Review Summary
Pros: Very close shaves, comfortable and gentle, suitable for coarse stubble, powerful and refined, excellent hair trimmer, waterproof, USB-C charging
Cons: Large body and head, limited availability, pricey
The world’s first and only 6-blade foil shaver, the Panasonic Arc 6, aka Series 900+, has been around for 4 years.
And even though it was an impressive machine from the beginning, it never really offered enough compelling benefits over a significantly less expensive Arc 5.
But that may be about to change.
With a new and improved foil head, the new Panasonic Arc 6 (aka Lamdash Pro 6 or Series 1000 Pro) promises an even closer and more effective shave.
I managed to buy this new Arc 6 from Japan and I’ve been testing it extensively alongside a few other high-end shavers.
Among those, there’s the old Arc 6 (ES-LS8A, ES-LS9A), but also the Arc 5/5 PRO and the Braun Series 9 PRO+ and Nevo.
In this review, I’ll tell you if it’s worth going through the trouble of buying the latest Panasonic Arc 6 (you will need to import it from Japan) or whether you’d be better off with a model from the previous generation.
Also, if you already own an Arc 6, I think you’ll find the comparison useful if you’re thinking about upgrading to the latest model.
UPDATE April 2025: The shaver is now available in Australia and Hong Kong as well. Hopefully more countries will follow.
The new Arc 6 (Lamdash Pro 6/Series 1000 Pro)
Panasonic officially launched this latest Arc 6 in September 2024 and the shavers were initially only available in Japan.
Even though Australia and Hong Kong eventually got this new revision, a full global launch will probably never happen.
I will update the review if that changes (the model names may be different for the global variations).
As of 2026, this is still the latest high-end 6-blade Panasonic, even though it was released almost 2 years ago.
You will generally find it under the Lamdash Pro 6 or Series 1000 Pro name.
Panasonic stopped using the Arc 6 moniker for the shavers sold on their domestic market.
This is essentially the third update since the original Arc 6 (revision A), so we can (unofficially) refer to it as revision D.
There are 4 different shaver models in this revision and you can buy them from Amazon.co.jp or Panasonic Japan.
The performance is identical throughout the range, but there are a few important differences between the models.
Here’s a table that showcases them:
| Model | Use | Cleaning station | USB-C port |
|---|---|---|---|
1. ES-L690U (-K) | wet/dry, cordless-only | Yes | Yes |
2. ES-L670U (-K) | wet/dry, cordless-only | Yes | Yes |
3. ES-L650U (-K) | wet/dry, cordless-only | No | Yes |
4. ES-L650D (-K) | dry-only, cordless & corded | No | No |
In my opinion these are the only things that matter when choosing which one to buy (aside from price, of course).
All of them, including the dry-only ES-L650D, are waterproof.
For a more in-depth comparison, you can check out the chart at the bottom of this page on Panasonic.jp.
I got the ES-L650U variation, which is cordless-only and features a USB-C charging port.
The review will still be relevant for the other ones as the shaving performance is identical.
Side note: Sometimes you’ll find the shavers listed with -K at the end, which stands for Kuro (Japanese for black). For example, ES-L690U-K.
I find all Panasonic shavers very easy to clean, so the station is not a must-have for me.
Also, a shaver that didn’t come with a station will not work with one purchased separately later on.
The models that don’t include the cleaner generally cost less, and that was the case with my ES-L650U as well.
I bought it from Amazon.co.jp and used forward2me.com (not affiliated) to have it shipped to me in Europe.
If you live in the USA, you might be able to buy the shaver with direct shipping from Amazon.co.jp.
Unfortunately I couldn’t, so I had to use a third-party forwarding company, which further increased the total cost.
The customs fees will however vary a lot depending on the destination country.
Features overview
1. New 6-blade foil head
The new Lamdash Pro 6 generation comes with a new foil head with the part number ES9610.
This is arguably the highlight of this release as it can have a direct and significant impact on the shaving performance.
As you’ll see, some of the other changes are downright gimmicky, but not this one.
And one thing that is of particular interest to current Arc 6 users is that the new ES9610 head is backward compatible with the previous Arc 6 models.
I tried it on my older, first-generation Arc 6 and in the Shaving performance section, you can find out if the improvement was noticeable.
I was a bit skeptical about the compatibility as the new shavers have a rounder foil frame, but luckily, the new foil fits perfectly on the older models as well.
According to Panasonic, the new ES9610 head uses even thinner foils (0.041mm) for a closer shave, and the perforation pattern is tweaked to make the shaver up to 50% more effective.
At least visually, the changes are subtle and you really need to get to the macro level to notice the differences.
Here’s a close-up side-by-side shot I took of the previous ES9600 foil head and the new ES9610:
I will also add that the two gold slit trimmers (that capture longer, flat-lying hairs) also appear somewhat flatter and any improvements in that department will be more than welcome.
Panasonic razors were never class-leading when shaving longer stubble and performed optimally only on short facial hair.
We still have the single comfort roller at the very center of the foil that helps reduce the friction with the skin.
2. Highly flexible shaving head
The head unit of the new Lamdash Pro 6 is identical to the previous Arc 6 generation, meaning it can move front to back, side to side and also vertically.
The latter has a very limited range of motion though, and the whole head is in my opinion still a bit too wobbly.
Despite the impressive flexibility, the very bulbous head, along with the limited range of motion of the 6 individual blades, falls a bit short when compared to a Braun Series 9 for example.
Braun uses a much simpler front-to-back swivel, but the compact size, along with the highly flexible individual cutters make it a lot more complying during use.
This is a limitation of Panasonic’s other shavers, like the 3 and 5-blade models.
Nevertheless, the head can be blocked in a fixed position via a switch located at the back.
3. High-speed linear drive motor.
The Lamdash Pro 6 revision D razors use the same 14 000 CPM motors as before, and these units are arguably the best in the industry.
The motor ensures smooth and constant power delivery regardless of how coarse the beard is.
4. USB-C charging
This is (at least for me) a long-overdue feature, and I’m glad it’s finally here.
Even though not all the models got it, you can choose a Lamdash Pro 6 that charges via USB-C, so you don’t need a Panasonic charger anymore.
Just a regular charger (like the one you use for your phone or laptop) will work just fine.
The only Lamdash Pro 6 model that still uses Panasonic’s proprietary charging port is the one that works both cordless & corded, namely the ES-L650D.
So if corded operation is a must-have, you won’t get a USB-C port on your new Arc 6.
5. LED lights
Let’s now get to the not-so-useful features I mentioned earlier.
The revision D Panasonic Arc 6 comes with a couple of LED light strips right below the shaving head.
They will light up in different colors to signal different things, like a low battery or whether the shaver is running in Boost (coarse hair) or Soft mode (gentle setting for lighter beards).
Since the shavers already have a dedicated low battery icon and you can actually hear the difference in noise between Boost and Soft, the LEDs are somewhat redundant.
The revision D Arc 6 is fitted with the same beard density sensor as before, which supposedly analyzes the coarseness and density of the beard and adjusts the power output accordingly.
You cannot disable this function like you could on the older Arc 5 models (the ES-LV65).
The range-topping ES-L690U also has a more advanced display that shows the battery level in 20 increments, plus the shave duration.
The rest of the models only have a 5-level battery indicator, which is a bit disappointing for a shaver in this price range.
6. Misc features
- 45 minutes worth of cordless shaving
- Universal voltage adapter (100-240V) for the Panasonic charger
- IPX7 water resistant (all the models)
- Pop-up hair trimmer
Included accessories
The Panasonic Arc 6 rev D models come bundled with various accessories.
Here’s what was included with my ES-L650U:
- Protective cap
- Travel pouch
- Cleaning brush
- Lubricating oil
- USB-C-to-USB-A cable
- User manual (only in Japanese). You can access the English version (for the ES-L690U model) at this link.
Some models will of course come with a cleaning station and a Panasonic charger, but most of the other accessories will be common for all of them.
You can find a detailed comparison of the included accessories below.
| Model | Accessories |
|---|---|
| ES-L690U (-K) | cleaning station, hard travel case, AC adapter, USB cable, detergent, oil, cleaning brush, plastic cover |
| ES-L670U (-K) | cleaning station, hard travel case, AC adapter, USB cable, detergent, oil, cleaning brush, plastic cover |
| ES-L650U (-K) | textile pouch, USB cable, oil, cleaning brush, plastic cover |
| ES-L650D (-K) | textile pouch, AC adapter, oil, cleaning brush, plastic cover |
The major letdown for me is the textile storage pouch that only offers protection against scratches and dust, but will be pretty useless against mechanical shocks.
It’s a downgrade even from Panasonic’s previous faux leather travel case.
Also, if you have one of those from an older Arc 5 or even an Arc 6, this new Arc 6 will not fit since the shaver is longer by ~10mm.
Only the two range-topping models, the ES-L690U and ES-L670U, come with a proper hard travel case.
It is available separately as well, with the reference number ES-2L15 and you can buy it from Panasonic Japan or Yahoo Shopping Japan.
I’m glad at least that Panasonic still includes a plastic cover that protects the foil head.
Braun and Philips for example don’t offer them anymore, at least not with the high-end shavers like the Series 9 or the i9000/S9000.
Side note: I suggest only using the cover while traveling or when there’s a high risk of damaging the foils.
Otherwise, the foil head can develop a funky smell or can even get moldy.
Build quality and ergonomics
Panasonic electric razors are some of the best when it comes to build quality (regardless of price point).
The 6-blade Arc 6 (or Lamdash Pro 6 as it’s called in Japan) is the top-tier model, so it should be really good.
And it is for the most part, even though there are a couple of somewhat underwhelming details.
I’ll get to them as well, but let’s first check out the good parts.
The shaving head of the Arc 6 is a remarkable feat of engineering and sets the shaver apart from other flagship models it competes against, like the Braun Series 9 PRO+ and the Philips i9000 Prestige Ultra.
The sheer size of the head, along with the refinement of the cutting elements, machined with great precision, is impressive.
The entire head swivels very smoothly and there are a few tweaks compared to the previous Arc 6 generation.
The most obvious is the way the foil frame integrates with the other half of the shaving head.
There’s virtually no gap between them, and the curved sides make the new head look like one piece.
As you can see in the image above, with the older model there was a visible gap.
The foil head snaps in place very securely and smoothly with a crisp click.
It’s easy to remove by squeezing the two side tabs between your index finger and thumb.
In contrast, removing and especially fitting the foil head of a Braun Series 9 for example feels notchy and finicky.
On the back of the shaving head, we have the same excellent pop-up hair trimmer and a multi-function switch with 3 positions.
- Flexible head
- Fixed head
- Fixed head + Hair trimmer deployed
The front of the shaver is very simple and minimalist, with a small and clicky power button that has a couple of other functions as well.
If you press and hold it while the shaver is turned on, it will activate the travel lock function, indicated by a small padlock icon.
Pressing and holding the button will unlock it again.
Side note: The top spec Lamdash Pro 6 model, the ES-L690U, has a Smart lock function that automatically unlocks it when you grab the shaver.
The other function of the power button is either a Sonic cleaning mode on dry-only models (ES-L650D) or a rather gimmicky Bubble making mode on wet/dry models (ES-L690U, ES-L670U, ES-L650U).
To activate the special mode, you must press and hold the power button with the shaver switched off.
This will make the blades oscillate in a very specific manner (not suitable for shaving).
I will get into more details about these special modes in the Cleaning and maintenance section.
The battery level indicator on my ES-L650 is rather basic but still pretty useful with 5 levels, each representing 20% of battery charge.
As mentioned earlier, only the ES-L690U model comes with a more advanced and more useful display that shows the battery in 5% increments and also the shave duration.
The back and sides of the shaver are covered by a very grippy rubber-like sleeve.
Unfortunately the thumb rest on the front doesn’t feature any non-slip coating and the shaver body is quite thick, especially the part where you would grip it.
An Arc 5 for example is slightly slimmer, so holding and using one feels better.
On the bottom of the shaver, we have the USB-C charging port that’s covered by a plastic flap fitted with a rubber seal (for waterproofing).
Fortunately it is attached to the shaver and it’s very easy to pop out.
The Arc 6 that works cordelss&corded (ES-L650D) will have the Panasonic charging port instead of USB-C.
The size of the latest Lamdash Pro 6 models has also increased compared to the previous generations.
As you can see in the image below, the new model is quite a bit longer (around 10mm) and the bottom part of the body doesn’t taper as much.
