Panasonic ES8249S Arc IV Nanotech Vortex Wet/Dry Rechargeable Shaver, Silver Review. Get a smoother shave with Panasonic. Its 4 Nanotech blades with Arc Foil gives you a uniform '1-pass' shaving, while the pivoting head rocks up/down and back/forth, to follow the contours of your face. When you're done shaving, the HydraClean system automatically cleans the shaver with hygienic infused water and then dries it, so there's one less thing you have to worry about. Automatic international voltage conversion 10-stage LCD battery monitor with time elapsed tracking Includes charging stand ....
"Tried Others..So Far The Best!" 2009-06-07
By Mark A. Loppnow (West Bend, WI)
Have tried Norelcos triple-blade, no good. Tried the top of the line Braun, seemed to take too long to shave, and had to go over the same area 5 times to get a close shave (also VERY noisy)! The Panasonic Arc IV is very quiet, I can ACTUALLY HERE the stubble being shaved, and shaving only takes 5 1/2 minutes (I know this, because the shaver has a timer). I clean it in the stand 4 times/week, which keeps the shaver looking new every time I use it. I like not having to press it hard to my face, to get it to shave close (head is spring loaded, to give the correct amount of pressure). I just bought the cleaning cartridges, 3/$12.70 on Amazon subscriber program, and will have them sent every 6 months. Face still feels shaved after 8 hours (this is very strange, but nice).
"Fantastic!" 2009-12-10
By Jeremy C. Sloss (Los Angeles, CA USA)
I have always been an opponent for an electric razor for a number of reasons, biggest one is that I have sensitive skin and without pressing really hard on my face, never seemed to get a close shave. After my friend got his, and after a recent visit to the big box store where I got to see a 40 dollar price tag on disposables, I was convinced to try. I opted for the most bang for my buck and a model that was wet dry, you can actually use shaving cream with this model, which helps to nearly eliminate the break in irritation of most razors. The shave I get in just 2.5 minutes (the razor has a timer) is so smooth and so easy, its sad to think of all the money and time I have wasted over the years on traditional shaving products. Fantastic shaver, fantastic value.
"Panasonic ES8249S Arc IV vs. Braun Series 7- 790cc vs. Philips Norelco1090x Arcitec (SHOCKING UPDATE AT END OF REVIEW !!!!!)" 2009-12-24
By ThickNjustrite
Hi. 1st of all,I am in no way affiliated with,nor have had any history/relationship/problems with Panasonic,Braun nor Philips/Norelco in any way. After reading this review you will understand why I put in that part.
Ok,gonna be a long review so I won't get into too many details about the 3 razors specifics,which may be found in other 5 star reviews.
1st things 1st;
I am a 47 year old,dark skinned Caucasion with thick,dark hair everywhere(ugh),including on/in my ears,and was blessed :( with a face like coarse sandpaper.My chest hair meets my neck hair it's so extreme. Anyway, I have tried many of the more expensive electric shavers since I began shaving,at about 12 years of age,beginning with my Dads old corded/heavy Remington. Every 5 years or so I'd try a couple of the new/latest ones,but always ended up going back to shaving cream & a blade. The last electric I tried before now,about 10 years ago,was the 1st ever 14,000 rpm Panasonic,the one from Sharper Image(purchased online for less than 1/2 the price of Sharper Image). After 1 month of daily use I switched back to a blade again,but that Panasonic wasn't bad for its time,and it was the best at that time,but again,not as comfortable nor as close as a blade.
Why I bought this;
My last(and NOW final)manual blade was the Gillette Fusion Power(3 bladed, not the 5),which is the best manual I have ever used including the 5 blade Gillette & Schick. On Black Friday of this year(2009) I was at Walmart & I came across the Norelco Arcitec 1090x. I figured I was due to try a new electric...I could always return it. Well,I was amazed by the performance. I paid $149.00 plus tax for it. After loving it, I returned it to Walmart & bought it on E-Bay for $120.00 total. After 29 days of using it, I decided to check the prices & reviews of other shavers on Amazon.com,figuring IF I could POSSIBLY even improve on the Arcitec for a comparable price,great! I figured maybe I didn't know any better since the Arcitec was the 1st electric I had tried in almost 10 years,so I'd give others a try. Again,I could always return them.
