Delivers a convenient dry shave or a more refreshing wet shave with gel or foam, even in the shower. After conducting our Series 9 Pro review, we found the razor cuts shaving time into a fraction of what other electric razors philips electric razor typically put out. There’s even Sonic Technology that lifts hair to deliver a closer shave in less time. We first tested the Panasonic Arc5 in 2015, then tried it again against our top pick, the Braun Series 7, in 2021.
The Series 7 razors consistently produce close, comfortable shaves and are easy to use and maintain. Chad Beightol, founder of grooming boutique Consigliere, recommends it as a solid all-around wet and dry razor, meaning you can use it in the shower, too. Beightol says the 3800 is a straightforward shaver with features you’d find on advanced models, like an 60-minute battery life and a pop-up trimmer for cleaning up facial hair. If you need an electric razor and don’t want to think too much about extra bells and whistles, you can’t go wrong with the 3800.
Its foiled shaving heads (“Flex Foils”) offer a nicely cushioned shave that navigates the face comfortably and effectively. Cleaning an electric razor is straightforward—no fancy equipment needed. Most shavers are rinsable, and you can easily clean them under water with a quick brush of the foils. Some, like the Braun Series 7 and 9 models we recommend, come with cleaning stations. Generally, replacement cleaning cartridges last about three months and cost a little over $5 each if you buy them in six-packs. You should also follow the manufacturer’s instructions for replacing foils and cutting blocks.
Included in its beard styling package is a detachable trimmer head that comes with 5 trimmer comb guards. As well as a secondary detachable head accompanied by 4 sets of comb covers designed for maintaining different beard stubble lengths. This creates an open market for all-in-one tools, whether they’re trimmers with interchangeable heads or a shaver with a trimming edge.
Most of our testers agreed that the Series 9 is an amazing shaver. All Braun shavers include a two-year warranty, which covers everything but the foil and cutting block. The most obvious difference that sets the Series 7 apart from other Braun models is the flexibility of the shaving block at the top. The Series 5 remains fixed, the Series 6 pivots up and down, and the Series 7 pivots up and down and left and right, keeping the cutting block in contact with facial curves more of the time. For a consistently close shave, plus the convenience of an included automatic cleaning system at a reasonable price, we recommend the Braun Series 7.
Plus, it never snagged or stopped on my skin, even when it wasn’t wet or covered in shaving cream, because you can use the OneBlade wet or dry. As with the more expensive Braun models, this Remington comes with a two-year warranty. Remington recommends annual replacement of the shaver’s cutting block and foil, which are sold as a combo pack for about $20. While philips razor the Series 7 is powerful enough for most shaving situations, Braun’s Series 9 is the top-performing shaver we’ve tried that we find worth the additional expense—at least for certain situations. If you have particularly curly or coarse hair, or if you wish to shave less frequently but achieve the same level of closeness, this may be the shaver for you.