How to buy the best electric shaver

Foil or rotary? Cord or cordless? Here's what to look for in an electric shaver.

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Last updated: 26 Aug 2024

The age-old battle for domination of the shaving cabinet continues, with electric shavers versus razors getting both camps in a lather.

Maybe you’re thinking it’s time to cut the razor and switch to electric, but you’re not sure if the other side of the fence is smoother?

We explain why an electric shaver may be better for your beard (and moustache), and how to choose the best model for you.

Should I buy an electric shaver or manual razor?

The main differences between shaving methods is convenience and price.

Electric shavers can cost more than $500, whereas disposable razors are much, much cheaper. But the cost can add up over time, especially if you shave every day.

Comfort is also an important, albeit subjective, factor.

Some people find the electric shaver more comfortable, others prefer razor. It’s often down to what you (and your skin) are used to.

Whatever you decide, you need to give your skin time to adjust to the change.

Electric shaver

Electric shavers are convenient and mess-free. They can come with a range of features such as multiple shaving heads, cooling heads, sonic vibration and shaving sensors that can determine differences in beard density and adjust the power accordingly.

Plus, a good shaver is less likely to leave nicks and razor burn than a razor.

But the initial outlay can be expensive. You’ll probably only need to replace the head every six to 12 months, but this can cost around $50 or more for the more expensive models.

Razor

Razors are cheaper, they tend to give a closer shave and there’s no need to recharge. But they’re messier to use and more likely to nick or cut the skin.

You’re also locked in to a brand’s blades – which is tricky when you go shopping and can’t remember if you have a Fusion, Mach, Hydro or Quattro.

Is a foil or rotary shaver better?

Foil shavers use oscillating blades beneath a perforated foil to cut the hair. Rotary shavers use two or three rotating heads to lift and cut the hair.

Each type is said to train hair to grow in a particular direction, so it’s best to use an electric shaver for two to four weeks before deciding if it’s right for you.

In both our ease of use and performance tests, we found that rotary shavers are no better than foil shavers, and vice versa. It mostly comes down to the overall quality of the shaver and how it feels, so what you choose is purely a matter of personal preference.

We found that rotary shavers are no better than foil shavers, and vice versa

But you shouldn’t switch between the two after prolonged use as facial hair will grow in response to the shaver type. If you’re switching from foil to rotary or vice versa, give your face at least a month to adjust.

So, what’s right for you? As a guide, we asked a few of our experts why they went with rotary or foil during their switch to an electric shaver:

Foil shavers (left) have oscillating blades beneath a perforated foil, and rotary shavers (right) use rotating heads to lift and cut the hair.

Denis Gallagher – rotary: “While I had used foil shavers very early on in my shaving days 30 years ago, the experience wasn’t particularly good as if felt the follicles were often pulled rather than cut. I have found the rotary experience to be a better option for me.”

Matt Steen – rotary: “I was a trialist in the previous shavers test when I joined CHOICE and that’s the type I was given to test. I never changed after that.”

Sam Nall – foil: “My parents gifted me one in my early twenties, but knew nothing about the different types. I still use that one today, ten years later.”

Cord vs cordless shavers

Cordless shavers are well and truly the norm these days. In fact, you’d be hard pressed to find one that isn’t battery-operated, purely because they’re that much more convenient.

Most use a nickel metal hydride (NiMH) rechargeable battery, though some use a lithium-ion (li-ion) rechargeable battery, which is longer lasting.

A charge indicator or low battery light is handy. But if the battery goes flat, most new models will have enough power for at least one shave after just a few minutes of recharging.

Other things to look for in a cordless electric shaver are:

Charger type

Most cordless shavers still use a traditional charging cable, but some have switched to USB charging, and these won’t always come with a USB cable or wall charger. Most homes have a few of these kicking around from old phones though, so check before buying new.

Charging cradle

This offers an easy way to store and charge your shaver if you have room to leave it plugged in.

Quick charge

This feature can cut total charge time to as little as one hour from a completely dead battery. Though handy, it’s not a must have.

Cleaning

All shavers will require manual cleaning to some degree, and cleaning under water is generally all you’ll need to do. If you don’t think you need a wet and dry shaver, at least make sure the shaver can be put under a running tap for cleaning.

Some come with a brush to remove hair, and some shavers come with a cleaning dock where the shaver cleans itself while recharging. Other models we’ve seen have a sonic vibration cleaning mode.

