Best Buy electric shavers shave closest. But there’s a big gap between the best and the rest when it comes to shaving performance.
How we uncover the best electric shavers
If your electric shaver gives a patchy finish and leaves your skin sore and irritated, chances are you need a new one. But should you invest in a model that’s packed with features, or can you spend less to get a close shave? Which? tests the latest electric shavers from the big brands, ranging in price from a budget-busting £35 to a top-of-the-range £280.
We’ve found that you don’t have to spend a fortune to pick up a top-quality electric shaver – our cheapest Best Buy will set you back less than £70. Plus, we don’t just reveal the best models, we also highlight the poor-scoring Don’t Buy electric shavers that you’ll want to avoid at all costs.
We tell you which electric shavers will continue to miss hairs, no matter how many times you go over them.
We reveal which electric shavers will be able to last the duration of your holiday on a single charge.
We test each pop-up trimmer for wear and tear, and drop each shaver from a height onto a hard surface, so you can buy an electric shaver you know will last.
How we uncover the best electric shavers
Each shaver undergoes 158 separate assessments, including real-life shaves on short hairs and three-day beards, so we can reveal the best shavers for tackling stubble while being kind to your skin.
Closeness and comfort: Our trialists used a different shaver on each half of their face before rating the closeness and comfort of each cut. We examine their skin closely, looking for redness, irritation and missed hairs, so you can be sure your Best Buy electric shaver will deliver a close, gentle shave.
Battery life: We count the number of shaves you’ll get from a full battery, so you know exactly how long it will last. We also test the quick-charge function (if there is one) to see if it will actually give you enough power for a full shave after just five minutes of charging.
Durability: We drop each electric shaver from a height of 80cm. Those that get damaged lose marks. If there’s a pop-up trimmer, we flick it up 1,000 times to check that you’ll always be able to rely on it.
Electric shaver reviews you can trust
We’ve tested electric shavers from the top brands in our labs, such as Braun, Panasonic and Philips. But big-name shavers don’t always deliver Best Buy results.
Philips Series 9000 S9711/31 review
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80%
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verdict: Magnificent
This Best Buy is our highest-scoring shaver for good reason. It gives an impressively close and comfortable shave in a quicker time than others we’ve tested. It waltzed through all of our tests, but this level of excellence happens to come at a hefty price.
Pros
- Close and comfortable shave
- Good battery life
- Quiet
- Simple to clean manually
- Self-cleaning dock works well
- Digital battery charge indicator
- Travel case included
Cons
- Expensive
- No precision trimmer
Panasonic ES-RF31 review
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78%
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Which? verdict: An excellent electric shaver
We were very impressed with this wet and dry shaver; it glides well and gives a close, comfortable shave, whether you use it daily or let your beard grow a little between trims. The battery is impressive, and there’s an LED indicator to show when it’s time to top up the charge. It’s been around for quite a few years now, but is still widely available and is holding its own against newer models. It’s a Best Buy.
Pros
- Gives a close comfortable shave
- Quick charge
- LED display
- Trimmer
- Easy to clean under a running tap
- Extra life if you rest the battery
Cons
- Five-minute quick charge only gives enough power for one quick shave
Philips AquaTouch S5420/06 review
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69%
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verdict: A good all-rounder
Whether you have stubble to remove or longer growth to remove this shaver will get rid of both – comfortably and smoothly. You won’t have to charge it up too often and it’s easily cleaned under the tap.
Pros
- Close and comfortable shave
- Very quiet
- Easy to clean
- Decent battery
Cons
- No travel case or cleaning brush
Braun Series 3 3040s review
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65%
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verdict: A decent option
You’ll get a good shave from the Braun Series 3 3040s, but it doesn’t excel in any particular area.
Pros
- Good shave
- Decent battery
- Comfortable to hold
Cons
- Replacing foils is tricky
- No travel case or lock
- A bit noisy
Braun Series 3 Shave&Style 3010BT review
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65%
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verdict: Worth a look
You’ll get a decent shave from the Braun Series 3 Shave & Style 3010BT, but it doesn’t excel in any particular area.
Pros
- Good shave
- Decent battery
- Comfortable to hold
Cons
- Replacing foils is tricky
- No travel case or lock
- A bit noisy
Panasonic ES-SL41 review
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56%
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verdict: A bit of a letdown
This fairly mediocre electric shaver is completely undone by a poor battery.
Pros
- Decent shave
- Easy to clean
- Lightweight
- Simple to use
Cons
- Poor battery
- No quick-charge function
- A bit noisy
Braun CoolTec CT2s review
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verdict:
We weren’t totally convinced by the CoolTec, but we were still impressed by this electric shaver. Most importantly, we felt it gave a close and comfortable shave, and it’s also easy to use and clean. It’s not as widely available as it once was, although you can still find it online easily enough. But prices vary considerably so be sure to shop around if you plan on buying this electric shaver.
Pros
- Gives a close and comfortable shave on both short and longer stubble
- Easy to use and clean
Cons
- None
Wahl Lifeproof review
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verdict:
This foil shaver gives a comfortable, smooth shave and is pleasant to use. The battery is good and will give you plenty of shaving time before it needs recharging.
Pros
- Close and comfortable shave
- Good battery
- Quick-charge function
- Simple to clean
- Great instructions
- Travel lock function
- Travel pouch
Cons
- Nothing major
- But a low-battery indicator would be nice
Wahl Lifeproof Plus review
£89.99Lowest price (not in stock)
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verdict:
This shaver cuts closely and quickly, has a good battery and isn’t as noisy as some others we’ve tried. It’s another impressive release from Wahl.Pros
- Close and comfortable shave
- Good battery
- Quieter than its predecessor
- Easy to clean
- Quick-charge function
- Travel pouch
- Travel lock feature
Cons
- Nothing major
Braun Series 5 5140s review
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verdict:
Braun’s Series 5 5140s looks and feels high-end, could be a good choice if you shave daily, and builds in some genuinely useful features. With discounts on the high asking price in abundance, this could be a good time to buy.
Pros
- Very close shave
- Comfortable to use daily
- Easy to clean
- Fast charging
Cons
- Uncomfortable with a couple of day’s growth
- Not as fast as we expected
Philips Smart Shaver Series 7000 S7921/51 review
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verdict:
The Philips Smart Shaver gave me a close and comfortable shave, plus it looks great and is really easy to use and clean. However, I found the app a bit simplistic and I’m not fully convinced it offers enough to justify the price.
Pros
- Close and comfortable shave
- Very easy to use and clean
- Beard styler and facial cleansing brush
- Quick to charge and long run time
Cons
- App features may not justify the price
