Panasonic Arc5 Palm-Sized Review

Its travel-ready, eco-friendly design makes the Panasonic Arc5 Palm-Sized unique. It's a bit over-priced for its size, but if you need compact, this model fits the bill.

Shave Quality

We'd be lying if we said the Palm-Sized gave us the best shave we've ever had, but when it comes to getting the job done, this little guy is pretty legit. It earned above-average marks and can produce a shave that is somewhere between average and good.

Even with a center cross-cutting blade, the Palm-Sized still struggles a bit to chop down longer stubble, taking more than a few passes to get it all. But, for tackling a day or two of growth during routine touch-ups, it's certainly up to the task. This razor leaves behind reasonably smooth skin and virtually no razor burn. We were impressed that the manufacturer engineered this mini-me shaver with five decently powerful blades. Although it doesn't do the job perfectly, it still packs a punch considering its compact design.

Run & Charge Times

Again, when we considered this razor's size and weight, we were rather impressed with its performance in this metric; however, when compared side by side against other models, we felt the Palm-Sized still fell into more of a runners-up bracket.

The manufacturer says the Palm-Sized runs for about 50 minutes after a two-hour charge. The results we saw were better. Ours took roughly an hour and 40 minutes to charge and ran for 76 minutes. However, this run time is still shorter than many others we tested. Even still, a large number of the models we've tested over the years tended to have a longer run time than their charging time. So, we really didn't like that the Palm-Sized results were the exact opposite.

Ease of Use & Versatility

Don't expect a ton of extras when purchasing the Palm-Sized — it simply doesn't offer them. This model is simple and basic, but that's its niche. However, a benefit of its bare-bones design is that it's easy to use and transport.

When cocooned inside its hard case, the Palm-Sized is about the circumference of an average lemon, making it the perfect travel companion. The razor itself is just 2.5 inches in width, but still manages to pack a solid motor that produces about 70,000 linear cuts per minute. However, that is all you get with this model. It lacks attachments and does not offer a pop-up trimmer, so detailed precision or fine-tuning areas like sideburns aren't an option. That all said, we feel this model wasn't built for all of that. Its forte lies in its compact size and its simplicity, making it a perfect option for air travel, specifically business travel.

We felt the smaller dimensions of the Palm-Sized were amazing in their own right, but we found that it can be harder to hold and maneuver, especially if you have larger hands or limited dexterity. The outer shell is smooth and doesn't have a lot of grip space. It's still fairly easy to hold, but its size means there's a learning curve to finding the best positioning for a quality shave.

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Lastly, we absolutely loved the hard travel case; it's protective and has a great zipper. This razor also has a travel lock, so you won't arrive at your location with a dead battery. One notable complaint from our testers: the protective cap is weak. It attaches magnetically, and doesn't stay put. We feel it would provide better protection if it snapped securely into place.

Ease of Cleaning

Just like its minimal design, the cleaning process for the Palm-Sized is straightforward and simple. We had no complaints.

The cutting head captures discarded whiskers perfectly, making it easy to dump them in the trash. Most of the time, a basic rinse is all that is needed to clean up the blades and foils. Simply remove the top, rinse under running water, shake, and let it dry. A sturdy brush (included) makes quick work of any necessary deeper cleaning.

Should You Buy the Panasonic Arc5 Palm-Sized?

If you have a very dense whisker pattern or your face and sideburns require regular detailed sculpting, the Panasonic Arc5 Palm-Sized isn't your best choice. It doesn't have the needed accessories for trimming, and it falls a little short on run time (thicker whiskers may shorten it further). However, regardless of your shaving needs, if you like to travel, or you need to for work, this little guy is ideal for when you need to get cleaned up on the road. It can take care of the basics, leaving you presentable for a sales lunch or a weekend getaway. So if you travel, especially by plane, the Palm-Sized is our top consideration for portability.

What Other Electric Razors Should You Consider?

The Wahl Professional Vanish Shaver is another very basic razor on our list, but it's well-built and larger than the Palm-Sized, making it easier to hold. Likewise, the Andis ProFoil Lithium Titanium Foil has the same basic design as the Wahl model, but it's less expensive. However, if you simply need a pop-up trimmer and other accessories, you can't go wrong with the Braun Series 8 with PowerCase, which earned top accolades in our review.