The Braun Series 9 shaver has done unimaginable things for me, things I only dreamt to find one day in an electric shaver and Braun has made that come true.
Yet, the question remains: is the Series 9 really worth the price? Why don’t I just pick up a cheaper shaver, would it perform the same as Braun’s top dog?
All these questions require answering, and I took it upon myself to reach that state. It’s not a sponsored article and I won’t hesitate to call out Braun should I find something I don’t like.
And as I say these, I’ve tested out my old Braun Series 9 shaver with a newer one I purchased, and this review article will tell you whether you actually should invest your money in this shaver.
“Braun Series 9 is the perfect electric shaver for barbers in terms of efficiency, technology, durability and outcome. Performs dry shaves quickly and cuts down on shaving time for busy individuals on a working day.”
Braun Series 9 Quick Overview
Verdict
Very easy to use, robust build, glides easily and removes 3-day stubble in the most efficient manner, ergonomics and battery scores are through the roofs and overall the complete electric shaver for both personal and professional use.
Contents
- 1 Braun Series 9 Versions
- 2 Unboxing the Braun Series 9 Shaver
- 3 Standout Features of the Series 9
- 4 My Experience with the Braun Series 9
- 5 How I Tested the Braun Series 9 Shaver
- 6 How to Use the Series 9 Shaver by Braun
- 7 Braun Series 9 Shaver: Cleaning & Maintenance
- 8 Braun Series 9 VS Pro VS Sport: See the Difference
- 9 What Does the ‘s’/‘ps’/‘cc’ Mean with Braun Model Numbers?
- 10 FAQ
- 11 Final Thoughts
Braun Series 9 Versions
There are so many numbers of Braun Series 9 shavers that it can be quite overwhelming for consumers who aren’t allowed in on the science.
Well, it’s not the trickiest thing to understand once I break all of it down for your convenience.
The first generation of Braun Series 9 shavers came out back in 2015, known as the original version. Models contained the serial of 90xx, for instance, 9090cc, 9093s, 9095cc etc.
A year later, Braun immediately brought out an upgrade on the existing shavers with the 92xx serial and the previous generation would cease to exist from the market.
Three years on, the third generation replaced the 92xx series with never 93xx models. These are the base Braun Series 9 versions you’ll still be able to purchase officially.
Take a look at the info below to gain a clearer picture of these versions:
- Series 9 90xx – 2015 (Original)
- Series 9 92xx – 2016
- Series 9 93xx – 2019
- Series 9 PRO 94xx – 2021
- Series 9 PRO+ 95xx – 2023
Unboxing the Braun Series 9 Shaver
Let me guide you through the unboxing of the Braun Series 9 9370cc shaver and it should tell you about the orientation of the overall package.
Starting off, this Series 9 box is quite a sizable one in the shape of a cube. The reason behind such size is the existence of the clean & charge station.
After lifting the top part of the package up, you’ll find the Series 9 shaver inside a hard paper cover, encasing the travel case that holds the shaver.
Then comes the clean & charge station, wrapped nicely with a plastic wrap and inside another crevice lies the cleaning solution inside a plastic container.
Additionally, there’s a charging cable attached to an adapter, a cleaning brush and user manuals for general comprehension.
What’s Inside the Box: Series 9 Shaver, Travel Case, Clean & Charge Station, Cleaning Solution, Brush, Charger.
Braun Series 9: Specifications
Technical specifications are always important to go through to be able to fully assess a good electric shaver on the market!
- Dimensions: 16.3 x 6.5 x 3.9 cm
- Weight: 7.1 ounces
- Color: Silver
- Wireless: Yes
- Accessories: Oil, Charger, Brush, Cleaning Station, Case
- Blade Type: Foil
- Blade Elements: 4+1
- Motor Power: 40,000 CPM
- Waterproof: Yes
- Display: LCD Panel
- Battery Runtime: Around 60 Minutes
Standout Features of the Series 9
Time for me to break down the most important and significant features of the Braun Series 9 9370cc shaver in this section!
