Review Summary
Pros: very comfortable during use, adequately close shaves, surprisingly good performance with longer, flat-lying hairs, excellent battery life, very good build quality, wet & dry use, reasonably priced, low cost of ownership
Cons: no long hair trimmer, noisy, rudimentary LED display, no travel lock, no travel pouch
The Series 3 from Braun is one of the best-selling lines of entry-level shavers on the market.
Due to their affordable price, reliability and overall good performance, the Series 3 represents a very compelling option for the thrifty buyer.
And in many cases, you really don’t need anything more than a basic, no-frills electric shaver.
The 3010s is a prime example of that and is also one of the more popular models in the revamped Series 3 ProSkin range that made its debut back in 2015.
In this review we’re going to test the Braun Series 3 ProSkin 3010s model extensively, showcasing its pros and cons and hopefully helping you decide whether it would be a good fit for you.
We’ll also check out a few other options, both from Braun and the competition that may actually work better in certain situations.
Without further ado, let’s start with a quick glimpse over the main features.
Table of Contents
Braun Series 3 3010s features
Being a basic foil shaver that lacks the high-end technologies of Braun’s more advanced razors, the 3010s doesn’t really have an extensive list of features.
3-blade shaving system
The ProSkin 3010s comes with three independent shaving elements, arranged in a typical Braun fashion:
- Two finishing foils that cut hairs at skin level;
- One middle trimmer that captures and cuts longer, flat-lying hairs.
Braun calls this foil SensoFoil and what makes it stand out is the hexagonal shape of the perforations and are supposed to be more efficient at catching the hairs.
The middle trimmer is surrounded by a so-called micro-comb that features these grooves that feed the hairs to the cutters. It’s made out of plastic and has a distinct white color.
The shaving head itself is fixed and can’t flex at all, but the three cutters can move independently, hence the pompous Triple Action FreeFloat System.
Wet & dry use
Some Series 3 variations (like the 3050cc for example) are suitable for dry use only.
However, the 3010s in our review is a wet/dry shaver, meaning you can use it in the shower or with your favorite cream or gel.
With an IPX7 rating, it can be safely washed with water and even submerged in 5-meter deep water.
2-level battery indicator
This model has a very rudimentary battery indicator, consisting of only 2 levels.
It’s not particularly useful, but some compromises had to be made in order to keep the price low.
Cordless use only
Like all wet & dry electric shavers, the Series 3 3010s can only be operated cordless.
For that it is fitted with a Ni-Mh battery that should provide up to 45 minutes of shaving time.
There’s also a 5-minute quick charge function and the universal voltage converter allows you to charge the shaver anywhere in the world.
Build quality and ergonomics
Like all Series 3 ProSkin models, the 3010s is rugged and feels very substantial.
And from past experience, I can safely say that these shavers can really take a beating.
In fact, other more expensive Braun shavers feel more plasticky and fragile.
While it’s not very attractive from certain angles, the 3010s is in turn very solidly built.
My favorite part about it is that large teal colored surface that ensures fantastic grip.
In fact, it’s probably the best I’ve encountered on any electric shaver, regardless of price point. It’s impossible for the razor to slip out of your hand, despite the very chunky profile.
Still related to this, there’s a generous rubberized thumb rest surrounding the ON/OFF button and its placement is just spot on.
This oval-shaped thumb rest is also covered in a very grippy rubber-like material and so is the power button.
You can even put your thumb on it during use since it’s rather hard to press.
This will come in handy when traveling since the Series 3 doesn’t have a travel lock.
Luckily, Braun was at least thoughtful enough to design the protective cap in such a manner that it extends past the ON/OFF switch and prevents erroneous operation.
Speaking of the cap, you may have noticed two details that make no sense.
First, there’s that small cutout on the front. That’s for clearing the foil lock switch found on other more expensive Series 3 models like the 3080s.
The 3010s lacks that (fairly useless) feature, but it obviously comes with the same type of protective cap.
The second detail is the raised rim on the opposite side of the cap that would normally cover the long hair trimmer.
Again, there’s no such trimmer on the 3010s. You’ll have to opt for a Series 3 3040s or a 3080s to get one.
