With the launch of Braun’s new flagship shaver, the Series 9, there’s been quite a dilemma in the electric shaving community: should you pick the latest and greatest Series 9, or is the venerable Series 7 still good enough?
Having tested both extensively, in this article I’ll address the Braun Series 7 vs 9 comparison and try to present all the important aspects in an unbiased and actionable review.
Moreover, we’ll see when you should choose one over the other and if it’s worth the upgrade for current Series 7 users.
Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
Different models in a series, same performance
Before diving into the meaty details, it’s important to note that both the Series 7 and Series 9 are available in different variations.
These include models suitable for dry-only use (like the older Series 7 790cc or the Series 9 9090cc), for wet & dry use (Series 7 7865cc, Series 9 9390cc) and they can also come with or without a cleaning station.
Important: as of 2022, the dry-only models have been pretty much discontinued and only the wet/dry variations remain widely available.
Some models can have different names or different colors (market-specific) depending on where they’re being sold.
What really matters is that all the models in a series/generation, be it 7 or 9, have identical shaving performance and choosing one variation over another simply comes down to availability, your personal needs (wet&dry use, cleaning station, etc.), and budget.
For this reason, I won’t be necessarily referring to specific models from the Series 7 or the Series 9, but rather to a series as a whole.
Since their original release, both the Series 7 and 9 have been updated and new models were introduced.
The more recent (original) Series 7 models start with 78; for example, 7865cc, 7893s, 7898cc, etc.
Braun Series 7 7865cc
Some of the previous Series 7 models like the 790cc can still be bought in 2022.
The Series 9 on the other hand has received 3 updates since the original models were launched.
The updated Series 9 shavers (introduced in 2016) use the 92xx naming scheme (9290cc, 9297cc, 9293s etc).
The original models used the 90xx format (9095cc, 9093s etc).
Important: Both the 90xx and 92xx models have been discontinued and replaced by the newer 93xx models.
In 2019, Braun released yet another iteration of the Series 9 line, the 93xx.
As I mentioned in my review of the 9385cc model, this update mainly consists of a slightly larger battery, some new color treatments, and minor visual changes.
Braun Series 9 9390cc
As you can see, most of these updates were minor and didn’t improve the shaving performance to a significant degree. Also, all the newer S9 shavers are now suitable for wet & dry use.
Finally, in 2021, Braun launched the latest Series 9 iteration called the Pro.
The Pro models start with 94: 9465cc, 9477cc, 9419s, etc.
Compared to the standard Series 9, the Pro models come with a new shaving head (cassette) that should handle longer hairs even better. The shavers also feel a bit more powerful.
Braun Series 9 Pro 9465cc
Also, there’s a new charging case included with certain Pro models (like the 9477cc) that is actually compatible with the regular Series 9 and the Series 8.
If you would like to read more details about all the different shavers in the Series 7 and Series 9 lines, you can check out the links below:
Braun Series 7 vs 9: shaving performance
There are many things to consider when deciding which electric razor would suit you the best.
However, the majority will agree that shaving performance is probably the most important one, so we’ll start this Braun Series 7 vs 9 debate by looking at three key aspects: closeness, comfort, and power.
1. Closeness
The Series 7 was a very popular electric shaver.
Update: As of 2022, the Series 7 is becoming more difficult to buy as Braun gradually replaced it with the new (and inferior) generation. The closest alternative in terms of performance and price is the Braun Series 8, a shaver that is similar in many ways to the original Series 7 in this post.
One of the main reasons for the massive success of the Series 7 was the shaving performance.
The high-quality micro-foil, machined with great precision, as well as the sharp blades and specially designed middle trimmer, made the Series 7 one of the best electric razors of its time, capable of providing very smooth and close shaves.
Braun Series 7 790cc
And speaking of it, for most users, the closeness provided by the Series 7 should easily be good enough.
The difference between shaving one side of your face with the Series 7 and the other one with the Series 9 will be negligible in the majority of cases, maybe with a slight advantage for the Series 9.
However, I will say that getting a close shave with the Series 9 requires less work on your part as it feels a bit faster and torquier.
But again, the end results will be pretty much identical, so we don’t have a clear winner here.
The Series 9 Pro with its slightly more powerful motor and the updated shaving head does manage to outperform the Series 7 a bit clearer when it comes to closeness.
However, the Pro still isn’t the closest shaving razor out there (the Panasonic Arc 5 and Arc 6 for example are still better in that regard).
2. Comfort
The Series 7 was for many years the benchmark in terms of comfort
As far as electric shavers go, it was arguably the best choice for men with sensitive skin.
The so-called micro-pulsations made shaving with the Series 7 feel more like a gentle massage, while the shaving head remained cool during use, further increasing the comfort of the shave.
It’s worth mentioning that the Series 7 has 3 or 5 speed settings that allow you to alter the power output from low (sensitive) to high intensity.
In practice, the lower speed settings will just make the shaver feel slow and most users won’t see any noticeable benefits from using them.
Since the Series 7 is already very gentle to the skin, I recommend using the high-intensity mode at all times.
In its price range, the Series 7 is by far the most comfortable shaver you can currently buy.
It’s way ahead of the competition and you’ll have to stretch to a Series 9 for a rather incremental improvement in comfort.
With the Series 9, Braun got rid of the speed settings but still managed to improve the comfort slightly.
This probably goes to show that the speed settings on the Series 7 were merely a gimmick.
Featuring what Braun calls an improved design of the shaving head, the comfort during the shave is really outstanding.
The Series 9 foils remain perfectly cool during use, being extremely gentle to the skin.
I’ve tested dozens of electric shavers and this one is probably the most forgiving and comfortable of them all.
Even men with irritation-prone skin will be perfectly fine using a Series 9.
It is supremely comfortable and smooth during use and you can even get away with applying more pressure than needed (which you shouldn’t do).
The Series 9 shaving head, with an additional trimmer that lifts flat-lying hairs, mows through the stubble with ease, reducing the number of strokes and minimizing the risk of irritation and razor burn.
Braun Series 9 9330s
So the Series 9 takes the lead and is now the new reference in terms of comfort, although not by much as the Series 7 was already an excellent performer in this regard.
In fact, it would still be just fine even for men with very sensitive skin.
But the Series 9 is just a bit smoother and more enjoyable and at least in my case, it was almost impossible to get any discomfort during use (even though I tried inflicting some).
As for the comfort of the Series 7 vs Series 9 Pro, the former is actually better.
The Series 9 Pro just feels a bit harsh and grabbier, so it’s not as forgiving and gentle as the Series 7 or the standard Series 9.
So if you want the most comfortable shaver out there, the regular Series 9 or the Series 7 would be the best options.
3. Power
While the Series 9 marginally beats the Series 7 in the comfort department, it’s the clear winner when it comes to fast shaving sessions and sheer cutting power.
And that difference is even more obvious when comparing the Series 7 to the Series 9 Pro.
Being practically a beefed-up Series 7, with more torque and more cutting elements, the Series 9 shaves effortlessly even a three-day beard and does so extremely fast.
Even if you have very coarse facial hair, the Series 9 will have no trouble providing a smooth and fast shave.
If quick, effortless shaving is what you’re after, then the Series 9/Series 9 Pro is likely a better choice.
The flexing capabilities of the Series 9 and Series 9 Pro shaving units are very similar to the Series 7.
Even though it’s a very simple setup, with the shaving head moving in a single plane — up and down — it’s extremely effective.
The movement of the cutting elements and the swiveling of the whole shaving head are buttery smooth on the Series 7 and 9 and both ensure constant contact with the skin.
Braun gets this right by keeping it simple.
Panasonic for example uses an extremely complex system with its latest shavers. And while it’s an impressive feat of engineering, in practice it just makes shaving more difficult.
The Series 7/9 are arguably some of the best foil shavers in this regard and they will work perfectly fine even when shaving tricky areas like below your jawline.
Braun’s implementation of specialized elements for capturing longer, flat-lying hairs that also grow in different directions is extremely effective on the Series 9.
The two middle cutters (Hyperlift&Cut, Direct&Cut) just work better than anything used on other foil shavers.
On the Series 9 Pro cassette, the golden Hyperlift&Cut element is replaced by a new ProLift trimmer that should capture even longer hairs.
In practice it seems a bit better, but both the original Series 9 and the Pro are extremely capable.
Tip: the new cassette of the Pro, called 94M is actually backward compatible and will fit the Series 9 perfectly.
While the Series 7 was quite good with longer hairs, the Series 9/Pro is even better and will easily get those stray, wiry hairs that would normally require repetitive strokes and often cause your shaving sessions to take longer.
Winner: the Braun Series 9/Series 9 Pro.
Build quality and ergonomics
The Series 7 set a decent standard for build quality and ergonomics at the time of its launch.
It was a sample of what made Braun world-famous for its simple, innovative, and user-centered design solutions.
The Series 7 has a more understated design and looks a bit lackluster in comparison to the flashy Series 9.
Except for a few glossy black variations, the Series 7 features a matte treatment on the plastic surfaces.
The construction however seems very solid and the chunky body contributes to this feeling as well.
The generous use of rubberized material on the back and on the sides ensures a fantastic grip despite the girth.
Being around for quite a while, the design of the Series 7 became sort of a classic.
While there are a couple of notorious problems with it (I’ll get to them shortly), it’s a tried and tested design that stood the test of time very well.
The new Series 9 is not really a clear advancement with regard to build quality. The body of the razor is made entirely out of plastic and some models have a glossy finish.
The Series 9 9290cc/9291cc for example has a matte, frosted treatment that will handle smudges and fingerprints better.
While there isn’t anything wrong with plastic, I would have expected the use of metal for such a premium-priced product.
The high gloss finish on some Series 9 models like the 9295cc or 9297cc is a fingerprint magnet and it’s impossible to maintain smudge-free. The glossy plastic will also begin to tarnish in time.
For these reasons I actually prefer the matte treatment used on certain models like the Series 9 9385cc or 9390cc.
There’s a glossy black version of the Series 9 as well, but it’s not available in the USA.
The shaver itself is larger than the Series 7, but this doesn’t affect the ergonomics in a negative way; it still feels nicely balanced and lightweight in the hand, with the rubber inserts on the back providing a very secure grip.
The shaving head of the Series 7 is noticeably smaller and feels more nimble when shaving tricky spots, like the area above the upper lip or around the sideburns.
I think the Series 7 would be a better choice for a beginner, especially for this reason.
The Series 9 is bulkier and takes some getting used to, but that’s the downside of having an extra cutting element.
It is however very manageable for a 4-blade electric shaver and I think most users will get used to it pretty quickly.
The trimmers on both are pretty average in my experience.
While the positioning and ergonomics are not bad, they just don’t work as well as the ones on Panasonic shavers for example.
They are adequately wide, but the curved profile is a minus in my opinion. For hair trimmers, a straight edge just works better.
Secondly, you must hold the trimmer at a sharp angle relative to the skin in order to cut the hairs efficiently. Otherwise, you’ll have to go over an area multiple times to get all the hairs.
The trimmer on the Series 7 is located on the front and sits perpendicular to the shaver when deployed, while the one on the Series 9 it extends from the back and marginally passes the shaving head.
Both will get the job done, but again, neither is particularly good.
Let’s now get back to those potential problems of the Series 7.
The Series 7 had a notorious issue with the head-locking mechanism that was (and continues to be) pretty poorly implemented.
As some unfortunate Series 7 owners have found out, if you lock the head for more precision and then forget and try to move it, the locking mechanism can simply break.
This is a well-known issue and was even acknowledged by Braun, but they didn’t really do anything about it (the warranty won’t cover it, so take extra care when locking the head).
The newer Series 7 models like the 7865cc still use the same system.
To be honest, since the head of the Series 7 is quite slim and compact, I never felt the need to use this feature.
With the Series 9, the problem was finally addressed and the shaving head would simply move into a different position (there are 5 of them) when applying more pressure.
The second well-known issue with the Series 7 is that after a few years of constantly cleaning it in the station, the paint right below the shaving head would start to chip and come off.
This happened despite Braun’s claims of using a special paint that should withstand constant exposure to the alcohol-based solution.
However, the damage was only visual. I personally haven’t experienced any of that with my Series 7 or 9 shavers.
Other improvements in the ergonomics department of the Series 9 include the addition of a travel lock — the Series 7 still doesn’t have one — and a more intuitive LED display.
The Series 7, even the newer models like the 7865cc use an LCD display on the bottom of the shaver that’s a bit confusing and not particularly useful.
Both the Series 9 and the Series 9 Pro are exactly the same in terms of build quality, so not exactly a step forward compared to the Series 7.
In fact, I would go as far as saying that they feel a bit hollow and less sturdy. However, I never really have any durability issues with my Series 9 shavers.
Winner: Tie. It’s pretty tough to pick a winner in this category as both shavers have their pros and cons. The Series 7 feels less plasticky, while the Series 9 improves a few key aspects of its predecessor.
Purchase price and cost of ownership
This is a rare case in the Braun Series 9 vs 7 confrontation where the winner is pretty clear: the Series 7 takes the lead when it comes to value for money.
Braun Series 7 790cc
The price of the Series 9 models has dropped since the introduction of the line, but you’ll still have to pay more to get one.
Currently, the ones in the 93xx generation are the most widely available and usually the most reasonably priced.
Braun Series 9 9385cc
The Pro models are still pretty pricey, particularly the ones that also include the charging case and the cleaning station (like the 9477cc).
The ones that don’t come with these accessories are usually the cheapest (like the matte gold 9419s).
Braun Series 9 Pro 9419s
We’re interested in 2 aspects here: purchase price and cost of ownership.
At the moment of writing, the price of a Series 7 is lower compared to its Series 9 counterpart. Given the fact that it’s an older model, the price can go down even more as time passes.
The running costs imply new shaving heads (called cassettes) and cleaning cartridges (only for the cc models that come with a Clean & Renew station).
Since the cleaning cartridges are the same, the only difference in the cost of ownership is related to the replacement heads.
The price of the Series 7 replacement cassettes is noticeably lower than the original 90s/90b Series 9 shaving heads (these were discontinued and replaced by the newer 92s/92b/92M/94M cassettes).
Braun Series 7 70s/70b cassette
Braun supposedly uses a different manufacturer for the newer 92s/92b/92M shaving heads of the Series 9.
This probably has something to do with various users reporting a premature failure of the older 90s and 90b cassettes that were used on the original Series 9 models, like the 9090cc or 9095cc.
These problems were most likely solved with the updated shaving heads.
The updated replacement shaving heads for the Series 9, called the 92s/92b/92M, are backward compatible with all Series 9 models, feature a titanium-coated middle trimmer and are actually more reasonably priced than the originals, but they still cost more than the ones for the Series 7.
Braun Series 9 92s/92b cassette
If you’re on a tighter budget and want to reduce your costs as much as possible, then the Series 7 is the better choice.
The Series 7 cassette price undercuts the new Series 9 Pro cassette by even more.
At this moment, the 94M cassette of the Pro models is also pretty difficult to find, but it will likely become available everywhere.
Winner: the Braun Series 7.
Cleaning and maintenance
I don’t recommend buying an electric razor that comes with a cleaning station unless they’re absolutely necessary, especially since foil shavers are usually very easy to clean manually.
However, I will admit that Braun’s cleaning stations are some of the most practical in the industry and I actually suggest you opt for a model that comes with one, be it a Series 7 or a Series 9.
The reasons for getting a cc model are quite straightforward.
For starters, it’s a really effective cleaning station. The cartridges use an alcohol-based solution that does an excellent job of sanitizing and cleaning the shaver.
The solution also acts as a lubricant, so there’s no need for any additional lubrication if you use the cleaning base regularly.
Secondly, Braun’s shaving heads can’t be taken apart, so a manual, thorough cleaning can be more difficult and time-consuming in time. A cleaning station is genuinely useful in this case.
You don’t have to use the station after every shave and I actually recommend you not to.
This will allow you to use the cleaning cartridge for a longer time while preventing hairs and dead skin to remain lodged inside the shaving head.
With Braun stations, it’s easy to remove the cartridge, put the cap back on and store them for future use (here are more tips on how to make the Braun refills last longer).
You can simply clean the razor manually in the meantime with tap water and some liquid soap.
As mentioned earlier, both the Series 7 and the Series 9 can be bought with or without a cleaning & charging station.
The models that don’t include one cost a bit less, but I think it’s worth paying more for the added convenience of the cleaning base.
The stations that come with the Series 7 and 9 work in a similar manner and use the same cleaning cartridges, but they are different.
That means you won’t be able to use your Series 7 razor with a Series 9 station or the other way around.
The cleaning station of the Series 9 has a more simplified, almost minimalist user interface that allows you to charge and clean the shaver with only one button.
However, a notable difference compared to some of the Series 7 stations is related to the drying cycle of the cleaning process.
Precisely, the station that used to come with the older Series 7 models (790cc, 799cc, etc) featured induction heating and this process was completely silent and also took less time.
