Comparison Xiaomi MiJia Rotary Electric Shaver vs Panasonic ES-GA21

Electric shavers are divided into types depending on the design and principle of operation of the shaving heads.

— Rotary. Rotary shavers have characteristic round shaving heads inside which blades rotate. Their main advantage over foil is a better fit of the blades to the skin and, as a result, a more efficient and clean shave. And rotary models are generally less noisy. On the other hand, rotary heads can be uncomfortable for people with sensitive skin; this is especially true for inexpensive models — advanced products usually use special tricks designed to minimize irritation from shaving.

— Foil. In foil shavers, the blades do not rotate, but vibrate finely under the foil with small cells. This design is considered more gentle compared to the rotary, because foil reduces irritation and reduces the risk of cuts. However, in terms of shaving cleanliness, foil models, especially low-cost ones, can be noticeably inferior to rotary ones, and they are worse for wet shaving.

— Shaver (travel). Compact and lightweight electric shavers, free from extra attachments and trimming blades for longer stubble, are intended for a close and smooth shave. These shavers, often termed "safety razors," are favored in professional barbershops and are even nicknamed "road razors" for their ability to provide a shave without the need for foam or other pr...oducts. With their mesh head design, they can trim bristles to an almost bare minimum (around 0.1 mm). These razors are effective for facial shaving, refining beard and mustache outlines, and even edging hairstyling. They excel at handling short hair but might struggle with long and coarse growth. These razors are commonly used for defining haircuts and shaping sideburns and whiskers.

— Shaving trimmer. Shaving trimmers usually have a small head with cutting elements that allow you to precisely remove hairs or shape them into the desired shape. During operation, the hair is cut with the trimmer knives flush with the skin, and some models allow you to set the desired cutting height. Trimmers are good for creating contours of a beard and mustache, trimming eyebrows, sideburns or any other “vegetation” on the face. Some models can be equipped with attachments to change the shaving width or height.

Models feature waterproof casing with varying levels of protection, often indicated by two numbers. The first number pertains to dust resistance and is often marked as X. The second number reflects moisture resistance, particularly water. For instance, IPX3 and IPX4 offer splash protection, IPX5 and IPX6 enable shower use, while electric shavers with IPX7 can be submerged underwater for up to 30 minutes.

— Built-in trimmer. Device for trimming the contours of facial hair. A trimmer is similar to a clipper, but smaller and better suited for fine work. Located directly on the body of the device.

— Blade for hair cutting. Removable version of the trimmer (read more about the trimmer above), made in the form of a replaceable nozzle and is installed instead of the main nozzle with shaving heads. Thanks to this, the trimmer can be made wider than the built-in trimmer, and overall more efficient.

— Nozzle for ears and nose. The cylindrical nozzle of small diameter allows you to penetrate the inlet and ear and remove unwanted vegetation from there. It is installed mainly on top of the main nozzle.

— Universal comb. Such a nozzle can be useful for regular care of the stubble or beard, when you need to trim, shorten, and not just shave. Length adjustment allows you to select the desired value for a particular area or depending on the image and type of "hairstyle".

The speed of rotation of the electric motor of the shaver. A higher rotational speed (ceteris paribus) usually means a higher speed of movement of the blades, which has a positive effect on the closeness of the shave.

Model of replacement head(s) compatible with electric shaver. This data will be useful primarily when looking for spare nozzles.

— Case. Cases include all kinds of rigid structures for storing a shaver. Cases in the form of handbags made of thick fabric also fall into this category. In addition to reliable storage of the device, they also elevate the model to the highest class. In more low-cost electric shavers, a much more primitive fabric case is included in the package.

— Charging stand. A special stand on which the shaver can be installed to charge the batteries. There are no fundamental technical differences between such charging and charging from a power cord, the main difference is that the stand can also be used to store a shaver. Therefore, shavers with a charging stand are well suited for home use.

— Wireless charging. A special stand that charges the shaver without a precise connection through the plug — just put the electric shaver on it and the battery pack will automatically start recharging. This saves the user the hassle of connecting wires and reduces wear on the connectors. On the other hand, such a function has a significant impact on the cost of the battle and increases the duration of the charging process itself, since the charging platforms themselves are made low-power for safety reasons.

— Self-cleaning station. It is a special stand where the shaver is installed for automatic maintenance. This maintena...nce, as the name suggests, primarily includes cleaning — the shaving unit is cleaned of hairs and dust - as well as charging the battery. In addition, self-cleaning systems can provide lubrication and disinfection of the shaving unit, but this function is less common and requires the use of consumables (oil and disinfectant).

— Facial brush. It is convenient to clean the face from the cut bristles with a brush. The brush that comes with an electric shaver usually has a medium bristle length. Some electric shavers are equipped with a universal brush, which is designed for both cleaning the face and combing the beard and mustache.

— Li-Ion. Currently, the prevailing battery type is Lithium-ion (Li-Ion), known for its high energy density, compact size, and light weight. Li-Ion batteries offer approximately 400 charge-discharge cycles on average. These batteries exhibit minimal self-discharge and lack a significant "memory effect" (capacity reduction due to charging a partially drained battery). However, they are sensitive to cold temperatures and require high-quality charging currents.

— Li-pol. Lithium-polymer (Li-Pol) batteries maintain stable output voltage even during significant discharge. These batteries offer an average lifespan of about 800 charge-discharge cycles. Unlike some battery types, Li-Pol batteries don't exhibit a memory effect, and they operate reliably within a wide temperature range of -20 to +40°C. However, they are sensitive to deep discharge and overcharging. To address this, specialized chargers employing suitable power supply algorithms for the lithium polymer context are recommended for maintenance.

— Ni-Mh. Nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries excel in managing substantial charge and discharge currents, making them suitable for power-demanding electric motors and rapid charging. These batteries now boast impressive longevity, enduring around 1000 to 1500 charge-discharge cycles, while maintaining an eco-friendly nature. In comparison to Li-Ion, Ni-MH batteries appear bulkier and add weight to the device, yet they offer a more economical option.

The average runtime of electric shavers on a full battery charge, without recharging, is generally overestimated due to factors like hair length, density, and trimmer usage. Manufacturer claims for runtime tend to be higher than actual usage. Longer runtimes require heavier and more expensive powerful batteries. Most shavers offer around 45 minutes of runtime, while some models provide up to 1 hour or as low as 30 minutes of operation.

Electric shavers with USB charging are aimed at improving the comfort not so much in the operation of the device as in its maintenance. This function allows you to recharge the battery both from the outlet and from the USB port of a laptop or power bank. That's just the connector you need the appropriate one.