So,I got the Panasonic ES8249S Arc IV and the Braun Series 7-790cc models,unbelievably priced at $129.99 & $149.99 respectively,from Amazon.com. The Panasonic got 5 stars from 5 reviewers,the Braun 4 1/2 from over 700 reviewers,and were 2 of the best I could find in any price range(the Norelco got 4 stars).
When I got this;
First,the Panasonic arrived. After the 1st use,I put my beloved Arcitec back in its very awkward,troublesome & frustrating packaging & called Norelco for a return authorization(Amazon doesn't accept returns on Hazardous materials...the cleaning fluid). Remember,I LOVED the Norelco,I didn't know any better,YET. But,the Panasonic blew it off the charts in every conceivable way,right out of the box! As for the "adjustment period from rotary to foil", there was none, although I imagine it will get even better in time,which is hard to conceive happening! What the Arcitec gave me,which I figured was just the way things are with electrics these days,and considered acceptable or even temporary,(irritation on my neck & upper chest)was a very smooth,close shave. But,it also dealt out very warm/hot shaver heads/foils after 10 minutes of shaving,and hand fatigue,none of which exists with the Panasonic. This Arc iv Nano totally blew me away,even to the point where I was not even going to try the Braun when it arrived. But,I had to,just to make sure,with hope,that it COULD possibly be even better then the Panasonic. Then again,I was almost hoping it would not,since I fell instantly in love with the Arc iv. "How could near perfection be topped",I asked myself?
What happened next;
Anyway,I got the Braun,disliked the looks right out of the box, charged it,tried it out & immediately put it back in the box, then set up a return with Braun(again,no Haz.Mat returns to Amazon). All I can say is,in order,my scorecard (a chart I made) came out like this; On a scale of 1-5,based on 21 different performance,quality,comfort & other criteria; Panasonic 101 points(ok,the case is of the lowest quality imaginable.Guess they had to keep the cost down SOMEWHERE!),Norelco 79 points & Braun 66 points. The ONLY good things I can say about this Braun is it shaved pretty close & has a nice small head (2 cool looking micro foils, a nice angle,& ability to use it plugged in(corded),which the other 2 lack(gr8 case too! Lol)..I may have kept it had the other 2 not existed.MAYBE.
And then;
On the down side, the Braun is the loudest of all 3,feels the cheapest,has a poor "grip" feel,has Alcohol based cleaning fluid which evaporates unless you keep putting the cap back on(see other reviews,even 5 star...Panasonic's is Alcohol free),no protective foil cap(Huh???...they include a useless brush...WHY...it's washable and has a cleaning station...BUT no protection for the ultra thin foils!!??? GHASTLY!!! Hellooooooooo), a cheap feeling on/off button & is NOT water submergible/wet shaveable. The pop-up trimmer was inferior to both the Panasonic & the Norelco as well. The other 2 don't have a brush because again,it's unnecessary/useless.Who in their right mind would tediously brush stubbles out of an electric shaver instead of washing it,rinsing it in seconds,or use the cleaning base( my daughter used the brush,on her Barbie doll )??? A brush can actually damage the thin foils...IT SAYS SO IN ALL THE MANUALS !!!!
And so;
As for the Norelco,it gives a nice, close shave(15 minutes minimum though, for an ultra close shave),looks great and is fun to shave with,and has manual clean/rinse ability,but is NOT submergible nor a "Wet" shaver. No "cleaning station" though,which is useful for weekly deep cleaning of oils from the skin,and dries a just-rinsed/cleaned razor. The heads on the arcitec pop up individually to clean & I enjoyed that aspect of this razor(man toys,you know). On the down side, it's tinny,has a cheap sounding motor,is hard to hold onto comfortably for the 15+ minutes it takes to get an almost blade close shave,as my hand starts to come close to cramping up,feels a bit cheap & too light/fragile,caused regular lower neck irritation and the heads get too hot to continue finishing your shave( hadda keep dipping it in ice water,it went 'tssst', then dry it! ). It has a cheap,thin plastic,standing charging stand which is so light it needs suction cups( included! ) on the bottom to hold it up when the razor is in place(or...crunch..it'll fall over)! It does however have a cool thick plastic/rubber "charging case", but it's big & bulky, has no hinge(it opens into 2 pieces). The Razor has an ultra cheap trimmer "switch",which seems like a cutout from some plastic mail bin or something,and is hard to switch on because it is tiny,flat & lacks any kind of "gripping" material,like rubber. The tiny trimmer itself,contrary to other reviews of the arcitec,is useful for getting behind sideburns & ears,and you MUST pull off the shaving head to achieve its full usefullness,something some other reviewers didn't realize. It was the 2nd loudest,and NOT a nice sound...like a grinding/thrashing sound,same as all Norelco rotary shavers. Imagine a Corvette sounding like an old VW bug? Not good. It's a guy thing,you know.
