Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Panasonic ES-LA93-K, Arc4 Electric Razor, Men’s 4-Blade and Dual Motor, Premium Automatic Clean & Charge Station Included, Wet or Dry Operation

Top positive review

First Electric to Ever Get All the Hair's on my Neck

Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2011

In the last 36 years of using electric shavers this is the first electric to ever leave my neck completely smooth and clean of all stubble. And it did so in just a little over 3 1/2 minutes! I've used many different brands looking for the perfect shave over the years starting with Sunbeam, Remington, several Norelco's, and a couple of Braun's, the last being a Series 7. All were top of the line shavers but none could ever get all the hairs and stubble from my neck. I've always had to keep a disposable razor handy to drag over my neck a few times to get all the stray hairs that the electric's missed. But not with this new Panasonic. It get's all the neck hairs and shaves so far below the skin level that my 5 o-clock shadow is a thing of the past! I can get through the entire day now with that fresh shaved look. This shaver is amazing. I tried it this morning in the shower and what a luxurious shave that is. I just used some Dove bar soap and my face shaved smooth and clean. I had a little trouble with it shutting off several times because while you're trying to keep hold of it with all that soap on it you inadvertently keep squeezing the power button. But I remembered it has a lock button, so I just turned it on and locked the button. Problem solved! It took a little longer in the shower because I don't have a mirror in there and had to shave by feel, but the results turned out fabulous! It's something I'll probably only have time for on the weekends though.

The cleaning station as far as I'm concerned is far superior to the one that came with my Braun Series 7. I much prefer the smaller and cheaper dry cartridges to the much larger, messier, and more expensive alcohol based ones that the Braun uses. I could only get about 6 weeks out of the Braun cartridges even with cleaning the shaver every other day. The system is not sealed so the alcohol just evaporates whether you use it or not. The water based system on the Panasonic appears to be much better sealed, and of course you could always add a little more water if you needed to, so I can easily see getting 2 to 3 month's out of a cartridge with this setup. I've always rinsed all the whiskers out of the shaver head first (yes, the Braun's head was washable) before putting it in the cleaner base to help keep the load and odor at bay. This helps the cleaner in the base stay fresher longer and also reduces clogs in the system as well for reduced maintenance. I'll probably only use the wash cycle every few days with the Panasonic because it cleans up so well under the faucet with just using the "turbo" cleaning method. The cost of these cartridges through Amazon's subscription purchase is only $2.83 each. I have been paying $4.33 on average for the cartridges for the Braun, and then they only last 6 weeks. So this will be a nice savings if I can get a few month's out of these. I feel the cleaning system is worthwhile because it keeps my shaver clean, fresh, and dry so much better than if it was just left up to me. And Panasonic's cleaning station allows me to select "dry only and charge" (where the Braun's doesn't) so on those day's when I choose not to use the cleaning cycle, I can still dry the shaver head in the station which I feel is important to the longevity of the blades. Plus since there's no alcohol in the system, it won't erode the finish on the shaver like it did with my Braun. All the paint flaked off around the base of the head on my Braun due to the alcohol.

I'm really enjoying my new Panasonic shaving system. The only gripes I have with it all have to do with the way it's programmed to do certain tasks. Let's start with the base. This is an excellent system and cleans the shaver immaculately. However, who in their right mind would program it to dry the shaver for 1 1/2 hours! That's right, the fan runs for an hour and a half to dry the head. That's ridiculous! The cleaning cycle only takes 10 minutes, and that's fine. But it shouldn't take more than 20 to 30 minutes max to dry the head with the fan. Who comes up with these things? Then there's the infamous flashing blue light display that it reverts to after the battery is fully charged. What would make any one ever think that the customer would be happy with a blue beacon in their bathroom flashing all night long!?! How absurd is that! When the shaver is done charging the light should just go out - end of story. But no, it has to flash and light up the whole room endlessly flashing like a little lighthouse. Who-ever is in charge of programming these shaver's and bases needs to be moved on.

In summary, this is the best electric shaver I've ever used. And the cleaning/charging station does an outstanding job keeping the shaver in tip top shape. It is only flawed by a couple of really dumb programming choices. But I've discovered that you can just tip the shaver to one side in the base to make the flashing blue light go out. It doesn't look quite as elegant as when the shaver is straight but it works. You can also stop the drying cycle that way too. Despite these annoying flaws, I still highly recommend this shaver to anyone that wants one of the best shave's that can be had from an electric shaver. Yes, it's that good.

