Braun Series 7 vs Series 9: Worth the Extra Money?

Braun Series 9 shavers are generally quite expensive due to the quality of materials used, features that stand out from the rest and overall performance that’s rarely matched.

On the other hand, the Braun Series 7 shavers are more affordable than the Series 9 units with features that are quite resembling. So is it really worth paying the extra money?

While this Braun Series 7 vs 9 debate rages on, I’d like to draw your attention to two of the specific shavers from these lines – the 9370cc and the 7071cc.

Which one is better value for money, or the overall more practical variant to purchase? You’ll find all the answers by the time you reach the end of this article!

Braun Series 7 vs Series 9: Feature Analysis

Let’s take a look at the table below to find the basic differences of the two top of the line shaver series from Braun to start off our debate!

Now that we’re through the table, let me bring to your attention the key differences between Braun Series 7 and 9 with elaboration for further comprehension.

Model Numbers

There’s a clear-cut distinction between the model serials between Braun Series 7 vs Braun Series 9 shavers. By simply looking at the number, you’ll be able to tell exactly which model and generation they belong to!

The science is pretty simple. Usually the model names begin with their respective model number. For instance, the Series 7 shavers will begin with ‘7’ in the serial for your comprehension.

Currently, the available Braun Series 9 shavers in the market belong to the following series: 90xx, 92xx, 93xx etc. 90xx implies first generation, 92xx implies second and 93xx is the third generation.

On the other hand, the Series 7 shavers presently come from the two serieses of 70xx and 71xx – the latter being the latest one in the market.

Older generations of Series 7 shavers contain 3 digits in their serial instead of 4 and aren’t currently being manufactured.

You can learn more about them in my in-depth Braun Series 7 article where I broke down the differences across models and generations.

Housing Design

Generally the housing in Braun Series 9 is much bulkier than the newer Series 7 shavers. But this doesn’t apply if you consider the old generation of Series 7 into the mix since they share a resemblance in girth with the top dog from Braun.

I’d say the Series 9 shavers have leaned more toward developing an ergonomic housing with precise grip points.

Don’t get me wrong, new Series 7 shavers are covered by rubber textures at the perfect spots for any type of grip, but Series 9 is entirely something else.

And when you bring the Series 9 Pro and Sport models into the comparison, you’ll see that they only proceeded forward in the ergonomic department by altering the thumb rest spot.

Also, the Series 9 shaver looks more modern than Series 7, even from their latest installation in the 71xx. Thus, the extra cost makes more sense to the general consumers.

Shaver Head

You have to treat the Braun Series 7 as an entirely new line of shaver and not something that falls in between the Series 6 and Series 8.

It has to do with Braun’s new design and re-introduction of the series. I’ve argued this fact before that the new Series 7 should have been branded as something other than what we already know as established serieses.

The reason behind saying this is the new 360 Flex Series neck. From the older generation as well as the new Series 9, the new Series 7 walked a different path in their neck design.

Series 9 features a 10-Directional head that tilts back and forth but not side by side. For side tilt, you’ll have to rely on the springs underneath the blades.

On the other hand, the Series 7 360 Head holds two arms upon which the blades are held. It claims to move in 8 directions but tilts in all four ways.

Which one is better? I’d say the Series 9 is better for contour adaptability while the Series 7 has a higher degree of flexibility. It’s a matter of preference in the end.

Cutting Elements

From the external looks, you can already see that the cutting units in the Series 9 are higher in number and width than the Series 7.

There are 5 cutting elements in the Series 9, 2 OptiFoils that are hypoallergenic, 1 HyperLift & Cut trimmer to grab all the flat lying har, 1 Direct & Cut for going against the grains and 1 SkinGuard plate.

Braun Series 7 cutting elements aren’t this complex, rather a much simpler one like the older Braun shavers.

The OptiFoils are the same as Series 9 but there’s only one cutting trimmer in the middle that’s generally called a ‘cassette’.

There’s no additional trimmer for cutting against grain or keeping the skin protected from the blades’ harshness, so Series 9 has an edge in this department.

However, 5 elements jumbled into one shaver head makes it much wider and a little tricky to maneuver around tight and tricky spots. Series 7 thus excels at such particular tasks.

AutoSense Technology

You’ll see the AutoSense tag in every new Braun series shaver boxes and the technology implies that the shaver will automatically read your beard density to adjust the motor power accordingly.

This way, your less dense beard areas will get away with a lower amount of friction and be less vulnerable to skin irritation.

The reading count is higher in Series 9, meaning the newer shaver is more agile in understanding your beard density than the Series 7 shaver.

