ES-LV97-K

I could kick myself for not going with electric razor sooner. I've been using razor blades for 30 years now and I recieved this panasonic arc 5 as a gift and this has been life changing for me. LIFE CHANGING. How could I be so stupid wasting tons and tons of money on expensive razor blades and handles which dont last and irritate the skin. I wouldn't shave daily because I wanted to make my blades last as long as possible. I also shaved minimal so that there would be less irritation and cutting of skin. Nicks would still happen occasionally. Shaving cream bottle after shaving cream bottle. So much time and money and headache. I never thought an electric razor could shave close. I'm the kind of man who thinks men should be clean shaven so its an important ritual. The panasonic arc 5 cuts as good or even better than my best blades. Japan steel is amazing. Japan makes great products. I'm an advocate of anything made in the USA, In Japan, or Germany. Usually you can't go wrong. High quality engineering. I use my arc 5 daily now, even when I'm actually done shaving I keep on shaving because its so relaxing and therauputic to use. So easy, So gentle. Just like a REAL blade its important to go in different directions to get the perfect shave. Right to left. left to right. downward, upward. angled. pull your skin taut in some areas might help. Exactly the things I do when using a real blade. I do this with my new shaver to acheive perfection. The pop out trimmer works perfectly for sideburns. The cleaning unit is awesome. Once I'm done shaving I dump the shaver in it and it starts charging. The stand is beautiful looking. If I need to clean it , which I do maybe once a week, I push one button and it begins the clean and dry cycle. You just need to setup once with the tiny packet of panasonic soap and some water and it lasts about month before you need to refill with water and another little packet of soap. I now recommend electric shavers to EVERYONE I know. And the shaver I recommend is the arc 5 or the arc 6 along with the cleaning stand. I think battery life is great. Mine never gets low since I have the stand. I couldn't imagine not having the stand. Comes with travel case. A little brush. One or two packets of soap. Oil. Cord. You can lock the head or you can let it pivot freely. There are two arc 5 versions one has more pivotal movements than the other. The arc6 besides having more an additional "blade" array, has additional pivotal movements somehow.

I recently purchased the Panasonic Arc 5 Electric Razor, and I am thoroughly impressed. Historically, I haven’t been an electric razor user, but this product has completely changed my perspective. If you’ve avoided electric razors due to concerns about skin irritation or the inability to achieve a close shave comparable to a traditional razor, the Arc 5 is worth reconsidering—it truly delivers the best of both worlds. The product is exceptionally well-made, with a sleek design and solid build quality. The model I selected included a cleaning unit, which not only enhances convenience but also ensures the razor remains in optimal condition. From the moment I unboxed it, the craftsmanship and attention to detail were evident. After two or three uses, I was genuinely impressed by the closeness of the shave and the lack of irritation—a common issue I’ve experienced with other electric razors. Over the past week, I’ve come to appreciate the unique experience this razor offers. Unlike traditional wet shaving, which is often a hurried task in the midst of a busy morning routine, using the Panasonic Arc 5 feels like an opportunity to slow down and enjoy the process. This razor transforms shaving from a mundane chore into a more mindful and enjoyable activity. I’ve found myself sitting down, watching TV, and taking my time to shave thoroughly. The electric shaving process encourages multiple passes over the face, allowing for a closer, smoother shave that feels effortless. That said, it’s also efficient for those moments when time is limited. Without the need for water or a mirror, you can achieve a quick, polished shave in just a few minutes. Simply listen for the razor’s motor to stop clipping hair, and you’ll know you’re done. To maximize the razor’s performance, I recommend using Lectric Shave pre-electric shave lotion beforehand and Level 3 aftershave to refresh and protect your skin post-shave. These additions made a noticeable difference in both comfort and results. This product truly stands out. The closeness of the shave rivals that of a traditional razor, and after multiple passes, the result is remarkably smooth—akin to a baby-soft finish. It has quickly become a part of my daily routine, offering both convenience and a satisfying sense of self-care. If you’ve been hesitant to try an electric razor or have had negative experiences in the past, the Panasonic Arc 5 is worth serious consideration. With a bit of time and patience, it delivers exceptional results. I wholeheartedly give it five stars and strongly recommend it.