The Series 9 station on the other hand uses a fan to dry the shaving head.
The station included with all the newer Series 7 shavers like the 7865cc doesn’t have any active drying system, which basically means that the moisture will naturally evaporate over the course of several hours.
This is not a huge deal-breaker, but definitely a cost-reduction measure from Braun with the Series 7.
IMPORTANT: Braun stopped making the Series 7 stations that feature induction heating altogether, even for older Series 7 models like the 790cc. All the Series 7 cleaning stations currently being manufactured lack any active drying systems.
The cleaning base of the Series 9 uses a fan to dry the head of the shaver and while it is relatively silent (compared to other cleaning stations that use a fan), it takes longer to dry the razor compared to induction heating — around 40 minutes, but it’s still way faster than the competition.
Using the s models with a cleaning station: Series 7 vs 9
It’s worth mentioning that a Series 7 s (standing for solo) shaver that doesn’t include a cleaning station (like the 7893s, 740s, etc) will actually work with a compatible Series 7 station purchased later on, while some of the Series 9 s models (the ones starting with 90 or 92) will not work.
The updated Series 9 93xx s models (like the 9330s), as well as the Pro models (like the 9419s) will work with a compatible station (type S9-5430). You can read more details here.
Braun Series 9 9330s [will work with a cc station]
So only certain Series 9 s models will work with a station, while all the Series 7 s (solo) shavers actually come with the special chip found on the cc variations needed to communicate with the station.
The Series 9 solo variations (90xxs, 92xxs) don’t have these components and won’t work with the corresponding cleaning stations.
Winner: tie.
Braun Series 7 vs 9: which one should you buy?
Now that we’ve gone through all the important aspects of the Braun Series 7 vs Series 9 comparison, let’s see when one would be more suitable than the other.
You should buy the Series 9 if you:
- Want the absolute best in terms of shaving comfort and your budget is not really a concern;
- Have very sensitive, irritation-prone skin;
- Need an electric razor that shaves extremely fast;
- Have very coarse facial hair;
- Shave irregularly, every two to three days or even more;
- Have wiry facial hair that tends to lie flat on the skin and grow in different directions;
- Shave your head and you need a razor that also works well as a head shaver.
Braun Series 9 9390cc
The Series 9 9390cc usually represents the best option for users in the USA/Canada.
It’s suitable for wet & dry use, comes with an automatic cleaning station and generally costs less than other similar Series 9 variations.
Again, shaving performance is the same throughout the entire Series 9 range.
For users in the UK/Europe, the Braun Series 9 9385cc is usually the best pick (for the same reasons).
You should buy the Series 7 if you:
- Want the best compromise in terms of performance, comfort, and costs;
- Have very sensitive skin and moderate to thick facial hair;
- You tend to shave more often, (daily or every 2 to 3 days at most);
- You’re planning on getting a cleaning station later on.
If I were to weigh in on this matter, I’d say that the Braun Series 7, regardless of the model, would be perfectly fine for most men.
My picks would be the 790cc or the newer 7865cc (whichever you can find cheaper).
Braun Series 7 7865cc
Yes, the lack of induction heating is a minus, but it’s not a huge deal and the price of the 7865cc is generally lower compared to other models that come with a cleaning base, so definitely consider this one as well.
As I said in the beginning, the actual shaving performance is identical throughout the entire Series 7 line, but these particular models are usually the most reasonably priced.
You could also opt for a Series 9 if you can get a great deal on one and the price difference compared to the corresponding Series 7 model is not significant.
Side note: If you feel like the Series 7 would be a good match for your needs, but you can’t seem to find one anymore, definitely consider a Series 8 instead.
It’s similar performance-wise (not quite as smooth as the Series 7) and you should be able to get one for significantly less than a Series 9. Here’s my review of the S8 if you want all the details.
Series 7 owners: is it worth the upgrade to a Series 9?
If you already have a Series 7 and you’re wondering whether you should upgrade to a Series 9, the decision should be pretty straightforward.
If you’re currently satisfied with your Series 7, then the upgrade won’t be a significant improvement in terms of comfort or closeness — definitely not to the extent of justifying the price difference.
The Series 9/Series 9 Pro will shave faster and you’ll likely see a difference in the time it takes to complete a shave, especially if you have a very thick beard and shave less often. But that’s about it.
However, if you don’t find the Series 7 to shave as comfortable or as fast as you’d like, then upgrading to a Series 9 is probably the right decision.
How significant will the upgrade to a Series 9 be? Well, that really depends on your beard type and the shaving habits outlined previously.
In the case of wiry, longer, coarser beards, the Series 9 and Pro should yield a noticeable improvement in the quality of the shave compared to the Series 7.
There’s really not a clear winner in this Braun Series 7 vs Series 9 battle when you consider all the pros and cons of the two.
Regardless of your decision, you can’t really go wrong with either of them as both the Series 7 and the Series 9 are arguably some of the best electric shavers you can buy today.
If you have any other questions make sure to post them in the comments below.
Absolutely brilliant comparison – very, very helpful – thank you. I have long been a Braun convert and go straight to them but there is always this conundrum of a new model and technology to try and get your head around.
Thank you for your comment, Michael. I really appreciate it. Glad to know you found the article useful.
Best,
Ovidiu
Whats best for a guy with sensitive skin? A series 9 without cleaning station (9242s), or series7( with when both costs the same?
Hi Anders,
The Series 9 is just a bit more comfortable, but I’d say that both will be suitable for someone with sensitive skin.
For most users, I think the Series 7 will be the one to have. The Series 9 makes more sense in several particular situations. For example, when shaving less often (like every 3 days or even more) as the S9 fares better with long facial hair. Also, for someone with very coarse or flat-lying and curly hairs, the Series 9 will be a better option. But if that’s not the case here, I think you should go with the Series 7.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Which trimmers are tye best IC Y’OH want yo maintain a 4 -5 mm stubble ?
None of them, the trimmers on the current Series 7 and 9 aren’t really designed to maintain stubble. I would consider a dedicated beard trimmer or at least an electric shaver that comes with a separate beard trimmer attachment and combs (like the Series 3 3010BT or the 2020 USA models like the Series 7 7075cc, Series 6 6075cc, etc.).
Hi ;
I bought the series 9 simply in faith and not reviewing any forums . Wanted to treat myself to the series 9 since have owned the series 7 790 for about 10 years now ( which still works perfectly fine ; also includes the induction heat cleaning station)
I ordered from Amazon and delivered to Australia for price point . However now I’m stuck since cannot return the series 9 ; will have to try a local marketplace to unload .
I have sensitive skin and have been using Braun shavers since the 80’s. I have to say I’m dissatisfied with the series 9. It does a great job in the shaving aspect ; probably a bit better then the 7 . However dislike the trimmer ; the 7 is better . They both have curved edges but the 9 has a plastic bump underneath ( most likely to protect the trimmer itself since it’s not protected as the series 7 as the trimmer folds into the shaver itself. Also the series 7 lies firm and flat on surfaces whereas the series 9 due to plastic bump rolls around and is unstable making it more prone for potential damage. Also the plastic bump makes it more difficult for effectiveness whereas the series 7 doesn’t have this issue )
Back to the sensitivity; I have sensitive skin and since using the series 9 have irritation after each use ( that’s lasts 24 hours then gradually slowly dissipating) I have given the series 9 a chance thinking it was possibly breaking in ; but still consistently have irritated skin. This is the deal breaker ; everyone will be different of course the way the razor will affect . But in my opinion I do not recommend the series 9 for sensitive skin.
My question to Ovidiu is should I buy another series 7 while still available ( not the new style series 7 ) or buy the series 8 as It looks more like the 7 (shaver head wise ; assuming it will be as good for sensitive skin )
Hi Bob,
Sorry about your poor experience with the Series 9. Unfortunately not everyone will get the same great results with it.
Regarding your question, I would definitely go with the Series 7 instead of the Series 8. The 8 is basically a rebranded Series 5 with a slightly bigger battery and the shaving performance is in fact inferior to the Series 7 (the older generation like your 790cc). Also, the trimmer on the Series 8 is identical to the one on the Series 9, so you definitely don’t want that.
If you didn’t have sensitive skin, I would have considered a Panasonic Arc 5 as those have the best trimmers by far (same pop-up style as the Series 7). But considering everything you said in your comment, I think getting another Series 7 would be ideal as the Panny is definitely more aggressive as a shaver.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I agree 100% with Bob’s recent comments on the Series 9.
I’ve used Braun for 20 years. I’ve owned a series 7 (original) for many years (repeat buy), and I bought the new series 9 when it was released but found the exact same sensitive skin problem with the series 9.
The series 9 does give a smoother closer shave for me on the cheek and jaw areas. However, the series 9 always gives me irriated skin if I push hard for a close shave on the neck area; every single time. So I end up using both the Series 7 and Series 9 together for the best overall shave! The 9 for a close shave on the face, but use the 7 always on *sensitive* mode (only) for shaving over sensitive neck areas, and I also the 7 trimmer exclusively for rogue whiskers missed, as I do not find the Series 9 trimmer effective.
This is obviously an expensive solution, maintaining 2 shavers simultaneously, but I find it gives me the most comfortable overall shave.
The issue I find is the Series 9 is not good for sensitive skin. Wish Braun could correct this with a future model, where a sensitive mode is provided on a Series 9+ (and fix the inferior trimmer on series 9).
Thank you for your comment, Clay. Definitely not ideal having to rely on two shavers in order to get a good shave.
I personally doubt we’ll see a comeback of the user-selectable shaving modes (like the ones on the old Series 7). These beard density sensors seem to be here to stay and all the other brands have developed similar systems. Braun will likely release a new series to replace the Series 9, probably a Series 10. I do not know when that will happen or if they plan to refresh the Series 9 one more time before discontinuing it. But with Panasonic launching new Arc 5 and Arc 6 models, a completely new Braun line could be happening sooner than later.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I agree absolutely with Michael. Extremely helpful article.
I’ll stick with my Series 7.
Thanks again!
Thank you for the kind words, Francis.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Nice comparison, thank you!
I’ve been using the Series 7 for some time. Couple of weeks ago my CC-station stopped working, so I’ve been considering an upgrade to the newer Series 9. However, looking at it, and holding it at the store left me with mixed feelings. Somehow, it feels more plasticky and not that sturdy in my hand. I’m not sure I like the chrome finish either. The positioning of the trimmer is also not that convenient IMO. So, I’m split. If the shaving performance is noticeably better for the Series 9, I’d live with the design, but otherwise… After all this thing is like 300 Euro over here. I can use my Series 7 without the CC-station just fine, it charges from the wall wart and cleans under running water. Also, once a week I “emulate” a cleaning cycle by immersing the tip of the head in a 70% alcohol with added a drop of liquid soap, and turn the shaver on for 30 sec or so. Haven’t noticed any deterioration of performance without the CC-station.
Thank you for your comment. Shaving is a very personal matter and it’s difficult to objectively asses just how much better will a particular shaver be compared to another. It pretty much depends on your particular situation (how thick and dense is your facial hair, how often you shave and so on). I outlined in this article the cases where the Series 9 will be significantly better compared to the Series 7. If they don’t sound familiar, then the Series 7 will still be good enough.
Hope this helps.
Best,
Ovidiu
Todorov,
I have had issues with my Series 7 Cleaning Station as well… what I found was that the drain gets clogged with beard dust. Check the port that goes into the receiver portion of the cassette and ream it out with a pipe cleaner. I do like your method of compromise, I’m stuck on the convenience of the cleaning station.
Thank you for your answer Ovidiu!
I researched the subject a bit further, just to find that there is currently a serious shortage of Series 9 (and even Series 7 for that matter) replacement heads everywhere. Even here in Europe, these are nowhere to be found at normal prices, even in German stores.
I didn’t expect this from Braun, apparently the P&G ownership doesn’t do them any favor. I’m not going to pay Euro 300 for something that may end up as paperweight later on, just because there are not consumables for it.
So, I’ll keep my 7 and wait and see how Braun will resolve this shortage issue.
You are very welcome. That is unfortunately true, there is a shortage of replacement cassettes for the Series 7 and apparently for the Series 9 as well. And the prices of these parts have really spiked as we speak. Things will likely improve in the future and the prices will probably go down again as the parts become widely available, but at least at this moment, one should probably be looking for an alternative. The Arc4 or Arc5 lines from Panasonic are two very good options. They’re also very easy to clean manually, so you can skip the cleaning station as well. In the past Braun used to have a clear advantage over the competition in terms of running costs, even for the high end razors as the replacement heads were inexpensive. The Series 5 (which is very similar to the Series 7) and the entry level Series 3 still have this advantage.
Thank you again for sharing this with us in the comments.
Best,
Ovidiu
I went on the Walmart site and found replacement blades and foil for the series 7 but not sure if the series 9 was available… Check it out.
https://www.walmart.com/browse/1005862_1007220_1044019/?_refineresult=true&catNavId=1007220&facet=brand%3ABraun&ic=37_0
Hope this helps.
Ron M
When you say, the trimmer is an upgrade on the 9 vs the 7, can you elaborate?
The trimmer on the Series 9 is wider, has a slightly less pronounced curvature which I find to work better and it slides up instead of sticking up perpendicular to the shaving head. It’s not perfect as the large head obscures it, but you can get around this by removing the cassette when you’re using the trimmer.
Well, after seeing that replacement cassettes have slowly started coming back to the market, I finally pulled the trigger on the Braun 9290 cc.
I’ve been using this alongside my Braun 799 cc-6 for the past couple of weeks , and here is my two cents:
Aesthetically, the Series 9, especially 92xx models are more appealing, with their matte-gray finish. The CC station also looks sleeker and cleaner in design, and although the quality of the components is perhaps the same, the whole package feels more expensive. One thing to note is that the base of the shaver (the part that accepts the shaving cassette) on the 9290 is made entirely of plastic, as is the body of the cassette itself. This is a step back from the Series 7, where there is a lot of metal parts around this area.
Ergonomically, the Series 9 is a step up IMO. The body curves gently and fits the hand better. You get a very secure grip, which is an advantage if you shave in the shower for example. The head-blocking slider is well-positioned and oriented such, that pushing it unlocks the head-really smart. The display is easier to read, but I still prefer the segment display for cleaning status at the bottom of the 799. Here, you have only a simple drop-shaped light indicator. Compared to displays found on flagship models from Philips and Panasonic, the one on the 9290 feels low tech. Not a big deal, but at that price it should have been better. Unlike the 799, this one has a travel lock. The trimmer slides up parallel to the body of the shaver. While it feels sturdier, to use it precisely one needs to remove the shaving cassette- not optimal IMO.
Shaving performance… hmm, this is a tough one. I recently changed the cassette of my 799, so the two are relatively new. Used dry, they are about the same in terms of closeness. The head of the 799 is slimmer, which makes it easier to shave mustache area. With two days growth of my rather coarse beard, the Series 9 has an advantage in terms of speed and comfort. I shave every day, occasionally skipping a day during weekends. I even tried 3 days (Friday-Monday) routine with the Series 9, and it was OK, whereas the Series 7 starts to struggle and it takes longer time to cut longer facial hair.
Using wet, with Proraso shaving cream, both perform great, but again Series 9 has a slight edge, not in closeness, but in comfort. Used with a cream, I get virtually 100 % irritation-free shave. Splashing some alcohol-based AS lotion afterwards does not cause any sting.
I’d say that the Series 9 is 5-10 % better overall. If one shaves every day or for people with softer and slower-growing beard the advantage of the newer model may be marginal or non-existent.
The CC station works as advertised, not much to say here, except that the fan that is used to dry the head seems a bit too loud. My Series 7 CC station has quit working altogether, so I cannot compare them side by side, but from memory, it was quieter.
Overall, I’m satisfied. This is clearly the best shaver Braun has produced to date. In terms of shaving performance it is killer, but at that price I’d expect to see a better, more informative display and a quieter drier fan in the CC station. I hope that the overall plastic construction of the head base will not affect the longevity of the product.
Hope this helps.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience in such great detail. I must say that I agree pretty much in every aspect.
All the best,
Ovidiu
I’ve had the Braun Activator 8000 series back in 2004, then series 7 when that came out. These shavers have lasted a long time. I upgaded to the series 9 today, 9295.
I have no complaints about my series 7 but the 9 is night and day. Fast, close, zero pulling or pinching. Just a perfect first shave out of the box beyond my expectations. Feels great in hands when shaving. I do like the coiled cord that came with the 7 better but that is minor. I wonder if I can use it for the 9. Ovidiu, do you know?
Awesome review!
Thank you for your comment. Yes, you can use the coiled cord with your Series 9. Braun switched to the flat cords a while back and the coiled ones were discontinued.
Thank you Ovidiu for creating this good resource site and giving us the opportunity to share our thoughts.
To be fair, I should say that the full price in Europe (Euro 269-299) is too high IMO. I got it for less than 200, with a pack of two extra cleaning carts included, on sale. At that price, one can say that it is a good deal, but at the regular price… I think the Series 7 prices have dropped substantially over the years, and it could be found easily for way under 200 Euro. I’d say that the Series 9 is worth no more than 20-25 % higher price than the current prices of the Series 7.
