When it comes to buying an electric shaver, there’s probably no other brand out there that makes things as difficult as Braun.
With countless models and frequent updates, it can be very challenging to pick the right Braun shaver.
Just trying to make sense of all the different series and model names can feel overwhelming.
I therefore decided to create a straightforward, comprehensive, and actionable Braun Shavers Comparison & Buying Guide.
I’ve published many reviews and comparison guides on specific Braun series in the past, but this is the one that ties everything together.
I’ve been using Braun electric razors for over 25 years, and for the better half of that, I’ve shared my experience on this very website.
And in this article, I’ll show you which Braun shaver is truly worth buying depending on your budget and needs:
I’ll also guide you through the options if you want to upgrade your current Braun shaver to one that would actually give you a better shave.
Finally, I’ll address some important aspects like replacing the shaving head with the right part, finding a compatible cleaning station and getting the most out of your Braun shaver.
The current state of Braun shavers
Braun, currently owned by Procter & Gamble, is one of the big three electric shaver brands alongside Philips (Norelco) and Panasonic.
Braun shavers are particularly popular in the USA and Europe but they’ve been doubling down on their marketing efforts in Asia as well.
In 2026, the vast majority of Braun’s electric shavers (that are still in production) are part of a so-called Series.
For example, the Series 3, Series 7 or the Series 9.
There are some sub-series and variations as well, like the Series 3 ProSkin or the Series 9 PRO and PRO+, but we’ll get to those at the right time.
Only a few razors live outside of a Series (for example the Braun travel shavers), while others have been discontinued (like the Braun CoolTec).
As a rule of thumb, the higher the number of a series, the better, more capable and more advanced the shavers belonging to that series are — e.g. a Series 8 is better than a Series 3.
However, there are a couple of exceptions and gotchas as well, and I will address them explicitly when presenting each series.
Braun only makes foil electric razors (as opposed to rotary), meaning the blades sit behind a thin perforated metal screen and oscillate at a very high speed.
As you move the shaving head over the skin (always against the direction of growth), hairs will poke through the holes in the foil and get cut by the moving blades.
The more advanced and expensive Braun models feature specialized cutting elements (in addition to the basic foil) for capturing and cutting difficult facial hair.
And by difficult, I mainly refer to longer, flat-lying hairs or those that grow in different directions.
So which are the Braun shaver series you can buy right now?
Well, here they are:
- Braun Series 1
- Braun Series 3
- Braun Series 5
- Braun Series 6
- Braun Series 7 (discontinued)
- Braun Series 7 360 Flex
- Braun Series 8
- Braun Series 9, Series 9 PRO and Series 9 PRO+
- Braun Nevo
That would be a macro-level, simplified view.
There are old and new generations, some discontinued, others still available, and in some cases, the performance differences are significant.
In the comparison section, I will present everything in a simple and easy-to-grasp manner so you’ll be able to easily figure out which one to get.
Solo and CC models — what does it mean?
Based on terminology and model names (regardless of series), there are basically two types of Braun shavers:
- Solo models — the ones ending in s/si or cs
- Clean & Charge models — the ones ending in c/cc/cce/ccps
Side note: The si and cce models use larger boxes from thick cardboard that don’t require additional packaging when shipped, thus reducing waste. That’s essentially the difference between s and si and cc and cce.
The solo Braun shavers (s/si) do not come with an automatic cleaning and charging station, while the Clean & Charge models (c/cc/cce/ccps) do.
The difference between an s and a cs model is that the cs always includes a charging stand, while an s shaver can include the stand, but it’s not always the case.
A charging stand is redundant with Braun shavers as you’ll also be able to charge the shaver by plugging the cord directly into the shaver.
It’s the same in the case of the cc shavers that come with a station. You can charge them via the station or directly with the included cord.
This is actually one of the most frequent questions I get and it’s a perfectly legitimate concern.
Nobody wants to haul a bulky cleaning station on a trip for example just to charge a shaver.
Several solo Braun shavers will work with a compatible station purchased later on or one from an older cc shaver, but that depends on the particular series or even on the specific revision of that series.
Therefore, I will present the station compatibility for each Braun series separately.
Wet/dry and dry-only Braun shavers
Most of the current Braun electric razors are wet/dry models, meaning you can also shave in the shower or with shaving cream/gel.
It also means the shaver will only work cordless, so you won’t be able to shave with the cord plugged in (as a safety precaution).
There are however a few Braun shavers that are dry-only models and those will actually work while charging.
I know this is important to some users and I will explicitly present these models in the comparison table of each series.
Most dry-only variations are however waterproof and you’ll still be able to safely clean them with water (with the cord detached, of course).
Performance throughout a Braun series
All Braun shaver models belonging to a particular series and generation will have identical shaving performance.
They use the same motors and shaving heads and the only differences are related to included accessories (like cleaning stations or trimmer attachments), color, wet/dry or dry-only use.
Some are country-specific models but aren’t any different from the global variations.
So it is possible to find a model that’s only available in your country and doesn’t show up in my comparison.
In that case, you can rest assured that everything stated for that particular series still applies to the specific model you’re able to buy.
Now, what I think makes choosing a Braun shaver very difficult is that there can be massive differences between the different generations of a series.
For example, the old and new Series 5 or the old and new Series 7.
When that’s the case, I will address each generation separately and also show you which one is better and what to choose depending on what’s still available.
With these necessary prerequisites out of the way, let’s check out all the current Braun shavers and see how they compare to each other.
Braun electric shavers comparison (2026)
Braun Series 1
Overview
The Series 1 is the absolute entry-level family of Braun shavers.
Again, I’m not taking into consideration Braun’s travel razors, which aren’t very capable and should not be considered for regular use.
In fact, I wouldn’t really recommend the Series 1 as your main shaver either.
These are single-foil electric razors that only perform reasonably well on short and light beards.
On top of that, the Series 1 isn’t the most comfortable and can induce some razor burn if your skin is sensitive.
Braun markets the Series 1 as a beginner-friendly electric razor, which does make sense since it’s a small, simple, single-foil shaver, easy to use and easy to clean.
But considering the above-mentioned limitations, along with the fact that some Series 1 models cost almost as much as the (better) Series 3, the Series 1 is a rather difficult shaver to recommend.
Here are the main features of the Braun Series 1:
- Single-blade foil cutting system
- Corded-only or cordless-only use (Ni-MH battery, 40 minutes of runtime)
- Integrated slide-out hair trimmer
- Washable (IPX7 rated)
- Universal voltage adapter (100–240 volts)
Model comparison
| Model | Use | Kit |
|---|---|---|
Braun Series 1 190s (dark grey) | cordless-only (washable) | Charger, cleaning brush, foil cover |
Braun Series 1 170s (dark grey) | corded-only (washable) | Charger, cleaning brush, foil cover |
Braun Series 1 150s (silver) | corded-only (washable) | Charger, cleaning brush, foil cover |
Braun Series 1 130s (dark blue) | corded-only (washable) | Charger, cleaning brush, foil cover |
Side note: To keep things simple, I did not include the completely discontinued Series 1 models like the Series 1 cruZer (FreeControl).
There are basically three Braun Series 1 models readily-available to choose from: 190s, 170s, and 130s.
The 150s can still be found in several European countries, but it is otherwise not available.
Tip: you’ll sometimes find the Braun Series 1 shavers listed like this: 130s-1, 150s-1 and so on. Just know that they refer to the exact same models (without the -1 in the name).
What matters is that all Series 1 models start with 1, so you can easily tell them apart from the other Braun families of razors.
In this regard, Braun fares better than Panasonic, which uses some really confusing and unnecessarily complicated names.
As stated in the beginning, the actual shaving performance (which isn’t particularly flattering) is the same throughout the entire Series 1 range.
The differences come down to color, design, replacement head part numbers and corded vs cordless use.
As you can tell from the comparison table above, some models like the 190s are cordless-only shavers, while the 170s and 130s models are corded-only.
Also, the 190s and 170s have a different design compared to the rest, but are functionally the same.
All Series 1 are IPX7 rated, meaning they can be safely rinsed with water for easy cleaning.
Even though the Series 1 is underwhelming when it comes to shaving performance, I have to give props to Braun for including a hair trimmer on all models and also a protective cap.
Believe it or not, the latter is a rare sight with most top-tier Braun models as you’ll see later on.
Replacement parts
Braun Series 1 shavers use either the 11B or the 10B foil and blade set.
Precisely, the 190s and 170s models will require the 10B set, while the rest will work with the 11B.
The only difference between the 11B and 10B heads is the shape of the foil frame which needs to be different in order to accommodate the different designs of the 190s and 170s shavers.
However, both shave exactly the same.
Side note: the B in 10B or 11B stands for black and we’ll find this notation with the rest of the Braun replacement heads all the way to the Series 9.
But getting back to the 11B/10B, it’s a very basic single foil and single blade set that should be replaced every 18 months, according to Braun.
The price is pretty reasonable for such a simple head and you should be able to buy the set if you live in Europe or the USA.
Key takeaway
As the entry-level range, the Braun Series 1 has an affordable price and it’s very easy to use.
Moreover, all models come with an integrated hair trimmer and a protective cap, something we don’t see on other shavers at this price point.
Unfortunately, because of the very basic cutting system comprised of a single foil element, the performance of the Braun Series 1 simply won’t be good enough for most users.
In my opinion, the Series 3 is the entry point to Braun’s capable but still affordable electric razors that can be reliably used by most men as their main shaver.
And as I mentioned previously, some Series 3 models cost almost the same as the Series 1, which further tips the scales in favor of the Series 3 when it comes to buying an affordable Braun shaver.
Having used a Series 1 in the past, I cannot recommend it for regular use.
It might work as a backup or travel shaver, but it will only shave reasonably well if your beard is short and light.
Most men will be better off spending a bit more on a Series 3 as the performance bump will be significant.
Braun Series 3
Overview
The Series 3 is probably Braun’s most popular line of electric razors.
The recipe for success is quite simple here: the Series 3 offers very decent shaving performance at a reasonable price and the shavers and replacement heads are durable and available worldwide.
I consider the Series 3 to be the entry-level pick for most users, including men (and teenagers) looking to buy their first electric shaver.
It uses a 3-blade cutting system comprised of two foils and one slit-trimmer that handles the more difficult hairs.
This represents a significant improvement over the single-foil Braun Series 1.
The current Braun Series 3 models can be grouped into three sub-categories:
- Series 3
- Series 3 ProSkin
- Series 3 BT (aka Shave&Style)
The Series 3 is the basic, more affordable range, while the Series 3 ProSkin offers a few upgrades that are in my opinion well worth the extra money.
And the most important upgrade for the actual shaving performance is the shaving head.
Precisely, the ProSkin models come with a better shaving head that’s gentler to the skin and also better at catching flat-lying hairs.
This improved shaving head is however also compatible with the basic (non-ProSkin) Series 3, so you can give those a quick and inexpensive upgrade.
I will be sharing the exact part numbers for the shaving heads in the dedicated section.
Apart from the tweaked shaving head, the ProSkin shavers are also fitted with a larger rechargeable battery which can provide up to 45 minutes of use compared to 30 minutes on the basic Series 3.
All Series 3 models (basic, ProSkin, BT) use Ni-MH batteries.
Further reading: For a complete and detailed comparison, you can read my comprehensive Series 3 guide.
To summarize, the shaving head and battery capacity are the main differences between the standard and the ProSkin models.
The Series 3 and Series 3 ProSkin families include both wet/dry (cordless only) and dry-only models that will work while charging.
All of them are waterproof and can be cleaned with water.
Some Series 3 ProSkin models even come with an automatic cleaning and charging station as we’ll see next.
As expected, the actual shaving performance is identical within the basic Series 3 and the ProSkin lines.
A ProSkin shaver is however objectively better than a basic Series 3 because of the larger battery and the superior shaving head.
For example, the Series 3 Proskin 3000s is better than the Series 3 300s.
Also, some ProSkin variations include a slide-out hair trimmer, while the basic Series 3 shavers do not have one.
Finally, the Series 3 BT is either a basic Series 3 or a Series 3 ProSkin that comes with a special bundle of accessories that allows the user to also trim and maintain a beard.
These accessories are a click-on trimmer that fits in place of the regular foil head and 4 or 5 different-sized combs.
The shavers themselves are the same as the non-BT variations.
For example, the Braun Series 3 ProSkin 3010BT is just a Series 3 ProSkin 3010s shaver bundled with the aforementioned trimming accessories.
The trimmer and combs are compatible with all Series 3 and Series 3 ProSkin models and also available as a separate purchase (part number is 32BT).
Model comparison
Because the basic Series 3 and the Proskin are two distinct sub-families, I will present them in two separate comparison tables.
The BT variations of the regular and of the ProSkin Series 3 will be included as well in the corresponding tables.
Here are the current basic Series 3 models available worldwide:
| Model | Use | Replacement head | Kit |
|---|---|---|---|
Braun Series 3 300s | Dry-only, corded and cordless | 21b, 32b* | Foil cover, charger |
Braun Series 3 300BT | Dry-only, corded and cordless | 21b, 32b* | Foil cover, charger, trimmer head, 4 combs |
Braun Series 3 310s | Wet/dry, cordless only | 21b, 32b* | Foil cover, charger, cleaning brush |
Braun Series 3 310BT | Wet/dry, cordless only | 21b, 32b* | Foil cover, charger, cleaning brush, trimmer head, 4 combs |
*All Series 3 models come with the 21b shaving head (aka cassette) but are compatible with the 32b cassette from the superior ProSkin line.
And here are the Series 3 ProSkin shavers with their main differences:
| Model | Use | Hair trimmer | Kit |
|---|---|---|---|
Braun Series 3 ProSkin 3080s | Wet/dry, cordless only | Yes | Travel pouch, charging stand, charger, brush |
Braun Series 3 ProSkin 3040s | Wet/dry, cordless only | Yes | Foil cover, charger, brush |
Braun Series 3 ProSkin 3010s | Wet/dry, cordless only | No | Foil cover, charger, brush |
Braun Series 3 ProSkin 3010BT | Wet/dry, cordless only | No | Foil cover, trimmer head, 5 combs, charger, brush |
Braun Series 3 ProSkin 3090cc | Dry only, corded & cordless | Yes | Travel pouch, charger, brush, cleaning station and cartridge |
Braun Series 3 ProSkin 3070cc | Dry only, corded & cordless | Yes | Travel pouch, charger, brush, cleaning station and cartridge |
Braun Series 3 ProSkin 3050cc | Dry only, corded & cordless | Yes | Foil cover, charger, brush, cleaning station and cartridge |
Braun Series 3 ProSkin 3030s | Dry only, corded & cordless | Yes | Foil cover, charger, brush |
Braun Series 3 ProSkin 3020s | Dry only, corded & cordless | Yes | Foil cover, charger, brush |
Braun Series 3 ProSkin 3000s | Dry only, corded & cordless | No | Foil cover, charger, brush |
Braun Series 3 ProSkin 3000BT | Dry only, corded & cordless | No | Foil cover, trimmer head, 5 combs, charger, brush |
As you can see, there are a lot more models in the ProSkin line, but some of them are country-specific.
Also, unlike the basic Series 3, some ProSkin shavers have an integrated slide-out trimmer (like the 3040s) or come with a cleaning station (like the 3050cc that I reviewed a while back).
All Series 3 ProSkin shavers use the 32b (black) or 32s (silver) cassette.
The 32b and 32s are identical apart from the color of the foil frame (black and silver, respectively).
Replacement parts
As we already saw, the basic Series 3 uses the 21b cassette, while the Series 3 ProSkin comes with the 32b or 32s.
These cassettes are easy to source worldwide, quite reasonably priced, and durable.
Moreover, they haven’t been plagued by any quality control issues like the cassettes of the first generation Series 9 for example.
Since the 32b and 32s will also work on the basic Series 3 models like the 300s, that’s a quick and easy upgrade.
A basic Series 3 with a 32b or 32s head will essentially shave like a ProSkin Series 3.
Braun recommends replacing the Series 3 shaving head every 18 months, but with real-world use, that will highly depend on several factors.
For example, how often you shave, how long it takes to shave, how coarse your beard is, and how you take care of the razor (cleaning, lubrication).
Cleaning station compatibility
Since some Series 3 ProSkin models include a cleaning station, you might want to know if a solo shaver will also work with a cleaning station purchased later on.
Or maybe you already own a cc Series 3 Proskin like the 3070cc or 3050cc and wonder if you can still use your existing station with a solo Series 3 ProSkin — for example, the 3040s.
The answer is, unfortunately, no. The station will NOT work with a solo Series 3 ProSkin model.
Only a cc Series 3 ProSkin shaver will be compatible with a cleaning station.
This is a bummer since a cc Series 3 ProSkin is usually a lot more expensive than a solo shaver.
As a personal side note, I recommend getting a solo Series 3 since you’ll be saving money and the shavers are easy to clean manually.
Key takeaway
The Braun Series 3 and particularly the Series 3 ProSkin are excellent picks for the budget-conscious buyer.
The corded & cordless models are also appealing for long-term use since you can continue using them from the mains when the battery can’t hold a decent charge anymore.
While they’re not as capable as the more expensive and more advanced Braun shavers, they get the job done and are very easy to use.
The cost of ownership is also among the lowest, with the reasonably-priced replacement heads that tend to last more than the entry-level foil razors from other brands.
Braun Series 5 (old/discontinued)
Overview
The Series 5 represented a significant jump in quality and performance from the Series 3.
With a high-quality shaving head, strong motor and beefy battery, the Series 5 was a highly-capable foil shaver.
It was effective even on longer stubble (3 to 4 days of growth) and also very comfortable and suitable for users with sensitive skin.
Unfortunately, the Series 5 family of shavers was completely discontinued by Braun and replaced with the new Series 5 that I will be presenting next.
But because there are still some old-generation Series 5 shavers available (although extremely rare), I decided to include the discontinued Series 5 in this buying guide as well.
Also, since the Series 5 was quite popular thanks to its excellent performance and reasonable price, there are many users who own one and will find the information useful.
However, I won’t be going into many details regarding the model comparison.
You can check out my Series 5 comparison guide to get all the details and differences between the various models.
Replacement parts
The discontinued Series 5 uses the 52s (silver) or 52b (black) shaving heads (cassettes).
These cassettes are still available in 2026 despite the fact that Braun pulled the plug on the Series 5 a few years ago, but are getting more and more difficult to source.
The quality and performance of these cassettes are really good despite only having 3 individual shaving elements (two foils and one slit trimmer).
As with most Braun shaving heads, you should expect to replace them every 18 months but again that can vary a lot.
So you may need to do it sooner or later than that (when you’ll notice a performance drop).
For example, the closeness won’t be as good or you’ll need many passes to get a smooth shave.
Cleaning station compatibility
The old generation Series 5 included both cc and solo models.
The station would automatically clean, charge and lubricate the shaver.
Some even came with a more advanced station that would check the hygiene status of the shaver and choose an appropriate cleaning program (like the 5090cc).
In reality, this was more of a gimmick though.
Just like the Series 3 ProSkin above, a Series 5 solo model (like the 5040s) will not work with a Series 5 station.
Even if the shaver looked exactly the same and even had the two contact pins on the back to connect with the station, it would not pair with it.
The station would only charge the razor, but the cleaning functionality would not work.
So if you already have a cc Series 5 from the old generation, like the 5090cc or the 5190cc and wonder if a 5040s for example (that you can get from eBay) will work with it, the answer is no, unfortunately.
Key takeaway
The old Braun Series 5 was a great family of mid-range electric shavers that offered excellent performance at a fair price.
It was particularly well-suited for men with sensitive skin who shaved daily or up to every 4 days.
Unfortunately it was discontinued and replaced with a new generation of shavers that we’ll check out next.
Braun Series 5 (current generation)
Overview
Approximately seven years ago Braun released the current Series 5 generation.
And while initially these new models lived alongside the old ones, the latter are now completely gone.
The new/current Series 5 is a totally different shaver that doesn’t have anything in common with the old Series 5 apart from the name.
And the name is in my opinion a bit misleading.
One would expect a new Series 5 to be at least as good as its predecessor.
Unfortunately, that’s not the case with the current Series 5 generation.
Having tested it extensively and having owned a couple of the old-generation shavers, I can say without a doubt that the new Series 5 is not in any way an upgrade.
However, we have to put its performance into context. And the context in this case is the price.
The new Series 5 cost a lot less than the old generation, so despite not matching its performance (more on that later), it’s still a compelling option in Braun’s affordable lineup.
In my review of the Braun Series 5 5018s I called that shaver a glorified Series 3.
And that’s pretty much what it is.
It costs about the same as a Series 3 ProSkin, it shaves similarly, has a fixed shaving head, the replacement cassette costs and lasts about the same and so on.
So the Braun S5 is a decent shaver, provided our expectations are realistic.
Let’s now check out the available models and see what they have to offer.
Model comparison
Braun Series 5 (USA models):
| Model | Kit | Replacement cassette |
|---|---|---|
Braun Series 5 5050cs (white) | Beard trimmer (no combs), body trimmer (2 combs), charging stand, charger, brush | 53b, 54b |
Braun Series 5 5049cs (blue) | Beard trimmer (5 combs), charging stand, charger, brush | 53b, 54b |
Braun Series 5 5035s (blue) | Beard trimmer (no combs), stubble trimmer (4 combs), charger, brush | 53b, 54b |
Braun Series 5 5020s (blue) | Beard trimmer (5 combs), charger, brush | 53b, 54b |
Braun Series 5 5018s (blue) | Beard trimmer (no combs), charger, brush | 53b, 54b |
Braun Series 5 5118s (blue), Turbo mode | Beard trimmer (no combs), protective cap, charger, brush | 53b, 54b |
Braun Series 5 5120s (blue), Turbo mode | Beard trimmer (5 combs), charger, brush, protective cap | 53b, 54b |
| Braun Series 5 5150cs (blue), Turbo mode | Beard trimmer (5 combs), body trimmer (2 combs), charging stand, charger, brush, protective cap | 53b, 54b |
Braun Series 5 (European models):
| Model | Kit | Replacement cassette |
|---|---|---|
| Braun Series 5 51-M4500cs (mint green) | Beard trimmer (5 combs), charging stand, charger, brush | 53b, 54b |
| Braun Series 5 51-B1820s (blue) | Beard trimmer (no combs), stubbler (4 combs), charger, brush | 53b, 54b |
| Braun Series 5 51-W1500s (white) | Beard trimmer (5 combs), charger, brush | 53b, 54b |
| Braun Series 5 51-B1200s (blue) | Beard trimmer (no combs), charger, brush | 53b, 54b |
| Braun Series 5 51-B1000s (blue) | Charger, brush | 53b, 54b |
| Braun Series 5 51-51-R1000s (red) | Charger, brush | 53b, 54b |
| Braun Series 5 52-N1000si (black), Turbo mode | Charger, brush, travel case | 53b, 54b |
| Braun Series 5 52-A1000s (azure), Turbo mode | Charger, brush, travel case | 53b, 54b |
| Braun Series 5 52-A1820si (azure), Turbo mode | Beard trimmer (no combs), stubbler (no combs), charger, brush, travel case | 53b, 54b |
| Braun Series 5 52-N1200s (black), Turbo mode | Beard trimmer (no combs), charger, brush, travel case | 53b, 54b |
| Braun Series 5 52-B1650s (blue), Turbo mode | Beard trimmer (5 combs), body trimmer (2 combs), charger, brush, travel case | 53b, 54b |
| Braun Series 5 52-B7200cc (blue), Turbo mode | Cleaning station, cleaning cartridge, beard trimmer (no combs), charger, brush, travel case | 53b, 54b |
| Braun Series 5 52-N7650cc (black), Turbo mode | Cleaning station, cleaning cartridge, beard trimmer (5 combs), body trimmer (2 combs), charger, brush, travel case | 53b, 54b |
As you can tell from the tables above, all current Series 5 models start with either 50, 51 and 52.
The 51 (USA) and 52 (European) models come with an upgrade that was introduced last year in an effort to bump up the performance.
Specifically, the 51 (USA) and 52 (European) Series 5 models have a Turbo mode that increases the speed of the motor.
The Series 5 51 European shavers don’t feature the Turbo mode and are identical to the original Series 5 50. Only the 52 models have it.
| Series 5 Generation | Turbo mode |
|---|---|
| 50 (USA and European/global) | No |
| 51 European (eg 51-B1200s) | No |
| 51 USA (eg 5118s) | Yes |
| 52 European (eg 52-B1650s) | Yes |
And this Turbo setting does work — you can hear and feel the extra power. Precisely, it bumps the speed from 8000 RPM to 8500 RPM.
This doesn’t completely transform the new S5, it’s still an entry-level, basic shaver.
But it does shave faster and it’s more enjoyable with the Turbo mode activated (you can check out my review of the new S5 for all the details).
The 51 (USA) and 52 (European) Series 5 shavers are identical in terms of performance and features.
The 52 are simply the models that were released in Europe later on.
In terms of closeness and comfort, a Turbo model feels pretty much the same as the non-Turbo variation, but it takes less work and less time to complete your shave.
I still wouldn’t say the Turbo mode is a compelling enough feature to justify an upgrade if you already own a Series 5 50.
But if you think the current Series 5 would suit your needs and budget, I would certainly get a 51/52 (Turbo) model like the 5118s.
The Series 5 51/52 also comes with a supposedly new shaving head, the 54b, that is able to shave closer than the 53b of the Series 50 models (according to Braun).
To me they look and feel the same, so maybe there are some improvements, but are probably just incremental.
Nevertheless, you can also buy the new 54b for your Series 5 50, it will fit perfectly.
All Series 5 variations are wet/dry and you can only shave cordlessly.
From the Series 5 and up, Braun uses better Li-Ion batteries as opposed to the Ni-MH type fitted to the Series 3 and 1.
You’ll get 50 minutes of use from a fully charged Series 5, which is quite good considering the price of the shavers.
None of the current S5 shavers will work with the cord plugged in, which is a point in favor of the Series 3 ProSkin where you still have that option.
As you can see from the table above, with the current Series 5, Braun focused on providing several accessories that may or may not be of much use to you.
Precisely, almost all of them come with a click-on trimmer attachment (called EasyClick) and can include a number of different-sized guards.
The Series 5 5035s model for example comes with an extra stubble trimmer attachment and some special stubble guards that fit over it.
The 5150cs even has a body trimmer attachment and two guards, aiming to be an all-in-1 grooming tool.
So these accessories are geared more toward men who have a beard/designer stubble or alternate between a clean-shaven look and a beard.
The trimmers simply fit in place of the regular foil head and you can cut your beard to a specific length.
You should buy the S5 model that better suits your needs and you can refer to the tables above for the exact list of accessories.
And speaking of models, the Series 5 shavers sold in Europe use a completely different name scheme than the USA and Canada models.
For example, in Europe, you’ll find weird model names like the Series 5 50-B1200s, 50-M4500cs , 51-W1600s or 52-N7650cc.
The letter after the hyphen refers to the color of the shaver (B – blue, W – white etc), while the 50, 51 or 52 refers to the generation.
They are however identical performance-wise to the corresponding USA models (Turbo or non-Turbo) and use the same shaving heads.
Also, just like with other shavers in a Braun series, there are country-specific models you won’t find mentioned in this guide.
The important thing is that they shave the same and you’ll just have to check the specs to see if a certain model comes with the accessories you want.
Another noteworthy fact about the Series 5 is that the 50 and 51 models don’t come with a cleaning station.
The cc variations are only available (as a bundle) with the new European 52 Series 5 generation.
However, you will be able to use one with the 50 and 51 Series 5 models as you’ll see next.
Cleaning station compatibility
Alongside the Series 5 50, Braun also launched two new families of shavers 7 years ago. Precisely, the Series 6 and the Series 7 360 Flex.
