Panasonic ES-LV97 5-Blade Wet & Dry Electric Shaver For Men
Panasonic ES-LV97 5-Blade Wet & Dry Electric Shaver for Men, Rechargeable, Responsive Beard Sensor, Multi-Flex 16D Head, Auto Cleaning, Charging Stand, Gift for men (2 pin UK plug)
Linear motor for a smooth shave
No matter how thick your beard, the ultra-fast linear motor on the LV97 will provide a clean, long-lasting shave with a steady cutting speed. With advanced mag-lev technology, the shaver uses the world’s strongest magnets to deliver 70,000 cross-cutting actions per minute for impressive results.
Multi-Flex head for comfort
To reduce the number of strokes required for a close shave, the Multi-Flex head moves in 16 directions independently* and follows the contours of the face and neck without you having to press hard for less skin irritation. *Panasonic Laboratory Report, Japan
Auto cleaning and charging system
Convenient and stylish, the LV97 features a stand that automatically charges as well as cleans – removing sebum and beard clippings – to keep your shaver hygienic and blades sharper for longer.
 |  |  | |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benefit | Stubble free for up to 8 hours | Panasonic’s best shaving | Shave three-day beards efficiently | Shave three-day beards efficiently | Stubble free for up to 8 hours | Minimize skin irritation |
| Shaving Blades | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Ultra-fast Linear Motor Tech | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Shaving Efficiency (cut per min) | 70,000 cpm | 84,000 cpm | 70,000 cpm | 70,000 cpm | 70,000 cpm | 39,000 cpm |
| Flexible Head Direction | 16D | 22D | 20D | 20D | 16D | 12D |
| Beard Sensor | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pop-Up Trimmer | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Clean & Charge Station | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ |
| Wet & Dry | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Charging time /Usage time | 1h /50 min | 1h /50 min | 1h /50 min | 1h /50 min | 1h /50 min | 1h /50 min |
| Brand: | Panasonic |
| Origin: | Japan |
Just to get this to replace my older panasonic electric shaver. This is much higher end model and made in japan.
Easier to use and clean. It does a good job. Still does a good job after 2 years.
As long as the price is attractive, it is a no brainer choice!
Always used Braun electric razors for years. But thought I’ll give this Panasonic a go and I was very impressed. It beats Braun’s razors hands down. Build quality very good! Cuts very close with it’s 5 razors. Not far off my cut throat razor. Got a nice self cleaning feature as well. You won’t be disappointed with this.
A very good electric shaver and I have had a few. Quite expensive but well worth the money. As far as electric shavers go this is the best I have ever bough
Having had a Phillips shaver previously, I decided to go with this Panasonic having read up on it .
Well now having used it I am well impressed with the shave it gives you , seems very easy to use and clean etc plus the quality is very good.
Certainly would recommend i
I’ve had to resort to a wet shave until I found this. Most electric razors have faults in attempting to cut closely.
This is easy to clean, even comes with a self cleaning container.Might be expensive but we’ll worth it buying .
I was about to buy Braun, thinking they’re the best. But I’m happy I did a bit of research & came up with this one. This is the ES-LV97 K811 model. In heading doesn’t say K811 but it is.
Normally shavers irritate my skin, I come up with red spots but not with this one. Even Philips & Braun tend to do that.
It has 5 blades for a smooth & clean shave. My skin is like a baby now! It’s easy to use, lightweight & easy to hold.
It’s a bit on the noisy side, both during usage & cleaning (makes very annoying loud beeping noise, I suggest keep it in the other room).
The cleaning solutions sachets are very expensive, there are videos online for making your own but manufacturer (of course) doesn’t advise it! They only give 1 satchet which lasts about 30 days.
If your looking your interested, well look no further. Ive had philips philishaves for 50+yr. So, why the change the cost of repair/Phillips batteries, not that this is cheap by any stretch of the imagination but seemingly its all easy to do yourself and parts are easily available, foil/battery sachets for the washer. This is an outstanding piece of kit, simple to wash and maintain with the washer dryer. It takes a little getting used to admitably but honestly it’s simple. After a week to ten days it’s fabulous and a step up from what was. It’s takes a little time adjusting as all new shavers but I’m glad I spent the $s on a premium shaver undoubtedly.
So would I recommend, highly. No brainer just do it.
I have had a number of electric shavers (Rotary & foil) & this is by far the closest shave. I suggest using (even a basic) alcohol based pre shave fro an even closer shave.
