Panasonic ES-CM3A Review: The (Almost) Perfect Travel Shaver

Less than a year ago, Panasonic introduced a new range of compact 3-blade electric razors.

Marketed primarily as travel shavers, the ES-CM3A and ES-CM3B (in Europe) boast a few very compelling features.

Among those we have the same motor and blades used by the full-fledged Panasonic Arc 3 razors and a USB-C port.

But these compact shavers also come with a few inherent shortcomings that may or may not be dealbreakers.

I’ve been using the ES-CM3A-K (black) variation for a couple of months and in this review I’ll tell you all you need to know about it.

I’ll also share a few of my favorite travel shavers that may be better alternatives depending on your needs and budget.

But first, let’s quickly go over the various models and see if there are any noteworthy differences between them.

The compact 3-blade Panasonic series (ES-CM3)

In the USA, there are 3 color variations available as of 2025:

• Panasonic ES-CM3A-K (black)
• Panasonic ES-CM3A-W (white)
• Panasonic ES-CM3A-V (violet)

As you might have guessed, the only difference between them is the color.

The letter A in the ES-CM3A also hints at the fact that these shavers are part of a revision A.

On the other hand, the European market got the revision B:

• ES-CM3B-KS (aka ES-CM3BKS503) (black foil cover, silver body)

Oddly, the USA revision A is apparently fitted with a larger battery that can provide up to 60 minutes of cordless use, while the revision B shavers can only operate for 45 minutes on a full charge.

So in this case, the revision B seems to be a downgrade from the original revision A.

Everything else has remained the same, so the shaving performance of all the ES-CM3 razors (revisions A and B) will be identical.

Side note: The European models are often listed as part of a Series 700s which I guess is easier to remember than the cryptic ES-CM3.

With that out of the way, let’s swiftly go over the main features.

Features overview

1. 3-blade shaving system

The ES-CM3A and ES-CM3B feature a typical Panasonic 3-blade setup.

For a travel shaver, I think this solution is perfectly fine and strikes a good balance of performance, costs and size.

Moreover, the outer foil and two inner blades are carried over from the excellent Arc 3 family, so the performance should also be good.

The removable inner blades oscillate behind the two foil elements, while the middle slit trimmer has the blade built-in.

Ideally, this type of shaving head would capture both short but also longer, flat-lying hairs.

2. Fast 13 000 CPM motor

Fortunately, Panasonic didn’t skimp and fitted the shavers with a powerful motor.

As such, we have the excellent 13 000 CPM (cycles per minute) units normally used in the aforementioned full-size Arc 3 shavers.

These provide adequate power and are a lot faster than the typical motor found in other compact travel razors.

Side note: the 39 000 cross-cutting actions per minute is just a number obtained by multiplying the 13 000 CPM by the number of blades (3).

3. USB-C charging port

A useful feature on any electric shaver, and a must-have on a travel model, is a USB-C charging port.

Fortunately, the new ES-CM3 razors got one and it’s also covered by a flap that’s tethered to the shaver’s body so you won’t lose it.

4. Wet/dry, cordless-only use

The new shavers are IPX7 waterproof, so you can safely rinse them with water. Or you can shave using your favorite shaving cream or gel.

The rechargeable Li-ion battery will provide enough power for 60 minutes of use (ES-CM3A) or 45 minutes for the European versions (ES-CM3B).

Unfortunately the shavers won’t work with the cable plugged in.

5. Misc features

Panasonic also included a protective plastic cap, again especially useful in the case of travel razors.

There’s no dedicated travel lock, but you really don’t need one since the cap covers the power button (which isn’t actually a button as you’ll see next).

The shavers come with a standard 2-year warranty and interestingly, they’re made in China, unlike most other Panasonic razors which are manufactured in Japan.

Included accessories

Here’s what came with my ES-CM3A-K:

• Protective cover
• Cleaning brush
• Bottle of lubricant
• USB charging cable
• Operating instructions (also available online as a PDF)

I’d say it’s a pretty inclusive bundle and I’m glad Panasonic is still offering those small bottles of oil.