Still with me? Hope so...almost done.You'll thank me later. :)
Finally;
As for my new baby,the Panasonic ES8249S Arc IV Nanotech Vortex is PERFECT,in every way I can imagine. (Please check other 5 star reviews for more precise details,as this review is long enough). It is the electric shaver I always dreamed someone would invent. No cons whatsoever(Personally,the case is good enuf for me)! CLOSER than my manual Gillette Fusion Power razor,or ANY OTHER non-electric I've ever tried/used,and I've had em all,which I NEVER thought possible with an electric but always wished would happen! Zero irritation anywhere!(ANY razor,manual or electric,which claims to shave smooth in ONE PASS,is B.S.ing us). I can even use Alcohol based aftershave lotion with this gem, where-is the other 2 caused redness,then burned & caused more redness(irritation)even when I tried alcohol & dye free cream aftershave "lotions"(with a blade too)! With the Norelco,I thought it was just the "adjustment period" from a manual to an electric,but with the Panasonic,nothing!
I cannot imagine where any inventor can go from here! Maybe a lazer shaver,or a "touchless"? And it sounds as sweet as a Mazerati sports car!
Epilogue;
As for the 700+ Braun users who gave it 4 1/2 stars,and the Norelco users who gave the arcitec 4 stars(I'd give it 3 now,Braun 1 1/2),I can only imagine that most of them must be loyal customers to those brands & never tried this or any other highly rated Panasonic shaver.Or,they're stuck with their units & are in denial. Some may actually prefer it,who knows. But,700+ gave this Braun 4 1/2 stars! I'm sure there are millions(ok, hunders of thousands worldwide) of non-reviewers who had a similar experience as myself,as well as millions [ ;) ] of Norelco/Braun users who are as unsatisfied as I was.There is absolutely no comparison between these 3 shavers! Not by a very long shot!
Buy it...buy all 3 like I did,and see what I mean. You will want to shave 3 times a day at least with the Panasonic ES8249S Arc IV or any comparable Panasonic model,if that was possible. Wish I could! It's THAT good/enjoyable! Now,shaving is pure enjoyment,something I now look forward to doing & something I thoroughly hated and avoided/procrastinated doing as much as possible with a manual.
Ok,the finish line;(I know,Thank God) :)
The "retail" price of this Panasonic is $249.00 I paid 129.00,free shipping,from Amazon.I'd pay $249 & higher for this razor.The Braun retails for $299.00 I'd pay maybe as high as $100.00 for it...maybe....IF the other 2 didn't exist( but would probably end up, like always in the past, back to shave cream & manual razor). The Norelco retails for $249.00...I'd pay it,but only if the Panasonic didn't exist, & over the Braun even if it were $100.00
What year is this,I've been sitting here for quite some time....???
Happy shaving to all!
(UPDATE); SHOCKING !!! 2/24/10 This ISN'T ez for me... Just got a Panasonic ES7103K Pro-Curve Wet/Dry Triple Head Shaver, Black on Amazon for $45.00-just to see what it does due to its 5 star review, figuring if it came even close to my ES8249S,I'd keep it as a "backup". I could always return it, hehe.
Well,dare I say that it absolutely BLOWS AWAY the ES8249S !!!!! Yes,you read that right. It shaves me in 1/2 the time & the results are even better (guess it WAS possible!)! It's MUCH quieter,has a much nicer "feel" & gets into the "tight" spots much easier(3 "heads", 1/2 the size of the 8249). I think the "slower" motor speed,10,000rpm, works better then the 13,000 on the ES8249S!(Overkill?) Unreal,right!? I even called Panasonic to return my ES8249S , to get my 129.00 back, but my time has expired for a refund. I CAN exchange it for a "comparable model",said Panasonic, but what good would THAT do? Maybe I'll get 3- ES7103K's in exchange...or just keep the ES8249S as a backup...
