While it costs close to £200, Panasonic’s ES-LV9Q is one ludicrously high-tech shaver. Its five-blade cutting system cuts at an incredible 70,000 actions per minute to ensure no facial follicle goes unsliced. Meanwhile, its pivoting head moves to trail the different surfaces of your face and a sensor checks your beard density to give the heads more power where necessary.
Though the blades will eventually need to be replaced, likely after a year or so, they tend to last much longer than traditional razors do. At full power this device sounded like it was run by hearing Remington Shaver aid batteries. It was so slow with its blades it instantly gave me around 4 to 5 cuts on my neck. I persisted with using it until the end for the review but I could not use it a 2nd time.
If the requested exchange is no longer available, including items on waitlist and advance order, HSN will issue a refund and not deduct the HSN Return Label fee. I recently broke the microshield on mine so ordered a completely new razor because it was cheaper than replacing the part. This razor does not meet the standards of the previous one.
Braun’s Series 9 clean-and-charge base uses the same cartridges as the Series 7 base and is functionally identical. Replacement cartridges last about three months and cost about $25 for a four-pack. Replacement foils are considerably more expensive for the Series 9; they currently run about $50, compared with about $30 Remington Shaver to $40 for the Series 7. That extra power and performance come at a dollar and design cost. Series 9 razors are notably bulkier than Series 7 razors, and some testers found the Series 9 razors tough to maneuver in tight spots . You’ll need to replace the foil on your shaver more or less annually, depending on use.
We asked testers to evaluate each razor for closeness of shave, speed, and irritation. First, testers used the razors at whatever their standard “I need a shave” interval was. We then asked for a double-growth test—skipping a shave—and, as a go-for-broke scenario, a triple-growth test. The 7085cc and the 7020s provide the same high-quality shave as our pick, but they each come with different sets of accoutrements. We think the new 7071cc has the features that most people want or need, but prices tend to fluctuate, and if you find one of the others for significantly less you won’t be missing a lot by picking that model up.