At first glance, the biggest difference between the Series 9 and the Series 7 is size. The Series 9 is longer, has more girth, and is more top-heavy, all due to its quadruple-headed shaving mechanism. That four-way head sticks to Braun’s traditional two-foil design but adds a pair of cutting mechanisms—a “direct & cut” trimmer and a “hyper-lift & cut” trimmer—that better snag wiry, unruly whiskers, the company claims.
It handled daily shaves without complaint and powered through more days of growth without too much issue. You’ll need to replace the foil on your shaver more or less annually, depending on use. My face was left with some redness that faded within an hour or so. It wasn’t a huge deal for me, but I could see how that would really irk someone’s nerves.
Unlike any of the other electric razors I tested, it has a quick-charge mode. Plug it in for five minutes, and you’ll get extra battery life—in my tests, 11 minutes’ worth. The F has the look of a Braun clone and uses philips electric razor 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.
The Philips SatinShave razor has two foil blades and a cutter made of hypoallergenic stainless … James has been using the Series 7 to shave a portion of his face (growing a pandemic beard after initial testing decreased his use somewhat) since first testing for this guide in 2020. It’s held up remarkably well and, aside from a dip after a little more than a year of use which was remedied by replacing the foil, the shave quality has remained consistent. The 7085cc and the 7020s provide the same high-quality shave as our pick, but they each come with different sets of accoutrements. We think the new 7071cc has the features that most people want or need, but prices tend to fluctuate, and if you find one of the others for significantly less you won’t be missing a lot by picking that model up. The Quick Clean Pod is the world’s smallest and cordless cleaning station.
I’ve tested many hair removal products including IPL devices, epilators (ouch!), DIY wax strips and refillable safety razors (which I really like). I have always been a manual razor person for my legs, though I have used an old Philips trimmer for years. Building on the research and testing we’ve done for seven years, we’ve looked into new models from competing brands that have been released, and we’re confident that the Braun line of foil shavers is the best available. And the Series 7 offers the best mix of effectiveness, features, and affordability of the line. On my quest to find out why this razor didn’t work very well, I also read that the razor is intended to be used with three days worth of facial hair growth.
Rinse your razor under water to remove hair and dirt, then take a light brush to your foil to remove any gunk buildup. It’s important to maintain the foil on your razor, as that is what helps give you a nice and even shave. If your foil gets dented or damaged, make sure to replace it immediately as that piece is the proverbial bread and butter to your shave.
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.
This top-of-the-line Panasonic shaver includes a total of five blades—a quartet of foils and a single oscillating lift-and-cut center trimmer. The Arc5 is quieter than the Series 7, but the noise it does make is much higher pitched, which some may find annoying. If you find that Braun models aren’t working for you, the Arc5 might be a better option for your skin or hair type. The Lifeproof’s performance on all hair types (straight, curly, thick, and overly-curly) ranked surprisingly above average. This is quite a feat considering most foil shavers can find it challenging to deliver a close shave on wavy and curly beards without multiple passes.
If you’ve ever looked for an electric facial hair shaver, you’ve probably come across Philips Norelco in your search (among many other types of razors). A Foil shaver’s blades move left and right cutting every hair that enters each hole imprinted on the foil guard. Once on, its cutting ability is optimized by shaving in an up, down, or across motion. This action effectively captures and cuts each hair no matter the direction the hair grows in. For this shaver as well, overlapping shaving strokes will also aid in reducing shaving irritation.