Review Summary
Pros: provides a very comfortable and close shave, good value for money, can be used while plugged in, excellent cleaning base, good battery life, inexpensive replacement heads, good build quality
Cons: cleaning base is a stripped down version of the ones included with premium Braun shavers, no travel case, shaving longer and coarse beard can take long, works best for daily shaving, pricier than other Series 3 ProSkin models, mediocre hair trimmer
The 3050CC is yet another variation of the new Series 3 ProSkin line of affordable electric razors from Braun.
With a reasonable price and some compelling features, this particular razor is bound to become a very popular choice in the highly competitive segment of entry-level electric shavers.
Moreover, this particular model also comes with an automatic cleaning and charging station.
So without further ado, let’s see how the Braun 3050CC performed in our review as we check out its pros and cons and see if there are better alternatives out there.
Table of Contents
Braun 3050cc overview
There are quite a few variations of the Series 3 available.
While they’re all pretty much identical in terms of shaving performance, the differences — included accessories, the presence of locking mechanisms or popup trimmers, dry only or wet & dry use — can make one model more suitable than others in certain situations.
The Braun Series 3 ProSkin 3050CC is an electric shaver that can only be used for dry shaving, so it caters to this specific segment; the CC part from its name stands for Clean & Charge, meaning the razor comes with a base for automatically cleaning and charging.
The shaving head of the 3050CC is the same as in the case of the Series 3 3040s and 3010s that we reviewed a while back and it’s comprised of three cutting elements.

The two outer foils are used for cutting hairs close to the skin, while the middle trimmer features slots for cutting longer hairs and a micro comb that guides the hairs into the slots.
Other noteworthy features are: an integrated pop-up trimmer, charging and cleaning notification LEDs, 5-minute quick charge function, cordless operation for up to 45 minutes.
Since the 3050CC is not designed to be used for wet shaving, you can also shave with the device plugged in.
This is a welcome feature that will be useful when you’re in a hurry and can’t even afford 5 minutes for a quick charge (or when the battery will no longer hold a decent charge).
Here’s our quick unboxing video:
Build quality and ergonomics
The 3050CC feels light and solid in the hand. The girth of the body is substantial and it doesn’t taper towards the middle like in the case of Panasonic shavers for example.

However, this doesn’t seem to impact the ergonomics in any noticeable way. The reduced weight of the razor and the generous rubberized inserts provide excellent grip.

The color scheme of my review unit was pretty lackluster, consisting of dark grey and black.
There is also a variant of the 3050CC with red and black.
I don’t find the design of the 3050CC particularly exciting, but I can’t say I don’t like it. Overall, it looks and feels like a quality product.

There’s no dedicated travel lock on the 3050cc or on any of the Series 3 ProSkin models.
However, as you can see in the image above, the protective cap extends over the ON/OFF switch, which kind of works as a travel lock.
The pop-up trimmer is conveniently placed and easy to use for touch-ups and trimming your sideburns.

I wouldn’t recommend using it as a facial trimmer as it will take a lot of time and it won’t be the most comfortable experience either. A dedicated trimmer is definitely the way to go in that case.
Battery life and charging
The Braun Series 3 ProSkin 3050CC can be operated both cordless and with the shaver connected to the mains.
The NiMh battery inside should provide enough power for 45 minutes of use. And after using the shaver for a couple of weeks, I can confirm that this statement is pretty accurate.
There’s also a quick charge option that allows you to complete a shave after only 5 minutes of charging (when the battery is completely drained).
You basically have two options for charging the 3050CC: by directly plugging the cord into the shaver or by placing the razor in the charging dock. However, this will also start a cleaning cycle.
And this is probably the only real drawback of the station that comes with the 3050. Unlike the ones from the Series 5 (old generation), 7 (old generation), 8 or 9, you don’t have the option to only charge the razor if you choose so.
The clean & charge stations from the superior lines mentioned above charge the razors by aligning the two metal prongs from the back of the razors with two small metal plates in the station.
The Series 3 shavers that come with a cleaning base lack this feature.
Therefore, if you simply place the shaver into the base nothing will happen. You must press the release/lock button on the top of the holding arm to start the charging & cleaning process.
Unfortunately, you can’t have just one or the other.
Interestingly, in 2020 Braun released a USA/Canada-only Series 5, 6 and 7 models that come with a very similar station to the one of the 3050cc.
Cleaning and maintenance
One of the main selling points of the Series 3 ProSkin 3050CC will most likely be the inclusion of a Clean & Charge station in this price category. And we’ll get to it right away.
But first, I have to mention that you can also perform a manual cleaning.
And I actually recommend doing so and only using the Clean & Charge station once or twice a week for example and save some cleaning fluid.
Manual cleaning
Manually cleaning the 3050CC is pretty straightforward; you can use the included brush to remove the hairs from the inner housing of the shaver (don’t use it directly on the foils) and rinse it with warm tap water.
You can also put a bit of liquid soap on the foils, let it run for a while and then thoroughly rinse the head and the shaver under hot tap water.
Wipe the excess water with a clean cloth and let it dry completely before using it again.
Because Braun uses these cassettes where the blades and foils are merged into a single piece, a manual cleaning is more time consuming compared to cleaning a Panasonic for example.