Despite this, the weight has only increased by 10 grams and now weighs approximately 215g (7.58 oz).
As a reference, a Braun S9 PRO+ weighs almost the same, even though it looks significantly smaller.
Fun fact: the ES-L690U and ES-L670U weigh a bit more than the others at 230g and 225g, respectively.
So despite the large proportions, the latest Arc 6 is still quite manageable and doesn’t feel too heavy.
As for the things that could have been better, we still have an all-plastic build, even though it doesn’t look or feel cheap.
But considering how much the shaver costs, I would have liked to see a metal body option.
Some of the older Arc 5 models, like the ES-LV9Q, looked and felt premium with an all-metal body.
Also, not fitting the better LED display to all revision D Arc 6 models is disappointing.
You will have to buy the range-topping ES-L690U in order to get it and that one costs quite a bit more than a basic ES-L650U.
Battery life and charging
The new Arc 6 comes with the same Li-ion battery as before, so we get 45 minutes of cordless shaving (at best).
This is another somewhat disappointing decision as I think a larger battery for the Arc 6 (and Arc 5) is long overdue.
Braun and Philips are ahead, with batteries that provide 60 minutes of cordless operation on a single charge.
In practice, you’ll want to charge your Arc 6 more often and not wait until the battery is almost depleted.
And that’s because you will likely experience a performance drop and the shaver will feel slower when the charge goes below 20% or so.
The 6 blades need a lot of power to be moved (more blades = more friction), so I usually charge mine when there are 2 segments left (out of 5).
And speaking of charging, we can finally do it using an ordinary USB-C cable.
Panasonic includes a USB-C to USB-A cable in the box and mentions explicitly that you should only use that particular cable to charge your Arc 6.
While I don’t recommend straying from what the manufacturer tells you, I have to confess that I’ve never used the included cable and always charged my Arc 6 with whatever I had at hand.
And it worked perfectly fine.
Also, I’m happy to report that charging works with both USB-C to USB-A but also USB-C to USB-C cables.
And that’s not always the case with electric shavers. For example, the Andis reSURGE will only charge with USB-C to USB-A cables.
I tested various phone chargers with different wattage and charging my Arc 6 ES-L650U from 0 to 100% always took around 1 hour and 55 minutes.
So that’s roughly double the time it takes to charge an Arc 6 that has a conventional Panasonic port (or via the cleaning station).
But given how practical USB-C is, I think it’s a fair compromise and I’m quite happy with the charging speed.
Please keep in mind that if you want the newest Arc 6 to work both cordless and corded, it will only come with a Panasonic port and not USB-C.
For the older Arc 6 shavers (pre-2024), you could buy a Panasonic-to-USB-A cable and that was the next best thing, especially when traveling.
Unfortunately you can’t do that anymore, as Panasonic fitted the revision D Lamdash Pro 6 with slightly different connectors that have two triangular dividers, so the third-party cables won’t fit.
I will update the review once a USB cable with the new Panasonic port becomes available.
Shaving performance
The previous two updates to the Arc 6 (revisions B and C) didn’t bring anything significant and the performance remained unchanged.
The 2024 models (revision D) come with a new foil head that promises improvements across the entire spectrum — closeness, comfort, and catching difficult hairs.
As mentioned previously, I will also compare the new model to the old Arc 6 and also to a few other shavers that may or may not be worthy alternatives.
With that out of the way, let’s get to the test.
Closeness of the shave
Panasonic shavers, in particular the 5 and 6-blade models, are probably the ones that can offer the closest shave without major compromises (to comfort, effectiveness, durability of the foils, and so on).
I think we have a new champion in that regard: the revision D Arc 6/Lamdash Pro 6 is the closest-shaving electric razor I’ve used so far.
It was constantly better than the previous Arc 6 generation and, at least in my case, it’s difficult to imagine how another shaver would get any closer.
Yes, there is room for improvement in some other areas, but strictly related to closeness, this is about as good as it gets.
The new head with the thinner foils feels more bitey and cuts the hairs extremely close with no razor burn at all.
This for me was the most significant improvement over any pre-2024 Arc 5 and Arc 6 shavers I’ve used.
The revision D Arc 6/Lamdash Pro 6 is (for me) the new closeness champ.
I am 100% certain that the new foil head is the thing that does the magic and you can upgrade your old Arc 6 and get essentially the same result.
I did precisely that and the closeness of my old Arc 6 (ES-LS6A, ES-LS8A, ES-LS9A) fitted with the new ES9610 foil was identical.
And it makes sense since the rest of the things that would impact the performance remained the same (motor, battery).
The closeness was excellent during both a dry and a wet shave, with the latter being even closer, which is usually the case with all Panasonic razors.
And here’s another metric that I use to gauge the closeness, apart from the more conventional way of feeling the skin with my hand for any rough patches.
I generally shave every other day when I use a razor that gives me a close enough shave.
With this Arc 6 however I’ve noticed that I can stretch that to shaving every two days without looking too scruffy.
That’s something I generally can’t pull off with other shavers.
The LED lights would almost constantly be orange during my shave, signaling that the shaver is in the high-power Boost mode.
They would only turn blue when going again over an area with almost no stubble left to shave.
Overall, the closeness with the new Panasonic Arc 6 was outstanding.
You do have to keep in mind that these results will always be partly subjective and your experience may not match mine entirely.
The Arc 5 and older Arc 6 models were already excellent in terms of closeness, so the improvements can’t be considered groundbreaking.
But I can say that the Arc 6 with this new foil is clearly better at giving me a 10/10 closeness with the least amount of effort.
Side note: If you have very coarse, thick stubble, I think this Arc 6 would deliver a better result compared to an Arc 5 or Arc 5 PRO.
Comfort
My main concern after reading about the thinner foils of the new Arc 6 was the comfort.
Precisely, the risk of razor burn that was quite high with other Panasonic razors, like the older Arc 4 and even Arc 5 models.
Luckily, my fears were put to rest after the very first shave.
I’d say the comfort was at least as good as before despite the improvements to the closeness of the shave.
And that’s no easy task to achieve.
It did sting a bit on the neck after pressing maybe too hard and going multiple times over the same area.
But other than that, I had no issues with razor burn or bumps.
I always follow up with an alcohol aftershave balm, which means any tiny nicks or abrasions, even in the absence of bleeding, would sting.
There was almost no stinging at all which I used to experience when using a very close-shaving razor.
When shaving dry, I would strongly suggest adding a pre-shave lotion that helps the head glide easier and also primes the hairs for a gentler shave.
I always use the Speick pre-shave as it’s slick without feeling too oily and makes shaving more enjoyable.
In conclusion, I’m happy to report that the new Arc 6 is still suitable for men with sensitive skin.
A Braun Series 9 is probably still ahead, but only marginally and the gap has shrunken significantly.
Shaving longer hairs
One weakness of Panasonic shavers is their ability to capture longer, flat-lying hairs, especially the ones on the neck and jawline.
It’s the reason why I always mention the ideal frequency of shaving whenever I recommend a Panasonic razor.
In contrast, Braun and Philips are usually more effective at catching these difficult hairs.
Panasonic razors, even high-end models like this Arc 6, are generally best suited for frequent use.
For most users, that means shaving daily and up to every 3 days — maybe more if the stubble grows back slowly.
So how does the new Arc 6 generation fare in this regard?
Better than before, but it’s still behind the very best out there.
Precisely, the head is too bulbous and wobbly, with limited range of motion of the 6 cutters.
This reduces its effectiveness when shaving below the jawline. It’s perfectly fine on the cheeks and below the nose and even on my chin.
But shaving the neck remains a weak point for the Arc 6 if the stubble is longer, stays flat on the skin or grows in different directions.
And that still happens, even though the shaver has two special cutters specifically designed for this type of hair.
The solution is of course to shave more often to compensate for this inherent weakness.
If you only shave once a week, I think a Braun Series 9 PRO+ would probably be a more suitable shaver.
Wet shaving
While most users will be shaving dry, I have to praise the new Arc 6 for its stellar performance when used with a quality shaving cream/gel.
I paired it with the non-foaming Jack Black Beard Lube and the result was just fantastic.
The Beard Lube shaving balm provides remarkable slickness and softens the hairs, making the shave super enjoyable and satisfying.
The closeness and comfort were sublime and easily among the best shaves I ever got.
If the thought of using shaving cream is not too appealing, definitely consider the Jack Black Beard Lube as it’ll make things much easier and less time-consuming.
Unlike shaving cream, you don’t have to lather it, you can see through the product when applied to the face and it doesn’t add much overhead.
Just wash your face with warm water, apply a very thin layer and start shaving.
It provides amazing residual slickness, doesn’t clog the shaving head and has a very pleasant cooling effect.
Just keep in mind that you should probably clean your shaver with water and a bit of liquid soap to remove any traces of product from the foil.
Hair trimmer
The pop-up hair trimmer on the new Lamdash Pro 6 is unchanged, meaning it continues to be the best in business.
There’s no other integrated trimmer that is as effective, easy to use and cuts the hairs so close to the skin.
It’s very convenient for shaping your sideburns or moustache and cutting a few stray, stubborn hairs.
I would not use it to (pre) trim my entire beard; it’s simply not designed for that, even though you will get it done eventually.
If you often have to trim your entire beard, you’d be better off with a dedicated and inexpensive beard trimmer.
Noise
In addition to the performance upgrade brought by the new foil, the latest Arc 6 is also a bit quieter than other high-end Panasonic shavers.
The difference in noise between the various Arc 6 and Arc 5 models comes down to the foil and blades and how much the motor ramps up during use.
With this latest generation, there’s minimal to no vibration from the foils, and the motor is better dampened.
It sounds less harsh and not as loud, even when in Boost mode.
I’ve compared it to my other Panasonic shavers and it definitely seems more refined and it vibrates less.
My phone app says it’s only 3 decibels quieter than the old Arc 6 but it is noticeable.
And to my ears, it is better than an Arc 5 as well, including the latest 2024 models.
That said, nobody would consider the Arc 6 a quiet shaver. All foil shavers are intrinsically loud and there’s no way to get around that.
A rotary is still the only option if you need a very quiet electric razor.
Cleaning and maintenance
Most Panasonic razors, being waterproof and using less convoluted foil heads, have always been easy to clean manually.
Factor in the special Sonic cleaning mode and the automatic station becomes almost redundant.
Side note: the Sonic mode is a special cleaning setting that makes the blades oscillate very quickly, dislodging grime and preventing water from splashing when rinsing the foil head.
With this latest Arc 6/Lamdash 6 Pro, cleaning the razor is still easy, but with a couple of quirks.
First of all, unlike most other Panasonic models, the Arc 6 uses a foil head with all the blades integrated into the head.
Prior to the Arc 6, two of the blades were removable, which made the foil somewhat easier to clean.
But having cleaned an Arc 6 manually for the past 4 years, it’s not that big of a deal.
The second notable difference vs most other Panasonic shavers is the Sonic cleaning mode of the revision D Arc 6.
Precisely, it’s not available anymore for the wet/dry models like the ES-L690U, ES-L670U or my ES-L650U.
Panasonic decided to replace the Sonic mode on these shavers with a goofy-sounding Bubble making mode that should help you lather shaving gel.
The dry-only ES-L650D still gets the original Sonic cleaning mode that makes cleaning more effective.
So is this a deal-breaker?
I’d say no, but I do feel that the Sonic mode was a lot more useful in practice than the gimmicky new feature that supposedly helps you lather shaving gel.
So let’s see exactly how the manual cleaning goes and then check out the automatic station as well.
Manual cleaning
Once you’ve finished shaving, turn the razor off and remove the foil head by squeezing the two side tabs between your thumb and index finger.
The foil head will pop right out.
You can gently tap the plastic frame on the sink a few times to remove some of the clipped stubble.
Interestingly, this new ES9610 foil seems to contain the hairs better than the previous Arc 6 head.
There was clearly less hair dust on my forearm and chest than usual.
I then proceed to give the foil a generous rinse (both the inner and outer parts) and this is often good enough if you’ve just had a quick dry shave.
You would then rinse the shaver body, shake off the excess water and let it air dry with the foil head detached.
However, I usually like to clean my shavers more thoroughly with some liquid hand soap.
So I put the head back on the shaver, pour a bit of soap over the foil and then press and hold the power button.
Normally this would make a Panasonic shaver enter the Sonic cleaning mode.
