I bought this Panasonic Arc5 shaver after 10+ years of daily use of a Braun 8985. Here is my comparative experience after two weeks with the Panasonic.The Braun was a well-designed, durable, and effective shaver. I retired it because (1) the fluid cleaning system had broken years since (it’s expensive to replace), (2) the shaver motor was becoming progressively louder, and (3) the battery would hold a charge for only two to three days. (Replacing the battery requires the use of a soldering iron. I still considered having it professionally done, but the cost of that, plus worry about the remaining lifespan of the motor, plus the high replacement cost of a cleaning system made doing so impractical.)I chose the Panasonic Arc5 without a cleaning system. I believe such systems are less reliable than the shavers themselves, their consumable supplies are expensive, and it makes less sense to spend big bucks for a dedicated cleaning system when the Panasonic can easily be washed under the faucet. More on this later.Shaving – I had been using the Braun with a foil and cutter blade that had been replaced about eight months earlier. But from the first shave, it was evident that the Panasonic is superior to the Braun in its shaving ability. The foil shaving surface is much nearer to square shaped compared to the Braun, which makes it more comfortable to use and less likely to irritate my skin, and the blades cut better and closer based on my ability to feel stubble after use. I have a couple of difficult spots on my neck that are better handled by the Panasonic by a significant margin.Ergonomics (feel) – The Braun has superior ergonomics in terms of the feel and grip of the shaver in my hand. It fits the hand perfectly and all operating surfaces – the on/off button and trimmer – work effortlessly. The on/off button operates so smoothly I sometimes switch it on and off just for the feel of it. The Panasonic is good in this respect, but the Braun is superlative.Charge indicators – The Braun has colored indicator lights that I believe signify the shaver’s charging status. But they’re small and, being colorblind, I’ve never paid much attention to them. The Panasonic has a large, illuminated LCD readout that clearly states the percentage of charge remaining. It also shows elapsed time spent shaving, and I believe it has other indicators too that I haven’t yet noted. The Panasonic’s display is far more useful than the Braun’s cryptic blinking lights.Trimmer – I’m bearded, so a trimmer is important to me. The Braun has a much wider trimming blade that also feels more secure in operation. The Panasonic’s trimmer is slightly more visible when being used. Otherwise, the trimmers on both shavers are equal in performance, although I have a slight preference for Braun’s.Cleaning – When the Braun’s cleaning system worked, it was almost effortless. After time, some residue would build up in the cleaning device itself which required periodic attention. Without a working cleaning system, I found the Braun annoying to clean. There are quite a few tight spots where stubble would gather, requiring some vigorous brushing and picking. I finally resorted to a can of compressed air that, while messy, got the job done quickly and well.The Panasonic without a cleaning system is superior in this regard. It’s a wet/dry shaver that can be cleaned under running water. I’ve posted a photo of Panasonic’s cleaning instructions. It really does work that way. Since I had several leftover Braun cleaning system refills, I emptied their contents – sort of an oily disinfectant with a faint fragrance – into a plastic squeeze bottle and now squirt that onto my Panasonic blades for cleaning every few days. Then I run it under the faucet for a while to clean the blades and set it out to dry on a paper towel. After it dries there’s still a little stubble residue that needs to be wiped off with the paper towel.In summary, if this Panasonic Arc5 shaver holds up as well as the Braun over time, I'll be very happy. Based on shaving performance alone (your face may vary), it's a much better solution. Otherwise, there are some trade offs either way, and both can get the job done effectively.P.S. I did not consider buying a Norelco, even though I’ve used them in the past. I think the tri-rotor design is a less desirable solution for a bearded person. They’re otherwise a good alternative, but I haven’t used once since before the Braun so I can’t offer a comparison.