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How we test electric shavers
We use lab testing and an expert trial to score a range of electric shavers.
Last updated: 29 Aug 2024
Do you find shaving to be a hassle? Or do you actually enjoy taming and styling your beard to keep you looking cool and fresh?
On this page:
A man will spend an average of five months of his life shaving, so it’s no wonder you’re looking for a shaver that’s easy to use and comfortable too.
For our electric shaver reviews, we put each model through performance testing in our CHOICE labs, and conducted a user trial to find out how easy they are to use.
How we choose what we test
With so many models to choose from, what makes us choose one men’s shaver to test over another? As with most of our product testing, our aim is to test the most popular models on the market and what you’re most likely to see in the retailers.
We survey manufacturers to find out about their range of models. We check market sales information and we also check for any member requests to test specific models.
From this information we put together a final list that goes to our buyers. They then head out to the retailers and purchase each product, just as a normal consumer would. We do this so we can be sure the products are the same as any consumer would find them and not ‘tweaked’ in any way.
How we test
Lab component
Our tester conducts the following assessments for each shaver:
- Instruction quality and detail
- Ease of operating the controls
- Grip comfort and feel when wet and dry
- General trimmer performance
- Ease of changing and cleaning the unit, heads or blades
- Operating and charge times
- Six drop tests from a height of 80cm.
Expert trial
Four in-house experts conduct a user assessment of each electric shaver based on their existing shaving preferences (two rotary models, two foil models). They score and comment on ease of use, feel (comfort and vibration), battery duration, time required to finish their shaving routine, closeness and evenness of the shave and whether they experienced discomfort or irritation.
Test criteria explained
The overall score is made up of:
- Ease of use (50%)
- Skin feel (40%)
- Battery performance (10%)
Ease of use is made up of a combination of tester and expert user feedback, looking at:
- Changing heads/blades
- Charging
- Cleaning
- Control
- Grip
- Instructions (quality and detail)
- Trimmer performance
- Vibration and comfort
These are weighted equally.
Our test lab
Our test laboratory is up to date with the latest reference machines and calibrated measurement tools for our testers to bring you accurate results.
