PanasonicElectric Razor for Men, Electric Shaver, ARC5 with Premium Automatic Cleaning and Charging Station, Wet Dry Shaver Men, Cordless Razor, with Pop-Up Trimmer ES-LV97-K, Black

I’ve been using the Panasonic ARC 5 for a few weeks now, and I’m honestly impressed with how good this razor is. The first thing I noticed was how fast and smooth the shave is—this thing is powerful. You can really feel the difference with the 5-blade system and the high-speed motor. It cuts clean without needing multiple passes, even on thicker parts of my beard.The flexible head is a game-changer too. It pivots in every direction, so it stays close to the skin around tricky spots like the jawline and neck. I used to get irritation around those areas with my old shaver, but not anymore.What I really appreciate is the smart sensor. It somehow adjusts power as I go, so the shave feels consistent all over without tugging or slowing down. And the pop-up trimmer? Super handy for keeping my sideburns and mustache neat.Also love the flexibility of using it wet or dry. I’ve tried both, and it performs great either way. It’s also easy to clean and feels well built—definitely a high-quality device.If you're serious about getting a close, comfortable shave with minimal hassle, this razor is worth every penny.

So for historical context, I've owned 2 Panasonic ES LA93-K's over about the last 10 years. Before that I owned an old Braun. I've always used electric shavers. I did a lot of research before buying the 93's and they were a top rated shaver. The only problem I had with them was the battery would die and not charge. Last one lasted 4 1/2 years. They were always like shaving with a Lexus - high quality shavers. Before I bought the last one I tried the venerable Braun Series 7 7865 and the then newest iteration of Norelco. Neither one was as good as my first 93 so I bought another 93. I always liked them but I can't say I was happy with battery life. Shaves were always close the first 6 months to maybe even a year, but the blades do dull and it took longer and more work to get a close shave. Also, they got progressively louder as they aged to the point where it was very annoying. But they worked. This time out I decided to revisit the world of shaver reviews just to see if there were any new improved entries. I have to heartily recommend shavercheck.com. A really excellent site! I sort of was hoping that either Braun or Norelco had something that had lept ahead of the pack. Yes - there were improvements for certain, but their newest shavers, sometimes costing a small fortune, had their detractors and failings. Again - the shavers that were standing out were the Panasonics. Panasonic has not been standing still. My Arc 4 had evolved to an Arc 5 and an Arc 6. New smaller faster motors. New head designs. New blades. New charging stands. As always - mostly good to great reviews with a few disgruntled owners. On balance it looked like a no brainer to get another Panasonic. So I bought the Arc 5 ES-LV97-K. This shaver comes highly recommended by Ovidiu on shavercheck.com. He is very practical, saying that you're not going to sacrifice much to the very expensive Arc 6. You'll still get a very close shave that is not a problem for sensitive skin. So after a month here is what I've experienced. The 97 has some definite design and engineering improvements over the old 93's. The motor IS faster. There are more blades that cut more efficiently. The whole shaver is lighter but very substantial. The head is smaller and swivels in 6 directions. I call it the "bobblehead" because it works so well. It still cleans extremely easy under the faucet or the charger/cleaning stand. BTW, you can wash it manually and just dry in the stand - unlike the new Braun series 9 where you HAVE to run the cleaning cycle using their cartridges, etc., every time you charge the shaver in the stand. This new shaver is A LOT quieter than the old 93's. It shaves smooth as silk and is a real pleasure to use. My old shavers I had to grind away at my face forever to get a decent shave. The secret with this 97 is let it do its own work. Not too much pressure. Be patient and go slowly. Let it catch and mow down the whiskers. Keep the blades clean (I now clean it manually every 2 days) - it really makes a difference. Keep the foil as flat against the face as possible and of course try to go against the grain (you'll hear it cutting). Avoid side to side movement which isn't allowing the blades to cut efficiently. I follow Ovidiu's advice and lock the head for round radius's like jaw etc. That works better too. Then unlock for best bobblehead effect. So....am I impressed? You bet! This is really a big step up. I'm still getting baby close shaves in one half the time - yea! My only question now is how sharp will the blades be after 3-6 months? (replacement blades never seem as sharp as OEM). And will the battery live longer than 4 1/2 years? Bottom line - I'm super happy with this shaver - and for the price of $171 - what a good deal!

My 4 star rating is generous. I’ll start with the negatives, which are not insignificant. 1. Not a comfortable shave. My skin feels chafed after shaving, and I’ve never had this with other models. I don’t have sensitive skin or any issues, so this is specific to this model. 2. Not the closest shave- IMPORTANT. I have an average beard thickness, and I have to go back and forth to get a closer shave. Really push down. Obnoxious. My previous 3 series gives a much smoother shave, with less effort. I have a 4 series which is noisier and seems to vibrate more but clearly provides a smoother and better shave. So I would not recommend this product. Very rare poorer review for top brand Panasonic. The 4 star is for the technology and reliability (which really should be givens).