Panasonic Arc 5 Palm (ES-PV3A, ES-PV6A) Review: The Ultimate Travel Shaver?

Among all the different Panasonic 5-blade shavers, there’s one that stands out in particular: the compact Arc 5 Palm-sized travel shaver.

Available in several colors, the Palm promises the same shaving performance as the full-size Arc 5, but in a travel-friendly form factor.

Obviously, there would still be some compromises with this type of shaver.

Portability usually comes at the cost of performance but if Panasonic managed to somehow get around that, the Palm razors will have no competition.

The most popular variations of the Palm are the black ES-PV3A-K (in the USA) and the identical ES-PV3B-K sold in Europe.

I’ve been using one for a few months and in this review we’ll see if it truly is the ultimate travel shaver.

I’ll also be comparing the Arc 5 Palm to a few interesting alternatives, like the older Panasonic ES-CV70/ES-CV51 and the budget-friendly ES-CM3A.

But first, let’s check out the available Palm models and see what exactly are the differences between them.

Panasonic Arc 5 Palm model comparison (ES-PV3A vs ES-PV6A)

The Panasonic Palm-sized shavers (aka Series 900s) feature a 5-blade shaving system and all model names start with either ES-PV3 or ES-PV6.

The ES-PV3 variations usually cost less, sometimes a lot less, and the only difference between them and the ES-PV6 is the outer finish of the shaver.

Precisely, the ES-PV3 (models like the ES-PV3A-K or ES-PV3B-K) feature a standard plastic body.

The ES-PV6 variations (models like the white ES-PV6A-W or ES-PV6B-W) use a special composite material called Nagori.

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According to Panasonic, it is obtained by incorporating up to 75% seawater minerals into the final material.

This reduces plastic use by around 40% compared to the ES-PV3 models and gives the ES-PV6 a stone-like look and feel.

Apart from the ceramic texture, it’s also about 10 grams heavier, so the shaver feels more substantial in hand — personally I don’t think this is necessarily a pro.

That’s really it — everything else, like the foil, motor, battery, performance, and features are exactly the same between the ES-PV3A and the ES-PV6A.

As for the difference between the A and B revisions, for example ES-PV3A-K (USA) vs ES-PV3B-K (Europe), well, there’s absolutely none.

The last letter in the shaver’s name, like –W or –K, only designates the color of the shaver:

• White (-W)
• Black (-K)

Some models will also have a number after the color letter, like ES-PV6B-W803 or ES-PV3B-K803, but it only refers to the region where the shaver is being sold (803 is for Europe).

Here’s a quick comparison table of the available Palm 5-blade models.

The Black Nagori version, the ES-PV6A-K, is only available in Japan while the white ones are available globally.

As a side note, in Japan there’s also a special edition Palm celebrating 70 years of Panasonic shavers.

To tell them apart from the regular ones above, they use a special name scheme: ES-PV70.

They are available in 4 different colors: ES-PV70-P (pink), ES-PV70-A (blue), ES-PV70-N (cream) and ES-PV70-V (violet).

These anniversary edition Palm ES-PV70 models also feature the stone-like Nagori finish and come with a suede hard travel case.

The performance however is identical to the ES-PV3 and ES-PV6 models above.

Features overview

Let’s swiftly go over the main features of the Panasonic Arc 5 Palm as some of them are truly impressive for a travel electric razor.

1. 5-blade shaving system

Any Panasonic Palm variation, be it global, Japan-exclusive or European, will feature a shaving head comprised of five active cutting elements.

It is in fact the exact same shaving system found on the full-fledged Arc 5/Lamdash Pro 5 razors.

Most portable shavers use a basic setup, typically with only one or two foil elements which translates into a rather underwhelming performance.

Not this one — it comes equipped with the latest foil revision of the Generation 3 Arc 5 and the performance is top notch.

Granted, the head is fixed on the Arc 5 Palm, but the 5 individual cutters can still flex.

Another advantage of using the same setup is that you have many options when it’s time to replace the foil and blades (more on that later on).

2. 14 000 CPM motor

The massive 5-blade shaving head is backed by an equally capable motor.

In fact, we have the same linear drive unit that Panasonic uses on their top-of-the-line Arc 5 and Arc 6 shavers.