In the older Series 7, the technology wasn’t interpreted this way. There had been 5 speed settings you could manually choose from based on your needs, although the highest power has been my go-to mode for most cases.

Cutting Actions per Minute

Braun often advertises their shaver to be superior than something like Panasonic ARC5 -ES LV67-K with their Cutting Actions per Minute or CPM counter.

From the stats, Braun Series 7 is equipped with a motor that’s capable of running 24,000 CPM whereas Braun Series 9 can go as high as 40,000 CPM.

But what do these numbers actually mean? Basically, if you remove the shaver head, you’ll see the motor’s output extrusions rapidly spinning to make the blades work.

This spinning action is basically 8,000 CPM capable. If that applies to all five cutting units (multiply 8,000 times 5), you get the 40,000 CPM data.

Similarly, three cutting elements in the Series 7 makes it 24,000 CPM. So it comes back to the motor power which is somewhat similar in the two units.

Clean & Charge Station

There’s a great difference between the two charging docks of Braun Series 7 & 9. You have to purchase the ‘cc’ variant to get the Clean & Charge station with the package.

The basic principles are simple – you have to enter the cleaning agent box inside the holder of the station.

From that point onward, the differences will start to surface. For the Series 7, you have to place it facing the back from you and push down on the button at the top of the handle in the station.

It attaches a power socket to your shaver to start charging it and it’ll automatically turn on the device when necessary upon pressing the power button on the station.

For the Series 9 station however, you can place the shaver facing you and there’s no additional hinge required for connecting the shaver to power.

There are a couple of electromagnetic notches at the back that wirelessly charge the shaver and control it through the maintenance phase.

One major difference is in the power button placement in the two stations. For Series 7, the button is placed at the back which is rather inconvenient for me.

But for the Series 9, you’ll locate the button up front, where it should ideally be placed in my opinion.

There’s only one cleaning mode in both of these stations unlike the older 3-mode stations. Total time for cleaning, drying and lubing takes approximately a little over 2 minutes.

Battery Indicator

The LED displays in the regular Braun Series 9 or 7 shavers don’t give you much additional information like the newer Philips Norelco Shavers.

You’ll find a large LED screen on both of these shavers that could’ve been minimized to a much smaller area considering the amount of information you’re getting.

This indicator mostly shows battery life in 5 increments – Series 7 with a long line up to hundred percent, breaking at every 20% of charge gained or lost.

Same goes for the Braun Series 9 shaver but they were smart enough to confine the extent and only granted 5 increment bars.

Additionally, this unit tells you when to replace your blades, need for cleaning and travel lock icon.

In terms of brightness, I prefer the Series 9 display over the Series 7 since the latter is quite difficult to make out under bright light. Overall, the Series 9 indicator is clearly better than the one in Series 7.

Waterproof

Braun isn’t very interested in getting an IPX rating because everyone knows how good their waterproofing generally is.

Thus, neither of these Series 7 or 9 shavers come with such rating declarations but my tests have found out they’re as good as any other IPX rated device.

There has been no leakage in them and wet shaves, shower shaves or full on washes did no harm to the shavers in concern.

So when Braun said the shavers are 100% waterproof, I had to believe that one way or another.

Braun Series 7 7071cc vs Braun Series 9 9370cc: Final Duel

So far we’ve seen the differences between the Series 7 and 9 from Braun from a feature analysis point of view.

We’ll now go a little precise on the two top models from the series in concern: 7071cc and 9370cc to find out which one is better!

Weight

Based on the sleek handle, you can guess that the Series 7 7071cc is bound to be a little lighter than the Series 9 9370cc.

I took weight for both these and the speculations seem accurate. The 7071cc weighs 6.6 ounces, quite light considering it’s one of the prime electric shavers at present.

The 9370cc weighs 0.7 ounces more than the Series 7 device. It’s quite understandable considering the additional battery life and cutting elements.

Also, even though their power outputs are almost identical, it requires a slightly larger motor to keep the torque up to the mark with 5 cutting elements, thus the extra weight.

Size

In terms of size, the length of the 7071cc and 9370cc seem almost identical. The variances start to form in the girth.

There’s a noticeable gap in the handle width for the two premium shavers – Series 7 being quite slimmer than the Series 9.

Although, as I mentioned before, this wasn’t the case in the previous generation of the Series 7 as the handles used to be slightly wider than the Series 9.

Which one is better, you may ask? I personally prefer the overall size of the Series 9. It feels robust, responds perfectly to maneuvering, the only issue being a gigantic shaver head.

People with shorter fingers or a smaller grasp generally prefer the Series 7 for an effortless grip which may be a little tricky to master with the Series 9 shaver.