Thank you for the kind words, I’m glad you found the information useful. 200 Euro for a Series 9 and two cartridges is an excellent deal.
I’ve been pleased with the performance of my 790cc; I’ve used it for years and it’s been a great razor. However, it’s at this time just about impossible to obtain replacement cutter heads; if you can find them, the costs are absurd.
Frankly, it sounds as if the situation with the 9 series is much worse; at least I can find heads for my 7 series, even if the price is insane. There seems to be many reports of there being simply no availability at all of any 9 series replacement heads.
It’s been a great run with Braun, but I think it’s time to look at the Panasonic options, as I’ve eked out as much as I’m going to get with this current head, and the replacement price on the head alone is halfway to a brand new razor.
Someone seems to be asleep at the switch there; this is like a car dealer telling you that they can sell you a car, but there are no replacement tires available for it.
Thank you for your comment, Allan. Unfortunately you summed up the situation pretty accurate. The 70s/70b cassettes are expensive, while the 90s/90b or the 92s/92b are out of stock or cost as much as a new razor. There have been some complaints from the users regarding the Series 9 and reliability issues. Precisely, it has to do with the Hyper Lift & Cut trimmer (the one colored blue) falling apart after a few months of use. I haven’t personally experienced this problem with my review unit, but others have. I think this may have something to do with the shortage of the replacement cassettes – Braun trying to solve this problem and come up with a revised part. Some even speculated that the reason for the sudden update of the Series 9 (the newer 92xx models) was to actually replace the faulty shaving heads without explicitly admitting the problem. And it makes sense, the newer models only come with a slightly different color scheme and a golden colored trimmer. That’s hardly an update.
Anyway, looking at alternatives certainly seems like a good idea, at least for now.
Hi,we have a problem in South Africa.I tried to buy a replacement head for my 7 series but they are not available in SA.I did call Braun in SA and they told me that they pulled out of SA a while back.I can only find some series 5 heads at a chemist and want to know if they will fit on my 7 series?
Hi,
Unfortunately no, the Series 5 shaving head won’t fit your Series 7 despite the fact that they are very similar (the foil frame is longer on the Series 5 head). Your only option would be to order the part online on encompass.com or on Amazon.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I’ve had a Panasonic ES-RT51 wet/dry shaver for a few years, and been reasonably happy with it, I only dry shave.
I have a very short beard and moustache, so the trimmer doesn’t bother me as I use a separate trimmer. Lately my Panasonic has started giving me false readings for the battery.
I tend to shave some days with a conventional razor, and then when I’m in a hurry do a quick shave with my Panasonic, because it’s not really as close as my conventional razor.
I’ve been looking at Braun series 7 shavers because if you lose your battery power, you have the option to plug it in and use it corded, whereas my Panasonic has to be charged.
I’ve just read your article about series 7 versus 9 and I’m not sure if that would be a good way to go. I prefer the foil type shaver so that I can easily work around my beard and moustache.
Do you have any suggestions, I’m not too worried about budget within reason if it’s a good product.
Hi Phil,
For your particular case – short stubble and shaving around a moustache – I would say that a foil shaver is definitely the way to go. With that said, since you were reasonably satisfied with the ES-RT51, I would consider buying another 3 blade Panasonic. They perform very well when used on short stubble, so there’s really no reason to go for a high-end model. Moreover, top of the line shavers usually have 4 or even 5 blades, making the shaving head very bulky and highly inconvenient for maneuvering around a moustache/goatee. But keep in mind that all Panasonic shavers are suitable for wet/dry use, meaning that they cannot be used while plugged in as a safety precaution.
Also, only the dry only Series 7 variations can be used while charging, like the 790cc. And that one is again another great option that would be suitable for your particular case (dry only shave, corded use). It is more expensive than a Panasonic Arc 3, but it’s arguably a better product as well.
Hope this helps,
Best,
Ovidiu
I have very thick facial hair and dry skin in my face. Should i go for 7 or 9 series.
Hi Dennis,
If the price is not an issue, you will probably benefit from the increased cutting power of the Series 9 since you have very thick hair – shorter shaving sessions, less passes and possibly less discomfort. The Series 7 is still a very good performer and the actual end result will probably be similar, even though getting there can be different to a certain degree when using the Series 7 or the 9. Both are pretty much the same in terms of comfort, arguably two of the best electric shavers in this regard.
Hope this helps.
Best,
Ovidiu
Excellent insights and comparison. This week the price differential became less of a consideration for me, and I finally bought the USA version of the Braun 9295cc. Somehow, although the Braun site finally indicated it was available, Bed, Bath, and Beyond has it. Bottom line cost was $240. So not much more of a stretch cost wise. Any review I give would be kinda bogus, because I have not had it long enough to provide a true review of value. I have not had it long enough.
Thank you for your comment and kind words. $240 for the 9295cc is a very good deal indeed. Hope you’ll enjoy your new shaver.
Best,
Ovidiu
Thanks for the great job, Ovidiu! I have had the Series 7 for a few years now, and am generally very pleased with the shaving results. The two things that bugs me are both related to build quality. First, the trimmer mechanism has broken twice, even with little use. The first time it was replaced under warranty, now I use a rubber band to keep it from popping half way up. Secondly, the paint on the body doesn’t seem to go well together with the cleaning fluid – the paint is flaking where it is in contact with the fluid. Has this been sorted out for the new offering? Or for the newer Series 7 machines for that matter?
Thank you for the kind words, Erling. While I haven’t personally experienced any of them with my Series 7, there are two notorious problems related to the build quality: the head locking mechanism that will often break – this is even acknowledged by Braun – and the chipping/flaking of the paint just below the cassette. Some users reported the flaking after a couple of years of use or more. I have quite a few shavers in my rotation and my Series 7 was used sparingly, so no flaking yet. The Series 9 is a relatively recent shaver and I cannot comment on this matter yet, but if I were to guess I’d say that this would still be a problem. Same goes for the newer Series 7. The cleaning fluid is still alcohol based and that won’t get along well with the paint over time.
On the bright side, the damage is only aesthetic and won’t affect the shaver in other way.
The trimmer on the Series 9 is a totally different implementation compared to the Series 7 and arguably a better one.
Hope this helps.
Best,
Ovidiu
I have a series 7 and have the paint flaking issue – it looks pretty bad under the cutting head and I was thinking of changing and came upon this site as the series 7 was an option under consideration – if build quality is even weaker and less metal has been used that doesn’t seem very encouraging and suggests the corrosion by the alcohol based cleaning fluid is likely
I think I will hold off for a while
I think that’s a good call, Ian. Also, there is still a shortage of Series 9 replacement heads and P&G customer support couldn’t tell me when they will be readily available. At least for the time being, I think the Series 7 and the Panasonic Arc 5 are two very compelling alternatives to the Series 9.
Okay, I’ve been looking at these two ever since my barber used one on me after a beard trim. The major question I have here, which I haven’t seen addressed yet is which would be better for shaving your entire head on a regular basis? I have a long beard, and wouldn’t use the razor for anything on face except the neck area (bottom) to keep my lines tight. I have sensitive skin as well (Ginger hair, fair skin) but my head using conventional razors for the last couple years is like leather now. I never cut myself, my skin has hardened it seems and can take some punishment.
Which brings me to my question in a model recommendation here…
Braun 7 or 9? Or Panasonic Arc 5? I naturally used shaving creams while shaving head with a conventional razor, and haven’t (up to the point the Barber used his Braun 9 on my head) ever dry shaved my head before. The closeness wasn’t as good as a conventional razor (leaving head smooth as silk) but I can see myself saving a lot of time if I can dry shave and get a reasonable cut to keep my bald head looking fresh. I shave daily BTW.
Hi Dave,
if you plan on using the shaver (almost) exclusively for shaving your head, I would say that the Arc 5 seems to be the most suitable out of the three. First of all, the shaving head is massive and can cover a lot of ground quickly. Also, 4 out of the 5 blades are designed to cut short stubble close to the skin and this is again ideal since you shave your head daily and the shaver only has to deal with short hair. The Series 7 and 9 only have two foils designed for shaving close to the skin, the other elements/trimmers being intended to cut longer or flat lying hairs to a more manageable size. Finally, it is generally accepted in the community that Panasonic outperforms Braun strictly when it comes to the closeness of the shave, while Braun has the edge in terms of comfort. However, since you say that your skin can take some punishment, this shouldn’t be a problem. For these reasons my pick would probably be the Arc 5, even though I am quite sure that the other two will also be pretty good for shaving the head.
Hope this helps.
Best,
Ovidiu
Ovidiu,
Thank you very kindly for the reply, this is a fabulous read and it couldn’t have come at a better time. So you think that the Panasonic’s C/C base is worth it? It seems kind of inferior to the Braun’s offerings, and also no cartridges from what I can tell. It looks like little packets of possibly an alcohol mixture to clean the head. Reason I ask, currently the Series 9 can be had for as little as $240, but the Arc 5 surprisingly is $30 more at the time of this posting. Looking to save a few bucks if it’s not really needed. I wouldn’t even ask about the Braun, since their C/C base is pretty amazing.
Warmest Regards.
You are very welcome, Dave. Glad to hear you found it helpful. Regarding the cleaning stations, the ones from Braun are very good indeed and definitely better than the ones that originally came with the first generation Arc 5. However, the ones included with the second gen Arc 5 (the ES-LV95-S you are referring to) and the third gen (ES-LV9N, but that one is still obscenely expensive) were significantly improved. The small packets/sachets contain a detergent that must be mixed with water. It is actually pretty cheap to buy and will also last quite a bit, so the running costs will be lower compared to Braun’s cleaning cartridges. And Braun’s solution is alcohol based, so some might argue that it is better at sanitizing the shaver. I wouldn’t say that one base is definitely better than the other and I think you’ll be satisfied with either of them. One advantage of Panasonic’s cleaning base is that you can just toss the shaver in it even if it’s wet and covered in lather. With Braun, the shaver must be perfectly dry and free from any foam/lather/soap as this will clog the base. This is only an issue if you plan on using the shaver with shaving cream, but if I remember correctly that won’t be the case. Unlike the Series 9, the Arc 5 is very easy to clean manually – something to keep in mind if you decide to skip the CC base – Panasonic also offers that shaver without a base at a lower price (ES-LV65-S). But definitely get the clean & charge station with the Series 9. You can also refer to this article for a very detailed comparison of the Arc 5 and the Series 9, even though it doesn’t explicitly address head shaving.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I have the Braun 7 799 & the series 9 9290. I also have lasted Panasonic es lv97. Panasonic was least expensive at $199.99, Braun 7 799 was$218, Braun 9290 was $249. Panasonic is the better razor. I can get tell any difference between the 7 & 9 series Braun’s. I don’t think anyone would be unhappy with any of these razors!
Thank you for your comment. The Panasonic ES-LV97 is a great razor and arguably the better choice for someone wanting a really close shave. The Series 7 and 9 are in my experience better for sensitive skin or when shaving flat-lying hairs. My Arc 5 shavers tend to miss some of them.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Good comparison. Just one question, is base or cleaning station identical or series 9 shaver can be used on series 7 station?
Thank you for your comment, Amjad. Regarding your question, the answer is definitely no, the Series 9 cannot be used with the cleaning station that comes with the Series 7. They are different, the Series 7 stays slanted at an angle into the station, while the Series 9 stays straight. Not to mention that it won’t physically fit and the metal studs on the back of the shaver won’t align with the ones inside the station.
Something I don’t think you touched enough on was the popup razor/shaver portion. The 9 looks so much better than the 7. The 9 is like the older series braun that come straight up making it much easier to control for cutting around the ears and neck. I think this is a huge difference and makes the 9 a lot better.
Hi Roy, that is correct, I only touched on this subject and I fully agree with your opinion regarding the trimmer on the Series 9. It is indeed better.
I have had the series 7 for years problem free.
Is there any point in buying a new series 7?
Will the newer model be the same or better as its new?
I was thinking about upgrading to the series 9 but going by your excellent review the 7 is still excellent and more affordable.
In my opinion you should hold on to your Series 7. The newer ones don’t really offer anything significant performance-wise. And from what I can tell, there’s really no reason for you to get the more expensive Series 9.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I was frantically looking for a comparative analysis between 7 and 9 series and finally found your article. I am a big fan of Philips, for the last 8 years. Now, I want to try a foil shaver. I shave daily, so decided to buy 7 series. Thank you guys for this wonderful piece.
Hey there, thank you for the kind words. Glad to hear you found the information helpful.
Best,
Ovidiu
Hi, I’d like to Thank you for such a good comparison, very usefull and I’m saying this right after I called their customer care for product info, your article is so much better.
Just a simple question, with all the improvements, will 9 feels much cleaner and better than 7? I’ve read lots reviews online and found 7 has much better ratings than 9, lots people complain about 9 takes long time with angled places and not comfortable.
I’m trying to understand this whole new world with shaving to figure out which is the best yo buy for my bf as a girl lol, it’s quite hard though.
He doesn’t have lots beard and he shaves everyday (not on the weekedends) his current device is a million years old from Philip’s in an extremely ugly blue colour and he’s still happy with it.
I think he just need a fast and comfortable one so I guess 7790/7795 will be good enough but one thing that attracted me from 9 is you mentioned 9 remains cool during shaving. He has very very short hair and I heard him hoping the shaving device could just do a simple shave&clean job for his hair, but if the shaving head heat up it will burn as the skin on head area is quite sensitive. 9095 is what I’m looking at in 9 series.
It will be good to have wet&dry but I don’t think it’s essential, budget doesn’t really trouble me but I shall hope to get the best value and experience for what I pay.
Pls guide me on this. I will be very grateful.
Rachel
Hi Rachel,
Thank you for the kind words. In this situation – shaving daily, light to medium beard – I would say that the Series 7 would be a perfectly fine choice. The Series 7 also remains adequately cool during use, so there’s no need to worry about that.
The Series 9 gets a lot of bashing online and there are very polarizing opinions. I think the main culprit for this is a combination of Braun over-hyping the product, the high price tag and maybe even the flashy chrome look compared to the crowd’s favorite, the Series 7. The replacement shaving heads used to be impossible to find and the price was ridiculous.
Regarding its capabilities, I found the Series 9 to be at least as good as the Series 7, but everyone’s experience is different and there are other variables at play as well, like shaving technique, facial features, beard density etc.
As I said in the article, for most men the Series 7 should be a suitable shaver. If your boyfriend currently uses a rotary shaver it may take a while to get used to the new shaving technique implied by a foil shaver, so keep this in mind as well.
Hope this helps.
Best,
Ovidiu
Thanks for such a awesome review. I’m looking to replace my Norelco head shaver because blades are almost impossible to find. Stuck between the Series 7 and 9 also. I’m going to use it to shave my head and my hair on the back of my head gets a bit thick. Do you think it is worth the extra money to go to the series 9? Will these be ok for shaving my head or should I look at a different shaver?
Hi John,
thank you for your comment. For shaving your head I would say that a rotary shaver will probably work better. Reaching behind the head is already a bit tricky and a foil shaver that only works against the grain by using straight (up and down) strokes can make this more difficult and increase the time it takes to complete a shave. A rotary shaver on the other hand works better with the spherical surface of the head and the flexing heads maintain better contact with the skin. Also, you can use circular, overlapping motions, up and down or sideways strokes and still be able to shave the hairs efficiently.
I would definitely still consider a Philips Norelco as an option before going for either of the Series 7 or 9. The Norelco 8900 for example is an excellent compromise of price and performance.
The Series 9 has more power, an extra cutting element and more advanced flexing of the head compared to the 7, which will result in a faster shave. As I said in the article, in the majority of cases the benefits of the Series 9 over the 7 aren’t enough to justify the high price.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Your reviews are so helpful, thorough, and unbiased. Thank you for all the knowledge and expertise you provide!
I am particularly interested in having a shaver that allows both corded and cordless operation so that when the battery runs down I can instantly finish shaving prior to the next charge. Do any of the latest (2017) models of Braun Series 7 or Series 9 offer 2-way usability?
Hi Scott,
thank you for the kind words, I really appreciate it.
Regarding your question, only the models that are suitable for dry use exclusively can be used both corded and cordless. Since all the latest Series 7 and 9 are suitable for wet & dry operation, you cannot use any of them while charging. If this is a must have feature for you then your only option would be to go for a previous model, like the Series 7 790cc or Series 9 9090cc.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Fantastic article – thank you for doing it (think I’ll go with the 9-series after all as there is a nice bargain right now)
Thank you for the kind words, Henrik. Definitely check out the the Series 9, I’ve seen some massive price drops lately and the replacement shaving heads shortage was solved as well.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I Ovidiu,
Thank you for your comparaison.
I Had à serie 7 and bought thé serie 9 wet and dry
I like to buy new models. What i do not like about the serie 9 is that thé cleaning is way less well done than with the serie 7 i mean some dirt stays in the head after the cleaning
That never happened with the serie 7.
I am wondering if the drying with air does not start too soon and that the liquid did not have the time to do its job and drain all the dirt out.
Also i have to change the cassette every 3 weeks as wit the serie 7 is was every 4weeks
Did you have and other comments like mine?
Yhank you
Hi,
Thank you for your comment. I personally never experienced this with my Series 9. The drying cycle only starts after the cleaning is completed, so it’s unlikely to cause such an issue. This could also happen if the cleaning fluid is excessively contaminated with hair clippings and dirt. I would also advise you to remove the cassette and tap it gently on the sink to remove most of the hairs before using the cleaning station. If the problem is still persistent there may be something wrong with your cleaning unit.
How often you need to replace the cleaning cartridge really depends on how you use the station. Again, I didn’t notice a significant difference compared to my Series 7. Performing the operation I mentioned above and maybe putting the cap back on the cartridge if you don’t shave daily should help you get more cleaning cycles out of one cartridge.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you
I will try to tap the cassette as you suggest
And see if it makes a difference
I do use the rasor every morning and clean it every morning with the system my bear is not strong But it was the same with my serie 7 so i do not know wy it is not as good as it should be. I do not understand wy i have a problem with this new model
I understand that the cassette has more pieces than the serie 7 but the cleaning system is new also.
If this does not help i think i will try to get the cleaning unit replaced by the store
I will keep you posted with the developpement
Thank you again
Jocelyn
Thank you for the excellent reviews and comparisons. Very informative and helpful. I was looking for details on the cleaning process and nowhere could I find such a nice description of the process.
You are very welcome, I’m glad it helped you out!
Best,
Ovidiu
Thanks very much for the good review. Would you please make a comparison beteeen the sound levels. Is there a defference between them while shaving. I have 790 series and I really get annoyed due to the high noise level while shaving.
You are very welcome, Murat. The Series 9 is a bit quieter and more refined during the actual shave when the blades are cutting the hairs. However, I wouldn’t say that the difference is significant; after all, foil shavers are notorious for being pretty loud during use due to the way they work.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
If my husband has a cleaning station for an older Braun, does he need the cleaning station to upgrade to a Series 7? Sorry, I don’t know much about razors.
Hi Karen,
Unfortunately I cannot answer your question without some additional details: the exact model of the older Braun shaver and station and the Series 7 variation that you’re interested in buying.
Thank you for the genuine and very helpful review. As a wife with no clue about razors, I have now read a few dozen blogs and comparison sites and yours is by far the most practical. Thank you!
Thank you for your comment, Ashley! Glad to know it helped you out.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Great write up. Was hoping for a suggestion on which route to go.
I am getting away from safety razor shaving (lots of reasons) and need the following:
-smooth shave. I have sensitive skin, especially in the mustache area.
-would like to do both wet and dry options.
-i do not want to shave every day, but would prefer to save ever 2+ days.
-closeness is not critical. Smoothness is my main priority.
I was looking at the 9 series and the 7 series (wet version) and was hoping for you thoughts and feedback.
Thanks
Hi Jason,
Thank you for your comment. Both the Series 7 and 9 would be perfectly good options, with the Series 9 being just a tad smoother, faster and more enjoyable to use. However, the Series 7 costs less and it’s a bit easier to use since it has a slimmer shaving head. I too have sensitive skin but never had any issues with the Series 7, even after a dry shave which would normally inflict some irritation. It also works very well on longer hairs, but again the Series 9 is better.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you for a great review. I almost decided which Series to choose. But there is a small problem: I only can get Series 9 without a cleaning station. Do I understant correctly: if I get 9260vs (9290cc is not available at the moment) it won’t work with cleaning station even if I purchase it separately? What would be your choise – 9260vs or 7865cc?
Thanks.
Hi,
Thank you for your comment. That is correct, unfortunately you won’t be able to use a Series 9 s model like the 9260s with a cleaning station purchased separately. The Series 7 s models are the only ones in Braun’s lineup that will work with a compatible CC station if you decide to buy one later on. That’s because the Series 7 s models are also fitted with the special chip that is needed to communicate with the station.
Personally, I would probably go for the 7865cc — it’s good enough for me since I shave pretty often so I don’t really benefit from the extra blade and capabilities of the Series 9. And despite not being quite as smooth as the Series 9, the 7865cc is still a great pick for sensitive skin (which I suffer from). The cleaning base is definitely a plus with any Braun shaver since they’re fiddly to clean by hand. And a Series 7 with a cleaning station costs a lot less than a Series 9 solo model (9260s, 9293s etc.). So in my case a Series 7 makes more sense — be it a 7865cc or other similar variation (790cc, 799cc, 797cc etc.) as they’re basically the same with regards to shaving performance.
Again, this is simply what would work best for me with my current shaving routine, so it won’t necessarily apply to everyone (it likely won’t to be honest). But hopefully it will help you out with your decision.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you for your reply. You just ruined my world :-), as I already saw me buying 9260s. My shaving “rutine” is one or two times in a week. That means Series 7 is not the best choise for me. But you have proved me that cleaning station is a must, therefore I’ll wait until 9290cc become available. Thanks again, because you saved me from wrong decision.
Best regards.
If I shave only once or twice a week, how often do I have to replace the cleaning cartridge on the series 9?
Best.
Shaving once or twice a week would basically mean 4 to 8 cleaning cycles per month. If you also remove the cartridge from the station and put the cap back on after every use, I’d say that one cartridge should easily last for 3 to 4 months. Braun officially recommends replacing it after two months once the cartridge has been opened and used (to maintain optimal hygiene). I personally have used a cartridge for more than 5 months without any issues. But the station was used very sparingly — like 3 times a month.
As long as the cleaning solution is not overly contaminated with hair clippings and you don’t notice any buildups or funky smells, it should all be good. You should also remove most of of hairs from the cassette beforehand by tapping the plastic frame gently on the sink and cleaning the inside with the included brush.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Excellent information…I’ve been using my Series 7 pulsonic for several years but found the cleaning system annoying and expensive. I just tap the shaver head on the bathroom sink to remove hairs and blow out the rest. Seems to be okay. My question is can I use the Remington Shaver Saver spray that i still use on my MS3-2700 on the Braun (9595) to help with the lubrication? Seems like it shouldn’t be a problem.
Hi Louis,
Thank you for your comment. You can safely use the Remington Shaver Saver on your Series 7.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Ovidiu,
Absolutely fabulous comparison of the two shavers. I’ve currently got a Series 7 790cc (dry only) shaver and have been really happy with it, although I find I need to use a pre-electric lotion to get a nice close shave, but many of these are alcohol-based which irritates my skin.
Curious to get your advice as to the “water-proof-ness” of the dry only Series 7’s. I’d like to use a shave oil or something similar with the shaver. Given the shaver head can survive being rinsed under running water (which I do daily anyway), do you think the shaver would be ok to use on a moist face with some shaving oil? I don’t use it in the shower, and not contemplating using it with something really wet like shaving cream etc, so i don’t really need it to be 100% waterproof.
Just trying to avoid the cost of upgrading to a specific “wet/dry” shaver if I really don’t need to.
Cheers
David
Hi David,
Thank you for your comment. You are right, in this situation you don’t need a wet/dry shaver as you can safely use your existing 790cc with a shaving oil. Just make sure to give it a more thorough cleaning using a bit of liquid soap.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
This is by far the best review/comparison I have ever read. Thank you and now I have a decision to make
Thank you for the kind words, Terry! Much appreciated.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Ovidiu,
After being sick of buying blades and much research of your articles I took the plunge and went electric. I was very apprehensive because past electric shaving experience led to massive irritation and a face on fire. So, decision made, for the first time today, I started with Lectric Shave, shaved with my new Braun 7899cc, and finished with Nivea Sensitive After Shave Balm. WOW! I am in smooth face with no irritation bliss!
Rarely do I leave comments on blogs at all. However, you are an exception. I wanted to take a moment to thank you for your clear and concise writings. Your reviews and reasoning have steered me into a decision that I don’t think I’ll regret. Thank you.
Best Regards,
Carl
Hi Carl,
Thank you so much for your kind words. That’s awesome! I’m glad it helped you with your decision. Thank you again for taking the time to share your experience.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Ovidiu, this was a great article in many respects, thank you for posting it. I’ve been using the series 7 for a few years, best braun so far, except for the trimmer, it basically sucks and now it broke (doesn’t snap close) even though I hardly use it only for side burns. I have the cleaning base and found it too expensive, I remove and tap the foil in the sink, blow on the heads after every shave, and every few days I rinse heads and foil. I did get used to having the base as convenient holder and charger and wanted to use it if I get a series 9, but I see it’s not compatible. too bad, they really should cut down on waste and make them compatible. I’m looking at getting the series 9 because the damn replacement foil for the 7 is almost a third the cost of a new shaver so when you weigh in cost and age (and partly broken trimmer) it makes sense to go this route. I actually did the same thing upgrading to the 7, when the 5 got old and needed new cartridge I upgraded to 7 (big difference for me). Again thanks for the nice article.
Hi Mike,
Thank you for your comment, I really appreciate it.
That is correct unfortunately, you won’t be able to use your existing cleaning station with the Series 9, so if you want the convenience of it you’ll have to buy a Series 9 version that comes with one. Another option would be to get a Series 7 Solo model, like the 7893s or the 740s. You’ll still be able to charge it in your older station and these s models usually cost less than the cc ones.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I have been using the same Series 7 shaver since I purchased it in 2011 and I’m still happy with it, but I’m now considering upgrading to a Series 9. Probably the 9290cc or 9280cc. Originally I thought about buying a new Series 7s so I could use it with my existing cleaning station, but the 7s models sold in Europe don’t have the two metal studs on the back, so won’t work with my old cleaning station. This is according to Braun at any rate. The thing that worries me about changing to a Series 9 is whether or not the shaving head is too large to get into all my facial nooks and crannies. Are you able to comment based on the tests you have done?
Hi Steve,
Thank you for your comment. I am almost certain that the information regarding the European solo models not having the metal studs on the back is inaccurate. As a result, they will actually work with a cleaning station. Just out of curiosity, did you get that information from a Braun customer support rep?
Regarding the Series 9, its shaving head is larger than the one on the Series 7, but not by a whole lot. It’s more compact than other 4 blade shavers like the Panasonic Arc 4. I haven’t had any issues with it in this regard.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
This is a very late reply to your question as to where I got the information that the Series 7s models sold in Europe don’t have metal studs on the back. It was P&G Customer Support here in the Netherlands where I live. As a consequence I have not yet replaced my existing 7 as I don’t want the cleaning station I haveto be redundant.
Hi Steve,
I would be extremely surprised if that proved to be true. I also live in Europe and I am yet to see a Series 7 without the metal studs. As far as I know, the solo models sold in the Netherlands are the regular 7893s, 7840s and so on. Those definitely come with the charging contacts on the back. I think the P&G cs representative wasn’t informed very well on this matter. All Series 7 solo models will technically work with a compatible station, except maybe for the old 720s (I am not 100% sure about that one as it may lack the chipset needed to communicate with the station).
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Ovidiu, thank you for your prompt reply. I will try to find a store here which stocks the model I want to buy and physically check myself.
Great website by the way!
I have a 7 series and generally it’s great. My only complaint is that the shaver starts to pull at hairs if I skip shaving for more than a day.
Do others have this issue with the 7 series, and will the 9 series prevent it?
Hi Adam,
Having used both, I’d say that the Series 9 is more efficient at catching longer hairs — as in it requires fewer strokes to get a clean shave, particularly if those hairs grow in different directions or tend to lie flat on the skin. I think the Series 9 is in this regard the most capable foil-based shaver you can buy right now. The Series 7 is not quite as good, but definitely better than most. I never experienced any pulling even on a two or three days beard, so unless your whiskers are very long — in which case any other electric shaver will start yanking them — I’d say that there are two things that could be causing this.
The first one has to do with your shaving technique. Try to do slower strokes and always against the grain; going over long hairs very quickly can cause some pulling.
If this doesn’t solve your problem, you may need to replace the shaving head of your Series 7.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Ok…after you start your post you make this statement shortly after:
With a more powerful motor and an improved design of the shaving head, the comfort during the shave is outstanding.
This is something “I” personally have been wanting someone to show a comparison of. Because I watch person after person say that a new clipper or shaver that comes out is more powerful or has a stronger motor, but where can this be seen/proven at? None of them ever show the…well I’m not sure the correct verbiage, but wattage, amperage, cc, horsepower, whatever, is never shown or compared… Heck, I dont even think the manufacturers or the big resellers even showcase this info, so how is it, people who are supposedly reviewing these products and making these posts, so sure the motor is stronger? This new Braun Series 9 could have the same parts in it as a Remington F5-5800, you see what I mean? where is the specs on this motor everyone speaks of?
Manufacturers don’t usually share this type of specs. Most of the time we’ll only see a CPM (cycles per minute) rating if anything at all. To me the Series 9 feels torquier/faster compared to a Series 7, despite the fact that both are fitted with 10 000 CPM motors. My assessment may be affected by user bias, but I always try to present my experience in an objective manner. Tearing down the shavers to get a look at the motors would set things straight, but I’m not very knowledgeable about electric motors, so that wouldn’t help. Moreover, these motors could be custom made and detailed information regarding the specs may not even exist.
Can I use 9295cc to remove chest, underarm and other hairs on body?
Theoretically you could use it to shave body hair, but note that it only works on very short hair, so you may have to use a regular trimmer beforehand.
I’ve owned the latest Panasonic 5 blade shaver and for some reason it seems to leave behind stray hairs when I’ve gone more than one day without shaving. I switched back to my old Braun Series 7 but miss the wet/dry capability’. I’m thinking of going to the Braun 9 Series wet/dry. If used in the shower does the shaver head have to air dry before using in the cleaning unit or can it be hand dried with a towel and then placed in the cleaning unit?
I have a 760cc. It is I don’t know how any years old. I have an even older Braun at another home, don’t even know the series number, but it is losing power and the charging station no longer works. My complaint about both is that with time the finish deteriorates and peels off (same complaint BTW about Braun tooth brushes, only worse with the non-slip grips). None of this effects performance of any of the products, but is an annoyance, and to me indicates not the best quality – if this happen on the outside, what does it say about the internals? If Braun is the best, then I don’t know what that says about the competition.
Bottom line – has Braun improved the quality of the finish in the later Series 7 models or the Series 9?
Hi Fred,
Short answer seems to be no, the ones that come with the cleaning station are still affected to some degree by this despite Braun’s claims of using a special paint. It would be impossible to objectively say that one particular brand is the best. For example, I find Panasonic shavers to be superior in terms of build quality.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
First of all, the dirty little secret is that the cleaning solution is essentially denatured alcohol. Cleaning cartridges can be reused until their screens gets clogged (this takes many years) without harming the shaver. The lubricant and lemon scent don’t seem to make any significant difference. I bought a Series 7 a while ago, but still have my old Braun Sycro system shavers which still work amazingly well after all these years (some had to be repaired, batteries can give out). The Series 7 trimmer’s design is awful. I rarely used it and even now it doesn’t sit flat in the shaver. I actually bought a used 7570 on eBay when one of my Sycro’s refused to recharge and am very happy with it. My impression is that the 9 series has more expensive cassettes (more expensive than 7, which in turn is more expensive than Syncro) and a cutter that has been fixed – so the cutter is finally as good as the one on the Syncro.
Hi Harlan,
You are right, the cleaning solution mostly consists of alcohol — Isopropyl alcohol or ethanol in a special denatured form (SD – Alcohol 40 – B) — and a few other ingredients (perfume, Limonene, Citral). There are many users that have successfully made their own cleaning solutions at home and you can find quite a few topics online about this.
To be honest, I find the trimmers on both the Series 7 and 9 to be mediocre at best.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I got both my old wet/dry 7 series and the new wet/dry 9 series (no cleaning station for either) at Costco. I dry shave every morning and have to say that the 9 series does feel smoother, faster, and more powerful, which is a big plus for me. I am not crazy about the shiny part of the 9 series and prefer the minimalistic metalic look and feel of the 7 series but to me that’s just design and not as essential as the actual shaving performance. Hopefully the shiny parts won’t get tarnished overtime…but yiu can always returm/exchange since Costco has great return policy. The Costco price for my 9 series was under $200 before tax.
Hi Paul,
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. The Series 9 is indeed faster, more comfortable and more enjoyable to use overall.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
this is what i name an clear and complete article
thanks a lot,
Thank you, Bart. Glad you found it useful.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you very much for this detailed and professional analyse.
It’s helped me decided to stay with Series 7.
Long term Series 7 user I find this very useful and even new information despite years
of using several Series 7 razors.
In my razors the trimmer seems to have first part to give up.
Typically it not closed propely allthougt it still working normally.
Opening and closing mechanisms seems to have quite fragile.
