Mens Electric Shaver Review

Sizing up reviewer opinion on the best shave

There are two main types of men's electric shavers: rotary and foil. Rotary shavers use two to three spinning circular blades that flex to accommodate the contours of an individual's face. Foil shavers have blades that are hidden behind thin, perforated steel foils and oscillate from side to side. Some reviewers say foil shavers can have trouble cutting longer hairs. Conversely, rotary shavers can cut long hairs, and they're easier to maneuver around difficult areas like the chin and neck, but they often don't shave as closely as foil shavers.

The experts don't split hairs about how effective electric shavers are compared to their manual counterparts: neither foil nor rotary shavers can shave quite as close as manual razors. (See our report on razors for reviews of manual models.) While the noise of electric shavers annoys some men (and could be another reason to opt for a manual razor), rotary shavers overall seem to be less noisy than foil shavers.

Although there are lots of places to read reviews about men's electric shavers, consumer-oriented sites and publications such as ConsumerReports.org offer the most comprehensive and comparative coverage. In their most recent roundup, ConsumerReports.org editors ask a panel of subjects to try six foil and eight rotary shavers for a week each, judging them on closeness and comfort of shave, ease of cleaning, features and noise level. Editors at the U.K.'s Which? magazine, which is similar to ConsumerReports.org, also test foil and rotary shavers. Not all of the tested razors are available in the U.S., though many have close equivalents. Choice, an Australian consumer magazine that's also similar to ConsumerReports.org, tests shavers in a similar fashion, and the same pluses and minuses apply. 

Shopping experts and hosts of the Canadian syndicated television show "The Shopping Bags" ask a few male volunteers to test two rotary and two foil shavers for three weeks each. User reviews at Amazon.com, Drugstore.com and Walmart.com offer insight into product durability. We consulted several enthusiast sites, such as Electric Razor Rap and Shavers.com, where user opinions and recommendations are also available in forums.

In the end, experts say there's no definitive way to determine which type of electric shaver is best for you. Some reviews suggest that rotary shavers work better for men with denser hair and rounder faces, while foil shavers are better suited for men with lighter hair and thin faces.  Ultimately, they say the decision often boils down to personal preference. Additionally, manufacturers and reviewers say it typically takes 30 days for a person's face to adjust to a new shaver; only after this initial adjustment period can an individual make the right assessment about whether an electric shaver is right for them. That's why reviewers recommend taking advantage of the 30- or 60-day trial periods offered by most manufacturers.

There's a wide range of prices and features among shavers. Top-brand shavers tend to have extra bells and whistles, such as vibration, greater flexibility and longer battery life, that make them worth their higher price tag for many users. We also found expensive brands outrank budget brands in professional and user reviews for both comfort and durability. In general, experts say you'll get the most bang for your buck by buying a name-brand shaver with fewer features, rather than purchasing an off-brand or no-name shaver.