Best Electric Shavers 2026: 5 Models Tested and Reviewed
The best electric shaver of 2026 is the Philips i9000 Prestige Ultra, a rotary shaver whose heads follow the jaw and chin and whose station cleans it in a minute without you touching it. The best value electric shaver is the Wahl Lifeproof 7061, a waterproof foil shaver whose battery lasted 17 shaves. We’ve analysed more than 8 electric shavers in Spain, and these are the 5 tested models you can buy on Amazon.co.uk.
The best electric shaver for every need
- Best electric shaver overall and best rotary: Philips i9000 Prestige Ultra. Its station cleans it in 1 minute.
- Best foil shaver: Braun NEVO. Two passes on the neck, dry and with foam.
- Best for shaving with foam: Braun Series 9 Pro+ 9690cc. Two passes on the neck and fewer touch-ups with foam.
- Best value: Wahl Lifeproof 7061. 17 shaves on one charge.
- Best for sensitive skin: Panasonic ES-LV67. A close shave with no stinging.
Electric shavers compared
In this electric shaver comparison table you can see each model’s technical data, its pros and cons and the score it earned in our tests.
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Technical specifications
Blades | ||||
| Dual steel blades that rotate 360° | Ultra-smooth foil and 250 cutting blades | 5 cutting elements and trimmer | Flexible foils with central trimmer | Stainless steel |
Cleaning station | ||||
| Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Charging | ||||
| 60 min | 1 h 01 min (tested) | 1 h 01 min (tested) | 60 min | 60 min |
System | ||||
| Rotary | Foil | Foil | Foil | Foil |
Battery life | ||||
| 60 min | 60 min | 60 min | 90 min | 45 min |
Waterproof | ||||
| Yes, shower-safe | Yes | Yes | Yes, up to 1 m for 30 min |
Pros
| Heads follow the jawline, leaving an even chin and moustache with foam. | Two passes on the neck, dry or wet, with an even chin and moustache. | Two passes on the neck, dry or with foam, with an even chin and moustache. | 17 shaves per charge, in line with the 90 minutes Wahl quotes. | 5-minute quick charge gives you enough for a full shave. |
| Quick-clean pod gets the heads ready in 1 minute. | 12 shaves per charge, and 5 minutes of quick charging gives a full shave. | 11 shaves per charge, and 5 minutes of quick charging gives you one shave. | Five minutes of quick charging gives you a full shave. | Five precision blades sharpened to a 30° angle. |
| Five minutes of quick charging gives you a full shave. | Only isolated tugging, and the head stays slightly warm after 10 minutes. | Travel case with its own battery charges it away from home. | Central and pop-up trimmers for longer hairs, sideburns and outlines. | Beard sensor adds power on thick stubble and eases off elsewhere. |
| Up to 7 years' warranty under Philips' terms; heads last two years. | Station cleans, lubricates, dries and charges it, with a smart display. | Station cleans, dries and charges it, with battery display and reminders. | Waterproof to one metre and rinses clean under the tap in 1 min 20 s. | Works wet or dry and rinses clean under the tap. |
Cons
| Up to three passes on the neck when shaving dry. | 52-minute station programme, plus cartridges and heads to replace. | Touch-ups needed around the Adam's apple and under the jaw. | Three passes on the neck when shaving dry on two days' stubble. | Shorter battery life than other models, at 45 minutes. |
| 10 shaves per charge and no USB wall charger in the box. | Travel case has no battery, so away from home you rely on one charge. | 47-minute station programme, plus cartridges and a 96M head to replace. | Cutting unit needs oiling and replacing every 12 months. | Can't be used while plugged into the mains. |
How we test electric shavers
You can only judge a shaver on a real face. No spec sheet tells you how the head copes with the neck, where almost every model has to work harder, or how your skin feels once shaving stops being a novelty and becomes a daily habit. That’s why every shaver in this ranking, foil and rotary alike, went through the same protocol in Spain, with the same three tests in the same order, so they can be compared like for like.
The three tests behind the score
- Closeness of shave. We shave the whole face and neck on two days’ stubble, first dry and then with foam. Afterwards we run a hand against the grain to find any missed patches and count how many passes the neck needs.
- Battery life. We charge the battery fully and use the shaver once a day until it dies. We count the shaves per charge and time a full charge and, on models that have one, the quick charge.
- Comfort and cleaning. We shave for 10 minutes non-stop and note whether it pulls and whether the head warms up. Then we clean it under the tap or in its station, timing the cycle, and check which replacement head it takes, how often it needs changing and what it costs to keep running.