We’ll get to them as well, but what interests us at this moment is the cleaning station included with the Series 6 and Series 7 360 Flex.
That station is actually compatible with the Series 5 (50 and 51 models) and it’s also the same station that’s now included with the European 52 Series 5.
So you will be able to buy it separately and use it with your Series 5 regardless of the model/generation (50, 51 or 52).
This is in stark contrast with almost all Braun solo models manufactured prior to 2020, which didn’t allow pairing with a station.
The cleaning station compatible with the Series 5 has the part number Braun 81697132 (aka Type 5434) and it is pretty reasonably priced.
And it should be since it doesn’t have the bells and whistles of the old Series 5 station or of any higher-end Braun stations (like 3 cleaning programs or a fan that dries the shaving head).
In fact, it is visually and functionally similar to the Series 3 cleaning station, which further supports the claim of the current Series 5 being pretty much a rebranded Series 3.
Also, you cannot just charge your S5 shaver in the station without also cleaning it.
You must always connect the shaver via a switch at the top of the arm which automatically starts the cleaning cycle when you press it.
All Braun cleaning stations use the same Braun CCR cartridges. Both the old and new cartridge designs are compatible with it.
However, there are quite a few third-party cleaning solutions that cost less and work really well and you can clean and refill a cartridge for a fraction of the cost.
Replacement parts
The Braun Series 5 uses the 53b or 54b shaving head.
This is a three-blade cassette with two foils and a slit trimmer for longer hairs.
It works reasonably well on longer stubble, and I’d say it does a decent job on a three-day beard at most.
Braun says that the newer 54b has been improved and is able to shave closer, but I personally find the differences negligible compared to the 53b.
The Series 5 head is similar to the Series 3 ProSkin 32b, and I actually prefer the Series 3 since it’s the slimmest 3-blade head I’ve ever used and it’s nimbler and easier to use.
The 53b/54b has a wider plastic frame compared to the 32b and it gets a bit in the way.
It’s also one of the main reasons why I tend to recommend the Series 3 ProSkin over the Series 5 as the better budget-friendly Braun shaver for most users.
Fun fact: the shaving heads of the new Series 7 360 Flex seem to fit the Series 5 perfectly.
You won’t however benefit much from the upgrade since the two heads are very similar and the Series 7 360 Flex shaver is also more powerful than the Series 5 50 (non-Turbo).
Key takeaway
Considering its price and performance, the Series 5 is a decent foil shaver, especially the 51 and 52 models with the Turbo setting.
However, unless you need the beard-trimming attachments, I would rather get the Series 3 ProSkin instead.
It usually costs less, it’s easier to use, has an integrated trimmer and the replacement head is also affordable.
The Turbo S5 does feel faster and more powerful, so if your beard is on the coarse side, it’s probably the better option.
I do however have to say again that the current Series 5 (Turbo or not) is no Series 5 in the sense the discontinued generation was.
It is not as fast, effective or capable when shaving longer hairs, but it does have a fair price for what it is.
Braun Series 6
Overview
The Series 6 family of electric razors debuted alongside the Series 5 50 above and it is extremely similar in many aspects.
In fact, I’d say the only major difference is the flexing head of the Series 6 (called SensoFlex).
As we know, the Series 5 comes with a fixed head, just like the Series 3.
The Series 6 on the other hand, features a basic flexing head that can swivel back to front.
And that’s really all the flexing you need from a foil electric shaver.
This type of head movement will actually be useful in practice and will require less wrist work on your part for a clean and effective shave.
Other embellishments like a complex flexing mechanism only look good in the specs sheet and don’t really improve the experience to a significant degree.
So the Series 6 is basically a Series 5 with a flexing shaving head.
The visual similarities are obvious, the shavers look and feel the same and the shaving performance is really close.
Shaving with the Series 6 is more enjoyable thanks to the back-to-front flexing of the head.
However, it won’t make a huge difference since the range of motion of the flexing head is quite small.
The Series 6 is a 3-blade shaver that uses the exact same cassette as the Series 5 and depending on the model, the S6 comes bundled with various trimming accessories.
Let’s check out the available models and the differences between them.
Model comparison
Braun Series 6 (USA models):
| Model | Kit | Replacement cassette |
|---|---|---|
Braun Series 6 6090cc (blue) | Cleaning station, beard trimmer (5 combs), stubble trimmer (4 combs), charger, brush | 53b, 64b |
Braun Series 6 6075cc (grey) | Cleaning station, beard trimmer (5 combs), charger, brush | 53b, 64b |
Braun Series 6 6072cc (blue) | Cleaning station, beard trimmer (no combs), charger, brush | 53b, 64b |
Braun Series 6 6040cs (blue) | Beard trimmer (no combs), charging stand, charger, brush | 53b, 64b |
Braun Series 6 6020s (blue) | Beard trimmer (no combs), charger, brush | 53b, 64b |
Braun Series 6 6177cc (blue) | Cleaning station, beard trimmer (no combs), stubble trimmer (no combs) charger, brush, travel case | 53b, 64b |
| Braun Series 6 6172cc (blue) | Cleaning station, beard trimmer (no combs), charger, brush, travel case | 53b, 64b |
Braun Series 6 6120s (blue) | Beard trimmer (no combs), charger, brush, travel case | 53b, 64b |
Braun Series 6 (European/global models):
| Model | Kit | Replacement cassette |
|---|---|---|
| Braun Series 6 60-N4500cs (black) | Beard trimmer (5 combs), charging stand, charger, brush, travel case | 53b, 64b |
| Braun Series 6 60-B7500cc (blue) | Beard trimmer (5 combs), cleaning station, CCR cartridge, charger, brush, travel case | 53b, 64b |
| Braun Series 6 61-B4500cs (blue) | Beard trimmer (5 combs), charging stand, charger, brush, travel case | 53b, 64b |
| Braun Series 6 62-B1200s (blue), Turbo mode | Beard trimmer, charger, brush, travel case | 53b, 64b |
| Braun Series 6 62-G1200si (grey), Turbo mode | Beard trimmer, charger, brush, travel case | 53b, 64b |
| Braun Series 6 62-S7650cc (silver), Turbo mode | Beard trimmer (5 combs), body trimmer (2 combs), cleaning station, CCR cartridge, charger, brush, travel case | 53b, 64b |
These are some of the current most popular models, but again you will stumble upon a few other models with different colors and accessories.
Just like the Series 5, we also have two variations of the Series 6, Turbo and non-Turbo.
| Series 5 Generation | Turbo mode |
|---|---|
| 60 (USA and European/global) | No |
| 61 European (eg 61-B4500cs) | No |
| 61 USA (eg 6177cc) | Yes |
| 62 European (eg 62-B1200s) | Yes |
The Series 6 Turbo models actually come with a Gentle and a Turbo shaving mode, while the other ones only have one standard mode.
The Gentle mode on the updated Series 6 just makes the shaver feel unnecessarily slow, while the Turbo mode is a bit faster compared to the standard mode of the original.
But again, the power increase doesn’t drastically transform the Series 6, but it will feel faster and require fewer strokes for a clean shave.
I’d still say it’s not worth the upgrade if you already have a Series 6 with the single standard mode.
Just like the Series 5 above, we only get wet/dry Series 6 shavers that can only be operated cordlessly.
A full battery (Li-Ion) will provide around 50 minutes of shaving.
As usual, the performance will be identical for all the Series 6 models in a generation.
We have a different naming scheme in the case of the European/global Series 6 vs the American models.
For example, 61-N1000s, 62-B1200s and so on.
These are identical performance-wise to the American Series 6 60 and 61 and the differences come down to color and accessories.
As expected, we have -s (solo), -cs (solo with charging stand) and -cc (cleaning station) models.
The Series 6 station is the same one shipped with the Series 5 and Series 7 360 Flex.
This is a rather basic Braun station with a single cleaning program, no active drying system and the protruding arm that’s reminiscent of the Series 3 cleaner.
Cleaning station compatibility
The cleaning station situation in the case of the Braun Series 6 is exactly the same as we saw above with the Series 5.
Precisely, any Series 6 shaver, be it an s, cs, or cc, will work with a compatible cleaning station.
So you can for example buy one later for your solo or cs Series 6.
Again, the part number for the station is Braun 81697132 (aka Type 5434).
You can also buy a solo Series 6 (60, 61 or 62 model) and clean it with an existing Series 6 station from a cc model.
Replacement parts
The Braun Series 6 60 shavers come with the 53b replacement cassette.
That’s the same part used by the Series 5 50 and it should last around 18 months before needing to be replaced.
The price is generally reasonable and should be easy to source in most countries.
The newer Braun Series 6 61 and 62 (with Gentle & Turbo modes) come with a new replacement head called 64b.
Braun says it’s an improved part vs the 53b, but again it looks and feels pretty much the same.
The 64b is of course backward compatible with the original Series 6 60 models and will even fit the Series 5 and 7 for that matter.
My advice would be to simply get the one with the lowest price as the performance difference between the 64b and 53b seems marginal.
Key takeaway
The Series 6, while in theory should be a mid-range to high-end shaver in Braun’s lineup, is really not.
It’s a Series 5 with a flexing head which in turn is similar performance-wise to a Series 3 ProSkin.
This is especially the case with the original Series 5 and Series 6 models without Turbo mode.
It’s a very decent shaver, but again, for the price and for the Series 6 label, one would expect more.
Picking a specific Series 6 model should come down to price, availability in your country and the inclusion of the accessories you’ll be needing.
For example, not everyone will have any use for the stubble trimmer and its guards.
The same goes for the cleaning station, you can save some money and get a solo or cs Series 6.
However, considering its price and performance — I recommend getting a Series 6 only if you will be using the trimming accessories.
Otherwise, I think the Series 3 ProSkin or even a Series 5 51/52 will be better options for most users.
The S3 ProSkin is easier to use thanks to the slimmer head and even though it’s fixed, the range of motion of the individual cutters is greater compared to the cutters on the Series 6.
This quirk somewhat compensates for the lack of any head flexing capabilities.
The Series 3 32b replacement head is also slightly less than the 53b/64b required for the Series 6.
And the integrated S3 ProSkin slide-out trimmer is better for quick touch-ups.
I don’t particularly like the EasyClick trimmers of the Series 5, Series 6 and Series 7 360 Flex.
Those are better for trimming an entire beard, but I do not use them in that manner as I prefer a clean shave.
But again, some users will need a trimmer precisely for that, in which case a Series 5 or Series 6 would make more sense.
I also think the Series 6 would be a better pick over the Series 5 if you can get a good deal on one.
Otherwise, the price difference for getting only a flexing head is probably not worth it.
The European 62 models are particularly pricey, at least for the time being.
Braun Series 7 (old/discontinued)
Overview
Before getting to the current Series 7 360 Flex, I think it’s worth having a quick look at the old and discontinued Braun Series 7.
This was Braun’s most successful and acclaimed family of electric shavers (introduced in 2007) and it was discontinued somewhere between 2020 and 2021.
The old Series 7 was in my opinion one of Braun’s best ever shavers and my personal favorite from the brand.
Because it’s not available anymore, I won’t be going into all the details regarding the model names, accessories and so on.
I have written a very comprehensive guide on the old Series 7 if you want to check it out.
Also, you can read my extensive comparison to the new Series 7 360 Flex and see all the different ways in which the old generation was better.
But in short, it was more powerful, more comfortable and refined, better with shaving difficult hairs and had a superior shaving head and cleaning station.
You can tell the old Series 7 apart from the new ones by its looks or by the model names.
The old ones always had 3 digits (like 790cc, 740s) or 4 that started with 78 (like 7865cc).
Replacement parts
If you still own an old Braun Series 7, you will need the 70s (silver) or 70b (black) replacement shaving head.
It’s getting very difficult to find, but there are still some available on Amazon or eBay.
Like most Braun shaving heads, you would expect around 18 months of use before needing to replace it.
Cleaning station compatibility
The old Series 7 solo models will work with a compatible cleaning station purchased separately.
Even though officially they won’t be compatible, they actually are.
As for the part numbers of the stations, things are a bit more complicated, so make sure to check out this post in order to find the one that will work with your Series 7.
Just like with all Braun cc stations, you would need the Braun CCR cartridges but you can buy and use a third-party cleaning solution as well.
Key takeaway
The original Braun Series 7 was a fantastic electric shaver.
It was a safe choice for most men, particularly when dealing with irritation-prone skin.
Despite having only 3 foil elements, it was really good at shaving longer stubble and dealt with flat-lying hairs extremely well.
Shaving with it is a real treat and despite being an old model, it still outperforms most of today’s shavers in Braun’s portfolio.
If you can somehow find a new one or even a pre-owned S7 in mint condition, go for it.
Let’s now check out its successor, the new Braun Series 7 360 Flex.
Braun Series 7 360 Flex (current generation)
The new Series 7 360 Flex had some big shoes to fill.
As we saw, the old generation was arguably Braun’s most successful line of shavers and one that propelled Braun to the very top.
With the current models, Braun kept the Series 7 name as it had a lot of equity and it was very popular among electric shaving enthusiasts.
In order to differentiate it from the old generation, we will refer to the new one as the Series 7 360 Flex.
The 360 Flex refers to the defining characteristic of the new Series 7, a highly flexible shaving head.
Precisely, the head sits on these struts that allow it to move from left to right in addition to the standard front-to-back flexing.
Personally, I don’t think the added functionality is very useful.
In fact, Braun’s range-topping models, the much more expensive Series 9 and Series 9 PRO/PRO+, only have front-to-back flexing and it works perfectly.
In addition to the new flexing system and a new cassette, the Series 7 360 Flex comes with a new design.
You will however notice that the new S7 looks instead pretty much identical to the Series 6 and the Series 5 we addressed earlier.
In fact, all these 3 feel like part of the same series and the superior line only has a few incremental upgrades compared to the one below it.
For example, the Series 6 only has a flexible front-to-back head compared to the Series 5. Everything else, including the cassette, is the same.
The Series 7 360 Flex adds the left to right flexing compared to the Series 6 and a new cassette that actually looks exactly the same and will even fit the Series 6 and 5.
But the biggest upgrade of the Series 7 360 Flex over the 6 and the 5 is a more powerful motor.
That’s immediately obvious when shaving with it. It has more power and torque and it even sounds faster.
And just like with the S5 and S6, we also have an original and an updated model:
- Series 7 360 Flex 70xx (original, single standard shaving mode)
- Series 7 360 Flex 71xx/72xx (updated, 3 shaving modes)
The more recent S7 71xx (USA) and 72xx (European/global) models feel like a mid-life facelift and the incremental improvements include 3 shaving modes and a new cassette (that looks and feels the same).
The new shaving modes are Gentle, Standard, and Turbo.
The Turbo mode on the 71xx and 72xx is more powerful vs the original S7 70xx, but again not by much and I don’t think it’s worth upgrading for that alone.
All S7 360 models come with the so-called Autosense technology, a sensor that reads the beard density and adjusts the power output accordingly.
Historically, this technology always seemed more of a gimmick and it’s the same here.
The discontinued Series 7 allowed the user to manually select a power setting, which was in my opinion more useful, albeit not entirely necessary.
Just like its less powerful siblings, the Series 6 and Series 5, there are a lot of Series 7 360 Flex variations that come with different accessories for trimming, but also with charging stands or automatic cleaning stations.
Let’s check them out.
Model comparison
| Model | Kit | Replacement head |
|---|---|---|
Braun Series 7 7085cc (black) | Cleaning station, beard trimmer (5 combs), stubble trimmer (4 combs), travel case, charger, brush | 73b, 73s, 74s |
Braun Series 7 7075cc (black) | Cleaning station, beard trimmer (5 combs), travel case, charger, brush | 73b, 73s, 74s |
Braun Series 7 7071cc (silver) | Cleaning station, beard trimmer (no combs), travel case, charger, brush | 73b, 73s, 74s |
Braun Series 7 7020s (silver) | Beard trimmer (no combs), travel case, charger, brush | 73b, 73s, 74s |
Braun Series 7 7027cs (silver) | Charge stand, beard trimmer (5 combs), travel case, charger, brush | 73b, 73s, 74s |
Braun Series 7 7185cc (space grey) | Cleaning station, beard trimmer (5 combs), stubble trimmer (no combs), travel case, charger, brush | 73b, 73s, 74s |
| Braun Series 7 7177cc (space grey) | Cleaning station, beard trimmer (5 combs), body groomer, travel case, charger, brush | 73b, 73s, 74s |
Braun Series 7 7171cc (space grey) | Cleaning station, beard trimmer (no combs), travel case, charger, brush | 73b, 73s, 74s |
| Braun Series 7 7127cs (space grey) | Charge stand, beard trimmer (no combs), travel case, charger, brush | 73b, 73s, 74s |
Braun Series 7 7120s (space grey) | Beard trimmer (no combs), travel case, charger, brush | 73b, 73s, 74s |
These are most of the Series 7 models available in the USA and Canada.
There are even more European/global models with different names starting with 70 or 71 (non-Turbo), and 72 (Turbo).
The European 72xx are the equivalent of the USA 71xx modes and feature the three shaving modes (Gentle, Standard, Turbo).
Just as before with the S5 and S6, the performance will be exactly the same throughout a generation.
You should simply get the S7 that meets your requirements (for example, if you want a cleaning station, you would get one of the cc models).
The cleaning station, the various trimming accessories and the price should be the only criteria for selecting a Braun Series 7 360 Flex.
The EasyClick trimmer and combs are the same as we saw earlier with the S6 and S5.
The cleaning station is the one from the Series 6, so you’re not getting any extra features (like active drying or 3 cleaning modes) with the Series 7 360 Flex.
That’s a bit disappointing but not entirely surprising if we take into account the price of the Series 7, especially if you can get a good discount.
It costs quite a bit less than the discontinued Series 7, but as we saw, that one was also a superior shaver with a feature-rich station.
Cleaning station compatibility
Just like the S6 and S5, all Braun Series 7 360 models will work with a compatible cleaning station (Braun 81697132/Type 5434).
So even if you get a solo (s/si or cs) S7 360 Flex shaver, you will be able to use a cleaning station.
The new station is not compatible with the old Series 7 which requires a completely different station that connects to the shaver in a different manner.
As mentioned earlier, I think the new Series 7 360 station is a downgrade compared to the old one.
It’s less practical with that protruding arm, you cannot just charge the shaver without cleaning it, there’s a single cleaning mode, and there’s no active drying system (inductive heating or a fan).
But it still does the job and if you can grab a cc/cce model for a good price, I think it’s still worth having the station.
Replacement parts
The Braun Series 7 360 Flex 70 comes with a shaving head/cassette called 73b (black) and 73s (silver).
The more recent 71/72 models are shipped with a new head called 74s.
Again Braun says it should shave closer and gentler, but I find it exactly the same as the 73 heads.
The only difference seems to be the foil frame, matte silver for the 74s and glossy for the 73s.
The 74s will of course fit the Series 7 70 as well but don’t expect any major improvements vs the 73s.
Both are in my opinion inferior to the old 70s cassette of the discontinued Series 7.
That conclusion is obvious just by looking at them side by side and confirmed when shaving with them.
The old cassette had a much greater range of motion for the three cutting elements and it glided easier on the skin since it used metal instead of all that plastic around them.
It was also slimmer, nimbler and noticeably smoother. The middle trimmer was better at catching flat-lying hairs as well.
The old 70s cassette will NOT fit the current S7 360 Flex shavers.
Key takeaway
I’ll get straight to the point and say that at least for me, the new Series 7 360 Flex was somewhat of a disappointment.
I would have been perfectly happy with a new Series 7 that shaved exactly the same as the old one.
It really didn’t have to be better, even though there were some things that needed improvement.
But after using the new S7 360 extensively, I found the performance to be a step backward.
It feels a bit harsh for a Braun electric razor, which are usually the more comfortable and forgiving shavers compared to other brands.
The cassette is also wider and bulkier, it doesn’t glide as easily on the skin and struggles when shaving a longer beard (3 days or more).
It’s a decent shaver for the money, but doesn’t live up to the legendary Series 7.
I find it difficult to recommend unless it’s on sale and of course it fits the needs of the user.
For example, it will work fine for someone shaving daily up to every three days and who doesn’t have particularly difficult facial hair.
The beard trimming attachments are also a plus if you sometimes prefer a (stubble) beard.
But otherwise, the Series 7 360 wouldn’t be my pick for a mid-range Braun electric shaver.
The next one however would be.
Braun Series 8
Overview
The Series 8, introduced back in 2019, is in my opinion the most interesting family of shavers in Braun’s current lineup.
If you were disappointed that you couldn’t get the old Series 7 anymore, the Braun Series 8 is the next best thing.
Let’s first address the name.
In theory, since 8 is larger than 7, the Series 8 should be the superior shaver.
Well, it is definitely better than the new Series 7 360 Flex, but not quite as good as the old (discontinued) Series 7.
When the Series 8 was released, the old Series 7 was still in production and the sales were strong.
So lots of potential buyers were confused and had the reasonable expectation of the S8 being the superior shaver.
Again, this was in relation to the old and excellent Series 7.
However, the old Series 7 was actually a bit better. And there’s a simple and logical explanation for that.
If you take a look at a Series 8 shaver, you’ll notice that it looks exactly the same as the old and discontinued Series 5.
Well, the Series 8 is essentially an old Series 5 with a larger battery (60 minutes vs 45) and a different name.
The cassette is almost identical as well and only the foil frame shape is slightly different.
As a result, the Series 8 will shave exactly the same as the old Series 5 and almost as good as the discontinued OG Series 7.
And by that I mean the Series 8 is less refined (louder and vibrates more), it needs a bit more effort with flat-lying hairs and it’s not quite as smooth on the skin as the old S7.
But other than that, I think it’s an excellent performer, second only to the Series 9 in Braun’s current lineup.
Let’s check out the different models.
Model comparison
| Model | Cleaning station | Replacement head |
|---|---|---|
Braun Series 8 8390cc, Silver | Yes, 3 programs, no active drying | 83M |
Braun Series 8 8370cc, Silver | Yes, 1 program, no active drying | 83M |
Braun Series 8 8330s, Silver | No | 83M |
Braun Series 8 8467cc, Galvano Silver | Yes, 3 programs, active drying | 83M |
Braun Series 8 8457cc, Galvano Silver | Yes, 1 program, active drying | 83M |
Braun Series 8 8453cc, Fjord grey | Yes, 1 program, active drying | 83M |
Braun Series 8 8417s, Galvano Silver | No (includes a charging stand) | 83M |
Braun Series 8 8413s, Fjord grey | No (includes a charging stand) | 83M |
Braun Series 8 8410s, Black | No (includes a charging stand) | 83M |
Braun Series 8 8577cc, Galvano Silver | Yes, 3 programs, active drying | 83M |
Braun Series 8 8567cc, Galvano Silver | Yes, 3 programs, active drying | 83M |
Braun Series 8 8560cc, Black | Yes, 3 programs, active drying | 83M |
Braun Series 8 8517s, Galvano Silver | No (incudes a charging stand) | 83M |
There’s a lot to talk about the different model names and accessories and I wrote a comprehensive Series 8 guide if you want all the details.
But to summarize, all Series 8 models shave the same and use the same shaving head (83M).
There’s a slide-out hair trimmer on the back of the S8, identical to the one on the old Series 5 and on the Series 9.
There are four S8 generations available as of 2026:
- the original S8 with models starting with 83 (like 8370cc)
- the 84 generation (like 8457cc)
- the 85 models introduced in 2023 (for example, the 8567cc)
- the 86 models released in 2025 (8663cc, 8617s etc.) — not available in the USA yet
The 84, 85 and 86 models are sometimes referred to as the Series 8 Pro.
However, the differences vs the 83 only come down to a few design refinements and a new, more capable cleaning station shipped with the 84, 85 and 86 cc models.
Specifically, that station is fitted with a fan that blow dries the shaving head.
In fact, it’s the same station shipped with the latest Series 9 and Series 9 PRO/PRO+ families.
The original 83 cc models come with a cleaning station that doesn’t have an active drying system.
For that reason and if the price is similar, I recommend getting an 84 or 85 Series 8 model if you can.
Also, the 85/86 models are pretty much the same as the previous 84 Series 8 except for some new colors.
Some 85 Series 8 like the 8577cc come with a charging travel case, the same we’ll also see included with several Series 9 models.
But the 85/86 generation is still a 3-blade foil shaver with 3 active cutters, not 4 or 5 as you may be led to believe:
The shaving head is the same one used on the previous generations and the actual shaving performance will be the same.
Cleaning station compatibility
The cleaning station situation is just slightly more complicated in the case of the Series 8 since we have four generations of shavers.
We have a basic station shipped with the 83 Series 8 models and a more advanced one that comes with the 84, 85 and 86 models.
So let’s address each separately.
The original 83 Series 8 solo (and cc) shavers will work with the basic station (that has no active drying), but also with the more advanced one shipped with the 84, 85 and 86 Series 8.
The part number of the basic station is 81687143 (aka Braun 5430CS S-8).
The more capable station is of Type 5430CS S-9 (aka 81687142 and 81759573).
As for the newer 84, 85 and 86 Series 8 shavers (aka Series 8 Pro), those will only work with the second, more advanced station (Type 5430CS S-9).
So regardless of whether you have a solo or cc Series 8, original or updated/Pro, it will work with the compatible station. Just make sure to get the right one.
Replacement parts
All Braun Series 8 models use the same 83M cassette.
It’s a high-quality shaving head that resembles the ones of the original Series 5 and 7.
It only comes in matte silver and for some reason, Braun uses the letter M for that color.
The changing interval is Braun’s standard 18 months, but you can expect that to vary based on how you use the shaver.
Key takeaway
The Series 8 is in my opinion one of Braun’s more compelling offerings and it has a relatively affordable price.
It’s a gentle and highly capable electric razor that handles longer stubble well (up to 4 days, maybe even more if your beard grows slowly).
The S8 is very easy to use thanks to the slim 3-blade shaving head and represents a safe choice for most users.
Braun Series 9/Series 9 PRO/Series 9 PRO+
Overview
The Series 9, along with the PRO and PRO+ variants, used to be Braun’s flagship shavers until the release of the Nevo in July 2026.
But since they are very close performance-wise to the Nevo, we can safely still consider the Series 9 a top-of-the-line shaver.
I decided to tackle the Series 9, PRO and PRO+ all at once because, as you’re about to see, they are more similar than different.
Further reading: for a very detailed and comprehensive comparison, you can check out my Series 9 guide.
The Series 9 was launched 11 years ago as the new high-end Braun shaver.
Until that point, the old Series 7 was Braun’s most advanced and most expensive shaver.
Since the original Series 9, Braun has released 5 subsequent updates, so we have a total of 6 different Series 9 generations (including the latest PRO+ family).
Here’s a quick summary:
- The original Series 9 (90xx), 2015. Currently discontinued
- The updated Series 9 (92xx), 2016. Currently discontinued
- The current Series 9 (93xx), 2019.
- The Series 9 PRO (94xx), 2021.
- The Series 9 PRO+ (95xx), 2023.
- The Series 9 PRO+ (96xx), 2025.
Since the first two are not available anymore, I’m mainly going to focus on the current Series 9 93xx (these are the standard, non-Pro models) and of course on the newer Series 9 PRO (94xx) and Series 9 PRO+ (95xx/96xx).
But if you happen to own an older Series 9 model, like the original 90xx or the 92xx, pretty much everything mentioned here will still be relevant.
For example, all the newer shaving heads are backward compatible with the older Series 9 as well, so you can safely buy one and use it with your shaver.
That’s a quick and relatively inexpensive upgrade if your shaver is still in good working condition (the battery holds a decent charge and there’s no serious physical wear or strong vibrations from the motor).