What I Like
- Matte silver housing
- Appealing design
- Perfect ergonomics for good grip
What I Don’t Like
- Plastic doesn’t feel very expensive
Advanced Design
I’d say Braun has remarkably enhanced their design game if I think back at the older Series 7 or Series 8 models. From aesthetics to grip level, everything feels out of the world in this barber-grade electric shaver!
Luxurious Aesthetics
The design of the Braun Series 9 is indeed something to look out for! Most of the housing is made with plastic and covered with a matte silver finish.
Upon knocking on the housing, it felt a little hollow inside and the build, although great, didn’t feel the quality to live up to the price I had to pay for the shaver.
Braun has followed the same duotone approach with this shaver – black rubber padding at the back, black LCF panel and the black accents around and underneath the silver shaver head.
But as a whole, the shaver does generate a premium aura once looked at and will most certainly be a demanding unit for those who adore good looks!
Unmatched Grip
Quite honestly, the slip-proof design Braun has come out with the Series 9 shaver is actually very smart!
I haven’t had any slip up issues yet and most of the credit goes to the ergonomic rubber planted at the back of the shaver.
That rubber is textured and remains attached to your fingers without the firmest of grips and grants you the opportunity to maneuver around at will.
Your thumb can also find an ergonomic spot to rest at the chest of the shaver – the textured tilt lock slider solidifies what I’d call a superior degree of grip!
4 Cutting Elements in Blade System
Braun has advertised the Series 9 shaver to have 4+1 shaving elements and in hindsight, it suggests 5 elements actively participate in the cutting action.
What I Like
- 2 OptiFoils catch hair to feed the blades
- HyperLift&Cut with Direct & Cut cleans out neatly
- SkinGuard protects skin from any amount of pressure
What I Don’t Like
- Actually 4 cutting elements, not 5
In reality, the fifth element is a SkinGuard which is more of a passive participant, ensuring a certain degree of gap between blade and your skin.
I’m not complaining, don’t get me wrong – this SkinGuard is actually something I appreciate as it renders the shaving experience a very comfortable one.
Apart from this, there are two OptiFoil meshes in the shape of honeycomb that grab the hair and feed them through so that the blades can efficiently chop them off from the root.
The rest of the two cutting elements (or cassettes many would regard) perform two types of cutting actions.
Direct & Cut trimmer basically trims down hair flowing in almost any direction so that you don’t have to shave against your grain.
HyperLift&Cut trimmer is the golden one and it’s coated with Titanium Nitride to offer skin comfort, reduce risk of allergic reaction and overall sustain the blade system.
It’s meant for cutting the hair that lies flat with direct contact. Underneath the coating, this unique cassette is made of ceramic and retains the edge at any given direction of glide.
So in short, these are the main elements of the Braun Series 9 shaver:
- 2 OptiFoils for feeding hair
- 1 HyperLift & Cut for flat lying hair and skin comfort
- 1 Direct & Cut for cutting hair in different directions and
- 1 SkinGuard to protect your skin
Additional Features
Looks and blade technology aren’t everything you’ll find with the Braun Series 9 shaver! There’s tons more stuff to look forward to and let me highlight some of those in the part that follows.
What I Like
- Perfect balance and light weight
- 40,000 CPM shaver due to Sonic Tech
- Autosense Tech adjusts power according to beard density
What I Don’t Like
- Quite expensive as opposed to other shavers of this capacity
Good Weight
The Braun Series 9 shaver weighs only 7.1 ounces! This weight class is very much competitive with the likes of the Panasonic ARC5 shavers, the LV67 in particular.
For an electric shaver to weigh like this is actually something worth appreciating. This liberates your portability and enables longer shaving activities, especially if you’re working in a salon.
It’s not only the weight that makes the Series 9 a good shaver, rather you have to consider the balance as well.
Despite such a large shaver head (larger than the ones we’ve seen in previous generations), it’s not head-heavy!