I NEVER thought this would happen/be possible(as my review of the ES8249S conveys)! Ok,Slight drop in quality of materials, no "cleaning station" (but it's all about the SHAVE,really,& a nice lather rinsing of the unit works,saves electricity & space on the counter,& is FREE. If necessary, "deep clean" with alcohol swabs,or immerse in an astrigent like "Sea Breeze",no big effort), but I'd rather have 3- ES7103K's than 1 ES8249S! Go figure this would've happened after my review of the ES8249S. I mean,it's not even CLOSE (pun intended). Went from an 8 minute shave to a 4-5 min. CLOSER shave! Had to bump the ES8249S to 4 stars, from 5.
So,get a "backup" for $45.00 & have a good cry,like me, a cry of joy & pain! :)
UPDATE #2; 3/4/10 Ok, I've been using the ES7103K THEN I "finish up" with the ES8249S. I think I've found the PERFECT way to shave! The ES8249S seems to "finish up" whatever the ES7103K "left behind",which may sound contradictory now, but by that I mean the "very finest" of stubbles, & THAT'S ALL! Anyway,the 7103K is still THE BEST,alone, & it's my favorite! :)
Update #3; 4/19/10 Well, I have to say I am using both razors, & the ES8249S has held up better, still working like new, while the ES7103K just doesn't seem to be as smooth as it was new. So, get them both, or just the 8249S or 2 of the others & alternate, because I can't seem to make up my mind anymore.
Just PLEASE, whatever you do, stay away from ANY Braun model...more than twice the price & as I said in this review, the worst of the 3!
"Excellent shaver" 2009-12-14
By Vadim Yarovoy (Canton, MA United States)
I have sensitive skin and hard facial hair, and that resulted in "tired" skin with occasional rashes and redness when using Gillette's blades. I've used them for many years, and was always looking for an alternative to alleviate skin problems. I tried a Remington's electric shaver about 8 years ago, yet didn't like it and returned it. Then I tried Norelco about 3 years ago, with better, but similar result (significant irritation). Recently I decided to give electrics another try, since technology keeps improving, and found this shaver. After reading reviews on Amazon and other sites, and studying the specifications, I decided to give it a chance, and I am very glad I did. I've shaved with it about 8 times now (every time with Aveeno Sensitive Skin gel) in the shower (love the wet mode), and my skin looks much better already, and the process is much more pleasurable than with Gillette blades. I tried the base's washing cycle once, it's a bit loud and goes on for 2+ hours, however it is not really an issue. The shaver washes well in the shower, and once in a while I will wash it using the base. Excellent shaver overall, and it didn't even take the 3 weeks "adjusting time" to prove it.
"Gives an undeniably close shave, look no further than this!!!" 2010-02-03
By Joshua Soltysik (Seattle, WA)
I was skeptical when I read the reviews, but i was tired of always having to shave with a Mach 3 Fusion Power razor all the time just to get a decent shave. If you are anything like me and have sensitive skin and coarse, thick facial hair, then this razor is what you have been looking for. The first time I shaved with the Arc IV was after 2 days of not shaving, and I just wanted to see how it would cut. I didn't use shave cream or a preshave cause I just wanted to test it out. I was so astounded at how smooth my skin felt that I just kept shaving till my whole face and neck was shaved. And the interesting thing about it was that my face didn't feel all raw, like I had several small cuts all over, in fact it felt just fine. It was the closest thing to a straight razor shave that I have ever had with an electric razor. Granted, I don't shave dry often, most of the time I shave in the shower with shaving cream. My skin has really cleared up since I have been using this because my face has been able to heal from the trauma of using a Mach 3 razor every day (even though a Mach 3 Fusion is awesome, after shaving 5 days straight my skin gets traumatized). The charge lasts a very long time. Using it 5 times a week in the shower for 3+ minutes at a time I am able to get about a week and a half out of one charge. The base/charger also has a nice option to clean the razor as well. This is very nice and convenient and makes the razor perform like new and smell nice. I have heard complaints about how long it takes to clean and how noisy it is. Well, I don't really consider this a problem. In fact, it might just even be a little nitpicky. Just don't charge it in your bedroom when you are trying to sleep and you will be fine. It does take a while to clean (perhaps about an hour), but I just set it and forget it while I am on my way out the door in the morning.
