256
people found this helpful, as of 2023
ranked #110,339 most helpful
out of 571,544,897 reviews
★★★★☆
Get the cheaper model without the cleaning system
After using electric and cordless shaver models from Norelco, Remington and Braun, I settled on the wet/dry features of the Panasonic models. I replaced my first one with a 3-blade ES8092 6 years ago. It shaved closer than other models, was smoother and more comfortable on my face, and you could wash the heads. It no longers works well. I may just need a new head, but instead of spending up to $40 on a new head, I decided to check out the latest and greatest in new shavers.
I didn't look seriously at the offerings from Norelco and Braun as I have been disappointed the performance of both those models and poor durability with Braun shavers. I was astonished to see that the Panasonic models have lower prices than both the Norelco and the Braun. I settled on the Nanotech Vortex 4 blade models. The blades are extra sharp. One blade has a wider opening to handle my coarse African American graying beard hairs, two regular blades handle the bulk of the shave, while a fourth finishing blade leaves your face as smooth as a baby's bottom. I recall how the Norelco rotary had a blade system that lifts the hair while a second blade cut if off. Unfortunately, when it pulled that hair up, it sometimes pinches and the second blade cuts off some raised skin. It was uncomfortable and abrasive. This Panasonic is smooth and painless. There is a turbo mode with an extremely high vibration rate to clean the blades under running water. It is a significant improvement over my previous Panasonic 3-blade model. I highly recommend Panasonic's Arc IV 4-blade shavers. The shave is top notch and build quality is great.
The cleaning system that comes with this model is a waste of money and time. I bought this model because it was only about $25 more than the ES8243 model without the cleaning system. What a waste. It takes over an hour to clean and dry. It's noisy. It uses costly proprietary detergent cartridges that must be replaced monthly. It is a gift that keeps on taking your money and you don't need it anyway. It's just a gimmick folks. Don't fall for it. You will be happier with the cheaper model.
Amazon has the best price along with top notch customer service, but I bought mine down the street at my local Target for 6 dollars more.
So now 3 years since I purchased this shaver, it's dead. The cleaning system died before the 1 year warranty was up, but I was not able to provide proof of purchase. I still believe that Panasonic wet/dry electric shavers are the best solution for me, I am somewhat disappointed in the quality and warranty for the price we have to pay.
January 2010 · Beauty and Personal Care