But in the case of the new wet/dry Arc 6, this will in turn activate the Bubble making mode, which is somewhat similar, but not quite as good at dislodging hardened grime.
The blades don’t oscillate as vigorously (it’s also a lot quieter than the old Sonic mode) and it still splashes water when you rinse the head.
But it does lather the soap very effectively.
Once it enters this mode, you’ll notice the LED strips flashing blue and the sound changing slightly.
You can use your finger to spread the soap across the foils or even add a few drops of water to lather the soap.
Let it run for ~10 seconds (after 20s it will automatically switch to normal mode), then rinse the head with tap water with the shaver still running.
Turn the shaver off, remove the foil and give everything one final rinse.
Shake off the excess water and leave the foil detached until it’s completely dry.
It may sound like a lot to do, but in reality, it should take less than a minute.
So cleaning the new Arc 6 manually is still straightforward, with the slight disappointment of the altered Sonic mode that has morphed into a less useful Bubble making mode.
Automatic cleaning
My review unit didn’t come with an automatic cleaning & charging station, but I do have a few from other shavers and the Lamdash Pro 6 station is essentially the same.
It still comes in the nice matte black/dark grey finish and has the same features as before.
In that regard, it is without a doubt the most feature-rich cleaning station out there:
- It automatically cleans, lubricates, dries and charges the shaver
- You can choose just the dry function if for example you cleaned the shaver manually
- The drying system uses both inductive heating and a fan, making it very effective
- It’s compact and well-built
The Panasonic station uses concentrated detergent packs that you must mix with water in the station’s tray.
This is different than what Braun does with their refill cartridges that can be easily removed from the station, resealed and stored securely for future use.
With the Panasonic station, once you’ve committed to setting it up, you’re pretty much stuck with it on your countertop.
For me this isn’t very practical as I tend to switch shavers a lot, so I never really use Panasonic stations even though objectively they are the best in business.
Plus I can always clean the shaver very easily with water and liquid soap.
Another downside vs a Braun station is that you don’t have as many options for a third-party cleaning detergent.
So you will most likely have to buy the OEM Panasonic detergent packs.
Also, since there’s no alcohol, the risk of the cleaning solution turning funky prematurely is higher with Panasonic.
The station does work great, so if you see yourself using it regularly, you might as well get an Arc 6 that comes with one, like the ES-L670U.
A Panasonic cleaner will not work with a shaver that didn’t originally have one, so buying the station later on is not an option.
The cleaning solution also lubricates the blades, which is especially important with Panasonic razors.
If you don’t have or don’t want to use the station, you will need to do it yourself.
Luckily, that’s very straightforward as well.
Lubrication
The new Arc 6 foils are thinner than before, according to Panasonic.
And considering the noticeable improvement in closeness, I think they really are thinner, which makes lubrication even more important.
Right out of the box, the head of my Arc 6 didn’t get warm at all after the first shave.
There are very tight tolerances between the moving parts and the blades rub against the foil, which usually generates heat.
I cleaned my shaver with water and soap and did not lubricate the blades on purpose for the next few shaves just to see how they would fare.
Unsurprisingly, they did get noticeably warm towards the end, which again shows how important lubrication is.
Panasonic still includes a small bottle (6ml) of oil with all Arc 6 models, so you can use it to oil your shaver.
With the foils clean and dry, place one drop of oil on the outside of each foil, then let the shaver run for 5 to 10 seconds to spread the oil evenly.
After that, gently wipe any excess with a paper towel and you’re all set.
I would do this once a week and after every cleaning with liquid soap, because soap strips off any traces of lubrication.
You can also use a lubricating spray for shavers and clippers like the Andis CoolCare Plus — I’d say it’s even more effective at reducing friction and heat.
Also, once you run out of oil, you can buy and use clipper oil. Some of the brands that I like are Wahl, Syprin and Oster.
If your Arc 6 has a cleaning station and you use it regularly, there’s no need to oil the blades yourself.
Replacement parts availability
The new foil head with the part number ES9610 is already available on Amazon.co.jp and on Panasonic.jp.
Panasonic Arc 6 ES9610 replacement foil
As mentioned before, it is 100% compatible with the older Arc 6 shavers.
You can upgrade yours for roughly the same price you’d pay for the older ES9600 foil (not taking into account shipping costs).
The old Arc 6 foil is of course compatible with the new Lamdash Pro 6 and it can be a decent plan B in case you can’t or don’t want to buy the new one.
If Panasonic won’t release the revision D models globally, the new foil will likely remain available only in Japan and a couple of countries, so you will need to import it.
The replacement interval is still the same, 1.5 years, but that depends on several factors, like how often you shave and how coarse your beard is.
Lubrication will also play a big part, so make sure you don’t skip it.
Finally, the new foil is thinner than before, which may cause it to wear out faster. But only time will tell.
Takeaway — Should you buy the latest Arc 6 (Lamdash Pro 6)?
In terms of pure shaving performance, there are very few things to criticize about the latest generation of Panasonic’s 6-blade shaver.
Yes, the head is still quite large and you will need to shave regularly for the razor to be the most effective at catching the hairs.
It’s also a pricey shaver, although similar to other high-end models from Braun and Philips.
But that aside, the newest Panasonic Arc 6 is a fantastic razor that shaves incredibly close while still remaining very comfortable.
The power is plentiful and delivered very smoothly and even men with very dense and coarse facial hair will find it more than adequate.
It’s without a doubt one of the best, if not THE best when it comes to closeness — again without sacrificing comfort or the durability of the foils.
Being a Japan-exclusive release, that’s probably the biggest hurdle for most people in buying it over the older, global models.
Apart from the additional costs (customs fees, possibly forwarding if shipping to your country is not available), there’s the warranty issue.
The shavers will come of course with a 2-year international warranty and as long as you can supply the proof of purchase, the warranty should be covered.
However, since these are Japanese models, you will likely need to send them to a Japanese service center, which might not be so straightforward.
If however you’re ok with that, I think these new Arc 6 (revision D) shavers are a very compelling option for someone wanting the latest, top-performing foil razor.
And given the price of the first-generation ES-LS8A and ES-LS9A, getting the new one may even end up costing less if you stumble upon a great deal.
Should you upgrade if you own an older Arc 6?
If you already have a previously released Arc 6 (ES-LS8A, ES-LS9A) and it’s still in good shape, I think getting just the new ES9610 foil makes more sense.
Doing that will essentially give you all the benefits of the new model without needing to buy the whole shaver.
It’s true that the new one also has a USB-C port and the fancy LED lights, but those have zero impact on the shaving performance.
I’ve used the new foil on my old Arc 6 and I can tell you without a doubt that it shaves the same as the latest revision.
Alternatives
1. The old Arc 6
The original international Arc 6/Series 900+ models (ES-LS8A, ES-LS9A) are still fantastic performers, and if you find a great deal, go for it.
Panasonic Arc 6 ES-LS8A
As mentioned above, you will be able to upgrade the foil and you don’t have to worry about high import fees or warranty issues.
But again, I would wait for a good deal as these Arc 6 shavers still have a hefty price tag.
2. The Generation 4 Panasonic Arc 5
My favorite alternative to the revision D Lamdash Pro 6 is probably the Generation 4 Arc 5 (Lamdash Pro 5).
This one is also a Japan-exclusive release and having used it alongside the new Arc 6, I can safely say that it’s almost as good even with one less foil.
However, it has a few pros over the Arc 6:
- it generally costs less
- the shaving head is noticeably smaller and nimbler (it’s even smaller than all previous Arc 5 models)
- the body of the shaver is thinner and easier to grip
- the new replacement foil costs less (but still only available in Japan)
As for the shortcomings, I’ve only noticed a few and I don’t think they are in any way a deal breaker:
- it doesn’t feature a comfort roller, so the head feels ever so slightly draggier on the skin. The comfort is still just as good
- it’s not as quiet as the Arc 6 because the blades vibrate more and the motor ramps up abruptly when shaving areas with denser stubble
- it doesn’t have the Arc 6 LED lights
For most users, these probably won’t matter that much, so this new Arc 5 is essentially an Arc 6 with a smaller head that costs less.
But if your budget is very limited, don’t ignore the older generation Arc 5 like the ES-LV65 or ES-LV67 that are available globally.
These are still fantastic shavers that cost only a fraction of the newest Arc 6 and Arc 5.
They’re not as comfortable, but if you don’t have sensitive skin, you will most likely be impressed with their performance.
This was, until recently, Braun’s flagship and it’s an impressive shaver, although the closeness is not its main strength.
And not even the latest Series 9 96xx PRO+ or the new flagship, the Braun Nevo (with a tweaked foil head), can’t quite match the Arc 6, although it is closer than ever.
While I find it perfectly adequate, the Arc 6 is still better at providing a closer shave.
But the S9 PRO+/Nevo is in a class of its own when it comes to shaving longer, flat-lying hairs.
No other foil shaver is as effective and as effortless to use if you shave less often.
So I would strongly consider one if you’ll be using the shaver once or twice a week and you have areas with a lot of flat-lying hairs.
It’s also a great choice for men who shave their head.
Other razors that are impressive when used less often are the Philips S9000 Prestige and the newer i9000 Prestige Ultra.
These are however rotary shavers and I would consider one especially if you’ve used rotaries before and liked how they work.
Otherwise, a foil shaver like the Braun S9/S9 PRO+ is probably a safer bet for most users.
This pretty much wraps up my review of the latest Panasonic Arc 6/Lamdash Pro 6.
If you have any other questions or you’d like to share your experience, make sure to leave a comment below.
I’ve been considering adding a foil shaver to augment my Philips SP9841 rotary and to try foil shavers again, this in depth review makes me think this is not the one! It sounds properly high tech and super close shaving but I definitely do not shave every day and have a tough under jawline to shave; that’s why I love the Philips prestige sooooo much. This new Arc 6 has a fatal weakness for me in its handling of longer, flat neck hair. Would you say that’s accurate and confirm my leaning towards a Braun Series 900? Thanks! Great new review and I’ve been slowly reading a lot of your content to decide if I should try a foil shaver again after many years.
Hi Andrew,
Many thanks for the comment.
I would say that your assessment is accurate. This Arc 6 is very impressive performance-wise but that doesn’t mean much if it’s not suitable for the job. And from what I can tell, a Braun Series 9 would be a better option.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello Ovidiu.
-How much closer does the new mesh shave than the previous arc 6, is the improvement due to the thickness of the mesh?
-The razor motor automatically slows down when shaving (boost/soft) depending on the amount of stubble. Is it convenient and does it affect the cleanness of the shave?
-Can this version compare with the T-razor in terms of cleanliness when shaving wet?
-For wet shaving ark 6, do you recommend using soap, cream or gel?
Thank you.
Hi Vlad,
Thanks for the comment — those are some great questions.
– It would be impossible to objectively quantify the improvement, but I can say that on areas with thicker stubble, where I would usually struggle to get a perfectly smooth shave, it performs better and in my case, especially when I shave wet, I get a perfectly smooth result. I can’t feel any roughness from the stubble when I run my hand against the grain.
– I actually like how the shaver handles switching between the Boost/Soft modes. It is seamless and more precise vs the first Panasonic shavers that came with this technology. The older Arc 5 models for example are more inconsistent and the switch is very abrupt. So I’d say it is convenient and arguably the best implementations of this technology yet. It is here to stay but at least it’s improving. I’d say it’s marginally better vs the old Arc 6 which in turn was better than on the old Arc 5.
– In my case the closeness is easily comparable to what I would get from a DE razor. I haven’t used a T-razor, but again I think this shaver is about as good as it gets. Of course someone who can do 3 passes with a straight razor and at least one of those against the grain would probably get a closer shave. My skin could never handle that.
– I think any product that works great for you can be used. I will say that the Jack Black Beard Lube works particularly well with electric shavers since it’s extremely slick without the need to keep it constantly hydrated and it’s a balm, so it doesn’t foam or clog the blades. Shaving cream is also a good option if again you only use a thin, slick layer of more watery lather. For this reason I don’t think foaming canned gel is a good option because it’s very thick and fluffy. A non-foaming shave gel of your preference will also work well.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Great review, thank you, Ovidiu! I am still waiting for Braun to surprise us with Series 10, but with this new Panasonic models, I am afraid, I am no longer need anything extra. Of course, until Panasonic presents the next generation.
Hi Vasyl,
Thank you for the kind comment.
