Rating:

I compared this shaver (Panasonic ES-LA63-S Men’s Shaver) to one of those Norelcos with triple-head circular blades. I conducted the half/half face test. The result? Panasonic: 1 – Norelco: – 0. The Panasonic provided a much closer shave; on the verge of “smooth as a baby’s behind” close.

What’s in the box: Shaver with plastic blade cover that snaps on, battery charger (AC cord), and a pleather (emphasis on the “P” in “pleather”) fitted case.

More pluses: Its swiveling head contours your face and neck and it fits nicely in your hand. Even though it’s a little larger than I expected, it is still lightweight and easy to use. You don’t need to read a huge manual to figure it out (always a huge plus for me!). And yes, it has a trimmer on the back. Oh yeah, and it’s wet/dry.

A couple of things I wish were different: It probably isn’t the best choice for you if you have very sensitive skin. It gives such a close shave that those with skin issues might find it irritating, at least when using it dry. Also, it’s a little loud. After an average shave, you might find your ears ringing. (OK, it’s not THAT loud, but pretty dang loud for a little shaver.) Finally, the pricetag is pretty steep, imo. Better accessories in-box might make it feel worth it. How about a cleaning brush, at least?

Overall, it’s a great shaver. I know it’s not all about the accessories that come with it, though they’d be nice add-ons. It gets an A+ for the essentials: You get a very close shave, and it charges quickly and efficiently.

Rating:

This shaves very gently. I’ve had ones that could easily cut into your adams apple or around your lips if you pushed too hard in those areas. This one is very easy to wash with a drop of liquid soap and warm running water. I find it helpful to rub some clipper oil on the inside of the cutting foil with a Q-tip after washing. It will make the blades last much longer and provide a smoother shave.

I am 47 years old and have owned maybe 6 or 7 electrics and this is, by far, the most effective. Battery life is good. I get about 5 shaves per charge. I only use it dry, so I can’t say how it works wet or in the shower, but it says it is safe to do so. It’s a lot of money, but a great shaver.

If you are having trouble with razor bumps, and/or ingrown hairs, this may help with that problem. This shaver will not cut hair below the skin surface. Supposedly, even with a razor blade, you are not supposed to cut hair against the grain for this reason. So, if you compare a shave with a blade NOT against the grain to this shaver, I think this electric does a better job. This model has a timer on it so it tells you how long it took to shave and I average right about 5 minutes.

Rating:

Immediately after starting to use this product I was impressed. I get a very, very close shave with it — comparable to a razor, and without all the effort and mess. Plus, I find this to be a big time saver for me. It takes me about 3 minutes to do the job, and it gets done in the shower which is even better in the mornings when I’m pressed for time (i.e. running late). I’ve used it for almost 3 weeks so far, haven’t touched a razor balde since, and finding it fit into my routine more and more every day.

Big, big fan of this electric razor.

Pros:

* takes little time to charge — about an hour or less.

* it lasts the whole week on one charge.

* it gives a very smooth shave and doesn’t irritate sensitive parts of my face/neck as razor blades do.

* it is great to use in the shower

* I’ve been using it for almost 3 weeks so far and still haven’t had to clean it (it has an indicator to you when to clean it)

* I expect cleaning it to be super easy

* the travel case is slim, and won’t take up any more space in my luggage than the razor itaself does.

* pivot head / fixed head / sideburn edge

* heft and size. I have large hands, and this fits my mits well. Good solid weight too.

Cons:

* when recharging, the light is BRIGHT. I dno’t leave it charging overnight b/c the light from teh bathroom is noticeable in teh bedroom. Wow.

* more on the above — the light blinks too, which is doubly annoying

* doesn’t do a great job on one part of my face, just under the jaw line. I frequently have to do this part over. Not sure if it’s the razor or me. I’m going to blame the razor.

* costs a lot.

* replacement blades are going to hurt the pocket book when it comes time to get them.

* There isn’t a charging station. Some people might like just having a cord. I would like to have a cord AND a charging station for the price of the razor.

* worried that if I drop it, it’ll break.

On the whole, I’m very, very pleased with the product. I think it’s one very impressive piece of machinery, and I would be thrilled to receive it as a gift.

Rating:

* Closest shave of any electric shaver I’ve ever used in my entire life.

* Large, flexible head with multiple shaving foils is flexible and shaves my cheeks as closely as a straight blade does.

* Waterproof and very convenient to use in the shower.

* Easy to clean.

Cons:

* VERY expensive!

* Still can’t beat a straight blade when it comes to shaving my neck.

* Large head with multiple shaving foils makes it hard to shave precisely, which makes this a bad shaver for shaping beards and sideburns.

Conclusion:

For the price, it should do a better job with the neck. You can get a shave that’s ALMOST as good from one of the Panasonic shavers that costs half as much, and you still need a good straight blade to finish the job. Because it’s the best electric shaver I’ve ever used, I will give it four stars, but it’s far more economical to get a cheaper Panasonic and a straight blade.

Rating:

So that out of the way, I can start the review.

The shave:

Wet (wet means with shaving cream, not just water): This was the best shave I’ve had, neck, face, and all. I was always told you can’t get as close to shaving with a blade, but I can’t tell the difference. I was extremely pleasantly surprised.

Dry (before taking a shower): Wasn’t as close as the wet and not as comfortable but it was better than the Braun. Best dry shaver I’ve used.

Cleaning:

I was worried because there is an even more expensive model with the cleaning base which made me expect a long involved cleaning procedure. It doesn’t! Just rinse with water and push the power button long enough for it to go to cleaning mode (repeat with foil off). It freed me from having to buy cleaning cartridges I supposed so that’s a plus.

Other:

I feel guilty using it in the shower because of how much water/heat is wasted (lets say a few minutes of wasted hot water during the shave…). Also since it’s a little quieter than the Braun, I can tell that it’s going over an area that still needs to be shaved (hear hairs being cut). So I’d rather use it on a sink.

Instructions don’t say how to make the battery last longer. Should I charge after each use? Should I keep using it until it dies? Should I maintain a 50% charge? etc.

I could not download the manual online. The website-help directed me to buy it at the parts section. I told them I wanted to see the manual before I decide if I want the razor. I want to see how to clean it etc. They were very polite and thanked me for my feedback. But I still couldn’t download the manual online, I honestly would have a hard time buying anything expensive blindly without looking at the instructions.

I think even though buying an electric razor has a higher initial cost, one saves money in the long run as the cost of consumables is almost zero (as opposed to buying disposable razors).

I was pleasantly surprised the head pivots in 2 different directions so that I don’t have to point it carefully at my face.

Conclusion:

I highly recommend it. It’s my first Panasonic and I wish I had the chance to try Panasonics earlier.

I took 1 star off for lack of a user’s manual online and lack of battery care instructions.

EDIT (Dec 2009):

Thanks for the comments, there is the a link to the product manual in the comment section.

After using it for 2 months, I still think it’s the best shaver I’ve used. One drawback I found was that it’s hard to shave sideburns precisely with it since the head is so big (trimmer isn’t that great). The motor is in the head though so the size of the head is necessarily big.

Also, I agree with other reviewers about how a stand should be included. Washing it and then letting it sit on a towel is not the most elegant solution.