The 8 Best Electric Razors for Men in 2025, Tested by Grooming Experts

I’ve made no secret about how much I love the Braun Series 9 Pro electric shaver. As a dedicated electric razor user, I’ve tried nearly every electric shaver out there in my years since converting exclusively to electric shaving, and I stand by my proclamation that the Series 9 was the best shaver on the market for a long time. But nothing lasts forever and I am here to confidently tell you that a new razor has taken the throne: the Braun Series 9 Pro Plus.

The Braun Series 9 Pro Plus is nearly identical to the original Series 9—at least on the surface. The casing has the same ergonomic design, which I love because, as I said in my original review, it’s like the Goldilocks of electric razors. The razor itself is shockingly light, but still hefty enough to fit well in your hand without feeling like you are going to drop it. The meat and potatoes of every electric shaver is, of course, the actual razor head itself, and like the original, the Braun Series 9 Pro Plus has 5 shaving elements that cut your whiskers to a baby-smooth 0.05 mm.

New to the Series 9 Pro Plus, however, are the blades. The OG version were titanium. These new blades made from surgical grade stainless steel that stay sharper, allowing for a more effective shave that lasts longer. The Braun Series 9 Pro Plus, like the original version, features an ultra-thin ProLift blade (which looks like a gold bar on the razor head itself) that helps to lift hair away from your skin for a close shave and thorough cut.

What Else to Consider: Funnily enough, in terms of raw motor power, the Braun Series 9 Plus does not have the most on this list. It’s a great speed—40,000 cuts per minute—but not the strongest. Compare, for instance, to the Norelco Shaver 9800, which features over three times that at 150,00 cuts per minute. But in our testing, the Series 9 Plus felt the most powerful. Maybe it’s due to the Sonic Technology, which delivers 10,000 micro vibrations per minute in addition to the motor itself. This new-aged feature enhances the razor’s shaving ability by capturing more hair with each stroke, thanks to the additional blade movements. Like many of the other razors on this list, it also features a pop-up trimmer and a pivoting head. We found that the head pivots slightly better than the head on the Panasonic ARC5, perhaps because it’s a little smaller and less bulky, and hugs the curves of our face slightly better than that one as well.

Why We Chose It: Shaving with the Braun Series 9 Pro Plus still takes me about three minutes (sometimes less, if I don’t have much stubble to power through), but where it really shines is the closeness of the shave. Most of the new features focus on more effectively lifting facial hair away from your skin, allowing for a closer, smoother shave. This includes the pre-shave ProComfort head, which easily clicks onto your shaver to prepare your face for a shave by gently lifting and releasing hairs from under the skin. These features worked too. Immediately after shaving, my skin feels baby smooth—like I don’t have any facial hair at all—and I found that signs of shadow show up later in the day than they do with the original version, and sometimes I have absolutely no shadow at all, even as I head to bed. This is especially true when I use the ProComfort head before shaving.

Long Term Results: After using the Braun Series 9 Pro Plus for six months, 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. But, replacing the head was easy and brought the shaver back to business immediately.

Read more: Braun Series 9 Pro+ Review

For as close as the Panasonic Arc5 can shave (five 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 manual razor/cream combo we’ve tried, and the pivoting head ensures you never 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, an AI technology that adjusts to your hair thickness, but this pared-down version still delivers a great shave without as many bells and whistles.

What Else to Consider: With a wide head and a strong motor, this shaver is powerful. It boasts 55,000 cuts per minute—more than the Braun Series 9 Pro Plus but less than the absurd Norelco 9800 150,000 cuts per minute motor. 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, our testers found that it cuts very quickly. Still, don’t rush through shave jobs, as this can still cause some irritation if you’re not careful, no matter the device you’re using.

Once you get the hang of it, though, it minimizes the amount of time you have to shave the same area. Overall, it is slightly bulkier than the closest similar razor (Braun Series 9) and has a shorter battery life (45 minutes versus 60 minutes), which could come down to the fact that it’s just a larger device in general. It’s also very quiet—quieter than most of the other razors on this list—so if noise matters to you, this is a good bet.

