Braun launched the Series 9 back in 2015 as the company’s new flagship shaver.
The Series 9 was highly anticipated worldwide and it pretty much delivered on the promises, even though not without the usual hiccups along the way.
Oddly enough, just one year after the big launch, Braun rolled out an apparently minor update to the Series 9 that caused a lot of fuss and also raised some questions.
In 2019 we got yet another update, further generating even more confusion among potential buyers.
Fast forward to 2021 and Braun quietly introduced the new Series 9 Pro, arguably the most significant update so far.
With many of these models still readily available, choosing a Series 9 or 9 Pro in 2023 can be difficult, to say the least.
In this guide, I’ll address all the important aspects regarding the various Series 9 models and the differences between them, hopefully helping you make the right buying decision.
Let’s dive right in.
Table of Contents
- Braun Series 9 overview: 4 different generations
- Braun Series 9/9 Pro comparison and differences [2023]
- 1. Different shaving heads (cassettes)
- 2. Five shaving elements on the newer models?
- 3. Wet & dry use for all the new Series 9 models
- 4. Corded and cordless use
- 5. Different automatic Clean&Charge stations
- 6. Will the Solo Series 9 models work with a cleaning station?
- 7. Different battery capacities
- 8. Colors and accessories
- Performance — are the newer Series 9 versions better?
- Braun Series 9 vs Series 9 Pro
- Why was the Series 9 updated (three times)?
- Price and availability
- Should you buy a Series 9? Which one?
- Alternatives — are there better options than the Series 9/9 Pro?
Braun Series 9 overview: 4 different generations
First and foremost, before getting to actually comparing shaver models, it’s important to know that there are currently 4 distinct Series 9 generations.
Here’s a quick summary.
1. The 2015 (original) Series 9 (90xx)
These are the very first Series 9 models that were launched back in 2015.
You can easily identify them as they use a consistent naming scheme.
Precisely, every model in the original Series 9 family starts with 90: 9090cc, 9095cc, 9093s, and so on.
While you may still be able to find some on various online stores in the USA and Europe, the original Series 9 shavers have been discontinued.
For this reason, along with the potential problems of the original shaving heads (we’ll get into that as well), the original Series 9 models don’t really represent a viable option in 2023 anymore.
2. The 2016 Series 9 (92xx)
The updated Series 9 shavers (first introduced in 2016) use the 92xx template for the model names: 9290cc, 9291cc, 9297cc, 9293s, 9260s, etc.
They come with an updated shaving head (cassette) and all the models are suitable for wet & dry use.
With the original Series 9, you had the possibility of opting for a dry only or a wet & dry model.
The dry-only models could be used both corded and cordless, while the wet & dry models will only work cordless.
The ability to use a shaver while charging may be considered a must-have by some users, but unfortunately the trend with all current (wet & dry) shavers is to ditch that feature for safety reasons.
3. The 2019 Series 9 (93xx)
In 2019, Braun rolled out another update to the Series 9 line.
Luckily, the new shavers are also easy to identify as they too use a consistent name scheme and all of them start with 93.
For example, 9385cc, 9390cc, 9370cc, 9330s, 9340s, etc.
These 93xx Series 9 shavers are currently available worldwide. Upon their launch, they were only available in several Asian and European countries.
Interestingly, the previous 92xx models were removed entirely from the Braun USA website, even though they can still be purchased from various online stores.
The most important features of this new, third-generation Series 9 93xx are:
- A bigger battery, with a 20% larger capacity compared to the previous generation. That should provide up to 60 minutes of cordless shaving time.
- A new 32bit MCU (microcontroller unit). Compared to the previous Series 9 shavers that were presumably fitted with an 8bit MCU, the new unit has the capacity to process a lot more data at a fast rate, but it’s difficult to say how it will impact the actual shaving performance.
- A redesigned LED display with white backlighting that will show things like battery level, cleaning reminder, and so on (called a PRO display). It is available only with select 93xxcc models.
- A new color option called Graphite (that looks quite nice in my opinion).
- Some models like the 9385cc and 9390cc come with the 92M cassette, which is basically identical to the existing 92s of the 92xx generation, except that the frame has a matte finish instead of glossy. The older (and otherwise identical) 92s (silver) and 92b (black) cassettes are also compatible with the new Series 9 shavers.
- The cleaning stations of the 93xx cc models can have 3 cleaning modes or only one (I will present the specific models in the next section). The stations that have 3 modes are now called Clean & Charge System Pro, while the rest are simply called Clean & Charge System. The 90xx and 92xx cc models all came with stations that had 3 cleaning programs.
As for the 93xx shavers themselves, apart from a few minor cosmetic changes to the front part, everything else seems to have remained unchanged from the 92xx generation.
Compared side by side, they look and feel pretty much identical, they are fitted with the same motors and shaving heads and unsurprisingly, the shaving performance is basically the same.
Apart from the slightly larger battery, you’re not really getting any other significant features with the 93xx models.
The improvements from the specs sheet (like that 32-bit MCU) don’t seem to make a noticeable difference in real-world use.
For a very comprehensive and detailed look at the 93xx S9, you can check out my review of the 9385cc/9390cc.
4. The 2021 Series 9 Pro (94xx)
Braun Series 9 Pro 9465cc
While we were all waiting eagerly for a Series 10, Braun decided to continue the strategy of incrementally improving the existing Series 9.
As such, in the fall of 2021, the new Series 9 Pro line was launched.
Initially only available in Europe, it was officially released in the USA as well on October 11th.
Since changing the naming scheme to 94xx wouldn’t be enough to convey the supposed improvements, Braun added the word Pro as well.
And in all honesty, this does appear to be the update that could finally bring an improvement to the actual shaving performance.
The main reason for that is a new shaving head (cassette) with a redesigned trimmer that should handle a 7-day beard according to Braun.
I will get into more detail regarding the new head and backward compatibility in the next section.
The previous Series 9 generations were already the best foil-based shavers when it came to shaving longer stubble, so the Pro models should be even more impressive.
Some Series 9 Pro models also come with a new charging case (that also works with all the previous Series 9 models and with the Series 8 as well).
Braun Series 9 Pro 9477cc (power case)
But other than the cassette, the case and a redesigned head locking switch, the S9 Pro (94xx) has remained the same as the 93xx generation.
There’s also a new color option available with the Series 9 Pro that roughly translates from German to Precious Metal.
It’s basically a matte grey, very similar to the Graphite color option found on the 9385cc. There are a few specific models that come in this finish (as you’ll see next).
Here’s a table that shows the main differences between the 90xx, 92xx, 93xx and 94xx (Pro) Series 9 generations:
| Generation | Use | Battery | Shaving head |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90xx | Dry only/Wet & dry | 50 minutes | 90s/90b |
| 92xx | Wet & Dry | 50 minutes | 92s/92b |
| 93xx | Wet & Dry | 60 minutes | 92s/92b/92M |
| 94xx Pro | Wet & Dry | 60 minutes | 94M |
5. The 2023 Series 9 Pro+ (95xx)
While I was convinced that the Series 9 Pro (94xx) would be the last hoorah of the almost decade-old Series 9, it turns out I was wrong.
Somewhere in May 2023, a new Series 9 Pro+ showed up on ForMe, which is P&G‘s (Braun’s parent company) platform for offering new products to users for testing.
The new Series 9 Pro Plus follows a similar naming scheme as the previous generations and all the models start with 95.
For example, 9590cc, 9525s and so on.
These are not available to purchase yet, but the launch seems imminent.
As a result, I will not include the Series 9 Pro+ in the comparison since I haven’t actually tested one yet.
But if we analyze the info that is currently available, we can see that it is a rather incremental update to the Series 9 Pro.
The Series 9 Pro+ comes with revised aesthetics and a tweaked slide-out hair trimmer.
The cassette is the same 94M that comes with the Series 9 Pro, so no changes there.
Some models like the 9590cc include a new accessory, a silicone brush-like head that attaches to the shaver.
This new massage head is backward compatible with all previous Series 9 models.
The S9 Pro+ cleaning station appears to have a silver beveled edge at the top, but it might be just in rendered product images.
As soon as the Braun Series 9 Pro+ becomes available, I will be getting one and do a proper review, along with a detailed comparison to the Series 9 and 9 Pro.
Braun Series 9/9 Pro comparison and differences [2023]
If you’re trying to decide between something like the Braun Series 9 9390cc vs 9385cc or 9465cc vs 9460cc and so on, this section should come in handy.
Here’s a table that summarizes these differences between the most popular Series 9 models (both the regular and the Pro line):
| Model | Travel case | Cleaning station | Wet & dry use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9095cc, Chrome (Glossy) | Textile | Yes | Yes |
| 9090cc, Silver (Matte) | Textile | Yes | No |
| 9050cc, Black (Glossy) | Textile | Yes | No |
| 9093s, Silver (Matte) | Textile | No | Yes |
| 9040s, Black (Glossy) | Textile | No | Yes |
| 9250cc, Black (Glossy) | Textile | Yes | No** |
| 9290cc, Silver (Matte) | Textile | Yes | Yes |
| 9291cc, Silver (Matte) | Leather | Yes | Yes |
| 9292cc, Silver (Matte) | Textile | Yes | Yes |
| 9295cc, Chrome (Glossy) | Textile | Yes | Yes |
| 9296cc, Chrome (Glossy) | Leather | Yes | Yes |
| 9297cc, Chrome (Glossy) | Leather | Yes | Yes |
| 9299ps, Gold (Matte) | Leather | No (includes a charging stand) | Yes |
| 9293s, Chrome (Glossy) | Textile | No (includes a charging stand) | Yes |
| 9260s, Silver (Matte) | Textile | No (includes a charging stand) | Yes |
| 9240s, Black (Glossy) | Textile | No (includes a charging stand) | Yes |
| 9242s, Black (Glossy) | Textile | No (includes a charging stand) | Yes |
| 9385cc, Graphite (Matte) | Leather | Yes | Yes |
| 9380cc, Black (Matte) | Leather | Yes | Yes |
| 9390cc, Silver (Matte) | Leather | Yes | Yes |
| 9395cc, Chrome (Glossy) | Leather | Yes | Yes |
| 9365cc, Graphite (Matte) | Textile | Yes* | Yes |
| 9370cc, Silver (Matte) | Textile | Yes* | Yes |
| ***9310cc Sport, Black (Matte) | Textile | Yes* | Yes |
| ****9320cc Sport+, Black (Matte) | Textile | Yes* | Yes |
| 9395cc, Chrome (Glossy) | Leather | Yes | Yes |
| 9376cc, Chrome (Glossy) | Textile | Yes | Yes |
| 9330s, Silver (Matte) | Textile | No (includes a charging stand) | Yes |
| 9340s, Black (Matte) | Textile | No (includes a charging stand) | Yes |
| 9477cc Pro, Silver (Matte) | Charging case | Yes | Yes |
| 9476cc Pro, Chrome (Glossy) | Charging case | Yes | Yes |
| 9475cc Pro, Grey (Matte) | Charging case | Yes | Yes |
| 9470cc Pro, Black (Matte) | Charging case | Yes | Yes |
| 9466cc Pro, Chrome (Glossy) | Leather | Yes | Yes |
| 9465cc Pro, Grey (Matte) | Leather | Yes | Yes |
| 9460cc Pro, Black (Matte) | Leather | Yes | Yes |
| 9427s Pro, Silver (Matte) | Charging case | No (includes a charging stand) | Yes |
| 9425s Pro, Grey (Matte) | Charging case | No (includes a charging stand) | Yes |
| 9420s Pro, Black (Matte) | Charging case | No (includes a charging stand) | Yes |
| 9419s Pro, Gold (Matte) | Leather | No (includes a charging stand) | Yes |
| 9417s Pro, Silver (Matte) | Textile | No (includes a charging stand) | Yes |
| 9415s Pro, Grey (Matte) | Textile | No (includes a charging stand) | Yes |
| 9410s Pro, Black (Matte) | Textile | No (includes a charging stand) | Yes |
* the stations that come with the 9365cc, 9370cc, 9376cc, and 9310cc Sport (initially a Costco exclusive) models only have one standard cleaning mode as opposed to the rest that have 3 (short, normal, intensive).
** the 9250cc is the only model in the newer generations that is suitable for dry-only use and will actually work while charging.
*** the Braun Series 9 9310 Sport is just a regular Series 9 that comes in a matte black color and includes a standard cleaning station (1 cleaning mode) and a textile hard case. It’s usually priced lower than other cc variations, but identical performance-wise.
**** the Braun Series 9 9320cc Sport+ is probably the most intriguing model. It also comes in a black colorway, but features the body of a Series 9 Pro (same locking switch) and the cassette of the standard Series 9. The station shipped with it appears to be the Pro model with 3 cleaning modes.
Please note that model names can vary depending on where the Series 9 shavers are being sold in different parts of the world, so some of them may not appear in the table above.
Again, the actual products are identical in terms of performance, build quality and so on, so you don’t really need to worry about anything else except for the first two numbers in the model name (90, 92, 93 or 94).
Also, all Braun Series 9 models are manufactured in Germany.
The included accessories may vary slightly though.
For example, the 9291cc and 9297cc are (usually) sold in Europe, but they’re identical to the 9290cc, which used to be the most popular Series 9 model in the USA until it was gradually phased out.
The 9291cc and 9297cc came with a hard leather travel case instead of the usual textile variation that was shipped with the 9290cc.
It’s the same situation with the 9296cc and 9295cc models: leather and textile case respectively.
Again, the takeaway is that there aren’t any performance differences between them.
With that out of the way, let’s see what are the most important differences between the four generations and if or how they affect shaving performance.
1. Different shaving heads (cassettes)
When comparing the 4 Series 9 generations (including the S9 PRO range), the shaving head, also called a cassette, represents one of the most important differences.
Here’s a table that quickly summarizes the cassettes that originally come with each generation:
| Series 9 generation | Original cassette | Compatible cassettes |
|---|---|---|
| 90xx | 90s/90b | All of them |
| 92xx | 92s/92b | All of them |
| 93xx | 92s/92b/92M | All of them |
| 94xx | 94s/94M | All of them |
The letter at the end of the cassette model name — s, b and M — only refers to the color of the foil frame: silver, black and matte silver, respectively.
The very first cassettes, the 90s and 90b that equipped the original 90xx Series 9, were easy to identify as the so-called HyperLift&Cut trimmer used to be blue.
That changed with the newer generations which all feature a distinctive gold trimmer as the result of Titanium coating according to Braun.
It’s important to address the fact that the Titanium coating is actually Titanium Nitride which has in fact a gold metallic color.
Some users were wary of Braun’s claim (and for good reason) since Titanium usually has a matte gray color.
So what’s the reason behind this change?
Well, a Titanium Nitride coating is often used for its anti-corrosive and edge retention properties, so it makes perfect sense to use it on the cutting elements of an electric shaver.
While I haven’t tested the original 90xx shavers, all the reports and reviews I’ve come across so far univocally state that the actual shaving performance of the old (90s, 90b) and updated cassettes (92s, 92b, 92M) is the same.
So the difference between the original and the 92 cassettes comes down to color and maybe reliability — the original cassettes have been known to fail suddenly.
But the actual performance is the same as the rest of the cutting elements stayed exactly the same.
Things are a bit different in the case of the latest 94M cassette found on the 2021 Series 9 Pro.
Precisely, while the color is still gold, the actual trimmer was completely redesigned.
Its name also changed from HyperLift&Cut to ProLift. This trimmer is supposed to lift longer, flat-lying hairs and cut them to a more reasonable length.
Alongside the other slit trimmer, called Direct&Cut which captures hairs growing in different directions, are the two elements that make the Series 9 so good with difficult facial hair.
While most foil shavers only perform well on short stubble that grows straight, the Series 9 can handle pretty much anything.
Comparing the 94M cassette side by side with one of the previous 92s/92/b/92M cassettes, the change appears to be subtle:
Precisely, the gold trimmer has a larger gap between the two rows of teeth which are also recessed a bit.
The two outermost foils, as well as the Direct & Cut trimmer, are exactly the same.
Moreover, as we’ve seen from the table above, all Series 9 cassettes are cross-compatible with all the various Series 9 models, older or newer, regular or Pro.
So you can actually upgrade your older Series 9 shaver to the new 94M cassette if you want to.
As for how good the Pro shaves compared to the regular Series 9, I’d say that it’s at least as good.
The main improvement is with handling longer hairs (up to 7 vs 5 days of growth), which the older cassettes already did very well.
In my experience with the S9 Pro so far, the shaver does seem to be slightly better when shaving longer, flat-lying hairs and it catches them with ease.
In terms of closeness and comfort, it’s still great. I’d say that it shaves slightly closer, but it’s not quite as gentle and forgiving on very sensitive skin (more details later on).
I do hope that the 94 cassettes will be more reliable as that still seems to be an issue according to some user reports.
2. Five shaving elements on the newer models?
While we’re on the subject of cassettes, it’s also worth mentioning that Braun explicitly refers to the Series 9 92xx models in the official press release as having 5 shaving elements.
And with the introduction of the Series 9 93xx and 94xx, they continued to push this idea, stating that the new shavers feature a 4+1 Pro Head.
And to anyone looking at the shaving head of the Series 9, it’s pretty clear that there are only 4 active, independent cutting elements.
The fifth one is according to Braun the SkinGuard element which is nothing more than a thin metal bar (located just above the Direct & Cut trimmer). That hardly counts as a shaving element.
And this lead to some confusion regarding the older 90xx and the newer generations that followed.
The new ones seemed to feature 5 elements vs 4, when in fact the SkinGuard element was present on the older ones as well, only that it wasn’t explicitly mentioned or touted as being an actual shaving element (it’s not).
The takeaway is that all Series 9 models, including the Series 9 PRO, feature a 4-blade shaving head.
3. Wet & dry use for all the new Series 9 models
This is another important change.
There are three so-called types of Series 9: type 5790 (dry only), type 5791 (wet & dry) and type 5793 (wet & dry, specific only to the 93xx and 94xx generations).
This is more like an internal naming convention (separate from the actual model names) that groups all Series 9 models into two categories: wet & dry and dry only.
While the original Series 9 models were either wet & dry (like the 9095cc or 9093s) or dry-only shavers (9090cc), the wet & dry seal is present on all the shavers in the updated Series 9 lineup (92xx, 93xx and 94xx).
There’s one exception to this rule, namely the 9250cc. While it comes with the updated shaving head and its name starts with 92, this one is actually a dry-only model (type 5790).
The dry-only models are however waterproof and can still be safely cleaned with water.
The type 5790 (dry only) Series 9 shavers have been phased out and replaced by the newer wet/dry models.
So all the new Series 9 models (starting with 92, 93 and 94) are of type 5791 and 5793, meaning suitable for wet & dry use.
For example, the only difference between the 9385cc and 9390cc models is the color treatment (graphite for the 9385cc, silver in the case of the 9390cc) as they are both suitable for wet & dry operation and only work cordless.
Moreover, the two shavers cost exactly the same on Braun’s website, while in the case of the older 9095cc (wet & dry) and 9090cc (dry only) for example, the price difference was significant, with the wet & dry 9095cc being more expensive.
However, be advised that despite the wet & dry specification that allows you to use the shavers in the shower or with shaving cream or gel, you must manually clean them of any foam residue before using the cleaning station (if your Series 9 comes with one).
Failing to do so may clog the station in time or cause a lot of foaming and pressure inside the cleaning cartridge.
The shaver must also be reasonably dry before being placed in the cleaning center.
And this is a bit of a bummer since it takes away some of that hassle-free maintenance promised by the station.
This limitation affects both the original and the new Series 9. In fact, this is the case with all Braun electric razors that include a cleaning station.
So if you plan on using your Series 9 with shaving cream or gel but also want the convenience of a cleaning station, you’ll have to do a bit of extra work.
We also have the wet & dry Series 9 variations that don’t include the cleaning station (the so-called solo models) and usually cost a bit less than the corresponding cc models.
For example, the new 9330s is one of the more popular and widely available solo models.
To be perfectly honest, the wet & dry feature won’t be of much interest to most users as a quick dry shave is by far the more popular option.
And the Series 9 is already an excellent performer out of the box, so adding a shaving cream won’t make that much of a difference here.
4. Corded and cordless use
The Series 9 models that are suitable for wet & dry use can’t be operated while charging as a safety precaution.
Since all the updated shavers are wet & dry, you won’t be able to shave with the cord plugged in.
This is a caveat of all wet/dry electric shavers, not just the Series 9 in particular.
The dry-only variations from the original Series 9 lineup like the 9090cc or 9040s can be operated while charging, but those are getting really difficult to find.
The Braun Series 9 shavers also have the option of a 5-minute quick charge, so the lack of corded operation in the case of the newer shavers is less of an issue.
Moreover, one of the highlights of the new 93xx and 94xx models is their increased battery capacity of up to 60 minutes of cordless use.
I guess this can still be a problem after years of use when the battery can’t hold a decent charge anymore, but Braun shavers have an excellent track record regarding battery life.
The rechargeable Li-ion battery of the Series 9 can also be bought separately and replaced. You can find more details in this comment.
5. Different automatic Clean&Charge stations
This is another important difference between the various Series 9 generations.
All Series 9 models that end in CC (standing for Clean & Charge) include an automatic cleaning station, while the ones ending in S (Solo) do not.
The cleaning stations shipped with the various Series 9 models automatically charge, clean, lubricate, and dry the shaver.
In my opinion they’re really nice to have and considering the price difference between the cc and the solo models, as well as the availability of cheap third-party cleaning solutions, getting a Clean & Charge Series 9 actually makes sense.
So are all the Series 9 cleaning stations identical? Actually no.
The ones shipped with the first generation (90xx) are of a single type (3 cleaning modes) and so are the ones that come with the second generation models (92xx).
However, with the introduction of the 93xx and 94xx models, Braun also made some subtle changes to the cleaning stations that may have gone unnoticed.
And that’s because they look absolutely identical.
Precisely, some of the 93xx cc models come with a so-called Clean & Charge System Pro, while others with a Clean & Charge System (without the Pro).