Every rating in this guide is based on our own tests, measurements and head-to-head comparisons, carried out in Spain with the same models sold on Amazon.co.uk.
How we calculate the score
Each shaver’s overall score is the simple average of three criteria, each rated independently out of 10.
- Closeness of shave
- Battery life
- Comfort and cleaning
These are the same sub-scores you see on each product page, and the overall score weights them equally. Foil and rotary shavers are judged on the same scale, so their scores can be compared directly.
The score reflects how each shaver performed in our tests, not just what the spec sheet promises. A high score means a well-balanced model within its segment, and a lower one doesn’t mean a bad product, just a more specific profile. We penalise shortcomings that affect everyday use rather than minor differences, and a rating can change if the product or our tests change.
The order of the list isn’t based on the score alone. We also weigh how well each model suits a particular kind of user, value for money and availability, which is why a higher-scoring model can sit below one that covers a specific need better.
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The best electric shavers: our tested ranking
1. Philips i9000 Prestige Ultra: best electric shaver overall and best rotary
Test results
- Neck passes (two days’ stubble, dry / with foam): 3 / 2, with an even chin and upper lip
- Shaves per charge (one a day, 5 to 6 min each): 10, including 1 after the low-battery warning; full charge in 1 h 02 min and a 5-min quick charge for one shave
- Ten minutes of continuous use: head lukewarm and occasional pulling under the jaw
- Cleaning station cycle: 1 min, no drying
- Replacement heads: SH91/50, every 2 years
Why we recommend it
Cleaning is where it really shines. When you've finished, you drop it into its station, which cleans the heads in 1 minute without you touching them, so by the time you've washed your face it's ready for tomorrow. If you're in a hurry, you can also rinse it under the tap.
Its heads move independently and follow the jaw and chin without you having to twist your wrist. With foam, the neck was smooth in two passes and the chin and upper lip came out free of rough patches. Its five modes let you turn the power down on days when your skin is more sensitive.
Compared with the Braun NEVO, which gives a slightly closer dry shave on the neck, you get much faster cleaning here, and the UK listing offers up to seven years' manufacturer warranty (terms apply). We tested the black version in Spain; on Amazon.co.uk it's sold in chrome as the XP9404/38.
Weak points
What we liked least was dry shaving on the neck. It needed three passes and still left a few stray hairs near the Adam’s apple and a slight roughness under the jaw, so if you shave without foam, expect to go back over some spots.
The station doesn’t dry the shaver and uses cartridges you’ll need to replace, and together with the charging stand it takes up room by the sink. It charges via a USB-A cable, but there’s no wall charger in the box.
Who it's for
👤 It's for you if you shave most days with foam, have a medium or dense beard and like to finish, pop the shaver in its station and forget about it until the next morning.
Biggest advantage
✅ Its station cleans the heads in one minute, without you having to touch them.
Biggest drawback
❌ Shaving dry, the neck needs three passes and it still leaves the odd stray hair by the Adam's apple.
Deals
Prices may change. We earn a commission on purchases made through these links.
2. Braun NEVO: best foil electric shaver and the closest dry shave on the neck
Test results
- Neck passes (two days’ stubble, dry / with foam): 2 / 2, with the odd touch-up around the Adam’s apple
- Shaves per charge (one a day, about 4 min 45 s each): 12, including 1 after the low-battery warning; full charge in 1 h 01 min and a 5-min quick charge for one shave
- Ten minutes of continuous use: head lukewarm and very occasional pulling under the jaw
- Full station programme (cleaning and drying): 52 min 10 s
- Replacement head: NEVO-B, every 18 months
Why we recommend it
If you shave most mornings and want to finish without going back over anything, this Braun gets straight to the point. On two days' stubble it left the neck smooth in two passes, dry and with foam, and the chin and upper lip came out even.
What stands out most is how smoothly the head glides, even without foam, so on rushed mornings you can shave dry without feeling it drag. The display shows the battery level and reminds you about maintenance, so you don't have to keep track yourself.
One charge gave us 12 shaves, almost two weeks of daily use, and its station cleans, lubricates, dries and charges it, ready for the next morning. On Amazon.co.uk it's listed as the NEVO15115C in graphite, the very same product as the NEVO 15000c we tested in Spain.
Weak points
Its weak spot is the station. The full programme took 52 min 10 s, most of it drying, so it’s best to dock it after shaving rather than just before. It also needs cartridges and takes up room in the bathroom.
Compared with the Philips i9000 Prestige Ultra, it gives a closer dry shave on the neck, but its station takes far longer to get it ready. Its travel case doesn’t have a battery either.