Build quality and ergonomics

Panasonic shavers usually edge ahead of the competition when it comes engineering, nifty design solutions and build quality.

The ES-CM3A is a really compact shaver, in fact, it’s smaller than what I was expecting and somehow still managed to convey solidity and quality.

The lower part of the body has a high gloss finish, while the top half, as well as the protective cap, have a matte texture.

As expected, the grip isn’t the very best, but the fact that the razor is so tiny and lightweight makes up for this.

And speaking of dimensions, the ES-CM3A/ES-CM3B measures approximately 75.3 x 67 x 31.2 mm (H x W x D).

The weight (without the cover) is a dainty 111g (3.9 oz).

Regarding the cover, I recommend gripping it from the sides and squeezing slightly in order to remove it effortlessly.

If you grab it at the middle it’s a lot harder to pull it off the shaver.

With the cover removed, you can see the 3-blade shaving head and the two release tabs at the sides.

Squeezing them together will allow you to easily remove the foil head for cleaning.

This is a Panasonic trademark and even their very affordable, AA battery-powered travel razors use a similar system.

In contrast, Braun doesn’t even have such a commodity on their Series 7 360 Flex and you have to pry off the foil head with your fingernails.

On the front of the Panasonic ES-CM3A, right below the foil frame, you’ll notice this 1.5 inch groove.

This is a touch-sensitive slider that you’ll use to switch the shaver on and off.

And it’s an intuitive, effective and interesting take on the conventional power button.

In order to turn it on, you simply slide your thumb in one continuous swoop from left to right or from right to left — it doesn’t matter.

But you have to always slide your thumb from one end of the strip to the other.

As you do that, tiny blue LEDs will light up and follow along in a very nice and oddly satisfying display.

To turn the shaver off, you simply have to do that sliding motion again — from left to right or from right to left.

Here’s a quick video I took showcasing that:

Because you must always start at one extremity of the slider and finish at the other one, the razor will almost never switch on or off by accident.

And I guess this would be the main advantage of the slider over a more conventional button.

Fun fact: I said almost never because it did turn on a few time while I was rinsing the shaver with tap water. The slider is also a bit iffy to operate when your hands are wet.

That’s not entirely surprising considering how the touchscreen of a smartphone behaves when there’s water on it.

Panasonic USA calls the ES-CM3A a “Swipe Right” Shaver for Men and Women.

And that’s a bit funny considering that you can also swipe left and get the exact same outcome.

But I guess swiping right is more commonly associated with something positive.

I’m usually unimpressed by gimmicky features and LEDs, but I must say I am quite fond of this solution.

It’s practical, easy to use, and it feels good. It’s a great example of a design that’s both useful and aesthetically pleasing.

Let’s now focus on the form factor of the razor and how it affects the ergonomics when you shave.

I think it manages to get away with it because it’s very thin and weighs almost nothing.

Otherwise, it would have been straining especially during a longer session.

For example, the 5-blade Panasonic travel shavers are significantly thicker and heavier.

Those are in my opinion less comfortable to hold than a shaver with a conventional handle.

But in the case of the ES-CM3A, it’s fine.

And because you grip it so close to the foil head, you have this reassuring feeling of control and you can maneuver it very precisely.

Let’s now talk about a couple of gripes I have with my ES-CM3A-K.

Firstly, I would have liked a more rubberized, grippier plastic especially in the top half of the shaver.

Granted, that would have prevented your thumb from sliding so effortlessly on that power strip, so I guess this had something to do with the material choice.

Secondly, the protective cover doesn’t have any cutouts for the moisture to evaporate.

And from past experience, I can tell you that the chances of the foils developing a funky smell are pretty high.

The cover fits really snug and there are no gaps for air to circulate.

The best you can do to mitigate this is to clean the shaver thoroughly after every use and let the foil head detached to dry completely.

Another thing that may bother you when cleaning the ES-CM3A is that unlike most Panasonic shavers, this one doesn’t have a Sonic Cleaning Mode.

That’s a special setting that makes the blades vibrate in such a way that it won’t splash water around.