You’ll have to spend a bit more time to get all the hair clippings out of the intricate shaving head, but overall it’s not a big deal since that cassette is less intricate than the ones on the Series 7 pr 9 for example.
Automatic cleaning with the Clean & Charge station
As mentioned in the previous section, the cleaning dock that comes bundled with the 3050CC is a stripped-down version of the one from the superior series.

Gone are the LED level indicators and cleaning modes, along with the possibility of just charging the razor without cleaning it.
The base is more compact, in the way that it has a smaller footprint when placed on your countertop, but the protruding arm that holds the razor in place makes it less practical for traveling.

The cleaning process is as simple as it gets as you don’t have any options at all.
After removing the cover from the cartridge and placing it inside the base, you insert the razor upside down into the housing, connect it to the mains and press the start button on top.

The cleaning cycle will start and will run for around 2 minutes.
After that, the drying phase will begin and will last for 4 hours.
The drying takes so long because the stations available with the Series 3 don’t use an active drying system, like the ones that come with the Series 7 (certain older models) or the Series 9.
So the alcohol-based solution will just naturally evaporate.
I recommend removing the cleaning cartridge from the base and putting back the cap when you’re not using the station.
Being alcohol-based, the liquid tends to evaporate quicker than other cleaning solutions.
The station does a great job of cleaning and sanitizing the razor; the solution also lubricates the blades, so there’s no need to do it yourself.
Shaving performance
Having reviewed the Series 3 ProSkin 3040s not very long ago, I pretty much knew what to expect from the 3050CC in terms of dry-shaving performance. And it was no surprise that they were pretty much identical.
The Series 3 3050CC provided a comfortable and smooth shave that was also pretty satisfactory with regard to closeness.

I used the 3050cc daily most of the time and this is the scenario where the shaver yields the best results.
Adding a pre-shave always seems to help me get a better shave and that was the case here as well.
Shaving after two days of beard growth wasn’t the best with the 3050CC as it tends to leave some longer hairs behind, especially on my neck where they lay flat on the skin.
This leads to more strokes and increases shaving time.
However, it was still quite a bit better than for example a Panasonic Arc 3.
The razors from the Series 3 are pretty basic and can feel underpowered if you have a very heavy beard or shave irregularly. If that’s the case I recommend checking out a more powerful and advanced shaver, like the original Series 5 or the Series 8.
The shaving experience with the 3050CC was pleasant for the most part and I don’t have any major complaints. Again, this is considering its price.
If I were to nitpick, I would say that for me personally shaving with a Panasonic Arc 3 for example gives me a slightly closer shave. However, the Series 3 is more comfortable, especially when used dry.
Also, I only used the popup trimmer to adjust my sideburns and didn’t really like it.
It took more work to effectively cut the hairs than with the aforementioned Panasonic.
The trimmer just seems dull and takes a lot of effort to capture and cut the hairs.
Included accessories
Inside the package you’ll find the following items:

- 3050CC electric razor
- Clean & Charge Station
- 1 x Braun Cleaning Cartridge (170 ml)
- Cleaning Brush
- Protective plastic cap
- Extensible charging cord
Unfortunately, there’s no travel case included. If you really want one, you’ll have to pay a few extra dollars and buy the Series 3 3070CC, which is an identical razor but also includes a travel case.
Another option would be to purchase a third-party case, there are quite a few available and will accommodate the shaver and the charging cord.
Replacement parts availability
All Series 3 razors use the same shaving head replacement, called a cassette. These cassettes include the foils and the blades, so they can’t be bought or replaced separately.