Important: in this context, the word Pro only refers to the cleaning stations and it’s different from the Pro in the new 2021 Series 9 Pro shavers.
So what does that mean?
Well, the Pro stations have 3 cleaning modes, while the other ones only have one standard mode.
As shown in the table above, only the 9365cc, 9370cc, 9376cc, and 9310cc come with the non-Pro station, while the rest of the 93xx versions have the Pro version (3 modes).
The station is for example the only real important difference between a Braun Series 9 9370cc vs 9390cc or vs 9385cc.
In my opinion, the Pro station isn’t a must-have.
It basically selects between a short, normal, and intensive cleaning mode (indicated by one, two, or three droplet symbols on the station).
However, all three modes are quite similar and the result is always a perfectly clean shaver.
Moreover, the Pro station of all my Series 9 shavers (regardless of the generation) annoyingly tends to only select the intensive mode, even after a single quick shave.
So I wouldn’t dismiss the models that come with the non-Pro station like the 9370cc or 9310cc, especially if you can get them for a better price.
The Pro and non-Pro stations situation is only specific to the 93xx models. The new 94xx all come with the Pro stations (3 cleaning modes) and are actually identical to the Pro stations included with the 93xx shavers (like the 9385cc or 9390cc).
6. Will the Solo Series 9 models work with a cleaning station?
This has got to be one of the most common questions regarding the Series 9.
And until the introduction of the 93xx and 94xx models, the answer would have been extremely simple and straightforward: No.
The 90xxs and 92xxs solo shavers will NOT work with a compatible Series 9 station.
Despite being identical to the CC models in their construction and design, the 90xx s models lack a dedicated chip needed to communicate with the station.
This means that you won’t be able to pair an existing Series 9 station with a 9293s for example. It’s the same story if you plan on buying an S model and getting the station separately later on — it won’t work.
That all changed with the 93xxs and 94xx solo models (9330s, 9419s etc): those will actually work with a compatible station.
While there’s no official mention of this by Braun (in fact, their customer support reps still say they will not work), the new 93xx and 94xx solo models are in fact compatible with the new 93xx stations (props to Pablo for confirming it).
One physical difference between a cc and a solo shaver is that the former features a special coat of paint that should withstand constant exposure to the alcohol-based solution.
So if you’ll be using a cleaning station with your solo Series 9 shaver, the paint below the head could chip in time. The damage will only be visual though.
In conclusion, if you have a Solo 93xxs or 94xxs Series 9, you can get a compatible S9-3 or S9-4 type 5430 station.
You’ll sometimes find them under the part numbers 81687142 and 81759573, respectively. Both will work with a Solo 93xxs or 94xxs.
There are no physical differences between the two stations, the latter just entered production later on.
Also, if you already own a 93xxcc or 94xxcc model you can get a 93xxs or 94xxs solo shaver and use it with your existing cleaning center.
Again, the previous 90xxs and 92xxs shavers will not work with any station, unfortunately.
7. Different battery capacities
In my experience, Braun shavers have been really good in terms of battery life.
I’m referring to both runtime on a single charge but also the lifespan of the battery.
The 90 and 92 Series 9 were already quite good with 50 minutes of cordless shaving time and the 5-minute quick charge function.
The 93xx and 94xx Pro models come with a slightly larger battery that can hold enough charge for up to 60 minutes of use.
And considering that the 93xx shavers are now widely available and can cost even less than the 92xx, those are probably the ones to get.
It’s not a huge difference in battery capacity, but 10 extra minutes are more than welcome.
8. Colors and accessories
The original Series 9 shavers were available in glossy silver, glossy black (country-specific) and in matte silver.
With the 92xx models, we basically have the same colors, only that now they appear explicitly in the model name.
In some countries, the matte silver S9 is simply called Silver, the glossy silver is Chrome and the glossy black models are called Black.
There’s also a new color called Graphite available with the 2019 9385cc Series 9.
In my opinion the Silver and Graphite colors look the best, but that’s just a personal preference as I don’t particularly care for the flashy chrome finish.
The silver variations of the Series 9 (9290cc, 9291cc, 9260s, 9390cc, 9330cc, 9370cc, 9477cc, 9427s etc.) have a matte, frosted treatment and should handle better any fingerprints and smudges.
The color is actually the only difference between the 9290cc and 9295cc models for example or the 9385cc and 9390cc.
The graphite 9385cc also has a matte finish and it looks the best in my opinion.
Braun Series 9 9385cc [Graphite]
The new Noble Metal color option available with specific Series 9 Pro shavers (9475cc, 9465cc, 9425s, 9415s, etc.) is also extremely similar to the Graphite finish.
The 9419s comes in a matte gold finish and also includes a gold charging stand and a hard leather case. Performance-wise, it’s identical to the other 94xx models.
The 93xx and 94xx black shavers now have a matte finish instead of glossy (for example, the 9340s or the 9460cc).
Again I think is a good move, both from an aesthetic and practical point of view (fewer smudges).
The 9330s is usually the most reasonably priced and easy-to-get S9 solo model. It also includes a charging stand and comes in a matte silver finish.
Braun Series 9 9330s
As you can see, various models come with various included accessories, the travel cases and charging stands being the most useful ones.
While the charging stands are only included with a few solo models, all Series 9 come with a hard travel case.
That can be either a textile (the standard option) or a nicer leather case.
You can refer to the table above with all the popular Series 9 to see what type of case you’ll be getting.
However, the most exciting accessory is the one introduced with the Series 9 Pro: the PowerCase.
It’s a similar concept to the AirPods case for example that charges the earphones.
According to Braun, it can provide an extra 50% charge. However, in real life it seems to be slightly better than that.
I will be testing it more, but so far, it looks quite useful. And moreover, it is backward compatible with the older Series 9 generations and even the Series 8.
It’s now available as a separate accessory (model name 9484pc), so you can buy it and use it with your existing S9.
The case is very solid and of great quality. If I were to nitpick, I’d say that it is very heavy (understandable) and quite large.
For example, a standard textile or leather case + the charger will take up less space in your luggage compared to the power case.
Also, it would have been nice to have a USB port on the case. Instead, you will need to use Braun’s two-pin charger.
Performance — are the newer Series 9 versions better?
Strictly from a performance standpoint probably no, there isn’t a significant difference between the various Series 9 generations in this regard.
However, given the reports stating that the older 90s/90b shaving heads found on the original Series 9 90xx would sometimes fall apart, the problem was probably fixed with the updated cassettes/shavers.
I personally didn’t have any issues with my Series 9 shavers and I’ve been using them consistently.
If you already bought the original Series 9 you can also use the new shaving heads (92s, 92b, 92M, 94M) that come with the newer shavers and I actually recommend you to do so.
They are backward compatible and will fit all Series 9 models perfectly.
As for the currently available Series 9 models, the 92xx and 93xx, I’ve actually tested them side by side and I can honestly say that there’s really no performance difference between them.
Given that the 93xx features the same shaving head as the 92xx Series 9 models and the only actual differences are related to the battery, display, and color, it’s no surprise that the performance remained similar.
Braun Series 9 vs Series 9 Pro
We cannot discuss Series 9 performance differences without comparing the S9 Pro to the regular Series 9, be it a 93, 92 or 90 model.
After all, the Series 9 Pro is the first that comes with actual improvements to the shaving head.
I am referring of course to that redesigned gold trimmer, called a ProLift trimmer, that is now even more efficient at capturing and cutting longer hairs.
Since the other 3 shaving elements have remained unchanged, the motor is presumably the same, as well as the shaving sensor (AutoSense) and battery capacity, the performance of the Series 9 Pro compared to a 93xx shaver will be very similar.
I did however notice that the S9 Pro is a bit louder and feels somewhat faster when shaving (the motor is still a 10000 oscillations per minute unit though).
For more detailed information about the S9 Pro’s performance, make sure to check out my full review as well.
As a downside, when using the Series 9 Pro alongside a regular Series 9, the Pro seems to be grabbier and a bit harsher on the skin.
So it’s slightly faster when it comes to shaving the actual hairs, but with a small compromise to the comfort of the shave.
It’s not a huge difference, but I could notice it.
The Series 9 Pro also pinched my skin a few times when going too fast over my chin.
That normally never happens with my older Series 9. I suspect the wider gap between the two rows of teeth of the new ProLift trimmer is the culprit.
So the regular Series 9 (with the 92s/92M/92b cassettes) is actually a bit gentler and more forgiving.
The new trimmer on the 94M does seem to be a tad better with longer hairs, but it would be really difficult to quantify the benefits; both the Pro S9 and the standard one seem to me just as capable with longer stubble.
I think users that shave once or twice a week or have really coarse hair could see an improvement, but other than that, things will be pretty much the same.
The closeness of the shave with the Series 9 Pro seems to be slightly better compared to the regular Series 9, even though the two foil elements have remained unchanged — there’s no info from Braun regarding any improvements in that area.
I specifically compared the Braun Series 9 Pro to the 93 models since the 92 aren’t as widespread in 2023.
Besides, some internals of the 93xx are also found in the 94xx: the same battery capacity and the same 32-bit MCU.
That said, the situation is also similar when comparing the Series 9 Pro to the 92xx generation.
If you already have a 92xx or 93xx Series 9 that’s still in good shape, it doesn’t really make sense to upgrade to a Pro since the performance gains are minor overall.
And as we know, the new 94M cassette is backward compatible, so you will be able to upgrade.
You won’t have a Series 9 Pro though after that upgrade as using a standard Series 9 with the 94M Pro head will pretty much feel like using a standard Series 9.
The Series 9 Pro shaver seems a bit more powerful and you can’t get that just by using the 94M cassette.
Why was the Series 9 updated (three times)?
With the first 92xx update, Braun only mentioned the Titanium Nitride coated trimmer in the press release.
Apart from that, just the usual corporate lorem ipsum.
While we can only speculate, I think the trimmer was indeed the main reason for the unexpected 92xx update.
Right after the launch of the original Series 9, there was a shortage of replacement shaving heads (90s and 90b cassettes).
Moreover, there were also some reports from various users stating that the HyperLift&Cut trimmer on their original Series 9 would break after just months of use.
Braun never acknowledged these issues officially, but the fact that the original troublesome parts couldn’t be bought anymore, coupled with the sudden update makes a strong case for this.
So that was pretty much the story of the 92xx generation.
As for the elusive 93xx update, it seems more like a mid-life facelift of the Series 9 that doesn’t bring any significant improvements over the existing 92xx shavers (except for the larger battery), but it will likely boost the sales.
And in my opinion that’s also the case with the Series 9 Pro.
But this time around, we got a new, slightly improved cassette that’s a bit better with long facial hair.
The real win will be in my opinion in the form of reliability. But that remains to be seen.
Price and availability
Both the older and newer Series 9 shavers can be bought from various retailers.
The original models are however getting really tough to find and sometimes their price is outrageously high, costing more than the latest versions.
The price varies tremendously even for very similar models (in terms of specs and accessories), so I highly recommend doing a bit of research before buying a particular shaver.
My personal pick would be any of the 93xx (and even 92xx) models provided that they’re available in your country and check the boxes for things like price and accessories (cleaning station, leather case and so on).
Moreover, you won’t have to worry about the shaving head falling apart since they come with the updated 92s/92b/92M cassettes.
You can also check out my detailed review of the Series 9 9290cc (9291cc), arguably the best-selling Series 9 model from the second generation.
As mentioned previously, I actually prefer the matte finish on the Series 9 models to the chrome coating because it won’t show scuffs, fine scratches, and smudges as easily.
The original Series 9 can still be found (most likely pre-owned) and despite the risk of a faulty shaving head and degraded battery, it can be a viable option if you manage to get a great deal on one.
As I said previously, the updated shaving heads can be used on the older Series 9 as well.
The newer 93xx Braun Series 9 shavers are widely available pretty much anywhere in the world.
And for most potential buyers, these will probably be the ones to have.
Unless you can get a great deal on a 92xx model, the 93xx represents the best option in terms of price and what you’re getting (larger battery, faster MCU, cleaning station compatibility for the solo models).
As for the Pro Series 9, various models are finally available globally and we’re already seeing some price drops.
Initially, only the 9477cc and 9465cc (no power case) models were available exclusively in the USA through Braun’s website at a rather high price.
Currently there are quite a few S9 Pro models available on Amazon.
For example, the Series 9 Pro 9460cc (matte black, cleaning station) and Series 9 Pro 9465cc (noble metal, cleaning station).
Canada is getting 3 Series 9 Pro models: 9477cc, 9465cc and 9419s.
There are already more than 10 S9 Pro variations available in Europe, with different colors and accessories (regular and power cases, with or without cleaning stations).
Let’s now address the shaving heads/cassettes situation.
After the launch of the second generation Series 9, there was also a shortage of 92s/92b replacement shaving heads.
However, that’s not the case anymore and the price has dropped as well.
92s/92b replacement shaving heads
The latest 94 cassette that comes on the Pro models is now available in the USA as well, after initially only being available in Europe.
You can use it if you have either a Pro or a regular Series 9 as it is backward compatible.
94M replacement shaving head
The older 90s/90b can still be found, but they are usually expensive and are not worth buying, particularly with the risk of the middle trimmer falling apart.
It’s not uncommon to experience a shortage of replacement parts for a new product like the Series 9, especially since there isn’t an immediate need for those parts, at least in theory.
A shaving head should last for 18 months of use according to Braun, even though in real life you’ll probably need to replace it sooner than that.
Overall I think Braun handled the initial cassette situation quite poorly — the lack of effective communication, no official information regarding the potential problems of the old Series 9 cassettes, no statement regarding the shortage of replacement heads.
Fortunately, things are back to normal now.
Should you buy a Series 9? Which one?
I mentioned on several occasions that the Braun Series 9 is, as far as shaving performance goes, a great shaver — definitely one of the best you can currently buy.
If the Series 9 is a good match for your particular needs — sensitive skin, close shaves, coarse beard, longer/flat-lying hairs, and even for shaving your head — then you’ll likely be very satisfied with it.
Again, not taking into account things like value for money where the Series 9 doesn’t score particularly high.
The shortage of replacement shaving heads used to be a serious issue as you could end up spending a premium price on a product and not being able to use it in the future.
Braun eventually sorted out the problem and the updated cassettes are widely available and this time the price is also right (well, sort of).
I reached out to Braun about this matter and they confirmed that there was a high demand for the 92s/92b replacement heads and this has caused some of the retailers and service centers to run out of stock.
Regarding which generation Series 9 should you buy, it’s really up to you and there’s no right or wrong approach to this.
If you can find the original Series 9 at a bargain price I think you can go for it, even if that implies the risk of the older, possibly faulty, shaving heads.
All things considered, I think your decision should be based mainly on two things: price and whether you need a cleaning station or not.
Again, the performance throughout an entire Series 9 generation is basically the same.
And the differences between generations are also subtle as discussed previously.
That said, the 9290cc, 9291cc, or 9297cc from the second generation are still a good option if you can find one at a lower price compared to a 93xx model.
But as of 2023, getting a 93xx Series 9 will probably be the best option for most users.
I personally would get one of the 9390cc/9385cc or even a 9370cc since the price of these is not significantly higher compared to the solo models:
Braun Series 9 9390cc
I consider the Clean&Charge station very practical and there are many cheap third-party cleaning solutions available.
And you can even consider a solo 93xx Series 9 like the 9330s and get a station later on if you change your mind:
Braun Series 9 9330s
Just remember that you’ll be needing a station of type S9-3 or S9-4 5430 — that’s the only one compatible with the solo 93xx Series 9.
The Braun Series 9 Pro is now available in most countries, including the USA and Canada, but given its price, I still consider the 93xx models a better deal, especially if you don’t particularly need the power case of the Pro.
However, if you can easily get one and for a similar price to the 93xx Series 9, the Pro is slightly more powerful, a bit better with longer hairs and in my (subjective) experience, also shaves a bit closer.
In the USA, the black 9460cc or the Noble Metal 9465cc are probably the ones to get (thanks to their lower price).
Braun Series 9 Pro 9465cc
They only come with the standard leather travel case though and not the power case.
Again, the performance and features are absolutely identical.
You’ll have to purchase the power case separately or simply get the 9477cc that comes bundled with it.
Alternatives — are there better options than the Series 9/9 Pro?
If the Series 9 doesn’t fit within your budget, the Braun Series 8 is probably the next best thing.
In the past the original Series 7 would have been my pick for an affordable Series 9 alternative, but that one was discontinued and replaced by a new (and worse) generation.
The Series 8 is a 3-blade shaver, but it’s still a capable machine and much better than other similarly priced foil shavers for longer stubble.
It’s a very gentle and comfortable shaver and actually very similar to the Series 9 in that regard.
The S8 is not quite as effective or fast, but it would still be good enough for most users, even when shaving a 3-day beard.
Also, in the case of the S8, the price for both the shaver and the replacement cassettes (70s/70b) is lower compared to the Series 9.
Finally, there’s the option from Panasonic, the Arc 5, which is in my opinion a better alternative to the Series 9 if you plan to use it with shaving cream or you’re particularly interested in getting a very close shave.
In fact, there’s also a recently launched Arc 6 with SIX blades, which is in practice a more comfortable Arc 5 with pretty much the same performance.
Keep in mind that Panasonic shavers will only work best on shorter facial hair, so the Arc 5 would make sense only if you plan on shaving often.
For more details here’s a complete comparison between the Arc 5 and the Series 9.
Finally, there’s the new Philips Norelco 9500 if you know from previous experience that rotary razors work better for you.
Otherwise, my recommendation would be to stick to a foil shaver depending on your needs:
- Series 9/9 Pro or the Series 8 if you need a very comfortable and versatile shaver that can also deal with longer stubble
- The Panasonic Arc 5 above if you want a really close shave and don’t mind shaving more often in order to get the best results.
Over to you now — what was your experience with the Braun Series 9? Share your thoughts and questions in the comments section below.
Thanks!
Very informative article!
Do you know what material SkinGuard is made of?
Thank you for your comment, Alex. Regarding the material used for the SkinGuard component, it is most likely stainless steel.
Thanks!
One more thing, what is the material of the trimmer?
I would think it is stainless steel, but I don’t understand why it would break and how titanium coating helps against it. Could you please share your thoughts about it?
You are welcome, Alex. In these applications the material used is almost always stainless steel. Sometimes a more hypoallergenic grade is used to reduce the risk of metal allergies. The Titanium coating has excellent anti-corrosive properties and this hints at one of the possible causes of the trimmer failing. Depending on a few factors (steel grade, oxygen, salinity, exposure to water) stainless steel can corrode. There’s also the wear/friction that happens every time you use the shaver. That’s why lubrication is very important. Finally, there’s the possibility of a design flaw, but we can only speculate.
Thanks for informative reply!
I have sensitive skin and I am curious about materials because aluminum or nickel can cause irritation to my knowledge.
“Sometimes a more hypoallergenic grade is used to reduce the risk of metal allergies.”
There is no such animal as “metal allergy”, it is “metal sensivity”.
Metals do not produce IgE, they might however cause swelling of Lymphocytes.
Want a to learn more?
You are find answers at Vera Steyskal’s site discussing the injuries caused by dental applications of mercury alloys melisa.org .
Lots of very interesting articles.
“The Titanium coating has excellent anti-corrosive properties and this hints at one of the possible causes of the trimmer failing. ”
I firmly believe that Titanium is used only as the coating, not as foil material, it would be to expensive to manufacture mass.
“Depending on a few factors (steel grade, oxygen, salinity, exposure to water) stainless steel can corrode.”
Actually let me enlighten you a little on Stainless Steel.
There are different grades of Stainless Steel in compliance i.e.
with US ASTM specs.
The Stainless Steel is also medical (usualy 304 instruments grade).
All ASTM grades shall be corrosion free.
China introduced very cheap “false” SS using rolled extraction, which while not true Stainless Steel would corrode.
Most commonly those are used fore grills and Barbeques.
Those really corrode on the surface (grades like 200 series).
The Stainless Steel specs are developed for different applications (hardness like medical instruments).
The “real” Stainless Steel should not corrode (304, 316 and up).
316 is used for Marine applications (salt water, boating and yachting).
Considering Braun foil applications and the quantities, amount and cost of materials for foil, those must be corrosion free.
Most stainless steel ordered around the world is Grade 304. It offers the standard corrosion resistance, formability, strength, and easy maintenance for which stainless is known. While 316 comes in second in terms of quantities sold, it offers vastly superior corrosion resistance to chlorides and acids.
Stainless Steel Grades
200 Series—Austenitic Chromium-Nickel-Manganese Alloys.
300 Series—Austenitic Chromium-Nickel Alloys. Type 301. Highly ductile, for formed products. …
400 Series—Ferritic and Martensitic Chromium Alloys. Type 408. …
500 Series—Heat Resisting Chromium Alloys.
600 Series—Martensitics Precipitation Hardening Alloys. Type 630.
While stainless steels will share some characteristics, understanding the different types available is essential to finding the optimal traits and price point for your needs.
Due to its versatility, durability and affordability stainless steel production continues to increase around the world year after year.
But stainless steel isn’t a single alloy.
While stainless steel gets a large part of its corrosion resistance from chromium, there are near-endless combinations of various metals marketed as stainless steel today.
One of the first steps in finding the best options when working with stainless steel is determining the proper alloy for your product.
While stainless steels will share some characteristics, understanding the different types available is essential to finding the optimal traits and price point for your needs.
Due to its versatility, durability and affordability stainless steel production continues to increase around the world year after year.
But stainless steel isn’t a single alloy.
While stainless steel gets a large part of its corrosion resistance from chromium, there are near-endless combinations of various metals marketed as stainless steel today.
One of the first steps in finding the best options when working with stainless steel is determining the proper alloy for your product.
From ornamental structures to rugged industrial use, stainless steel offers a range of utility. Understanding the unique characteristics of different stainless steel alloys is essential to not only ensuring long-lasting and safe performance, but optimizing costs as well.
In the case of the common SAE standards, 304 stainless steel must contain:
18% to 20% Chromium
8% to 10.5% Nickel
0.08% Carbon
2% Manganese
0.75% Silicon
0.045% Phosphorus
0.03% Sulfur
0.1% Nitrogen
Each addition or adjustment to the alloy composition will have an impact on the various facets of the stainless steel’s performance.