There is some helpfull videos in youtube to replace it but it’s quite difficult to get one.
Trimmer itself are precise to use and cuts effectively long hairs and I like it.
Totally new information for me was the differences in cleaning centers.
Got three of them so have to make some inspections… 😉
I also use cleancenter only when need to charge and then take out and close cartrige to
keep to costs reasonable.
Daily just open head and tap dirt out.
Braun razors are not so “enviroment friendly” as Philips razor as their drops more remains out of head than Philips machines and also in my experience shaving head temperature rises faster than Philips machine but shaving result is better in Braun.
In old time razors have all stuff + mirror in their travel pouches.
Novadays you need to pack charger separately, get some mirror and hope that
cleaning brush dont disappear in first opening. 🙁
Braun 7 Series is made in germany, what about Series 9 ?
I’ts not good if new flagship model is more plastic feeling because man need some sturdy
metal in his hand in first thing in the morning.. 😉
Lets hope that they made some days a titanium undestructable real feel machine to start a new day in proper way 😉
Thanks once more The BEST razor site in internet and all the best in the future and
keep up the good work !
Hi Jukka,
Thank you for your comment, I really appreciate it.
The Series 5, 7 and 9 are all made in Germany. And yes, the 9 seems more plasticky despite being their flagship model.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
If you remove the cutter/foil and rinse it and the razor with water after each shave, prior to placing in the cleaning unit, will the cleaning fluid last longer?
Very helpful review. On a slight tangent, does anyone know if you can get a power cable that will lie flat to the wall? The plug is quite bulky (I assume the series 9 uses the same as the series 7?) and sticks out a fair way from a wall-mounted shaving socket.
Thank you for your comment, David. Unfortunately there’s no such a cable and yes, the one from the Series 9 also has a brick that sticks out from the socket.
I found your comparison most illuminating. Thanks for all the hard work.
Thank you for your comment, Thomas. I’m glad you found the post useful.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
My Series 7 is leaking the facial hair (remains) so my shirt or whatever I have on me is full of remains. I always have had a Braun…series 3,5 the latest is series 7 and I like the razor but this thing with the leak is not good. I have talked to a friend that have the series 9 and he say that the serie 9 does NOT have this problem. Anyone else who have experienced this problem?
Thank you very much for this review 🙂
Regards
Bengt
Hi Bengt,
Thank you for your comment. It’s perfectly normal for some of the hair clippings to end up in the sink or on your shirt. I actually take my shirt off just to avoid this. 🙂
Depending on the shaver, how you hold it relative to the skin and if you lean or not over the sink, this quantity may vary quite a lot. I therefore don’t think there is something wrong with your Series 7. I actually find some hairs even on the forearm and biceps of my right arm (I am right handed). While I haven’t paid close attention to this issue, I didn’t notice anything too different from using a Series 5 or 9. Try leaning a bit more forward, this will allow you to hold the shaver in a more upright position while still maintaining a 90-degree angle relative to the skin. Doing so will help with more hairs naturally falling into the hair chamber. Also, try using slower, more controlled strokes.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Ok, thanks for advise 🙂 / Bengt
I have a Series 5 that is easily 15 years or more old. The trimmer recently refused to “reholster”. No problem, I don’t use it. Wahl provided a $10 battery powered straight trimmer.
A few days ago when pulling the power cord out of the shaver, it pulled out a “plug” from the base of the shaver. I usually use the cord rather than the charged shaver because the cord delivers a higher rpm sound for a faster shave. The Series 5 head also self adjusts to my face.
It sounds as though both the 7 and 9 have heads that self adjust. Both sound as if I can operate it with the cord or without the cord. Both have cleaning stations as does my old 5. If the 9 gives the fastest, closest shave then that sounds like it is in my future. After all if I kept it for 10 years, that’s less than $25 dollars per year.
Hi Art,
One thing to note is that all current Series 9 are suitable for wet/dry use, therefore they cannot be operated with the cord plugged in. You could get the first generation dry only 9090cc if you can still find it, but they are usually hard to find and pricey. The Series 5 and 7 are still available in dry only variations (for example, the 5090cc, 5030s, 790cc etc.).
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
First of all, you are doing an amazing job. I wish there was a way to reward the effort and time you share here (like voting for this site at a web awards). Please let us know if there’s such a thing.
I read a great deal here and learned a lot. I’m trying to decide between Braun 9290cc and 7865cc (or 7899cc) and leaning on the first. I shave mostly every 3-4 days, sometimes even later. This and the fact that I tend to use shaving machines a long time (I’m using a Braun 4775 for over a decade and it’s still working fine) can justify the huge price difference for me (9290’s almost twice as 7865 here now). Also, I think shavers are quite an important part of men’s lives.
My concern is the cleaning unit. Buying a 7-series and a separate induction-heated cleaner is tempting. But I decided that the drying function is not that necessary for me. Reading the comments for 9290 at Amazon, some people complained about the smell of alcohol during the drying process. Have you noticed such a thing? And I can’t see any buttons on the cleaning unit. That means, it’s not possible to have the shaver cleaned but not dried, right? Of course, it’s always possible to unplug it after cleaning to avoid the smell and noise. But this is probably not the best way to treat its software.
Thank you sincerely.
Hi Simon,
Thank you so much for the kind words. There’s no web awards competition that I know of, but I truly appreciate your intention. My goal with this website was to present information in a way that is truly useful to the user or to the potential buyer, so the feedback I get from my readers is the most rewarding thing I could ask for.
Regarding your question, unless your facial hair grows really fast and is really long after 3 to 4 days, I think a Series 7 would make more sense here. As I mentioned in the article, the Series 9 is worth the extra money if you have longer, coarse hairs that tend to lie flat on the skin and grow in different directions. In such a situation you will truly benefit from a Series 9; otherwise, the Series 7 will definitely be more than suitable for the job.
When using a Braun cleaning station, regardless of the shaver model, you will pick up this boozy, citrusy smell, especially around the station. I do not find it offensive or overpowering and it’s stronger at the beginning when the cartridge is brand new (it will decrease in intensity as you continue using it). With the Series 9 station that uses a fan to dry the shaver, the smell is a bit more potent since the fan disperses it around. The Series 9 cleaning base has a single button that starts the cleaning and drying process. You can stop the process at any time by pressing it and I highly doubt that it will have any negative impact on the station.
But as I said, I think you’ll be more than happy with a Series 7 and also spend significantly less on it. The shaving heads are cheaper too and you can use a third-party cleaning solution that’s very cost-effective.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Very useful website. You’ve done a great job, thank you.
I can’t decide between Braun Series 5, 7 or 9. I was almost about to buy 7 but then I red the complaints about the head locking mechanism being prone to breaking (which you also mentioned in 3 of your articles) and without warranty covering it, I’m really afraid of not being careful and that ending up happening. I’d really like for this new electric shaver I’m about to buy to last for about a decade without any problems. So I thought I’d rather spend a bit more money on a Series 9, which doesn’t have that problem and would also be better for my very sensitive skin.
The problem with Series 9 is that I’m afraid it might be overkill for my light beard. I have very little hair on my cheeks. Most of my facial hair is on my upper lip, sideburns and under my chin and neck, but even those places aren’t that thick. Maybe Series 9 is too much? I shave about every 3 or 4 days. I’m also not sure if the size of S9’s shaving head makes it less easy to use than the other two Series. Seems a bit too large.
Should I go for Series 5 instead? I’d much rather have a more recent and better Series like 7 or 9 (especially because of my sensitive skin), but at least Series 5 doesn’t have neither problems I mentioned above about the other two series. Either way I really don’t care about prices (be it very cheap or very expensive), what I really care about is what suits my case better. What do you think would be the best choice for me?
Best regards
Hi Bruno,
Thank you for your comment. In my opinion you should still get the Series 7. Yes, the problem with the head locking mechanism does exist, but a simple way to avoid it would be to simply not use the switch. The shaving head of the Series 7 is very slim (even a bit smaller than the one of the Series 5) and you really don’t need the locking feature, not even when you’re shaving right below the nose.
Things are different with the Series 9 and its larger 4-blade head for example; and since you have a very light beard, I also think the Series 9 would be overkill. Finally, the Series 7 is a tried and tested model that should serve you well for many years. In my opinion it is the safer (and better) choice in this case.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you very much for your answer.
Hi Ovidiu,
Thanks a lot for the great website. I was stuck between series 7 and 9 and learned most of what I needed thanks to you. Before that, I read a lot of user comments on Amazon and other sites. But most comments are about malfunctions or high prices or availability/price of refills, so they don’t provide much info.
I have a medium beard and I prefer something that can handle longer hairs comfortably when I shave a 5 day (sometimes longer) beard since I find most trimmers useless. So the decision will be between 9 for more comfort and better handling of the longer hairs vs 7 with slimmer head for tricky points on the face and cheaper prices. The only thing I need to know is the noise. Do you think there’s much different between them in terms of noise during shave or cleaning?
Thanks a lot. Sincerely,
Levent
Hi Levent,
Thank you for your comment. With regards to noise, they’re both very similar, maybe with the Series 7 being just a bit louder/buzzier during use. The cleaning phase only lasts for a few minutes, during which the two razors are again very similar with regards to noise. The Series 9 station uses a fan to dry shaving head, but you can only hear it if you stay really close to the station, so it’s not a problem.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Ovidiu
Thanks for the great review.
It’s time for me to replace my 7 Series. About 16 months ago, I had such a hard time finding replacement heads that I had decided to not buy another Braun ever, but your positive review of Braun has me reconsidering. Therefore, a key factor for me in deciding whether or not to buy a Braun 7 Series again is the availability of replacement heads. Has Braun solved the replacement head shortage I experienced about a year and a half ago?
Thanks again for your review. I’d appreciate any info you can provide.
Bruce
Hey Bruce,
Thank you for your comment. Right now (and for the foreseeable future) you shouldn’t have any problems getting new replacement shaving heads. While there may be temporary country-specific shortages, you will undoubtedly be able to source the part from amazon or ebay. With the relatively recent overhaul of the Series 7, Braun is not planning on retiring them anytime soon, so the shaving heads will naturally be available as well. They’re an extremely important revenue stream to the manufacturers of electric shavers.
My take is that you can safely buy a new Series 7.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Ovidiu
Thanks much. Series 7 it is.
Bruce
Thank you, you helped make the decision on purchasing my son’s first shaver a lot easier! A well informed purchase was accomplished from a well compiled article. Very grateful. Once again, thank you!
You are very welcome, Robyn. I hope your son will enjoy using his new shaver.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
Thanks for the great site. Based on this article, I bought a 9295cc and I just used it for the first time. I switched from an old Norelco rotary, so I’m getting used to the foil shaver. So far so good.
One quick question, is it normal to have the hair shavings fall from the shaver while shaving? On the Norelcos, the shaved hair stays in the chamber behind the blades until you open it up to clean. On the Braun, I’m having hair fall out while shaving. I use it to shave my head as well, so I’ll have to adjust how I use it if this is expected.
Thanks again!
E
Hi E,
Thank you for your comment. Yes, that’s perfectly normal. It’s more prevalent with foil shavers since the blades oscillate at a much higher speed compared to rotary razors, producing lots of fine hair shavings. And because of gravity, they will fall in your sink and on your forearm especially when shaving your cheeks. It will happen when shaving your head as well, maybe to an even higher degree if you hold the razor with the head pointing down. One workaround would be to lean over your sink as much as you can comfortably do so. This way the position of the shaver will be more or less horizontal and hopefully most of the hair strands will remain inside the chamber.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
I appreciate all of the research and your opinions regarding the shavers.My 10 year old series 5 shaver just died the other day. I ended up ordering the 9295cc for $199.00 after reading your article. I just missed the $50 Braun rebate by 2 days, which would have dropped the price to $149.00. The price difference was $40 more than the Series 7, so I decided to go with the Series 9. I am hoping that this will be a significant upgrade over my old Series 5 shaver.
Thanks,
Marty
Hi Marty,
Thank you for your comment. I’m sorry to hear you just missed the rebate. The 9295cc should be a noticeable upgrade over a first generation Series 5.
Enjoy your new shaver!
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu
Would you recommend a Braun 9295 or a Panasonic LV65? I need to shave everyday. Seems like I can get the Panasonic for $125 and the Braun for $199.99. Not too concerned about the price difference if you like the Braun better.
Thanks.
Scott
Hi Scott,
Both would be great options, but they excel at different things. The Series 9 is extremely comfortable and gentle and can shave long, flat hairs a lot more efficiently (though that won’t matter too much if you shave every day). The ES-LV65 shaves closer and works great on short facial hair, but it is not as comfortable as the Series 9. For sensitive skin, the Series 9 would be more suitable. Based on these aspects, you should pick the one that seems to fit your needs better.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I am a black male with cross directional hair growth and could only use magic shave to get a close cut without skin irritations. I found out about Braun and took a shot even though all other electric shavers failed me in the past. Braun is the answer with a little witch hazel and skin moisturizer to finish it off. I started with 9 series but later experimented with the 7 series. Needless to say. The 7 is much better for me in those cross directional areas where my hair is also corse.
Thank you for your comment, Art. I completely agree, Braun shavers work really well for this type of facial hair, especially the Series 7 and 9.
Thank you for your article. Really instructive and well thought.
I’m really not sure why you make reference to the series 7 having an advantage over the series 9 if you tend to shave more often, like every other day; I shave every single day but have very sensitive skin too. So considering upgrading my 7 year old series 7 to a 9. But if the 9 nine can’t take it…
Thank you for your comment, Jack. Much appreciated.
I didn’t state that the Series 7 has an advantage over the 9 if you use it more often nor that the Series 9 can’t take it. I simply meant that you won’t see much benefits from the more expensive Series 9 if you shave daily or every other day. Since both will work great in this case, it makes more sense to get the Series 9 only if you shave every 3 days or even more. The Series 9 is in my opinion the best foil shaver in such a situation.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
There is an item of convenience that I like with my 7 and I think it would apply to the 9. In either case, even if you don’t activate the base cleaner. I find it nice to have a place to put my shaver after use, and know that it’s always fully charged. Also, for those that travel frequently and for long durations, I would suggest ordering an extra cord to just keep in your bag. This has saved me, after personal experience.
Hey Michael,
That is true, the stations are quite handy for charging the shaver, even if you don’t run a cleaning cycle. And having an extra cord just for traveling is definitely a smart idea — many thanks for taking the time to share this.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Michael –
What a gem you put in your review, the comment that a solo series 7 can be upgraded with a cleaning station whereas solo series 9 cannot. I had seen a good price on a cleaning station and in ignorance bought it for my solo; luckily, my solo was a series 7. Very thorough review!
Thank you for your comment, that’s very kind of you. I think it’s well worth buying the station for a solo Series 7, especially if you can get a great deal on it. Also, there are cheap third-party cleaning solutions that work really well, further reducing your costs.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I hate to trouble you but reading through the comments its seems you are probably the most qualified person to answer my question.
I am female and looking for an electric razor to shave my legs with. I have thick coarse hair and am sick of having to shave with a straight razor (it’s the only thing that doesn’t irritate my keratosis pilaris.) Which brand/style would you recommend? I don’t need a cleaning station and money at this point isn’t a concern as I know you get what you pay for. I seem to get conflicting opinions among different websites.
Thank you for your time and any help you can provide on this matter.
Hi,
There’s no trouble at all. However, I mostly give advice to men for choosing an electric shaver for their face or head, so I’ll try my best to be as helpful as I can.
First of all, it’s important to know that electric shavers are designed to work on facial hair, meaning short, thick, dense hairs that also grow (relatively) straight. Long, thin, curly, flat-lying hairs will always be an issue, even for top of the line electric razors (they will miss a lot of them and even yank them). This is why electric shavers are not ideal to be used below the neck.
However, they may still work provided you shave very often, so the hair on your legs is always short and also stands more upright. One thing to keep in mind though is the closeness. While many of today’s modern electric shavers do cut really close to the skin, a blade will generally provide the closest shave since there’s no physical barrier between it and the skin. Electric shavers use foil screens or combs to prevent the blades from touching the skin. This ensures a very safe and comfortable shave, but it does have a small impact on closeness.
If considering all these aspects you think an electric shaver would be a viable option, Panasonic electric shavers (Arc 4 and particularly Arc 5) are known to provide the closest shaves for most (male) users and that’s a very important aspect here. Braun shavers (Series 7 or 9) on the other hand are more gentle which can be a plus considering your skin condition, but they don’t shave quite as close as Panasonic shavers. Again, I cannot say anything with certainty since I have never used an electric shaver in this manner, so my opinion is almost entirely based on my experience of shaving my beard with electric shavers.
A body trimmer may also be an option, but the closeness isn’t as good as in the case of shaving with a straight razor. They are geared toward men, so in our case this isn’t really an issue, but for a woman, it may be a deal breaker.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you for your response. I was just looking for an alternative when I’m just fed up with traditional shaving. It takes forever and I usually work 36 hour shifts so the last thing I want to do is have to deal with shaving after a long shift, which is why I thought about venturing towards the electric razor option. I don’t care so much about “perfectly smooth legs” so much as just getting the task done. Thank you again, I will look into the arc electric razor.
