Top 5 compared
The best electric razors
A smooth shave in a few minutes, dry at the sink or wet in the shower.
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The top 5 at a glance
An electric razor shaves with a powered head rather than a bare blade, and runs cordless from a rechargeable battery. Rotary shavers have round heads that pivot to follow the jaw and neck; foil shavers cut behind a thin metal mesh. Hybrids trim, edge and shave with one small blade, but don’t shave as close.
Every shaver here works wet or dry, so it can go in the shower with gel and rinse clean under the faucet. Skin can take three weeks to a month to get used to one, Philips and Braun say, and Braun’s advice for a dry shave is to shave before washing your face, while the skin isn’t puffy.
What matters
- A trimmer for sideburns and the moustache line.
- Cordless run time: 45 minutes or more between charges.
- How often the maker says to replace the heads or foil.
- A wall plug in the box, or only a USB cable.
#1Braun Series 8 Electric Shaver with Charging Stand (8517s)
$200–$300
Under the nose and along the chin, Braun’s 4+1 foil head tilts 40 degrees to stay close, with a trimmer built in for longer hairs, and a sensor reads beard density 160 times a second and adjusts the power. It’s fully waterproof for the shower.
What owners say: Owners find it solidly built, with a close, smooth shave every time, a battery that stays charged a long while and a head that’s easy to clean.
A closer look: Hold the head flat to the skin and shave against the direction of growth, as Braun advises, letting the head tilt on its own under the chin rather than angling the whole shaver. Brush the foils out now and then with the cleaning brush in the box to keep them cutting cleanly.
- Reads beard density, adjusts power
- 40-degree tilting head
- Fully waterproof
Best for: Keeping a face clean-shaven
- Type
- Foil, 4+1 head
- Cordless run time
- Up to 60 min
- Trimmer
- Trimmer in the head
- Replace heads (maker)
- Head every 18 months
- Charging
- Charging stand (plug not stated)
#2Philips OneBlade 360 Face & Body (QP2834/23)
$50–$75
Not quite a shaver and not quite a trimmer: the 360 blade flexes to follow the jaw, shaves, edges and trims stubble to any of five lengths with one adjustable comb, and a second blade with a body comb and skin guard does the rest. It keeps stubble at an even length, and it works with or without foam.
What owners say: Skin comes out smooth rather than patchy, owners find, and a charge goes a long way. How well it cuts and how safe it feels divide them, and a few think other tools offer better value.
Heads up: Replacement blades are a regular buy: Philips puts a blade’s life at up to four months of twice-weekly shaves.
A closer look: It’s made to cut hair rather than skin, which is why it suits faces that hate shaving. Use the comb at 3mm for everyday stubble, slide it off to edge the neckline with the dual-sided blade, and keep the body blade for below the collar.
- Trims, edges and shaves
- Blade flexes to the jaw
- Separate body blade and comb
- Skin guard for sensitive spots
Best for: Stubble and all-over grooming
- Type
- Hybrid blade
- Cordless run time
- Up to 60 min
- Trimmer
- 5-in-1 comb, 1–5mm
- Replace heads (maker)
- Blade every 4 months
- Charging
- USB-A cable, no plug
#3Philips i9000 Prestige Electric Shaver with Quick Clean Pod (XP9201/20)
$200–$300
Philips’ i9000 Prestige, the top of its range, has three heads that flex 360 degrees to follow the jaw and neck, a sensor that reads beard density and adjusts the power, and a pressure guard that lights up when you’re pushing too hard. A Quick Clean Pod in the box cleans and lubricates the heads.
What owners say: A close, smooth and gentle shave, by owners’ accounts, comfortable and not too loud. Its cost and skin irritation are where reports differ.
A closer look: Move it in small circles rather than straight strokes, the way rotary heads work best, and ease off when the pressure guard says you’re pushing too hard. Rinse the heads under the faucet after a shave and leave them open to dry.
- Warns against pressing too hard
- Heads flex 360 degrees
- Adjusts power to your beard
- Cleaning pod included
Best for: A close rotary shave
- Type
- Rotary, 3 heads
- Cordless run time
- Up to 60 min
- Trimmer
- Pop-up trimmer
- Replace heads (maker)
- Heads every 2 years
- Charging
- USB-A, no plug
#4MANSCAPED The Handyman Compact Face Shaver
$100–$150
A compact foil shaver made for the toiletry bag: a long-hair leveller in the head trims longer hairs while the foil takes the rest down to the skin in the same stroke. A magnetic cover keeps the head safe in a bag, and it charges over USB-C, with a wall plug in the box.
What owners say: Owners are surprised how well something this small shaves, and like how easily it packs and how long it runs on a charge. Value, closeness, comfort on the skin and build quality all draw mixed reports.
A closer look: Glide it up and down with both blades flat against the skin, as MANSCAPED advises, rather than pressing hard. A five-minute quick charge is enough for a tidy-up before heading out, and it rinses clean afterwards. For a full shave every morning, a full-size shaver suits better.
- Trims and shaves each stroke
- Magnetic travel cover
- 5-minute quick charge
Best for: Trips, the gym bag and quick tidy-ups
- Type
- Compact foil, 2 blades
- Cordless run time
- Up to 60 min
- Trimmer
- Long-hair leveller in the head
- Replace heads (maker)
- –
- Charging
- USB-C cable and wall plug
#5Braun Series 3 ProSkin 3040s Wet & Dry Foil Shaver
$75–$100
Two foils and a middle trimmer for difficult hairs, a MicroComb that feeds more of a three-day beard into the foils, and a waterproof body for the shower. Five minutes on the charger gives one shave, and like every Series 3 ProSkin, it’s made in Germany.
What owners say: A dependable everyday razor that’s simple to use and clean, owners say, with a battery that lasts. Their verdicts on the closeness of the shave and on skin irritation are split.
A closer look: The smart plug adjusts itself to any voltage from 100 to 240V, so it goes abroad with just a plug adapter. Braun’s advice is to shave in straight strokes rather than circling over the same spot, and slide out the precision trimmer on the back to tidy the edges.
- Middle trimmer for difficult hairs
- One shave from 5-minute charge
- Made in Germany
Best for: Going a few days without shaving
- Type
- Foil, 3 elements
- Cordless run time
- 45 min
- Trimmer
- Slide-out precision trimmer
- Replace heads (maker)
- Head every 18 months
- Charging
- Smart plug (100–240V)
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1Braun Series 8 | #2Philips OneBlade 360 | #3Philips i9000 Prestige | #4MANSCAPED Handyman | #5Braun Series 3 3040s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best for stubble | Best rotary | Best for travel | ||
| Picked Rating | 9.1 | 8.9 | 8.7 | 8.6 | 8.4 |
| Price | $200–$300 | $50–$75 | $200–$300 | $100–$150 | $75–$100 |
| Type | Foil, 4+1 head | Hybrid blade | Rotary, 3 heads | Compact foil, 2 blades | Foil, 3 elements |
| Cordless run time | Up to 60 min | Up to 60 min | Up to 60 min | Up to 60 min | 45 min |
| Trimmer | Trimmer in the head | 5-in-1 comb, 1–5mm | Pop-up trimmer | Long-hair leveller in the head | Slide-out precision trimmer |
| Replace heads (maker) | Head every 18 months | Blade every 4 months | Heads every 2 years | – | Head every 18 months |
| Charging | Charging stand (plug not stated) | USB-A cable, no plug | USB-A, no plug | USB-C cable and wall plug | Smart plug (100–240V) |
| Best for | Keeping a face clean-shaven | Stubble and all-over grooming | A close rotary shave | Trips, the gym bag and quick tidy-ups | Going a few days without shaving |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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