This is arguably the best motor in the industry, capable of reaching 14 000 CPM (cycles per minute).

Side note: you’ll sometimes see the Panasonic 5-blade Palm erroneously listed with a 13 000 CPM motor when it is in fact fitted with the more powerful 14 000 CPM unit.

In comparison, Braun’s latest Series 9 PRO+ runs at 10 000 CPM.

The fact that Panasonic didn’t made any compromises to the cutting system and the motor sets the stage for excellent real world performance.

I will address the closeness, effectiveness and comfort in great detail later on.

3. Beard density sensor

As all modern Panasonic shavers, from the Arc 3 and up, the Palm-sized models are fitted with a Beard density sensor.

This means the power output of the motor is constantly adjusted depending on how much hair the shaver is cutting.

Similar technology is used by Braun and Philips on their top razors, but Panasonic’s implementation is usually the most aggressive of the three.

We’ll see how (or if) it improves the shaving experience.

4. USB-C charging

To me, a USB-C port on an electric razor is the most underrated feature out there.

And on a travel shaver like the ES-PV3A-K or ES-PV6A-W, it’s a must-have.

Panasonic even generously includes a charger and cable in the package, though you’ll probably use whatever you have at hand when traveling.

5. Wet/dry, cordless-only use

All Panasonic Palm models are IPX7 waterproof, meaning you can shave wet or dry.

You can also safely rinse the shaver with water.

The Arc 5 Palm will however only work cordless, it will not turn on when the cable is connected.

The internal Li-ion battery will provide up to 50 minutes worth of cordless shaving.

6. Compact, travel-friendly design

Finally, the defining trait of the Panasonic Palm is its size and weight.

It is one of the more compact models out there, which is impressive considering it’s packed with high-end components and a hefty battery.

We’ll see later on how this unique shape of the body will impact the usability and user experience.

Build quality and ergonomics

My review unit is the European ES-PV3B-K, meaning it has the basic plastic body, identical to the ES-PV3A-K sold in the USA.

So while it doesn’t feature the premium Nagori finish of the ES-PV6A, the perceived quality is excellent.

It has a matte, very sandpapery texture that works surprisingly well despite the lack of any rubber sleeve.

The foil frame and foil cover have a powdery, smooth texture and the absence of any high-gloss surfaces is a big plus in my opinion.

And there are also a few ingenious design solutions.

For example, the protective cap is magnetically held in place and it blends in seamlessly with the rest of the shaver.

There are no cutouts for the moisture to evaporate though, but it would have been very difficult to implement given the size constraints.

On the sides we have two foil release buttons that allow the user to easily remove the foil head for a quick clean.

The foil head will only fit one way, so Panasonic placed a white dot on both the foil and the body of the shaver so you’ll know which way to insert it.

Right below there’s a rubber flap that covers the USB-C port and fortunately it’s tethered to the shaver and seems very sturdy.

You should always keep it closed while washing the shaver and make sure you wipe it dry before charging.

On the front of the razor we only have some Panasonic branding and at the very bottom there’s a simple LED that shows the battery status.

The power button is placed on the bottom of the razor and it’s a multi-purpose switch.

Pressing it shortly will turn the shaver on, but if you press and hold for around 3 seconds, the shaver will enter the special Sonic cleaning mode.

Also, while the shaver is switched on, pressing and holding the button will activate the travel lock, signaled by the padlock LED next to the power button.

To unlock it you will need to press and hold again the button for around 3 seconds.

It’s not the most convenient placement and you’ll sometimes need your free hand to press it (otherwise there’s a good chance you’ll drop the shaver).

But at least the risk of an accidental press while shaving is pretty much non-existent.

The ES-PV3A-K and ES-PV3B-K weigh approximately 135g (4.76oz) without the protective cover.

The Nagori models (ES-PV6A-W, ES-PV6B-W, ES-PV6A-K) are a bit heavier at 145g (5.11oz).

In comparison, the 3-blade Panasonic ES-CM3A is noticeably lighter at 111g (3.9 oz).

The dimensions of the 5-blade Palm show however how compact this shaver is:

57 x 72 x 45 mm (H x W x D).

