Braun Series 5 (with Turbo Mode) Review: Finally Worth Buying?

The Series 5 has been one of Braun’s best-selling shavers thanks to its affordable price and decent performance.

And in 2024, there’s a new update that brought a very interesting feature to this series: a faster, more powerful Turbo mode.

Just like the more expensive Series 6 and Series 7, this setting allows the user to choose a faster shaving mode for some extra performance.

I’ve been using the new Braun Series 5 with Turbo mode for a couple of months and in this review I’ll tell all you need to know about it.

I’ll also compare it to the previous (non-turbo) Series 5 and see how much of an improvement this new mode really brings.

Finally, we’ll check out a couple of alternatives from both Braun and the competition.

The Braun Series 5 in a nutshell

The new Turbo Series 5 shavers are available alongside the previous generation and you can simply tell them apart by the first two digits of the model names:

• 50xx (non-Turbo). For example, the 5018s
• 51xx (Turbo). For example, the 5118s

All Series 5 Turbo models have identical shaving performance, so the differences only come down to the included accessories.

Here’s a table summarizing them:

My Series 5 is the 5118s base model that only includes a hair/beard trimmer attachment in addition to the standard accessories.

Again, the shaving performance is identical, so the review will still be relevant for the 5120s and 5150cs models.

As for which Series 5 to buy, you should simply choose one depending on your budget and needs.

If for example you shave often and don’t need a beard trimmer with various guards, then the 5118s is probably the one to get as it costs less than the other ones.

As you can tell, none of them is available with a cleaning station, but you can actually buy one separately and it will be fully compatible with your Series 5.

Or you can use the one you already have from a Series 6 or 7 (more details in the Cleaning and maintenance section).

Side note: Braun has only released the new Turbo Series 5 in North America, so the European models still have only one standard shaving mode.

With that out of the way, let’s quickly go over the main features.

Features overview

1. 3-blade shaving system

Just like the previous generations, this latest Braun Series 5 is a 3-blade foil shaver.

We have the conventional setup with two foil elements and one slit trimmer.

The foils cut the hair at skin level, while the middle element would catch and pre-trim longer, flat-lying hairs.

These 2024 Series 5 models also come with a new shaving head (called cassette) that has a different part number: 54b.

Visually, it looks identical to the 53b heads that equip the non-Turbo models and all of them are cross-compatible.

The three shaving elements of the new Series 5 can still flex independently, but the shaving unit itself is fixed.

Side note: the Series 6 is essentially a Series 5 with a flexible head, a feature that doesn’t make a big difference in practice since the range of motion is quite limited.

2. Two shaving modes

The highlight of the new Braun Series 5 (51xx models) is of course the inclusion of two user-selectable modes:

• Standard
• Turbo

Cycling between the two settings is done via a small button located right below the ON/OFF switch.

If you want some actual numbers, in the standard mode the motor runs at approximately 8000 RPM, while the Turbo mode ramps it up to 8500 RPM.

The difference doesn’t seem like much on paper, but you can certainly hear and feel the power increase.

I’ve tested the two modes extensively and I will get into all the details in the performance section of the review.

3. Wet/dry, cordless-only operation

All the new Braun Series 5 models are fully waterproof for easy cleaning with water.

You can also shave in the shower or with your favorite shaving gel/cream.

Since these are wet/dry shavers, they will only operate cordless, so you can’t shave with the cord plugged in.

If this feature is a must-have, a good alternative would be the Braun Series 3 ProSkin 3000s that can work cordless and corded.

Braun uses Li-ion batteries for the Series 5 and should provide around 50 minutes worth of cordless operation (in standard mode).

4. EasyClick attachments

The Series 5 still doesn’t come with an integrated slide-out hair trimmer, so we get a separate attachment that fits in place of the cassette.

The 5120s and 5150cs also include 5 different-size guards if you want to trim your beard to a specific length (1 to 7 mm).

An additional body trimmer attachment with two guards is only shipped with the 5150cs.

5. Warranty

The Braun Series 5 comes with a standard 2-year warranty.

From personal experience and from various user reports, the Series 5 seems to be one of the more reliable Braun shavers, probably because it’s very simple in its design and operation.

Included accessories

As we already know, the bundle will depend on the S5 model you’re buying.

Here’s what you’ll get with the 5118s:

• Protective cap
• Trimmer attachment
• Cleaning brush
• Charger
• User manual

It’s not too bad considering the price of the shavers, but I would have liked to see at least a very basic travel pouch.