While austenitic stainless steel is non-magnetic when annealed with a solution, certain cold worked grades are magnetic. Heat-based hardening will not work with these types of steel.
However, they offer excellent corrosion resistance and creep resistance while remaining great for welding.
Popular grades of austenitic stainless steel include 303, 304, 316, 310 and 321 grades.
Ferritic
Due to its lower nickel content, this is one of the most cost-effective families available.
While low on nickel, these alloys often chromium, molybdenum, niobium and/or titanium to improve toughness and improve creep resistance.
Most are magnetic and offer good corrosion resistance and weldability as well.
Popular in indoor applications, such as kitchenware, or out-of-sight applications, such as exhaust, these alloys are well suited for situation where visual appeal isn’t as important as cost and performance.
Common grades of ferritic stainless steel include 409 and 430 grades.
Duplex
This family includes many of the most recent and proprietary alloys created.
Many duplex grades offer a combination of properties from both austenitic and ferritic stainless steels.
Characteristics depend on the alloy as many are created to address specific industrial concerns, such as weight, toughness and higher tensile strength. Most offer good weldability and formability in comparison to other families of steel.
Some are offer improved corrosion resistance. Chloride-resistant stainless steels are especially popular in offshore use.
Common duplex alloys include are 318L, LDX 2101, LDX 2304, 2507 and 4501 (Also known as 25CR superduplex) grades.
Martensitic & Precipitation Hardening
While the least common of the four major stainless steel families, martensitic and precipitation hardening steels are popular in applications requiring a precise, hardened edge.
Tempering and hardening is possible due to added carbon, making this family a leading choice for knives, scissors, razors and medical tools.
These stainless steel alloys offer moderate to good corrosion resistance and remain magnetic after hardening.
Common grades of martensitic and precipitation hardening steels include 410 and 420 grades. non corrosive is rather marketing gimmick.
http://www.atlassteels.com.au/documents/Stainless%2BSteel%2BGrade%2BComposition%2BChart.pdf
https://nickelinstitute.org/media/1667/designguidelinesfortheselectionanduseofstainlesssteels_9014_.pdf
Titanium coating is rather a marketing gimmick to make the product looking and different, more attractive, because of goldish color than corrosion resistant.
Thank you for the extensive explanation, you obviously know your stuff. I am by no means an expert in this area, so I greatly appreciate your input. I will update the post and hopefully make it more semantically accurate.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi thank you
I bought yesterday my new Braun series 9 9280CC black.
It’s perfect . he works better than my old Braun serie 7 790 CC with my sensitive skin…
I would like ask you a question…
When i bought my new Braun, the seller offered me a bottled product to fill the Clean and Renew Braun refill. What can you tell me about these unofficial products?
Have nice day
Hi,
Glad to hear you’re enjoying your new Series 9. Out of all the various third-party cleaning solutions I’ve only used the ones from CCR Refills (and those work quite well), so I’m afraid I cannot help you any further. Just out of curiosity, can you provide the name of the product? As long as it’s alcohol-based and doesn’t contain certain ingredients (like harsh solvents), it should be fine.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Many thanks for your information
I bought the Braun 9095cc when it came out, specifically for the wet/dry feature only to find out, as you mentioned, that it was not certified for use with shaving cream because of the cleaning station. I have been in contact with Braun customer service, and they have confirmed that the updated 92XXcc shavers are now compatible with shaving creams and foams as shown on the Braun website as long as the foam is rinsed out before using the cleaning station. Also of note they stated that the 7 series wet/dry (799cc, 797cc) are also NOT certified for use with creams and foams, but again the updated 7899cc IS certified. Very confusing, as I doubt there is any physical difference between the older and newer cleaning stations.
You are absolutely correct regarding Braun’s take on wet shaving with the Series 9. In the case of the older Series 7 (799cc, 797cc) the wet/dry use only refers to shaving in the shower, with no explicit reference to shaving creams and gels. But almost everyone (including myself) have used them with shaving cream and had no issues. I’m pretty sure that the newer models are exactly the same apart from the new color variants and some marketing copy taken from the Series 9 (Protective SkinGuard, 8-D Flexible Shaving System and so on). Same goes for the older/newer shaving stations. As far as I know, the wet/dry variations of the Series 7 (including the newer 7899cc, 7865cc etc) have the same limitations regarding the use of shaving cream as the Series 9: the shaver needs to be dry and free from any foam before placing it in the cleaning station.
I guess I lucked out: I bought a 9095cc as soon as they were available and was due to replace the head in July. On a whim I ordered the 92S head on Amazon Saturday. It was supposed to be “in stock 24 May,” but oddly arrived at my door yesterday. It works as well as the original and now Amazon is showing “ships in 2-4 weeks,” so I must have gotten the last one at the warehouse.
My original head lasted 16 months and was still working well, although the blue paint on the trimmer quickly chipped off in the first 4 months of ownership.
I have always been a Lectric Shave guy, although the Afta Preshave is an OK product. I never thought to try it with shaving cream. I previously had a Norelco 1290x and it sucked with shaving cream, so I gave up. Norelco lost my business when they switched to a much cheaper head (RQ12+ were garbage compared to the original RQ12).
Thanks for taking the time to share your experience, Colin. There is indeed a very high demand for the 92s/92b replacement heads. If you are satisfied with the dry shave performance of your Series 9 there’s really no reason to use it with shaving cream. Moreover, you’ll have to clean it manually every time before using the cleaning station, and that’s a big bummer. I personally don’t find the Series 9 or 7 to perform significantly better with shaving cream as it’s the case with Panasonic shavers for example. I also use the pre electric shave lotion from Speick alongside Lectric shave and that one works decently, even though I’m not too fond of the scent.
Thanks for the heads up about the Speick pre-shave. I had never heard of it, but was able to easily buy a bottle on Amazon. It works great! The best way I can describe it is that it works the way Lectric Shave *used* to work. I could not tell you when they changed the formula, but I am almost positive they tweaked it a few years ago. It used to leave my face feeling very dry (in a good way) and gave a great shave. Now it leaves that oily feeling, which while certainly reducing friction, I feel reduces the ability of the shaver’s blades to catch certain hairs. I never minded the smell of Lectric Shave: I shave before I shower, so within a few minutes that scent is rinsed away.
As an aside- I have found that despite being a foil shaver, rotary motions can improve the shave with a Braun. I will normally do a quick job with the head in free motion mode and it cleans up the vast majority of my stubble. Then I will stop it, lock the head at a slight angle, and “touch up” whatever areas need a little extra work (jawline and neck usually). While I still primarily go in slow linear motions, I have found that quick linear, like a flick of the wrist, can catch some trouble spots (maybe hits the hairs with the guard and stands them up?) and also small overlapping circles can work wonders. Similarly when I used a Norelco, I would use linear motions in addition to its preferred swirls and it worked well. I think many people get poor shaves from electrics because they don’t experiment enough with how “that model plus their face” sync up.
Hi Colin,
I’m glad to hear the pre-shave lotion from Speick worked great for you. Regarding the different techniques used with foil and rotary shavers, you really hit the nail on the head.
I actually mentioned in a past article that when shaving with a rotary razor you can (and should) also use up and down, linear strokes. Trying different approaches and mixing things up is part of finding out what works for your skin and beard when using a particular shaver.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience, it really is a valuable piece of information that we should all take into account.
Hello Ovidiu,
Where can I find a diagram of the 9295, naming or pointing out the various features on the shaver? Do you have any idea? I just bought one. In the package there is a “manual” showing a numbered list of the features but they did not include a corresponding picture or drawing of the shaver? Kind of strange! Don’t you think?
Hello Bernard,
My 9290cc came with a very extensive user’s manual that depicts the features with images and texts. The same booklet should also be included with other Series 9 models, including the 9295cc. You can also get it online from Braun’s support page (link here).
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
what is difference betweenBraun Series 9 9295 cc and Braun Series 9 9296 cc
The 9296cc is the model number for the UK/European market. It is identical to the Series 9 9295cc sold in the USA.
The 9296cc model has a leather travel case. The 9295cc model has a hard fabric travel case.
Hi Luc,
That is correct, I was only referring to the shaver itself.
Thanks man this information was super hard to find.
Hi there — IMHO, Braun makes it incredibly hard to find out (subtle) differences between their models by just calling everything “Series x”. I would very much appreciate a table listing 4-digit numbers, their characteristics and maybe also cross-references, i.e. which shaver can use which cleaning station (don’t even know whether there’s more than just one “washing machine” out there for a certain series ?) or which blade block can be used in which models etc. Don’t know if this non-knowledge is on purpose from Braun or just ignorance ? Would you know if there’s any such table around or maybe you have your own which you might be able to share ? Thanks lots, Stefan
Hi Stefan, thank you for your comment. I must say that I agree with pretty much everything you said. I would also add that Braun isn’t the only one that does this, Philips Norelco being notorious for coming up with names that make no sense. I think this is the result of not investing enough resources into really understanding your customers and their perspective.
I do a lot of research myself and this involves buying and using the actual shavers, going through Braun’s user manuals and so on. I tried to provide something similar to your suggestion for the Series 7 here and I will soon post a detailed guide on the cleaning stations.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
i just saw a special offer for the Braun Series 9 9093s Wet and Dry Waterproof Foil Shaver for Men, i noticed this model does not include cleaning & charge station, what is the big difference and risk if i buy without it?
The only difference between the Series 9 9093s and the 9095cc is the cleaning station. Both shavers are suitable for wet & dry use and are absolutely identical performance-wise. You’ll have to clean the 9093s manually after every use and because Braun’s cassettes can’t be taken apart cleaning is more time consuming compared to other foil shavers (like the ones from Panasonic which are easier to clean). That’s pretty much it.
Is there another cleaning station for my 9299s
Hi Eduard,
The 9299s cannot be used with a cleaning station; only the cc models can.
I have a 9095cc. Is the shaver head 92s compatible with it? Or do I need 90s only? Thanks.
Yes, the newer 92s/92b cassettes are compatible with the first generation Series 9 shavers like the 9095cc, 9090cc etc.
thanks a lot
very very useful information
Thank you for the comment, Jamal. Glad you found it useful.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Can you please comment on head orientation and shave quality since nobody else seems to discuss it?
I’ve been using my 9090cc since December 2016 with the head oriented in the original configuration (with the blue trimmer closer to the front of the shaver). Even though Braun states that that the orientation does not matter and shows photos in both configurations, I have recently flipped it so that the blue trimmer is now closer to the back of the shaver. The sensation is now that of an even closer and smoother shaving experience with the closeness lasting longer through the day.
My guess is that in the “skin guard” attached to the Direct Cut Trimmer prevents intimate contact with the foil closest to it on the upstroke. Since the Hyper-Lift & Cut Trimmer is flatter and appears lower in height, perhaps a more intimate contact of the foil next to it is permitted (on the upstroke). Thoughts/Comments?
Hi Bruno,
thank you for the comment. While you can only fit the shaving head one way on other shavers, you can get the same effect by flipping the shaver and holding it upside down when shaving.
Your observation regarding the different results you get depending on the orientation of the shaving head is correct. I actually noticed this with all foil shavers that don’t have a symmetrical configuration of the shaving elements (Panasonic Arc 4 is another example).
You can use this to your advantage. I often flip my razor to get a closer shave on certain areas (for example right below the nose) or tilt it more towards one of the outer foils. This allows just one foil to stay in contact with the skin without other elements (like the SkinGuard you mentioned) getting in the way.
This is a great observation and in my opinion one that is more related to shaving technique. I will definitely mention it in the full review of the Series 9.
Best regards,
Ovidiu
Thank you for your information. I have 2 questions please answer me.
1- I found 9095cc £148.00 at Costco and 9296cc £212.00 at Amazon, if only important difference is shaving head so after it is broken can be changed by new one @ £50.00 please let me know which one do you recommend to buy.
2- If I go for Cheapest 9095 @ £148.00, Amazon offered 7998cc @ £164.00 which costs more expensive, so now what do you recommend me.
Many thanks.
You are very welcome. I would definitely go for a cheaper Series 9 than a more expensive Series 7. £148 for the 9095cc is a great deal and yes, the shaving head is the only important difference between the two. But please keep in mind that there’s the risk of the shaving head falling apart prematurely. You can use the new updated shaving heads (92s and 92b) with the first generation Series 9 like the 9095cc.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Ovidiu: great article! I too was having problems with the foil & cutter head on my “older” 9095cc Series 9 shaver. Shaving performance suffered greatly and I actually had to do a once-over with my old Series 7 shaver AFTER shaving with my 9095cc Series 9 just in order to get a close shave. I emailed Braun (P&G) and they graciously agreed to send me a 92S head to try to see if that might help to improve the shaving performance. I have not received the newer 92S with the titanium HyperLyft&cut from them yet but I will forward comments here after I try it out.
One more question: the Braun Series 9 foil & cutter head can be orientated two ways onto the shaver. Which way is best? Should the direct&cut trimmer or the hyperlyft&cut element be toward the front of the shaver…or vice versa?
Thanks!
Bryan
Hi Bryan,
Thank you for the kind words. Regarding the orientation of the Series 9 shaving head, I wouldn’t say that one way is better than the other. Since the Series 9 has an asymmetrical shaving head, you can actually get different results depending on how it is oriented. Braun says that it doesn’t matter, but I would strongly suggest to try it both ways. I actually emulate this with pretty much all foil shavers that have an asymmetrical arrangement of the cutting elements (like the Panasonic Arc 4 for example) by holding the razor with the front facing up to see if I notice any significant difference in how it shaves.
Please let me know how it goes if you have the time.
Best wishes,
Ovidiu
I found that the head orientation is best with the Hyper- Lift-and-Cut trimmer facing the back of the shaver. This way, it is first to contact the skin on the upstroke (against the direction of hair growth). With it oriented the opposite way (the way Braun ships it), the “skin guard” impedes proper function of the Lift-and-Cut trimmer diminishing shave closeness. This may account for some reporting that the shave is not as close as the Series 7, when this is not the case when the orientation is changed.
Ovidiu, can you also comment on the lifespan of the shaver head when used wet vs dry? Why are the Braun recommendations the same (18 months) regardless of method of use, when the reality is that wet use (as with DE wet/foam shaving) results in a quickly dulling blade from water minerals and added blade friction. I also found the same to be true with cleaning of the shaver head under water to remove clippings…rapid deterioration of the cutting head quality. This may be the reason some have reported heat, noise issues, dull head, flaking of blue trimmer finish, and breakage/self-destruction of the head components (trimmers fall out) within only 6 months of use.
Hi Bruno, there are more facets to this problem. The 18 months life span of Braun’s shaving heads is merely a theoretical guideline. We have no idea on how Braun tests their products or if it is a realistic depiction of real life use cases. Cleaning your shaver with water and liquid soap also strips the blades off of any form of lubrication, increasing the wear of the blades if you don’t lubricate them regularly. And in the case of using foam/lather you are basically forced to clean your razor in this manner. In my opinion this is the main cause that can lead to a premature wear of the cutting parts with regards to wet shaving. Mineral buildups from hard water can definitely play a part, that’s why is very important to thoroughly clean, dry and lubricate the shaver every time.
I personally prefer to use shaving cream with my wet/dry electric shavers and I haven’t noticed a significant difference in the lifespan of the shaving heads compared to my dry only shavers. But I do take the time to proper care for them.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I have a 9293s and a 90XXcc, I keep one at work and the other at home. The 9293s did not come with the charge and clean station, but shouldn’t it work in the station? Mine doesn’t seem to want to work, yet it has the same body. Do you know if it’s not supposed to work in the cleaning station? Thanks.
The models ending in s, like the 9293s, won’t work with the stations included with the cc models, even though the shavers themselves are virtually identical. It’s the same situation with the Series 3, 5 and 7 shavers. Only the cc variations will work with the cleaning stations.
Thanks for all of your info, it has been very helpful. My question is if the 9290cc and the 9295cc can be charged with the cord provided for the cleaning station like the 9293s? There are times like traveling where I may not want to pack the cleaning station but will still need to charge the shaver.
Hi Ken,
Thank you for the kind words.
The answer is definitely yes, you can charge any Series 9 that comes with a cleaning station by plugging the included cord directly into the shaver.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Is it Ok to use pre electric lotion like Lectric with Braun 7 series cleaning system.
Thanks
Hi Ravi,
Yes, you can safely use a pre electric lotion.
Thanks
Hello, this is a wonderful post first of all thanks a lot. I have four questions.
1. I am legally blind, so I am not able to distinguish visually the orientation of the foil on the shaver. any -non-visual ways I can try which orientation works better for me?
2. What are the differences between 92s and 92b shaving heads? I have 9095 CC. And regarding the fact you mentioned, not using the cream with cc models, what if I rinse fully under hot tap water first and then put it in the cleaning station. Do I still need to do more manual actions?
3. I am not familiar with electric shaving lotions, are there any post links or references you have already written that I can learn about it or you give a brief summary here how to use it instead of shaving cream?
4. And lastly, as a blind user, how can I learn how to shave well with the Braun. I mean how I can learn the good motions and techniques I should use. Previously I have had rotary shavers and I am absolutely new to Braun.
Thanks
Ali
Hello Ali,
Thank you for the kind words. Regarding your questions:
1. I think the best approach to distinguish between the two possible orientations would be to simply touch and feel the shaving head. The Series 9 has 4 cutting elements with an asymmetrical disposition. This means that during a stroke the order of the cutting elements that touch your skin can be foil – HyperLift&Cut trimmer – Direct&Cut trimmer – foil or foil – Direct&Cut trimmer – HyperLift&Cut trimmer – foil. Try to differentiate between the two middle trimmers and remember which one was on top when holding the razor face down for example. Some Series 9 users have reported that one orientation yields better results versus the other. If I were you I would first try to find out if this leads to a significant difference in your case. For example, shave one half your face then flip the shaving head and feel it to remember the position of the middle trimmers. If the results are significantly better in either of the cases just continue using it that way. I hope this makes sense.
2. The only difference between the 92s and 92b is the color: 92s is silver, 92b is black. The 9095cc has the silver chrome finish, so the 92s would be more suitable. If you want to use shaving cream and still use the cleaning station, you must first thoroughly rinse any foam/lather and Braun also recommends that the shaver be completely dry before placing it into the station. That’s basically all you have to do.
3. A pre-shave lotion can be viable alternative to shaving cream and can improve your dry shave results. I actually wrote an article on this topic, you can access it here.
4. The most important thing when using a foil shaver is to shave against the grain. You can use your free hand to determine the direction your hair grows and use short, controlled strokes and adjust the direction accordingly. For a complete guide please check out this article that covers the techniques required by both rotary and foil shavers.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Can I use the Clean & Charge station with 9299s model?
Hi Francis, unfortunately no, you can only use the station with the cc models. It won’t work with the ones ending in s like your 9299s, even though they are virtually identical.
Excellent article, many thanks for taking the time to provide it. I have the Braun 9290CC which is the best shaver I have owned. I use it daily and always clean it in the base after every use. I have experienced just one problem and would appreciate your observations. After about 2 weeks of use, a residue of “whiskers” is left in the cleaning station, just near to the drain hole. This requires constant clearing of the base unit. I returned the first 9290CC because of this but the replacement does the same. Apart from this, I would have scored the shaver 10/10.
Thank you for your comment, Joseph. Glad to hear you enjoy shaving with your Series 9. To be honest I never checked the inner part of the cleaning station that came with my review unit after using it, so I am not aware of this issue. However, I wouldn’t worry too much about it. When the cleaning fluid is flushed through the shaving head with all the hair clippings suspended in it this is likely to happen because of how the station is designed. Wiping it clean with a damp tissue every week or so should be good enough.
Or as an option, remove the head and manually tap it out first before placing in the clean and renew station in order to minimize the volume of whiskers going into both the clean and charge station and the solution. The solution will stay less contaminated and may last longer.
You can also remove the head and rinse it under water and rinse the inner shaver head prior to putting it in the cleaning station
Thank you for your insights. Given how important (or at least how frequent) shaving is for most men, it’s great to have someone tracking these products and providing useful insight. Speaking of which… I recently (Sept 2017) bought a Braun Series 9 in the UK, the 9296cc. Rather than having a number indicating the remaining battery level, it has lines. Have you identified the reason for these two different methods of indicating battery level? Thanks.
Thank you for the comment, Ramiro. I really appreciate it. Regarding your question, the display of the Series 9 (regardless of the variation) shows the remaining battery using the 5 horizontal bars. On certain models (9290cc, 9295cc, 9296cc, 9291cc and the first generation 9095cc and 9090cc) the display will actually show a digit instead of the bars, but only for the last 9 minutes of remaining shaving time. That’s also the reason why on some official photos of the Series 9 there’s a 9 on the shaver’s display.
I hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I was about to ask the same question about the displays and have just got my answer 🙂 I recently bought a Series 9 and love it, been shaving with a razor since my last electric died about 15yrs ago and love it. Gives just as good a shave as the razor. Thanks for a very informative page.
Hi David,
You are very welcome, glad you found the article useful.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Sorry , input error
What is difference betweenBraun Series 9 9295 cc and Braun Series 9 929″7″ cc ??
They are absolutely identical as far as I know, the 9297cc being just the name of the model for the Asian market.
This is a very helpful thread mate , cheers for it 🙂
My shaver is a 9095cc
I also had a question about the number 9 , thank you for your infos
I understand that water will wear blades quicker , especially hard water ?
But what about the pre shave lotions ? And the pre shave powders ? Will those as well have any impact on the blades over time ?
Im also wondering if holding a hot wet towel over my face pre shave , and using the wet shave option will improve my shave quality and or shave experience ? It really helps with manual blades (a hot shower while shaving also helps immensely with a manual blade , will it also help alot with this braun?)
I ve also noticed in the instructions that my model cannot be used with a foam or a gel .
Can i please ask , is that just a restriction for the cleaning station (meaning i cant clean the foam/gel in the station ) , but i can use the foam/gel and just clean the razor manually myself , clearing it of the foam/gel ?
