Braun Series 3 razor is the affordable gateway into electric shaving. At such a low price point, this device offers significantly refined outcomes within the comforts of your home.
While there are certain downsides to this older, revamped device, you can’t dismiss how well it performs compared to some other shavers with similar price tags.
My Braun Series 3 review revolves around the ProSkin 3040s series and highlights its features from a first-hand user’s point of view.
Additionally, I’ve compared the different models and variants of Braun Series 3 electric shavers to answer the question: Is ProSkin 3040s really the best shaver of Series 3?
“Braun Series 3 is the affordable entry-point into electric shaving with its smooth results, comfortable experience and grants you a complete shaving tool that can be done in both wet and dry modes.”
Contents
- 1 Unboxing the Braun Series 3 Electric Razor
- 1.1 Braun Series 3: Standout Features
- 1.2 Braun Series 3: Additional Features
- 1.3 My Experience with Braun Series 3 Electric Shaver
- 1.4 How I Tested Braun Series 3?
- 1.5 Who is Braun Series 3 For?
- 1.6 Braun Series 3 Models Comparison across 3 Generations
- 1.7 Braun Series 3: Basic vs ProSkin vs Shave & Style
- 1.8 Braun Series 3 Models: Which One to Buy?
- 1.9 FAQ
- 1.10 Final Thoughts
Unboxing the Braun Series 3 Electric Razor
The Braun Series 3 3040s doesn’t come with a lot of accessories since the ‘s’ stands for ‘Solo’ – more on that later.
Its box is solid and everything is placed inside a tray. Upon removing the tray, you’ll find the Braun Series 3 device, a charger and a cleaning brush along with user manuals.
Also, you’ll find the shaver capped off with a transparent plastic guard. And that’s about what you’ll be getting from unboxing the Braun Series 3 electric shaver!
What’s Inside the Box: One Braun Series 3 Shaver, One Charger, One Cleaning Brush, One Blade Guard, User Manual.
Specifications: Braun Series 3 Shaver
Here I’ll be discussing the technical specifications of the Braun Series 3 unit to get the basics out of the way.
- Dimensions: 19.6 x 6.1 x 4.5 cm
- Weight: 7.3 Ounces
- Colors: 1 (Blue & Black)
- Accessories: Cleaning Brush, Charger
- Foil Type: SensoFoil
- Cross-Cutting Actions: 18,000 CPM
- Waterproof: Yes
- Battery Indicator: Yes
- Battery Runtime: 40 Minutes
Braun Series 3: Standout Features
Out of the many features this premium electric shaver contains, some of these stand out more from the rest. Let’s discuss the primary aspects before heading on toward the secondary ones!
Captivating Design
I must say Braun Series 3 electric shaver comes with a unique design and it’s eye-catching to say the least! Its aesthetics and grip level analysis should give you an idea of how special this tool is for groomers!
Alluring Aesthetics
Design-wise, Braun Series 3 shaver has opted for a black and blue color scheme. The black portion covers up the entire chest and back region and it’s the color with the most precedence.
On the sides, you’ll see the radiating blue tone which complements the blacks down the middle. These two colors were smartly picked by Braun before they decided to move toward gray from Series 5.
The third color that accents this device is gray but that’s mostly restricted to the foil elements of this unit.
LED lights are colored in lime-green since the technology back then failed to include an LED display at the given price.
Solid Grip
Braun Series 3 razor is a highly ergonomic tool and there are multiple factors contributing to this, starting from the shape of the handle.
The handle is wider than successive Braun shavers which calls for a firmer grip for people with longer fingers.
Yes, you cannot opt for the three-finger hold style for shaving, but a bear-grip would give you more confidence in your shaving tasks.
Blue portions of the handle are ergonomic, rubber texture pads which is useful for enhancing grip in wet conditions or when your fingers are slippery with shaving lotion.
Remaining plastic-made handle doesn’t seem to slip out despite the glassy, smooth finish toward the bottom half of the tool.
What I Like
- Unique and captivating design
- Blue & black color combination is eye-pleasing
- Enhanced grip due to textured rubber ergonomics
What Could be Better
- Wider handle can compromise grip for some consumers
Sustaining Build Quality
No matter how affordable the Series 3 shaver is, there has been no compromise with build quality from the top to the bottom.
The plastic used in this shaver are premium and they almost match the newer and more expensive Braun products.
Braun claims that the Series 3 razor will at least last you for 7 years with proper care, you’ll only need to replace the shaving heads for sharpness.
You certainly won’t find such a degree of durability in a budget-end electric shaver and I’d most certainly encourage you to buy it especially if you’re a beginner in electric shaving!
What I Like
- Lasting build with quality materials
- Braun guarantees 7 years of unfaltering use
- Caters to beginners and budget consumers
What Could be Better
- None that I can think of
Braun Series 3: Additional Features
As the primary features have been discussed, let’s now proceed toward the more advanced yet necessary features of the Series 3 device!
Lighter Weight
One of the key benefits of the Braun Series 3 electric razor review is to learn how it feels to hold and maneuver it around your face.
It weighs 7.3 ounces which is certainly a benefit because the lighter weight tends to reduce the risk of fatigue through an entire shaving session.
Also, such weight classes are friendly for elderly consumers as they usually prefer lighter electric shavers over heavier ones due to ease of use.
Therefore, it gets my thumbs up for portability and enhanced maneuverability – I’d say Braun has done a great job in balancing out weight and quality within such a price point!
Quality Cutting Elements
Braun Series 3 razor has been endowed with three cutting elements following a 2+1 design. Two of these elements are highly comfortable SensoFoils.
The third element down the middle is the cutting cassette is the trademark ProSkin unit made in line with the MicroComb Technology.
What this does is – it grabs your flat lying hair efficiently and feeds to the blades underneath. Also, these elements are titanium coated, therefore minimizing risk of skin irritation.
That’s why I’d recommend the Series 3 for consumers with sensitive skin as it doesn’t burn or irritate your skin upon a complete shaving session!
Average Motor Power
Where you’ll find this electric shaver lacking is in its motor power. At times, you’ll feel the device dragging on your face if your hair growth is longer than two days.
Also, another downside is its loud sound compared to something like a Series 5 or 7 from Braun.
However, Braun Series 3 shaver manages to perform 18,000 cross-cutting actions per minute, making it 6,000 CPM each cutting element.
So, it can be stated that the unit contains 6,000 RPM in raw motor power which isn’t absurd but there are better alternatives that cost significantly more.
Ultra-Sharp Blades
As I mentioned, the sharp blades are hiding underneath these cutting elements and mind you, these are some super-sharp cutting units!
The foils as well as the cassette separates the harsh actions of these blades from your skin, protecting you from razor burn and ingrown hair.
But in doing so, the distance between skin to blade fails to give you a very close result. If you shave in the morning, you’ll find some growth by the afternoon.
If you want a proper close shave, you’ll have to pay a little extra and pick a device from the big-boys’ league.
Wireless Operations
If you want prolonged and clean shaving sessions, your shaver must be portable and come with a sizable battery life.
In this department, I’ll classify Braun Series 3 electric razor to be above average with its 40 minute battery life.
Top-tier shavers generally last around 50-60 minutes, so I wouldn’t call the Series 3 far off of that.
Only downside in my opinion is its NiMH battery unit instead of a Lithium-Ion battery pack. It takes 2 hours to charge completely, so no complaints there.
To know how much battery life you have, notice the lower half of the handle for the three LED lights. If it’s one bar and red, you have around 5 minutes of battery left and it requires immediate charging.
Slide-Out Trimmer
To fine tune your shaving session, you can slide out the trimmer pre-built at the back of the Series 3 device.
This trimmer can’t shorten your facial hair, but it can certainly line up your fringes and give you the neat look which you’d otherwise have to achieve with a proper line-up tool.
What’s great about the Series 3 device is its EasyClick feature, letting you purchase an aftermarket trimmer head from Braun and use it as a standalone trimmer!
So there are greater benefits to this seemingly generic and affordable purchase, I hope you’ll make the best use out of it!
What I Like
- Cutting elements are skin-friendly and sharp
- Maneuvering is easy
- Good battery life
What Could be Better
- No automatic feature included
My Experience with Braun Series 3 Electric Shaver
This Braun Series 3 Shaver review article will now bring forth a discussion from an experiential point of view based on my own use of this instrument. This way, I’ll be able to shed light on the pros and cons of its grooming routine!
Shaving Closeness
I hinted at it earlier – shaving outcomes from Braun Series 3 shaver isn’t the closest and that has to do with its foil design.
You’ll have to press the shaver against your skin quite hard to achieve the closest possible result this device can afford you.
Also, follow tricks like shaving against your growth once in a while but DON’T follow it if your skin is sensitive.
If close shaving is your priority, you’ll have to significantly increase your budget to buy something like a Braun Series 9 or slightly more affordable Panasonic ARC5 LV67.
Foil Comfort
I must tell you, these older SensoFoils on the Series 3 shaver are almost as comfortable as the newer OptiFoil meshes.
The only difference is in their mesh pattern while the material as well as coating remains the same across generations.
You’re getting your money’s worth, that’s for sure since such comforting foils simply rank the Series 3 among the most desirable and affordable electric shavers this year!
Whether your skin is sensitive or has coarse, curly hair, this electric razor has the ability to take care of all of that within a very limited time!
Contour Adaptation
Contour adaptation is really the game for the more expensive toys in the shaving industry, yet Braun Series 3 electric razor has the most basic form of pressure sensitivity in its cutting elements!
This bi-directional pressure sensitivity lets you glide along your contours without having to fully adjust the shaver on your face.
It’s not perfect but still manages to save you some trouble of manually and constantly moving the foils in tighter spots.
Due to this feature, I could press the shaver harder than other devices without being left in agony after the session, so that’s something I’ll have to praise!
Wet Shaving
Wet or dry shaving depends solely on your shaving routine and your preference out of your grooming tool.
I must say, even without an IPX rating (which none of the Braun shavers really have), the Series 3 is fully water resistant and ready for shower shaves.
Also, you’re free to use any sort of shaving gel or foam to soften down the beard and land a closer as well as more comfortable shaving result than you’d get in dry mode.
Dry shaving modes with the Series 3 won’t always be perfect since you might have to add a few extra glides at the tighter spots – therefore wet shaving is my recommended way to go.
Cleaning & Maintenance
Waterproof electric shavers are generally very easy to clean and the case is the same for Braun Series 3 electric shavers as well.
All you need is to remove the shaver head from the hinges (there’s no press to unlock mechanism) and dunk out the initial dirt.
You may also settle for dry cleaning modes by using the cleaning brush given by the brand inside the package.
Otherwise, rinse the head and well as the entire handle under running water. After drying out or cleaning with the brush, lubricate the foils to ensure sustained sharpness!
How I Tested Braun Series 3?
In the days I wasn’t able to afford expensive electric shavers, I had to settle for less expensive ones. I ran into Braun Series 3 then upon learning about its prowess from the many first hand consumers.
I’ve used this device for years until moving on to newer tools, but this one will always be my favorite because of its robust build, comfortable and clean results as well as lighter weight.
It passed all of my drop tests, submerge test, battery runtime test and charging duration assessment.
I’ll say I’ve done one of the most thorough assessment jobs using this device than I did with the rest of the grooming tools on this website.
What I Like
- Foils are comfortable even on sensitive skin
- Contour adaptation is on par
- Wet-shave friendly and fully washable
What Could be Better
- Not the closest outcome
Who is Braun Series 3 For?
Since Braun Series 3 is one of the top budget-end electric shavers, this is the first selling point I’d like to mention.
If you’re looking for the best razor without spending an arm and a leg, please look no further than Braun Series 3 shaver.
Also, due to its lighter weight and comfortable results, both elderly men and consumers with sensitive skin should find this highly beneficial.
Last group I’d like to address are the beginners who are new to electric shaving and are looking to learn their way into this industry. For them, Braun Series 3 is the perfect, most basic yet premium tool to grab on!
Braun Series 3 Models Comparison across 3 Generations
As Braun tends to relaunch their older models by adding a few advanced features and doing some minor tweaks.
In this section, I’ll be telling you how to identify one from the other, what their differences are and which one you should be buying!
First of all, let me mention the three generations of Braun Series 3 electric razor:
- Basic Braun Series 3: 310s (wet & dry) and 300s (dry only)
- Braun Series 3 ProSkin: 3000s, 3010s, 3040s, 3070cc, 3090cc etc
- Braun Series 3 Shave & Style: 3010BT (wet & dry), 3000BT (dry only), 310BT (wet & dry) and 300BT (dry only)
There aren’t really any significant differences between these shavers, especially when it comes to shaving performance.
Braun Series 3: Basic vs ProSkin vs Shave & Style
To identify one from the other using the model numbers, the basic Braun Series 3 shavers are numbered with ‘3xx’ whereas the new ProSkin series simply upgrades the number into ‘3xxx’.
There’s a simple trick to trace this migration. Say you’re looking into the older Series 3 310 shaver. The newer version would just add a ‘0’ after the first ‘3’, making it Series 3 3010.
You’ll notice significant variance in the LED light and the ProSkin device includes a built-in trimmer – both going in favor of the newer tool.
Then what’s the Shave & Style Series? It’s not really an entirely new variant of Series 3, rather an indicator that the package comes with different accessories like a trimmer head and 5 guide combs.
This series is signified by the end alphabets in the name as it adds ‘BT’ to separate the devices from the rest.
Such BT devices are Series 3 Basic and ProSkin additions, bringing forth the mere accessories and nothing more.
Braun Series 3 Models: Which One to Buy?
I wouldn’t recommend buying the basic Series 3 since the battery is much weaker, ergonomics aren’t as tactile as the newer Series 3 and the replacement head in the ProSkin is much more comfortable.
Therefore, settle for the 4-digit serial in this line and see if you need accessories that can trim your beard or hair at different lengths.
If a complete package is your priority, pick one from the Shave & Style series. Otherwise, the ProSkin series should serve you just right!
Braun Series 3 Charging Discussed
There are two ways of charging the Braun Series 3 razor. First one is the most basic method – plugging in the charger you’ve been given inside your package.
The other option is to recharge the tool with a Clean & Charge station if you had purchased the ‘cc’ variant.
That way, you’d be able to dock in the shaver and the automatic station should clean and lubricate the blades up for you.
But for an affordable electric razor, this ‘cc’ variant is quite expensive and I don’t think that’s actually necessary for something like a Braun Series 3 device.
FAQ
Before concluding, a few frequently asked questions about the Braun Series 3 should be incorporated in this review to satisfy the curious minds.
Q: Can the Braun Series 3 be used in the shower?
Ans: Yes! Braun Series 3 is fully waterproof as it passed my 10 minute submerging test and shows no sign of leaking. It can perform under running water and it’s great in the sense your beard will be softer and all of the stray hair is going to be washed off simultaneously. Therefore, the Series 3 is an ideal tool to be used in the shower!
Q: How often do I need to replace the foil and cutter for Braun Series 3?
Ans: Well, it entirely depends on how often you use the shaver and the density or texture of your facial hair. Braun suggests that for shaving on an average beard every other day of the week, you should be replacing the shaver cassette once every 18 months. These cassettes are available online.
Q: What is the warranty on the Braun Series 3?
Ans: If you purchase your Braun Series 3 shaver directly from Braun or from an authentic reseller, you’ll be getting the official warranty period of 2 years. Before purchasing, make sure the product is eligible for warranty and save your purchase documents.
Final Thoughts
There are many people I personally know who don’t believe that something so affordable like the Braun Series 3 shaver can actually perform at such a higher level.
Yes, it’s not a professional-graded electric shaver due to its certain limitations, but what it offers you weighs much more than what you’ll bargain for.
I hope my Braun Series 3 review article was able to show you how amazing this razor actually is and it’s often under-mentioned because of the lower price (therefore, lower sales commission).
The downsides I discussed are real, but I really don’t believe any of those are deal-breakers for anyone willing to purchase a daily electric razor for their use at home.
And if I come back to the prior question I asked at the beginning: based on price to performance ratio – the 3040s model is indeed the best of Braun Series 3 as the rest of the variants are its expensive copycats!
| Score | |
| Shaving Comfort | 4.7 |
| Shaving Quality | 4.6 |
| Ergonomics | 4.7 |
| Easy of Use | 4.6 |
| Price Point | 4.7 |
| Cleaning & Maintenance | 4.6 |
| Overall | 4.65 |
| Verdict
Braun Series 3 is the perfect home-grooming electric razor equipped with comfortable SensoFoils, performs at 18,000 CPM, able to shave in wet conditions, cleans easily and all of this goodness comes at a bargain price. |
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