Why We Chose It: Like many electric razor users, we like them because they reduce post-shave irritation and razor bumps, usually by not shaving as close to the skin as a traditional manual razor. We found this razor gets as close as possible to a wet razor shave while minimizing 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 unnecessary 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. These blades are as sharp and gentle as ever.

Read More: Panasonic Arc5 Review

If you’re someone who’s constantly fighting those pesky neck hairs, then the powerful Norelco 9800 brings AI into your bathroom and harnesses it to deliver an epic close shave. The rotary heads make it easy to move with your 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. This set of 72 (!) total blades offers full 360-degree rotations, allowing you to seamlessly shave across the contours of your face. 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: The Norelco 9800 blows every other rotary shaver out of the water. Not only does the motor have by far the most powerful motor (150,000 cuts per minute!), but the three-head design offers a great range of motion, allowing for more pivoting and a closer shave around the contours of your face. The blades on the 9800 also have a micro-bead coating to help reduce irritation, which we found helpful.

We also recommend using the companion app to change the settings, like if you use it wet or dry, since adjusting those settings without the app can be difficult. That being said, it does take a bit of time to adjust to your style of shaving. It’s a bit overly responsive at first, so when you first apply more pressure in less sensitive areas, like your cheeks, it can overcompensate when moving to areas like the curves in your neck and lead to nicks. However, it quickly adjusted after a couple of uses.

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.

Long-Term Results: This definitely proved to be 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. It’s held up for over six months.

Read More: Philips Norelco 9800 Review

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. It’s great for trimming the 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. The blade is a completely different design from the linear blades of the Braun Series 9 Pro Plus or the rotary blades of the Norelco 9800, yet it shaves effectively and closely (though not as close as those two options, to be clear). The motor is also weak in comparison (12,000 cuts per minute), but we found it ideal for cutting any length of hair. If you’re the type of guy who likes to vary up his facial hair look, you can use this razor to keep it in check without needing to switch between multiple tools.

Our testers loved that it handles like a traditional razor, thanks to an ergonomic design, but you can’t treat it exactly the same as your typical razor. We found there was a bit of a learning curve to understand how hard to press it and how to move it around our face to get the best 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 Hybrid Electric Trimmer and Shaver is definitely in the top ten, maybe even top five. That’s because it has an intuitive design, like that of a traditional razor, that’s easy to use. Our testers of all facial hair types agreed: It’s sleek, 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 type of 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 favorite 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. Since beginning our long-term test more than a year ago, we take ours whenever we travel, 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. Plus, did we mention it’s less than 40 bucks?

Read more: Philips Norelco OneBlade Review

Wahl has been a favorite in barbershops for years. The straightforward and easy-to-use Wahl Lifeproof Foil Shaver has a rubberized, shock-absorbing coating to ensure it doesn’t slip out of your hands, and it’s waterproof down to about 3 feet—perfect for travel or if you’re accident-prone. It’s on the simple side in terms of features, but that doesn’t mean it sacrifices 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 razor has great ones. Our testers confirm this model delivers a very close shave with minimal effort, but some found that since they are fixed (no pivoting or movement to contour to your face), it can be difficult in hard-to-reach areas or funny-shaped spots like under your jawline. This is more of a design thing than a blade thing, however. The area where this one truly shines when compared to others on this list is battery life. It features a whopping 90 minutes of battery life compared to the 60 minutes of pretty much everything else on this list, including the top-of-the-line Braun Series 9 Pro Plus.

From a tech standpoint, it falls behind in terms of additional integrated features, like smart sensors or precision blade guards, and while the motor is powerful, the exact speed is undisclosed, so it’s hard to compare to other models. The draw of this one, obviously, is the very real indestructible quality. It’s coated with shock-proof rubber, so if you tend to put your razors through a lot or are prone to dropping them, this one will hold up. It’s even backed by a five-year warranty if, for some reason, it doesn’t.