On the front of the 3010s, right below the ON/OFF button, there’s a glossy surface that houses the very basic LED display and some branding.
This surface gets very easily scratched — I managed to put a few scuffs on my review unit despite using it for only a few weeks.
The charging port is located on the bottom of the shaver and it’s the same 3-pin port found on all current Braun shavers.
As for the negatives, I’m going to have to nitpick since the Series 3 gets pretty much all the basics right.
As mentioned previously, there’s no dedicated travel lock switch. But since the power button takes quite a bit of force to be pressed and is also protected by the plastic cap, that’s not really a big deal.
I would’ve liked the body of the shaver to taper a bit since it’s got quite a substantial girth, but with that very grippy surface and the well-balanced weight distribution, I think we can let it slide.
Finally, the shaving head (called cassette) doesn’t have a release button, so you must simply grab it between your thumb and pointing finger and pull it straight out of the shaver.
It can be a bit slippery at times despite having a couple of ridges on the sides for added grip.
Overall, the Braun Series 3 ProSkin 3010s fares really well with regards to build quality and ergonomics, despite some minor gripes.
Included accessories
Apart from the shaver itself, here’s what you’ll be getting:
- Charging cord
- Protective plastic cap
- Cleaning brush
- User’s manual
It’s a pretty standard bundle and the only thing missing is a travel pouch.
Panasonic does offer one with the Arc 3, even though it’s not particularly good.
Anyway, there are a few third-party cases specifically designed for the Series 3 and they are quite good, offering very decent protection and they also have enough space to accommodate both the shaver and the cord.
Battery life and charging
All Braun Series 3 shavers are fitted with a NiMh battery as opposed to the Li-ion units found on the more expensive Series 5, 7 and 9.
Both types have pros and cons, but the Li-ion batteries are overall better (no memory effect, lower discharge rate, no maintenance required).
However, modern NiMh batteries like the ones in the Series 3 3010s are a lot better than the older ones and exhibit far fewer limitations.
For example, you only have to fully discharge the battery (through use) once every 6 months, so that’s practically a non-issue.
Also, when charging the shaver for the first time you should leave it plugged in for 4 hours (this isn’t necessary with Li-ion batteries).
Apart from these, just use it without any restrictions. The only thing you should avoid doing is exposing the shaver to extreme temperatures as that can affect the batteries, regardless of type.
The battery life of the ProSkin 3010s is actually really good. I was able to get a bit more than the claimed 45 minutes from a fully charged battery.
Charging takes approximately one hour and during this time you cannot use the shaver.
The battery level indicator on the 3010s is as basic as it gets.
There are only two bars, the first one representing a charged battery and the second one a low battery.
Upon turning the shaver on, the corresponding bar will blink throughout the entire shaving session.
It’s easy to see why this is not particularly useful. For example, the first bar could mean anything from a 100% charge down to a 10% charge.
Unless you know pretty accurately for how long you have been using the shaver from the last charge, you’re left with guessing.
When the battery is almost drained, the second bar will turn red, signaling that you need to charge the shaver.
When that happens you’ll have enough juice left in the battery for 10 to 15 minutes of use.
Luckily, there’s a 5-minute quick charge function that will easily allow you to complete one shave — really handy when you’re in a hurry and the battery is completely drained.
Overall, I was very satisfied with the battery performance of the 3010s, my only gripe being with that 2-level charge indicator.
Shaving performance
All right, let’s now focus on the shaving performance of the Braun Series 3 3010s.
TLDR version: it’s an excellent all-around electric shaver, and not just for the money. It’s comfortable, smooth and shaves adequately close.
Alongside the Panasonic Arc 3, it is definitely one of the more capable entry-level foil shavers you can currently buy.
As usual, we’ll divide the performance review into several parts.
Comfort
In my experience this is where the 3010s (and the Series 3 in general) shines.
Even when used for a quick dry shave, and without any pre-shave, the 3010s is remarkably smooth and gentle.
I have very sensitive skin, especially on my neck and I can only use certain shavers to shave dry and not get any razor burn.
