How good is the Panasonic ARC5 ES-LV67-K? Do all of the features work like they’re supposed to? Is it better than the Braun Series 9 shaver?
Hold your horses – I’ll be addressing all of these questions and more in this article as I’ve hand-tested the mentioned shavers for the past month.
For convenience, I’ll be addressing this shaver as ARC5 LV67, the ‘K’ doesn’t really mean much – it’s merely a code for the black housing color.
If you bear with me, you’ll figure out all the strengths and weaknesses of this ARC5 unit and then consider whether you should purchase it or not!
“Panasonic ARC5 series has seen the merger of innovation and tradition with the ES-LV67-K electric shaver. It’s good for dry shaves and great for wets – yet in each case leaves silky smooth skin with zero irritation!”
Panasonic ARC5 ES-LV67-K Overview
Verdict
With the Panasonic ARC5 LV67, you get sufficient motor power, battery life is solid, superb build quality, probably one of the most effortless maintenance routines and of course – a shave so close that manual razors will feel shy.
Contents
- 1 Panasonic ARC5 Family
- 2 Unboxing the Panasonic ARC5 LV67
- 3 Standout Features for the ARC5 LV67
- 4 Panasonic ARC5 VS Braun Series 9 vs Series 7 : See the Differences
- 5 FAQ
- 6 Final Thoughts
Panasonic ARC5 Family
Did you know that the Panasonic ARC5 family has not one but three different base variants? These are quite easy to distinguish in terms of looks as they each host a separate type of housing.
Although these variants have updated generations upon the same keynote design which only come with an additional cleaning station, otherwise the exact replica in terms of features.
But looks-wise, one variant comes in silver with the oval travel lock around the power button. The most remarkable example of which is the LV65.
The more ergonomic variant is the one we’re dealing with today, the LV67, housed in black and contains a longer LCD panel.
Final variant of the family is the ALV6 – shares the same design with the LV67 but comes in a radiant red that resembles a Ferrari car, much like the BaBylissPRO foil shaver!
Note: The key difference between ARC5 LV67 and LV97 is the charging station and nothing more. The two shavers can be mentioned synonymously.
Unboxing the Panasonic ARC5 LV67
Since Panasonic ARC5 is an electric shaver, there exists very little hassle of maintaining a wide array of accessories inside the box.
The package design is compact, although it’s probably due to the unit I ordered doesn’t come with a cleaning station.
Inside the package, you’ll find the LV67 stored inside the leather travel case and instantly gives you a premium vibe.
Additionally, a charging cord permanently attached to the adapter is located with some lubes for the blades and a cleaning brush stashed at the side crevice.
However, you have the liberty to pick out the variant with the cleaning station and for that, the box is supposedly significantly larger.
Panasonic ARC5: Specifications
Let’s see the technical aspects of the Panasonic ARC5 LV67 to improve our knowledge on this awesome electric shaver!
- Dimensions: 16 x 7 x 4 cm
- Weight: 6.9 Ounces
- Color: Black
- Wireless: Yes
- Accessories: Oil, Charger, Brush
- Blade Type: Foil
- Blade Elements: 2+2+1
- Motor Power: 14,000 CPM
- Waterproof: Yes
- Display: LCD Panel
- Battery Runtime: Around 50 Minutes
Standout Features for the ARC5 LV67
A couple of standout features make the ARC5 what it is. Of course, I’ll elaborate on every important and necessary feature, but the important ones do get a higher priority.
Cool Design from Panasonic
Panasonic LV67 indeed comes with a fantastic design that leans toward sleek aesthetics rather than something extravagant. Time to break it down for the interested groomers!
What I Like
- Ergonomic handle and thumb rest
- Alluring color
- Feature-heavy yet simple
What I Don’t Like
- Might be a little large for some users
Minimalist Aesthetics
As you can see, there are two aspects of the entire shaver – the gigantic shaver head and the luxurious handle hosting the power button, LCD panel and charging port.
The top end of the shaver starts with a darker shade of black, especially the underside of the blade head.