But getting back to the currently available Series 9, you basically have three options:
- the standard (non-PRO) 93xx Series 9
- the slightly better 94xx Series 9 PRO
- the newer 95xx Series 9 PRO+ (identical performance-wise to the 94xx PRO)
- the latest 96xx Series 9 PRO+ that comes with a new shaving head, sensor and LCD display
All these shavers come in a variety of colors with different accessories, some of which are really interesting like the charging case available with several Series 9 PRO and PRO+ models.
Fun fact: this charging case (called Braun PowerCase) is compatible with all the Series 9/PRO/PRO+ models and even with the Series 8. It’s not however compatible with the Braun Nevo, which has its own updated case.
But the most important aspect to consider is the inclusion of a cleaning station.
As for the performance, all Series 9 93xx shavers will shave exactly the same.
That also includes the so-called Sport models like the 9310cc, which often caused some confusion.
Likewise, all Series 9 94xx PRO and 95xx PRO+ models will shave exactly the same.
The shavers in the latest 96xx update are also identical with regard to shaving performance.
However, there are some differences between these various Series 9 (PRO/PRO+) generations when it comes to shaving performance.
The Series 9 PRO+ 95xx is basically a Series 9 PRO 94xx with a new (slightly improved) hair trimmer and some visual tweaks (more black and gold accents).
They come with the same shaving head and pretty much everything about them is the same.
So whenever I mention the Series 9 PRO, you can very well replace it with Series 9 PRO+ (95xx) — it will still be relevant.
The slide-out hair trimmer on the S9 PRO+ (called a ProTrimmer) has a straight edge vs curved on the S9 PRO and S9:
This makes it a bit more effective, but nothing dramatically better.
You can check out my Series 9 Pro 94xx review and Series 9 PRO+ 95xx review, where I address these differences in great detail, but here’s a quick summary that should help you choose between them if you’re on the fence.
The S9 PRO/PRO+ feels slightly more powerful (it even sounds a bit louder), it’s grabbier and slightly more aggressive than the non-Pro S9 (93xx).
This can result in a marginally faster and closer shave compared to the standard Series 9 which is on the other hand gentler and a bit more forgiving.
But what about the latest 2025 Series 9 PRO+ (96xx)?
The 96xx features an improved foil head with thinner blades and shaves a bit closer than the previous revisions — you can check out my Series 9 PRO+96xx review for all the details.
It also has a much more capable beard density sensor that should adjust the power more efficiently, but I honestly can’t say that it makes a difference in practice.
The closeness offered by the new cassette (96M), which is backward compatible with all the older generations is however a bit better.
So you can actually upgrade your current Series 9/PRO/PRO+ and essentially get all the major benefits of the latest 96xx.
You can even use the new Nevo cassette on any Series 9/PRO/PRO+; it will shave similarly to the 96M, but it’s smoother and more forgiving.
To me, the Panasonic Arc 6 is still the best in the closeness department.
But all Series 9/PRO/PRO+ are highly capable, comfortable and versatile electric shavers and these performance differences are rather subtle.
The old Series 7 was quite close to them performance-wise despite only having 3 cutting elements.
So we can consider the Series 9 as a beefed-up Series 7 — again, I am referring to the old and discontinued S7, not the new Series 7 360 Flex which is, as we saw, a bit underwhelming performance-wise.
Let’s check out the different S9/S9 PRO/S9 PRO+ models you can get in 2026.
Model comparison
1. Series 9 model comparison
| Model | Travel case | Cleaning station |
|---|---|---|
| Braun Series 9 9385cc, Graphite (Matte) | Leather | Yes |
| Braun Series 9 9380cc, Black (Matte) | Leather | Yes |
| Braun Series 9 9390cc, Silver (Matte) | Leather | Yes |
| Braun Series 9 9395cc, Chrome (Glossy) | Leather | Yes |
| Braun Series 9 9365cc, Graphite (Matte) | Textile | Yes* |
| Braun Series 9 9370cc, Silver (Matte) | Textile | Yes* |
| Braun Series 9 9310cc Sport, Black (Matte) | Textile | Yes* |
| Braun Series 9 9395cc, Chrome (Glossy) | Leather | Yes |
| Braun Series 9 9376cc, Chrome (Glossy) | Textile | Yes* |
| Braun Series 9 9330s, Silver (Matte) | Textile | No (includes a charging stand) |
| Braun Series 9 9340s, Black (Matte) | Textile | No (includes a charging stand) |
2. Series 9 Pro model comparison
| Model | Travel case | Cleaning station |
|---|---|---|
| Braun Series 9 Pro 9477cc, Silver (Matte) | Charging case | Yes |
| Braun Series 9 Pro 9476cc, Chrome (Glossy) | Charging case | Yes |
| Braun Series 9 Pro 9475cc, Grey (Matte) | Charging case | Yes |
| Braun Series 9 Pro 9470cc, Black (Matte) | Charging case | Yes |
| Braun Series 9 Pro 9466cc, Chrome (Glossy) | Leather | Yes |
| Braun Series 9 Pro 9465cc, Noble Metal (Matte) | Leather | Yes |
| Braun Series 9 Pro 9460cc, Black (Matte) | Leather | Yes |
| Braun Series 9 Pro 9427s, Silver (Matte) | Charging case | No (includes a charging stand) |
| Braun Series 9 Pro 9425s, Grey (Matte) | Charging case | No (includes a charging stand) |
| Braun Series 9 Pro 9420s, Black (Matte) | Charging case | No (includes a charging stand) |
| Braun Series 9 Pro 9419s, Gold (Matte) | Leather | No (includes a charging stand) |
| Braun Series 9 Pro 9417s, Silver (Matte) | Textile | No (includes a charging stand) |
| Braun Series 9 Pro 9415s, Grey (Matte) | Textile | No (includes a charging stand) |
| Braun Series 9 Pro 9410s, Black (Matte) | Textile | No (includes a charging stand) |
3. Series 9 PRO+ (95xx) model comparison
| Model | Travel case | Cleaning station |
|---|---|---|
| Braun Series 9 PRO+ 9510s, Black (Matte) | Textile | No (includes a charging stand) |
| Braun Series 9 PRO+ 9515s, Precious Metal (Matte) | Textile | No (includes a charging stand) |
| Braun Series 9 PRO+ 9517s, Silver (Matte) | Textile | No (includes a charging stand) |
| Braun Series 9 PRO+ 9519s, Gold (Matte) | Textile | No (includes a charging stand) |
| Braun Series 9 PRO+ 9520s, Black (Matte) | Charging case | No (includes a charging stand) |
| Braun Series 9 PRO+ 9525s, Precious Metal (Matte) | Charging case | No (includes a charging stand) |
| Braun Series 9 PRO+ 9527s, Silver (Matte) | Charging case | No (includes a charging stand) |
| **Braun Series 9 PRO+ 9550s, Black (Matte) | Textile | No (includes a charging stand) |
| **Braun Series 9 PRO+ 9557s, Silver (Matte) | Textile | No (includes a charging stand) |
| Braun Series 9 PRO+ 9560cc, Black (Matte) | Textile | Yes |
| Braun Series 9 PRO+ 9565cc, Precious Metal (Matte) | Textile | Yes |
| Braun Series 9 PRO+ 9567cc, Silver (Matte) | Textile | Yes |
| Braun Series 9 PRO+ 9569cc, Gold (Matte) | Textile | Yes |
| Braun Series 9 PRO+ 9570cc, Black (Matte) | Charging case | Yes |
| Braun Series 9 PRO+ 9575cc, Precious Metal (Matte) | Charging case | Yes |
| Braun Series 9 PRO+ 9577cc, Silver (Matte) | Charging case | Yes |
| **Braun Series 9 PRO+ 9590cc, Black (Matte) | Textile | Yes |
| **Braun Series 9 PRO+ 9597cc, Silver (Matte) | Textile | Yes |
| **Braun Series 9 PRO+ 9599cc, Silver (Matte) | Charging case | Yes |
** These models also include a ProComfort massage head that must be fitted to the shaver (instead of the foil head).
4. Series 9 PRO+ (96xx) model comparison
| Model | Case | Cleaner |
|---|---|---|
Braun Series 9 PRO+ 9610s, Black (Matte) | Textile | No (includes a charging stand) |
Braun Series 9 PRO+ 9610si, Black (Matte) | Textile | No (includes a charging stand) |
Braun Series 9 PRO+ 9625s, Graphite (Matte) | Charging case | No (includes a charging stand) |
Braun Series 9 PRO+ 9665cce, Graphite (Matte) | Textile | Yes |
Braun Series 9 PRO+ 9667cc, Silver (Matte) | Textile | Yes |
Braun Series 9 PRO+ 9670cc, Black (Matte) | Charging case | Yes |
Braun Series 9 PRO+ 9677cce, Silver (Matte) | Charging case | Yes |
| Braun Series 9 PRO+ 9697CC, Silver (Matte) | Textile | Yes |
| Braun Series 9 PRO+ 9660CCPS, Black (Matte) | Textile | Yes |
| Braun Series 9 PRO+ 9677cc, Silver (Matte) | Charging case | Yes |
| Braun Series 9 PRO+ 9667cc, Silver (Matte) | Textile | Yes |
| Braun Series 9 PRO+ 9617s, Silver (Matte) | Textile | No |
As we now know, only the 93xx, 94xx, 95xx and 96xx Series 9 are currently available.
The 96xx are finally available in the USA in five variations: 9697CC, 9660CCPS, 9677CC, 9667CC, and 9617s.
Initially, these new shavers were only available in Europe.
Also, you may still stumble upon an old 92xx or 90xx model, but those are becoming a rare sight or sometimes even cost more than the newer generation.
In the tables above you’ll find most of the S9/S9 PRO/S9 PRO+ models sold worldwide.
And just as before, you should choose the one that best suits your needs and budget.
For example, you may or may not need a cleaning station or a charging stand.
Or maybe you want a particular color. For example, some of them are really nice like the Noble metal of the 9465cc or 9565cc.
Again, the performance throughout a generation will be exactly the same.
I’m usually in favor of buying a cc Series 9 or 9 PRO/PRO+ as the models that come with the station don’t cost a whole lot more than the solo variations.
The S9 station is very practical and effective and I personally use it regularly.
I don’t clean my Series 9 after every shave with it, but more like once or twice a week.
This way, a cleaning cartridge lasts a lot more and I just rinse the shaver with tap water in the meantime.
And speaking of the cleaning station, let’s check it out in more detail.
Cleaning station compatibility
When it comes to the compatibility of the Braun solo models with a cleaning station, things vary a lot from one series to another or even within the same series (like in the case of the Series 8).
It’s the same in the case of the Series 9.
The original 90xx and the 92xx Series 9 solo shavers will not work with a cleaning station. The station will charge the shavers, but the cleaning part will never work.
Fortunately, things are better with the 93xx, 94xx, 95xx and 96xx solo models.
Precisely, those will work with a compatible S9 cleaning station.
The part numbers for that station are S9-3 type 5430 or S9-4 type 5430, sometimes listed as 81687142 and 81759573, respectively.
The 93xx and 94xx use the same cleaning station with 3 cleaning modes and a fan that dries the shaving head.
The Series 9 PRO+ (95xx) comes with a station that is a bit different on the outside — a silver bevel and only matte surfaces — but it is the same Type 5430 and essentially the same station included with the 93xx and 94xx.
With the latest 96xx PRO+, they reverted to the old design with the black trim but the station is otherwise identical (Type 5430).
Only a handful of 93xx models come with a less advanced station that has one standard cleaning mode (for example the 9310cc or 9370cc).
You will find those models in the table above with an asterisk.
The station with the 3 modes automatically selects a setting (short, normal, intensive), but in practice, it doesn’t make much of a difference, so don’t let that prevent you from buying one of the asterisk models if the price is right.
So it’s good news for S9/S9 PRO/S9 PRO+ owners who have a solo model and decide to get a cleaning station.
But again, this is only for the 93xx ,94xx, 95xx and 96xx solo shavers.
Also, if you already have a 93xx cc model, you can get a solo 93xx, 94xx PRO or 95xx/96xx Pro+ shaver and it will work with your station.
It will not however work with a 92xx or 90xx station, unfortunately.
Side note: The Series 9/PRO/PRO+ shavers are NOT compatible with the new Nevo cleaning station.
Replacement head
The regular (non-Pro) Series 9 uses the 92s (silver), 92b (black) or 92M (matte silver) cassette.
The Series 9 PRO 94xx and Series 9 PRO+ 95xx come with a newer cassette called 94M (matte silver) or 94s (silver).
Side note: the original 90xx S9 came with the 90s and 90b cassettes that had some reliability issues as per many user reviews. Those cassettes are discontinued.
The 94 cassette only has a slightly tweaked cutter (the gold one, called a ProLift trimmer) which is now even more capable at catching longer, flat-lying hairs.
However, in practice, both the 92 and 94 heads seem just as good at that.
But the 94M, together with the more powerful S9 PRO/S9 PRO+ shaver, gives it that slightly more aggressive profile.
Finally, we have the latest Series 9 PRO+ 96M cassette that you can already buy and use on any Series 9/PRO/PRO+ generation, it will fit perfectly.
Braun 96M replacement head
And as we saw, it will actually shave a bit closer.
The 96M is however only available in Europe at the moment, but should be released in the USA as well in somewhere in 2026.
All S9 cassettes are compatible with all Series 9 generations, including the original ones.
So you can use the 94M/96M cassette on your standard non-Pro shaver, regardless of the generation.
Likewise, you can use a 92 cassette on the Series 9 PRO and PRO+ if you can’t find a 94M/96M or it is too expensive.
Finally, the latest Nevo cassette of the new flagship line will fit on any Series 9/PRO/PRO+.
It is smoother and even more forgiving than the 96M, but I find the closeness similar.
The standard Braun cassette lifespan of 18 months applies here as well.
Key takeaway
The Series 9 and Series 9 PRO/PRO+ are currently the most advanced shavers in Braun’s lineup alongside the new Nevo.
They are particularly impressive at cutting longer stubble (up to 5 days of growth or even more) and are very gentle to the skin, especially the non-Pro models.
The S9 and S9 PRO/PRO+ are objectively Braun’s best current electric razors (together with the Nevo).
They are very effective and catching and cutting hairs in fewer strokes and work particularly well when shaving dry with a pre-shave lotion.
For most users, these will shave faster and more efficiently compared to other less capable Braun models like the Series 7 360 Flex and the ones below.
The closeness is again among the best in Braun’s lineup, especially with the new 96M, although not industry-leading.
Panasonic is in my opinion slightly better in that regard.
Any S9/PRO variation will also work great as a head shaver if you don’t want another separate device like the Philips Head Shaver Pro.
All these don’t come cheap though, and especially the PRO+ models have a hefty price tag.
The cassettes are pricey as well, costing more than those needed for other Braun shaver families.
Braun Nevo
Overview
In June 2026, Braun took everyone by surprise when a brand new shaver quietly went on sale at Boots.
It was called the Nevo and it was, in fact, the long-awaited successor to the Series 9.
One month later, in July 2026, the new flagship was officially released globally.
The Nevo is a 4-blade foil shaver, just like the Series 9, but comes with a premium metal unibody, an improved display, a redesigned cleaning station and, most importantly, a new cassette.
The latter is the most intriguing and most important, as it will directly impact shaving performance.
The rest of the updates and features, while definitely welcome, are just nice extras.
Braun ditched the Series for the new shaver and went with a unique, brandable term, Nevo, to further distance it from the Series 9.
However, some of the design elements, features and functionality of the Nevo would suggest an evolution rather than a revolution.
We have the same flexing shaving head, the same 10 000 oscillations per minute motor, and the same battery.
The metal body is however a substantial upgrade and makes the shaver feel premium and solid, unlike the plasticky Series 9.
So the big question was whether the Nevo actually offered a significant improvement over the Series 9 (PRO/PRO+).
Having tested it for over a month now, I can confidently say that the Nevo has pretty much the same strengths (and weaknesses) as its predecessor.
It’s a remarkably capable and effective shaver, super easy to use, very versatile and offers arguably the most enjoyable shaving experience of any current shaver.
The latter is of course a subjective conclusion.
As for the closeness, in my case it was pretty much on par with the Series 9 PRO+ 96xx or other Series 9 fitted with the 96M cassette.
The comfort of the Nevo is however improved, and that’s thanks to the new Nevo cassette.
It features a so-called AeroTouch coating for improved gliding and comfort and it really does work.
It’s super smooth, gentle, and the shave is just effortless.
However, the cassette would also fit the Series 9 (PRO/PRO+) and basically offer the same benefits.
The new LED display shows more useful info, like battery charge in 10% increments, and the graphics are clearer and more colorful.
It still won’t show the duration of the shave, though, which is a bummer.
The head locking switch is now integrated into the hair trimmer (Panasonic style) and the LCD display essentially becomes a thumb rest.
With the all-metal body, the Nevo is 25 grams heavier than the Series 9 PRO+, but still reasonably lightweight at 230 grams.
Braun went with their proprietary charging port for the Nevo, so we still don’t get USB-C, which is a letdown.
Another downgrade of the Nevo is the lack of a foil release system.
While on the Series 9 we had these handy pair of buttons on the sides of the shaving head, Braun ditched those for the Nevo.
Instead, you remove the cassette simply by pulling it off, which can be fiddly if your hands are wet.
This appears to be a cost-cutting design solution, which doesn’t make a lot of sense considering the price of the Nevo.
A Series 9 PRO/PRO+ with similar accessories costs significantly less.
Model comparison
Currently, the Nevo is available in the USA in 3 variations:
| Model | Kit | Price |
|---|---|---|
Braun Nevo 17610C (grey) | Cleaning station, PowerCase, cleaning brush, cleaning cartridge, charger, extra shaving head, ProCare head attachment | Amazon |
Braun Nevo 17010C (grey) | Cleaning station, PowerCase, cleaning brush, cleaning cartridge, charger | Amazon |
Braun Nevo 11000c (silver) | Cleaning station, textile hard travel case, cleaning brush, cleaning cartridge, charger | Braun |
All models end in c (instead of cc) and include an automatic cleaning station.
As such, we don’t have solo variations for the Nevo.
The performance of all the models is of course, identical, with only the color and included accessories setting them apart.
Speaking of color, we only have two:
- grey
- silver
The new charging case (called PowerCase) has been redesigned for the Nevo to accommodate the new contact plates on the back of the shaver.
For this reason, the old Series 9 PowerCase (and Series 9 cleaning stations) will not work with a Nevo shaver.
We still don’t get a protective foil cover or a bottle of lubricating oil, things that Panasonic does offer even for their low-end shavers.
Cleaning station compatibility
Things are fortunately super simple here.
Since the Nevo is only available with a cleaning station, we don’t have to worry about solo models.
The Nevo cleaning station has been substantially redesigned, but its features and functionality are super similar to the Series 9 station.
Visually, it’s definitely an improvement.
The Nevo station is more compact, it looks better and the contact pins have been improved.
It also got a new name: Nevo Care 7in1 System.
However, it does the exact same things as previous stations: it automatically charges, cleans, dries, and lubricates the shaver.
We even have the same 3 cleaning programs: Short, Normal, Intensive.
There are, however, 2 interesting quirks of the Nevo station worth mentioning.
First, you insert the cleaning cartridge from the front, not from the back like you would with the Series 9 station.
This is a positive change in my opinion.
The second thing is that the Nevo cleaner is only compatible with the new style cartridges (because it is physically smaller).
Therefore, if you have lots of old CCR refills, they will not work.
Also, if you’re a Series 9/PRO/PRO+ owner, your shaver will not be compatible with the Nevo station (and the Nevo shaver won’t work with a Series 9 station).
Replacement head
The Nevo shavers use a new cassette, called the Nevo-b (black) or Nevo-s (silver).
To me, this new foil head feels like an improved 96M, more comfortable and more forgiving (zero snagged hairs).
The foil frame is also rounder and smoother, further improving the gliding.
The Nevo cassette is already available in the USA directly from Braun and also in the UK at Amazon.co.uk.
The price is higher compared to the 96M and especially 94M, but the good news is that those older cassettes would fit the Nevo just fine.
So they are a more affordable alternative, even though they don’t glide as easily and the 94M has a very slight closeness deficit.
Key takeaway
The new Braun Nevo now sits at the very top of Braun’s lineup.
It has a premium build and a premium price tag to match.
The shaving performance is impressive and incredibly smooth and pleasant, though not too far off from a Series 9 PRO+ (96xx).
And considering the latter will also work with the Nevo cassette, the Nevo’s main selling point becomes that unique metal body.
Whether you’re willing to pay more for that over a Series 9 PRO or PRO+ is entirely up to you.
There are some other less important improvements, like the redesigned cleaning station and the better LCD display.
But at least for now, I think the Series 9 PRO+ does offer more bang for the buck, so it will still be my default recommendation for a high-end Braun shaver.
You can check out my Braun Nevo review for more details and an in-depth comparison to the Series 9.
Which Braun shaver should you buy?
Now that we’ve gotten to know every Braun series of razors, it’s time to pick the one that would best fit your needs.
Obviously, your choice will be different from someone else’s.
My goal here is to make it easier for anyone to narrow down the choices to a single option.
I will be presenting what I consider to be the 3 best Braun shavers for certain budgets and requirements (like the frequency of shaving, the coarseness of the hair and so on).
In my opinion, unless you have a very specific need for other models or series, I think these are the ones you should be focusing on.
They offer the best performance for the money, the cost of ownership is usually lower and you’ll have the best chance of buying a Braun shaver that will give you a comfortable, close and enjoyable shave.
So without further ado, here they are.
1. The budget-friendly pick: Braun Series 3 ProSkin
I think it’s no surprise that the best entry-level, reasonably priced Braun shaver is the highly popular Braun Series 3 ProSkin.
In my experience, this is the best option for someone who wants a decent, reliable, and still capable Braun electric razor but doesn’t want to shell out.
As I mentioned a couple of times before, I would often pick the Series 3 ProSkin over several other more expensive or theoretically better models like the Series 5 or the Series 6.
Apart from the reasonable price of the shaver and of the replacement heads, I think the main advantage of the Series 3 ProSkin over other Braun shavers is the ease of use and durability.
The Series 3 has a rather unique implementation of the shaving head with the three cutting elements without a foil frame, resulting in a very slim and nimble shaver.
And even though the head is fixed, the three cutters move independently very smoothly and have a great range of motion, which makes up for the lack of any flexing system.
The Series 3 ProSkin is very comfortable, adequately powerful for someone with medium to slightly coarser facial hair and works decently even on longer, flat-lying hairs.
I would however suggest shaving daily and up to every three days in order to get the best results — that would be my recommendation for most users.
I chose the ProSkin models over the regular Series 3 for the reasons I also outlined above.
Precisely, they come with a better shaving head (gentler and better with flat hairs), a larger battery and a hair trimmer.
Granted, not all Series 3 ProSkin have a hair trimmer, but the 3040s which is also the most popular and widely available model has one.
And the Series 3 ProSkin 3040s would be my recommendation for most users.
It’s a wet/dry model that will only work cordlessly.
If you want cordless & corded operation, you will need to get one of the dry-only models like the 3000s or 3020s.
The 3000s doesn’t have a hair trimmer, but that may be a smaller drawback than not being able to use the razor with the cord plugged in.
Interestingly, there seems to be a 3000s that actually has a trimmer (as per multiple user reports), but you never know which one you’ll be getting as the model name is exactly the same.
The 3020s on the other hand works with the cord plugged in and always has a trimmer. It’s just not as easy to get as the 3040s in most countries.
Choosing between them is totally up to you and what makes more sense for you.
Personally, I never cared for corded use and Braun shavers usually have excellent batteries that are very reliable in time.
I would much rather have the slide-out trimmer as I find it very useful for trimming and shaping my sideburns.
And even though Braun trimmers are not as effective as those on Panasonic shavers, they’re still better than not having one at all.
I wouldn’t really consider a cc Series 3 ProSkin with a cleaning station because those are a lot more expensive than the solo shavers like the 3040s.
All Series 3 ProSkin models are waterproof and very easy to clean manually with tap water and (optionally) some liquid hand soap.
The S3 ProSkin would be a fantastic option for a beginner or a teenage boy as well, mainly thanks to its great ergonomics and slim head.
It’s easy to use, clean and it’s a relatively small investment.
I will mention the Series 5 as an honorable mention in this budget-friendly category.
Some models like the Series 5 50 5018s cost roughly the same as the S3 ProSkin and as I said, they shave pretty much the same.
I still picked the Series 3 ProSkin as the better option since it’s easier to use thanks to the better designed shaving head.
The newer Series 5 51/52 that have a Turbo button are however more powerful than the S3 ProSkin and even though I found the closeness to be the same, they shave faster and are a good alternative if the price is right.
Braun Series 5 5118s [Turbo]
Getting back to the Series 3 ProSkin, the BT models like the 3010BT come with a trimmer attachment and 5 combs if you need to trim and maintain a beard.
As such, you don’t really need to get a Series 5 or a Series 6 to benefit from the trimming accessories.
So who shouldn’t buy the Braun Series 3 ProSkin?
In my opinion there are two main situations when you’d be better off with a more advanced Braun model.
First, if you have very coarse, dense and wiry facial hair, it will take a long time to get a clean and smooth shave with the Series 3 ProSkin.
Things will be even more difficult if you shave less often and the stubble is longer.
I think 3 days between shaves is the maximum this shaver can handle and still provide an effective and enjoyable shave.
Second, and it’s somewhat already implied, if you shave once or twice a week, unless you have light facial hair or it grows back very slowly, the Series 3 will not be ideal.
While it does a better job than other entry-level 3-blade foil shavers, it will struggle to catch longer, flat-lying hairs that grow in multiple directions.
And so will the Series 5, the Series 6 and even the Series 7 360 Flex as all have very similar shaving heads.
The latter is slightly better, but definitely not miles better.
For those situations, and also if you just want a more powerful shaver that’s more effective, especially with difficult hair and you have the budget for it, check out the next option.
2. The middle ground pick: Braun Series 8
In the past, the winner of this category would have been the legendary Series 7, no contest.
Since we can’t get it anymore, I had to go with the next best option — the Braun Series 8.
As we now know, a higher series number doesn’t always imply better performance.
We chose the Series 3 ProSkin over the Series 5 for example.
It’s the case here as well, with the discontinued Series 7 being slightly better than the Series 8.
However, the differences are rather minor and the quality of the shave and the end result will be very similar.
The Series 8, with an almost identical shaving head as the old S7, is a capable, comfortable and easy-to-use 3-blade shaver that will be a safe choice for most users, provided you have the budget for it.
It’s not exactly a low-priced shaver, costing significantly more than a Series 3 ProSkin, but it still undercuts a Series 9 (PRO/PRO+) by a lot.
And in many cases, you will be getting diminishing returns with those, so if you want the better performance for the money, I think the Series 8 is the one to get.
There are many available S8 models, but what you need to know is that they all shave the same.
You should get the one with the lowest price provided it comes with the options that you want.
For example, you may want the cleaning station or maybe a certain color.
Speaking of the station, the 84, 85 and 86 Series 8 models (like the 8457cc or 8567cc) come with a better station, with 3 cleaning modes and an active drying system, so those are the ones I would recommend.
The original 83 models have a basic station and are also getting difficult to find nowadays (currently being phased out).
All of them however use the same shaving head, so you won’t have any issues in the future even if you buy the 83 Series 8 (like the 8330s for example).
The Series 8 can handle longer facial hair remarkably well for a 3-blade foil shaver.
It even manages to capture flat hairs that go in different directions quite efficiently, although it is not as good as the Series 9 in that regard.
You will need more strokes and changes of direction for a perfectly smooth finish.
