Braun used to be noted in its glory days for producing perfect combinations of form and function, using cutting-edge design techniques. Now I’m not saying Dieter Rams would necessarily be upset by the design of this philips shaver but, while its functionality is hard to argue with, aesthetically the 9 Series is quite lacking. It looks and feels plasticky, and the way it slots into its charging and cleaning base is not very satisfying.
It also lets us test whether the shavers nick your skin or cause any irrritation, and how long the battery lasts. However, the crucial thing to be aware of is that the most recent Brauns have model codes beginning 93 and the most recent Philips ones begin S97 or S95 – plus the Prestige. There is nothing wrong with the older models you will find online, and sometimes they are at real bargain prices, but they’re not the very latest and bestest. Overall, there is very little to tell between this and its premium rivals, but a slightly shorter battery life and higher RRP moved it down the list.
It really does feel like you’ve used a multi-blade traditional razor. It manages this partly through that new blade design, which pulls the hairs deeper beneath the foil before cutting. The F has the look of a Braun clone and uses a proven dual-foil system with a center lift-and-cut trimmer mated to a pivoting head. But unlike the Braun Series 7 foil philips electric razor block, which pivots along two axes, this less-expensive shaver pivots only up and down. Although no cleaning system is available, you can easily rinse the shaver under running water. The battery life is about 60 minutes, a bit less than what Braun’s model offers, but that should be more than enough for most people, even when you’re traveling.
If you’re looking for an affordable rotary shaver under $100 that can tackle just about any hair, you’re in luck. Philips The 3800 will grasp hairs in hard-to-reach areas (like your neck) and take on hairs of different lengths. We spend a lot of time reviewing the best electric shaver, so when it comes to recommending what shaver to buy, you can be safe in the knowledge that we’ll recommend the best options for you. There are a lot of different versions of the Braun and Philips shavers, as you can see. It would take too long to run down the difference between all of them – there are different model numbers for ones with and without cleaning stations, and with and without various accessories such as trimmers and carry cases.
If you struggle with things like razor bumps, post-shave irritation or even acne, an electric razor may offer a more gentle experience for you. So overall, what you get with the Series 8 is a high quality trimmer for about $75 cheaper than the industry-leader. In our roundup of the best electric razors, we picked the Philips Norelco 3800 as the best less-expensive overall razor for its simplicity and affordability.
EVEN THOUGH my grooming routine is extensive, I’m a minimalist at heart. I like nothing more than an easy-to-use, no-fuss-no-muss product that can cut down my grooming time. I was still stuck on the pre-shave, shaving cream, razor, aftershave hamster wheel and couldn’t seem to get off. No matter what I did, and no matter what product I tried, I couldn’t seem to get rid of them. In some Prestige packages there’s also a rotating brush that you can use to deep cleanse your face.
But that doesn’t mean you should just take your electric razor out of the box and start zooming without first knowing how to get a close shave. The Braun Series 8 features four synchronized shaving elements that can cut in one stroke what other razors do in two. You get most of the features in the Series 8 as you do the Braun Series 9.