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Product Description
From the Manufacturer
Panasonic ES8243A Men's 4-Blade (Arc 4) Wet/Dry Rechargeable Electric Shaver with Nanotech Blades, Blue
Panasonic ES8243A Men's 4-Blade (Arc 4) Wet/Dry Rechargeable Electric Shaver with Nanotech Blades offers remarkable shaving on the first pass. Equipped with a quadruple foil and four cutting blades, the cutting surface of this shaver has been expanded by 32 percent, offering a better shave with each stroke. The blades are powered by Panasonic's linear motor, which operates at an amazingly fast rate so even the thickest beards or no match for this shaver.
Innovative Technology Provides the Best Shave
Nanotechnology was used to polish the industry's sharpest 30-degree blades to achieve even better cutting performance. This Panasonic ES8243A Men's 4-Blade (Arc 4) Wet/Dry Rechargeable Electric Razor with Nanotech Blades expanded cutting surface not only provides an efficient shave, but it also spreads the pressure, which naturally occurs when applying the razor to the skin, so users have found it to perform without the irritation found on lesser models.
The fourth finishing blade provides an additional cutting opportunity not found on triple-blade shavers. In addition, the foils and blades on this razor are "arced" so they nestle gently into the skin for our closest shave ever. The foil glides evenly for uniform shaving on all surfaces of the face.
Get Great Shaving Results with Ultra Speed
At the heart of Panasonic ES8243A Men's 4-Blade (Arc 4) Wet/Dry Rechargeable Electric Shaver with Nanotech Blades lies Panasonic's patented Linear Motor. It operates at an amazingly fast 13,000 rpm to cut through the thickest of beards. Standard razors operate at a pedestrian 8,000 to 10,000 rpm.
To top it all off, this razor also features wet/dry operation, so you can use it in the convenience of your shower or for dry shaving when you have less time. A liquid crystal display indicates battery charge level by 10 steps and a cleaning reminder. This Panasonic Razor also comes equipped with a convenient travel case.
There is nothing slow about this razor. Even clean-up is at hyper speed. Simply hold the razor under running water and activate the Turbo mode. The razor accelerates up to 17,000 RPM and vibrates off any remaining whiskers.
Panasonic ES8243A Electric Shaver, Blue
- Men's Arc Wet/Dry Washable Shaver
- Four-blade Shaver (Four Outer and Two Inner Blades)
- Turbo Cleaning Mode
- Stainless Steel Foil
| Number of Blades | Three Blades | Three Blades | Four Blades | Four Blades | Four Blades | Four Blades | Five Blades | Five Blades |
| Motor Type | Linear | Linear | Linear | Linear | Linear | Linear | Linear | Linear |
| RPM/CPM | 13,000 | 13,000 | 13,000 | 14,000 | 14,000 | 14,000 | 14,000 | 14,000 |
| Flexible Pivoting Head |  | | | | | | | |
| Multi-Flex Pivoting Head | | | | | ||||
| 30-Degree Stainless Nanotech Blades | | | | | | | | |
| Hypoallergenic Stainless-Steel Foil and Blades | | | | | | | | |
| Arc Foil | | | | | | | | |
| Ultra-Thin Vibrating Outer Foil | | | ||||||
| Lift-Tech Foil | | | ||||||
| Pop-up Trimmer | | | | | | | | |
| Wet/Dry Shaving | | | | | | | | |
| Display | 10-Stage LCD | 5-Stage LCD | 10-Stage LCD | 5-Stage LCD | 10-Stage LCD | 10-Stage LCD | 10-Stage LCD | 10-Stage LCD |
| Travel Lock Switch | | | | | | | | |
| Automatic Cleaning and Charging System | | | | |||||
| Full Charge Time | One Hour | One Hour | One Hour | One Hour | One Hour | One Hour | One Hour | One Hour |
| Usage Time | 45 Minutes | 45 Minutes | 45 Minutes | 45 Minutes | 45 Minutes | 45 Minutes | 45 Minutes | 45 Minutes |
| Automatic Universal Dual Voltage | | | | | | | | |
| Travel Pouch | | | | | | | | |
| Battery | Li-Ion | Li-Ion | Li-Ion | Li-Ion | Li-Ion | Li-Ion | Li-Ion | Li-Ion |
| Replacement Outer Foil | WES9187PC | WES9187PC | WES9161PC | WES9167PC | WES9025PC | WES9025PC | WES9171PC | WES9171PC |
| Replacement Inner Blade | WES9068PC | WES9068PC | WES9068PC | WES9068PC | WES9068PC | WES9068PC | WES9170PC | WES9170PC |
| Replacement Foil & Blade | WES9027PC | WES9027PC | WES9020PC | WES9027PC | WES9165PC | WES9165PC | WES9030PC | WES9030PC |
| Cleaning Cartridges | WES035P | WES035P | WES035P |
The Panasonic ES8243A Men's 4-Blade (Arc 4) Wet/Dry Rechargeable Electric Shaver with Nanotech Blades features 4-blades (four outer and two inner blades) with Super-sharp Nanotech coating. This razor also offers sharpest blade angle at 30 degrees, as well as pivoting head, independently floating blades, five minute quick charge, 14-day battery life per charge, turbo cleaning mode, fully submersible design for easy cleaning, LCD display, linear motor speed of 13000 RPM, and automatic voltage conversion.