The compatible cassettes for the 3050CC are the 32b/32s parts and can be bought at a very reasonable price, making the Series 3 one of the most convenient lines of shavers with regard to costs of ownership.
Moreover, these parts have to be replaced once every 18 months, which is significantly longer than the industry standard of 12 months.
Wrapup — Who should buy the 3050cc?
At the moment of writing, I personally don’t think you can find a better shaver at this price point that also comes with a cleaning station.
Braun Series 3 ProSkin 3050cc

The 3050CC is a simple, but capable razor that will satisfy most men who are looking for a reliable shaver to be used mostly for daily shaving and also want the convenience of a cleaning station.
This razor offers all of these and does so at a quite reasonable price; moreover, the replacement parts cost less than the ones from other manufacturers.
Please keep in mind that the Series 3 3050CC is a dry only shaver, so while you can clean it under running water, you cannot shave with shaving cream or gel. So if you’re only interested in dry shaving, the 3050CC should be on your list of options.
Alternative shavers
Being a dry only shaver with an automatic cleaning station, you know exactly what you’re getting with the 3050CC.
The other two variations, namely the 3070CC and 3090CC don’t have any significant extra features to justify the price — a travel case and foil locking mechanism — so the 3050CC in this review is the more sensible choice.
With that said, I only recommend buying it if you can find it at a great deal.
The regular retail price is too high for this razor, especially since you can now find the Series 3 3040s at bargain prices.

