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
I shaved one side of my face with a budget 3-blade travel shaver and the other with a new 5-blade one, both bought on Amazon Japan for around ¥4,000. The shave was nearly identical. Buy the 5-blade for its USB-C-to-C charging and travel lock; pick the 3-blade if you plan to strip it down and wash it often.
What I tested
- A 3-blade portable shaver sold as SIWULIU (¥3,781 at the time of recording, with a carry pouch)
- A 5-blade portable shaver (¥4,580 at the time of recording)
- 30 seconds per side on four days of stubble, then a finishing pass with each
- Taking both apart with a small flat-head screwdriver and putting them back together
- Both are generic brands sold on Amazon Japan; I can’t say whether they are available elsewhere
What I found
- Shave quality was very close. The wider 5-blade head felt smoother on the skin, but by touch I couldn’t tell the sides apart. Neither irritated my skin (my beard is fairly light).
- Weight is almost the same: 146.9 g (3-blade) vs 144.9 g (5-blade) in my measurements.
- My 3-blade unit, bought around July 2024, will not charge from a USB-C-to-C cable; it needs USB-A-to-C. The 5-blade charges from either.
- The 5-blade has two power levels, a numeric battery display and a travel lock (hold the power button; it counts 3-2-1). It comes without a pouch.
- Both can be taken apart beyond what the manual allows. The 3-blade is easier: the springs stay on the base. On the 5-blade, tiny loose springs can jump out and wash away, and you need them for the shaver to work.
- In a separate test, the 5-blade used about 1% battery for roughly two minutes of shaving and shaved almost as well as a Panasonic Lamdash Palm-in (about ¥40,000).
| 3-blade (SIWULIU) | 5-blade | |
|---|---|---|
| Product |  |  |
| Price (at recording) | ¥3,781 | ¥4,580 |
| Weight (measured) | 146.9 g | 144.9 g |
| USB-C to C charging | No (A to C works) | Yes |
| Carry pouch | Included | No (travel lock instead) |
Who it’s for
- 5-blade: travellers who want one USB-C cable for everything
- 3-blade: people who like to disassemble and clean their shaver regularly
- Neither: if you shave daily and want tool-free cleaning, a premium model like the Lamdash Palm-in is easier to live with
3-blade vs Lamdash Palm-in: shave, cleaning and charging
I bought the 3-blade in the 2024 Amazon Prime Day sale for ¥3,980 (price at the time of the video) and shaved it against my everyday Panasonic Lamdash Palm-in, one side of my face each, one minute per side.
The Palm-in wins on finish and speed; the 3-blade wins on value. With a price gap of about ten times, the 3-blade held up surprisingly well, and I had no pain or irritation on that day’s shave.
| 3-blade | Palm-in | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (at recording) | ¥3,980 | About ¥40,000 |
| After 1 minute | A few missed hairs | Very few missed hairs; cleaner |
| Cleaning | Pull off the head and rinse | Opens up by hand for washing |
| Charging | Lies on its side | Charges standing up; fits on a bathroom shelf |
| Best use | Travel | Daily shaver at home |
Cleaning was the biggest difference. At the time of that video, the head was as far as the 3-blade came apart by hand, and the manual showed no further disassembly. The inside looked like it would collect fine stubble, so I expected the Palm-in to last longer. I later found that a small flat-head screwdriver gets you down to the inner blades.
The 3-blade’s runtime is listed differently on the front and back of the manual and on Amazon, from 60 up to 100 minutes. Taking 60 minutes and about 5 minutes per shave, that works out to roughly 12 days between charges on paper.
My conclusion then: the Palm-in stays my main shaver, and the 3-blade is the one I take on trips.
Watch the review
The video is in Japanese. Disassembly starts around 4:40 (3-blade) and 7:50 (5-blade); the shave test starts around 12:40.
Limitations
This is one shave on one face with a light beard, timed but not measured. I haven’t tested long-term durability. Disassembling against the manual’s advice may affect the warranty. Prices are Amazon Japan’s at the time of recording and both were shown as time sales, although they usually sell near those prices.
Products
5-blade portable shaver: on Amazon Japan
3-blade portable shaver (SIWULIU): 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.
More reviews in English
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This review is also available in Japanese.