The Best Electric Shavers for Every Type of Scruffy Fella

And funny enough, Grinstead-Mayle likes Wahl’s shavers for the complete opposite reason: Because it’s terrific for extremely frequent shaves, which explains why it’s such a mainstay across barbershops worldwide. “I charge mine once a week, and I use them many times a day,” he explains. “Plus the replacement blades/foils are easy to get! Also, the battery life on them is exceptional.”

Best Electric Shaver for Beginners: Philips Norelco OneBlade 360

While it’s not our recommended trimmer or shaver for guys with beards, it can handle your stubble no problem. Without turning this article into a full-on Philips-Norelco love fest, let me just say this: The OneBlade is perfect for shaving clean edges, and its flexible, oft-imitated design remains unmatched. Here is a device that, when it lacks any guards, moves like a cartridge shaver or a line-up trimmer in order to keep you looking fresh-faced. Or, if you snap on its trimming guard, you can work your way up past designed stubble and into proper beard trimming territory. There are a few iterations of the OneBlade (some include body trimming heads, some more than a dozen trimming lengths, some a longer charge), but I think this is the perfect one for guys who primarily need clean necklines and cheek lines, who rarely do a full shave, but who have a dedicated beard trimmer for the bulkier jobs.

Why It’s the Best Electric Shaver for Beginners

What makes this a good pickup for young guys and grooming beginners? It’s the versatility and the low price point compared to elite trimmers and shavers. Because it can’t handle longer hair and has a shorter battery, it’s not a great pick for guys who take grooming seriously. If you want a true multi-purpose electric shaver and trimmer, pick up the Panasonic Multishape instead.

Best Bald Head Shaver: Remington Balder Pro Electric Head Shaver

Remington

Balder Pro Electric Head Shaver

I’ve long maintained that a rotary shaver is the best tool for bald guys, period. The math is simple: it takes the least effort and time to get a smooth shave. Maybe not as silicone-smooth as a bladed shaver, but close. A built-for-baldness rotary shaver manages the curvature of the head really effectively, and can mow down thick and curly strands—plus those follicles that point off in odd directions—better than foil shavers. Plus, it fits in your hand really nicely, keeping you from having to contort yourself just to get a shave.

Why It’s the Best Bald Head Shaver

Remington’s palm-fit shaver is an Amazon best-seller for a reason: its best-in-class rotary head provides the cleanest results on the first pass. It’s also waterproof, making it easy to mow over stubble in the shower, and maintains enough juice (50 minutes per charge) to get you through most of the month. Remember how I said that everyone should own an electric head shaver, even if you prefer manual options? What I really meant was that everyone should own this specific one. (I didn’t have a chance to photograph myself using it—thanks to a potent cocktail of this stuff my mane looks more glorious than ever—but in my less hirsute days it was a reliable go-to.)

Best Shaver & Trimmer Combo: Panasonic MultiShape Clean Cut Kit

Panasonic

MultiShape Clean Cut Shaver Kit

After its 2021 debut, GQ called the innovative Panasonic MultiShape a “god-tier grooming product.” And our contributor Timothy Beck Werth still swears by its capabilities as an everyday electric shaver. “I’ve been using the electric shaver head consistently for at least three years, and it’s still going strong. The ability to swap it out with a beard trimmer, nose hair trimmer, and electric toothbrush just sweetens the deal,” Werth says.

The MultiShape comes with a variety of swappable grooming heads. You can (and should) get the all-in-one kit for $210, but if you’ve already got a toothbrush and beard trimmer you like, then this Clean Cut kit is our top recommendation. It features two foil shavers and an inner blade to come at stubble from a variety of angles, and it’s not quite as bulky as some other premium electric razors.

Why It’s the Best Shaver & Trimmer Combo

Even three years after its release, the MultiShape remains unmatched. While it’s not the best electric shaver you can buy, the overall utility can’t be beat. In our testing, it’s more than capable of eliminating stubble on the cheek, neck, and shin, though it may require an extra pass or two compared to a $300 shaver.

Best Travel Electric Shaver: Panasonic Arc5 Palm-Sized Electric Shaver

In 2024, Panasonic released the latest iteration of the Arc5. If you’re looking for an upgrade over the past-gen Arc5, then you’ll appreciate this gorgeous grooming tool. The stylish marbled exterior is made from a ceramic-like eco plastic, made with upcycled minerals leftover from seawater purification (an all-black version is less expensive). Unlike your average e-shaver, it fits squarely in the palm of your hand. With five blades and a powerful motor, it leaves your face as smooth as a baby’s.

Our tester found that it works best if you use a rocking, back-and-forth motion as you shave along your neck and other contoured parts of the face. Because of the extra powerful motor and rows of blades, you can nick your face if you press too hard. “Aside from its frustratingly high price point, Panasonic’s Series 900S electric shaver is a dream grooming tool for travelers, our tester says. “The pebble shape is easy to store, unobtrusive in your dopp kit, and actually looks rather handsome (something I didn’t picture myself saying about an electric shaver).”

Why It’s the Best Travel Electric Shaver

Looking for a grooming gift—for yourself or a lucky guy? This palm-sized shaver is a fun splurge. Panasonic doesn’t think of it as a travel shaver, but it fits perfectly into a dopp kit. As you’d expect from a premium product, you can get away with a quick once-over. Longer stubble may take a couple of passes.

Best Compact Electric Shaver: Philips-Norelco Compact Electric Shaver

This right here—it’s one of Philips-Norelco’s most underlooked products. I’m going to age myself here, but this rotary shaver is about the size of a beeper (kids, a beeper is an ancient communication technology that allowed your grandparents to send text messages). So, like the Arc5 Palm, it fits easily into any toiletry bag and takes up next to no space on a bathroom counter. It also has a hidden compartment under the blades to catch all your hair and stubble, and you can pop off the head and dump it as needed. It’s also IPX7 waterproof, so you can use it wherever.