For thick beards and 3 to 7-day stubble, the Braun Series 9 Pro+ is the best electric shaver: its five-element head catches long and flat-lying hairs in fewer passes.
For thick beards and 3 to 7-day stubble, the Braun Series 9 Pro+ is the best electric shaver: its five-element head catches long and flat-lying hairs in fewer passes. For dense, coarse stubble you shave daily, the Panasonic Arc5 cuts the closest for less. For long beards, trim first with a beard trimmer.
Best for multi-day growth
See it on AmazonBest for multi-day growth; built-in trimmers grab long hair. The safest high-end buy for most faces. It's quick on a two- or three-day beard, gentle enough that most men with touchy skin stop noticing it after the first couple of weeks, and it's built to run for years.
Closest on very dense stubble, if the price does not stop yo
See it on AmazonClosest on very dense stubble, if the price does not stop you. The closest shave on this list and the hardest one to recommend. Six blades and a beard sensor clear a dense beard in fewer strokes than anything else here. But it costs more than twice an Arc5 that gets most of the way there, and it carries the weakest owner score of any flagship on this page.
Closest daily shave on dense, coarse stubble.
See it on AmazonClosest daily shave on dense, coarse stubble. The closest-cutting shaver you can buy without paying flagship money. Five blades and a fast linear motor make short work of dense, fast-growing beards, though it's less forgiving than the Braun if your skin reacts easily.
Lift & Cut handles 7-day growth with rotary comfort.
See it on AmazonLift & Cut handles 7-day growth with rotary comfort. The rotary to buy if your neck hair grows in every direction or a foil leaves you red. For most skin it's the most comfortable shaver on this list, and the closeness gap to the best foils is smaller than it used to be.
Compact sonic head
See it on AmazonCompact sonic head; strong on short, dense stubble. The Braun to get if the Series 9 Pro+ feels like too much. A compact head that's easier to steer under the nose and along the jawline, plus a full cleaning station in this box.
Mid-budget option with Turbo mode.
See it on AmazonMid-budget option with Turbo mode. The 360-flex Braun suits curvy jawlines on a mid budget. Turbo, Gentle and Standard modes let you trade speed for comfort, and it's fully waterproof.
Motor power that doesn't bog down, trimmer elements that catch longer hairs, and enough elements per stroke to cut in one pass. Cheap three-element foils struggle past two days.
No electric shaver enjoys a full beard. Take it down to a millimeter or two with a trimmer, then shave. Both the Braun All-in-One Series 9 PRO and Philips All-in-One 9000 handle that step.
Coarse hair is thick per strand; dense means many hairs per area. The Arc5's fast linear motor is great for both on short stubble. The Braun's trimmer elements win once hairs are longer.
Braun Series 9 Pro+, with the Panasonic Arc5 close behind for daily shavers.
Premium models can; budget ones need a trim first.
For more than a week of growth, yes.
Top pick: Series 9 Pro+
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