This is the second one of these linear motor Panasonic shavers I’ve owned, and they are superb. Relatively quiet, super fast blade movement and a shave that is much closer and smoother than any other brand of electric shaver I’ve tried. The battery lasts a good week, and it charges pretty quick. A fantastic shaver.
I have bought high end Braun electric shavers over many years. They are always the most expensive or the market. The last one is only a year old and had a fault. I wanted to try a different make and I am glad I did. It’s way better than the braun in terms of smoothness and the shave is much closer
I would highly recommend this shaver to anyone looking for a better option than Brau
I I have been using Bronn 5 Series for more than two years, but when I saw Pansonco 5, its has very good reviews everywhere,so i decided to buy it. It’s really deserves it and im very happy working perfectly and very smoothly.
Re-written this review after using it for a month. Great shave, very close, very gentle. It takes a bit of getting used to after a rotary. The charger/wash unit is huge and it comes with a massive two-pin plug – sticks out from the wall about 11cm (4.5 inches old money), for this amount of money they cant make a British compatible plug? They recommend daily wet cleaning the shaver – what the actual !!!! I just want a shave not the Starship Enterprise. 5* for the shave 1* for the hardware. I am still glad I bought it because it is the best dry shave I’ve ever had. Ooooh, go on then I’ll give it 4*.
Both are really good shavers but I have to say that the Panasonic gives a more comfortable and cleaner shave. It glides across the skin without tugging or causing irritation.
The Braun I feel is more aggressive and although sharp and provides a clean shave the Panasonic edges it and with fewer passes too maybe it’s because it has 5 foils as opposed to the Brauns 4
I also like the fact that the head on the Panasonic flexes in different directions and really is a quality well built piece of kit.
It doesn’t take long to charge and it is a powerful shaver. One thing that is important to remember is It’s designed primarily to shave the face, I shave my both my face and head with it and again it’s an outstanding super clean cut!
Also it requires a running in period where your skin adjusts to the blades. Everyone’s hair growth and density is different so results may vary.
The only cons I have is to find a replacement blade as a back up seems impossible. Amazon doesn’t sell the replacement cutting blades and five head replacement foils either and looking else where online yields the same results.
I don’t understand how a shaver of this calibre and from a reputable brand doesn’t have the blades readily available. Even on Panasonics own site you can’t buy them.
Hopefully this is something that Amazon can stock soon.
To conclude anyone looking for a high quality shaver should have this on their short list. I’ve retired my Braun series 9 for the mean time as this one is just so good to use.
Close, smooth shave, far better than any Braun or other option; reliable; very quick charging. If you don’t have time to wet shave you can look respectable with this shaver in 5 minutes
Very clean and close shave without irritations or scratches in minutes. I use panasonic wet showers for two decades. My previous one was ga21 – pretty good, out so I thought. It started to die. And new ones were hard to come by. I decided to spend bit more and went with arc 5 series.
And now I can only recommend to myself from the past to make an upgrade much earlier. Strongly recommended!
I used to get rashes on my neck every time I used a blade to shave. This device has solve that issue and allowed me to shave on a daily basis without worrying about harming my skin. Having said that, it sometimes does leave small parts even when I go over them several times but it is easy to get to those at the end with a blade.
Absolutely night and day compare to Braun 5 or Philips 7. I was surprised how fast and clean it shaves! Cleaning solution last for 2 months (2-3 times a week shave). I have tried Braun 9 before and the performance is the same but for the half price. I recommend it to anyone who likes foil shavers.
Feels well made, fast smooth action, gives a good shave
A little difficult to get under the nostrils, trimmer a bit sharp for them
Having lost litres of blood over the years – mostly due to being really bad at shaving (but let’s pin the blame on sensitive skin) – I thought it was time to try an electric shaver.
I selected this one due to its good reviews and it has not disappointed in any way.
Easy to use and clean – also comes with the cleaning/charging station (which you don’t need to use, but good to have).
My face feels really well shaved after using it, so the result is practically indistinguishable from a wet shave – just with (in my case) a lot less blood – none in fact.
Shaver also comes with a travel case, mini cleaning brush, some oil & cleaning fluid – all you need.
Would 100% recommend, reputable brand, quality product, will change your life as it has done mine.
Brilliant shaver/trimmer, the battery life is excellent as is the shave, my partner loves it so much he bought two, great price , would recommend.
