Its two independent flexing foils and intercept trimmer give you a close shave for the money, with the head pivoting to follow the contours of your face and tackle difficult spots around the chin. Build quality is solid, bar a slightly flimsy pop-up trimmer, and the non-slip grip is great if you’re using it wet. Though it doesn’t boast an ergonomic design, the Kibiy has a self-locking function that kickstarts when the blades become clogged, according to the brand.
It’s also fully waterproof, so you can happily wash it under the tap or use it in the shower. If you’re not bothered about getting a smooth, clean cut look, you don’t need anything more. A clipper is designed to cut long and thick hair quickly, and is a better choice if you’re searching for a buzz cut rather than a completely shaved head, Butler noted. It’s typically much more powerful Braun Series 5 than a trimmer and leaves a consistent length all over. However, “it won’t have a smooth feel — it’s more like a five o’clock shadow,” which might lead you to want to use a head shaver afterwards, Marinelli said. If you’ve never used an electric shaver before, you’ll want to be sure to pull your skin taut and hold the razor at a right angle to your face as you move it along.
The shaver has to be charged for 90 minutes to be used for that same amount of time, according to the brand. A razor can provide a close shave using some water and shaving cream, but they should be used in conjunction with the above tools if you have longer hair. Butler noted that a straight razor is “unforgiving” and getting used to such a sharp blade can take skill and patience. “A head shaver, however, is a push of a button and a smooth glide over your head with no worries about cutting yourself,” he added.
You’ll have to budget for the proprietary detergent, and while the sachets aren’t as expensive as Braun’s plastic cleaning cartridges, the mixture only lasts for 30 days. Still, if you’ve spent this kind of money on a shaver, you want to keep it in tip-top condition. That goes double when the shaver is – like the LV9Q before it – the best we’ve ever reviewed. A superb shave that’s even smoother and closer than the old model managed, with its one failing – problems handling longer hairs – completely banished. As someone who always cringes while shaving my neck if I’ve left the stubble to grow for more than a day or two, I couldn’t believe how easy going the ES-LS9A turned out to be.
The battery takes an hour to charge for over an hour’s shaving, though there is a five-minute rush charge if you need it, and you can use it wet or dry and rinse it under the tap when you’re done. Philips also sells this model with an optional cleaning pod, which does a fantastic job of cleaning and lubricating the head. You simply insert the supplied blue goo cartridge, stick your shaver in Remington Shaver upside down and turn it on. However, you’ll pay an extra £40 to £50 for the privilege and it’s a fine shaver with or without. The R6 doesn’t get quite as close as consistently as the premium shavers, and can tug on longer hairs if you’ve let them grow. Yet it’s comfortable if you shave every day or so and the Twintrack blades do a good job of dealing with thick growth under the jawline.
All Philips Norelco shavers come with a two-year warranty. The pop-up trimmer is similar to Braun’s design, and it works just as well for mild sideburn grooming. Remington’s center bar design isn’t as sophisticated as Braun’s, but our testers found the shaver to work almost as well. James has been using the Series 7 to shave a portion of his face since first testing for this guide in 2020. It’s held up remarkably well and, aside from a dip after a little more than a year of use which was remedied by replacing the foil, the shave quality has remained consistent.
Electric shavers may also eliminate the need to use aftershave, as your skin won’t be as irritated as it gets after you use a traditional razor. The price of electric shavers varies massively, and there’s no guarantee that an enormously expensive shaver will work for your individual face and beard growth. Build quality and battery management will also be significantly better. It’s worth noting that some of the more expensive shavers also come in cheaper versions without all the accessories or cleaning stations. These cut-down versions lose some of the convenience, but you’re getting great shaving tech at a lower price. In or out of the shower, the F6 Style Series Aqua is a great rechargeable shaver, with the feel and features of more premium shavers at a thoroughly affordable price.
This shaver can also run for up to 90 minutes after charging for the same amount of time, and it features an LED display that shows how much time is left on its current charge. Philips Norelco Shaver products are recognized around the world for their high quality and low price. Remington shavers give you a close shave with their ultra thin foils and titanium coated blades.
For an update to this guide, James tested the revamped Braun Series 5, 6, and 7 models for a month. Following the same procedures as the original panel of testers, he compared each new Braun’s performance against that of the others as well as our budget pick. Keila Torres Ocasio grew up in Bridgeport and started her career as reporter for the Connecticut Post in 2008.
Vintage Remington 60 electric razor with original box, instructions, warranty card, case, cord, and cleaning brush. All Braun shavers include a two-year warranty, which covers everything but the foil and cutting block. On paper this all sounds great, but I consistently struggled to get a close shave from the Heritage at all.