If you have been considering taking the plunge into the foray of the electric razor world, then look no further than this. The wet/dry option is an undeniable advantage in both longevity and rugged survivability. Take it on a camping trip down the Colorado river and you won't worry about breaking it. It is nice looking, relatively small, gives a comfortable, close shave that will make your significant other want to make-out more and not worry about looking like a sand-paper attack victim. I would highly recommend this and it has changed my perception about the viability of electric razors in the modern age.
Cheers!
By Mark A. Loppnow (West Bend, WI)
Have tried Norelcos triple-blade, no good. Tried the top of the line Braun, seemed to take too long to shave, and had to go over the same area 5 times to get a close shave (also VERY noisy)! The Panasonic Arc IV is very quiet, I can ACTUALLY HERE the stubble being shaved, and shaving only takes 5 1/2 minutes (I know this, because the shaver has a timer). I clean it in the stand 4 times/week, which keeps the shaver looking new every time I use it. I like not having to press it hard to my face, to get it to shave close (head is spring loaded, to give the correct amount of pressure). I just bought the cleaning cartridges, 3/$12.70 on Amazon subscriber program, and will have them sent every 6 months. Face still feels shaved after 8 hours (this is very strange, but nice).
By Jeremy C. Sloss (Los Angeles, CA USA)
I have always been an opponent for an electric razor for a number of reasons, biggest one is that I have sensitive skin and without pressing really hard on my face, never seemed to get a close shave. After my friend got his, and after a recent visit to the big box store where I got to see a 40 dollar price tag on disposables, I was convinced to try. I opted for the most bang for my buck and a model that was wet dry, you can actually use shaving cream with this model, which helps to nearly eliminate the break in irritation of most razors. The shave I get in just 2.5 minutes (the razor has a timer) is so smooth and so easy, its sad to think of all the money and time I have wasted over the years on traditional shaving products. Fantastic shaver, fantastic value.
By ThickNjustrite
Hi. 1st of all,I am in no way affiliated with,nor have had any history/relationship/problems with Panasonic,Braun nor Philips/Norelco in any way. After reading this review you will understand why I put in that part.
Ok,gonna be a long review so I won't get into too many details about the 3 razors specifics,which may be found in other 5 star reviews.
1st things 1st;
I am a 47 year old,dark skinned Caucasion with thick,dark hair everywhere(ugh),including on/in my ears,and was blessed :( with a face like coarse sandpaper.My chest hair meets my neck hair it's so extreme. Anyway, I have tried many of the more expensive electric shavers since I began shaving,at about 12 years of age,beginning with my Dads old corded/heavy Remington. Every 5 years or so I'd try a couple of the new/latest ones,but always ended up going back to shaving cream & a blade. The last electric I tried before now,about 10 years ago,was the 1st ever 14,000 rpm Panasonic,the one from Sharper Image(purchased online for less than 1/2 the price of Sharper Image). After 1 month of daily use I switched back to a blade again,but that Panasonic wasn't bad for its time,and it was the best at that time,but again,not as comfortable nor as close as a blade.
Why I bought this;
My last(and NOW final)manual blade was the Gillette Fusion Power(3 bladed, not the 5),which is the best manual I have ever used including the 5 blade Gillette & Schick. On Black Friday of this year(2009) I was at Walmart & I came across the Norelco Arcitec 1090x. I figured I was due to try a new electric...I could always return it. Well,I was amazed by the performance. I paid $149.00 plus tax for it. After loving it, I returned it to Walmart & bought it on E-Bay for $120.00 total. After 29 days of using it, I decided to check the prices & reviews of other shavers on Amazon.com,figuring IF I could POSSIBLY even improve on the Arcitec for a comparable price,great! I figured maybe I didn't know any better since the Arcitec was the 1st electric I had tried in almost 10 years,so I'd give others a try. Again,I could always return them.
So,I got the Panasonic ES8249S Arc IV and the Braun Series 7-790cc models,unbelievably priced at $129.99 & $149.99 respectively,from Amazon.com. The Panasonic got 5 stars from 5 reviewers,the Braun 4 1/2 from over 700 reviewers,and were 2 of the best I could find in any price range(the Norelco got 4 stars).