2 people found this helpful

Top critical review

Critical reviews›

Malcolm Beck

Well made and cuts ok.......

Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2014

I was wanting to get a better shave on my beard than I was getting from a rotary which I have been using for over a decade, and I have sensitive skin, and after researching the best sensitive skin razor, i decided to give the Panasonic a try to see if it made a difference. It did make a difference when i started using it, close, and works great in the shower, but its loud and if you are used to a rotary shaver, its going to take some getting used to. It shaves closer than the high end Norelco that i also tried out, and cleans up well too, I just rinse it off and put it away, never bothered with the included cleaning base as I saw that it was loud too, and I just don't like that. I am not sure it is as comfortable as the norelco, as that glides across your face and this does that but not as good as the norelco. The charge is good, i had charged it the first day, and did not have to charge it for three weeks, but I only shave two or three times a week. Its made in Japan, well built, and powerful, but it does not get the hairs at the neck like most electric shavers, and you have to go back a couple of times to get those spots, which can cause irritation.

I ultimately decided it was too noisy, and not very good at keeping the irritation down on my neck and chin, but guess what, Amazon has a crazy restock fee for item that have been opened, they have a high one for unopened items that you just don't want, but its up to 50% restock fee for opened stuff, even if it was not up to par for what you need! You won't see this on their site in plain English, you have to search for it, but I am stuck with it, and only used it 4 times in a month. I will Ebay it, I paid 163.00 with shipping, so i can sell it on ebay for what i paid, since Amazon and other retailers are still selling it for close to 200.00!

Nice shaver if you like foils, but amazons return policy has gone down the tubes, and I will only buy from here if it is something I know I will never need to return, and most things I do not, this is my first attempt at a return here, and it is pricey!

7 people found this helpful

1,333 total ratings, 1,103 with reviews

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From the United States

Ernie

First Electric to Ever Get All the Hair's on my Neck

Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2011

Style: 4-Blade Electric Shaver with High Power Linear Motor & Dual Cutting System and Premium Automatic Cleaning & Charge StationVerified Purchase

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Mihaelb

Fasts shaves, good for sensitive skin, feels like a quality item, Li-Ion battery.

Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2013

Style: 4-Blade Electric Shaver with High Power Linear Motor & Dual Cutting System and Premium Automatic Cleaning & Charge StationVerified Purchase

I have sensitive skin, and would often get irritation and burning from shaving, so all these wet shavers that I discovered over a decade ago were real (skin) life savers.

I've started with the Phillips wet shave (the ones that had a built-in dispenser on the back)...6700 or something, but switched away from them when they adopted the 'open' system that had all the shavings fall out all over the place, once my 6700 broke.

At that point, I decided to give Panasonic a try, because it had good reviews. I went with the 8109S (dual-blade predecessor to this one, also foil, wet shaving and cleaning base). It was great: much less irritation than the Phillips I had before, and it would clean itself. I went through two of these (one because the battery died and the price difference to getting a replacement shaver rather than a battery was negligible, the second when my cleaning base died, and I decided to see if this shaver is better).

I did not expect the ES-LA93-K (or its sliver brother) to be better, and thought the extra blades are a gimmic, but whatever it is about this shaver, it actually IS better.
The shaves take me 4 minutes (took 7 minutes with the 8109s), which could account for the slightly lower irritation (it was low to beginwith the the Panasonic units anyways).
My chin is definitely less irritated thanks to this shaver really handling it well, whereas with the 8109S, I had to go over it many times to get it cleared (with this one, just once or twice and the chin is cleared).