Who it's for
👤 You'll love it if you have a medium or dense beard, shave almost every morning, dry or with foam depending on the day, and like finding your shaver clean and charged without lifting a finger.
Biggest advantage
✅ It clears the neck in two passes, dry or with foam, with a head that glides smoothly over the skin.
Biggest drawback
❌ The station takes almost an hour to finish its programme, and between cartridges and replacement heads, upkeep isn't cheap.
Deals
Prices may change. We earn a commission on purchases made through these links.
3. Braun Series 9 Pro+ 9690cc: a quick two-pass shave, dry or with foam
Test results
- Neck passes (two days’ stubble, dry / with foam): 2 / 2, with fewer touch-ups with foam
- Shaves per charge (one a day, about 5 min 15 s each): 11, including 1 after the low-battery warning; full charge in 1 h 01 min and a 5-min quick charge for one shave
- Ten minutes of continuous use: head lukewarm and very occasional pulling under the jaw
- Full station programme (washing and drying): 47 min
- Replacement head: 96M, every 18 months
Why we recommend it
We tested the 9675cc in Spain. On Amazon.co.uk it's sold as the 9690cc in black, which is the same shaver with the same cleaning station, just in a different colour. On two days' stubble it cleared most of the neck in two passes, dry and with foam, and with foam it needed even fewer touch-ups.
Compared with the Philips i9000 Prestige Ultra, it needs fewer passes on the neck when you shave dry and its battery goes a little further. Our 9675cc also came with a travel case that has its own battery and charges the shaver inside it. The UK listing highlights the SmartCare Center and a ProComfort head but doesn't mention that case, so check what's in the box if you need it.
One charge gave us 11 shaves, more than a week and a half without plugging it in, and back home its station cleans, dries and charges it, with a display that shows the battery level and maintenance alerts.
Weak points
If your beard grows in swirls around the Adam’s apple, you’ll notice the odd touch-up here. A few short, crooked hairs were left around the Adam’s apple and under the jaw, with the occasional tug in the same area.
The station programme, with washing and drying, took 47 minutes, so it’s best to dock it after shaving. The station takes up space and needs cartridges, and the 96M head needs replacing every 18 months.
Who it's for
👤 Consider it if you shave every day, like to switch between a quick dry shave and a foam shave depending on the morning, and want a shaver that lives in its station and is always clean and charged.
Biggest advantage
✅ Two passes clear most of the neck, dry or with foam, and one charge lasted 11 shaves.
Biggest drawback
❌ Around the Adam's apple it needs touch-ups and leaves the odd short, crooked hair.
Deals
Prices may change. We earn a commission on purchases made through these links.
4. Wahl Lifeproof 7061: best value electric shaver
Test results
- Neck passes (two days’ stubble, dry / with foam): 3 / 2, with the odd touch-up around the Adam’s apple
- Shaves per charge (one a day, about 5 min 15 s each): 17, with no low-battery warning; full charge in 1 h 01 min and a 5-min quick charge for one shave
- Ten minutes of continuous use: head lukewarm and occasional pulling under the jaw
- Cleaning under the tap (no drying): 1 min 20 s
- Replacement foil and cutters: 7045-100, every 12 months
Why we recommend it
Battery life is its strong suit. One charge gave us 17 shaves, more than two weeks of daily use, so you can leave the cable at home for a weekend away.
Its flexible foil head has a trimmer in the middle that deals with slightly longer hairs, plus a pop-up trimmer for sideburns and edges. The chin and upper lip came out practically even, and with foam the neck dropped to two passes.
Compared with the Panasonic ES-LV67, it lasts far longer on a charge, and Wahl rates it waterproof to one metre, so you can shave in the shower and rinse it there too. It's the same 7061-117 we tested in Spain; on Amazon.co.uk it's currently sold by a third-party seller.
Weak points
Dry shaving on the neck is what we found hardest to live with. It needed three passes and a touch-up under the jaw, with short stray hairs around the Adam’s apple, and it pulled now and then on coarse hair.
It gives no warning when the battery is running low, so it simply switches off. You also need to brush and oil the cutting unit from time to time and replace it every 12 months.
Who it's for
👤 It's a good fit if you always forget to charge things, shave in the shower or at the gym and prefer a tough shaver you can rinse under the tap and throw in your bag without a second thought.
Biggest advantage
✅ Seventeen shaves on a single charge, and five minutes of quick charge to get you out of a fix.
Biggest drawback
❌ It switches off without warning you that the battery is low.
Deals
Prices may change. We earn a commission on purchases made through these links.