The Series 3 is one of the very few entry-level shavers that I can confidently use and also recommend to users with irritation-prone skin.
The foils and that middle trimmer remained cool to the touch and only got warm toward the end of the shave.
One minor negative aspect with regards to comfort would be that white plastic micro-comb surrounding the middle trimmer.
The edges are a bit sharp/rough and this would sometimes cause me a bit of discomfort.
Another thing worth pointing out is that I had to use slightly slower strokes with this shaver in order to get a perfectly comfortable shave.
Using faster and sloppier strokes can sometimes cause some hair pulling which is something I hadn’t experienced with Braun’s more expensive shavers like the Series 7.
However, this only happened when I deliberately pushed the shaver, so it’s no big deal.
Overall, the Braun 3010s managed to perform great during my tests with regards to comfort.
Closeness
In my opinion, Braun electric shavers don’t excel at providing really close shaves.
A similarly priced Panasonic will provide a slightly closer shave in most cases.
But most users will not really notice the difference and in the case of the 3010s, the results were actually quite pleasing.
The closeness was excellent on my neck and cheeks, I’d say even surprisingly good.
Because it’s very comfortable during use, I was able to be very thorough and really get a smooth shave. But I did have to press a bit more than usual, which can lead to some post-shave irritation if you have very sensitive skin.
I have medium to coarse facial hair, with very dense stubble especially on the chin and above the upper lip.
And those were the areas where I wasn’t completely satisfied with the closeness.
I could still feel some rough patches, but it wasn’t too bad. I’m only able to get a really close shave on those areas with high-end Panasonic shavers.
When I used a pre-shave lotion, the closeness was slightly better, so definitely consider this option to further improve the closeness.
I highly recommend Freelette or Speick, they are the best pre-shave lotions I’ve tried so far.
Shaving longer, flat-lying hairs
This is usually the weak point of most electric shavers, particularly entry-level foil shavers.
And that’s precisely what the Series 3 is.
However, it managed to hold its ground and performed admirably on a 3-day beard.
Granted, it wasn’t as efficient and fast as a more advanced Series 5 or 7, but it wasn’t too bad at all.
The hairs on my neck lie mostly flat and also grow in different directions.
This usually makes shaving after 3 days of growth very challenging.
But the 3010s worked surprisingly well and didn’t require a lot of extra strokes to get those difficult flat-lying hairs.
I don’t think I would recommend it for constantly shaving a 3-day beard — you should really invest in a more advanced Braun shaver for that — but if you need it to, the 3010s will eventually get the job done.
In my opinion it’s a lot better in such a situation than any other foil shavers in this price range.
A basic rotary razor can work better on long and flat-lying hairs, but most of them won’t shave as close as the Series 3 and they aren’t anywhere near as comfortable.
Despite having a fixed shaving head, the 3010s was still really good at maintaining contact with the skin.
This is due mostly to the 3 independent shaving elements that can be very easily depressed and have quite a generous range of motion.
In this regard they work a lot better than for example the cutters of a Panasonic Arc 3 that are basically fixed, requiring a lot of force to be pressed and have a limited range of motion.
Braun however keeps it simple with the Series 3 and gets the basics right.
Wet shaving
Some of the Braun Series 3 models, including the 3010s, are suitable for wet shaving.
This means you can use them in the shower or with shaving cream or gel.
I mostly stick to a dry shave with Braun razors as they’re already very comfortable and the improvements when using shaving cream are minor.
I did try the 3010s a couple of times with shaving cream and it worked well, but as expected, it wasn’t drastically better — definitely not to the point of justifying the extra work.
The shaving head did glide easier of the skin and the closeness was marginally better.
So you can definitely give it a try and see how it works for you, but I think most users will prefer the convenience of a quick dry shave.
No hair trimmer on the 3010s
This would be the part where I would normally talk about the long hair trimmer.
The Braun 3010s doesn’t have one. While the trimmers found on the Series 3 ProSkin aren’t the best, they’re definitely nice to have.
In this case your only option would be to consider another Series 3 model — more on this in the alternative shavers section.
Noise
With regards to the noise it makes during use, the 3010s is on par with most other foil shavers.
