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- Braun Series 9 Pro+ review: What do you get for the money?
- Braun Series 9 Pro+ review: How well does it shave?
- Braun Series 9 Pro+ review: What’s not so good about it?
- Braun Series 9 Pro+ review: How easy is it to clean?
- Braun Series 9 Pro+ review: How is the battery life?
- Braun Series 9 Pro+ review: Should you buy it?
- One of the most advanced shavers around
- Gives a super smooth finish
- Automated cleaning
- Very expensive
- PowerCase is bulky for travelling
The Braun Series 9 Pro+ is one of the most advanced electric shavers on the market, designed for those who want the smoothest results with the least irritation. It is also aimed at those that like their electric shavers packing some serious tech.
To that end, Braun throws in a multi-blade foil system, an ultra-powerful motor and “Sonic Technology” to lift and cut hairs more efficiently. It also comes with an automated cleaning station – with cleaning cartridges – that will top up the batteries, clean away hairs and keep the blades sharp and healthy all at the same time.
The product we tested here also came with Braun’s portable PowerCase, which can be charged separately and then used to safely transport this precious cargo anywhere, while it tops up the shaver’s onboard batteries. Braun says the PowerCase can add up to six weeks of typical shave time – more than enough for most business trips and long holidays.
It’s a comprehensive package that some might view as overkill, especially given the lofty price tag, but thankfully, the shaver performs admirably.
Braun Series 9 Pro+ review: What do you get for the money?
With an RRP of £650, the Series 9 Pro+ is among the most expensive electric shavers available. That said, it has received some hefty discounts of late, so it is possible to pick it up at less than half that price.
Included in this package was the shaver itself, a portable PowerCase, a SmartCare cleaning dock, a charger that’s mated to a two-prong shaver plug, as well as one of the required cleaning cartridges with its specific, bacteria-busting formula.
The PowerCase extends battery life up to six weeks, while the cleaning dock provides automated maintenance, disinfecting and drying the blades for optimal performance.
Braun Series 9 Pro+ review: How well does it shave?
The Braun Series 9 Pro+ delivers an incredibly close and comfortable shave, outperforming all the other electric foil shavers I have tested in recent months. The multi-blade foil head system, combined with Braun’s Sonic Technology, ensures an efficient shave with minimal effort, even in tricky areas. The flexible head adapts well to facial contours, and the ProLift blade ensures efficient cutting with minimal pressure. Just two passes is all that’s required to trim three-day stubble down to the skin. The result is a smooth, irritation-free shave every time.
That said, it suffers from the same issue as other foil shavers, in so much as your choice is a clean shave or nothing – there are no adjustable guards here. So, if you want to achieve that one- or two-day stubble look, it might be worth checking out something like The Chairman Pro, from Manscaped, which does come with several foil guards for varying hair length.
Simply put, the Braun Series 9 Pro+ provides the best close shave in its category. With the combination of five shaving elements and a flip-out ProTrimmer for precision cutting, the system offers an ultra-close finish in just one or two passes, even on dense facial hair.
Braun Series 9 Pro+ review: What’s not so good about it?
Despite the premium price, the build is mostly plastic and rubber, which doesn’t quite match the luxurious feel of its performance. Braun’s choice of materials does keep the weight and bulk down – important if you’re going to be taking it with you on your travels – however, the PowerCase, while practical, is relatively large and cumbersome – one step forward, two steps back.
Additionally, the Series 9 Pro+ lacks the smart connectivity features found in competitors like the Philips 9000 Series – that shaver can sync with your smartphone to deliver shaving advice, battery level indication and cleaning reminders to a bespoke app – although these features are often unnecessary.
Finally, it’s annoying that Braun didn’t opt for a simple USB-C charging system. Instead, you’re reliant on having a two-pronged shaver socket in your bathroom at home – something many folks simply don’t have – and it also limits where you can store, and clean, the shaving unit itself, as well as the portable PowerCase.
Braun Series 9 Pro+ review: How easy is it to clean?
The included SmartCare cleaning dock makes maintenance effortless. After each use, simply place the shaver in the dock and it will automatically clean, disinfect, dry and charge the unit.
The cleaning cartridges, which include an alcohol-based anti-bacterial fluid, are replaceable, ensuring long-term hygiene and performance of the blades and motor. Manual cleaning is also straightforward, as the shaving head can easily be rinsed under the tap.
Braun Series 9 Pro+ review: How is the battery life?
The Braun Series 9 Pro+ claims to offer a solid 60-minute runtime from a full 90-minute charge. However, although a battery run-down test would be a simple way of checking if Braun’s claims are true, the Series 9 Pro+’s motor works differently depending on the thickness of the bristles it’s cutting, so the battery life depends on use.
The standout feature is still the PowerCase which, as I’ve mentioned, can keep the shaver’s battery topped up for up to six weeks, making it ideal for travel. So, compared to rivals like the Philips 9000 Series, which offers a similar 60-minute battery life but lacks an equivalent portable charging case, the Braun has a clear advantage in terms of extended usability. And even though some lower-priced models from Panasonic and Remington may offer comparable, or even longer runtimes, they too lack the efficiency and convenience of Braun’s fast-charging PowerCase.
While the PowerCase is intended for travel, it’s also perfect for safely storing the shaver in a cupboard, keeping it charged. And, if you have the space in your bathroom (and the right shaving socket), you can also use the SmartCare Centre, which will clean and charge the shaver when not in use.
Because of all this, it’s almost impossible to think of a situation where you will be caught short with a dead battery, as even an hour-long shaving session shouldn’t be enough to trouble the Series 9 Pro+.
Braun Series 9 Pro+ review: Should you buy it?
Granted, the full package is expensive – though you can opt to buy the shaver separately, if you don’t need all the other pieces – but it really does deliver results.
And you can ignore the frankly ridiculous RRP, as the Braun Series 9 Pro+ almost always has some sort of discount applied to it. At full price, I’d argue that it’s just too much to pay for an electric shaver, but the kit I tested was on sale at £325. That seems almost reasonable considering it includes the SmartCare cleaning dock and the portable PowerCase. The latter is quite bulky but will prove a boon for anyone who travels frequently and doesn’t want the hassle of hunting down the correct power outlet or finding the right adaptor.
Above all else, the Braun Series 9 Pro+ offers a great shave, cutting close to the skin with one or two passes, and is easy to clean and maintain, thanks to the included accessories.
