My hands aren't strong enough for a manual anymore. Luckily, I seldom need to open cans. The cats eat kibble.

I recently bought an electric can opener because I have arthritis in my hands and it was getting too painful to use the hand one even though I prefer it!

Electric is useful when your hands are affected by arthritis and autoimmune disease.

I havent used a can opener for years all the tins i use have ring pulls

Can't. Stroke survivor...

The electric ones are important for people with mobility issues. My mum physically cannot use a manual one. The electric saves her from having to find someone to open a damn can for her.

I like my can opener because 1. The way it opens you can put the top back on it if you don’t use it all (dogs). 2. It doesn’t leave suicide edges 3. Like someone else said- arthritis.

Since I've gotten old and have a weakened grip strength, I rely on electric.

Because some folks don't have the strengh in their hands and wrists for manual ones

Here still use regular can openers .......the manual ones .

Usually cans have ring-pulls now

I have one (an old-fashioned tin opener, not an electric one) but use it about once a year. Tins all have ring pulls. Obviously electric tin openers, like many other "lazy" devices, can be indispensable for those with movement-limiting conditions - there's nothing wrong with them. But as a mere convenience they seem a bit pointless.

Ehlers-danlos syndrome (symptoms near identical to arthritis, aswell as bones breaking really easy, joints dislocating constantly, fatigue, and bruising easy.)

Well, if you are using that kind of opener, as in the picture, I would disagree. But I use a manual side-cutter type and I would trade that for an electric model any day.

My wife laughs at me because I can never get the electric opener to grab the goddamned can! I hate it so much and we don't even have a manual one anymore.

My mother uses an electric one because she has trouble with manual ones due to arthritis in her hands. I stick with the manual, though. I find the electric one a bit confusing.

Ok, there's manual and there's manual. The kind in the pic are nasty and leave sharp rough edges. The older conventional type have a cog that pulls the blade round the tin as you wind the handle, but still leaves an edge. The more modern ones actually separate the lid from the tin by cutting the crimp and leave a smooth edge. I prefer the latter, but they can be fiddly to get in the right place to use.

For arthritic hands, that is why.

I have to use an electric one or have someone else open cans for. Had really bad hands since I was 30 and at 37 my future isn't looking great

Havent used a electric can opener since 80s.

What and why is an electric can opener? I’ve never heard of it before

I have 4 manual can openers in my kitchen drawer. I couldn't manage to open a single can with any of them. So I bought an electric can opener. Problem solved.

I found an unused wall type like we had 60 years ago.

we have both a manual and electric can opener. the manual one doesn't open smaller diameter cans (like soup), the electric doesn't open wider ones (like tuna). so weird. i prefer the manual though, less noisy. but i can see how helpful the electric ones are for people with dexterity issues

You will have to pry my SwingAway can opener from my dead hands!

I second that and agree with you 100%! I had a can opener last me 30 years before it finally went to pieces on me. I have bought two manual replacements that also broke. Hopefully, the other two manual replacements will last. I have kept the part of my old can opener that can be used to leave a small opening. Worse case, I will use that to completely open a can if I have to.

I rather buy cans with ring pulls.