Gillette Fusion 5 Power Review – Additional Vibes Assist The Shave Somewhat
Gillette Fusion 5 Power Razor
The Gillette Fusion 5 Power offers an efficient, close shave, and the power vibrations can assist the shave, particularly if you take your time. I’m not a fan of the lightweight handle, and I did encounter an odd issue with the blade rattling.
Pros
It shaves well on my coarse hair growth, and it will find fine hair easy to shave
The power feature vibrations do assist the shave slightly
The shape and rubberized handle grip help the razor to fit nicely in the hand
The flexible head movement is useful when shaving over the contours
A wide lubrication strip
Cons
I preferred the old-style Fusion 5 blades (subjective)
The handle is lighter than the ProGilde Power, which some gents may not like (subjective)
The cartridge blade was rattling
Having recently reviewed the Gillette ProGlide Shield Power and the Gillette ProGlide Power, it’s time to turn our attention to the Gillette Fusion 5 Power.
The Fusion 5 has been a razor I’ve enjoyed using over the years, and it earned a spot in my Best Cartridge Razor Roundup due to its ability to trim down my coarse growth with ease. I attributed this ability to its wider microfin-like bottom design section.
In this review, I’ll share my experience with the Fusion 5 Power, discussing its features, my personal pros and cons, and whether the “buzz” truly makes a difference. I’ve used Fusion 5 blades in the past, both older and newer versions, but had never combined them with the power handle.
My previous experiences with power razor shaves have shown that they can assist with the shave somewhat, so I was keen to see how this one compared.
Design & Features
The most prominent feature of the Fusion 5 Power is, of course, its power function. A simple press of a button activates a vibration, and “buzz,” designed to assist the shave. While subtle, you can definitely see the razor vibrating (see next video clip below).
The idea behind it is that the micro pulses help prepare the hair or skin for the blades, resulting in a smoother cut.
The Handle
One thing that immediately struck me about the Fusion 5 Power handle is its lightness. Compared to the ProGlide Shield Power, for instance, it feels noticeably lighter. Personally, I tend to prefer a heavier razor. Still, I recognise this is a subjective preference, and many might appreciate the lighter feel.
The handle is also slightly wider and longer than a standard non-power Fusion 5 (see side-by-side video below). It features a nice grip on the underside, a dedicated thumb grip section, and additional grip at the bottom, making it quite ergonomically friendly and providing plenty of control during the shave.
My experience is that the standard handle provides a little more control during shaving, thanks to its thinner and slightly shorter design. Some of you may prefer the standard style, while others may lean more towards the larger power handle, and others may not have a preference.
The power mode is operated by a single AAA battery, which is inside the base of the handle. These batteries are quite long-lasting – a single one can see you through a few months of shaving. The design ensures a secure seal, and I’ve never experienced any issues with leaks.
I found the bottom cap is easy to screw off to remove and replace the AAA battery when needed.
Cartridge Blade Features
The Fusion 5 cartridge blade has this set up:
- Wide Lubrication Strip: Located at the top, it provides glide and comfort.
- Five Blades: The five blades are evenly spread, reducing skin bulge. Blades sit on springs to move with the irregularities of the skin.
- MicroComb: Positioned just below the blades, this aims to help guide hairs into position before they are cut.
- MicroFin Strip: Below the micro-comb, this strip is designed to gently pull the skin taut, further preparing the hairs for the blades.
It’s worth noting my preference here: I’ve found the micro-fin strip on the newer Fusion 5 blades to be slightly narrower than on older styles. I personally preferred the older, wider micro-fin strip for its ability to make the skin feel more taut. It might seem like a small detail, but for those who’ve used Fusion blades for a while, it’s something to consider.
I’m unsure if those older-style blades will remain available, which would be a shame for me.
These older-style blades, with the larger microfin strip, made the Fusion 5 the No. 1 head shaving razor for me.
The newer Fusion 5 is almost identical to the Gillette ProGlide. I have no idea why Gillette would do that and remove a feature that was unique to this razor!
Other Features
The flexible cartridge blade movement—flexing back and forth—is a common feature on most cartridge razors today, significantly improving the overall shaving experience. The FlexHead allows me to vary the pressure as I shave, while still keeping the blades close enough to the skin to cut efficiently.
Like most modern multi-blade razors, this one also includes a precision trimmer blade on the back of the cartridge. I’ve found this especially useful for tidying up tricky areas, such as under the nose, and it can be used for any detailing that requires a bit more accuracy (i.e., lining up beards).
There’s also a handy push-button release at the top, making cartridge swapping quick and straightforward—a definite practical design.
Blade Longevity & Costs
Gillette suggests you can get about a month or 20 shaves out of one of their blades. However, mileage truly varies depending on individual beard growth and coarseness. With my coarse stubble and my personal preference for a fresh, sharp blade, I typically get about 8 shaves from a Fusion 5 cartridge.
*Cost (handle + 1 blade): Approx $15 + USD – £13 + UK – €16 EU.
*Cartridges cost (4 pack): Approx $15 USD – £12 UK – €15 EU.
The cost of replacements is slightly under the price of the ProGlide blades.
Shaving Experience
I’m not new to the Fusion 5 blades (new and old) or using Gillette power razors, as I have used and reviewed the ProGlide Power and ProGlide Shield Power.
The Rattling Blade Incident
During my shave, I noticed a very distinct, annoying rattling sound from the razor, which was much more pronounced than with the ProGlide Power. It was quite distracting. However, later in the shave, I swapped the Fusion 5 blade for an older style Fusion 5 blade, and the rattling stopped entirely!
This confirmed that the issue was with that specific blade I was using, not the razor handle itself. So, if you ever experience unusual rattling, it might just be a manufacturing quirk of a single cartridge.
This is how the last shave went:
- First Pass (With the Grain): My grain grows downwards at an angle, so I shaved with it. The shave felt smooth, and the power seemed to assist.
- Second Pass (Across the Grain/Upwards on Neck): For my cheeks, I went across the grain. On my neck, I went upwards, which, for my growth pattern, is a comfortable “on the grainish” direction, not quite against. The razor continued to perform well, gliding nicely.
- Adam’s Apple: This is always a sensitive spot. For this area, I preferred to turn the power off to avoid any unnecessary extra vibration. I typically use a skin-pulling technique across my neck or swallow to temporarily hide my Adam’s apple for a safer pass.
- Third Pass (Patch Touch-Ups – Against the Grain): I don’t typically do a full third pass against the grain. Instead, I feel around for any remaining patches of stubble. For these specific touch-ups, I also opted to turn the power feature off. Shaving against the grain isn’t for everyone, as it can increase the risk of irritation. Still, for a truly baby butt smooth (BBS) shave, it’s often necessary. We all have the freedom to shave as we wish, and I choose to go for maximum closeness whenever possible.
The blades rinsed out well enough without any clogging during the shave and rinses.
After rinsing, I can confidently say I achieved a good, nice close shave. There were no stubble patches left, and importantly, no irritation.
As the new Fusion 5 blades are very similar to the ProGlide, I fail to see the point in the Fusion 5 now, and the shave is very similar. The old-style blades provide me with something different, which is the ability to make the skin more taut and provide a more aggressive shave.
Final Thoughts – Verdict (Whose It For?)
Reflecting on the power feature, I still believe it does assist the shave somewhat, especially if you take your time and let the vibrations work. However, as I experienced, it can also be slightly annoying or distracting at times, particularly with the rattling blade I initially used.
While I don’t necessarily need the micro vibrations, it’s a nice feature to test out. It offers a different dimension to the shave.
A personal “con” remains the lightness of the handle. I much prefer the slightly heavier feel of the ProGlide Shield or ProGlide Power handles. That said, this is a personal preference and likely not a deal-breaker for most users.
The Power handle is also slightly more bulky than a standard non-Power Fusion 5. Some might prefer the slimmer feel of the standard handle for better maneuverability.
Keep in mind what I have said about the two types of blades (old and new). The new are nearly identical to ProGlide blades, but the old ones offer something different that made the Fusion 5 what it is (or was).
A significant advantage of the Gillette Fusion is the ability to interchange blades. Whether you prefer Fusion 5, ProGlide Shield, ProGlide Power Shield, ProGlide, or SkinGuard blades, they are all compatible with the Fusion 5 Power handle. This offers great flexibility if you decide to purchase the Fusion 5 Power handle but prefer a different blade from the Gillette series at another point.
Bottom line, the Gillette Fusion 5 Power Razor provides a consistent, close shave, and the power feature does offer a subtle enhancement. If you’re looking to explore powered cartridge shaving, this is an option.
