Customer Ratings & Reviews

If you were to believe Panasonic's marketing terms surrounding this shaver, you would think that they've revolutionized the electric shaver market. Angled blades! Pivoting head! Hypo-allergenic ARC foils! At the end of the day, this is really just a standard electric shaver with nothing new to offer. PROS: - Ergonomic design with a nice weight. Very easy to grip as you shave. - Wet/dry capable. You can use it in the shower or with shaving cream on your face. - Nice close shave around the neck, cheeks, and sideburns. The foils are smooth and don't tug your skin or feel too sharp. - Includes nice touches like a sideburn trimmer and a travel case. - Easy to clean. Just run it under some water and let it air dry. CONS: - Bulky, awkward charging base that takes up an entire wall outlet. There's no cord, so you can't shave and charge at the same time. - Poor battery life. The battery lasts around 20 minutes and then requires a full recharge, which can take more than 8 hours. The fact that this thing is using an NiMH battery tells me that Panasonic is just repackaging old technology into slightly updated form factors. - Bad shaving performance around the chin and jaw line. I had to go over the same areas around my chin and jaw multiple times just to get an acceptable result. Even then, the shave was nowhere near as close as I would have preferred. My skin felt very raw and dry from having to go over those areas so many times. - This shaver is essentially a consumable device. All of this is per the instruction manual: After 1 year, you are instructed to replace the foil head. After 2 years, the blades should be replaced. But don't worry - after 3 years, the battery will die, and the whole shaver will become useless. The instruction manual even shows you how to disassemble the shaver for proper disposal when this happens. OVERALL: I wanted to like this shaver. I shave almost every day with shaving cream and a standard razor. I wanted something that I could use for a close, quick, comfortable shave when I'm traveling or in a rush. This might still fit that role, but it's not nearly as good as Panasonic's marketing department would have you believe. In my view, this shaver is almost no different than the one I owned almost 10 years ago. For the price, I suppose this is a good value, but those who are serious about their shaving may want to look at other options.

This shaver has made keeping my face shaved and my Goatee the way I like it very easy. It shaves nice and close without the need of a razor or cream with the rotating head. But it will work with gel or foam in or out of the shower. And the 45 degree razor trimmer makes getting my side burns perfect. I also use the trimmer to get in close to my Goatee without worrying about shaving off hair that I want to keep. And unlike other ones I have used the trimmer slides out of the way so its not interfering with the regular shaving when you dont need it. The shaver comes with a clip in charger and a nice carrying bag as well. Ive had no issues with it running low on power while shaving. The foil head unclips easily for cleaning and can be cleaned by just rinsing it in your sink, or while showering. This is a great choice for your grooming beard and Goatee/ shaving needs.

I have had these types of shavers in the past, and frankly, they don't last a long time (sharpness, that is). This one should last for years as it's for my new teen that have now shaved for the first time. He has nothing super coarse yet, but after using the shaver, you could really tell the difference in looks and smoothness of his skin. He has that thick dark peach fuzz over his upper lip. This shaver was sensitive enough to keep him at ease. He was worried about getting cut or it hurting at first, but this this razor did him right. Super smooth, and he thoroughly enjoyed shaving for the first time. He did not want to use in the shower, so we only performed the shave dry. The only complaint we have is the charging mechanism - and the instructions state this as well, but I consider it a flaw, given what so many other electrical devices offer --- when the device is fully charged, the LED light does not go out on the wall charger. It just remains RED. There is also no LED icon(s) on the device itself to let the user know how much battery is left. There could be a small monochrome indicator or "something" that shows that the shaver needs to be recharged. How was that feature ignored?? Shaver was also easy to clean under the faucet water... Other than that, we had no problems. I'd recommend to other young shavers - typically, coarse hair needs more.

I think this is either the fourth or 5th Panasonic Shaver I've owned. The shave it gives is excellent, at probably a 1/3 of what I spent for the top of the line Lamdash model several years ago (still had box). This less expensive version performs excellent. In particular the trimmer feels more stable and is more maneuverable than it's predecessor. The weight of the two shavers is very similar, although I liked the battery charge meter on my old shaver, I don't know I'd pay much for the feature, especially as the new ARC is likely to get placed in its plug in wall stand (yes, the charger for the unit get plugged into the wall and the Shaver clicks into the stand, red led tell you it's charging). All previous Panasonic's I've had had had a corded charger that rested on the sink, now it's attached to the wall plug. My previous version operated at 13K rpm, the new ARC operates at 10K, the new ARC is more quite than the old and does not have the high pitch whine of the old unit (other than sound, I could not tell there was a difference). Both shaved equally well, the newer ARC has 3 rows of blades , the older had 4, the 3 rows being somewhat more compact (see pic) were a little easier to work with under the nose. AIl though this is a wet/dry shaver I've always used my Panasonics as dry shavers, the micro thin heads do a great job on two day stubble and with the trimmer, can easily tame a week old growth. The trimmer on the new model worked excellent, it was exactly the same size as on my previous version. All told for the price the shaver performed near flawlessly, I like Panasonic's self cleaning shavers, but if it's not in your budget you won't be sorry getting/using this shaver.

Ok, by my title, it seems that this shaver is all bad, but it really isn't. I think shaving a personal and individual thing. One man's shaver may be the greatest thing for him, but another man's shave just won't suffice. I have always preferred the rotary blades when it comes to shaving and I have never tried the type that this one is with the holes in the foils. I did a few tests, first I used it for a few days with just one day of stubble, then I let my stubble grow out for a few days and tried again. It worked pretty well when you shave on a daily basis, but if you let it grow out to about 3mm or so, I noticed that it had some trouble cutting all the hair and I would be left with some random hairs everywhere. Trying to go back and redo those areas we still a chore to do and I was not very successful with using this razor that way. Battery life so far has been great, I have shaved with it about 5 or 6 times and each time was for about 3 minutes. I can't tell when it will die, but so far it is still going strong. I do have one strong complaint though...the charger is strange to use. I do like that you don't have a cord to untangle or lose, but at the same time I am unable to open my vanity mirror when it is plugged on. See attached pic. Your mileage may vary though if your outlet is positioned in a different spot. The included accessories is minimal and all you get is the shaver, plastic protection cover, and a charger/base. Because of the downfalls that I have experienced, I cannot recommend this to a friend.

The Panasonic ES-RT17-K is a very affordable and quality shaver. It is a two blade wet and dry shaver in a very nice feeling design. Panasonic has many models of shavers from a budget version like this to all the way up much more expensive models. I recently had one of their four blade travel shavers that finally gave up after many years of daily use. I don’t travel as often so I just started using a razor with the intent of getting an electric razor again someday. Well I am back to electric and I like the change. And this a the perfect shaver to start with. It is very affordable and has a 2 year parts and labor warranty. The recommended replacement parts cycle is, System outer foil, once every year and Inner blades, one every two years. So you have a great affordable razer that the Panasonic doesn’t even recommend any parts replacements for at least a year. The shaver performs great but the included accessories could have been done better. The charging stand has no power cord. This might not be a problem in some bathrooms but it is in mine. I have two available plugs. Because the shaver sits in the charging cradle which is then plugged into the wall your space options might be limited. In my home one plug is close to the sink so you could bump into it. My second power outlook is blocked because of a medicine cabinet and the final height of the shaver in the cradle. And one final gripe is the included travel pouch. I appreciate they included one but the power cradle and shaver won’t fit in it together. So plan on packing the power cradle separately. Still with the value here if you are looking for a very good shaver at an affordable price this is hard to beat.

The Panasonic Electric Shaver is a good shaver at a very reasonable price point. While it doesn't have a lot of features, it does exactly what a shaver should do, no more, no less. Some more expensive models include moisturizer/lubrication, automatic cleaners, etc. This model has none of those things, but I find that it delivers a shave that is as expected. The build of the shaver feels very quality and that it can handle the wear that comes with traveling and everyday use/abuse. It feels very good in the hand and has a nice rubberized/silicone coating over a lot of the surface which is pleasant to the touch. The shaver is only rated at 21 minutes after a full charge. While that's plenty for a 3-4 day weekend, you might start running out of juice on a longer trip assuming an average shave time of 4-5 minutes. That's also where I feel this shaver comes up short. The charging stand plugs directly into the outlet. You must sit the shaver directly onto the charging stand (there is no cord for charging or travel) so that was a little awkward at first. After a month of use, I actually like that there are no cords for home use, but I'd prefer a cord for travel. Keep this in mind as you'll need an outlet in a location where the shaver can be placed on/above it without obstruction. As mentioned earlier, this can be inconvenient for travel given the relatively short 21 minutes on a full charge. The shaver has a very comfortable flexing arced shaver blades and head. It follows the contours of my face well. Since this shaver is a wet/dry shaver, you can use in the shower or with your usual shaving cream. I think this shaver performs much better with cream as opposed to dry--especially if you've waited a few days since your last shave. In conclusion, this shaver gets the job done. I'm not quite sold on the arced shaving blades. I feel like it may take more passes since the arc prevents the blade from coming in full contact with my skin. That being said, it does provide a nice shave--especially when I do a wet shave. Pros: -Price -Grip/Comfort -Simplicity of Design -Charging stand (this is dependent on each person and if their counter/bathroom can accommodate this) Cons: -Charge time -ARC blade (maybe?) -No cord (again, this could be a positive depending on the use)

This is first electric razor of this style. I have often used the rotary types and usually go back and forth between that and a blade depending on how my skin is doing at any point. This razor is rather basic but has some good styling. The grips are a nice feeling rubber ensuring you can stay in control. It also feels well built. The charger is interesting since it has no cord but plugs directly in the wall. This was convenient but also concerning for me since all put together it isn't light and I was worried it would start dropping and cause too much wear on the outlet over time. In actual practice this razor was good. It gave me a closer shave than my rotary type and caused less wear and tear on my face than a blade. On the downside, to achieve this close shave, it took a few extra minutes to finish as I had to be very mindful of where the grain was on my face. Rotary types just have you shave in a circular motion, this one didn't seem to give me great results unless I went up and down with and against the grain. Charge time is advertised at about 21 minutes of continuous charge which is about average, but it takes about 8 hours to get a full charge with the included charger according to the back printing which says, "CHARGE TIME 8 h". As I didn't want to wait and see I just plug it in after every use but this could prove an issue if you travel a lot and run out of juice as there is no included cord and it must be docked to charge. You might have to go scruffy until a decent charge takes hold. The device uses a Ni-MH battery so it will have some issues down the road in comparison to a Li-Ion battery. I wanted to love this razor as it does provide a good shave when used properly. It has a lot of shortcomings, such as no cord, short battery life/long charge time and battery tech and weird charging method that might be a bit much if you have an outlet with loose connectors. It is worth it but I wouldn't expect an ultra-premium device. It is more than capable though.

Panasonic - Electric Shaver - Black, ES-RT17-K I’m using Panasonic’s newest wet/dry shaver and it’s especially nice for the price. I only discovered Panasonic shavers a few years back when I got their Arc4 (or whatever it was called back then) and have never turned back. This may be Panasonic’s least expensive shaver, but it is a nice performer. As I’ve aged, my beard has turned ornery, resisting and wearing down shavers with ferocity. This new Panasonic, like my other more fully featured Panny, doesn’t care if you’re shaving completely dry faced or shaving through suds. It gets the job done. It shaves very close but stays comfortable. This item looks ideal for traveling (and keeping my expensive Arc4 safe at home), because it dispenses with the long cord and instead uses a charging module that plugs directly into the wall. That’s, perhaps, a potential problem if your bathroom outlets are all occupied. This module doesn’t hog the space, but it does challenge the design of some plug multi-taps. You will want to consider if this works for you. See the photo. Bottom line, another great shaver from Panasonic. Close and comfortable.

Very reasonably priced. Provides a decent shave, but, as is the case with every electric shaver I've used, has trouble with stubbly neck whiskers. Charge lasts a reasonable amount of time. Not too loud.

Bought it for my son for early Xmas present after his old rechargeable died - he luvs it - uses it in car on way to work - prefers it over his old three headed shaver

Good shave and does it close and smooth. Easy to use and has a very nice charger , no cords hanging around as it plugs into the outlet and the shaver sits on top after you pop it on. Also has a beard trimmer on the side and is at a great price.

This shaver is light and easy to move to get a quick, close shave. 1 charge lasts over 2 weeks of daily use.

Presentation - The packing is small and avoids unnecessary waste. The shaver leans more towards the basic of designs but still feels solid and comfortable in the hand. It’s light weight and more slender than what I am accustomed to with a competing brand. This is probably one of the most comfortable to hold shavers I’ve ever owned. Initial Setup- There is no cord or pouch supplied with this unit. The actual shaver snaps into the wall charger which is sort of a good idea if you want to declutter grooming area. The problem with this particular Arc model is that the LED charging indicator is worse than an idiot light on the dashboard of a car. At a minimum, shavers of this class should have a red LED and a green LED for obvious reasons. This unit only has a red LED and it only confirms that your shaver is ‘hot’ to an electrical source. Nothing more. Performance - Putting aside the atrocious indicator light situation, this shaver performs as I expected. I have owned several Panasonic shavers some years back and this model is lighter, more comfortable to hold & use and produces a close shave. The contours and texture to the grip surfaces are excellent. The fact that this shaver works in both wet and dry environments makes it quite appealing. Battery life is above average for its price point. The motor drive produces a fairly pleasant hum and I considered it much quieter than I would have expected for the price point. I consider this a bonus considering how light weight it is. All in all – this shaver is solidly constructed. Summary- Comfortable and light weight. Quiet yet powerful. Terrible implementation of the charging indicator. Solid battery life. Produces a close, comfortable shave with no irritation … and I have sensitive skin.

Great shaver. Light weight. Can use on wet/dry face.

close shave wet or dry ... good price ... quick charge

Smooth shave, comfortable and easy to use. Like the plastic cap, which seems large, but actually keeps the unit from accidentally turning on (big problem with my prior electric razor!)

I decided to get a good electric razor. This one had the features I wanted. It has been a great buy. It gives a super shave and the charge lasts a long time. You won't be disappointed.

This Panasonic Arc3 shaver is a basic but a solid shaver. I got 2 of them on the BBDOD. Can't beat the sale price. It is no frills daily shaver. There is no display on the shaver and I did not see a full charge light. There is no cord, only a charge base. Panasonic has always been reliable for me.

The s haver is decent. Needs multiple passes to get close shave but for the price not bad.