Other observations, for those who may care:
-it's made in Japan
-it's louder, but the pitch of the buzzing is lower and quite soothing
-battery is Li-Ion, similar to cellphones, where it suffers a lot less 'battery memory' issues. This is a big plus for me, as I would always worry with the 8109S that if I charge it every day, it would deteriorate battery life fast, so I would end up doing 'clean, dry', but not charge until the battery was down to 30%. I was a bit worried when I saw that this shaver doesn't have that choice (you can only pick clean or dry, but charge is always picked for you as soon as you dock it), until I saw that it's an Li-Ion battery.
-cartridges are the same as the 8109S, so I didn't have to throw out the spares I had left over
-cleaning is easy. either dock it and let it clean (the manual gives you 30 days of usage once you start a new cartridge, so no sense in skimping out). I also use liquid soap (as per the manual) to clean every other time, and the soap I picked is an anti-bacterial, as my sensitive skin means I sometimes get rashes from shaving too (so far, not with this shaver, which I had for a month)
-shaver is heavier than the 8109S, especially at the top, but not too heavy to be comfortable.
-'shaking out the water' needs to be done with care on this one-put a finger on the head, and don't shake too hard, as the head is mobile, and heavy (in the 8109s, it was just sideways mobile, and stayed put because it was light).
-many users complain about the light, and yes, it is super-bright, and the bedroom looks like an airport at night if the bathroom door is open. Yes, Panasonic: it's nice that the screen is bright, but did it really have to flash every two seconds indefinitely once fully-charged? I just put a tissue or two over the unit and that's enough. I suggest doing the same to all those whom it bothers
-Shaver works very well with the Nivea Foam that I use (I found this to be the best for sensitive skin, both the white and blue bottles). Needs to be rinsed-out mid way, as the foam builds up too much, but other than that, it's great.

Bottom line: super-recommended for those who still use the Phillips or other rotating shavers, and for those considering switching from the 2-blade units that Panasonic sells.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Kordless

Can’t Believe I haven’t done a review of this...

Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2020

Style: 4-Blade Electric Shaver with High Power Linear Motor & Dual Cutting System and Premium Automatic Cleaning & Charge StationVerified Purchase

Alright, I’m doing a review on this shaver after almost 4 years of regular use. It finally gave up today and I had to order a new shaver today. I’ve been with Amazon long enough to see that I bought this in 2017 and couldn’t believe I never did a review. So here goes:

I have super super sensitive skin, to the point that I have to use sensitive shave cream, use a daily regimen to prevent break outs, and still fairly regularly have bouts with razor burn from shavers....at least until I bought this shaver to replace my 6 year old previous Panasonic model. Panasonics have been best for me, and I’ve literally tried all shavers, from dry electrics, to straight razors to every gimmick 3 or more blade razor you could imagine. Everyone burned my face and left ingrown hairs in their wake.

This shaver was different right out of the box. The first time I used it I had some mild irritation but nothing on the level of previous first time use electrics. I took my time and let my beard grow out a bit for the first shave and used it prior to a couple days off from work so I wouldn’t show up with a burnt neck. This seemed to be fine, and the next day it was still fine. So for the last 4 years I’ve averaged shaving every other day at least with this shaver, and sometimes two days in a row which NEVER happened before. My skin is THAT sensitive. So I’ve replaced blades and heads faithfully, kept it clean, used the cleaner/dryer religiously so I can say a lot about how this will work out for you over time.

As others have noted, the cleaner/dryer was the first thing to start having issues, and they started right after the 2 year mark. The lights stopped working. Not a huge deal but the time when I dropped the shaver in and the lights didn’t come on, I figured it was done. It’s continued to work and still works to this day, but it’s not cleaning nearly as well as it used to, and there’s usually some residue left in the bottom. 4 out of 5 stars overall.

For travel this shaver is great, even on a week long trip I rarely needed to bring the charger, I could shave 3 or four times and it would still have plenty of power left over.

The shaver itself shaves fine, if I had a complaint about it, it’s the same complaint many have with multi blade electrics. There’s so many heads it’s about impossible to shave a strait edge around sideburns or in my case a goatee. For fine edging I use either the pop up trimmer and trim against the grain or use a razor to clean up around edges. I keep my goatee pretty short so this shaver will shave it off without much effort if I run the head into it...and I have. And I’ve needed to either do some repairs or shave the whole thing off and start over if I get too uneven. Edging is best left to a razor. It also pulls and causes ingrown hairs on longer hairs so I recommend using the pop up trimmer to trim hair down and then go over it with the shaving head.

One gripe has been the size and location of the button, to this day I still turn it off mid shave because of where my thumb rests. Looks like this issue has been solved with the newer generations by have a smaller and more inset button.

The electronic display on the shaver stopped working about 3 years in. Again, like the cleaner, I figured the shaver was toast when the display stopped working, but again, it pressed on and continued to work and hold a charge just fine. I just threw it in the cleaner every other day so never ran into any issues.

Replacing blades and the head have been simple. I believe the recommendation was every 6 months so I had a subscribe and save set up for a set along with the vortex cartridges to be delivered in that time frame. Simple and easy to keep up with that way. The new head and blades sometimes caused some irritation to my super sensitive skin but I’ve learned to replace the blades and head and then run them on at least two cleaning cycles and that seems to seat the blades in the head just fine.

Overall very please with this shaver, and I’ve become a Panasonic fan because of it. As noted, I’ve been using Panasonics since 2012 and this is only my 3rd razor. I’ve never had to contact Panasonic customer service, they’ve all worked fine and the only issues that have happened have been after the warranties so I can’t complaint about the quality. This shaver finally gave up after dropping it in the shower one too many times (another bow to my super sensitive skin, I have to shave in the shower...the people I see on tv who shave after they shower amaze me...I have to immediately clean and moisturize or my face is on fire regardless of how good this shaver is). I dropped it Monday and the shaver wouldn’t turn back on. So I had to finish shaving with a razor. Took the bottom screw out and apparently that hit violated the water tight integrity, water came out of the bottom. So it’s toast. Ordered the next generation Panasonic shaver and a new beard trimmer while I was at it so I should be able to review those sooner than 4 years later.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Kevin Nicholls

Goodbye, Braun.

Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2011

Style: 4-Blade Electric Shaver with High Power Linear Motor & Dual Cutting System and Premium Automatic Cleaning & Charge StationVerified Purchase

After years of appreciating my Braun 8500 series, they went and changed the replacement cutter block and foil, and I just couldn't seem to get a decent shave (and yes, Braun apologists... it was a German-made replacement block and foil). So, I thought I'd treat myself to the Braun Series 7- 790cc Pulsonic Shaver System . I was able to forgive how the top-of-the-line Braun was pulling hair and cutting me for a little while, but after 30 days of "OUCH!" and some gross scabs, we had to break up. Sorry, Braun. It's not me. It's you.

I had heard good things about Panasonic, and basically stumbled in to a great deal on this razor, so I had to give it a shot. And, I have to say, I wish I had become a Panasonic convert sooner.

The quality of the shave I got was excellent and consistent. It was comfortable from the very first shave, and only seems to improve. Not a single hair pulled, and not a single cut on my neck. And razor burn? A thing of the past!

I also really like how much quieter the cleaning cycle is on this razor, compared to any of the past three Braun razors I've owned. If I forget to clean it after I've shaved in the morning, I can do it before I go to bed without terrifying my family.

So why only four stars?

1) Coming from a Braun, the head on this razor is absolutely massive. It would be fine if I didn't have a beard and was just arbitrarily shaving, but hitting the line of my beard is really challenging, because the foil is encased in black plastic. So you have to get a feel for where the plastic stops and the foil begins.

2) While the Vortex cleaning system seems competent enough, it requires filling a separate tank with water in addition to the Vortex cartridge. You have to pick up the base, unplug it, remove / insert the Vortex cartridge, remove the tank, fill it, replace it, and plug the base back in. By comparison, the Braun Clean & Renew cartridges are pre-mixed, so you push a button, the base pops up, slide the old one out and the new one in. Further, the Braun Clean & Renew bases all have an indicator (or indicators) showing when the solution cartridge needs to be replaced. The Panasonic base doesn't do this at all. And lastly, I'm mildly concerned about what impact my hard tap water will have on the longevity of the razor -- yes, I could pick up some distilled water, but how convenient is that?

3) Another base complaint -- the Braun bases look fairly contemporary, and lock the razor in when it's being cleaned. The Panasonic base looks like it's from the future, if the future was envisioned in 1981. Yes, it's utilitarian, but at this price level, I don't think it's unreasonable to expect more than "functional".

4) When Braun razors are charged, the LCD (or LED, depending on the model) just shows a charge. This razor continually flashes the blue backlight from the LCD display. Minor? Sure. But again, at this price level, I don't expect my razor to look broken when it has a full charge.

Individually, I think that list is pretty minor. But taken as a whole, I can't say this is a five-star product when there are a number of improvements that could be made that wouldn't appreciably change the underlying price of the product.

In saying that though, I'd totally recommend this to anybody looking for a decent electric razor.

4 people found this helpful

Helpful

J. C. Little

The Last Razor You Will Ever Need

Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2013

Style: 4-Blade Electric Shaver with High Power Linear Motor & Dual Cutting System and Premium Automatic Cleaning & Charge StationVerified Purchase

When I discovered Panasonic's line of electric shavers I took awhile to come around to taking the plunge. I had used electric razors before, but all were dry and all had the same problems. They filled with gunk from my beard quickly and they left me with seriously irritated skin.

I would have never tried an electric razor again until I stumbled on this. I read and re-read the description of using this shaver wet. I thought about it and finally opted to try it, knowing it would be a costly experiment if it went wrong. The reviews here on Amazon coaxed me along.

Here's what I found. The blades move fast, are lineier, and can handle soap, water and oil without gumming up. I have very sensitive skin and a very coarse beard that grows like weeds in a garden. I would not go a day without nicking myself and having to spend time stopping the bleeding before heading to work. My face would be red and irritated all day and I was generally miserable having to get up every day to do it again (I'm in the Army).

I tried this, and like the box says, you have to get your beard accostomed to the new shaving technique. What I got was the smoothest shave with zero irritation. I was sold. I threw away the other gimmic products supposed to make razor shaving easier, bought oil shaving liquid and I haven't used a blade since.

The shaver is loud, but not irritating. The loudness it a testiment to the cutting speed, which is the reason your shave is smoother and there is little to no irritation. The hairs are cut quickly and never pulled by the shaver. I have not once felt a hair tugged by the blades, and that is saying something. I shave wet, right out of the shower, and I cannot begin to speak of how much I appreciate this product being out there.

The battery lasts for a good while, and I average using 15-20% per shave. You cannot use it with the power cord plugged in, for obvious reasons, but the batter life makes up for this. Because the motor is so powerful and there are so many cutting surfaces you do not need a lot of time to shave, so it is obvious Panasonic had this in mind for the dry shave traveling crowd who prefer to use these plugged in.

The blue LCD is the perfect size and tells you everything you need to know about the state of the razor. The cleaning base has a smart compact design and uses water and detergent to clean the head. This is another selling point for people with sensitive skin since most electric razor cleaners use alcohol which can cause discomfort. The cleaning system takes a while and can be a bit loud, but it is thourough. It cleans, soaks, drains, cleans and then drys the head so it is ready for you the next day. i use liquid hand soap to clean the razor before putting it into the cleaner to keep most of the gunk out of there, but that isn't necessary.

I have used the razor and cleaning station on deployments and on multiple trips. The razor is designed for the traveler, comingwith a case and protective screen for the head, and it is voltage regulated to handle 110 and 220 outlets. That feature in and of it self saves me all kinds of money in the long term.

Since I bought it I have had no problems with the electronics, blades, display or anything associated with the razor. I can safely say that for the price you are buying a quality product that will last you as long as you take care of it. If you have sensitive skin and dred shaving in the morning, I encourage you to take the plunge and buy this or any other Panasonic wet/dry razor....you will love them.

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

Malcolm Beck

Well made and cuts ok.......

Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2014

Style: 4-Blade Electric Shaver with High Power Linear Motor & Dual Cutting System and Premium Automatic Cleaning & Charge StationVerified Purchase

7 people found this helpful

Helpful

Family 1st Tech

Goodbye Razor Blades!!

Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2013

Style: 4-Blade Electric Shaver with High Power Linear Motor & Dual Cutting System and Premium Automatic Cleaning & Charge StationVerified Purchase

I'm no professional writer, nor am I a professional shaver, but I will give you the most unbiased review I can muster. Years ago I attempted to change from my triple bladed movie star to a mechanical, more convenient method. It was a catastrophe! The electric shaver made my neck break out like a 15 year old going to the prom. I already experienced slight discomfort and razor burn from my triple bladed warrior, but refused to go electric after that experience. Since then, upset at life and the fact that, if I shaved I would break out, if I didn't shave I would get in-grown hairs. It was true, facial hair had a tight hold on me. I had to do something before I attempted (Gasp!) Nads!