The ES-CM3 series doesn’t have that mode, so when rinsing the foil head with the shaver switched on it will spray water around:

Some drops will end up on your shirt or even on your bathroom mirror. It’s actually one of the splashiest shavers I’ve handled yet.

This only made me appreciate that missing Sonic Cleaning Mode even more.

Finally, and this is a pet peeve of mine, there’s no pop-up hair trimmer.

I get that this is a small shaver and it would have been extremely challenging to fit a trimmer.

Hopefully this won’t matter that much for you. For me, not having a trimmer on a travel shaver is a deal breaker, unfortunately.

Shaving performance

The compact form factor — how is it?

Not too bad, actually. As mentioned earlier, I think it works so well because the shaver is very lightweight and thin.

And the feel is quite different from using an electric razor with a conventional handle and grip.

You are very much in control since you grab the shaver very close to the foil head and you can point it exactly where you want and you can change the direction of the stroke effortlessly.

You can also be very granular and precise with the amount of pressure you exert.

Also, the ES-CM3A has one of the slimmest foil frames of any shaver, it’s narrower than a classic Panasonic Arc 3, so the shaver is incredibly nimble.

Towards the end of the session I would feel just the slightest strain in my thumb.

This would have been a lot more serious with a heavier/thicker shaver with a similar shape.

But overall, shaving with the ES-CM3A was enjoyable and I don’t have any major complaints.

Closeness

With the foils, inner blades and motor taken straight from the Arc 3 series, the ES-CM3A-K performs more than decently.

In fact, the only thing missing is a flexible shaving head which I never found to be of much use anyway in the case of lower-end Panasonic shavers.

As such, the closeness was more than satisfactory, especially when I applied a pre-have lotion.

I’d say the result was similar to what you’ll be getting from a full-size Arc 3 or a Braun Series 3 ProSkin or a Series 5/6.

I have moderate to coarse facial hair and I got a surprisingly smooth result on my cheeks and neck, but could have been a bit better on the chin and below the nose.

My stubble grows extra thick on those areas and unless I’m using a powerful shaver like an Arc 5 or Braun S9, the closeness will never be the best.

But again, it was more than adequate and actually excellent when I shaved wet with the ES-CM3A (more on that in a bit).

Overall, this is probably the closest shaving electric razor of this size I’ve ever used.

Other shavers with a similar footprint (like the Braun M90 or Panasonic ES-RS10) could not cut the hair so close to the skin.

In all fairness, those are single foil razors that cost a lot less, but if we don’t take the price into account, the ES-CM3A performs impressively well for its size.

Comfort

Another highlight of this tiny shaver throughout my tests was the comfort.

It’s a very gentle and forgiving shaver that only inflicted some discomfort when I shaved a 3-day beard.

Precisely, it snagged a few hairs on my neck when I moved the foil head too quickly.

But if you’re careful and generally shave more often, I think even men with sensitive skin can use the Panasonic ES-CM3A without any concerns.

In fact, I could press a bit harder than usual without getting razor burn.

The three cutters do flex independently, but it takes a lot of pressure for them to move.

As I mentioned above, I think the use of a pre-shave lotion can be beneficial and will improve the comfort as well.

My favorite is the Speick pre-electric lotion but you can use whatever works best for you.

Shaving longer, flat-lying hairs

This is an inherent weakness of most (Panasonic) foil shavers and it’s something the ES-CM3A/ES-CM3B exhibits as well.

Specifically, when trying to shave a 3-4 day beard, and if the hairs also tend to stay flat on the skin, this shaver will require more work for a clean result.

In my case, the neck was the area that proved the most difficult to tackle as I had to go over some patches of hair multiple times until they were all finally captured and cut.

The ES-CM3A has a slit trimmer specifically designed to catch and trim these difficult hairs, but it’s not particularly effective.

Again, this is a well known weakness of most Panasonic shavers and even the latest Arc 6 fails to impress.

My suggestion would be to use the Panasonic ES-CM3A more often for the best results.

Daily or every other day would allow you to get the most out of it, especially if you have areas where the whiskers stay flat on the skin or grow in different directions.

Wet shaving

As I expected, the wet shaving performance of the ES-CM3A was outstanding.

I shaved using the Jack Black Beard Lube, one of my absolute favorite products for shaving wet with an electric razor.

This is a non-foaming shave balm that works incredibly well for electric shaving and provides fantastic slickness.

The result was a faster, closer, more comfortable shave, with no hairs getting pulled even when shaving a 3-day beard.

The tiny ES-CM3A-K didn’t clog with hair and only needed a few rinses throughout the entire shave.

The motor is powerful enough to deal with the added workload of the balm and I must say that the wet shave was truly enjoyable.

I know most users prefer a quick dry session, but I think you’re missing out if you don’t at least give a try.

The Beard Lube shave balm is also available in travel size packaging (88ml/3 FL oz), so it’ll be a great companion to your ES-CM3A.

Shaving body hair?

Interestingly, Panasonic markets the ES-CM3A as suitable for shaving facial and body hair.

And considering that this shaver is not in any way different than a typical Panasonic electric razor, that is an odd statement.

Regular foil shavers don’t work well when used below the neck because body hair is thin, long and soft.

And trying to capture that type of hair with a foil shaver will be extremely ineffective.

I strongly recommend a dedicated body hair trimmer for that.

Unless you’re using it on very short (1-2mm) body hair that grows relatively straight, the ES-CM3A just won’t work well.

Panasonic probably thought it would be more suitable than a regular 3-blade shaver because it’s easier to grip and it looks like an epilator.

But that’s just not enough for this shaver to work effectively on body hair.

Noise

In terms of noise during use, the Panasonic ES-CM3A-K falls in line with most foil shavers.

The fast motor and the three oscillating blades emit a high-pitched whine that can ramp up a bit more when cutting the hairs.

The shaver is fitted with the now common beard density sensor and there are some sudden bursts in power when going over patches of thicker and denser stubble.

The difference in sound isn’t however massive and the noise remains more or less constant.

Small travel shavers are usually quieter as the motors are much slower and they only have one or two cutters.

That’s not the case with the ES-CM3 family of shavers though.

Despite the small size, they still generate a noticeable buzz (65DB measured with a phone app, idle room noise at 35DB).

But because the shaving head is fixed, the vibrations are however kept to a minimum and this makes the overall noise (subjectively) less annoying.

Battery life and charging

The ES-CM3A (in its 3 color variations) is fitted with a hefty Li-ion battery that can provide up to 60 minutes of cordless operation on a single charge.

That’s quite impressive for a mobile shaver and even more so when Panasonic’s flagship shavers are rated at 45 minutes of use.

The European ES-CM3B on the other hand will only work for 45 minutes before needing to charged again.

Speaking of charging, because the razor comes with a USB-C port, you can use any USB charger, like the one you use for your phone or laptop or a USB-A wall socket.

Panasonic includes a small USB-C-to-USB-A cable in the box and explicitly mentions that you should only use the supplied cable.

The reason is that the Panasonic cable is required for the overheat protection function.

I always recommend following the manufacturer’s instructions, especially when they are related to safety concerns.

But I did charge my ES-CM3A-K with whatever USB-C cable I had at hand and the charging went just fine.

Also, both USB-C-to-USB-A and USB-C-to-USB-C cables will work.

Some electric shavers like the Andis reSURGE can only be charged with USB-C-to-USB-A cables.

For the ES-CM3A, going from a completely depleted battery to fully charged takes less than 60 minutes.

During this time the touch sensitive strip will show a red light.

And speaking of it, that’s the only battery level indicator you’ll get: a blinking red light and a low-battery chime when it’s time to charge it.

There’s no in-between (like maybe an orange light) so you wouldn’t be caught completely off guard.

I am sure it could have been done since the shaver is fitted with a strip of RGB LEDs.

Cleaning and maintenance

Being a simple, 3-blade waterproof shaver, the Panasonic ES-CM3A is a breeze to clean.

Important: the USB-C flap must be closed in order to prevent water ingress.

Once you’ve finished shaving, turn the shaver off and remove the outer foil by squeezing the two release tabs with your thumb and index finger.

The foil head will pop out and you can gently tap the plastic part on the sink to remove some of the hairs.

You can also blow on it or use the tiny brush, but only to clean the inner sides of the plastic frame.

You should never brush the foils directly as they will get damaged.

After that, put the foil head back, making sure the Arc/Lamdash logo on the frame faces the front of the shaver (it won’t fit the other way).

Wet the foils with a bit of water from the tap then pour a few drops liquid hand soap on the foils and turn the shaver on.

Let it run for 10 to 20 seconds, making sure the lather coats the entire surface of the foils.

You can spread it with your finger or even add more water if needed.

With the shaver still on, generously rinse the shaving head with tap water.

Turn the shaver off, remove the foil head and give it one final rinse (inside out). Wash the two inner blades as well.

Shake off the excess water and gently pat dry with a clean cloth.

I highly recommend leaving the foil head detached to air dry completely.

Never put the shaver together or worse, cover the foil with the plastic cap while there’s still moisture.

And that’s pretty much it.

You can skip the soap and just rinse the shaver with water and only use soap once in a while for a more thorough cleaning.

However, if you shave wet with shaving cream/gel, I recommend washing the razor with soap after every use.

Lather is difficult to remove completely using only water and can form buildups in the nooks of the foil head.

Regular cleaning is one part of maintaining your ES-CM3A in good shape.

The other one is related to lubrication.

Panasonic still includes a bottle of paraffin oil with most of their shavers.

You would need to oil the blades once every few shaves or after every cleaning that involved soap.

And that’s because soap will strip the blades of any lubricant.

With the foil head clean and dry, place one drop of oil on the outside of each of the three cutters.

Turn the shaver on for around 5 seconds, then gently wipe the excess oil with a paper tissue and you’re all set.

Oiling the blades regularly will minimize the wear while reducing the heat generated by the friction between the blades and foil.

Panasonic cutters are more prone to wear if they lack proper lubrication and you’ll need to replace them sooner.

And speaking of that, let’s see what parts you’ll need and when you should do it.

Replacement parts availability

The Panasonic ES-CM3A and ES-CM3B use the WES9013PC (WES9013Y) foil and blades set.

See the price on Amazon

You’ll sometimes find it listed as WES9013 or ES9013, but it’s the same set.

You can also purchase the blades and foil separately and they have the following part numbers:

• WES9087PC (WES9087Y) – foil
• WES9068PC (WES9068Y) – inner blades

Buying the set is usually more convenient as you end up paying less.

These parts are fitted to the Panasonic Arc 3 family of shavers as well, so they should be readily available in most countries.

Panasonic recommends changing the foil every year and the blades every two years.

That will of course depend on how often you use the razor, the coarseness of your beard and how well you maintain it (cleaning, lubrication).

Since most men will use the Panasonic ES-CM3A as a travel shaver, you can expect to change these parts way less often.

As for when exactly, well, when your ES-CM3A just doesn’t give you a decent shave anymore.

Tip: the foil can only fit one way into the frame. To make sure you’re inserting it correctly, the two triangles on the foil should face the logo on the frame:

It should snap easily and securely in place with a clear click.

Takeaway — Should you buy the Panasonic ES-CM3A?

Cons aside — which I’ll get to right away — the ES-CM3A has to be one of the very best electric shavers with a very compact form factor.

If reduced size and weight is one of your main criteria for buying a new shaver, this one should be at the top of your list.

Here are in my opinion the three main pros that pretty much put it in a league of its own:

• very good wet & dry shaving performance (same specs as a regular Arc 3)
• USB-C charging — a must-have for travel shavers
• compact body with solid build quality

You really can’t go wrong with it if you’re looking for a capable travel shaver.

That said, you should also consider the shortcomings of the ES-CM3A:

• no integrated hair trimmer
• pricey

Regarding the price issue, one could argue that the shaver is a bit expensive.

However, that would need to be put into context.

For example, a standard Arc 3 costs more or less the same or sometimes even more.

Granted, that one comes with a hair trimmer, flexible head and (not always) a proper battery level indicator.

But cramming everything into a small body is very challenging and compact devices that don’t compromise on performance are often more expensive.

So in my view, the only real downside of the Panasonic ES-CM3A and ES-CM3B is the lack of a hair trimmer.

If that’s not a problem for you, then it is overall a very compelling travel shaver.

Let’s now look at a few other options that may be more suitable in several specific cases.

(Better) alternatives

Any alternative to the ES-CM3A would have to be different/better in at least one way.

Again, the ES-CM3A really is unique with its compact form factor and excellent performance.

1. Panasonic Arc 5 Palm-sized

See the price on Amazon

Also a compact, travel-friendly razor, the Palm comes with 5 blades and Panasonic’s most powerful motor, the 14 000 CPM linear-drive unit.

As a result, the shaving performance of the 5-blade model is outstanding, identical to the full-size Arc 5.

It shaves faster and closer than the ES-CM3A and users with coarse hair will benefit the most from the extra power and better cutting system.

The ergonomics do take a bit of a hit, with the Palm 5-blade being a lot chunkier and also heavier at 135g (ES-PV3A) or 145g (ES-PV6A).

It is however more squat and overall still very portable. It also comes with a nice, compact travel case and of course has a USB-C port.

But it costs almost three times as much as the 3-blade model and still doesn’t have a trimmer.

Given the price difference, I still wouldn’t necessarily call it a direct competitor to the ES-CM3A.

The performance is indeed better, but it should be given how much it costs.

For all the details you can check out my review of the Palm 5-blade.

2. Panasonic ES-CV51 (ES-CV70)

The Panasonic ES-CV51 (ES-CV70) is another compact Arc 5 with the same powerful motor (14 000 CPM) and 5 blades.

Moreover, it has an excellent hair trimmer and a premium metal body.

The downside? The price. This thing costs a lot and it’s also getting very difficult to find.

It doesn’t have a USB-C port, although you can sort of get around that with a Panasonic-to-USB-A cable.

See the price on Amazon

The performance is, as expected, outstanding, but it does cost a premium.

Personally, I was able to get over the main cons (price and the lack of a USB port) and it is my travel shaver of choice (on longer journeys).

But that’s mainly because I need the hair trimmer. Otherwise, I would be perfectly happy with my Palm or even the less expensive ES-CM3A-K.

3. Laifen P3 Pro

The Laifen P3 Pro is a 3-blade travel-friendly foil shaver, but with some specific pros and cons when compared to the ES-CM3A.

It has premium all-metal build, being milled from a solid block of aluminum.

And while it looks and feels outstanding, it’s also heavy at 180g and quite slippery.

In terms of shaving performance, I’d say the closeness is very similar, but it is a bit gentler than the ES-CM3A.

Moreover, it’s more effective with longer, flat-lying hairs and needs fewer passes to capture them.

The battery life is impressive (100 minutes of cordless shaving) and there’s a quick charge function as well.

See the price on Amazon

However, the P3 Pro costs a lot more than the ES-CM3A and you don’t get a travel case (it’s only sold separately).

For these reasons, I think the ES-CM3A would still be the better pick for traveling.

4. Panasonic ES-RM3B

I also want to mention the compact 3-blade Panasonic ES-RM3B in its three color variations:

• ES-RM3B-G (green)
• ES-RM3B-A (blue)
• ES-RM3B-K (black)

And I don’t want to present the ES-RM3B as a viable alternative to the ES-CM3A, but rather to caution you about it.

Even though it looks appealing — it costs significantly less, uses the same foil head and has a USB-C port, it’s fitted with a much slower 8000 RPM rotary motor.

Compared to the fast linear drive unit of the ES-CM3A, the performance of the ES-RM3B is significantly worse.

Unless you have very light facial hair, I would pass it.

I think a standard Arc 3 with a USB-C port would be a decent travel shaver: good performance, a hair trimmer and still a relatively small body.

Unfortunately, Panasonic is yet to fit those with a USB port, so again there’s basically no real alternative to the ES-CM3A, at least not for now.

That pretty much concludes my review of the compact Panasonic ES-CM3A-K.

If you have any other questions or you’d like to share your experience with it, make sure to drop a comment below.