Fantastic shaver, in every way
Battery life brilliant, ergonomics ,
Close shave , nothing bad to say .
I was fed up with old school wet shaving and continuously cutting myself, so I decided to look into an electric shaver after browsing the Internet for sometime my final decision was to look deeper into this product and its reviews, and to be absolutely honest, I wasn’t disappointed with my purchase, light weight, easy to handle, great battery life, close clean shave leaving face smooth with no remaining stubble, easy to clean and store away and reasonably priced. What isn’t there to like and would happily recommend
I was pleasantly surprised just how good this electric razor is. Cuts fantastically close, doesn’t take long to shave. Easy to clean – the setting for rinsing with water is great. And the beard trimmer is very sharp and works well. Prior to this I had a Braun series 9 for 3 years which broke down, much to my disappointment at the price (200) I expected it to last at least 5 years. But this Panasonic ES-LV97 is actually superior to the Braun S9 at less than half the price.
I’d recommend a purchase of this electric razer – best I’ve owned yet.
Philips changed the ‘foil’ and blade design of the 7000 series shavers which meant mine no longer worked leaving me with bleeding and sore skin. I used a Panasonic years ago and thought I’d give this a shot. The size of the head initially put me off and what difference would 5 blades really make…well to my surprise and relief my daily shave has been transformed! No nics, bleeding or irritation and in half the time, honestly, I could not really believe it. I’m delighted to say the least and I would recommend but cannot yet comment on battery life and replacement cutters and foils are looking a bit pricey but if I get a pain free shave fast, I’ll stick with it.
I’m in my late seventys and this machine is the best shaver I’ve ever had shaves close gets to places that other shavers don’t get too. cleans simple the cleaning machine is worth buying with shaver.
One of the most impressive aspects of the ES-LV97 is its multi-flex 16D head. This head is designed to provide excellent versatility and flexibility, ensuring that you can reach all those hard-to-reach areas with ease. The head is also designed to contour to the shape of your face, which means you can enjoy a close, comfortable shave without worrying about irritation or discomfort.
The auto cleaning function is another convenient feature that makes the ES-LV97 stand out. This function ensures that your shaver is always clean and ready for use, without you having to do any of the hard work. Simply place the shaver in the charging stand and the cleaning process is quick, efficient and ensures that your shaver remains in top condition, no matter how often you use it.
Finally, the charging stand is a standout feature of the ES-LV97. Not only does it provide a stylish display for your shaver, but it also eliminates the need for disposable cartridge cleaners. This makes the shaver environmentally friendly, and you can choose to clean it with other liquids if you prefer. This is an important consideration for those who are conscious of their impact on the environment and want to make a difference.
In conclusion, the Panasonic ES-LV97 is a top-of-the-line electric shaver that offers a range of advanced features designed to make your grooming experience as smooth and comfortable as possible. Whether you’re looking for a close shave, versatility, or convenience, this shaver has it all. If you’re in the market for a new electric shaver, be sure to consider the Panasonic ES-LV97 — you won’t be disappointed!
I’m glad I replaced it with this. My face is quite a challenge for any razor and this is the first that actually gets my skin smooth – it still takes a few goes in some places but the end result is worth it.
This is the old model so it was a bargain but I can’t imagine needing anything else.
It might be a bit hard on very sensitive skin but I don’t have a problem with it.
Pros
This shaver feels less rough against my skin, especially on the tougher hairs. It’s very smooth and gives a great cut (the closest I’ve ever had). It’s relatively quiet and doesn’t make noisy crunchy noises when cutting the more difficult stubble. Great battery life compared with the other shaver. Smaller more comfortable handle to grip. Great flexibility in the head motion.
Cons
Sounds a bit like a mosquito. Requires a bathroom shaver plug (or the shaver plug adapter) to charge – would have liked a regular plug option or USB. All minor quibbles, really!
Summary
This is a truly great shaver and I would strongly recommend it. I have sensitive skin and this is a quite smooth shave with great results. Fast better than any 5-blade wet shave razor I have used.
I usually do not write reviews but made an exception this time.
This shaver is brilliant, especially in giving as close a shave as possible compared to a conventional razor.
It struggles a bit with longer hairs but then that is not supposed to be its main purpose.
For an average growing beard, I will use a conventional razor if you have not shaved for more than a week but otherwise this one is good for even a few days stubble.