The center of gravity is placed around the central parts of the housing and it tells you a story of smart engineering by the German technicians!
Build Quality
I’ve shed some light on this aspect before, that the quality could have been better considering the expensive price point.
It’s not fragile though and I don’t suppose the housing would receive damage if dropped from a limited height.
The shaver head can absorb damage from rigorous shaving unlike the previous generations of the Series 9 shavers.
Apart from the lack of the solid vibe, things are actually in order and the parts inside are definitely made to last – at least my personal one survived 3 years of regular use and is still going strong!
So on one hand, you’re having to pay a large sum but on the other, you’re getting a great electric shaver for the coming 6 or 7 years. I’d say that’s a good bargain!
Powerful Motor for Any Hair Type
Braun’s motor technology is actually quite unique. Instead of vigorously rotating the extruded parts underneath the blades, they vibrate rapidly – micro vibration according to Braun jargon.
This technology is called ‘SyncroSonic’ by the brand and it translates through the overall blade system to your beard.
Such vibration allows your beard to make its way to the cutting elements and instead of your constant gliding, the blade system does the work for you with less passes.
Braun claims that their motor is capable of 40,000 CPM (cuts per minute). But in actuality, it’s 10,000 CPM each cutting element and this is basically the amount of vibration they make.
No matter how it’s presented, the fact is that this method works really well and has earned Braun a significant amount of respect from people with every type and texture of facial hair.
10-D Flexible Head
The 10 directional flexible head isn’t as extravagant as it sounds but it certainly works really well when it comes to contour adaptation.
So basically the shaver head can tilt back and forth only in one direction, unlike the Panasonic ARC5 which has side tilt as well.
Series 9’s back and forth tilt can be restricted by engaging the tilt lock slider – the big, ergonomic one right above the power button.
If you choose to restrict, you have the option to select one out of five locking positions of the head.
Otherwise, letting it be can aid you in the tight spots but it feels better to lock the head for general use.
With these 5 increments, the springy, 5 blade elements tilt left to right and that’s pretty handy in terms of contour adaptation.
Thus, five times two equates to ten and that’s what Braun has been trying to sell as a 10-D flexible head.
Advanced Technology
From older serieses of Braun, you’ve probably noticed the existence of the AutoSense technology that actively senses your beard and adjusts the motor power accordingly.
The Series 9 has been upgraded with a 32-bit MCU – a processing unit that can assess, analyze and respond to the motor unit faster than any previous Braun shaver!
If you have coarse hair or sensitive skin, both of these can be greatly benefited from this feature.
Since the shaver will regulate more power to efficiently chop through your curly or kinky facial hair, there’s no tugging or pulling of any sort.
On the other hand, the precise amount of power doesn’t overwork the skin and reduces the chances of possible allergic reaction (which is highly unlikely with the Series 9 shaver).
LCD Panel
In the past, the Braun Series 8 hosted an LCD panel that would show a large number as the battery status indication.
The Series 9 design has been upgraded and it was replaced with the 5 bar (20% increment) battery status reader.
There’s also a travel lock icon, cleaning icon, warning sign and blade replacement warning. All of these can be reset if you press and hold the power button for 10 seconds straight.
To be honest, apart from the battery level and travel lock icon, none of the other readings make much sense and it’s completely fine if you choose to disregard those completely.
Just make sure to keep on a healthy cleaning and maintenance routine with proper knowledge – that should suffice.
Pop-up Trimmer
At the back, there’s a pop-up trimmer embedded in the Series 9 (more like slide-out trimmer). I found the blade to be awkwardly angled and isn’t something to look forward to.
The pop-up trimmer in the Panasonic ARC5 LV65 is actually a much better and practical one compared to the Braun unit.
It’s made for lining up your sideburn, maybe outline your mustache barely – and that’s all.
Also, the slider isn’t the smoothest one from my book and Braun could definitely have given much attention if they’d want their consumers to drain proper use out of this trimmer.
My Experience with the Braun Series 9
Now, I’ve managed to list down the practical aspects of the Braun Series 9 shaver from my personal experience. It should precisely tell you what to expect from this extravagant electric shaver and what not to.
What I Like
- Dry shaves are very close
- Kind on sensitive skin
- Easy to glide, great battery life
What I Don’t Like
- Expensive
- Cleaning can be a little tricky without the station
Shaving Closeness
How close is the outcome with the Braun Series 9 shaver? It’s a good question and rightfully so, since you’re demanded to pay a significantly large sum to own this device.
From what I’ve witnessed, the shaves are very close, similar to the results you’d get with a manual razor.
But it’s still a miniscule margin behind the Panasonic ARC5 shavers in terms of closeness, maybe that’s because of the lack of one cutting element.
It’s compensated by the shaving efficiency though, the Series 9 shaver cleans out all sorts of hair – be that coarse or flat lying – faster than the ARC5 device.
You don’t have to keep scrubbing over your skin for a prolonged duration to get things done and because of that, I’m happy to concede the almost unnoticeable gap in shaving closeness between the two premium shavers.
On Sensitive Skin
To see Braun Series 9’s performance on sensitive skin, I didn’t have to look too far since my own neck skin fits the category quite well.
Although the shaving head is sizable, it’s still more compact than the ARC5 and managed to follow the contours perfectly.
I mostly locked the head tilt while shaving my face but let it adapt once I crossed the chin line.
And indeed, the results were surprisingly comfortable! I felt close to nothing apart from the coldness of the foils.
Each glide efficiently cleaned out the region and there was even no redness or burn that I could notice afterward.
It’s worth mentioning that you’ll have to shave on a 3-day stubble and nothing more. Longer beards won’t work neatly, leave patches here and there, and overall a troublesome experience.
Waterproof
Most of the electric shavers don’t come with IPX rating but their waterproof quality has rarely been questioned because of the solid build.
I tried out my Series 9 shaver in wet mode, under the shower and rinsed it entirely just to see if there’s any sort of leakage.
So far, there was none. Meaning, if you don’t get the cleaning station with the shaver, manually washing it is a viable option.
Also, wet or shower shaves are encouraged since they are kinder on skin and saves a lot of time. Feel free to use it any way you want, water leakage won’t be an issue for you.
Dry/Wet Shave Quality
Braun Series 9 shaver reads dry/wet shave on the housing since it’s adept at doing both. But which is better and more comforting?
If you solely consider comfort, then of course, wet shaves are better since they tend to soften down your beard, prepare your skin and make it easier to remove facial hair efficiently.
I’d say the wet shaving quality is better with the Panasonic ARC5. Also, it’s a little more hectic to rinse out the gel or foam constantly, so I’ll stick to the ARC5 for wet shaves.
However, Braun Series 9 excels at dry shaves without any preparation. On a 2-day stubble, I ran the shaver directly against my skin, no exfoliation or anything of that sort.
It was to test out if it’s capable of squeezing out quick shaves in the morning before heading out.
And Braun Series 9 shaver fared really well in this department! This feels like a dry-shave device because it cuts neatly, quickly and leaves behind no agony of any sort.
I wouldn’t be audacious to call it one of the finest dry shaving electric shavers, maybe even the best one currently out there on the market!
Maneuverability
With the perfect weight balance, lighter weight class and ideal degree of grip, maneuvering this shaver around has been a pleasant experience for me.
I didn’t have to be a trickster in order to grab my facial hair from every nook and cranny since the design as well as the technology in the Series 9 allows for that with least effort.
I could glide the shaver in both directions and going against the grain isn’t as big of a deal as it would be with a manual razor, mostly because of the blade design.
Shaving the mustache can be a little tricky, the solution is to stretch out your skin before running the blades.
Battery Life
Braun Series 9’s battery life has most certainly seen an upgrade with the 9370cc shaver. The previous generations would last up to 50 minutes whereas this latest version runs for 60 minutes with a full charge.
That’s 10 minutes more than the ARC5 battery life, rendering Series 9 to be the longest running electric motor from a renowned brand.
As the rule of thumb dictates, dry shaves take 5 minutes and wet shaves take 10, so you can see how the 60 minute battery life would last you a long time even if you shave every other day.
Also, a 5-minute quick charge option is there if you’re in a hurry and find the device to be dead.
From zero to hundred, it takes a little over one hour to fully replenish the battery. If you keep the shaver docked in the cleaning station, it charges up automatically for you.
Travel-Friendly
Just imagine carrying around this luxurious electric shaver no matter where you go and it’s actually equipped to do so!
For starters, the Series 9 comes with a travel lock that can be activated if you press and hold the power button for 3 seconds. A red lock icon will show up on the panel to tell you it’s engaged.
Then comes the solid travel case inside which you can stash the shaver and it’s sturdy enough to absorb any sort of pressure inside your luggage.
Lastly, the battery life of one hour implies you won’t have to carry the charging cord with you, only a fully charged shaver should set you free in your travel days!
Will the Braun Series 9 Last?
In my opinion, the Braun Series 9 shaver is actually going to last a very long time as it has for me and numerous other consumers I’ve seen reviewing the shaver online.
All of the parts in and outside of the shaver are made in Germany, outlined by their durable technology.
In the first generation of Series 9 shaver, the trimmers in the middle were prone to breakage. But without acknowledging it, Braun simply amended the issue by upgrading the blade system.
However, like every other electric shaver, you’ll need to replace the blades once every two years for regular home use or once every six months on average if it’s used in a salon.
The LCD panel is supposed to show a notification when it requires replacement, but I wouldn’t rely on that if I were you.
You can either follow the timeline for replacement or simply wait till you feel the blade tugging or not cutting properly to go for a newer unit.
How I Tested the Braun Series 9 Shaver
I did what I usually do with every new electric shaver – inspected the Braun Series 9 housing, tapped on the body to see how it feels, undid the blades, trimmer and every other possible thing.
It gives me an insight on the build quality of the materials used inside. Then came the practical assessment – going for shaves using the Series 9.
My shaving tests began with a 7 day stubble, then a 5 days stubble and finally I settled on the maximum caliber for Series 9 at 3 days stubble.
These tests were performed both wet and dry at the same time – one half of my face left completely dry while the other exfoliated and foamed.
Finally, the cleaning tests I ran included both automatic and manual methods to see how each stack up against the other.
Who is the Braun Series 9 Shaver For?
Based on the price, the quality of the device, comfort level, versatility and overall outcome, the Series 9 in my opinion will mostly cater to the professional groomers.
It’s not only the price, but also the cleaning station that’s meant for keeping the device up and running through the longest and busiest days.
These extravagant features can be overwhelming for home consumers, but if it floats your boat, then I’d say you can grab one too and experience an experience like barber-shop at your home!
I still have to interject – had the price been lower, I would definitely have encouraged every home groomer to get the Series 9 over anything else.
Worth noting though, dry shave fanboys should consider the Braun Series 9 because there’s none other in the market that can match its performance, so that’s a valid consideration point!
How to Use the Series 9 Shaver by Braun
It’s a very basic procedural breakdown on the uses of the Braun Series 9 shaver. This is quite straightforward to be honest, yet I’m highlighting for general convenience.
Preparation
Firstly, prepare your beard if needs be. Trim down any beard that exceeds a 3-day stubble for a better and easygoing experience.
Wet Shave
If wet shaving is your preference, you’d have to go through the overall procedure. It can consume some time but the payout is more comforting, especially for people with coarse hair or sensitive skin.
Dry Shave
However, dry shaving on any hair type or skin is still very forgiving. You wouldn’t have to apply anything to get things right, a little softening agent could help you out if required.
Photo: Braun Series 9 Power Button Press
Turn On & Glide
Start by pressing the power button and turning the device on. Then, pick a section of your beard and press the shaver against your skin tightly.
Don’t worry, it won’t cut or burn like the manual shavers, all thanks to the smart elements and the skin guard embedded in the blade system.
Glide gently vertically and make a couple of passes in each section. Once things are cleared, make an overall additional pass to make sure the outcome is perfect.
Check & Glide
You can then check with your fingertips if any unshaved patch is remaining. At the end, use the pop-up trimmer to line up the sideburns and your shaving should be finished within 5 minutes!
Turn off the shaver once done and then you can proceed to the cleaning and maintenance part to keep the shaver alive!
Braun Series 9 Shaver: Cleaning & Maintenance
There are two ways to go about the cleaning for the Braun Series 9 device – automatic and manual. I’ll break down each and see if the cleaning station is really worth the price.
Automatic Cleaning
You’ll notice that the Series 9 package comes with a cleaning solution inside a plastic case. The station you’ll get with the 9370cc is exclusive to 93xx models and they don’t support cross-generation adaptability.
Once you connect the power cord to the station (yes, one cord for the station and the shaver), remove the plastic cap of the solution and slide it inside the case from the back.
After locking the mechanism in place, make sure your shaver head is clean and the tilt lock is deactivated. Placing the shaver on the station and pressing the button at the top will turn on the cleaning system with a beep.
Although there are three cleaning modes that the station automatically chooses for you, usually the most intense mode is selected for some reason.
Mark down that the 2 minute and 10 second cleaning duration will not charge your shaver. Upon completion of the cleaning jod, the station will blow air into the blades to dry it up.
40 minutes of airblow completes the drying process, although it’s not imperative for a busy salon environment. It works best before storing the shaver at completion.
If you keep the shaver docked, the station will keep on charging and at full charge, it’ll go to standby mode.
Mind you, the cleaning also processes lubricating, so you won’t have to remain wary of that to prolong the lifespan of the blade system.
Manual Cleaning
Manual cleaning is straightforward yet can be a little hectic if you don’t know what you’re doing. There are two ways to go about it. First one is the very basic one – using a brush.
With the brush, press and hold the two pressure points on each side of the shaver head to take the blades off.
Then, brush the area underneath and rinse the blade under the tap. Cleaning out the blades using the brush isn’t a viable idea since the mechanism is quite complex there.
The other method asks you to wash the shaver portion as well after removing the blades. Reattach the blades, apply some hand wash liquid on the foils and turn the shaver on.
Remove again, rinse using your finger tips for a thorough clean to ensure there’s no degree of dirt left.
It’ll demand you to mop up that bit and wait out till it’s dried completely, but I’d say it’s worth the effort.
Once things are dried out, lubricate the blades and turn the shaver on for 30 seconds to seep that in.
It’s ideal to wait out 24 hours after a wash so that the moisture is fully disseminated. You can then lubricate and store the shaver inside your case.
Which Cleaning Mode is Better?
The clean & charge station is obviously the most effortless way to go about, but it’s not inexpensive for the initial purchase and the repurchase of the cleaning solution.
In my opinion, the ‘cc’ models with cleaning stations are ideal for barbers, not so much for the home users.
So, if you want to use it at home for personal use, you can easily get away with an ‘s’ model that doesn’t come with the station and save some precious bucks from that.
Braun Series 9 VS Pro VS Sport: See the Difference
Feature/Quality | Series 9 Base | Series 9 PRO | Series 9 Sport |
---|---|---|---|
Color | Silver | Silver Metal Chrome | Matte Black |
Tilt Lock Position | Thumb slide | Flick-on | Thumb slide |
Blade System | 4+1 cutting elements | 4+1 cutting elements | 4+1 cutting elements |
Technology | AutoSense & Sonic | AutoSense & Sonic | AutoSense & Sonic |
Battery Life | 60 minutes | 60 minutes | 60 minutes |
Pop-up Trimmer | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
What if you’re placed in a dilemma where you have to choose between three of the top versions from the Braun Series 9?
Would you pick the base Series 9, Series 9 PRO or the Series 9 Sport? What are their differences anyway? Time to figure that out first!
Color Difference
I’m sorry to disappoint you that the major difference begins with the color options among these three shavers and not anything technical.
While you already know that the base version of the Series 9 is housed in a matte yet shiny silver color, the other two vary from this quite starkly.
The Series 9 PRO comes in a metal chrome tone leaning toward silver but you can immediately notice the difference in highlights. This variant looks more premium due to this tone.
The most radical of the color tone variation is seen in the Series 9 Sport since almost all of the housing is draped in matte black.
Looks-wise, all three have their unique appeal and I’ll leave it to your preferences to pick between them should color be your only concern.
Tilt Lock Placement
From a design aspect, you’ll see that the Series 9 PRO has walked a separate path when it comes to locking the axis of the shaver head.
It bothers me at some point while using the base variant that I’m having to place my thumb on the lock slider.
Although I’m yet to accidentally set it off mid-shave, I’ve heard many cases where consumers have done that while trying to ensure a firm grip.
The same lock placement is observed in the Series 9 Sport variant as well. Yes, it does reinforce some degree of ergonomic grip, having a textured place to rest your thumb.
This enhances the vertical movement as there’s no risk of your thumb slipping out even in wet modes – base Series 9 and Series 9 Sport certainly allows for that superior grip.
But in terms of technicality, Series 9 PRO’s separate tiny notch for the locking mechanism has been welcomed by the vast majority of the consumer group.
You’ll get to place your thumb at the new vertically lined resting place – not so ergonomic as before but no risk of accidentally activating the tilt lock.
Shaving Outcome
I wish I could tell you that the Series 9 PRO vs Series 9 had something spicy to offer when it comes to the shaving outcome.
I see no difference between these two, and even the Series 9 Sport cuts exactly the same since they all share identical blade systems.
The shaves are really good, especially if you’re a fan of dry shaving. Wet shavings trail a little if held against the Panasonic ARC5.
I was curious to see how the Series 9 PRO stacks up in wet mode, as the thumb grip texture is reconfigured.
It takes some getting used to and there was no slip from my part even when my fingers were literally dripping with slippery shaving gel.
But in terms of feeling, the base Series 9 and Series 9 Sport boost your grip confidence a little with the textured tilt lock underneath the thumb.
Then again, there’s the risk of accidentally setting it off, as many have up to this point – so I understand why Braun chose a separate avenue for their most upgraded version.
Battery Life
With the advertisement and fancy promotions about the Series 9 PRO, you would expect it to outclass the Series 9 and Series 9 Sport in some manner.
So I was genuinely curious to test out battery life on each since the blade systems and shaving outcomes offer no difference so far.
Sadly, the battery life on these shavers seem to match evenly as well. Running for one hour with a full charge, taking another hour to charge back up and a 5-minute quick charge option – nothing to separate between them.
Maintenance
All three of the Series 9, Series 9 PRO and Series 9 Sport variants are ‘cc’ models, thus you get a cleaning station within the package.
I’m glad that the Series 9 Sport can utilize the cleaning station from the base Series 9 version, but neither of them can interchange the stations with the Series 9 PRO.
Consumers have shared a concern with the Series 9 Sport that the blades are prone to cluster and require frequent cleaning while shaving.
Although I’m yet to face anything like this, probably because my beard hair isn’t highly coarse.
But if this is a persisting issue, this would occur with the base Series 9 and Series 9 PRO as well since they have the same blade system.
Price to Performance
It’s a tricky situation to be honest, to pick between the three top dogs from the Braun Series 9 shaver family. Thus, price is definitely a valid consideration to make up your mind on the matter.
The Braun Series 9 PRO is the priciest of them all and it’s rightly so – with a slightly more durable housing and altered tilt lock.
I’ll say it’s more friendly for the professionals and home consumers could settle for less expensive options.
For instance, the Series 9 Sport is perfectly placed in terms of price to performance ratio. I’ll recommend this one for regular home use over the two others.
The base variant of the Braun Series 9 is actually preferential. If you think as a barber, you appreciate the highly textured thumb rest that locks the tilt, you can easily pick this one out and save a few bucks.
Home groomers can consider the looks and price to choose between Series 9 vs Series 9 Sport.
How Different is the Series 9 PRO+?
Braun’s latest Series 9 shaver entered the market in 2023 under the name of Braun Series 9 PRO+ and it has more to offer than its predecessors.
First off, the shaver head has been redesigned to offer more comfort, better contour adaptation for faster and efficient shaves and overall sharper blade system.
Braun has labeled this head as the ‘ProComfort Head’ and I think it fares quite well for the asking price.
Another major difference is in the travel case titled – ‘PowerCase’. Yes, you’ve read that right.
This case is a gamechanger for people who prefer traveling with their shaver. The case has a battery unit of itself and charges the shaver once it’s stored inside.
The latest case is more robust and protects the shaver better than any of the previous cases you’d get from Braun.
In my opinion, this has been the most significant upgrade since the 93xx series (apart from the PRO version’s tilt lock placement).
Because it actually enhances performance rather than being a cosmetic upgrade. I’ll certainly call it the best Braun Series 9 shaver version till date!
What Does the ‘s’/‘ps’/‘cc’ Mean with Braun Model Numbers?
You’ll notice that all of the Braun shaver models include an alphabet or two with the numeric model number. What do they actually mean?
Here’s a breakdown for you:
- s: It means you’ll only get the ‘solo’ shaver inside the package, no clean & charge station included. Model names sound like 9040s, 9093s etc. However, some of the ‘s’ models do come with a charging stand (not cleaning) – 9293s, 9260s etc. So Braun isn’t truly precise with what they’re offering inside the package.
- ps: This one is a very rare model within Braun Series 9 shaver, although used to be quite popular in the previous serieses. The ‘ps’ stands for ‘power station’. Meaning, you’ll get a charging dock with the shaver. 9299ps is the only model I could find within this line.
- cc: These are the more expensive models of Braun shavers and ‘cc’ here implies ‘clean & charge’ station. Such shavers usually come with a station and some cleaning agent provided by Braun and it automatically cleans/dries/lubricates the shaver blades.
Based on this knowledge, you now know what you need and how you can easily make out what’s included inside the package by reading the Braun model number!
FAQ
Curious minds have been asking around the internet about the Braun Series 9 shaver and these questions are indeed worth addressing and answering for the grooming community!
Q: Can I make my own cleaning agent at home for the Series 9 station?
Ans: There are ways to make the cleaning agent at home but it requires precision and isn’t the easiest of tasks. Following along YouTube videos won’t guarantee success, rather you can check out alternate, cheaper solutions that work with the Braun Series 9 station. For me, I’ll stick to the replacements from Braun to ensure my shaver’s safety.
Q: Does the Braun Series 9 catch hair?
Ans: It does, in both ways. For instance, Braun Series 9 is one of the better shavers at grabbing flat lying hair more efficiently, all credit goes to the two cutting cassettes in the middle. Also, the chamber underneath the blades captures stray hair and spares you a mess of hair particles in your shirt.
Q: Can I use the Braun Series 9 electric shaver on the body?
Ans: I’ll have to say no to this. Braun Series 9 shaver is solely made for facial hair shaving and it’s engineered to perform precisely that. Going over your body hair with the shaver will only feel lacking without any measurable outcome. Instead, you can consider top-tier body grooming trimmers for better results.
Final Thoughts
It’s been a very long journey through the Braun Series 9 review and I’m sure you got to learn tons of new things in the process.
I know it can be tricky to pick between so many variants of Series 9 shavers and it’s true – I find myself lost in a maze at times while digging through them.
If I have to say briefly, the Braun Series 9 shaver has been the shaver I turned to, be that for a thorough shave before an event or a swift shave in the early morning.
The price can be hefty, I admit it, but the outcome is priceless to me. Money cannot buy everything, but Braun proves that there are certain degrees of shaving comfort that money actually can bring you.