A straight line and a trimmer that pops up · review
Five blades, a linear motor at 70,000 cutting actions a minute, and a head that moves in sixteen independent directions. Panasonic states the steel blades shave as on the first day for five years, tested against artificially aged units.
Where it leaves us The foil shaver with the most blades and the fastest motor here, with the runtime left out.
Five blades, a linear motor at 70,000 cutting actions per minute, and a head that moves in sixteen independent directions. Panasonic adds a beard density sensor and inner cutters ground at thirty degrees to handle the thickest stubble.
The durability claim is unusually specific: shaving as on the first day for five years, tested by comparing artificially aged shavers with new ones. It remains the maker testing its own product, but it names a method, which most claims in this category do not.
One hour to a full charge, three minutes for a quick one, and a waterproof body cleaned under water. The runtime itself is not published.
It is also one of only two foil shavers on this site with a live offer on amazon.com: this one at $185, and the ES-RT37 at $120.
Which leaves one hole at the top of the shelf. Five blades, 70,000 cutting actions a minute, sixteen directions of flex, and a five-year blade claim with a named test method — and no runtime. The ES-RT37, at $120 against this one’s $185, publishes fifty-four minutes. At $185 this one states how long the battery takes to fill and not how long it lasts, and on a shaver sold on its motor that is the second figure a buyer would look for. The field above is left empty rather than filled from another model in the range. On the rotary side, the Philips S7887 states 45 blades and 90,000 cuts a minute, but that is a different stroke, in circles rather than lines. All four foil shavers are on the foil shavers shelf, with the ES-ALT4B and the ES-RT37; cleaning a shaver properly covers keeping the head working.
Prices quoted in this text were read on 2026-10-12. The live price is at the top of the page.
A listing is not an offer: the reference exists on these stores, availability changes daily.
| Blades | Five, Japanese steel, inner cutters ground at 30° |
|---|---|
| Motor | Linear, 70,000 cutting actions per minute |
| Head movement | 16D multi-flex, sixteen independent directions |
| Sensor | Beard density sensor |
| Blade life | Shaves as on the first day for five years, tested against artificially aged units, per Panasonic |
| Battery | 1 hour to a full charge; 3-minute quick charge |
| Cleaning | Waterproof design, cleaned under water |
| Amazon reference | B07XM8ZH7J (identical on 6 markets) |
| EAN | 5025232899050 |
It covers more skin per stroke, which is the argument. It is also physically wider, which makes the area under the nose harder rather than easier. Neither is a verdict: it is a trade, and the shape of your own face decides it.
Panasonic states it compared artificially aged shavers with new ones, and points to its own website for the detail. That is more than most durability claims disclose — it names a method rather than asserting a number — and it is still the manufacturer testing its own product.
8.4/ 10
The foil shaver with the most blades and the fastest motor here, with the runtime left out.
A thick beard shaved daily, where the number of passes is the actual complaint.
Specifications: the manufacturer sheet for grooming tools and the matching Amazon product page. Prices and availability: Keepa. Every figure on this page names its source.
2 foils + MicroComb · 3 flex blades · 100% waterproof · 45 min · made in Germany
Two Braun foils either side of a middle trimmer, three flexing blades, a MicroComb that Braun states catches more hair per stroke, a body it states is 100% waterproof, and forty-five minutes of runtime with a five-minute quick charge.
Best for: A daily shave, wet or dry, with a narrow head for under the nose.
3 blades, 30° nano-edged · linear motor 39,000/min · beard sensor · 8-way head
Three Japanese stainless blades ground at 30 degrees, a linear motor running 39,000 cutting actions a minute, a beard density sensor, a head flexing in eight directions, plus a shaving-foam mode, a travel lock and a three-minute quick charge.
Best for: A dense or uneven beard, shaved wet with foam.
3 blades · pop-up trimmer, 30 blades · 54 min · rinsable
A three-blade foil shaver with arc-shaped foils shaped for under the chin, a pop-up trimmer carrying thirty blades of its own, an hour to charge for fifty-four minutes of use, and a head that rinses under running water.
Best for: A daily dry or wet shave, with the head rinsed at the tap afterwards.
≈ $120