It is quite ergonomic and the head can move is various directions to enable reach all the odd angles and corners.
The cleaning unit works like a dream even though it can be a bit noisy. I usually put it to clean and recharge every couple of days but I guess it can be done once a week.
I went for a 2 week long holiday and the shaver did not need recharging during the whole period and I just washed it under warm tap water after every shave
This shaver is highly recommended by me
I wouldn’t pay the full price for this but it is still very good. The auto cleaning is always VERY noisy after the initial first few min of starting.
The shaver is quiet and gives a good shave. Not so sure about the auto cleaner as the detergent sachets are expensive. I like the carry caster for the shaver which will prevent damage when travelling.
I’ve been using this for around 2 weeks and it does a reasonable job of keeping stubble tidy. I’ve tried once to cut longer beard hair and found it challenged. Overall, easy to use and battery life is good – no razor rash to date which was a big driver for me with this choice
But I can confirm, I’ve had it just over a month now and I use it four or five times a week……
No irritation at all.
Granted its never going to be as good as a wet shave, but it’s definitely not far off at all
Good battery life and easy to hold while using. Very pleased and highly recommend.
Now, let’s quickly address the obvious. No electric shaver us going to give you as close or as smooth a shave as doing it with a razer.
That’s why I’ve returned all the others I’ve had, as they were really bad shaves. However this one is a really good shave. The semi floating head adds a lot to the shave I believe. And while yes, it does miss some of the fine hairs around the base if the throat, it does really well elsewhere. It does have a fine shaver on the side as well, so getting most of the finer hairs isn’t a huge issue.
As for the running costs of the shaver, it’s about on par with what i spend over a year on normal Gillette razers. So I don’t really have that much of an issue with the costs. Especially since you don’t “need” the cleaning solution.
Overall I’m really happy with this shaver, especially since its half price fir the prime sale
So how does it shave? Closer than the Braun Series 5 ever did (but that is a great shaver, so not knocking it). The neck area needs a bit of going over at the right angle / approach but it shaves very well. Chin and face are shaved very close and very well. Under the nose, it’s only possible to get part of the head to make contact, but this does the trick.
Cleaning takes much longer than with the Braun cleaning and charging stand, but the Panasonic stand is much smaller and uses a detergent, rather than an alcohol base. When I say longer, it’s a lot longer period of cleaning and drying, probably because it’s not alcohol based. The Panasonic shaver also came with a shaving oil, which I never had with the Braun. I’ve used it twice and it doesn’t seem to make a huge difference in terms of shaving quality, but probably does assist with the good and longer functioning of the shaver.
All in all, I’m very happy with this purchase, especially at the significantly discounted price I got it for.
Bought this to replace my old philishave 9 series which has been excellent but the shaving heads and the battery would need changing soon so i decided to buy a new razor. I had set my heart on a Braun series 9 pro but after reading the revues on the Panasonic and the fact that it was half price i decided to but the Panasonic.I have only used it twice as of writing but must say i am very impressed with the lovely close shave that i have had both times and also with the quickness the shaving time is cut by at least half to my old shaver.The cleaning station works much better it dries as well as cleans also i wont be using it after every shave [i didnt with the old one]so the cleaning fluid will last a while.The instructions say that if you use the cleaning station every day the fluid will last 30 days so if i use it the same as my old one it will last 3 monts.The shaving soloution is 12 for 3 sachets so not unreasonable.Any way if you’ve read through all my drivel the moral is this is a good shaver which i’m very pleased with.
I bought this at amazon UK cause its (within shipping costs) at least 80 EUR cheaper than in germany.
It arrives really fast. To my surprise a EU charger gets included instead of the UK charger. Thats really nice move so i must not bought a new charger.
The shaver is awesome. I only shave dry in a rythm of 3 and then 4 days.
The battery lasts at least 3 weeks minimum at a shaving time of 8-12 minutes.
Just have to stretch my skin at the larynx cause my hairs grows in all directions there. So i had to shave this position several times with different angles and directions.
But at the end everything is nice. No irritations anymore im rly happy about.
When u shave longer time I think the shaver could be lighter.
I gave it 5 out of 5 Stars and i rly recommend it.
The cleaning station is OK. I just needed it for reload because cleaning under water after shaving is best and at the moment enough.
Greetings from Germany
Having quite tough, Desperate-Dan-type stubble, I’ve never, in 50 years of looking, found an electric shaver that would have much impact on this old face. Only by repeatedly shaving the same patch could I ever get any results. But it would never be a particularly close shave and would often cause a shaving rash. So I have always used a wet shaver, with the brilliant Apothecary 87 Shave Cream, whenever I wanted a really close shave.
But, clearly, technology has moved on and at last I’ve found an electric shaver, the Panasonic ES-LV67 Wet and Dry shaver, that works extremely well. If the stubble is long and tough – for me that can be even after just 3 days – I do still have to use my wet shaver. But if I just want to keep one of two days’ beard growth under control, then this is now my go-to tool for the job. In that situation, for comfort, I do like to use Apothecary 87’s excellent shave oil before wet-shaving, but, for an electric shave using this Panasonic shaver, the process is now quicker, easier and causes much less discomfort than any shaver I’ve tried before.
The flip-up detaling blade is great for trimming rogue hairs that – for reasons completely unfathomable to me – now seem to sprout from my ears, and for creating a smooth edge wherever needed. I charged it weeks ago and, though it gets used probably every 2 to 3 days, I still have 60% charge left. I’m impressed.
Most electric shavers won’t give as close a shave as you can get with a decent blade and shave cream but this is the nearest thing I’ve found, for those times when I don’t want to attack my face with sharp things.
It’s not cheap, so it was a gamble when I decided to give it a try. But it’s a gamble that has paid off and I highly recommend this shaver.
1. Shave’s close. I don’t shave every day and two or three days growth with this razor doesn’t seen to be a problem. Can’t see any irritation as it is so smooth over the skin (I have only used dray)
2. Battery Life. Between charges that seems very good. I could take away for a week (or maybe two shaving evet other day) without a need to recharge.
3. Cleaning. Easy to clean under the tap or just with the brush and a blow. I use the cleaning system tow or three times a week just for the extra cleaning and anti-bacterial properties.
Any problems? Well;
1. The item comes with a 2 pin UK plug. That’s fine if you have a bathroom socket. I haven’t so I had to buy an adapter. With everything being USB this day finding one was not that easy (but you can order from Amazon).
2. Initially the razor would not charge. I gave the terminals on the Razor and Charging station a clean and everything then worked ok. You could charge, however not using the Charging station. It does indicate in the Manual that the terminals might need a clean.
3. Quite expensive with the charging/cleaning station but good value from Amazon.
I don’t know yet how often the foil’s will need changing, but compared to the price of Premium blade for wet shavers I don’t see it as that bad. Like wise I don’t know the life of the Lithium battery. I think, from my experience in other devices, the suggested lifespan is somewhat conservative.
Overall, I am amazed at how far Electric shavers have come since my first one.
Hope this helps.
Well I recently used a Braun Series 9 for about 3 weeks, and that’s gone back to Amazon because the shave I was getting wasn’t worth the money. What arrived afterwards was this Panasonic 5 blade, and after just a few uses I can confidently say it will not be getting sent back.
For a start it’s a whopping 100 cheaper at current prices than the cheapest series 9 you should be considering (don’t get one without a cleaning station).
Next and arguably most importantly, it shaves closer than a Series 9 and has no problems getting at awkward hairs, that Series 9 couldn’t get to properly.
It’s so much easier to clean than a Series 9. Couple of taps on the sink, few swipes with the brush, and maybe a rinse under the tap for good measure, and you’re done. With the Braun Series 9 though, you’ve no hope of getting that thing clean without using the cleaning base, and that means using the cleaning solutions etc. Also lugging about a cleaning station that you have to use is not particularly travel friendly. You’ll want to clean that Braun frequently as well, as it cakes up with hair at the drop of a hat. This Panasonic seems to cake up a lot less. Basically the Panasonic is cleaner to use, easier to clean, and more travel friendly.
Minor little thing, but the Panasonic came with a clip on foil guard to protect that expensive foil, the Braun Series 9, did not. Both came with travel cases, but with the cost of the foils on these, a bit of extra protection is hugely welcome.
The Panasonic’s head moves a lot better, and locks more securely as well. For a start the Panasonic head flexes side to side, and has some in and out movement for the entire head, not just back and forwards like the Braun Series 9. When the head tilts as well, the foils stay in place in relation to the head, this means you get the full benefit of the head flexing, whereas on the Braun the foils retract when the head is flexed, making the flex kind of pointless. Additionally when the Panasonic head locks, it locks, it’s not moving, unless you unlock it, whereas on the Braun it just engages some heavy detents, so the head moves still but just needs more force meaning it can occasionally click out of position.