I think it can be used successfully on a 4-day beard. Shaving more often will of course be a non-issue with the Series 8.
Because the shaving head is as slim as the one on the Series 3, but also has a simple and effective back-to-front flexing, the S8 is effortless to use and even beginners will have no problems shaving with it.
It has a powerful motor, so it can shave a coarse beard as well.
The integrated slide-out trimmer is very similar to the one on the Series 3 and Series 9, so it’s handy for some light grooming and touchups.
I would personally get a cc Series 8 like the 8457cc or 8567cc.
These are usually available at a fair price and you get a lot for the money: a highly capable, but easy-to-use foil shaver and a cleaning station from the more expensive Series 9.
The newest 86 generation doesn’t come with any actual improvements and considering the current prices, the 84xx and 85xx are the best picks.
If you don’t want to bother with the cleaning station that’s fine as well and you can save some money on a solo Series 8.
You will be able to buy and use a station later on should you choose to.
Just make sure you’re getting the right station model (you will find the exact part number in the Series 8 section of this guide).
I think the Series 8 really is the best mid-range Braun shaver if we consider its performance and price.
The alternative — the new and more popular Series 7 (360 Flex) — is in my opinion an inferior shaver in every aspect.
The Series 8 is more comfortable, better with flat-lying hairs, comes with a better cleaning station (especially the 84, 85 and 86 models), has a better shaving head and doesn’t cost a lot more.
Objectively (and subjectively), the Braun Series 8 is the better option.
The only advantage of the S7 360 Flex is the suite of trimming accessories, but for many of us, those wouldn’t matter much or at all.
With the Series 8 you’re getting most of the benefits of Braun’s high-end shavers but still at a relatively decent price.
If however you want the top-tier shaver and you’re willing to spend more on it, then you should consider the Series 9 or 9 PRO/PRO+.
Those will also allow most users to shave up to once a week, something the Series 8 can’t really do unless your beard grows at a slow pace.
So let’s check them out.
3. The high-end pick: Braun Series 9/9 PRO/9 PRO+
Price and value for money aside, the Series 9 and Nevo are currently Braun’s best shavers.
These are the most capable and powerful and they can effortlessly deal with pretty much any type of facial hair.
But for the reasons outlined above, I think the Series 9 (and PRO/PRO+) will be the best pick for most users.
The non-PRO Series 9 models (93xx) are extremely similar performance-wise to the newer PRO (94xx) and PRO+ (95xx, 96xx), hence we can easily put them all in the high-end category.
To me, the regular Series 9 is a bit gentler, while the PRO/PRO+ Series 9 feels slightly more powerful.
The differences are subtle and I think either will be a good choice for most users.
In fact, I’d say that price should be the main decisive factor when choosing between them.
Precisely, if you can buy a Series 9 PRO/PRO+ for roughly the same price as a similarly-specced Series 9, then you might as well go for it.
Braun Series 9 PRO+ 95xx
For example, if you have to choose between two models that come with a cleaning station (like the 9370cc and the 9477cc Pro) and they cost the same, get the Pro.
Otherwise, I don’t think it’s worth paying a lot more for a Pro Series 9.
The PRO+ 95xx is usually more expensive than the PRO 94xx and since they both shave the same, getting the 94xx would make more sense.
Again, I think the price should be the only thing that matters when choosing between them.
The newest PRO+, the 96xx, is now readily available but it costs more than the previous 94xx and 95xx.
It does shave a bit closer, but then again you can simply buy just the 96M (or even the Nevo) replacement head and basically turn your 94xx or 95xx into a 96xx.
The Series 9 and 9 PRO/PRO+ are highly effective shavers and they will work great on both short and long stubble.
Braun says the S9 can easily deal with a 5-day beard, while the PRO/PRO+ with the tweaked cassettes can even shave a one-week beard.
I find all equally good in that regard, although shaving a one-week beard would be really on the limit.
The S9 and S9 PRO/PRO+ are arguably the most capable foil shavers in that regard.
They only have one extra shaving element compared to the Series 8, but it really helps in such cases.
I think it’s among the most effective shavers I’ve used for flat-neck hairs, even better than the old Series 7.
It’s also a very comfortable, fast and enjoyable shaver.
It does have a larger head than the 3-blade Braun razors, but still quite manageable.
The closeness is also better compared to the lower series, but not a massive difference from a Series 8 for example.
For me, the closeness is easily good enough and along with the comfort and the effectiveness on difficult hairs makes the Series 9 one of my favorite shavers.
I usually shave dry with it (as I do with all my Braun shavers) as I don’t feel the extra work needed for a wet shave is worth the effort.
With other shavers (like the Arc series from Panasonic) the improvements are more significant.
You should buy a Series 9 or 9 PRO/PRO+ if you shave less often, and have coarse/wiry/flat-lying hairs or sensitive skin.
It will of course work perfectly fine on short stubble, but so will Series 8 which costs less.
However, there’s nothing wrong with getting a faster and more powerful shaver if you have the budget for it.
Personally, I would actually get a cc Series 9 or 9 PRO/PRO+.
I find the station very practical even if I don’t use it after every shave.
This way, I don’t have to replace or refill the cartridge for a few months.
But nevertheless, station or no station is ultimately a personal decision.
You can clean any shaver manually, I just feel that in this case it adds to the whole experience.
It’s a useful accessory that will only slightly increase your cost of ownership (provided you follow these simple tips and you use a third-party solution).
As of 2026, the 93xx Series 9 are getting more difficult to find, while the PRO and PRO+ variations are always available, sometimes with a big discount.
For the Pro models, the 9477cc and 9465cc usually have the best price, but you should nevertheless get the one with the lowest price you can find in your country.
The 9567cc/9597cc is usually the PRO+ to get in the USA, while in Europe there are many variations available with various accessories.
Again, since the 95xx PRO+ only brings an improved hair trimmer over the S9 PRO 94xx, you should buy one only if it costs roughly the same as a similar S9 PRO model.
The 96xx PRO+ is finally a good option in 2026 as the prices have gone down and can often cost the same as a 95xx.
The 96xx is objectively the best Series 9, although most of the improvements come from the new 96M head.
Should you get a Braun shaver with or without a cleaning station?
This is one of the questions I get quite often when it comes to buying a Braun electric razor.
And because the usefulness of a cleaning station is relative, I will share my personal take on this.
I consider Braun cleaning stations convenient and practical even though technically they aren’t the best.
For example, Panasonic stations can also just dry the shaving head (without cleaning the shaver prior to that), they use both a fan and a heating element, they’re sturdier and better looking.
However, they’re not as practical and there are very few third-party alternatives for the cleaning solution.
With Braun stations, I can simply remove the cartridge, put the cap back and store it until the next use.
I can’t do that with a Panasonic station. For me, that’s a deal-breaker.
Moreover, because Braun uses an alcohol solution, the risk of bacteria growth inside the cartridge is greatly reduced.
These are some of the reasons why I actually like and use Braun stations regularly.
That said, I would only buy a Series 8 and Series 9/9 PRO/9 PRO+/Nevo with a cleaning station.
For the other series, meaning from the Series 3 to the Series 7, I would get a solo model instead.
And that’s because the cc models can cost quite a bit more and those series are also supposed to be more budget-friendly.
In most cases, a station purchased later on will work fine (you can refer to each series above to see if or which station will be compatible).
You may be able to get the station through eBay for example at a great price and pay a total price that is less than the cc variation of that shaver.
But buying a Series 3 ProSkin cc model for the price of a solo Series 8 for example just doesn’t make sense to me.
I would have also recommended a cc model in the case of the old and discontinued Series 5 and Series 7, but unfortunately those aren’t available anymore.
For the new Series 5, Series 6 and Series 7 360 Flex, I recommend sticking to a more budget-friendly solo shaver (unless you find a great deal for a cc model).
If you decide to get a Braun shaver with a cleaning center, you should consider using an economical cleaning solution like the ones from CCRRefills.com or Essential Values.
I wrote a comprehensive guide about the various options if you want to check it out.
I’ve been using these for years and never had any issues with my Braun stations.
Another important aspect regarding the Braun cleaners is the cross-compatibility between the different series.
Some stations are and some aren’t compatible with shavers from a different series.
We have the unique case of the current Series 5, Series 6 and Series 7 (360 Flex) that share the exact same model of the cleaning station.
We also have the Braun Series 8 84xx, 85xx and 86xx models that use the same station as the Series 9 93xx–96xx.
But other than these two situations, a Braun station belonging to a certain series will not work with a shaver from a different series.
For example, a Series 7 shaver will NOT work with a Series 9 station, a Series 3 station will not work with a Series 5 shaver and so on.
In most cases, the shaver will not even physically fit and connect to the station.
So make sure you take this into account before buying a station or a specific shaver from a different series — there’s a high probability it won’t work.
You can refer to each of the series overviews above for detailed info on the cleaning stations.
Cleaning and maintenance: How to take care of your Braun shaver
As with any electric razor, proper use and maintenance will ensure many years of service from your Braun (although rare, unlucky failures do happen regardless).
This comes down to getting the basics right — nothing fancy, complicated or time-consuming.
Here are my top 5 tips for taking care of your Braun shaver.
1. Clean it after every shave.
I think this is the single most important thing you can do.
Be it manually or via the cleaning center, regularly cleaning the razor will prevent dirt and grime from accumulating inside the cassette and the shaver will run at its full capacity.
It only takes seconds to wash it with tap water or every once in a while using some liquid soap.
You can also refer to my guide on how to clean an electric shaver quickly and effectively.
Bonus tip: after cleaning your shaver with water, remove the cassette and let it air dry completely before putting it back on the shaver.
Also, if it has a protective cap, try to only use it while traveling or when there’s a real risk of damaging the foils.
Otherwise, it will prevent the moisture from evaporating and the cassette will get a funky odor.
2. Lubricate the blades.
This is necessary only if you don’t use a cleaning station regularly.
Once a week, apply a drop or two of clipper oil on the outside of each foil, then turn the shaver on for a few seconds.
Gently wipe any excess oil with a paper tissue and you’re all set.
I usually do this right before I shave, but it doesn’t really matter as long as you do it.
Just make sure the blades are clean and dry before applying the lubricant.
In my guide on how to lubricate an electric shaver you’ll also find a few recommendations for clipper oils and lubricating sprays.
3. Don’t store the shaver in a very hot environment or in direct sunlight.
Failing to do so will negatively affect the battery life.
Heat is the number one enemy of rechargeable batteries, so make sure you don’t leave the shaver in your car’s glovebox for example.
4. Only buy genuine Braun replacement heads
I know it may be tempting to buy an inexpensive, compatible part, but trust me, it’s not worth it.
Those heads have really poor performance and the blades will get blunt after only a few shaves.
Always get genuine Braun parts from a reputable vendor.
5. Change the shaving head when it can’t provide a good shave anymore
With most Braun electric razors you are supposed to replace the head every 18 months.
Some will even show a notification on the shaver’s display to remind you that it’s time for a new one.
However, you may not need to change it if it still cuts the hair reasonably well.
On the other hand, if you shave often and have really dense and coarse hair, the blades of your Braun shaver can wear out faster.
Also, make sure to change it immediately if you ever notice any signs of the foil rupturing, as that can cause serious injury.
When shouldn’t you buy a Braun shaver?
Despite not being perfect in every situation and some series offering better performance and value than others, Braun electric shavers are still among the best out there.
I think they’re suitable for a variety of use cases and most of us can choose one that suits our needs and budget.
The foil razors made by Braun are generally very comfortable and gentle, being my default recommendation for users with sensitive skin.
The longer and flat-lying hairs, even those growing in different directions, are captured quite effectively.
And that’s something most other foil shavers struggle with.
So you don’t necessarily have to shave daily in order to get the best results, especially with the more advanced models like the old Series 7, the Series 8 and the Series 9.
There are a couple of scenarios where a Braun shaver is probably not the ideal choice.
Things can however be different for different people, so please use these only as general guidelines.
I rely on my own experience and on the countless interactions I’ve had over the past 13 years with different Braun users.
If you want the closest possible shave with an electric razor, Braun shavers are probably not the best option.
The flagship models from the Series 9 PRO/PRO+ will shave close enough, but if you’re very demanding in that regard, there are other foil shavers out there that will provide a closer shave.
In the next section I will share my picks.
Secondly, while most Braun shavers are wet/dry models and can be used with shaving cream, the performance gains proved to be underwhelming in my case and also for other users.
I think shaving dry with a Braun shaver, ideally with a pre-shave lotion, will be the best option for most users in terms of closeness, comfort, practicality and how long it takes to complete the shave.
You can wet shave with an electric razor and get fantastic results. The closeness can even match that of a razor blade.
However, I don’t think you’ll get that with a Braun shaver.
So let’s check out the alternatives.
What should you get instead?
You’ve probably guessed it by now, but in order to have a better chance at addressing the two aforementioned weaknesses, we shouldn’t overlook Braun’s main competitor in the foil camp, Panasonic.
Their shavers have some specific pros (but also cons) when compared to Braun shavers.
One of the main pros is the closeness of the shave.
Most Panasonic shavers manage to cut the hair closer to the skin, particularly the range-topping Arc 5 PRO and Arc 6 series.
Those shavers are extremely powerful and have a cutting system that allows them to provide a really close shave.
How? By using arched foils, blades with a very aggressive bevel and the fastest motors on any shaver.
They do have some serious drawbacks as well though.
Panasonic razors are effective when used on short stubble and struggle with catching longer and flat-lying hairs, so you should definitely keep that in mind if you shave only once or twice a week.
They’re also a bit more aggressive, especially if you shave dry and have sensitive skin.
The replacement foil and blades are usually the most expensive of all brands.
But if those things don’t matter and you just want the closer shave, I think you’ll have a much better chance with a Panasonic shaver.
My picks would be the Arc 5 models from the older generation, with models like the ES-LV65 and ES-LV67 which can be bought at a reasonable price and shave just as close as the newer and more expensive models.
The latest Arc 6 is arguably the closest-shaving flagship electric razor you can currently buy.
Other less advanced models also have the same closeness advantage compared to similarly priced Braun models.
Unfortunately, prices have spiked for many of the Arc 3 and Arc 4 Panasonic models.
The replacement foils and blades also cost more, so if you’re on a tighter budget, a Braun razor is usually a more economical option.
Finally, if you’re a fan of wet shaving for the added comfort and closeness, Panasonic is really in a league of its own in that regard.
The wet shaving performance is stellar regardless of model, so I definitely recommend a Panasonic shaver over any Braun if you plan on using shaving cream or gel.
Conclusion
Hopefully you now have a better understanding of all the different Braun shaver models and series.
And more importantly, you also know if and which Braun razor will best cater to your needs and budget.
I tried my best to offer practical advice from the perspective of the user — someone who actually buys, owns and uses these shavers regularly.
Some things will be different for you and edge cases do exist, but I think most users should find this buying guide useful in choosing a suitable Braun shaver.
If you have any questions that weren’t addressed in the article or you’d just like to share your experience, make sure to leave a comment below.
Great blog. Thank you. I’m a Braun S9 user. I like the idea of that charging case. But, I decided to simply buy an extra charging cord, which I keep in my travel toiletries bag all the time. I’ve been replacing the cassettes every 12 months, whether it needed to or not. I don’t want to mix my own fluid for the charger/cleaner so I have been buying a generic I found on Amazon. I think the S9 charger/cleaner evaporates the fluid faster than my S7(?), which had the fan dryer. But buying the generics made it okay for the price.
Thanks so much for the comment.
If the cartridge contains the exact same solution it shouldn’t evaporate faster in the S9 cleaner. But the different brands of cleaning solutions, including the OEM refills, do have different alcohol concentrations and that will affect how fast it evaporates.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you for such a comprehensive explanation!
You are very welcome, glad you found it helpful.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
Thanks for your interesting newsletter update on Braun Shavers. I have the Series 3 shaver, which had the standard head, and after 18 months I swapped it for the upgraded head version. In fact I use two shavers. The Series 3 does a good job, but not close enough, so I finish up using my Philips rotary which seems to take more hair away. Keep up the good work!
Regards, Peter
Hi Peter,
Thank you so much for the comment, glad you found the info useful. It’s good to have two shavers that complement each other, especially if that also allows you to get a better shave.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Wow, that’s a huge amount of research! Thank you for that.
Thank you for the kind comment, Julian, much appreciated. It did involve a lot of work, but I enjoyed it thoroughly. I will be posting similar guides for the other poplar shaver brands.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
great review as always Ovidiu. I own both braun 9 series and panasonic arc6 and can confirm that they are both very good razors. However, since I bought the new philips 9000 series with dual steel precision heads, I’ve only used this one, because it allows me to get a much better dry shave.
Best wishes
Thank you so much, Giuseppe, I really appreciate it. You basically own the current flagship models from the big three brands, so enjoy using them. :-)
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu, This a superb review, interesting and informative!! I was in a dilemma late last year as I had had a bad experience with a Braun S7 many years agao and prior to that and since have always had the Panasonics. Late last year I wasn’t too happy with the panasonic and was going to try the Arc6, however, following your research in the past I decided to try the Braun 9 Pro.
I’m glad I did!! I find it faster than the panasonic, also it’s less aggressive on the skin, I have always suffered with white spots under the skin, however the Braun seems to not give this problem any longer, its a god send, maybe it was the vibration off the Panasonic, who knows?
Yes I would agree that the Arc gets closer, but only ever so slightly, so much so its negligible.
When comparing the two, the 9 Pro ticks every box, for me at least anyway.
In an earlier post you addressed the question of the gold cutter and it’s position as it can go towards the front or back, I’m sure as you say it doesn’t make much if any difference, but I would say in my tests towards the front is best, don’t know why lol!!
You have helped me make the right choice for me and thank you for that!
Hi Mark,
Thank you so much for the kind words, I’m truly glad it has helped you choose a suitable shaver.
The white spots/pseudofolliculitis are a lot less likely to occur with the S9/S9 Pro than with a more aggressive Panasonic shaver. The cassette orientation seems to make a difference in some cases and it’s likely a result of a certain combination of facial hair/skin characteristics and technique. But definitely use it in the way that allows you to get a better shave.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I don’t know Braun shavers at all (except for what I’ve read here), but I’ve used a Panasonic ARC 5 shaver for several years. One advantage/disadvantage not really addressed is that the Panasonic is trivial to clean. After each shave, I run the shaver under running water, pop off the foil and hold it under running water, and then run the foil-less running shaver (with the blades exposed) under running water. A total of maybe 15 seconds. If the “cleaning” logo is displayed, I do the special internal cleaning mode, but in my years of using the ARC5, I think I’ve gotten that logo displayed a total of 3 times. I’ve never used a cleaning solution.
Compare this with Braun shavers, where the foil and blades are in a single cassette. My understanding is that merely cleaning under running water is not sufficient. One really needs to do more “formal” cleaning frequently. To me, that is a major pain. Even using a cleaning station with the need for cleaning solution seems like a major pain. I see this as a major disadvantage for the Braun shavers. But maybe I’m incorrect in my understanding of the cleaning requirements for Braun.
Hi William,
Thank you so much for the comment.
That’s a really excellent point on Braun vs Panasonic. And my stance used to be identical to yours. However, after many years of owning and using multiple shavers from Braun and Panasonic, I’ve come to realize that the problem of manually cleaning a Braun shaver isn’t as serious as I used to think. I will have to admit that a manual cleaning similar to the one you’ve described must be performed after every shave, otherwise you may run into some issues in the long run.
And speaking of Braun cassettes, they’re really not much worse compared to Panasonic. For example, a Series 9 has 4 integrated cutters, while an Arc 5 has 3 — just one less. The Braun Series 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8 also have 3. On the other hand, the Panasonic Arc 6 has all 6 of them integrated into a Braun-style cassette. I still think Panasonic shavers are easier to clean manually overall, but a Braun shaver without a cleaning station is not by any means impossible to clean effectively and quickly.
Thank you again for taking the time to share this, much appreciated.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu
Great newsletter. I was thinking about switching back to the Braun b/c of the cleaning station. I can’t fully take apart the prestige. The problem with the Braun is it has always struggled with my neck hair, no matter what I do.
The main problem is the Braun Cleaning station dimensions. The width is listed about 5 inches and the area around my sink is 4 inches wide, so the station really does not fit very well
The Prestige gives a really close shave, including my neck. I use the wireless charging version and the pad fits on my sink with room to spare. The best that I can do is rinse it under water each time after shaving. Should I just keep with the Prestige?
Jay
Hi Jay,
Thanks so much, I really appreciate it.
In my opinion you should definitely keep the Prestige, I know about the cleaning issue and I think you should just try to clean it the best you can after each shave and should all be good. The Braun station and the limited counter space are in my opinion just one part of the problem, the other one being that a rotary like the Prestige just seems to work better for you than a foil shaver.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Dear Ovidiu,
Thank you for your “Braun Electric Shavers: Comparison & Buyer’s Guide (2023).” Your attention to detail is admirable, and the clarity of your writing style is excellent. I’m sure that you put many hours into this fine report.
I’m getting up in years, and I’ve been shaving for a long time. I began with a Gillette safety razor in the 1950s. Then I wore a full beard for over 10 years. After I shaved my beard, I used a Norelco electric shaver, but I also used a disposable razor for trimming. I did that for many years.
Here’s what I’ve been using for the last number of years: I like to shave every day. I buzz my face lightly with a Braun shaver (I still have my 7-year-old Braun Series 7) and then I go back over my face lightly with either a Gillette SkinGuard or a Gillette Mach3. Instead of using shaving cream or canned gel, I use plain old Dove or Ivory soap. (I don’t like the scents of many shaving products!) As an after-shave product, I used Witch Hazel and fragrance-free Vitamin-E cream. I know that you’re not supposed to use an electric shaver and a blade together, but this routine has always worked for me.
I have your website bookmarked on my list of Favorites. Keep up the good work.
By the way, I do subscribe to your newsletter.
Best wishes,
Dean
January 19, 2023
Dean,
Thank you so much for the kind comment and for taking the time to share your experience — I appreciate it greatly.
Whatever setup and routine you have that’s working — absolutely nothing wrong with it. Some of us are more susceptible to skin issues when alternating electric shavers and manual razors, but that’s definitely not set in stone. I tend to recommend what would be a safe approach, but everyone’s mileage will vary.
Thank you again for your support.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
Great review. Still a happy customer (9 Pro) after reading your last comments. Moved from Philips.
Hi William,
Thank you for the comment, much appreciated.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello Ovidiu,
Thank you for this excellent review. Since 2018, I have been using an old Series 5 (5090cc). I am very happy with it. Do you think we will be faced with a short supply of shaving head replacements, given the discontinuation of this model? Should I buy more than one, the next time I switch the old head out?
Thanks once again for this most comprehensive article.
respectfully,
Ben
Hi Ben,
Thank you so much for the comment, much appreciated. Considering that there are still foils and blades available from the Series 5 generation that precedes your shaver (that set is called 51s and the blades are separate from the foil block), I’d say there’s no real reason for concern, at least not for the moment. Just to be sure, you can purchase two cassettes, but I wouldn’t get more than that.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Great article Ovidiu! Thanks to your advice I purchased the 3 series last Spring and it has been great. Thank you though for the reminder to use it frequently for best results. I had been lazy over the holiday, not shaving every day, and wondered why my skin was complaining!
Best,
Phil
Thank you so much for the comment, Phil, glad you found the info useful. Enjoy your Series 3!
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I’ve been looking to switch from a regular blade razor to an electric razor due to being on a blood thinner now. Cutting myself while on a blood thinner is a pain. So I decided to go back to an electric razor. I had an old rotary type Panasonic razor 30 years ago. It use to burn my face a lot. So I switched to blades. Of course now I’m back to an electric razor and I don’t want to that burning sensation. I read your article on the Braun Series 9 razors. I decided to go with the Pro razor. I’m excited to try this beast. Thanks for the informative article.
Hi Walter,
Thanks so much for taking the time to share this. Hope you’ll enjoy the S9 Pro, it should be a massive upgrade from your previous shavers.
All the best,
Ovidiu
Braun’s naming conventions are so obtuse. Very frustrating. I’ve tried in the past multiple times to figure out which one to buy, but I have always given up out of boredom. $300 or more is too much money to spend whimsically, yet perusing the minute differences between models is too tedious to keep me invested.
Your article cut right through that. I actually really appreciate the simplicity of your presentation. In fact, I’m very grateful to have read this because I think you actually convinced NOT to buy a Braun now that I finally understand the differences between their models. Shaving in the shower is a big deal for me, so if Panasonic is significantly better in that condition, then I guess I should be looking at Panasonic.
Great review, much appreciated.
Thank you for the comment, Evan, much appreciated.
Having used many Braun and Panasonic shavers, I feel like the former is ideal for shaving dry since a wet shave won’t really bring significant improvements to the shave (the comfort is already great and the closeness remains good, but not class-leading). Panasonic on the other hand shaves even closer during a wet shave and especially the older generation models like the ES-LV65/ES-LA63AA even become more comfortable.
Both make really good shavers that excel at different things.
Hope this will help you with your decision.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I have an old Braun 89** series razor that I have used for years and years. The battery is now almost dead and I need to replace it. I shave my neck and upper cheeks once, maybe twice a week, but my hair growth is fairly dense. What one of the new models would you recommend? Love your reviews of the razors!!
Thanks so much for the comment, Don.
Normally I would simply suggest the Series 3 ProSkin since you’ll only be using it for the neck and top part of the cheeks. But since you don’t shave as often and your beard is heavy, a Series 8 will probably be more suitable and allow you to shave faster and with less work. It is however considerably more expensive than something like the Series 3 ProSkin 3040s. My advice would be to wait a bit and maybe grab a Series 8 at a discount or if you want the most cost-effective, but still decent shaver, just get the aforementioned S3 ProSkin.
I think your choice should be between these two considering your needs, the costs, and the actual performance of all the current Braun models.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Absolutely great and insightful review! Congratulations. One question: Happy user of S3 3040S. Do you think that switch to S9 Pro would make any difference in deeper shaving? Please note that I always shave after 2-3 days at max. Thanks.
Thanks so much, Thanos, glad you found the post useful.
The S9 Pro is superior to the 3040s in all regards, but the main benefits of upgrading to it will relate to the time it takes you to complete a shave and the less work required in order to get a smooth shave. I would also argue that it’s a more enjoyable experience especially if your beard is on the coarse side and shave less often. But I wouldn’t say the closeness will be a massive improvement. In my opinion spending that much money on an S9 Pro is probably not justified in this case since you are happy with your S3 which is significantly cheaper (to buy and to own).
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Costco has the following, Braun Series 9 Sport Shaver with Clean and Charge System for $149.99. It seems like a no brainer unless there is something wrong with this model.
Nothing wrong with at all. It’s probably the 9310cc model, 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.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello Ovidiu,
I need your help. I have a cleaning station and I don’t know for what series I can use it. It is model 5425 CS S-9 A H.
I think it is for Series 9. But I’m not so sure. Can you recommend me which shaver I could buy? Probably it is older model, I can find it used on marketplace. I need to buy only shaver and charging cable I have all the other accessories and parts.
Hi,
Unfortunately it is indeed an older Series 9 station (originally shipped with a 92xx model), which means it will not work with a Series 9 shaver bought separately. But even if it did, you probably couldn’t find one anymore as the 92xx generation has been discontinued for quite some time.