I haven’t used an electric shaver in 20+ years but did try because my skin is so sensitive I would get ingrown hairs all the time. Back then the shaver was actually painful to use so I gave up. I have been using a bowl and brush with a DE safety razor since then. While I get very good results and little irritation I just sucked it up and stuck with it. I am someone that likes to be baby smooth all the time. I have very fair skin and dark hair so my 5:00 shadow starts at 11am, lol! But because of my sensitivity I could only shave every other day MAX without ripping apart my face. It was effective but very time consuming and YouTube suggested a shaver video for me which lead me down the rabbit hole! I did a lot of research and almost bought the Braun 9 series but saw this one was a closer shave that was still comfortable. I did my first shave with 2 days growth and was blown away! ZERO irritation and very quick! While the closeness is not the same as shaving against the grain with my safety razor it’s literally almost identical but with no irritation! I can now maintain smooth, stubble free skin daily for about 4 minutes of time which means a lot to me. I more preshave, lathering up a brush, waiting 5 minutes for my beard to soften up and 2 passes and alum. A 10-15 minute ordeal. While it is perfect for a relaxing Sunday morning not ideal for every day. The cleaning station is great. It’s loud but not a deal breaker. After shaving off 2 days of growth I checked to see what was in the shaver and then put it through a cleaning cycle. When it was done and dry I opened it up and it was as clean as when I got it. If you’re on the fence just go for it- 100% worth the investment if you want a quick way to stay smooth.

Overall this shaver works very well for cleaning up my early stubble. It sometimes misses hairs on the more curved parts of my jaw, for that reason I’m giving it 4 stars because I think it it could be a little more efficient for a shaver that costs over $200. Pros: • Little to no irritation for my sensitive skin • Cleaning station is very convenient, you can usually get away with swapping the cleaning solution every month. • Can usually clear most of my stubble in 1-2 swipes. • Water resistant so you don’t have to dry shave. • Convenient shape, easy to handle. Cons: • A little inconsistent for contours (Chin and lower jaw). • Replacement blades are a bit expensive (≈$60-$100). • Pretty noisy.

This shaver far exceeds my expectations. I bought it to replace my excellent but lost 10-year old Panasonic shaver. I cannot compare it to its main rival, the Braun 7- and 9-series, but its performance outpaces that of my old one by a significant margin. From my very short experience with it, I see the following pros: * Remarkably close shave. Unlike in the past, I cannot feel any stubbles even when I feel my skin against the grain while pressing down * Virtually no pulling of my hairs. Because my old shaver got lost, my beard had grown to about 3 mm. Shaving this would have been fairly unpleasant before. Yes, there was an occasional tug, but it was rare and minor * Fewer passes. Each pass was much more effective, often producing a velvety surface after only two times despite heavy growth. I expect this to be even better with daily use * Much better in areas with changes in hair direction. Unlike with my previous shaver, I didn't have to worry much about hitting the exact right direction. It did very well in areas that previously were notoriously difficult and often produced unsatisfactory results * A sharp trimmer. The mechanism is identical to my old shaver, but it is much sharper and does its job with only one or two touches * Very quit operation. While the pitch was quite high (similarly to the high pitch in the previous shaver's sonic clean mode), it was also much quieter. I can imagine listening to music without increasing the volume much. Cleaning with the provided base was also very quiet * Beautiful styling. For my taste, the all-black design makes it look sleek and even a little mysterious. The cons I saw are comparatively minor: * You cannot shave while charging. This is unfortunate when you're in a hurry and discover that you didn't plug in the shaver when you should have the previous night. Yes, there is an "emergency" charge mode in which a rapid 3-minute charge gives you two or three shaves, but it would be much preferable to just use it as a corded shaver when necessary * Less than stellar battery life. According to the manual, one charge will last for about 50 minutes. That's not bad (and in line with other brands), but given that it uses a Lithium battery, it's not commensurately longer compared to the 30 minutes of my old shaver with a NiCad battery * Potentially less-effective travel lock. My old shaver had a mechanical lock tab that prevented the shaver from turning on when inadvertently pressed by other items in a tightly packed bag. That worked extremely well; I never arrived with an empty battery whenever I remembered to use it. This shaver has an electronic lock instead of a mechanical one: you hold the single "on" button for 2 seconds and it will lock; it will also unlock after pressing the button for 2 seconds. The problem is that when it gets pushed by other items in my bag, 2 seconds can happen easily. I'll have to be careful with this * No duration display. My old shaver displayed how long I had just shaved; this one does not. My shaves are usually a minute or two longer than the optimistic 3 minutes in the manual, so it was always good to see how long (and thus power-consuming) my day-dreaming lasted * Water-based cleaning. My Brown shaver from many moons ago used an alcohol-based cleaning fluid just like today's models. This one uses water with a detergent. That's probably just as effective (and may be less damaging to the finish) than alcohol, but it requires lengthy drying times of at least an hour. However, every once in a while I discover an an area on my skin that I missed and would like to just touch it up quickly. An alcohol-based cleaning fluid evaporates quickly; a water-based one does not. Using the shaver wet might be just fine, but I would prefer a dry one. Overall, I cannot recommend this shaver enough. Because it was an unexpected replacement, I bought it reluctantly. Now I wish I had gotten it much earlier on its own merits.

