Panasonic ES-LV81-K Arc5 Men’s Electric Razor, Wet/Dry with Multi-Flex Pivoting Head, High-Performance Motor, and included Premium Automatic Clean & Charge Station

I'm one of the minority of reviewer's who actually purchased this product (*definitely increasing since I wrote this though!); I didn't pay full retail (still listed some places as just south of $600), so let's say a little over half that. And the replacement head/foil is 80 bucks. So my comments straight up relate to whether I think I got my money's worth, not just the technical aspects of the shaver. The short version if you don't want to read the list is, yes, I think I did, with a footnote.I've used just about every new model electric shaver out there in the quest for the perfect shaver, and reviewed several of them here: Braun Series 7- 790cc Pulsonic Shaver System, Silver, Philips Norelco 1290x/40 SensoTouch 3d Electric Shaver, Black, Panasonic ES-LA93-K Men's 4-Blade (Arc 4) Multi-Flex Dual-Motor Wet/Dry Nanotech Rechargeable Electric Shaver with Vortex Cleaning System, Black. To cut to the chase, there isn't a perfect shaver, at least one that fits everyone's shaving style. This one comes pretty darn close.First the obvious: this is a foil shaver. If you use a rotary shaver and are happy with the results, stop reading and/or get the Norelco; it's the best one out there. A rotary shave is completely and totally different than a foil experience. If you think there might be something better, read on.Second, among foils there are dry shavers only, and those that are both wet and dry. The LV81 is both. The Braun above is dry only. If you like to shave dry only, the Braun will serve you as well as any in my opinion, and has a superior cleaning system to the Panny, as well as costing a lot less. If you like a dry electric shave and don't care to change, get the Braun. If you think there might be something better, read on.The ES-LV81 is the successor to the ES-LA93 (which I was using immediately prior and it was pretty good) and a worthy successor it is. It's the best wet electric shaver I have ever used. Ever. Things Panasonic has improved over the LA93:- The constantly flashing blue police-cruiser charging light is gone; when the cleaning/charging cycle is complete, the unit goes off (cleaner and shaver). Some might miss it; me - not.- The shaver is quieter than the LA93, both in use and during the cleaning cycle. Significantly less to my ear, but the previous model Panasonic shaver itself was already quieter than the Braun, although none of them are anywhere near as quiet as a rotary.- A faster shave. The larger head really is functional, and if you already use the LA93 the transition will be seamless. It's more like gently scrubbing your face with a pad rather than shaving, and less irritating since you don't need to move the head as much over the same area. The larger head covers a lot of ground quickly, and I've reduced my shaving time by 30-40%. There is a shaving timer in the display, which I actually like - I've had one on other shavers; it helps me improve my shaving technique and speed up to a point of diminishing returns. The popup trimmer is functionally the same as the LA93.- The cleaning station looks almost identical to the one for the LA93 externally (other than the silver front); in fact, the LV81 actually fits in the old one (sort of), but it's apparently a completely different unit. The interior well seems to be deeper; the back is contoured differently to fit the LV81, the cleaning cartridge fits flush rather than inset, and it does seem to be quieter. It also seems like the cleaning cycle is shorter, but I haven't timed it. When the cleaning cycle is complete, the lights go out, unlike the LA93 unit where the green LEDs for Clean/Dry flash continuously. It does use the same cartridges, and the water reservoirs appear to be the same. Noisier than the Braun or Norelco cleaners - and it runs longer - it does what it's supposed to do, and very economically as well.So is it worth three hundred and a half bills to upgrade from the earlier Panasonic? To me, yes - I knew what I was getting, and it's really a significant improvement over any other Panasonic. Is it worth it to switch from another system or manufacturer? That depends.... If you THINK you might want to switch from a blade or a rotary experience, or switch to a wet shave from a dry with a different foil, I think a good price point would be in the $200+ range, which this shaver will eventually hit within a few months I would guess, and you might not feel too bad about switching back if it didn't work out. At today's price point, if you have the bucks and want to experiment, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.If you haven't tried it, a wet electric shave with a foil shaver is (to me) the closest, most comfortable electric shave you can get - and with this shaver, as close as you're going to get to a blade with an electric in my opinion. If you've been searching for the perfect electric, this just might be it.

***This is a slightly edited review from the one I gave on the Braun page.***I'm going to compare over what I feel the most important features are. I thought this would be completely easy to decide the winner, but as I write this, I still haven't completely decided. So let me get started and I'll have to make my pick.Build Quality and Looks: Not much to say here, they both feel pretty solid. Braun "feels" better built as the Panasonic has more of a plastic feel to the outside. Panasonic seems to have smudges that I cannot get out from when I used shaving cream, makes the shaver look stained. Cannot rightfully compare that with the Braun since I cannot use shaving cream with it.Feel: I would say the Braun feels like its meant to fit in your hand better though the Panasonic is by no means bad.Loudness: ESLV81K is a good bit higher in pitch, which seems to just barely creep past my 2 shut doors to my sleeping girlfriend. The Braun 790cc cannot be heard with 2 doors between you and it. Its lower buzz is more enjoyable to my ears.Cleaning Station: The Braun's looks way better but the Panasonic's is easier to read and figure out for first timers. They both get the job done and the shavers come out as clean as when it was unboxed. Tossup here, can't decide which I prefer until I mention the cleaning solution.Cleaning Solution: I had to put this in a completely separate category because I don't feel the cleaning station of the Panasonic is by any means inferior to Braun's. Though the cleaning solution is just bad to me. The Braun 790cc comes out smelling lemony fresh and is so very pleasant during 90% of your shave time and the 10% of the alcohol smell while doing your upper lip isn't that bad. The Panasonic on the other hand, it smells so odd... Hard to describe better, smells soapy but not a good soapy smell. Like soap trying to cover up a mold smell. The more worn the Panasonic's cleaning cartridge is the less obtrusive the smell is though. But 100%, Braun cleaning solution is so much better on the senses. Though I would like to repeat, they both get the shaver clean!Manual Clean: I know Braun gives you a brush but they shouldn't, you cannot manually clean it, don't even bother. The Panasonic's manual cleaning is easy and probably as effective as the cleaning station. Heck, I would probably recommend people get just the shaver for the Panasonic.Now the important stuff, the shaving experience!***I use Lab Series For Men Electric Shaver Solution when Dry shaving.Trimmer: They both stink hardcore. Choosing between a turd and a pile of poo here. If forced I would pick the Panasonic's trimmer.3-Day Stubble: Braun did way better than I would have thought, just some jaw hairs needed touching up. Panasonic looked just as good as 1 day stubble shaving.Dry Shave Experience: Both are very comfortable, feel as though I end up with more red bumps and irritation with the ESLV81K but might just be the closeness and its only around my bottom neck. Braun gives me some around my neck/jaw probably from all the skin stretching I do around that area.Wet Shave Experience: Only Panasonic here, have I used it with cream? Yes, I won't say much about it because I don't like using cream with shavers because I think its messy but I will say it works. I use shaving gel, a little lighter and not quite as messy. With my gel (Eshu, had to throw the brand name in there, I love their stuff), the Panasonic glides effortlessly and gets a pretty close shave. I would say it's only slightly closer than a dry shave.Handling: I NEED TO SAY THIS BECAUSE I WAS WORRIED A LOT BY IT! The Panasonic's 5 blade head is not as big as it looks and it fits in my 'stache area with ease. The big head doesn't off-balance the device in your hand and the maneuverability of the head is admirable. I might say it is too maneuverable and you may need to put the lock on to press down harder to get an area. The Braun feels even better though, probably because the Panasonic moves left to right as well as up and down which I feel is overkill.Shave Speed: Holy cow, Panasonic just destroys my facial hair. Cheeks and upper lip only need 1 pass most of the time. Neck requires an extra pass or two. Braun requires a lot more face stretching which adds up. the 790cc also needs a minimum of 3-4 strokes at one spot, the Panasonic is just way faster.Shave Closeness: An unholy patch of neck/jaw hair my Braun couldn't get was shaved closer by the ESLV81K but not as good as I hoped. Would have to say besides that, the difference isn't huge. Panasonic is just a little closer everywhere.Am I required to pick a winner? Ugh, I think I may return my ESLV81K and hope the Braun 799cc wet/dry shaver comes out this summer (had a personal response from BraunUS twitter saying it was coming out this summer)or the 790cc hits a big sale here on Amazon. I'd say the Braun wasn't worth the price but the Panasonic isn't either. Add the replacement heads of the Panasonic which, as I write this, are currently on backorder and are over $80 for the combo foil and blades! The Panasonic cleaning cartridges are cheaper in the long run but nowhere close enough to make up for the replacement heads.My winner comes down to the one thing I didn't want it to, price... Even if you don't mind throwing around money, the boost in shave quality with the Panasonic is so minimal that it's not worth $100 more than the Braun. Let me finish by saying, I would be keeping the Panasonic if Braun's cleaning solution didn't smell so very good.