Braun Series 3 300s Review: Inexpensive, But Is It Any Good?

The Series 3 family of electric shavers from Braun has long been one of the best options for the budget-conscious buyer.

Offering decent performance for (usually) a very reasonable price, there are quite a few models in the Series 3 range.

In this Braun Series 3 300s review, we’re going to take a close look at one of the more basic and affordable variations, but one that also has a couple of very compelling features.

After testing the Series 3 300s for several weeks, I will be sharing all the pros and cons of this shaver and hopefully help you decide whether it would be a suitable option for you.

We’ll also check out a few alternatives that can actually represent a better choice for a similar price.

So let’s dive right in.

Braun 300s features overview

As mentioned previously, the Series 3 is one of Braun’s entry-level families of electric razors for men.

While the Series 3 ProSkin (with models like the 3040s or 3000s) offers a nicer design and some extra features, the basic Series 3 razors like the 300s in our review are as bare-bones as they get.

Let’s check out some of the main features of this electric razor.

1. Three-blade shaving head

One of the defining characteristics of the Series 3 has always been the 3 blade shaving system.

The Braun 300s features a familiar setup with 2 foils and one slit trimmer joined together into a single unit called a cassette.

While the shaving head itself is fixed, the three cutting elements can actually move independently, which helps them stay flat on the skin while shaving.

As usual, the foil cutters will cut the hairs at skin level, while that middle trimmer will cut longer, flat-lying hairs down to size.

In the performance section of the review I will share how well this system really works on the Series 3 300s.

2. Cordless and corded operation

This feature is in my opinion the highlight of the Braun Series 3 300s and one of its key selling points over other similarly priced models.

Precisely, you can use the shaver with or without the cord.

Most modern electric razors will only work cordless which is a deal-breaker for some users.

Luckily, the Series 3 300s can also be used while charging.

And speaking of charging, the shaver is fitted with a NiMh battery that should provide enough power for around 20 minutes of use.

Because it will also work with the cord plugged in, the Braun 300s is only suitable for shaving dry (as a safety precaution).

You will be able to use the shaver anywhere in the world since the charger has a universal voltage converter (100 – 240v).

3. Waterproof for easy cleaning

The shaver is IPX7 certified, so it is waterproof up to 5 meters.

This feature will be particularly useful when cleaning the razor as you can quickly rinse it under tap water.

I will share a detailed overview of the cleaning process later on.

And that’s pretty much all there is to know about the features of the Braun Series 3 300s.

Again, this is a very basic foil electric shaver, with none of the bells and whistles of the more expensive Braun models, like power settings, beard density sensors and flexible shaving heads.

And that is really reflected in the low price of this device as well, which makes it a very appealing budget option.

Build quality and ergonomics

Like all Series 3 models, the Braun 300s has that feel of solidity when held in hand despite having an all-plastic build.

The chunky body and the sturdy construction definitely contribute to this as well.

That said, it looks a bit lackluster and boring, particularly since the 300s comes in this dark grey and black colorway.

The body also feels more plasticky in comparison to the Series 3 ProSkin for example.

Unlike those, the 300s doesn’t come with a rubberized sleeve on the sides and back.

Instead, there’s only this matte plastic that still provides decent grip, even though it’s not quite as grippy as rubber.

That would be my main and only complaint regarding the ergonomics of the Braun Series 3.

The narrow front fascia that houses the power button and LED is rubberized and partially makes up for this.

The shaving head is very slim and easy to use, even when shaving difficult areas like right below the nose.

There’s no travel lock on the Series 3, but the power button requires a bit of force to be pressed, so I don’t think it’ll be a major issue.

Again, on the more expensive ProSkin models the plastic cap extends and covers the power button as well, so there’s no way to be accidentally pressed.

The sides and back of the Braun 300s are completely barren. You can actually see the outline where a slide-out trimmer would be located on the more expensive Series 3 variations.

Unfortunately, the 300s doesn’t have one.

On the bottom of the shaver there’s the typical Braun charging port.

As for battery level indicators and the likes, there’s really nothing to talk about here.

There’s a single green LED that lights up continuously during use and flashes rapidly when you need to charge the shaver.