That means it gets pretty loud, especially when cutting the hairs, making it vibrate quite a bit.
Compared to other Braun shavers, it has a slightly muddier, raspy hum.
So it’s not very quiet, but again, no foil shaver is.
Cleaning and maintenance
The Braun 3010s is a Series 3 model that comes without a cleaning & charging base.
Some ProSkin shavers do include one, but I think you should stick to the solo models like the 3010s reviewed here.
And that’s because they have a far more reasonable price and unlike other more advanced Braun razors, they’re pretty easy to clean manually.
The 3010s uses a cassette, meaning a single piece that encompasses the foils and the blades.
This usually comes at the expense of making cleaning more difficult, but with the Series 3, it’s actually not too bad.
It’s nowhere near as intricate as other Braun shaving heads, so there are fewer chances of dirt and hairs remaining trapped inside.
The best way to clean the 3010s is with warm water since it’s fully waterproof.
After you’ve finished shaving, remove the cassette and tap the plastic frame gently on the sink to remove most of the hairs.
Put it back, then turn the razor on and rinse the head with warm tap water for 15 seconds or so.
Remove the cassette and rinse it generously, inside and out. Rinse the shaver as well, shake the excess water and let them air dry before storing in a cabinet.
This is all it takes for a quick clean.
With that said, I highly recommend using a bit of liquid soap for extra thorough cleaning.
You don’t have to do it after every shave (except if you use shaving cream), however it will be a lot more efficient than simply rinsing the shaving head with water.
Here’s how to do it.
After removing most of the hairs by tapping the cassette on the sink, snap it back in place, pour a bit of liquid soap on the foils, add a few drops of water as well and turn the shaver on.
Let it run for around 15 to 20 seconds, then rinse the head with warm tap water while the shaver is still running.
Turn it off, remove the cassette, then give it a thorough rinse. Do the same for the shaver and let them air dry.
That’s pretty much it.
You should also lubricate the blades regularly, especially if you clean the razor with soap.
You can use either a light oil (clipper oil, sewing machine oil) or a spray cleaner & lubricant.
Here’s a detailed guide on how and when to do it.
Replacement parts availability
All the Series 3 ProSkin models use the 32b/32s replacement shaving heads.
These are among the more inexpensive and readily available cassettes in Braun lineup.
Braun 32b shaving head
The recommended replacement interval is 18 months, but that can vary depending on how often you shave and how well the razor is cared for (cleaning and lubrication).
However, you can expect to get 18 months out of these shaving heads and since the price is also reasonable, the Series 3 3010s does very well with regards to keeping the costs of ownership low.
Wrapup — who should buy the Braun 3010s?
The 3010s, just like any other similar Series 3 ProSkin model, should be shortlisted by anyone looking to buy a capable, but cost-effective electric shaver.
Braun Series 3 ProSkin 3010s
It’s a very well-balanced blend of features, performance, and price that should be good enough for most users.
After testing the 3010s for a few weeks, I didn’t have any major issues with it and I can confidently recommend it as one of the better entry-level electric shavers.
I was very satisfied with the comfort and pleasantly surprised by its performance when shaving my beard after a few days of growth.
I found the closeness to be adequate for a shaver in this price range, even though there are other options that are slightly better in this regard.
As for who shouldn’t get it, you have to keep in mind that the Braun 3010s is an entry-level shaver after all and your expectations shouldn’t be excessively high.
For example, if you want a really close shave and your facial hair is very coarse, you might want to invest a bit more in a Panasonic Arc 4 shaver.
Also, while it deals surprisingly well with longer and flat hairs, if you tend to shave less often I think you would be better off with a Series 5.
Alternative shavers
Let’s now check out a couple of similarly priced shavers.
Braun Series 3 ProSkin 3040s
This would be the most obvious alternative to the 3010s.
It is an identical shaver but it does include a hair trimmer.
And if it doesn’t cost a whole lot more, you may very well get this one instead.
This also the sole reason why I would recommend the 3040s over the 3010s.
Braun Series 3 ProSkin 3000s
Sticking with the Series 3 line, another perfectly good alternative would be the 3000s.
