We researched over 30 of the best electric razors and purchased the 11 most promising models today. This review has what you want if you're in the market for a new electric razor. We rigorously tested them side-by-side on beards, 'staches, and stubble, assessing each one on critical metrics like the quality of the shave, run time, and ease of cleaning. With all the options on the market, we cut through the clutter to find the best top picks for travel, detailing, and touch-ups and which ones will get the job done on a budget. Our expert testers detail which made the cut and which got clipped.
Editor's Note: This review was revised on November 20, 2022, to include a new product, the Philips Norelco 9500, and updates to the Braun Series 7 and Braun Series 9 Pro.
Run Time on Full Charge: 60 minutes | Usage Options: Wet & Dry
REASONS TO BUY
Provides a close shave
Charger travel case
Self-cleaning
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
Cleaning fluid must be replaced often
Trimmer is not effective
The Braun Series 9 Pro is our favorite because of its superior shaving performance. It can be used wet or dry, leaving a super smooth shave with minimal irritation. It comes with a self-cleaner base and a travel case that doubles as a charger, so there's no need to bring it along, even on long trips. We found that it has a powerful motor that dispatches with stubble quickly. The rechargeable battery also lasts 60 minutes, meaning it may only require a recharge every few weeks.
Unsurprisingly, all of these great features come at a high cost. In addition to the hefty price tag, the self-cleaner fluid requires replacement periodically. This purchase is in addition to the blade cassette, creating substantial maintenance costs. The pop-up trimmer is serviceable but also was not the best of the bunch in our testing. However, if you want a top-of-the-line daily electric razor that offers a close shave, you can't go wrong with this model.
The Braun Series 9 Pro is a powerful, high-performing razor with a charging travel case.
Run Time on Full Charge: 50 minutes | Usage Options: Wet & Dry
REASONS TO BUY
Easy to clean
Travel lock
Charge and replacement indicator lights
REASONS TO AVOID
Trimmer attachment, not built-in
The Braun Series 5 provides an excellent shave on a budget. We are incredibly impressed with its trimmer attachment — we found that it was one of the best we tested, powering through a two-week beard without much noticeable tug. It has up to 50 minutes of run time and comes with a simple set of charge indicator lights. It is straightforward to clean — holes below the foil cassette make it quick and easy to rinse. It can be used wet or dry and performs well even on three-day growth. It is also equipped with one of the most ergonomic grips and is rubber-coated, so it stays put if you rest it on the edge of the sink and is easier to hold.
This blade isn't without its flaws. The trimmer comes as a separate attachment rather than a built-in component, so you have to switch it out with the regular blade instead of popping it up from the back. The head also doesn't have the same flexibility as other high-end models, so it takes a few more passes under the chin to get a close shave. However, this is the place to start if you are looking for a top-notch razor at a reasonable price.
The Series 5 offers a high-quality shave at a reasonable price.
Run Time on Full Charge: 60 minutes | Usage Options: Dry only
REASONS TO BUY
Corded use
Five-minute quick charge
Clear battery charge indicator
REASONS TO AVOID
Dry use only
The Remington F5 Foil is a high-value, inexpensive option. Based on our initial impressions, this foil cassette razor feels more substantial than we would have expected, and it also delivers on performance. It can run both plugged in and cordless and has a five-minute quick charge, allowing you to still get a shave in even if the battery is drained when you first wake up. Its unique, curved ergonomic grip with responsive foils and shaver head that pivots independently from the rest of the device makes it easier to get hairs under the chin and neck. We love the clear battery indicator light strip, which is relatively easy to clean under the faucet.
Overall, we found this razor wasn't quite as efficient as higher-end models in this review. It took several more passes during testing to achieve the same results. This razor is a dry-use-only, so you can't take it in the shower, which somewhat reduces its versatility. It also takes slightly longer to charge — about two hours to charge fully. However, if you want top performance relative to the price, this is one model to consider strongly.
