What's The Best Foil Shaver (2024)? The Definitive Buyer's Guide • ShaverCheck

Switching to an electric razor can offer quite a few benefits — convenience and comfort being among the most compelling ones.

Electric shavers, as you probably know, come in two flavors: foil and rotary.

Personal preference aside, there are some specific advantages to using one or the other.

In this article, I’ll go over the most important traits of foil shavers and why I consider them to be a better option for most users.

We’ll also take a look at some of the top picks for 2024 and help you decide which foil shaver would work best for you.

If you want to skip ahead to my list of recommended foil shavers, here it is:

1. Panasonic Arc 5 ES-LV65-S

very close shaves, affordable, powerful

2. Braun Series 9 PRO+ 9567cc

close shaves, versatile, very comfortable

3. Panasonic Arc 6 ES-LS8A-K

very close shaves, very comfortable, powerful

4. Panasonic Arc 4 ES-LF51-A

very close shaves, affordable, compact

5. Braun Series 8 8457cc

close shaves, comfortable, versatile

6. Braun Series 3 ProSkin 3040s

comfortable, low cost of ownership, compact

7. Braun Series 5 5118s

powerful, low cost of ownership, comfortable

8. Panasonic Arc 3 ES-LL41-K

close shaves, compact, affordable

Table of Contents

The foil shaver was a major evolution of the original electric shaver patented by Jacob Schick.

Before the foil, shearing blades were being used (similar to those of a hair clipper) and that design had significant limitations.

The closeness wasn’t great and the exposed blades could easily nick the skin.

Remington was the first company to use the micro-foil: a thin, perforated metal screen that covered the blades and vastly improved the comfort during use.

The design has been constantly refined throughout the years, but the basic principle remained the same.

New machining techniques allowed manufacturers to come up with very thin foils, allowing the shavers to cut the hairs very close to the skin.

Foil shavers use sharp reciprocating (oscillating) blades that move sideways at very high speeds behind a protective screen, cutting the hairs that poke through the perforations in the foil.

Most of today’s modern electric shavers feature at least two micro-foils, but also include specially designed cutting elements that can capture and trim longer, flat-lying hairs.

The more advanced electric foil razors can have two or even three specialized cutting elements alongside the regular foils.

Let’s check out some of the more popular approaches.

Below you can see two different implementations of a 4-blade cutting system.

On the left, the Braun Series 9 uses two special trimmers flanked by two regular foils.

These trimmers have specific roles, but there can be some overlap.

One is designed to capture hairs that grow in different directions, while the other one (gold trimmer) lifts and cuts flat-lying hairs.

The two outermost foil cutters (OptiFoil) will then cut the remaining stubble at skin level.

The Panasonic Arc 4 on the other hand only has one trimmer for tackling longer hairs and three foils for cutting hairs very close to the skin.

It’s the same story with other Panasonic Arc 4 variations:

As a result, the Braun Series 9 is better at shaving longer, flat-lying hairs that grow in different directions.

Panasonic generally offers a closer shave, but it’s not as good at shaving those longer whiskers.

While having more blades doesn’t necessarily translate into a massive performance bump, foil shavers that feature 4 or even more individual cutters are usually top performers.

They generally have more powerful motors, superior flexing capabilities of the shaving head, and are more feature-rich.

The Arc 5 line from Panasonic for example features a 5-blade shaving unit.

Below you can see a closeup of the Panasonic Arc 5 ES-LV65-S shaving head, with four micro-foils and one middle trimmer.

The more recent Panasonic Arc 6 takes things to the extreme with 6 individual cutters.

It uses 4 foil elements and 2 slit trimmers that capture and cut difficult long hairs as opposed to the Arc 5’s single trimmer:

As mentioned previously, Panasonic‘s take on the ultimate foil electric shaver shows an emphasis on closeness, while Braun razors excel in comfort and shaving longer, wiry hairs.

We’ll take a closer look at the different models later on.

Foil shavers use a different approach compared to their rotary counterparts, but both can yield excellent results.

This difference leads to specific advantages in the case of both, making them more or less suitable for a particular use case.

Let’s see what are the pros of foil electric razors.

1. Foil shavers offer the closest shave.

This seems to be generally accepted among men who use electric shavers and it also reflects my personal stance on this matter.

