Verdict
Head-to-head · Best Electric Shavers for Men

Panasonic Arc5 ES-LV67 vs Philips Norelco i9000 Prestige Ultra (XP9402)

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Panasonic Arc5 ES-LV67 comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.8 vs 4.3). The gap is mostly about thick-bearded shavers who want maximum cutting power and the closest shave for the money — read the strengths below before deciding.

Panasonic Arc5 ES-LV67
Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Electric Shavers for Men
Panasonic Arc5 ES-LV67
2 sourcesall derived$149.99as of Aug 1

The Panasonic Arc5 ES-LV67 is the cutting-power and value pick. A five-blade head and an ultra-fast 14,000 CPM linear motor produce up to 70,000 cross-cuts a minute, so it powers through thick, dense beards in fewer strokes than a foil rival. The Intelligent Shave Sensor adapts to beard density and the 16D head follows your contours. It is more aggressive than a Braun and there is no cleaning dock, but at well under the Series 9 Pro's price it is the smart buy for thick-bearded shavers who want closeness.

Strengths
  • Five-blade head with a 14,000 CPM linear motor plows through thick stubble with fewer passes
  • Intelligent Shave Sensor adjusts power to beard density automatically
  • 16D flexible pivoting head follows facial contours for close neck and jaw cleanup
Watch-outs
  • More aggressive than Braun, which can cause redness if you press too hard
  • No automatic cleaning dock at this model level
  • Shorter ~45-minute runtime than the Braun flagships
Philips Norelco i9000 Prestige Ultra (XP9402)
Ranked #4 in Best Electric Shavers for Men
Philips Norelco i9000 Prestige Ultra (XP9402)
2 sources1 derived$349.96as of Aug 1

The Philips Norelco i9000 Prestige Ultra XP9402 is the best rotary shaver here, and TechRadar called it 'the Rolls-Royce of rotary shavers.' Its SenseIQ Pro AI reads your pressure, skin type, and motion and adapts across five modes, while the Triple Lift & Cut system and 360-degree NanoTech blades excel on the patchy, circular, and curly growth where foils tug. It is premium-priced, and a rotary will not out-close a top foil on dense straight beards. For rotary fans, it is the flagship.

Strengths
  • TechRadar's 'Rolls-Royce of rotary shavers' - the best rotary design tested
  • SenseIQ Pro AI adapts to pressure, skin type, and motion across five shaving modes
  • Triple Lift & Cut system with 360-degree rotating NanoTech precision blades
Watch-outs
  • Premium price for a rotary shaver
  • Rotary shave is not as close as a top foil for straight, dense beards
  • Quick Clean Pod is less thorough than Braun's full SmartCare dock

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

Panasonic Arc5 ES-LV67

The cutting-power value pick - its five blades give it more raw power for thick beards than the four-element Braun Series 9 Pro and Braun Series 8 8467cc, and it costs far less than the Series 9 Pro; it is a foil-style alternative to the rotary Philips Norelco i9000 Prestige Ultra, and a major step up from the budget Braun Series 3 3010s.

Philips Norelco i9000 Prestige Ultra (XP9402)

The premium rotary pick - it is the rotary alternative to the foil Braun Series 9 Pro, Braun Series 8 8467cc, and Panasonic Arc5 ES-LV67, excelling on patchy and circular growth where those foils can pull; it is far more advanced than the budget foil Braun Series 3 3010s, though a top foil shaves closer on dense straight beards.

Specs side-by-side

SpecPanasonic Arc5 ES-LV67Philips Norelco i9000 Prestige Ultra (XP9402)
TypeFoil (5 blades)Rotary (3 heads)
Wet/DryYes, fully washableYes
Head16D flexible pivoting360° Precision Flexing Head
SensorIntelligent Shave SensorAdapt sensor
TrimmerPop-upPrecision trimmer
Battery~45 min, 1-hour charge60 min cordless, 5-min quick charge
TechIntelligent shaving technology, 16-D shaving headSenseIQ Pro AI, 5 modes
Adapts ToBeard densityPressure, skin type, motion
Elements16-D shaving head
ChargingRechargeableRechargeable
Dimensions10 x 6.5 x 9.5 inches; 6.4 ounces
CleaningQuick Clean Pod
Charge TimeAbout 1 hour
Best For BeardLight to medium density
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