Aesthetics

If you’re a fan of aesthetics, this Braun Series 9 vs 7 battle might intrigue you because both of these shavers are a class of their own when it comes to housing designs!

The two shavers are housed in silver toned durable plastic materials and there are sufficient amounts of rubber textures for higher grip.

Only other color than the silver is the black in the bevels, ergonomic points and battery level indicator display.

Just looks wise, I think the Series 9 9370 feels more suave and professional (as it’s a prime choice for barbers) whereas the Series 7 7071 caters more toward personal usage design.

If you disregard the price, I’d say you’d be a winner no matter which one you pick because they’ll make your washroom cabinet look good either way!

Grip

Let me extend on the grip points for the two Braun shavers. Both have their merits and demerits, so I can’t really announce a clear winner in the grip department.

The Series 7 shaver is covered with a higher degree of rubber paddings all around. From the back to the front, black rubber texture encompasses around 60% of the housing.

It’s so reliant on this rubber that even the power button has been covered by the grip installation. This approach makes pressing the power button a little difficult, but the adjacent thumb rest feels nice enough.

On the other side, the Series 9, particularly the base variant, has rubber portions only at the back, giving the front some clearance to enhance the design.

But it doesn’t mean you’ll be lacking in grip with this. The head lock mechanism (which exists in the Series 9 but not Series 7) is also an ergonomic thumb rest spot.

Also, the power button is very tactile and responsive. That way, Series 9 feels more efficient than Series 7 from overall grip perception.

The Series 9 PRO and Sport variants have altered the thumb rest spot a little to remove accidental head locks mid-shave, the other differences can be found here if it interests you.

Accessories

I don’t usually discuss accessories with electric shavers but since it includes the Braun Series 7 shaver from the newer generation, I’m having to make an exception.

The Series 9 shavers generally contain a sliding trimmer at the back. It can be used for minor trim jobs like outlining or removing very miniscule hair patches.

But you won’t find such a built-in trimmer in the new Series 7 shaver. Rather, there’s a separate trimmer head accessory included into the package with Braun’s EasyClick feature.

It means, you’re getting something like a proper trimmer to utilize on your beard or hair and there’s flexibility to buy a body trimmer as a separate attachment that can be swapped with your existing beard shaver head.

I personally don’t like to engage my electric shaver with trimming jobs, I have separate trimmer units for that.

But if this all-in-one approach interests you, Braun Series 7 should be your ideal choice.

Shaving Closeness

Both the 7071cc and 9370cc are in my arsenal as of this moment and I used them for over a year as my personal shaver in alternate months.

So my opinions aren’t coming from a short testing phase, rather from my personal use and some degree of insight borrowed from my barber friend.

I’d say the two shavers are very close in terms of outcome, some might say as close as a manual shaver or at least with a 2% gap.

My opinion is the same, but there’s a catch. The 9370cc can work well with a three day stubble and reduce it down to zero in a very short time.

But to get the 7071cc working like that, I can’t go higher than a two day stubble, otherwise it’ll take longer to get the closeness of my desire.

Holding the two outcomes side by side, the results are similar but the Series 9 9370cc is much faster to reach there.

Sound Check

If you’re sound sensitive, this sound check should clarify some of your concerns. The noise levels on the Braun Series 9 and 7 are almost similar, the variance lies in their pitch.

The Series 9 makes sound toward a lower pitch, slightly forgiving for the ears as opposed to the higher pitch and sharper sound of the Series 7.

That’s one of many reasons to pick the Series 9 for a professional shop as listening to loud noises at a stretch is a valid concern.

Check out the video I’ve included here to find out which of the sound types seem tolerable for you. I should highlight, every powerful electric shaver is bound to make some noise, so there’s no way of walking around that problem silently.

Shaving Comfort

Straight up, I’ll vouch for the Series 9 shaver over the Series 7 when it comes to shaving comfort. It’s worth mentioning that someone new to electric shaving requires some time for the skin to break in.

Meaning, initial shaves can cause a little discomfort but it lessens over time, give it something like a month to find the real benchmark for comfort.

After that point, the Braun Series 7 leaves a little demanding on the comfort area in contrast, probably because of the SkinGuard at work in the Series 9 shaver.

For this reason along with the two cassettes in the middle, I find the Series 9 9370 to be one of the ideal choices for sensitive skin shaving.

But the upside for Series 7 shaver is that it can glide over every nook and cranny of your skin with much ease than the Series 9 because of the size of its head.

So I’ll have to leave that up to your preference. If raw comfort is what you seek, Series 9 is the better option from the two I’ve been talking about.

Shower Shave

When it comes to comfort and outcome from wet or shower shaves, Braun Series 9 is the more convenient one and that’s why it’s been frequently used in the professional scheme.

Simply apply some shaving foam, gel or cream to elevate the shaving experience to a whole new level.

Even the soapy housing doesn’t feel like slipping, no matter how you’re holding the shaver. Although, I’d say the Series 7 has better ergonomics for shower shaving alone.

So my verdict here is simple: for home use and particularly shaving inside the shower, go for the Series 7 7071cc to cut down on some cose.

Otherwise, the Series 9 9370cc is better equipped for efficiently shaving with foam or gel, or inside a barber shop for frequent wet shaving.

Cleaning Efficiency

If you purchased a Braun shaver with a Clean & Charge station, your cleaning and maintenance are quite simple and straightforward.

But remember that it’s an expensive venture and mostly caters to professional environments. For home use, I’d rather clean each of them manually.

To properly clean the shaver, you have to remove the shaver head to get all the stray hair out of the chamber.

This is where the Series 9 comes out on top since it has to release buttons on either side of the head, allowing you to remove it for cleaning at ease.

The Series 7 from Braun has to be pried open using your nails and it can get a little difficult if the shaver is wet or slippery.

Thus, Braun Series 9 stands out in terms of cleaning efficiency and it can easily be performed within minutes!

Durability

I’ll call it a tie when durability is the matter of concern. Both the Braun Series 7 and 9 shavers are built with German technology and are provided with a 2-year official warranty.

You really don’t have to worry about the battery unit or the motor since they rarely die out on consumers. And even when they do, it’s not before 4-5 years of regular use.

The two durability concerns for me are with the blade replacement and the rubber textures on the housing.

If you regularly wash your shaver, make sure to mop them out, dry properly and store inside a solid case to preserve the textures, otherwise you might have them falling out after a couple of years.

Blades can last up to 18 months of daily use and 6 months if used in a barber shop. I’d say it’s a good bargain!

Travel Companion

Traveling efficiency is generally measured with four things: battery life, weight, travel lock and carry pouch.

Braun Series 9 ticks all four boxes in a positive manner in this comparison. The battery life is around an hour, you have the option to ‘quick charge’, weight belongs to the lighter gradient, a travel lock is featured in the shaver and a solid carry case is provided for.

Braun Series 7 shaver matches almost all of the criteria evenly, except for the 50 minute battery life and the lack of travel lock.

Remember the rubbery, unresponsive power button I mentioned earlier? It comes into play to function as a substitute for the travel lock feature as it prevents accidental turn ons.

Would I travel with either of these shavers? Yes! I have already done both and a couple weeks can easily go by without having to carry the charger along.

FAQ

As we draw closer to the end of our Braun Series 9 vs Series 7 discussion, let’s take a final pitstop for a few legit concerns about these two shavers!

Q: Which one from Braun Series 7 vs 9 is better for dry shaving?

Ans: I’ve mentioned this in my article already that the Braun Series 9 is better at dry shaving as well as wet. With the added cutting elements, your experience in the dry would be much gentler and comfortable in contrast.

Q: Can I use my Braun Series 7 charger with the Series 9 shaver?

Ans: If you’re referring to the new Series 7 shaver from Braun, then yes, you can use the charger with a Series 9 shaver. However, you have to check the voltage of the adapter and the shaver you’re about to charge to make sure it works properly. A mismatch can result in zero to slow charging and even damage the charging IC, so I’d recommend against it in general.

Q: Are Series 7 and Series 9 cleaning stations from Braun interchangeable?

Ans: No, the cleaning stations aren’t interchangeable across series or sometimes even cross generation in the Braun line. Series 7 cleaning station powers the shaver through a port whereas the Series 9 shaver is powered electromagnetically. Therefore, there’s no chance at all of substituting one for the other.

Verdict

Which one do you think is the better shaver after all the discussions? Does Braun Series 7 look more attractive or the Series 9?

Feature and overall performance-wise, Braun Series 9 is definitely the electric shaver to have and it’s one of the finest in not only Braun line, but also from the entire field of such shavers across brands.

But there’s a consideration for price as well. Braun Series 9 shavers cost significantly more than the Series 7. And for each of them, what you’re getting is worth the amount you’re having to pay.

As per the verdict between Braun Series 9 9370cc vs Series 7 7071cc, go for the Series 9 if you’re a professional who requires a heavy-duty shaver at all times.

Otherwise, for home use and general grooming, you can opt for the new Series 7 shaver and save you significant bucks while getting similar results as the Series 9 shavers!