Product Description
Panasonic's men's wet/dry shavers are packed with smart, innovative, features that deliver a remarkably close and comfortable shave. The ES-LT71-S is a 3-blade (arc3) shaving system which means more foils for better coverage and reduced shaving time. In addition, its nanotech blades are honed at an acute 30 degree angle enabling whiskers to be cut more cleanly at the root. Along with the flexible pivoting head, the shaver glides uniformly over the chin and the jaw line for more efficient coverage and maximum comfort. The 13,000 fast, linear motor drive system eliminates the tugging and pulling that can occur with slower shavers and also maintain peak power right up to the end of the charge. The automatic cleaning/charging system cleanses the shaver with a hygienic, alcohol-free solution while removing stubble and debris. Panasonic’s ES-LT71-S comes equipped with a travel pouch, 5-stage LED display, switch-lock button and pop-up trimmer. Other optional accessories include: foil (WES9187PC), blade (WES9068PC) and set (WES9027P). Dimensions: 6.0-Inch(H) x 2.4-Inch(W) 7.1-Ounce
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
503 of 518 people found the following review helpful
By Vito_jr
Really don't like a dry shave, so I went looking for a wet/dry electric option. A little over a year ago I bought the Panasonic ES8168. It gave a good shave on the face but I needed to go over the neck several times for the closeness I wanted. All in all a good shave...but not great. Also, I wasn't crazy about the cleaning/drying/charging station - I didn't like having to buy the refillable cleaning units and it took almost four hours to complete all cycles.
Recently I picked up the ES8243A and couldn't be happier. Firstly, the shaver's appearance is much nicer than the online photos... the blue on the front is dark and the sides and back are slightly rubberized black (I think it is black). So if you are holding out for the black model ES8243K (with the cleaning unit) don't bother. The 8243A is the new "four blade" technology - purported to be a faster, closer shave. I have found it is what has been advertized - a faster and closer shave! The "four blades" actually refers to the outer foil, a "squarer" design than the 8168. There are still two inner blades, but spaced farther apart than the 8168. For me, the new head design touches more of my face than the 8168 and therefore cuts faster. I have read on other sites that the foil is a thinner steel, allowing the inner blades more access to the skin. The shave has been fast, gliding easily and for the most part needs only one pass for the reults I want. Big improvement!
Ergonomically the shaver is easier to hold than the 8168 and the head design hits all of the hard to reach areas of the neck.
Have been using it with Billy Jealousy Hydroplane shave cream, a great product. Because you only need to apply a very thin layer it is perfect for an electric shaver. The ES8243 glides effortlessly over it and the build-up on the razor is minimal. I usually rinse it 3 -4 times during each shave.
Until this shaver I have been of the opinion the electrics couldn't compare to the closeness of the Gillette Fusion (my previous fav), but all that has changed with the ES8243A. For the first time I can say the shave is as close as the non-electric options, and with no razor burn. IMO Panasonic has hit the bullseye with this product.
Recently I picked up the ES8243A and couldn't be happier. Firstly, the shaver's appearance is much nicer than the online photos... the blue on the front is dark and the sides and back are slightly rubberized black (I think it is black). So if you are holding out for the black model ES8243K (with the cleaning unit) don't bother. The 8243A is the new "four blade" technology - purported to be a faster, closer shave. I have found it is what has been advertized - a faster and closer shave! The "four blades" actually refers to the outer foil, a "squarer" design than the 8168. There are still two inner blades, but spaced farther apart than the 8168. For me, the new head design touches more of my face than the 8168 and therefore cuts faster. I have read on other sites that the foil is a thinner steel, allowing the inner blades more access to the skin. The shave has been fast, gliding easily and for the most part needs only one pass for the reults I want. Big improvement!