Alright so now I’ve covered the whole Braun Series 9, vs Panasonic 5 blade thing, what about this shaver in it’s own right?
Well I shave my entire head, if it’s not an eye brow, eye lash, or up my nose, it’s getting shaved off.
For me is the biggest challenge of any shaver for me is the neck and chin, the skin is very sensitive there, but the hair there could probably sand wood, with just a day of growth, and I’m really fussy about shaving this area, as it’s unpleasant rubbing your chin and feeling like you’re swiping the rough side of velcro with the back of your hand. Also a smoother shave makes wearing a cloth mask less of a trying experience as well. However for this area with this shaver, it’s hands down the best electric shave I’ve ever had. The 30 degree curve works for you here, effortlessly getting hairs where chin meets neck, and recessed areas around the windpipe where the skin goes inwards. I’ve never had a quicker, closer, or easier underchin shave with an electric razor. I have had marginally better results with standard razor, but not this quickly and easily, and even then only with a brand new fresh blade.
In terms of shaving my head and face, it gives a great silky smooth shave, but the angle of the blades works slightly against you here, as it reduces the shavers contact patch on the flatter parts where there is nothing between skin and skull. This is easy to work around though in those situations by slightly tilting the shaver so you’re using the side of the blades rather the centre. Ordinarily this would mean you’d be shaving for longer, but the shaver does such a good grab of getting hairs on a single pass, you’ll make that time up in reduced repeat strokes. I thought the massive size of the foil head would lead to areas like directly under my nose, or behind my ears being difficult to get to, but I had no issues at all, I think it’s the multiple directions the head flexes in, that make up for the size there.
As for irritation, none at all. As I mentioned my neck and chin, are prone to sensitivity, but except for a very light tingle afterwards that could as much be due to the vibration from the motor, despite the closeness of the shave, there is no soreness or redness at all. This is with no balms, creams, or anything, just a straight up dry shave.
If I had to nit pick anything, and it’s a trivial thing, the noise… the noise this thing makes is horrible. It’s loud and high pitched, and the first time you turn this thing on, you’re most likely going to wince. Pleased to say though, not so bad when actually in use, but still there, still going to quite often be near your ears, and still possibly the least pleasant sounding shaver I’ve ever used, and shavers as a rule are not pleasant sounding things.
I’ve bought a variety of different shavers over the last couple of years, from rotaries to foils, to expensive Skull Shaver Pitbulls, and obviously the Braun Series 9, to cheap and cheerful Sweetlyf, and Surker’s, but out of all them, this is the one that if it got run over by a truck tomorrow, I’d immediately buy another.
I spent a lot of time looking at shavers and eventually thought I would try this one because the price was extremely good at the time. I am not disappointed at all and am actually very impressed. It shaves extremely close, probably as good as a razor. Having 5 blades means it does it quickly and without much effort.
I did buy a Philips 9000 series which actually looks so low quality and cheap in its build, whereas this does look stylish. However, the main purpose of anything is not necessarily to look good, but to perform well and this outperforms the Philips in my opinion.
The cleaning station is useful, but 1 aspect I do not like is when it has finished cleaning (which takes 10 minutes), it takes 80 minutes to do the drying cycle. The only way to stop it is to switch it off at the mains and back on. A poor design in that aspect.
The one concern I did have and still do have is the overall running costs in the future. The blades are ridiculously priced, about 50 for a new unit at the time of writing, but I shall have to see how long they last until needing to be changed. 35 seems to be an average price for new head/blades for the named manufacturers (Philips, Braun,etc.) so it is not massively expensive in comparison, but I think it is an unacceptable way of them getting money within the industry and not just Panasonic. I bought it at 120 so I was happy to try it and see how it goes.
For overall shaving performance I absolutely recommend it, just a shame about the cost of future blades.
Very close shave, the blades are definitely more aggressive than other shavers (they are angled differently to other brands). You do get used to this after a few days.
The battery is probably good for a week.
The shaver looks good but is plastic. However it has little weight and so is easy to hold.
The cleaning station uses water. This is good for the environment (no plastic cartridges) and is also significantly cheaper compared to cartridge systems. However because it is water it takes longer to dry. Also, the manual states that below 15 Celsius the shaver may not dry in the cleaning station. Obviously alcohol based systems do not have this problem. The simple solution is to remove the shaver from the cleaning dock to where the air can dry it.