Nevertheless, I’m glad Braun finally decided to include a protective cap for the foil head (we didn’t get one with the non-turbo Series 5).

Fun fact: none of the high-end series (7, 8 or 9) come with a protective foil cover; incidentally, those do include a travel case.

Build quality and ergonomics

The new Braun Series 5 looks and feels almost identical to the non-Turbo models.

It’s only when you look at them side by side that you’ll be able to tell the differences and they are subtle.

Precisely, we have the Turbo button right below the ON/OFF switch and the thumb rest area now has these slanted ribs instead of dimples. And that’s about it.

So in terms of ergonomics, build quality and design, things are pretty much the same.

And that means the Series 5 continues to be a robust, no frills shaver that’s easy to use and doesn’t have any major flaws.

The grip is excellent as more than half the handle is covered in this rubber sleeve and it’s among the grippiest I’ve seen on any shaver.

The thumb rest is positioned just right and I like Braun’s attention to details: your thumb will stay perpendicular to the angle ribs (for maximum grip) if you’re right handed.

If you’re a lefty, it’ll be slightly less grippy, but definitely still good enough.

I also like the weight and balance of the Series 5 and I think most users regardless of age and experience will find it very manageable.

It weighs 173 grams (6.1 oz) with only the foil head in place.

The ON/OFF button doubles as a travel lock and you can activate and deactivate it via a long press.

Let’s now talk about the not so great parts.

In my opinion there are three things that could have been better.

1. There’s no foil head release tabs/button, so you’ll have to pry it off with your thumb or even thumbnail if your hands are wet and slippery.

It can be fiddly and you will have to do it every time you clean the shaver (basically after every use).

Panasonic for example is one brand that has a foil release system for almost all their shavers regardless of price point. Even their inexpensive travel shavers have it.

2. There’s no integrated hair trimmer. For me this is a bummer as I don’t like the separate Braun trimmer aka EasyClick (more on that later).

Also, you constantly have to remove the foil head to insert the trimmer. And again that’s not very practical since there’s no release button.

3. The foil frame is just a bit too wide and too long. It seems unnecessary since the actual cutting elements are more compact.

This exact system is used on the current Series 6 and 7 as well and those suffer from the same problem.

Since this is a rather simple shaving head, I think they could have done something similar to the Series 3 where the foil elements stick out more and the frame is more compact.

For me this is the only reason why I have a slight bias towards the Series 3 ProSkin when it comes to usability and how easy it is to shave with one vs the other.

It’s not by any means a major problem, but something to consider especially for beginners.

Overall, I’d say the Braun Series 5 is a well thought-out shaver that feels very robust and we can let a few things slide given its price.

For example, the lack of a foil release button is somewhat understandable here, but no so much in the case of the Series 7 which costs a lot more.

Battery life and charging

All Braun Series 5 (Turbo) models are wet/dry, cordless-only shavers.

When fully charged, the internal Li-ion battery will provide around 50 minutes worth of cordless operation in Standard mode.

The Turbo setting will of course require more energy, so you’ll get around 40 minutes. That’s not great, but still good enough.

Charging the battery from 0 to 100% took just under 50 minutes and there’s a 5-minute quick charge function as well.

That will allow you to charge the shaver for 5 minutes when the battery is depleted and get enough charge for a quick shave.

My suggestion would be to simply charge your Series 5 whenever you can so you’re never caught off guard.

With modern Li-ion batteries the impact on their lifespan will be minimal.

The included charger can take between 110 and 240 volts, so you can use it anywhere.

It comes with a USA plug, so you will need a basic plug adapter to use it abroad.

All Series 5 have only a basic 3-level battery charge indicator which is common for shavers in this price range (like the Philips Series 3000 or the Panasonic Arc 3).

To wraps things up, the battery life of the Series 5 (with Turbo mode) is adequate, but at least it charges quickly and Braun’s track record is solid when it comes to the lifespan of the battery.

The new Series 5: shaving performance

I’ve been using my Series 5 5118s for almost two months, switching between it and other shavers that I deemed relevant for a direct comparison.

Among those, there’s the previous non-turbo Series 5 (5018s), the Braun Series 3 ProSkin, the Philips Series 3000 and the Panasonic Arc 3.

And to be perfectly honest, I didn’t expect to like the updated Series 5 (with Turbo mode) as much as I did.

See the price on Amazon

But it turned out to be a really effective, adequately powerful and reliable shaver (for the money) despite a couple of inherent shortcomings.

Important: My positive experience with the new S5 was the result of always using the Turbo mode and I shaved dry for the majority of time.

Let’s now get into more details.

Turbo mode — it actually works

I’ve used many electric razors that feature some sort of personalization mode where you choose between a sensitive setting and a more powerful one.

And the high-speed setting was always the way to go.

In fact, often times the low-power mode just feels very slow and sluggish and really doesn’t do much — on the contrary.

And that’s exactly what happened in the case of the Braun Series 5.

The standard mode even felt slower than my old (non-turbo) Series 5 5018s.

The shaver was indeed very comfortable but it stayed almost as gentle in Turbo mode.

However, the speed and effectiveness of the shaver were noticeably better with Turbo activated.

As a result, the shave would be quicker and more enjoyable and I could even get away with faster strokes.

And for the context, I have dry, sensitive skin that’s prone to razor burn and bumps and my neck get easily irritated.

If I was able to shave in Turbo mode without major discomfort, I’d say the majority of users will be perfectly happy with it as well.

So let’s break it down and see how it performed in several key areas.

Closeness of the shave

The Series 5 and Braun electric razors in general aren’t the closest shaving out there.

They do have other pros, but when it comes strictly to the closeness of the shave, other brands like Panasonic edge ahead.

That said, with the new Turbo mode you might hope to get some significant improvements in that regard.

Having used it alongside the old Series 5, I don’t think that’s the case.

Sure, the new one feels and sounds faster and overall the shave is quicker, but in the end, the closeness was very similar.

It did however took less effort to get the same result.

And that outcome was to be expected.

The new Series 5 has essentially the same foil head/shaving system (even if it has a different part number).

The closeness was really good on my cheeks, but the areas with dense, thick hairs (chin, moustache in my case) still felt just a bit rough to the touch.

The Braun Series 5 (with Turbo mode) is similar in that regard to the old S5 generation and the Braun Series 3 ProSkin.

But it is able to provide the same results in fewer strokes and quicker.

For my standards the smoothness was perfectly acceptable and for a significant upgrade you would probably have to look at something like the Panasonic Arc 5.

Comfort

The Series 5 has always been a gentle shaver, so the main question was whether this would still be the case now with the new Turbo mode.

I’m happy to report that it is — when switching from standard to the high power setting there are only minimal if any tradeoffs at all.

I have sensitive especially on my neck and shaving dry with my 5118s was generally comfortable and irritation-free.

That said, I highly recommend the use of a good pre-shave lotion if you shave dry.

My pick would be the Speick pre-shave lotion as it makes the skin slicker without feeling oily — in addition to other benefits.

This will make a big difference as the foil head of the current Series 5 doesn’t glide as easily as other shavers in this price range (like the Panasonic Arc 3 or Braun’s own Series 3).

If you can’t get the Speick pre-shave, then the highly popular Williams Lectric Shave would be a decent alternative.

You don’t have to use a pre-shave lotion, but in this case I think it makes shaving easier and faster and it only takes seconds to apply.

In conclusion, the new Braun Series 5 continues to be a comfortable razor regardless of the shaving setting.

And as I’ve mentioned a few times already, I think most users should use the Turbo mode as it makes the shaver faster and more effective without being overly aggressive.

Shaving longer hairs

Apart from comfort, the way Braun foil shavers manage to deal with longer, flat-lying hairs is one of their main strengths vs other brands like Panasonic or Remington.

That said, this trait is particularly noticeable with the higher-end Braun models like the Series 8 and 9.

The current Series 5, 6 and 7 use essentially the same shaving heads and all of them are decent performers when it comes to shaving longer stubble.

And by longer I mean a 3-day beard; some users with lighter beards that grows back slower can stretch that to 4 days.

Despite having only 3 cutting elements, the Braun Series 5 fared surprisingly well with the flat-lying hairs on my neck.

It did require more strokes and changes of directions compared to let’s say a Series 9, but I was still pretty happy with its efficiency.

I don’t think it’s inferior to a Series 6 and 7 in this regard, and only required a bit more wrist work since unlike those shavers, the Series 5 has a fixed head.

If you usually shave daily and up to every 3 days and your hair isn’t very coarse/wiry, the new Series 5 should be a suitable shaver.

Otherwise, I would invest in a more capable razor like the Series 8 or even 9.

Wet shaving

Most users (myself included) will be shaving dry with the Series 5 — it’s convenient and the shave is easily good enough.

That said, the shaver is waterproof and suitable for a wet shave if you want to give it a try.

If you use a thin, slick layer of lather you will most likely enjoy shaving wet with the new Series 5.

The head glides effortlessly (provided you keep the lather well hydrated) and in my case, the closeness was also slightly better.

I would highly recommend the use of a shaving cream that comes in a tube, not in a pressurized can because it’s far superior.

You can simply lather it in your palms and apply it to the wet face.

Again, you don’t need that thick, fluffy layer — it will actually be detrimental to your shave.

A few of my favorite shaving creams are Speick, Nivea Original, Proraso or Palmolive.

These are inexpensive, widely available shaving creams that work really well with electric razors.

The Black Jack Beard Lube (a non-foaming shave balm) is another great option.

For more details you can check out my guide on how to wet shave with an electric razor.

Hair trimmer (EasyClick)

The separate trimmer attachment (the same that comes with the Series 6 and 7) is unfortunately not very good.

It’s bulky, fiddly to use and not very practical for quickly trimming/edging your sideburns or moustache.

It can be useful if you need to pre-trim your entire beard before a clean shave when you haven’t shaved in a long time.

But for everyday, quick grooming, an integrated pop-up trimmer would have been better.

Braun however went in a different direction with the S5, S6 and S7 and some of them even come with various other attachments, like different size guards or even body hair trimmers.

I always shave regularly, so for me (and for many others) these beard trimming attachments are not that useful.

But if you’re someone who alternates between a beard and a clean shave, they’ll come in handy.

Personally, I would still get a separate, dedicated beard trimmer in this case as it’ll be much better than the Braun EasyClick trimmer head.

Noise during use

The Braun Series 5 is a foil shaver, so it is intrinsically loud.

The variation in noise between the standard and Turbo mode isn’t that significant (3-4 decibels difference), but the high pitch of the motor with Turbo on may come across as louder.

That said, the Series 5 doesn’t vibrate as much as the Braun razors that have a flexible head. In that regard, the noise is more toned down.

But it’s not a quiet shaver by any means — you will need a rotary if having a quiet shaver is a must.

Cleaning and maintenance

Manual cleaning

One of the perks of owning a basic, no-nonsense shaver like this Series 5 is that’s it’s also very easy to clean and to care for.

All the new Series 5 models are waterproof, so you can just rinse them clean with tap water.

This is in my opinion the easiest and most effective way to clean an electric razor.

Once you’ve finished shaving, turn off the razor, remove the foil head and wash it thoroughly with tap water (inside out).

Rinse the rest of the shaver as well, particularly the head.

You can take this one step further and use a bit of liquid hand soap for a very thorough cleaning.

Just put the foil head back on the shaver, place a bit of liquid soap on the outside of the foils and turn the shaver on.

You can use your finger to distribute the lather across the entire foil head.

After 10 to 20 seconds, with the shaver still on, rinse the head under the tap.

Turn it off, remove the foil head and give everything one final rinse.

After that, gently pat the parts dry with a clean towel and let them air dry (with the foil head detached).

That’s pretty much it.

The liquid soap part isn’t necessary after every shave unless you use shaving cream/gel — in that case it is necessary.

I didn’t mention the EasyClean system of the Series 5 because it simply doesn’t work well enough.

In theory, you would rinse the head without removing it.

There’s a cutout below the head that lets tap water flow through the foils, but this just doesn’t remove all the hairs and you’d still need to remove the head to let it air dry.

In other words, I would clean it the conventional way as described above.

Automatic cleaning

The new Braun Series 5 isn’t available with an automatic cleaning & charging station, but it will actually work with a compatible one.

You would need a Braun Type 5434 cleaning station (the same one shipped with the Series 6 and Series 7 360 Flex).

So if you already have one or you plan on buying it separately, it will work with your Series 5 51xx (regardless of model).

I cleaned my 5118s with my Series 7 station and it worked perfectly.

The station doesn’t have any active drying system and it only charges the shaver after going through a cleaning cycle, but it does a good job cleaning and lubricating the head.

You can also buy and use third-party cleaning solutions that cost a lot less and work great.

Lubrication

The foil head of the new Series 5 remains pretty cool during use and only gets warm towards the end of the session.

This happens particularly after cleaning the head with liquid soap as that strips away any traces of lubricant.

For that reason, I think it would be beneficial to lubricate the blades every once in a while (more often if you clean it with soap).

I use clipper oil as it’s widely available, affordable and very effective.

Some of the best brands of clipper oil you can try are Wahl, Oster or Syprin.

A single drop on the outside of each foil is all it takes (the head must be clean and dry).

After applying the oil let the shaver run for 5 seconds so that the lubricant will coat the entire length of the cutters and gently wipe any excess with a paper towel.

Once or twice a week will be enough in most cases.

Tip: Alternatively, a spray lubricant for shavers and clippers will also work really well.

Replacement parts availability

The Braun Series 5 Turbo models (51xx) come with an updated foil head (cassette) with the part number 54b.

Braun 54b replacement head

See the price on Amazon

According to the manufacturer this is a tweaked head that’s more comfortable and effective than the previous 53b of the non-Turbo Series 5.

Having used both the 54b and 53b, I can’t really tell any difference and both are fully compatible with the non-Turbo and the Turbo Series 5.

So my suggestion would be to simply buy the one you can find (for a better price).

Braun says the cassette should be replaced every 18 months.

In the real-world, that will depend on how often you shave, the coarseness of the hair and how you take care of the shaver (cleaning, lubrication).

So you may need to buy a new head earlier or later than that.

The Series 5 shaving heads have been free of any serious trouble (unlike the first gen Series 9 cassettes for example) and are generally durable and reliable.

Takeaway: Should you buy the Braun Series 5 (Turbo)?

With the previous non-Turbo Series 5 models, there wasn’t any compelling reason to recommend them over a Braun Series 3 ProSkin.

The performance was pretty much the same, but the S3 ProSkin was easier to use (slimmer head), it had an integrated trimmer and the price was generally a bit lower.

But with the new 51xx Series 5 models (Turbo), I think they’re finally a worthy option in the affordable price range.

They feel noticeably zippier than a Series 3 and that translates into a faster, more effective shave.

I still prefer the ergonomics of the Series 3 and I think it is a better option for beginners.

But if you want a comfortable, affordable Braun shaver and you shave around three times a week (or more), the new Series 5 should now be on your short list as well.

If you already own a non-Turbo Series 5 that works perfectly fine for your needs, it’s probably best to hold on to it.

You can think of upgrading to a Turbo Series 5 when it’s time to change the foil head and you can get a great deal on the new shaver.

Let’s now quickly check out a few other options.

Alternatives

1. Braun Series 3 ProSkin 3040s

While not quite as powerful as the new S5, this shaver has a more compact head and an integrated trimmer.

If you have a light beard or you need a shaver for your teenage son, I think this would be a worthy alternative.

It’s probably the best-selling Braun shaver nowadays and until recently it was my default recommendation for an affordable foil razor.

The performance is overall similar, but in my case it takes me more time to shave with the S3 vs the new Series 5.

But as I’ve mentioned earlier, I like the frame-less foil head design of the S3 more as it makes the razor very nimble.

2. Philips Norelco Series 3000

A rotary could be a good option for users who shave less often and need a very quiet electric razor.

The Philips Series 3000 is probably the one to buy for roughly the same money as the Braun Series 5.

I personally prefer foil shavers so I am a bit biased towards the S5, but the rotaries will generally be more effective with longer stubble.

The closeness is not quite as good in my experience, but that may vary among different users with different preferences for foil or rotary razors.

3. Panasonic Arc 3 ES-LL41-K/ES-LL21-K

Panasonic’s 3-blade shavers are the direct competitors to the Braun Series 5 and 3 models.

There are a lot of newer and older models available in Panasonic’s lineup, but in my opinion the ES-LL41-K (or ES-LL21-K in Europe) are the ones to get.

These models are fitted with powerful motors, have a slim shaving head and come with an excellent integrated hair trimmer.

I think the performance (closeness, comfort) is very similar to the new Braun Series 5, but the Panasonic is more manageable (slimmer head).

I don’t find it as effective when shaving longer, flat hair that grows in different directions, so I’d suggest getting the Panasonic if you shave often (daily or every other day).

Also, Panasonic shavers and replacement foils/blades tend to cost more than the similar Braun models.

This concludes my review of the new Braun Series 5 with Turbo mode (5118s).

If you have any other questions or you’d like to share your experience, make sure to leave a comment below.