Ergonomically the shaver is easier to hold than the 8168 and the head design hits all of the hard to reach areas of the neck.
Have been using it with Billy Jealousy Hydroplane shave cream, a great product. Because you only need to apply a very thin layer it is perfect for an electric shaver. The ES8243 glides effortlessly over it and the build-up on the razor is minimal. I usually rinse it 3 -4 times during each shave.
Until this shaver I have been of the opinion the electrics couldn't compare to the closeness of the Gillette Fusion (my previous fav), but all that has changed with the ES8243A. For the first time I can say the shave is as close as the non-electric options, and with no razor burn. IMO Panasonic has hit the bullseye with this product.
451 of 471 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Verified Purchase
The Winner Is...
The Panasonic ES8109S 3-blade - barely. Put the Remington blades and cutter (keeping the center blade of the Panasonic) on a Panasonic 13,000 RPM shaver and you would have the World's best electric shaver. The Remington shaved a little closer than the Panasonic and provided a faster shave. However, the difficulty in cleaning, noise and lack of a charging base tipped me to the Panasonic as the final choice.
This is a review of three Panasonic models; ES8243A (4-blade), ES8109S (3-blade) and ES7109, the Remington MS2-390, the Norelco 8260 CC and the Braun Series 5 8995 (8985 & 8975 only differ in displays and cleaning). I have an average beard and have been using electric shavers (foils and rotaries) over 30 years. The models here are no better than any of the other higher quality shavers I've owned. It takes about 10 minutes (no shaver will give you a first-pass close shave) to get to that good dry shave (with or without pre-electric gels/oils) and you do have to put pressure on to get a close shave. This means recharging every 4-5 days. Gels/oils do make the process easier - not faster - and I have reviewed six of them on their Amazon sites.
ES8109S: This 3-blade shaver gives a very close shave, with some work. It does give off a higher pitch `whine', while shaving, that is somewhat annoying, but is not what I would consider noisy. Nor is the cleaning operation noisy. Based upon other reviewers, I was expecting it to sound like a lawn mower, but it is just an occasional buzzing noise as it cleans. The "Arc Foil" design slows shaving (see discussion, below).
ES8243A: I had hoped that the four blades of the Panasonic ES8243A just might be able to give a superior shave. As it turns out, the large four-blade surface is like trying to keep the end of a 2x4 on your face. It makes cutting in the areas where you don't have a lot of skin area (chin, jaw line, upper lip, base of sideburns, etc) more difficult. In fact, I think that the fourth blade in the middle actually interferes with a better shave and these two middle blades are not as good as the primary cutters. The "Arc Foil" design makes it even slower (see discussion, below). Another future problem with the 4-blade system is that you'll want to buy a new shaver when your blades and foil need to be replaced. What kind of an idiot is going to spend 80% of the cost of a new shaver just to get a set of new cutter blades and foil? All in all: the ES8243A 4-blade is a poor value.
ES7109S: The flat design of the foil is a better design than the "Arc Foil" (see below). Unfortunately, this shaver has an under-powered motor and the floating head that cannot be locked.
Panasonic discussion: Panasonic had developed an outstanding shaver line some ten years ago. My old ES8067 still shaves closer than this new "NANO Technology"- a misnomer (marketing gimmick). I think the reason is that Panasonic's older models came with cutting blades with the individual blades having been about half the width of all of Panasonic's newer cutting blades (including replacements). This means more surface area on the newer blades and that means less cutting. Remington has the ideal blades (that Panasonic used to make) and it shows in closer cutting and less time spent doing so. Additionally, these new Panasonic "Arc Foil" shavers have the foil curving AWAY from your face at the ends of the foil, further decreasing exposure to the blades and requiring many more passes to cover the same area. Unfortunately, Panasonic puts their better motor (13,000 RPMs) only on these ill-conceived "Arc Foil" designs. Battery time on the Panasonics is the shortest of all shavers reviewed here. The Panasonic trimmers are so narrow, on all of these models, that you will not be able to trim sideburns with one attempt. You will have to re-position the trimmer to get what you missed. This increases the probability that you will get an uneven sideburn.
The Remington MS2-390 has the blades that the Panasonics should have (and did have years ago): flat foil area (not "Arc Foiled"), good length (25% longer) and ultra thin cutting blades. As a result, closeness of the shave is better and time spent is shorter. This is, however, the loudest (and it is loud) of all shavers and there are no bells and whistles. Using a pre-shave oil/gel will gum up the blades, as with any shaver, but these blades pop off with even the slightest brushing so be prepared to watch them fall into the sink with every cleaning attempt. A charging stand would greatly increase the convenience of this shaver. Remington did a poor job with the details.
The Braun Series 5 8995 tries hard (you can hear noticeable slowing when necessary pressure is applied, like a lawn mower when it reaches thicker grass), but it doesn't get quite as close as the Panasonics or Remington without leaving a stronger burning sensation after the shave. The Braun can also leave burn marks and even cuts (nose and lips) that will bleed. Odd: you would think that, with it getting so close as to actually burn the skin, it would also give a closer shave. I suppose this is proof that shavers cannot "lift" hairs to cut better. Additionally, the design of the handle is inferior, making positioning more difficult. It does have a much wider trimmer and longer battery life between charges, though.
The Norelco 8260 CC: I used this rotary-type of shaver for many years during the 80's. I switched to foil and found I could get a closer shave. This is still the case. Additionally, because of the circular blades, it is somewhat difficult to target certain spots for cleanup. However, this is the quietest shaver.
PS: don't accept the nonsense about giving your face 30 days to adjust, unless you are coming off a blade. If you are accustomed to an electric shaver, you only need a week or two to determine the difference. The only thing magical about 30 days is that you can no longer return it for a refund - what a coincidence!
The Panasonic ES8109S 3-blade - barely. Put the Remington blades and cutter (keeping the center blade of the Panasonic) on a Panasonic 13,000 RPM shaver and you would have the World's best electric shaver. The Remington shaved a little closer than the Panasonic and provided a faster shave. However, the difficulty in cleaning, noise and lack of a charging base tipped me to the Panasonic as the final choice.
This is a review of three Panasonic models; ES8243A (4-blade), ES8109S (3-blade) and ES7109, the Remington MS2-390, the Norelco 8260 CC and the Braun Series 5 8995 (8985 & 8975 only differ in displays and cleaning). I have an average beard and have been using electric shavers (foils and rotaries) over 30 years. The models here are no better than any of the other higher quality shavers I've owned. It takes about 10 minutes (no shaver will give you a first-pass close shave) to get to that good dry shave (with or without pre-electric gels/oils) and you do have to put pressure on to get a close shave. This means recharging every 4-5 days. Gels/oils do make the process easier - not faster - and I have reviewed six of them on their Amazon sites.
ES8109S: This 3-blade shaver gives a very close shave, with some work. It does give off a higher pitch `whine', while shaving, that is somewhat annoying, but is not what I would consider noisy. Nor is the cleaning operation noisy. Based upon other reviewers, I was expecting it to sound like a lawn mower, but it is just an occasional buzzing noise as it cleans. The "Arc Foil" design slows shaving (see discussion, below).
ES8243A: I had hoped that the four blades of the Panasonic ES8243A just might be able to give a superior shave. As it turns out, the large four-blade surface is like trying to keep the end of a 2x4 on your face. It makes cutting in the areas where you don't have a lot of skin area (chin, jaw line, upper lip, base of sideburns, etc) more difficult. In fact, I think that the fourth blade in the middle actually interferes with a better shave and these two middle blades are not as good as the primary cutters. The "Arc Foil" design makes it even slower (see discussion, below). Another future problem with the 4-blade system is that you'll want to buy a new shaver when your blades and foil need to be replaced. What kind of an idiot is going to spend 80% of the cost of a new shaver just to get a set of new cutter blades and foil? All in all: the ES8243A 4-blade is a poor value.
ES7109S: The flat design of the foil is a better design than the "Arc Foil" (see below). Unfortunately, this shaver has an under-powered motor and the floating head that cannot be locked.
Panasonic discussion: Panasonic had developed an outstanding shaver line some ten years ago. My old ES8067 still shaves closer than this new "NANO Technology"- a misnomer (marketing gimmick). I think the reason is that Panasonic's older models came with cutting blades with the individual blades having been about half the width of all of Panasonic's newer cutting blades (including replacements). This means more surface area on the newer blades and that means less cutting. Remington has the ideal blades (that Panasonic used to make) and it shows in closer cutting and less time spent doing so. Additionally, these new Panasonic "Arc Foil" shavers have the foil curving AWAY from your face at the ends of the foil, further decreasing exposure to the blades and requiring many more passes to cover the same area. Unfortunately, Panasonic puts their better motor (13,000 RPMs) only on these ill-conceived "Arc Foil" designs. Battery time on the Panasonics is the shortest of all shavers reviewed here. The Panasonic trimmers are so narrow, on all of these models, that you will not be able to trim sideburns with one attempt. You will have to re-position the trimmer to get what you missed. This increases the probability that you will get an uneven sideburn.
The Remington MS2-390 has the blades that the Panasonics should have (and did have years ago): flat foil area (not "Arc Foiled"), good length (25% longer) and ultra thin cutting blades. As a result, closeness of the shave is better and time spent is shorter. This is, however, the loudest (and it is loud) of all shavers and there are no bells and whistles. Using a pre-shave oil/gel will gum up the blades, as with any shaver, but these blades pop off with even the slightest brushing so be prepared to watch them fall into the sink with every cleaning attempt. A charging stand would greatly increase the convenience of this shaver. Remington did a poor job with the details.
The Braun Series 5 8995 tries hard (you can hear noticeable slowing when necessary pressure is applied, like a lawn mower when it reaches thicker grass), but it doesn't get quite as close as the Panasonics or Remington without leaving a stronger burning sensation after the shave. The Braun can also leave burn marks and even cuts (nose and lips) that will bleed. Odd: you would think that, with it getting so close as to actually burn the skin, it would also give a closer shave. I suppose this is proof that shavers cannot "lift" hairs to cut better. Additionally, the design of the handle is inferior, making positioning more difficult. It does have a much wider trimmer and longer battery life between charges, though.
The Norelco 8260 CC: I used this rotary-type of shaver for many years during the 80's. I switched to foil and found I could get a closer shave. This is still the case. Additionally, because of the circular blades, it is somewhat difficult to target certain spots for cleanup. However, this is the quietest shaver.
PS: don't accept the nonsense about giving your face 30 days to adjust, unless you are coming off a blade. If you are accustomed to an electric shaver, you only need a week or two to determine the difference. The only thing magical about 30 days is that you can no longer return it for a refund - what a coincidence!
184 of 191 people found the following review helpful
By Rob B.
Amazon Verified Purchase
Overall, this is a very good product. I say this after having previously owned two Remington electric shavers (about 4 years), the last one being the Remington Titanium MS280 shaver. I have also been a long-time wet shaver and have a ton of experience with Mach 3, Schick Quattro, and Merkur Double Edge razors (have tried Feather, Gillette, Bic, Dorco, Crystal, Derby, Merkur, etc. blades) via wet shaving. The Remington shavers usually got a pretty close shave, however this close shave was accompanied by a lot of skin irritation (razor burn), mostly around the neck area due to repeated passes; although, I did find that applying baby powder before the shave would help with the burning a bit. As for the wet shaves, they mostly produced very close shaves, but often the amount of time it would take me to achieve such a close shave (on average about 15-20 mins.), and the resulting nicks and cuts on my face, plus ingrown hairs, eventually had me abandon this method of shaving. It wasn't efficient and ultimately became incredibly frustrating - I tried before-shower, after-shower, shave brush, no shave brush, and used tons of different types of shave creams and gels and ridiculous combinations of this and that before I said, this sucks.
So, my brother purchased this same shaver, but with the cleaning dock. He let me do a trial shave on his, so I have to give him credit for introducing me to this product, even though I ended up buying the shaver without this cleaning dock.
A little bit about me, my beard, and my shaving habits - I'm a 25 year-old engineer, I have incredibly sensitive skin (I sunburn easily, get razor burn easily, and get dry skin often in the winter), my beard is pretty dense (about 7/10 on the density scale), not extremely dense, but the whiskers are extremely coarse (about 9/10 on the coarseness scale) and curve slightly toward my face after a few days of growth; consequently, my beard is very prone to ingrown hairs. I shave around 4-5 days per week, usually letting the weekend scruff go for about 2-3 days. When I shave, it's usually in the mornings (pre-shower). I always shave dry, but do apply Williams Lectric shave (w/ Green Tea extract) to my beard pre-shave to straighten those whiskers and slightly lubricate the shaving surface of my skin. One complete and close shave, usually after one full day's growth, will take me about 7-8 mins. on average.
Now to the review:
Sound when operating - In my opinion the Remington shavers that I have used emitted a much deeper-toned and coarser piercing sound when in operation. This sound was often pretty loud also (9/10 on loudness scale), and sometimes would hurt my ears when I was shaving close to them. The Remington shavers would often pull slightly on my hairs when going over them, and the motor would noticeably strain when navigating through thick patches on my face, most notably on my chin and stache regions. This Panasonic shaver, by comparison, has a much higher-pitched sound - I believe due to its much higher RPM motor. The motor really seems to have plenty of power, even for my very coarse beard. I've heard some people say this Panasonic shaver is pretty loud. I would say that in comparison to the Remingtons I've used, it's definitely quieter and less harsh on the eardrums. That being said, it is not a very quiet shaver. It reminds me a bit of my Sonicare toothbrush with that high-pitched almost sonic wine, and this sound coupled with the sound of your hairs being mowed down can be considered somewhat noisy by some people's standards. In my opinion though, this thing is a 7/10 on the loudness scale, about average, but definitely tolerable (a 10/10 would be ear-piercing and painful most of the time).
Closeness of shave - This thing definitely gets a pretty close shave. It does have four blades, as advertised. It has two independent blades within the shaving compartment of the shaving head, and two additional blades located on the exterior of the shaving head, located between the two screens protecting the two internal blades. The two blades on the surface of the razor head interlock with each other during operation to create the effect of a trimmer almost (imagine two razor sharp screens slightly overlapping each other; the hairs enter the holes in the screen, and as the screens move toward each other, they cut the hairs; the screens move out again away from each other such that the holes realign and the hair slips in again. Etc., etc. This repeats but at hyper speed!). Hopefully I was able to explain the operation of the external blades ok. Altogether, the four blades working together in sonic-speed harmony really seem to create an irritation-free shave, and never do I notice a hair-pulling sensation as I did with the Remington shavers. The biggest plus with this razor is that is produces little but mostly 0% shaving irritation! Usually, I get no irritation at all whatsoever; although I have to say that on occasion, when I spend too much time on my neck going over the same area several times, I will get a very slight burning sensation, but this never results in really any redness - just a slight burning sensation (nothing a little bit of Nivea post-shave lotion can't fix!!) This phenomenon really threw me at first but after using this razor for almost 2 months now, I am REALLY impressed with that aspect of the shave. Overall, the closeness of the shave above my jaw-line would rank a 9/10 (10/10 being a Mach III shave) and about an 8.5/10 on my neck. Pretty good considering the short time invested.
Design - This thing fits pretty ergonomically in my hand. It is very lightweight and sits comfortably in my hand during operation. The high motor speed transfers very little vibration to the handle or head surface, resulting in a very comfortable and manageable grip and shave. The shiny blue body is very sharp, especially in contrast with the orange font digital readout on the LCD screen, telling you the elapsed time of the shave in minutes and seconds (i.e., 7'08" would be 7 mins. 8 secs.). This screen also flashes the battery life remaining (i.e., 80%) for about 3 seconds after you turn the razor off but before the screen dims completely for power-down. There is a single push button power switch to turn the razor on and off. It is conveniently located and the razor reacts instantly once it is pushed. If you hold this button down for greater than say 5 seconds, it will enact "cleaning mode" which basically is like a turbo mode that increases the motor RPMs and lasts for about 20 seconds before turning off automatically (I have not found a real use for this feature yet). The razor head is somewhat bulky in size, and the cover enclosing the screen is made of a durable and lightweight plastic, as is most of the razor. Note - the large razor head does make it somewhat difficult to shave around facial hair, i.e., sideburns, stache, goatee, etc. due to its wide size. The razor head is spring loaded with a gentle suspension that allows the head to tilt left and right, up and down, to better glide along the contours of your face. The head may also be switched to the locked position, which will give the head rigidity and restrict its movement. The trimmer that pops out is somewhat useful but it is not the best design I've seen. In this respect, the Remington razors do outperform this Panasonic here in terms of trimmer effectiveness, use, and design. The somewhat narrow Panasonic trimmer pops out at about a 110 degree angle from the body and seems to have a difficult time staying in the locked position whenever I use it to trim any stubborn hairs that I missed during shaving. Also, the funky angle that this trimmer sits when extended makes it tough to trim missed hairs on your face, but especially more difficult to do so on the neck. For making a straight edge on sideburns, it works quite well, however.