When I got this;
First,the Panasonic arrived. After the 1st use,I put my beloved Arcitec back in its very awkward,troublesome & frustrating packaging & called Norelco for a return authorization(Amazon doesn't accept returns on Hazardous materials...the cleaning fluid). Remember,I LOVED the Norelco,I didn't know any better,YET. But,the Panasonic blew it off the charts in every conceivable way,right out of the box! As for the "adjustment period from rotary to foil", there was none, although I imagine it will get even better in time,which is hard to conceive happening! What the Arcitec gave me,which I figured was just the way things are with electrics these days,and considered acceptable or even temporary,(irritation on my neck & upper chest)was a very smooth,close shave. But,it also dealt out very warm/hot shaver heads/foils after 10 minutes of shaving,and hand fatigue,none of which exists with the Panasonic. This Arc iv Nano totally blew me away,even to the point where I was not even going to try the Braun when it arrived. But,I had to,just to make sure,with hope,that it COULD possibly be even better then the Panasonic. Then again,I was almost hoping it would not,since I fell instantly in love with the Arc iv. "How could near perfection be topped",I asked myself?
What happened next;
Anyway,I got the Braun,disliked the looks right out of the box, charged it,tried it out & immediately put it back in the box, then set up a return with Braun(again,no Haz.Mat returns to Amazon). All I can say is,in order,my scorecard (a chart I made) came out like this; On a scale of 1-5,based on 21 different performance,quality,comfort & other criteria; Panasonic 101 points(ok,the case is of the lowest quality imaginable.Guess they had to keep the cost down SOMEWHERE!),Norelco 79 points & Braun 66 points. The ONLY good things I can say about this Braun is it shaved pretty close & has a nice small head (2 cool looking micro foils, a nice angle,& ability to use it plugged in(corded),which the other 2 lack(gr8 case too! Lol)..I may have kept it had the other 2 not existed.MAYBE.
And then;
On the down side, the Braun is the loudest of all 3,feels the cheapest,has a poor "grip" feel,has Alcohol based cleaning fluid which evaporates unless you keep putting the cap back on(see other reviews,even 5 star...Panasonic's is Alcohol free),no protective foil cap(Huh???...they include a useless brush...WHY...it's washable and has a cleaning station...BUT no protection for the ultra thin foils!!??? GHASTLY!!! Hellooooooooo), a cheap feeling on/off button & is NOT water submergible/wet shaveable. The pop-up trimmer was inferior to both the Panasonic & the Norelco as well. The other 2 don't have a brush because again,it's unnecessary/useless.Who in their right mind would tediously brush stubbles out of an electric shaver instead of washing it,rinsing it in seconds,or use the cleaning base( my daughter used the brush,on her Barbie doll )??? A brush can actually damage the thin foils...IT SAYS SO IN ALL THE MANUALS !!!!
And so;
As for the Norelco,it gives a nice, close shave(15 minutes minimum though, for an ultra close shave),looks great and is fun to shave with,and has manual clean/rinse ability,but is NOT submergible nor a "Wet" shaver. No "cleaning station" though,which is useful for weekly deep cleaning of oils from the skin,and dries a just-rinsed/cleaned razor. The heads on the arcitec pop up individually to clean & I enjoyed that aspect of this razor(man toys,you know). On the down side, it's tinny,has a cheap sounding motor,is hard to hold onto comfortably for the 15+ minutes it takes to get an almost blade close shave,as my hand starts to come close to cramping up,feels a bit cheap & too light/fragile,caused regular lower neck irritation and the heads get too hot to continue finishing your shave( hadda keep dipping it in ice water,it went 'tssst', then dry it! ). It has a cheap,thin plastic,standing charging stand which is so light it needs suction cups( included! ) on the bottom to hold it up when the razor is in place(or...crunch..it'll fall over)! It does however have a cool thick plastic/rubber "charging case", but it's big & bulky, has no hinge(it opens into 2 pieces). The Razor has an ultra cheap trimmer "switch",which seems like a cutout from some plastic mail bin or something,and is hard to switch on because it is tiny,flat & lacks any kind of "gripping" material,like rubber. The tiny trimmer itself,contrary to other reviews of the arcitec,is useful for getting behind sideburns & ears,and you MUST pull off the shaving head to achieve its full usefullness,something some other reviewers didn't realize. It was the 2nd loudest,and NOT a nice sound...like a grinding/thrashing sound,same as all Norelco rotary shavers. Imagine a Corvette sounding like an old VW bug? Not good. It's a guy thing,you know.
Still with me? Hope so...almost done.You'll thank me later. :)
Finally;
As for my new baby,the Panasonic ES8249S Arc IV Nanotech Vortex is PERFECT,in every way I can imagine. (Please check other 5 star reviews for more precise details,as this review is long enough). It is the electric shaver I always dreamed someone would invent. No cons whatsoever(Personally,the case is good enuf for me)! CLOSER than my manual Gillette Fusion Power razor,or ANY OTHER non-electric I've ever tried/used,and I've had em all,which I NEVER thought possible with an electric but always wished would happen! Zero irritation anywhere!(ANY razor,manual or electric,which claims to shave smooth in ONE PASS,is B.S.ing us). I can even use Alcohol based aftershave lotion with this gem, where-is the other 2 caused redness,then burned & caused more redness(irritation)even when I tried alcohol & dye free cream aftershave "lotions"(with a blade too)! With the Norelco,I thought it was just the "adjustment period" from a manual to an electric,but with the Panasonic,nothing!
I cannot imagine where any inventor can go from here! Maybe a lazer shaver,or a "touchless"? And it sounds as sweet as a Mazerati sports car!
Epilogue;
As for the 700+ Braun users who gave it 4 1/2 stars,and the Norelco users who gave the arcitec 4 stars(I'd give it 3 now,Braun 1 1/2),I can only imagine that most of them must be loyal customers to those brands & never tried this or any other highly rated Panasonic shaver.Or,they're stuck with their units & are in denial. Some may actually prefer it,who knows. But,700+ gave this Braun 4 1/2 stars! I'm sure there are millions(ok, hunders of thousands worldwide) of non-reviewers who had a similar experience as myself,as well as millions [ ;) ] of Norelco/Braun users who are as unsatisfied as I was.There is absolutely no comparison between these 3 shavers! Not by a very long shot!
Buy it...buy all 3 like I did,and see what I mean. You will want to shave 3 times a day at least with the Panasonic ES8249S Arc IV or any comparable Panasonic model,if that was possible. Wish I could! It's THAT good/enjoyable! Now,shaving is pure enjoyment,something I now look forward to doing & something I thoroughly hated and avoided/procrastinated doing as much as possible with a manual.
Ok,the finish line;(I know,Thank God) :)
The "retail" price of this Panasonic is $249.00 I paid 129.00,free shipping,from Amazon.I'd pay $249 & higher for this razor.The Braun retails for $299.00 I'd pay maybe as high as $100.00 for it...maybe....IF the other 2 didn't exist( but would probably end up, like always in the past, back to shave cream & manual razor). The Norelco retails for $249.00...I'd pay it,but only if the Panasonic didn't exist, & over the Braun even if it were $100.00
What year is this,I've been sitting here for quite some time....???
Happy shaving to all!
(UPDATE); SHOCKING !!! 2/24/10 This ISN'T ez for me... Just got a Panasonic ES7103K Pro-Curve Wet/Dry Triple Head Shaver, Black on Amazon for $45.00-just to see what it does due to its 5 star review, figuring if it came even close to my ES8249S,I'd keep it as a "backup". I could always return it, hehe.
Well,dare I say that it absolutely BLOWS AWAY the ES8249S !!!!! Yes,you read that right. It shaves me in 1/2 the time & the results are even better (guess it WAS possible!)! It's MUCH quieter,has a much nicer "feel" & gets into the "tight" spots much easier(3 "heads", 1/2 the size of the 8249). I think the "slower" motor speed,10,000rpm, works better then the 13,000 on the ES8249S!(Overkill?) Unreal,right!? I even called Panasonic to return my ES8249S , to get my 129.00 back, but my time has expired for a refund. I CAN exchange it for a "comparable model",said Panasonic, but what good would THAT do? Maybe I'll get 3- ES7103K's in exchange...or just keep the ES8249S as a backup...
