Panasonic 3-Blade Wet & Dry Compact Electric Shaver full review
Cordless, waterproof and rechargeable, the small but mighty shaver has everything you could need.
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When it comes to men’s grooming, it pays to invest in quality products to keep you looking fresh and feeling your best.
This is especially the case when picking out a decent electric shaver. Not only do you want a model that goes the distance in terms of battery life and durability, you really want to be investing in a product that will last you at least a couple of years, and performs well in a number of settings.
You need to also consider whether you’re using a shaver at home or on the road. If it’s the latter, then ideally you’re looking for an electric shaver that’s portable enough to take in your carry-on luggage, but equally won’t be a deal breaker for space or luggage weight.
One electric shaver that’s holding its own right now is the Panasonic Compact 3 Blade High Speed Shaver, a small but mighty performer that’s worthy of your attention.
Coincidentally we’ve been testing it out over the last couple of weeks to explore all of its features.
Jump to our full review below.
1-MINUTE REVIEW OF PANASONIC COMPACT 3-BLADE SHAVER
Panasonic 3-Blade Wet & Dry Compact Electric Shaver, $199 (down from $249) at JB Hi-Fi
Panasonic 3-Blade Wet & Dry Compact Electric Shaver
Tried and Tested by Troy Nankervis, news.com.au checkout Shopping Writer
Designed to make shaving a breeze, the Panasonic Compact 3 Blade High Speed Shaver strikes a great balance between design and style.
Not only does it fit snugly into your hand, it’s waterproof, rechargeable and made to be a reliable shaver if you’re on the go, with satisfied shoppers already singing its praises online, with dozens of 5-star reviews.
“Right out of the box, it felt compact and premium. It feels sturdy with its premium build and upon opening, the swipe function to turn on and off was impressive. I’ve used it for 2 weeks now and use it every other day, and I’ve yet to recharge it,” said one Aussie shopper.
Another said: “I thought being a smaller model it would be underpowered or not shave as well as its full size counterpart but I was wrong.
“Perfect for the home shaver or a shaver on the go, the USB-C charge means I can charge it anywhere with the same cable I charge my phone with.”
HOW WE TESTED THE PANASONIC COMPACT 3-BLADE SHAVER
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We look over consumer reviews, product manuals and consumer trends to always keep one step ahead.
This extends to our independent product reviews, where we put products through their paces to see if they pass the pub test in terms of quality and value.
I reviewed the Panasonic Compact 3 Blade High Speed Shaver over the summer break, testing the product for three weeks while travelling interstate, and I took it with me for a couple of weeks away in Asia, considering different factors like performance, design, battery life and price.
FULL REVIEW OF THE PANASONIC COMPACT 3-BLADE SHAVER
- Unboxing
- Design
- Performance & Comfort
- Battery
- Warranty
- Price
- Verdict: Should you buy the Panasonic Compact 3-Blade Shaver?
UNBOXING
The unboxing process of the Panasonic Compact 3 Blade High Speed Shaver is quick and hassle-free, you literally have the shaver, cleaning oil and brush, a USB-C charging cable and an instruction manual.
There’s also not a great deal of excess packaging, so once the shaver is out of the box you can put everything you don’t need into the recycling bin.
DESIGN
A lot of thought has been put into the Panasonic Compact 3 Blade High Speed Shaver.
Not only is it portable and waterproof, it’s also cordless and rechargeable – basically ticking pretty much every box I can think of when it comes to picking out an ideal electric shaver.
Interestingly, there’s no power button on this one, and to operate it you simply take off the cover and swipe on the front of the unit to turn it on. Turning it off, you just swipe again. It’s a nifty little feature that added some novelty to using it more than anything.
The unit comes with little internal sensors that can automatically detect where stubble is a little thicker, and in turn boosts the power. I also like that it’s waterproof, meaning you can use it with shaving gel or shaving cream. Plus you can take it into the shower, and rinse it off under your bathroom tap.
I love that it’s fitted out with a USB-C port too, with most electronics now using USB-C, it just makes things easy and I didn’t need to scramble to find the correct charging adaptor.
On that note, the Panasonic Compact 3 Blade High Speed Shaver only comes with the USB-C cable, so you’ll need to make sure you have a wall charger adaptor, yet I’m confident most of us have at least one of these laying around.
PERFORMANCE & COMFORT
This is a great little shaver that performs well during use. The blades on the Panasonic Compact are made with durable Japanese stainless steel, which rotate in an ultra-quick pattern. There’s around 39,000 rotations per minute, so when it’s on your face you barely feel it.
Ergonomically designed, it’s lightweight and comfortable to hold, and it doesn’t matter if you’re right or left handed, you’re not going to be disadvantaged if you’re a south paw.
The shave quality itself is clean, and my skin feels good after use. I have sensitive skin which did not feel overly irritated, and it left a smooth and consistent result.
I should note that I didn’t use this shaver with shaving gel or foam, but I do like that it’s versatile as both a wet and dry shaver, and reckon that will appeal to a lot of people considering this model.
Given its waterproof rating, I’ve also read some reviews where people have been using this one in the shower without any issues.
Maintaining the shaver is very easy, once you empty out the shavings inside the shell and under the foil frame, you literally can clean it under running water, and with soap if need be too.
It also comes with a cleaning brush for the inner blades, and there’s some oil included to lubricate the blades, which will keep it at its best long term.
One thing to note, which isn’t a massive deal-breaker for me, is that the Panasonic Compact 3 Shaver is better suited for stubble, it’s not so good on longer facial hair or beards, and I found that I had to use a trimmer first before using the shaver in some cases.
Some electric shavers like the Panasonc 5 Blade are a bit of a one-stop shop, including both your shaver and trimmer in one, and I can see how some people might prefer the more traditional design.
But on balance, I think that this has been factored a lot into the overall design and intended use of the Panasonic Compact 3 Shaver.
This is a product that will keep you looking neat, and something you can take with you on the go.
BATTERY
After unboxing, it takes around an hour to charge the Panasonic Compact 3 Blade High Speed Shaver, I actually just left this one overnight and came back to a fully charged unit.
There’s a five minute quick charge feature if you can’t wait and need to use it immediately, which I also liked.
Where the shaver shines is during travelling, with a full battery it has up to 45 minutes of use.
Considering that I only used it for a few minutes each morning, it’s a perfect item to take with you on the road for a weekend away, and you’ll get full mileage out of it for a week or two away on a short overseas trip.
WARRANTY
The Panasonic Compact 3 Blade High Speed Shaver comes with a two-year manufacturer’s warranty, which is great for peace of mind.
PRICE
The Panasonic Compact 3 Blade High Speed Shaver retails for $249 but is currently $50 off at JB Hi-Fi.
VERDICT: SHOULD YOU BY THE PANASONIC 3-BLADE SHAVER?
Arguably, Panasonic Compact 3 Blade High Speed Shaver is more expensive compared to other models out there right now, but I reckon the features do justify the higher price point.
Its performance as a portable electric shaver is surprisingly good, and I liked its ease of use, and range of integrated features.
I love that you can literally put this one under running water or use in the shower and there’s no issues, you’re not going to break it!
A perfect shaver for travelling or your gym bag, you could even keep the Panasonic Compact 3 Blade High Speed Shaver at work if you have an unexpected meeting where you need to scrub up fast.
If you’re after a portable, ergonomic and comfortable shaver that reliably delivers a close shave each and every time, you’re onto a winner with the Panasonic Compact 3 Blade High Speed Shaver.
OTHER MEN’S ELECTRIC SHAVERS TO CONSIDER
Men’s electric shavers come in all shapes and sizes. Some other great selections include:
- Philips Shaver Series 7000 SkinIQ Wet & Dry Electric Shaver, $299 at JB Hi-Fi
- Panasonic 5-Blade Ultra High-Speed Shaver, $299 (down from $449) at JB Hi-Fi
- Panasonic 3-Blade Wet/Dry Shaver with Pop-up Trimmer, $79 (down from $119) at JB Hi-Fi
- Remington RX7 Ultimate Series Head Shaver, $135 (down from $159) at JB Hi-Fi
- Philips Shaver Series 9000 Prestige SkinIQ Wet & Dry Electric Shaver, $499 at JB Hi-Fi
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*This product was provided by Panasonic for a 100 per cent independent, honest review.
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