Yo - check out our review of Panasonic's Arc 4 (ES8243AA). If you are in a rush, yes this is a bad boy is a buy.
I’m the son of a barber and a lifelong fan of the American barbershop game. I’ve researched the Panasonic Arc 4 in my quest for the ultimate electric shaver. Why? Because I want to help you decide if it is the right electric shaver for your facial hair game.
I recommend Panasonic's Arc 4 (ES8243AA) especially for guys who need to shave almost every day, want to get a really close shave, and have a realistic budget. This specific model from Panasonic delivers the power and precision of the Arc 4 without breaking your budget.
Ready to find out more? Scroll down now!
Why Does The Panasonic Arc 4 Matter?
Panasonic is a well-known brand for making excellent blades that provide a very close and clean shave, quick and easy. Whether used wet or dry, the grip of the products is steadfast and nice. Customers are always appreciative of the products designed by the brand.
Panasonic Arc 4 is a reasonably priced, durable shaver that provides a very clean and comfortable shave. One of the best features of the shaver is that it adjusts according to your face contours, chin, and neck. Hence, it allows a smooth shave for all people.
Is the Panasonic Arc 4 Good? Why?
In the Arc 4 line of Panasonic’s shavers, ES8243AA is a shaver that offers incredible quality and fits under a pocket-friendly budget. It provides numerous pros and cons, some of which have been listed and discussed below.
Pros | Cons |
Waterproof | Weaker than newer models |
5-minute quick charge option | Expensive |
Easy to clean | Not for long hair |
Lesser noise level |
In addition to the pros above, Panasonic Arc 4 is 100% waterproof, allowing the user to use the product dry or with gels. It is super easy to clean the product after using it too. You need to rinse it under running water with the vibration mode turned on. The blades and foils of the shaver will clean themselves automatically under the running water. How convenient is that!
The Panasonic Arc 4 (ES8243AA) is an excellent electric shaver that provides a shave with most of the advantages of Panasonic’s market-leading Arc 4 line-up. Best of all, it does this at a significantly lower price than other Arc 4 models. You can have a good quality shaver without breaking your bank!
Moreover, the shaver comes with many accessories: a charger protective cap, faux leather soft travel pouch, user manual, warranty cards, and leaflets.
Although the kit is a good package, it might seem basic to some individuals. Shavers offered by other brands come with a cleaning brush or a small lubricant bottle too. Hence, Panasonic Arc 4 tends to lose a point here
Four Blades Shaving System
Panasonic Arc 4 electric shaver consists of four slightly arched, ultra-sharp, stainless-steel Nanotech blades that provide clean and quick shaving.
The two outermost blades of the shaver are made from regular foil. One of the blades is made with finishing foil that cuts hair close to the skin. The other is a slit trimmer used to cut longer, flat-lying hair, providing men with a comfortable shaving experience. The best part of the shaver is its flexibility that adjusts to the face contour, neck, chin of every person.
As usual, there are also two inner blades that correspond to the regular outer foil while the other two are integrated into the foil block.
While performing research, it was also discovered that Panasonic’s electric shavers are known for their unique cutting technology. They provide the sharpest blades in the market and deliver the closest and cleanest shave.
The blades are all perfectly honed to a 30-degree angle which allows it to cut hair efficiently. The four cutters can also move independently; however, the range of motion is relatively short.
13000 CPM Motor
ES8243AA is fitted with a 13000 CPM motor which is still more powerful than many other shavers in the market but may not be the best if you have long or thick facial hair, or if your hair grows in different directions. The other shavers in the Arc4 lineup feature a 14000 CPM motor, so this is definitely a compromise in this model.
The user should consider buying this electric shaver if they have moderate to coarse facial hair. If you have long or thick hair, you will need to repeatedly go over one area, which can cause irritation. Users also have to be very careful about the turbo mode, which should only be used while cleaning the shaver. This mode when used on the skin may cause irritation since it is quite rough.
Moreover, despite featuring a 13000 CPM motor, the replacement parts for this Panasonic arc 4 are slightly more expensive than shavers with a 14000 CPM motor. The parts need to be changed once a year depending on how you use your shaver and how clean you keep it.
Unlike the rest of arc four variations, ES8243AA does not have a travel lock which can be a considerable drawback for people always traveling, be it a tourist or businessman.
Flexible Shaving Head
The entire head of this electric shaver is movable from right to left and easily adjusts according to your face shape. This allows better contact with skin, removing every small hair and giving you a smooth shave all over your face.
It also consists of a switch on the right side, allowing the user to lock the shaver in a fixed position when they require more precision. The shaver's body is well balanced and lightweight with a slim body, making it comfortable and easy to use and assuring a firm grip, especially when maneuvering around tight spots.
The Panasonic arc 4 ES8243AA has the slimmest shaving heads in the arc four range of shavers. Also, it comes in with a built-in pop-up trimmer that ensures the perfect finish to your mustache, beard, and sideburns.
Build Quality
When considering the build quality of electric shavers, Panasonic electric shavers serve you great quality at a reasonable price. Panasonic is a global brand with a track record of delivering the best quality. Even though the shaver is entirely made of plastic, Panasonic uses the best quality plastic, assuring solid quality that can hold off longer.
Panasonic Arc 4 (ES8243AA) is 100% waterproof. It has a rubber-like sleeve that covers the back and the sides of the shaver to ensure the user has a good grip even when it’s wet. The product can be used with gels, or you can use it dry.
In addition to good grip, an LED display is present on the front of the handle that shows battery power status, a charge indicator, a cleaning indicator, and a replacement reminder for blades and foil.
Cleaning this ES8243AA shaver is relatively easy and simple, as it is 100% waterproof. You can rinse the entire machine under running water and turn on the razor’s sonic vibration mode, which removes any stubborn gel and stubble easily, leaving the blades and foil fresh and clean.
Other Features
This electric shaver (ES8243AA) is an excellent product with many advantages; however, along with many benefits, there are some drawbacks and limitations of the Panasonic Arc 4 that you might need to consider.
Firstly, Arc 4s are no longer made in Japan. Second, there is a fair amount of confusion around the wide range of model names associated with this product line.
Some are going to be considerably more expensive than $100, and some will be surprisingly cheap. You need to know the specific product number to get the right product you want.
Lastly, in terms of limitations and drawbacks, I need to highlight that not everyone loves the look of Panasonic’s shavers.
What Are Guys Saying About Panasonic's Arc 4 (ES8243AA)?
If you scroll through comments on amazon about Panasonic’s Arc 4 (ES8243AA), most guys who have used it, love it. The shaver has gotten a whole lot of five star reviews. Not surprising because there are many things to love about this product!
The one feature that guys enjoy the most is that the product provides a very close and clean shave given the price. Many guys are even comparing Panasonic shavers to high-priced expensive shavers, and the Arc 4 (ES8243AA) seems to do the job as perfectly as the high-priced shavers.
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As the reviews states, the shaving experience is comfortable and clean, with no results of irritation.
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Another feature enjoyed a lot by the users is that the product can be used dry or wet. Some users prefer dry, and others prefer wet shaves. Well, this product can be used by both types of users.
However, along with positive comments, there are some customers not too happy with the product. Some users are complaining about the life of the shaver.
Despite some individuals having issues, most people are really happy with their purchases.
Overall, many users have shifted from Braun to Panasonic products. Braun has expensive products, but users seem to enjoy the features offered by Panasonic at a more reasonable price compared to Braun.
Summary
Panasonic is an established player that offers high-end features at a modest price.
The Panasonic ES8243AA electric shaver provides a very clean and close shave. It is rechargeable, and it gets fully charged in an hour, after which it can be used for 45 minutes. It also comes in with a 5-minute quick charge option.
The shaver's handle has an LED display that shows battery life and reminders for washing blades and foils. It is 100% waterproof and can be used dry or wet. In addition, cleaning the product is very easy too: just keep it under running water and turn on the turbo mode, the blades and foils will be fresh and renewed in no time without much effort.
In terms of drawbacks: users with oily or curly facial hair might not enjoy this product as much as other. It is most suitable for moderate or coarse facial hair that is relatively straight.
You may also feel that the Arc's 4 design is .. weird. It looks like a mushroom head, while the handle fits easily in your palm. The head is broad and round. Some guys don’t like this look
All in all, as long as you make sure that the product is suitable for your personal needs, you will not regret this purchase!