I think we’re all eager to see what Braun will come up it. But like you said, Panasonic has really caught up in the comfort department and the closeness was always better. The larger head and the less than stellar effectiveness with flat-lying hairs are somewhat innate shortcomings that can only be addressed by a completely new approach to their shaving systems. And I don’t see that happening anytime soon.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Outstanding and all of the above – thanks Ovidiu! Great shaver and great review as always!
Ovidiu- thank you for an excellent in depth review! Based on your recommendations I’m now into my second year with the Braun 9pro and love it! Having previously been a Panasonic fan it’s hard to see me going back as tempting as the arc 6 is. I found that every Panasonic unit I ever had after two years or slightly earlier dropped in performance despite new foils/blades, I think they are that fast they just degrade quicker ?
Anyway- thanks all round – brilliant !
Hi Mark,
Many thanks for the kind comment.
As impressive a new shaver might be, the best is still the one that suits your needs. And the S9 Pro is, from what I can tell, precisely that shaver.
I owned dozens of Panasonic shavers, some of them bought more than 10 years ago and except for a couple of cases where the battery can’t hold a charge, all of them still work really well. I do take extra care of them and some haven’t been used as much since I have so many in my rotation. But I wouldn’t say there’s a specific issue with Panasonic vs other brands. Performance drops are usually caused by either the battery or the wear of some of the internal linkages. With the latter there’s also increased noise/vibrations.
Regular cleaning, lubrication, avoiding direct sunlight and mechanical shocks are pretty much the only things you can do to ensure the shaver will perform well. Also, I would not wash them with hot water and avoid very humid/steamy environments (when shaving in the shower for example) as that can affect the battery or even cause condensation inside the shaver.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Allan,
You’re too kind — thank you so much for the comment and for the continuous contributions.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Great review, as always. I know you can’t predict the future – any idea if the 2024 edition will ever come to U.S.? If slim – what about its updated foil screens? Looks like for now all we can get here is the ES-LS8A-K (and the cleaning station version).
Hi Seth,
Many thanks for the comment.
If I were to guess, I’d say no, especially judging by the plethora of Panasonic Arc 5 updates that were never released to the USA and remained a Japan exclusive. Even Europe got more, but for some reason Panasonic is very reluctant at releasing the newer revisions to the USA.
I do think that the new foil will get easier to source and probably more vendors will sell it on Amazon or eBay. But it would still not be officially released.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Is there a cleaning liquid kit with this like there is with the Braun 9 etc?
Hi,
Yes, an automatic cleaning station + a pack of cleaning detergent is available with the ES-L690U and ES-L670U models.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
The Es-L690U does not come with a pack of cleaning detergent which I found surprising.
Ovidiu,
Thank you so much for this very detailed and insightful review.
The original Arc 6 (I have the ES-LS9A-K803) is one of my favorite electric shavers, and I was very much looking forward to the latest revision, even though I find the LED light extremely gimmicky, and I wouldn’t have expected that from Panasonic at all.
Anyway, I spoke to Panasonic Germany, and they told me they have no plans on releasing this revision outside of Japan (for what its worth).
I guess that means that the new ES9610 foil is only available in Japan, right?
Not sure if it’s that much better to justify importing it, but I will give it some thought. But given that I’ve just replaced my Arc 6 foil a few weeks ago, I think I’ll stick with that for at least a few months more.
Thanks again for your reviews, it’s always a delight reading them. And no other websites review electric shavers as thorough as you.
Speaking of which: Do you plan on reviewing the Panasonic Series 900s and 700s?
Hi Nico,
You are very kind, thank you so much for the comment and for the info from Panasonic Germany.
Unfortunately that also confirms what I suspected, it will remain a Japan exclusive. That also applies to the new foil, although I think it’ll get easier to source in the future. We’ll probably see it on eBay or Amazon being sold by Japanese vendors.
Definitely hold on to your shaver and the foil you’ve recently replaced. You can try the new one in the future especially if you manage to find a good deal.
I do plan on reviewing the compact models as well. I already bought the 700s, but it’s the older ES-CM3A (USA model). The Series 700s sold in Europe are usually the ones from the more recent revision B (ES-CM3B), but they’re essentially the same.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Great review as always Ovidiu. I had never thought of ordering directly from Amazon Japan before. The original Arc 6 without the cleaning station sells for CAD $699.99 and USD $399.99 which ends up being close to the same price with customs, duties and exchange rate for me in Canada. This tip you had to look on Amazon Japan was a very good one for me. With exchange rate guarantee, all customs and duties paid directly with Amazon Japan, this new ES-L650U is costing me CAD $467. Considering this is the new model, I’m very happy with this decision and again thank you for your review and your post.
Cheers,
Ben
Ben,
Thank you for the kind comment, I’m glad you found the info useful. This is exactly the type of situation I was referring to, with the latest (imported) model being the better buy. The original (global) models are a good options especially because they’re more cost-effective — but it’s not always the case.
Hope you’ll enjoy shaving with your new ES-L650U.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you for an exceptional insight into this new product, also many thanks for your ongoing technical advice on unravelling and choosing the right foils.
Thanks to your unstinting advice I am (still) using an ES-LV95 with the latest foils (featuring the gold rollers), but I have also finally switched to wet shaving with it. This is 20% closer and 20% faster than using pre-electric lotions in my experience, and I can feel the difference 8 hours later. I am still trying different shaving gels and creams.
I also replaced the internal battery (Easy enough, Youtube videos explain more.)
I tried the Panasonic cleaning station in the past. My biggest criticism by far was that, unlike the Braun system of sealed alcohol-based cartridges, it’s a water-based fluid, held in an open tray in a warm bathroom, so I found it goes ‘off’ after a few days and was disagreeable to use. And the refill sachets were very pricey in the UK anyway. Third-party cleaning fluids attacked the plastic tray and eventually caused it to crack and split. I gave up, and use cheap hand soap instead.
I believe the new ‘Pebble’ style Panasonic Series 900 shaver ES-PV6B-W811 uses the same 5-cutter head and linear motor though it’s GBP 350/ $450 (street price, or $670 if bought direct). I guess only the ergonomics will differ from other Arc 5 shavers.
Keep up the excellent work!
Hi Alan,
Thank you so much for the comment — really glad you found the info useful and you’re still enjoying the trusty LV95. I also think that wet shaving is where Panasonic razors really shine. The closeness and comfort are just unmatched and I think anyone should give it try at least.
Braun’s alcohol refills do have some clear advantages despite the stations themselves not being better per se. I’ve been cleaning almost all my Panasonic shavers manually as well, never had any issues whatsoever.
You are right about the Series 900s, it is a compact, pebble-shaped Arc 5 but with a fixed head. The foils/blades and motor are the same though, so the performance will be really good. The price and the lack of a hair trimmer are in my opinion the biggest negatives, although the trimmer might not matter that much for some users.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
An excellent informative article Ovidiu. That said, I switched from a manual razor to the Arc 5 system 2 years ago and when this current foil no longer does the job in a year or so, I have decided to go back to manual shaving and hopefully sell my unit.
I thought going electric would save me a lot of time it really doesn’t. By the time I apply pre-shave, shave long enough to get a close shave, clean with liquid soap, and lubricate it seems to be a much longer process than manual. (I shave every day or 2 at the most. And the shave, although close, doesn’t really compare to a my old Sensor razor especially with the longer neck hairs. Thanks again for all your research and well thought out articles.
Derek
Hi Derek,
Many thanks for the kind comment. I understand your reasoning perfectly, and if you can get a faster and irritation-free shave with a manual razor, that’s probably the way to go. We should always use what works best for us, be it electric or a manual razor.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello Ovidiu. Thanks for another great review I’m not in the market for a change at the moment but I always welcome your latest reviews. Thanks Eddie
Hi Eddie,
Thank you so much for the kind comment, glad the review was useful.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello all. I am still working my way through all your articles and they are head and shoulders above anything else available, Ovideau. I can see your engineering mind at work.
I have a question a little off the subject but perplexing to me. I use the Braun S9 sport razor and recently updated the heads to 94m from 92b. Initially I felt the 94m worked great. After a month the shave was not as close as my 92B. I tried another 94M with same result.
I believe I may have possibly damaged the foil by cleaning them with a tooth brush but not sure. I have never cleaned the 92B foil with any brush and it shaves closer and faster than the 94M’s. I called Braun and the informed me they are not any longer producing the 92m or 92s heads. Any thoughts? I will no longer use any brushes on the foil heads. Thank you so much for the education you provide!
Ray from Massachusetts USA.
Hi Ray,
Thank you so much for the comment, you are very kind.
Regarding your 94M cassette, if you’ve used a toothbrush on the foils, they most likely got irreversibly damaged. The performance differences between the 94M and 92s are otherwise subtle. A toothbrush is very harsh and as a rule of thumb you should never be using anything to clean the foils directly — just wash them with tap water (and optionally liquid hand soap) then very gently pat them with a (paper) towel.
It was expected for Braun to phase out the older cassettes, and at some point the 94M will probably be the only one available. Again this won’t matter too much since all S9 heads are very similar.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I have the Panasonic ES-LS9A — an early, 6-blade version — which currently sells for £299 on Amazon UK. I paid £325 in May 2024 for a ‘Warehouse’ (damaged-packaging) version. The Panasonic ES-LV9U is a 5-blade model — which looks very similar to the Arc 6 — also selling for £299 on Amazon UK.
I found the ES-LS9A worse than my Arc 5, and certainly not worth the exorbitant cost. It has the big, ‘head-gap’ line you pictured. The Arc 6 chops-up hair very fine, so the foil has little, visible residue compared to the Arc 5. I clean my shavers with compressed air or gas in a can. Gentle and powerful, but it quickly freezes-up the heads!
Amazon UK is not selling the ES-69OU (-K) and similar, latest models. Presumably you are a Japanese scholar (as well as a Ph.D in shavers), because the .jp sites have no English option? Did you conclude that the newest, Arc 6 foil heads will definitely fit my early, ES-LS9A version, retroactively?
Hi Trevor,
Not a scholar unfortunately, so I have to rely on Google Translate. :-) The JP site does not have an English version, unfortunately. The user instructions shipped with the shavers are also in Japanese.
I can confirm 100% that the new foil will fit the first generation Arc 6 like your ES-LS9A.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
This is the current Arc 6 foil (£89) from Amazon UK. Is it possible that they may have upgraded it to the superior, Lamdash-6, Japan-market foil?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-WES9600Y1361-Replacement-Stainless-Waterproof/dp/B0BYLFVFSD/
This is the Lamdash-6 foil, at a cheap £56 — but for domestic, Japanese, ‘Club-Panasonic’ customers only. How did you reach their international-shipping site?
https://panasonic-jp.translate.goog/consumables/c-db/products/ES9610/shopping.es9610.html?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp
Thanks. My Arc 5 still continues to perform better than the ‘rough-shaving’, gap-fit head on my Arc 6.
Hi Trevor,
The foil in the first link is definitely the original one (same that came with your ES-LS9A), so it’s not the new foil of the latest Arc 6.
The one on the Japanese Panasonic site is however the latest one and can probably only be ordered via a forwarding service outside of Japan. One of our readers actually managed to do that using forward2me.com (here is his comment).
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I tried to order from the Lamdash 6 foil from the Panasonic site … but got stuck at their 2-factor authorisation, which requires a Japanese phone number. My UK number was one digit too long to fit in the field given. I have no idea how Shmosn managed to enter his phone number for SMS, and receive his foil. I even tried to ‘Skip’ their 2FA — but the site just hung.
Anyway, I am totally disgusted with Panasonic and its inferior Arc 6 sold to the international market, when they have a superior Lamdash 6 model for the Japanese. I shall never, ever buy a Panasonic product again. When my Panasonic Arc 5 wears out, I shall return to buying Brauns. When a company sells a newer-but-inferior product, for more money, it ceases to exist for me!
Hi Trevor,
Sorry you couldn’t place an order. This marketing strategy has been going on for years, with Europe (and especially the USA) only getting older generation Panasonic shavers, and it’s the same for the Arc 5 line.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
Thanks for yet another stellar review. I enjoyed reading through it quite a lot. Although I’m not gonna avail of it by purchasing the Arc 6, as I have just bought my Lamdash Pro 5 recently, it still was a great resource and it spurred me to try something new. I placed the order for Jack Black Beard Lube and am gonna try to eke out every little bit of performance from my Pro 5 by going for a wet shave.
Grzegorz
Hi Grzegorz,
Thanks so much for the comment.
The Lamdash Pro 5 is in my opinion just as impressive, with the added benefit of a more user-friendly and manageable form factor. The extras of the Lamdash Pro 6, including the sixth blade, don’t seem to have a meaningful impact on the actual shaving performance.
Hope you’ll enjoy the Beard Lube shaving balm.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi,
I’ve just used the Beard Lube and I’m OK with it. Just not super happy :-). I applied a thin layer of the lube on my wet one-day stubble and then used my Pro 5. I was able to glide over my face with more ease compared to a dry shave, but I was expecting something more of a silicone nature in the lube texture. I have a feeling that it still was too watery and it was drying pretty fast. After few passes probably a re-application of the lube is necessary or my initial layer was simply too thin. Not sure.
One thing I can attest to for sure is that the shave with use of the Beard Lube was closer than the one after dry shave. Not a huge jump, but noticeably closer. Perhaps I need to test more and use if for a longer period to experience all benefits.
Grzegorz
Hi Grzegorz,
Really appreciate the follow-up. Can’t remember if I mentioned it before, but prior to applying the product I recommend washing the face and neck generously with hot water, and then with the skin still wet massage the product into the stubble. I also like to let it sit for a couple of minutes to act on the hair before starting to shave. Normally just adding a bit of water would be enough as the skin should still be slick — unless of course there wasn’t enough product from the beginning.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
I will take your hints into account. Thanks.
Grzegorz
Hi,
I applied you routine to my shaving process with the Beard Lube and now I can say I am super happy. Using a bit of water splash in the midst of shaving helps as well and keeps my skin wet and slick most of the time.
I should get a bigger pack of the lube, I guess :-)
Grzegorz
That’s awesome, Grzegorz, glad it got better. I usually buy the 177ml pack, the price per ml is pretty good and there’s just enough room for it in my cabinet alongside the other stuff. :-)
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello, another great review Ovidiu , a short question not related to the Panasonic arc 6 since I am not looking into expensive electric razors , could you add the babyliss
fx3 dual foil shaver to your list of to be reviewed electric razors? It is a bit more budget then the fx02 , I’ve heard it has a more powerful motor and am interested in seeing if it is closer and still as gentle as you said the fx02 was on the skin.
Hi Luke,
Thanks so much for the comment.
Definitely, I was planning on reviewing it already, seems like a very compelling double-foil shaver. I just haven’t got to it yet as I still have a couple of reviews in the works.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Some comments on the above, particularly related to the Arc 6. I’ve historically used my standard DE wet shave prep with any electric razor – foil or rotary, except when traveling. Same prep, same brush, same soap, same scuttle, to get the closest, most comfortable shave. With the new Arc 6, I’ve found I can get similar results with just a pre-shave, and I’ve now used a lot: Williams ‘Lectric, Speick, Lab Series, Afta, Freelette, and Old Ron’s Barber Co. I’ve also used a beard lubricant like Jack Black’s and Van Der Hagen’s Shave Butter. All have produced excellent results, without the time and fuss of a full lather. My best results were with a more lubricating pre-shave like Old Ron’s, Jack Black’s or Van Der Hagen, but all worked well. None of them gunked up the head or caused overheating and all are water-soluble. The shave results are as close to a blade as I’ve gotten with any electric, ever – either the thinner foil, the ability to apply pressure without heating the razor, the head flex or some magic Panasonic pixie dust, but this razor is the best electric I’ve used – and now the quickest and easiest. Thanks to Ovidiu for highlighting it on this site!
Hey Allan,
Fantastic insights. I have to agree, the more I use this shaver, the more I am impressed by it. In my case I think the main reason for the excellent closeness is actually the comfort. I just don’t get any razor burn or discomfort and I can get away with almost anything. And all of that while making the foils thinner. I’ve also used it alongside the 2024 Arc 5 and even though the latter is more manageable (smaller head and thinner handle), the Arc 6 is more refined and gentler when you press harder. Again nothing drastically better, but I was able to notice it having used both for the last few weeks.
I never got the chance to try the Old Ron’s pre-shave — I can’t find it in Europe and USA sellers won’t ship overseas. Seems like a great product, especially with large foil shavers and rotaries that require more slickness.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Old Ron’s is outstanding! I actually looked into shipping you some, but the US Federal restrictions on shipping alcohol internationally since 2021 limit to “licensee to licensee,” and demonstrated compliance with the import and customs laws of the country to which it is shipped, essentially limiting it to dealer to dealer. They’re a family business based in Naples, FL, and I saw somewhere they might be contemplating expanding operations (currently available on US Amazon as well as their site), and I know some international shippers have it (Middle East and Africa). We’ll worth trying – it’s essentially a light (very light) shave oil in an alcohol carrier base, and I’ve never used a pre-shave quite like it – similar to Lab Series but a better conditioner and lubricant. The Panasonic seems to be universally comfortable though, even with the old standbys like Speick and Williams. Thanks for reviewing it on your site – I may have found The One. :-)
Allan, you’re very kind, I appreciate it. I’ll look more into it, maybe reach out to a forwarder to see if they can ship it to me, maybe using some special packaging for hazardous products.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks for the review. New ES-LS8A-K arrived today – thru Amazon Black Friday deal. It’s quieter and seems a closer shave than my Arc 5. My only disappointment is the Arc 6 does not have a timer. So not sure if spent less time. Also, can’t get it to lock – so will have to cross my fingers on my next trip in that it won’t turn by accident and scare the air crew.
Hi Seth,
Glad you like your new Arc 6. In order to activate the travel lock, turn the shaver on, then press and hold the button again for a few seconds until the padlock icon lights up. You would unlock it again by pressing and holding the power button.
Unfortunately Panasonic only uses the more feature-rich displays on very few models nowadays (like some Japan-exclusive models). Most Panasonic shavers will not show the duration.
UPDATE: The ES-LS8A-K has a smart lock feature, so the shaver automatically locks the power button when you’re not using it. I apologize for the error, I was thinking of my own Arc 6 that doesn’t have the smart lock feature.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Still no luck on locking.
:(
That is very odd. A defective unit is extremely unlikely but I guess not impossible. If you can take a quick video of the issue and send it to me at contact@shavercheck.com I’ll be happy to take a look. Again with the shaver running (very important), you must press again and hold the power button until it locks.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Panasonic Arc 6: if press and hold power button with percentage charge remaining displayed …
1). Just 3 vertical lines, which periodically reverse vertically, plus the tone of the motor changes. What’s that all about?
2). Sometimes a long press just slowly fades the percentage display but it can be re-awoken by a quick, repeat press.
No clear locking facility, so the shaver could be accidentally activated whilst packed. Seems to be a design flaw.
However, the movement (wake-up) sensor does display 3 icons — for clean, foil and padlock — below the charge percentage. My Arc 5 controls were much more intuitive; the Arc 6 designer must have been on substances!
Hi Trevor,
I think I must have misread the shaver model in the above comment. The ES-LS8A-K does have a smart lock feature, so it automatically unlocks the power button when you grasp the shaver in your hand and will automatically lock it once you set it aside. So there’s no risk of the shaver turning on whilst packed.
The change in motor tone is most likely because the shaver goes into the sonic cleaning mode that you should only use when cleaning the shaving head with tap water.
I agree that it’s a bit confusing and the physical locking ring on the ES-LV65 Arc 5 for example was much more intuitive and very effective.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello!
This article is the first I have ever read of yours, and I want to compliment you on what is the most detailed, comprehensive, and thorough review of any product I ever read, and I always read reviews on EVERYTHING I ever buy. So I am in the market for a new shaver, having used an older Panasonic Arc-5 for over 12 years. I would like this latest Arc-6 and while the Japanese Amazon site is out of these right now, there are several eBay listings for a little more. However, do you have any idea of what, if any, the extra charges for import duties, taxes and fees might be on this shaver? If you are not sure, can you suggest a government website that could estimate these additional charges? Thanks!
Hello again…
Update to previous post…Amazon.co.jp just listed the 690 as available again, but in trying to put it into my cart, it says it cannot ship to my US address. Any idea what is going on with them? Thanks again!
Hi Randy,
Thank you so much for the kind comment, I’m glad you found the review useful.
Import taxes vary a lot and depend on many factors, like the country of destination, the value of the product or even the type of product. That said, as far as I know, goods that cost less than $800 imported from Japan into the USA should be tax free.
Regarding the Amazon Japan listings, apparently some variations of the shaver can be shipped to the USA, while others can’t. I wouldn’t know the reason, maybe it’s related to how the product is listed, some of them being labeled as hazardous because of the Li-ion battery. I would keep an eye on all the Arc 6 variations, it’s likely that some can be shipped directly to the USA (when they’re back in stock of course).
The alternative would be to use a forwarding service like forward2me.com. I had to use them in order to get my shaver from Japan as shipping to Romania (where I live) was not available.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Ovidiu,
Thanks for your speedy reply and the answers :) Since I wrote you, I was scrolling through some answers to various other people you gave in the past months, and saw you mention the name of this forwarding service. I will look into what their charge would be, versus just paying extra to an eBay seller, since several have the 690 listed with free shipping. In reading your detailed review of the 690 versus the US version available, I think I will splurge and get the 690, even though I could upgrade the US version with the new foil (which combined would be even more expensive, I think). As you noted, the latest Arc-5 from Japan would probably provide an almost equivalent shave, but since I haven’t bought a new shaver for 12 years, maybe this next one would last me a good long time :) Thanks again for your help, and I have now subscribed to your site to keep up with all of your new posts. Take care!
My pleasure, Randy. And thank you for subscribing. Hope you’ll enjoy your new Arc 6.
As a side note, the forwarding service charged me ~$50 for shipping the package from Japan to Romania via DHL.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you Ovidiu
For the exhaustive review
Can you please give me this information?
Panasonic Arc 6 head measurements – Philips s9000 prestige triangular- and Braun s9 Pro+
Please
Thank you
Hi Maris,
Thank you for the comment, glad the review was useful.
Here are the measurements:
Arc 6: 50mm x 30mm (just the 6 cutters area, not including the plastic frame)
Braun S9 PRO+: 42mm x 28mm (just the 4 cutters area)
Philips S9000 Prestige: 60mm x 65mm
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you Ovidiu. Is Panasonic very noisy? More than Braun? Because Braun is much noisier than Philips.
You are welcome, Marisa. All foil shavers are noisy, these two also. They are different though, in the sense that the Braun makes a lower-frequency buzz and vibrates more, while the Panasonic has a more high-pitched whine. As for which one is worse, it will come down to your subjective perception of noise, the jury’s still out on this. :-)
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Do you think there will be a noticeable difference in noise with the Philips to bother others in the early morning?
And is there a remarkable difference in the affected one between the Panasonic and the Philips?
I think it’s unlikely with the Philips — it’s a gentle, constant whine, while the noise of a foil shaver, especially when cutting the hair, is a lot more intrusive.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
How does one order this new Japanese version from America? Any tips? Thanks for the great review!
Thank you for the comment, glad the review was useful.
Some of the models from Amazon.co.jp can be shipped directly to the USA (for example the ES-L690U was recently bought by a USA based reader). If the shaver you want isn’t available for shipping overseas, you will need to order it through a forwarding service like forward2me.com. They’ll provide a Japanese address so you can order the shaver there and they’ll ship it to you to the USA for a fee (in my case it was ~$50 for shipping to Europe via DHL).
You can also try to search the shavers on eBay, but make sure you’re buying from a reputable/verified vendor with plenty of positive feedback.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Super helpful! Thank you so much!
Is there a marked difference in the shaving result between Philips s9000 prestige triangular head and Panasonic Arc 6?
For most users, the results (closeness, feel, ease of use) should be better with the Arc 6. Generally foil shavers are a safer pick.
If someone has never used a (rotary) shaver before, I tend to recommend a foil machine.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I can answer comparatively – my Panasonic L690U averages about 65dB three inches from the sound monitor (about the average distance from the razor to your ear if shaving your face). My Braun S9 Pro+ averages about 70dB for the same distance. Keeping in mind that the dB scale is logarithmic, an increase of 3dB doubles the sound pressure, so a 5dB difference is significant. From a practical standpoint, most human ears can only begin to detect a difference at 3dB, so though you will definitely hear a difference between the Braun and the Panasonic (with the Braun being perceptibly louder), the difference won’t necessarily SOUND more than twice as loud if that makes sense. And as Ovidiu notes, both will sound substantially louder than a rotary shaver (my Philips 9000 Prestige logs in at less than 60dB – as a point of referrence 60dB represents normal conversation heard from 3 feet away).
Well said, Allan, many thanks for the actual numbers. To me the 2024 Arc 6 sounds smoother and more refined than any previously released Panasonic 5 and 6-blade shavers. It’s still possible that some users may found a Braun easier on the ears (lower frequency).
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi, Ovidiu, congrats for your wonderful and very helpful work. I’m going to Tokyo and wolud like to buy the new ES9610 foil head. Can you suggest me any shop where it might be avalable? Thanks
Hi Giacomo,
Thank you for the kind comment. I’m afraid I wouldn’t know what to tell you as I’ve only ordered online from Japan. I would however check the large retail/electronics stores, most probably carry Panasonic shavers.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Oh noooo, I just bought the ES-LS9A 3 weeks ago as my very first electric shaver and now this.
I had done some research to see if a successor was announced, but found absolutely nothing and not even this article… although I have spent hours on the site here with the great beginner articles (thanks for that very helpful).
My first impulse now was to send it back as I’m still in the 30 day trial period…. But importing from Japan will probably take weeks and end up costing me maybe double (paid 330), so I’ll probably just replace the razor head….
Overall, the electric shaver is better than expected – I actually get parts of my face as smooth as with the safety razor. But then there are a few spots on my neck where there’s just always visible stubble no matter what I try, it drives me a bit mad..hence the hope that the new head will help here.
Have tried ordering from panasonic.jp but they don’t do international shipping. Haven’t found anything else yet…would be great if someone could post if there are any deals with shipping to Europe.
Hey,
Thank you for the comment.
My advice would be to enjoy your shaver and don’t be too upset that you didn’t get the latest version. I’m sure in the meantime the foil head will get easier to source and you’ll essentially have an Arc 6 that shaves exactly the same as the new one.
I’m not convinced that the 2024 model would have been much better with the tricky spots on the neck. I would try to tackle them very thoroughly, with short, overlapping strokes, making sure to go against the grain.
I live in Europe and I couldn’t find a vendor in Japan willing to ship to my address, so I ended up using forward2me.com and they shipped the shaver to me for ~50 euros.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hey Ovidiu,
Thank you for your feedback and advice.
You’re absolutely right, it’s best to keep the razor and give the cartridge at least a few months.
In fact, I would have found the mode indicator interesting as well, as I’ve never seen the sensor react, it always sounds and feels the same, whether it’s 3 days of stubble or freshly shaved… of course, I thought it might be broken, but that’s probably just the way it is.
As for the difficult areas, I’m going to try even shorter strokes, thank you. I’ve always shaved against the grain and tried every technique imaginable, pulling the skin in all directions and always lifting the hair with my free hand, but maybe it will click eventually.
Another minor drawback is that it now takes me at least 10 minutes to shave, so the time saving isn’t quite what I was hoping for, but it’s good. At least I can shave every day without irritation, whereas with the safety razor I had to wait 3 days.
Thanks and have a nice weekend!
Ovidiu do you think Panasonic Arc 6 (the version before the last one) because here you can’t get the new one.
It offers a much superior shave and much more flush and rushed to Philips s9886/89 Prestige. ?
Hi Marisa,
If by flush and rushed you mean a close and fast shave, I think it is likely to achieve that with the Arc 6 (new or old) provided the stubble is short. Panasonic shavers work really well when used often (daily and up to every two days, three at most).
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello again, Ovidiu!
So since I last wrote, I ordered the 690u from a Japanese eBay seller known as “sincere-shop777” who shipped free and really fast, and the item was brand-new in box, so any of your readers may use him without reservation. I figured adding in the approximately $50 US forwarding to the Amazon.jp price, it would be a wash. And on last viewing, the Amazon site no longer had these anyway.
I have used my new shaver once, and indeed it shaves closer than my 12-year-old Arc5. I used the Speick pre-shave, but my sensitive nose cannot tolerate the lavender fragrance :) So can you recommend another pre-shave that maybe is unscented but works well? Also, can you recommend an after-shave that is soothing, but maybe without alcohol? I have purchased some of your other recommendations, such as the Jack Black Beard lube, the Speick shaving cream, and the lube Andis CoolCare Plus, although you say regular use of the cleaning station is lube enough. So thanks for the other product recommendations, which I will try out in the near future.
One last question… I have looked online to try to find an English version of the old 690 manual, but so far can not find one listed anywhere. Do you know of a way to get an online English version of this manual? In the meantime, for the first time I used Google Translate with my phone’s camera over certain Japanese manual pages, mostly to see their instructions for filling the cleaning tray. Since I’ve had the previous Panasonic shaver, this one is basically not that different to use.
Thanks again for all the great advice in your articles and answers to other readers’ questions, of which I have read many. I will post my experience with this new razor after a few months’ of use. Please keep up the great work!
Hi Randy,
Thank you for the follow-up — that’s awesome, glad you’re enjoying your new Japanese Arc 6.
Pretty much the only fragrance-free pre-shave is the one from Lab Series. It does have a scent, but that only comes from the natural ingredients, it’s not added perfume. It’s a good product, although a bit too oily for my liking. Some other options with more mass-pleasing fragrances than Speick would be the Rituals pre-electric shave lotion and Blue Stratos, but I doubt you can easily source them in the USA. I also love the fragrance of the Tabac Original pre-shave lotion, but I don’t think it works quite as well as Speick with very large shavers like the Arc 6.
In terms of alcohol-free aftershaves, the balms from Proraso (Sensitive) and Nivea (white) are usually safe options for most users. They’re also readily available and the price is reasonable.
Here you can the English version (among others) of the global ES-LS9A. There are some differences compared to your your shaver, like the display and the LEDs, but most of the core functionality is the same and I hope you’ll find the manual useful.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks for the recommendations, and I’ll check out the manual link, given of course there are differences in the models. And I have been using the Lab Series pre-shave for many years, but was interested if there was anything better. Thanks again for everything :) !
Ovidiu:
Typically, as your reviews reflect, electric foil shavers do not do the best job on the neck and jawline. In combination with the upgraded foil/blades system of the 2024 Panasonic Pro 6/Pro 5, is there improvement in these areas with the 2024 Pro 5 now given its smaller and more nimble head? If so, how much? I am comparing it to the new model Philips 9000 Prestige with pentagonal heads as someone who shaves daily.
Thank you.
Hey,
I’d say the 2024 Pro 5 in particular is noticeably better than previous Arc 5 generations.
The 5 cutters are closer together and the size of the head is more akin to a 4-blade shaver. We also get 2 slit trimmers for the first time and only 3 foil cutters and there’s definitely an improvement. It’s arguably the best Arc 5 yet for shaving the neck/jawline.
The S9000 Prestige is a whole different beast and normally I would recommend the Pro 5 for a close shave and daily use. Of course the context might change that. For example, if you have used rotaries in the past with great results, the Prestige would be worth considering, even though I tend to recommend it to users who shave less often as it’s very effective on pretty much any hair length (even up to one week of growth).
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Ovidiu:
Thank you so much for the information plus your time and expertise.
Though I have done well with Philips rotary shavers and am concerned about shaving my neck, I am going to take the risk in order to chase after a closer daily shave and purchase (from Amazon Japan) the new Lamdash Pro 5 (ES-L550U-S) rather than the new Philips Prestige 9000 with pentagonal heads.
I will report back once I have results.
You are very welcome — and I hope you’ll happy with its performance. Please let me know your thoughts on it when you have the time.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Ovidiu:
As an additional follow-up question, can you confirm that Panasonic ES9510 is the replacement part blade mechanism for the 2024 Lamdash Pro 5 shavers?
Thank you.
That is correct, ES9510 is the part number of the foil head for the 2024 Lamdash Pro 5.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Ovidiu:
As a follow-up, which Panasonic shaver owner’s manual in English is going to be the most helpful to me given that the ES-L550U-S owner’s manual will be in Japanese? And where can I find it online?
Thank you.
I think the most helpful would (oddly) be the global Arc 6 manual. Since the 2024 Arc 5 is so different from all the previous Arc 5 generations and at the same time it resembles the Arc 6 a lot (no more removable blades), it just makes more sense to have that owner’s manual as a reference (the core functionality of the shaver will be the same). Here you can download it in several languages, including English.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu.
Do you think that 2025 new models of Panasonic 900+ (arc 6) , sold in Europe, will come with the new ES9610 blades or with the older ES9600?
In 2025, buying in Europe a new expensive 900+ (arc 6) with ES9600 older model blades will not look very appealing to customers …
Sincerely.
Sam1960
Hi Sam,
I think it will eventually make its way to Europe, but I really couldn’t say if we’ll be getting it in 2025 or later on.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Has anyone tried ordering directly from Panasonic Japan via a forwarding service like forwardme?
I’ve tried everything but Panasonic just won’t accept the Japanese address provided by forwardme and after over an hour I’ve given up.
(was trying to order the foil head)
I have never ordered directly from Panasonic Japan, I’m afraid. But I would try both the English and Kanji spelling of the provided address, making sure to fill in the correct fields for things like area code or county.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Tried once again and the form is somewhat different when ordering as a guest instead of signing up, and this worked.
Price is much better than any third party offer.
Best regards
Shmosn
That’s good to know, many thanks for the tip. Hope you’ll like the new foil head.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Just 10 days including the bank holidays and the new foil head is incoming today – forward2me did a fantastic job, thanks for that tip!
I’ll share my thoughts on it when it’s thoroughly tested.
Awesome — thank you for the follow up. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on it.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Wow, this shaver looks like a real monster ;) Thanks for great review!
Thank you for the comment, Michał. It truly is — one of the very best I’ve used so far.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Complete review, very helpful.
Thank you, Roberto, glad it was useful.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
*It is essential to note* that the closeness of your shave depends not only the shaver such as the one I use ,which is the Japanese model Panasonic Lamdash ES LS690U which I highly recommend.But just try this, start with the slow back & forth motion which most of you probably do, and finish with a FAST back and forth movement (especially) around your (Neck area) and I promise you will get the closest, smoothest all round shave you have ever had …. Just try it, I promise you will not be disappointed.
Hi Richard,
Thank you for the comment.
Absolutely — the longer the hair the slower the movement. Once you’re left with short stubble, quick short strokes work extremely well for a close shave.
Glad you’re enjoying your new Arc 6.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hey Ovidiu,
I’ve been testing the updated ES9610 foil head for a good 3 weeks now and to summarise: yes, I can definitely feel an improvement, something in the range of 5%.
It mows a little more efficiently through 2-day stubble and even if I overdo it again at the end, the skin irritation is even less.
But it wasn’t the naively hoped-for salvation for my problem areas.
I could get a visually very clean result in around 8 minutes with no stubble against the grain on my face. But then there are the areas on and above the jawline and on the lower neck, where I go over countless times and use every conceivable technique, so that I always end up spending over 10 minutes and sometimes even 15 minutes before I realise that it’s not going to get any better.
So whenever a Panasonic update (or even a Braun Series 10) is released that promises to improve things, I’ll probably go for it again.
Best regards
Shmosn
Hi Shmosn,
Thank you for the follow-up. I’m sorry it wasn’t the radical improvement you were hoping for. Unfortunately shaving some tricky spots will always be challenging. But at least there was some improvement and you can make good use of the new foil head.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
It takes me 10-15 minutes for a good shave on my 2024 Amazon (UK)-purchased Panasonic Arc-6, which uses 30-40% of the battery.
The hair trimmings are so fine as to be invisible. I clean the head (both ways, plus base) every few days with an ‘Air Duster’ can of spray air/gas, then apply Panasonic oil to the foils, with my finger, whilst running. This gives a smoother shave and preserves the foil and cutter assembly.
However, some short (invisible) stubble remains. I suspect the later, Japanese-market models are superior. Paradoxical, as Asians’ facial hair growth is weaker than that of Caucasians.
The latest Japanese model in indeed better, but I don’t think the difference will be that noticeable. I would keep using the global Arc 6 in this case.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello Ovidiu,
Based on your reviews I purchased an ES-LS8A when they first were available. I used it extensively in boot camp where it saved me time and cleanup. It was my favorite piece of kit.
Regarding the cleaning station, is it not compatible with the ES-LS8A?
Cheers!
Hi Kevin,
I’m afraid it’s not compatible as the ES-LS8A lacks the contact pins on the back that would connect it to the station. This is the case with all Panasonic shavers that didn’t originally come with a cleaning station.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
That makes sense. Thank you very much for the explanation!
V/R,
Kevin
The ES‑L690U is about to go on sale in Australia. The Panasonic AU website has Operating Instructions in English (pdf) at the bottom of the page.
https://www.panasonic.com/au/consumer/personal-care/shavers/es-l690us841.html
Quite timely as I just picked one up while holidaying in Japan. I purchased it from Edion – a major Japanese appliance retailer with stores everywhere. They had the full range, plus replacement heads and cleaner solution. As a tourist I also got it sales tax free, by producing my passport.
As a disillusioned Braun S9 user (and Phillips before that) the ES‑L690 is a big change. It looks very ungainly with the huge head – but I am getting a much closer shave in a lot less time (the timer on the ES‑L690 is a clever feedback tool, as is the side LEDs).
USB-C is a godsend and makes so much sense when travelling.
The Panasonic cleaning station is also impressive, leaving the ES‑L690 spotlessly clean and dry. Although it takes a while. The Braun cleaning station while quicker, only partially cleaned the S9 and never really dried it.
Many thanks for your detailed review. It was very helpful in making an informed decision.
Stephen,
Thank you so much for the extensive feedback. The drying feature of Braun shavers has been underwhelming ever since they ditched the inductive heating (old Series 7) and only use a fan. The Panasonic station has both and it shows.
Enjoy shaving with your new Arc 6!
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Bought the ES-LS8A -K about 6 months ago from Amazon. Lately hearing a vibration/rattle but not with every stroke of the shaver to my face. I was thinking it might be the frame that holds the foil. So I reached out to Encompass. Though not on their website, they do sell the frame. Part # WESLS9AK0048 foil frame for $6.95 and is in black. It arrived within a day! Swapped out the old for the new and the shaver back to its good old humming self. Wonder though if this will be a every 6 mos issue.
Hi Seth,
I’d say it’s unlikely that the part will fail again. The frame of the Arc 6 is also very similar to the tried and tested frames of the many Arc 5 models, which have been very reliable. I’m glad you managed to source it and the price was reasonable as well.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks. Had the Arc 5 for a number of years which did not have the same issue. So crossing my fingers this new frame will last many years.
Hi Ovidiu,
Just a quick question in regards to the Arc 6 replacement foil.
I recently noticed that there are 2 different Arc 6 foils. One of them is the “WES9600Y” and the other is the “WES9600P”.
Are these 2 replacement foils exactly the same ?
Why does one of them have a “Y” at the end and the other one has a “P” ?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-WES9600Y1361-Replacement-Stainless-Waterproof/dp/B0BYLFVFSD
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-Replacement-WES9600P-Compatible-ES-LS9A-K/dp/B0BKTX1X7H
Just posted a link to the replacement blades.
Kind regards,
John.
Hi John,
They are exactly the same. Panasonic has been doing this for years with both the foils and inner blades (prior to the release of the Arc 6). My best guess is that it’s related to the region where the part was originally going to be sold. I might be wrong about the meaning of that last letter, but again the parts themselves are the same.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello
I have a question about flat hair, regarding this ‘better than before’ you wrote.
I have now Arc5 ES-CLV9DX with the ES9038 set (most recent model I believe)
I am very happy, I don’t shave frequently now, few times a week and indeed there is a problem with the flat hair (neck mostly and the cheeks’ back below the ears)
It starts show signs of aging – plastic on the back of shaver body falls apart, battery does not hold the charge etc.. I still can use it, however
The question is if Arc6 L-690U (I see on japanese Amazon) really better in shaving the neck.. or I should wait another year
Ahh.. and USB-C really appealing:)
Hi Michael,
The most recent foil + blades set for your current shaver is the ES9040, but the improvements over the ES9038 are hard to notice in practice. You can simply buy either of them (whichever costs less or is easier to source).
Regarding the latest Arc 6 model, it is a bit better, in the sense that it might get the stubborn hairs faster and maybe with fewer strokes; it’s really difficult to quantify this as it will vary from one user to another. But I don’t think it’s a transformative improvement, it won’t wow you in that regard. But it is a smoother, more refined shaver, that can cut the hair really close and it’s very gentle and forgiving. And the USB-C is really nice to have.
If those things sound appealing, you can consider buying one to replace your current shaver. Just know that when it comes to flat hairs it’s still not spectacular and won’t be a massive upgrade in that sense.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello
Another point, sorry – I am with Panasonic since 2015 (because of your blog actually), before that I had Philips for many years. And with Philips I always had a problem with ingrown hair. With Panasonic I do not have any. So therefore I am not going to switch to rotary shaver
I think you should definitely stick to foil shavers (Panasonic).
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
First of all, thank you for your considerate work on the topic of electric shavers. There is no other resource on the web that equals the quality of the content present on your website.
Secondly, I just received the ES-L670U. I bought it from Amazon.jp, after reading your above review. I paid 420 Eur, tax and shipping to Belgium included. The Panasonic is a step-up compared to my current Braun 9 series and I like it a lot. I will see how the things will work for me in the long term.
Hey,
Thank you so much for the kind comment, really glad you found the review useful.
Congrats on your new Panasonic and I hope you’ll enjoy using it. As of now I would still put this shaver at the very top. If the budget is not an issue and the shaver will be used frequently, I think it’s the best out there right now.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
My 2019 Arc-5 & 2024 Arc-6
I have changed the foils & cutters twice on the Arc 5: roughly every 2 years (they advise 1½). The integral-head design of the Arc 6 means it can safely be pressed more firmly against the face, which is required; it is also much noisier. The Arc 5 must be pressed more gingerly, as the conventional foils can rupture with age and pressure.
I tend to use the Arc 6 for 2-to-3-day stubble, and the Arc 5 for fine tuning or a day’s growth. The Arc 6’s 100/240V power supply seamlessly charges the Arc 5 too, so I can take both travelling, which covers me in case of flat battery or foil damage. The central zone of the Arc 5 cutters clog up quickly and need brushing out. I also use a disposable, compressed-gas, duster can and oil both weekly.
Question on Head-Lock/Swivel Setting
The back sliders have 3 settings: 1) Head Swivel (lowest detent). 2) Head Lock (central). 3) Pop-out sideburn cutter (uppermost setting). My face is angular, with little fat, and I had a full-SMAS facelift 6 months ago, aged 69, which now necessitates shaving the ear tragus and beneath the lobes.
The facelift results were quite subtle. Nobody commented, although age estimates by strangers decreased. It did not change the modality or closeness of shave. However, I wondered whether I should be using the head on ‘Swivel’ or ‘Lock’ for best results? It does not seem to make much difference but I can’t help feeling, that on ‘Swivel’, the hairs may not be entering the foils as deeply.
Question on Natural & Added Lubrication
A great advantage, to me, of electrics is that I can attend to other matters whilst shaving. I shave with overnight, sebaceous oil present, which provides a form of lubrication. Would I enjoy a closer shave after washing the face with soap? These shavers are designed to shave wet, with pre-shave or foam, but I dislike the mess and extra work.
Hey Trevor,
I appreciate the detailed follow-up, those are some very interesting insights. I did not noticed any of my Arc 6 shavers to be noisier than the Arc 5 from various generations that I have.
The two removable blades of the Arc 5 will provide some back pressure to the corresponding foils if you press the shaving head too hard, so they won’t deform or buckle excessively.
Regarding the locking switch of the Arc 6, I actually prefer to shave with the head in the locked position. My skin is very dry and Panasonic shavers with large heads (4 to 6 blades) tend to be jittery on my skin and it’s a bit annoying. With the head locked, that effect is greatly reduced and I have more control. The head of the Arc 6 also moves vertically, so in the unlocked position it has some give of a few additional milometers when you press it, so your impression of the hairs entering the foils deeper does make sense. Definitely stick with the option that feels better (I think the end result will be more or less the same).
In general, washing your face prior to a dry shave is not recommended as it can make the head skip over the skin a bit and it’s even worse if the skin remains a bit damp. So it’s a different situation vs washing your face with warm water and applying a slick shaving product (like the Beard Lube) in preparation for a wet shave. I think you’d be better off with a moderately slick pre-shave lotion like Speick if you shave dry. It is alcohol-based though, so only give it a try if your skin gets along well with alcohol products.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Just wanted to note the Arc / Lamdash 6 ES-L690U is now available in Hong Kong as well.
Thank you for the info, hopefully it will reach other markets in Europe and America as well.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Just a comment on dry shaving with the Panasonics (i.e., with no alcohol-based pre-shave or soap) and using the cleaning station from a sanitary (and health) perspective. Panasonic exclusively uses a detergent-based aqueous cleaning solution (unlike Braun’s alcohol cleaner or Philips’ proprietary phenoxyethanol/glyceryl ether-based solution, both antimicrobial). The Panasonic solution essentially has no antibacterial activity in its diluted form, and is basically an organic growth medium in a warm, dark place once dead skin cells, hair clippings, and facial bacteria are introduced. If you use the cleaning station regularly, it’s important to at least rinse the shaver head thoroughly before placing it in the station, or preferably wash with liquid soap before rinsing (made easier by the Arc 6 “foam” mode for cleaning). This will help to reduce both odor and bacterial growth, and preserve the longevity of the cleaning solution.
Hi Allan,
Great observations that further show why the Panasonic station is not the most practical despite some of the great engineering behind it. I would also add the need to thoroughly clean the tray and filter when replacing the fluid to avoid kickstarting the bacterial growth within the fresh fluid. Granted, you would do the same with a Braun cartridge as well when replacing just the solution, even though the risk is a lot lower in that case.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I alternate between my Arc 5 & Arc 6. Not a huge difference in closeness … they both take time and a lot of strokes! I found that a fair dose of thin, machine oil (currently using Wahl’s), applied frequently to the outside of the foils by finger, functions similarly to a commercial pre-shave or foam product.
On a slight tangent, can you recommend a good hair trimmer, preferably with a Li-ion battery and USB recharging for travel convenience? I always find that barbers cut my hair too short. There is a bewildering choice on Amazon! Thanks.
The Panasonic Lamdash Pro 6 shaver is now released in Australia. It’s called series 1000 as a follow up to the series 900 (arc 5) and series 900+ (old arc 6). I think other regions will follow soon. Same model number as the Japanse, ES L690U.
Hi Marvin,
I think so too, hopefully by the end of the year. Interestingly, there’s no revision B of these shavers available in Japan. Usually at the end of the summer Panasonic releases the next revision — it did so recently with the Lamdash Pro 5 (although the 2025 models are exactly the same as the 2024 shavers). For the Lamdash Pro 6 it appears they skipped any updates this year, and this is likely linked to the pending global release of the 2024 generation (Series 1000).
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I just ordered the es-L690U on EBay from Japan. Your article is great but I still have questions regarding the cleaning station. How often should I clean and how do I know when to clean? Also how many cleans will I get from one packet? Thanks.
Hi Marvin,
Thanks for the comment.
It’s entirely up to you, because you can even alternate between cleaning the shaver with station and manually (with water and soap). But regardless of the method, it’s important to clean it regularly (after every shave). The cleaning solution should last between one and up to a couple of months or even more depending on how often you use the station. Unlike Braun stations that use a resealable cartridge, the Panasonic cleaner has an open tray, so the liquid will naturally evaporate once you commit to use the station by mixing the detergent packet with water into the station’s tray.
Hope you’ll enjoy shaving with your new Arc 6.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Obvious, I was surprised that the Es-L690U does not come with a pack of cleaning detergent. I have ordered it separately from Amazon and look forward to trying the cleaning station.
One more question. The manual advises to unplug the cleaning station after use. Do you think there is a problem if I just leave the cleaning station plugged in and keep the Arc 6 stored there between shaves?
Hi Marvin,
That is odd. My ES-L650U didn’t come with a station, but I did buy the Lamdash Pro 5 (ES-L570D-K), also from Japan, and that one did include the detergent pack.