Removable portion of the head matches with the color tone of the handle. Tilting section that adjusts to movement is draped in a matte-shiny golden.
Thumb rest is probably the darkest toned element in the entire shaver. Right underneath it reads wet/dry to tell the consumers about its capability.
A silver power button comes right after and is followed by the long LCD panel divided in 5 increment points to tell you about the battery level, travel lock and charging status.
Just the Perfect Grip
When it comes to grip level, there are very few premium electric shavers that can match with the ARC5 LV67 device.
There’s a solid feel to it when you grab a hold and the ergonomic housing retains grip at the maximum possible degree, rendering it capable of effortless movement even when your fingers are slippery with soap.
Thumb rest is a great addition to this shaver and this turns the gliding motion more effective and responsive for the groomer.
At the back, the rubber texture rarely parts with your fingers yet it’s not sticky or something uncomfortable. Overall, I absolutely admire the grip in this Panasonic shaver!
A Smart Blade System
The blade system in the Panasonic ARC5 series is more the same for every device but it still needs to be broken down for a better comprehension of what we’re playing at.
What I Like
- 5 types of blades
- 4 foil + 1 trimmer in the middle
- Adjusts to pressure
What I Don’t Like
- Wide blades can be tricky for tight spots
You know that the blade head is a composition of 5 elements or parts. Four of these elements are foil heads for rotational purpose, grabbing and feeding your flat hair to the blades efficiently.
These microthin outer foils are built with quality material, allergy free and function better than most other shavers in the market.
The middle element is a trimmer cassette and it’s the pivotal cutting element generating that close outcome.
All of these five elements in the ARC5 are pressure sensitive and they tilt between one side to another to ensure precise contour following and cover the crevices on your skin.
For a better overview, let me break down these 5 shaving elements for you:
- 2 Finishing Foils: These are the two foils at either edge of the blade system. Their job is to finish off the cuts beginning with the rest of the foils at each pass.
- 2 Quick Lift Foils: Quick lift foils are inverse tapered and are mostly functional for grabbing the flat lying hair missed out by the other elements.
- 1 Quick Slit Blade: It’s the basic cutting unit that shortens down the longer beard and prepares those for the other foil elements to fine tune.
Overall, the degree of comfort these elements manage to generate is actually astounding and I’ll elaborate on this in my experience section.
Additional Features in the Panasonic ARC5 LV67
While the basic features are out of the way, there is tons more stuff we need to learn about this ARC5 LV67 shaver and they are covered in the section hereafter.
What I Like
- 16-D floating head allows contour adaptation
- 14,000 CPM adjusts power based on beard density
- Motor is powerful enough to deal with any hair texture
What I Don’t Like
- Can cause irritation on longer beard
Weight
Almost 7 ounces of weight for an electric shaver of such caliber, housed with a powerful motor, hefty battery unit and larger than life shaver head is something truly worth appreciating.
It’s not only the weight, but also the balance that come together to make the ARC5 feel like a handy shaver up to the mark for perfect responsiveness.
There’s no chance of tiring your wrist even if you spend all day shaving with the LV67. It’s already a quality shaver and the weight class poses it as a valid candidate for barbers.
16-D Floating Head
Agile contour following hasn’t been ensured by only the tilting adaptability of the 5 blade elements, but also with a little help from the 16-D floating head.
A floating head implies that the shaver’s head can move and tilt in a total of 16 directions. Panasonic has indeed set the bar very high for other brands to catch up!
And such floating movement of the head doesn’t feel wobbly. Rather, it’s smooth and contains a certain degree of inertia which I think is perfectly balanced to keep it gliding against the skin.
There’s a lock for the floating head at the back of the shaver and activating it should only allow you to utilize the blade’s tilting.
Active Shave Sensor Technology
The Active Shave Sensor Technology has been a breakthrough in terms of technological prowess from Panasonic and the ARC5’s promotion of this has certainly been noticed by the grooming industry.
Panasonic claims that this intelligent shaving sensor embedded within the blade system can sense how dense your beard is 220 times per second and send an electronic signal to the motor.
Depending on the density of the beard, the motor automatically adjusts its power 14 times per second, beating the previous generation of ARC shavers by a landslide.
The benefit of this technology is comfort for your skin. Overpowering foils or blades do have a tendency to cause irritation and underpowered shavers generally cause tug or pull or unshaved patches.
Thus, the Panasonic ARC5 LV67 can be regarded as one of the prime choices for consumers with sensitive skin.
Powerful Motor
Although Panasonic hasn’t explicitly made the RPM of the motor unit inside this shaver, their information is more of a calculated presumption like many other brands do these days.
It’s said that the ARC5 LV67’s Hyper-Performance Linear Motor is capable of 14,000 CPM or cuts per minute. 70,000 cross cutting actions per minute is basically multiplying the 14,000 CPM of each blade unit into five.
These stats aren’t the standard benchmark at which the LV67 will constantly run, rather it’s the upper limit to tell you what the motor is capable of doing.
However, feeling-wise, I do sense that the motor is quite powerful, a little loud but nothing discomforting and the vibration is easy to handle.
LCD Panel
I’ve already told you a little bit about this LCD panel in the design section, let me add a little bit more to that.
This LCD panel is visible even under bright light so that’s one concern out of the way. It tells you almost accurately where you are in battery level.
Seeing this, you can prepare when it needs charge and when the charging has been completed. Although, I’d much rather prefer a more compact display instead of skimming through such a long column of numbers.
It’s a large enough portion of the handle and the numbers on display aren’t miniscule and are quite easy to make out.
Pop-up Trimmer
These days the latest electric shavers are including a pop-up trimmer for multiple purposes during your beard shaving task.
Such trimmers aren’t sturdy and don’t contain the sharpest of blades to remove bulk hair or go close to zero.
Rather this trimmer in particular is ideal for lining up your sideburn or picking out a couple of longer hair patches missed out by the shaver, especially in the tight spots.
It doesn’t pose any risk to the skin since the blades aren’t really that sharp. This pop-up trimmer can be engaged with the same notch you’d be using for locking the floating head.
Simply slide it up another degree further upon activating the tilt lock and the trimmer will pop out! It turns on or off with the same power button as the entire shaver.
My Experience with the ARC5 LV67
I’ve already had some experience with the Panasonic ARC5 LV67 before I sat down to write this article. Let me share some of the insight to see if this shaver is really worth the price!
What I Like
- Closeness is as good as manual razor
- Easy to operate and get clean
- Travel-friendly & great battery life
What I Don’t Like
- Wet shaves work better than dry
Shaving Closeness
Let me reiterate – the ARC5 LV67 cuts like a manual razor minus the risk of nicks. Gone are the days where you’d have to spend much time treating your wounds like a war hero after each shave.
And such closeness has been achieved by smart engineering from Panasonic’s part. After the shave, I could feel my skin as smooth as it can get with very little tactile feeling from hair extrusion.
But there’s a certain downside to it if you’re performing in longer hair that lies flat against your skin.
The ARC5 fails to pick up longer stubble and is actually meant for regular use. If you’re someone who prefers to take a hiatus between shaves, you may need to trim down your beard first with a separate device.
Also, an annoying aspect for the ARC5 LV67 is the couple of unshaved patches, especially one or two longer hairs that you simply can’t grab even after much effort.
So, the moral of the story is – use it on a shorter beard for a finer outcome!
Shaving Comfort
Now the bigger question – how comfortable is the Panasonic ARC5 LV67 on the skin? Does it really live up to the reputation across the grooming enthusiasts?
Well, the answer is yes for 95% of it. You have to press the shaver quite hard against your skin so that the shaving elements get closest possible to the skin.
It’s not harmful as the blade springs allow for that much pressure without complicating things. Even ones with sensitive skins can get away with this pressure and movement.
The rest of the 5% comes from the skin’s adjustability. First time I used the ARC5, bits of my skin irritated a little and I had to soon calm things down with cold water.
But it’s bound to happen if you introduce new cutting elements to your skin. Your skin will break even to adjust with this newer version of grinding on your skin.