The shaver is a wonderful piece of Japanese design and engineering, with a fully pivoting head, light and also is not very noisy compared to other brands (it sounds like a loud mosquitoe).
One little thing is you can occasionally accidentally switch off the shaver when in use because of the location of the power button.
Battery life is a bit shorter than competition but the the shaver operates much faster than the other brands (14000 movements per second).
I would say that if you shave every day this Panasonic shaver is the best there is for closeness and speed. If you shave every 2 days or more then Braun 9 may be better as the Braun deals with longer hairs better.
I can recommend this product.
I bought both to test.
Ill try gloss over a few things to get to the main bit:
Packaging: Both are excellant, nothing too fancy, but functional. Draw
Looks: I think overall the Braun is the nicer looking for most folks, and it certainly feels nice. Though for me, the ARC 5 has an edgyness. For me its a winner for the ARC.
Cleaning: Both very good, both cleaning systems work very well though the ARC 5 can be cleaned manally really nicely. Again I prefer the aesthetics of the ARC 5 in the cleaning base, plus the cleaning solution lasts longer and is much cheaper to replace. Win again for the ARC
The juicy bit, the bit we all really want to know……the cut:
Both perform excellant, but there are some differences that are rather important. I say this as to me it seems like Braun prefer a nice smooth shave that is less likely to irritate those with sensitive skin. I dont have sensitive so I didnt gain much from this side of the device.
The Panasonic ARC 5 goes for the complete opposite, almost ignoring sensitive skin, with the sole aim of getting as close a shave as possible with a foil electric shaver. So how did it do? I kid you not, the ARC 5 surpassed my expectations. It literally felt as close as what id imagine a razor shave would do.
It cut through the other side of my face/head hair with no issue, requiring far less repeat “go overs” with the device. For me, it was an easy win for the ARC5. This isnt to knock the Braun series 9, I think that is an excellant shaver, but if your goal is to get as close as possible, then its quite simply the ARC5.
Now just for testing purposes (and tidying some tough to reach areas i guess) I also bought a Gillette Fusion5 ProGlide Razor, just to see how close these electric shavers got.
Goingeach side in parts were the shavers went, I couldnt actually feel any difference on the ARC side. Id assume that the shaver has taken some more fair hair with it as there was some on the razor, but there was a noticeable diffference on the Braun side.
So clear win for the ARC 5 in relation to closeness of the shave.
Only negatives of the ARC 5 i guess are:
Size…Having 5 blades on the top does add some bulk, so will require some adjustment for your routine. Though having those 5 blades, with the 30 degree angle that they have gives you that super close shave with convenience.
Noise…I didnt find its nosiey, but its an annoying noise compared to the Braun. This wouldnt put me off suggesting this as a product to buy though.
Overall, Id say if your in the market for a high end electric foil shaver (if your shaving your head, FOIL is the only way, not rotary) then the Panasonic ARC 5 is the way forward. It comes with everything you need for an amazingly close shave. Im aware they have released a new set of foil catridges that are labeled for another upcoming shaver, but they are also compatable with this shaver and help with sensitive skin.
This product is well worth a buy, I couldnt be more impressed.
I’ve been using a Philips one blade for the past year after giving up on the typical Gillette wet shave that the majority of guys have (my skin is pretty sensitive), and have been cursing electric razors ever since. The reviews I read on the Philips said it was a close shave, but I always had a 5 o’clock shadow.
I tossed up between the Braun Series 9, and this, both being the same price at the time. I can’t comment on the quality of the Braun as I haven’t used it, but I chose the Panasonic because; reviews said it offered a closer shave and I liked the style of it better. I was a bit apprehensive over the size of the shave head, it looked pretty unwieldy to me compared to the Braun, but actually it turned out to not be a problem.
I had my first shave with it yesterday and what can I say except wow. Every one has different skin but for me, this is as close a shave as I was able to achieve with a gillette without the irritation. It was effortless as well, with just a few passes getting most of the hair. I have a few flat lying hairs around my Adam’s apple, and it managed to get those too, which were always a problem for me.
Of course if I need to look extra presentable, I will always get a closer shave with a safety razor, but with my skin it takes a lot of prep to make sure my skin isn’t really irritated after. For day to day, this offers a really close shave that is much better than I anticipated.