Cleaning - The reason I purchased this standalone razor over the package with the cleaning and charging dock is pretty simple. You don't need the charging/cleaning dock! Cleaning this razor is effortless. As many have said here, a drip of dish soap on the screen spread with your finger all over the razor head while running under hot water for about 20 seconds is all you really need (do this while the razor is on of course). I of course pop off the razor head to make sure to rinse off the internal compartment with the internal blades (do this when the razor is off so water doesn't splash all over the place), but in total, cleaning takes about 30 seconds!! This is great because I have felt that my Remington dry razors would sometimes accumulate bacteria on the screen over time and this would be evident on my face via breakouts of achne, etc.
Charging and battery life - Charging is a breeze and takes about an hour from 0% - 100%, as others have said here. The cord plugs directly into the wall and plugs right into the bottom of the razor. I would say that the battery life, for me, lasts about the equivalent of 4-5 good shaves. Also, this is rated for up to 220 volts AC. Just brought this with me on my on trip to Australia and it handled the 220V AC power there no problem. (US uses 110V AC power).
Overall impression and final notes - If you buy this razor, you must know this FACT: this will not get quite as close as a Mach 3! However, it gets pretty dang close! If you are willing to compromise a bit of shave closeness in exchange for ZERO irritation, then this is the razor you've been waiting for. For me, using this razor saves me time, as compared with wet shaving with a Mach III, so in my case, this is an added benefit. This shaver claims that it will get a close shave on the first pass, but I have yet to see this. Often I will go over the same area a few times (gently of course, and that is key! Read more ›
So, my brother purchased this same shaver, but with the cleaning dock. He let me do a trial shave on his, so I have to give him credit for introducing me to this product, even though I ended up buying the shaver without this cleaning dock.
A little bit about me, my beard, and my shaving habits - I'm a 25 year-old engineer, I have incredibly sensitive skin (I sunburn easily, get razor burn easily, and get dry skin often in the winter), my beard is pretty dense (about 7/10 on the density scale), not extremely dense, but the whiskers are extremely coarse (about 9/10 on the coarseness scale) and curve slightly toward my face after a few days of growth; consequently, my beard is very prone to ingrown hairs. I shave around 4-5 days per week, usually letting the weekend scruff go for about 2-3 days. When I shave, it's usually in the mornings (pre-shower). I always shave dry, but do apply Williams Lectric shave (w/ Green Tea extract) to my beard pre-shave to straighten those whiskers and slightly lubricate the shaving surface of my skin. One complete and close shave, usually after one full day's growth, will take me about 7-8 mins. on average.
Now to the review:
Sound when operating - In my opinion the Remington shavers that I have used emitted a much deeper-toned and coarser piercing sound when in operation. This sound was often pretty loud also (9/10 on loudness scale), and sometimes would hurt my ears when I was shaving close to them. The Remington shavers would often pull slightly on my hairs when going over them, and the motor would noticeably strain when navigating through thick patches on my face, most notably on my chin and stache regions. This Panasonic shaver, by comparison, has a much higher-pitched sound - I believe due to its much higher RPM motor. The motor really seems to have plenty of power, even for my very coarse beard. I've heard some people say this Panasonic shaver is pretty loud. I would say that in comparison to the Remingtons I've used, it's definitely quieter and less harsh on the eardrums. That being said, it is not a very quiet shaver. It reminds me a bit of my Sonicare toothbrush with that high-pitched almost sonic wine, and this sound coupled with the sound of your hairs being mowed down can be considered somewhat noisy by some people's standards. In my opinion though, this thing is a 7/10 on the loudness scale, about average, but definitely tolerable (a 10/10 would be ear-piercing and painful most of the time).