Included accessories

Here’s what you’ll find inside the package:

• The shaver itself
• Charging cord
• Protective cap
• User manual

That’s it. No cleaning brush, travel case or lubricant are included. A bit underwhelming, but somewhat expected in this price range.

Battery life and charging

Like all the shavers in the entry-level Series 3 range, the 300s reviewed here is fitted with a rather small rechargeable NiMh battery.

While most other shavers can provide up to 45 minutes of cordless use, the Braun 300s can only do around 20 minutes.

That’s a bit disappointing, to be honest.

However, there’s a silver lining in the sense that you can simply plug the cord in and continue shaving.

Again, I think this is one of the main selling points of this particular model, along with its reasonable price.

Getting back to the battery of the Braun Series 3 300s, since it is of the older NiMh type, you’ll have to charge it for 4 hours before using the shaver for the first time.

It’s also recommended to completely discharge it through use at least once every 6 months.

Charging the shaver from 0 to 100% takes approximately one hour.

As mentioned in the beginning, the battery level indicator is just a single LED that blinks when the battery is almost drained.

Not particularly useful, especially since the battery can only provide around 20 minutes of cordless operation.

But again, the fact that you can use the shaver connected to a power outlet makes this less of an issue.

Shaving performance

The most important part of this Braun Series 3 300s review is without a doubt the performance of the shaver.

I will be addressing three separate aspects that I consider particularly relevant, starting as usual with the closeness.

Closeness of the shave

Having used quite a few Series 3 shavers over time, I was pretty certain about what to expect.

And at least in terms of closeness, there weren’t any surprises.

The closeness provided by the Braun 300s is decent, especially on the cheeks, but definitely not class-leading in this price range.

Panasonic models like the Arc 3 (or even older straight-foil variations) will yield better results for most users, especially under the chin and above the upper lip.

With that said, the closeness of the Series 3 300s was slightly worse than in the case of the Series 3 ProSkin models, like the 3040s, 3010s or 3000s.

Not a huge difference by any means, but I could notice it.

Since the regular Series 3 and the ProSkin models have the same motor, this difference can only be the result of the different shaving heads (cassettes) used by the cheaper models.

But as mentioned previously, you can actually upgrade to the better heads as they are compatible (I will share more details later on).

I did get better results when I used 300s along with a pre-shave lotion (my favorite one is the Speick Pre-electric shave).

The closeness was better and I also got a clean shave in less time, so I definitely recommend using it.

I must say that if you have a coarse beard or you’re looking to get a really close shave, this razor isn’t for you.

Comfort

This is where most Braun shavers shine regardless of price point.

While the closeness isn’t always the best, they make up for that by being very comfortable during use.

Unfortunately, that’s wasn’t exactly the case with the Braun Series 3 300s.

Precisely, I immediately noticed that it’s not as forgiving as my Series 3 ProSkin shavers.

I had to go a lot slower, especially on the neck, in order to avoid discomfort.

Using it side by side with my 3010s for example I could clearly notice a difference, in the way that the 3010 is a lot more comfortable and smooth.

This only came as a confirmation that the shaving head used on the ProSkin models is superior to the ones on the basic Series 3 like the 300s.

So the comfort is not as good as I was expecting it to be in the case of the Series 3 300s, at least not with the original 21b shaving head.

For this reason I can’t really recommend it to men with very sensitive skin, but again, upgrading to the 32b shaving head will pretty much solve this issue.

Shaving longer, flat-lying hairs

This is another area where the 300s suffers in comparison to the above-mentioned models.

While the shaving head looks pretty much the same, it’s again not quite as good for getting those longer, flat-lying hairs.

I had to work a lot in order to get a clean shave and that even caused me a small rash on the neck.

Granted, the Series 3 is a basic foil shaver that works best when used on short facial hair, but again the 300s was worse than the ProSkin Series 3 in this situation.

I think this is where the difference was the most obvious, the 300s requiring many passes in order to get a clean shave.

So I highly recommend considering this razor if you’ll be shaving daily or every other day for the majority of the time.

Things will be even worse if you have coarse, wiry hairs that grow in different directions.

In that case, you’d be better off with a more advanced razor, even if it means spending more money.

Overall, the shaving performance of the Braun Series 3 300s was a bit disappointing, especially with regard to comfort and how it deals with long, flat-lying hairs.

I didn’t think the shaving head would make that much of a difference since it looks almost identical to the one on the more expensive Series 3, but it does.

Cleaning and maintenance

A basic electric razor is usually easier to clean compared to a more advanced one.

And that’s the case with the Series 3 300s as well, the cleaning process being extremely straightforward and quick.

Since the shaver is fully waterproof, you can just rinse it under the tap.

I usually start by removing the cassette and gently tapping out some of the hair clippings that are trapped inside.

Make sure to only tap the plastic part of the unit as the foils are very sensitive.

With the cord disconnected, put the cassette back, turn the shaver on and rinse it for approximately 15 seconds with warm water.

For more thorough cleaning, you can put a few drops of liquid soap on the outside of the foil. Turn the razor on to lather the soap; also add more water if needed.

After 15 seconds, with the shaver still turned on, rinse it generously with water.

Turn it off, remove the shaving head, and give it a final rinse inside out.

Shake off the excess water and you’re pretty much all set.

I prefer to pat the cassette and shaver with a towel and let them air dry completely (with the shaving head separated from the body).

I recommend lubricating the shaver after every cleaning that involves the use of soap.

You can use any highly refined mineral oil like clipper oil or even a spray lubricant for electric shavers.

Braun recommends oiling the blades once a week if you only use water. Unfortunately they don’t include any lubricant with the 300s, so you’ll have to get one yourself.

Here’s a detailed guide that covers everything you need to know about lubricating an electric shaver.

Replacement parts availability

The Series 3 300s uses the 21b shaving head (cassette).

As we saw previously, it is also the cause of the rather underwhelming performance of the shaver.

The part is pretty reasonably priced and widely available.

Braun 21b replacement cassette

See the price on Amazon

However, I actually recommend upgrading to the 32b/32s cassette when it’s time to replace it.

It doesn’t cost a whole lot more, but at least during my tests, it was noticeably better than the 21b that originally came with the 300s.

Braun 32b replacement cassette

See the price on Amazon

So you’ll basically upgrade your regular Series 3 to a ProSkin.

Wrapup — Who should buy the Braun 300s?

As you might have concluded from the shaving performance of the review, the Braun Series 3 300s turned out to be a bit of a letdown, at least for me.

And that’s mainly because I was expecting the shaver to yield similar results to the slightly more expensive ProSkin models.

However, the shaving head that comes with the 300s is actually its weak point and as a result, the shaving experience was underwhelming.

The Series 3 300s is not as comfortable, enjoyable nor as good with longer, flat-lying hairs.

As a result, I can only recommend it as a daily shaver to someone with a relatively light to medium beard that doesn’t have very sensitive skin and is looking for an affordable electric shaver.

Yes, all the above-mentioned issues can be solved by buying the better shaving head (32b/32s), but that’s an extra cost and you’ll still be left with a smaller battery for example.

So you might as well opt for the better Series 3 model from the beginning.

The Braun Series 3 300s is an inexpensive foil razor and the ability to use it both cordless and corded is a great advantage in the long run.

And considering its small battery, it’s definitely a useful feature (here’s a guide about some of the best cordless/corded shavers you can still buy today).

That said, let’s check out a few (better) alternatives to the Series 3 300s.

Alternative shavers

The first obvious option would be the Braun 3000s from the Series 3 ProSkin range.

See the price on Amazon

In my opinion this model would be a better pick for most users.

It costs only slightly more than the 300s, but it comes with the upgraded shaving head (32b), has double the battery capacity, a nicer and more ergonomic design and yes, you can still use it with the cord plugged in.

All these things simply can’t justify getting the 300s since the 3000s represents a much more compelling package.

Finally, we have what is likely the best-selling model in the Series 3, the 3040s.

See the price on Amazon

This is basically a wet/dry 3000s that also has an integrated slight-out hair trimmer that’s good enough for some basic grooming.

It’s a very popular model since it’s widely available and can often be found at a discount.

Do keep in mind that since it’s a wet/dry model that you can also use in the shower or with shaving cream, it will not work with the cord plugged in like the 3000s above.

So you win some and you lose some features.

The shaving performance is exactly the same, so you’ll just have to go for the one that makes more sense for your needs.