Models that only offer manual cleaning need to be disassembled. This can be tricky if you have strength or dexterity limitations. You also need to reinsert the pieces back in the correct slots, and although there are visual indicators, they aren’t always clear.

Charging cradles are a handy storage option that will keep the battery topped up.

What to look for in an electric shaver

Other features worth considering include:

Accessory kits: These often include travel pouches, cleaning tools and shaving oil.

Head tilt lock: This locks the shaver head in position (either a single position or multiple positions). It can be particularly useful when shaving hard-to-reach areas.

Pivoting heads: These adjust to the curves in your face and neck to assist shaving.

Shaving technology claims: Manufacturers make all sorts of claims about the advanced shaving technologies on offer, such as “Nano Skinglide Coating” or “Auto Sense Technology”. They supposedly offer very general improvements such as a better quality shave, or improved performance for sensitive skin. In reality, our tests found that they didn’t make much of a difference.

Trimmer: If you like to style your moustache, beard or sideburns, this feature is essential. A trimmer can be attached to the shaver or come on a separate head.

How much do electric shavers cost?

Electric shavers in our test range in price from around $40 for a basic model, up to over $450 for a premium shaver. In our tests, we’ve generally found that a good shave doesn’t come cheap.

How to recycle an electric shaver

Appliances don’t just go in the bin, particularly when a battery is involved. You’ll need to take your old shaver to a local e-waste disposal service, which you can find in the Recycling Near You database.

Otherwise, most local councils are likely to take them during e-waste drop-off events that happen throughout the year. Check your local council website or give them a call to find out if electric shavers can be dropped off in your area.

Remember to attach the protective cap before taking your shaver to a disposal point. This will help prevent injury from the razors when staff are sorting through large amounts of e-waste.

Peter

When I first walked through the doors at CHOICE, my job was to write about tech for CHOICE Computer magazine. Since then, I've covered everything from home entertainment to personal safety devices, tech for your car and even mattresses. If you want to find the best combination of a bed, 4K TV, soundbar, GPS unit and food delivery app, I'm your guy. The one thing I've noticed across all the product tests I've organised it's that nothing is simple. Mattresses can be just as complicated as computers, and manufacturers as well as salespeople don't make things easy. They either use complex jargon that you just want to ignore, or they oversimplify things to the point where you don't know what you're paying for. My goal isn't just to help you find the best TV, mattress or soundbar, I also want to cut through the nonsense and help you fully understand the products you're considering. That way, you can make an educated, informed decision when it's time to buy without falling prey to a sly salesperson. Plus, when you understand the product, you know how to set it up in a way that best suits your home and can look after it. Nothing is plug and play anymore, and if a complicated smartphone or Bluetooth speaker feels less intimidating after you've read my content, then I know I've done my job. Outside of work I'm very into gaming, I love watching retro classics at the cinema, I enjoy getting up early to spend hours smoking a tasty cut of meat and I'm deeply into home hi-fi. Any music genre from laidback jazz to the loudest, screamiest, most brutal heavy metal ticks all my boxes. I also had a stint as a live music photographer for a number of years. You can find me on LinkedIn.

Chris

In my current role I manage a range of product review projects for CHOICE. Most product reviews are done here in the CHOICE labs, but my focus is on those projects where we partner with external labs or data sources. For some product types, CHOICE doesn't have the facilities to perform testing, and usually it wouldn't be practical or economic for us to build them. So we partner with other expert labs for some tests, including solar panels, electric heaters, air purifiers and detergents. For some other projects we make use of government energy registry data, including air conditioners and heat pump hot water systems. I also manage our testing services through our commercial arm, Test Research, and I'm CHOICE's NATA Authorised Representative for all matters relating to to our lab's formal accreditations. I'm involved with the standards committee for air conditioners. I often liaise with government and industry in areas such as product safety and regulation. In over 20 years at CHOICE, I've had a variety of positions, writing content and managing lab teams for a wide range of products, including children's products, kitchen appliances, laundry appliances, garden power tools and more. My background is in science and technology. I have a science degree from the University of Sydney and I had a 15-year career in IT before joining CHOICE in 2004. CHOICE lets me exercise both sides of my brain; there's nothing I like better than diving into a stack of technical data and turning it into useful, consumer-friendly info for you, our members. (Though sampling pizza and scones from our oven testing is pretty nice, too.) You can find me on Twitter (X) and LinkedIn.