close as a blade no quite but almost [SEP] i hate when electric razors tout they give shaves as close as a blade they do not ever that said this one does pretty good i would say at the time i shave it feels almost as close as a blade but i get a shadow around as opposed to or to get a really good shave with this razor you have to use it for days as the manual will tell to let your skin get used to it actually i used it for almost a month before i was happy with the shave i have also found it does better with regular shaving gel like edge than it does with the nivea pack it comes with you will also get a closer shave if you shave more frequently it seems to do better with shorter whiskers if i shave at night after shaving in the morning it is pretty darn smooth if i wait a whole day it does not feel as close after a shave could not give it a but i would go