The Best Electric Razors For Men, After Nearly A Year Of Testing

Whenever I shave—and when I’m not otherwise testing manual razors for work—I always prefer an electric shaver. The best electric razors for men eliminate the worries that come with a manual shave, such as ingrown hairs, razor burn, bumps, irritation and more. After testing eight models over the course of 10 months, I chose the Braun Series 9 Pro 9419S Electric Razor as the best overall winner for its top-notch performance and useful features. The BaBylissPro Barberology GoldFX Double Foil Electric Razor is my pick for the best value option: It’s a durable, no-frills model that delivers a close shave, without the expensive price tag.

Here’s a list of the four winners based on my firsthand experience:

The major contenders for best electric shavers for men are mostly big-name brands you might recognize and may also spot in my reviews of the top beard trimmers and the best hair clippers. It takes a lot of technology, research and quality materials to deliver a high-quality shaver, so the key players tend to be those stalwart brands. My testing for the cream of the crop focused both on newer models and some longtime favorites. Below, find the four best electric razors for men. (I also wrote in-depth reviews of the Braun and BaBylissPro devices, should you want to learn more about each.)

While Braun’s Series 9 Pro shaver didn’t get the gold medal in any duration-tested category, such as runtime or charge, it performed better where it matters most. Chief among the reasons, it indisputably delivers the closest shave. I felt like I had shaved with a manual razor whenever I used it, and I actually needed a post-shave application to calm the skin. Electric razors rarely give you this sensation, since they have a natural buffer between blades and skin. But Braun’s device is truly next-level in that way.

Closest Shave On A Single Pass

As for numbers: There’s nothing paltry about a runtime of four hours 55 minutes (on a 60-minute charge). I do wish it had a better quick-charge performance, as it ran for only six minutes on a five-minute charge. Still, should it ever actually hit 0% battery (which I doubt you’d ever let it do), you could probably still do a full shave in that six-minute window, since this thing gave me the best clean on a single pass compared to all other options. I even tried it on four-day whiskers one day (which is a no-no if you want an efficient shave), and it mowed through probably 75% of them on the first go.

Braun’s device also has a useful suite of features—most notably, an incredible detailing trimmer. Because it rises above the device head, it’s terrific for drawing clean lines around the perimeter of your facial hair.

Versatile Tool That Can Handle Any Job

This powerhouse device comes with a sleek carrying case and charging stand, and you have the option to add on a pack of cleaning cartridges for hands-off maintenance. While I think that Braun has the most sophisticated electric razor on the market, I have also not been reaching for it as readily as I had previously planned. As someone who shaves just his neckline and cheek lines regularly (and the rest infrequently), I feel a bit silly using something so juiced up for the job. This device can do everything, but if you only need a shaver to do one thing, maybe it’s a little too fancy for you. Still, I won’t be parting with it anytime soon.

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When you think of “best value,” you may think it means “the most options for less money.” And while BaBylissPro’s beautiful, gilded foil shaver is one of the less expensive options from my roster, it also has the fewest features. In fact, it shaves with only two foil heads. So how did it get the distinction in this category? In short, BaBylissPro’s shaver is terrific for paving pristine necklines, periodic all-over cleanups and on-the-go necessities.

Durable And Impact-Resistant

This electric razor is ideal for the person who needs a reliable device without any extra features. With this model, that person is going to get an incredibly efficient and razor-close shave without having to spend $300 on a more complex device.

For what it’s worth, that sexy gold shell is strong. It’s got some serious heft, weighing in at 12.1 ounces. I accidentally dropped it on my hard tile floor (not because it’s slippery, but because I was carrying far too many things and didn’t secure it), and there was no damage. The lid popped off, and that’s it. Not even a scratch or a dent on the shell.

Versatile And Travel-Friendly Design

Of the three top awardees, the BaBylissPro has been getting the most mileage from me. That has a lot to do with two things: I primarily just shave my neck and cheeks, and I want something smaller for when I travel. Aside from its gold shell losing some luster with continued handling and toting, I have absolutely zero complaints to lodge about this device.

My shaver-reticent partner has started using it too; he has a perfectly good beard trimmer to maintain his neckline (the Philips Norelco Multigroom 9000), but has opted into the shaver a few times because of my endorsement. He has curlier facial hair than me, so normally I’d suggest he try the Philips Norelco shaver, but all’s been going well with this professional-grade foil shaver instead.

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Rotary razors get an unfairly bad rap in the e-shaver game, because they don’t typically cut as close as foil heads. But why is that a negative? In fact, some guys prefer this, particularly those who have curly, coarse and ingrown-prone stubble. The Philips Norelco 9800 glides seamlessly around the contours of the face, while the panels and head flex every which way. This makes it easy to cut sporadic growth patterns (for the guy whose whiskers angle every which way when they grow out).

Shaves Thick Hair On A Single Pass

What makes this the best rotary razor in the game goes beyond this effective trimming; you’ll also get a super-close shave on the first pass, no matter how difficult your hair tries to be. If my partner were writing this article, the Philips Norelco 9800 rotary razor would be the top winner. He’s got thicker whiskers and more stubborn stubble than me (not to mention a lower pain threshold when it comes to shaving, so he appreciates the less-close finish). I have really not been shaving my full face lately, and I find it difficult and a little unnecessary to target the rotary shaver on just my cheeks and neck.

Intuitive And Doubles As A Body Shaver

It’s among the more intuitive devices, and its OLED screen easily guides you on locking the tool between uses. Its pop-up trimmer rises high enough in the back to allow for good detailing visibility. And because of the spacing of each panel, this device is far and away the easiest to rinse—another benefit of rotary head designs, in my opinion. Not to mention, you have the option to bundle the device with a Quick Clean Pod that makes maintenance even more hassle-free. A charging stand is also included for added convenience.

I have also been getting mileage with this model as a shoulder and upper back shaver, since it hugs the shoulders so nicely and also eats the back hairs that choose to grow in a dozen different directions with no pattern whatsoever. So, while I stand by my appreciation for it as a device (especially for ingrown-prone guys and those with curly beard hair), I am finding that it’s difficult to incorporate regularly unless you need a full shave on the regular.

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