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Whether guys go for that rough and scraggy look or the smooth, suave appearance of a debonair actor, keeping up with facial hair can be a chore. Making the task even more complex: The range of electric razors—from cheap $10 models to others that cost more than 20 times as much! To find out which shavers really cut "as smooth as a razor," Consumer Reports uses an interesting item: Sandpaper.
For the most recent test of men's shavers, our experts engaged a panel of volunteers to try out 13 electric razors. The guys tried both foil shavers—ones that feature a reciprocating cutter—and rotary cutters, which use rotating blades behind a fine screen.
To find out which model performed best and earned a top-slot in our Ratings of electric razors (available to subscribers), a separate panel of experts compared the trimmed faces with different grades of sandpaper.
The bottom line: Skip the low-end $10 shavers. They left our testers' faces feeling like fine grit abrasives. But, don't go overboard on a new electric razor either. Our testers found two Remington shavers—both under $100—that were worthy of inclusions in our list of Recommended electric razors (also available to subscribers).
For help in choosing the right electric shaver for your needs, see our free Electric razor buying guide.
—Paul Eng
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