I NEVER thought this would happen/be possible(as my review of the ES8249S conveys)! Ok,Slight drop in quality of materials, no "cleaning station" (but it's all about the SHAVE,really,& a nice lather rinsing of the unit works,saves electricity & space on the counter,& is FREE. If necessary, "deep clean" with alcohol swabs,or immerse in an astrigent like "Sea Breeze",no big effort), but I'd rather have 3- ES7103K's than 1 ES8249S! Go figure this would've happened after my review of the ES8249S. I mean,it's not even CLOSE (pun intended). Went from an 8 minute shave to a 4-5 min. CLOSER shave! Had to bump the ES8249S to 4 stars, from 5.
So,get a "backup" for $45.00 & have a good cry,like me, a cry of joy & pain! :)
UPDATE #2; 3/4/10 Ok, I've been using the ES7103K THEN I "finish up" with the ES8249S. I think I've found the PERFECT way to shave! The ES8249S seems to "finish up" whatever the ES7103K "left behind",which may sound contradictory now, but by that I mean the "very finest" of stubbles, & THAT'S ALL! Anyway,the 7103K is still THE BEST,alone, & it's my favorite! :)
Update #3; 4/19/10 Well, I have to say I am using both razors, & the ES8249S has held up better, still working like new, while the ES7103K just doesn't seem to be as smooth as it was new. So, get them both, or just the 8249S or 2 of the others & alternate, because I can't seem to make up my mind anymore.
Just PLEASE, whatever you do, stay away from ANY Braun model...more than twice the price & as I said in this review, the worst of the 3!
By Vadim Yarovoy (Canton, MA United States)
I have sensitive skin and hard facial hair, and that resulted in "tired" skin with occasional rashes and redness when using Gillette's blades. I've used them for many years, and was always looking for an alternative to alleviate skin problems. I tried a Remington's electric shaver about 8 years ago, yet didn't like it and returned it. Then I tried Norelco about 3 years ago, with better, but similar result (significant irritation). Recently I decided to give electrics another try, since technology keeps improving, and found this shaver. After reading reviews on Amazon and other sites, and studying the specifications, I decided to give it a chance, and I am very glad I did. I've shaved with it about 8 times now (every time with Aveeno Sensitive Skin gel) in the shower (love the wet mode), and my skin looks much better already, and the process is much more pleasurable than with Gillette blades. I tried the base's washing cycle once, it's a bit loud and goes on for 2+ hours, however it is not really an issue. The shaver washes well in the shower, and once in a while I will wash it using the base. Excellent shaver overall, and it didn't even take the 3 weeks "adjusting time" to prove it.
By Joshua Soltysik (Seattle, WA)
I was skeptical when I read the reviews, but i was tired of always having to shave with a Mach 3 Fusion Power razor all the time just to get a decent shave. If you are anything like me and have sensitive skin and coarse, thick facial hair, then this razor is what you have been looking for. The first time I shaved with the Arc IV was after 2 days of not shaving, and I just wanted to see how it would cut. I didn't use shave cream or a preshave cause I just wanted to test it out. I was so astounded at how smooth my skin felt that I just kept shaving till my whole face and neck was shaved. And the interesting thing about it was that my face didn't feel all raw, like I had several small cuts all over, in fact it felt just fine. It was the closest thing to a straight razor shave that I have ever had with an electric razor. Granted, I don't shave dry often, most of the time I shave in the shower with shaving cream. My skin has really cleared up since I have been using this because my face has been able to heal from the trauma of using a Mach 3 razor every day (even though a Mach 3 Fusion is awesome, after shaving 5 days straight my skin gets traumatized). The charge lasts a very long time. Using it 5 times a week in the shower for 3+ minutes at a time I am able to get about a week and a half out of one charge. The base/charger also has a nice option to clean the razor as well. This is very nice and convenient and makes the razor perform like new and smell nice. I have heard complaints about how long it takes to clean and how noisy it is. Well, I don't really consider this a problem. In fact, it might just even be a little nitpicky. Just don't charge it in your bedroom when you are trying to sleep and you will be fine. It does take a while to clean (perhaps about an hour), but I just set it and forget it while I am on my way out the door in the morning.
If you have been considering taking the plunge into the foray of the electric razor world, then look no further than this. The wet/dry option is an undeniable advantage in both longevity and rugged survivability. Take it on a camping trip down the Colorado river and you won't worry about breaking it. It is nice looking, relatively small, gives a comfortable, close shave that will make your significant other want to make-out more and not worry about looking like a sand-paper attack victim. I would highly recommend this and it has changed my perception about the viability of electric razors in the modern age.
Cheers!