The Series 3 is suitable for daily shaving, but they’re definitely not the fastest razors nor do they provide the closest shaves, especially if you have a coarse beard.
So your expectations must be realistic in this regard.
If you want a faster and closer shave, then the Series 8 models will be more suitable. They are significantly more expensive, but the difference in performance is also noticeable.
I just bought the shaver series 3 3050cc , it seems the charge got issue.
I van only see 2 led light after so many hours change, please advise.
Thank you
Hi,
you should definitely make use of your product’s warranty and send it back for a replacement.
Hope this helps.
I thought the same at first! BUT that is not an issue. The answer is in instructions manual. The 3050cc has only 2 leds indicating power level (green ones). The third led (red one) is a “low-battery” led. And of course the other (fourth) led is an “need to clean” led.
Thanks for the review Ovidiu. I’ve been using Braun 3 series shavers for many years now, my 390cc is still going after 7 years. The 32s cutter/foils are much more expensive now, £12 in 2014 to £25 in 2017 and not all online retailers sell them. It is holding charge less well now, and I am considering taking it apart and replacing the AA rechargeables with new NiMH. However this razor is selling at £43 in the UK which is not much more than replacing cutter/foil/batteries so I will probably go for it. Interesting to read that it’s a Li-ion battery and that you can also use if direct on mains. Thanks very much. Kevin
You are very welcome, Kevin. Considering the cost of the 32s/b cassettes in the UK you’re probably better off with buying a new shaver.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Can anyone advice or help me to find the rechargeable batteries for the Braun 3050cc model? Amazon doesn’t have it, and I can’t find it on the internet. Thank you.
I just purchased the Braun series 3 for shaving my head and I was surprised with the results. I got a very close shave with no nicks or burns. I would highly recommend this razor for anyone that wants a good close shave on their head.
Will the 3050 razor fit in the old 350 clean and charge station? Just need the razor as the station still works perfectly.
Yes, the older Series 3 stations should work seamlessly with the updated cc shavers (3050cc, 3090cc).
Can i wash the shaver 3050cc under running tap water ? Is it waterproof up to 5M deep ?
Yes, the 3050cc is IPX7 certified, so you can wash it without any worries.
hi thank you for this
after many digging i cant see why we cant use 3050cc with wet shaving i mean its the same blade as the wet and dry model 3040s this blade is (32B)
and the same design i compared them my self
the only real difference between them is the color the wet version always blue like 3040s .
and the second difference that the dry only version u can shave with it while charging (3050cc)
but the wet and dry version (3040s) cant use it while charging
so i can really use it with gel and foam with dry only like 3050cc if i isolated the bottom part from water ?
or there is something else i cant see
Hi Mostafa,
The dry only operation of the 3050cc is intended as a safety precaution since it can be used while plugged in. The shaver itself is fully waterproof.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
So, since the Wet&Dry models are exactly the same (are they?) as Dry only models in terms of razor blades and waterproof, can we assume that they are still able to do wet shaving as well. And the “Wet only” is just a marketing to not use it dry while connected to mains as safety precaution?
I meant of course “(…) to not use it WET while connected to mains (…)”.
That would be a fair assumption. I can only recommend using it according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
I’ve have the Braun Series 3 3050cc shaver + Clean and Charge station.
The trimmer has just come off the back due to one of the plastic clips has broken off.
I was wanting to know if this cleaning station is compatible with other Series 3 shavers with trimmers?
Hi Jamie,
The station is only compatible with Series 3 shavers that come with a cleaning station, like the 3070cc or 3090cc. It will not work with the solo models (like 3040s, 3010s etc.).
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Does it mean that the 3040, 3010 models (without clean station) have only 2 metal contacts inside its socket, and not 3 contacts like the 3050, 3070 and 3090 models?
No, the 3040, 3010, etc. also have 3 pins inside the charging port. But the cleaning cycle will simply not start.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
OK, Thanks for clarification.
Ho Ovidiu,
First of all, many kudos for your great reviews of razors and shaving overall. Great job, it’s a very useful shave-o-pedia.
Regarding the 3050cc review, didn’t you make a mistake stating that 3050cc has a Li-Ion battery? Braun states that whole Series 3 has a NiMH batteries (but still, quick charging ones).
Hi Bart,
Many thanks for the heads up. That is correct, I’ve updated that part.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
And another question.
Will it work with the trimmer from 3010BT? Can I buy only the trimmrs (I think Braun sells it as BT32) and will they work with 3050cc?
Absolutely, it will with your 3050cc, so you can confidently buy the BT32 accessories.
Is there any way to turn off the Charging Dock Charge Base light, when plugged in the blue base light stays on all the time
I’m afraid you can only turn it off by applying a piece of black duct tape over it.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I use and manually clean my 3050CC daily. I can find no recommendations on how often to the CC station to clean and lube my shaver.
There’s really not a right way of using a cleaning station. You can use it after every shave or you can alternate between it and cleaning your shaver manually for example. Just keep in mind that if you don’t use the station regularly you should lubricate the razor around once a week using a light oil (like clipper oil). I wrote details guide on cleaning and lubricating electric shavers if you want to check them out.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you for a great review! I bought the 3050cc model based mainly on your review and couldn’t be happier. It’s a lot better than my previous Philips S3110. I never thought I’d actually enjoy shaving, but with the Braun, I do.
I was wondering whether I really need to leave the shaver docked in the station for the full 4 hours, since the station doesn’t actively dry it. Wouldn’t it be faster to just take the shaver out, detach the head, and let it dry?
Hi Cristian,
Thank you for the kind words, glad you found the review useful and you’re enjoying your new Series 3.
Regarding your question, absolutely, you can do that without any worries. In fact, that’s what I also do with my Series 5 and 7 which also lack an active drying system. Taking the shaver out of the station and letting it air dry with the head removed is probably the best option.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you very much for your swift and helpful reply, Ovidiu!
My s3 3050cc broke but my cleaning charging station works fine. Will the s3 3040 razor work in my cleaning charging station?
Unfortunately no, it will not work. Only the cc shavers models are compatible with the station.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi,
I dropped my S3 and am in southern Zambia and far from repair services.
None of the parts broke. The cutting head popped off and one of the two supports which hold the cutting head in place came off. I am looking for a picture of the S3 without the cutting head so I can see how it goes back together. If can direct me to one or email me one, I’d be most grateful. Thanks
Hi Tom,
Sorry about that. I uploaded an image here, it’s the most revealing one I have. Hope it helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Unfortunately, it looks like a piece of one of the three posts on the handle below the cutter is missing. Can I get spare parts somewhere?
Thanks
They’re called oscillating bridges and have the part number 67030836. Shavers.co.uk has them in stock from what I can see — link and so does Amazon. Having the part replaced in a Braun service center is another option, but could end up a bit too expensive.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Many thanks Ovidiu.
Mine is a 3050cc. Will that part fit for my shaver?
You are welcome — it will definitely fit, the part is the same for all Series 3 models, including your 3050cc.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu, regarding ‘charging only’ in the cleaning station I accidentally found that if you depress the station button while it is switched off at the mains and then switch on at the mains it will bypass the cleaning cycle and charge only. This ‘hack’ works with both of the series 3 cc shavers I own. I hope this is helpful.
Hi Paul,
That’s really interesting. I don’t have a Series 3 station anymore, but I’ll try the hack on my Series 7 70 cc which uses a really similar station. Thanks so much for taking the time to share this.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu