best Electric Shavers in 2020 – Buyer’s Guide

It’s okay to hate shaving.  I mean, who likes nicking themselves every time they get down to it?

The thing is, traditional lathering up and upping your masculinity with a razor is way overrated. With an electric razor, you can get a kissable cheek in a couple of minutes minus the mess and the bumps.

But selecting a good electric razor is no longer straightforward. With all the information flying around, it’s easy to give up the search and go back to the manual shave.

Whether you want to know what to look for before buying an electric shaver or you want to make a quick decision, we are here to lay down a list of our recommendations. We’ll give you convenient razors for quick shaves as well as versatile picks that you can use wet or dry.

It’s all about finding what model works for your type of hair and skin.

Best Electric Shavers 2020

1. Braun Series 7 790cc Men’s Electric Foil Shaver: Best Overall

For many people with sensitive skin and flat-lying hair, finding an electric shaver that will conform to your needs seemed like a nightmare, well until the introduction of the Braun Series 7 in 2010. Since then, the popularity of this razor soared to the roof, and it has been like that for a good reason. It is reasonably priced, and it manages to give a clean, close, dry shave in a few passes.

Design Features

Braun Series 7 790cc comes with a clean and charge station. Cleaning is usually tedious, and when you have that convenience, all the other shaving features are a huge plus.

We start with its intelligent features which include being able to capture low-lying flat hair. Comfort is its takeaway point since you can notice a lot of difference if you shave every day in the way your skin feels.

It proves even more useful if you have coarse hair because it uses an intelligent AutoSensing motor that gets through a coarse beard with one pass. Its foil design includes three shaving elements and a skin guard. The middle piece lifts the hairs giving that sleek look for the office or date.

You should be able to use this shaver with a beard up to three days long with no problem. It delivers 10,000 micro vibrations that will capture a dense beard and leave it clean. For the hard to reach areas, the head adapts to your curves such that you can shave under the chin and along the neck so that you don’t have to go back with a manual razor to do the touch-ups.

It is also possible to adjust the intensity levels of this razor. It has five turbo/sensitive modes that let you choose whether you want to go gentle on smooth hair or you want that extra power for stubborn stubble.

With a 50-minute running time, this shaver is reliable for everyday use. It does not lose its performance power, and there’s a battery indicator so you will never be caught off-guard with a dead battery.

Some Drawbacks of the Braun Series 7 790cc

Shaving with the Braun Series 7 790cc feels good to the skin, but if you do not have sensitive skin, you can getter a better deal with a razor that offers a closer and faster shave like the Panasonic Arch 4. You will notice that the head locking mechanism can also be a pain since if you force it, it will break.

Pros

• Sonic shaving technology for shaving more hair
• Head contours and flexes to adapt to the face
• It has a skin guard
• It lifts flat-lying hair
• Ideal for sensitive skin
• It has a precision trimmer
• Alcohol-based clean and charge station

Cons

• Quality of the replacement foils is not the same as that of the foils that come with the shaver

Verdict: For a close shave, the Braun Series 7 790cc does a fantastic job. It is a top pick for sensitive skin making it ideal for everyday shaving. The cleaning station saves you a lot of energy and time, and it has an impressive running time. For the price, we feel you are getting a good deal with this shaver.

2. Braun Series 9 9290cc: Best High-End

Braun likes to imitate manual shaving so that you can feel as close to the traditional way of shaving as possible. Braun Series 9 9290cc is a high-end model shaves faster and closer. Concerning comfort and how gentle the razor is, it’s one of the best, but it’s not kind to your pocket since you will cough a little more to get the premium features.

Design and Performance

The sleek, chrome finish is perhaps what will draw you to this shaver. It represents a solid build to showcase its longevity. This shaver has five instead of four shaving elements. It includes one skin guard that comes in handy to protect your skin from nicks. The four shaving elements have two cutters on the inside and two finishing foils on the inside. They work great with hair that is facing in different directions.

The shaver incorporates its unique technology like sonic and AutoSense technology to ensure that every shave is rendered strongly to avoid going over the same place twice.

It saves you rubbing of the skin, so if you find yourself nicking yourself even with an electric razor, you should consider investing in this model. Likes its Series 7 cousin, this shaver will also lift low-lying and flat hair.

It can shave a beard that is three days long with no hassle, and it has a 10-D flexible head that will follow every contour of your face.

Whether you want a dry or wet shave, this model gives you both possibilities. It can work with your favorite gel for that smooth look while in the shower, or you can grab it in a hotel and do your thing, without any noticeable difference in your skin.

You also get 50 minutes of running time, but the Series 9 has five different steps of counting down the battery time. It can even count down the last nine minutes of shaving time.

Snags of the Braun Series 9 9290cc

This is one of the electric shavers that come at a high price which includes even the replacement foil heads. It is a long-term investment only ideal if you don’t mind the cost added to having expensive replacement foils.

Pros

• Close and gentle shaves that are razor burn free
• Adapts ten directions for easy shaving around the face
• Offers wet and dry shave convenience
• Comes with a 5-action clean & charge station
• Applies Activelift, Sonic, and AutoSense shaving technologies

Cons

• It is expensive

Verdict:

The Braun Series 9 9290cc is a suitable option since it has lots of cutting power and it offers gentle closeness. It is ideal for extremely sensitive skin because of the OptiFoil that protect the skin. When you want value and don’t mind paying more, the functionality of this shaver is arguably the best in the premium category.

3. Panasonic Arch5 ES-LV65-S Men’s Electric Razor

If you have a problem taming unruly hair perhaps what you need is a five-blade electric razor. Still, in the same class as the Braun Series 7 and 9, Panasonic Arch5 ES-LV65-S may prove to be even more effective if you have a thick beard and if your hair grows back overnight.

Design Features

Being linear with reverse-tapered foils means that this razor is an ideal partner for hair that grows in different directions. It can lift and cut in one pass which helps to achieve a very close shave. It can shave wet or dry to suit your liking, so you don’t have to worry about the days you are in a hurry and want a clean look the fastest way possible.

Panasonic Arch5 is built for the closest shaves so it may not be suitable for sensitive skin. For the same reason, it is better on coarse than on fine hair since it showcases very high-performance power from its linear-drive motor. It can make 14,000 cycles per minute on one blade, which means up to 70,000 cross-cutting actions in a minute. It is probably the fastest shaver in this class.

When it comes to shaving technologies, Panasonic uses precision foils that are super thin and extra sharp stainless steel blades that are honed to 30 degrees. This gives them the cutting power to get to every stray hair. The head is also flexible, and it follows the curves of your face.

The shaver automatically adjusts the power according to the hair density for a smooth and even shave. You will like that it also has a pop-up trimmer to get that mustache in shape.

For travel, Panasonic has a travel safety lock to keep it off in its travel pouch. It’s good to know it uses universal voltage power so you can take trips all around the world and never skip a shave.

Snags of the Panasonic Arch5 ES-LV65-S

For those with sensitive skin, it’s not the best option to go with this model. Panasonic is all about getting a close shave and not so much about achieving comfort. This comes with the risk of getting ingrown hairs which is what you want to avoid.

Pros

• Powerful linear motor
• Five nano-tech blades
• Arched blades on floating head for close contact shaving
• Shaving sensor adjusts motor power to the density of hair
• Pop-up shaving trimmer
• Sonic vibration cleaning mode

Cons

• It is noisier because it makes 14,000 cycles per minute

Verdict: Panasonic Arch5 ES-LV65-S is a high-performance shaver for coarse hair. It is powerful motor and flexible head are sure to give you a smooth, close shave that is comfortable for days. If you are looking for speed, this shaver is the way to go.

For the same qualities but with a cleaning station, Panasonic also has the Arch5 ES-LV81-K.

4. Panasonic Arch4 ES8243A 4-Blade: Best Cheap Panasonic Electric Shaver

This shaver is one of the cheapest on the market. It manages to balance the performance features with the build quality to give you an irritation-free shave each time.

Design Features

With four nano-tech blades, Panasonic Arch4 ES8243A delivers 13,000 cuts per minute. It may seem slower than Arch5 models, but it does not come close to three-blade models.

The four blades consist of two outer oscillating foil blades and two middle blades that provide the cutting action. It makes shaving so effortless that you are going to forget ever missing a manual razor. Its gentle curves make it easy for the shaver to go around your face in circular motions to resemble a rotary shaver.

Since it has a bulky head and contoured sides, this shaver is a good pick for shaving the head too. The hypoallergenic 30-degree blades allow smooth gliding over your skin from the face to the neck, chin, and jaw. The pivoting head can move up and down and from side to side to help reach all the difficult areas.

This shaver provides top-notch shaving performance thanks to the linear motor that delivers the power to cut every type of hair. It is incredible that it does not lose its power all through its life.

This shaver can be used dry or with shaving cream in the shower. It is 100% waterproof so you can run it under the tap for cleaning. It has an average battery life of 42 minutes and a 5-minute quick charge when the battery is low. With the 10-step LED screen, you can tell how much charge is left so you can recharge it in time for the next shave.

Snags of the Panasonic Arch4 ES8243A

This shaver does not include a cleaning station which is understandable for the price. But the replacement parts are a bit pricey, so it beats the reason behind lacking a cleaning station or the means to do it with a cleaning mode.

Pros

• Powerful motor
• Four nanotech blades
• Wet and dry shaving
• Contoured and flexible head
• Rubberized handle
• 10-stage LED

Cons

• Does not come with a cleaning station

Verdict: Affordability is always a key consideration when choosing electric shavers. Panasonic Arch4 ES8243A is the one to pick when your budget is tight, but you still desire a close shave. The razor provides convenience and versatility in a top model for the money.

5. Philips Norelco 9700 S921/89: Best Value

Philips Norelco 9700 S921/89 comes as a full package with a SmartClean system and a Smartclick oil-control cleansing brush. It is a top-rated model in the rotary category, but it is a little bit more expensive than its cousins like the 8900 and 3100 models.

Design Features

This shaver works to provide the most comfortable shave thanks to its three shaving heads. It uses Contour Detect technology which allows each of the heads to move in eight different directions. It has V-Track precision blades that not only collect the hair, but they also cut more closely allowing a neat and smooth appearance.

You will like that it has three intensity settings. This way, you can match it to your skin. The slow setting works best if your skin is sensitive and you need a friendly and gentle shave. The medium setting increases the power so that you can get a thorough shave. And if you have stubborn hair, using the highest setting will let you cut through long and dense hair. The high-intensity mode also comes in handy for a quick shave.

This is a wet and dry electric shaver. You can use your favorite shaving cream, gel, foam, or oil for an even closer shave. The digital user interface is a thoughtful way of helping you see the battery level, low battery indicator, as well as the cleaning, replacement head, and travel lock indicators.

The shaver can also go into your travel bag since it comes with its protective case. The case even has a ventilation chamber to let it dry on the go.

We do like that it has a slightly higher running time of up to one hour. You can shave for five minutes every morning and never lack enough juice for weeks. And when the battery is low, a quick 5-minute charge will give you the power for one full shave.

Snags of the Philips Norelco 9700

This razor may not give you the closest shave if you don’t press it into the skin. This means if you use it at the high power setting, it may irritate the skin. If you choose not to use the cleaning station, it’s difficult to remove all the bits of hair in the heads.

Pros

• Contour detect technology contours head in 8 different directions
• V-track precision blades
• SmartClean station
• Digital user interface
• Three intensity settings
• One hour battery life and 5-minute quick charge

Cons

• It needs pressing to the skin for a really close shave

Verdict: Philips Norelco 9700 is a great shaver for a lot of good reasons. It glides every way making it efficient for the hair around your neck and chin without nicking bare skin. It expresses versatility since you can attach a cleansing brush. And you won’t be charging it often thanks to its long running time.

6. Philips Norelco Shaver 4500 AT830/46: Best of a Budget Rotary Shaver

If you are not searching for any frills in an electric shaver, the Philips Norelco 4500 is the ideal pick. Designed by one of the best manufacturers, this Philips model also endears to offer a quality shave for most people.

Design Features

This shaver comes with three circular heads. It can shave short hair perfectly, and it is even better with long hair owing to the dual precision heads.  The discs have slots and holes that will pull in hair and snip it off quickly. It has this pivot, flex, and float system that allows it to stay in close contact with your skin to give a fast, clean shave.

It remains gentle to the skin making it one of the most comfortable rotary shavers. Since it contours to your curves the shaver will not bounce on and off. You get to cut more hair in one sweep.

This shaver is fast, effective, and you can use it wet or dry. The AquaTec seal ensures that no water can get into the internal components. You can use it in the shower, with shaving cream or get a comfortable, dry shave.

This shaver leaves out anything fancy like a digital display or intensity settings. But its shaving remains top of the line because of the lift and cut action. It provides a wholesome experience since you also get to trim your beard and get sleek sideburns. Now you can make an impression on a special someone.

Snags of the Philips Norelco 4500 AT830/46

This shaver takes eight hours to get to a full charge.  Although you get a 3-minute quick charge, having to wait eight hours for only 50 minutes of battery life takes away its good points. And it is not usable when it is recharging.

Pros

• DualPrecision shaving heads
• Lift and cut action
• 45 days of risk-free trial
• Precision trimmer
• Washes under the tap (100% waterproof)
• Pop-up trimmer
• Four directions contouring

Cons

• The battery takes too long to charge

Verdict: Philips Norelco 4500 is built to meet your shaving expectations. It works excellent for short and long hair. Its price is low without making any compromises, and you will get the same features on a high-end model. You will love working with it from the very first time until it requires a change of the rotary heads every once a year.

7. Wahl Professional 8061-100 5-Star Series: Best Dry Shaver for Sensitive Skin

Wahl Professional 8061 is a unique shaver that brings a new experience in the electric shavers’ world. It is cheap but very effective in cutting different types of hair, whether you have dense, coarse, or fine hair, Wahl will give you a clean look.

Design Features

This shaver has a rectangular rather than circular/angled shape. It is surprisingly very comfortable to shave with it. It feels great in the hands because it is light. It uses yellow foil heads that probably scream for attention so you won’t be leaving the house without a shave.

We do like that the foils are coated and hypoallergenic to prevent any reactions even for overly sensitive skin. It is easy to use even on the head when you want to shave a day or two hair’s growth. Note that you cannot shave a full head from scratch with this shaver, but it does an excellent job of removing stubborn stubble.

It can be used corded or cordless. If you want continuous high power and do not mind a cord, you can use it as it is charging. This means even if it dies on you, shaving does not stop since once you plug in; it still works.

This shaver can also be used as a shaper since one of the sides is long and slender. You will want to stick to short facial hair as it cannot cut long hair efficiently.

Snags of the Wahl Professional 8061

This shaver is not waterproof. It can only be of use for dry shaves. This also means you cannot rinse it under the tap after use. You will want to use a soft brush to remove the hair from the blades. Fortunately, it does not require blade lubricant.

Pros

• Can cut different types of hair
• Lightweight at only 8 ounces
• Can be used corded or cordless
• Uses coated hypoallergenic foil
• Affordable replacement foil and cutter sets

Cons

• Quality of the battery could be better

Verdict: Wahl Professional 8061 is a totally affordable electric shaver. Reason being its initial cost is low, and the cost of owning it is also cheap. The convenience of using it corded or cordless is a unique and rare feature that you can only get when you have a professional-grade electric shaver.

8. Remington F5-5800 Foil Shaver: Best Dual Functionality

Remington is renowned for its high-quality products. The F5-5800 Foil Electric Shaver matches their quality with flexibility and convenience. You can use it corded or cordless giving it a good rap for the days that you forget to charge it.

Design Features

We do not expect any bells and whistles from this device because it is priced quite cheap. But what you get is a razor that is worth every dollar. It comes with a pivot and flex head that allows it to shave along contours. This way, it can make close contact with the skin without causing nicks. The result is an even and close shave in one sweep.

You will appreciate that it has intercept shaving technology since it trims longer hair before it is shaved evenly along with other shorter hairs. It provides a clean look that you can only get when the foils touch the skin, but that won’t be happening with this model.

As you use the shaver cordless, you will be able to see your remaining running time on the LED screen. You can charge it the night before or use it as it is charging in the morning. A full charge offers up to 60 minutes of battery life. This translates to about three weeks of shaving which is a good time.

Remington F5-5800 offers both wet and dry shaves. It can be rinsed under the tap and then air-dried. This simple process should keep it working in great condition for a decent time.

Snags of the Remington F5-5800

This shaver is not a good match for coarse and dense hair. We feel you will get more value and a closer shave with a Philips. Its great with medium and fine hair, so it is not entirely out of the picture. The shaving foils do not also last longer than six months so you will be replacing them more often than on other cheap brands.

Pros

• Corded or cordless use functionality
• Pre-trimming tool and two flexible foils
• One hour running time
• Battery level indicator
• Pivot and flex head

Cons

• It does not come with a cleaning station

Verdict: Remington presents one of their most popular electric shavers. It brings comfort to every guy who likes to maintain a clean, smooth face with neat edges. If you want a fast dry shave that leaves your face and neck sparkly, Remington has got it right. But it involves buying foils often. However, the price may be worth the result.

9. Max-T 7109 USB Charge Rotary Shaver: Best for Travel

For every guy whose hair grows back so fast, it’s hard to keep up; you might be wondering which shaver is right to keep around. And more so for travel. Max-T introduces their USB rechargeable electric shaver that is not only gentle on skin, but it also gives a near close shave.

Design Features

We like to think of a close shave as a leaving smooth, no hair face which is kissable without an ouch from the lady. Max-T ensures you get exactly that as it takes care of any prickly hairs setting you off with a visibly clean look.

The first noticeable thing is that it has a contoured handle where your hand will rest. It is a rotary shaver with three heads that move in four different directions. It is supposed to stay close to the skin, and that’s why it automatically follows every curve around your face, neck, and jaw. You will also like that it is not as noisy as other rotary shavers, so we’ll give it a plus in that respect.

This shaver can be used dry or wet. If your skin will be angry-irritated from a dry shave, just include some soothing gel, and the shaver will do the rest for you. The head pops off for easy cleaning, you don’t have to worry about damaging the interior circuitry when running it under the tap.

Its USB-rechargeable battery provides up to 120 minutes of running time out of one hour of charging.  It is probably the longest that’s why it is ideal for travel. You don’t need to depend on a wall socket or the voltage because with a laptop, PC, or power bank; you can get back to shaving with no hassle. It even has a one-minute charging technology that lets you have one shave after charging the unit for one minute.

Snags of the Max-T 7109

This shaver is not ideal for say a two, or three-day stubble. It is designed specifically for everyone who shaves every day. As such, it will have lots of trouble cutting a two-day growth. For that reason, its use is kind of limited because you will feel as if it’s pulling the hair, but that’s because it cannot handle long growth.

Pros

• USB rechargeable
• Three floating heads
• Wet and dry shaves
• Up to 2 hours of running time
• IPX7 waterproof rating
• One-minute quick charge for one shave

Cons

• Can pull on long hair

Verdict: If you are always taking trips and you live a busy lifestyle, maintaining a clean face can be hard to come by. But with Max-T, they make it seem effortless since you will rarely worry about recharging the unit or how smooth your face is because Max-T 7109 gets it done.

10. MAXLY Shaver, eTTgear Rotary Shaver: Best for Full Beard

MAXYL Shaver eTTgear rotary shaver is for all the guys who don’t mind keeping a beard for a day or three. With its bold, gold-black exterior, it’s easy to see why is likable with ladies too.

Design Features

This shaver comes with five floating heads. They use double-ring blades that are not only super sharp, but they can cut through a thick and dense beard. It is ideal with soft, fine hair if its long or a coarse beard that’s short. The heads move in five different directions so it can cut more hair in one sweep.

It has an incredibly powerful motor that will make shaving speedy and comfortable, making it feel less of a chore. If you like experimenting with different styles and trimming your sideburns, you will be happy with the pop-up trimmer. It is not only small, but it is also powerful making it effortless to make a curve or straight edge.

Maxyl eTTgear can be used wet or dry. It is 100% waterproof.  You can use it in the shower or with cream, and when you are done, the head will come apart for thorough cleaning. It requires air drying so that it will not hold on to any skin cells and hair for improved longevity.

When it comes to battery life, it has 50 minutes of running time from an 8-hour charge. It can be charged in the dock or directly from a plug.

Snags of the MAXLY eTTgear Shaver

The overall ergonomics of this shaver does not score so well. It takes a little time getting used to the straight edges. You may end up pressing the shaver too close to the skin to get a close shave. For that reason, if you are using a rotary shaver for the first time, you might want to get that experience from a shaver like Philips Norelco. But if you don’t mind new experiences, take up the challenge with this model.

Pros

• Five floating heads
• Sharp double ring blades
• Two charging styles on the dock and plug
• Both wet and dry shaving
• Precision pop-up trimmer
• Hi-speed, powerful motor is silent

Cons

• It does not have great ergonomics

Verdict: Enjoy having a beard and cutting it with MAXLY eTTgear. It is a shaver that is powerful and up to the most demanding shaving tasks. The floating heads and powerful motor all come in handy to aid the process. You will like using this shaver to change the shape of your beard so get creative.

Best Electric Shaver: Buying Guide

Your face is valuable. That’s why choosing only the best matters. When selecting an electric shaver, these features will determine whether it is your ideal pick or not.

• Type of Shaver: Foil vs. Rotary Shavers

Foil shavers use cutting blades covered with a thin sheet of metal foil. The blades move in a straight, back and forth direction. The foils protect the skin as they lift the hair. As such, they are ideal for sensitive skin and short hair that is not longer than a three-day growth.

Contrary to foil shavers, rotary shavers use rotating discs on floating heads. They can be used to shave hair growing in different directions and even a full beard. The heads contour to your face such that it is easy to get around the chin and the neck because they move in a circular manner

• Purpose of the Shaver

If you tend to shave in the shower or you use shaving cream, it is vital that you look for a waterproof shaver. Some models have delicate circuitry that will get damaged if it gets into contact with water.

You will notice that some shavers are used dry but can be rinsed under the tap while others are supposed to brushed for cleaning.

• Charge and Running Time

The longer the battery life, the more you will feel the shaver gives good service. No one likes to keep reminders about charging devices.

A shaver that offers a short charge time is definitely more convenient than one that needs eight hours. So is one that has a quick charge and USB charging.

A portable charger and universal voltage is also a good feature to have on an electric shaver.

Another thing with the power supply is the performance between corded and cordless shavers. Direct power supply remains constant and powerful while batteries can suffer when dealing with coarse hair. You should consider if you require a powerful shaver that can operate corded or if you want a cordless model for travel.

• Ergonomics

How comfortable does it feel? Some electric shavers come with contoured handles while others have straight ones. You will need to consider the grip and the control that you get from that particular shaver.

• Cost

A good electric shaver should be worth the money you buy it. This means considering even the cost of replacing the blades and cutting units. You don’t want to pay more for some fancy stuff like a chrome finish. Instead, look for a razor that has high-end cutting performance and reasonably priced replaceable heads to make it worthwhile.

• Cleaning

If your skin is sensitive, you know how much a clean shaver means to you. You will want to own a razor that does not require a ton of work to clean and yet stay dry for the next shave. This will prevent the buildup of bacteria that can cause infections.

Electric shavers with cleaning stations offer convenience since they not only clean the shaver, but some of them even disinfect the razor. They are worth the extra cost.

• Travel Capabilities

If you plan on taking safaris with your shaver, a travel lock and a protective case are features to consider. You will want a pouch that can keep the shaver dry as well as a lock to prevent turning on the unit accidentally.

Wrapping it Up

You deserve the Best Electric Shaver. We hope our list makes the process of choosing less of a maze and more enlightening. We have picked according to the build quality, comfort, purpose, and effectiveness of these razors. As they are top-rated, we hope one of them meets your expectations.