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Braun Series 8 Electric Shaver vs Panasonic ARC5 Electric Shaver
Which one has the downsides you can live with?
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The short answer
Braun Series 8 Electric Shaver ranks higher (#3 vs #4 of 8) and scores better on skin comfort, battery. Panasonic ARC5 Electric Shaver wins on closeness, durability.
The biggest complaint about the Braun Series 8 Electric Shaver is pricey replacement heads; for the Panasonic ARC5 Electric Shaver it's harsher on sensitive skin. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Side by side
| Braun Series 8 Electric Shaver | Panasonic ARC5 Electric Shaver | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in electric shavers | #3 | #4 |
| Price tier | $$$ | $$ |
| Type | Foil | Foil |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | 12% | 9% |
| Overall score | 4.1 | 3.7 |
| Closeness | 4.0 | 4.5 |
| Skin comfort | 4.5 | 3.0 |
| Battery | 4.5 | 3.0 |
| Easy cleaning | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Durability | 3.5 | 4.0 |
Price tiers: $ under $80 · $$ $80–200 · $$$ over $200. Highlighted = clearly better (a score gap of 0.3 or more, or a 1–2★ share at least 3 points lower). Scores are explained, with sources, on each product's page.
Top complaints
Braun Series 8 Electric Shaver
- Pricey replacement heads
Wirecutter says the foils should be replaced every 18 months and a new head runs about $70. ShaverCheck lists the pricey head as a con, though it costs less than a Series 9 cassette.
Source: Wirecutter, ShaverCheck (Series 8 review) - Not the closest on coarse beards
ShaverCheck found the neck and chin sometimes left slightly rough patches with coarse, dense hair and says Panasonic's Arc 4 and Arc 5 shave closer. Amazon's review summary says opinions on its functionality and value are mixed.
- Head only pivots one way; weak trimmer; bulky extras
Wirecutter notes the head pivots only vertically, the built-in trimmer is no match for a standalone one, and the cc version's cleaning station and nearly 10-inch charging case take up space. ShaverCheck calls the slide-out trimmer mediocre and says the shaver is pretty loud; Amazon's summary calls noise feedback mixed.
Panasonic ARC5 Electric Shaver
- Harsher on sensitive skin
ShaverCheck saw pinching and stinging on the neck when moving fast and mild redness, says Braun's Series 8 or 9 is gentler, and doesn't recommend it for very sensitive skin. Amazon's summary says some owners report red, burning or irritated skin.
- Slower, struggles with long flat-lying hair
ShaverCheck says it struggles with long, flat-lying hair, a long-standing Panasonic issue. Wirecutter found neither Arc5 version shaved as quickly or closely as its top Braun pick, and CNN's three-day beard took nearly 3 minutes versus about 1.5 minutes with the Braun Series 9 Pro.
- Messy dock, pricey parts, average battery
CNN says the dock uses an open reservoir where you mix detergent and water, so you have to empty it to travel, and it is loud. ShaverCheck says the detergent tray can grow mold and mildew, foils (yearly) and blades (every two years) are pricey, and battery life is okay but behind Braun and Philips. Amazon battery feedback is mixed.
Who should pick which
Pick the Braun Series 8 Electric Shaver if
Daily shavers who want Braun comfort for less
Sensitive skin
Long battery life
Skip it if: You want the closest possible shave on a dense beard; You need a good built-in beard trimmer; You don't want to pay about $70 for heads
Pick the Panasonic ARC5 Electric Shaver if
The closest possible shave
Daily shavers with coarse beards
Hand-rinsing with a sonic cleaning mode
Skip it if: You have very sensitive skin; You let long, flat-lying hair grow between shaves; You want the longest battery life
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