I’ve been using electric razors for more than 20 years and have come across quite a few, both rotary and foil.

At least in my particular case — coarse facial hair and sensitive skin — I almost always get better results in terms of closeness when using foil shavers.

The reason for this is probably the micro-foil itself, being extremely thin.

The metal combs found on rotary razors are usually thicker and they act as a physical barrier between the blades and the skin.

The thinner the barrier, the closer the shave.

There are of course men who prefer rotary razors and actually get better results using them and that’s perfectly fine as well.

You should always use whatever works best for you.

2. They’re better suited for sensitive skin.

This is another generally accepted idea in the electric shaving community: foil razors seem to work better for sensitive, irritation-prone skin than rotary shavers.

Some rotary shavers, particularly the ones in the lower-end segment, tend to pull the hairs and even pinch the skin.

Philips Norelco’s older models that use the so-called Super Lift&Cut blades are notorious for doing that.

I find them to be less forgiving than a decent foil shaver, especially when you’re a bit sloppy with your technique.

Again, this may not always be the case and your mileage may vary.

Anecdotal findings should be considered a starting point, they’re not by any means absolute truths.

3. Foil shavers are easier to clean manually.

A cleaning station can be very practical for cleaning, sanitizing and lubricating your razor after every use.

However, not all electric razors come with one.

And some of these stations aren’t as good as others and the associated costs are higher (purchase price, cleaning solution).

In this case, your only option is to clean your razor manually.

Rotary razors require a thorough cleaning that must be performed every once in a while.

This implies taking apart the shaving head and individually cleaning each cutter.

It’s a somewhat fiddly and time-consuming operation.

Also, the cutter and comb pairs must not be intermixed since they are matching pairs and doing so will affect the performance of the razor.

Things are usually a lot simpler with foil shavers.

For the majority of foil shavers, a manual clean is very easy and straightforward and only requires tap water and (optionally) some liquid soap.

However, some foil shavers are easier to clean than others.

For example, in the case of most Panasonic and Remington shavers, you can separate the inner blades from the foils and you have better access to clean them thoroughly.

On the other hand, Braun uses these so-called cassettes, with the blades and foils merged into a single piece, with somewhat limited access and making it more difficult to remove hardened dirt buildups.

In the above image, you can see the outer foil of a Panasonic Arc 4 (left) vs the cassette of a Braun Series 9 (right).

That’s why cleaning your shaver regularly is so important, it will make your life easier in the long term.

Also, I consider Braun stations more practical and useful compared to Panasonic for example, particularly in the case of more advanced shavers that also come with more complex cassettes.

I will get into more detail about the stations and their pros and cons when we take a look at the actual shavers.

4. Foil shavers are better for touch-ups and finesse work.

A cutting system with a straight edge allows you to have more control when shaving tricky areas, like around your sideburns or goatee.

By using just the top foil you can get very close to the nose for example when shaving the upper lip area.

Doing that is a lot more difficult when shaving with a rotary.

Also, by using straight, shorter strokes as opposed to circular overlapping motions you have more precision compared to a rotary razor.

This very straightforward operation also makes foil shavers an excellent choice for beginners.

5. A wider selection of brands and models.

While your only viable option for a rotary razor is Philips (Norelco), there are a lot of options from Braun, Panasonic, Wahl, Andis, Xiaomi, BaByliss and Remington in the case of foil shavers.

The best foil shaver is ultimately the right foil shaver.

When deciding which electric razor to buy, you should consider the following:

In the next section, I’ll go over some of my favorite foil shavers; for each one, I will point out its key features and what exactly makes it a suitable option in a particular situation.

Side note: I own all the shavers recommended in this article and I’ve been using most of them for years. These are in my opinion the best picks right now for various budgets and use cases.

See the price on Amazon

Also available at Walmart, Panasonic.com.

Deal alert: The newer Panasonic Arc 5 ES-ALV6H can sometimes be found at a lower price and it’s identical in terms of performance (it uses the same foil and blades).

The Arc 5 is a premium line of electric shavers from Panasonic, the other big name in the foil shavers camp alongside Braun.

And until the launch of the Arc 6 in 2021, the Arc 5 was Panasonic’s most advanced foil razor.

Currently, there are four generations of Arc 5 shavers and except for the original models, they’re all still available.

While they are different in terms of design, price and included accessories, the performance is similar, especially regarding the closeness of the shave.

The newer generations bring along a host of improvements, like an all-metal body for several models and two comfort rollers, but the price of the shavers is still pretty high and the availability in the USA for example is limited.

And that’s the main reason why the Panasonic ES-LV65-S (or the ES-LV67-K/ES-ALV6H) from the previous generations represents the best choice for most men.

They cost a whole lot less, but they’re still very similar performance-wise, particularly with regard to the closeness of the shave.

And because these Arc 5 models don’t include an automatic cleaning station, they cost significantly less than other Arc 5 razors that come with one.

And to be perfectly honest, you don’t need one.

Panasonic shavers are extremely easy to clean manually and even include a special cleaning mode that makes the blades vibrate extremely fast, dislodging any stubborn dirt.

I’m personally not a fan of Panasonic cleaning systems because of the way they handle the cleaning fluid.

They use this open tray where you would mix the concentrated detergent with water and you cannot store it later on like you can with a Braun cartridge.

There are also almost no third-party alternatives to Panasonic’s cleaning detergent.

With Braun, there are quite a few, very affordable and you can even make your own from scratch.

I never end up using Panasonic stations, so I just buy the single shaver variations and also save some money doing so.

Again, there’s nothing wrong with the station, it’s very effective and works flawlessly, I just don’t consider it as practical or necessary.

The area where the Panasonic Arc 5 shavers excel is shaving performance, particularly the closeness of the shave.

With a very fast 14 000 CPM motor, 5 cutting elements and blades that are honed at a very aggressive 30-degree angle, the Panasonic ES-LV65-S is capable of providing extremely close and fast shaves.

In my personal experience, Arc 5 shavers outperform even the Braun Series 9/Pro/PRO+ when it comes strictly to the closeness of the shave.

On the other hand, Braun has the edge in terms of comfort and versatility.

I would like to point out that the Series 9 is also more effective when used on longer facial hair, especially if your whiskers tend to lie flat on the skin and grow in different directions.

Therefore, the Arc 5 performs the best when used on shorter facial hair, making it ideal for shaving more often.

How often actually depends on how fast your beard grows, so you can get great results even if you shave every few days.

The ES-LV65-S is a great choice for men who want very close and fast shaves. The powerful motor and very sharp blades make it ideal for coarse hair.

All Panasonic razors are waterproof and also perform outstandingly when used with shaving cream.

So if wet shaving is your thing, you won’t be disappointed with the ES-LV65-S or any other aforementioned Arc 5 models.

Tip: Instead of regular shaving cream, try the Jack Black Beard Lube. It’s a non-foaming shave balm that works great with electric razors.

The massive foil of the Arc 5 covers large surfaces with ease and can be successfully used for shaving your head as well.

Also, the new outer foil of the latest Arc 5 models is backward compatible with the older shavers.

That means you can give your Arc 5 an upgrade when it’s time to replace the foil (here’s a complete guide on Arc 5 foils & blades).

See the price on Amazon

Also available at Walmart.

Deal alert: If you can get the previous Braun Series 9 Pro 9465cc for less money, it shaves exactly the same.

While the Series 9/9 Pro/9 PRO+ is probably the most comfortable and versatile foil shaver you can buy in 2024, it used to cost a lot and particularly the newer models were difficult to find.

However, the price has dropped steadily over the years and pretty much any Series 9 now represents an attractive option in the high-end segment.

Moreover, the newer Pro and PRO+ variations of the standard Series 9 can cost even less in 2024, which is why I decided to pick the PRO+ over the regular model.

The differences between them are subtle though, with the Pro and PRO+ feeling ever so slightly more powerful.

As such, the price should be the decisive factor when choosing between the regular S9 and the Pro/PRO+.

With 4 foil elements, a powerful motor and a very practical flexible shaving head, the Series 9 (PRO+) is equally effective on short and longer stubble.

This is in my opinion the greatest asset of the Series 9 and its main advantage over most other foil razors.

Braun’s implementation of specially designed cutters makes the Series 9 better at dealing with longer, flat-lying hairs than any other foil razor.

The Series 9/Pro/PRO+ is also one of the most comfortable electric shavers I’ve used so far.

It’s an ideal option for men with very sensitive skin as well.

If you have very coarse facial hair, you don’t shave very often, want one of the most comfortable and fast shaves and the price is not an issue, then the Series 9 is the one for you.

Also, it’s one of the better choices for men who also shave their head and don’t want a separate tool for that.

The closeness of the shave with the S9 PRO+ is very good, but not quite the best among high-end shavers.

The Panasonic Arc 5 and Arc 6 are still the best when it comes strictly to the closeness of the shave, but the comfort of the Braun Series 9 and its effectiveness on longer stubble is unmatched.

You can check out my Series 9 vs Arc 5 comparison for all the details.

I would personally go for a variation of the Series 9 that includes a clean & charge station, like the non-Pro 9370cc or the 9465cc/9567cc.

These models are usually available in many countries and the price is also better compared to other similar Series 9 variations.

However, if you can’t get these models, you can safely opt for another 93xx, 94xx or 95xx Series 9 as the actual performance will be identical.

The Series 9 cc models come with a very handy cleaning system.

Manually cleaning a Braun shaving head can get fiddly in time and the station is really practical.

And if you follow a few simple steps, the cleaning solution will last a very long time.

You can even take the refill cartridge out of the station, put the cap back on and store it for future use. Doing so will also prevent the alcohol from evaporating.

You cannot do that with a Panasonic station for example.

Moreover, you can find a few inexpensive and excellent third-party Braun cleaning solutions that will save you a lot of money in the long run.

See the price on Amazon

Also available at Panasonic.com.

As mentioned earlier, the Arc 6 (aka Series 900+) is now Panasonic’s flagship shaver.

Initially a Japan-exclusive release, the Arc 6 was finally made available in the USA in June 2022, almost one year later.

The two available models are the ES-LS8A-K (no cleaning station) and the ES-LS9A-K (includes an automatic cleaning station).

The performance of the two is identical.

And while the Arc 5 was already pushing it with its 5 blades, the Arc 6 features a massive shaving head with 6 active cutters.

Yes, it is overkill and they probably could have achieved similar performance with fewer blades, but that doesn’t mean it can’t work well.

In fact, it shaves amazing and the Arc 6 is Panasonic’s best shaver yet.

That said, there are a few reasons why most users should probably stick to the Arc 5, at least for the time being.

While the availability is not an issue anymore in most countries, the Arc 6 still has a premium price tag.

Also, after using an Arc 6 for almost a year and alternating between it and an Arc 5, I can safely say that the main improvement the Arc 6 brings is in the comfort department.

It is noticeably gentler and more forgiving than let’s say an ES-LV65-S.

So men with irritation-prone skin will benefit from using an Arc 6 over the older Arc 5 models, especially when shaving dry.

The Arc 5 can come across as too aggressive if you have sensitive skin.

If you don’t have that problem, then you probably should save some money and get the Arc 5.

If however you want the closest possible shave and need a comfortable razor as well, the Arc 6 is arguably the best out there right now.

Granted, it’s not quite as comfortable as a Series 9, but it can cut the hairs closer to the skin, particularly if you have a dense and coarse beard.

I can definitely notice a smoother shave, especially below the nose and on the chin.

I would rate the closeness on the same level as the Arc 5 though, so I don’t think it’ll be an upgrade in that regard.

The Arc 6 will however provide the same closeness while being gentler to the skin.

The foils also remain cool to the touch provided they are regularly lubricated.

Where the Arc 6 falls short, especially when considering the supposed upgrades it brings in that area, is when shaving longer, flat-lying hairs.

It is more effective than other Panasonic shavers with its two slit trimmers, but still nowhere near as good as the Series 9 or Series 9 Pro/PRO+.

If you tend to shave twice a week or less, I think the Braun S9 would be a better choice.

You will work harder with the Arc 6 to catch those longer, flat-lying hairs, especially on the neck.

So definitely consider a Series 9 or Arc 5 before splurging on the Arc 6.

Depending on your needs, those could actually be better and more economical options.

Tip: The newer Arc 5 (also sold as the Series 900) that comes with a new foil is a particularly compelling alternative to the Arc 6 as it costs less and shaves almost the same.

See the price on Amazon

UPDATE 2024: Unfortunately, this model (and the replacement foil/blades) are getting difficult to find. The best alternative would be the Arc 5 ES-LV65-S at number 1.

The ES-LF51-A is arguably the best shaver in Panasonic’s old Arc 4 family and it represents a very compelling package.

This shaver provides very close and fairly comfortable shaves and it has the same 14 000 CPM motor as the more expensive Arc 5 and Arc 6 shavers.

However, its 4-blade shaving head is significantly smaller, so the shaver feels a lot nimbler and it’s easier to use.

The performance of the ES-LF51-A is remarkable for its price, making it a great deal in terms of cost and performance.

The closeness and power in particular are impressive and it doesn’t seem inferior to the 5-blade Panasonic models.

The compact and narrow shaving head also makes it a great option for beginners.

You will not get a cleaning station, but as mentioned previously, Panasonic shavers are very easy to clean manually.

For more details, make sure to check out my Panasonic ES-LF51-A review.

See the price on Amazon

Also available at Walmart.

Deal alert: If you don’t want a cleaning station, you can get the Braun Series 8 8417s for less money. The shaving performance will be identical and you can even buy a station later on.

The Series 8 from Braun is a very interesting line of electric shavers.

It’s the closest in Braun’s current lineup to the legendary (and discontinued Series 7).

I would still give the old Series 7 the edge, but the Series 8 is nevertheless a highly capable shaver and it’s pretty similar to the 7 in many ways.

The 8457cc is probably the pick of the Series 8 range as it’s widely available and costs less than other cc Series 8 models (that perform identically).

In fact, all Series 8 models, regardless if they start with 83 or the newer 84 and 85 variations, will shave exactly the same.

The differences only consist of color, accessories, price and so on.

However, the station included with the 84 and 85 Series 8 models is more advanced as it includes a fan that dries the shaving head.

It’s the exact same station that comes with the latest Series 9 cc models.

Tip: a solo S8 like the 8417s will work with a compatible station purchased later on. More details here.

Just like the Series 7, the Series 8 shines when it comes to comfort, being very gentle and forgiving, perfectly suitable for men with sensitive skin.

The foils remain cool during use and you shouldn’t experience any razor burn or hairs getting yanked.

If you’re mostly interested in the closeness of the shave, the Panasonic Arc 4 or Arc 5 would be better options.

Keep in mind though that those aren’t as good with longer, flat-lying hairs as the Series 8.

See the price on Amazon

Also available at Walmart, Braun.com.

The Series 3 ProSkin is Braun’s alternative to Panasonic’s entry-level Arc 3 line.

With a reasonable price, good performance and excellent comfort during use, the Series 3 represents a very attractive package, especially when you have a limited budget.

The foil shavers from the Series 3 are available in several variations that cater to different needs.

Therefore, we have dry-only shavers, wet & dry shavers and even cleaning stations.

However, all of them use the same shaving head and the performance is identical. Picking one comes down to availability and the features you actually need.

My personal favorite is the 3040s that I reviewed a while ago.

It is a wet & dry razor that works great when used more often and it’s generally very affordable.

The 3040s also has an integrated slide-out trimmer (not all Series 3 models have it).

The shaving head (32b/32s) only needs to be replaced once every 18 months and costs half the price of a similar Panasonic Arc 3 foil & blades set.

In my personal experience, the Arc 3 is slightly better in terms of closeness.

The Series 3 is however a bit more comfortable and better suited for sensitive skin.

It’s also better with longer hairs, even though you can’t really compare it to a Series 8 or 9 in this regard.

A full comparison between the Arc 3 and the Series 3 is available here.

I would also like to point out that both the Panasonic Arc 3 and Braun Series 3 are entry-level foil shavers.

This means that while the results are quite good for this price range, they cannot match the speed and performance of the more powerful, advanced razors presented above.

See the price on Amazon

Also available at Walmart.

This Series 5 is the latest entry to my list of recommended foil machines.

In the past, there wasn’t a single compelling reason to recommend it alongside the Series 3 ProSkin above for example.

The performance was pretty much the same, but the S3 had a smaller foil head and the price was also slightly less.

However, in 2024 Braun introduced an updated Series 5 with Turbo mode that allows the user to select a more powerful shaving setting.

And to my surprise, it actually works and the new Series 5 generation, with models like the 5118s, feel noticeably zippier.

Compared to the S3, the new S5 with Turbo mode shaves faster and requires fewer strokes for the same result.

So the actual closeness will be similar in the end, but the S5 now feels quicker and adequately powerful.

The S3 is still more user-friendly with its compact shaving head and to me it also glides easier on the skin.

But if your stubble is a bit on the coarse side, the new Series 5 might just be a better option.

Otherwise, the Series 5 and Series 3 ProSkin are more similar than different.

Both are reasonably priced, 3-blade foil shavers that work well on light to moderate beards.

For the best results, you would want to shave daily and up to every 3 days.

See the price on Amazon

Also available at Walmart, Panasonic.com.

If you’re looking for a capable, but affordable wet & dry foil shaver that you’ll be using daily for the majority of the time, then the Arc 3 line from Panasonic represents a solid option.

As is the case with the Arc 5 family, you have quite a few razors to choose from in the Arc 3 category.

My personal picks would be the ES-LL41-K because it offers the best performance and features for the money.

There are other newer Arc 3 shavers as well, but apart from a different color and design, they shave the same and are difficult to get.

For example, the latest Arc 3 generation (now called Lamdash 3) is still not widely available and in terms of actual performance, there are no real improvements.

The ES-LL41-K also has a more compact foil frame than other 3-blade Panasonic models.

The comfort and especially the closeness of the Panasonic Arc 3 models are very good.

You’ll still get an impressively fast 13 000 CPM motor and Panasonic’s sharp nano-blades.

It’s worth pointing out that you’ll get the best results with this electric razor when shaving more often (daily or every other day).

Men who don’t have very thick facial hair can get away with using it every two days or even more.

If you live in the UK, you also have the option of getting the ES-LL21-K which is identical to the ES-LL41-K, except that it only includes one trimmer comb.

And speaking of combs, the ones included with the ES-LL41-K work really well.

They fit over the shaver’s pop-up trimmer and allow you to (pre) trim your beard at a specific length (1 to 7mm).

The Panasonic Arc 3 (provided it’s fitted with a 13 000 CPM motor) will shave close and with adequate comfort.

The price and cost of ownership are however higher vs the S3 ProSkin for example.

The shavers themselves, as well as the replacement foil and blades, are more expensive.

So far I’ve only talked about what makes a foil shaver a good choice and I haven’t mentioned anything about their shortcomings.

That’s not to say that there aren’t any, so let’s get right to it.

First and foremost, foil electric shavers are noisy during use.

A rotary on the other hand is generally very quiet due to the slower speed of the motor and the lack of vibrations (caused by the reciprocating blades in the case of foil shavers).

Also, the straight edge of the shaving head makes shaving certain portions of your face (like the jawline) a bit more difficult.

Rotary razors, especially the more advanced ones, have cutters that can flex and tilt inward and maintain constant contact with the skin.

This can be beneficial for men with very prominent facial features.

Some may also argue that rotary razors are better for coarser facial hair.

I haven’t found that to be the case, but I would say that a rotary can be more suitable if the hairs are very thick as the slits in a rotary head are wider.

This means it’ll capture and cut them in fewer strokes.

Also, some foil shavers have difficulties if the stubble is longer and you will need to work harder to capture all the hairs, especially if they grow in different directions.

If that is the case and you still want a foil razor, I think investing in a more advanced Braun shaver would be the right decision (Series 8 or 9 depending on the budget).

Finally, the blades and foils tend to wear out faster. There’s a lot of friction, the foils are very thin and the blades move at a very fast rate.

That’s why is vital to lubricate a foil razor regularly.

For more details, you can check out my guide on how and when to lubricate an electric razor.

Hopefully, you now have a clear picture of what makes a particular foil razor better than other options in a given situation.

And more importantly, you’ll be able to decide whether a foil shaver would be suitable for your needs.

Don’t forget to check out the reviews section as well for more thorough, in-depth reviews of foil shavers.

If you have any other questions make sure to post them in the comments below.

Article by

Hey. I’m Ovidiu, the founder and editor of ShaverCheck. I independently buy and test electric shavers and I’ve been sharing my findings on this site for more than 10 years, hopefully helping others choose a suitable shaver.

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