A good electric shaver saves time, spares your skin and pays for itself against a lifetime of blades. Two brands dominate: Braun, whose foil shavers are prized for the closest, most comfortable shave, and Philips, whose rotary heads glide over the contours of your face and neck. Both now build in smart sensors that read your beard and adjust power automatically, and the priciest add self-cleaning charging bases and companion apps. These are the best electric shavers to buy in 2026, with UK prices checked on Amazon UK on 14 July 2026 — confirm the current figure before buying, as they change often.
The Short Version
- Best overall — Braun Series 9 PRO+. The closest, most comfortable shave, with sensors and a self-cleaning base, at £289.99.
- Best value — Braun Series 7. Most of the Series 9 experience for far less, at £129.99.
- Best smart features — Philips Series 9000. Rotary heads plus app guidance, at £159.99.
- Best value rotary — Philips Series 7000. A comfortable, capable Philips for £128.97.
Best Overall: Braun Series 9 PRO+
For the closest, most comfortable shave, the Braun Series 9 PRO+ is the one to buy. It is a foil shaver whose sensors read the density of your beard and adjust power automatically, so you get a clean result in fewer passes and with less irritation. It works wet or dry, delivers up to 60 minutes of shaving from a full charge with a quick-charge option for a single shave, and comes with a self-cleaning charging base that cleans, lubricates and dries the head for you. At £289.99 it is a serious outlay, but for a daily shaver who wants the best, it is worth it. Check the price on Amazon
Best Value: Braun Series 7
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The Braun Series 7 delivers most of what makes the Series 9 great for well under half the price. You still get Braun's comfortable foil shave, sensor technology that adapts to your face and a wet-and-dry design for shaving in the shower, without the top model's flagship extras. At £129.99 it is the sweet spot in the range and the shaver most people should buy — a genuine all-rounder that will last for years. Check the price on Amazon
Best Smart Features: Philips Series 9000
If you prefer a rotary shaver and like the idea of a little coaching, the Philips Series 9000 is the pick at £159.99. Its heads flex to follow the contours of your jaw and neck, sensors adjust to your skin and beard, and a companion app offers real-time guidance, personalised shaving plans and tips to improve your technique and reduce passes. It shaves wet or dry, and for anyone who wants the most feature-rich rotary experience, it is the standout. Check the price on Amazon
Best Value Rotary: Philips Series 7000
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The Philips Series 7000 is the sensible rotary choice at £128.97. Its three flexing heads handle the curves of the face and neck comfortably, it works wet or dry with foam or gel, and it keeps things simple and dependable without the app and premium extras of the 9000. For anyone who finds a foil shaver harsh or who shaves a longer, less dense beard, it is an easy, affordable recommendation. Check the price on Amazon
Who Should Buy Which?
The first decision is foil versus rotary. A foil shaver like the Braun cuts closest and suits people who shave daily, have straight-edged styles or a dense beard, and want the smoothest possible finish. A rotary shaver like the Philips follows the contours of the face and neck more easily, copes better with longer or less dense growth and awkward necklines, and is often kinder to sensitive skin. From there it is about budget: the premium Series 9 and Series 9000 add self-cleaning bases and the best sensors for daily shavers who want the best, while the Series 7 and 7000 give you most of the performance for a lot less. If you mainly trim stubble or style facial hair rather than shave clean, a hybrid trimmer-shaver will suit you better than any of these. Check the price on Amazon
How to Choose an Electric Shaver
A few things decide the right shaver. Foil or rotary is the biggest: foil for the closest daily shave, rotary for contours and comfort. Wet and dry models let you shave in the shower with foam or gel, which many find gentler. Check the battery — the best last up to 60 minutes on a charge, with a quick-charge mode for a single shave when you are in a hurry. Cleaning matters more than people expect: a self-cleaning charging base is convenient but uses cleaning cartridges you top up over time, while a manual rinse under the tap costs nothing. Smart features such as pressure sensors and app guidance can genuinely improve results, though they are not essential. Finally, factor in the ongoing cost and availability of replacement heads, which most makers recommend changing every year or so.
How This Guide Was Made
This is an editorial buying guide that curates the strongest electric shavers for a close, comfortable shave across budgets, weighing shave quality, smart features, battery life, cleaning and value. Recommendations are based on published specifications and current UK pricing. Prices change often, so check the current listing before buying.
This is an editorial buying guide based on published specifications and current UK pricing. Prices were checked on 14 July 2026 and change frequently.