Hello VK. I was wondering how you got on with your hunt for an electric leg razor. I’m in Thailand and trying to find one for my partner. The selection of lady shavers here seems to be poor, and she would rather get a man’s shaver. Let me know if you found something good. Thanks!
Forgot to say she also has keratosis pilaris.
I have an old Braun Series 7 with a cleaning and charging station and I want to replace it with a newer series 7 one for dry shaving only Does my cleaning and charging station that I have would work for the new one I am buying or do I need to get a new station with the new shaver and what would be the best model that I have to get Many Thanks Charles Honein
Hi Charles,
Your station should still work with the new shaver, even if it’s one of the more recent Series 7 models. I would simply get a solo Series 7 at the lowest price I can find; the shaving performance is pretty much the same throughout the entire Series 7 range. I wrote a very detailed guide on the different Series 7 models here if you want more details.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Sorry for my ignorance but where does series 8, to say model 8370 stands in the discussion?
Thanks for the response.
Hi Geri,
The Series 8 stands right between the two, although I’d say it’s more similar to Series 7 in terms of actual performance, despite the visual similarities with the Series 9. The shaving head has the exact same 3 blade setup as the Series 7. The Series 8 is still not widely available, so for most users the Series 7 would be a good alternative (the price is also pretty similar). I’ve ordered a Series 8 almost a month ago, still haven’t got it. But I will definitely write an in-depth review once I get to try it for a few weeks.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
I believe the new Braun Series 7 deployed an Intelligent AutoSense Technology which does not exist in Series 9 models. This technology has been around with Panasonic shavers for some time. I wonder what significant changes does it make and is this something worthy to look into as an improvement option when it comes to purchasing Series 7?
Thanks,
Steven
Hi Steven,
That technology supposedly reads the thickness of the hairs and adapts the power output accordingly. I personally never found this to work quite as well as advertised (the same with Panasonic shavers), so I wouldn’t necessarily consider this feature a must-have.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks for your reply, Ovidiu.
I wonder if this technology goes along all new series 7 models. Apparently, there’s a new hardware and chip designed for this specific function into the new series 7 range.
I found the images and product details on Amazon Japan website quite confusing.
Hi Ovidiu,
Thanks for your very nice article I learnt a lot about Series 7 and 9 and differences.
It is more than 10 years that I shave with Gillette 2-3 times a week. Although they say that it is not so good for the skin in the long run. It is some years that I would like to change an electric shaver but not yet concluded.
My interests raised up by reviewing dry/wet electric shavers while the shaving foam helps a lot my sensitive skin. I also have somehow bushy thick hairs and cross directional hair in my neck. So knowing all these together, makes me still confused in choosing a better fit for myself.
I would be thankful if you could help me with your comments.
Thanks,
Reza
Hi Reza,
Thank you for your comment, much appreciated. I would say that the Series 9 looks like a more suitable option in this case. It is arguably the most capable foil shaver out there for getting those cross directional, wiry hairs. If you do decide to use shaving cream, make sure only to apply a very thin, slick, layer and keep it well hydrated. Rich, thick foam will actually have a negative impact on the quality of the shave when using an electric razor.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you Ovidiu.
Your comment on the amount of the cream seems very helpful.
Since these razors work from their batteries, I am wondering about their power. Do they keep their good performances in couple of times using without charging? And how long would be the lifetime of their batteries?
Sincerely,
Reza
You are very welcome, Reza. A quality electric shaver will maintain its power until the moment the battery is almost drained. This used to be a problem before, but not so much anymore. With proper use (as in avoiding extreme temperatures and such), you should expect a shaver to last for years before the battery can’t hold a decent charge anymore.
Hi Ovidiu,
I recently got a Braun Series 7 790cc-6, and it gives me a good shave, but I’ve got a major problem with it: I’m really thin, and its head is too big for people with sharp contoured faces like mine, resulting in shaving being a prolonged and difficult experience. (The Series 9 with its bigger head and the Arc 5 with its even bigger one would have been disasters!)
I’ve been happy with a single blade head all my life up to now, and I’m wondering if there’s a shaver designed for skinny people out there at today’s date?
Thanks.
Hi,
Unfortunately all current shavers that give a decent shave have at least 3 cutting elements. The only ones with a single blade are travel shavers, but you don’t want one of those (they’re sluggish and shave poorly). The Series 7 is actually one of the best in terms of the ergonomics of the shaving head, so if this one still causes you some trouble, it’ll be the same (or worse) with other shavers. Some consider rotary shavers better for men with very prominent facial features, but I wouldn’t necessarily say they’re better. Also, they do come with their own specific (and significant) shortcomings.
Try to vary the angle and orientation of the shaver depending on the area you’re shaving and try to use just the top foil for very tight spots, keeping the skin taut with your free hand. Try also to apply some counterpressure from the inside, for example puffing up your cheeks.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I was looking for evaluations of the 9090 Braun versus the 7 series in general. One of my local clearing houses has the 9090 for a decent price, but I’m not sure if it’s worth holding out for the features on the newer 92xx series.
Hi Lorenzo,
The older 9090 is still a viable option if you can get it for a great price. And that’s the case here from what I understand. Also, since it’s a dry only model, it will also work while it’s connected to a power outlet, which is something you won’t be getting with the 92Xxx models. As for the downsides, there’s again the dry only operation mode which can be an issue only if you plan on using it for wet shaving (and most users don’t) and it also comes with the original shaving head that was prone to failing prematurely. However the newer heads (92s, 92b) are backward compatible. If the price is right and depending on how you feel about the rest of the aspects mentioned previously, the 9090 can be a good option.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello Ovidiu.
Great review. Can you comment on the Series 8 yet?
Thank you.
Hello David,
Thank you for your comment. I recently did just that, you can check it out here.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Great article. Very informative, and it help me choose between series 7 or 9.
I am going tomorrow to buy Braun 9291CC. For 7 years I have been using series 3 and it is a time for upgrade. Never had problem with any of my Braun shavers.
Thank You!
You are very welcome, Josip. Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment, I truly appreciate it. The Series 9 should be a noticeable upgrade (performance-wise) from your Series 3.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks for this great comparison. Generally, I don’t buy the top of the line of any product if they offer a lower priced line one step down such as the seven series shavers. I have been shaving with my Braun 7893S daily for four months with excellent results and absolutely no skin irritation. I shave dry before I wash my face or shower which takes exactly five minutes. That includes the time to clean the shaver by tapping the cassette on a piece of tissue on the sink counter and brushing out the top of the shaver using the included brush as described in the owner’s manual. I don’t rinse the shaver because I would have to leave the head removed from the shaver on the sink counter all day to dry before using the shaver again. Also, by both shaving and cleaning without water applying light machine to the screen and trimmer is not necessary as per the owner’s manual. I agree with you that the accelerator function is a gimmick and I can’t tell any difference in speed nor comfort using any of the three lower setting so I just leave it on the most aggressive green setting. The battery is amazing as I get 17 days of shaves per a one hour charge. The owner’s manual says that 50 minutes of shaving results from a full charge.
I won’t buy a cleaning station for any shaver because they are a waste of money, counter space and electricity. I have used Braun shavers since the early 1970s when they were made by Ronson under license from Braun, and then later when they were sold under the name Eltron. In the early 1980s I owned one after they were permitted to be sold in the U.S. under the Braun name. All those shavers lasted for years requiring only replacing the foils and cutters annually and cleaning them daily using only the brush. I never used water, nor any lubricant and there were no cleaning stations and I never had any issues nor problems with any of them. Obviously, the shaver manufactures have to come up with new products to separate you from your money regardless of the feature’s usefulness.
I can’t imagine that the series 9 shaver can shave any closer nor more comfortable to equal the higher initial price and higher cost of the replacement heads. How much faster than the series seven does the series nine reduce the total time to shave? If it reduces the time by 30 seconds is it worth the higher price? Obviously, there are men who want the top of the line regardless of price and that’s what makes life interesting.
Hi Bob,
Thank you for taking the time to share this. Those are some excellent and valid points. As mentioned in the post, I also think that most men will be better off with the Series 7. I actually prefer it to the Series 9 as it shaves just as good, but the smaller head makes shaving more enjoyable, at least for me.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Great comparison!. Yeah… it’s a strange one this. I’ve had a series 7 for nearly 10 years now. (Still going strong by the way!). My partner bought me a series 9 about a year ago, and i was expecting a closer share than the 7. But it only takes roughly a minute or 2 longer to get as close a shave with the 7. And under the nose the 7 seems to do a better job. Could it be because i have dense very tough bristles?. I’ve been tempted to get a Panasonic arc 5 but my partner would kill me! lol.
Thanks for the comment, Philip. I totally agree, the Series 7 is still a very capable shaver and for most users it would easily be good enough. I would blame the larger head of the Series 9 for your problem when shaving under the nose. At least in my case, the more compact head of the Series 7 allows me to really shove the top foil right under the nose and get a close shave with less effort.
The Arc 5 shaves really close, but yes, this hobby can get quite expensive. 🙂
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks for the extensive comparison information. I have owned my Series 7 for about 7 years. The pop-up trimmer has stopped working correctly, so time for an update. Will opt for the series 9. Just wish I could have used the cleaning station but hey… it has a dryer!
You are very welcome, Chuck. Hope you’ll be satisfied with the performance of your new Series 9.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Perfect. This helped a lot. Cheers
Thank you for the comment. Glad you found the article helpful.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Great article, thank you! I am researching as a gift idea for my boyfriend. He’s never had or used an electric razor before, and I’d like to get him the best one. He’s got thick hair that seems to grow faster than he can shave it. He keeps a goatee and shaves his head bald. He has sensitive skin, and I’ve been debating between one of these or the Panasonic Arc 5. He likes to be smooth and clean, but hates having to shave daily, as his skin gets irritated easily, and it’s a lot of effort for hair that just grows back super fast. What is recommended for shaving his face and head daily, resulting in a close to the skin smooth shave that won’t irritate? Not concerned about the price point. Thanks in advance!
Hi,
Thank you for your comment. In this case I’d say that the Series 9 would be the safest bet. It is better than the Arc 5 for sensitive skin and works really well for shaving the head. I actually have a barber friend that uses one to shave his clients’ heads and he’s really happy with it.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi
I’ve read that when you shave with a gel or foam you should not use cleaning station. Is it tried?
Regards
Peter
Hi Peter,
The takeaway is that you shouldn’t use the cleaning station if the shaver still has foam residues as that can lead to a pressure buildup inside the cartridge and it can also clog the station in time. So you would have to clean the shaver manually with water (and also let it dry) before cleaning it in the station.
–Ovidiu
Ok, thanks.
hello! hope to get an answer from an expert (; I want to buy a shaver for my husband, but I can’t decide between a rotary and a foil model. he has rather thin facial hair, they don’t even gro on his cheeks, mostly around mouth and on the chin. he shaves rarely, so he’s shaving longer hair, but he cuts them first as much as he can. so, now he’s using rotary Philips shaver but I have my eye on Braun series 7 and 9. any hints?
Hello Olga,
Thank you for your comment. Considering your husband’s facial hair, a Series 7 will be more than enough. It’s always a good idea to pre-trim a long beard before using an electric shaver as they work best on short facial hair. I think most men will have better results using a good foil shaver like the Series 7 compared to a similarly priced rotary shaver.
Hope this helps.
–Ovidiu
thank you very much for your help (:
Thanks for such a great article. I was thinking about differences between 7 and 9 series, especially if cleaning station from 7 is compatible to 9. all my questions are answered by your thorough examination. Now I know what to buy as a present to my husband.
You are very welcome, Sveta. Glad you found the article useful and I hope your husband will enjoy using his new shaver.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi, really enjoyed the comparison, however I’m having slightly odd results that I wanted to get a second opinion on. I have had a Series 7 for probably some 13 years, it’s lasted forever and been an amazing shaver. That said, the battery is just now starting to show its age and I was also interested in trying the 9 series more generally, so I finally bought a 9385. The results after a week of shaving is that the rather ancient 7 appears to shave much closer to the skin than the supposedly newer and “higher end” 9. I think the 9 appears better with longer hair, the one real weakness of the old 7, but I can feel it’s less close in the morning, and I get a 5 o’clock shadow much earlier and more noticeably now. Has anyone else reported this at all? I find it kind of hard to believe that after all these years of development and a new model that somehow the basic shave has gone backwards. The 9 probably feels a bit cheaper than my old one, but is lighter, with the LCD likely being less useful than the old 7 as well. The 9 is noticeably quieter as well, but feels like it might be less powerful or something, maybe that explains the difference? Anyway, just curious if any others have noticed this and if so is there any known reason? I realize this comparison is a comparison of new models, but some older owners likely would be interested in the longer term changes. I saw at least one similar comment above saying the older 7s appear superior, which is somewhat disturbing! Many thanks in advance.
Hi Scott,
Thank you for your comment.
While they are not that common, these odd results are possible. Your beard type, facial features, technique and so on do come into play as well. For example, from the feedback that I’ve got and also from reading user reviews, it seems like in most cases the Series 9 is at least as good as the Series 7 with regards to closeness. But I’ve also seen cases where the performance of the older Series 7 seemed to be superior. I personally find them very close but again, the results can be different among different users.
But as a side note, the older generation Series 7 (from 2007 to 2013 if I’m not mistaken) was superior: better finish, superior electronics, inductive drying + fast clean (the cc models) and presumably a higher quality shaving head.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
Thank you for the timely response back as well. It’s interesting just how opaque the various models really are, your articles go a long way to helping with this! Probably Braun and the various manufacturers want to keep it unclear so we all spend more than we need to and can’t easily peer through the nomenclature.
In any case, yes after some research here on your site, I appear to have the 790CC with one speed and the white cleaning base, and that appears to be the “original” one with the “superior” bits, perhaps why it has been so good for so many years. I’m curious though why are the electronics better, is that meaning that they fail less often or they actually do something that has been taken away at some point? It’s not a perfect device, it’s always struggled with my neck and any longer growth (I actually carried a cheap razor for neck clean up when travelling), but the basic shave is truly excellent if used daily and it has been a reliable tank otherwise. It’s a bit worn but I have always struggled to replace it given that it just keeps going.
With the 7 Series, I get the impression there has been significant cost cutting at work in the subsequent models, perhaps explaining why an older device might outperform a newer one. I also note that the 9 has quite a bit of advertising effort on “comfort”, which clearly could be code for easier on the skin and less close despite more cutting heads and the supposed upgrades. It does really seem better with longer beards, and is quieter, but as I said seems clearly less close than my classic 790. The glossy black cleaning base and nearly indecipherable lights I’m also not in love with. Even that fact that old 7 showed its status as always on, vs the 9 having to be turned on seems an odd choice by Braun. So, generally I’m struggling to feel it’s any kind of meaningful upgrade on my old 7.
One other point, did I see correctly that Braun now has an entirely new 7 model out in the US? It looks like a top-down new design, will that be covered I assume at some point and do we know how they are positioning this new model?
Thanks again for all the comments, perhaps this dialogue may be of use for any owners of these older but maybe “better” models to know they might not want to bother with newer 7s or even a 9 if a mild refurb or new battery in an older one is available.
You are very welcome, Scott.
The original Series 7 used high-quality, reliable Bosch electronics. Subsequent models use let’s say more generic components — a costs-saving measure most likely. Ditching the inductive drying and quick clean options are in line with this approach as well.
I am aware of the new Series 7 (there’s also a new Series 6 and a 5) and I have all three of them on pre-order. I will be posting reviews and comparisons, but I think it will take a while since my order hasn’t been shipped yet and I also live in Europe. However, I am skeptical about the performance of the new models. I will be really surprised if they will outperform the current models. Lately, Braun tried to market new products as superior (the Series 8 which is essentially a Series 5 with a larger battery, the 93xx Series 9), but they proved to be the same or even worse.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi
Please let us know about new series 7 performance as soon as possible
Hi,
Currently working on it, I hope to post in a few days.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Great info, Ovidiu. I have been thinking about upgrading from my 760cc, which I have used for the past 7 years. It still works well but I have always had a problem getting it to shave my neck areas, also stray hairs around ears that tend to grow long. I usually end up going back over these with a Gillette razor. I would be interested in trying one of the Series 9 models, probably the 9290cc if you think it would better address my problem areas. Thanks.
Thank you for your comment, Steve. A Series 9 should be better for precisely this type of difficult hair. As I mentioned in the article, in terms of closeness and comfort is not really a major improvement over the already excellent Series 7, but most users will find the Series 9 better at getting those long, flat, stray neck hairs.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
i have purchase a 9 and it did give a nice shave. I had it for a few years but haven’t used it offend. it only work for a short time,so i put it away. i keep using my 7 and as of last week,it no longer work. of the 2 of i found the 7 to be the better one. so now i am using strait razors.
Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment, Raymond, much appreciated.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Very useful and full review. Many thanks
Thank you, David — glad you found it helpful!
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you for your reviews – they all are truly informative and helpful.
Here’s my experience of Series 7 vs 9 – maybe you and other users will find it useful.
My trusted Series 7 stopped working recently, so I decided to order 9 this time.
My shaving routine: shave face every day and shave head bald every other day.
Now after a few shaves I’m surprised how strongly I dislike Series 9.
Two main reasons:
1. Shaving head: Series 7 was perfect, S3 nearly as perfect (and hell even my old 4005 was very good those few times I had to use it as a replacement).
Series 9 just doesn’t do a good job to me. After all the usual effort I just don’t get a clean smooth scalp. There are always some imperfectly shaved areas here and there. Right now I just used my old S3 to finish the job that Series 9 couldn’t do. Now my head is perfect!
2. I don’t like the feeling I get after shaving with S9 – both on my face and head. It’s not like my skin is irritated – but i do FEEL that I just shaved – and not in a good way. I think by now I know why: it looks like the shaver doesn’t easily glide over the skin – but kinda rubs it. So after shaving I feel as if I rubbed my skin intensely with my hands – making the skin feel warm and unpleasant. The shaver’s foil elements also become warmer than usual quite fast.
And this unpleasant feeling stays for quite some time. I didn’t have anything like this with my previous Braun shavers.
Therefore, Series 9 will be returned – and I’ll order the trusted 7 once again. In the meantime, I’ll keep using my old S3 – which is still great.
I’m sure my experience depends on personal specifics of my hair and skin. So if you shave daily, has sensitive skin, and shave your head – Series 9 might be not a good choice. (Some of this was actually mentioned in the review).
Hi Leo,
Many thanks for taking the time to share your experience in such great detail — those are some very useful and interesting insights. Sorry to hear the Series 9 wasn’t a good choice. I personally didn’t experience any of the issues you mentioned, but I also prefer my Series 7 for shaving daily or every other day. In my case both are equally comfortable, but I find the Series 7 easier to use thanks to the very narrow head compared to the Series 9.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Braun
Series 7 7898CC Shaver
What is your opinion on the above Model
Thanks
If you can get it for a good price over other cc models, it’s a really good option. Performance-wise, it’s identical to the 7865cc and the others mentioned in the article.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
You said that the series 9 is better to use for longer hair like shaving every other day etc.
But what if I want a clean shave every day with the series 9 ? Wont it be just as good as the series 7 in that regard + faster and way more comfortable or how would you say ?
Absolutely, the Series 9 will of course be just as good for shaving every day. I just meant that you don’t need to spend more money on a Series 9 if you’ll be using it daily since the Series 7 will be just as good in that case.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you, I usually read several articles to investigate a product purchase. In this case, your information was all I needed.
By the way, to clean my old series 7 shaver, I remove the cassette, use the brush to remove the heavy stubble and finish up with a quick spray from a can of compressed air to both units. It works really well, totally clean.
You are very welcome, Dan, glad you found the post useful.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I have just recently bought the Braun Series 7 Electric Shaver 7898cc with cleaning station having used a cheap rotary head shaver before. I cannot believe the difference in shaving.
It took a couple of weeks for my skin to adjust but, boy what a difference.
You cannot go wrong with this model, and to make things even better I bought it for £80.00 cheaper than the advertised price after carrying out some research and searching for the best deals. I think I must have been very lucky on this deal.
Thank you for so much for this article, it helped me with my research on which model to choose.
Thank you for your comment, Steve. As someone who also doesn’t get great results with rotary shavers, I imagine that the difference was night and day. Glad you found a winner.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello Ovidiu,
Thank you so much for all your article. I am using the Braun 799cc since 4 years now. Overall I am satisfied except for my neck. I am prone to ingrown hair and have sensitive neck area and this is the reason that I am using an electric razor (I used wet Cartige and DE razors for some time and found electric razor work much better for me). It gives me close shave on my face but I cannot get close shave on my neck. And even that I go several times on the same area on my neck, my braun 7 still miss some hairs. Worth to mention that I have coarse hair, flat-laying hair in my neck and I use only Wet electric shaving every morning. Do you think that upgrading too Braun 9 ll make my situation better ?
Best regards
Hey,
Thank you for your comment. I think the Series 9 should make things easier in this case. It is precisely the situation where it would make sense to upgrade from a Series 7.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
This is a great post and website, thank you!
I have a series 7 (760cc I think) and have been using it for about 6 or so years. I just bought a series 9 as it was on-sale for a great price (Amazon prime day, but its still a lot of money), but now I am reconsidering and thinking maybe better to just get a new foil/blade for the 7 and returning the 9 (its still in the box). What are your thoughts given the age of my razor and its potential life expectancy, etc?
I travel a ton and also have a tough beard so have definitely gotten a lot of use/abuse out of the 7. Also, if mine breaks, I would be very hesitant to buy the 9 again if not on sale for such a great deal. Over the years, I have gone through two series 8000s and now this series 7 – all have been amazing razors. Replaced them all around the 6 year mark when time for their next new foil/blade.
Thank you for your comment, Robert.
I understand that you haven’t used at all the Series 9 you just bought, so you don’t know how it shaves compared to your current Series 7. If you were satisfied with your 760cc, getting a new head or even a new Series 7 would probably be more convenient (financially). 6 years of constant use from an electric shaver is more than satisfactory in my opinion and anything on top of that will be a bonus.
If you decide to go for a new Series 7 in the future (in case yours will no longer work), make sure to get one of the older generation, not the 2020 update. I wrote a detailed guide on that here.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
Thank you for the quick reply and insights. Just as an updated, I ended up giving the Series 9 a try as I was quite curious, and was indeed extremely impressed by the closeness and comfort of the shave. It was also very fast, just needing maybe one or two swipes, even in the more difficult areas and neck. So from a shaving perspective, it is better than the 7, even if the 7 is great and more than enough. The 9 does feel like much more cheaply made, however – more ‘plasticly’. As the shave is so good and I got if on-sale for a great price, I will keep it. At full price, however, I would rather have the older version of the 7 as it still shaves great and feels more substantial and durrable. I guess time will tell if the 9 is as tough and long lasting as the 7, and if the ‘plasticly’ feel has any affect on longevity/durability.
Thanks again for the input and the great website,
Robert
Hi Robert,
You are very welcome, thank you for the follow-up. That’s great, especially since you managed to get a good deal on the Series 9.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Excellent article, as all of yours.
I am currently using 5140S(I’ve had it for two years now). I am considering a Christmas upgrade, maybe you can provide some advice.
As I have very low hair growth rhythm and a small area to shave, my first reason for the upgrade would be the CC station, mainly because I have a very bad water(high limestone concentration) which tends to destroy the foils and even the shaver all around.
Having the cc would make it easier just to put it there to be cleaned.
Price wise, the 7898CC is 164€ and 9297CC is 244€.
What is your input taking in consideration all of the above?
Thanks!
Thank you for your comment Mihai, much appreciated.
All things considered, I would definitely suggest going with the 7898cc. It will be more than suitable in this case and I think you’ll enjoy using it.
Also, regarding the hard water and mineral deposits, I can also recommend a spray cleaner and lubricant (to be used in addition to the cc station) as they’re much more efficient at dissolving mineral/limestone deposits. My favorite is the Remington Shaver Saver, but it’s getting really difficult to find nowadays, at least in Europe. The second best would be the Andis Cool Care Plus (widely available).
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you I was tipping in that direction as well. As a follow up, when you using the CC station, do you still need to rinse the shaver before placing it inside?
And is Braun Shaver Cleaner spray any good? Thank you
Also Ovidiu, do any of these 2 come with the heated CC? 7790cc or 7898cc.
Much appreciated!
Unfortunately no, they do not have any heating element.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
You are very welcome! I do not, I only tap out the hairs from the shaving head. I have been trying pretty much all brands and the ones from Braun and Philips are actually my least favorite spray cleaners. The Andis and Remington sprays are a lot more effective in my experience, especially if you’re dealing with hard water.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks, I understood now how to use the CC.
As for the two options of the Series 7, what I find interesting is that on same website, the 7790cc(has a heating sign wave like on the CC) and is 10Eur more then the 7898cc which does not have that little mark.
No problem. The 7790cc definitely does not have a cc station fitted with the inductive heating system. My guess is that the product image is of an older 790cc or the listing itself is actually for the 790cc version and the extra 7 is a typo. The first scenario is a lot more likely in my opinion.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Ovidiu, I am back after few more discussions with the company that was selling the 7 series, I found out it was a very old piece that they had in storage for some years. This got me thinking I might have problems with the shaver’s battery. I found the 9365CC with 220 € and ordered it.
I will get back to you in a few weeks with feedback, thank you for all the insight it was really helpful.
Congrats! Ans keep it up!
You are very welcome, glad I could be of help. Looking forward to your thoughts on the Series 9.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
As promised I am back with my first impression on the 9 series.
I gotta say it’s a game changer, compared to my 5 series it was a smoother, quicker, no sniping and it’s more silent. The body is lighter than the 5 series and even tough the head is bigger, I was able to move it easily.
I am very pleased with the CC station, and I followed your advice on closing the cartridge and store it for future use.
There is one thing in common, by the end of the shave I feel the blades heating up a bit.
As a minus, the travel case feels cheaper, i had leather on my 5’, and I plan to keep that shaver for vacations, work travel. Would have liked to have the 9 series with the 100year edition travel case, where you can store the charger along with the shaver, but I think they sold that 1 only with solo editions?
Thanks again!
Hi Mihai,
Many thanks for the follow-up — that’s great, I’m glad you’re satisfied with the Series 9. I agree with regards to the textile case feeling a bit cheap, but at least it offers decent protection. I haven’t seen the larger case with any of the cc models, so I guess it’s limited to the solo shavers.
In order to prevent the blades from becoming hot, I highly recommend the use of a spray lubricant. It may seem a bit redundant since you also use the station, but it makes a big difference and the blades will remain cool. The best in this regard is in my experience the Andis Cool Care Plus. It’s widely available and since it comes in a very large container (439g), it’s also quite reasonably priced. Again, the spray isn’t mandatory since the cleaning fluid is also a lubricant, but if the blades becoming warm is bothersome, I think it’s worth getting it.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello Ovidiu,
Back with some news, my CC station broke which rendered the product unserviceable. I got a refund from the seller, and went to order the series 3 Cooltec CT4cc. Did you ever use it? Or had the chance to review it?
Thanks
Hello Mihai,
Sorry about that, I’m glad you were able to get a refund though. I will definitely be reviewing the Cooltec (long time coming), but it will be a while since I have quite a few reviews in the works at the moment. Hope you’ll enjoy shaving with the Cooltec and if you have the time, I would really like the know your thoughts on it.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello Ovidiu, after 2 shaves with my series 3 Cooltec CT4cc, I am back with some taughts:
Heavy in hand, silent shaver, cooltec works, adequate performance, it has the same accesories as a 9series: CC station, travel case, mini brush, charger + station(it only charges in CC or trough some station, makes it a bit awkward for travel).
Cooltec works just as described in any video about this product, you do feel some degree of ice like shaving experience, wich makes it easyer for those who are sensitive to over heating.
As far as performance, I would place it close to 5 series, I would not recommend this product for thick beard.
Even tough the cooltec works, you still might get some redness if you pass 4-5 times on some areea, but you dont feel any disconfort at that time, it appears after.
Pricewise, 115Euros, for me, it’s worth every penny.
I kept my oldtimer 5140S for traveling.
And one question for you, as the cleaning circle ends, should I hear the fan of the CC station drying the shaver? Because I can’t hear anything 🙂
Hello Mihai,
Awesome write-up, many thanks for taking the time to share your experience. I’m glad you enjoy it, seems like it’s right for the job.
Regarding the cleaning station, as far as I know, it doesn’t have any active drying system. You would definitely hear a fan spinning.
The fact that you can only charge it via the station is quite an inconvenience. There’s a charging stand that comes with the CT4S and it’s sold separately as well. In my opinion the customer shouldn’t pay for it, but they decided not to include it with the cc models. It is a lot more compact and easy to carry compared to the cc station though.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello Ovidiu, regarding the charging stand, I wasn’t clear in my explanation, I did get it,
but I still find it easyer to carry a 5140S when traveling.
Now regarding the CC station having a drying system…I am bit confused, here’s why:
I was under the impression that Braun had heating in earlyer cc station and transitioned to a fan based drying system. Having sayd that, I’ve sent my 9365cc in service with this in mind(that the shaver was soaking wet even after hours in the CC), and they aproved this as beeing a unrepairable thing in the station. Care to weigh in on this?
Hello Mihai,
The stations fitted with the inductive heating systems were only used in the case of some early Series 7 generations. With the current Series 7, they ditched them altogether and the Series 9 is the only one that features an active drying system, a fan. The station of your 9365cc should have the fan drying system which I also believe should be covered by the warranty.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
You are right as always, I’ve read now the manuals for botch ct4cc and 9365cc, and that is correct, only the 9 series has a drying system(fan). Thanks again for all the helpful info and hints, looking forward to some of your new reviews.
You are very welcome, glad I could be of help.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
my husband has been using Braun S7 9595cc since 2008. Can the cleaning station also bu used on new models S7? Thank, BR Mirka
Hi Mirka,
The 9595 is arguably the greatest Series 7 ever made and unfortunately, I never managed to grab one before being discontinued. However, I am pretty certain that the older (white) cleaning station is not compatible with the new Series 7 shavers.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks Ovidiu.
So what do I get better by buying a S7 7899cc compared to the S7 9595? I would like something better for my husband. He shaves every day-That’s why I’m hesitant to buy S9 9390cc ..
You are very welcome. You will be getting the 5 speed settings and while I don’t find them particularly useful, in the highest power setting the newer Series 7 are supposedly around 20% faster compared to the single speed S7 like the 9595. But other than that, there aren’t any significant upgrades. In fact, the station is a downgrade in my opinion since it lacks the inductive drying system and the quick cleaning mode.
Regarding the comparison with the Series 9, there are a lot of aspects to be considered and I tried addressing them in this post.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Yes, your comparison to the Series 9 is excellent! The recommendation that series 7 is better for everyday shaving is repeated several times. Therefore, I hesitate, as my husband shaves every morning. Otherwise, I would buy it without hesitation. The price does not play such a role.
Just to make sure there isn’t any misunderstanding, I simply meant that if someone were to shave daily, spending more money on a Series 9 wouldn’t really make sense since the Series 7 will be more than enough for daily use.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Many thanks, very useful, the best review.
How about the noise?
I’m a Braun user for over 40 years, but I received many year ago as a gift a Panasonic ES8249, that shave very well, but noisy, mosquito type of noise. As I have strong beard, it takes me longer time to shave; it’s tiring for the ears.
Which one is the quietest?
Many thanks,
Have a nice day, and take care (Covid-19)
Jean
Many thanks for your comment, Jean, I really appreciate it.
To me the Series 9 is a bit quieter than the Series 7. According to a smartphone app, around 2 decibels quieter. The noise made by Panasonic shavers is different — you’ve actually described it really well. It’s a high pitched whine, while a Braun shaver will have a lower frequency hum. One might find it (subjectively) quieter compared to the Panny.
But all foil electric shavers are usually loud, definitely much louder than rotary shavers.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you for your detailed comparison. I have been eyeing these up for a while now, and have decided to go for 7898cc based on your information, as I’m planning to shave every other day and there’s not a lot of difference in performance and the 7 has marginally better build quality and ergonomics with a substantial cost saving despite New Year sales on both items, I paid £130 for the 7 and the 9 was £190.
Would it be fair to say that the new 7 is less superior to the old one as the old one was their flagship model and now the 9 is; so they had to downgrade the 7 to create the 8 & 9 models to justify the upgrade as illustrated on this comparison, there isn’t a huge about of performance difference between the old 7 and new 9, but the new 8 performs better then the new 7 but less then the old 7?
Hi Naim,
That would be correct and I think you made the right choice with the 7898cc. To me, the old Series 7 is far superior to the new one — in fact, I like the Series 8 (which is basically a Series 5 with a bigger battery) better than the new Series 7, but it’s definitely not as good as the old one (even though the 8 in its name might suggest otherwise). Hope you’ll enjoy shaving with your 7898cc!
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I am looking for a 7865cc without a charger. I can’t seem to find one online. Do I need to go to a store itself?
any help would be greatly appreciated
Hi Ken,
The 7865cc is only sold with a cleaning and charging dock, you cannot buy it separately, not even from a physical store.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi, thanks for the very informative review. Was wondering if I could get some purchasing advice as I am struggling to decide between Braun Series 7865cc and Braun Series 9295cc.
