Panasonic 5-Blade Wet & Dry ES-LV9U-K841

Very good shaver but it can have it's problems – I purchased this shaver recently due to the ever increasing cost of blades. Initially I purchased a Braun S5 which failed after less than 12 mths and was replaced under warranty. Having read reviews, I decided that Panasonic was the way to go if I was going to purchase an expensive shaver & so far I havent been disappointed. The shaver does give an exceptionally smooth shave. It is easy to clean and the recharge/cleaning station is great. You simply add some cleaning solution and water to the base, and after inserting the shaver press 'clean'. The process is all automated. Charge percentage lights on the shaver let you know how much charge is left. I have found this shaver very easy to use and is lightweight. On the downside, I noticed the foil had a small piece missing from it after only 6 months of use (I was told I may have been pressing too hard when shaving which is quite likely). This isn't covered by the warranty so I had to purchase a replacement which cost over $100 since you have to buy the foil together with a new cutter. On the plus side I replaced the foil and put the cutter away for when I need to replace that down the track. Another negative is the shaver stopped working after only 18 months. The Shavershop wasn't sure if the problem was with the charging base (its not the same quality as the shaver as they said the shaver is made in Japan while the charging base is made in China) or the shaver. So they replaced both with a new unit even though it was outside the manufacturer's warranty period. Overall the shaver is very good in my opinion but I highly recommend reading the user manual that comes with it thoroughly before use to optimise the life of the shaver and its consumables.