The 7 Best Electric Shavers for Men in 2023, Tested by Grooming Experts

After conducting our Series 9 Pro review, we found the razor cuts shaving time into a fraction of what other electric razors typically put out. It has all the bells and whistles you want from a high-end razor (even a self-cleaning charging station) and even ones you didn’t know you needed like AutoSense technology that automatically adjusts power based on the density of your beard allowing it to plow through even 7 days-worth of stubble with ease. There’s even Sonic Technology that lifts hair to deliver a closer shave in less time.

What Else to consider: Ergonomically, this razor is hefty and easy to hold without feeling like you’re going to drop it. But it is fairly large so it requires a good amount of storage space. The motor cuts at 40,000 cuts per minute which is powerful, and while it is quiet compared to other electric razors, it is not silent. It is a wet/dry razor so can be used with shaving creams, gels and lotions if you prefer (but we like the dry shave for added efficiency). You’ll have to replace the shaver head about once a year depending on how often you use it and replacements can be expensive - about $60. There is also a two-year limited warranty from the manufacturer.

Why we chose it: The biggest draw of the Braun Series 9 Pro 9456cc is the efficiency. In terms of speed and shaving power combined, it blew every other razor we’ve tried out of the water, including its own previous models like the Series 7 and 8. A few days of growth does not change how quickly and closely it can shave a face - which is great news if you sometimes wait a couple of days between shaves. The powerful motor achieves 40,000 cuts per minute but paired with Braun’s prolift trimmer paired with sonic technology to help lift hairs and autosense technology to automatically adjust to the thickness of your facial hair, it seems much more powerful than even that. The one downside we can possibly think of is that the cleaning station takes up a lot of room in your bathroom, and must be near a plug, so you may opt to not use it. If that’s the case, it can be a slightly costly waste.

Long term results: After using the Braun Series 9 Pro 9456cc for over a year, we can say that it shaves just as well today as it did right out of the box. Overall performance has not changed, though there was a slight decline in cutting power when the blade dulled. Replacing the head was easy and brought the shaver back to business immediately.

What do buyers say? "It’s actually a step up from their last model, surprisingly," wrote one amazon.com reviewer. "I no longer have stray hairs on my neck and it’s a really close shave, all while not giving me red bumps."

Read more: Braun Series 9 Pro Review

For as close as this razor can shave (5-blades close!) you’d think that it could make sensitive skin angry, but somehow it doesn’t. The ultra-sharp blades trim hair as close as any razor/cream combo we’ve tried and the pivoting head ensures you don’t miss a spot - even around hard-to-reach areas like your jawline and neck. The body is lightweight and almost whisper-quiet. Other (more expensive) versions of this razor also feature things like Intelligent Shave Sensor that automatically adjusts to your hair thickness, but this version still delivers a great shave without as many bells and whistles.

What else to consider: With a wider head and a strong motor, this shaver is powerful. Even if you don’t have sensitive skin, go easy until you get the hang of how much to press the foil against your face. In comparison to many other electric razors, it cuts quickly and can leave irritation and cuts if you’re not careful. Once you get the hang of it though, it minimizes the amount of time you have to shave the same area. It’s also very quiet, more quiet than most of the other razors on this list, so if noise matters to you, this is a good bet.

Why we chose it: Many electric razor users (including us) like them because they reduce post-shave irritation and razor bumps—usually by not shaving as close to the skin as a traditional razor. This razor gets as close as you can possibly get to a wet razor shave while still minimizing the amount of irritation. Once we got past a few uses to allow our skin to adjust, we barely had any razor bumps or irritation at all. It’s efficient, powerful and incredibly intuitive to use without a lot of extraneous bells and whistles that could muddy the shaving experience. If you have sensitive skin, this electric razor is a no brainer as it’s the most gentle on this list.

Long term results: Even after the initial testing phase, the Panasonic Arc5 continues to impress. Cutting power did not decrease even after months of use and there was no increase in post-shave irritation.

What do buyers say? "This is a great shaver for the inexperienced, but you still need regular razors and you should keep a trimmer around, too," wrote one Amazon.com reviewer.

If you're someone who's constantly fighting those pesky neck hairs, then this powerful new shaver brings AI into your bathroom and harnesses it to deliver an epic close shave. The rotary heads make it easy to move with you skin, and the pressure sensors alert you when you’re pressing too hard or not enough. The Dual Steel Precision blades cut at a whopping 150,000 cuts per minute so no errant hair is left behind no matter how quickly you have to get ready. And if that’s not smart enough for you, the accompanying app tracks your shaves and offers you tips to improve.

What else to consider: Using a rotary head shaver versus a foil-style shaver is a personal choice. The benefit here is that there are three heads in one, so you theoretically can cover a larger area of your face in less time. Some users who are used to a foil shaver might find a learning curve when adjusting to how the head pivots and flexes hug your face and some might find that detail work like around the lips and nose is more difficult with this style of electric razor. The light up rings around the head that are meant to guide your pressure can feel slightly gimmicky if you don’t pay close attention to them and while it does take a little bit of time for it to adjust to your style of shaving, you can use the companion app to easily change the settings (like if you use it wet or dry). Adjusting those settings without the app can be difficult.

Why we chose it: If it’s features you want, this electric razor is chock full of them. We love the technological innovation of AI to help guide your shaving to create the best shave you can possibly get—as long as you use those features to their full advantage. If you don’t, you’ll still get a good, close shave but this thing really sings when everything works together. It’s for the type of guy who likes to tinker and customize and we appreciate that. We also found that of all the rotary-head razors we tested, this one flexed and pivoted to the shape of our faces the best without missing too many spots. Furthermore, the cleaning and charging station is the sleekest and simplest on the market and we always appreciate space saving.

What do buyers say? "Even the hard spots below my chin / side of neck are smooth as silk," wrote one amazon.com reviewer. "I also notice that it shaves so close, without burning or cuts, that the next day, stubble is barely visible."

If you’re looking for the closest trim without completely shaving your beard (like a slight five-o’clock shadow), this easy-to-use electric shaver is a top choice—and Amazon shoppers agree. It's great for trimming hair on your head, face, neck, and basically any other area without worrying about nicks and cuts. You can easily achieve the perfect length of scruff with three combs and a contoured head that moves to the shape of your face. Those who are trying to grow the perfect mustache will also find value in the OneBlade Hybrid.

What else to consider: Unlike the other electric razors on this list, the Philips Norelco OneBlade is more of a multi-use gadget. It shaves and it trims. It’s ideal for cutting any length of hair, so if you’re the type of guy who likes to vary up his facial hair, you can use this razor to keep it in check without needing to switch tools. It handles like a traditional razor thanks to its ergonomic design and innovative razor head, but you can’t treat it exactly the same as your typical razor. It still has a bit of learning curve to understand how hard to press it and how to move it around your face to get a shave. It also won’t ever completely shave as close as a more typical electric razor. It always leaves a very slight amount of stubble, so if you’re looking for a baby-smooth shave, it might not be for you.

Why we chose it: In the record books for most innovative grooming gadgets, the Philips Norelco OneBlade is definitely in the top ten, maybe even top five. Thanks to its design, like that of a traditional razor, it’s intuitive to use for anyone who has shaved with one before. It’s sleek, super lightweight and cuts like a dream. It’s also the only razor on this list that comes with length comb attachments, so even if you’re not a clean shave guy, you can still use it to trim and detail your facial hair - even your body (just make sure to use a different blade for your body to avoid cross contamination). Most of all, we love that it fits easily into our dopp kits so we don’t need a separate travel case or to save room in our carry-ons just to keep up our shave on the road.

Long term results: In terms of sheer versatility, the Philips Norelco OneBlade can’t be beat. We take it everywhere with us and it’s earned a permanent place in our grooming routines. It may not be the most powerful or closest shaver on the market, but if you know that going in and use it accordingly it exceeds expectations in terms of function. We use it on our faces, necks, bodies and anywhere else we need to trim or shave.

What do buyers say? "If you want baby smooth skin this isn't for you," said one amazon.com reviewer. "But, if you are ok with a very close shave, this is a great option!"

Read more: Philips Norelco OneBlade Review

If you're looking for an affordable rotary shaver under $100 that can tackle just about any hair, you're in luck. Philips The 3800 will grasp hairs in hard-to-reach areas (like your neck) and take on hairs of different lengths. Consider that a challenge accepted.

What else to consider: When you’re shopping on a budget, you often have to compromise between function and cost. The Philips Norelco 3800 does its absolute best to give you the most bang for your buck, and it’s almost perfect. The pivoting rotary blades hug your face pretty well (but not perfectly) and the ComfortCut blades do a good job of protecting against razor burn and nicking, but there is still something to be desired in the closeness of the shave it an achieve. You may find yourself doing multiple passes over the same areas before it gets all the hairs you’d like it to. The basic features it does have, like a built-in sideburn trimmer and battery indicator, are good but basic.

Why we chose it: Sometimes you don’t need all the top-of-the-line bells and whistles and that’s okay. We were still impressed by the functionality of this razor compared to other electric razors at a similar price point. It’s not going to wow you with AI or apps, but it gets the job done quickly and well. Out of all the razors on this list, we found it the easiest to clean thanks to the pop-off head that is easy to rinse under water without taking the whole device apart—and that in itself is deserving of high praise.

What do buyers say? "It is the easiest razor to clean that I have ever had, and the interior parts are well-sealed," says one amazon.com reviewer. "I know it's brand new, but it's the best shave I've gotten in quite a while.

Most powerful electric razors may not be great for beginning shavers or people with breakouts, but this one is specifically designed for both of those groups (and everyone else, really). The gentle rotary shaver heads are outfitted with LED lights to help kill acne bacteria and improve skin while the shaver goes to work. It’s not the most powerful on this list, which means it may not be ideal for experienced shavers or people with thick beards, but is ideally suited for those at the beginning stages of learning how to grow the perfect beard. The sleek, simple design is easy to pick up and use with a low learning curve and fully waterproof design which makes cleaning a breeze.

What else to consider: Besides the three pivoting rotary heads of this shaver, there aren’t any other shaving features to speak of. It’s simple and easy to use (literally just turn it on) which is partly why it’s so good for beginning shavers. There’s no fussiness to learn and a very low learning curve. The integrated LED lights that are designed to help improve skin concerns like acne are nice, but by no means essential—and some users may like them more than others. If LED light therapy isn’t something you’re interested in, it won’t detract from the user experience, but you probably won’t find it essential.

Why we chose it: We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, sometimes simple is good. That’s especially try if you’re just learning how to shave or you have a thin or patchy beard. Razors with a ton of features and power aren’t always necessary for lighter whiskers, which is why this simple yet effective electric razor is ideal. It gets the job done without the aid of a ton of bells and whistles and realistically, that’s what’s important.

What do buyers say? "This gives a remarkably close shave," says one walmart.com reviewer. "I appreciate the skin care with the red LEDs. I really do see a difference in my skin afterwards. It didn't irritate my skin in any way."

This straightforward and easy to use shaver has a rubberized, shock-absorbing coating to ensure it doesn’t slip out of your hands and is waterproof down to 1 meter of water—perfect for travel and if you’re accident prone. It’s on the simple side in terms of features, but that doesn’t mean it sacrifices on power. The dual foil blades give a quick, close shave whenever and wherever you need it.

What else to consider: Wahl is really all about the blades and this triple-blade foil razor has great ones. It delivers a very close shave with minimal effort, but some users found that since they are fixed (they do no pivot or move), it can be hard to get to hard to reach areas or funny shaped spots like under your jawline - this is more of a design thing than a blade thing. It has a good amount of features like a pop-up trimmer and quick-charge option, but the main reason to head in this direction over the others on this list is its durability. If you tend to put your razors through a lot or are prone to dropping them, this one will hold up (plus there is a five year warranty if for some reason it doesn’t).

Why we chose it: It’s the durability factor for us. You really can put this razor through a lot (like dropping it in water or on the hard tile floor of your bathroom) and it will still work like it just came out of the box. If you’re investing in a tool like an electric razor, you want it to perform for a long time—and this one does. The razor and the other features may be basic, but they’re effective. It’s user friendly and intuitive to use with a minimal learning curve, which to us is always a plus.

What do buyers say? "This Wahl shaver cuts closer than other brands I have tried," says one amazon.com reviewer. "The cutter head and foil last much longer than the other brands as well. Because loss of fine motor control causes me to drop things, the padded housing is a definite plus.

Read more: Best Hair Clippers