Run Time on Full Charge: 60 minutes | Usage Options: Wet & Dry
REASONS TO BUY
60-minute run time lasts for dozens of shaves
Lightweight and compact
REASONS TO AVOID
Can only charge via USB
Dry use only
The Philips Norelco OneBlade Hybrid is a sturdy, full-featured body groomer that offers versatility at a low price. Its dual-edge blade makes getting the right angle on your shave easier and is adept at touching up sideburns and mustaches. It can be used wet or dry and has a battery indicator light to let you know when it needs a charge or has a full battery (though if only used every three days, we found that it can last well over a month between charges). It includes several attachments — 1mm, 2mm, 3mm, and 5mm for stubble on your face and two comfort guards for body grooming.
For those seeking a close shave, it's important to note that this blade complements a traditional razor; it's not a replacement. It won't provide a baby-smooth shave, but that's not what it's designed to do. It has a solid run time of 60 minutes from a full charge, but it also takes four hours to get there (which is four times longer than the average razor in this review). This inexpensive option is great if you are looking for a blade for touchups around a fresh shave or regular body grooming.
The rubberized grip of this model (in green) makes it easy to hold.
Run Time on Full Charge: 80 minutes | Usage Options: Dry only
REASONS TO BUY
Long battery life
Can use plugged in
Powerful
REASONS TO AVOID
Bulky, not ergonomic
Lacks pivoting head
The Andis ProFoil Lithium Titanium Foil has a long-lasting battery and the ability to run while plugged in. If it runs out of juice mid-shave, you can plug it in and run it as a corded shaver (a surprisingly hard-to-find feature among electric razors). It also comes with hypo-allergenic gold-titanium foils and has enough power to smooth thick stubble. If you are not one to pay much attention to your battery-powered devices, this model can help bail you out. It has a run time of just over 80 minutes cordlessly, which it achieves with just an hour and a half of charging.
On the downside, this one is a brick. It's not especially heavy, but it has an extremely boxy shape that can make it somewhat awkward to hold and doesn't particularly conform to facial contours. Though the foil cassette is flexible, the head cannot pivot, making it trickier for uneven surfaces. There is also no pop-up trimmer included, so it is stubble only with this beast. However, if you are not inclined to charge your razor regularly or often find yourself with a dead battery mid-shave, this is the model to check out first.
The Pro Foil Lithium Titanium isn't the most elegant, but it has a long battery life.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
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The Braun Series 7 comes with a cleaning base and a wide array of attachments for precise beard grooming.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Why You Should Trust Us
We purchase the products we review at retail prices and run them through a series of side-by-side tests. To deliver our findings, we spent over ten hours with these blades on our faces and dozens more charging, discharging and cleaning them, as well as assessing their features. For models that claim both wet and dry use, we lathered up and patted down.
Our electric razor testing is divided into four different metrics:
Shave Quality (35% of overall score weighting)
Run & Charge Times (25% weighting)
Ease of Use & Versatility (20% weighting)
Ease of Cleaning (20% weighting)
Our lead reviewer Ben Applebaum-Bauch has been reviewing outdoor and tech gear for GearLab for almost four years, researching and reviewing hundreds of home goods and bathroom products in that time. He has made a habit of hiking some of America's most iconic long trails and always comes back from an adventure with gnarly facial hair that no one seems to care for. With over a decade of shaving experience, often going days, weeks, and sometimes months between cleanups, he has discovered what features and facets make for a smooth, comfortable shave.
The blades in a rotary razor are a little more involved than a model with a foil cassette.
This model has a pivoting head which makes it easier to get under the neck -- a notoriously tricky area to shave.
Analysis and Test Results
We use four primary criteria, each with several specific considerations, to assess the electric razors in this review. We looked at shave quality, runtime and charge time, ease of use, and ease of cleaning for each device. Below, we define each metric and summarize how each model compared to the rest in the category.
