Best Electric Razor of 2021
The Braun Series 9 is our favorite because of its superior shaving performance. It can be used wet or dry, and testing showed that it has the best contour performance of any razor in the category, handling hair around the neck and jawline just as easily as on cheeks. It comes with a self-cleaner base, as well as a wide array of indicator lights for the battery, foil replacement, and a travel lock. We found that it has a powerful motor that dispatches with stubble quickly. The rechargeable battery also lasts a full 60 minutes, meaning that 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 upfront, the fluid for the self-cleaner needs to be replaced periodically. This is in addition to the blade cassette, so there are a few substantial maintenance costs with this razor. 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 with the features and power to match, you can't go wrong with this model.
The Braun Series 5 provides an excellent shave on a budget. We are especially impressed with its trimmer attachment — we found that it was one of the best that 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 — there are holes below the foil cassette specifically meant to 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 of the bunch and is rubber-coated, so it stays put if you rest it on the edge of the sink and is easier to hold on to.
This blade isn't without its flaws. The trimmer comes as a separate attachment rather than a built-in component, which just means 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, if you are looking for a top-notch razor at a reasonable price, this is the place to start.
The Remington F5 Foil is a high-value, inexpensive option. This foil cassette razor feels more substantial than we would have expected based on our initial impressions, and it delivers on performance as well. 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, and it is relatively easy to clean under the faucet.
Overall, we found that this razor wasn't quite as efficient as higher-end models in this review. During testing, it took quite a few more passes to achieve the same results. This is a dry-use-only razor, 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 full capacity. However, if you want top performance relative to the price, this is one model to strongly consider.
The Philips Norelco OneBlade Hybrid is a sturdy, full-featured body groomer that offers versatility at a low price. Its dual-edge blade makes it easier to get the right angle on your shave 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 meant for. 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). If you are looking for a blade for touchups around a fresh shave or regular body grooming, this is a great inexpensive option.
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 real 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 well to facial contours. Though the foil cassette is flexible, the head itself 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 Panasonic Arc5 Cordless is the razor for those who want high-performance but aren't quite ready to go all out on a top-of-the-line model. We love the wide array of indicator lights this device has, including battery level, shave timer, blade replacement, cleaning reminder, and travel lock. It comes with a five-minute quick charge that gives enough juice to get through one shave. During testing, we enjoyed the pivoting head that moves independently of the grip. This made it easier and faster to shave underneath the chin and around the neck.
There are a few limitations with this razor. Its modest run time of 45 minutes isn't bad considering it only takes an hour to charge, but it is definitely at the lower end of the category in that metric. It is not recommended for use while it is plugged in, and the auxiliary trimmer doesn't come out very far from the razor, so it can feel like you just have to bring the whole unit too close to your face to use the trimmer. In any case, this was one of the highest-performing models, and it is well worth the money you will spend on it.
The Braun Series 7 is an excellent razor with numerous bells and whistles. This powerful model gets the job done quickly and with relatively few passes. Its multiple indicator icons — including ones for foil replacement, cleaning reminder, and power setting — keep you informed about the status of the machine. It comes with both a traditional plug-in charger and a self-cleaning base that makes daily maintenance a breeze.
There are just a couple of qualities keeping it from a top spot. It is recommended as a dry-only model, so it lacks the versatility of others that can be used in the shower. In addition, testing indicated that the pop-up trimmer is situated somewhat awkwardly, making it more difficult to use. However, if you aren't a shower shaver and want top-of-the-line performance, this is a great option.
The Panasonic Travel is a very simple electric razor. It comes in a palm-sized package, and we like that the travel lock and power button are combined into one convenient slider, which makes it is super easy to use. There's not a whole lot to it, and we think that it works well for a quick weekend trip.
This model has a single foil cassette (as opposed to most foil models that come with 3-5), so it is noticeably less efficient. It also does not have a rechargeable battery — instead, it runs on two AAs. It could be a blessing if you are going on a short trip (no need to remember the charger), but if the batteries die partway through, you'll have to buy some more.
The Philips Norelco 2300 is another basic rotary razor option. One of the primary benefits of this model is that it can be used even when it is plugged in. The charge indicator light lets you know when the battery is running low. It is straightforward to use and easy to clean. It comes with a standard pop-up trimmer, and the razor housing opens with the press of a button so it can be rinsed out quickly.
The downsides of this device are that it takes a comparatively long time to charge — over eight hours for just 40 minutes of run time. Also, its shaving power decreases more noticeably as the battery level gets close to zero. It's not incredibly efficient but could be fine if you are looking for something relatively inexpensive and easy to use and clean.
The Micro Touch SOLO is a compact body groomer. It comes with three attachments — 1mm, 3mm, and 5mm — so you can keep your beard at a precise and consistent length without having to worry about getting the blades too close to your skin. We saw pretty decent results with this model.
This razor has a charge time of four hours. Because the blade head itself cannot be run underwater, it is just a little tedious to clean it with the included brush. During testing, we also experienced more pull than with other razors. It's not our favorite body groomer, but if you are looking for one on a budget, this could be it.
Why You Should Trust Us
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 in the front country seems to care for. With over a decade of shaving experience, often going days, weeks, and sometimes months between cleanups, he has come to know what features and facets make for a smooth, comfortable shave.
We purchase the products that we review at retail price 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.
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 what each metric means and summarize how each model compared to the rest in the category.
Shave Quality
At the end of the day, the quality of the shave is what we think 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 and how many passes it takes to finish, as well as the power of any included trimmers. Where applicable, we ensure that razors perform well, both wet and dry, and we compare performance across flesh (e.g., on cheeks) and contours (e.g., jaw and under chin).
The Braun Series 9 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, 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, 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 next tier of razors includes the Remington F5 Foil, Braun Series 7, and Andis ProFoil. These razors all bring plenty of power for a close shave on 3-day stubble. The F5 and 790cc have multi-direction free pivoting heads, while the Pro Foil has flexible foils but no pivoting head or pop-up trimmer. The trimmer on the 7 series is awkwardly angled and somewhat challenging to use, with the F5 leveraging a more traditional 90-degree trimmer.
The Philips Norelco OneBlade Hybrid offers the best shave quality of the body grooming razors that we tested. Though these blades aren't meant for baby smooth results, we didn't experience any tug while dry shaving with a two-week beard.
Run & Charge Times
Run and charge times are both important metrics for electric razors. Here we are concerned with how long it takes to charge them fully, how long the devices can run after being charged to capacity, and how long it takes to quick-charge them to get enough juice for a single shave. We also look at the ratio between charge time and run time for each model.
The Braun Series 9 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 with 90 minutes of plugging it in.
The next tier of still-above-average razors includes the Panasonic Arc5, Braun Series 5, Remington F5 Foil, and Braun Series 7. These models all 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 Philips Norelco OneBlade Hybrid and Micro Touch SOLO, two body grooming models, both 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 redeemed by the fact that it can still be used when plugged in.
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 things like whether or not 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 assess 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 all pretty easy to use, with some variability in their versatility. Models that can be used wet (that is, in the shower and/or with shaving cream) include the Braun Series 9, 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.
Though many of these models can be rinsed in water, they are claimed to be dry-only for shaving: Micro Touch SOLO, Remington F5 Foil, Braun Series 7, Philips Norelco 2300, and Andis ProFoil. Some models like the Braun Series 5 and Panasonic Arc4 Electric have solid auxiliary trimmers, and the Philips Norelco OneBlade Hybrid is exclusively a (high-performance) trimmer. We were surprised that the Braun Series 7 and Series 9 have less-than-impressive trimmers, as does the Philips Norelco 2300. A couple of models like the Panasonic Travel and Andis ProFoil don't have any trimmer at all.
For those looking for full-featured displays, devices like the Braun Series 9, Braun Series 7, and Panasonic Arc5 have 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 simple and straightforward, as are the OneBlade Hybrid and Braun Series 5, which have battery indicator lights, as well as the Micro Touch SOLO.
Ease of Cleaning
Cleaning can be an afterthought with a razor, so our thinking is that the easier it is to clean, the more likely we would be to use it. In this metric, we consider features that specifically facilitate cleaning. Things like rinsing and 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.
Most of these models are relatively easy to clean and low maintenance. The Braun Series 7 and Braun Series 9 both come with self-cleaning stations that make the task a literal set it and forget it (though they do lose some points because of the periodic maintenance required on the cleaning units themselves). The Braun Series 5 comes equipped with holes at the neck that you can run water through to flush out trimmings.
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 both recommend only dry cleaning the blades with the included brush, which is just 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.
Conclusion
Whether you are looking for a close shave or something that can trim, self-clean, or quick charge, we hope that our comprehensive expert review gives you the information that you need to make the purchase that is right 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!
— Ben Applebaum-Bauch