I’m afraid I cannot suggest doing anything that goes against what the manufacturer explicitly recommends.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Marvin – I just leave my station plugged in with the razor in it following cleaning, as I have with all their previous models if that helps, with no apparent ill-effects to any of them – and we’re talking several decades of use collectively. The razor won’t overcharge, but you run a minor risk of damage to the electronics with a power surge possibly (we have a whole-house surge protector). If you read the fine print many manufacturers recommend unplugging their electronics after use, I suppose to mitigate lliability (mainly from shorting and causing a fire I assume).
Hi Ovidiu,
Thanks for your insightful electric shaver reviews. I’ve been using a Braun Series 9 for about 3.5 years, mainly to shave my head bald and to clean up my neck and line up my beard.
Unfortunately, after the power button fell off a year and a half ago during wet shaving, water got inside and now the razor has now started cutting out after about 15 minutes.
I’m considering a replacement and was seriously looking at the Panasonic Arc 6, but I’ve been very impressed with the Braun’s capabilities. I’ve been able to comfortably cut 9 days of head hair growth (and even 11 days with the Pro+ cassette), and the smaller head and more exposed foils let me use it almost like a straight razor for beard line detailing and cleaning up 4–5 days of beard growth inside my goatee area.
My concern is whether the Arc 6 would be as capable for both longer hair and fine detailing. You’ve mentioned that the Arc 6 can struggle with longer hair, especially on the neck. I’m wondering how much that would apply in my use case (including head hair). I’ve also seen a barber use the Arc 6 on YouTube on about week-long/slightly longer head hair and wanted your thoughts on that, although I do accept that might not be your particular use.
Additionally, do you think the Braun’s more protruding foils make it better suited for precision work? I recall you mentioning using the Braun for fading have you tried similar work with the Panasonic, and if so, how does it compare?
The Series 9 Pro+ is currently available at a good price with a 5-year warranty, but the build quality concerns I’ve experienced make me hesitant. If you could offer insight into whether you think the Arc 6 could match the Braun for the specific needs listed above would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks again.
Hi Muhammad,
Thanks so much for the comment, I appreciate it.
Despite all the Arc 6 prowess, I would still consider the S9 PRO+ more suitable for this particular use case (shaving longer hairs, better at detail work, a more compliant shaving head and more flexible blades). The Arc 6 has a large head that is just wobbly when not fixed, the 6 blades don’t stick out as much, and have a more limited (and sometimes jittery) range of motion. It does have a bit closer, especially on the face, but considering the pros of the S9 PRO+, I would still go with the latter. Also, if you’ll be shaving your head yourself, the S9 PRO+ will be easier to use (because of its ergonomics, comfort and the fewer passes needed to catch the hair).
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Ovidiu,
Thank you for quick response and input it’s much appreciated.
Regards,
Muhammad
One thing to note about the new ES9610 foil head is that the thinness comes at the cost of longevity. I can’t upload photos here, but my ES9610 lasted me about 6 months before the foil rifted and became unusable. This never happened with the thicker ES9600.
Hi Youssef,
That’s very interesting, thanks for sharing. Mine is still holding up fine after 1.5 years and it’s been the Panasonic shaver I used the most (around twice a week). If you have the time, maybe you can email me the photos at contact@shavercheck.com, I would love to take a look. I haven’t got other similar reports so far, hopefully it’s just a one off (sorry it happened to you).
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
hi Ovidiu
What a great site and thank you for in depth reviews for the consumer to make a balanced judgement.
I’d had a Braun S9 for maybe 5 or 6 years until battery failed and I bought replacement battery and got about 2 years out of that.
After that and reading your reviews and looking at Braun S9 PRO & Panasonics, I bought the Panasonic LS9A last November and have been very happy with it.
Then about a month ago the battery went from 35% to 0% mid-shave, charged it again to 100% and since then it gets to anywhere between 30-50% before immediately draining to 0%.
I thought I read somewhere the warranty for the shaver and\or battery is 3 years but can’t see it on their website.
Have you heard about any LS9A battery issues? I will be returning it (Amazon purchase) and then to decide buy same again or go back to Braun?
All the best Ovi.
Hi John,
Thank you so much for the comment, you’re very kind. I’m glad the info was useful.
I’m sorry about the battery problem you’ve had. Since Panasonic uses the same Li-ion battery model for the LS9A, for the newer Japanese models, and also for the global and Japanese 5-blade shavers (and many others), it is not an LS9A specific issue. Battery longevity is generally not as good as in the case of Braun and Philips, but this was rather unlucky and it’s definitely not the norm. The part about the 3 years is usually mentioned in the user manual.
If you found the shave to be better vs the Series 9, I would not discard Panasonic as an option, even though it would be totally justified should you decide to switch to a different brand for your next shaver.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
Thank you so much for the detailed review! So would you say getting the ES-LS6A (shaver only) new for 220€ would be a good choice in March 2026 given that the new model will likely never come to Europe ? From what I understand the models without the cleaning station don’t have the lcd display so are pretty much the same as the old model anyway …
Ultimately if I get the chance to buy the new ES9610 foil on a future Asia trip that would give me the same shaving results as the new one, correct?
Thanks again!
Hi Philipp,
Glad the review was useful.
You are absolutely correct, the ES-LS6A at that price would be an excellent buy. Later on you can upgrade the foil head to the ES9610, especially if you can buy it directly from Asia (without any shipping or customs fees). It will essentially shave just like the new revision shavers (the difference isn’t massive anyway). In my opinion the USB-C charging port would still be the main reason to buy the new revision over the old one, so it’s not something related to actual performance.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks !
Hi, I am thinking about buying this one, do you think it should be available soon or should I purchase it from Japan?
Also, is there any new model going to come soon so I should rather wait a bit?
Thank you
Hey,
So far Panasonic has only released it in Japan, Hong Kong and Australia, so a global launch is probably unlikely in the near future. Also, Panasonic Japan usually releases a new revision during autumn, so I doubt the next one (which will probably be incremental) would be available before the autumn of 2026. Again there’s no guarantee, but since there was no new Lamdash Pro 6 revision in 2025, a 2026 update is more likely to happen. If waiting until autumn is not possible, then you should just buy one now from Japan.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you, I’ve almost bought it, but then I’ve seen in your other posts the requirement to lubricate the foil shavers, which seem crazy to me to do more than maybe once every two weeks. I want something simple I can travel with.
So that leaves me with Phillips I guess. I just hate that they do not have USB-C (and probably do not seem they are going to change it soon?.).
You are very welcome. Every two weeks would be on the limit, but probably can work if you’ll only be cleaning the shaver with water (no soap). But that might not be enough to prevent dirt buildups inside the foil head. Panasonic includes a small 3ml bottle of lubricant (just throw it in your toiletry bag) and it really takes a few seconds to apply a single drop of oil on each foil right before you shave.
Philips will probably stick to their charging port + special USB-A cable for the next few years if I were to take a guess.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I’ve had both rotary and foil shavers for years and only washed them with water, never oiled them. So probably I could go with a new one with oiling once in a while.
Philips 5 works better for me than the Braun 5 despite reviews saying the foil is better, but I could try the best Panasonics.
The remaining problem with foils for me is the hair containment. With Philips the sink stays clean and I can shave anywhere without making a mess. I am not sure if it is because it is open or all foils have this problem by design. (On the other hand, maybe cleaning is more problematic with rotaries.)
So if I go for Panasonics I could probably wait for an upgrade this year. If I go with Philips, I am not sure if there should be an update this year.
Thank you.
You are very welcome.
Foil shavers are generally not as good as rotaries at containing the clipped hairs inside the head. The reason is that foil shavers use inner cutters with many individual blades that rub against the foil, and they oscillate at much higher rates, essentially pushing out the clipped hairs, which are also finer because the blades move so fast and cut the same hair multiple times. A rotary has plenty of room inside the hair chamber and the rotary cutters spin a lot slower. We have up to 14000 cycles per minute in the case of an Arc 6 and little over 2000 RPMs for the fastest Philips. So by design, a rotary will normally have an advantage here.
I doubt Philips will come up with a major update soon for the mid to high end series.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Very strategically you left out any pics of the actual blades.
I got ripped off by Panasonic last year when I bought an ES-LV6U “5 blade” shaver. It has 5 foils but ONLY 2 blades. Never trust Panasonic.
And I’ll take a punt that the latest “6 blade” shavers don’t have 6 actual blades either. Maybe 6 “foils” but not 6 blades.
Hey Ron,
Thank you for the comment.
I did not strategically leave out the pics of the blades; you can’t see the blades as they are built into the foil block itself, so you can’t see them unless you irreversibly tear it apart.
Also, there seems to be some confusion there. Foil shavers like the Arc 5 and Arc 6 have 5 and 6 cutting elements, respectively. Each cutting element is comprised of a foil and an inner blade. That inner blade can be either removable, like the two in your ES-LV6U, or non-removable, i.e. completely integrated into the foil block, like the rest of the 3 blades of your Arc 5 or all the 6 blades in the Arc 6. But saying the Arc 5 has only 2 blades is factually and objectively false. Same for the Arc 6; if it only had 6 foils with no blades, it wouldn’t be able to cut anything. The blades do the cutting as they shear against the foil and cut the hairs that poke through the holes.
The fact that a blade is removable (exposed) or non-removable (integrated into the foil assembly) has no implication on the cutting performance, nor is it fake advertising.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I just got the ES-L690U in the mail today. I wanted something faster and closer cutting than my Series 8 and while this was undoubtedly the overkill choice compared to even a US model Arc 5, mine was too good of a deal to pass up on.
It is phenomenal. I did my first shave with it using cream and it just mowed through my two-and-a-half day stubble like a hot knife through butter. I haven’t had a shave this smooth since I quit using double edged razors – because they always tore my face up. Speaking of which, it’s also way more comfortable than I was expecting. I’ve always been a little fearful of Panasonic shavers because I do have rather sensitive skin and as such, I lean towards the old Series 7 and Series 8 because of how gentle they are. This isn’t far off, but it’s substantially more effective.
That said, I do notice some of the little annoyances. The head is definitely massive, so it’s a little trickier to maneuver, nor does it pivot as effortlessly as the Series 8 head. I think it’s just going to be a matter of getting used to. And the price – even with the deal, sheesh. I do see myself keeping this one for a very long time though, so I hardly think it’s a penny poorly spent, but when the Arc 5 gets nearly as close for substantially less – I think it’s obvious which one most people should go for.
Hey Logan,
Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment. Glad you’re enjoying your new Panasonic. Coming from a Series 7 or 8 (although very good shavers) this must feel like a substantial upgrade. This shaver in combination with a good gel/cream is just outstanding.
The large head, and especially the flexing system is an ongoing and baked-in issue with all Panasonic 5 and 6-blade models. I actually shave with the head in the locked position, I just find it too wobbly and annoying.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I have been through four shaving heads on my Braun Series 9 in the last seven months and I’m fed up. Each time, the head has developed a hole in the foil which makes it pinch my skin. I treat the shaver very gently. I only buy genuine Braun shaving heads. I do use a Braun charging/cleaning base and am wondering if that could cause the problem. The shaving heads are expensive and there seems to be no end in sight. Otherwise I like the shaver but I’m thinking of getting a Panasonic in the hope it’s more durable.
Hi Stephen,
There have been some similar reports and especially some of the older lots had some reliability issues. But not more than what you would expect for such a popular shaver. However, four shaving heads in 7 months is a lot, and with normal use and proper care that should never happen. Using the Braun cleaning station won’t damage the foil, on the contrary. I would reach out to Braun support and let them know about this, maybe there’s been a problematic batch or something similar and they will likely send you a free replacement head.
Panasonic foils are a lot less likely to develop a hole or to fail prematurely, I’ve rarely seen such reports. I would however consider switching to Panasonic only if you shave regularly/often as that’s the ideal use case for Panasonic shavers.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi
I have the shaver 2024 D version imported from Japan without the cleaning unit. Have you any thoughts on using the Braun Shaver Cleaner Aerosol to clean the foil head and blades.
Hi Ian,
It would work really well, I’ve used it on many shavers, including from Panasonic. Just make sure you let the product evaporate before using the shaver.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Could you post a comparison video of the new Arc 5 vs 6 for noise?
Hi George,
If you’re referring to the Arc 5 PRO, I only have a noise comparison video vs the Braun Series 9 PRO+ here.
The Arc 6 is slightly louder than the Arc 5 PRO, mainly because the motor is tuned to run at a higher speed, so the noise has a slightly higher pitch and is a bit more piercing. Not a big difference though, and I would consider both noisy.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Sorry, I meant comparing both new Arc shavers, but that’s alright.