Finally, somebody asks a question that I can answer with my many years of experience!
I've been shaving for the last 25 years with almost every brand of electric razor on the market. I've never once had a problem with an ingrown hair, even on my neck line. The handful of times I tried a razor blade to get a really close shave, I would still have stubble by dinnertime, so that gives you an idea on how fast my facial hair regenerates.
My observations? The rotary electrics were the worst in giving a close shave, especially along the neck. Their best attribute is that they work OK for those who may want to shave in the car on the commute to work.
Braun products were marginally better than the Norelco rotaries, but they never put a powerful enough motor in even their top line products to make me want to buy another one.
Panasonic is the best of the bunch, IMHO. I currently have the ES8103 and I've replaced the blades and foil once in the last 3 years and will be replacing them again soon. I plan on keeping this one as long as replacement blades are available. The best part about it is that it's a wet/dry shaver. I normally shave before showering but after washing my face, and it give me as good of a shave as the couple of razors I've tried in the past. If I want to get a really close shave, I do my same routine and then bring it in the shower with me and go over everything again with soap. My face is smoother than my 2 year old's bum then. It's also a good way to keep it clean and optimally functioning. If you let the clippings stay in the head for a couple of days, it won't shave as close.
Also, they use motors that run at 11,000 rpms. This makes a huge difference compared to the others that are around 6-7,000 rpms. The Panasonic doesn't bog down on thick beards like the other do. With one day's growth or 3, it doesn't take me any longer to shave the thicker growth.
Hope this helps you decide which way to go.
