Panasonic Arc4 Gentle Pivoting Head Electric Shaver

Last updated: October 5, 2023


Panasonic Arc4 Gentle Pivoting Head Electric Shaver

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Product Details

In our analysis of 100 expert reviews, the Arc4 Gentle Pivoting Head Electric Shaver placed 15th when we looked at the top 16 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.

From The Manufacturer

One of Panasonic’s top rated electric shavers, the ES8242A men’s shaver delivers close, clean, quick shaving with four ultra-sharp stainless steel Nanotech blades. Each blade in the Panasonic ES8243A Arc 4 mens electric razor is precision honed to a perfect 30° edge. Together with Panasonic’s ultra-thin Arc 4 foil system, they gently conform to the individual contours of your face, neck and chin. This premium men’s shaving machine also includes a flexible pivoting head to guide blades and foil effortlessly along the skin for maximum comfort. Its high-efficiency 13,000 cpm Arc4 linear drive motor maintains full, continuous power to the very end of each battery charge for consistent, even shaving. The Panasonic razor also includes a built-in pop-up trimmer which adds the perfect finish to beards, mustaches and sideburns. It’s 100% waterproof, too, and can be used with foam or gel in the shower or used dry anytime. A 10-stage LED in the easy-grip Panasonic Shaver handle shows battery power status, charge indicator and a cleaning and a replacement reminder for Panasonic Arc 4 blades and foils. Cleaning the ES8243 shaver is quick and simple. You can rinse the entire shaving machine under running water and let the razor’s sonic vibration mode easily remove stubborn gel and stubble, leaving the Arc4 blades and foil fresh and renewed. For shaving and grooming away from home, this Panasonic Arc4 men’s wet dry electric shaver comes with universal voltage, an AC adaptor/charger and a travel pouch.

Expert Reviews


What reviewers liked

The Arc4 uses a dual-blade cutting system with an outer foil and inner blades to provide a clean shave. It has an easy-to-grip ergonomic design that includes a switch-lock button as well as a pop-up trimmer for grooming facial hair and sideburns.
The latter include a pivoting head with four blades, wet and dry shaving capabilities, a washable body, and an LCD display. A variant of the ES-LA63-S with a cleaning station is also available.
There is a safety lock so when the shaver is packed in luggage it will never accidentally turn on and lose all of its charge.
The blades are extremely durable, sharp and they can pivot at 30 degrees in any direction.
The powerful motors and very sharp blades will reward you with what is likely the closest shave you’ll get from an electric shaver at this price point.
These motors are so much power that they allowed 14,000 cuts per minutes and per blades. This Panasonic shaver’s motors are also quieter than most of the top-rated shavers.
The combination of excellent craftsmanship and useful features make this a contender for best electric shaver on the market.

What reviewers didn't like

This shaver doesn’t have the cleaning and charging station that some other shavers have.
It is just missing a single trimmer from its head, and it comes without Cleaning and Charging dock.
The Arc 4 was positioned as a mid-range shaver, but the price tag was premium. So the problem was the target audience — nobody wanted to buy them as there were other options that better catered to the buyer’s needs: Arc 5 for premium, Arc 3 for budget.
The shaver has so many features. So, the battery reportedly doesn’t last as long as many other shavers in the market.
While the charging and cleaning dock is a very useful add-on, it can be quite noisy while in operation.
View our Electric Razor buying guide for in-depth advice and recommendations.

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