Value
In addition to the metrics that make up product scores, we also look at value. For this review, value is the relationship between each model's total score and its price. Some are expensive but perform well enough to justify the price tag. Others are economical purchases that deliver above-average performance. The Braun Series 9 Pro costs a lot but offers one of the closest shaves around, as well as the bells and whistles of a top-of-the-line device. The Braun Series 5 is considerably less expensive but punches above its class, making it a great value, as does the Remington F5 Foil.
Shave Quality
The quality of the shave is what matters most. This metric covers the closeness of the shave — that is, how smooth it leaves our faces feeling afterward. We also look at facets like the speed of the shave, how many passes it takes to finish, and the power of any included trimmers. Where applicable, we ensure that razors perform well, wet and dry, and compare performance across flesh (e.g., on cheeks) and contours (e.g., jaw and under chin).
The Braun Series 9 Pro holds a top spot in this metric. It has a powerful motor, and the device took the least amount of time with the fewest passes to execute a close shave. However, its somewhat awkward pop-up trimmer keeps it from a perfect score; the shaver head contours exceptionally to the jawline and neck. Not far behind, the Braun Series 5 offers excellent performance. The main foil cassette doesn't quite have the same pivoting prowess as the Series 9 Pro, but its wet/dry versatility and powerful trimmer attachment keep it up at the top of the list. The Panasonic Ar5 Electric also shares many of the same qualities. Though it doesn't quite have the same power as the Series 9 Pro, its head has many of the same pivot points and proved to be particularly effective under the chin, where other electric razors in this review falter.
The Andis 17150 Pro Foil Lithium Titanium is powerful on stubble.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
The next tier of razors includes the Remington F5 Foil, Braun Series 7, and Andis ProFoil. These razors bring plenty of power for a close shave on 3-day stubble. They have multi-direction-free pivoting heads and flexible foils. The Philips Norelco OneBlade Hybrid offers the best shave quality of the body grooming razors we tested. Though these blades aren't meant for baby-smooth results, we didn't experience any tug during dry shaving with a two-week beard.
Independently pivoting heads like this one really increase the efficiency of a shave and contour to the face very effectively.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Run Time and Charge Time
Run and charge times are essential metrics for electric razors. Here we are concerned with how long it takes to charge them fully, how long the devices can run after charging to capacity, and how long it takes to quick-charge them to get enough juice for a single shave. We also look at each model's charge time and run-time ratio.
The Braun Series 9 Pro earns the top spot again with an above-average total shave time and below-average charge time. The Andis ProFoil has the longest average run time, sometimes managing over 80 minutes on a single charge. It also reaches full capacity within 90 minutes of plugging it in.
The Panasonic Arc5 Shows you how long the razor has been on and flashes the battery charge percentage so you aren't caught off guard.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
The next tier of still-above-average razors includes the Panasonic Arc5, Braun Series 5, Remington F5 Foil, and Braun Series 7. These models achieve average run times in the 45-50 minute range on a single charge, and each gets to 100% capacity when plugged in for around one hour.
The Braun Series 9 Pro has a charging case that extends the run time of the razor for no-hassle traveling.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
The Philips Norelco OneBlade Hybrid and Micro Touch SOLO, two body grooming models, take at least four hours to charge (with the former running for a more impressive 60 minutes versus the 45 minutes of the latter). It is worth noting that the Panasonic Travel runs off two AA batteries and is not rechargeable. The Philips Norelco 2300 takes a sloggy eight hours to charge for 45 minutes of run time, though it is somewhat redeeming that it can still be used when plugged in.
This model doesn't have a rechargeable battery but requires two AA batteries, which we don't care for that much.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Ease of Use & Versatility
As with almost any other product, if it's not easy to use, you are just less likely to use it. For this metric, we look at whether a razor claims it can be used safely wet and dry (bonus points for both) and, similarly, whether the entire unit is waterproof and can be used in the shower. Many of these products come with indicator lights for battery levels, travel locks, and blade replacement. We also assessed included trimmers and how comfortable or awkward they are to angle correctly, as well as additional features. Some of these models also have adaptive power modes and ergonomic designs, which help boost a score.
These electric razors are easy to use, with some variability in their versatility. Models that can be used wet (in the shower or with shaving cream) include the Braun Series 9 Pro, Philips Norelco OneBlade Hybrid, Panasonic Arc5, Braun Series 5, and Panasonic Travel. This feature is essential because it makes shaving more efficient if you opt to do it in the shower or more flexible if it happens to be more comfortable for you to shave with shaving cream.
A well-labeled slider like the one on the Panasonic Arc5 Electric can make it clear how to lock the main head and deploy the trimmer.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Though you can rinse many of these models underwater, the following models claim to be dry-only for shaving: Micro Touch SOLO, Remington F5 Foil, Philips Norelco 2300, and Andis ProFoil. Some models, like the Braun Series 5 and Panasonic Arc4 Electric have solid auxiliary trimmers. The Braun Series 7 not only has trimmer heads but comes with an exceptional array of attachments to go along with it. The Philips Norelco OneBlade Hybrid is exclusively a (high-performance) trimmer. We were surprised that the Series 9 Pro has a less-than-impressive trimmer, as does the Philips Norelco 2300. Some models like the Panasonic Travel and Andis ProFoil don't have any trimmer.
The Philips Norelco 9500 has a pressure sensor light around the neck that lets you know if you are pressing too firmly or too soft.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
For those looking for a full-featured display, the Panasonic Arc5 has a robust set of indicator lights that give you insight into the status of your electric razor. In terms of user interfaces, the Philips Norelco 2300, the Andis ProFoil and Panasonic Travel are straightforward, as are the OneBlade Hybrid and Braun Series 5, which have battery indicator lights, as well as the Micro Touch SOLO. The Brauns Series 7 and Series 9 Pro both have basic battery indicators, and the Philips Norelco 9500 also comes with a pressure sensor light that indicates whether or not you are shaving with the right amount of force.
Ease of Cleaning
Cleaning can be an afterthought with a razor, so the easier it is to clean, the more likely we are to use it. In this metric, we consider features that specifically facilitate cleaning. These include rinsing, drainage ports, and release buttons for easily removing/opening the foil cassette. A couple of our contenders even come with self-cleaning bases. We analyze whether they make the job easier or are just a lot of hype.
The holes in the neck of this model make it quick and easy to flush water through the razor.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Most of these models are relatively easy to clean and low maintenance. The Braun Series 7, Braun Series 9 Pro, both come with self-cleaning stations that make the task a literal set and forget (though they do lose some points because of the periodic maintenance required on the cleaning units themselves). The Philips Norelco 9500 also has a cleaning base, but it doesn't charge the razor as the Braun models do. The Braun Series 5 comes equipped with holes at the neck that you can run water through to flush out trimmings.
Rotary blade models like the Philips Norelco 9500 have flip tops that open with the press of a button and are extremely easy to rinse.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
The Philips Norelco OneBlade Hybrid, Philips Norelco 2300, and Remington F5 Foil can all be rinsed under water and left to dry — easy enough. The Andis ProFoil and Micro Touch SOLO recommend only dry cleaning the blades with the included brush, which is more tedious and time-consuming. The two Panasonic models, the Arc5 and Travel, suggest the added step of running hand soap through the cassette and rinsing it — again, extra steps that take more time.
There are several high-quality electric razors on the market for a variety of shaving needs.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Conclusion
Whether you are looking for a close shave or something that can trim, self-clean, or quick charge, we hope our comprehensive expert review gives you the information you need to make the right purchase for you. We know that there are seemingly endless options out there as far as electric razors are concerned, but knowledge is power. Happy shaving!
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