The reasoning behind going for the 3000s instead of the 3010s would again be the price.
The 3000s is an identical shaver, only that is not officially a wet/dry model.
And since most users will be using it dry anyway, that’s not by any means a deal-breaker, especially since the 3000s can still be cleaned with water.
A pro that comes with a dry-only shaver is the ability to use it corded as well, which is something you cannot do with the 3010s.
Finally, we have the Arc 3 line from Panasonic which is the direct competitor of the Series 3.
Both have their pros and cons, the Arc 3 offering a slightly closer shave, but it’s not as comfortable and it’s also not as good with long and flat hairs.
But if you don’t have sensitive skin and shave often, the Panny can be a better option.
It also includes a pop-up hair trimmer that is a lot better than the ones on the Series 3.
The Panasonic Arc 3 ES-LT67 or ES-LL41-K would be my picks.
I opted for the 3010BT model which comes with a separate trimmer head attachment. I figured, it would be a better trimmer than the pop-up ones on the other models.
I don’t regret that decision even though I can’t actually compare. The trimmer works well and changing the heads is very quick and simple.
You can buy the trimmer attachment separately and use it with any Series 3 model by the way.
Thank you for your comment, Vesselin. I actually have the 3010BT as well, I’m currently still testing it. And I agree, you can’t really compare the trimmer attachment to regular popup trimmers. And if the price is right and you don’t mind having a separate attachment, it can actually be a really good alternative.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello Ovidiu,
I’m looking for a good shaver but not for my beard. I will actually use it for my head as I’m bald and I would like something that gets very close to the skin so it can look like it’s shaved.
At the moment razor shaving is quite a pain in the ass and it takes about 10-15 min. I believe a foil shaver could do the same job in 5 min or so and it would be less messy as well.
At the moment I have this https://shavercheck.com/reviews/philips-norelco-bodygroom-7100-review/ the Philips Norelco Bodygroom BG2040/4.
And I would rather shave then use this. (it takes ages to do it with it and it’s a bit painful as well) I mostly use the trimmer side to trim down the hair and then I use the razor to shave my head off.
I’ve been looking at the Braun 3 series and 5 series mostly but I am not sure which one to buy as I’m not sure if I’m going to like them or not… (it’s also impossible to return as well due to hygiene reasons)
What would you recommend? I don’t mind going with Phillips or another brand but something that’s good. From the looks of it you have lot of experience with most of them.
Thank you.
P.S. You are doing an amazing job with this website!
Hi Silviu,
Thank you so much for the kind words, much appreciated.
I have used quite a few electric shavers, but only on my face. So for shaving the head, I can only recommend you something based on feedback from other users that have actually used them in this manner.
A body trimmer is clearly not ideal for shaving the head. The single foil head will not get close enough and it probably requires lots of strokes to get all the hairs — the spherical shape of your head makes this even more challenging. A regular foil shaver like the Series 5 will perform a lot better. However, the main issue here is that foil electric shavers only work well on short hair. You mentioned that you use the trimmer end of the BG2040 to trim down the hair before shaving it. Even if you buy a quality shaver like the Series 5, 7 or 9, you would still need to trim the hair down if you won’t be shaving your head often enough.
I have a friend that is a barber and uses a Series 9 to shave the head of his customers and it works extremely well for that. A Series 5 or 7 will also work well in my opinion despite having one less shaving element. But again, using it on short hair is key here. So depending on how often you shave your head, you may still need to use hair clippers to pre-trim the hair.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I lost my a power cord for my Braun Shaver S3 – 3010S. Could you give me the correct one to order? Thanks!! “Bill”
Hi Bill,
The Series 3 comes with the 492-5214 power cord, but you can get any of the 492-xxxx types as the specs are exactly the same. You can get them online as well from different websites like Amazon or eBay.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I was wondering if you have tried the new series 5 that was released in 2020. It looks to me like it is an updated series 3, die to the similar blades and features.
Hi Brendan,
I have it on pre-order and will post detailed reviews and comparisons once I get to use it. It’s interesting because to me it also looks like a glorified Series 3. Even the cleaning stations look extremely similar. But I can’t say anything with certainty until I actually try it.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I baught the Braun series 3 , im taking it back tomorrow as it just quite simply doesn’t work , i can not believe that this product is allowed to be sold ! literally misses hair again and again , the final result is patchy … sorry to say completely useless !
Hi Terry,
Sorry to hear that. While the Series 3 is not by any means an advanced electric shaver, it’s definitely a decent one when used on short hair. Myself and other users can confirm that it does work. You didn’t mention if this was your first electric razor or you’ve used others before with good results. It would be really useful to know these details.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
My husband passed away and I cleaned thoroughly his shaver, Series 3 for series 549 with 2 power units, which my grandson wants. I came across a plastic item with clean and renew, it was empty. How is this used to clean the shaver. It looks as tho it was used only once with some residue in the larger left side. This has been sitting for almost a decade. Shaver still works. And just charged.
Your husband’s Series 3 is of an older generation (previous to the one reviewed here). Some of them came with an automatic cleaning and charging station, which would explain the plastic item you found — likely a cleaning cartridge. It uses an alcohol-based solution and can only be used with a cleaning station.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Have you tried the Remington f4 wet tech
I haven’t tried yet, sorry.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
for flat lying hair is it 3010s better or 3040s??
Only in the sense that you can use the slide-out trimmer of the 3040s to cut a stubborn hair. Otherwise, the shaving head is absolutely identical.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
First off, your site has been a huge help for me as I’m looking for a new shaver. Thank you so much for all the work you’ve put into it. I have the Panasonic ES8043 that I bought over 20 years ago and the battery is going on it. I believe it has the original foil and cutter heads from when I first bought it and still cuts me clean without razor burn if I shave dry after a shower. I don’t grow that much facial hair and my hair is pretty sparse when I try to grow it out, which allows me to shave once every 2 or 3 days.
I went to the store planning on buying the Braun 3040s but they had the Panasonic Arc5 (ES-LV65-s) on sale for 50% off; so, I bought that instead. At $15 more than the 3040s I thought it would be worth trying it. I tried it a couple times dry and and my skin was irritated after using it. So today I was in Target (in Minnesota, USA) planning to buy the 3040s because your reviews stated it’s better on sensitive skin. I was going to buy the 3040s due to having a pop-up trimmer. When I got there, they had the 3010s and the box showed that it had the pop-up trimmer. The price was 2/3rds of the 3040s. Target was ringing it up as the 3-310; however, the box stated it was the 3010s and when I opened it, it shows 3010s on the unit with the light up S3 and two charging lights as you detailed in your review. It also had the pop-up trimmer as shown on the box.
So, I’m quite confused. Is there a new version of the 3010s that Braun released with the pop out trimmer?
As for the Arc5, would the Arc5 work better in the shower wet to help alleviate the irritate I experienced? Do you have to use shaving cream if you shave wet or will just the water from the shower help relieve the irritation I get from the Arc5? Or would the Series 3 be better for irritation regardless? I’m not a new shaver as I mentioned earlier. I’ve been using my Panasonic for 20+ years. Also, with my lack of heavy beard, maybe the Arc5 or Series 5/7/9 is overkill?
Hi Jason,
Many thanks for the kind comment, glad you found the site useful.
This is the first time I hear about a 3010s with a hair trimmer. So it appears they did release one, maybe exclusive for the North American market. If it’s cheaper than the 3040s, it definitely makes getting the 3010s instead.
Regarding the Panasonic shavers, my guess is that you’ve used the Arc 5 the same way you would use your 20-year-old ES8043. Since it has the original blades and foil, you most likely have to press a lot harder in order to get a close and clean shave. With the ES-LV65, pressing too hard will always cause razor burn. You should only use the slightest pressure and let the shaver do the work. If you haven’t returned it yet, maybe give it another try.
That said, since you were still happy with your current shaver and don’t have a lot of facial hair, the Arc 5 is most likely overkill. That doesn’t mean it’s the wrong shaver, especially since you got a great deal on it. But An Arc 3 for example would have probably been just as effective. I wouldn’t consider the Braun Series 5 and 7 since these new models are inferior to the ones they replaced. The Series 9 is too expensive considering you don’t need that extra cutting performance.
My advice would be to try the Arc 5 again and if your skin is still irritated, then you can try a Series 3 ProSkin like 3010s. It should be more than enough for your needs.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi, Ovidieu
As usual, you did a fine and thorough job reviewing your Braun 3010S. The first coment was dated in 2019, and I am writing this on August 24, 2023.
I have been shaving since around 1965, and I think I have used one or more representatives of every type and style of shaving device sold in North America since the mid 1960s. This includes straight razors, double-edge “safety” razors, and cartridge blade razors, with desposable and reusable handles, raging from one to 7 blades.
My first electric shaver was a Shavex Classic bought in the mid 1960s. It was reciprocating model with slotted heads that oscillated under four slit-style combs. The first one I bought was a Braun type 5410 sold in the here as an Eltron 770. That one was an AC-only shaver with a single foil and cutter combo with a slide-up trimmer.
I have a very thick somewhat curly and fast-growing beard, so I have never gotten a shave that could be done in two or three minutes, or in one or two passes, even from an old-fashioned style barber.
Late last month, July, I bought from an Amazon seller called Fannys Gifts, a Braun 300S, similar to the 3010S you reviewed, including no slide-up trimmer. It was $49.00 plus sales tax. I returned it, because I wanted a slide-up trimmer. Even a so-so trimmer is better than no trimmer, since it can be used to edge sideburns, or clean up the line along the bottom of a mustache.
Thinking better of it, since I like the idea of a shaver that can be used while plugged in, I checked again and saw a 3000S for $80 on Amazon. A couple days ago, I saw it, from the same third party seller on Amazon for $49 plus sales tax, making the delivered price $52.00. Though advertised as “new”, when it arrived today, the top of the box was taped closed, but the box had two patches of sticky tape residue where labels, or maybe price and bar code tags had been removed, and it was somewhat compromised and torn along one side. Upon opening the package, I found the charger with a straight cord, the same style protective cover cap you described, the paperwork, and a small cleaning brush that is inferior to the ones Braun gave us 20-ish to 50 years ago. The big surprise was that this shaver, advertised as a Pro Skin model 3000S, on the box and on the shaver, has a slide-up trimmer on the back!
Other more recent Braun shavers I have include the 2003-vintage model 6520 Flex Integral Ultra Speed shaver, bought from Overstock.com along with a Braun Oral B electric toothbrush for around $70, both close-out items at the time. And I have a Series 5 5030S-4 that cost me $84.99 from Amazon in 2017.
The 6520 still works fine, even with old foil and cutters, and I was able to recondition the old battery before attempting a battery replacement, or sending it to a shaver repair shop. Had I sent it to the repair shop, a new battery, plus through cleaning and new water proofing would probably cost close to $100 by the time I payed for labor and shipping.
I think it is very interesting that within the same month, from the same seller, I got two Braun 3000S shavers, one with-, and one without the slide-up trimmer.
As another note, last night I was at my nearest CostCo store and saw two Brun shavers, a series 9 “sport Shaver” which is a 9310CC, and a series 9 “Plus Shaver” which is a 9320CC. The 9320CC was listed for $199.95. Amazon has the series 8 8457CC including a leather travel case for around $229. Between those two, at those prices, which one would you choose?
Hi Brent,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your your experience in such great detail. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about your shavers. I’ve only started shaving somewhere in 2002, so unfortunately I missed on a lot of the classics. Also, the availability of various electric shavers back then was really scarce here in Romania. I would love to try some of the older models if I could still find a few unboxed ones.
Regarding the 3000s, that is really interesting. The only 3000s shavers I’ve come across were missing the trimmer. Can you tell me if the one with the trimmer has the same colorway (all black) and if it does indeed work with the cord plugged in? It would be really interesting (and unusual) for Braun to have two variations under the same name. A 3000s with a hair trimmer, so corded&codless use, would be the ideal Series 3. The current best-selling model, the 3040s, only works cordless.
As for the Series 9 and 8, the 9320cc is in my opinion the better buy. The leather case is nice and all, but even the textile one is quite sturdy and offers enough protection. Performance-wise, the Series 9 is better. The 8457cc comes with the cleaning station of the regular non-Sport 93xxcc models, so it has 3 cleaning modes, but in practice that doesn’t really matter much.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi, Ovidiu,
The second Braun Series 3 Model 3000S that I bought on Amazon from Fannys Gifts, is all black, and it works cordless. I have always thought that it was a bit redundant and unnecessary for a company to offer so many different versions of the same product with very few differences among them, and priced so close together. Braun and Panasonic and Philips all do it with shavers. Panasonic does it even more with cordless telephones. I could go on and on. I definitely think that if Braun is going to offer a 3000S and a 3010S, with and without a pop-up trimmer, the ones with the trimmer should get a different model number from the ones without, seeing as how those are really significant differencesw. I am OK with adding letters at the end of the model number to indicate things like: Charging Stand, Solo, Cleaning Center, Color (or Colour), etc.
On another note, in the past month, I bought the YasonTech model YS-5800 Chinese shaver along with a replacement set of cutter bars, and foil for less than the price I payed for the Braun 3-3000S. The Yasun shaver looks remarkably similar to the Braun series 3, with a slightly less curve on the body. It has a non-pivoting head frame like the series 3; and it has the twin foils that claim to shave hair that grows in all directions, with the center trimming comb. The foil is mounted in a plastic frame, with the trimmer comb in the middle. The shaver has 3 separate driver shafts, one that connects the foil-mounted comb, and one for each of the two separate cutter bars. Its power cord has a 3-pin connector for the shaver on one end, and a USB type A plug on the other. It is IPX7 water proof; has a lithium-ion battery, claims a long run-time on the battery, and operates corded as well as cordless. It has a believable slide-up trimmer on the back. Since the power switch is a two-position slider, it does not need the travel lock that toggles on and off with a 3-second press. The shave is as good as what I get from my 20-year-old Braun 6520 Flex Integral Ultra Speed shaver, and it is less irritating to the more sensitive skin areas in a totally dry shave.
You can get that YasunTech YS-5800 now for a whopping $19.99! The replacement foil and cutter set goes for $12.99. Amazon hits you for your in-state sales tax, and Prime members get free shipping. Non-prime members in the USA now need to spend at least $35 in one order to get free shipping. I would think that, even in Romania, you might be able to afford to try this one. I am not willing to bet money that it might last 20 years or more, like that old Metal-bodied 6520 Flex Integral Ultra Speed, but, you never know.
Here is another one for you. The Panasonic Arc5 shaver Model ES-LV6HR for $170; and I think CostCo still has that Braun 9320CC for $199. Which of those would you buy if you could only get one?
Interestingly, at the same time, Amazon has two other Arc5 Panny models: The ES-LV67-BK for $176-ish, and the ES-LV65-S for $159-ish. For about 8 hours during July’s Prime Days, that ES-LV6-HR was going for $100! I’m still kicking myself about not buying it at that price, because when I started to buy it, the price had jumped all the way to $220 before Prime Days ended.
Thank you so much for the follow-up and the suggestions, Brent.
I did have some less than stellar experiences in the past with other Chinese brands, the only exception being Xiaomi which makes some really decent shavers for the money. I hope I’ll be able to try the one you recommended sooner than later. Right now I am in the process of getting and reviewing the new S9 Pro+ and also the new Prestige and a few other rotaries which I have lined up for a review. But I am quite intrigued by it and I hope to give it a try.
With the Arc 5, especially models like the ones you mentioned that come with the same foil head, it’s always a case of getting the one with lowest price at the right time since the performance will be pretty much identical.
Regarding the LV6HR and the 9320cc, my choice wouldn’t be the most relevant since I actually have and use both (not the exact same models, but a second gen Arc 5 ES-LV65 and a 9385cc). I just pick one depending on how long is my stubble or whether I’ll be shaving wet or dry.
So the Arc 5 if I have a short beard or want and extra close shave (with or without a shaving cream) or the Series 9 for a quick dry shave, especially if I haven’t shaved in let’s say 3 days. I go into more details here if you want to check it out.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu