Panasonic ES8249S Men’s 4-Blade (Arc 4) Wet/Dry Nanotech Rechargeable Electric Shaver with Vortex Cleaning System

When it comes to cutting edge shaving technology, the names which pop into most people’s heads are Braun or Phillips, but Panasonic also have plenty of experience in this field having released their first shaver 56 years ago, way back in 1955.

The Panasonic ES8249S boasts Panasonics Nano technology and arc foil design which promise to give you an ultra-close shave with only one pass, minimizing skin irritation and the time you need to spend shaving.

Read Consumer Reviews on the Panasonic ES8249S

This model under review comprises of the razor plus a HydraClean system for easy cleaning. Read the rest of our review to find out how the Panasonic ES8249S fairs against its high-end competitors.

Features

• Ergonomically designed
• 4 Nanotech inner blades at a 30-degree angle for an effortless, close-shave
• Arc Foil design enables hair to be cut in a single pass
• Pivoting head moves in multiple directions to follow the natural contours of your face
• Pop-up Trimmer
• Wet/Dry Operation, allowing the shaver to be used in the shower
• HydraClean system for automatic cleaning
• 1 hour standard charge or 5-minute quick-charge
• Includes travel pouch

First Impressions

Our first impressions of the Panasonic ES8249S are good. The design is strikingly modern with its silver and black finish and large shaver head. The generously sized LED screen is nicely integrated into a v-shaped display towards the bottom of the razor. While the visual design is attractive, it isn’t as stunning as the high-end offerings from Braun and Phillips, but then again this shaver comes at a lower price than them.

Ergonomically speaking, the design is spot on with its black curved sides providing a rubberized grip, making the shaver both easy and comfortable to hold.

In Action

The Panasonic ES8249S uses 4 Nanotech stainless blades to deliver a precise cut. Most impressively, you don’t have to apply much pressure to your face to get a close-shave thanks to the pivoting head which is spring loaded to apply an appropriate amount of pressure.

The 4 blade cutting system is remarkably effective. The slit foil structure excels in cutting long hairs from beards, while the finishing foil specializes in cutting stubborn hairs at awkward angles.

The blades and foils are hypoallergenic, designed to minimize irritation, which is great news for those with sensitive skin.

If you’ve used cheaper electric shavers in the past, there is a good chance that you’ve experienced the irritation of hair pulling because of the slow motor. The Panasonic ES8249S features a high-speed linear motor which operates at 13,000RPM, enabling you to shave with as fewer passes as possible and avoid problems of hair pulling and tugging which are associated with slower shavers. Despite the high-speed of the motor, the shaver is impressively quiet in operation. So quiet in fact, that you can hear your stubble being cut as you gently glide across your face.

Battery Life

The battery life is more than adequate. A standard full charge takes 1 hour, which gives you enough power for 14 shaves, based on shaving for 3 minutes per shave. Alternatively, a 5-minute quick charge option is available if you need to shave in a hurry and the battery is depleted.

The shaver maintains optimum power right up until when the battery power is depleted, ensuring that you get the best shaving experience consistently.

Travel-friendly

The Panasonic ES8249S is well equipped for travelling. It comes supplied with a nice travel pouch plus features a switch-lock button so the shaver doesn’t get turned on accidently. It also supports universal voltage input (100-240V), so you can use it worldwide.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

The Nanotech blades combined with the arc foil design provide an incredibly close shave. While the pivoting head ensures that shaving is both quick and effortless.

The Wet/Dry shaving feature is great, giving you the option to shave in the shower for a smooth, soothing close shave.

The fast 13,000 RPM motor ensures that you can have a great shave in just 5 minutes and prevents problems of pulling/tugging hair.

Cleaning the shaver manually is a straightforward task using liquid soap. We love the Sonic Vibration cleaning mode, which produces sonic vibrations while you rinse away the gunk and debris under running water.

The LCD screen displays the minutes you have been shaving for, which is a handy inclusion.

It is travel-friendly.

Cons:

The pop-up trimmer is a bit too fragile, if you’re using it at a certain angle it moves down too easily back into its original position. Therefore you need to be particularly careful using the trimmer.

The cleaning system is quite noisy in operation and takes a good 2 hours to complete the cleaning process.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a wet/dry foil shaver which delivers a super smooth shave which is long lasting, you can’t go wrong with the Panasonic ES8249S Men’s 4-Blade (Arc 4) Wet/Dry Nanotech Rechargeable Electric Shaver with Vortex Cleaning System.

It delivers a shaving experience comparable to top of the range models from other major brands, but at a lower cost. Although it doesn’t shave as close as a blade shaver, it’s very close.

As a side note, Panasonic advise you to replace the foil covering after 1 year and the blades after 2 years. So you need to bear this in mind if you’re considering between a foil and rotary razor, as maintenance will cost a little more in comparison to a rotary shaver.