It really does feel like you’ve used a multi-blade traditional razor. It manages this partly through that new blade design, which pulls the hairs deeper beneath the foil before cutting. The F has the look of a Braun clone and uses a proven dual-foil system with a center lift-and-cut trimmer mated to a pivoting head. But unlike the Braun Series 7 foil block, which pivots along two axes, this less-expensive shaver pivots only up and down. Although no cleaning system is available, you can easily rinse the shaver under running water. The battery life is about 60 minutes, a bit less than what Braun’s model offers, but that should be more than enough for most people, even when you’re traveling.
But that doesn’t mean you should just take your electric razor out of the box and start zooming without first knowing how to get a close shave. The Braun Series 8 features four synchronized shaving elements that can cut in one stroke what other razors do in two. You get most of the features in the Series 8 as you do the Braun Series 9.
Many electric razors offer both dry and wet shaving capabilities. After conducting our Series 9 Pro review, we found the razor cuts shaving time into a fraction of what other electric razors typically put out. There’s even Sonic Technology that lifts hair to deliver a closer shave in less time.
This helps us see how closely they are capable of shaving, and how easy they are to use and achieve our desired style. This writer has an extraordinarily skinny face with more acute angles than a myriagon (I had to look that up) and this shaver is my new Holy Grail. Well, like the top Philips models, the whole head is spring loaded so it moves around with the contours of the face.
While 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. Two of the reasons you may prefer using an electric razor on your face instead of a manual razor are convenience (being able to shave anytime, anywhere without water) and safety (no risk of nicks). We believe the Braun Series 7 is worth its higher price, but the Remington F is a surprisingly competent budget alternative. It provides credible stubble-leveling results at an affordable price. Braun’s top-of-the-line electric razor offers the best shave—even for heavy beards—at a higher price.
That extra power and performance come at a dollar and design cost. Series 9 razors are notably bulkier than Series 7 razors, and some testers found the Series 9 razors tough to maneuver in tight spots (like the equally ginormous Panasonic Arc5, which this Braun line somewhat mimics). The Quick Clean Pod is the world’s smallest and cordless cleaning station. The special cleaning formula is 10x more effective than water1, so you can keep your shaver hygienic. More importantly, overall shaving performance was very good indeed.
Braun used to be noted in its glory days for producing perfect combinations of form and function, using cutting-edge design techniques. Now I’m not saying Dieter Rams would necessarily be upset by the design of this philips electric razor but, while its functionality is hard to argue with, aesthetically the 9 Series is quite lacking. It looks and feels plasticky, and the way it slots into its charging and cleaning base is not very satisfying.
Several of the newer designs adjust the power to the foils when dealing with thicker or coarser beards or facial hair. “Philips Norelco pioneered artificial intelligence in electric shavers with the debut of Philips Norelco Shaver Series 7000 in January 2021,” said Brett Bardsley, Philips Norelco Marketing Director. “SenseIQ technology is the outcome of years of research and development and delivers superior results, helping users feel confident in their shave no matter their hair length, hair type or skin type.” If the electric shavers have any advanced features, such as an additional trimmer or quick charging, we’ll try these out to test if they work and if they’re worth the extra money they no doubt command. We’ll usually spend a week or longer testing new electric shavers, and the review process is fairly straightforward – we use them to shave our faces.
If you’re looking for an affordable rotary shaver under $100 that can tackle just about any hair, you’re in luck. Philips The 3800 will grasp hairs in hard-to-reach areas (like your neck) and take on hairs of different lengths. We spend a lot of time reviewing the best electric shaver, so when it comes to recommending what shaver to buy, you can be safe in the knowledge that we’ll recommend the best options for you. There are a lot of different versions of the Braun and Philips shavers, as you can see. It would take too long to run down the difference between all of them – there are different model numbers for ones with and without cleaning stations, and with and without various accessories such as trimmers and carry cases.