The Best Electric Razor
Electric razors have always had a bit of a bum rap, derided for being
louder and less efficient than a "real" blade. But today, electric
razors look more like Jetsons props than mid-century mechanizations. We
collected and tested four of the best shavers on the market. Here's what
made the cut.
Testing Methodology
Over the course of
the past two months, each razor faced one, two, and three days worth of
stubble. We rated the gadgets on their comfort in use and their shaving
efficiency—the closeness and thoroughness of the shave, how long a shave
took, and how often I had to re-shave areas. The rate at which their
heads wore out, the associated cost of replacement heads, and other
operating costs were also taken into ranking consideration as well.
Fourth Place: Braun Series 7
There are a lot of things I
really like about the Series 7. First of all, it looks great, sitting in
its charging cradle like the Sword in the Stone. At the touch of a
button, the system will automatically clean, dry, and lubricate the
cutting head, which comes out of the base smelling like lemons.
Seriously, lemons. It's awesome. I also like the integrated LCD display
in the shaver's handle, letting you know exactly how charged and
hygienic it is at any given moment. I can also appreciate the
SmartPlug's automatic worldwide voltage adjuster that regulates from
100V-240V.
Unfortunately, sweet smells are a poor substitute for a
close shave. While the Series 7 worked especially well on the upper lip
and cheeks, shaving the neck was a nightmare. It was like the last
three hairs remaining somehow always fell outside the realm of the
shaver's ability—needing five or six passes to finally capture. It's
also pricey, with an MSRP of $269, though you can get it for
$215 at Target. What's more, that lemony fresh scent costs $5 per cartridge (Amazon's offering
4-packs of Clean & Renew for $20) and each refill is only good for a month of daily use. Replacement cutting cartridges sell for
$34 on Amazon,
but they're rated for about 18 months of daily use. A full one-hour
battery charge gives you 50 minutes of shave time, and a "fast recharge"
takes five minutes to juice a single shave—two minutes slower than the
third place Wahl.
Don't get me wrong, the Series 7 is a capable
razor. But given the price and upkeep costs, you can find more cut for
your buck elsewhere.
• Dimensions: 10.1 x 6.3 x 6.3 inches
• Weight: 1.8 pounds (with base)
• Blade Count/Style: Linear
• Run Time: 50 Minutes
• Price: $279 (MSRP), $175 (Amazon)
