Although electric razors don’t offer quite as close a shave as manual razors, electric razors are a more convenient and safer option. If you’re looking for a quality electric razor that’ll contour to your face, provide philips shaver a nice, clean shave and last a long time, Braun and Philips are great options to consider. Both brands offer several great electric razors with key features and shaving styles designed to suit user preference.
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 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.
That extra power and performance come at a dollar and design cost. Series 9 razors are notably bulkier than Series 7 razors, and some testers found the Series 9 razors tough to maneuver in tight spots (like the equally ginormous Panasonic Arc5, which this Braun line somewhat mimics). The Quick Clean Pod is the world’s smallest and cordless cleaning station. The special cleaning formula is 10x more effective than water1, so you can keep your shaver hygienic. More importantly, overall shaving performance was very good indeed.
The most obvious difference that sets the Series 7 apart from other Braun models is the flexibility of the shaving block at the top. The Series 5 remains fixed, the Series 6 pivots up and down, and the Series 7 pivots up and down and left and right, keeping the cutting block in contact with facial curves more of the time. For a consistently philips razor close shave, plus the convenience of an included automatic cleaning system at a reasonable price, we recommend the Braun Series 7. We had the testers keep the top-performing razors for extended periods to allow for break-in time. The new shavers with SenseIQ technology are equipped with advanced sensors that read and adapt to you.
Dan has been using this razor near-daily since 2018, and it still performs well. Its shave has remained close and comfortable and is still strong enough to mow through multiple days of growth when needed. At first glance, the biggest difference between the Series 9 and the Series 7 is size. The Series 9 is longer, has more girth, and is more top-heavy, all due to its quadruple-headed shaving mechanism. That four-way head sticks to Braun’s traditional two-foil design but adds a pair of cutting mechanisms—a “direct & cut” trimmer and a “hyper-lift & cut” trimmer—that better snag wiry, unruly whiskers, the company claims. All Braun shavers include a two-year warranty, which covers everything but the foil and cutting block.
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 philips electric razor 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.