The 3-blade ES-CM3A measures 75.3 x 67 x 31.2 mm, so it is in fact higher, but significantly slimmer.

In the performance section I will talk about how the shape, weight and grip influence the shaving experience.

Overall, the Panasonic Palm 5-blade (ES-PV3A-K/ES-PV3B-K) does feel like a well built, quality shaver that impresses with its compact size and features.

Even if it’s the basic model that lacks the premium finish of the ES-PV6A, it still feels and looks expensive (and it is).

And while I haven’t held the ES-PV6A in my hand, I suspect the grip is maybe not as good with its stone-like texture.

Included accessories

Here’s what came with my ES-PV3B-K that I bought from Europe:

• Shaver + protective cover
• Hard textile travel case
• USB-A charger
• USB-A to USB-C cable
• Cleaning brush
• Lubricating oil
• User manual

This is an extensive bundle that might be slightly different in other countries.

For example, the ES-PV3A-K and ES-PV6A-W/ES-PV6A-K sold in Japan do not include the charger.

Luckily you can use any USB charger with your Arc 5 Palm, including a USB-C type if you already have a USB-C-to-USB-C cable.

In Europe we do get the Panasonic ES-RU1-02 in the package, a basic 5W, 100–240v USB-A charger.

The ES-PV3A-K and ES-PV6A-W sold in the USA should come with a charger as well.

I have to say that I really like the travel case.

With the ES-PV3A and ES-PV3B we get this hard textile compact case that looks nice and will fit in any toiletry bag.

The ES-PV6A-W comes bundled with a hard leather case that matches the color of the shaver (a creamy white).

It should look and feel more premium than the textile case I got. But there’s nothing wrong with this one either and it feels like a quality product.

It’s small, sturdy, the zipper works very smoothly and it offers adequate protection.

In comparison, the hard leather case of the old compact Arc 5, the ES-CV70 (ES-CV51), takes up a lot more volume.

Shaving performance

Let’s now see how well the Panasonic Palm-sized razor shaves and if it lives up to the Arc 5 name.

As mentioned earlier, I got the European ES-PV3B-K, but it is identical performance-wise to the global ES-PV3A-K and ES-PV6A-W models.

I bought the shaver last year, so I had plenty of time to thoroughly test it in a variety of scenarios.

Here’s the quick summary of my findings.

Takeaway

Form factor and ergonomics

The highlight and main appeal of the Panasonic Palm are, of course, its shape and size.

But that could also pose some issues when it comes to grip fatigue.

While the size is super compact, the body is chunky and at 135g (or 145g for the ES-PV6A), a bit on the hefty side.

At first it did feel a bit uncomfortable and awkward as I was used to my ES-CM3A which is very slim and also lighter.

During a longer shaving session, my hand would sometimes feel a bit tired toward the end when using the 5-blade razor.

However, I’m happy to report that it was never a major inconvenience.

Moreover, after tweaking my technique a bit, in the sense that I now use a more relaxed grip and don’t squeeze the shaver as much in my hand, it’s perfectly fine.

My preferred way of shaving with the Arc 5 Palm is to use a three-finger grip, with the base of the shaver sort of resting on the flexed middle finger:

Because the tips of the fingers are so close to the cutters, you have this reassuring feeling of control over the shaver and you can tackle any area with great precision.

You get excellent feedback, so you can quickly change the direction of the stroke or how much you press.

The head feels smaller compared to a full-size Arc 5, even though the foil has the exact same width.

It’s not as nimble as the 3-blade ES-CM3A, but I had no issues shaving the area right under my nose and below the jawline.

Closeness

The Arc 5 shavers have always been at the very top for the way they can cut the hair close to the skin.

Regardless of generation and the type of foil (with or without comfort rollers), the closeness of the Arc 5 has been class-leading.

The Arc 5 Palm-sized razors use the same foil, blades and motor, so the closeness should still be great.

And it is.

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This travel shaver is among the closest-shaving models out there, second only to the latest (full-size) Arc 6 and Arc 5 (2024 generations).

Comparing the closeness of the 5-blade Palm to other travel shavers almost seems unfair.