Im a bit concerned about the trimmer breaking as i read here , do you mean the pop up sideburn/mustache trimmer ? Also will in shower/wet use wear that down over time ?
Is this razor not meant to work while plugged in ( likley due to wet use ?)
When it arrived i immediately wanted to use it and figured id just plug it in and shave , but i had to wait for a full charge (So now when batter finally goes ill have to send away and wait for a battery replacement ).
One more question , can i buy a plastic cap guard for mine , ive always had one on my previous Brauns to protect the foil while travelling
If these are too many questions , please accept my apologies
Cheers
K
Hi Kevin,
Thank you for your comment. Regarding your questions:
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Great review on the 9 series. I am planning to purchase it for the daily use, I have mild hair growth. I come to find the 3 models on the 9 series for really good deal on local Hong Kong shop , what is your opinion on them ? My initial thought is go for cheaper option but without a cleaning station, the long term use of cleaning solution is a huge cost, and I am rather spend the money on a new shaving head.
9030S, USD128, dry only
9040S, USD138, wet & dry
9090cc, USD190, dry only, with cleaning station
Thank you for your comment. Those are indeed excellent deals, even for a first generation Series 9 and you can always buy the updated 92s/92b replacement heads. Regarding the cleaning station, it’s really up to you. If you don’t mind cleaning your shaver manually you can go for an s model and save some money, especially in the long run. Keep in mind however that Braun shavers are more difficult to clean manually compared to other foil shavers. The inner part of the cassette is very intricate and fiddly to clean. You’ll also have to lubricate the foils and blades yourself on a regular basis.
If you think this won’t be a problem then it’s totally fine if you choose to skip the station.
Can WD40 be used as a lubricant?
I wouldn’t recommend it as water displacers or penetrating lubricants aren’t ideal here. You can use a spray lubricant for electric shavers or any brand of clipper oil.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
hi there,
is it true that the older model 9090cc can oporate while cord is connected to the electricity therefor can be used when battery dies advetualy and the newer model 9295cc will not oporate connected by cord to the electricity ?
thank you
Hi Ben,
Yes, that is correct, the 9090cc can be operated while the cord is connected. The 9295cc is suitable for wet/dry use and can’t be operated while charging as a safety precaution.
hi there,
i was told by a friend that owns a 9090cc that he uses it as a wet/dry mechine for the last 2 years with no issues…
Hi Ben,
I’ve seen many users successfully using the 9090cc as a wet/dry shaver. However, this may void your warranty and of course there is the risk of damaging the shaver.
is this the new Replacement Shaver Head Cassette model you offered to use with the old mechine that wont fall apart?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Braun-92S-Replacement-Shaver-Head-Cassette-Series-9-LIKE-90B-90S-92B-/272721751737?hash=item3f7f7baeb9:g:CYAAAOSwDiBZJg3E
Yes, 92s/92b is the updated cassette and it’s also compatible with the original Series 9 models.
Will the Series 7 Cleaning Station work for the Series 9 shaver?
Hi Bob,
as I said in the article, it won’t work.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
This is very frustrating. Both Panasonic and Braun when releasing their new models also do minor redesigns of their cleaning/charging units to require customers to buy the more expensive shaver/cleaning unit packages rather than keep the existing cleaning units and purchase only a new shaver.
Thank you for the article. This was very informative and helpful in making the purchase decision.
I was presented with several reasonable offers on Braun razors and wanted to see which decision you would have made.
I found the Series 9 with cleaning station (9370cc) and the Series 9 Pro Gold (9419) w/charge stand for $140.00 new…
Which one would you have chosen?
The store, by the way, was DailyDealz.
Thank you for the comment, Hector, much appreciated.
Personally, I would have gotten the 9370cc with the cleaning station for the same money. I find the standard S9 just as good for my needs and it’s also a bit gentler, which is always beneficial for someone with more sensitive skin. It’s a great deal for the S9 Pro with a charging stand as well, so either way you would have made a good choice. It just comes down to what would be make more sense for you, so my pick is just that.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
There must be a comparison somewhere, but I can’t find out what the difference is between the 9240s and 9293s models?
The 9293s is the name of the model sold in North America, while the 9240s is intended for the European market. Apart from the color and the specific power plugs, they are absolutely the same.
Thank you for that, now I can buy one in the UK.
Hello Ovidiu
It is around 15 months from my purchase of 9095cc. In my last three shaves I feel burns during shaving specially when going to shave the area between my nose and lips and my neck. Is this a sign of my blades becoming dull and should be replaced? Is it common that these do not last for 18 months? do you think the new model of blades are more long lasting than these original ones? I expected them to last longer. I clean my shaver regularly using the station and shave at most three times a week and my hair is not that much thick. Any suggestion on how regularly cleaning the unit with station and how regularly changing the cleaning solution?
Hi Ali,
The foils getting excessively hot can very well be a sign of wear and you’ll likely need to replace the shaving head. The foils and blades are machined with great precision and after a while the metal can warp and cause more friction between the moving parts and that will generate more heat, leading to razor burn. 15 months is actually not too bad. We do not know how the manufacturer came up with 18 months, but I will assume that their testing methodology was based on light use and ideal conditions.
The most important thing you can do to prolong the life of the blades is to clean your shaver after every use and to lubricate it regularly. Using the station takes care of everything, so you definitely didn’t do anything wrong.
Regarding the updated shaving heads for the Series 9 (92s/92b), I couldn’t tell you if they last longer since I haven’t used my 9290cc for that long. I also have other razors in my rotation, so I don’t use the Series 9 as often as you, so my experience wouldn’t be that relevant. I don’t think the difference between the old and new parts is significant in this regard, but I still highly recommend getting the updated cassettes as some of the older ones were prone to breaking.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks a lot, I have ordered one now.
Just one last question, any ideas on how often to change the cleaning solution?
You are very welcome, Ali. When the indicator starts blinking red you should replace the cleaning cartridge. When will this happen really depends on various factors (frequency of use, how much dirt and hair clippings are trapped inside the shaving head, how quickly the fluid evaporates when you don’t use the station etc).
Thanks. since I am legally blind, I have to ask my wife to check this. May I ask where this indicator is located and what is its color when it is normal?
Hi Ali,
The indicator is located just above the station’s power button and slightly offset to the left. The light is actually turned off and will only glow red when the remaining fluid is enough for roughly 3 more cleaning cycles. After that it will also blink and that’s when you’ll need to replace the cartridge.
Can I buy automatic cleaning station separetaly if I have braun 9240s or any other S model?
Thanks for the advice!
Hi,
Unfortunately the 9240s will not work with a cleaning station. In fact, none of the s models will; only the cc shavers are fitted with a special chip that allows them to communicate with the station.
Hi, quick question. Does the charging station make that much of a difference. Debating weather to go with the S model or CC model.
Hi Frankie,
That’s really up to you. I never recommend the cleaning stations unless they’re absolutely necessary. In my opinion the Series 9 is such a case and the cleaning base is genuinely useful. Trying to remove all the hairs from the shaving head is very fiddly. The first time I used my 9290cc I did a quick dry shave, then tried my best to clean the head manually with water. I put a brand new cartridge inside the station, placed the shaver inside and did a cleaning cycle just to see how well I managed to clean the cassette. To my surprise there were quite a few hair clippings on the bottom of the cartridge.
I never use the station after every shave though; I usually do 3 manual cleanings before putting the razor through an automatic cleaning cycle. But I really appreciate having it so I can have the razor properly sanitized.
Anyway that’s just my preference with regards to the Series 9, I think the station is worth the extra money. With Panasonic for example I never buy the one that come with a station, it’s simply not needed.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
My husband is a long-time user of Braun shavers with the cleaning station. His only complaint on the models he has had so far is that the cleaning fluid seems to evaporate quickly. For Christmas, I’m going to give him a series 7 or series 9, and so far could go either way. (Thanks to your great review, I at last understand the series 9 variants.)
So my question is whether the life of the cleaning fluid varies between the two series. This could be the deciding factor!
Hi Melanie,
Thank you for your comment! I wouldn’t say there’s a significant difference between the Series 7 and the Series 9 in this regard. The cleaning cycle of both is very short, with the the Series 7 having a slight advantage since it uses induction heat and that dries the shaving head faster. However, the most important factors that impact the life of the cleaning cartridge are the following: how often you use the station and how dirty is the shaver. On top of that, being alcohol based, the fluid tends to evaporate pretty quickly. You can minimize this by taking the cartridge out of the base and putting the plastic cap back on if the station won’t be used daily. One thing I always do after completing my shave is to remove the shaving head and gently tap it on the sink to remove the bulk of hairs before cleaning it in the station.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks, Ovidiu!
Hi Ovidiu
Thanks for all your information
If it’s not too much can you tell me what’s the difference between 9299s & 9290cc ? I know the cleaning station is one difference but I don’t understand why is there this much a different price range between this two!! Can you update me about this, is the different in price make 9299 a better shaver !?
Thanks in advance
Hi Iman,
You are very welcome! The 9299s doesn’t include the cleaning station as you have correctly pointed out in your comment. Apart from that, a matte gold finish and a more premium packaging, there’s absolutely no difference between the 9299s and any other wet/dry Series 9 in terms of shaving performance. In my opinion the price of the 9299s is ridiculous. The 9290cc will give you an identical shave, it costs a lot less and comes with a cleaning station.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you ovidiu
The really issue for me is that I have a chance to get one of them for free – I like to know if you where in my shoes which one would you choose!?
The one with the cleaning station or the gold one
I’m so sorry to ask such a silly question
For my personal use I would definitely choose the 9290cc for the added convenience of the automatic cleaning base. Unless you plan on selling the shaver or you absolutely must have a golden Series 9, the 9290cc is (objectively) a more compelling package.
Thanks for your efforts sorting out all the #’s…..one would think Braun would make it easier.
Merci!
I had all my answers.
Greg from France.
Terrific site and thread, thanks.
I am switching to electric and my 9095 arrived today. I intended to try both the Remington Face Saver and Williams Lectric Shave pre-shaves, after looking at another thread here. My questions are about shaver cleaning when using these pre-shaves, which are not foam nor gels. If shaving dry I would likely just stick the shaver in the cleaning station, but it makes sense to me to use a pre-shave (and post balm) from what I have read.
I believe I read somewhere that the shaver should be dry when placed in the cleaning station. If that is the case:
1. If using the Lectric Shave, is there any need to hot water wash out the shaver before putting in the cleaning station? If so, that would mean I could not stick it in the charger right away if my assumption on the dry shaver into the cleaning station is correct?
2. Similarly, would the Remington Face Saver (talc plus ???) require the shaver be hot water washed (and then dried) before putting in the cleaning station? I don’t know if that pre-shave causes gunk ala the foams & gels that require washing (and drying) before the shaver goes in the cleaning station.
Please help me sort this out. I need to check where I think I read that one should not put the shaver in the cleaning station unless dry.
If I’ve got this right and either of these pre-shaves require hot water wash first, would I want to shave, pop off the head and how water wash, let it dry overnight, then (dry, of course) stick it in the cleaning station in the morning before shaving. I understand the typical clean cycle is pretty fast.
Thanks for helping me understand all this
Hi Paul,
Thank you for your comment. The Lectric Shave is alcohol based and will evaporate within 20 seconds after applying it to your face. I use it every time I shave dry and haven’t had any issues with gunk buildups. In this case a manual clean is not necessary, you can simply toss your razor into the cleaning base once you’ve finished shaving.
The use of a pre-shave powder that contains talc and a few other chemicals can be problematic in the context of using an automatic cleaning station, particularly a Braun station that uses an alcohol solution and it’s more susceptible to clogging. It’s unlikely for anything serious to happen, but I personally wouldn’t use a talc powder and then clean my razor in the cleaning station. So in this case a manual cleaning should probably be performed just to be on the safe side. I know this is inconvenient, so the Lectric Shave is the way to go in this case. Just make sure to wait for 20 to 30 seconds after applying the splash to your face to make sure it has evaporated completely.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks, Ovidiu. I appreciate the prompt reply! I shaved dry today but will try the Lectric shave tomorrow.
I did find in the manual, under Charging the Shaver in the CC Station: “Important: The shaver needs to be dry and free from any foam or soap residue!”. My confusion is about the “dry” requirement. There is also a 5-panel “cartoon” strip included separate from the manual that shows (1) a red “X” over sticking the foamy shaver in the station, (2) rinsing foam/soap from the shaver, (3) shaking the water off (at least that’s what it looks like), sticking the shaver into the station (showing another red “X” over a bubble of foam/soap next to the shaver (to make the point a 2nd time I presume), and (5) a 1-2 picture of how to put the shaver in the station (not very clear what that is trying to show, as it appears to show tilting the shave forward, which would separate the charging contacts on the back).
So, I’m not clear whether the shaver needs to be completely dry when inserted into the station. For instance, if I used the Face Saver, I could hot water rinse it (including popping the head off/on for better job of that), shake it off so it was not full of water (but not dry) and then stick it in the station? That is, if the picture is saying un-dry is ok but not unless you shake off the majority of water. Or does the shaver need to be completely dry going into the station? If the first step is a fluid wash, perhaps the importance is not getting more than a couple drops of water into the cleaning solution so it is not diluted substantially. I could see dry-dry being the requirement only if the first cleaning step was a fluid free air blow for loose particles.
I’d appreciate clarity on this as it might allow me to try the Face Saver (talc type), with quick steps of a how water wash, shake it free of (most) water, then into the station.
BTW, separate issue, the instructions advise to change the cleaning fluid when the lights so indicate. Is that pretty reliable. I believe is works off the fluid level. Does one sometimes have to change it earlier because the solution gets dirty enough that cleaning does not work well?
Thanks!!
You are welcome, Paul. Ideally, the shaver would have to be completely dry before inserting it into the station. However, if you perform a manual cleaning beforehand, thoroughly shaking off the excess water from the shaving head and also patting it dry with a paper towel, it should be fine. Please note that there’s always a risk (even minor) of something happening that may void your warranty when doing anything outside the recommended usage.
After shaving with a talc powder I recommend using a bit of liquid soap in addition to hot water to make sure you have removed any residues from the shaving head.
Regarding the level indicator, it is pretty reliable in my experience. I never had to replace a cartridge sooner due to excessive hair clippings/dirt accumulation. However, I do remove most of the hairs from the shaving head before using the station by lightly tapping the cassette on the sink. I also brush off any remaining hairs from the inner area of the pivoting head.
Does the Series 9 (9090cc type 5790) have a head replacement indicator? Or is up to the user to keep track of when 18 months is up?
Hi Michael,
The answer is no, the Series 9 doesn’t have that indicator.
Many thanks to you Alex!
You clarified the mess amongst of all references.
Many thanks for helping. I appreciate.
Hello Ovidiu,
Thanks for all of the information. It’s very helpful. I have one question want to ask you.
I live in Canada. I want to buy the series 9 for my husband but there is just 9095cc in Canada. I also can buy the 9295cc from U.S but I have to drive to U.S to pick it up. What do you recommend it? Is it worthy to buy the newest model 9295cc in U.S?
I want to buy the good model and use it for many years so I don’t mind the price.
Thanks.
Hi,
Thank you for your comment. Performance-wise the two are pretty much identical. The 9295cc already comes with the updated shaving head (part no. 92s) that addresses any potential problems that the older one might have had (90s). That part is however backwards compatible with the previous models, so if you decide to buy the 9095cc you’ll be able to use the newer shaving cassettes.
If price and convenience are not an issue, I would say to go for the 9295cc. But since you would have to drive to another country to get one, ordering a 9095cc along with an updated shaving head is probably a more convenient alternative.
I hope your husband will enjoy his new shaver.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you so much:))
Thanks for that, I’m in the exact same boat, in Canada as well (after trying the “traditional” safety razor way and always getting cut due to my hairs being flat, growing every which way etc. 9095CC it is. Thanks again!
You are very welcome, Erik! I’m glad that I could help.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks for all the info, really appreciate it! I just got the 9295cc from Bed Bath and Beyond for $211 US tax included! The comfort and closeness is light years ahead of my trusty norelco click & style with RQ12+ head. This is the next level, this will replace the norelco for shave and my double edge. Love that I can use dry and with shave cream. Do you know if you could use shave oil with this model ?
Hi Danny,
Thank you for your comment! I haven’t personally used shaving oils with my electric razors, but I don’t see why you shouldn’t give it a try. Just make sure to use a light oil specifically designed for shaving, like Somersets Shave Oils or Shave Secret and apply them very sparingly. This will reduce the chances of the razor getting clogged.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you for this detailed article and all other related ones. Has there been any word if Braun will be coming out with a Series 9 shaver that is built sturdier and not with plastic?
Hi Ricardo,
Thank you for the kind words. Regarding your question, there isn’t any official info about such a product. I would be very surprised to see a new Series 9 released anytime soon given Braun’s track record. Their update cycle is quite long — by update I mean the introduction of a vastly different product, not just an incremental improvement like the 90xx and 92xx models.
Best,
Ovidiu
Ovidiu, thanks for your response. By reading your article reviews on both the Braun and Panasonic foil shavers I have come to a solution. I have purchased a brand new in the box second generation Panasonic Arc5 with cleaning station included for $150.00. My main objective is to achieve optimal closeness and have the flexibility of adding comfort by using shaving creams, gels, lotions, or pre-electric splashes if desired. I have not yet tried the Panasonic yet (will be arriving soon) and I don’t know how my skin will at first respond with a dry shave using the Arc5 but when I do I will be commenting on this post with my personal results and opinions. Ovidiu, how can a person identify or label sensitive skin? I have always assumed that shaving produces some skin irritation or redness as a result of shaving. I’m trying to figure out if I have sensitive or “very” sensitive skin when it comes to shaving? Thank you.
You are very welcome, Ricardo. $150 for the ES-LV95-S is a very good deal. I think you made the right decision considering what you’re trying to achieve with your razor. For me this setup (Panasonic shavers + shaving cream) works amazing. I only use a very thin layer of watery lather. This seems to be ideal, but feel free to experiment with different things.
There’s actually a thin line between sensitive and very sensitive skin and this threshold seem to vary from person to person. People seem to evaluate their experiences very differently.
In my opinion, you’re dealing with (very) sensitive skin — in the context of shaving — when you always have to make specific adjustments to your technique & shaving routine and only use certain tools and products just to get a decent shave. Not great, but bearable.
Shaving shouldn’t inflict significant discomfort provided that we take care of the basics (a suitable razor and good technique). If that’s not enough, we can assume that we’re dealing with sensitive skin. The severity can vary from some razor burn and redness to more serious issues like ingrown hairs and razor bumps.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Appreciate your input Ovidiu. Will charging the Panasonic ES-LV95-S in the accompanying station also take care of lubrication or only clean and charge the shaver? I have not come across this info yet. Thank you again.
That is correct, Ricardo; if you clean the shaver with the included station there’s no need for additional lubrication. The cleaning fluid acts as a lubricant as well.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Ovidiu, what an incredible review. I had wasted DAYS researching just Braun alone, and I was still confused and unclear about the different models and features, and was really not close to a decision. But with your clear, thorough and well-written review my decision became crystal clear. Thank you, sir for taking the time to write this, and other reviews. Braun should consider hiring and paying you!
Hi Juan-Carlos,
I’m very glad to know that you found the information useful. Thank you so much, I am humbled by your kind words.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Super helpful and informative info Ovidiu – thank you for your clarity and thoroughness!
Decided to get the 9095cc on Amazon as way less expensive then the 92xx versions. Even if spend the extra $50-65 for the replacement head in the next 6 months still turns out cheaper and will get the titanium gold head then. If the original head lasts a year or more its well worth it. Merry Christmas!
Mike from Canada eh!
Hey Mike,
Thank you for your comment. I’m glad you found the information useful. It sounds like you got a really great deal on the 9095cc and I hope you’ll enjoy shaving with it. Merry Christmas!
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Ovidiu, I currently use and have been using the Braun 7 (great product BTW) for the past 5 years. My normal shaving routine and habits consists of shaving only once weekly. I follow this as it is more comfortable first and foremost. Also, as my beard grows in it does so nicely and even becomes softer as it gets longer and so I take advantage of this and make it part of my looks and outfit. Inevitably and quickly my beard becomes much fuller and no longer comfortable and so I prefer to shave it off. I say all this only to point out that there are times when I have to shave more times in between and to ask the following. Will using one foil shaver such as my Braun 7 for those in-between shorter stubble shaves be okay? And then using the more powerful Panasonic Arc5 for those days my beard is fuller? Would there be an issue switching between foil shavers of different brands? I’d appreciate you input and opinion please. Thank you again.
Definitely no problem switching between two different foil shavers (as longs as they’re both high quality products and suitable for the job).
The Arc 5 is a lot more powerful and has more cutting elements, so that is definitely an advantage. However, while it’s superior to the Series 7 with regards to raw cutting power, in my experience the Series 7 is better at capturing flat lying hairs. You therefore may need to do more passes with the Arc 5 on certain areas to get those stray hairs. Again, the problem is capturing the actual hairs.
This of course depends on the particularities of your facial hair, but shaving less often means a longer beard and the problem of flat lying hairs is usually more serious as the hairs grow longer and tend to stay flat on the skin. This is in my opinion the only potential issue you could have with the Arc 5 when shaving a longer beard. It may simply not be the case here, but I had to mention it.
Hello,
Is the following correct? Braun Series 9 model 9090cc = all black color and model 9095cc = chrome color? Thank you.
The Series 9 9090cc is a dry only shaver, while the 9095cc is suitable for wet/dry use. Both come in the silver/chrome finish.
Thank you Ovidiu for all your time and patience with answering my questions.
Hi Ovidiu,
I would like to share with you and readers that Braun is offering a $50.00 rebate with Series 9 until the end of the month (a December 31) just a few days more. I just came across this info today. I also added the Braun series 9 model 9295-chrome to my arsenal because of the kind of low price through Bed Bath and Beyond’s 20% coupon although chrome was not my first choice but model 9290 is not available to me but no matter. Price at BB&B is $239.00 minus 20% with mailer coupon (these coupons are everywhere in my area and also easily available online) and then take off 50.00 rebate. I think comes out to $142.00. Take advantage!
Hi Ricardo,
Many thanks for the info. $142 for a Series 9 9295cc is a fantastic deal.
Hola buenas, estaba pensando en comprarme una 9296 ya que la vi bastante asequible pero por esperar subio de precio desorvitadamente. Acabo de ver otra oferta de una 9291 y mi pregunta es, la diferencia solo es el color o hay aluguna mas?
Gracias
Hi Oskar,
Just the color (la diferencia es solamente el color).
Best,
Ovidiu
Muchas gracias por resolverse la duda amigo. Al final compré la 9295 por el mismo precio que la 91. Mañana la recibo.
Un saludo
Very informative, thank you!
Thank you for your comment, Olivier! I really appreciate it.
Best,
Ovidiu
I bought my series 9 rechargeable shaver model 9240s from Health Express via Amazon on 28/8/17. On 8/1/18 after 4mths use I found a hole in the foil making it unusable and dangerous. I found it impossible to obtain a usable address to contact Braun to make a claim. The website requires serial numbers and other details which are only on the box. I contacted Olympic Shaver Centre and bought a replacement foil because they said the foil was not covered by the warranty, which excludes “normal wear and tear(e.g. foil and cutter block)”. I consider 4mths. wear abnormal. Olympic, and your excellent user reviews, seem to regard 6-18mths life normal, and Braun recommend replacement of the foil after 18mnths. I found Braun Customer Service abysmal, and Product information seriously lacking. I bought my shaver in haste when my Philishave failed whilst I was on holiday in France, and had I seen your excellent site reviews before ordering I would have bought a 92xxcc instead.
Alan Wilcox
Hi Alan,
Thank you for your comment. I’m really sorry to hear about your experience. With normal use (and proper maintenance) getting only 4 months out of a cutting block is unacceptable.
I hope you’ll have better luck with your second Series 9 cassette.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I’ve been using the Arc 5 for a while now and usually clean it with soap and water before just drying it in the cleaning station to preserve blade/screen life.
Does the Braun series 9 have the Dry only setting on the cleaning station? Or will it only do the full cleaning cycle?
Hi Steve,
The answer is no, you cannot just dry your Series 9. The station can only do a complete cycle which involves both cleaning and drying. This is one of the aspects that make the Panasonic stations superior.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello!
Thank you for the explanation!
Which is a difference among 9290 cc, 9295 cc, 9296 cc and 9297 cc?
Hi Mikel,
You are very welcome. 9290cc comes in matte silver, while the 9295cc has the glossy chrome finish. 9296cc is the model number for the UK market and it’s the same as the 9295cc — chrome finish. 9297cc is the model sold on the Asian market and it’s the same as the 9290cc (matte silver).
Also, 9296cc comes with a leather travel case, while the rest have textile/fabric cases.
Thank you very much!
Why 790 cc is listed the first and 9290 cc the second at the list of the best shaver?
Best regards,
Mikeli
You are very welcome, Mikel. With electric shavers it’s almost impossible to come up with an objective ranking system that will cater to everyone’s needs. I would actually suggest you to ignore the position in the list and just focus on finding a shaver that’s suitable for you. Here are two articles that should help you out:
What’s The Best Electric Razor For Men (2018)? The Ultimate Guide
Braun Series 7 vs 9: Which One Should You Buy?
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks
I’ve recently decided that I should make the investment for a high end flagship electric shaver and after reading your review and finding a killer deal on eBay for a new Braun Series 9 9290cc I pulled the trigger and purchased it today. It does not, however come with the cleaning charger base. I see online, a few sold as replacement parts but I am having a difficult time determining the part number or model number for the base that is packaged with the 9290cc. Would you, by chance, be able to confirm what this particular part number or model number is? I’d greatly appreciate it.
Hi Jonathan,
I’m really sorry to hear about that. The 9290cc normally comes with a cleaning base, so I would assume that the vendor didn’t include it. The part number for the Series 9 cleaning station is 81481301. Please note that your Series 9 will work with one only if it is indeed one of the cc models; the s (solo) models will not work.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you very much for the info. I bought separately the Series 9 cleaning station #81481301 and it does indeed work with the razer. One more question if I may, I notice that media pictures of the Series 9 razer show a 9 on the shaver’s LED display. I’ve yet to see a number displayed on my unit’s led screen. Just battery bars and a water drop. Is this razer supposed to display a number on the screen or is that just marketing for Braun’s advertising. Thanks for your help previously. You pointed me in the right direction!
You are very welcome, Jonathan. As I explained in a previous comment, the display of the Series 9 (regardless of the variation) shows the remaining battery using the 5 horizontal bars. On certain models (9290cc, 9295cc, 9296cc, 9291cc and the first generation 9095cc and 9090cc) the display will actually show a digit instead of the bars, but only for the last 9 minutes of remaining shaving time. That’s also the reason why on some official photos of the Series 9 there’s a 9 on the shaver’s display.
Hi Ovidiu
I purchased a Braun series 9 back in August, use it for 3 months and after that it got locked, I guess in travel mode. The on off button does not work properly anymore and I can not turn it on and stay on for more than a few seconds – very frustrating!
Can you shed any light on this problem?
Thank you!
Hi Leo,
That clearly looks like a hardware malfunctioning and I recommend sending your Series 9 to an authorized Braun service center to have it fixed. The warranty should cover the repairment since you purchased your shaver in August.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Really good information, thanks a lot. Helped me to make up my mind
Thank you for your comment, Andrés! I really appreciate it.
Best,
Ovidiu
Thanks to your information.. I bought one shaver as 9095cc but for me the big noise was a problem at beginining when I used one series 5 before… Now I understand that my shaver series 9 was a problem at start… what is your idea?? Can it resolve to repair or I must buy the new one???
Hi Mehran,
Just to make sure I understand this correctly — you bought a Series 9 9095cc that was louder during use compared to a Series 5. If that’s the case, I’d say that there’s definitely something wrong with your Series 9. I own both and the Series 5 is clearly louder during use and vibrates quite strongly. I couldn’t tell if the noise of your particular unit is caused by a faulty shaving head or other mechanical problem, but the best solution would be to send it to an authorized Braun service center. If it’s not out of warranty the repairing costs should also be covered by it (except if it’s a problem with the cassette in which case the warranty won’t cover it).
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
Just a quick question: Is it possible to replace the Lithium-ion battery in the Series 9-9290cc model? I have had many bad experiences with fixed Li-ion batteries in electrical appliances “dying”, rendering the appliance useless and left with no alternative but to discard expensive equipment.
Thanks a million!
Len
Hi Len,
Yes, it is possible to replace the battery in the Series 9. The OEM part no is 81377206 and can be bought from various online stores. Here are a few links:
While replacing it yourself shouldn’t be too complicated, make sure to take extra care not to puncture or bend the battery.
I hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Fantastic Ovidiu! Many thanks for your prompt and most helpful reply.
Sincerest Regards
Len
You are very welcome, Len! I’m glad I could be of help.
Best,
Ovidiu
I recently purchased one of the new Braun series 7’s (7865cc). Love this shaver!
My question is in regard to making up my own cleaning solution for the supplied cartridge. I plan on mixing 5 ml of Wahl light machine oil into 500ml ethyl alcohol, which if I understand correctly should be sufficient for 3 cartridge refills. I realize by employing homemade cleaning solutions I run the risk of voiding the warranty, but perhaps more importantly, am I right in assuming that this – ‘concoction/recipe’ – would be a safe and effective, cheaper alternative to Braun’s offering?
Thanks so much for your sage advice and thanks in advance for your reply.
Hi John,
I haven’t personally tried to make my own cleaning solution, but I am familiar with the various recipes that exist. First of all, I would use specially denatured alcohol (SDA 40-B) as it’s not as harsh to the plastic surfaces of the shaver and the gaskets in the station as the other options (isopropyl, rubbing alcohol etc.). Secondly, I wouldn’t add any machine oils to the mix. I would only use denatured alcohol, some distilled water (around 20 – 30ml) and D-Limonene (one tablespoon). This last ingredient is also used by Braun in their solution (it dissolves grease and leaves behind that nice citrus scent).
An alternative would be alcohol, distilled water, glycerin and a few drops of essential lemon oil. Water is important for its conductive properties, if you don’t add any the station will signal an empty cartridge. Also, make sure not to fill the cartridge to the brim with the solution.
Again, I haven’t personally tested any of these methods, so I cannot guarantee for their safety and efficiency.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks so much for the comprehensive answer, Ovidiu. Greatly and sincerely appreciated.
When you say de-natured, is this the same as grain alcohol? Or Isopropyl? The reason I was considering ethyl alcohol was because I’d read that certain other additives don’t dissolve when added to isopropyl, but apparently do so in ethyl alcohol. Not sure whether or not that’s correct.
I’d also read about the D-Limonene. Do you happen to have any ideas on where I might obtain some? And I was under the impression that some kind of lubricant was a necessary addition, in order to help reduce premature wear and tear on the blades and foils. In view of your comments, since I don’t wish to damage the shaver, I’m thinking I should maybe just bite the bullet and buy the Braun replacement cartridges from Amazon, or wherever I can get the best deal. I presume if I purchase one of the multi-packs – for a discount price – that the cleaning fluid won’t evaporate over time while they’re stored and unopened.
Thanks again.
John
You are very welcome, John. Denatured alcohol is a just ethanol (ethyl alcohol) with an agent added to make it unsuitable for consumption. SD alcohol 40-B (the variation widely used in cosmetic products, including by Braun in its cartridges) contains a specific agent which also happens to make this mix more suitable for this type of application. That is it won’t be as aggressive to plastic and other materials.
The ingredient list of Braun’s cleaning solution printed on the cartridge is very basic and vague (Alcohol and perfume), but I would assume that the lubricating properties of the mix are enough. I am quite sure that they don’t add any machine oil or anything similar.
I couldn’t tell you where to buy D-Limonene (possibly ebay or amazon), but essential lemon oil should work just fine. If I recall correctly, D-Limonene is found in essential lemon oil alongside Citrol, which is another component of Braun’s formula.
I guess buying the original cartridges in bulk would be the safest choice for now. However, I will dig more into this as I’m quite interested in this topic and I will post a comprehensive article once I have everything sorted out. But until I can test it myself, I cannot recommend a homemade cleaning solution.
Thanks so much, Ovidiu. This is very helpful. I will have a look around some beauty supply stores and see if I can locate the specific ingredients you mentioned. In the meantime I look forward to your proposed research and reading your future article on the subject of a safe and effective, homemade cleaning solution.
Thanks again.
All the best,
John
My razor indicates to use 90S as a replacement part. Reading that it seems to be an inferior head, do you know what other heads will fit my 9090CC? Which one should I get?
Hi Frank,
You can use the updated 92s cassette mentioned in the post, it is backward compatible and will fit your 9090cc.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Awesome, thank you so much!
Hi Ovidiu,
I see there are different CCR types (I presume for different cleaning station models). I ordered a 9295cc online and I would like to get some CCRs for spare. Could you please share a compatible product code, or a link on amazon or ebay?
Multumesc!
Hi Breb,
They are all basically the same, there aren’t any CCR refills designed to work with a specific Braun cleaning station. The names/packaging may vary slightly depending on where they’re being sold or manufactured, but they’re all compatible with all Braun cleaning stations. As long as you’re buying genuine Braun CCR cartridges, they will work with your 9295cc.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you for the answer.
OK, understood. I asked only because I saw CCR2, CCR3 and other annotations and I thought there is a compatibility list.
On a previous comment someone was talking about homemade refill liquid and I though I can share this link about the composition of the CCR:
https://cdn.competec.ch/documents/1/8/185412/185412_Gefahrengutdokument.pdf
Not sure about the authenticity of the document though. Use with caution.
You are very welcome. CCR-4 for example commonly refers to a pack of 4 cartridges, CCR-3 to a pack of 3 and so on. I am familiar with that document and I think it is genuine. I will be posting a detailed guide on how to make your own Braun cleaning solution pretty soon as well.
hi
many thanks for your informative article.
i used to have panasonic ga-20 which was terrible specially when i wanted to shave area around my neck.
recently i have been struggling with razors to,i get so many irritations and belmish.
so i am consideringto buy another electric razor,and base on what i have read braun series 9 seems to be a good choice.
but i have heard claims about the differences between 9290 and 9290cc.
hey say 9290cc is ordered by middle east and 9290 is ordered by European countries and is better,is it?
do you think 9290 (cc or without cc) will do the job ? i am sick of relentless shaving
Hi Ali,
You are very welcome. The 9290 actually refers to the 9290cc model that comes with the cleaning base, there isn’t a different 9290 Series 9. I live in Europe and I bought the 9290cc from a local shop. If you see a reference to a 9290 (without the cc) it is most likely a case of an incomplete model name.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Nice Post…
Thank you, John!
Hi Ovidiu, can you please explain the difference between the 9260s and the 9293s ?
Also, is there any real advantage of getting a model with cleaning station, compared to a model without? Maybe the first one lasts longer?
Thank you
Hi Piero,
The only difference is the color (the 9260s model has a matte/brushed silver finish, while the 9293s comes with a high gloss, mirror-like treatment). The advantage of the station is that it makes cleaning a lot easier. Simply using the station shouldn’t affect the longevity of the shaver compared to a solo model (like the 9293s for example) unless you fail to clean and lubricate it regularly.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks
Thank you, I have been a Braun user for most of my adult life (51 now) and found them to be exceptional – my last one just died after 8-9 years hard labour.
I am not a fan of the cleaning station as the replacement cleaners are expensive and with a little TLC each couple of days longevity and performance didn’t fail me cleaning it myself.
From your article I think I will go the 9293s model
Again thank you for a very informative article.
Shane
Hi Shane,
Thank you for your comment. That is true, the cartridge refills can get pricey. I hope you’ll enjoy shaving with your new 9293s!
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Awesome review of the Braun
Series 9. My series 5 has finally crapped out after over a decade of use. As far as the cleaner solution, I have always used denatured alcohol to refill the containers after rinsing them out. Performance seems fine. That’s what the main ingredient is on the msds sheet.
Thank you for the comment, Mike, I really appreciate it. As long as the station doesn’t signal an empty cartridge, denat alcohol should be fine, although not as lubricating as the OEM or third-party solutions (those have Isotridecyl Stearate and glycerin in a special form or food grade mineral oil).
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Dear Ovidiu, thanks a lot for your perfect information, wherein this is the second time for our communication…
Can you advise me the difference between 9260s and 9240s… I know all details except the first one made by Aluminum and the second made by plastic… the rest details is clear for me but this topics No…
Thanks again for your assistance.
Ciao
Mehran
Hi Mehran,
You are very welcome, I’m glad you found the information useful.
Regarding your question, they are both made out of plastic, with the 9260s having a matte silver finish and the 9240s featuring a glossy black treatment. The 9260s is sold on the American market, while the 9240s is intended for the European market and will come with the appropriate power plug. These are the only differences between the two (the shaving performance is identical).
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks for your quick reply… Today I bought 9299 and surely my old shaver as 9095 was broken from beginning but I think service Braun don’t believe me, but it is true story…
Any way, I think the repairing cost is too much here in my country as Iran…
Thanks again.
Ciao
Mehran
Hi, can you tell the main specs of the 9260ps ? Thanks
Hi,
It’s basically the same as any other solo Series 9 from the updated line: wet & dry use, no cleaning station, same 4 blade shaving head (part number 92s), matte silver paint and charging stand.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks, so why does it have a specific model name, with the “ps” at the end? Any difference from the other models?
Thanks for your help.
You are welcome, Pietro. It’supposedly a limited edition model; apart from a leather travel case instead of a textile one, no other differences compared to the regular 9260s.
Hello, can the 9299s be charged without using the charger (stand) can it be charged with cable plugged into the shaver then into the wall socket?
As I’m going away for a few days I don’t want to have to take the charger.
Thanks.
Hi John,
Absolutely — you can plug the cord directly into the shaver.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi
great report on these shavers with lots of details, one question please if i may.
I have looked at buying the Braun Series 9 9260PS from Costco for £119 which looks a good price, but i can’t seen to find this model details on yours / or other websites.
Can you advise the difference between this and the 92** models please.
I know the S is for solo but not sure of the P or the difference between the 9260 & 9290 models
many thanks
Andy
Hi Andy,
Thank you for your comment. The 9260ps is a special edition of the 9260s that comes with a hard leather case instead of the regular textile case. Other than that they are exactly the same. The 9290cc comes with a cleaning station, unlike the aforementioned solo models. Performance-wise they are identical.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu
that’s great many thanks for explaining,
I will order this and look forward to comparing it with my 15 year old Philips HQ6890 shaver, which has been great, still works but feel time for a change!!
many thanks
Andy
I’ve just bought a 9260s, it has battery bars not numbers. I was expecting numbers, what’s the difference.
Hi Mark,
Check out this comment for more details on that.
thanx for info. i have a 9090cc with base clean&charge. in the pas i remember that when i used to charge the shaver in the base at one pint i heard a fan working to dry the shaver after the automatic clean.
now i do not hear no more the fan working… could i check someting to understand if ther is a problem?
thanck you for your kind support!
Hi Marco,
The fan is clearly audible once the drying cycle starts. If you can’t hear it anymore then it’s definitely something wrong with your cleaning station. The problem could be the fan itself or other related electronics. Try to contact Braun support to direct you to the nearest authorized service.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I’ve been using Braun shavers since before the cleaning station was introduced. I love the cleaning station but I’m wondering if the solution is the cause of the shaver case covering peeling off? Happened in the both 5 series and both 7 series razors I bought.
Thanks for your help, Ovidiu.
Cheers,
Michael
Hi Michael,
I’m afraid so — it’s a well-known issue that apparently plagues current models as well. And this happens despite Braun’s claims of using a special coat of paint that should withstand constant exposure to the alcohol fluid. The damage is only visual but still unpleasant, especially if you paid a premium for a Series 9 for example.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
Just came across this comment, before I had the same problem with 2 heads of Braun but to go further even the black part in the shaver where you attach the head is also got discolored. Is this because of the alcohol or some other ingredients in the cleaning solution? the matte silver paint wore off within 2 months cleaning every alternate day.
Just wanted your take on that. Thank you & keep up the good work.
Hi JD,
Thank you for your comment. Most likely yes, the alcohol in the cleaning solution is the culprit. Braun uses either ethanol and isopropanol in their cleaning refills and apparently the latter is more aggressive with plastic surfaces, but I couldn’t say this with certainty. Anyway, you don’t even know what you’ll get until you read the label on the cartridge and sometimes the type of alcohol is not even specified.
Mine (9290cc) is still holding up very well with no visible signs of surface wear and I’ve been using the cleaning station constantly as well. That doesn’t mean it won’t eventually happen. It’s really disappointing that a premium-priced shaver is plagued by this type of problems, even though it doesn’t affect the functionality. I am yet to hear about something similar with Panasonic shavers for example.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you for the comment.
I think the detergent based ones are not having these problems. Until reading your comments I had no idea this is the problem I was under the impression I had a bad batch or something but when the actual Handel where the head sticks has started to discolor that got me doubting but your comment & now researching the internet confirms I’m not the only one.
I have this shaver since 2016 I shave my head too so I go through cassettes yearly but at least for me it was severe to slight discoloration or the paint chip coming off for sure. It’s a shame really but it’s a damn good shaver. Thank you appreciate it.
You are very welcome, JD. It is indeed a really good shaver. The detergent-based solutions don’t cause these issues, but that’s not an excuse for a badly designed product. And at least in that regard, the Series 9 is a bit of a letdown (as it was the S7 and apparently the S5 as well).
Ovidiu, I wanted you to be my savior with only good news!! At least you saved me a few hundred dollars since I’ll hang on to the Series 7 for awhile longer.
Seriously, thanks for your reply.
Sincerely,
Michael
When something is of good quality, both in material and in use, you do not need to decorate it. But if, despite all this, the packaging is of a superior category, the result is excellence. I have to say that I had been using different Braun shavers and that the last one, since a little over a year ago, was a series 7 with which I was very happy, but the Braun 9 9299s far surpasses it.
In the first place, its presentation, as I said before, is extremely well cared for, both in the box – which can possibly be put to good use in another land, as in its leather case. Only with this product in hand can you get an idea of what you will find inside and opening it does not disappoint. Aesthetically it is impeccable, both in design and in ergonomics, with a very comfortable grip and a wide head equipped with different elements that facilitate the rush and smoothness. I shave daily and I do not have a hard beard so perhaps, in my case, the best hurry and where you can fully appreciate the possibilities of this shaver is on the beard of a couple of days. The vibration is subtle and with much less past the hurry is totally different from the other Braun tested. In difficult areas such as the neck, where before had to complete the shaving with a blade to avoid irritating the area with too many passes in this case with four or five is enough to achieve a perfect finish without irritation. I was worried a little in principle that the width of his head was uncomfortable for the area of the mustache but after two or three tests, with the activated lock and the correct inclination the results are perfect.
Another point to note is the durability of your battery. I put it to load at the moment of its reception and nineteen days later it continues perfectly loaded, with practically daily shaves. This provides a tremendous autonomy and, despite the fact that the charger – with a nice design also in the product line – is of small size with this duration of the load it is perfectly avoidable to take it for punctual departures or even for a fortnight of vacations.
As for maintenance, at first, perhaps because of the custom with previous shavers, I would have liked a brush but I recognize that being washable, its cleaning is also more comfortable and lubricating the head from time to time with the product of the Own brand is more than enough.
In short, it is an unbeatable option. True that its price may be a little higher than others but its advantages, design, haste, maintenance, autonomy, more than compensates for that difference. Good job, Braun!
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience, Xavi. Glad to hear you’re enjoying your new Series 9.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks for the great advice and help on this site!
In the UK, the only black coloured model in the Series 9 range is the 9240S which I had intended to buy and then purchase a clean and charge station to use with it as I prefer the black coloured shaver. However after further research from this site I realised that even though the 9240S has the charging pins on the body, it doesnt have the chip inside to charge the shaver when placed in a clean and charge station (if purchased separately). A few Amazon purchasers of individual clean and charge stations have been left wondering why the station isnt charging their shavers and it’s a fair comment as it is confusing with one expecting a shaver with pins to accept a charge from a clean and charge station.
So I managed to get hold of a 9280CC which is a black coloured model that comes with a clean and charge station. This model is available in Germany but not the UK.
Performance wise, coming from a Series 7 shaver with no clean and charge and having a fast growing and hard stubble, I was unshaved for almost a week when my 9280CC arrived.
This model is considerably lighter then my series 7 and as Braun shavers get louder as time and use goes on, my new 9280CC didnt feel as they it was going to get the job done initially being lighter and quieter. But it did and I will say it deserves the premium tag. 2 or 3 daily shaves in and my skin had accepted the new head and its larger size and pattern comapred to the series 7.
As for the clean and charge station which I spent hours deciding if I needed a shaver model with it or not, ….. I havent even used it yet ;-))
Thank you for your comment, I really appreciate it. Unfortunately Braun only includes the chip with the Series 7 solo models, so those are the only ones that will work with a cleaning station purchased separately later on. With that said, I think the 9280cc was an excellent choice and even though you still haven’t used the cleaning station, it’s great having it for a thorough cleaning. And it’s up to you to decide when you should do that, be it once a week or once a month (I tend to use mine once every two weeks or so).
The Series 9 is really impressive at shaving longer hairs. In my opinion it’s the best electric shaver in this regard right now. And it’s supremely comfortable and forgiving and makes shaving very enjoyable.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
What about Series 9 Premium Edition?
It’s cheaper. So, it have the same specifications and features?
Yes, they are the same performance-wise. Premium editions can have different color treatments or different accessories like a leather hard case instead of the usual textile one. However, the specs and features are the same.
Hi Ovidiu! When will the Series 9 upgrade be?
Hi Ale,
Unfortunately there’s no info regarding a purported upgrade of the current Series 9. However, given Braun’s track record, I’d say that we won’t be seeing a new Series 9 anytime soon. We’re not counting the special/premium editions which are nothing more than minor visual updates. Anything is possible though and we may see a paradigm shift — maybe as a response to Panasonic’s aggressive Arc 5 updates.
I will update this post as soon as I have any reliable information.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Is the 9240s part of the latest series Regards Gerry Naylor
Hi Gerry,
Yes, the 9240s model is part of the latest Series 9.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello. I have a Braun 9290cc shaver which I’m very happy with. Does this razor have its own ID? I want to buy a second identical razor to use with the original Cleaning Station but I don’t want another Cleaning station. I’m told I have to buy them both together. Do you agree?
Hi Donjay,
Unfortunately that is correct. If you buy a Series 9 solo model (no cleaning station) it will not work with a compatible Series 9 cleaning station. As I said in the article, the solo models lack a chip that is used to communicate with the station and only the shavers that originally came with a station have that chip.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu, If you remember, on Nov 7 I posted a comment about my shaving heads needed to be replaced. I noted that there was a hole in the foil after I replaced them with the new 92S series. To my surprise, I experienced a burn today while shaving wet with my shaving cream and right after checking, I noticed the hole again in the foil. This time only nine months have passed and I am wondering if I am doing something wrong that the heads had this wear and tear this early? I always detach the head, wash it clean under hot tap water, and then put it in the cleaning station after every shave. I am disappointed that this happened this early. Do you have any recommendations? I should say that I have the 9095CC series. Are there any differences on the sellers on the Amazon to order a new series of the heads, or you believe all of them are selling the genuine Braun heads. Thanks Ali
Hi Ali,
I am sorry to hear that. 9 months is way too soon for the blades to eat through the foils with normal use and proper cleaning. A quick rinse under tap water followed by an automatic cleaning cycle in the station is actually ideal and this definitely didn’t cause the premature wear. I know that several other users have experienced this, even with the new heads. I haven’t been able to replicate this on my Series 9, however I do not use it as often as most Series 9 owners since I have lots of shavers in my rotation. Braun didn’t acknowledge any problems with new heads, but that doesn’t really mean anything. As soon as I have more information, I will update this post. I cannot say at this moment if it’s indeed a faulty design of the shaver/cassette.
Regarding what to do next, after this and your previous experience, anyone would be hesitant at ordering the same part again. You could also try reaching out to Braun customer support, they will likely send you a free replacement. I am pretty sure that the shaving heads sold on Amazon are genuine, just make sure that the seller has solid user feedback.
Finally, there’s the option of the tried and tested Series 7 if you don’t want to deal with the Series 9 cassettes anymore. That one is still pretty good and at least the shaving heads won’t fall apart prematurely and they also cost less.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks.
Series 7 cassettes are not compatible with series 9, right? you meant in the post to change my entire shaver if I want, right?
Ali
That’s right, Ali. They are not compatible with the Series 9.
I took your advice and called them and they said they will send a replacement head. However, to my surprise, the lady told me that the heads may last between 8 to 18 months depending on your shaving routine. it was funny to me. I told her that this does not make sense that a product of 18 months of use wants to have a 10 month usage tolerance. I also told her to reflect it back to Braun if this is the case, why they do not mention it officially in their manuals or the website. Anyways, I think it was a very funny excuse and they should think more about the quality of their heads for their way expensive shaving system series 9.
Ali
Hi, I have a 9290cc, however I like to wash my Series 9 under the tap to clean it, and occasionally use a lubricant spray (rather than continually wasting money on consumables ie, the clean and renew cartridges)
However, when I wash it under the tap and put in into the cleaning station, the shaver effectively drip-dries into the charging station.
I thought buying a charging stand would be the answer to this problem, but the shaver points upwards, and wouldn’t effectively drip-dry.
I’m looking for a way to just stand my shaver vertically downwards, so the water drips out after I’ve cleaned it. Ideally, it would charge the shaver at the same time.
Do you know of a way? Is there a charging stand that would both charge the shaver and allow it to drip-dry?
Thank you
Jay
Hi Jay,
Unfortunately there isn’t such a stand. I think one of the reasons for this has to do with safety — a dripping wet electrical appliance connected to the mains can cause accidents and manufacturers play it very safe. But I totally agree with you, such a stand would be very useful. In fact, just a simple, perforated plastic cap would be good enough for this (something like this).
Unless you can find a DIY solution for this, your only onption would be to use the station just for carging your shaver, the downside to this being that it’s pretty large compared to a charging stand. Another compromise would be to use Braun’s stand and remove the shaving head and just let it air dry next to the shaver.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
So based on past releases, can you guess when I new a series (11?) might come out?
Hi Steve,
Based on past releases I’d say that we won’t be seeing a new flagship shaver from Braun anytime soon. However, given that this whole Series 9 release didn’t go so smoothly and Panasonic is pushing new updates to the Arc 5 line, things could be different this time.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Great review man. Very thorough!
Thank you for your comment, Danny. Much appreciated.
Hi Ovidiu,
Great articles as always.
I have been changing the cassette round to see if it makes a difference in the shave. So sometimes I place the gold ‘hyperlift and cut’ near the power button and so the ‘skin guard’ and ‘direct and cut’ is nearer the trimmer on the back and then to finish off I unclip the cassette and turn it 180 degrees the other way on top of the shaver so that the gold ‘hyperlift’ is nearer the trimmer and the skin guard/ ‘direct and cut’ nearer the power button.
When looking at Braun packaging photos sometimes I see the cassette placed so that the hyperlift is on the ‘bottom’ so nearer to the power button and sometime the other way round.
I wondered if it makes a difference which way to have the cassette on top of the shaver?
Do you have any thoughts or information when Braun will release a new model of the series 9?
Thanks
Hi Claud,
Thank you for your comment. Changing the orientation of the cassette can have a minor effect on your shave or none at all. For example, when I use it with the golden HyperLift & Cut trimmer near the top (option 2 in this photo), the shaver seems a tad smoother and it is a bit more effective at catching longer hairs on my neck. If my stubble is very short, I don’t really notice any difference.
My guess is that depending on your facial hair’s particularities and technique, you may see a small benefit from leading with the HyperLift & Cut trimmer vs the SkinGuard and the Direct & Cut element. If you notice any improvements in either of the cases, just continue using it that way. Otherwise, I wouldn’t worry too much about this issue. Braun even says that it doesn’t make any difference at all.
Regarding a new Series 9, as in a completely new, redesigned shaver, my guess is that we won’t be seeing it anytime soon, especially judging by Braun’s usual update cycle. But you never know.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Great article with exactly the information I was looking for. Thank you
Thank you, Peter! Glad to know you found it helpful.
Hi there!
Just bought 9299s what means that it’ll be unable to work with CC station. But on the Braun hotline support specialist said that I can update a firmware at official service centre to make it work.
Is it worth it? Should I?
Hi Grigory,
If the cost of the operation is reasonable and you plan on buying a cleaning station later on, then I guess it is worth doing it. I don’t personally use the station after every use, but it is very handy for a thorough cleaning every two weeks or so and it does a much better job than I could ever achieve with soap and tap water.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi, I have a first generation 9095cc shaver, and since 1 year I experience that the middle 2 parts from the 92S head get loose and fall off after 3-4 months of usage. Today I replaced for the 3rd time this year a new 92S head. Mostly it works well for 2 months, then at one side the middle 2 parts get loose and come out, but can be pushed back inside. Then after 3-4 months the middle parts fall out of the head constantly, and can hardly be placed back. Also my shaver makes more noise compared to an 9255 shaver that my son has. Can anything be done, or should i buy a new shaver.
Hi Jan,
Unfortunately you are not alone, some of the readers of this website have also mentioned this — the middle trimmers failing after months of use. The reliability of the 92s cassettes seems very inconsistent at this point. I haven’t got any issues with my Series 9 (9290cc), but I also don’t use it as often as most men do as I have quite a few shavers in my rotation/for testing. The motor of the newer 92xx shavers is as far as I know the same as the one used by the older generation, so I guess the noise could be related to the vibrations of the shaving head/cassette.
Unless Braun comes up with redesigned, backward compatible cassette for the ongoing Series 9, there’s not much to be done. I do however recommend contacting Braun and describing the problem, they will likely send you a free replacement cassette.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks for your advice. I contacted Braun. The production number on my shaver was known to cause trouble. They returned the money for my last replacement cassette. Also they asked me to send the shaver (which is 2.5 years old) for repair for free. I got it back after one week and it works fine now. The shaver makes less noise now and also works better. I’m happy with their service.
You are very welcome, Jan. Glad to hear everything worked out great.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I really hate the cleaning station and cleaning replacement cartridges (hurts the environment) but i see a non-cleaning station version is a available.
Yes, there are also Series 9 models that don’t come with a cleaning station, the so-called solo models (like the 9293s for example).
Can all of the 92XX razors be used with the cleaning station? I already have a cleaning station and just want to get a new solo razor.
Unfortunately no; as mentioned in the post, the solo models will not work with a cleaning station. Only the cc shavers that originally came with a cleaning station will work.
I recently bought a replacement head for my 9290cc 92S from a well known supplier. The new head seemed to give a very poor shave. It was hard to make out if it was any better than the original head which was at least 18 months old! I am pretty sure it was a genuine Braun product. Has this been a common experience?
By the way your articles are fantastic and a great help to many of us. Thanks. Mark
Hi Mark,
Thank you for your comment.
That clearly doesn’t seem right. There have been cases where a replacement head would only last for a few months, but a brand new one should perform significantly better than an 18 month old cassette. My recommendation would be to contact Braun customer support and explain the situation to them. They will almost certainly send you a free replacement as you clearly got a defective product.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks Ovidiu. That’s great I shall give them a shout. Cheers Mark
Further to my last Customer Services, whilst being polite and friendly, have not shown any inclination to send me a replacement head. They suggest not to use the big internet sellers but get spares from their own outlet. One has to question why these heads cost so much – you could buy a pretty good whole new razor, even a Braun for this money!
Thanks again Ovidiu for a great service
Thank you for the follow-up, Mark. That is a bit strange as quite a few readers of this website have been in the same position and were given free replacement heads after contacting Braun CS (and without explicitly asking for any compensation). I’m sorry to hear that they didn’t help you out and resorted to the third-party seller argument. It’s obvious that it couldn’t have been a counterfeit product.
Regarding the price, it’s the same story with Panasonic and Philips Norelco — the replacement shaving heads for the high-end shaver models are very expensive. My guess is that they rely on the fact that people will likely still buy them because otherwise they won’t be able to use their shavers.
An alternative would be to simply get a midrange shaver like the Series 5. Not quite as good as the Series 9, but good enough for most users. The 52s shaving head of the Series 5 can be found at a better price compared to the 92s. Less expensive shavers usually require less expensive replacement shaving heads.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks for that Ovidiu – perhaps I should beg in future?
Cheers for now Mark
Excellent articles and info. on the Braun series 9. I always wondered about different models!!! 🙂
I have a Braun series 7 (760cc) older version and I recently replaced the shaving head.
Although it is getting old in appearance but works like a charm.
I truly appreciate your efforts to share the info.
Thank you for the kind words, Omid. I’ve said it on many occasions that for most men the Series 7 will be good enough and only a few will truly benefit from upgrading to the more expensive Series 9.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Will the 9260ps work with the clean and charge station?
No, it will not work. It’s just like any other solo Series 9 model.
How does the 9299s (gold) model compare to the rest of the models?
Thanks.
Hi Marcus,
Apart from a matte gold finish and more premium packaging, there’s absolutely no difference.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Just a little question. Why is the 9290cc price so high? In Canada, its around 500$ while the 9295cc cost like 200$. Is the silver color that rare?
Hi Fred,
Price oddities like this one are actually common with electric shavers. For example, in Europe (and in the USA) it’s the other way around: the 9295cc model usually costs more than the 9290cc.
The huge price difference in Canada likely has to do with suppliers; maybe a retailer could only source the 9290cc from a single supplier that sells it at a much higher price. In this case I would definitely get the 9295cc (despite the glossy coating).
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello, I need to change the head on my 9095cc and know that I can use either a 92b or a92 s. However despite you mentioning these a few times, nowhere does it say what the difference is between them so that I can decide which is the most appropriate for me. Could you please advise the difference. Thanks
Hi Stuart,
Apart from the color, there’s absolutely no difference between them. You may want to get the 92s to match the color of your shaver, but if you can find the 92b for a better price for example, that’s also an option worth considering (if you don’t mind the color).
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Can the Braun 92S to replace the 90S?
Yes, the 92s/92b are backward compatible with the first generation Series 9.
Hi Ovidiu,
Great article with exactly the information I was looking for. I got one question,i resently order 9250cc (black) which the price is lower than the modes with the silver/chrome color.I really dont know why,also the replasements 92b(black) is mysh cheaper than the 92s(silver),you got any more info about the black models,and specifically for the model that i ordered(9250cc).
Thanx in advance,and happy new year.
Dim
Hi Dim,
Thank you for your comment, I really appreciate it. The 9250cc model is a bit of an oddity, meaning that it comes with the updated shaving head, its model name starts with 92, but it is not however suitable for wet & dry use like the rest of the updated Series 9 models. That’s why its price is usually lower compared to other similar shavers. This shouldn’t be a big deal as most users will shave dry with a Series 9. It is still waterproof and can be safely rinsed with water.
As for the cheaper shaving heads, there is less demand for the black variation since most Series 9 shavers use the silver 92s.
So there’s really nothing to worry about. Happy new year and enjoy your Series 9!
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Dear Ovidiu, thanks foe your useful information…. I have a 9299S as gold color and now I heard that the cassette for replacement of 9299S is different from other models as 9295 or 9290….
I think, this is wrong and all braun series 9 must be the same cassette, what is your idea??
Thanks in advance for your support.
Regards
Mehran
Hi Mehran,
Thank you for your comment. You are right, all Braun Series 9 (including the 9299s) use the same replacement cassette.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Dear Ovidiu, I am sure that the old 90XX series are weak by their casette design. One foil falls out during shave or cleaning or tapping processes and it is hard to put back. I use 9042s and living this problem, just ordered a 92b casette and will get rid of the awkward design. Also the blue coating peels out by time (after about 3rd month of usage). So, dont buy a Braun 9 with 1st generation casette… Cheers
Hi Sait,
Thank you for your feedback, I really appreciate it. I didn’t get the chance to use the original shavers and cassettes, so I can only rely on user reports.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi
I’m a longtime Braun razor user and big fan of their products normally. However I am really frustrated with the Series 9 because of the two central foil heads, the HyperLift&Cut and Diect&Lift keep breaking and falling out. This problem was not resolved when the newer design head was produced. If I am really lucky 1 head will last about 12 weeks but the last one has only managed 3 weeks.
What happens is one side on both central cutters pops partially out before a few days later completely disintegrating. I am so, so careful with the heads because at 50$ a time they are not cheap and they are still difficult to obtain.
When operational the shaver works very well indeed but having to buy 6 new heads a year is ridiculous and unreasonable. So my advice, looking at all the other complaints about the same issue, is not to invest in this model. Pick a Series 7 perhaps. I’ve now spent more on foils in less than 2 years than the razor cost in the first place!
If you’ve got this far then the other problem for this model is the charging/cleaning station clogs up readily with hair trimmings. My advice is not to wash out with water because that breaks the sensor which detects the cleaning fluid level and the station then will not function until you take it apart and short the sensor out. Then you have the inconvenience of having to manually check cleaning fluid levels.
Hi Tim,
Thank you for your comment and detailed feedback. I’ve received a few complaints about the new cassettes as well, both via email and in the comments, but your case is by far the most extreme; 6 new heads a year is outrageous. I currently own two Series 9 shavers and have been using them consistently. So far I’ve had zero issues with the shaving heads. Did this happen with the original heads that came with your Series 9 or just with the replacements? 3 to 12 weeks is unacceptable with normal use and operation.
Braun stations can clog up, it happened to me with the Series 7 as well recently. There are a few guides online on how to deal with it, it’s pretty straightforward. I’ll post a tutorial as well, hopefully soon.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi. I have for some 6 years series 7 with CC
Its working fine, but its have see better days also im not using CC anymore as the casetes are somhowe quite expensive (24€ per 2) and IMHO not worth the fuss. (I buy electric shaver to forget about the consumables for quite some time)
Now i want to buy new. But i have hard time to decide between 9240s, 9280cc and 7842s
The price differance are minor.
I see why 9240 and 9280 have differente price (braun hope that i will use CC station and buy cartriges, so they lower price to get u in consumables) But why 7842 cost almost same as 9240 i dont get…
Any how im inclining to 9280 as its cheapest option and as im not everyday shaver (mostly i shave once per week) and fm reviews i uderstand that for longer hairs series 9 do better job. If series 9 would be black and with leather case i would pick it up but looks like there is no such option.
Hi Varis,
Since you’re satisfied with the performance of the Series 7, I would normally tell you to just get the 7842s because it’s usually a lot cheaper than any Series 9. Moreover, it will also work with your current cc station — there are a few third-party options that cost only a fraction of the price of Braun’s cleaning cartridges (here are the details if you want to know more).
The Series 9 is better than the Series 7 at shaving longer beards, so if you shave once a week you should see an improvement. Since you can get the Series 9 for roughly the same price, you might as well buy it. You can get the 9280cc if it costs less than the 9240s and simply not use the station. But again, you can buy a third-party cleaning concentrate and the costs of using the station will be minimal.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
So i got 9280. My 5 cents. Most are already mentioned here. On series 9 are not 18month indicator (not big deal). As most probably will change the head when they will notice that cutting performance start to get worse. Price differance for head comparing to series 7 are some 10€$… Not so big IMHO. Series 9 sounds not silencer but more ritmic.
For thous who want to transfere fm wet shave or a rotary. (I have read lot and lot of bad reviews fm thous people). Electric shaving 99.99% ar dry shaving (i dont see point to do wet shaving with electric razor, i have tried few times and i understand thats silly). It means u can shave in car if u woke up late and ar running to some meating. For me rotary shaver dont work as i dont like that head is big and i nedd to make rotary movements ob my cheak with razor. 2. Somewehere i readed that skin/hair to adjust for new shaving techic or shaver u need to use it for 2-4 weeks. 3. Cassete it series 9 CC station are loaded fm back in series 7 fm front also series 7 cc are smaller. But in case of cleaning they do same job.
As in end it comes down to money and how much u want to spend. I personaly would recomend black version (less fingerprints, more clasic look) as to series 9 or 7.. the difference are only in price. If in your place series 9 and 7 price differance are minor i would recomend to go for series 9. Also to use or not CC station… Hard question. I noticed that on my old series 7 CC casete works for around 3 months. As i can buy 4 for 24€ so 6€ per casset or 2€ per month.. i think its not so expensive. Also if like in my case 9240s costed 20€ more than 9280cc its no brainer whats cheaper.
Hi Varis,
Thank you for taking the time to comment, I really appreciate it. Hope you’ll enjoy shaving with your new Series 9!
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Ovidiu. Thank you for 12/10/19 excellent analysis. Came across your article several months ago, but have been delaying purchase for better price. Was considering models 9385 and 9390, but recently saw advertising and decent price for a model 9370 which does not appear in your analysis and comparison. Is there any info you can provide on 9370 model? Thanks
Mike
Hi Mike,
Thank you for your comment, much appreciated.
At that time the 9370cc model wasn’t available yet (I will update the comparison asap). It is absolutely identical to the 9390cc and 9385cc (apart from the color); the only difference is that the 9370cc comes with a hard textile travel case instead of the leather one shipped with the other two.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu
Got my first Braun shaver at Xmas having been a Philips man all my shaving life (40 odd years). It’s a series 9 shaver with cleaning station. Have been over the moon with it compared to my old shaver but do have a slight issue with it.
When I am shaving the hairs do not seem to be collecting fully into the shaving head and end up over me or in front of the mirror. Have tried rotating the head but it happens both ways. Tried Braun customer service but still waiting for promised email from one week ago!!
Any ideas?
Chris
Hi Chris,
That’s quite a common occurrence, especially with foil electric shavers. The ones with a rotary system tend to collect a lot more clippings inside the hair chamber. This is due to the way they are constructed and the way they work.
What I personally do in order to minimize the mess on my shirt is to lean a bit forward over the sink when shaving. I also tilt my head forward when shaving my cheeks and upper lip area. This allows me to hold the shaver with the head pointing slightly upwards at all times. So the shaver will be in a horizontal position at worst. This way it’s able to collect most of the hairs and the ones that still don’t end up inside the head will simply fall in the sink. I hope this makes sense.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello, and thanks for the well-considered and well-written reviews. Well done and much appreciated.
Have been a user of a “series 3”-ish Syncro 7570 for literally ***years***, but I’m now the proud owner (as of today) of a new 9090cc. Even though it was a pain-in-the-neck due to its discontinuance, I sought it out above the 9290cc because I never shave wet and I value the ability to shave while plugged in if need be, and was turned off by the fact that the 92xx line (with the exception of 9250cc, which isn’t sold in the States) is now nearly 100% Wet&Dry.
Although I *prefer* the matte Silver to the glossy Chrome, avoiding a W&D model for me trumps the color scheme. Interestingly, though, when I opened my 9090cc box (never opened and manufacturer-sealed!), I found inside a matte Silver device that was clearly not W&D and marked as model 9090cc on the back. This is in contrast to your table of models in this article which states that the 9090cc is a Chrome shaver.
Needless to say that I am confused though delighted. It seems I got the best of both worlds. This leads me to wonder, though, if your table is in error, or if some 9090cc units shipped in Silver instead??
(For what it’s worth, my 9090 also shipped with a charger cable that is straight instead of curly.)
Thanks again,
— Nathan
Hi Nathan,
Thank you for your comment, I really appreciate it. Glad to hear you found a shaver to your liking.
That is correct, the 9090cc model comes in a matte finish; I will update the table, many thanks for the heads-up.
Enjoy your shave with your new Series 9!
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I purchased (imported into Aus) a Series 9 shortly after they were first released, and was really impressed – but after about 2 years I became aware that it was really noisy, I am not sure if it gradly got louder or just happened one day. It seemed to still cut fine, and changing the cassette didn’t make any difference.
I have since purcased another Series 9 (ebay from Japan), and it was so much quieter – which proved that my first one had developed a fault. Sadly after only year, my 2nd one is now making the same loud noise – so annoying.
As an import, I have no warranty. Even with/without a warranty, I’d still have to send it to Sydney and wait however many weeks for repair.
Is anyone else finding their Series 9 getting louder and louder?
I’m in Australia, and the 9290cc is Aus$699, I can buy one from the UK for Aus$411, which includes shipping… with such a big price difference you could forgive me for discarding any warranty – but since I have now got two which have gone bad, and this is the best product one can buy – it’s a bit frustrating!
I can see a local supplier is selling the 9280cc for Aus$449 on a current promo, so it would make sense to buy from them this time and keep the receipt!
Hi Antony,
Does your Series 9 also vibrate excessively apart from being loud? Is the loud noise present to the same extent if you turn the shaver on with the cassette removed? I have two Series 9 and haven’t had any issues so far. Also, in your case it would make more sense to get the 9280cc.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi
great article and entire blog.. looking forward for more upadates and have one queury. Braun has released model 9292CC, does anyone know what is diffrentce to 9290c/9291cc ?
best regards
m.
Hi Marcin,
thank you for your comment. The 9292cc is a model sold in several European countries, but the shaver itself is identical to the 9290cc/9291cc. It does include an extra soft pouch for carrying the cord. But other than that, it’s absolutely the same.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
The power indicator level on my 9293s are bars and not the numbers as seen on the display box. Does this mean I have an older model?
No, in fact, even some of the first (original) Series 9 models like 9090cc had this feature. Several new models have it as well (9290cc, 9295cc, 9296cc, 9291cc). I wouldn’t worry too much about it as those models still use bars to indicate the battery level and only switch to digits for the remaining 9 minutes. So it’s not particularly useful.
Do series 9 “cc” models also come with a charging stand, in addition to the included cc station?
No, only the solo models can come with a charging stand.
Can the “cc” models work on a charging stand or only in a “cc” station? Apparently the solo models do NOT work in a “cc” station.
Yes, the cc models will work on a stand because it simply uses the shaver’s charging port where the cord would normally be inserted. The station charges the shaver via two metal contacts and that only works with the cc models.
If I get a cc model, can I buy a stand separately?
Yes, the part number for the stand is 81572662.
I have used the Braun 7526 for a long time. It is very gentle on the “sensitive” areas. Braun eventually came out with a new design for the foil that, in my opinion, is slightly less gentle but still acceptable. Are the 92 series shavers at least as gentle as my old 7526? I use my 7526 only corded because the battery died a long time ago; this lack is why I am considering a new shaver. It’s confusing that Braun has so many “model” numbers when the razor’s color seems to be the main determinant. Yes, I know there are other, significant discriminators like dry/wet-dry and s/cc. However, I don’t consider color to have anything to do with model designation. Why is there no matte black? Where can I get a 9299cc; Amazon doesn’t seem to offer it.
Unfortunately I never had the chance to try the 7526, so I cannot compare it directly to the Series 9. I can say however that the Series 9 is probably the most comfortable shaver I’ve used so far.
As far as I know, there’s only a 9299s, so no cleaning station. That one is available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2RswINn
Look at this site. 9299cc is mentioned several times. Maybe it’s not available in the US.
https://www.service.braun.com/product/product.asp?rg=NA&c=US&l=GB&typ=ui&s=&seite=&sString=5791|SH|SH01|S|Series+9&subgrp=Series%209&grp=SH01%3C|%3ESH02%3C|%3ESH03%3C|%3ESH04%3C|%3ESH08%3C|%3E&frmTyp=subgrp
What’s the difference between 9290cc and 9291cc? Amazon offers both without explaining the differences.
Yes, in the meantime I found it as well on Braun’s website, but it doesn’t seem to be available anywhere. The 9291cc comes with a hard leather case instead of the textile one that’s included with the 9290cc. Other than this, they’re exactly the same.
Is there any difference in weight between the series 3 and the series 9? my husband had a sroke and finds the 3 heavy to hold.
Unfortunately I don’t have a scale right now, but when holding each one in hand, the Series 9 does feel lighter. I wouldn’t say that it’s a significant difference, but I do notice it. Small rotary shavers like the Philips Norelco 3100 or 2100 are usually very light, so maybe consider one of those as well. They’re also a lot shorter than a Series 3 or 9, so they have less of a tendency to capsize.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
What kind of battery does the 9291cc have? If it’s lithium-ion, I may not be allowed to check it on a flight. Yes or no?
It is Li-ion, but you can 100% check the shaver on a flight.
Can you tell what are the differences between models 93XX?
(9320s, 9325s, 9330s, 9340s, 9345s, 9350s, 9355s, 9360cc, 9365cc, 9370cc, 9375cc, 9376cc, 9380cc,9381cc, 9384cc, 9385cc, 9390cc, 9395cc)
https://www.service.braun.com/product/product.asp?rg=NA&c=US&l=GB&typ=ui&s=&seite=&sString=5793|SH|SH01|S|Series+9&subgrp=Series%209&grp=SH01%3C|%3ESH02%3C|%3ESH03%3C|%3ESH04%3C|%3ESH08%3C|%3E&frmTyp=subgrp
Hi Alvin,
The 93XX models represent an incremental update to the current 92XX range, the most important change being a slightly larger battery (up to 60 minutes of use). Other than that, just minor cosmetic changes on the front. The differences between the 93XX models themselves will consist of included accessories (cleaning stations, charging stands, etc.) and some of them will probably be country/region specific. They aren’t available yet so there’s little information out there, but I will update the post once they’re available for purchase.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
It seems that 9370cc and 9385cc are available for purchase in China since March (from their customer feedback)
9370cc: https://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=587841350711
9385cc: https://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=588240913936
According to the website, there is an also upgrade to the mcu (from 8bit to 32bit) and update to the screen design.
Didn’t know about the 32bit MCU, thank you for the heads up. Apparently there’s a new matte silver cassette as well (called 92M) to match the new color of some models like the 9385cc. As for the availability, nothing so far in Europe or the USA. I’m really eager to test one and compare it to the current 92XX range.
What is the difference, if any, between 9296 and 9297?
Just the color (glossy chrome for the 9296, matte silver for the 9297).
many thanks
much appreciated
Thank you! I want to buy my stepdad a good razor for his, extremely coarse beard. I was at a total loss, as he couldn’t seem to give me any information as to what would be the best choice. I, being a woman, know very little about men’s razor/shavers. Again, thank you, your post was very informative and is exactly what I needed to buy my stepdad a shaver!
You are very welcome, Lisa. Glad you found the information useful and I hope your stepdad will enjoy shaving with his new razor.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Does the 9291cc charge automatically when it’s in the cc station even if I don’t turn it on to clean the razor? Just place the razor in the station to charge? Or, does charging happen only if I run a cleaning cycle?
Yes, charging starts immediately once you place the shaver in the station (without doing anything else).
I’m considering getting a 92xx shaver with or without the CC, and have some questions (and you already answered others I won’t ask again).
1) Instead of the cleaning center, can I use Norelco or Remington shaver spray? The alternative seems to be some machine oil, and I can’t believe that would be like the 3 in 1 machine oil you use on hinges and things.
2) Other than looking different (and it’s at home so who cares), are the 92S and 92B heads interchangeable?
3) I haven’t seen any detailed pictures with the trimmer. Is that something on the side? Is it on the base shaver or the replacement cutter assembly?
4) Does the CC automatically charge the shaver? I like to go until the battery is low before charging it.
5) Removing and capping the cleaning cartridge between uses cuts evaporation. Does all that changing in any way damage the cartridge or the cleaning center? Does it defeat the alert to replace the cartridge?
I’ve been using Norelco for decades, and always got their branded cutters even though they cost more than the aftermarket ones (I DO use them for more than the recommended 1 year). A year or so ago, when shopping for replacements, I found their price was much lower… and then read the reviews. Apparently they decided to fight the competition by making the same crappy heads. That turned me off and I decided I will neither buy their heads, nor replace with another Norelco shaver, after, as I said, decades (with one unfortunate attempt at Remington, whose foil broke and left my face sore).
Tnx.
Hi Brad,
1) Yes, you can use Norelco, Remington or even Braun cleaning sprays, they work really well and also lubricate the cutters.
2) Yes, they are interchangeable.
3) The trimmer on the Series 9 is located on the back. Here you can see a picture of it and another one with the trimmer extended.
4) Yes, it automatically charges the shaver, but that’s really not an issue with modern Li-ion batteries.
5) No, as long as you do it carefully there’s no problem at all. I’ve been doing it for years. The station reads the fluid level and electric conductivity and signals to replace the cartridge when they drop below a certain threshold.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you. It looks like I can get a good deal (with rebate) on a CC model; maybe I’ll cap the cartridge and use the spray weekly (as I do), and clean it monthly or when I need to charge it.
I don’t know why none of the places selling it have a picture of the trimmer; tnx for showing it.
Hi, i would like to thank you for the detailed and informative way you have provided this information on the Series 9 shaver. It has been very useful in helping me decide on a purchase.
Thanks again.
Gaz.
Hi Gaz,
Thank you so much for your comment. Glad you found the information helpful.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Dear Ovidiu, thanks in advance for your useful information…. I face some topic that I kindly ask you follow this subject even by Braun Company too.
Last year I bought one series 9 as 9299… At the beginning it was wonderful and satisfy me as well for shaving and also noise that is very important for any person…. As I used it many time its noise not disturb me but:
As my offer, my brother buy the new one series 9 as 9295 and NOW that I compare the new one and the other one that used about one year, we understand that after one year usage the noise of this shaver is terrible….
Perhaps No body fill this problem because nobody compare his shaver with new one, but I think because of very high vibration 40.000 ( 4*10.000) it damage the shaver too…By the way, I lubricate my shaver 2-3 times per month by oil too.
In the same situation and location for both shaver, the difference for decibel is around 15 DB that I check with my smart Phone.
Ovodiu, please pay attention that when I change the old cassette with the new one, nothing change and the terrible noise is remained.
Let me know your opinion because of your skill in this field.
Thanks again.
Ciao
Mehran
Hi Mehran,
Thank you for your comment. In this situation my first thought would be a damaged cassette, but I see that you already tried a new one. 15DB is a significant difference indeed. Does it make the same noise with the cassette removed? A loosened/worn component of the motor may likely be the culprit here. Also if the cassette doesn’t snap perfectly in place anymore, that can be a factor as well. I have a Series 9 that I’ve used constantly for more than 2 years, but so far it’s pretty much as quiet as it was at the beginning, even quieter than other of my new shavers. But one year of use is clearly unacceptable, so if your shaver is still under warranty, you should definitely contact Braun support about this problem.
If you have the time, please let me know how this goes.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi there,
I’ve recently bought Braun 9297CC with cleaning station but seems that this station doesn’t work as designed. When I put my shaver into the station it starts to charge the shaver but an indicator only blinks and cleaning process doesn’t start. By the way it is the first time I used this shaver.
P.S. Double click on power button doesn’t help.
What can be the reason? Do I need to contacn service center?
Hi Stepan,
Just to be clear, by power button I will assume that you are referring to the station’s start button.
The status light should only blink during the cleaning (and drying) process. Otherwise it should light up continuously or switch off completely when the station is in standby mode. Only then you would start the cleaning cycle by pressing the start button twice.
Check your user manual and make sure you follow the instructions correctly — everything from installing the cartridge to placing the shaver in the station. If the problem persists, then it may be something wrong with your unit, in which case you should contact a Braun service center.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi!
Im looking to buy a new shaver and Im mostly looking into a Braun series 9. So which Braun shaver from series 9 is the newest and has the most features? Is it the 9296cc ? Thanks for help
Hi,
The 93XX models would be the newest and are more feature-rich (bigger battery, 32bit MCU), but those aren’t available yet. As for the current models, all the 92XX are basically the same in terms of performance and features, so you can opt for any of them. I would simply get the one I can find at a better price, be it the 9296cc, 9290cc, 9295cc etc.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi,
Actually, I have noticed that update of Series 9 is already available on the German market (f.e. Braun Series 9 9385cc). Is it reasonable to go for 93xx as it cost ~150 eur more than 92xxcc?
Kind regards,
Tanel
Hi Tanel,
Thank you for your comment. I’ve only seen the 93XX models available on the Chinese market, didn’t know they are now available in Europe as well. In my opinion no — with the current price difference, the 92xxcc makes a lot more sense.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks for all the info. I was wondering if the 9 series that comes with the cleaning/charging station can be charged with the chord only when travelling?
Thanks,
Chris
Hi Chris,
Yes, absolutely, all the shavers that come with a station can also be charged directly with the cord.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello! Thanks for the awesome article 🙂
May I ask, where did you read that the new 93xx series will be released to the North American market in September?
Cheers~
Hey,
Thank you for your comment. I actually didn’t mention North America because there’s really no information regarding the launch of the 93xx. In Europe, particularly in the UK, the new shavers can already be bought, while in other countries they can only be pre-ordered, with shipping due for September. So again, I’m afraid I don’t have any news regarding a USA/North America launch.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hey man, thanks for the fast reply! I see now, you didn’t actually mention North America lol.
“While they can already be bought in several Asian and European countries, it appears that they will be officially available [in North America] starting September 2019.” – This is how I interpreted the statement 😉 Might be a bit confusing!
Cheers~
You are very welcome. In the meantime I managed to grab a 9385cc from Amazon UK, haven’t shaved with it yet. To be honest, I’d be really surprised to notice any differences compared to my 9290 Series 9. I’ll be posting a detailed review as well.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Am I the only person to have had persistent problems with the reliability of the 9 series?
In May 2017 I bought a 9290cc, I really liked it, it gave a comfortable and close wet shave. I eventually gave up on it in May this year after having had to return it for repair three times which resulted in the replacement of the complete shaver unit twice. So when what was my third razor ceased to function in May this year two days before going on an extended holiday and with no time to get it repaired for the fourth time I gave up and bought a Panasonic ES-RF31.
The Panasonic didn’t really suit me; it gave a good shave but tended to irritate my skin so I swallowed my pride and in June bought a 9240s. It worked well… for 6 weeks and this morning I got yet another replacement unit – this time a 9242s. Buy two series 9 and get three free. the problem is always a variation on a theme where the unit reverts to travel mode of its own volition.
I still like the shave it would just be nice if I could reply on it.
Hi James,
Thank you for taking the time to share this. Wow, you really drew the short straw with the two Series 9 you bought. I guess three new replacement units sort of make up for that. The reliability issues of the Series 9 are usually related to the shaving heads/cassette, at least that’s what I’ve been seeing a lot from the users. So the problem with both of your Series 9 shavers was that it would remain stuck in travel mode? That’s really strange and I don’t think I’ve heard of that one before.
The ES-RF31 (and Panasonic shavers in general, even the high-end models) are more aggressive than the Series 9, hence your problem with skin irritations.
Let’s hope you’ll have more luck with the 9242s.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks so much for all the information you provide, it’s invaluable!
One question for everyone here: I have a 9260s, and I lost my charging cord during a recent flight (airline lost my luggage… super fun!). Does anyone know what cord model I need, or what power cord model came with this unit if someone has it? I am getting a bit of conflicting information from my own searches.
Thanks a lot in advance!
– Matt
Hey Matt,
Thank you for the kind words.
All current Braun charging cords for the Series 3, 5, 7, 8 and 9 are really the same (492-XXXX). They have the same specs (100-240V input, 12V/400mA output). The cord type that ships with the S9 is either 492-5214 or 492-5217. The latter is included with the new 93xx Series, but again it is identical to the other one (exactly the same specs). So you can search for either of those part numbers or simply get an OEM Braun charger that’s compatible with the Series 9. You can find plenty of them online at a reasonable price.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks so much for the info and the quick reply! I really appreciate it.
Keep up the great work, guys.
– Matt
Thanks for your excellent post which gave me a lot of information.
I’m using 9040s without cc station.
I want to buy cc station compatible to my shaver.
What cc station model is compatible to 9040s.
And, Is it possible to buy cc station only.
Hey,
Thank you for your comment. Unfortunately your 9040s (or any of the other Series 9 “S” models) will not work with a cleaning station. Only the cc shavers that originally came with a station will work with one (it can also be purchased separately).
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello,
Excellent website. You have great information. Any updates on the 93xx series for a U.S. release? From your articles, it appears the series 9 would work best for me, and I like the graphite color that I have seen online. Thank you.
Hi Mike,
Thank you for your comment. Unfortunately no news regarding the 93XX release in the USA so far. I managed to grab one (precisely the graphite 9385cc) from Amazon UK. I’ve only shaved with it twice, so I still have a long way to go before writing a review (I usually test a shaver for at least a couple of weeks). But the first impression is that it shaves exactly the same as the current 92xx models. So I would still consider those as a viable option, especially if you can get one easily and for a good price.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you very much for the reply. I looked into ordering one from amazon.uk, but then saw that it would not ship to the U.S.
I will look more at the 92xx series. Thanks again.
Fantastic job on the review as always, was a pleasure to read, very detailed & amazing job. Thank you.
I wanted your take about the cleaning station please.
I have owned Braun series 7, Philips series 9000, & series 9 all with the stations & all have stopped working within 2 years give or take of using. What’s your experience with them?
2nd point would be hygiene, luckily I always shave wet but dry shaving, don’t you think its unhygienic as the dirt, sebum, skin oils etc is drained into the cartridge, next time you use it that same solution is pumped up into the reservoir shaver is started in the cleaning station & again the solution is back into that cartridge, I understand the solution is alcohol based but still isn’t it unhygienic?
This same fluid lasts for 3 weeks if shaved daily & a month if shaved alternate, I was wondering how is the fluid clean if dry shaved & put the shaver in the station?
I wet shave & rinse the shaver head only in flowing water under a tap 15 sec one side 15 sec the other one & when my cc station used to work after air drying I used to put it for cleaning & there was no dirt or a single hair for that month of cleaning but then if there’s no hair in the c&c station I wonder what’s the point of it, clean the head under the tap flowing water, air dry & then spray a disinfectant & lubricant isn’t that much better & hygienic than the same fluid for 1 month flowing in & out of your shaver?
Just wanted to know your thoughts & apologies for the long reply. Thanks.
Hi Joel,
Thank you for the kind words, much appreciated. Glad you found the article useful.
I personally haven’t had any similar issues with any of my cleaning stations, some of which being in use for years. So as far as reliability goes, I guess I’ve been lucky.
The main purpose of the cleaning station is really the convenience, especially if you shave dry. The cartridge has a fine mesh filter that retains hairs, dirt and so on, so the liquid that is flushed through the shaving head is free of any of those. Being alcohol-based, hygiene is not really an issue even after a month or even more of use. You can of course clean the shaver manually, using tap water and some liquid soap and regularly lubricate the blades (using a spray lubricant or some machine/clipper oil).
I for example prefer to have the cleaning station just so I can perform an automatic, thorough cleaning from time to time. I tried your experiment as well with a brand new refill cartridge and despite my efforts of rinsing the cassette, after cleaning it in the station there were quite a few hair strands on the bottom of the cartridge.
There’s no right or wrong approach and you should stick to the one that works the best for you.
Thank you again for taking the time to share your experience.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Best informative review that I have read so far !
Thank you.
Thank you for your comment, Oscar. Much appreciated!
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Wow, lots of comments and great answers…
Do you know what the difference is between the Braun web site model 9260s and the one on Amazon model 9260PS ? Is it just a code for the seller?
Bill
Hi Bill,
Thank you for your comment. As I mentioned in a previous comment, the 9260ps is a special edition of the 9260s that comes with a hard leather case instead of the textile case. Other than that they are exactly the same.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you for the clarification. I looked only a year back and didn’t see your comment from June of last year…
My 8000 series shaver is getting quite old and the second set of batteries are finally getting tired, so it is time for a new one.
Regards,
Bill
I’m anxiously awaiting for the 9390cc or 9385cc in the US to be available. I see it offered on the UK Amazon site. I’m going to retire my Series 7. Many retailers are offering $30 discounts on the 9290cc so I’m guessing they’re clearing inventory before the new ones arrive. Thanks for your hard work doing your reviews.
Hi Michael,
Thank you for your comment. At this point in time, it is still unclear when or if the 93xx models will be released in the USA. I have been using a 9385cc purchased from the UK for the past three weeks and to be honest, it shaves exactly the same as my older 9290cc. So even if the new S9 won’t be available in the USA, the ongoing 92xx are still a viable option.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello Ovidiu,
Really enjoying your site. A lot of useful information. Are you aware of any countries/websites that can legally ship shavers to the U.S.? I am still awaiting the 93xx series to come to the States. When I have tried to order from non-U.S. sites, like Amazon.uk, it says that they cannot ship shavers to the U.S. Thank you.
Hi Mike,
Thank you for your comment.
I managed to order mine from the UK, but I live in Europe and shipping was not a problem. I would try to find some sellers on sites like eBay that are willing to ship overseas. I reached out to Braun and they don’t know if or when the 93xx models will be officially launched in the USA. My advice would be to go for one of the 92xx models, there are really no improvements to the 93xx shavers (strictly regarding the shaving performance). I will be posting my review soon.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
Thank you for the reply. I opted for the 9290cc model, as there is no sign the 93xx series will be in the States any time soon. I haven’t had a foil shaver since probably high school, as I have used rotary shavers since. I must say I am liking it so far. It seems to shave the neck area better, and when combined with some pre-shave lotion, it seems to be giving me a closer shave.
Thank you for your website. I have found it really informative and it helped me pick a new shaver.
Hi Mike,
Awesome, glad you’re satisfied with your new shaver. I think it was the right decision, I just posted a review of the 93xx that I bought a month ago and there are really no differences regarding how it shaves compared to my 9290cc.
Thank you for the feedback, much appreciated.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you so much for explaining the differences as it has been very helpful. I was planning on buying a Series 9 shaver to replace my Norelco Sense touch 3D which is a ok shaver. I would like the extra battery life, and updated chip so i will be looking for thr 93.. Series.
On the cleaning system make sure you dont leave the cleaning container inside thr Braun unit as it will evaporate. Always put the cover tab back on when your done. The Panosonic shaver by the way is equally as good by the way.
Hi Keith,
Thank you for your comment, much appreciated. I actually have been using a 9385cc for almost a month now and the battery is really the only noticeable improvement compared to the ongoing 92xx. If you can get one of the 93xx Series 9 and it’s priced similarly, go for it. Otherwise, I don’t think they’re worth the trouble.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Any update on when 93 is coming to the US? I want to buy an electric razor and would like to the newest if it’s due soon.
Unfortunately still no updates — it’s unclear when they will be coming to the USA (if at all). I just posted a review of one of the 93xx models here, it’s really no different than the 92xx Series 9 except for the slightly larger battery.
Wow! Just unpacked my 9295cc and gave it a test run. Amazing! Despite the rather hefty price, the quality is apparent in every piece and even the weight of the shaver in your hand is solid and reassuring. The one disappointment: this horrible chrome finish!! I had to laugh and shake my head at how cheap this unit looks in person – and at this price point!
We’ll see how CC recharges & heads add up at over time, but overall, at the moment, I’m delighted with my purchase, and tip my hat to your outstanding, well-researched article.
I’m indebted.
Best Wishes.
Hi Richard,
Thank you for your comment, much appreciated. Glad the Series 9 met your expectations. I’m not crazy about the blingy cheap chrome finish myself, but as long as the shave is good, I think we can let it slide.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello Ovidiu.
Not sure what to make of this but you may have an answer. You may recall a previous comment from me stating that I recently switched from blade shaving to electric. And that I passed on getting the Panasonic ES-LV65 because of my sensitive skin but coarse fast growing beard prone to ingrown hairs and razor bumps.
I have been using the Braun 9295 with cleaning station for about a month.
Every now and then while I am shaving it feels like I cut myself (like when I was using my DE blades). No visible wound or bleeding but it does startle me. Is it pinching my skin perhaps because I fail to stretch it sometimes or could it be something else? It’s not always in the same area.
Hi Cam,
That could either be some pinching or a mild razor burn that doesn’t leave any visible mark. Also, if the hair is longer than let’s say 3 to 4 millimeters and the speed of your stroke is rather high, the shaver could yank some of them. In order to reduce this from happening, try to keep the skin taut, do not apply excessive pressure and use move the shaver in a slower, controlled manner. Even if the Series 9 is a really comfortable and forgiving shaver, sometimes it could cause some discomfort (just like any other shaver).
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you for your reply Ovidiu. I will definitely endeavor to shave as you recommended. (slower and controlled keeping the skin taut.) Also, I’ve discovered that if I shave every day as opposed to every other day, it does seem to help somewhat.
Ovidiu,
Thanks for great commentaries, I have just purchased the Braun 9295 based on your in depth analysis, haven’t received it yet. I am coming from many, many years of Gillette wet dual blades, my question is: Since I’ve never used an electric razor before, I’d like to see the correct way to use it, is there a video you can recommend?
Hi Peter,
You are very welcome, I hope you’ll enjoy shaving with your new Series 9.
I actually wrote a guide about shaving with an electric razor for the first time, so you may find it useful. As for videos, I honestly don’t recall watching anything that would specifically address how to shave with an electric razor for the first time. However, Tyler from Electric Shaver Guide has a few great videos on his YouTube channel like this one and you can really observe and learn from his technique.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidio,
Thanks so much for your speedy reply, I watched your recommended videos and your comments on “first time” user tips, as often seems to happen in your articles I got distracted by your links this one was your list of ‘benefits’ to using electric, it’s a good thing BTW, wow I can’t wait for mine to arrive, currently my new Braun Razor is 3,000 miles away in British Columbia and I’m in Ontario, hmm can I make my Mach five last for a couple more shaves?
You are very welcome, Peter. I totally understand your excitement and I hope the shaver will be meet your expectations. Your results will improve gradually as your technique gets better and your skin gets accustomed to the new way of shaving, so I’d say it should take a few weeks.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Amazon has posted a preorder 9385cc for the US with a release date of Jan. 7, 2020.
Thank you for the heads up. Can you please post the link to Amazon?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XD5TCR3/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1
Thank you for the link, Xavier.
–Ovidiu
Have just purchased a 9399s from Boots, but the outer cardboard cover says it is a model 9359ps. Are these the same thing? I can’t seem to find more info on either!! The cover also says it is type 5793, which I understand means no cleaning station, There is also a number 91877498 on the cover. The unit itself doesn’t seem to have any model number. Csn you help please?
Hi Adrian,
As far as I know, the 9399s shaver has a matte gold color, while the 9359ps is silver. The same goes for the charging stands. Other than that they are the same.
–Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
Great job. Could you please confirm that 9250cc can be used while charging?
Hi Jimi,
Thank you for your comment. Yes, the 9250cc is the exception to the rule; it is a dry only shaver that can be used while charging.
–Ovidiu
Hi and thanks for the best comparison reviews I’ve read for a long time.
I’ve just bought the 9390 and I have a question regarding storage.
I’ve used it once and am happy with the results but I’m not sure about the storage aspect.
I’ve cleaned it and charged it on the cleaning station and now that the cycle is finished I wonder could I leave it in the cc station without any problems until I next use it.
Regards
Pete
Hi Pete,
Thank you for your comment, much appreciated.
Absolutely, you can leave the shaver in the station without any worries. Just keep in mind that the alcohol-based cleaning fluid will evaporate faster in this situation as opposed to removing the cartridge from the station and putting the cap back.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks for this Ovidiu
I’ve been using Braun since 2008 – Started with the old series 3 (i think) and then series 7 about 2 years ago…and im finding the big issue is the closeness. Was reading on rotary and foil but it sounds like i am leaning to come back to fil being series9 – as i have sensitive skin. there’s a sale going on in australia at the moment, aud399 for 92xx and aud499 for 93xx.
my issue is that in my current setup..by about say 4pm on the same day i can see lots of stubbles…and i generally shave at 6am…and even after the shave you can tell its not overly “clean”.
from this review it appears the series9 is/has attempted to fix the issue of closeness etc?
Thank you for your comment, Patrick.
The Series 9 is still not quite as good as a Panasonic Arc 5 for example when it comes strictly to closeness. I would say that it’s pretty much on par with the Series 7, although it does feel faster especially when shaving longer hairs.
In your situation, you are basically forced to make a compromise. Depending on how sensitive your skin is, an Arc 5 could be an option as well, but in general Braun shavers are gentler and more forgiving, making them more suitable for users with skin issues.
Some men have seen an improvement in closeness with the Series 9 compared to the 7 — I personally didn’t — so I guess it’s possible. You can also take advantage of Braun’s return policy if you decide to get the Series 9. I think the cheaper 92xx is currently the better deal.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
Which one (ARC 5 vs Braun 9) do you recommend for head shaving ..In amazon I found below comment so confused whether I can buy this product.
Question: Can you use to shave a bald head
Answer: Thank you for your inquiry. The ESLV65 recommends not to use this product for hair on head.
By Team Panasonic MANUFACTURER on November 21, 2019
Hi,
Any electric shaver can be used for shaving the head, even though the manufacturer doesn’t explicitly say so. Your hair must however be short, so it would be best to shave it more often to get the best results.
Between an Arc 5 and a Series 9, I think the Series 9 would work better simply because the cutting elements have a much greater range of motion and they move very smoothly and with very little pressure applied. This will help with maintaining the foils in contact with the scalp.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi, I noticed that 9395CC & 9355 model came out in Asia and I was wondering if this is available either in North American or Europe.
http://itempage3.auction.co.kr/DetailView.aspx?itemno=B713318608
best,
Brandon
Hi Brandon,
In Europe, there’s the 9390cc which is basically the same as 9395cc apart from the matte instead of glossy finish. In North America, the 93xx models will be available starting January 2020, but you can already pre-order them.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Just bought this for my boyfriend. Reading the comments, I am sure I’ve made the right choice. I have been using Braun’s epilators for over 10 years and am I highly satisfied customer. Hopefully my boyfriend becomes a part of the Braun family too!
Thank you for your comment, Silvia. Hope he’ll enjoy shaving with his new Series 9.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Wow, thorough and informative. Thank you.
Thank you, Allon. Glad you found it useful.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Great articles! I have used a few pannys and have the 95 at present I’m looking to change to either the braun 9390 or the LV9Q. I had a series 7 which I really liked but when I changed the cassette it tugged on the beard, Braun changed the cassette and it still tugged so changed back to a Panasonic. There’s little difference between the two but wondered what your thoughts are
Hi Mark,
Thank you for your comment.
The 9390 will be more in line with the Series 7 performance-wise, while the LV9Q will be similar to your current 95. Both have their pros and cons — the Series 9 is very comfortable and a lot better with long and flat-lying hairs, while the Panasonic will shave closer (and faster) provided that the hair is reasonably short. I think you should choose one of them based on your previous experience with the Series 7 and LV95, respectively.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi, after lots of reading, I thought I had this figured out.
Can you tell me how to know if I have an S series Braun Shaver?
I inherited a Braun Series 9, but am unable to find any Identification on it, other than under the side trimmer i see Type 5791. It also shows 803 use 92S?
I thought I was a pretty good detective….
Thanks for the great info, very much needed on this Confusing Razor.
Hi Dan,
It’s definitely a wet&dry updated Series 9, so a model starting with 92xx, but it could be either an s or a cc. Usually the model name is written on the slide-out trimmer toward the bottom, right above the Braun Made in Germany text. Check out this photo of my 9290cc for reference.
Also, does your shaver have a charging stand? Not a station, just a simple, plastic stand.
–Ovidiu
While I understand why shaving foam must be rinsed off before the shaver can be cleaned with the cleaning station (it causes clogging), was wondering why the Shaver must be completely dry? What will go wrong if it’s not completely dry?
That’s a great question, Andrew. I’d say that safety is the main reason. There are two exposed metal leads on the station that charge the shaver, so water could short them. And it’s not recommended to handle electric appliances with water on them or on your hands. Secondly, the water dripping from the head will end up in the cartridge. Over time, it could dilute the solution and cause the station to signal an empty cartridge prematurely.
Finally, some water may end up inside the housing of the station and damage the electronics. Circuit boards and other components are not shielded in any way from water and could get damaged.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you for a great article. I had a series 5 electric shaver and I loved it but the battery died. I used to work outside a lot so being clean shaven was a choice so wasn’t that big a deal at the time. So I used to shave regular summer and autumn but winter and spring I used to go full beard. Well my wife bought me a series 3 wet and dry and I hated it so the last 2 years I’ve been full beard all the time. Well now my work life has changed I decided I was going to go back to clean shaven even if it meant using that shaver I hated. Well I couldn’t believe my luck I couldn’t find the damn thing oh no what a shame. So I had been looking around and knew it was going to be Braun again just what model. Ruled out series 9 due to RRP£ so started looking at series 7. Found a series 9 9390CC on amazon and after reading your articles decided to go for it. Well it arrived today and I gave it a charge for 1hour like it says in the manual, wow what a great shave I had tonight. No rash or discomfort, not particularly quiet but it’s a foil and Braun so not surprised, but what surprised me is how well it performed how smooth my face feels. I did use hair trimmer to loose the beard it was rather long but made sure I left a good amount of stubble. So thanks for your insightful article I can look forward to more pleasurable shaves from now on.
Thank you for taking the time to share this, John. Performance-wise, the Series 9 is indeeed much better than a Series 3. I’m glad you found the article helpful and that your new shaver lived up to the expectations.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
thanks for your sharing, rigth now the price for the 9240s is just less of 200USD, so this prices is very acceptable to the market now. and it is because the new releasing S9 93xx series, thats why all the 92xx is now in promotion
You are welcome, glad you found the post useful. That could be one of the reasons for the price drop. I do think that the 92xx series will continue to sell for quite a while alongside the newer releases.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I’m a bit confused as to the latest model of the series 9 Braun. Is the higher number, e.g. 9376 newer than the 9295? Usually the higher number means the newest model but looking at them, I’ve got to confess my inability to understanding which is which.
I see the 9376Cc listed at $258.96 on the Canadian site and the 9295cc listed at $277.00 & another 9295cc listed at $572.00.
Why do you suppose there is such a price difference or is there actually something in the higher priced one that isn’t on the lower priced model.
The first two digits are the ones that really count. So in this case, the 93xx is a newer model than any 92xx. The prices often don’t make any sense. For example, an older model could cost (a lot more) than a newer release. The reasons have to do with suppliers, demand and so on. I’ve even seen discontinued models (like the 9095cc) sold at much higher prices than the current ones.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello – I want to thank you for a thorough review as I intend to purchase an electric shaver but my research left me confused. Your reviews have me leaning towards a Braun 93xx since I shave every 2 or 3 days and think the Arc 5 may not be best for my schedule. (But the easier cleaning of the Arc 5 may tempt me to shave every other day.) One concern about the Braun 93xx is the reports of replacement cassettes failing after a few months. Do you know if the reliability has been resolved? Replacing the cassette 2 or 3 times a year would be expensive and may sway me to purchase an Arc 5 and shave on alternate days with shaving cream. Thank you.
Hi Ric,
You are very welcome, glad you found the review useful.
Since the newer heads (used on the 92xx and 93xx) were introduced, there seem to be far fewer incidents. However, some QA issues are still present as I did receive a few comments and emails from users saying their cassettes had failed prematurely (Braun replaced the cassettes for free when contacted). I personally have 3 Series 9 shavers, still using the original heads and everything works great so far.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi. Tell me, does the razor braun 9250cc have the ability to work from an outlet?
Hi Pavel,
The 9250cc is the only 92xx Series 9 that is a dry only shaver, so it should work from an outlet.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
The Braun Series 9 Wet & Dry Shaver (9-9293s) sold in Best Buy Canada says made in China on the box and is a plastic body. Is this peculiar to this model number?
Hi Marcel,
That is very strange — as far as I know, all Series 9 are made in Germany. The body is indeed made of plastic. The Braun Canada website even shows the 9293s packaging with the Made in Germany text on it. Certain Braun models (like the 2020 S6 and S5) come with some accessories (for example, the cleaning brush) that are made in China, but they’re explicitly listed on the box.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Finally got my 9385CC about 4 weeks ago from Amazon. This replaced my series 7. I couldn’t be happier. I like the non-shiny exterior look.
The 9385 is so much smoother, requires less repetition, and is much quieter. I’ve been a Braun customer since I had a corded unit in the 80’s. Although, I did own a Panasonic somewhere in that time.
That’s awesome, Michael. Glad you’re pleased with the performance of your new Series 9. Happy shaving!
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello Ovidiu,
Thank you for the very informative review. Your pictures compliment the great narrative of the Braun 9 series razor review. In my experience, I was excited to upgrade to the 9 series when my 7 series failed after many years of daily use. I was very satisfied with the shave but felt the look was a bit outdated and opted to upgrade my replacement to the new “look”. Have to admit am disappointed with the 9 series. I do not get the close shave I did with the 7 series. Being disappointed, I decided to buy a 5 series and the shave is closer than the 9 series. Love the look of the recently updated 7 series but after reading your review, am glad I purchased the 5 series for now. I have been using Braun/Elton shavers since the 1980’s. Will not recommend the 9 series. Miss the feature of shaving while the cord is connected.
Hey,
Thank you for your comment, glad you found the article useful.
It’s not completely unusual to get better results with a presumably inferior shaver, at least from the specs sheet and price perspective. The Series 5 does have a narrower head which is always a good thing for usability and considering its price, it continues to be one of the best foil shavers out there. The new Series 7 was a disappointment for me and I also consider the older Series 5 a better shaver in every way. I managed to get a 5090cc Series 5 which is a model that will also work with the cord connected. It’s a shame that it was discontinued so quickly.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
First time on your website. It is very impressing how you are dedicated and committed to shaving. Easy to say that you know your stuff.
I have an odd request. I very recently bought a 9293S from Amazon.ca and heard on the radio that some counterfeit products could be actually sold by this website. I have not owned an electric razor in years and don’t know how to compare. However, I checked the razor when it arrived, and found it plasticky and light. It only weighted at 207g when Braun lists it at 460g. I called Braun Canada to confirm the weight, and they said they can not provide this information. Everything look normal, except that I am concerned I could have received an imitation. What is your advice? I believe weight is a good indication to confirm if the product is genuine or not. Let me know what you think. Thank you,
Hi Bernard,
Thank you for your comment, much appreciated.
207g definitely sounds right. The Series 9 is indeed lightweight and plasticky.
My 9385cc and 9290cc weigh approximately 217g. Factor in the questionable precision of our scales and I think things are pretty clear. Also, cc models have an additional chip inside that allows them to pair with the cleaning stations, hence the slightly higher weight of my units.
I’ve never used a modern electric shaver that weighs 460g — that would be extremely heavy and unpractical. I think that number refers to the total weight of the retail package, but the shaver itself cannot be this heavy.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi there,
I just wanted to say thanks for all the detailed information on your site. I was seeking a replacement for my aging & ancient Philips rotary and was a bit overwhelmed at all the choices on offer. This was a massive help for me to make an informed choice.
Opted to go for a 9 series Braun and picked up a great deal on Amazon.
Thanks again for all info!
That’s great, Keith, thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment. I’m glad you found the information useful. Enjoy shaving with your new Series 9!
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
What can you tell me about Model 9370? How does it compare to other 93xx series models?
Hi Michael,
I already answered your question in this comment. Hope it helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello Ovidiu,
Great website, very helpful and well structured, thank you.
I’m wondering if you can help me with one question mark. I`ve just bought 9299ps in amazing gold color. I was trying to connect my shaver with CC station from my previous 9255cc. Unfortunatelly it doesn’t work. Is it the same problem like with the „s” models, meaning lack of communication chip? I would appreciate your help very much. Kind regards. Mariusz.
Hi Mariusz,
Thank you for your kind words.
Your 9299ps is basically an s (solo) model, so unfortunately it will not work with a Series 9 cleaning station (you are correct, it lacks the chip).
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello Ovidiu,
Thank you so much. That’s what I was afraid.
Anyway, thank you for confirmation.
Kind regards.
Mariusz.
Hi. I am a black male with razor bumps and ingrown hairs.
I am thinking of buying the Series 9 9291cc and was wondering what your opinion was
with regards to shaving against the grain with the foil razor.
I read your link on how to use a foil razor and that was your suggestion.
I always thought that would cause more bumps/ingrown hairs
Also do you think i can still use pre-shave oils/shaving creams/after shave balms if i decide
to wet shave with the Razor.
Kind Regards Errol
Hi Errol,
I think the Series 9 (regardless of the model) is arguably one of the best options for black men that deal with bumps and ingrown hairs. It’s a very mild, forgiving and comfortable shaver that works better than most foil shavers on wiry hairs. And because it doesn’t cut the hairs extremely close to the skin (like the foil shavers from Panasonic for example), it’s particularly suitable in your case.
Regarding the technique, shaving with the grain is a common rule of thumb to avoid ingrown hairs in the case of traditional wet shaving (using a razor blade). With foil electric shavers, you should always shave against the grain. In this case, it is without a doubt the recommended method for an efficient, smooth and pain-free shave. In fact, if you try to shave with the grain using an electric shaver it will only miss pretty much all the hairs and maybe yank a few. In order to get cut, the hairs must poke through the foil and it’s simply impossible for that to happen if you go with the grain.
You can try a pre-shave lotion as well, most of the time it helps with getting a better dry shave. For wet shaving, I am not a fan of using just pre-shave oils with electric shavers, they tend to clog them and just cause a lot of mess. If you want to use a pre-shave oil in addition to shaving cream, you can definitely do so. I am a proponent of wet shaving as it’s extremely comfortable and if you’re not against spending more time shaving, you can definitely give it a shot. I also wrote a guide on wet shaving with electric razors, I think you may find it useful.
I actually always recommend using an aftershave balm.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Many thanks for the tips and advice. My new razor will arrive this week and i will put into practice what you have told me. Its been a big issue shaving these days with nicks,cuts and bumps etc and i hope the new razor can work some magic.
Kind Regards Errol.