The rumor mill has been suggesting for quite some time that Panasonic will eventually add yet another blade to their already impressive shavers in the Arc 5 lineup.
The official announcement was finally made in April 2021 and the new Panasonic Arc 6/Lamdash 6 will have a 6-blade shaving head.
There’s a lot to take in, so in this article, I will share my opinion on this new generation of shavers and only focus on the things that really matter to us, the end-users.
However, it will be more like a first impressions and model comparison post.
If you want to read everything about what’s like to use and own the Arc 6, you can do so in my in-depth Arc 6 review.
Table of Contents
Top 4 features that could be game-changers
Since the Panasonic Arc 6 will be their new flagship shaver, it will obviously be packed to the brim with the latest technologies and features.
Beard density sensors, fancy smart locking system, complex LED displays, fast linear-drive motors, etc. are all there and I won’t get too hung up on those.
I will be covering them in great detail once I get my hands on the shaver, but for now, I will only address 4 aspects that I consider to be particularly important and relevant.
1. A 6-blade shaving head: Revolutionary or overkill?
The highlight of the new Panasonic Arc/Lamdash 6 is of course THAT shaving head with 6 active cutting elements.
There are no gotchas here like Braun tried to do with their 4-blade Series 9, counting a metal bar as a fifth cutting element.
We really have 6: 4 foil cutters and 2 trimmer-like cutters.
Right in the middle of the shaving unit, there’s now a single so-called comfort roller.
The Arc 5 line has 2 such rollers, but with the addition of the 6th blade, they probably didn’t have enough room to squeeze in a second one.
The purpose of it is to make the shaving head glide easier on the skin, and it makes sense since the total surface of the cutting elements that come in contact with the skin is huge, so the friction will be significant.
The previous implementation with two rollers worked great, so we shall see how effective this one will be.
Getting back to that whooping number of blades, one can’t help but wonder if it was really necessary.
After all, we know that even 3 blades can be good enough if they’re done right.
The original Braun Series 7 for example is one of the most successful shavers of all time and it still holds its ground in 2023 against other razors with more blades.
In my opinion, adding yet another blade is undoubtedly a marketing decision, but that doesn’t mean it can’t work well.
They could have probably gotten the same performance with only 5 blades, but that wouldn’t have made the new shavers stand out from the countless Arc 5 revisions of the previous years.
That said, there are some rather significant drawbacks that come with a very complex shaving head like this one.
First of all, the sheer size of the head is something you’ll need to get used to. Secondly, the replacement foils and blades will probably be very expensive in typical Panasonic fashion.
And considering that the current replacement parts for the Arc 5 aren’t exactly cheap, you can expect to shell out some serious money for the 6-blade heads.
2. Completely redesigned cutters for capturing long hairs
While the foil elements of the Arc 6 are nothing new — two finishing foils cut short hairs at skin level and the other two supposedly lift and cut short flat-lying hairs — the true novelty is represented by the new slit trimmers.
Cutting long hairs, especially if they grow in different directions or stay flat on the skin, was always the Achilles heel of Panasonic shavers.
The engineers were definitely aware of that and with the Lamdash 6, they finally made something about it.
Precisely, we have not one, but two slit trimmers designed specifically with that in mind.
They have a distinct gold color as a result of a Titanium Nitride coating, similar to what Braun did with the second generation of the Series 9 line.
Panasonic explicitly mentions that the new blade arrangement is now capable of capturing up to 4 times more long hairs in a stroke compared to the previous generation.
The new 6-blade Lamdash shavers should also be more effective at shaving the hairs right under the chin, usually a problem area for many users.
I’m definitely intrigued by the completely redesigned trimmer and the addition of a second one because as I mentioned previously, it’s the first significant update I’ve seen in this regard.
3. Independently moving blades
In addition to the flexing capabilities of the shaving head itself, having independently moving cutters is nothing out of the ordinary.
However, Panasonic always had an issue with properly implementing this feature.
Precisely, it would take A LOT of force to press and move the cutters and during normal use, when you have to apply only the slightest pressure, the cutters would basically stay in the same position.
Moreover, the range of motion was too short compared to Braun for example and this, along with the larger heads meant that you had to work a bit harder in order to keep all the cutters flat on the skin while shaving various areas.
This problem went on for years and it was the same with all Panasonic models, regardless of price point.
Well, I’m glad to see that they finally did something about this and completely redesigned the system. Panasonic calls it an Adhesion float blade mechanism and promises a smooth and effortless flexing action.
I am probably more excited about this part than anything else and I’m really looking forward to seeing how well it performs compared to the previous system (that was honestly pretty bad).
In addition to the 6 cutters that can move independently, the Arc 6/Lamdash 6 comes with a really impressive shaving head that can flex in 5 directions.
It’s supposed to be a refined version of their previous system, but I’m still really skeptical about it, to be honest.
In my experience, as impressive as it is as an engineering feat, that one just proved to be annoying during use, making the head really wobbly and not really helping me to get a better shave.
I am still convinced that a proper implementation of a back and forth moving head, with decent range of motion, would be a much better solution. Braun gets this right with the older Series 7 and the Series 9.
4. USB charging
I am a big fan of electronics that use a USB Type-C charging port and I think all electric shaver manufacturers should adopt it so we can use our existing phone chargers.
This would be so much more convenient when traveling and some brands are already doing it.
Unfortunately, Panasonic still went with their proprietary port with the new Arc 6, but at least they included something really neat with the range-topping model: a hard travel case with USB charging.
This is really great and I absolutely love the concept. Sadly, it’s not fitted with a battery, so it will only charge the shaver when you plug it into an outlet.
It would be an ideal travel setup as you get a practical and compact case that protects your shaver, but you can also plug your phone’s charger in the USB port and charge your shaver.
Unfortunately, this case only comes with the high-end ES-LS9AX model and I don’t think it’ll be available separately.
Also, if they do sell it as an individual item, it will only work with the models that come with a cleaning station as those shavers have the three contact pins on the back needed for charging.
Let’s now take a look at the different models and the differences between them.
Panasonic Arc 6 (Lamdash 6) model comparison
Currently, there are only 3 models available in Japan and in the table below you can check out the most important differences between them.
| Model | ES-LS9AX/ES-CLS9AX | ES-LS9N/ES-CLS9N | ES-LS5A |
| Cleaning station | Yes | Yes | No |
| Wet/dry Use | Yes | No | Yes |
| Waterproof (IPX 7) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Operation | Cordless only | Cordless & Corded | Cordless only |
| USB case | Yes | No | No |
| Battery level indicator | 20 levels | 20 levels | 5 levels |
| Travel Lock | Smart Lock | Smart Lock | Conventional |
There are two models that come with automatic cleaning and charging stations (ES-LS9AX, ES-LS9N) and one that doesn’t (ES-LS5A). The latter is also the cheapest one because of this.
Also, all the shavers come in black trim, so you’ll sometimes find them listed with a -K at the end of the model name: ES-LS9AX-K, ES-LS9N-K, ES-LS5A-K.
All three Lamdash 6 variations are waterproof, so they can be manually cleaned with water.
However, only the ES-LS9AX and ES-LS5A are suitable for wet/dry use and as a safety precaution, they can only be operated cordless.
The ES-LS9N is a dry-only shaver and will also work with the cord plugged in.
The two models that come with cleaning stations also feature the so-called Smart lock function that automatically locks the power button and unlocks it when you grip the shaver in your hand.
The ES-LS5A comes with a standard electronic travel lock, activated by pressing and holding the power button.
Also, the ES-LS9AX and ES-LS9N are fitted with a battery level indicator that shows the battery remaining charge in increments of 5%, while the budget ES-LS5A only displays that information in 20% steps.
Being the range-topping model, the ES-LS9AX includes the slick USB charging case. The ES-LS9N comes with a basic hard travel case and with the ES-LS5A, you’re only getting a cloth pouch.
Performance-wise, all three models are absolutely the same, so the differences are only related to the included accessories and a few features that don’t affect the shaving performance in any way, like the travel lock or battery display.
All Arc 6 razors use the same motors and foils/blades.
Availability
Panasonic released the new Lamdash 6 line in April 2021, which is a bit unusual as they generally announce new shavers in late summer.
By the way, Lamdash 6 is what they officially call the shavers in Japan, but we’ll generally refer to them as Arc 6 as that’s way more familiar.
And at least for now, they are only available in Japan and can be pre-ordered on Amazon.jp (shipping started on June 6, 2021).
The last 3 or 4 revisions of the Arc 5 were never released outside Japan and it would be interesting to see what they decide with the new Arc 6/Lamdash 6.
UPDATE January 2022: Panasonic will be launching the Arc 6 globally in April 2022 (press release). There will be two wet/dry models available in North America called ES-LS9A (with a cleaning station) and ES-LS8A (no cleaning station).
UPDATE May 2022: The two global models, ES-LS9A and ES-LS8A will be launched with a small delay in June 2022.
As expected, the price is very high and it’ll probably be the same in the case of the replacement foils and blades.
The cheapest one is of course the Panasonic ES-LS5A that doesn’t include the cleaning station (and to be honest, you don’t really need it) and it’ll probably be the pick of the range.
It’s a shame that you won’t be able to use it with the USB case in case they’ll sell it separately.
Panasonic Arc 6/Lamdash 6 Pro (revision B)
The first revision of the new Arc 6/Lamdash 6 line came even sooner than I was expecting it.
In April 2022, the so-called Lamdash 6 Pro models showed up on Panasonic Japan.
The differences compared to the original Arc 6 models are virtually non-existent.
Some of the new Lamdash 6 Pro models feature a B instead of A in the model name (hence the revision B), while others use a P: ES-LS9BX, ES-LS5B, ES-LS9P, ES-LS5P.
The Pro models use the exact same shaving foil as the original Arc 6/Lamdash 6 called ES9600.
In fact, the only new feature appears to be this so-called bubble-making mode available on the wet/dry models that is supposed to lather a face wash or liquid soap so you can wet shave.
Absolutely everything about the technical side of things in this new Lamdash 6 Pro line is the same.
There are 4 different models available, suitable for wet/dry and dry only use. All of them are however waterproof and can be rinsed with water.
These shavers will be sold exclusively in Japan, at least for now and you will be able to order one starting in June 2022.
Here is a comparison table of the 4 Panasonic Lamdash 6 (Arc 6) Pro revision B models:
| Model | Use | Cleaning station | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
1. ES-LS9BX | wet/dry (cordless only) | Yes | 20 levels battery indicator, USB charging case, bubble making mode, smart lock |
2. ES-LS9P | dry only (cordless & corded) | Yes | 20 levels battery indicator, semi-hard case, smart lock |
3. ES-LS5B | wet/dry (cordless only) | No | 5 levels battery display, textile pouch, bubble making mode |
4. ES-LS5P | dry only (cordless & corded) | No | 5 levels battery display, textile pouch |
The actual shaving performance will be identical among these models and I dare to say that it will also be identical to the original Arc 6/Lamdash 6 shavers.
Since the most important aspects that directly affect the way a shaver performs (cutting block, motor, flexing head, beard density sensors) have remained the same, the performance of the Pro/revision B Arc 6 will not be an improvement over the original generation.
In fact, apart from the change in the model names, it’s really hard for me to point out any differences.
Even the color of the new shavers is the same (black).
So if you already bought an Arc 6 and you’re worried that you’re missing out on anything, you’re really not.
Panasonic Arc 6/Lamdash 6 Pro (revision C)
As expected, in 2023 Panasonic launched another incremental revision of the Arc 6 family.
The latest Lamdash 6 Pro models are part of a revision C and it’s one of the most insignificant updates I’ve seen so far.
Precisely, the only changes are related to the model names (there’s now a C instead of a B — for example, ES-LS9CX instead of ES-LS9BX) and the beard density sensor is slightly more sensitive.
Precisely, it can read the beard density 233 times a second, while previously it could only do it 220 times a second.
That’s really it. I think it’s safe to assume that these will perform exactly the same.
Below you’ll find a comparison table with the differences between the Arc 6/Lamdash 6 Pro 2023 models which will be available from June 2023.
| Model | Use | Cleaning station | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
1. ES-LS9CX | wet/dry (cordless only) | Yes | 20 levels battery indicator, USB charging case, bubble making mode, smart lock |
2. ES-LS9Q | dry only (cordless & corded) | Yes | 20 levels battery indicator, semi-hard case, smart lock |
3. ES-LS5C | wet/dry (cordless only) | No | 5 levels battery display, textile pouch, bubble making mode |
4. ES-LS5Q | dry only (cordless & corded) | No | 5 levels battery display, textile pouch |
Alternatives you can buy right now
Considering the limited availability and price of the latest Panasonic Arc 6, we can conclude that it’s not really a viable option right now for users in Europe or North America.
The only option is to import one from Japan (like I did) as the global models are yet to be released.
I’m sure there will be more buying options available later on, but for now, I think we should consider some of the older 5-blade Panasonic shavers instead.
That said, you can’t really go wrong with the ES-LV65 or ES-LV67 (whichever you can get cheaper).
They’re still fantastic performers in 2023 and even though they have only 5 blades, that’ll be more than enough even for someone with coarse facial hair.
Of course, the issue of capturing longer hairs is present and you’ll have to shave more often in order to get the best results. If your beard grows slower, you can get away with a few days between shaving sessions.
Finally, there’s the newer ES-LV9Q or ES-LV6Q and those two are particularly appealing options for users in the UK/Europe as Panasonic never released them in the USA.
They come with updated outer foils with the two comfort rollers and are a bit more comfortable than the aforementioned ES-LV65 and ES-LV67. But other than that, they shave pretty much the same.
Finally, we have the Arc 6 models from the original revision A generation that will shave just as the latest Japanese Lamdash 6 Pro models.
Precisely, these are the ES-LS8A and ES-LS9A and are available in the USA and Europe as well.
Conclusion
To say that I’m excited about shaving with the Panasonic Arc 6 would be an understatement.
And not because it has 6 blades, but particularly for the improvements made to the cutters that catch longer/flat-lying hairs and for the redesign of the floating cutters mechanism.
I am pretty optimistic about their performance and I will of course be reviewing them in great detail and also compare their shaving performance to the older 5-blade models.
Update: the in-depth review is now online.
UPDATE: We only got a Series 9 Pro with 4 blades, just as the regular Series 9.
Over to you now: Are you excited about these new Panasonic razors? Will you be buying one?
If you have any questions, make sure to post them in the comments below and please consider subscribing to stay up to date on this topic.
Featured image credit: panasonic.jp
is this one better than braun Series 9?
I am going to buy braun 9 but I am afraid they will release new series this year uh.. maybe with five or six blades.
what do you think? If you were me would you buy or wait?
Hi Peter,
I’m afraid I cannot answer that question since I haven’t shaved with it yet. But from previous experience, I am pretty certain that it’ll shave closer than the Series 9. Even the older Arc 5 models are better than the Series 9 in that regard, so I expect the Arc 6 to be at least as good. It remains to be seen if it can match the Series 9 in terms of comfort and its ability to shave longer hairs. I honestly don’t know when Braun is planning to release a new Series 9/10 generation, but the launch of the Arc 6 should give them a nudge, especially if it won’t be limited to Japan.
The Series 9 has the advantage of being cheaper and widely available, you can easily buy it right now. It’s a really good shaver for men with sensitive skin, it can handle longer, wiry hairs very well, and shaves close enough for most users. But it’s not quite as good as the top of the line Panasonic shavers. Also, I prefer Braun cleaning stations to Panasonic simply because you can remove the cleaning cartridge and store it, so they’re a lot more practical.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
As you may know, I am excited. Thank you for your excellent summary! I cannot wait to try this new shaver. I will buy it as soon as it becomes available or travel to Japan if travel is permitted to buy it there. Looking forward to reading your comprehensive review!
Hey Vasyl,
Thank you for your comment, much appreciated. I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts on it if you manage to get one. Hopefully I’ll manage to find a Japanese vendor willing to ship to Europe as well.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu, if the ArcG shaves anything like the push lawnmower style animation in the promotional materials, it’s going to be pretty amazing. That video shows it mowing down pretty much everything in sight versus the Arc5. Alas, slick marketing is no substitute for your upcoming thorough review of the new Arc6. But if I were to have to made a decision right now, I’m leaning toward getting the one without the cleaning station despite my desire for the USB charging case.
Hey Matt,
Thank your comment, much appreciated. I’m also debating whether to get the ES-LS5A or splash out on the ES-LS9AX. Normally, I would get the former as it’s really easy to clean and quite a bit cheaper, but that case is just so practical when traveling. Anyway, I’m getting carried away here as I can’t pre-order any of them at the moment.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
OT
Hi, can you help me out? I can not choose between Panasonic ES-LV67 and Panasonic ES-CV51… I can get both of them for very similiar price. Which one is better overall? Thank you!
OT
Addition to the question above about choosing between ES-LV67 and ES-CV51 – I intend to use one of the shavers to shave my head every day… I guess ES-LV67 is gonna be better due to its flexible shaving head. Am I right? Or should I go with ES-CV51 due to its better shaving comfort.
Thanks!
Hi Adam,
For shaving the head, I think having the two rollers in addition to the foil would give the ES-CV51 a slight advantage, especially when shaving the back of your head. The compact size and reduced weight of the shaver are also a plus. I personally don’t see a significant advantage from the flexing head of the ES-LV67 as it’s a bit too springy and wobbly and I don’t feel it helps much. That said, the outer foil of the ES-CV51 will also fit the ES-LV67, so you can actually upgrade it when it’s time to replace it. I would normally recommend the ES-LV67 since it’s usually cheaper, but in this case the compact shaver also makes a lot of sense.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
You may have noticed the new Philips Series 9 shaver:
https://www.amazon.de/-/en/dp/B0937HFDMY/?coliid=I1DUS4M5VQG0F6&colid=EQRBDON5UXOF&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
Hope to read your review when you have a chance.
Hi Vasyl,
I definitely plan on doing that soon; in the meantime I’ve been testing the new Series 7000 with the same angular design of the shaving heads. The review should be published during the next few days.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Looking forward to reading your review, Ovidiu!
Hi Ovidiu,
I got a 6-blaldes Panasonic and you should get it too. In short, simply amazing.
Cheers,
Vasyl
Hi Vasyl,
That only makes me even more eager to get one. Can you please tell me where did you buy it from? Amazon jp will not ship to my location, unfortunately.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
It is too early for Amazon Japan, it could take about 6 months them to start shipping this shaver. I used a proxiservice fromjapan.co.jp. I could not recommend them more, great service and fast shipment. I got my package faster than ordering from my local Amazon. Looking forward to reading your review.
Awesome, thank you, I will check them out.
I have tried fromjapan but they refused taking an order for this product for an address outside Japan. They kindly replied that the product had a wireless charging therefore it’s not permitted for selling abroad
Does it give a closer shave than a Arc 5 an is it a big difference?
Hi Ovidiu,
Since I live in Japan, I managed to purchase one on Amazon JP. I had to keep an eye on it for sometime till it got a slight price drop over the weekend and Amazon JP was selling it like a hot cake! Within an hour, it sold undoubtedly over 10 units and one was my order scheduling for next delivery.
Panasonic Japan is offering 10,000 JPY cash back on the purchase until end of July I believe. This is only eligible for the two models that come with cleaning station and only for those who reside in Japan.
Well, lets get on to the exciting part! I didn’t shave for a couple of days and been waiting for Amazon delivery. Finally it arrived on Sunday evening.
First impression: I got the packaging opened. It comes with a black cardboard packaging written “CRAFT BLACK” on inside cover. Pretty much everything within the packaging is in black colour!
The unit comes with a leather carrying case – I purchased the non USB charging model. The shaver is wrapped nicely within the leather carrying case.
The shaver itself is Made in Japan but the charger and the cleaning station are Made in China.
Cleaning station looks identical to previous models with an exception that it comes in black colour.
First shave:
I tried the shaver with a couple of days worth of facial hair growth. I’ve thick facial hair.
Speaking of noise level: less or more same as previous Arc 5 models. I should comment that I’ve never had an experience to feel such a massive shaving head on my skin! it takes you some time to get used to it. Since it comes with two cutters, the shaver could manage to do the shave quicker than what I initially thought. However, I was able to smell some burning odor during the shave, which probably caused by the density of my beard.
The feeling was quite comfortable and the shaver managed to do an outstanding job.
First charge:
It surprisingly gets to a full charge quicker than other shavers I had in the past! I wonder if the charging mechanism is adopted from USB C fast charging. The shaver display gets slightly warm during charging.
Second shave:
Hard to say but it didn’t impress me too much! I believe the older models which come with 2 rollers glide slightly better on skin. The impression I got from the second shave in terms of moving the shaver on skin was pretty much similar to older models that didn’t use to come with rollers. The single roller in the middle still helps. I’m sure it would be a tough job to shave without a roller.
I haven’t tried the cleaning station yet, so I cannot comment on that yet.
I doubt this shaver gets debut overseas for the time being or possibly it is not even manufactured for overseas market due to the high price and logistics or any other marketing reasons.
I hope this helps. I’m happy to share some photos taken from the shaver during my unboxing.
Thanks,
Steven
Hi Steven,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience, much appreciated. Those are some really excellent insights. The fact that it doesn’t glide as easily as the older models is not surprising; not only does it come with a single roller, but there’s a sixth shaving element that increases the surface area that comes in contact with the skin, so the friction increases as well. Also, foil shavers tend to glide easier when your beard is longer, so that may also explain why your second shave wasn’t as good.
I also think that it won’t be released outside of Japan. Panasonic only officially released the C revision of the Arc worldwide 5 and North America for example didn’t even get that one. So it will likely be just a niche, premium shaver with a premium price tag. But I’m really looking forward to trying it.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
My pleasure, happy I could share my experience with the new Panasonic Lamdash 6.
I’m going to give it a 3rd run tomorrow morning and probably will come up with some updates regarding the shaving performance.
I was actually at the shops tonight here in Tokyo. Panasonic put a massive display showcasing their new shaver. I also had a chance to visualise the charging case. I can definitely say, it’s such a massive carrying case for a shaver ever made! I wonder if anyone would be willing to take it on a trip. The charging case is made in Japan, I checked on that also.
Back to the shaving head, I wonder if 6 blades physically are in contact with skin all the time. I honestly don’t believe the entire shaving head with 6 blades ever touch corners and neck area! Probably 3 to 4 blades can reach the corners. I was also reading the Japanese reviews, some people complain it’s hard to shave under nose area, in my case it all depends on your expectation. You can still get along easily under the nose area but not with 6 blades at once.
Speaking of overseas purchase, I honestly think it’s not worth to invest that much on this shaver assuming you’re not eligible for a cash back plus spending on the shipping fees and all that. I believe owning one after the cash back would make sense but without cash back plus spending on the postage fee wouldn’t probably be an idea option. Perhaps keeping an eye on the stock and wait the cash back period over, I wonder if the price will drop down after the cash back eligibility period.
Thanks,
Steven
Awesome, looking forward to the update.
From the press images, the charging case didn’t seem excessively large, but if it’s that massive, I would also think twice about bringing it on a trip.
That is absolutely correct regarding the shaving head — only two, probably three foils will actually touch the skin when shaving below the nose for example. I was actually thinking about the cheeks as in my case that’s the area with the most gliding issues.
I will still get a Lamdash 6 because I really enjoy electric shavers (Panasonic in particular), but I think most users will be better off with a second generation Arc 5 for a fraction of the price. And they can even upgrade the foils to the newer ones with the two rollers.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
I did another round of shaving this morning with new Lamdash 6. Overall experience was much better than yesterday! Probably, it takes some time skin gets used to the new shaver with 6 blades at a time.
I think an Arc 5 would still be an ideal option in terms of price for regular consumers. But if Panasonic stands out as a brand and you’ve the budget for this latest model, it’s probably worth to get one and give it a try.
Overall experience after using the new shaver for the 3rd time is positive. Putting Arc 5 and Arc 6 (Lamdash 6) side by side, I believe it takes longer to adapt the skin to new model.
Thanks,
Steven
Awesome, thank you again for taking the time to share this, Steven. Looking forward to trying it myself.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Steven, I envy you, you can claim a rebate. I urge you to try wet shaving with a shaving cream, the shaver provides the best possible shave shaving wet. I agree with your assessment of the charging case, heavy and bulky, not sure who would want to take it on a trip. The noise level stays the same for a shaver, but a cleaning station is actually noisier and a bit bigger than the previous generation. I submitted my review to Amazon Japan, but I bought my shaver at the different store, not sure they are going to publish it.
Hi Vasyl,
I haven’t started using the cleaning station yet. Most likely will set it up over the weekend. Panasonic sells a cleaning liquid which looks like dishwashing detergent, I’ve been cleaning the shaver with that under tap water and apparently it cleans quite well. I also used this cleaning solution with Braun shavers and the outcome was pretty decent.
True, I wonder what was the idea behind this massive and bulky charging case. It looks quite well made and not that heavy (case by its own), but I don’t believe it’s going to be a perfect accompanying item on a trip since it’s oversize and bulky.
Amazon JP is out of stock with the shaver since last time I checked. I purchased mine directly from Amazon JP and not from a third party seller.
Thanks,
Steven
Hi Ovidiu and Steven,
Amazon Japan published my review in English. You can check it here:
https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/dp/B08ZNJ9F4L/?coliid=I1OHK6DBIKYQER&colid=2TTHR3ZW86LQ8&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it&th=1
Happy to discuss.
Cheers,
Vasyl
Hi Vasyl,
Excellent review, especially the part where you compare it to the previous 5-blade Panasonic models — I think that part is particularly important for the potential buyer. I’m sure the Arc 6 is an absolute beast when used with shaving cream. A USB-C charging port on the shaver itself would have been the icing on the cake. But just like you said, until then, the compact 5-blade Arc 5 is the one to get as a travel shaver if the budget allows it.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you, Ovidiu, for your kind words. Looking forward to reading your reviews for Arc 6 and Philips 9 series, which would be more detailed and excellent, as always.
Hi Vasyl,
An excellent review indeed!
I also wonder what Braun got to come up with. Since 2014 when it debut S9, there hasn’t been any new series in the range, I’m address S10 potentially.
Steven
Hi Steven,
Thank you for your kind words. Totally agree with you, I am also curious to see what Braun brings to the table. However, I am so happy with my new Panasonic that I lost all interest in trying new shavers, at least for a little while.
HI ,
HOW I CAN GET THIS PURCHASE OR DELIVERED FROM JAPAN TO UAE.
AS I NEED TO BUY THIS 4 SET .
PLEASE HELP ME OUT WITH THIS. ANY RECOMENDATION OR LINK WILL BE APPRECIATE.
THANK YOU!
Hi Amit,
Try fromjapan.co.jp, they’re a proxy service specialized in shipping products from Japan (that normally cannot be delivered overseas).
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092JFDJM5?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details
I just got the ES-LS5A and its Amazing. My only concern is replacement blades which i won’t need for a while but I do not see them for sale anywhere. I am also finally upgrading from a ES-LV61-A Arc5 from 9 years ago which is starting to not hold a charge.
I ordered mine from amazon.co.jp and use forward2me.com to import it. It was significantly cheaper than buying from a reseller that imports them. I ordered it on Friday, Delivered to forward2me on Saturday. They shipped it Monday and I got it on Wednesday. If I had ordered it first thing on Monday I might have gotten it the same week.
Hi Dan,
That’s awesome, many thanks for taking the time to share this. I will try forward2me as well, hopefully they’ll be able to ship it to me.
The replacement foil and blades will certainly be released sooner than later.
By the way, impressive performance from your old Arc 5, those were really reliable models.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
You can purchase the replacement blades on Amazon Japan for ¥9,918
Here’s the direct link: https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/Panasonic-ES9600-Replacement-Blade-Shaver/dp/B093BSHDWM/ref=sr_1_11?dchild=1&keywords=%E3%83%91%E3%83%8A%E3%82%BD%E3%83%8B%E3%83%83%E3%82%AF%E5%88%83+ES-CLS9N+blade&qid=1626653355&sr=8-11
That’s the cheapest in the market which you can get. The retail price is around ¥12,000
Hope this helps.
Steven
Thank you for the link, Steven. That was to be expected, to be honest as Panasonic foils have always been pricey. And this one is the most complex yet.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Dan,
Did you get it shipped to the USA? How much did forward2me.com charge you for shipping it to you? Thanks.
Khan.
The new Panasonic arc 6 is going to be on Amazon on sale April 20, 22 so you’ll be able to buy the new replacement blade for the new arc 6 soon.
Is it a big marginal difference between a Arc6 an Arc5 when it comes to closeness?
Thanks for the info. Can you use the ES-LS9AX for wt shaving if you use it cordless only?
Sorry, I meant the ES-LS9N. Thanks.
Hi Khan,
Thank you for your comment. I cannot recommend using a shaver against the manufacturer’s explicit instructions. However, some users have been shaving with gel/shaving cream cordlessly with those models since they’re waterproof. It is entirely your responsibility if you decide to shave wet.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you Ovidiu. I understand the issue but if they are waterproof, I will certainly try using them with gel. Really appreciate your insights and reviews.
Regards,
Khan.
I’ve been in the market for a new shaver to replace an aging Braun Series 7. Love that shaver. Had a chance to try a Panasonic Arc3 for free and wasn’t too crazy about it, but when I saw this Lamdash 6 in this article it made me curious because everyone seems to rave about the higher end Panasonic models. I picked one up from eBay as it was cheaper than the online stores I could find and some sellers accept offers too. This thing is fantastic, super close shave, not uncomfortable, no irritation. Just a joy to use. Glad I took a gamble on it, just hope I don’t have a problem finding replacement cartridges and such in the future.
Awesome, many thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. High-end Panasonic shavers like the Arc 5 or the Arc 6 are phenomenal in terms of sheer power and shaving performance. When switching from an older or less capable shaver the difference is usually night and day.
Happy shaving!
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you for your insights. I have purchased several Panasonic Arc 5s based on your reviews and I am very satisfied with them. I especially enjoy the close shave. I also use Tabac electric pre-shave Should I purchase the Arc 6? I am looking on Ebay at the Panasonic LAMDASH ES-LS9AX-K. Thank you for your blog.
Hi Eli,
Thank you for the comment and for being a reader of this website. I am yet to test the Arc 6, so I’m afraid I cannot recommend it (at least for the moment) over the Arc 5. I’m not saying that it won’t be better, I’m just not certain how much of an improvement it will be, especially since you’ve been happy with the performance of your Arc 5s. I will be receiving mine in a few weeks as I had to import it from Japan via a proxy service.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi,
Great site, great info on the ARC/Lamdash 6 line above.
I actually found shavercheck.com looking for a replacement/fix for my RC9-22 cleaning station I use with my ES-LV97 shaver (more on that in a minute).
Sorry if this is a silly question, but how much compatibility is there between replacement foils for the different ARC 5 models and between ARC 6 foils and ARC 5 shavers?
For instance, would it be possible to replace the current 5 blade foil on my ES-LV97 with a 6 blade ES9600 or are the underlying connections on the shaver too different? They look very similar from pictures on Amazon, but can’t find pictures from different angles to really tell.
What about a 5 blade ES9040 on a ES-LV97?
— Other Topic —
Like I mentioned above, I’m having trouble with my RC9-22 cleaning station that came with my ES-LV97. Actually, I’ve had two of them fail in the same way. When I press the clean button, the red Status light comes on and it will only operate in Dry mode.
Has anyone found a fix for this issue with a RC9-22 or similar cleaning station model? I suspect the second one may have failed when I was changing cleaning fluid and overfilled the reservoir slightly. When I lowered the unit back down to the base, I suspect some of cleaning fluid came into contact with something it shouldn’t have.
One last question (I promise). I see there is an RC9-23 that comes with the ARC/Lamdash 6 shavers. Does anyone know if Panasonic made any improvements to the RC9-23 that might make them less susceptible to failing?
Hi Brett,
Thank you for your comment, much appreciated.
The ES9600 foil (that comes with the Arc 6) will NOT fit an Arc 5. The size and shape of the foil frame are different. On the other hand, the ES9040 will fit your ES-LV97 perfectly. You can check out my Arc 5 foils guide as well for more details.
Can’t say with certainty if the RC9-23 represents an improvement, in my opinion it’s pretty much the same, but slightly modified to fit the Arc 6.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks so much Ovidiu,
Just a couple of updates.
I can confirm the RC9-23 appears to be an almost exact match to the RC9-22. The exceptions being the color of the outside shell being black instead of silver and the “status” light of the RC9-22 being changed to “check” on the RC9-23.
Everything else appears to be identical – the cleaning fluid basins and power cords can be interchanged, the well for the shaving head doesn’t appear to have been modified at all for the ARC 6 units.
The reason I have a RC9-23 is that my second RC9-22 had failed as mentioned in my comment above and the RC9-23 was the only alternative I could find on EBay in the US. For some reason, there was one for sale in New Jersey…?
I think I read that you aren’t a fan of the cleaning stations, but I really enjoy how they leave the shaver smelling fresh and clean for each shave. Even so, having to purchase two replacement cleaning stations was making me rethink just how important that aspect was.
As luck would have it, I stumbled across a fix for the RC9-22 units being stuck in “dry only mode” the morning after the RC9-23 arrived. I’d been cleaning my razor in the sink and using the cleaning station to charge/dry after. It had been about a week of running in dry only mode when it suddenly started working normally again.
I was able to confirm the fix worked on my other “broken” RC9-22 unit. Running it in “dry only mode” for about the same amount of cycles got it back to working again. My theory is that however the cleaning units sensed that the fluid had been over filled, they required a number of dry cycles to be run to dry things out prior to allowing the pump to work again.
Hopefully someone in the same situation can save themselves from buying a collection of cleaning stations like I now possess.
Thanks,
Brett
Brett, thank you so much for the follow-up.
That’s quite an interesting solution and I’m glad you managed to fix both your stations. Definitely useful for someone facing the same issue.
I do think Panasonic stations are really good, I just don’t really use them as often. I buy and test lots of shavers and in the case of Braun cleaning stations for example, I can simply remove the cleaning cartridge, put the cap back on and store them somewhere safe until next time. I can’t do that with a Panasonic station and the shavers are also very easy to clean with tap water and liquid soap in less than a minute. But in other circumstances, I would probably rely on the Panasonic stations more.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Ovidiu,
Arc 6 (9AX) on the way as well (Christmas!) – sounds like some improvements in speed and comfort, with the possible downside of maneuvering the larger head compared to my Arc 5. Will be very interested in your review and impressions!
Allan, that is awesome, can’t wait to hear your thoughts on it.
I’ve been using mine (LS5A) for almost a month now and it’s a fantastic shaver. I don’t think you’ll have any trouble getting used to the larger head, to me it seems very similar during use to an Arc 5. The Arc 6 on the other hand feels more refined, quieter, it vibrates less, the head moves smoother and it’s the most comfortable Panasonic I’ve ever used. The closeness is top-notch, but on par with the Arc5 to be honest. I personally would still grab a Series 9 to shave 3 or 4 days beard; adding another slit trimmer just didn’t make that much of a difference compared to the revision G Arc 5. Nevertheless, amazing shaver for anyone that shaves regularly. I’ll be posting the review as well, hopefully pretty soon.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Looking forward to using! Santa is wrapping for me, but a couple of things I noticed right away – the head is only 4mm wider than the Arc 5, definitely a usable difference. And the case, unlike the Braun case, only allows you to charge the shaver plugged in – there’s no battery to store a charge and eliminate a cord (and it’s a fairly sizeable case to just be a charging pass-through). It does, however, allow you to use a USB C cord without lugging around the proprietary Panasonic cord. So far, impressed with design and appearance!
Hi Allan,
Definitely a missed opportunity there for Panasonic with the case. Then again, Braun decided to put their port instead of a USB-C on their power case. But nevertheless, I think we’re on the right track with these cases. Hope you’ll enjoy shaving with the Arc 6!
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Just to lead, I have to say this is probably the best electric shaver (9AX) I have used – which includes a pretty extensive list of Braun, Philips Norelco and Panasonic razors (with an occasional Remington thrown in). The head is massive – but as noted before, only about 4mm difference in width compared to the Arc 5, which is also massive, and it seems as maneuverable (to me). Once you adapt to the larger head (Arc 5 or 6), it’s really no more of a challenge than the latest Series 9 heads from Braun, at least to me. And one advantage to the new Arc 6 head IMO is that each side of the head (on either side of the center Comfort Roller) is more or less a complete head – two outboard foils with a central cutter, very similar to Braun’s Series 3-7 heads, which have always been very effective. And the full Arc 6 head is unlikely to be in complete contact with most of your face any given time (unless you have a VERY large face!), so generally you’ll be shaving with part of the head anyway. In the Arc 5, you only have two foils on either side of the dividing central trimmer (and the flat center cutter likely never contacts some parts if your face), so I actually find the Arc 6 head slightly more effective at trimming longer hairs. The head on the Arc 6 seems less “wobbly” than it’s predecessors, making it actually easier to maneuver and less prone to “overshaving.” The sound and vibration are similar between the Arc 5/6, which I find actually more pleasant than the “paint mixer” vibration of the Brauns, which to me are lower-pitch noisier than the Arcs, particularly the new Series 9 Pro. I do prefer the foils for closeness of the shave, but the Norelco rotaries beat out any foil for the least “fuss” when shaving with regard to vibration and noise – my 9000 Series Philips is whisper-quiet by comparison to either Braun or Panasonic.
Truth in advertising, I shave exclusively wet (soap and a brush) with any electric except when traveling, so I find most electrics very comfortable, but this shaver with a combination of Panasonic’s 14,000 CPM and smooth foils tops the range for me, both for comfort and closeness. I do prefer Braun’s or Norelco’s cleaning stations, for the convenience of cartridges and the ability to remove and store Braun’s, but the Panasonic station is certainly effective, and cheaper than either. Cartridge storage is more compact as well if you have limited space, since the Panasonic detergent comes in small, flat packages – I can fit a half dozen Panasonic detergent packs in less space than one Braun or Norelco cartridge, with the added benefit in the case of Braun of not having a stack of flammable liquid containers in my closet or drawer. And it’s definitely easier to manually clean the Arc shavers, particularly useful on the road. As far as the new charging case for the 9AX, not as useful as the new Braun Series 9 Pro (which I love for the ability to just charge and recharge the shaver seemingly indefinitely when traveling), because it just charges the shaver when plugged in. It also adds bulk to the case (still fairly light, unlike the Braun), but does allow USB charging (which could have been solved as noted by just putting a USB port on the shaver). All in all however, very impressed with this new Arc, and it’s my new go-to electric. I still prefer the compact Arc 5 (CV-70) for travel, just for the size, but I suspect the Arc 6 will be my usual morning electric shave.
Hi Allan,
Impressive write-up as always, thanks so much for taking the time to share. It’s actually now my go-to shaver whenever I shave wet — the S9 Pro is still the pick in my case for a quick dry shave, especially with the flat hairs on my neck. Just out of curiosity, is the cleaning station of the Arc 6 exactly the same as the one that comes with the Arc 5? Have you tried, by any chance, to see if it works with an Arc 5 as well? My Arc 6 is the LV5A, so no cleaning station.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
The Arc 6 cleaning station works fine with the ES-LV97 and the ES-CLV9DX.
I ended up getting the ES-LS9N and have been alternating between the LS9N and my Braun Series 9 9385cc then my Series 9 Pro 9419s. I definitely prefer the LS9N to the two Series 9 shavers. It is a wonderful shaver. Granted, I did shave a 6 day beard with the 9419s without any issues, and my beard is pretty thick and fast growing. If I skip a couple of days, I’ll go with the Series 9.
Many thanks for the info, I really appreciate it. After using it for more than 2 months I also think it’s a fantastic shaver — but just like you, I would still grab a Series 9 or the Pro when shaving a longer beard.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I did check the stations, and the Arc 6 will fit in the Arc 5 station – just. There’s actually a dimensional difference – the opening in both stations is the same width (side to side), just over 75mm. The depth (front to back), however, is different – and the Arc 6 station is about 2mm deeper. This allows easy clearance for the rather protruding thumb rest in the front. On the Arc 5 station, you can get the Arc 6 in it, but it requires some manipulating and it’s a SNUG fit. It does charge (the contact points line up), but I didn’t try to run it. I believe the charging cords are interchangeable, but the Arc 5 charger is the older 4.8V RE7-87, where the Arc 6 charger is the newer 5.4V RC1-80, so I expect the Arc 6 charges faster with the new cord. Connectors are the same. The detergent container appears to be the same dimensions, although the Arc 6 unit has a slightly different embossed depression (round) in the removable filter tray than the Arc 5 (which is square), but either filter tray will fit in either detergent container, so I can’t imagine functionally that it matters.
I forgot to mention and you undoubtedly observed, the head on the Arc 6 is a completely different design, with the cutters now enclosed in the foil assembly, a la Braun cartridges, which also explains the higher premium for replacement foils. The body of the shaver just has 4 protruding pins, which engage and activate the cutters. No more replacing the cutters and foils independently, or brushing off the cutters for travel cleaning, although the Arc 6 apparently retains the “cleaning mode” by pressing the power button for 3 seconds (all my instructions are in Japanese, so I’m learning by trial and error!). It really seems to be a well designed shaver, and certainly lives up to Panasonic’s excellent reputation for close, comfortable shaves (for me)!
***Addendum to above 🙂 – I just checked the head and there are SIX pins in the body (2 sets of 3), so apparently each cutter has its own driver. Pretty impressive!
Allan,
Thanks so much for the extensive explanation, I really appreciate it. I can confirm that the sonic cleaning mode is still present and can be activated the same way as before (press and hold).
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello and thank you for the information!
Any word on when the Arc6 will be available in USA? I am concerned about purchasing and not being able to get replacement foil/blades. Thanks again.
Hi Philip,
You are very welcome, hope you found it useful.
I’m afraid Panasonic will not officially launch the Arc 6 in the USA or in Europe. That said, I think you’ll be able to buy it from third-party vendors on Amazon or eBay. The foil & blades block will likely be available for purchase from the same vendors. Worst case scenario would be to import it from Japan (shipping and customs fees).
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
Happy New Year!
There was a rumor that Panasonic will introduce the 6 around April – May of 2022 worldwide. We shall see. Waiting for your Panasonic 6 review.
Cheers.
Hey Vasyl,
Happy new year to you as well! That would be awesome, so let’s hope we’ll get it outside of Japan as well. Currently writing the review, should be up this week.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
April 2022. It will be available on Amazon.com
I actually ordered a head replacement from Amazon.co.jp with the shaver (the heads on my Arc razors generally last 2+ years for me, and I wanted to be sure I wasn’t left with a brick in the event replacements were unavailable), but shipping and other fees was indeed about $20 USD. The head is actually “reasonable” considering it is an integral cutter/foil assembly – about $85, with the Arc 5 complete cutter and foil combo in my experience in the $70-80 USD range (but not interchangeable with the Arc 6, unlike the multiple Arc 5 models which DO have interchangeable heads). As Ovidiu notes, likely eventually available on eBay or your country’s Amazon, but Panasonic has always been problematic for replacement parts outside Japan until sometimes several years following product introduction.
Awesome, thanks for the info, Allan. The price of the head was actually not too bad considering the circumstances.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Ovidiu, just wanted to share this direct quote.
“The Panasonic Arc6 will be available on Amazon in April 2022 for $399.99 with a charging cable or for $499.99 with a charging dock that also cleans the device of hair clippings and oil from the skin.”
Thank you for info, Ben, I really appreciate it. The rumor mill has been quite active lately, but it’s great to have direct confirmation.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
All good Ovidiu. I was really excited as well. This was announced at CES 2022 in Las Vegas on January 4th.
Cheers,
The new Panasonic arc 6 is going to be on Amazon on sale April 20, 22 so you’ll be able to buy the new replacement blade for the new arc 6 soon.
Just an FYI, it’s worth keeping an eye on the Amazon JP site because the price with conversion rate right now (ES-CLS9AX-K with dock and charging case) is about $455 USD, including shipping to the US (other shipping could vary)….
Good to know, Allan, thanks for the heads-up. It’s actually a good price for the range-topping Arc 6.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello Ovidiu,
I received my LS5A from Amazon.jp. So far I am very pleased. Shaves closer than my arc5, Braun series 9pro or Norelco Prestige. I wish it had a stand as I am concerned about damage with it on the counter. Shave is slighly more irritating than my Prestige, similar to the arc5. Build quality is good. Noise is same as arc5. I have tried wet and dry (with Lectricshave) and closer wet. Hopefully this is of some help.
Hi Phil,
Thank you for sharing this, much appreciated. Seems like a good fit, I hope you’ll enjoy shaving with it.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Phil, do you know where yo get a hard case for the LS5A?
The standard Panasonic hard case (ES-2L13) fits the Arc 5 as well as the Arc 6 models, and is available both on the US Amazon and Amazon.co.jp sites. I’m not sure about the USB case supplied with the ES-CLS9AX-K, and haven’t seen that listed as an aftermarket accessory anywhere.
Thanks for the info.
If I order a Panasonic Arc 6 from Japan will I be able to charge it in the U.S. ?
Yes, you can charge it in the US (it can take between 100 and 240v).
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
just receive my Panasonic ES-Ls5ak Shaver from Japan and I just used it for the first time.
I will have to say the shave was awesome, very fast , smooth & comfortable, my first shave was a dry shave an the arc6 shaved my face and head as close as a traditional razor I will have to say I am very pleased with the performance of the shaver on my first shave with the Panasonic arc 6.
i’ve had two Panasonic arc5 shavers a, Es-Lv97 and a Es-Lv6Q they both were nice an gave a nice close shave but nothing as close as this new Panasonic arc6. I personally love the larger shaving head you can cover more area shaving your face or head very fast. It’s a keeper for me after my first shave. i’m one of those guys that likes the latest an news stuff.
I will repost a review on my second shave which will be a wet shave but so far i’m certainly bought on this new Panasonic Es- Ls5ak from Japan.
That’s awesome — many thanks for taking the time to share this. I’m sure it’s great as a head shaver as well. I’ve also been using it for skin fades (I cut my hair myself) and it works great. Looking forward to your follow-up. In the meantime, enjoy shaving with your new Arc 6.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi! I am wondering when this will be released in the US? Thank you in advance for your help 🙂
Hi Omar,
Should be available starting this month. I will update the post as soon as that happens.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello Ovidiu: thank you for your so detailed post. VERY informative, pal! Quick Question.
When’s the ARC6 coming out in the US? Also, I am confused with all these revisions. Is it fair to presume that when they release it in the US, it will represent their latest revision? How curious!
Please advise.
Thank you,
Kaivalya
Hi Kaivalya,
Thank you for the comment, much appreciated.
Today the Arc 6 was officially launched in the USA, so it should show up on Amazon anytime now. This global version is most likely based on the first revision of the Arc 6 that was initially launched in Japan. However, the Arc 6 revision B is basically identical, so I woulnd’t worry about this.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you so much Ovidiu 🙂
Would you know the difference between a Panasonic razor with the word Lam Dash versus Ram Dash. And is the an identical model to the ES-LV9FX-S without the cleaning station and if so would you know the model #?
Absolutely no difference, it all comes down to how a store/vendor listed the model name after translating it from Japanese.
The closest model to the ES-LV9FX-S would be the Panasonic ES-LV5F. This one does not have a cleaning station, it’s part of the same revision F series, so absolutely identical foil/blades and performance. But unlike the ES-LV9FX-S which is the range-topping model, the ES-LV5F comes with a plastic body (instead of aluminum) and a less feature-rich LED display. You can also check out my Arc 5 guide for more details on it and on all the Arc 5 models ever released.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
Not sure if you saw this already – Panasonic announced the first revision of Arc 6 for Japanese market – coming out in June 2022 with BX in the product code (vs AX in 2021 lineup) and addition of Pro in the name.
Quick google translate suggest that the only difference is introduction of a new ‘bubble making’ feature – which is light on description. It seems like a shaver will lather-up shaving cream/gel for you. At least that’s my interpretation of it.
The rest seems to be exactly the same.
Anyhow – hope this helps.
Hi Miki,
Thank you for the comment — I am aware of the revision B or Pro Arc 6 and I will be updating this post with all the relevant info. You are right, that seems to be the only difference, making it one of the most incremental updates I’ve seen even for Panasonic standards. There’s also a Pro Arc 5 to be released in June and I will be covering that as well.
Thank you again for the comment, I truly appreciate it.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
why is the new Arc 6 going to cost much more in the U.S., than in Japan for the same shaver?
Possibly some certifications that are required in the USA, sales tax and very likely Panasonic’s pricing strategy. The Arc 6 must cost more than any Arc 5 they’re currently selling globally.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I just brought a Panasonic arc 6 from Japan on eBay the Es-Ls5ak can’t wait to try it out. No mater the out come I will keep it an go with the newest model. I will post a review once I use it a few times.
Awesome! Looking forward to your thoughts on it.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I just got my Panasonic ARC6 from Japan I have used it twice so far and it’s worth every penny. I shave within dry and wet an what a nice comfortable fast shave i got. an i really love the bigger shave head, because you can cover more area on your face and head while shaving.
so far the battery life is still holding strong after to shaves an two cleanings under running water. i’ve owned two Panasonic Arc 5’s a ES-LV67 and a ES-LV6Q an they both was very nice an gave a nice close shave, but i will have to say the new Panasonic arc6 has to both beat out across the board to me. i shave with a double edge razor on my face an head, an the arc6 is shaving me so close that i haven’t used my double edge razor at all. so far i love the Panasonic arc6.
i ordered mine from ebay an it shipped from Japan. ordered on 5/8/22 an recieve it at my door on 5/16/22 an it’s way cheaper that what the one in the U.S. is going to cost.
i absolutely love the shaver it’s a must have with the new design with the six blades it’s a must have an keeper for me i shave with mine everyday to keep a clean close look on my face and head… dont hesitate order yours from ebay you’ll be happy or pay more on 5-31-22 on Amazon in the U.S.
Awesome, many thanks for the follow-up. Glad you’re enjoying shaving wet with it as well — to me the Arc 6 + a good shaving cream is just unbeatable in terms of closeness and comfort.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi thanks for the in depth read, i have been lucky to start searching for a new razor just as the Arc 6 was released here in the UK. So i just purchased from uk for £322, approx $386. Should be here today, two days stubble awaits it.
EDIT;
Correction on the price i paid, £332 / $398
Hi Tyrone,
Awesome, hope you’ll enjoy shaving with your new Arc 6.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi, quick question re the USB case. I wanted to use mine the first time with an Apple USB cable and charger – but no luck. Nothing happened. Plugging the USB charging cable for the shaver itself works. Is my case defective or ar Ehre Apple chargers to powerful and I need to plug it i to a computer USB outlet?
Thanks
Hi John,
Just to make sure I understand this correctly: charging the shaver via the USB case with an Apple charger doesn’t work, but works fine with the provided USB cable and (any) other charger/outlet? If so, I’d say it’s definitely not effective. The case is merely a glorified USB adapter (no internal battery), it wouldn’t work at all if something was defective. Some devices are iffy when it comes to certain chargers, so that isn’t very surprising. For example, I have a USB-C hair trimmer that does not charge with my OnePlus charger (65w), but works fine with any other chargers.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I haven’t tried the cable that came with it but my iPad and MacBook Pro chargers with an Apple USB C cable didn’t seem to work but it might also have been the outlet in the hotel. It chargers with the panasonic plug – usb cable you recommended and the same Apple charger (and USB c adapter)
Hi Ovidiu,
As always – amazing website and so much useful information!!!
I’ve been using Braun 9 Pro since it came out here in Australia in October 2021. Everything about it was just screaming perfect for me – an updated head but still recommended for sensitive skin, a bit more oomph, redesigned head lock, and PowerCase. The marketing at P&G is terrific, made it really desirable product.
After using it for > 6 months I had a bit of a reality check as I found myself justifying how good the shaver is because of it’s really heavy price tag (in Australia 9477cc retails for AUD$799 which is >USD$500 – well over USD$349 it sells for in the USA) rather than the actual performance.
The reality after using it over 6 months is that for the price it just doesn’t live up to it. I have a very coarse dark hairs beard, coupled with sensitive skin, so it should have worked a treat for me. And it does decent job giving a clean look but dark hairs make my face look like I shaved a day before and the feeling against the grain was always like a sandpaper, never really smooth.
It bugged me for some time and I finally decided to give Panasonic a go. I chose Arc 6 following your review. For the last few months I’ve been eagerly waiting for Arc 6 to arrive to Australia, however following consultation with Panasonic Australia Arc 6 is not scheduled to come here yet, or maybe not even at all. Instead, only new Arc 5 models (ES-LV9U and ES-LV6U) came out recently. Although they seem like a step back to ES-LV9Q as they have plastic body, come with a more basic screen and a soft carrying case (like predecessors) but do come with new heads with a golden trimmer. Main problem is that Panasonic is charging AUD$100 more than ES-LV9Q.
That left me with a choice to import Arc 6 model. I chose ES-LS9BX as I really like the USB charging case and cleaning station. I’ve got it from Japan (in fact cost me less than Braun 9 Pro here or ES-LS9A if I chose to import it from US/UK) and used it for a few weeks now.
Your review of Arc 6 is spot on – this is the best electric shaver out there, period. Challenging, but also exciting, to see how Arc 6 can be bettered. We are now in a diminishing returns territory – need to spend a lot for marginal improvement.
I am surprised Braun 9 is in the same category – at least from closeness perspective it is no better than Braun 5 or 7 that I used before it.
In 2022, compared to Arc 6, it feels inferior in almost every way – built quality is poorer than Arc 6, doesn’t shave as close – not even a contest (did half face shave with each shaver), the trimmer on Braun is a joke, can’t fully lock the head on Braun; and even the cleaning station is more useful on Panasonic (dries shaver properly and allows you to pick drying only for example). Comfort wise I find them very similar so wouldn’t rate Braun 9 Pro above it. The only area where Braun 9 has a minor advantage is the PowerCase actually has a battery in it (although it is much larger than Panasonic USB-C case), and also shaver being a bit smaller than Arc 6 so more nimble.
Minor gripe is that the USB case that comes with Arc 6 is surprisingly big. It is heavy too. It also opens up from left to right which is of course because Japanese read that way – however if you do open it from right to left then shaver is just upside down so not a biggie. There is no battery in it either so it needs to be plugged in to charge (at least you can use USB-C cable so you can potentially use a portable battery charger if really needed that level of portability). Another odd thing is that while there is a protective cap provided in the box, you can’t actually use it with the USB charging case… Otherwise the built quality is fantastic.
Shaving performance wise – nothing out there that beats it. Smoothest and fastest shave I ever had. Even the dry shave is super close that makes wet shaving almost not worth it.
As you can tell I am very impressed with Arc 6 performance and closeness of the shave – it helps that it’s also excellent looking and built quality is phenomenal. I just wish I went with Panasonic sooner.
Hope this helps to anyone on the fence tossing between the two shavers.
Miki, thank you so much for the fantastic overview of the Arc 6 and the comparison to the Series 9 Pro. I’m surprised by the price of the 9 Pro in Australia, that is outrageously expensive. I agree with pretty much everything you said regarding the two. I prefer the 9 Pro for a dry shave after 3 days of growth (lots of flat-lying hairs that grow in different directions), but for frequent use, especially regarding the closeness, the Arc 6 and even the Arc 5 are clearly better. Enjoy your Arc 6, seems like a perfect fit.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks so much for replying to my post! Very kind of you!
I discovered something interesting that is specific to BX models. The sonic cleaning mode is the same as bubble making mode, and it’s different to other models in that the shaver doesn’t turn off after ~20s – instead the higher pitch just changes back and shaver continues to run.
It’s designed this way so you can leather up shaving gel/cream within a head of the shaver and then just put it against your face and keep on shaving.
This impact the manual cleaning as you do the same thing as leathering up – i.e. you turn bubble making mode but instead of shaving gel/cream you use hand soap or similar. After it finishes leathering up you switch the shaver off manually by pressing the power button and then rinse it (at least that’s how it is described in the manual).
Hope this makes sense and is of interest.
For a few days I thought the shaver was faulty and then did some google translate of the manual only to discover this is normal.
Miki, that is really interesting and I was actually curious about how it works in relation to the sonic cleaning mode (I haven’t used any of the B models). Thanks so much for sharing this.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
No worries Ovidiu.
Another point I forgot to add is that the motor pitch in bubble making/sonic cleaning mode is not as high as in Arc 5 (ES-LV9Q for example). It is a bit higher than default 14,000rpms but definitively nowhere near the other models. I measured this side by side as my brother in law uses Arc 5.
Hi Miki,
That’s true, it’s the same thing with the first Arc 6 models like mine, the cleaning mode sounds more refined than on the (older) Arc 5’s.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Very nice and comprehensive review. I was hesitant about what would be my next shaver, but now I know it will be the Arc 6.
Do you know if body is made of plastic?
I got the Arc 5 with some parts of aluminum and I would like the same with the Arc 6.
Thanks!
Thank you, Mauricio.
Unfortunately no, there aren’t any Arc 6 models that have an aluminum body like some of the Arc5s (for example the ES-LV9Q). Only a few Japanese models have a metal trim around the top part of the body but the rest is still plastic. That said, it is a high-quality, durable plastic. It seems a lot better than the plastic used on the Braun Series 9 for example.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu
After reading through your blogs, I ordered an Arc 6 from Japan and I couldn’t be happier with it! However, I stupidly threw away the charger as it had a Japanese format figuring it would be easy to get a EU replacement but I’m having trouble finding it anywhere – any chance you have a serial number or link?
Hi Glenn,
The charger shipped with the Arc 6 (and newer Arc 5 models) is the Panasonic RC1-80 (5.4V, 1.2A). It can come with either Japanese or EU plugs depending on where you’re buying it from. However, if you can’t find it, the older RE7-87 (4.8V, 1.25A) charger will also work. In fact I’ve used that one instead since it had an EU plug and I didn’t have to use an adapter with the RC1-80 that came with my Arc 6.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu
Thank you for the elaborate response! Unfortunately, I’m having no luck finding a genuine RC1-80 with an EU plug (type E) so I guess I’ll be contacting some resellers that sell the arc 5/6 and see if they’re willing to order me a charger separately…
Keep up the good work, if everyone would put the same amount of effort and passion in their blog(s), the internet would be a better place! The “here are the best 10 shavers you can buy in 2023” hype blogs where the writer didn’t even touch all models (let alone actually test them) are nothing short of pollution IMO.
You’re very kind, Glenn, glad I could be of help. If you live in the UK try reaching out to shavers.co.uk — to me they seem by far the most knowledgeable reseller when it comes to electric shavers and their customer support seems to be really good as well.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu