Braun Series 7 Review [Old & New Generations]: Is 7071cc The Better Variant?

The new generation of Braun Series 7 has replaced the previous one after 13 years of reign in the market.

Do the new models have what it takes to replace the older and most beloved Braun Series 7 agree to the motto ‘new is always better?’

Or is it just a marketing stunt by Braun to increase sales by rebranding an older name to arouse nostalgia among consumers?

We’ll find answers to all of these questions by the end of this article with the help of my detective work that lasted months!

“Braun Series 7 shaver is your ideal cheaper alternative to a Braun Series 9 device. While it may not have all the latest features, the technology used in newer Braun models exist in the Series 7, marking it a perfect and affordable shaver for daily use!”

Braun Series 7: 360 Flex Variants

There are numerous variants of the Braun Series 7 shaver from the new generation and it can easily arouse confusion among the consumers – which one is better or which one to pick.

In short, all of the variants have shown identical performance and the key differences are within their colors and the accessories you receive inside the package.

There are 5 variants in the US market beginning with 70. If it has four digits, you’ll know that the variant belongs to the new generation of Series 7.

Recently, the 71xx has dropped in the Series 7 line which is equipped with newer features and is quite different from the 70xx variants. I’ll discuss it in a future article in detail.

For your convenience, I’ve listed down the USA 70xx variants down below:

• Series 7 7085cc
• Series 7 7075cc
• Series 7 7071cc
• Series 7 7020s
• Series 7 7027cs

The European variants are exactly the same as US variants, the only difference is in their power output and adapter port. You can tell apart European variants from the US by their model serial.

There are three different types and they begin with the alphabets of B, N and S. These are usually coded with six digits and the available European models names are highlighted hereafter:

• Series 7 70-Bxxxx
• Series 7 70-Nxxxx
• Series 7 70-Sxxxx

You should know that not all of the European countries have all these variants available for purchase since it’s restricted by regions.

For instance, the Series 7 shavers available in Germany may not be found in the British market. However, the ones available are identical in performance, so you won’t have to worry about finding a precise variant.

Unboxing the Braun Series 7 7071cc

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The new Braun Series 7 shaver from the cc series comes inside a gigantic box, similar to the Series 9 packaging.

It opens face-front and everything inside is stashed together. There aren’t any particular crevices to hold things separately but a divider certainly categorizes all the things inside.

The shaver itself is stored inside a solid fabric case and covered with a hard paper enclosure. Apart from that, the cleaning station is covered by polythene for safekeeping.

You’ll also find the cleaning agent in the plastic case that goes inside the cleaning station. Additionally, there’s a trimmer head which can replace the foil head for trimming and outlining.

Lastly, an adapter that works with both the charger and the station can be located alongside a trademark cleaning brush from Braun as it completes the set.

What’s Inside the Box: Braun Series 7 shaver, Cleaning Station, Cleaning Agent, Storage Case, Cleaning Brush, Charging Adapter.

Specifications: Braun Series 7 Shaver

Right here you’ll find the breakdown of the technical specs for the new Braun Series 7 shaver to learn its true worth.

• Dimensions: 16.7 x 4 x 3.8 cm
• Weight: 6.6 ounces
• Colors: Silver & Black
• Wireless: Yes
• Charging Station: Yes
• Cutting Elements: 3
• Technology: AutoSense
• Waterproof: Yes
• LED Indicator: Panel
• Battery Runtime: 50 minutes

Standout Features

Let’s find out which of the features stand out in the Braun Series 7 shaver without scrubbing through the less important aspects at first.

360 Flex Head

The 360 Flex Head in the Braun Series 7 is something different that Braun tried to achieve with their new generation of Series 7 shavers.

I believe a walk into this different direction originated from Braun’s aspiration to present something new to the consumers while at the same time reducing the production cost of the device.

Let’s see what the Flex Head is actually capable of doing and learn the basics of it along the way.

3 Cutting Units

There are 3 cutting units in the head – two OptiFoils on either side of the cassette down the middle, whereas Series 9 has an additional cutting trimmer and a skin guard for safety.

It means, you’re getting one less cutting unit from Braun’s latest and the best shaver while having to pay significantly less.

Generally, these foils grab your facial hair and feed those through the blades rapidly moving right underneath.

And the general cutting strokes are performed by the cassette and if you press the shaver very tightly against your skin, you’ll sense it removing your facial hair from the roots.

Contour Adaptability

This new Braun Series 7 has picked a different method for contour adaptability. You’ll see that the 360 flex head tilts left to right upon the two arms adjusting automatically to pressure.

Also, the head slightly tilts back and forth with the three cutting units responding to pressure. All of these come together to work as one unit while you perform your shaving actions.

I’d say both the shaver head movement as well as the cutting units’ pressure response are slightly less than what you’d find with the Series 9 shaver.

But I’m actually pleased at the extent the Series 7 shaver can go since it’s built upon a very slim handle, unlike the other, thicker shavers from the brand.

Removal for Cleaning

Usually the top-tier electric shavers allow you to remove the shaver head using a lever mechanism, something like two buttons on either side to release the head.

I’m a fan of this mechanism since it manages to keep the head firmly attached yet at the same time makes it easy for removal.

But the new Braun Series 7 shaver has given us a very basic attach/detach mode, you’ll have to do it manually using a pry tool or your nails.

It’s a cost-cutting route Braun has taken and tried to use it to their advantage, naming it the EasyClick feature, more on that later.

What I Like

What I Don’t Like

Sleek Design

As I mentioned before, the handle of this Braun Series 7 shaver is quite sleek. It makes gripping and maneuvering around quite handy, especially for people with shorter fingers.

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In terms of color, you’ll notice the precedence of silver that’s paired up with a matte black due to the texture.

Silver parts are built with plastic, light but quite durable. Textures are mostly made with durable rubber that’s yet to wear off on my device.

I absolutely adore the grip level due to the impeccable grip placement by Braun. I reckon this degree of ergonomics is one of the finest I’ve ever experienced in a Braun shaver!

The sleekness of the handle has been carried onto the shaver head as well. It’s smaller than something like a Series 9 or a Panasonic ARC5, making it easy to shave narrow areas.

With the Series 7 shaver, I was able to perfectly shave off my mustache and go very close to the skin around my neck region, so the design seems to be working in favor of Braun!

You’ll locate the power button right above the long LED battery level indicator. This button is made with rubber and isn’t highly responsive.

I have to dip my finger almost all the way in to turn the shaver on or off. I’d rather Braun include a travel lock feature instead of going this way to reduce accidental presses.

What I Like

What I Don’t Like

Additional Features of Braun Series 7

There are tons more features in the Braun Series 7 that I’d like to draw your attention to. These features are important to observe since your purchase decision should heavily depend on them.

Lighter Weight

The new Series 7 is lighter than most top-notch electric shavers on the market! The weight balance is great and doesn’t feel like something that might slip out of hand while maneuvering around.

I don’t know how Braun managed to reduce its weight so significantly since most of their shavers lean toward a heavy feeling.

This weight class is especially helpful for people who self-shave. Barbers tend to prefer heavier electric shavers for precision.

Then again, it’s not that light of a device and would rank heavier than regular trimmers on the market.

For professional use, I’d still say the weight is a little underwhelming, but imagine how less fatigued your muscles would be after a long day of work in your shop!

AutoSense Technology

AutoSense is the beard density sensor technology pioneered by Braun. However, brands like Panasonic have developed their own sensors under different titles with similar functionality.

The principle is simple – your shaver will detect the density of your beard and adjust the power levels automatically.

This does two things: one, you’ll feel the blades to be slightly gentler on the facial regions with less beard.

A higher torque around those regions could cause some razor burns if the motor ran at full power, hypothetically speaking.

Two, the lower torque at particular spots spares battery life by some little margin. It adds up if you’re a barber hell-bent on using the shaver for prolonged durations.

How effective this technology is, you may wonder. I’ll share my experience in a bit and from there you’ll realize whether it’s a cool feature or just a gimmick.

Wireless Operations

Braun Series 7 is definitely one of the most portable wireless electric shavers on the market. Portability is enhanced by the sleek handle, ergonomic points and lighter weight class.

Also, a great battery life adds to this quality along with a solid LED battery level indicator showing the battery status in 10 increments.

From my tests, I could see that the Braun Series 7 lasts for around 50 minutes at a stretch with a full charge.

There’s the option of a quick charge for 5 minutes and it refills the battery for one swift shave. So I’d say it’s definitely a solid wireless shaver for all sorts of use – personal or professional.

EasyClick

With the new model, Braun introduced the EasyClick feature with the Series 7 shaver that allows you to remove the blade head and apply separate attachments.

One attachment comes inside the package itself – a trimmer head that can trim down your beard, hair sides and draw outlines.

In terms of trimming quality, sharpness and ability to remove larger hair volume, the trimmer end works like a charm.

But the extra hassle is removing one head and replacing it with another. The pop-up trimmer in the other Braun shavers seems to be more convenient if you were to line up your hair or beard.

On the plus side, you get a free trimmer, although very basic, to shorten your growth over 2 days and your shaver can then easily shave without any tugs or pulls.

Waterproof

Although Braun never explicitly mentions the waterproof rating of the shaver, something like IPX, it’s still sufficiently waterproof.

How do I know it? I’ve washed the entire shaver thoroughly numerous times and have used it inside the shower as well, under running water.

This quality has enabled me to push every possible boundary between using at my convenience to different sorts of cleaning tasks.

I haven’t witnessed any kind of leakage whatsoever and with proper care, I hope you’ll experience the same comfort as I have with the Series 7.

Travel Friendly

Lastly, the Series 7 is definitely a shaver up to par to carry as a traveling companion. First off, it shaves relatively swiftly, in around 5-6 minutes if you know what you’re doing.

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Secondly, the battery life is sufficient enough to last you over two weeks if you shave every other day, so you won’t have to carry the charger.

Thirdly, the power button is deeply covered by rubber and there’s no risk of setting it off accidentally. You’ll have to push it hard to get it working.

Finally, there’s a solid carry case that comes with the Series 7. You can easily store the shaver inside that case and throw it inside your luggage!

It’s worth noting that the case can only accommodate the shaver and not the charger.

What I Like

What I Don’t Like

My Experience with the Braun Series 7

I’ve extensively used the Braun Series 7 shaver as my primary device for months. So from my experience, I hope you get to learn about the real life performance of the Series 7 shaver and I’m sure it’ll affect your purchase decision someway!

Shaving Quality

To start off with the shaving quality, I’m suggesting how close the outcomes are and how efficiently you can get the job done if you own a new Series 7.

I’m a little disappointed to be honest since I expect the Series 7 shaver to perform a little better than it actually does.

Don’t expect results like a Series 9 since there are less cutting units embedded in this handy electric shaver.

The performance somewhat resembles a Braun Series 5 shaver, although it came out years before the new Series 7.

On the upside, if you work with a two-day stubble, the efficiency is solid and the blades manage to pick up most of your flat lying hair without much difficulty.

Comfort Level

In terms of comfort, the Series 7 shaver is an excellent device in this regard. The comfort isn’t only persistent on the regular spots, but also the sensitive areas under the neck or over the lips don’t get irritated once finished.

That’s why I believe the Series 7 shaver to rank alongside some of the finest sensitive skin shavers you can purchase on the market.

I don’t know if the AutoSense works its wonders, or the foils are more catered toward providing a comfortable shave – it works nonetheless!

So considering shaving comfort a priority, I’d say the Series 7 is an absolute masterclass from the shaver production gurus!

Wet/Dry Shaves

Since the Series 7 shaver is 100% waterproof, you can most certainly expect it to withstand any mode of shaving, be that dry or wet.

The ergonomics help out to a great extent in order to retain a solid grip. And the rubber placements are so well thought out that you can utilize the shaver on both yourself and someone else.

Even with my fingers dripping with shaving gel, there was never a moment of doubt where the Series 7 shaver’s grip might betray me.

In terms of shaving comfort, I find it more pleasant to shave in the west as the beard hair is softened down and stray hair doesn’t make a mess all over.

Or for quick shaves, dry shaving is also a valid option but people with very sensitive skin may want to opt for wet shaves to mitigate any risk of irritation.

How I Tested the Braun Series 7 Shaver

As I’ve already stated, Braun Series 7 shaver is something I’ve used personally and also lended off to my barber friend to test out its capabilities in a barbershop condition.

You’ve already learned a great deal about my personal usage of this shaver and I absolutely loved using it.

It also has a consideration of the price point as opposed to shavers like Braun Series 9 or Panasonic ARC series.

In a barbershop, the Series 7 did perform well with the help of the charging and cleaning station at disposal for washing and lubing the blades.

Battery runtime has been satisfactory, the only downside of large scale shaving has been the efficiency.

My friend wouldn’t replace his existing Series 9 shaver with the Series 7 for his shop. But if he hadn’t owned a Series 9 and considered buying something within budget, he’d definitely give the Series 7 a proper consideration.

Will the Braun Series 7 Last?

It’s the final consideration before making up your mind on whether to purchase the new Braun Series 7 shaver or to look for something else from the market.

I can vouch that the shaver is made to last at least 5 years without running into any trouble. Only replacement you’d need would be the blades which you can easily grab from the market.

Otherwise, it’s built upon the same German technology that has been crafting Braun shaver for years up to this point.

The two-year warranty shows how much Braun trusts their own work and I have faith that a Series 7 shaver is bound to last with proper maintenance!

What I Like

What I Don’t Like

Who is the Braun Series 7 Shaver For?

In my opinion, the new Braun Series 7 shaver is mostly useful for people who prefer home grooming over going to a barbershop.

It can work its way through a barber’s parlor but there are better alternatives for professionals to choose from. Although the alternatives are quite expensive, it pays in return considering the amount of work they have to perform.

So, if you’re adamant on purchasing a quality electric shaver for regular use at home, there’s no better device than the Series 7 at its price range.

How to Clean & Maintain Braun Series 7?

There are two methods of cleaning and maintaining the Braun Series 7 shaver. One is the automatic way and the other a manual way. Let me highlight both of these methods for you!

Automatic Method

Automatic method is for ones who own a Series 7 shaver with the charge and clean station, marked by the ‘cc’ at the end of the model.

For this to work, you’ll have to insert the cleaning agent inside the station and plug the charger into it.

Then, dock the shaver upside down and turn on the power button. If your Series 7 is from the new generation, you can utilize the cleaning station across variants of the same series.

Once the station is in operation, don’t touch anything and let things take care of themselves. After the station is done with its work, you’ll receive a thoroughly cleaned and lubed Series 7 ready for action!

Manual Method

Manually cleaning the Braun Series 7 can be done in a couple of ways, combining together different techniques to find your best mode.

Firstly, you can remove the head and dust of the stored hair underneath. Then you can use the brush to thoroughly remove stray from the blade head as well as the motor heads.

Otherwise, you can remove the head and rinse it right under a running tap. Apply the same over the motor heads until there’s no hair residue left.

It’s essential for you to rinse under water if you’re shaving using foam or gel. Once the wash is completed, mop things up and let them dry out for 24 hours.

After that 24 hours, apply some lubes on the blades and the motors before stashing the shaver inside the case and putting it in a low-moisture enclosure.

Braun Series 7 Models Comparison

The older variant of Braun Series 7 came out about two decades ago and the newer one was released somewhere around 2020 with the tagline 360 flex head.

You won’t find a brand new Series 7 from the older generation in the market since it’s been discontinued for a long time.

So the question is, if you already have a fully functioning Braun Series 7 from the previous generation, should you replace it with the one from the new generation? Let’s find out!

Old vs New Model Serial

To avoid confusion, let me tell you how you can tell apart the old generation of Series 7 from the new just by looking at the serial number.

The older generation of Series 7 contains only three digits in their serial whereas the new generation is marked with a four digit serial.

For instance, the current Series 7 shavers in the market go something like 70xx or 71xx. With this, you can realize that the 70xx are the initial release of the new generation while the 71xx are the latest installment of this variant.

On the other hand, previous generation of Series 7 models are named like 7xx, thus the clear indication of when it was released, which variant it is and what types of features it contains.

Design

From the design, you’ll see that the older Series 7 shares more resemblance with the Series 9 shaver.

It’s due to the wider body design which turned significantly narrower in the newer models. Also there’s a gap in weight between these two classes, the newer ones being lighter in general.

I reckon each has their strong suit when it comes to grip levels. While it’s true that the newer Series 7 has proper rubber textures for a firm grip, older Series 7 would provide you with a different type of firmness without having to implement texture pads.

So in the end it comes down to your preference and from my perception, I like the newer Series 7 to be the superior one in terms of grip, design and weight balance.

Shaver Head

The shaver heads in the older and newer Series 7 from Braun are completely different from one another due to technical perceptions and probably cost cutting in production.

Older Series 7 resembles the Series 9 in terms of back and forth tilting of the head. Side tilts are very limited and are mostly reliant on the cutting element springiness.

But the new Series 7 has the 360 Flex Neck with two arms holding out the blade head. It doesn’t only allow back and forth tilt but also side to side tilt to some extent as well.

In terms of contour adaptability, I prefer the new Series 7 over the old one but it’s not a game changer in my opinion.

I mean, I wouldn’t throw away my older variant to get a new one just for the sake of this feature.

Shaving Elements

Both of these shavers share the same number of cutting elements. While the foils remain similar in nature, new Series 7 has named it as OptiFoil to make the marketing more catchy.

However, the older foil unit was encased by metal frames whereas the new foil is draped around with plastic.

Also, the middle cassette in the new Series 7 is slightly thinner, making it a little tough to trim out all the flat lying hair with the similar efficiency of the old Series 7.

How these new elements work out compared to the old, I’ll be discussing that in the shaving closeness section.

Materials

I believe the new Series 7 is built with slightly lighter and a little less durable material than the old Series 7.

But the rubber in the newer variant feels better to hold on to, although I have to give credit to the slick handle.

There’s a thumb placement in both these shavers but the new model made it out of textured rubber and is much better to hold on to in any condition!

As per the materials used for developing the internal parts, that secret belongs to Braun alone and we cannot do anything but speculate at this point.

Battery Indicator

This department has seen a major upgrade from the previous Series 7. Battery indicator is very important in a premium electric shaver as it tells you exactly where you are and when you need to plug back in.

Old Series 7 had these lights lying at the feet that told you about the battery levels. New Series 7 has thrown that system out of the window and installed a huge LED indicator screen.

There, you can always see the battery level in ten increments and the tiny button right below the on/off switch lets you turn on the display without turning the entire shaver on.

Cleaning Station

The cleaning station has undergone a huge upgrade as well in the transition from the old to the new.

Old charge and clean station had three cleaning modes you could pick from: light, regular and intensive.

Although from my experience, the intensive cleaning is the one that properly cleans and lubes the shaver while the rest are pretty basic.

The new Series 7 doesn’t have any modes to pick between. There’s one prebuilt and you have to utilize that should you want to get the benefit of the cleaning station.

I believe the older station was more agile and allowed a tad bit more control over how much cleaning agent I’m willing to spend.

Trimmer Unit

As discussed, the trimmer unit in the new Series 7 is something detachable and you have to remove your blades to put this to work.

I mean, I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, you can trim better using this attachment that resembles closer outcomes like a proper trimmer.

Also, you can attach guide combs to draw out basic fades or simply lighten down your beard for a good shaver.

The older Series 7 has the classic pop-up trimmer which you can simultaneously use while shaving.

Only thing it’s good for is to outline your hairline or line up your beard. But that could have been done in minutes without having to detach and attach a separate head.

In the end, I leave it to your preference. There are merits and demerits to both so I can’t really pick a clean winner here.

Closeness of Shaving

To discuss shaving closeness, I must draw your attention to the AutoSense technology in the new Braun Series 7 while the old model only had three speed settings without going fully automatic.

If I’m being bluntly honest, I don’t always find AutoSense to be very practical. Yes, the shaves are comfortable but the power fluctuation isn’t something I can notice very often.

But for the old Series 7, I’d regularly use the high power mode since that’s the setting to scrub through dense beard with ease.

The other two settings may have been useful for others with lighter beard but aren’t something I found to be very fruitful.

I guess I prefer the liberty of adjusting power at will without having to anticipate an AI determining the power levels for me. But hey, it’s just my opinion.

Shaving Comfort

Also in the matter of comfort, my opinion is slightly leaning toward the old Series 7, maybe it’s because of nostalgia or my skin’s habituation – i can never surely tell.

Shaving with it feels like running a knife through butter whereas the new Series 7 may feel a little harsh if your beard is slightly longer or quite dense.

But there are lots of variables like beard type, density, mode of shaving and personal bias into factor here, so it’s better for you to decide for yourself after reading through my reviews.

Verdict: My verdict will be very short and precise. If you already own an older Braun Series 7 from the previous generation, keep on using it as long as it supports you.

The new Series 7 is certainly an upgrade in many ways and costs significantly less, but the performance can easily be compared with a Braun Series 5 as well.

So, go for it only if you don’t own any Braun shavers and prefer to have something new and unique from the world famous shaver-developer brand.

FAQ

The queries never seem to end when it comes to a grand shaver like the Braun Series 7. Let’s see what the netizens are asking and satisfy their thirst for knowledge!

Q: How old is Braun Series 7?

A: The original Braun Series 7 dates back in 2007, marking it 17 years old at this point. The new model of Braun Series 7 came out in 2020, the 70xx variants to be precise.

Q: How long do Braun Series 7 shaver heads last?

A: Braun claims that the shaver heads in the Series 7 model lasts for around 18 months. But it all depends on your frequency of shaving and maintenance routines. If you shave everyday and take good care of your shaver, the heads can last over 2 years easily. For a barbershop environment however, you’re probably going to need replacement every 6 months.

Q: Can I shave pubes with Braun Series 7?

A: Well, you can not most certainly shave your pubes with the foil head. But some suggest that the trimmer head attachment is capable of shaving pubes if you put a guard on top of it. I’d still recommend against it from my previous experiences with steel blades for a ball shaver. Instead, I’ll suggest you buy a dedicated ball trimmer for a finer and safer experience.

Final Thoughts

If I was to deduce one single thing from my Braun Series 7 review, it’s the fact that there’s no connection between the old and new generation of Series 7.

Even the new variant doesn’t follow any continuity from Series 6 to Series 8, rather it feels like a shaver out of place.

If I put it delicately, Braun could have easily gotten away with announcing this shaver to be a completely new model from a different (and newer) series, and we’d be really happy!

But the bars of comparing against the old Series 7 is very high and I’d say the new variant has borderline touched down on that, and there’s still a long way to go!