It will only work with a 92xx cc shaver like the 9290cc which already comes with a station. A solo model sold separately (without a station) will not work with yours,
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi, my experience is that this station also works with series 90XX. Richard
Hi Richard,
You are correct, I only mentioned the 92xx because those were the only ones still available when I posted the reply, with the 90xx being long discontinued. Nowadays the 92xx are pretty much gone as well.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi
huge thanks for this comprehensive article !
i have one quick question for advice: for someone with a inconsistent shaving habit (i.e. not shaving for a few days), which model would you recommend ?
because until now i am or using a “trimmer” (because i have some cheap philips shaver that is a pain to shave few days hair) or trimmer then the shaver… in other words is there a “magic” model that could help me shave each every couples of days and that can handle longer hair (i think my hair are rather coarse and my skin, especially on neck, is rather sensitive because when i tried back in the days to shave with a non electric gillette i always bleed) ?
many thanks in advance !
kind regards
CG
Hi,
I would consider a Series 9 or Series 9 Pro, whichever you can get for less money. It should be just the right shaver for what you need.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
Thanks for building this website/blog with passion! Appreciate your effort!
I am currently considering among S8/S9/S9pro (cc version). Their price difference in my region is really small, and I don’t mind overkilling. My question is, I have a rather small and slim face, and I shave every or every other day. Do you think S9/S9pro will be “too big” to shave well on small faces, or it will actually be more versatile and forgiving? I really have no technical knowledge on this.
Much thanks!
OY
Hi OY,
Thanks so much for the kind comment, glad you found the site useful.
Normally I would have recommended the S8 since the price is usually a lot lower. But in this case, you might as well treat yourself to a Series 9 or 9 Pro. It feels more refined and it is gentler and more enjoyable to use compared to the S8.
The shaving head of the Series 9 is larger, but still manageable and I think the pros overcome the cons.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
I am currently using Braun waterflex shaver, how do you rate this shaver?
I am actually consider whether i should purchase a new braun shaver (either series 3, 5 or 6). But i am wondering if it is worth the switch.
Hi,
I would place it somewhere between a Series 3 and an old Series 5 (it even uses the same 51b foil and cutters of that Series 5). I think a Series 8 would be a decent upgrade, but you should also take into account how satisfied you are with the Waterflex. If you’re happy with the shave and there’s nothing wrong with your unit (like poor battery), I would hold on to it for the time being. Getting a Series 3, 5 or 6 (the new generations) probably won’t feel like a major upgrade.
The Series 8 and 9 are better but those are worth getting if you’re not satisfied with the performance of the Waterflex.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Again, thanks for your approachable & informative writing. I’d like to pick up on this point, as I also have an old Braun WaterFlex. Are the foil & cutters really similar to those of the old Series 5? They look very different. In fact, the WaterFlex cutters seem identical to those of the Syncro, and the foil is the same shape but with a different hole pattern. They fit on just fine. Are you sure the (old) Series 5 parts will also fit on the (even older) WaterFlex …and on the (older still) Syncro? If so, I’ll have to try that!
Hi Barry,
Thanks so much, glad the info was useful.
I think my wording in that comment wasn’t the most precise. By old Series 5 I meant the generation that was available even before the one I refer to in the post above as Braun Series 5 (discontinued). That even older Series 5 the comment above uses the 51 foil&blades set, same as the WaterFlex (which is a special type of that old Series 5). The next Series 5 generation — again the one I refer to as Braun Series 5 (discontinued)) uses the 52 cassette which is indeed totally different and the blades are integrated into the foil assembly (cassette).
Here is a screenshot from Braun’s UK site that hopefully makes everything clearer. The first one is the old Series 5 (discontinued), the next is the even older Series 5 (discontinued for a longer time) and the last is the WaterFlex, a sub-type of the Series 5 on its left.
Hope this makes sense. I didn’t want to include that even older Series 5 in the comparison as it just would’ve gotten way too large.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
i love your reviews and articles! i had bin using the philips series 5000 to shave my face and head. after i broke it by accident, because of your reviews i ordered the braun series 7 (new 360). and i was much happier whit it than my Phillips. but i realized too late your reviews talked about the old series 7. im very much considering buying a series 9(i have alot of annoying hairs on my neck the 7 doesn’t always pick up), but i found an old wet and dry series 7 whit cleaning station on a second hand website for only 60 euro! whats your opinion on buying electric razors second hand? should i go for it, or avoid it and just save up for a series9? thank you in advance! -s
Hi,
Thanks so much for the comment.
The old Series 7 was indeed a better shaver in every way. Many users seem to feel the same having used both.
One of the shortcomings of the newer model is that it doesn’t seem to be as effective anymore when catching difficult hairs. So an old S7 or the S9 should be an improvement in that regard.
As for buying pre-owned shavers, that does come with a risk. There’s the shaver and how it’s been used, stored and cared of and then the hygiene aspect. It may need a new cassette as well. I personally don’t buy second hand razors but I would only get one from a reputable vendor if I’m convinced the shaver is still in mint condition. If you have any doubts, it would probably best to save for the S9 and maybe wait for a great deal on one if you’re not in a hurry.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
How does the Braun Series 9 or Series 9 Pro, when shaving wet, compare with shaving with a blade (e.g., Gillette Fusion 5)?
The result will be slightly different for different users, but I’d say the S9 and S9 Pro (used wet) will be similar to a one pass (with or across the grain) using a Gillette cartridge razor. If one can tolerate a bit more pressure and more passes, the closeness can be even better.
If you plan on using the shaver wet most of the time, I think a Panasonic Arc 5 or Arc 6 would be a better option. In most cases the closeness when shaving wet will be better compared to S9/S9 Pro.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Ovidiu,
First thank you for the time and effort you put into this!
I’ve not used an electric for 35 years but with the cost of manual blades and me getting older has me looking for something in the electric shaver area. My problem is that I have NO space for the cleaners so the newer models won’t work. And not sure I want to mess with the cleaning solution. I think reading your reviews I’m looking at a Braun but I would love your comments of which ones would fit my needs. I usually shave every other day (some weeks every 3 days). The Braun 5 series looks good but I would love your thoughts of others as well.
Thanks in advance,
Randy
Hi Randy,
Thanks so much for the comment.
You can of course buy a Braun shaver without a cleaning station — the station is entirely optional. I usually recommend it for the higher-end models like the Series 8 and Series 9/Series 9 Pro, but only because those don’t cost a lot more than the solo models and the station can be very practical. But if you think it would just get in the way, there’s nothing wrong with buying a shaver without one.
The Series 5 (the current model aka Series 5 50 as I refer to it in the article) is a decent shaver for the money, but it’s not nearly as good as the old, discontinued Series 5 generation. For that reason I usually recommend a Series 3 ProSkin like the 3040s instead because it’s easier to use (less bulky shaving head) and has an integrated trimmer which I find more practical. So the Series 3 ProSkin 3040s would be my budget-friendly recommendation. It will work perfectly fine shaving every other day and unless you have very coarse/difficult facial hair, it should be good enough.
The upgraded option would be the Series 8, something like the 8417s (no cleaning station) or basically any other S8 model ending in s — whichever you can find at a better price. The Series 8 is more powerful and capable, so it will shave faster and with less work required.
I would also recommend a good pre-shave lotion like Speick, I think it would be beneficial since you haven’t used an electric shaver in a long time. It just makes shaving easier and more enjoyable.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Got a question here too. I’d like a reliable trimmer/clipper that works corded or cordless, with worldwide voltage. I have an extra Braun Series 3 3000 that I haven’t even unboxed yet, One option would be to get the 32BT attachment. It would meet my requirements. But how good is that trimmer? Integrated Braun trimmers are not great. I wonder whether this one is much better, even suitable for haircuts, or would I do better just to get a dedicated trimmer/clipper?
Hi Barry,
That set of trimmer head + combs for the Series 3 is clearly more capable than an integrated (slide-out) trimmer. But I would still not recommend it for cutting your hair regularly. Even an inexpensive hair clipper will be a lot more capable and enjoyable to use. I would mainly use the Series 3 + attachment for occasional (light) trims. It was intended more as a beard trimmer anyway and it’s just not as good as a clipper.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
I happened to see some Series 7 7865 on sale in a shop, and found your site while doing research. Wow! You are so passionate and knowledgeable about shavers. Please keep it up.
I’ve been using the S3 3030 for over 5 years and it’s still going strong. Based on your article, I am quite tempted to get the older S7 as an upgrade, but am afraid I can no longer get the discontinued foils…first world problem.
Hi Jase,
Thanks so much for kind words — glad you found the info useful.
I think it’s worth getting if the price is right — and by that I mean similar to what a Series 8 cc model would cost. The genuine replacement cassettes are getting more difficult to find nowadays, but there are still some out there, Amazon for example still carries them. But you would need to buy at least one or two just to be certain that you’ll be able to use the Series 7 in the future. So it’ll be a higher upfront cost.
The more conservative option would be of course the Series 8. It’s almost as good as the old Series 7 and it’ll still feel like a substantial upgrade should you decide to get it. The replacement heads will be a round for a long time and there are often some nice discounts especially for the 84xx Series 8 generation.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Please inform from where in SQUAMISH -Canada I could buy replacement battery & charger for my shaving machine Cruzer 5
And How much it cost me
Hi Michael,
The problem is that Braun doesn’t list the battery type for the Cruzer 5, I couldn’t even find it on Encompass. And even if we did know the battery model, chances are you couldn’t source it locally anyway, it’s a very specific type of NiMh rechargeable battery. Any Braun shaver charger should work, so that one will be easy to get.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
For starters, thanks for such a comprehensive article. And even more thanks for your individual responses to all these questions. It’s impressive!!
I dry-shave every day using an old, foil-type, three-blade, Remington F5790.
I’m basically satisfied with my current shaving results, but the battery is slowly losing its ability to recharge. I’m reluctant to abandon the F5790 because the trimmer is built like a tank and I give it a work out, with every shave, to clean up stray, lay-flat hairs on my neck, chin, etc.
I’m considering the S8 because your article implies that it will produce a closer shave, and more specifically, that it will do a better job with my lay-flat hairs. And assuming that I will continue to need the trimmer for my lay-flat hairs, it appears that the S8 trimmer will be more durable than the S9 trimmer.
Can you confirm my opinion that the S8 will outperform my current Remington in a noticeable way? And also, can you compare the relative durability of the trimmers on the S8 and S9?
Many thanks in advance — Richard
Hi Richard,
Thank you for the kind comment, I truly appreciate it.
The S8 and S9 will in my opinion be an improvement especially with the flat-lying hairs. Your Remington with its 3 foil cutters is rather limited in that regard. The closeness is subjective and depends on several factors, but it should also be better.
Regarding the trimmers of the S8 and S9, I’d say they are the same in every way. The S8 and S9 are more similar than different and that’s also the case with the trimmer. It will work perfectly fine to get the odd hairs, I don’t however like it for other things, like trimming and shaping my sideburns.
The S9 is more effective than the S8 with difficult/flat-lying hairs (the actual foil head, not the trimmer), so the S9 will (objectively) be a bit better. But I think your budget is important as well and the price should be the decisive factor (the trimmer is again identical).
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Excellent job Ovidiu. As always the most detailed and best reviews from you. What colors are Braun series 9 pro 9477cc and 9465cc? Are they the same color?
Also where can I find a leather case for series 9 pro. Thank you very much.
Adrian,
Thank you so much for the kind words.
The colors are different. The 9477cc comes in the more common matte silver first introduced with the 92xx generation. The 9465cc has darker, more metallic grey (also matte). The leather case has the part number Braun 81480821 and if you do a google search on the phrase you will also get a few online shops that sell it.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Apparently, I’m one of the few people who have the old series 5 and I love it. The only reason I bought the old seven series was because the cleaning station with the series 5 broke and there’s not a new one available any place. I much prefer the old series 5. Is there any new compatible cleaning station that will fit my old razor?
Hi Fred,
Could you tell me the exact model name of your Series 5 or maybe send me picture of it (contact@shavercheck.com) if you don’t know the model? I just want to make sure we’re on the same page about the model before recommending any station.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi, Ovidiu.
Have You tried new Series 9 pro+ yet? + is probably just for the trimer addon?
And there seems to be newer and much more expensive Series 8 with 4+1 cutting elements. I thought 8 has only 3 cutting elements; two foils and middle “trimmer”?
Hi Roberto,
I have tried it, currently working on the review which should be up this week.
You are correct, performance-wise it’s just like the Series 9 PRO. The trimmer is better though.
I’ve seen the new Series 8 as well ( I will update the guide) and that 4+1 part is hilarious — it still has 3 active shaving elements, so it’s a 3-blade foil shaver just as before.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi
Thank you for your efforts in this and all your reviews, it’s very helpful and precious.
I have my Philips series 7000 shaver, it’s amazing for shaving my head bald, the only problem it’s not close enough for me i like very very close shave, but i have sensitive skin.
What’s the best other alternative for me in your opinion?
Keep in mind, i like washable, gentle with sensitive skin, and very close shave.
Best regards
Hi,
Thank you for the comment.
I would suggest tying a foil shaver. My pick would be the Braun Series 9 or Series 9 PRO (with or without a cleaning station, it’s entirely up to your and your budget). It will shave closer than your current shaver and should still be at least as comfortable.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I have a very old series 5 (probably 2008 model). It still works, but seems to really take a while to shave. I’m typically a shave every 3-4 days kind of guy with not a very heavy beard. Would I be better to just continue using this razor, or has the technology greatly improved to where I would benefit from a new razor? If so, which one would you recommend? Thanks, Charlie
Hi Charlie,
I think you should hold on to your Series 5 for the time being 5 and simply replace and foils/blades. I suppose your Series 5 is from the old generation with the inner pair of blades separate from the foil head? If so you would need the Braun 51s set of foil and blades. I can only confirm this if you can tell me the exact model of your shaver or send me a picture of it (contact@shavercheck.com).
There’s been improvement in performance but I think replacing the head would be an inexpensive option worth considering if the shaver is still in good shape.
If you lean more towards getting a new shaver, the Braun Series 8 should feel very familiar and also offer a performance improvement. The price is more reasonable compared to a Series 9 for example and should be just right for someone who shaves every 3-4 days and doesn’t have a heavy beard.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
Thanks for your article to let me get more knowledge about Braun,
Since I have never bought a Braun shaver before, I have used the Philips 5 model(S5600) for about 5 years before this one, I used another lower model in Philips.
I shave every day, and I like the clean feeling on my face.
I want to try other brands, could you recommend one Braun for a person like me?
Best regards
Hi,
Thank you for the feedback, much appreciated.
It would really come down to your budget and whether your facial hair is more on the light or on the coarse side.
Since you shave daily, even an entry level model like the Series 3 ProSkin 3040s should be good enough. If however the stubble is quite heavy and dense, the next best thing would be the Series 8. It is like a middle-ground option that has plenty of performance for most users but it’s still a lot more affordable than a Series 9. And speaking of it, a Series 9 (in any of its variations — standard, Pro, PRO+) would probably be overkill for everyday shaving.
So I would be more inclined to suggest either the Series 3 ProSkin or the Series 8 depending on your budget and on the previously mentioned beard type.
I will throw in a third option as well. For daily shaving and if your skin isn’t particularly sensitive, I would say that a Panasonic Arc 5 (like the ES-LV65/ES-LV67/ALV6HR) would be a really suitable shaver. The closeness in most cases will be even better compared to a Braun shaver. Panasonic razors work remarkably well on short stubble which is the case here.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
Thank you for this resource on all things electric shavers. Most of us use an electric shaver everyday but finding one actually suitable is very difficult. The more I read this website the more I realise the amount of time and effort you put in testing shavers.
My series 7’s (old type) are getting old and I am looking for a replacement. I am trying the new series 7 but I dont like it. Just bought a series 3 300s as a stop gap. Can you recommend a suitable replacement for the old series 7 (the new series 9 head look too large). Thanks
Hi Mike,
Thank you for the comment, glad you found the site useful.
Braun went in a completely wrong direction with the new Series 7 in my opinion and it’s just a downgrade in every aspect that matters.
I think you should consider the Series 8 as a replacement. It will feel very familiar and even though I don’t find it quite as good as the old Series 7, it’s a lot better than the new Series 7 and I think you’ll enjoy shaving with it. In many ways it’s extremely similar and it comes with the same type of quality foil head (like the old Series 7 and 5). Right now the 84xx Series 8 seems to be the one to buy, either a cc (with a cleaning station) like the 8457cc or a solo like the 8417s. There’s a new 2023 85xx Series 8 as well, but it’s really the same, so it doesn’t make sense to spend more on one of those.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you so much, this was so informative and helpful!
Jon,
Many thanks for the feedback, really glad you found the post useful.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
That was the best info about a product I’ve read in a very long time! I appreciate the work you put into it. it was highly useful in all regards!
Thank you so much for the comment, Jim — really glad you found the article useful.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
If we don’t which series our Shaver is, how do we find out? Would be great to know as mine was a gift.
Hi Jim,
If you don’t have the box anymore or there’s no model written on the shaver (usually on the front but sometimes on the back as well), most Braun shavers will have a Type written underneath the slide-out hair trimmer — like this one on my old Braun Series 5.
If you still can’t find it (or there’s no trimmer) then take a picture of your shaver and send it to me at contact@shavercheck.com. I’ll be happy to take a look. :-)
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi, Ovidiu
Iv got braun 340s-4 and Its on it’s way out , so I need to upgrade what should I upgrade to please.
Many thanks
Sean.
Hi Sean,
In my opinion there are only two Braun options worth considering — the Series 8 and the Series 9/9 Pro.
The Series 8 will already feel like a nice upgrade from your 340s and it strikes a great balance of cost and performance.
If it’s within your budget or you can get one for not a lot more than what you’d pay for a Series 8, the Series 9/9 Pro is objectively a better shaver, but the difference won’t be massive. I think it will be worth it especially if you shave less often (less than twice a week) or the hairs stay flat on the skin. The Series 9 and 9 Pro are particularly good in that scenario.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I have to shave every day so which one do I go for please may I have the model number, you 1st & 2nd choice please.
Many thanks
Sean.
I think the Series 8 will be easily good enough for shaving daily. I would go with one of the models starting with 84 as those seem to have the best price and the performance is identical to the newer 85 models.
For example, there’s the 8457cc which comes with a cleaning station (it’s often discounted and available for an excellent price) or the 8417s which does not include a station. Both shave the same.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks very much for your help, i have been told that the series 7 is still available to buy in the uk , would that be a better choice.
Many thanks
Sean.
You are very welcome. I’d say it would be better only if you can buy one for a similar price to a Series 8 (solo or cc model). Sometimes these older Series 7 will cost a lot and I don’t think you should be paying more than what a Series 8 would normally cost you.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I have a Braun 7 Series shaver that has given me excellent ervice for many, many years (say 20 years).
The shaver recentlyu stopped working, and on advice, I replaced the battery. But this did not fix the problem. I then found that the power adapter did not work, so I also replaced that.
I can now charge my Braun Series 7 shaver- BUT, when I go to use it by pressing the start button, it seems to just short out the battery, and the battery indicator goes from 6 squares to zero. I have pre4ssed the reset button (for more than 15 seconds), but this doesn’t change things.
What do you think I should do now? I really love my Braun Series 7 shaver.
Hi Geoff,
I think it can be fixed but being an older model it might cost a lot. I would contact a Braun service center, explain the issue in detail and ask them for a rough estimate of the repair (which could also involve replacing some parts).
If it can’t be done the Braun Series 8 would be my pick for a new shaver.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Could you look at the Costco Braun Series 9 sport shaver selling now for $149. Is it really series 9 or a special Costco only model? Thank you.
Hi,
It’s essentially a Series 9 that isn’t so widely available. But there’s nothing wrong with it and you can get one without any worries. I wrote more details about the Sport models at the end of this table.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi, iv just see braun shaver series S9 9465cc for £199. Would you say that is a good price or is that the old model.
Hi Sean,
It is a good deal and it’s also a good chance you’ll get a PRO+ model, and not the previous Pro. For some reason Braun sells a couple PRO+ shavers in the UK using model names of the previous Pro generation (like 9465cc, 9467cc). Not there there’s a significant difference between the Pro and PRO+, but good to know nevertheless.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks very much for your help, I have been looking to buy 8457cc but can’t find it.
You are very welcome. The 8457cc is the S8 model that’s usually available in most countries, that’s why I mention it more often. But any Series 8 will shave exactly the same. To me the Series 9/Pro/PRO+ is a more capable shaver, so it’s also a good option if you find a good deal.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I have used my Braun 3070cc for the past 10-15 years (might be longer). My father used a Braun Ni-Hydrid Accu which is sitting on my desk as I write because I don’t know what to do with it. I am thinking about a new Braun because my old 3070cc has started to ‘tug’ on my whiskers and the shave is not as smooth as it used to be. I don’t know if there is a end-of-life for this model although I did replace the foil head last year. I feel little hairs sticking up on my neck even though I shave every day. I appreciate your review above and am just curious about how long a Braun 3070cc should last (I do use the cleaner base).
Hi William,
Thank you for the comment.
These Series 3 are very robust and durable. Very simple in design and without many features which I think also contributes to their longevity. The battery is usually component that gives way first and even though Braun has a very good track record in that regard, it can happen at anytime (if you’re unlucky). Otherwise you should get some good years of service from a Series 3.
That said, 15 years is really impressive. With constant use there will be some physical wear (linkages) and also some electric components can stop working (motor, logic board). The norm is definitely less than 15 years, so your shaver has served you well.
If you do decide to get a new shaver, the Series 3 ProSkin is still a worthy option. The models that come with an automatic cleaner are a bit pricier and are getting difficult to find. The 3050cc will probably be your best bet. It’s basically the same as your 3070cc, but doesn’t have a travel case (the 3070cc used to include one if I recall correctly).
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Buying my first e razor and after searching for some info on the Braun line, found your site – it is so well done: well organized, well written, great info! Makes sense of Braun’s line up.
Decided to go with the 9 Sport to use for face and possibly head too.
A new shaving experience!
Awesome, thanks so much for the feedback. Hope you’ll enjoy your Series 9, it also works great as a head shaver.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Have you come across model S61-R1000s? Would the review of the series 6 above cover that AU model? Many thanks
Hi Pete,
Yes, everything about the Series 6 would still be relevant for the AU S61-R1000s model.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi there,
I would like to thank you for the amazing content you produce. I wouldn’t have assumed there would be such a detailed and professional research on shavers to be honest. Your professionalism and dedication are admirable.
I have been using the same Philips rotary shaver for the last 11 years. It never cleaned my neck properly, but it was a gift from my wife, and I didn’t want to toss it right away. After a while, I got used to it and using a razor every time for my neck. It still works but its charging cable has fallen apart, and it’s about time to upgrade after 11 years of mediocre performance.
I just bought a 9390cc after reading your content. It was like 20% cheaper than the PRO with power case. It has a beautiful silver color and includes 2 cleaning solutions in the box. I don’t need a power case; in fact, I prefer the leather one for better mobility. Hopefully, 9390cc will be an improvement and I won’t have to use a razor every time.
Again, thank you for sharing such detailed information and research.
Kind regards,
N.C.K.
Hi,
Thank you so much for the kind comment. I’m glad you found the site useful.
I hope you’ll enjoy shaving with your Series 9, it should be a substantial upgrade from the old Philips rotary. It could be a few weeks before getting the best shave and getting used to the new type of shaver.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
This is really unbelievable!
Thank you
Hi JD,
Thank you for the comment and feedback, much appreciated.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Brilliant article. My husband’s old Series 7 razor (the discontinued series) is his current razor. He loves it. The current foil has broken and he has put in an old one. Decision time – does he replace the razor (it must be 10-15 years old) or get a new foil/cutting blade unit? Having read your article, I think the replacement would be the Series 8 84 range, but we are open to a suggestion from the Series 9 range to compare.
Advice would be welcome please!
Hi Rosemary,
Thank you so much for the feedback.
My advice would be to buy a new genuine replacement head if you can find one for a reasonable price (they are getting more difficult to source nowadays). If that’s not an option or you’d rather buy a new shaver, I think the Series 8 84 generation would make the most sense since your husband loves his Series 7. It will feel very familiar and the Series 8 replacement heads are readily available. You can get one with or without a station — depending solely on whether he will be using the station or not. The performance of the solo and cc shavers is the same.
All things considered, I don’t think it makes sense to spend more on a Series 9.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks for the great review of Braun shavers. My older series 9 has held up well over the years although I have been disappointed with the 92s replacement heads. Three purchases and within the 8-10 month time period the center two pieces just fall out. Braun doesn’t seem to acknowledge this quality control/design issue. So, after seven years of expensive series 9 head replacements at $70 each, I have followed your reviews and have purchased a series 3 ProSkin 3040S with the 32b head. This model purportedly has a pop up trimmer and is cordless.
I really believe that shavers have become overly technical, complicated and of course expensive, especially the defective series 9 cassettes.
Your reviews are most appreciated and helpful. I suspect that if the series 3 ProSkin is a disappointment that I will return to blade shaving which is predictable, close, and rewarding.
Hi Richard,
Thank you so much for the feedback, glad you found the article useful.
That’s totally understandable having spent a lot on replacement heads. Frequency of use and the coarseness of the beard will accelerate the wear, but it still seems to be some underlying weakness or QC issue with some Series 9 cassettes.
The 3040s is not as capable as the Series 9, but with frequent use and if your beard isn’t coarse and dense it might be enough. But as far as costs go, it should be (a lot) better. It is a very durable shaver and it’s also a lot simpler and the replacement heads cost less. It does have a trimmer, similar to the one on the Series 9 and it’s cordless only.
The 3000s is apparently available in two variations, with or without the trimmer, but there’s no way of knowing which one you’ll get as the model name is the same. That one will however work with the cord as well.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
Firstly, thank you for all your detailed and helpful information. Secondly, I have one question. These days I mostly use the precision trimmer and rarely bother with a clean shave. Which is the best precision trimmer of Braun (or any other brand)? Would I be better off with a clip on trimmer or the slide out trimmer? Also have you found that the durability of the German made models is any different to the non-German made models?
Thank you very much
Hi Leo,
Thank you for the feedback, really glad the info was useful.
Braun slide-out trimmers (like the ones on the Series 8 or 9) are rather mediocre. To me the best precision/integrated trimmers are the ones on Panasonic shavers, in particular the on the Arc 5 and Arc 6. But even so, I really don’t think you should buy one if you’ll only be using the trimmer. A dedicated beard trimmer would be a lot better. Some of the best are the Multigroom 7000 or 9000 from Philips. Or a Braun All-in-One Style Kit if you prefer Braun as a brand.
A shaver with a separate clip on trimmer would also be a viable option, but I think you should consider it if you think you’ll be alternating between a clean shave and a stubble beard and you’ll make use of both heads. For example, the Series 3 ProSkin 3010BT or the Series 7 360 Flex, even though the latter is a step down from the old Series (when used for a clean shave).
The higher end Braun shavers (Series 8 and 9) are made in Germany, but the components are often made outside of the country by different contractors/manufacturers so the Made in Germany text isn’t as relevant as it used to. The Series 8 and 9 are more expensive and superior to let’s say a Series 3 made outside of Germany, but simply because they’re at the top of the hierarchy.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
I’m own Panasonic ES-LV9C for about 2 years and usually dry shave with my Panasonic shaver and got white spot on the shave area, redness and some irritation.
If I use my shaver with shaving gel, does this problem will solve or should I shift to use Braun shaver ? Which Braun shaver series that suitable for small face ? I think, I have very small shave area than others (just chin, area between nose and upper lip, and under lower lip)
Hi,
After using the 5-blade ES-LV9C I think any Braun model would feel manageable, including the Series 9. But before buying a new shaver you should also try the Panasonic with shaving cream, it can make it (a lot) gentler. I have a post on that as well if you want to check it out.
If the irritation still persists and you’d like to try a Braun, the Series 9 and 8 are currently the most comfortable (in that order).
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I have Panasonic ES8243 is it as good as the ARC5 that you recommended
It’s not quite as capable since it has a slightly less powerful motor. The Arc 5 also has one extra blade. That said, if your beard isn’t very coarse and you also shave often, your ES8243 should still be good enough.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks for the detailed guide!
My first and so far only shaver is a Braun Series 3 plus EasyClick trimmer head with 5 comb attachments. I’ve had it for over five years without replacing anything.
I usually shave once a week, sometimes less often, rarely more often. Normally I only shave my neck smooth. For the face I use the integrated trimmer, and for the sides up to above the ear the EasyClick trimmer.
Now I want to buy a new Braun shaver and keep the old one as a spare. Because of the way I shave, it probably makes sense for me to buy a shaver and a beard trimmer. The Series 8 and 9 are probably not worth it for me. I take your remarks to mean that the differences between the (current) 5, 6 and (current) 7 are not that great?
What do you recommend?
Hi Noah,
Thank you for your comment.
It does make a lot of sense to buy a shaver and separate beard trimmer — I can’t imagine using the integrated S3 trimmer on the face to be very effective. If your beard isn’t overly coarse or dense, you could consider the Philips OneBlade as a beard trimmer. In my opinion it works best for men with light facial hair. Another one would be the Braun All-in-One Style Kit Series 5 which is a lot more capable and doesn’t cost a lot more than the OneBlade. You can also use its rotating dial plus an adjustable comb to get a precise length, which I think is a must since you will trim the sideburns progressively as you go up to the ear level.
As for the shavers, the current Series 5, 6 and 7 are in fact more similar than different. The main difference is that the Series 7 is noticeable more powerful than the other two but also less comfortable. The Series 5 and 6 are actually very similar to your Series 3 in terms of power and capabilities, but I personally like the Series 3 more as it has a less obtrusive foil frame. So I don’t think the Series 5 and 6 would be a significant upgrade if any at all. The 7 would be, but again, I don’t find it very comfortable.
If you’ll only be using it on the neck, getting a very expensive shaver is probably overkill. If the 3-blade Series 3 was good enough, then you should maybe get another one or even try a Panasonic Arc 3. The Series 8 and 9 are an upgrade over the Series 3, but also cost significantly more.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I’M just trying to buy a electric razor for a man with very course face hair. His beard hairs stick straight out and feel like needles . What do you recomend? Honestly cost is not the main concern. Im just tired of him buying cheep shavers that dont work.
Hi,
Either the Braun Series 9 Pro or the Panasonic Arc 5 would work well. The latter shaves a bit closer and it’s ideal if he shaves regularly (the more often the better), while the Braun Series 9 Pro remains pretty effective even with a few more days between shaving sessions.
It doesn’t matter which Series 9 Pro or Arc 5 model you get as they all shave more or less the same. Usually, the Series 9 Pro 9465cc and the Arc 5 ES-LV65-S are best buys. The former does include a cleaning station hence the higher price.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi, thanks for your excellent and excellent articles. I wanted to share with you that the old Braun Series 7 is very comfortable on the skin of my neck compared to the current Series 9 which is less pleasant and I often feel a pinch. The result is also very clear when in the old series 7 there is no irritation and pimples or redness in the neck, whereas in series 9 there is redness up to pimples. I don’t know if my Series 7 machine is damaged or if this situation exists for other users and I would be happy to know if you have the information about it. Thanks
Hi,
Many thanks for the comment and feedback.
While most men find the Series 9 slightly better, I’ve seen reports from users who liked the Series 7 better. For a very specific combination of facial hair, skin and technique, one shaver can simply work better than another, even though in theory it shouldn’t.
The Series 9 has a forth extra shaving element vs the Series 7 and my guess is that it can pinch the skin or snag a hair as the gap between the two rows of teeth is quite large. This tends to happen more on the chin and neck. Try using slower, shorter, overlapping strokes and see if it still happens.
If the pinching is constantly there, there could be a defective head. It’s pretty rare, but has been known to happen. In that case I would contact Braun support, they’re usually very helpful in solving these issues.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
I have a weird issue with my Braun 959cc.
It seems as though when I go to shave, all of the hair does not stay inside the cassette and seems to spill all over my sink. Is this a normal behavior? I thought the whole point of the cassette and cleaning station was to capture most of the hair (say 90 percent)?
Any ideas?
Thanks,
Joe
Hi Joe,
Thank you for the comment.
It’s actually pretty normal, most foil shavers will contain only a part of the clipped hairs, while the rest will end up in your sink and on your forearm and shirt. You can sort of minimize this by leaning more over the sink so that the shaver is held in a more upright position throughout the shave and the hairs will naturally fall inside the cassette — hope this makes sense.
The station is particularly useful with removing the hairs trapped in all the nooks and crannies, but also with all the grime, oils and dirt that accumulates inside the cassette. I’d also say that it’s preferable to have fewer hairs inside the cassette before using the station because they will contaminate the cleaning fluid faster and the station will prompt you to replace the cartridge sooner.
Rotary shavers are generally better at trapping the hairs inside the head, but they do have their own pros and cons vs foil shavers (more details on that here).
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks! I will give that a try.
Are you big on the cleaning station or does regular foaming hand soap do the trick? I want to try and prolong the life of the cassette/foil.
You are very welcome. You can clean manually any shaver, especially if it’s waterproof, so the station isn’t a must. But I do find myself using the station of my Series 9 more than any other, mainly because it’s very easy to set up and store away (by resealing the cartridge) and I also have several inexpensive alternatives for the OEM refills that work great.
Cleaning and lubrication are important to get the most out of a cassette, so if you do clean it yourself with water and hand soap, I would also lubricate the blades after that (once they are dry). I have a guide on that here if you’d like to check it out. If you’re using the cleaning station there’s no need to lubricate the blades yourself.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
Thanks for the great advice on my questions. Do you know how the 3 different cleaning programs work on the new Braun 9599cc? I can’t find anything online!
Hi Joe,
You are very welcome, glad the info was useful. The 3 cleaning modes on the 9599cc station work exactly the same as on any Series 9 station. Specifically, the station will select an appropriate cleaning mode (short, normal, intensive) based on what it thinks it needs. But that mainly accounts for how much time had passed since the last automatic cleaning, so it won’t always be the optimal choice.
Also, the short cleaning program lasts a little over one minute, the standard mode one minute and 40 seconds, while the intensive one little over two minutes. So there’s not a significant difference between them.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Very interesting, comprehensive, well-researched and informative, it’s work like this which shows how the internet can be such a valuable resource – many thanks!
Reading this saved me from replacing my 15-year-old Series 7 with the current iteration; instead I’ve just bought a Series 9.
Thank you so much for the comment, Jim, glad you found the info useful.
Enjoy shaving with your new Series 9!
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi. Thanks for the fantastic summary! I have used 3 different Series 3 shavers over the years, but the batteries on all of them are now hopelessly worn out. Based on your guidance, I have just ordered a S9 9385cc, with cleaning centre and leather case. At GBP 159.95, it seemed to be a reasonable deal. Hopefully this will do a better job with the flat hairs on my neck, which have always been really tedious to shave with my S3 shavers. One thing I noticed which I don’t think you mentioned in your excellent summary is the battery technology / chemistry for each series. From what I can see, it looks like all the S3 models use the inferior NiMH battery technology, whereas the 5 Series and above use the superior Li-ion technology. Is this correct? My understanding is that, aside from the number of minutes of shaving, a Li-ion battery should generally outlast a NiMH battery, in terms of battery lifetime. Would you agree?
Hi Mark,
Thank you so much for the comment.
That is true, the Series 3 does use NiMh batteries which have their specific shortcomings vs the Li-ion batteries fitted to the shavers in the superior families. I will be adding that info in the next update, so thank you for the excellent suggestion.
Hope you’ll enjoy your new S9, you got a great deal on it.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu. One additional question for you. You mentioned in one of your other articles that for your Panasonic shaver, you have a USB charger cable. Do you know whether such a charger cable (either USB-A or USB-C) exists for Braun shavers? It would be so much more practical when travelling overseas, where an adapter is required. I live in the UK, but I also have a Braun original charger cable with the narrower 2-pin European style plug, for when I’m travelling in Europe (it’s one of the old curly style cords, but I assume it should still work for my new 9 Series, is that correct?). But I don’t have a US style charger cable, and USB would be great. I looked online, and I couldn’t see anything from Braun themselves. There are various 3rd party charger cables, but I’m always wary of charger cables which are not officially certified. From what I read online, it looks like some Braun chargers are 6V and others are 12V.
I have an old series 5 8975 Braun shaver. Also listed as number 5647. It is no longer usable. Which new shaver would you recommend that would be just as good. Not wanting to spend hundreds of dollars.
Hi David,
I would consider a Braun Series 8 like the 8417s (no cleaning station). A few years ago I would have recommended a Series 5 or 7, but unfortunately those have been discontinued and replaced with inferior shavers. So a Series 8 would be my pick, it’s a very good shaver that costs less than the range-topping Series 9 variations.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
I have an older series 5 (8985) using the 51S replacement foil/cutter pkg. I have no idea how old it is, possibly 15 or 20 yrs. It does give a good shave, and, with diligence, a pretty close shave. I’m contemplating the series 8 8577 kit as a replacement shaver, giving me the cleaning station and powercase for about an extra $50. Would this series 8 shaver give an easier, closer shave than the much older series 5 8985??
Hi,
I think it will be a great replacement for your old shaver.
I haven’t used an old Series 5 in ages, don’t have one anymore for a direct comparison, but from what I recall, the Series 8 should be very similar in the way it works and feels, but better in terms of refinement and I would also say comfort and even closeness. But most importantly, you should be able to get a smooth shave with less effort.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Mr. Nicolae:
I have a light/average thickness beard and shave manually every 3-4 days. I’m going to try an electric shaver for the first time in over 30 years and have narrowed my choices down to three. Which of the following lower priced shavers would you recommend as providing the best shave/value:
• Braun Series 3 Pro Skin
• Braun 5018s for $5 more than the Series 3 Pro Skin
• Norelco 6800 for $20 more than the Series 3 Pro Skin
Thank you in advance for your reply and for the work you put in to create and maintain the most comprehensive and helpful product evaluation website I’ve ever visited.
Hi Jeff,
Thank you for the comment and feedback, I truly appreciate it.
I would actually go with the Series3 ProSkin. I think it shaves pretty much the same as the 5018s, but it’s easier to use. The 6800 is a remarkable rotary for the money, but since this will be your first electric shaver, my suggestion would be to go with the Series 3 ProSkin.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
Monte again. I’ve been looking for information specific to the differences between blades and foils between the different Braun series, more importantly between the higher series shavers, like 7 vs 8 or 8 vs 9. Are higher series blades/foils all the same (except 9pro/pro+), or just made to more exacting standards, or is it something else? What is it that makes one series shave better than another?
Hi Monte,
I’d it’s a sum of different factors: the number and quality of the blades, the flexing of the individual cutters and of the entire shaving head, the ergonomics of the shaver (for example the size of the foil frame), the power of the motor and so on.
The Series 8 head is in my opinion superior to the current 7. Both have 3 individual cutting elements, but the Series 8 is more efficient with difficult hairs and more comfortable. Also, the foils stick out more and the foil frame is a bit more compact and doesn’t drag on the skin like the one on the Series 7. The simple flexing head of the Series 8 is much better in my experience, with very smooth swiveling and generous range of motion for the 3 cutters.
As for the 8 vs 9, the 9 is even better than the 8 with longer & flat lying hairs (it has a fourth element specifically for that) and I’d say it’s also a bit more comfortable. The Series 9 shaver also feels (subjectively) more torquey, even though on paper they have the same output rating. The 9 will be noticeably more effective especially if you tend to shave less often and the beard is longer (like every 4 days or so).
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
This article is amazingly helpful and thorough. Thanks for your time invested making this information so accessible!
Logan,
Thanks so much for the comment, you are very kind. Glad you found the article useful.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi. Is there a USB charger cable available for Braun shavers?
Hi Mark,
From what I know they only include one with the travel shaver (the collab with Xiaomi). But you can find third-party Braun-to-USB-A cables on Amazon for example and they will work with any Braun shaver.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hey Ovidou,
Thanks for all the great research!! It’s greatly appreciated,! I have a quick question
I’m having a difficult time finding the difference between the Series 8 8467 ($170)and the 8567 ($250). Both appear to be the same color, have the same charging station and case and accessories. Also are both of these able to be plugged in to the power cord?
The second question is are all models of the Series 9 sealed units and unable to charge using the power cord with the exception of the Pro +? The price on the Series 9 (9390 cc) $209, the Pro (9465) $330 and the Pro+ (
9567) $350.
With those prices it seems the Series 8 8467 is the best option as long as it’s the same as the 8567. Is the Series 9 9390 a better razor than the Series 8 (8467 and 8567? I read your reviews and just wondering how good the Series 8 8467 is?
Thanks for your help!
Hi,
Thank you for the comment and feedback.
The Series 8 8467cc is indeed exactly the same as the 8567cc and the former is definitely a better buy. Both can be charged either by plugging the cord directly into the shaver or via the cleaning station. The same is also true for charging any Series 9/9 Pro or 9 PRO+.
The Series 9 (9390cc) is a better shaver than the Series 8 but depending on your facial hair and how often you shave, the performance difference could be minor. For example, the Series 9 is a more effective and faster shaver if for example you shave less often (so the stubble is longer) and you have some problem areas with hairs staying flat on the skin or growing in multiple directions. It’s also a better option if your beard is very coarse. Otherwise, the Series 8 will be similar. If you’ll shave often (daily and up to every two days for example) and your beard isn’t particularly difficult, the Series 8 should be perfectly adequate. It also costs less and it’s a bit easier to use with its smaller head.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Even Braun couldn’t put together such a complete and informative article.
Great job!!
Sam, you are very kind, thank you for the comment. Glad you found the info useful.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
been reading your posts for years on end, never actually buying a new shaver… But now I have a question. I’ve got one of the very early Series 9 Models (9090cc to be exact). Lately, even with a fresh new head (94M), after like 2 months, I have massive problems shaving my chin and neck, feeling like I have to press really hard to get it shaved as close as my cheeks (light doesn’t do anything at all). Even the cheeks seem to require more passes. The orientation of the head doesn’t change anything… And now the question is… Would I see an improvement going to a Pro (not Pro+)? I shave every morning.
I’ve also considered trying one of the Philips again, apparently the new prestige cut about as close now, too. Or so I’ve heard. I really don’t want to go for a Panasonic, because the Braun is already loud enough. Any advice? Maybe it’s just the technique and you could maybe point me to a place that details how to go about it?
Thanks for all the posts!
Hi Alex,
Thank you for the comment and for being a reader of the site for so many years — I appreciate it.
Your trusty 9090cc might be at the end of its life if you can’t get a decent shave with a new (genuine) head. Getting a new shaver (even the standard 93xx Series 9, not necessarily a Pro/PRO+) should fix that.
The Prestige is a great rotary shaver — arguably the best right now — but it’s of a different type and without knowing your previous experience with (similar) rotary razors, I can’t really say if your shave will be better vs the Braun Series 9. So the safest choice would be another Series 9/Pro/PRO+. I would simply look for a good deal on either of the current Series 9 variations as the shaving performance is extremely similar.
Panasonic and Braun are both loud during use, but it’s a different kind of loud. A Braun sounds a lot raspier and vibrates more, while a Panasonic is more refined and vibrates less, but the sound has a much higher pitch. And from what I’ve discussed with many users, there doesn’t seem to be a consensus regarding which one is louder. So it’s a matter of how each of us perceives the sound.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
Damn, you’re quick.
Why would the now 9 year old shaver be at the end, though. I’m not doubting you, but trying to understand. I doesn’t sound different, holds the charge well.. The only issue I would be able to point to would be that the head sometimes gets stuck but I don’t feel like that’s causing the issue.
I could imagine that maybe one of the blades isn’t working properly anymore, but I wouldn’t know.
I’m going to try the newest Philips. I’ve used one before going for Braun. But I can’t remember why I switched. Long live 100 day return policies, I guess!
I’d assume, if my 9090 is done for, I should see some improvement with the Philips as well. Let’s hope for the best!
Best Regards,
Alex
Hi Alex,
Without context, my guess was that there’s some wear (linkages — anything between the motor shaft and the oscillating pins, motor, maybe even battery) and it just made sense to get another one. But if everything seems fine (loud rattling and vibrations are usually an indication of something gone wrong), then the cassette could be the culprit. I’m curious if the performance drop only happened with this last 94M.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you for a very detailed and informative guide!
Vitaly,
Thanks so much for the comment, glad you enjoyed the article.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
the thing is, without reference I don’t know how it should sound and now doesn’t after 9 years.
The new 9560cc (there was no Pro, I could find, that was significantly cheaper) I just got is a day and night difference. It took about a quarter of the time to get my shave, with MUCH less pressure needed and my chin hasn’t been as smooth in a long time. For reference, I actually used the same head to make that comparison, just to rule out it’s not that (which it shouldn’t have been anyhow).
Switching it on without the head, the old one does a lot more rattling and vibrates much more and is clearly louder than the new one. Thank you for your advice!
PS: I’ve got a Philips one as well, as I could get my hands on a refurbished one as well, and considering Philips S99xx (non prestige new S9000) offers 100 days money back, I’ll give it a try, as I like the fact that the Philips one is so immensely quieter. But I think it’ll fail shaving the chest and stomach due to it’s size. But I’ll see.
Hey Alex,
Awesome, glad it was a worthy upgrade. The Philips is indeed much quieter, but you’ll just have to try it and see how well it works for you vs the Braun.
Thank you for taking the time to follow up.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi!
I’ve noticed something weird. I’m in Europe, and Braun’s site lists exactly the same motor speed for S5, S6 and S7 (24 000 cutting actions per minute). Your article mentions that S7 has a better motor. Are the models different in the US and Europe?
Also, there seem to be some new US models with an additional Turbo button to increase motor speed, have you already tried using them? I’m curious if they are actually better.
Hi Peter,
All Series 5, 6 and 7 are the same in Europe and in the USA. They are all rated at 24k cutting actions per minute, but the motor in the S7 is definitely different. I own all of them and the difference in power going from the S6 to the S7 is noticeable.
The latest S7 models (the ones with the Turbo button) can reach 26k in the Turbo mode, so even more than the previous models. I’ve just bought the new S5 and S7, but haven’t got to try them yet. I will post an in-depth review that will also include a comparison to the older one. But honestly, I never felt the old S7 was lacking power. I would have liked it to be more comfortable and more effective with flat-lying hairs. The S8 is for example better in that regard and is basically everything the S7 should have been.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu!
Thanks for the reply! It’s interesting that the motor in the S7 is different than S5 and S6, even though it has the same number of cutting actions on paper.
By the way, have you also noticed that shaver technology seems to be stagnating? Braun’s redesigns a couple of years ago were literally downgrades, and Panasonic’s newer shavers are basically the same as older ones. I wish for some kind of shaving tech breakthrough.
Hi Peter,
You are very welcome.
I think we will only be getting incremental improvements for years to come, I honestly don’t see any major breakthroughs happening anytime soon. Also all manufacturers are trying to cut costs. In my opinion Panasonic wasn’t as aggressive in that regard — the motors and cutting systems are still top notch throughout their lineup — but things like LED displays, included accessories, even materials (there are no more models available with a metal body) have seen a downgrade. Braun on the other hand went backwards with the new Series 5 and Series 7 360 Flex — the older ones were better in every aspect.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu!
I guess incremental improvements would still be better than downgrades :)
Also, I have a problem with my Braun shaver and I couldn’t find anything online about it, so I thought maybe you had come across something like that.
It’s a Braun S9 shaver from around 4 years ago. I take good care of it, replace the blades regularly, etc.
Recently, it has been locking itself. Sometimes when I turn it on, it runs for maybe a second or so, then turns itself off and displays the red travel lock symbol. I long press the power button to unlock it, and usually it works then, but sometimes it locks itself again after running for a moment. Also, sometimes it locks itself when I turn it off after shaving, so it happens after it has been running for a few minutes.
Have you ever had something like that happen?
Hi Peter,
I am yet to experience it with my own S9 shavers, but I did see a couple of reports from users with this very specific issue. My guess is that it’s either just a faulty contact or something wrong with the shaver’s circuit board, like a controller or some other small component like a diode or resistor.
It can be replaced entirely or even repaired, but I’m not sure it’s worth the trouble if the total cost ends up being too high. An authorized service center will usually charge a lot. A local electronics repair shop will probably be a better option.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi
Does the 8567 use the same head and foil replacement as the other 83 range. I cannot find any info and do want to buy the wrong one. A great website! Well done
Hi,
Thank you for the comment.
Yes, the 83M cassette will fit perfectly and it’s actually used on all Series 8 models, including the new 8567cc.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu, thank you so much for this and other excellent articles on your website!
Recently I found my old trusty Braun S1 and, to my surprise, its battery was still working after 20(?) years. It’s barely usable though because my skin doesn’t like the prolonged vibration and heat, so I’ve been using a standard razor for a decade instead. However, the fact that the device was in such a good condition made me think whether there was a better option of the same quality and where does S1 stand today. And, fortunately, I found this gem of a resource.
Just got my S9 Pro with a cleaning station (at a big discount), tried it out and facepalmed pretty hard. All these years shaving was a dreaded activity which I’d always postpone. But… I could’ve just enjoyed THIS?!? Seriously? I wouldn’t have even tried such an expensive shaver if not for your detailed articles, but, as it turns out, it’s precisely what I needed. You’ve just improved my daily life :`)
The CC is something I’d never consider either but I decided to get it (the version with the dryer) because of the info you provided, and one of the key factors was the ability to refill instead of buying the cassettes. Looks like there’s Biopretta with good reviews, will try it out.
Thank you!! It’s people like you who make this world better. Yes, it’s “just” a shaver, but it’s a part of the daily life for millions and millions of us, and having an independent unbiased resource maintained by someone who has curiosity and attention to detail can have a significant impact on our lives. You’re the Sheldon Brown of shavers :)
Have a great week! Or preferably a great decade or two after which I’ll probably return to this site with the same goal and will be ready to wish you yet another great decade :D
Andy,
You are too kind — thank you so much for taking the time to share this.
Glad you’re enjoying shaving again — and you also got a great deal on the S9 Pro. Biopretta is an excellent alternative in Europe to the OEM refills, I would definitely use it since it’s a lot more convenient financially. In fact, for the past 5 years or so I haven’t bought a single new cartridge and only relied on more affordable solutions and it’s been great.
Happy shaving! :-)
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
Thanks for the detailed insights!
I keep finding that the 9385cc is much cheaper than the 9370cc/9390cc. Is there any particular reason for this ? or is it that its just not a preferred color option? which seems strange to be down nearly 20% in costs.
Thank you
Mike
Hi Mike,
No reason whatsoever, in fact, the 9385cc comes with a cleaning station with 3 cleaning modes, while the 9370cc has a single standard mode. So the 9385cc is actually more feature rich. The color is a gun metal grey which is in fact less common than the standard silver.
Prices vary a lot and don’t always make sense as it’s the case here. Special deals, supply chain issues and things of that nature can also be a cause. But the takeaway is that you should definitely get the 9385cc since it costs less. I tend to recommend the 9370cc only because it’s usually the most affordable cc Series 9.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you so much Ovidiu, much appreciate your help!
Excellent detailed coverage. Very thorough. Love it.
Thank you so much for the kind comment — glad you found the article useful.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
After a lifetime of using Braun razors, I tried the Arc 5 about 4 years ago and have really liked it for the reasons noted extensively here. Then, for no particular reason other than I wanted a new razor, I purchased a Series 8 with the recent model cleaning station, which by all accounts should be similar to the last Braun I used: the venerable Series 7.
I’m really liking my new Series 8 (even more than I expected as I thought the Arc 5 was the pinnacle). While it might not be as close as the Arc 5, I prefer the shave on the cheeks and chin … it feels (very subjective, I know) “better” on my skin. I’m also liking the slim line shaver head compared to the bulky and floppy head of the Arc 5.
That said, there are a few caveats (also noted here extensively): the Series 8 (as the Series 7 before it) is pretty poor on my neck and especially the sides of the neck. I’ll need to either find a new approach to tackle neck hairs or will have to go back to using my Phillips One Blade for parts of my neck (I did this with the Series 7, but not the Arc 5). And yes, the trimmer is just as poor as noted …almost useless. It’s surprising that a company that’s been in the business for so long attaches that trimmer to its latest razors, but here we are. I wish Braun would just attach a variant of the their OneBlade competitor to their razors.
Anyway, the S8 has replaced my Arc 5 as my “go to” razor. To my recollection (and I could be wrong) it has a more powerful motor than the old Series 7 and is better than that razor on the face (not the neck). I’m a happy customer and getting great shaves with the S8.
Hi Matt,
Thanks so much for taking the time to share this.
The Series 8 is a rather underrated shaver from Braun as most of the hype goes to the Series 9 and the various flankers and even to the underwhelming Series 7 360 Flex. The Series 8 flies under the radar and it’s a great all-round shaver that works well for the majority of users.
The trimmers are an inherent weakness of all current Braun shavers, I think it’ll take a whole new generation of shavers to see an improvement there. As a side note, even when I’m using a Braun razor to shave, I have a Panasonic on hand (usually an Arc 5) just to tweak my sideburn using its pop-up trimmer.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
I wanted to share a tip that I now use to clean all my Braun shavers. I bought a 5 litre of braun cleaning fluid online very cheaply. Buy a small sealable plastic lunch box type container with lid, mine is around 80mm square, partly fill the container with the braun cleaning fluid. After each shave dip the shaver foil element in the cleaning fluid in the small plastic container and run the shaver for around 20 seconds. Switch the shaver off and allow the fluid to drip back into the container, close and seal the container containing the fluid using the lid to stop the cleaning fluid evaporating. Dry off the shaver with a tissue and store ready for next shave. This system provides a similar function as the braun cleaning stations which run the shaver in the fluid reservoir in the station.
Hi Mike,
Thank you for the comment — it’s certainly an effective way to clean a Braun shaver like that. Fortunately there are even more options nowadays for inexpensive ready-made solutions (including in Europe).
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi,
What a great website, it’s a real ‘man box’. I have recently purchased a series 8 8513s. One question I have which Braun don’t address is the foil replacement indicator. How does this work, is it based on time shaved or each time you turn the shaver on and off, quite important as I shave, turn it off check my whiskers by touch then turn it on again, so that could be 2 shaves! I’ve looked on your site and the Braun site but I cannot find any info. Thanks
Hi Chris,
Thanks so much for the kind comment and feedback.
That’s a great question and although I did touch upon the replacement indicator in the individual reviews, I didn’t address it in this guide (will do it in the next update).
But in short, it’s a simple timer-based notification that takes into account the entire time the shaver has been on. So it wouldn’t matter whether you turn it on for 10 minutes straight or you do that 10 times, one minute each.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Ovidiu,
I shave (Braun 9- Pro) every 3-5 days, sometimes a week. After shaving I rinse out the blade and wipe and whisker debris from the under carriage. I the use the cleaning station. I’ve noticed that the cleaning fluid requires changing fairly frequently, 4-6 weeks. Is the alert to change cleaning cartridges geared to the actual cleanliness of the cleaning fluid or is it set to signal a change based on the time it’s been in the cleaner? Thanks
Hi Bob,
The alert shows up in two situations:
1. The fluid level is too low
2. The electrical conductivity isn’t within a certain range anymore (caused by debris, alcohol evaporation and so on).
So the notification showing up can be indicative of how clean the fluid is. The station can’t know for how long the fluid has been in the cleaner.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks for a great article! I am trying to decide between 9320cc Sport at Costco for $149 and a 9567cc I just snagged during Prime Days for $266. Did I understand you that the 9320cc Sport is basically equivalent to the 9567cc performance wise? And/or is the latter simply more powerful/faster? Thanks so much for your advice!
Hi Tom,
Performance-wise they are very close, with the 9567cc (subjectively) feeling a bit more powerful and bitey. It does come with an updated shaving head (that is also backward compatible with the 9320cc). The hair trimmer on the 9567cc is a bit better and has a straight edge vs the curved one on the 9320cc. The straight edge makes the 9567cc trimmer a bit more effective, but none of them is particularly great.
Finally, the 9567cc has 3 cleaning modes (short, normal, intensive) while the 9320cc seems to have a single standard mode (I couldn’t order a 9320cc, so this is only based on what I could find). The difference between these modes is however pretty insignificant, so having a single one isn’t necessarily a deal breaker.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
What is the difference between 8567cc and 8577cc?
The 8567 seems to be cheaper and looks the same. Missing travel charging case?
That’s right — the 8567cc doesn’t have the power case and comes only with the standard hard textile travel case (which is also a lot more compact and lightweight).
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
thanks. Sorry, I double-posted… with more detail
Hi,
I am glad to find this web site with al the great info. My 7 series trimmer broke and I need to replace my shaver. It is past due since I never liked the shaver that much. I felt that the Braun S5 that I am using for traveling shaves much better.
In any case I am looking at the 8 series and trying to determine the difference between two models. 8577cc vs 8567cc. Is the only difference a travel charger case?
And why do people like the 8457cc better than the 8577cc?
Hi Ralf,
I already replied to your original comment right above.
In short yes, the charging power case is the only difference.
Online aggregate reviews aren’t always in sync; the number of reviewers matters as well and the 8577cc is a newer product that usually costs more. Performance-wise, they are exactly the same and even use the same shaving head.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Good afternoon,
I have used Braun razors for many years and am currently using an S3. I’m thinking of changing to one of the two following models, neither of which seem to be reviewed in your piece, which is very extensive and interesting. Could you give me your opinion on these two models below please?
Braun Series 5 50-W4200cs Electric Shaver for Men with Charging Stand, Precision Trimmer
and
Braun Series 7 Electric Shaver with Charging Stand and Precision Trimmer – Silver 70-S4200cs
Hope to hear from you soon.
Kind regards
James
Hi James,
Many thanks for the comment.
The shavers you’re referring to are European models of the Series 5 and Series 7 360 Flex in the article above and that’s why those exact model names don’t appear in the comparison tables. But everything I said about the current Series 5 and Series 7 360 Flex (non-Turbo variations) apply here as well.
In short, both are decent Braun shavers for the price, with the Series 7 being the better shaver if it fits within the budget as it’s noticeably more powerful than the Series 5 50-W4200cs. However, I would also consider a Braun Series 8, any model you can get for the least amount of money as that one is in my opinion well above both the Series 5 and 7 you mentioned.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello Ovidiu,
first of all thank you for this very detailed outline of all the different Braun models.
I have a question, I’m currently using a blue S3 Braun (probably ProSkin) that my dad got me like 5 years ago as a starter model. But now that I shave every 1-2 days for a clean shave I experience some irritation/redness and white bumps on my neck area. Especially if I sweat in the summer (not sure if it is one of the causes, but that’s at least what I suspect as one of the reasons). Do you think the S9 or S9 Pro could prevent the redness/irritation/white bumps? I don’t think I have sensitive skin, I have more of a combination skin with an oily T-Zone
Would you recommend the S9 or S9 Pro for me or does it even better?
And any solution for sweat causing red bumps/redness after a clean shave?
Thank you in advance!
Sincerely,
Jannik
Hi Jannik,
Thank you for the comment, much appreciated.
The post-shave bumps (pseudofolliculitis) can get worse by shaving more often or trying to get a closer shave (pressing harder, doing more passes) or if you have pre-disposition for razor bumps. In your case it probably got more serious as you started shaving more often and the blades of your S3 (which I suspect were not replaced recently) don’t cut so well anymore and need more work for a satisfactory shave.
There’s a good chance you’ll see an improvement with the S9 especially since it’s so effective during a dry shave. I would actually get the vanilla S9 and not the S9 Pro or PRO+. It costs less and in this case I actually think it would be better given the irritation you’re dealing with.
In my case what also helped a lot with reducing the white bumps was an alcohol aftershave balm. The ones I like the most are the Tabac Original Aftershave Balm and the Clinique For Men Post-Shave Soother. I used to steer clear of alcohol aftershaves as I have sensitive skin, but these work incredibly well and haven’t caused me any issues.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
First, I have to thank you for huge amount of research you have done with the Braun shavers. They have so many similar products, so it does get confusing.
To my questions, I have a Braun Series 7 shaver, which after 9 years of daily use, the locking head control broke off. Your research and comments seems to indicate the the Series 8 would be a good upgrade for how I shave.
I have several new Series 7 replacement heads (I would stock up when I saw them on sale). Will the Series 7 heads work in the Series 8 shaver?
Second question is if the Series 7 cleaner station will work with the Series 8 shaver or do I need to purchase the model that comes with it?
Thank you.
Phil
Hi Phil,
Many thanks for the comment.
Unfortunately your Series 7 heads will not fit the Series 8. Even though the 3 shaving elements seem identical, the foil frame is different and a Series 7 cassette won’t work on a Series 8.
It’s the same with the cleaning station, your Series 7 base will not work with a Series 8 shaver, so you will need to buy one with a cc base.
The Series 8 is the most similar from Braun’s current lineup to the old S7 and to me it shaves almost as good. On the bright side, the head locking mechanism should be more reliable.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello Ovidiu,
I will join all the gentlemen above me and thank you for your fantastic work.
Based on your reviews I have bought the series 3 pro skin and the speick pre-shave. I had never before used an electric shaver and I am genuinely and pleasantly surprised that it just works.
You replied to one of the gentlemen above me that within the braun series, it really only makes sense to upgrade to series 8 or 9. Putting aside the battery, cleaning station and so on, how big of an upgrade will that be? Quality, closeness, comfort, time. Should that be a noticable difference?
Thank you so much.
David
Hi David,
Thank you so much for the comment, you are very kind.
I already replied to your original comment here and I will paste the answer below as well:
If you’re happy with the shave provided by your Series 3, you probably won’t find the S8 and S9 radically better. The Speick pre-shave should make your shave it even better.
The more advanced (and expensive) Braun shavers will feel like a major upgrade especially if you’re dealing with at least one of these situations: your stubble is very coarse, you sometimes shave less often (like every 4 days) and the stubble is long, you have patches of stubborn flat-lying hairs that require many passes for a clean shave.
These are in my opinion some of the use cases when it’s worth investing in a more capable shaver. Also, the replacement shaving head of the S8 and S9 costs significantly more and that’s another aspect to consider vs the Series 3.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Excellent review!
I can’t find series 84 or 85. only 83.
Is it still a good choice? or should I look for series 78…
Thank you so much, Alon, I appreciate the feedback.
Yes, the 83 generation is still a good choice if you can’t find the newer models. Performance-wise they are exactly the same. The 84 and 85 models come with a cleaning station that also has an active drying system, but that’s the only noteworthy difference.
If by 78 you are referring to the discontinued Series 7, that one is a great shaver (I personally like it more than the Series 8), but it’s almost impossible to find one nowadays. Moreover, the genuine replacement shaving heads are also very difficult to source.
In other words, the Series 8 is now a viable and safer option.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
Thank you so much for the informative article. With so many brands and models in the market, it can get so confusing for the consumers.
I’m currently thinking between the Braun Series 9 pro plus 9597cc (~$307) and Braun Series 8567cc (~$176) in my area that is thankfully both on discount. Which one do you think would be more worth it. I only shave every 3days on average and while my hairs are course, it can be quite sparse on certain parts of my face. My first electric shaver is actually an old Phillips rotary one but am quite eager to try a foil one next.
Hi Tom,
Thank you for the comment and feedback, much appreciated.
I think the Series 8 will be good enough, especially if you don’t want to spend a lot on a new shaver (and on replacement shaving heads). Up to 3 days between shaves is where the Series 8 will be the most effective.
The S9 PRO+ will require less effort (and time) to complete the shave, but given the price difference, it may not be worth spending almost double the money in this case. The Series 9 (basic, Pro or PRO+) makes the most sense if you regularly have to shave less often or have lots of flat-lying hairs that grow in different directions. In that case I think it’ll be worth the extra money.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
Thanks for an excellent website!
Based on your recommendations, I bought a Braun 3000BT and it arrived yesterday. My question is, can I use it straight from the box or should I charge it first? I switched it on and the green light was flashing.
Thanks again,
Colm
Hi Colm,
Thank you for the kind comment, glad you found the info useful.
You should first charge the shaver if the light is flashing. Hope you’ll enjoy shaving with your new Braun.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
You mentioned the old 7 series having metal edges around the main foil cutters while the new series 7 has plastic surrounds. I just want to point out that the series 7 360 also has metal ends and guides around the 2 main foil cutters, they are just underneath the plastic surround. While I agree that metal slides over the skin more smoothly, I have to disagree slightly about production costs between the 2 heads. I feel they are most likely similar. I had an old 7 series briefly and now am using the S7 360 and both of them give me results that are only barely less close than a manual razor. That just me though. I also do prefer having the suite of different attachments for the S7 and guards for the easy click trimmer. For what it’s worth, I can’t find any discernable difference between the 53x clear up to the 74x cassettes beyond the price being higher the larger the part number is. I buy the 53b for my S7 and am just as happy as the 73 or 74 cassette. Great work digging thru Braun’s confusing nomenclature!
Hi Kirk,
Thanks so much for the kind comment.
With this current Series 5, 6 and 7 generations, all with essentially identical shaving heads (as you’ve correctly pointed out), with the actual cutters taken straight from a Series 3, with no head release buttons and the plastic surrounds, I just have the feeling that it was all for the sake of minimizing costs and maximizing profit. Just the fact that an entry-level inexpensive Series 5 uses the same head as a Series 7, once the most advanced Braun shaver, is to me another indication of that.
The S7 360 Flex is not by any means a bad shaver, especially if you can take advantage of the accessories and it gives you the same shave as the old S7.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I something interesting online about the Costco-offered “9 Sport +”.
I was unable to find specs on it anywhere, however I read online that it is actually a version of the 8 Series, but with an upgraded head.
Sure enough, the head of this looks exactly like the 9 Series heads. Further, the documentation that came with it states that the replacement head for this is 92B, which seems to be suitable for any 9 series.
Having said that, there is also a 92S and a 94M which are also compatible with any Series 9. Maybe they are new and improved.
But to restate the main point, the Costco Braun 9 Sport + appears to be an 8 body with a Series 9 head.
It seems to work great, in any case !
Hi Jordan,
The 9 Sport is actually a Series 9 Pro body with a non-Pro head (92B). The 92s head is identical, only that it has a glossy silver frame instead of black, while the 92M has a matte silver frame. All of them are identical otherwise.
The 94M is the head that comes with the Series 9 Pro and PRO+ models, and it is also fully compatible with your shaver. The differences vs any of the 92 variations are minor, with the 94M feeling a bit more bitey and supposedly using an improved trimmer for catching longer hairs. I find them all very capable, so I usually recommend buying the one that’s readily available (and for a better price).
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I decided tonight that I would just buy another Braun 9 Sport+ at Costco to keep in the city where I have been working.
So I ran over there and to my surprise I found it is $50 off, making it $149. BTW it also includes the cleaning station.
I just wanted to mention it in case anyone is interested, again this is in California and I don’t know about the Costco prices elsewhere. It is in their monthly “coupon book” from what I understand. They also made an adjustment to the price of the one I bought a month ago, yay !
Thanks again Ovidiu for this website!
You are very welcome, Jordan. I think you got an excellent deal on the shaver and I hope you’ll enjoy using it.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Post script: This Braun 9 Sport+ shaves so nice that I’m starting to want to shave again in the evening.
(But I think it’s probably better to give my face a rest and only shave once per day.)
That’s awesome, Jordan, glad you like your S9. Shaving daily is probably best.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Excellent analysis and summary, thank you. It’s like you’re in my head explaining the options as I would try to if I knew the answers! Now, what do you think about cars, washing machines, toasters….
Hi Tim,
Thank you so much for the kind comment. Well, those are probably topics for another day, or should I say, for another website. :-)
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi, Ovidiu.
Does Braun S5 model: 51-B1000s Blue/red is same as others from new S5? How decide between S3 Proskin and Braun 51-B1000s ?
Hi Meran,
It is not the same, European models like the 51-B1000s don’t have the Turbo setting like the new USA S5. Between the 51-B1000s and an S3 ProSkin I would get the latter — it shaves essentially the same, but the foil frame is more compact and manageable, it has an integrated trimmer (select models like the 3040s) and the replacement head tends to cost less.
The new S5 with Turbo mode is faster than an S3 and I would lean more towards that particular S5 but between the 51-B1000s and an S3 ProSkin, I prefer the S3 for the aforementioned considerations.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
PSA
The Braun Series 9 Sport+, which is the Costco model as discussed above somewhere, has a $50 off coupon in the November coupon book. That would bring the price down from $199 to $149.
It comes with the cleaning/charging station.
The coupon can be used starting November 20. I think it’s good for a couple of weeks after that.
Hi Jordan,
That is a really good deal, thank you for sharing the info.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
I have read your commentary on the Braun range of shavers – quite compelling…..
I bought a Series 5 many years ago (20-30 but not exactly sure which one) and have loved it ever since.
As it was getting old, I decided to have a backup so bought a Series 7 which gave a comparable shave.
Over the last 10-15 years I have been travelling a lot so decided to buy a Series 8 as it appeared to be a little lighter which helped to reduce my baggage weight (but not by much I must add).
I was disappointed with the Series 8 as it just did not have the same closeness and power that the 5 and 7 have.
As you can imagine, I have replaced the shaving heads on the 5 and 7 quite often until it became more difficult to find Series 5 replacements.
Having said that, I also found it difficult to distinguish between the 2 models so flipped up the trimmer to make sure I was addressing the correct model number.
To my surprise, the “Type” for the Series 5 was 5695 and for the Series 7 was 5692. That now seems odd after having read your article.
All 3 units have been bought locally (Australia) so I do wonder if there has been a differentiation for this country.
Can you perhaps shed some light as it is now time to consider buying a Series 9.
Regards,
Peter
Hi Peter,
Thank you for the comment, much appreciated.
In the context of Braun electric shavers, the Type is a very broad term that groups together shavers with some common traits: for example, wet&dry shavers belonging to a certain series, silver colored shavers that part of the same series and so on. It’s really more useful to Braun than to us, the consumers.
That said, the Type 5695 refers to a Series 7, not 5. Precisely, solo Series 7 models (no cleaning station). The Type 5692 represents Series 7 shavers that come with a cleaning station. These Types are the same globally, so there’s no per country differentiation.
My experience with the S8 has been quite positive and I find it to be almost as good as the Series 7. But if it didn’t give you a satisfactory shave, then it may be time to consider a Series 9. I would buy any of the Series 9/Series 9 Pro/Series 9 PRO+, the price being the decisive factor. The performance is extremely similar among them. The only thing left for you to decide is whether you want a cleaning station or not.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Currently have a series 5 Braun, I want to upgrade, willing to pay whatever for a Braun (I love them)
Which should I buy for shaving daily ?
Hi Carlo,
It would be useful to know if you’re referring to the old (discontinued) Series 5 or the current one. Can you tell me the model name so I can make a more informed recommendation?
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi – thanks for this amazing comparison. I’m a first time electric shopper who wants to use it every so often. Like when I’ve gone a few days without shaving and want to just look cleaner. I’m torn between the 3040s and 5118s. Looks like only a $10 difference on Amazon — so I’m leaning toward the 5118s. But your write-up really seems to like the 3-series pro skin a lot. Any thoughts between these two models?
Hi Scott,
Thank you for the comment, much appreciated.
In short, the 5118s is more powerful, while the 3040s is more user-friendly. Both are very comfortable and would work best when used daily and up to a 3-day beard (at most). The 3040s also has an integrated trimmer, while the 5118s comes with a separate attachment. The former is generally more practical, but if you don’t use the trimmer this won’t matter much.
I go into more details about these to shavers in my 5118s review — you can check it out, I think it should help you decide what would work better for you.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks for your great site. I decided to buy Braun searis 9 pro plus. After two uses of the Braun, the result of the shave is pretty poor (let’s say that with machine that cost less than 10% I got better result). In general I use Philips and there razors are different.
1. I wonder if I might don’t shave correct. Is there any method that I should shave? Up-down? Circle? Something else
2. Where is the blades in this machine? In Philies I had 3 razors. In area that I have also very short hair that didn’t grow and close to this more long hair, I used only one razor, and I didn’t touch in the skin with the other 2 razor. I have diffcult to do this here, because I don’t see where is razor inside the cylinder shape.
3. Below the hair of the head that close to the ear (sorry, don’t know what is the term in Enlish) I also used one blade. Could I use the Braun in vertical in this area? Seems that don’t I don’t get good result.
4. The trimmer cut really fast the hair, but don’t do this close to the skin, so some hair left, this even give worse result of the Philips. Thoguht that Braun should give better result (I compare to series 7000 of Philips that cost half).
Will glad to your advice. Thanks in advance
Hey,
Thank you for the comment.
If you’ve only used Philips shavers until now, which are rotary machines as opposed to foil like the Braun S9 PRO+, it may take a while until you get used to it. Some users just get better results with rotaries, but in this case I think your shave can be improved quite a lot.
1. With foil shavers you should only use straight, back and forth strokes, adjusting the direction so that you go against the direction of hair growth. You should never use circular motions as the hairs will be left behind and almost certainly some of them will be snagged instead of cut cleanly. Use short, controlled, back and forth strokes, focusing on a smaller area then moving on to the next one. Here is an old video from Tyler, an excellent reviewer that shows proper technique. I’ve only published written info so far so I don’t have any video content yet.
2. The blades oscillate behind the 4 cutters across their entire length. All of them are active cutters, with the outermost foil elements cutting short stubble at skin level and the other two catching and cutting longer, flat-lying hairs.
3. I would never recommend using this shaver with the head vertically. You can lock the shaving head via the switch and use only the top foil for tight areas.
4. Trimmers on electric shavers don’t cut the hair very close to the skin (Panasonic trimmers do get the closest). The trimmer is designed to pre-trim longer hairs, then following up with the shaver for a smooth result. Or you can use the trimmer for some light grooming (sideburns, moustache etc).
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you Ovidiu for your informative answer.
1. Thanks, I tried short back and forth, and it took me less time to shave (still not the same as Phiplis but there was some improvment). Still in specifici area that was hard to shave with Philipes I get same result with Braun (hope that Braun will solve this problem, but I see that not). On the other hand, on the jaw the Braun not cut as good as Philipes so for right now seems thats Philipes was better although cost half.
2. On the cheek I have areas with hair and some with very short hair that I don’t cut. I have problems with Braun to choose what I want to cut because the size of the blades. Do you have any suggestion? (In Philipes I was use only single blades and the other two was in the air, not touching nothing).
3. Still the blades something like 2.5 bigger than the area that I want to cut (when I use it horizontal). I have some small hair a little bit closer to the direction of the eye that I don’t want that will cut.
Based on what you wrote – question about the lock, is this full lock? I shave all the face while this was lock and in the middle of the shave the head move. I tried with my hands to see if this move and I see that when I push, there is 2 places that the head swtich between them although I locked him.
—–
btw, I notice several more things that I didn’t notice in the first 2 shaves:
1. It seems that almost all the hair fall on the shirt. In Philipes some of the hair fall but not in this %
2. It seems that there is some smell from the shave right now. Didn’t was at the begining.
3. Below the ear, where is the jaw I had one hair, a little bit long. Tried in 3 different shave to cut here. No matter the direction of the shave, this single hair didn’t cut (although tried 3-4 minutes in every shave).
ps
What to ask you something. In general I only used Philipes, the more mid range shave. Because there was area that was harder to cut, decided to buy first there series 9000 (think this was 9985 but need to check). This shaver cut my lip in cases. Do you fimilar with something like this? Pretty nasty cut, took him every time 2-3 weeks to heal.
Therefor I tried series 7000, but both still didn’t cut this area good, so decided to try Braun instead. Read here that this cut more closer so thought it will solve this problem.
You are very welcome.
I think your shaves will continue to improve as you get more used to this type of shaver (foil).
You can lock the head in the uppermost position and use only the top foil for more precision. It doesn’t matter that the foil is longer than the area you’re shaving. Also, the shaving head has 5 position in which it can be locked. If you force it once it is locked, it will move to a different position (no harm done).
Foil shavers in general produce more hair clippings and finer hair dust since the blades oscillate a lot faster. The head can only contain a part of the hairs, so some of it will end up on your forearm, shirt or in the sink.
I would also wash the shaver with water after every shave and let it air dry completely with the head detached. For more details on the cleaning process you can check out this review. If there’s moisture trapped inside the head it can develop a funky smell.
Again I would be very mindful of the direction of hair growth if some hairs are constantly left behind, always keeping the foil head flat on the skin.
The skin on the lips is very thin and any electric shaver will cut it. So I would strongly suggest taking extra care and not going over the lips with the shaving head, regardless if you’re using a rotary or foil razor.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu
I have a Series 7 (old) and decided to replace it with a Series 9. I’m in the UK and just thought I’d let you know that the Series 9 PRO shavers (94xx) seem to be upgraded to the specs for the PRO+ but retaining their 94xx code. This was both on Amazon and in Currys (UK electrical store).
So I’ve bought a 9465cc Series 9 PRO+ shaver which has the straight Precision ProTrimmer and the silver bevel on the cleaning station which would usually be seen on the 95xx range.
If you need more information, please let me know.
Hi Bruce,
Many thanks for the comment. I am aware of this oddity/inconsistency in Braun’s naming scheme. It seems to be only limited to the 94xx sold in the UK. I’ve only mentioned this in the comments so far, but I do plan on updating the article as well.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
My name is Mike B. and I previously wrote you on Nov. 26, 2024.
I decided to go with the Braun Series 9 PRO+ Electric Shaver and ordered it.
On their page, it says it’s a “Model 9599cc Shaver.”
When I received the box(es), it says it’s a “Model 9597c Shaver”
My questions are:
1.) Is there a difference (large or small) between those two Models?
2.) Where can I find Directions for Use in English (NOT pictures!), which is all Braun includes in the box?
Thank you again for your help. You have really informative column,
Mike B.
Hi Mike,
I already replied to your original comment here.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi,
Have you ever discovered how the “wear-meter” is calculated? Is it simply by time or does it have some method of measuring wear. I have an S7 360.
Thanks!
Hi Jeremy,
It’s just a very basic timer-based system like you’ve correctly assumed. As such, it should not be the only thing you take into account when deciding when to replace the shaving head. In fact, you should solely decide that based on how well it still shaves.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks! That’s great information and with my fairly light facial hair should allow me to go longer on a head.
I have a Series 9 Pro. Is the replacement head for the Series 9 Pro + backwards compatible with the Series 9 Pro? If so, do you recommend retrofitting my Series 9 Pro with the replacement head for the Series 9 Pro + (cost not a factor)? I’ve read that the cassette for the Series 9 Pro + has some advancements that may make it attractive.
Hi Brian,
The Series 9 Pro and Series 9 PRO+ use the same replacement head, namely the 94M and both shavers perform exactly the same.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello!
I’m so glad to have found such an in depth review of the Braun shavers. I really appreciate your details!!
I’ve been searching without an answer;
Are there any replacement heads from past series that are compatible with the S9? I have a model #5793 – printing on the device says it needs the 92s.
I live in Canada and am struggling to find replacement heads for less than $100CAD. It’s making the shaver less and less desirable. I have been using the foils until there is a rupture and it starts to cut skin. Considering the cost of the unit, I wish there was a cheaper option for replacement heads.
Thanks for all your info and time!!
Hey,
Thank you for the kind comment, glad you found the info useful.
Any of the following replacement heads will be compatible with your shaver: 92s, 92b, 94M. I would simply buy the one I can find at the lowest price as the differences between them are rather subtle.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you! It’s also tempting to go with the off-brand for the price points. But, I ended up getting a 94m (Braun brand!) for cheaper than the 92s.
I’m looking forward to the “pro” experience!
Thanks again!
Hello,
Thanks for putting together such a comprehensive well detailed electric shaver guide/review. It is simply amazing and has helped me tremendously!
I do have a question though…
It seems that the Braun Series 3 shavers have been discontinued? I see they’re still for sale at many places, but when I went to Braun’s website looking for the user manual to one… nothing of the Series 3 was available.
Am I missing something? I’m weary of buying a discontinued product with the potential of the replacement parts eventually disappearing…
Again many thanks for your attention to detail. An amazing example was of being able to continue to use a corded version after the batteries are kaput. I should have thought of that myself, but alas I did not.
Hey,
Thank you so much for the comment, glad the info was useful.
The Series 3 is definitely not discontinued and it makes up a large chunk of the sales for Braun. Their website is however not the most helpful and many models (or entire series) that are readily available aren’t even listed.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I wanted to make you aware of a new shaver, the Philips Shaver i9000 Prestige Ultra, which doesn’t seem to have the release announced ANYWHERE except that it’s now available in the UK shop Boots
A cynic will say it’s just a slightly updated design of an existing shaver but it looks like it has a cool new stand
By the way, that testing website you signed up to, ForMe. does that mean you are likely to hear of any new Braun shavers to be released this year by now?
Hi James,
I’ve seen it as well, haven’t been able to buy one yet. Based only on the available images, I’d say the three heads have been tweaked and are now smaller and more rounded than before, so one of the main gripes with the previous model — the large angular heads — has been addressed. Can’t comment yet on the performance, but since it uses the same SH91 heads and very likely the same motor, the improvements are probably in the ergonomics department.
I haven’t signed up to For-Me, but I do regularly check out the listings on the site as some Braun models show up there first.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi, which razor do you think is better between the old series 5 and the new series 7?
Hi Luca,
Definitely the old S5 5020s, it’s a better shaver in every aspect.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks. What do you suggest to do to clean/wash the head of the razor after the shave? Because the 5020s is a only dry model
The 5020s is still waterproof, so you can simply rinse it with tap water (with the cord detached of course).
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I am between (cause of budget and availability) between the braun series 3 300s at 52 and the series 5 51 R1200s at 76
I don’t find much information about the 51 R1200s.
I am looking for a as close as posible shave with consistently the less passes the better.(My panasonic option is the RT37 503k but i don’t find much information either)
What do you think? With one do you recommend?
Sorry about my English
Hi Borja,
To be honest, I am not a fan of either, but if those are really the only options available, then the Series 5 is the better shaver — better battery and better shaving head.
If you can get a Series 3 ProSkin, that one would be a better pick as it’s normally priced right in the middle, the shaving head is just as good as the one on the Series 5 and so is the battery.
I did review a Series 5 here, it’s the USA model, but identical otherwise to the R1200s.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
thanks for publshing and maintaining this guide. I found it helpful.
After years of happy Series 7 usage, I recently purchased the Series 9 Pro with CC as a bundle from Costco in Canada.
Pro: The new shaver is quieter, and seems to have a longer lasting battery.
Con: The head (removable portion) of the shaver is quite a bit shorter than that of the Series 7 & 8. This new slimmer size makes it a challenge to hold on to, when tapping out the residue into the sink, for example.
Sadly, this feature is annoying on a daily basis as I want to keep my shaver clean for the next use.
Hey Marc,
Thank you for the comment, much appreciated.
I totally agree about the head — the old Series 7 had an unusually tall foil frame which made it very easy to grip even when wet. The Series 9 cassette has a shorter and rounder frame and it can be annoying. I use a four finger grip and most of the time it’s adequately secure.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
You may have heard that Braun has changed the shape of the cleaning cartridges. Now they’re rectangular, without the mushroom head.
I threw out the old shape’s box before comparing the fluid capacity. I’m suspecting it is the same amount of fluid in a smaller container, because the last two boxes have had a defect: the cartridges are over filled.
So what happens is the first time you use a cartridge, it leaks fluid. The spill ranges from a little to quite a lot, depending on how much the cartridge was over filled.
Hi Michael,
Thank you for the comment.
I have a 4-pack on order for some time, should arrive this week. From what I’ve read the new cartridges are not backward compatible with the Series 3, even though Braun states explicitly that they are. I’ve also seen reports that the fragrance is a lot less potent and you can only pick up the alcohol scent. The old cartridge had a capacity of 170ml.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I replaced a 2016 Braun Series 9 9090cc with a Series 9 PRO+ 9660ccps. One thing I’ve noticed is a marked increase in life of the Clean & Renew cartridges. And looking back at my cleaning fluid purchase history, the life went DOWN when I started getting the rectangular cleaning cartridges instead of the mushroom shape.
I have a theory: the rectangular cartridges have a new formula. What if the sensor on the older cleaning stations isn’t calibrated for the new formula fluid, so that it thinks it is dirty too early?
Hi Michael,
That is a super interesting theory and I think you may be onto something. I’ve noticed the increased lifespan of the new refills as well, but I’ve only been using them with newer stations of Type 5430 that come with the 93xx through 96xx models. So I didn’t think much of it, in fact, I thought it’s probably just my imagination. But I haven’t used the redesigned cartridges with the old Series 9 stations; those are of Type 5425 and are indeed different (with different logic boards). When evaluating the electrical conductivity of the fluid, if it’s not within a certain range (hard coded into the logic), then the station would signal an empty cartridge.
Braun probably thought this wouldn’t be a big deal since the 90xx and 92xx stations have been around (and discontinued) for a long time and many users have upgraded since.
If this really is the case (I hope to test this myself with my 9290cc), that’s one more reason to get a third party concentrate instead of the Braun refills if you own a first or second generation Series 9.
Thank you for the very keen observation and for taking the time to share it.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you very much. I havent purchesd a new razor in 20 years. When I did it was a norelco 3000 off the shelf at wal mart. The only options were “comfort cut and lift and cut”. Lol
Fast 4ward to today 6-2-25 and I was drowning in info and trying to choose between foil or rotary.
I read both articles and you helped considerable narrow down all the info
For a man with ADHD and PCS this can become a mind bending exercise.
I chose a Braun series 6 6020s loaded and added a body trimmer which was separate. Id probably still be researching if I hadn’t found your article.
Hi Rusty,
Thank you so much for the comment, glad the info was useful. It can get overwhelming with all the different models and revisions.
Hope you’ll enjoy using your fully optioned Series 6.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Do you know when the Series 10 is going to come out?
Hi Robert,
It appears we’ll be getting yet another Series 9 PRO+ update (96xx). It’s already on the Braun UK site, but the shavers are not available for purchasing yet. They probably will be soon enough.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello,
I only found out about your website yesterday. What a great site with a ton of information. You have a new subscriber to your newsletter. I have been using Braun shavers since the early 80s. In 2012, I bought a Braun Series 7 790cc. It’s the best shaver that I ever got. I used it for 2 years and then I stopped because I was growing a beard. I kept the razor in it’s box in a closet. Last week, I got rid of my beard and started to shave again. I recharged my old shaver and to my surprise it is still giving me 100% satisfaction (except that the button for locking the shaving head at an angle is broken) I was thinking about buying a new Braun shaver and I started to read reviews since I was not aware of the developments in the field of electric shavers. I was thinking of getting a Braun Series 8 but your review of the Series 7 790 convinced me that I would not gain a lot from switching shavers at this time. Thank you very much for your outstanding work .
Jean-Guy Aubry
Hi Jean-Guy,
Thank you so much for the kind comment and for subscribing — I appreciate it greatly.
I think you should hold on to your 790cc, it is still one of the best out there in my opinion. The head locking mechanism breaking is a notorious quirk of the Series 7 but not a big issue in my opinion (I personally never used it).
The Series 8 is the one that would make the most sense in the future, but if your shaver still works well and you can find a genuine replacement head, it can definitely wait. The Series 8 is very similar performance-wise, but I would still prefer the old Series 7 (the foil frame is a bit slimmer, the shaver feels more refined and quicker to catch flat-lying hairs).
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you for the thorough overview. Using your website I was able to purchase a Series 5 5150cs for a first Braun. It was a combination of a body shaver attachments, a solid product and Amazon pricing when I purchased.
What’s amazing is how you differentiate each model while highlighting the pros and cons of each series. It’s so much more interesting when you are able to buy something with information.
Thanks again.
Neil,
Thank you so much for the comment and feedback, you’re very kind. I’m glad the info was useful and I hope you’ll enjoy shaving with your new Series 5.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi, Is it worth the upgrade from Series 7 to the new Series 9? I have recently purchased a brand new original head for the Braun Series 7 but it still finds it hard to shave easily after 2-3 days growth. So was considering upgrading to the lastest 9 Pro+?
Hi,
If your shaver is the Series 7 360 Flex, then it’s definitely worth upgrading. But if you’re coming from the older (discontinued) Series 7 that uses the 70s head, the improvement may not seem as significant. I would still say the S9 PRO+ shaves better after 2 or 3 days of growth though.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hey man,always great to read your reviews, like you I’m always buying new razors,i don’t like norelco accept the older spectra, braun, Panasonic are great,you should try a high end IZF-E863W-K made buy izumi, great shaver.
Hi Joey,
Thank you for the comment, much appreciated. Always wanted to try them, sourcing one is quite difficult for me but will try to buy one in the near future.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Nicolae,
Thanks for preparing useful guidance, well done! I missed some information regarding old 5 series model especially those using 51 foil and cutters. I think it would be helpful to include this info (as I mistakenly bought cassette type 52 for my shaver not having this knowledge).
kind regards,
Piotr
Hi Piotr,
Many thanks for the comment and suggestion. I actually debated about including the even older Series 5 as well, but ultimately decided against that as it would have made an already lengthy article even more convoluted. So I only mentioned the previous Series 5, the one using the 52 cassette. Unfortunately I have to make a compromise when it comes to the older models that have been discontinued for a long time.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi, I was wondering if you know much about the Braun TRANSFORM-U shavers and how these fit into the existing lineup? I can’t find out any information online about how they perform.
https://www.shavershop.com.au/transform-u/5-blade-wet–and-dry-electric-shaver–and-mini-trimmer-combo-012992.html
https://www.shavershop.com.au/transform-u/5-blade-wet–and-dry-electric-shaver–and-travel-shaver-combo-012991.html
Hi Ben,
The Transform-U brand doesn’t have any connection to Braun or P&G, nothing that I know of. They’re sold only through Shaver Shop (Australia), so I haven’t got the chance to use them, unfortunately.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
HI,
I want to purchase a foil shaver because a trimmer does not shave as close as a shaver. However, I have a few questions.
First, what is the difference between the Braun Series 5 51 R1000s and the Braun Series 5 52 N1200s?
The second model comes with a trimmer and has a Turbo mode, while the first one does not. However, despite this, the 52 N1200s is currently cheaper than the 51 R1000s due to a discount. I am curious whether there are any other differences between these models besides the ones I mentioned, and which one would be the better choice overall.
My second question is about replacement shaving heads. At the moment, I do not see many replacement foils available on the market, and I have also heard that their quality has significantly declined. Some people say that after replacing the original foil (the one included in the box) with a new one—even an official replacement from the Braun website—the shaving quality becomes noticeably worse or the lifespan of the foil is much shorter. Is this really true? Because of these issues with the quality and availability of replacement foils, is Braun currently not the best option to choose?
And finally, I have heard that Braun shavers may have problems shaving the neck area. Is it actually difficult or impossible to get a clean shave on the neck with these shavers, or does it simply require spending a bit more time and attention on that area?
Hi,
The Braun Series 5 52 N1200s is clearly the better pick between the two. Not only does it comes bundled with the trimmer attachment, but the Turbo mode provides a noticeable power boost. Since you can also buy it at a discount, it is definitely the one to get.
The Series 5 replacement heads are widely available, quite durable and the price is more reasonable compared to the Series 8, 9 and usually a lot less than any Panasonic alternative. A Series 6 or even Series 7 head will fit the Series 5 as well (though the shaving performance will be the same).
A Braun genuine part should perform similarly to the one that came with the shaver. Replacement heads generally get bad reviews regardless of brand and some deservingly so. But Braun is usually solid in that regard, even though the quality and material choice have generally decreased in this industry to save costs. For example, they use more plastic instead of metal in certain areas.
Shaving the neck is always tricky, but it is made a lot worse if the hairs are longer (if for example you shave every 3-4 days) or stay flat on the skin and grow in different directions. The Series 5 is a basic shaver and it’s meant to be used more often in order to get the best results. Otherwise a more advanced model (like the Series 8 and especially the Series 9) would be more suitable.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I am on the boarder to switch from Philips to Braun. I have used Philips Norelco for daily dry shave for many years. I want to go for Braun Series 9 Pro, I want to move away from the rotary shaver. The only dilemma I have is I keep French beard and mustache. I have gotten used to shaving around it with one of the three rotary heads on Philips, specially the small area between mustache and upper lip. I’m not sure how the big head on series 9 would work. I would rather go for smaller head on Series 8, but the cost difference is only about $30. Any thoughts ?
Hi,
I actually think that if you managed to shave the area between the mustache and upper lip with a rotary, it should be even easier with a foil shaver. The Series 8 does have a smaller head, but even the Series 9 head is quite compact for a 4-blade shaver and what’s more important, you can lock the head of both into a fixed position. If you tilt the head all the way in the uppermost position before flipping the locking switch, the top foil will actually stick out more, while the other ones will be recessed. This would be ideal for shaving a thin area of stubble. Here is a picture I took of my Series 9 Pro that hopefully makes this clearer.
For only $30 more, I (personally) would get the Series 9 as it’s a more capable shaver (more effective with difficult flat-lying hairs, feels a bit faster as well).
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I would love to buy a new shaver, but my old Linear 235 from 1990 just keeps chugging along, no issues except of course for foils (I’m on my 4th). Is this normal for that model?
Hi Don,
Those shavers were super reliable, so it’s not that uncommon. If you’re happy with it, I see no real reason to buy a new shaver (unless you want to try a modern one to see how much they progressed). If you can find a great deal on a Series 8 or 9 (pro/PRO+, even the Sport models), I think you would enjoy the experience.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I’m torn between the Philips S8850 (~$137) and the Braun 9465cc (~$287). I’m looking for a very close shave and I shave every morning. Is the Braun worth the extra cost?
Hi,
The price is great for the Philips (and for the Braun to be honest, as the 9465cc includes a cleaning station and hard leather travel case). I would go with the Braun because foil shavers are generally a safe pick for most users, especially in the context of shaving daily. If you don’t have particularly sensitive skin, I would also check out the Panasonic ES-LV65 or ES-LV67; those usually cost a lot less than the 9465cc and even shave a bit closer.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you very much for the detailed advice. Based on your recommendation and my daily shaving routine, I’ve decided to invest in the Braun 9465cc.
Just to confirm one more thing: in the future, I’ll be able to replace the shaving head with the 96M cassette for this model, right?
Thanks again for your help and insights.
You are very welcome. Absolutely, the 96M is 100% compatible. Hope you’ll enjoy shaving with your new 9465cc.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Is it worth trying to find a 96xx bundle that has the ProComfort Head if you’re an every other day shaver? I found a bundle with it at Amazon, but currently the bundle with an extra 96M head is considerably cheaper on sale.
Hi Patrick,
It’s especially useful if the hairs stay flat on the skin or if the lower part of the hair tends to grow below the skin (skin tissue clings to it). Hope that makes sense. If not, the benefits will probably be marginal and you can just buy the bundle with the extra 96M head. I think you can find the ProComfort attachment separately later on (maybe on eBay).
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Good morning,
I have a Braun Series 7 (original model), Series 8, and Series 9 Pro+ at home. None of them were bought new in the box from the factory; one is from a warranty claim, and the other two are used, bought second-hand. I have restored all of them to top condition; repairing razors is my hobby. I’m lucky that there’s a great store in the city where I live that sells spare parts for appliances, including Braun shavers, at great prices. The owner is very helpful and, after email correspondence, is able to get parts that the store doesn’t officially offer.
This morning, I took my old Braun Series 7 (original) out of the drawer and shaved with it. I have to say that it wasn’t just shaving, it was pure joy. I can’t help it, but if I had to rank razors according to my personal preferences and feelings, the Series 7 (original) would be in first place, followed by the Series 8, and finally the Series 9 Pro+… I’m an old man now, and I’m increasingly getting the impression that the era of good things is behind us and now only worse and worse things are being produced…
Have a nice day
René
René,
Thank you so much for the insightful comment. I would absolutely love to have such a store where I live, and especially one owned by someone who shares my passion for electric shavers.
I have to say that in terms of pure enjoyment, I prefer the OG Series 7 to the Series 9 as well, even though the latter is more effective with my type of facial hair. The proportions of the S7 shaving head and the refinement of the cutting are just unmatched. Shaving with the new (360 Flex) Series 7 was, at least for me, truly disappointing. The expectations were low from the moment I saw that the cassette was essentially a Series 3 with a different plastic frame.
Glad you’re enjoying your Braun shavers, must be super satisfying to have them in mint condition again.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I’ve read your review probably 3-4 times over the years whenever I’ve considered replacing my old Series 7, but always end up just replacing the head. Today, I decided it was time to replace the whole unit so I once again reviewed your site and was going to buy a Series 8 when I found a model 9295cc (on Walmart) for the same price as a current Series 8 model. I know it is a discontinued model, but am hoping that I’ll like it similarly to how much I’ve appreciated my old ‘7’ and that I made the right choice over the new Series 8. Thanks for sharing your experience/knowledge of the Brauns!
Hi Jay,
Thanks so much for the comment.
While the Series 8 would have felt more similar to your Series 7 (but in my opinion it’s not quite as good as the OG S7), there’s a good chance you’ll find the Series 9 to shave better, and it’s particularly better with the more difficult hairs. You can upgrade the shaving head later on as well, I think the latest 96M cassette will eventually be easy to source and will cost less than it does now.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
My find ended up being slightly different than originally thought (better?) – Although it was listed on-line as a 9295cc, they shipped a 9376cc. Per your summary I think that means I got a slightly bigger battery and a matte silver finish; both IMO better. First shave this afternoon was very good … glad I made the purchase.
Thanks again!
Correction to previous comment … the 9376cc has the glossy chrome finish.
Hi Jay,
That’s excellent, and you are right, the 9376cc is (objectively) a slightly better shaver than the 9295cc.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
The 97xx is now also on some places on the Braun sites. 9715s, 9717s, 9767cc, 9777cc, 9788cc, 9797cc, 9799cc
Hi,
I’ve noticed them as well and it doesn’t make much sense to me, to be honest. Those 97xx models appear on support/service pages, so it might not mean much. Also, Braun explicitly lists the 97xx to be of Type 5793, just like the 93xx through 96xx, and that pretty much confirms that even if Braun does release a 97xx revision, it would still be an incremental one.
It’s less than a year since the 96xx launch, and those sell quite well despite the high price; I personally don’t see a good reason for a 97xx at this moment.
But I guess things could go either way, so we’ll just have to wait and see.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Only a big upgrade would make sense being this close to the last release.
On Aliexpress and Shopee you can find a Braun 9768cc shaver, Not sure if it is real. But if it is real the new shaver will get a auto return head. What do you think about that?
I think that one is just the current 96xx, but Braun simply uses 97xx for some Asian markets. They did that in the past as well, when the 95xx was sold as 96xx in China for example.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
A very extensive text that made me dizzy in the end from the amount of information. However, browsing the internet I found a local store that stocked something called the Braun MBS9 Max, the pictures show it to be the S9. Is that even a legit Braun S9? It’s sold at a price of around 200 euros, while the cheapest S9 Pro+ is around 400 euros – at a discount. Do you know anything specific about this model and more importantly – is it compatible with the new version of the cleaning station?
Hi Marko,
Yes, it is a legit Braun S9 and appears to be made on the exact same blueprint (Type 5793) as the 93xx models, so it should work with the new version of the cleaner as well. It is essentially a solo 93xx Series 9 (non-Pro).
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello Ovidiu,
I had been looking for an electric shaver for a long time, and I really liked how detailed your website is. I have sensitive skin, so I decided to buy the Braun Series 9 Pro+ thinking it would be good for sensitive skin. I can say that I was satisfied with how it shaved my facial hair. However, no matter how careful I was, it caused cuts and irritation on my neck. I always make sure to follow the direction of hair growth on my neck, but I still experienced irritation, so I stopped using it. Even when I shave with a razor, I get some cuts, though not as much as with the Braun Series 9 Pro+.
Do you have any suggestions for another shaver or any tips for shaving neck hair without irritation?
Hi Eren,
Thank you for the comment, much appreciated.
The neck is often the part that causes problems to most users, mainly because the skin is very thin, so it’s a lot more susceptible to razor burn, rashes, nicks or even small cuts. If the skin also tends to cling to the hair, it can actually enter through the perforations in the foil and get scraped by the moving blades.
I would try a pre-shave lotion (Speick and Rituals work really well with the S9 PRO+), and, very important, I would not press the head too hard. Just to make sure there’s no ambiguity here, you should go against the direction of hair growth, with back and forth, continous, short strokes, keeping the foils flat against the skin.
I think there’s a good chance to see some improvement without needing to buy a different shaver. There aren’t many options that are more forgiving than the S9, I’m afraid. The old Series 7 was a bit better, but it’s been discontinued for yeaars and you can’t buy replacement heads anymore. The other option is the Laifen P3 Pro, but it has a compact travel-friendly body and some users find it a bit straining to use.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello Ovi, I’m back with another question !
I bought the Braun 9 Sport+ from Costco. We discussed this several months ago as far as what exactly the sport Plus model was. I’ll see if I can find where I asked about that.
I think I dropped the head once when I took it off to clean it. The black plastic rim around the head cracked, and I put it back together with super glue. It has held for a few months, but cracked again at the same place. I am considering just buying a new head at this point, but I think there are three versions that will fit (??)
Those would be the 92M, the 94 m and the 96 m, does that sound right?
The 92 and 94 that I saw online, they had a silver, and silver matte finish on them, respectively. I don’t know if that’s actually metal or just silver colored plastic.
As I mentioned, the frame for the foils on mine is black plastic. I imagine it’s a special model that Costco ordered with what they felt were the best features and cutting corners where they could.
My skin is a little sensitive and so I prefer comfortable over aggressively close. I think you have a comparison that I looked at between the three heads.
I think you said the 94 is a little rougher than the 92. And then I wasn’t sure how the 96 measured up versus those other two.
Anyway, I will say it again, you have an awesome website.
Could you give me a quick recap on those heads? It just so happens. I’m traveling now. Also. Next stop I’m going to find some super glue for a temporary fix! But thinking about just getting a new head. What do you think? I put a piece of Scotch tape on there in the meantime.
Cheers! !!!
Hey Jack,
Many thanks for the comment. Because of the vibrations, the Super Glue will still be a temporary fix, hopefully it will last until you can buy a new head.
You are absolutely correct; the 92, 94 and 96 revisions will all fit your shaver perfectly. All of them have a plastic frame that’s painted in silver or black. The black one that came with your shaver is the 92b and it is quite difficult to source, so you will probably just have to buy the 92s (glossy silver) or 92M (matte silver). I find the 94M and 96M slightly rougher than the 92 variations, but it’s overall a rather subtle difference. Considering the price, availability and your preference for a milder shaver, I think you can pick the 92s or 92M, whichever costs less. Again the 92b would also be a visual match to the shaver (black), but I think the price should be the decisive factor.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks again Ovidiu. A 92 head it will likely be, when I get back home.
It’s amazing how Boots seem to have a monopoly even over Braun themselves announcing their new shavers on social media!
Although I should say “new” because it seems Braun realised they couldn’t get away with another year of pretending the Series 9 was new so have added a little LED screen and are calling it NEVO instead. Quite frustrating still to have only two foils tbh
Well said, James.
The metal body is probably the biggest upgrade, and I will remain skeptical until I actually test the shaver as Braun has a habit of embellishing specs and rebranding existing features. For example, they still explicitly list this shaver as having 5 cutting elements (there are only 4) and now the cleaning station is a 7 in 1, though it does the exact same thing as the previous 6 in 1. The cassette seems to be the same one from the Series 9 PRO/PRO+, despite the gliding aero tech thing. The flexing of the head and the hair trimmer also look the same. Again, I could be wrong, so I will have to thoroughly test the shaver before drawing a conclusion.
I finally managed to order one, Boots really goes out of its way to prevent people outside the UK from buying anything online (I couldn’t even order it via the forwarding service I normally use).
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Ooh well I will look out for your review! – I’ll be interested to know is if this aero glide tech is in place of the micro vibrations. I have no evidence the vibrations actually improved the shaving but always made the experience feel nicer than a Panasonic, like a minor massage. Fingers crossed it is a real upgrade!
James
Thank you, James. The shaver should arrive toward the end of this week, and I would gladly answer if you have any specific questions because I think it’ll be a while until the full review is up. I want to be very thorough and test it against a few shavers that compete in the same (price) category.
I am in disbelief at how quiet Braun was (and still is) about this launch. And it’s their new range-topping model, so pretty big deal. Apart from Boots, a couple of mediamarkt online stores, and very few reels from influencers/early testers, there’s really no mention of it. Well, Braun did register the NEVO brand in Germany. But that’s it.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi cant even see nevo shaver on brauns website here in uk but yet boots showing it though,yes how quiet of a launch.
Hello! Oh a new shaver new then! Hmm looks similar, cosmetic changes and shape a bit , makes you think how much can they go forward in drastic changes n foil shapes, not been massive changes last number of years, same with other brands too, you can feel some things like more powerful motors thinner foils, anyway look forward to to review, thank you .
Hi Ovidiu, I realise it’ll take some time to do a thorough review and comparison but it would be good to get your first impressions once you receive it. Thanks for the great reviews, excellent work!
Hi Nick,
I just got it today, so I haven’t shaved with it yet. But I do have a few first impressions:
– the shaver looks and feels like a premium product, and it’s also a bit smaller than the Series 9
– the metal finish is very nice
– the shaving head, along with the cassette seem to be taken straight from the Series 9 (PRO/PRO+); this new NEVO cassette would even fit those shavers perfectly, so it’s definitely backward compatible
– the head locking mechanism is now integrated into the hair trimmer (similar to Panasonic)
– another big update is the cleaning station; it’s now more compact, looks and feels sturdier, and you insert the cartridge from the front (finally). But feature-wise, it’s the same as before (despite the 7 in 1 thing).
– there’s no USB-C or Bluetooth connectivity. I personally don’t miss the latter, but no USB-C is a bummer.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks Ovidiu for the quick response, much appreciated. Looking forward to the review. Regards Nick
Wow thank you for such an informative article… All great tips for those of us who want to know more about things that really matter to our daily routines.
The last time I tried an electric razor I was a senior in high school and must have received 3 or 4 of them for graduation. They were all terrible back then (1980’s) and I gave them away to others.
Fast forward to 2026 just recently bought the Braun Series 5 on sale for $20 and figured I’d try it out and hopefully things might have become better with the electric razor industry. Boy was I right! I can’t believe how close of a shave I get and I haven’t bought razor blades since. I’m so impressed with it I’ve been thinking about upgrading to the series 8. So thanks to you I’ve got a bit of knowledge to compliment my shopping experience.
Jason,
Thank you so much for the comment. Electric shavers have come a long way, and if you were happy with the Series 5, then a Series 8 would be a great future upgrade. In terms of performance and costs, it’s probably THE Braun to get right now, and it’s pretty much future-proof. You would need to pay significantly more for a Series 9 PRO+ for example and the replacement head would be pricier too.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Braun told me yesterday that the Nevo is an exclusive to Boots until July 1st at which point Im assuming it will be more widely available. You cant even register one for the extended warranty until July 1st
Hi Nick,
That is correct, it will be launched globally in July, in the USA as well. I also tried to register my UK unit, and it’s not yet possible.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi,
I have the Braun Series 3 Proskin model and am quite disappointed with it, most notably under the chin area and it leaves many hairs behind. I thought it would be as good or better than my Philips rotary shaver, but the Philips will trim hairs left behind by the Braun quite easily (but a bit too closely which gives me shaver burn redness)
Hey,
A Philips rotary could work quite a bit better than an entry-level foil shaver like the S3 ProSkin with certain types of facial hair. If a pre-shave lotion and, if possible, shaving more often, still won’t make your shave better, then the next step would be either a more capable foil model (like the Series 8 or Series 9) or simply switching to a different, more forgiving rotary. The Braun Series 8 and Series 9 do cost a lot more than the S3 ProSkin though, so a rotary might be the better option in the end.
Do you happen to know the model of your Philips? I think it would be helpful to know because some Philips rotaries, especially the ones that use the older SuperLift&Cut blades (like the SH50) can be quite aggressive and grabby.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello , i remember many years when i first started shaving with a basic braun shaver think it was a 2 aa battery one just to get used to shaving, then i would finish under my chin with a philips battery one which they still make, it just seemed better under chin which i think rotarys are, now i use braun s9, i have just progressed over the years to higher end models i think once using higher end models and get a good shave you tend too always want the best shave.
Hi Ian,
I agree. I do use a lot of shavers as I like to compare them, but if I were to just pick one for myself, it would certainly be a high-end foil shaver.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello,
I have question:
I have a beard that I trim every few days and clean shave parts of my neck and cheeks. I would love to have a single device for both these purposes. I was looking at Braun beard trimmers since my neck is rather sensitive but I couldnt find a great comparison.
Do you have any recommendation for a beard trimmer since I would rarely use it elsewhere than my face or an electric razor with some attachments?
Also thank you for this detailed article if I ever decide to completely clean shave I know where to go to pick a razor.
Sincerely,
Vojtěch
Hi Vojtěch,
Thank you for the comment, you’re very kind.
Unfortunately you would be making a compromise by going for a single device. Some beard trimmers do include a foil shaver attachment, but those attachments are usually very basic: a single foil, narrow shaving head, that will only work well on very short stubble. Such a foil head is intended just for cleaning the top of the cheeks and the neck (below the beard), but doesn’t shave particularly close and when it wears out, it can be very difficult to source as many of these attachments are only available bundled with the beard trimmer. For example, the Philips Norelco Multigroom (All-in-one) 9000 is a super capable and durable beard trimmer, but the foil attachment is exactly how I described it above.
You could go the other route and buy a foil shaver which is very capable for shaving, but the included beard trimming accessories (usually a trimmer blade and guards) are not as good, effective or durable as a dedicated beard trimmer like the aforementioned Philips. And considering you’ll be trimming your beard a lot, this is not a viable solution in my opinion. The best compromise for such a shaver would probably be the Braun Series 7 360 Flex, but would still exhibit some of these cons.
I know it’s not the answer you were hoping for, but a separate beard trimmer and shaver would probably be the best solution. You would also be free to choose any shaver, like for example the Braun Series 3 ProSkin, which is very reasonably priced, easy to clean and should be good enough for shaving just the top of the cheeks and neck. There are other (double-foil) shavers from Andis or BabYliss that shave even closer, but can irritate the skin more and are difficult to clean since they are not waterproof.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Braun Nevo compared to 9 pro +
Hey,
The review (and comparison) will go live in a few days. You can also subscribe to the newsletter to be notified.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Just a quick update, the review is now online here if you want to check it out.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu