Our verdict: The Panasonic ARC5 Advanced 5-Blade Electric Shaver ES-LV97-K ranks 3rd of the 10 electric razors we compare, with 8.5 out of 10. It takes our Best Premium badge.
Panasonic ARC5 Advanced 5-Blade Electric Shaver ES-LV97-K
8.5/10Best Premium
The Panasonic ARC5 ES-LV97-K is a five-blade, wet/dry foil shaver that comes with an automatic cleaning and charging dock. It suits men with medium to heavy stubble who want a close shave and little hand cleaning.
Five blades and a linear motor rated up to 70,000 cross-cuts per minute
Head pivots in 16 directions, and the sensor adjusts power to beard density
Cleaning and charging dock keeps the foils clean and the battery topped up
Wet or dry use, with a pop-up trimmer for sideburns and mustaches
Keep in mind
Dock takes up counter space, and its cleaning solution is a running cost
Panasonic suggests new foils yearly and blades every two years, and the parts add up
Cordless run time is about 45 minutes per charge
Why the Panasonic ES-LV97-K scores 8.5
Each bar shows where it places among the 10 electric razors in this guide, so a full bar is 1st of 10. How happy owners are counts for most of the score.
How happy owners are2nd of 10
How many rated it4th of 10
How new it is9th of 10
Level with the Remington F5 Power Series Foil Shaver F5-5800
The Remington F5 Power Series Foil Shaver F5-5800 and the Panasonic ARC5 Advanced 5-Blade Electric Shaver ES-LV97-K score the same, so either is a safe pick. The Remington F5 Power Series Foil Shaver F5-5800 goes first because it has been rated by more owners.
About the Panasonic ES-LV97-K
The ES-LV97-K has five blades under one head: a slit blade for long hairs, two lift foils and two finishing foils. A linear motor drives them at up to 70,000 cross-cuts per minute. The head pivots in 16 directions to follow the jaw and neck. A sensor reads beard density 220 times a second and adjusts power 14 times a second, and the inner blades are honed to 30 degrees.
It works wet or dry and runs cordless only. The lithium-ion battery gives about 45 minutes of shaving on a charge of roughly an hour. A short quick charge gives enough for one shave. A pop-up trimmer on the head handles sideburns and mustaches.
The dock is what separates it from the cheaper ES-LV67, which is the same shaver without one. It mixes a concentrated cleaning solution with water, cleans and lubricates the foils, dries them with a fan and heater, and charges the shaver. A dock bought later will not work with the ES-LV67. The box also holds a charging cord, cleaning brush, protective cap and travel pouch.
What owners report about the Panasonic ES-LV97-K
We found little owner feedback for this exact model on pages we could open, so this is thin.
The independent reviewers who used it report very close shaves, a firm build and an easy cleaning routine with the dock. One liked how it handled hard stubble over several weeks. Comments on ShaverCheck raise worries about battery life over the years, but that is a few readers, not a clear pattern.
The recurring complaint is parts cost. Foils and inner blades are expensive, and the dock's solution is an ongoing purchase. Reviewers also found the head large and the power button easy to press by accident. One said it struggles with long hairs that lie flat, while another said it copes with them, so results may vary.
Who the Panasonic ES-LV97-K suits
It fits men who shave every day or every other day, have coarse or dense stubble, and like a foil shaver that does the cleaning itself. The dock suits a bathroom counter that has room for it and anyone who dislikes brushing out foils.
Look elsewhere if you want to spend little on upkeep: Panasonic recommends new foils yearly and inner blades every two years. The Remington F5 Power Series Foil Shaver F5-5800 is the cheaper foil option. For irritation-prone skin, the Braun Series 7 Electric Shaver with SmartCare Center, Stubbler, Trimmer 7185cc has a Gentle mode. If you want the same shaver without a dock, the Panasonic ARC3 3-Blade Men's Electric Shaver ES-LT67-A is a lower-priced Panasonic.
Questions about the Panasonic ES-LV97-K
What is the difference between the Panasonic ES-LV97-K and the ES-LV67?
The cleaning and charging dock. Reviewers describe the two shavers as identical otherwise, and a dock bought later will not work with the ES-LV67.
How often should I replace the Panasonic ES-LV97-K foils and blades?
Panasonic recommends a new foil every year and new inner blades every two years. Reviewers suggest replacing both together, and the combined set is part number WES9032P.
Is the Panasonic ES-LV97-K good for wet shaving?
Yes. It can be used wet or dry, with foam or gel, and it runs cordless only.
How long does the Panasonic ES-LV97-K battery last?
About 45 minutes of shaving per charge. A full charge takes roughly an hour, and a short quick charge gives enough for one shave.
Does the Panasonic ARC5 ES-LV97-K come with a cleaning station?
Yes. The dock cleans, lubricates and dries the foils with a cleaning solution mixed with water, and it charges the shaver.
Other electric razor picks
The other badge winners in our electric razors ranking.
Every score here comes from our ranking model; no editor sets the order. Too few review sites cover electric razors for their verdicts to lead, so this ranking is led by owners. It ranks products by how happy owners are, holding back any product few owners have rated until more agree. How many rated it and how new it is only settle close calls, and value for money earns its own badge rather than a higher place. We compared 17 models for this guide before settling on these ten.
Brands can't pay to be included or to move up. We last checked these picks in October 2026.
