This is the English edition of a review from my Japanese YouTube channel, iestaLife. I review gadgets from my home studio in Japan, so product links go to Amazon Japan.
Quick take
After about two years, the outer foil on my Panasonic Lamdash Palm In (5-blade) got a small hole, so I bought both the genuine ES9040 replacement set and a compatible set that costs a little over half as much. The compatible set fits and it does shave. But the spring action of the foil is clearly stiffer, it is harder to attach and remove, and the genuine set shaved noticeably better. For a difference of about ¥2,500, I would buy genuine.
Note: the Lamdash Palm In and the ES9040 set are mainly sold in Japan.
What I tested
- Panasonic genuine replacement set ES9040 (outer foil and inner blades), bought for ¥6,182
- A compatible ES9040-type set (outer foil and inner blades) at ¥3,680, a little under ¥3,500 with a coupon
- My two-year-old original blades, for reference
- Packaging, blade construction, spring action, fitting, and a 30-second shave on each side of my face
What I found
- The packaging is almost identical, minus the Panasonic logo. The genuine box says Made in Japan; the compatible one does not, and some characters use a font that does not look Japanese.
- The compatible inner blades are thicker, and the number of blades is different.
- The outer foils look similar, but the gold center part is built differently.
- The biggest difference is the spring action: the genuine foil sinks smoothly, while the compatible one rattles and feels stiff, even stiffer than my worn two-year-old foil.
- The compatible parts attach, but with resistance. The inner blades are fiddly to put on and take off.
- In the shave test, the compatible set shaved better than I expected. The genuine set still felt clearly easier and smoother on the skin.
- After two years, my old inner blades still looked fine. The outer foil was dented and deformed, and it had lost its smoothness despite oiling.
Side by side
| Genuine ES9040 | Compatible set | |
|---|---|---|
| Price in Japan (at recording) | ¥6,182 (roughly ¥6,000 to ¥7,000 depending on the seller) | ¥3,680, under ¥3,500 with a coupon |
| Inner blades | Thinner | Thicker, different blade count |
| Foil spring action | Smooth | Rattly and stiff |
| Fitting | Smooth | Stiff |
Who it is for
- Genuine ES9040: you bought the Palm In for its close, comfortable shave and replace the blades every year or two. Panasonic suggests about one year for the outer foil and two years for the inner blades.
- Compatible set: you replace blades very often and can live with stiffer action and fiddly fitting. With a compatible set, the Palm In starts to feel like the ¥3,000 to ¥5,000 portable shavers on Amazon.
Watch the review
The video is in Japanese, but the spring action difference is easy to see. Useful chapters: 01:11 packaging, blades and springs, 06:40 fitting and shave test, 12:18 verdict.
Limitations
I tried only one compatible product; several exist at different prices, and some may be better made. The shave test was 30 seconds per side without a mirror, so it is a feel-based comparison. Prices are Amazon Japan prices at the time of recording, in yen.
Products
Panasonic genuine replacement blade set ES9040: on Amazon Japan
Compatible ES9040-type replacement set: on Amazon Japan
The Amazon Japan links above are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Check the listing for the exact model, current price and shipping availability in your region.
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This review is also available in Japanese.