Costly as it is. This is far from the most expensive electric shaver out there. But it is hands down the best I ever had! Honestly, many of my electric shavers were Christmas or Birthday gifts. Word to the wise young gents. Say "Panasonic" with clarity, when queried by your beloved for what you suspect are hints for a giftable man's gadget. Purchase or gift, the ARC 5 really satisfies. Regardless of that your will save time and money on blade cartridges, often in the locked case at the market. I have had one two and three head as well as reel shavers. But, this Panasonic is light years of any of them. I have a protein rich diet, but this thing tackles my thick facial and neck hair. I can shave in a one minute flat if I need to, leaving a very few short stray hairs. In two minutes, I can have a clean shave that's near credit card smooth. And I do not have the tiniest bit of skin irritation afterward. And the razor is easy to clean. The head pops off, you shake it a bit in the sink. And I blow through it. Done! The charger has no bothersome constant light. A pleasant light show goes on when set it in the charger, then it goes dark. I located it under a shelf so it will not likely even get dusty. Every electric shaver I ever had was off the counter, and in the bottom drawer by the end of the year. I have had ingrown hairs, skin irritation and most of them felt uncomfortably hot to my delicate neck by the end of a shave. Thus, I have largely used blades for the past 40 plus years. I have to admit, the 5 blade Schick and Gillette cartridges are really good! I get 5 good shave from a blade. And the sensitive skin and oatmeal infused gels keep getting better and better. But, you have to shave with care to avoid bleeding, period. I have a mole on the bottom of my chin that can't be cut off. I have tried. Am careful, I wash with aloe soap, in cool water, and I rinse the razor every ten seconds. Still, any time I am the least bit hurried, in an effort to speed it up. I bleed. I am an old married guy, so I don't feel the need to have skin close shave every single time. But, I want a decent shave. And I want it toot sweet. The Panasonic so far checks off all the boxes. Longevity, who knows? But, if the Panasonic Bread maker on my counter is any indication of this company's quality, these days. I am fairly optimistic. That bread maker beats the pants off the other six (6) brands that came before it.

5-23-25 This is one of the best electric shavers. I’ve used in my 45 years of using various brands. I am giving this one star because I can’t give it zero. This is also the most expensive electric shaver I’ve purchased, and within six months of use the foil has a hole and needs to be replaced. I have never seen this happen with any other brand that I’ve used and when I called customer service, they said that I could send my shaver back to a repair facility at my cost to see if they could find something wrong with it but the foils are not covered under warranty . Tthey are approximately $80 to replace and that rate I will have purchased a brand new shaver after two years! Do not buy this product even though it gives you a good shave. Panasonic does not stand behind or provide quality products. UPDATE 9-26-25: I bought a new foil with new blades on Amazon in July 2025 to replace the ones with a hole after five months of use. The new foil that I replaced in July now has a hole in it and that’s only been in use for three months. This razor well gives you a very smooth shave will cost you a new razor after just nine months because the foils cost $75 and you have to replace them every for six months. Do not buy this razor.

We got this Panasonic ARC5 electric razor for our dad for Father’s Day, and he’s been using it ever since. Right out of the box, the build quality felt premium, and the cleaning/charging station made it super convenient for him to maintain. He loves how close and smooth the shave is, especially with the flexible head and powerful motor. It definitely gives that professional-level shave at home. The wet/dry versatility is another big plus. Why 4 stars instead of 5? Mainly because the cleaning station can be a bit bulky, and sometimes he says it takes a couple of passes to get the perfect finish on coarser areas. Battery life is solid, but we’ll see how it holds up long term. Overall, a fantastic gift and something he genuinely appreciates. Would definitely recommend—just not completely flawless.