Apart from Panasonic’s own ES-CV70/ES-CV51, it’s really in a class of its own.

And it’s the same story when it comes to power.

The current Panasonic 14 000 CPM linear-drive motor is probably the best in the whole industry.

Specs-wise, it is the fastest, and it’s also super smooth, compact and reliable.

Panasonic also fitted the Palm-sized models with their Beard density sensor that constantly reads the stubble while some logic modulates the power output accordingly.

As such, if the beard is light or you go over an area you previously shaved, you will feel and hear the oscillating speed dropping.

When you’re shaving dense, coarse hair, the controller will ramp up the motor again to its maximum output.

Panasonic’s implementation of this technology is the most obvious as you can easily notice these changes while shaving.

With Philips and Braun razors, I’m almost never able to detect any.

In my opinion the main benefit of this technology is that the battery will last a bit longer until you need to charge it again.

It also means you won’t always get the maximum performance the shaver is capable of.

But that’s the case with all current Panasonic shavers and it’s not a big deal as the shaver reacts very quickly when it needs more power.

With some of the old Arc 5 models (ES-LV65, ES-LV95) you had the option to disable the sensor and always shave in full power mode.

But again, this technology works well on the Arc 5 Palm and I think they calibrated the sensor just right.

Comfort

All Panasonic Arc 5 Palm-sized razors are equipped with the ES9040 foil and blades set.

This is the newest variation of Arc 5 foil with comfort rollers, originally released in 2021 on the generation 3 Arc 5 revision G (aka Series 900).

It is also the most gentle and forgiving Arc 5 foil of this type.

I have sensitive skin and in my experience this foil is noticeably more comfortable than the old generation (without comfort rollers).

Because of that, the Arc 5 Palm is one of the more comfortable Panasonic shavers I’ve ever used.

I think the latest Arc 6 is maybe a bit gentler, especially if you move the shaving head too fast.

But apart from that, the comfort of my ES-PV3A-K Palm was constantly more than adequate.

Even when shaving dry without a pre-shave lotion I got away without irritation or razor burn.

The foils also tend to stay cooler than the previous revisions.

If your beard is longer (in my case 3 days between shaves), I recommend going a bit slower as the long whiskers might get snagged instead of being cut cleanly.

Also, I would avoid applying excessive pressure in an effort to cut a stubborn stray hair or to get a closer shave. That could in fact cause some discomfort.

I highly recommend a pre-shave lotion as it makes the razor even smoother and the closeness will be better as well.

The Speick pre-electric shave lotion is my favorite, but because pre-shaves contain alcohol, it may not be an option if you’re traveling by plane.

As a conclusion, the Panasonic Palm-sized 5-blade razor is perfectly suitable even for users with sensitive skin.

Shaving longer, flat-lying hairs

This continues to be a limitation of Panasonic foil razors, including the top-of-the-line models like the Arc 6 (Lamdash Pro 6).

In other words, I think you’ll have the best chance of a an enjoyable, quick, smooth shave if you use a Palm 5-blade razor more often.

For most users, that would be anywhere from daily and up to every 2–3 days, depending on how fast the stubble grows back.

If the hairs stay mostly upright, I think you can even stretch it a bit more than that and still be able to get a good shave session.

But if you have patches of hairs that lie flat on the skin or grow in all sorts of directions, you will need to work more for a clean shave.

And it’s worse if the hairs are also longer, so I strongly recommend shaving more often (daily/every other day) if you have that type of facial hair.

Again the problem is not cutting the hairs, but catching them, and Panasonic shavers are not the most effective this situation.

The Arc 5 Palm has a fixed head, but I really don’t think this hinders its performance with longer/flat-lying hairs.

It’s the cutting system/foil that has this intrinsic limitation, also present on the regular Arc 5 models that have a highly flexible head.

Wet shaving

I’ve been praising the wet shaving performance of Panasonic razors for years and the Palm is up there with the very best.

When paired with a decent shaving cream/gel/balm, the result is outstanding.

In my case, the closeness is as good as what I would get from a razor blade.

My shaving product of choice is currently the Black Jack Beard Lube and I would highly recommend it to anyone wanting to improve the closeness, comfort and pure enjoyment of shaving with an electric razor.

The Beard Lube is a non-foaming shaving balm that works incredibly well with electric razors.

It’s super slick and protective, it softens the bristles like no other product and doesn’t clog the shaver.

Moreover, the residual slickness is incredible and doesn’t need a lot of hydration throughout the shave.

It’s available in a travel-size package as well, making it the perfect companion for your Arc 5 Palm.

You can of course use your favorite shaving cream/soap/gel as well, just make sure you’re applying a thin, rather watery layer of lather.

You can also check out my wet shaving guide for more details.

Shaving the head

Because of the way you can grip the Panasonic Arc 5 Palm, it can also work really well as a head shaver.

In fact, I think this should be one of the main use cases for the Palm in addition to being a travel razor.

The size, shape and ergonomics are ideal for shaving your head yourself.

You certainly wouldn’t need a second device for that.

Being an Arc 5, we already know that the performance will be top notch and you can get a perfectly smooth, skin close shave for your head.

You will need of course to use the Panasonic Palm more often (daily and up to every 3 days) in order to be the most effective.

It’s very gentle to the scalp but I would be extra careful and press very lightly when shaving the back of the neck as it can be a bit too aggressive.

No hair trimmer, no problem?

You may have noticed that I didn’t mention a hair trimmer in the features section.

That’s not an oversight, unfortunately — the Panasonic Arc 5 Palm, a premium travel shaver, doesn’t have one.

In my opinion this is by far the only major negative of this series.

And depending on your needs, it may or may not be a deal breaker.

If you’ll normally be going on short trips, the lack of a trimmer shouldn’t matter too much.

But for an extended time away, I think a trimmer is a must-have. Well, at least for some users.

I don’t have a moustache or goatee, and I always prefer a clean shave, but my sideburns grow really fast and even after 3 days they’re in need of a trim.

That’s reason alone for me to choose my ES-CV51, which has an excellent popup-trimmer, for longer journeys.

Again the lack of a trimmer may not matter at all to you, in which case there are really no other major drawbacks except for the price of the Palm models.

In all fairness, fitting the ES-PV3A and ES-PV6A with a retractable trimmer would have been challenging.

But maybe not impossible.

After all, Braun managed to implement one on their M90, a travel razor that costs just a fraction of the price.

It’s not a particularly good trimmer, but still better than nothing.

Noise

The punchy 14 000 CPM motor and the 5 oscillating blades get quite loud during use.

I don’t find the Palm models to be quieter than the normal Arc 5 an the trademark Panasonic high pitched buzz is present here as well.

If you’re very sensitive to this type of noise, I don’t think this is the right shaver for you.

Foil shavers in general are very loud and usually the noise gets worse when we’re dealing with a fast motor, multiple cutters and a flexible head.

The Palm doesn’t have the latter, but with 5 blades that oscillate at a high rate and a powerful motor, it is quite loud.

I measured 70 DB with a smartphone sound app at a distance of ~20cm from the shaver (with room noise at around 41 DB).

That’s slightly more than a Braun Series 9 Pro (69 DB) and more than the Panasonic ES-CM3A (67 DB).

Other travel shavers that are significantly quieter are the double-head rotaries from Philips or Xiaomi, but the performance is nowhere near as good.

Battery life and charging

The Panasonic Palm 5-blade razors are all fitted with the same Li-ion battery and can provide up to 50 minutes worth of cordless-only shaving.

So both the base ES-PV3A-K and the stone-body ES-PV6A-W are the same in that regard as well.

Panasonic doesn’t disclose the battery part number, but my guess is that it’s the same one in the full-size shavers.

And while 50 minutes is not very impressive for a regular shaver, it is quite good for a travel-size model with a range-topping motor.

While testing my ES-PV3B-K, I never tried to completely drain the battery and see if it can last for 50 minutes, but I definitely got close to that.

I try to charge my Panasonic shavers regularly because I can always notice a drop in performance when the battery is at around 20%.

And with the Palm models only featuring a basic LED that glows red when you need to charge it, you never truly know how much charge there is left.

Luckily, with the USB-C port, charging these shavers is very convenient.

And you can do it as often as you want as the impact on battery longevity will be minimal.

It takes just under two hours to go from 0 to 100% and it doesn’t matter what type of charger you use.

It could be the included one, or your phone or laptop charger.

And regardless of its power rating, be it a 5W or an 80W fast charger, it will still take around 2 hours.

Panasonic explicitly recommends to only use their included USB-A-to-USB-C cable as it has built in overheating protection.

It’s probably a sensor that once it detects an abnormally high temperature caused by a malfunction, it tells the port/controller to cut off the power.

I always recommend following the manufacturer’s instructions.

That said, I did use a variety of other cables to charge my Palm shaver, including USB-C-to-USB-C cables and all worked perfectly fine.

I also appreciate the sturdiness of the rubber flap, it definitely won’t break any time soon and you won’t lose it either.

Overall, I think the Arc 5 Palm gets pretty much everything right regarding battery and charging.

We get a USB-C port, solid battery life, and a very decent 2 hour charging time.

The lack of a proper battery indicator is my only gripe.

It’s not such a big deal for a USB travel shaver, but considering the price, I think we should have gotten something more useful.

Cleaning and maintenance

Panasonic electric shavers are generally very easy to clean.

Despite the different design of the Arc 5 Palm compared to the typical Panasonic foil shaver, cleaning is still quick and straightforward.

In fact, I’d say things are even simpler in the case of the Palm models.

There’s no intricate flexible head with lots of nooks and crannies and there’s also no pop-up trimmer that can harbor hairs and grime.

And that’s good news given the most probable use case for this shaver: on the go.

All the Palm models are IPX7 waterproof, so you can take advantage of the most effective way to manually clean a shaver: with tap water and (optionally) a bit of liquid soap.

Panasonic also includes a brush and you can use that as well — in fact, it might be the preferred option in a very specific situation.

For example, you just shaved on your last day of the trip and you’re about to head to the airport, so there’s no time to let the shaver air dry.

In that case, you can simply remove most of the stubble and hair dust with the included brush.

But you will need to be very careful.

For example, you should never brush the foils directly — they will get damaged.

Also, when brushing the two inner cutters, you should use the short bristles and always go with the direction of the individual blades, never across (lengthwise).

You can brush the inner part of the plastic foil frame and around the inner cutters and that’s pretty much it — a quick cleaning that’s good enough when you are constrained by the circumstances.

But for most of the time you should be able to give your Palm shaver a proper cleaning with water (and soap).

Ideally you would do it after every shave to prevent dirt buildups.

Here’s how it goes.

Once you finished shaving, turn the razor off and remove the foil head by squeezing the release tabs between your thumb and index finger.

You can very gently tap the bottom plastic part of the frame on the sink to shake off the clipped hairs.

Give the foil a thorough rinse (both the outside and the inner part) under the tap and wash the two inner blades as well.

This would be a very quick cleaning with water and again good enough if you’re in a hurry.

But I highly recommend using a bit of liquid soap next for a thorough cleaning.

Put the foil head back on, place a few drops of soap on the outside of the foils and press and hold the power button.

After a few seconds, this will activate Panasonic’s special Sonic cleaning mode.

You’ll notice a change in the pitch of the sound and the battery and travel lock LEDs will light up alternatively.

The blades are now oscillating differently than in the normal (shaving mode), with faster and shorter strokes.

This mode is not suitable for shaving, only for cleaning.

Precisely, it will lather the soap without splashing water around and will also dislodge hardened dirt.

While the Sonic cleaning mode is running, you can also add a bit more water and use your finger to spread the soap evenly across all 5 cutters.

Letting the shaver run like this for 10 or 15 seconds should suffice.

The Sonic mode can be stopped by pressing the power button or it will automatically deactivate after around 20 seconds and automatically switch to the normal (shaving mode).

Turn the shaver off and activate the Sonic cleaning mode again by pressing and holding the power button.

Rinse off the soap under the tap for 10 to 20 seconds, then turn the shaver off.

Remove the foil head and give everything (foil and inner blades) one final rinse.

Shake off the excess water, gently pat the parts dry with a towel and let them air dry, ideally with the foil head detached and definitely don’t put the shaver back in the case with the cover on.

Letting it sit on the counter over night would ensure all the moisture evaporates.

And that’s really it. Even though it seems like a lot when describing the process, everything takes 1 minute.

Here’s a video of that, start to finish.

Cleaning the Panasonic Palm after every shave is key to prevent buildups and keep it running smoothly.

Lubrication

Equally important for the longevity of the blades and foil and for optimal performance during your shave is lubrication.

The Palm-sized shavers use the same cutting system as the regular Arc 5, so there are very tight tolerances and significant friction between the shearing metal parts.

Panasonic is one of the few major brands that still includes some lubricating oil with most of their shavers.

And the tiny 3ml bottle is perfect for traveling.

Lubricating the Arc 5 Palm is simple and straightforward.

The only thing to keep in mind is that the blades should be clean and dry before applying the oil.

Otherwise, fine hair dust and oil can gunk up the blades in time.

Here’s how to lubricate your Panasonic Arc 5 Palm-sized shaver.

Carefully place a single drop on the outside of each of the 5 cutters, then turn the razor on for 5 seconds or so.

Switch it off and gently wipe the excess with a paper towel. And that’s it.

Since the Panasonic lubricant is just highly refined miner oil (paraffin), you can even do it right before you shave.

As for the frequency, twice a week should suffice, although it would be ideal to oil the blades after ever cleaning that involved water and soap.

Soap strips off all the greasiness, so there will be a lot of friction and heat.

Also, once you run out of oil, you can simply buy more, not necessarily the Panasonic brand as it can be very pricey.

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Clipper oil from various brands (like Wahl, Syprin or Oster) is essentially the same stuff and it is a lot more convenient price-wise.

You should even be able to refill the tiny Panasonic bottle as that one is truly travel-friendly.

Lubricating sprays for clippers and shavers also work great, but you probably don’t want to bring a large pressurized can with you on vacation.

Replacement parts availability

The Panasonic Arc 5 Palm-sized models use the same shaving system as the regular Arc 5 (outer foil + two inner blades).

That means any Arc 5 foil + inner blades set will fit perfectly.

The foil and blades combo that originally comes with your Palm is the ES9040 which is in fact the newest.

Panasonic ES9040 foil and blades

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However, any of the previous iterations, for example the ES9038, ES9036 and ES9034 will fit perfectly as well.

Since the differences between them are minor — the middle trimmer has been tweaked on the newer ones to make it better with longer hairs (but it’s not really), you should just buy the set you can find or the one with the lowest price.

In fact, even the old ES9032 set, which lacks the two comfort rollers, will fit as well and it usually costs less.

Panasonic ES9032 foil and blades

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Granted, it’s not as gentle as the newer ones above (with the ES9040 being the latest), but it won’t be a problem if you don’t have sensitive skin.

Moreover, the closeness is just as good.

Regardless of the set, Panasonic recommends changing the foil every year and the inner blades every two years.

If you’ll only be using the Palm as your travel shaver, you can expect them to last a lot longer than that.

I would only replace them when the shaver can’t provide a decent shave anymore.

Removing the two inner blades is very easy: you grab them by the ends between your thumb and index finger and pull them straight off the pins.

The foil has two release tabs on the sides of the frame, you would squeeze them together and it will pop right out.

When inserting the new foil, make sure you’re doing it correctly.

It can only fit one way, so the two triangles on the foil need to align with the ones on the inside of the foil frame:

I have also posted an in-depth guide on Arc 5 foils and blades compatibility if you want to check it out.

Takeaway — Should you buy the Panasonic Arc 5 Palm?

The answer is actually very straightforward, and that’s almost never the case with electric razors.

If you have the budget for it and the lack of a hair trimmer is a non-issue, then you should absolutely buy the Panasonic Palm-sized razor.

See the price on Amazon

It’s a fantastic compact travel shaver, and the performance is outstanding, even when compared to a high-end (full-size) shaver.

The pick of the range is usually the ES-PV3A-K (or ES-PV3B-K in Europe), but the ES-PV6A, with the stone-like Nagori body, is often offered at a discount as well.

You may even use it as your only electric shaver as it’s definitely up for it.

But in that case, the lack of a hair trimmer may be off-putting — it certainly would be for me.

If you shave your head as well, it’s one of the best 2-in-1 electric razors out there.

Let’s now check out a few other options.

Alternatives

Given its size and performance, the Arc 5 Palm 5-blade shaver has very few direct competitors if any at all.

No other shaver of this size comes close to its performance, especially with rgard to power and closeness.

But some might offer a few other advantages.

1. Panasonic ES-CM3A vs ES-PV3A/ES-PV6A

The 3-blade ES-CM3A is Panasonic’s popular and budget-friendly travel razor.

See the price on Amazon

And while comparing it to t he 5-blade Palm is a bit of stretch given the price difference, it can make sense in several cases.

Here’s why you’d want to consider the ES-CM3A over the ES-PV3A or ES-PV6A.

• It costs (a lot) less;
• It’s lighter and slimmer, so the ergonomics are even better;
• The replacement foil and blades cost (a lot) less;
• It still offers decent performance, especially if you shave more often.

I think the tiny ES-CM3A would be a worthy alternative on short trips, when you’ll only be shaving once or twice.

It packs a decent punch with its 13 000 CPM motor and Panasonic’s excellent foil and blades.

For those reasons it certainly makes a lot of sense if you’ll mostly be gone on short trips or you have a light to medium beard.

It’s definitely the best budget-friendly alternative to the ES-PV3A/ES-PV6A.

The 5-blade Palm is however more powerful, faster and shaves closer.

The 14 000 CPM motor may seem only marginally faster, but in practice the difference is quite noticeable.

2. Laifen P3 Pro

This is a new shaver from a young company that took the shaving community by surprise — myself included.

See the price on Amazon

It’s a 3-blade foil shaver with outstanding build quality: the body of the shaver is milled from a solid block of aluminum.

There’s even a glass window that allows you to get a glimpse of the 12 000 CPM motor inside.

In terms of size and shape, it is quite similar to the Palm:

However, because of the all-metal built, it is 50g heavier and quite slippery, so I would have to give the Palm the win for ergonomics.

On the other hand, the P3 Pro shaving head and foil frame are very compact and nimble.

But how does it shave?

Well, it’s incredibly gentle and smooth, better than the Palm in that regard and it also fares better with longer, flat-lying hairs.

The battery life is super impressive as well at 100 minutes of cordless shaving time. And it has a quick charge function.

However, the P3 Pro can’t shave quite as close as the Palm and it’s not as capable as a head shaver.

Just like the Palm, it lacks a hair trimmer.

And even though it costs less, you don’t get a travel case (it’s only sold separately), not even a charger or lubricant.

But it’s still a worthy compact shaver to consider, with the build quality and comfort being truly impressive.

For more details you can check out my full review of the P3 Pro.

3. Panasonic ES-CV70/ES-CV51

The ES-CV70 (dry-only) and ES-CV51(wet/dry) are the older compact Arc5s with a more conventional design.

It remains my favorite travel shaver, even though it has some major shortcomings compared to the Arc 5 Palm.

But let’s first check out its pros:

• It has an excellent pop-up hair trimmer;
• The body is made of metal, and the quality and in–hand feel are outstanding;
• The shaving performance is top notch, being fitted with the same motor as the Palm;
• There’s a proper 3-level battery indicator;
• It comes with a premium leather hard case.

My ES-CV51 will continue to be my choice for longer vacations because of its hair trimmer and conventional grip.

But this does come with a few compromises.

The ES-CV51/ES-CV70 is quite a bit larger than the Arc 5 Palm and takes up more space in the luggage.

It does not have a USB-C port, which means you’ll probably have to bring an additional cord (there are Panasonic-to-USB-A third-party cables available).

I can get around 4 shaves from a full battery, so not enough during a one-week vacation.

Finally, the ES-CV51 and ES-CV70 have been discontinued and nowadays are getting very difficult to find.

So you may not be even able to buy one anymore.

This means the Panasonic Palm-sized 5-blade model is now pretty much the only option for a high-end travel shaver.

And strictly concerning its performance, it is also the best, at least for now.

That concludes my review of Panasonic’s compact Arc 5 Palm.

If you have any questions or you’d like to share your experience with these razors, make sure to leave a comment below.