And after a couple of weeks, I felt no such irritation no matter how fast or hard I glided the LV67 around my skin!
Dry/Wet Shave Quality
Video: Panasonic ARC5 Wet Shave
Panasonic ARC5 shaver’s housing reads this text ‘Wet/Dry’ right above the power button. It suggests that this shaver is capable of doing both on any given day.
I tested out shaving in both of these conditions to see the outcome, comfort and convenience. Well, my verdict goes with wet shaving over dry shaving – here’s why.
Dry shaves are okay, cuts close and quick. Cleaning is quite straightforward too but the comfort leaves a little lacking since I have sensitive skin.
Ones like me will have to go through a little extra effort to ensure comfort and even a finer outcome with a wet shave.
For that, I have to prepare my face, apply some shaving lotion or gel to begin with and glide over having the shaver blades moist with a little water.
Every now and then I had to rinse off the soap from the blades but it still isn’t as hectic as a manual shave.
Dry shaves took me around 5 minutes to get right while wet shaves cost something like 10 minutes.
Battery Life
This unit of Panasonic ARC5 carries a li-ion battery inside. Anything less would not be able to power such a magnificent motor for a longer duration.
From my assessment, the battery lasts around 50 minutes – above average and perfect for any given condition I’d say.
There’s a 3-minute quick charge option and the shaver takes around a couple of hours to get fully charged from zero.
The power adapter is universal, so you can charge it anywhere you like without a shred of doubt.
The 3-minute charge grants you a 5 minute shave – a handy feature in my opinion. Also, it holds up the same degree of power even at the last stages of the battery, no drag or pull experienced.
Travel Friendliness
Trust me, Panasonic ARC5 is one of those electric shavers you’d like to carry around when you’re traveling.
First off, it comes with the sturdy leather case inside which you’ll easily be able to stash the entire shaver.
However, the charger needs to come outside the case as it’s a compact one meant just for the device to ensure safety.
Also, a travel lock is embedded in the shaver. Turn the ARC5 on using the power button, press and hold the power button again for 3 seconds to activate the lock.
Once locked, you cannot turn the shaver on using the power button, instead, the LCD panel will light up and show you the lock sign.
Press and hold the power button again for disengaging the lock. With such features and the battery life, you could easily get away with a couple weeks without taking the charger with you!
Will the ARC5 LV67 Last?
In the question of durability, I’d say it’s a bit of both. In terms of housing, the ARC5 is solidly-built and definitely boosts confidence with the premium finish and expensive materials.
I dropped it accidentally and there was no dent or issue whatsoever. Although I wouldn’t be too sure what would’ve happened if it dropped on the foils as these are the weakest spots in this shaver.
But there are certain replacements you need if you want a prolonged partnership with the ARC5. Motors, housing, battery – these will last, blades and the foils are the ones I’m talking about here.
There are two inner blades that can one day turn blunt and demand replacement. The signs would be very apparent, so don’t worry about that.
These blades are the ones Panasonic has used all through their ARC series, so finding a replacement isn’t difficult – but mind you, it’s quite pricey.
Also, the foil element of the ARC5 LV67 can be prone to damage upon prolonged use. The foil is the same as the older ones and available on the market.
You can even get package deals for foils and blades if you want to replace both and cut down on the cost a little.
How I Tested the ARC5 LV67
The testing procedure for the Panasonic ARC5 LV67 began with weighing the shaver and measuring the dimensions.
Eventually, I began to closely observe the ergonomic points, see how the blade system responds to pressure over contours and the tilt adjustment of the head.
My tests stretched up to dry and wet shaves beginning with a 7 day stubble. Eventually, I figured out the sweet spot for intervals between shaves with a 3 day stubble.
Waterproof tests were done by submerging the ARC5 under shallow water for two minutes and performing a complete facial shave under running water.
Shaves have been timed to assess the efficiency as well as the battery life. Charging time was also clocked using a timer.
Miniscule tests like this have provided me with sufficient knowledge to conjure up the article you’ve read so far with the most authentic possible insight.
Who is the ARC5 LV67 For?
If you ask me who is the most ideal consumer for the Panasonic ARC5 LV67 shaver, I’d say both home groomers and barbers can find their unique benefits from it.
Yes, it’s a little expensive for daily home grooming since there are a lot of affordable alternatives.
But looking at the neat outcome, lasting quality and overall comfort as well as convenience, it’s worth the spent money in my opinion.
Especially those who are in a hurry in the morning and require the fastest yet closest possible shave without the least degree of hassle.
Barbers would adore the LV67 because of its battery life, ability to withstand rough-housing and the comfort it provides to the consumers with every type and density of beard.
How to Use the Panasonic ARC5 LV67?
It’s very easy to use the ARC5 LV67 shaver. If your shaver is properly cleaned and maintained, you can directly go to the shaving task out of the box.
The silver power button turns the shaver on and you need to press it against your skin tightly to perform the cutting actions.
Shaving toward the skin is the better way to go about it but you can go against it as well should your skin not be sensitive.
For wet shaves, rinse the shaver head every now and then to clean out the lotion or gel and keep the blades agile throughout the task.
The pop-up trimmer can be extruded using the slider at the back. Use it for outlining or grabbing some of the hair you might have missed out.
Glide the shaver in one line across areas, preferably upon stretching your skin. This usually generates finer results.
After the shaving is completed, you can proceed toward the maintenance phase and I’d say it’s a very important part for keeping your shaver healthy.
Panasonic ARC5 LV67 Maintenance
There are plenty of ways to clean and maintain your Panasonic ARC5 LV67 and none of these methods are hectic!
I’m describing the procedures assuming you didn’t order in with the cleaning dock like myself and I’d say the station isn’t really necessary for an easygoing shaver as such.
Firstly, press the two buttons at either side of the shaver head and unhinge it from the mechanism.
Then, brush away the stray hair from the chamber and tap the opened head to dump out existing hair particles. This usually works for dry shaves.
For wet shaves, firstly wash the entire head and then remove it. Rinse the head under running water and do the same for the exposed shaver head.
Here, you can press and hold the power button for 3 seconds when the shaver is turned off. You’ll hear the pitch of the motor shift to a higher end.
It’s the rinse mode that’s ready to be rinsed without splashing and it lasts 20 seconds. You can run it again if needed or just cut the power by hitting the on/off button again.
Mop up the shaver and the head using a fine piece of cloth rag. Leave both to dry for at least 24 hours before packing it.
For both cases, lube the two inner blades and the foil units, turn the shaver on for 30 seconds and then turn it back off.
It keeps the blades sharp and running for the longest possible time and ensures a smooth shave every time!
Panasonic ARC5 VS Braun Series 9 vs Series 7 : See the Differences
Feature/Quality | Panasonic ARC5 | Braun Series 9 | Braun Series 7 |
---|---|---|---|
Blade System | 2+2+1 | 4+1 | 2+1 |
Automatic Technology | Active Shave Sensor Technology | Sonic and AutoSense Technology | Autosense Technology |
Shaver Head | 16-D Flex Head | 10-D Contour Adaptation | 360° Adaptation |
Battery Life | Around 50 Minutes | Around 1 Hour | 50 Minutes |
Pop-up Trimmer | Yes | Yes | No |
Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
Of course there’s a huge difference in price between the Panasonic ARC5, Braun Series 9 and Braun Series 7, the gap between Series 7 and ARC5 being the smaller one.
There’s plenty to talk about and compare between these three iconic electric shavers, so let’s not waste more time and dive into the matter at hand!
Blade Technology
Each of these three electric shavers have built their blade system upon the same foundation of technology but the outcomes are quite different from one another.
ARC5 has 5 shaving elements much like the Braun Series 9. But their interpretations aren’t the same since ARC5 has 4 foil units with one cassette down the middle.
On the other hand, Series 9 has only two foil units, two cutting units and one skin guard unit. Series 7 comes with only two foils and one cutting cassette.
Performance-wise, I prefer the Series 9 since it’s more practical for grabbing flat hair as opposed to the rest of the two.
Thus, Series 9 has a certain edge of efficiency and is the top pick in blade tech. ARC5 is second to Series 9 and Series 7 is the least efficient in this category. So the prices are right here!
Contour Adaptation
Contour adaptation has to do with the blades’ pressure sensitivity and the shaver head’s tilt adjustment capability.
Series 7 is an older variant out of the three and thus has a weaker sport. The 360 head was good for its time but the newer Series 9 and Panasonic ARC5 have managed to beat this.
Braun Series 9’s shaving head moves in 10 directions for contour adaptation and can feel a little rigid at times.
It’s understandable as Series 9 went for precision as opposed to maximum adaptability that underperforms a little.
ARC5 seems to have gotten things right here – a 16 direction flexible head matched with the blade tilting – the rest of the two cannot surpass such finesse in design!
Shaving Closeness
If I disregard which mode of shaving we’re doing and look at the closest outcome overall, I’d say it’s a tie between Braun Series 9 and Panasonic ARC5, but the former holds a slight edge here.
This is because of the two cutting elements in the Series 9 whereas ARC5 has only one down the middle.
Using the extra element, Braun Series 9 shaver is able to make that extra cutting action with one less glide than the Panasonic ARC5 LV67.
Braun Series 7 goes quite close to the skin, but doesn’t resemble the neat outcome the newer electric shavers have to offer.
With Series 9 and ARC5, you’ll find your skin to be as smooth as silk but the variance lies within the operation mode and overall efficiency.
Versatile Shaving
All three of these shavers failed the longer stubble test in the versatility department. So hammer this down in your mind – electric shavers are for short, 3 day stubble only!
Secondarily, versatility means the ability of shaving in both dry and wet conditions. While all three are waterproof, their wet shaving prowess isn’t equally matched!
Let’s start dry. Braun Series 9 has indeed been the best dry shave electric device I ever used! It feels comfortable, cuts clean and finishes everything in a very limited time!
Panasonic ARC5 cuts good in dry too, but there are often unshaved patches needing few additional glides and the experience is slightly less appreciable than the Series 9.
On the other hand, ARC5 feels much better for wet shaves as opposed to Braun Series 9 and I think it has to do with the overall design.
Braun Series 7 trails behind these two shavers in dry and wet shaves, but it’s better equipped for dry ones from what I’ve seen.
Shaving on Sensitive Skin
Sensitive skin shaving is indeed a tough area and not a lot of electric shavers till date are equipped enough to navigate with utmost comfort.
However, the Braun Series 9 seems to be doing something right in this department and is rendered to be the most comforting and least irritation arousing on the sensitive parts.
I think it’s been achieved due to the lesser number of foils, more skin-comforting cutting elements and the skin guard that prevents the blades from directly grinding on the skin.
It’s a balanced design that goes very close yet maintains a fine line – thus no irritation or burns during or after the shaving session.
But this degree of comfort is matched by Panasonic ARC5 if you’re planning on a wet shave. Yes, it consumes some little extra time but the outcome is the same as the Braun Series 9 dry shave, or even a little better at times.
Braun Series 7 isn’t the most comforting shaver on sensitive skins if you hold it against the Series 9 or ARC5, but it has its own unique abilities.
Due to the blade head being thinner than the other two, you’ll find it easier to glide the Series 7 under your neck or over your lips – certainly something the wider heads come shy of doing.
Shaving Comfort
Overall comfort level implies any type of skin, all hair textures and every mode of shaving operation.
As a whole, the Braun Series 9 manages to stand out in the Panasonic ARC5 vs Series 9 vs Series 7 brawl.
Be that the titanium-coated cutting elements, motor power, accurate head tilting or the ergonomics that help the cause – the comfort level is undeniable.
ARC5 is mostly comfortable for wet shaves but the dry ones aren’t as generous as it is with a Series 9.
Had Series 7 more cutting elements and skin safe technology, it would equate to the other two in this case.
However, I wouldn’t say Series 7 shavers irritates skin or leaves you in agony, it’s just, Series 9 and ARC5 are the two most effortless shavers of their generation – hands down.
Battery Backup
Professional barbers usually prefer to keep a Braun Series 9 shaver in their arsenal because of its battery life and the station Braun offers with it (should you want it).
The raw battery life is around one hour – more than necessary for home use and perfect for the rough environments of a grooming parlor.
Also, the station with Series 9 not only charges the device up, but also cleans out the blades and lubes them up – completely ready for the next shave.
Panasonic ARC5 and Braun Series 7 each have around 50 minutes of runtime, but in my experience, ARC5 has generally lasted longer than the Series 7.
These two shavers as well offer separate stations for cleaning and charging. But none of them match the potential of Series 9 and it’s undoubtedly the best one in this category.
Grip Level
There are separate ways of looking at the grip levels of these shavers. For instance, Panasonic ARC5 offers the best grip in wet conditions, thanks to the rubber textures and thumb rest place.
While the Braun Series 9 lacks anything of the sort, the shape allows for a firm grip and you can place your thumb on the textured travel lock button. Not wise but it works out well.
Braun Series 7 isn’t texture-heavy or has a fancy thumb rest spot, but the size and weight of it can beat the two advanced shavers for delicate shaving tasks.
In the end, I really can’t pick between the three if I see from a broader spectrum and it comes down to preference in the end.
But overall, all three surpass the required degree of grip for a good shave and you can sleep on that knowledge.
Advanced Technology
Active Shave Sensor Technology in Panasonic ARC5 LV67 is what constantly senses the beard density and adjusts cutting actions accordingly by regulating motor power.
Braun Series 7 Autosense Technology does more or less the same as LV67 but with less number of detection and reaction.
Braun Series 9 contains the more advanced version of the Autosense Technology but the utilization of this technology comes very differently for this shaver.
Upon sensing the density, Series 9 blades create micro vibrations 10,000 times per minute to effectively feed the detected hair through the foils.
Also, it performs 40,000 CPM (10,000 CPM each unit) which in number seems less than the ARC5 but more efficient in the sense that there are two cutting cassettes in Series 9 as opposed to one in LV67.
Verdict: Although my verdict is a little subjective, that bias has been developed based on my experience and tests with these shavers.
Panasonic ARC5 LV67 is the better wet shaver of the lot because of the blade system and superior ergonomics.
For dry shaves, Braun Series 9 performs significantly well in both dry and wet conditions – the overall winner.
Braun Series 7 is the cheaper alternative of the two, capable of delivering almost similar performances and is easier to maneuver because of the slimmer size.
FAQ
Further clarification on a few things is required for the Panasonic ARC5 LV67 and these frequently asked questions should guide you toward the right direction!
Q: How long do Panasonic ARC5 blades last?
A: A rule of thumb is that the inner blades last two years with regular use (one full shave every two days) or sooner if you’re using in a barbershop. The outer foil needs replacement every year or if you feel the shaver isn’t cutting well (sooner or later than one year mark).
Q: Where is the Panasonic ARC5 made?
A: All of Panasonic’s premium shavers are made in Japan using their top-notch technology and equally superior materials. That’s why these devices perform so well and last longer than expected.
Q: Can I use a Panasonic ARC5 in the shower?
A: Yes! The Panasonic ARC5 LV67 is a completely waterproof electric shaver and is ready to be used inside the shower effortlessly, thanks to the great battery life. However, NEVER keep the device connected to the power cord while taking that inside shower as it can very easily be life-threatening.
Final Thoughts
So, we’re back to the broader question we began with – is the Panasonic ARC5 worth it? Considering the things it can do and where it’s priced, I’d say it’s definitely worth it!
Look at the price tag of the Braun Series 9 and the gap between these two premium electric shavers.
You’re getting almost similar outcomes and the overall technology invested behind the ARC5 makes shaving an experience you’d actually look forward to!
I’m keeping mine for good and going to be using it for as long as I can. If you’re a wet shaving enthusiast with sensitive skin, following my lead will do nothing but good for your skin!