An electric shaver is judged on a close, comfortable shave you can repeat daily, with battery and build that hold up — and a price that fits the result. Our pick is the Braun Series 9 Pro+, with an SR Score of 90, for the best all-round balance of closeness, comfort, and a clean-and-charge dock. Panasonic Arc6 (89) is the closest-shave runner-up. If you prefer rotary or want to save, the Philips Norelco 9000 Series is the value pick.
The ranking
| Rank | Product | Best for | Typical price | SR Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Braun Series 9 Pro+ | Best all-round shave | ~$350 | 90 |
| 2 | Panasonic Arc6 | Closest shave | ~$300 | 89 |
| 3 | Philips Norelco 9000 Series | Best rotary value | ~$200 | 87 |
| 4 | Braun Series 8 | Best mid-range foil | ~$200 | 86 |
| 5 | Panasonic Arc5 | Close shave for less | ~$150 | 86 |
| 6 | Philips Norelco S9000 Prestige | Premium rotary | ~$300 | 85 |
| 7 | Braun Series 7 | Best budget foil | ~$130 | 84 |
Methodology
The Beauty Score v2026 rubric weights five criteria:
- Shave closeness & comfort (30) — how close and how kind to skin.
- Value for money (25) — price against shave quality and longevity.
- Battery & build (20) — runtime, charging, docks, and durability.
- Features (15) — sensors, wet/dry, trimmers, cleaning stations.
- Reputation & reviews (10) — expert testing and large-sample ratings.
Closeness and value lead because a shaver must shave well and justify a high price. Re-weight Value to 35 and the Series 7, Arc5, and Norelco 9000 climb.
Braun Series 9 Pro+
The all-round benchmark, around $350. The 96xx generation pairs a titanium-coated cassette with a Pro SensoAdapt sensor that reads beard density hundreds of times per second, plus wet/dry use and a clean-and-charge dock. The most balanced premium shaver — close, comfortable, and well-equipped.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Shave closeness & comfort | 27/30 |
| Value for money | 21/25 |
| Battery & build | 19/20 |
| Features | 14/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 9/10 |
Trade-off: top-of-range price and pricey replacement cassettes.
Panasonic Arc6
The closest-shave pick, around $300. Six blades and a 22-direction flexible head deliver up to 84,000 cross-cutting actions per minute for the closest electric shave we measured, with fast wet/dry passes. The pick if absolute closeness is the goal.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Shave closeness & comfort | 28/30 |
| Value for money | 21/25 |
| Battery & build | 18/20 |
| Features | 13/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 9/10 |
Trade-off: the wide six-blade head is large and less nimble on the neck.
Philips Norelco 9000 Series
The rotary value pick, around $200. Three rotary heads with SenseIQ that adapts to beard density hundreds of times per second, handling longer and irregular growth comfortably with a quick-clean pod. The best rotary balance of price and performance.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Shave closeness & comfort | 25/30 |
| Value for money | 22/25 |
| Battery & build | 17/20 |
| Features | 13/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 8/10 |
Trade-off: rotary doesn’t get quite as close as a top foil on flat-lying hair.
Braun Series 8
The mid-range foil pick, around $200. A strong four-element foil head with sonic vibration and wet/dry use that delivers most of the Series 9’s comfort for less. The smart middle ground in Braun’s lineup.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Shave closeness & comfort | 25/30 |
| Value for money | 22/25 |
| Battery & build | 17/20 |
| Features | 12/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 8/10 |
Trade-off: lacks the Series 9’s adaptive sensor and titanium cassette.
Panasonic Arc5
The close-shave-for-less pick, around $150. Five blades and a flexible pivoting head deliver a notably close, fast shave at well under the Arc6’s price, with wet/dry use. Excellent value for a high-end foil experience.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Shave closeness & comfort | 26/30 |
| Value for money | 22/25 |
| Battery & build | 16/20 |
| Features | 11/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 8/10 |
Trade-off: louder and slightly buzzier than the premium models.
Philips Norelco S9000 Prestige
The premium rotary pick, around $300. Top-tier rotary heads with SenseIQ adaptive power and a refined body for men with flat-lying hair who shave less often. The most capable Norelco, with a price to match.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Shave closeness & comfort | 25/30 |
| Value for money | 19/25 |
| Battery & build | 17/20 |
| Features | 13/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 8/10 |
Trade-off: costs as much as a closer-shaving foil flagship.
Braun Series 7
The budget foil pick, around $130. A capable autosensing foil head with wet/dry use that delivers a clean, comfortable shave for far less than the flagships. The best entry into quality foil shaving.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Shave closeness & comfort | 24/30 |
| Value for money | 23/25 |
| Battery & build | 16/20 |
| Features | 11/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 8/10 |
Trade-off: no premium dock, and closeness trails the Series 9.
How to choose an electric shaver
Start from foil versus rotary and your beard. For the best all-round result — close, comfortable, well-equipped, with a sensor that adapts to your beard — the Braun Series 9 Pro+ is the benchmark and earns its #1. If you want the single closest electric shave and don’t mind a wider head, the Panasonic Arc6 is the one.
Prefer rotary, have irregular or longer growth, or want to save, the Philips Norelco 9000 is the value pick. And the mid-range Series 8, Arc5, and Series 7 deliver most of the flagship experience for a lot less — the right call if you won’t pay $300-plus. Replace the head cassette every year or so to keep any of them shaving well. Re-weight the rubric toward Value and the mid-range picks climb; weight Closeness and Comfort as we do and the Series 9 Pro+ stays on top.
Verification
- Braun Series 9 Pro+ — sensor, cassette, and pricing verified on braun.com and ShaverCheck testing.
- Panasonic Arc6 — six-blade spec and pricing verified on panasonic.com and ShaverCheck.
- Philips Norelco 9000 Series — SenseIQ and pricing verified on usa.philips.com.
- Braun Series 8 — design and pricing verified on braun.com.
- Panasonic Arc5 — design and pricing verified on panasonic.com.
- Philips Norelco S9000 Prestige — design and pricing verified on usa.philips.com.
- Braun Series 7 — design and pricing verified on braun.com.
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Frequently asked questions
- Foil or rotary shaver?
- Foil shavers (Braun, Panasonic) generally cut closer and suit flat-lying, dense beards and straight strokes. Rotary shavers (Philips Norelco) handle longer hair and irregular growth well and excel at circular motions. Most closest-shave winners are foil; many comfort-first users prefer rotary.
- Can you use an electric shaver wet?
- Many can — the Braun Series 9 Pro+, Panasonic Arc6, and Philips 9000 are all wet/dry and can be used with gel or foam in the shower, then rinsed clean. Wet shaving usually adds comfort. Always check that your specific model is rated wet/dry first.
- How close is an electric shave versus a blade?
- Top-tier electrics get very close but a fresh multi-blade razor still edges them on absolute smoothness. The trade is convenience, speed, and far less irritation for many men. The Panasonic Arc6 is the closest-shaving electric we ranked.
- How long do the foils and blades last?
- Plan to replace foil-and-cutter cassettes roughly every 12 to 18 months for a consistent close shave. Clean the head regularly — a charging/cleaning dock helps — and a worn cassette is the usual reason an electric stops shaving well.