We often buy electric shavers in the hopes that the device would swiftly chop your facial hair down to a silky smooth level but sadly, not all of the shavers out there come with such a capability.
To find out the best close shave electric razors, I had to go through experiments with different growth levels and utilize the top devices based on user review and personal experience.
After a couple of hectic weeks, I was able to sort down five of the premium electric shavers that actually can match with the smoothness of a manual shave.
On that note, let’s begin our journey through these unique electronic devices and see which one among them stands out for you as the most perfect choice!
Contents
Best Electric Shavers for Close Shave: 5 Top-Tier Tools
In this section, I’ll dissect each of the enlisted electric shavers individually in the hopes of unveiling their unique prowess that helps to achieve close outcomes!
| Product | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Braun Series 9 | Best Overall |
| Babyliss FX02 | Best Portable/Travel Shaver |
| Panasonic ES-LV-67 | Best for Wet Shaves |
| Braun Series 7 | Best Budget Pick |
| Panasonic ES-LV-65 | Best for Dry Shaves |
Note: The star ratings for each shaver is solely for close shaving capability and doesn’t represent their overall status.
Braun Series 9 9370cc Men’s Electric Shaver
Braun Series 9 shaver tops my list as one of the best close shave electric razors because of its unmatched performance and manual razor-like closeness at each shave.
I’m not exaggerating – this shaver indeed delivers a really close outcome over every type of facial hair, including black men – all credit is due to the advanced tech rallying behind the development of this variant.
First of all, the 5 cutting elements are the vital factor for achieving a close and prime outcome. Two of these are foil units, namely OptiFoils sitting on either end of the shaver head.
Two cutting cassettes sit in the middle, both meant to serve cutting purposes at each pass and removing hair from the root.
The Skin Guard protects your skin from the harshness of the cutting actions by maintaining a gap with your skin no matter how hard you may press the shaver.
Braun has topped it off with the SyncroSonic technology – a unique method of vibrating the motor by making 40,000 cutting actions each minute.
That way, all of the flat lying hair is efficiently fed through the blades and the motor is meant to adjust the power frequently to provide you maximum skin comfort and efficiency.
Also, the 10-Directional floating head adapts to your contour and adjusts itself at any given angle of your operation.
This movement can be restricted using the slider which also functions as the textured thumb rest spot to offer a firm grip.
Added to that is the highly ergonomic housing that fits into your palm perfectly, retains grip in both wet and dry shaving modes.
Braun Series 9 shaver is very lightweight and it’s quite surprising to be honest, considering the monstrous performance it’s able to deliver.
I found it to resist water ideally – be that a shave under the shower or using shaving lotions. The Series 9 offers closer and more comforting shaves in wet mode rather than dry.
The battery life is optimum for professionals as it can run for almost 60 minutes with a full charge. There are many variants of the Series 9, I picked the one with the Clean & Charge station.
This station automatically cleans and lubricates the blades as well as keeps the shaver fully charged. Without the stand, cleaning still isn’t very hectic.
If you ask me if the Series 9 shaver is worth the money in terms of close shaving, I’d definitely say yes! It’s durable, easy to use and provides uncanny shaving outcomes without ever faltering!
What I Like
- 5 cutting elements get very close to the skin
- Tilting head allows close shaves in tight spots
- Advanced technology enables efficient shaving results
What Could be Better
- Large shaver head can be a little tricky at tighter areas
BaBylissPRO MetalFX Foil Shaver
If you want a highly powerful electric shaver with the least amount of complications and maximum convenience of close shaving, look no further than the BaBylissPRO FoilFX02 shaver!
It’s a luxury electric shaver because of the way it’s built, the elements you’ll find to be pleasant and overall the mode of utilization that I’m about to break down to you.
Primarily, the Double Offset foil system is the secret behind all those close shave outcomes with the least amount of effort.
These two foils are diagonally aligned and are sensitive to pressure because of a spring mechanism. That way, you’ll be able to press the foils against your skin as hard as you’d like.
Also, the two foils function together to feed the blades as much hair as possible with each pass, rendering the shave a quick performance every time.
Vigorously pressing the foils over your skin won’t trigger any allergic reactions because of the hypoallergenic gold foils utilized in the FoilFX02.
This foil unit marks the BaBylissPRO MetalFX shaver as an ideal sensitive skin-friendly tool since the foils mitigate any razor bump or skin irritation.
I must mention the highly powerful 10,000 RPM motor unit powering the blades from the inside yet the noise levels are quite tolerable for daily use.
Such a motor guides the sharp blades through the coarsest of hairs and reduces everything down to a very close level often unmatched by some of the most expensive shavers!
Now let’s shift our focus to the housing design because that too is a valid consideration if you’re looking for highly close shaves.
There’s no ergonomic padding or rubber texture on the handle. Rather, everything is built with a solid metal case which can withstand all sorts of damage for the coming years.
Despite being a metal handle, it doesn’t heat up at all! But the downside is that the shaver is quite heavy and a little too wide for comfort.
The shaves with this device don’t take more than 6-8 minutes but you must do it over a stubble growth of 2 days or less.
You’re free to apply a shaving lotion but nothing more than that since the shaver isn’t waterproof. It’s meant to be used in dry mode only and therefore categorized as a top choice for traveling.
The 3 hour battery life only adds to my verdict on the shaver and it’s indeed perfect for sleek shaves with a very low degree of maintenance on your end!
What I Like
- Double Offset foil cleans out hair completely
- Powerful motor is perfect for any hair type
- Durable with a huge battery life
What Could be Better
- Can be fatiguing to hold on to for longer periods
Panasonic ARC5 Electric Razor for Men, ES-LV67-K
Panasonic ARC5 LV67 is deemed as one of the highly revered picks for close shaves, particularly in wet mode.
This shaver is identified by the matte black housing from its over variant – the ARC5 LV65. Also, the ergonomic design has been modified to enhance wet shaving actions to generate a closer look.
The ARC5 LV67 hosts a set of cutting elements quite different to the Braun Series 9. Out of the five cutting elements, four are foils endowed with anti-allergenic material.
Its fifth element is a shaving cassette placed right in the middle of all four foils. Underneath the cutting elements, there are five sharp blades angled at 30 degrees.
The angle and technology of these nanotech blades enable the shaver to reach very close to the skin and remove hair from the very beginning.
Much like the Series 9 shaver, the ARC5 LV67 contains an Active Shaving Sensor that reads beard density and adjusts power frequently, faster than the formerly mentioned device.
It also has a much faster motor unit, allowing the shaver to run the cutting elements at 70,000 CPM or cross-cutting actions per minute.
Additionally, its shaving head tilts in 16 directions, granting you the ability to keep the shaver attached to your skin with a better degree of precision and pulling out close outcomes.
Back to the ergonomics, this shaver is meant to be used in wet modes. The dedicated thumb rest spot is built with rubber and never seems to slip out at any given moment in action.
You can already tell, it’s waterproof and can be rinsed underneath the tap or dunked into water for a quick and easy cleaning.
It comes with a battery life of 50 minutes – ideal for a shaver of such caliber and delivering power to the blades at optimum and unfaltering torque.
I personally don’t rely on the automatic features, rather the flexibility of locking the head movement using the slider at the back is something I use more frequently.
Dry shaving outcomes are quite close but the better results are observed particularly in wet modes.
Also, it causes little to no irritation if shaved in wet using a shaving gel or foam. Make sure to situate yourself beside a basin and apply the shaver on a maximum of 3-day stubble.
So, this foil-enhanced ARC5 shaver won’t cost you an arm and a leg. Although seemingly expensive for many, the close outcomes are actually worth more than what you’d be paying!
What I Like
- Great close outcomes in wet modes
- Ergonomic design allows for skin-close operation
- Easy to use and maintain
What Could be Better
- Large shaver head can compromise cutting mustache or other narrow spots
Braun Series 7 7071cc Flex Electric Razor for Men
The newly redesigned Braun Series 7 shavers from the 7xxx series have become a popular consumer choice as a budget variant to the Series 9 device for close shaves.
It’s a budget pick in my opinion if considering all the perks you’ll be getting with the purchase. This shaver shares all the latest technology with the Braun Series 9 device, so that’s a valid point of consideration.
Starting off with the AutoSense technology, the Series 7 shaver has got it too, helping the device to keep on calibrating motor power based on the variables of facial hair.
It doesn’t have 5 cutting elements like the Series 9, rather a minimal two Senso Foils and one cutting cassette in the middle is there to get the job done.
On the downside, it doesn’t cut as swiftly as Braun’s latest installment but the upside is that the shaver can get almost as close with additional passes.
The blades are just as sharp as Braun Series 9, although there are many differences you should ponder over.
These cutting elements respond to pressure as well, granting your skin the necessary safety for close operations.
Also, the shaver head interpretation is quite unique on this device. There’s no tilt lock mechanism here and it attempts to adapt to your contour no matter how you hold on to it.
This shaver head technology is branded as the 360 Flex Head by Braun, flaunting its prowess to tilt and adjust in 8 different directions.
While other foil shavers have to rely on a 2 or 3 day stubble, the Easy Click feature along with a trimmer head lets you trim off longer beards for a smooth operation.
The housing is sleek, easy to hold on to and has a sufficient amount of rubber ergonomics to retain full grip in both dry and wet conditions.
It’s so convenient to use that even elderly people can utilize the shaver very easily without having to struggle with advanced tech!
Due to the waterproof nature, you can shave in wet mode, clean it up as you like or if you’re looking for convenience like me, just stash it into the Clean & Charge station.
This shaver lasts for around 50 minutes with a full charge and I’m more than happy with this degree of battery durability, along with the general endurance of the entire shaver unit.
It’s definitely a cost-efficient electric shaver if all the features are compared against the price. In my opinion, the Series 7 is indeed one of the best electric shavers for close shaves due to uncountable reasons!
What I Like
- Minimal design leads to close outcomes
- Fine results with less cost than Series 9
- Easy Click allows for longer beard trimming
What Could be Better
- Power button isn’t highly responsive
Panasonic ARC5 Electric Razor for Men, ES-LV65-S
Panasonic ARC5 LV65 shares an uncanny resemblance with the LV67 when it comes to features, but there are certain factors that pose the former as a unique close shave device!
Unlike the LV67, the LV65 variant from Panasonic is equally adept at shaving in both wet and dry, delivering really close outcomes in both of the given modes.
The cutting elements in the two shavers are identical – 4 foil units with a singular cassette – although their heads are not interchangeable due to the unique designs.
Tilting head in the LV65 works in the same way with the back slider locking the mechanism and a further push sliding out the pop-up trimmer for outlining the hair or beard.
You’ll see the major difference in the housing design. Draped in a shiny, eccentric silver, the LV65 is a very attractive electric shaver in my opinion.
Also, the LED power level indicator shows more information than the LV67. In the LED display, you’ll find notifications like Active Shaving Sensor tech or cleaning warnings.
Another thing to add is that the LV65 can run in two modes – the first one with the sensor on which adjusts motor power based on beard density.
The other mode uncaps the limitation on motor power and you’ll be able to get the raw performance out of the device.
Because of this, you can unleash the LV65 to its full potential and shave off your facial hair from the very root to render the finest possible outcome.
There’s no dedicated, ergonomic thumb rest space in the LV65, therefore it’s not an exclusively wet shaving tool.
It shares the 30-degree honed blades underneath the cutting elements with the LV67 – sharp blades capable of removing every type and texture of beard.
I mostly prefer water resistant electric shavers for the ease of cleaning, maintenance and wet shaving capabilities. Fortunately, the LV65 ticks all three of these boxes.
However, the LV65 lacks a little in the battery department as opposed to the LV67 – running up to 45 minutes at a stretch.
Another thing to add is the travel lock feature. The ring around the power button locks or unlocks the device from accidental set offs, so that’s a relief!
The handle on this shaver is quite sleek, straightforward to use and thus marks it as a very convenient device to achieve close shaves with the least effort!
What I Like
- Can close shave in both wet & dry
- Full throttle makes fine shaving a faster operation
- Sleek design
What Could be Better
- Large shaver head
Why Trust My Verdict?
I’m a fan of close shaving since I prefer to keep my facial hair clean at all times. Replacing my manual razor has been a dream and finally through the tests, I could figure out the perfect tool for myself as well!
The shavers I’ve primarily reviewed in my journey are based on consumer response, professional opinion and personal experience.
You may already know, I currently possess a huge library of electric razors solely for reviewing purposes.
So from my primary sortings, I exclusively tested out the shavers to narrow them down into only 5 devices so that you may find the liberty of picking one out of them with solid confidence!
Test Results for the Best Close Shave Electric Razors
So, here are the test results for the best electric shavers for close shave based on 4 mandatory metrics to assess close shaving performance and a final metric for generic user satisfaction.
Closeness of Shave
Since all five of my picks in this article are premium devices, the performances are quite similar in many regards and that includes the closeness of shaving.
The closest you’ll get to the skin is with the Braun Series 9 shaver in both shaving modes and the Panasonic ARC5 LV67 in wet mode only.
Next in line are the Panasonic ARC5 LV65 and BaBylissPRO FoilFX02 and they’re almost as close as the top dogs I’ve just mentioned.
Finally, with its new and unique design, Braun Series 7 somehow manages to fail to meet the closeness standard of the rest of the four electric razors.
Skin Comfort
Although it doesn’t directly concern close shaving outcome, skin comfort is also a necessary discussion for the matter.
Because to achieve a very close shave, you’ll have to press the shaver against your skin very tightly and some electric razors can bring severe consequences for that.
From my listings, the two Panasonic shavers are the most comfortable on skin and ideal for people with sensitive skin, be that wet mode or dry.
Braun Series 9 shaver is a little less comfortable in dry mode but makes up for it in the wet, landing the device the second spot here.
BaBylissPRO FoilFX02 and Braun Series 7 shaver come home third as they require some break-in phase for your skin and until then, your skin may burn a little after the shave.
Shaving Efficiency
Shaving efficiency is measured by the amount of time you require achieving each close shave which is a byproduct of sharp blades and motor power.
The two Panasonic shavers and Braun Series 9 shavers are tied for first in this argument because all three of these shavers can craft very close shaves in minimum time.
Braun Series 7 lags a little way behind since it lacks a couple of cutting elements as well as the motor unit isn’t as agile as the top 3.
Finally, with all the might of a strong motor and really sharp couple of blades, BaBylissPRO shaver is the one to finish the list solely because of its limited number of foils and lack of wet shaving capability.
Contour Adaptation
The Panasonic ARC5 LV65 and LV67 offer the most diverse contour adaptation from the lot – 16 directional tilting to follow all the nooks and crannies of your face with utmost efficiency.
Braun Series 9 isn’t as agile in keeping touch with skin yet it manages to get close shaves done with added pressure, therefore the 10 directional head movement is placed in second spot.
With its 8 directional 360 Flex Head, Braun Series 7 ranks third in this adaptability measurement. I’d give it slightly better marks if it had a tilt locking mechanism which is essential for certain parts.
In the end, the BaBylissPRO FoilFX02 completes the list because of the lack of a proper tilting head. The only way adaptation works for the device is through the pressure sensitivity of the foils.
Ease of Cleaning and Maintenance
Final consideration of our assessment is how easy it is to clean and maintain each of these devices, because a lot of consumers out there don’t prefer shavers that are hectic to keep up with.
Braun Series 9 is the most convenient in this regard – easy to clean and maintain using the Clean & Charge station. Without this, things are still pretty straightforward.
Second spot is a tie between Braun Series 7 and the two Panasonic devices. The former comes with a station as well for cleaning and lubrication.
The latter two share the fact that these shavers are water resistant, their heads come off easily and it only takes a couple minutes to fully get things done after each shave.
BaBylissPRO FoilFX02 shaver has scored the least in this category because of its non-waterproof housing. This makes cleaning a little tricky as it needs to be done with a dry brush and consumes a little more time than the rest.
Buyer’s Guide: Picking the Best Close Shave Electric Razor
Based on what I’ve been able to conjure up so far from my tests, knowledge and overall research, the Braun Series 9 is the most complete close shave device.
It’s endowed with all of the latest technology but doesn’t pour things over the top. The shaver is easy to use, convenient to maintain and overall a gem to have at your disposal!
The BaBylissPRO FoilFX02 is also great for close shaves but it can be further utilized as a portable or travel shaver because of its size, durability, straightforward usage and the metal lid that protects the foils.
Panasonic LV67 is designed in such a way that caters to wet shaving and generates the finest outcomes should you stick to this method.
Braun Series 7 is a budget option to achieve closer shaves, sharing the latest technology and features from Braun despite coming at a much affordable price point!
Finally, Panasonic LV65 is considered to perform efficiently and closely in the dry mode, better than the rest of the devices on my list. So for all the dry shaving enthusiasts out there, the LV65 should be your final pick!
FAQ
Time for us to find some answers! That’s why, some of the burning questions about electric razors and close shaves online are answered in this FAQ section.
Q: Which type of electric shaver gives the closest shave?
Ans: The general opinion is that manual razors tend to give out close shaves. But days have changed since newer technology has improved both foil and rotary shavers on the market. If we’re considering all the top shavers, then I’ll have to side with foil shavers as the answer.
Q: How do I make my electric razor shave closer?
Ans: There are certain aspects to make your electric razor shave closer. For instance, a good and healthy pre-shave routine certainly helps out. Also, small, quick strokes using the shaver is the best approach and make sure there’s little to no gap between skin and blade. Make a couple strokes toward your grain and one against – all of these should give you a closer shave.
Q: Why can’t I close shave with my electric razor?
Ans: It could be because of a few things. One, the electric razor you own might not have the capability to close shave. Two, the blades could be dull, the motor could be weak or the device could be faulty in any way. Three, you’re not following the proper technique to achieve a close shave. So reconsider your footsteps with these info and you’ll certainly find your answer!
Concluding Remarks
No matter which of the shavers I suggest for you, at the end of the day it’s up to you to find your best close shave electric razor from the market.
But now you know what to look for in your perfect shaver and have a baseline of premium close shave razors against which you’ll be able to compare your choice.
Remember, a close shave electric razor isn’t a very common thing and the cost therefore may become a little more than convenient while purchasing.
Once you’ve made your purchase after understanding what sort of shaver you actually need, you’ll realize you’re getting your money’s worth with each clean, neat and smooth shaving outcome!