Gillette Fusion5 ProGlide Power Razor Review (2026): The

Why you should trust this review

I bought the Fusion5 ProGlide Power and shaved with it daily for five months alongside the electric razors I also use. Gillette did not provide it. A razor only earns a verdict after you actually live with it through real morning routines, so I judged it on closeness, comfort, and running cost rather than on a single first shave.

How we evaluated

I shaved daily and compared the closeness directly against a Series 9 Pro electric, paid attention to tug and irritation on coarse neck hair with the battery handle on and off, used the rear precision trimmer for under-nose and sideburn work, and tracked how long each cartridge lasted before it pulled, to put a real number on the running cost.

Closeness of shave

This is where the ProGlide Power wins cleanly. The five blades pulled a noticeably closer cut than my Series 9 Pro electric, leaving genuinely smooth skin where the foil shaver always left a faint shadow. For anyone who wants the closest possible shave, a good cartridge razor still beats electric, and this is the proof.

That closeness is the whole reason to choose a manual razor in the first place, and the Fusion5 delivers it day after day without drama.

The battery handle

The micro-pulse battery handle, running on a single AAA for about four months, genuinely reduces tug on coarse hair. Shaving against the grain on my neck, the gentle vibration made the blades feel like they glided rather than dragged, and I had fewer tugs and snags with it switched on.

It is not a gimmick. Toggling it off mid-shave to compare, I could feel the difference. It is a subtle but real comfort improvement on tough stubble.

Comfort and the precision trimmer

Comfort was good overall thanks to the Vitamin E and aloe lubrication strip, with minimal irritation across five months when I used a fresh-enough cartridge. As blades aged past their comfortable window, tug and irritation crept in, which is the natural cue to swap.

The precision trimmer on the back of the cartridge handled the under-nose area and sideburn edges cleanly, jobs the main blade head struggles to reach. It is a small feature that genuinely earns its place.

Speed and running cost

The honest downsides are time and money. A proper wet shave with this takes roughly twice as long as an electric shave, so on rushed mornings the electric still wins on convenience. This is a deliberate, sink-side routine, not a quick dry pass.

And the running cost is real: the handle and a cartridge are cheap to start, but Gillette makes its money on the replacement four-packs, and cartridges are not cheap per piece. If you shave daily, budget for the ongoing cartridge cost as the true price of the closest shave.

Who should buy the Fusion5 ProGlide Power?

Buy it if:

• You want the closest possible shave and accept a manual razor to get it
• You have coarse hair and benefit from the micro-pulse handle reducing tug
• You want a precision trimmer for under-nose and sideburn edges
• You have time for a proper sink-side wet shave

Skip it if:

• You value speed and convenience, where an electric shaver wins
• You want to avoid the recurring cost of replacement cartridges
• You shave only occasionally and a cheaper disposable would do

The verdict

After five months the Fusion5 ProGlide Power is the razor I reach for when I want the closest cut. The five blades genuinely beat my electric on closeness, the battery handle reduces tug on coarse hair, and the rear trimmer is a useful touch. The trade-offs are honest: it takes about twice as long as electric and the cartridges are where the real cost lives. If closeness matters most to you, it is worth it.