Cuts through a 1, 3, or 7 day beard with ease, while still gentle on skin. They’re also a bit more aggressive, especially if you shave dry and have sensitive skin. Their shavers have some specific pros but also cons when compared to Braun shavers.
However, they’re not as practical and there are almost no third-party alternatives for the cleaning solution. The 9567cc is at least for now the only one available in the USA, while in Europe for example there are a lot more variations available with various accessories. 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). In this manner, I don’t have to replace or refill the cartridge for a few months.
But if those things don’t apply and just want the closer shave, I think you’ll have a much better chance with a Panasonic shaver. 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. Some will even show a notification on the shaver’s display to remind you that it’s time for a new head. Heat is the number one enemy of rechargeable batteries, so make sure you don’t leave the shaver on your car’s dashboard for example. That said, I would only buy a Series 8 and Series 9/9 Pro with a cleaning station.
The alternative — the new and more popular Series 7 70 (360 Flex) — is in my opinion an inferior shaver in every aspect. It even manages to capture flat hairs that go in different directions quite well, although is not as good as the Series 9 in that regard. There are a lot of currently available versions, but what you need to know is that they all shave the same. Things will be even more difficult if you shave less often and your beard is longer. As such, you don’t really need to get a Series 5 50 or a Series 6 to benefit from the trimming accessories.
Based on our research and testing, we believe a foil shaver produces a better shave for most facial hair. But if you prefer a rotary style, consider Philips Norelco’s Shaver 9300 (or another model in the brand’s 9000 line). Rotary shavers operate differently than foil shavers, using floating heads that grasp and remove hair, which some people find more comfortable. Electric shavers are efficient, convenient and easy to maneuver along the contours of your face.
The Series 9 and Series 9 Pro/PRO+ are currently the most advanced shavers in Braun’s lineup. All S9 cassettes however are compatible with all Series 9 generations, including the original ones. I don’t clean my Series 9 after every shave with it, but more like once or twice a week. In the tables above you’ll find most of the S9/S9 PRO/S9 PRO+ models sold worldwide. The old Series 7 was really close to them performance-wise despite only having 3 cutting elements.
Also, the 85 models are pretty much the same as the previous 84 Series 8 except for some new colors. The cassette is almost identical as well and only the foil frame shape is slightly different. When the Series 8 was released, braun shavers the old Series 7 was still in production and the sales were strong. In theory, since 8 is larger than 7, the Series 8 should be the superior shaver. The beard trimming attachments are also a plus if you sometimes rock a beard.
Series 9 razors are notably bulkier than Series 7 razors, and some testers found the Series 9 razors tough to maneuver in tight spots (like the equally ginormous Panasonic Arc5, which this Braun line somewhat mimics). All braun hair removal include a two-year warranty, which covers everything but the foil and cutting block. We’ve recruited people with diverse facial hair types and shaving preferences to test our picks long term. For an update to this guide, James tested the revamped Braun Series 5, 6, and 7 models for a month. Following the same procedures as the original panel of testers, he compared each new Braun’s performance against that of the others as well as our budget pick.
You can refer to each of the series overviews above for detailed info on the cleaning stations. Another important aspect regarding the Braun cleaning stations is the cross-compatibility between the different series. 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. The S9 and S9 Pro/PRO+ are arguably the most capable foil shavers in that regard. Speaking of the station, the 84 and 85 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 actually recommend. They are very effective and catching and cutting hairs in fewer strokes and work particularly well when shaving dry plus a pre-shave lotion like the one from Speick.