5. Panasonic ES-LV67: best for sensitive skin and unruly beards
Test results
- Neck (two days’ stubble, dry and then wet): very few repeat passes, with no stinging afterwards (we don’t have an exact pass count to publish)
- Battery: about 45 min of use, roughly two weeks of shaving by our estimate; full charge in 60 min and a 5-min quick charge for one full shave; it can’t be used plugged in
- Ten minutes of continuous use: no pulling at any point and the head stayed lukewarm
- Cleaning: under the tap and with the brush supplied, no cleaning station
- Weight: 200 g, with a non-slip rubber grip
Why we recommend it
If your beard is unruly and grows in every direction, this Panasonic foil shaver is worth a look. Its pivoting head has five blades that move independently and are sharpened to 30°, and on two days' stubble it followed the jawline without us having to force the angle.
Its beard sensor puts in more power where the hair is thicker and eases off on areas you've already shaved. We noticed it on the neck, which needed very few repeat passes, with no pulling and no stinging afterwards. Its closeness score is second only to the Braun NEVO's.
We tested the ES-LV67-A803 in Spain. On Amazon.co.uk it's sold as the ES-LV67-A811 in navy and black, listed as Series 800, so the colour is different from the purple model we tested.
Weak points
Battery life is where it falls behind. A full charge takes 60 minutes and gives about 45 minutes of use, less than the other shavers in this ranking, and it can’t be used while plugged in. If it dies halfway through a shave, you’ll have to wait.
There’s no cleaning station either, so you’ll need to rinse it under the tap and finish off with the brush after every shave. Five minutes on charge did give us one full shave, though.
Who it's for
👤 It suits you if your skin reacts easily, your beard grows in different directions around the jaw and neck, and you don't mind rinsing your shaver by hand and charging it every couple of weeks.
Biggest advantage
✅ A close shave on the neck with very few repeat passes and no stinging afterwards.
Biggest drawback
❌ The battery is the shortest in this ranking, and it won't run plugged in.
Deals
Prices may change. We earn a commission on purchases made through these links.
Buying guide: how to choose the best electric shaver
Choosing an electric shaver seems like a question of brand until you shave your neck. That’s where you find out whether the head catches the crooked hairs around your Adam’s apple, whether the battery lasts the week and whether cleaning it eats into your morning.
Here we go through what happened in our tests with these five shavers and what to check before you buy.
Foil or rotary electric shaver?
Foil shavers cut with blades that move beneath a fine mesh, and they work best in straight strokes against the grain. Rotary shavers have round heads that spin and move independently, and they catch hair growing in several directions well if you move them in small circles. Hybrid trimmer-shavers, with a single blade that moves back and forth, are designed to trim, edge and shave without cutting fully flush, so they aren’t included in this ranking.
In our tests, the two Braun foil shavers cleared the neck in two dry passes, while the Philips rotary needed three, as did the simpler Wahl foil shaver. If you shave dry and in a hurry, a good foil shaver saves you touch-ups, and if you prefer foam and circular movements, a rotary works just as well. The foil shaver with the closest shave was the Braun NEVO.
Which electric shaver suits a dense beard?
With two days’ stubble, the neck is the real test. Hair grows in swirls around the Adam’s apple and under the jaw, and that’s where every shaver we tested left some roughness or the odd stray hair. The difference is how many passes it takes to get a good result, because every extra pass means more friction on your skin.
As a rule of thumb, two passes on the neck is a good result, three is acceptable if you shave with foam and four will test your patience. If your beard is dense and you shave every day, look for a flexible head that sits well against the jaw. The Braun Series 9 Pro+ cleared most of the neck in two passes, dry and with foam.
How much battery life does an electric shaver need?
If you shave every day, think in weeks rather than minutes. With one full face-and-neck shave a day, the four models we counted gave between 10 and 17 shaves per charge, and the Panasonic ran for roughly two weeks by our estimate. With fewer than ten, you’ll be charging every week, and from fifteen upwards you can forget the cable on a weekend away.
Quick charging matters just as much as the battery. All five gave a full shave after five minutes on charge, although the Panasonic can’t be used while plugged in. The Wahl Lifeproof gave 17 shaves on one charge, though it switched off without warning. And if you’re packing your wash bag, our electric toothbrush comparison will help with the other gadget you’ll be charging most when you’re away.
Cleaning station or rinsing under the tap?
A station cleans your shaver without you touching the heads, and some also dry and charge it. In return, it takes up room by the sink, uses fluid or cartridges you’ll need to replace and has its own timings. With drying included, the full cycles of the two Braun stations took 47 to 52 minutes, so it’s best to dock the shaver after you finish rather than just before you shave.
Rinsing under the tap is quicker and needs no consumables: the Wahl took us 1 min 20 s, and the Panasonic just needs a rinse and a quick go with its brush. The fastest station was the one for the Philips i9000 Prestige Ultra, which had it clean in one minute, although it doesn’t dry it.
How much does it cost to run an electric shaver?
The shaver itself isn’t the last thing you’ll pay for. Heads wear out and need replacing, every 12 months on the Wahl, roughly every 18 on the Braun models and every two years on the Philips. Models with a station also add the cost of fluid or cartridges.
Before you buy, check that the replacement head is easy to find in the UK. The least demanding to run is the Wahl Lifeproof, with no station or cartridges, just a brush, a few drops of oil now and then and a new foil and cutter set once a year.
How much should you spend on an electric shaver?
At the budget end there are shavers that give a close shave on the face, with good battery life and simple cleaning, and that just ask for a little more patience on the neck. The mid-range brings foil shavers that clear the neck in a few passes without needing a station. At the top end you’re mainly paying for each brand’s latest flagship, with a self-cleaning station, which makes sense if you shave every day and want the finest finish. In the mid-range, the Panasonic ES-LV67 gives a close shave with no stinging and no station to look after.
When is an electric shaver not worth it?
If you have a beard and want to keep it at a set length or tidy the edges, a facial shaver isn’t the right tool, and a beard trimmer will serve you better. The same goes if you want to shave your body, because these five are designed for the face and neck. And if you want to remove body hair from the root, an epilator or an IPL device is a better fit.
And if you only shave a couple of times a month, a shaver with a station and cartridges will cost you more in consumables than it’s worth. In that case, a simple model you rinse under the tap or a good old-fashioned razor will do the job just as well.
Checklist: what to look for before you buy an electric shaver
- Do you shave dry, with foam or in the shower?
- Does your beard grow in swirls around your Adam’s apple?
- How many shaves does it give per charge, and does it warn you before it switches off?
- Does it have a quick charge for a full shave in a few minutes?
- Would you rather have a cleaning station, or is the tap enough?
- Do you have room by the sink for a station?
- How often does the head need changing, and is it easy to buy in the UK?
- Does it come with a pouch or case for travelling?
FAQs about electric shavers
These are the questions that come up most once you have the shaver at home.
How often should you change the shaver head?
It depends on the model. The Wahl Lifeproof needs a new foil and cutters every 12 months, the Braun NEVO every 18 and the Philips i9000 Prestige Ultra every two years. If you notice more pulling, more passes or a warmer head before then, it’s a sign it’s time for a new one.
Is it better to shave dry or with foam?
With foam there’s generally less friction and fewer touch-ups. In our tests, the Philips i9000 Prestige Ultra and the Wahl Lifeproof both needed three passes on the neck dry and two with foam. Dry shaving saves time, and if you’re in a hurry and your skin can take it, the final result was very similar on almost all of them.
Can I use it in the shower?
Only if the manufacturer says so. The Wahl Lifeproof is waterproof to one metre for up to 30 minutes. Being able to rinse a shaver under the tap doesn’t mean you can take it into the shower, so check the manual first.
Why does it sometimes pull?
In our tests, pulling almost always happened under the jaw, with coarse hairs or hairs lying flat against the skin, and it was more frequent when we moved the shaver too quickly. Slow down, stretch the skin with your other hand and don’t press hard. If the pulling gets worse over the months, the head is probably worn.
Do you need to oil an electric shaver?
Some stations do it for you, like the one for the Braun NEVO, which cleans, lubricates, dries and charges. On models you rinse under the tap, like the Wahl Lifeproof, the manual recommends brushing the cutting unit and adding a few drops of oil from time to time, and the brush and oil come in the box.
Who shouldn't use one, and when should you stop?
Don’t shave over wounds, cuts, burns, inflamed spots or irritated skin, or over moles or areas being treated. If you have a skin condition such as dermatitis, severe acne or folliculitis, or if shaving causes irritation that doesn’t settle within a couple of days, stop using it and follow the instructions in the manual. In those cases, it’s best to see a dermatologist before carrying on.
How we put this ranking together
The scores in this comparison come from our testing protocol, carried out in Spain. The order of the ranking is an editorial decision and doesn’t always match the highest score; each model’s score is on its product page and in the comparison table.
Update history
- 05/11/2026: We publish our UK ranking, with the models available on Amazon.co.uk.
The models we have analysed or tested