Review after review, site after site, I tirelessly scoured every chunk of data I could for all the major hitters out there. I had my heart set on a Braun, I figured with a company that strong they have to have a good product, Right? They do, I purchased it (elsewhere) and it was enjoyable. But that darn 15 year old living in my neck wanted out. Every manufacturer will tell you to give them 30 days so your face can adjust to the shaver. It never happened. Well, not that they don't make a fantastic shaver, it just wasn't the best for me. However, leaps and bounds above my first experience, so I figured there has got to be one out there that has it perfect for my sensitive..er, my 15 year old boyish neck. Insert Panasonic here. It has been close to 2 months that I have had this shaver. My skin has never forgotten to thank me. I use this bad boy every morning and have never experienced razor burn or irritation. And I use it primarily dry, it's so choice!

Now for the technical details - I can get through a full shave in under 4 minutes. Generally, I use it all week (Mon - Fri) and THEN I put it in to be cleaned and charged. It charges very quickly, within an hour. Hence, by the time it's gone through a complete clean cycle it's charged. It has a built in pop-up shaver, but I have only used it twice. It's so difficult to get the pop-up shaver to actually pop-up that I've given up on it. I don't need it, but I can't say how effective it is since it must be defective and won't work. Enough of me jibber jabbing, I'll break it down:

Pros:
Fast shave time
Super smooth result
Zero irritation
Contours to face
Comes with a on-the-go case and protective shield
Lock switch so it doesn't turn on in your bag or what have you
Battery last plenty long enough for the whole week without a charge in between.
Included pop-up shaver
Self cleaning

Cons:
Pop-up shaver is a pain in the &*% to get up (Must be defective)
Loud when it's being cleaned
Doesn't make me an omelet in the morning

All in all, if you have suffered from sensitive skin (as I do) and have held off going electric, this is your solution. This thing is amazingly close and accurate. I have literally thrown out my old razors, maybe that was a psychological move to get me to really want to love this product, but it really does work. Replacing blades is expensive, so can replacing blades on electric shavers. Additionally, there are cleaning cartridges to purchase with this unit. It sounds crazy, I know, but I will tell you that for the fact that finally, for the first time in my life, I can shave and not be embarrassed about the red headed step child screaming for attention on my neck. This was a confidence boosting, life changing decision. Get more confident, get the Panasonic Arc 4.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Dan F., WI

The best I've ever used and equal to a blade shave. Fast charge, comfortable, easy clean. Highly recommended!

Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2015

Style: 4-Blade Electric Shaver with High Power Linear Motor & Dual Cutting System and Premium Automatic Cleaning & Charge StationVerified Purchase

Now understand that I have been using a Braun 6520 for the last 14 years (yes the battery has lasted that long & is still taking a charge) and have gone through a few foil/blade sets. It has always kept me looking OK, but the feel of stubble was always there, even right after a shave. About twice a month I shave with a blade just to get right down to the skin. This shaver was offered on an Amazon "Today's Deals" at more than 30% off the normal discounted price, and I couldn't resist. Am I glad I didn't!

I have what would be considered sensitive skin and a not-too-heavy beard, so I generally go 2-3 days between shaves. When the shaver arrived, I was on day three. When I get a new product, I always run it through its paces right away. I did this with the ES-LA93-K Arc4 and this is what I found on day 1 and subsequently:

1. The shaver arrived with "0" charge but got to 100% in under 45 minutes. The LCD display on the handle was clear and easily seen to show the charge level (and later, minutes used and charge remaining).
2. The shaver can be charged on the cleaning stand or, if you don't use the stand daily, by plugging the charger directly into the shaver itself. Convenient.
3. A "Dry" shave left my face and neck feeling almost baby-bottom smooth as if I had shaved with a blade. Even with sensitive skin, I felt no tugs or pulls (as I often did with the Braun). Frankly, I was impressed. I didn't think that an electric shaver could really get that close. No skin irritation as an aftermath.
4. A later wet-shave (using Edge Gel) proved that an even closer shave can be achieved with this Arc4 than simply using it dry. I doubt I'll be using my blade razors very much (as I do have a beard, they will be needed for the occasional "edging").
5. If you clean the head directly under the bathroom tap, the razor can be placed in the charging stand and placed in "Dry" mode to evaporate any moisture with airflow (built in mini-fan) and heat. Alternately, you can leave the foils off and just let them and the blades air dry.
6. The Arc4 sits comfortably in the hand and is easily maneuvered to get to the odd-angled areas. I found that the trimmer worked well to clip hairs at the top and bottom of my moustache and along the edge of my beard on neck and chin.
7. The system's self-cleaner does a better job that just using tap & soap. It should be used at least after every 3rd shave to rid everything of fine clippings and sanitize the blades/foils.

Frankly, I don't see how this razor could ever be improved upon. It charges quickly, shaves ridiculously close, is easy to clean. It gives fourteen 3-minute shaves per charge and, used correctly, keeps your shaver in top operating condition.

4 people found this helpful

Helpful

Mitch Gant

Does What I'd Hoped but with Reservations

Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2011

Style: 4-Blade Electric Shaver with High Power Linear Motor & Dual Cutting System and Premium Automatic Cleaning & Charge StationVerified Purchase

I have been shaving with an electric foil razor since around the late 80's. I have always had Braun electric razors until this Panasonic. During all of those years I'd say that actual shaving quality has improved little with battery life seeing the most improvement. Also during that time companies have figured out how to further monetize electric shavers through such things as cleaning systems. Be it for Braun, Panasonic, etc., it is of dubious value but some make it more affordable than others.

After having Braun for so long I made the switch due to my neck. As my previous 8-year old Braun 7 Series' battery started to die, I began looking at alternatives that I thought would have a reasonable chance of finally being a "complete" razor for me. By complete I mean a razor I could use without having to do some small clean-up with a manual safety razor as I have always had to do for my neck. I felt I had given Braun ample opportunity over the years, but while they have always been top notch in reliability and offered a great shave on my face, they have failed continuously to shave my neck to a reasonable degree. Thus this Panasonic enters the picture.

I am not a big fan of cleaning systems which as mentioned before are over-priced and offer dubious value. I was actually looking at the non self-cleaning version of this razor, when I found I could get this version for $150 here at Amazon. For less than $20 difference I felt it was a good enough deal especially as it would serve to hold the razor and the cleaning solution itself is vastly cheaper than Braun's (although a bit more cumbersome). Upon receiving this unit I charged it complete in it's base overnight before setting out trying it for the first time.

I will say that I am glad I waited a week before writing this review because my first reactions were not very positive. However, after spending more time with the razor I began finding better ways to wield it around my face. My face is well adjusted to foils after all of these years, but I found the angle you use this at to be very important (more so than my old Braun). Therefore my personal star meter went from an initial two to the current four. This Panasonic shaved my entire face closer than my old Braun and, most importantly, it does finally allow me to shave my neck to a degree that I don't feel I need to clean up with a manual razor. Clearly a big win. While it is not perfect and not as close as a blade (at least not on the neck) it is close enough that my manual razor is now in the trash.

Based on the timer function, I find it takes me between 6-8 minutes to shave complete. Longer than my old Braun, but to be fair, it shaves the neck and overall provides a closer shave. So, I find this to be a good trade-off. However, the Panasonic foils do get quite warm (I am not pressing hard either) while the Braun never did. For this reason I'd recommend shaving the upper lip area earlier in the process if you don't do so already. I typically did that area last, but found it a little uncomfortable due to the heat. The neck does take work at multiple angels and frankly there is no part of the face that won't require multiple passes. Despite the size of the head, I certainly don't think it is more efficient. I also don't think it glides over the face as easily as did the Braun. I should mention at this point that I shave dry and will continue to do so. If I have to buy shaving cream, etc., I have lost what I see is the major advantage of an electric. That said and you do have the option with the Panasonic while you do not with the Braun. The best part of this option for me is that I can at least clean it under the water quickly versus the Braun where I had to use a brush.

I like the trimmer on this Panasonic more than on my old Braun as I find it to be more precise with my sideburns. It is a smaller trimmer, but I find it to be a bit more effective. There is a button on the back of the head that allows for free floating head (used for most of the face/neck), locked head (upper lip), and the pop up trimmer. Very straight forward. Just one on/off button in front and a superfluous LCD display which shows shave time, battery life, and other status. I really don't think an LCD is required as it is just another thing to go wrong. External led displays would have been sufficient for the statuses you need. Additionally, if left charging, the LCD will blink a very bright blue color continuously to let you know it is finished. Extremely obnoxious. Why they think that this info is so critical as to require a neon flashing sign is beyond me. An exit sign in a burning building is okay. Saying that the charge is done...not so much. I actually place my razor at an angle in the base so that it doesn't charge each day and I don't have to come in the middle of the night just to be blinded by the thing.

The cleaning process is more involved than the Braun which just requires the cartridge. The Panasonic also requires filling a canister at back with water. However, given the much lower cost of cleaning solution versus the Braun, and I'd say this is a fair trade. The cartridge supposedly lasts as long as the Braun's which is daily for 30-days. Like the Braun I will use it weekly. The cleaning cycle/drying is extremely long at something over 90 minutes. I cannot fathom how such a small device would require this kind of time. That said and you don't need to stand there and watch it. I also don't find the noise it makes to be any greater than the Braun's system although again it does last substantially longer. This unit also comes with a carrying case, however, the case is not big enough to house the plug (unlike Braun's). I also understand that, unlike Braun's unit, you cannot use this razor while plugged in. I haven't tried this, but frankly it was not a feature I ever needed to use with Braun. I have not tested the accuracy of the battery life indicator against reality as I charge it once a week. The LCD would indicate that it is the best I can get, but again have not confirmed. I don't see this is a big problem.

Ergonomics and build quality seem okay, but not up to Braun standards. What this may mean for longevity is obviously something I will eventually find out. I would be very surprised if it lasted as long as my Braun's have.

It is impossible for me to say whether this performs better than a new Braun would have. What I can say is that it was much cheaper for me and it does the job. I think I paid a fair price at $150, but would not agree that this is a $200+ shaver. Certainly the cleaning system isn't Worth $70+ over their non self-cleaning version.

Pros:

- Shaves very close and does an acceptable job on the neck
- Good trimmer for sideburns
- Option for wet and dry
- Much cheaper cleaning solution vs. Braun
- Option to self-clean with soap and water for "free"
- Quick charge if you run out of juice
- At $150 was a fair deal

Cons:

- Foil gets quite warm
- Does require work to get that close shave
- Obnoxious flashing blue display
- Extremely long clean/dry cycle
- Travel case does not fit plug
- Cleaning solution doesn't smell that great
- Cannot shave while plugged into an outlet
- Too expensive at its current regular $200+ price point

Update: I have since found that this razor does not last me a full week on a single charge. It lasts me about 6-days which equates to roughly 40-minutes of shave time. The unit will kick off immediately upon reaching zero although since you can turn it on again for a bit, means that the battery isn't really dead. There is only a brief second or two decrease in shave power to alert you to the shutdown. I can confirm that the shaver will not work while plugged in which is unfortunate. That said and if you plug in the razor for a few minutes to charge, you should be able to get through a shave afterwords. In other words it does do a reasonable quick charge to make up for the lack of use while plugged in.

Update 2: I thought I would update this review as it has been nearly 1.5 year since my purchase. I continue to use the blade and foil that came with the unit and I have not noticed any degradation in performance. Although I was a long time electric foil razor user, I did see my shave times drop after further use of this product to somewhere between 4:45 and 5:10 minutes per daily shave on average. I would recommend prior to putting the shaver through the clean cycle that you rinse it well. This won't take more than a few seconds and it will prevent the cleaning unit from clogging with tiny hairs. I also tend to put it through its charge/clean cycle whenever the shaver gets to 20% or less after a shave. I have found when using it under 20% that it can slow at a certain point so 20% is a good marker to make sure the last shave is a good one. I still have no troubles in recommending this product as laid out in the review above.

Update 3: It has now been 2-years and unfortunately this thing no longer works. There is vibration in the head but the blades no longer move. Battery is fine and blades/foil were replaced a few months back. Extremely disappointed in the quality as I certainly expected this thing to last more than 2-years. Back to Braun for me.

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Jared Singleton

Incredible Quality

Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2024

Style: 4-Blade Electric Shaver with High Power Linear Motor & Dual Cutting System and Premium Automatic Cleaning & Charge StationVerified Purchase

While scrolling through amazon orders of long ago, I stumbled upon this razor. I purchased this back on March 11 2011, over 13 years ago. I still use this razor today with no issues at all. The battery isn't what it used to be, but the charging dock is never far. Needless to say, I will most definitely replace it with a newer Panasonic product when this reaches its well deserved rest.

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