Closeness of shave - This thing definitely gets a pretty close shave. It does have four blades, as advertised. It has two independent blades within the shaving compartment of the shaving head, and two additional blades located on the exterior of the shaving head, located between the two screens protecting the two internal blades. The two blades on the surface of the razor head interlock with each other during operation to create the effect of a trimmer almost (imagine two razor sharp screens slightly overlapping each other; the hairs enter the holes in the screen, and as the screens move toward each other, they cut the hairs; the screens move out again away from each other such that the holes realign and the hair slips in again. Etc., etc. This repeats but at hyper speed!). Hopefully I was able to explain the operation of the external blades ok. Altogether, the four blades working together in sonic-speed harmony really seem to create an irritation-free shave, and never do I notice a hair-pulling sensation as I did with the Remington shavers. The biggest plus with this razor is that is produces little but mostly 0% shaving irritation! Usually, I get no irritation at all whatsoever; although I have to say that on occasion, when I spend too much time on my neck going over the same area several times, I will get a very slight burning sensation, but this never results in really any redness - just a slight burning sensation (nothing a little bit of Nivea post-shave lotion can't fix!!) This phenomenon really threw me at first but after using this razor for almost 2 months now, I am REALLY impressed with that aspect of the shave. Overall, the closeness of the shave above my jaw-line would rank a 9/10 (10/10 being a Mach III shave) and about an 8.5/10 on my neck. Pretty good considering the short time invested.
Design - This thing fits pretty ergonomically in my hand. It is very lightweight and sits comfortably in my hand during operation. The high motor speed transfers very little vibration to the handle or head surface, resulting in a very comfortable and manageable grip and shave. The shiny blue body is very sharp, especially in contrast with the orange font digital readout on the LCD screen, telling you the elapsed time of the shave in minutes and seconds (i.e., 7'08" would be 7 mins. 8 secs.). This screen also flashes the battery life remaining (i.e., 80%) for about 3 seconds after you turn the razor off but before the screen dims completely for power-down. There is a single push button power switch to turn the razor on and off. It is conveniently located and the razor reacts instantly once it is pushed. If you hold this button down for greater than say 5 seconds, it will enact "cleaning mode" which basically is like a turbo mode that increases the motor RPMs and lasts for about 20 seconds before turning off automatically (I have not found a real use for this feature yet). The razor head is somewhat bulky in size, and the cover enclosing the screen is made of a durable and lightweight plastic, as is most of the razor. Note - the large razor head does make it somewhat difficult to shave around facial hair, i.e., sideburns, stache, goatee, etc. due to its wide size. The razor head is spring loaded with a gentle suspension that allows the head to tilt left and right, up and down, to better glide along the contours of your face. The head may also be switched to the locked position, which will give the head rigidity and restrict its movement. The trimmer that pops out is somewhat useful but it is not the best design I've seen. In this respect, the Remington razors do outperform this Panasonic here in terms of trimmer effectiveness, use, and design. The somewhat narrow Panasonic trimmer pops out at about a 110 degree angle from the body and seems to have a difficult time staying in the locked position whenever I use it to trim any stubborn hairs that I missed during shaving. Also, the funky angle that this trimmer sits when extended makes it tough to trim missed hairs on your face, but especially more difficult to do so on the neck. For making a straight edge on sideburns, it works quite well, however.
Cleaning - The reason I purchased this standalone razor over the package with the cleaning and charging dock is pretty simple. You don't need the charging/cleaning dock! Cleaning this razor is effortless. As many have said here, a drip of dish soap on the screen spread with your finger all over the razor head while running under hot water for about 20 seconds is all you really need (do this while the razor is on of course). I of course pop off the razor head to make sure to rinse off the internal compartment with the internal blades (do this when the razor is off so water doesn't splash all over the place), but in total, cleaning takes about 30 seconds!! This is great because I have felt that my Remington dry razors would sometimes accumulate bacteria on the screen over time and this would be evident on my face via breakouts of achne, etc.
Charging and battery life - Charging is a breeze and takes about an hour from 0% - 100%, as others have said here. The cord plugs directly into the wall and plugs right into the bottom of the razor. I would say that the battery life, for me, lasts about the equivalent of 4-5 good shaves. Also, this is rated for up to 220 volts AC. Just brought this with me on my on trip to Australia and it handled the 220V AC power there no problem. (US uses 110V AC power).
Overall impression and final notes - If you buy this razor, you must know this FACT: this will not get quite as close as a Mach 3! However, it gets pretty dang close! If you are willing to compromise a bit of shave closeness in exchange for ZERO irritation, then this is the razor you've been waiting for. For me, using this razor saves me time, as compared with wet shaving with a Mach III, so in my case, this is an added benefit. This shaver claims that it will get a close shave on the first pass, but I have yet to see this. Often I will go over the same area a few times (gently of course, and that is key! Read more ›
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