Have been using the Braun Series 3 CoolTec CT4s for a few years now and thinking of getting an upgrade. No major problems with my current shaver aside from having a bit of difficulty shaving the area right under my chin and the area under my nose, but thought I might as well get an upgrade since a new cassette is about 1/3 of a brand new 7865cc/9295cc that comes with a cleaning station
Would you recommend me getting the Series 7 or Series 9 if the latter is approx. USD 80 more expensive?
Thanks!
Hi Tim,
I would get the 7865cc — I think you’ll be very happy with it and it’ll be a nice upgrade from your current shaver.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
This was very helpful Thank you !!! Great comparison …
Thank you, John, really glad you found it useful.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
After trying the series 9 for several weeks I went back to the series 7. Smaller head is just easier to navigate and ultimately shaves just as well, in my experience.
Thank you for your comment, Thomas. My experience was rather similar and it’s also the reason why I recommend the Series 7 to most users.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I have been using Phlipps for the last 40 years & now I want to change to Braun Series 7 ; which one would you recommend ? I live in FR. I think Philipps are down in the market now & I’m not satis. with them … I bought a cheap Braun because the Philipps’s blades cost a lot now & it gave me a good shave , so PL. let me know the model number .. THNX
Hi Nick,
My suggestion would be to get one of the previous generation Series 7 models (like the 790cc, 7865cc, 7893s, etc.) — they all shave the same, so it basically comes down to which one you can get in France. I think you’ll get far better results compared to any current Philips shavers or the cheap Braun shaver. For more details on all the Series 7 variations and differences, you can check out my guide here as well.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Ovidiu,
Excellent comparison and makes my purchase decision a lot more clear. Two q’s: a) The Series 7 model that i see is : 70 N1000s. Is this any different from the 78xx or?
b) do i need a cleaning station? Or plain warm water tap rinsing will work?
Tx
Thank you for your comment, Tanjan, much appreciated.
Regarding your questions:
a) The 70 N1000s is indeed a completely different shaver from the 78xx. I highly recommend getting a 78xx if you can. I wrote a detailed guide comparing the two Series 7 generations if you want to check it out for all the details.
b) A cleaning station is not absolutely necessary and you can clean an electric shaver quite effectively with warm tap water and some liquid hand soap. You will need to lubricate it periodically, especially if you use soap to clean it. You can check out my posts on cleaning and lubrication as well. However, with Braun shavers, I usually prefer getting a model that comes with a cleaning station since it’s very practical and there are lots cheap of third-party cleaning solutions available.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Your review was absolutely EXCELLENT!! Thank you for putting (I’m sure) so much time and thought into it!
Best
You are way too kind, thank you. Glad you found the information useful.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Many thanks for this review and all the articles on the shavers
I currently have a Braun Series 7 720 Type 5674
It is near 10 years old yet it works perfectly. Just the battery lasts shorter, but definitely I can shave 5-6 times with one charge.
My main need is to be able to shave while it is plugged in the wallet as I really don’t need the Wet & Dry feature.
I see that Braun is definitely dropping this must have feature for me.
I managed to find a Series 7790cc for a premium price though, about 300 euros.
Will it be the same experience I had with my old 720 ? Will it be a significant upgrade both in build quality and shaving experience ? Or even a downgrade in both.
I can buy a Series 9 9385cc for the same price though. I am just afraid of the build quality and the life of the battery. I see many reviews saying they just won’t last as the old series. Also, if the LiIon batteries usually just miserably fail after 3-5 years. Not being able to continue a shaving session interrupted because of a teared out battery and having to change the shaver just like a mobile phone looks disappointing to me.
Any thoughts on my questions about this move from a 720 to a 7790cc or a 9385cc ?
Thank you
Hi Phil,
Thanks for the comment, I really appreciate it.
The 7790cc will definitely not be a downgrade in terms of shaving performance, however, the build quality and reliability of Braun shavers in general haven’t been quite the same lately. For example, older Series 7 shavers like yours used high-quality Bosch electronics and were entirely made in Germany. That’s not really the case anymore. But even so, the Series 7 is still among the best out there (I personally haven’t had any issues with any of mine). The only real problem here is the price in my opinion — 300 euros is way too much for a Series 7.
As for the 9385cc, that one will only work cordless, so I’m not sure that it’s right for what you need. Also, the Series 9 cassettes are generally less reliable compared to the Series 7. Since your 720 is still working properly, I would try to find another (dry only) Series 7 for a more reasonable price, regardless if it’s a solo or cc model. Try eBay as well.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you for your answer
Sadly prices went crazy here in Europe, just like the GPUs it seems.
On ebay, they are only available at a decent 150 euros in the USA, but adding often 100-150 euros shipping fees !
For the same price, I do not will to buy an S9 and loose the cordless feature + drop quality and probably the durability
However, I notices the Panasonic Arc5 review and these are available here in Switzerland at less than 150 euros. At this price, I could well drop the cordless feature + it has a 3 mn quick charge
Do you think it would be a disappointment moving from an S7 720 to the Arc5 ? I am just very happy with the S7 despite I shave the most at 3-7 days interval
Thank you and best regards
You are very welcome, Phil.
The Arc 5 is a great shaver, but it excels at different things. For example, I find the Series 7 better at catching longer hairs, so it’s more suitable for someone with your shaving routine. It’s also more comfortable especially when used dry.
The Arc 5 woks best on shorter, relatively straight stubble. But it’s extremely fast and powerful and shaves really close — it’s the best in that regard in my opinion. So unless you have very sensitive skin and you’ll stick to a maximum of 3 days between shaves (that actually depends a lot on how fast your beard grows), I think it can be a very good option as well, especially considering the price and availability of the S7.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Ok, thank you, I will stick to the S7 since I mainly shave dry and regularly > 3 days
Have to live with the price, will give a feedback once I tried it
Thank you again
Hi,
I’ve been reading these reviews and comments for so many hours. I have heard lots of people mention that the Series 9 feels ‘plasticy’ compared to the old Series 7. To the best of my knowledge the old Series 7 was made entirely out of plastic aside from the odd piece of metal in the head so I do not understand the build quality comments. Can someone explain a bit better to me please? Does the Series 9 creak and flex due to its plastic build or does it just look less premium than the old Series 7?
Thankyou
Hi Adam,
Both the Series 7 and 9 are made out of plastic and there’s nothing inherently wrong with that. Regarding your question, the Series 7 just feels more substantial and the plastic panels seem thicker. The body itself has a larger girth and the rubber sleeve is larger and thicker, which further contributes to that solid feel. When held in hand, the Series 9 gives you a bit of a hollow feeling and it’s lighter as well. The plastic panels appear to be somewhat thinner and so is the foil frame. The satin or chrome finish is also in contrast with the Series 7 which has a more rugged look. I own 3 Series 9 shavers and none of them creak/flex and never had any issues.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thankyou for your reply Ovidiu. Very helpful.
I plan to resurrect my 790cc that I purchased in 2015. I went rotary because they are quieter, however shave quality was not as good. I’m assuming because of the extra head the 9 series is louder?
Love your in depth articles by the way.
Hi Scott,
Actually, I’d say the Series 9 is a bit quieter than the 790cc. Both are significantly louder than a rotary though.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi there
Would you go for the standard series 9 or the 9 pro is there much difference between the two ?
Thanks
Keith
Hi Keith,
I’d say the differences are subtle, but are there nevertheless. I recommend reading this part of my comparison where I go over the details and decide which one would be more suitable for you.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
hi there,
I’ve just brought series 9 . 9390 not used it yet would you say its worth keeping this or buy the 9 pro?
thanks
keith
Hi Keith,
Both are excellent shavers with some subtle differences in performance. I recommend reading this part of my comparison and also my Series 9 Pro review. It should help you decide which one makes more sense for your needs.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
thanks very much Ovidiu
After reading tons of pages here I narrowed my choice down to the 790cc available on Amazon today for $183 or the 9310cc available on Costco for $200. You gave a lot of pros for each in your 7v9 comparison. In the end i went for the newer model. You showed that the 93 wasn’t a cost cutting downgrade. That really gave it the edge.
Thanks for the great analysis work! Surprised you don’t have a YouTube channel.
Hi Carl,
Glad you found some helpful info and I hope you’ll enjoy shaving with the Series 9. I do plan on uploading some comparison reviews on YouTube as well, hopefully soon.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Braun series 7 – best shaver ever, because small head better choise for tricky areas like below your jawline or nose. I returned my series 9 and got a new one – series 7. Now my face is clean with it, for my 3-4 days beard its best with it. series 9 is not for a sensitive skin especially below jawline.
Hi,
Thanks for the comment. The Series 7 is clearly more nimble and more manageable. I personally find the Series 9 just as comfortable, but this can vary of course.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
So I have both a series 7 and series 9, both with charging/cleaning stations. My series 7 charging/cleaning station broke, so i haven’t been able to do a proper cleaning cycle on the series 7.
I obviously tried using the series 9 station with the series 7 shaver, but the pins don’t line up properly.
Is it possible to use the series 9 station with the series 7 shaver (e.g. if I manually connected the pins with a piece of metal)?
Hi Sam,
even if you do manage to get the physical connection sorted, it will still not work as a Series 7 shaver doesn’t pair with a Series 9 station. It will probably only charge the shaver. I wouldn’t recommend doing the mod, it’s just not worth it (also doesn’t seem practical or particularly safe/reliable). I would rather try to get a Series 7 station for a good price.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
What a wonderful and very detailed article. Thank you.
I am in Canada and am still using a very dull ES-ST25. At ~$70+tx for a replacement foil and blade kit, I’m considering upgrading the almost 10 year old razor. The battery certainly isn’t what it used to be.
I know this razor, with a good and sharp blade, can give a very close shave. I have, however, often gotten nicks and irritation when I use it more frequently (mainly dry shaving but even when used with shaving cream).
Do you think I’d be disappointed in the performance of a Braun 5/6/7/9? I’m assuming any of these newer ones would perform better than a 10yo (ARC3?) razor. Would it simply be more comfortable or would I get less irritation at the expense of a closer shave? How much worse would it be?
I would say I have moderately sensitive skin and a sharp jawline that is often the area in which the irritation occurs.
I’d never have thought that picking a razor would be so complicated. 🙂
Thanks for any recommendation you can provide,
Matt
Hi Matt,
Thank you for your words of appreciation, I’m really glad you found the post useful.
I think any shaver you’ll be getting will likely feel like an upgrade just for the fact that it’s got sharp blades, so the comfort and the closeness will be better. That said, you could go the Panasonic route or opt for a different brand, Braun being basically the other option for a decent foil shaver.
The budget Panasonic pick would of course be an Arc 3 — I would get one of the older models that offer the same performance as the new ones, but usually for less money and the foil frame is more compact which is always better. I think the ES-LL21-K is usually found at a reasonable price in Canada. If you can bump the budget a bit, you can’t go wrong with an Arc 5 ES-LV65, although the 5-blade head could be a bit cumbersome to use around the jawline and right below the nose.
As for Braun, I would avoid the new Series 5, 6 and 7 — I wrote about them in great detail here if you want to check it out. Instead, I would try to get an older generation Series 5 or 7 (if you can still find one for a good price). Also, the Series 8 is basically an old Series 5 with a larger battery, so that’s again a good option and it’s widely available. That would actually be my pick if you decide to buy a Braun shaver. I do not know how much you’re willing to spend on a new shaver, but the Series 9 and 9 Pro are usually (a lot) more expensive and I think an old Series 7 or a Series 8 will likely be good enough.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hey Ovidiu, thanks for all the great content. This website is amazing.
I’m in the market for a new electric shaver. I have been using the 3 series pro skin for a couple of years but I find if I don’t shave for 2 days I need to clean shave with a razor and the start back my routine with the series 3 again.
I have been looking at the old series 7 model# 7-740s for $253 on Amazon.
Then I see the series 9 model# 9330s for $216
Is there any point in considering the series 7 which seems to be the gold standard over the series 9?
Hi Tony,
Thank you so much, glad you found the info useful.
The old Series 7 is unfortunately being phased out, so the few models still available for purchasing are getting pretty expensive. In this case I’d say to go with the Series 9 since it costs less. In the past, when the S7 was significantly cheaper than the S9, I would have simply recommended the Series 7.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
FYI – Costco is running a sale on the series 9 with CC and composite case. Priced at $159.
Thanks for the heads-up, Ryan. That’s probably the 9310cc model, a really good deal.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I have Series 7 and my my complain is its performance around the neck area. Would an upgrade to Series 9 make a huge difference? Series 7 also feels slow, it takes me multiple passes to get a clean shave.
Hi Alex,
It could be an upgrade in that case, especially if the poor performance of your Series 7 is not the result of the cutters getting blunt. I would also recommend the use of a pre-shave lotion. The one from Speick in particular works really well with Braun shavers.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks for all the great reviews. My Braun 8985 finally died after many years of great performance. As mentioned in a previous post, COSTCO has a sale on the 9310cc model. I cannot find any of your reviews where you specifically mention the 9310cc model. Is there any difference between the 9310cc model and all the other 93xx models that you have reviewed. I am sometimes suspicious of COSTCO in that they sell products with slightly different model numbers and wonder if they are trying to sell inferior models at a discounted price. Finally, I really don’t care about getting a wet/dry razor as I will never use it in the shower. The sale ends on 12/24. Thanks
Thank you, David, much appreciated.
The 9310cc was initially a Costco-exclusive model, but in the meantime other retailers have started listing it as well. As I mentioned in my Series 9 comparison, the 9310cc is just a Series 9 like any other, the only difference being that its cleaning station has one standard program instead of 3 (short, normal, intensive). In practice, this doesn’t matter much, so if you can get a great deal on it, I’d say go for it. Other models like the 9370cc or 9365cc also have one standard cleaning mode, so the 9310cc isn’t a one-off.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks for the quick reply. I will pick one up the next time I visit COSTCO. Thanks again for all your reviews. I was sorry to see my old Braun die after many years and look forward to using the 9310cc. By the way, do you review any other products. Thanks again and have a great Holiday.
You are very welcome, David, glad I could be of help. Hope you’ll enjoy shaving with the S9. I only review electric shavers and related products (pre-shaves, trimmers and so on). Happy holidays!
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Update. I ended up buying the 9310cc at COSTCO. It is the Series 9 Sport model. So far it is working great. I have been using it for about three weeks and still haven’t charged it. I can breeze through my shave in about 60-90 seconds. I remove the shaving heads after every two or three shaves and blow the whiskers out in the shower. I got this tip years ago to save on cleaning solution. Also, I noticed the cleaning assembly uses the same type of solution as my old razor. This was welcomed news as I had about 4 canisters of cleaner left over from my prior razor. So far I am very pleased with the razor and glad I purchased it when it was $50 off. Thanks again for all your valuable information.
That’s awesome, David, thanks so much for taking the time to follow up. Yes, all Braun cleaning stations use the same cleaning cartridges, so you can definitely put your old ones to good use. Enjoy your new Series 9 and happy New Year!
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
I’m a Black woman with very sensitive skin and am prone to ingrown hairs. So, I can’t shave any area closely, except for my legs.
Most products that are designed for women either seem poorly made and/or ill-equipped to
handle course, coily hair types. So, I’ve been researching both manual safety razors and electric shavers.
However, I am leaning towards the latter (possibly the Braun 9 series) because I’m afraid of cutting myself. My primary uses will be bikini line, underarms, and legs.
Thanks in advance for your time and any suggestions,
Angie
Hi Angie,
Thank you for the comment.
Electric shavers are designed for shaving the hair on the face, neck and head (the hair must be reasonably short). That said, they can work well on body hair provided the hair is very short (I’d say no longer than 3mm). The Series 9 is among the most capable electric shavers out there but again, it wasn’t designed for shaving body hair. I would rather consider a body groomer from Philips like the Bodygroom 7000. That one has a foil head flanked by two rows of skin-friendly blades and I think it would be more suitable for the job. I reviewed it in great detail here if you want to check it out.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi,
I would use the razor mainly for the head as well as for shaving the beard.
How does the S7 perform in this respect? I’ve read and watched several reviews of the two products but no one mentions the S7 for head use unlike the S9
Thanks in advance for your reply and any suggestions
Hi,
Thank you for the comment.
The S7 (the old generation in the post above, not the new 360 Flex S7) will work fine as a head shaver, although not quite effectively as the S9 which has a larger head and can cover larger areas with ease. The hair will need to be short, so you may need to use a hair clipper beforehand if the hair is longer than let’s say 1.5mm. Otherwise it’ll take more work and some hairs will be pulled.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
O…Got a series 7 w/charger and cleaning station “free for nothing” in the throw away pile at a garage sale a couple of years ago. Tried using it a couple of months later and have not used razor blades ever since. It seems to be doing a better job than the blades & soap ritual and I still don’t really understand why. Costco here in the US has the series 9 “sport” on sale for US$150. Thott I would try an internet search for the answer to the question of buying a new one. You provided an exhaustive review of the two. Was astounded at the depth and quality of your report. Looks like the answer is a “coin-toss”. Thank you so much for your work on that. m
Michael,
Thanks so much for the kind comment, glad you found the info useful.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu