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Panasonic Swipe Right electric shaver: two-minute review
Product info
This model has different names and product codes in different territories:
UK: Panasonic Series 700s Compact 3-Blade Electric Shaver ES-CM3B-K
US: Panasonic Swipe Right Shaver ES-CM3
AU: Panasonic 3 Blade Compact Shaver ES-CM3
For this review, I tested the UK version. There may be minor differences between different countries’ models.
The Panasonic Swipe Right is a well-executed, and – above all – compact electric shaver that’s well worth investigating if you’re looking for a decent shaver for travel. Its palm-sized design packs a surprisingly powerful motor to achieve results that belie its tiny size.
I tested the UK variant of the Swipe Right (called the Series 700s) and was fairly impressed. Convenient USB-C charging support adds to its travel credentials, and a full waterproofed design means it’s versatile for both wet and dry shaving. Cleaning the shaver is also a walk in the park – you can just rinse the head under running water.
My main complaint with the design is that Panasonic has insisted on a finicky and frustrating swipe-to-switch-on system (hence the cringey name). It doesn’t work reliably, and a simple physical on/off switch would have been superior in my books.
That annoyance aside, I was able to get consistently good results with this shaver. It is a relatively basic foil-like design, yes, but it nails the basics and it’s great if you’re simply looking for a quick and clean shave. The lack of attachments and trimmers mean those seeking greater versatility will need to look elsewhere (there are plenty more fully-featured options in TechRadar’s best beard trimmer and electric shaver roundup).
Price varies depending on where you live, but deals are common so you should be able to avoid paying full price. Definitely look out for deals in the UK – list price is far too expensive for what you’re getting here.
That’s the short version; read on for my full Panasonic Swipe Right / Series 700s Compact 3-Blade Electric Shaver review.
Panasonic Swipe Right electric shaver: price & availability
- List price: $99 / £185 / AU$299
- Launched: November 2024
The Panasonic Swipe right launched late in 2024, and is available around the world, including the US, UK and Australia.
List price depends on where you live. In the US, it’s a very reasonable $99, but in the UK it’s £185, which is a lot for a relatively basic foil shaver. In Australia it costs AU$299. You should be able to avoid paying full price, though. Discounts are common in the shaver market, and the Swipe Right is no exception – I’ve spotted for £99 in the UK and $79 in the US.
- Value for money score: 3.5 out of 5
Panasonic Swipe Right electric shaver specs
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Waterproof: |
Yes, IPX7 |
|
Battery life: |
45 mins |
|
Charge time: |
1 hour |
|
Charger type: |
USB-C |
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Accessories: |
Blade cleaning brush,lubrication oil, shaver plug to USB adaptor |
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Suitable for: |
Face or body |
Panasonic Swipe Right electric shaver review: design
- Straightforward, extremely small design
- Waterproof and easy to clean
- Unreliable ‘glide to activate’ on/off switch
The Swipe Right features a simple and compact design, with particular emphasis on the latter. This is, by all accounts, one of the teeniest foil shavers on the market, with a form factor barely larger than an adult-sized palm.
Outwardly, this razor features a simple two-tone aesthetic that somewhat reminds me of a pill. There aren’t really any adornments here – only a USB-C charge port at the bottom and an easy-to-miss activation slider that doubles as a warning light when your battery life is low. It’s a simple design, but the razor is well-built and solid.
Despite its size, the Swipe Right is also relatively comfortable to use. The rounded-off sides are comfortable to hold, and its small size means it’s easily clasped in the hand despite the lack of any rubberized grips. When I first unboxed the razor, I thought its smooth plastic edges would lend to a slippery experience when wet, but in actual use, I’m happy to report I didn’t have any issues.
Speaking of which, the Swipe Right features a fully environmentally sealed design that’s extremely handy for both wet shaving and cleaning. While you’ll need to make sure the USB-C port is fully sealed off with the tab, this razor’s waterproofing means you can simply run the head under a faucet to rinse off hairs or soap. It’s a great design, but note that you’ll want to re-lubricate the blades using the provided oil if you use soap to clean them.
Overall, I’m impressed with the shaver. A minor nitpick, however, comes in the form of its ‘glide to activate’ on/off switch. For some reason, Panasonic opted for this touch-sensitive activation rather than a traditional switch and I found the slider frustratingly unreliable during testing.
For example, sometimes – even when dry – the slider took a couple of swipes to activate or deactivate after use. Other times, the slider seemed to activate without me going anywhere near it. This happened fairly often when I was attaching the blade cover.
Overall, the touch-sensitive slider is finicky to use and just seems like a needless gimmick. I wonder why Panasonic didn’t just go for a rubberized button with environmental sealing as that seems a much more elegant solution. Just a simple click rather than a slide would suffice.
Panasonic Swipe Right electric shaver: performance
- Gentle for a foil razor
- Able to provide a close shave efficiently
- No attachments for precision shaving
The Swipe Right is a seriously impressive shaver, despite its diminutive size. During testing, I found it provided a fairly close shave without any irritation or pulling.
While a little noisy in operation, the Swipe Right features a decent motor and three-blade design that’s powerful enough to tackle thick stubble without any prior trimming needed. With a couple of passes, you’ll have no issues getting a close-enough shave without any irritation. The Swipe Right is one of the most gentle foil shavers I’ve ever used too, so it’s easy to recommend if you normally find this type of shaver a little rough on the cheeks.
One feature I particularly like is that it has what I can only term a ‘hair thickness sensor’. The razor ramps up the motor power when you reach a particularly heavy patch of stubble so it can easily glide through. Otherwise, the shaver keeps the power down when you’re just tidying up, which makes it much quieter – and presumably more power-efficient, too.
The head is a traditional foil-like form-factor(here’s more on the different types of shaver, if helpful) so you’re going to get the typical wide surface area when you’re shaving. I used it for a full neck and beard shave, although Philips says it’s also suitable for body hair, so you could use it for legs, armpits and the like.
This isn’t intended for precision shaving as you don’t get any attachments for stubble, beards, or any other type of hair. The Swipe Right is essentially a well-executed traditional foil shaver in a lightweight package.
The shaver’s battery holds enough charge to last for around 45 minutes, which is more than enough for a few weeks of shaving in my case. Thanks to the USB-C port, this shaver will charge via a phone charger or similar, although the manual states that you need to use the provided cable to prevent overheating. Either way, this shaver is an absolute dream if space is at a premium while traveling.
- Performance score: 4 out of 5
Should you buy the Panasonic Swipe Right electric shaver?
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Attributes |
Notes |
Rating |
|---|---|---|
|
Design |
Extremely small travel-friendly size, waterproof, basic functionality, annoying power slider. |
4 / 5 |
|
Performance |
Efficient foil shaving, excellent hair thickness sensor, no attachments for precision shaving. |
4 / 5 |
|
Value |
List price varies massively by territory. Discounts are common and take it down to a much better value price. |
3.5 / 5 |
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Philips Shaver S9000 Prestige: also consider
How I tested the Philips Shaver S9000 Prestige
- Tested for two months
- Used nearly every day
- Tested in both wet and dry environments
I used the Swipe Right as my daily shaver for nearly every day over a two month period. During testing, I was able to use the Swipe Right in both dry and wet shave scenarios to test its closeness of shave as well as its environmental sealing.
During testing, I used the shaver from full charge to zero to test its battery life and longevity. I also tested the foil and blades for ease of cleaning, especially when pairing the shaver with off-the-shelf shaving foam and soap.
