Remington F5 Power Series Foil Shaver for Men, Cordless Rechargeable Razor

Why it's worth it

The Remington F5 uses a pivoting foil head and an intercept trimmer to pre-cut longer hairs, and it costs a small fraction of what the flagships do. It's the shaver to buy if you want to try electric without committing serious money.

The F5 has been around for years and sells in enormous volume, which tells you the fundamentals are sound. Pivot & Flex foils follow your jaw, and the intercept trimmer sitting between the foils pre-trims longer hairs so the cutters aren't fighting them. On a daily shave with short stubble, the result is close enough that most people stop thinking about it.

Sensitive skin is where this one keeps surprising people. Owner feedback from men who get razor bumps with blades — a group that gets very little relief from most shavers — consistently points to the F5 as a workable alternative. Remington's own guidance is short circular strokes and light pressure, and to give it a few weeks of daily use before judging. That advice matches the 21-day adaptation window Consumer Reports describes for anyone switching from blades.

From our review of 8 electric shavers for men, by Eleanor Vance, Health & Beauty Editor

What we like

• +The F5 has been around for years and sells in enormous volume, which tells you the fundamentals are sound
• +Sensitive skin is where this one keeps surprising people
• +It runs about 60 minutes cordless and takes 100–240V, so it works on a trip abroad with just a plug adapter
• +Buying cheap also changes the math on replacement parts

What to know

• –It's noticeably noisier than the premium shavers here, and it isn't fully sealed the way an IPX7 model is — this is a…
• –Against a heavy or fast-growing beard, the F5 needs more passes than the Braun or Panasonic flagships, and more passes means…