Why We Chose It: For this electric razor, it comes down to the durability factor for us. You really can put this 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. Our team universally agreed that, at around $70, this razor is a great value and a solid option if you’re looking for a not-too-fancy, everyday driver to add to your shave routine.

Long-Term Results: The durability of this device truly holds up over time. We’ve been using it (and putting it through the ringer) for months, and it still works like new.

Read more: Best Hair Clippers

Let’s be honest, you probably don’t only shave or trim the hair on your face. That’s why you need a dedicated “hygiene razor” for keeping all your non-face hair groomed and tidy. The SkinSafe ceramic blades, which feature built-in safety guards between the blades, on Manscaped’s Lawn Mower 5.0 minimize nicks and cuts and make body grooming a much less harrowing experience. Use it wet or dry with or without the adjustable guards for a truly customizable and comfortable manscaping experience in the shower or out.

What Else to Consider: Purely from a hygiene perspective, you don’t, or at least shouldn’t, use your facial hair shaver on the rest of your body. The Lawn Mower 5.0 is the only model in our roundup with a purpose-built design, including unique, protected ceramic blades that might not cut as close as other options but are much more gentle, are perfect for below-the-belt trimming. Similarly, the two added attachments allow for a variety of lengths, if you prefer not to go near bald across your body. Together, it all works to give you confidence in grooming your nether-regions without worrying about cutting or maiming yourself.

The motor speed is undisclosed, but it does have “constant” RPMs, meaning the blades cut at a steady and consistent pace, which prevents the blade from slowing down the longer you use it. The trimmer head is similar to the kind you find on your barber’s hair clippers, but this new 5.0 version does come with an interchangeable foil shaver head that shaves extra close. The battery life is 60 minutes, just like the Braun Series 9 Pro Plus and the Norelco 9800. It’s also wet/dry like many of the others on this list. That all said, body trimmers and shavers for your face are different animals—and we wouldn’t recommend using this on your face.

Why We Chose It: We’ve used plenty of electric razors on non-face body parts, and they do work. But our team unanimously loved the simple design of this hygiene razor that feels like a better tool for the job. It’s “fit for purpose” as some might say with a lightweight design that’s easy and comfortable to hold, making it a snap to maneuver around the curves and crevices of everywhere below the waist. We found the shave perfect for a hygiene razor. It’s not buttery smooth, but it’s not supposed to be. We also appreciate the thoughtful details like the completely waterproof design (perfect for shower use), simple charging stand, and braided USB cable that’s durable and great for travel.

Long Term Results: After using the Manscaper 5.0 for months, it’s still our go-to for body grooming, especially sensitive areas down below. Just don’t rush through anything—take your time to avoid nicks or cuts. This tool is gentle, but the ceramic blades slightly dull over time compared to stainless steel.Read more: Manscaped The Lawn More 5.0 Review

Read more: Manscaped The Lawnmower 5.0 Review

My favorite thing about the Chairman Plus is how streamlined the design is. Sure, there are a handful of nifty gadgets and features, like the travel lock, SkinSafe blade protection, and ergonomic grip, but none are excessive. More than anything, however, they’re all functional. So often with grooming devices, they tend to sound exciting or interesting, but when put into practice, they’re either overly complicated or straight up unnecessary. That’s not the case with The Chairman, as every feature was clearly designed to simplify the shaving experience and make it as easy as possible.

What Else to Consider: Of all the practical design boons of this trimmer, the most notable is also the simplest: its grip. Thanks to an innovative (albeit uncomplicated) ergonomic design, this trimmer is the easiest to hold and use on this list. Contrary to the Chairman Pro’s more straight horizontal handle, the Plus features a slight indent on each side under the razor head to create more of a T-shape than the traditional V-shape. I have been known to drop razors mid-job from time to time, so I found this a welcome update that creates a much easier to hold grip. It’s ideal for clumsy people like myself or those new to electric shavers in general.

Why We Chose It: Ultimately, this selection came down to how easy this razor is to use, along with how gentle it is on skin. If you’re new to electric razors or shaving in general, the Chairman Plus represents a low-risk introduction to these tools. At barely over a pound, it’s super lightweight, and its SkinSafe-protected blades, which feature a built-in safety guard between sets of rounded (rather than harsher straight ones) stainless steel blades, make cuts and tugs few and far between. While the shave isn’t as close as other options on this list, sans the OneBlade, it’s one of the more gentle and certainly the best for beginners.

Long Term Results: I really dig the travel lock on this device, it’s simple to use, but also takes intention to click on and off. This helped me avoid accidentally turning it on when traveling and slicing through other products or ruining clothes packed near it (did I mention the clumsiness?). Again, it doesn’t give the closest shave, but that’s not always the most important thing if you have sensitive skin like I do and would rather avoid irritation (which this does).

Read More: Manscaped Chairman Plus Review

A few of the electric razors on this list come with stellar travel cases, like the Braun 9 or OG Arc 5, but let’s be real—these will take up a lot of space in your bag. If you’re committed to only traveling with a carry-on or just want more space for other things, these cases are going to prove to be a nuisance. This is how Panasonic Arc 5 Palm-Sized Electric Razor recently won a 2025 Men’s Health Grooming Award. By far the smallest option on this list without sacrificing performance, this mini version of one of our other favorite electric razors, the Arc 5, will take up less room than an electric toothbrush during your next trip.

What Else to Consider: The palm-sized tag isn’t just good branding; this device truly fits into the palm of your hand. Now, this design can make the actual shaving experience a bit awkward (especially the first few times you use it), because of how you have to hold the tool. But once you get the hang of it, it’s pretty easy to accomplish. And for the space you’ll be saving from using it, it’ll be worth the few more minutes it takes to get the shave job done. While we wouldn’t necessarily recommend using this as an everyday razor (grab the original Arc 5 for that), it’s powered by a 13,000 cuts per minute motor, so you could certainly do worse if you’re a heavy traveler and don’t want to splurge on multiple devices. Still, while these blades cut nearly as powerfully as the original version’s 15,000 cuts per minute, the blade head is smaller, so it will take some extra time. But the palm-sized does mimic the original’s five stainless steel blade structure, which we appreciated.

Why We Chose It: With 50 minutes of use from one charge, you might not even need to pack the cord if you’re traveling less than a full week. It’s waterproof for an easy clean up, and comes with a case as compact as it is (just big enough to cover the entire tool). In short, it’s the perfect travel electric shaver.

Long Term Results: We’ve been lugging this thing around for months on various trips, and the motor hasn’t let up one bit. It still holds that near-hour charge, and the blades feel just as sharp. We may never pack a full-sized electric razor again.

Read More: 2025 Men’s Health Grooming Awards

The Difference Between Electric Razors and Manual Razors

First off, electric razors and manual razors both operate by guiding some version of a blade across your face to trim down hair follicles. Most electric razors work by using a foil system, where the hairs are led into the small perforations on the foil and then cut off with an opposing blade system. (It’s worth noting rotary electric razors have a different opposing blade system than a traditional electric razor, but the interior makeup of how both versions work is essentially the same.)

A manual razor works via a multi-blade system, where the first blade pulls your hair follicle outward, and then the remaining blades chop down the hair lower and lower. The best analogy to compare electric razors and manual razors is that an electric razor cuts down hair like a pair of scissors, while a manual razor cuts down hair like a knife.

An electric razor is always going to have a buffer preventing direct skin contact, so it’s not going to shave as close as a manual razor. But it will potentially be better for your skin. Due to a manual razor’s design of direct skin contact, you’re going to get a much closer, smoother shave. Using a manual razor raises slight risks of getting ingrown hairs, razor bumps, and razor burn, especially if you’re not prepping your shaving routine properly and not using a clean blade.

How to Get a Close Shave with an Electric Razor

Unlike shaving with a traditional razor or safety razor, an electric razor has a pretty low learning curve. But that doesn’t mean you should just take your electric razor out of the box and start zooming without first knowing how to get a close shave.

Prep Your Skin

Make sure your skin is clean before starting your shave. If you have a wet and dry use shaver, you can go at your scruff right out of the shower (or even in the shower) after washing your face. If you have a dry shaver only, then you can use a light amount of pre-shave oil, or you can wash your face and then pat yourself dry with a towel—these types of shavers work best with stubble that’s stiff and void of any moisture.

Use Proper Positioning and Pressure

Hold the razor perpendicular to your skin at all times; that way, you aren’t trimming your hair at an angle. Grip your razor gently too: You don’t need to press down hard into your face to get the shave you want.

In fact, pressing down on your skin when shaving can cause uneven patches, especially if you’re pressing down with more force when coming up around your chin and the rest of your jawline. In terms of shaving motions, stick to back-and-forth paths on a foil shaver. If you have a rotary shaver, you can use a back-and-forth path or circular motions—your call.

Read the Manual

Make sure to read over each razor’s manual to ensure you’re using the best possible technique. Some razor brands include tips that are unique to their electric razor alone, so you might find a couple of gems of advice that can help you optimize your shave further to get the closest and smoothest results possible.

Stick With It

If you follow all these steps you should be in good hands for getting a quality shave every time. Just make sure to take care of your razor and give it proper maintenance. And if you’re just starting out using an electric razor, give yourself a two-week grace period for your skin to adjust.

How Often Should I Clean My Electric Razor?

“Something I always look for in an electric razor is that it’s easy to clean,” says Quallis. “Cleaning your razor is so important, because if you don’t, it can get clogged with excess hair, which can cause it to break down faster.”Many of the best higher-end electric razors in our roundup, like the Braun Series 9, come with cleaning systems. Ideally, you want to clean your electric razor after every use to keep the blades sharp. For most modern models, the process is easy as they’re designed to be rinsed under running water.

Just rinse your razor under water to remove hair and dirt, then take a light brush to your foil to remove any gunk buildup. It’s important to maintain the foil on your razor, as that is what helps give you a nice and even shave. That foil is fragile and, if it gets dented or damaged, make sure to replace it immediately as that piece is the proverbial bread and butter to your shave.

If you neglect to clean your electric shaver, you risk the chance of shortening the razor’s lifespan and also running dirt across your face when shaving. A dirty razor can result in uneven shaving and potentially cause ingrown hairs or acne.

The good news is some razors come with cleaning stations to help you remember. Cleaning stations usually work well, but can sometimes be bulky and loud. Most require cleaning cartridges that last about three months, and cost around $5 each when you buy a six-pack.

When Should I Replace My Electric Razor?

The lifespan of your electric razor varies from model to model. If you buy a high-quality razor—think a $200 model and above from any of our recommendations—then it’s possible to get several years out of your device. Some users can get as much as 5 years out of the best electric razors.

If you want to maximize the lifespan of your electric razor, make sure you replace the blades and foil when needed. Some brands recommend replacing the blades every 6-8 months, others recommend annual replacement, and some even mention as far out as 18 months. As far as the foil goes, make sure to monitor if it ever gets dented or damaged and replace it when those situations occur. Most replacement cartridges for electric razors include the foil since the foil is pretty fragile. Expect to pay anywhere from $20-$50 for replacement blades or cartridges on your electric razor.

Also, pay attention to your razor’s battery life. Even the best electric razors lose battery life over time, which can result in less time holding a full charge and a weaker power output.

Knowing when to replace your electric razor can also come down to a good ol’ fashioned eye test. Are you getting as close of a shave as you did when you first purchased the device? Is your razor pulling or tugging on your whiskers instead of slicing them clean off? You might know when it’s time to retire your electric razor just by feel. The good news is that the deals on razors are better than ever these days, so you can secure a shiny new one for a fraction of the price during key times in the year.

Meet the Experts

• Calvin Quallis is the founder of grooming brand Scotch Porter, and is based in New York, NY.
• Corey L. Hartman is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology in Birmingham, AL.