The Philips Norelco 3800 Wet & Dry Shaver can grasp hairs in hard-to-reach areas (like your neck) and take on hairs of different lengths. For as close as this razor can shave (five-blades close!) you’d think that it could make sensitive skin angry, but somehow it doesn’t. The ultra-sharp blades trim hair as close as any manual razor/cream combo we’ve tried and braun shavers the pivoting head ensures you never miss a spot, even around hard-to-reach areas like your jawline and neck. A world-renowned manufacturer of small electrical appliances in a number of different sectors, Braun was founded by Max Braun in 1921. After getting its start with radios and record players, the company innovated the “S 50” electric shaver in 1950.
On the other hand, rotary shavers are better for shaving select areas of the face and for trimming hair that grows in all different directions, since you use it in circular motions to nix all those errant hairs. Rotary shavers are better also for hair that is slightly longer, like three days’ length (though it’s recommended to try to shave every day or every other, for the easiest job). In addition to lubrication, cleaning your electric razor daily helps prolong its life. Depending on the model, foil shavers and trimmers are typically easier to clean than rotary shavers because hairs may be simply cleaned from the blade and foil with the included brush.
The solo Braun shavers do not come with an automatic cleaning and charging station, while the cc models (cc standing for Clean & Charge) do. In 2024, the vast majority of Braun’s electric shavers that are still in production are part of a so-called Series. Because of their shape, Philips Norelco razors need to be held in the cleaning base by a kind of stalk-like support, which means an extra step of inserting the razor.
They are very effective and catching and cutting hairs in fewer strokes and work particularly well when shaving dry plus a pre-shave lotion like the one from Speick. They are particularly impressive at cutting longer stubble (up to 5 days of growth) and are remarkably gentle to the skin, particularly the non-Pro models. But all of them are highly capable, comfortable and versatile electric shavers. Finally, we have what’s currently the flagship line of , namely the Series 9, Series 9 Pro and Series 9 PRO+. It’s a gentle and highly capable electric razor that handles longer stubble well (up to 4 days, maybe even more if your beard grows slowly). The cleaning station situation is just slightly more complicated in the case of the Series 8 since we have two generations of shavers.
I do however have to say again that the Series 5 50 is no Series 5 in the sense the old generation (with models like the 5090cc or 5040s) was. However, unless you need the beard-trimming attachments, I would rather get the Series 3 ProSkin instead. That station is actually compatible with the new Series 5 50, so you will be able to buy it separately and use it with a Series 5 50 regardless of the model.
As expected, we have -s (solo), -cs (solo with charging stand) and -cc (cleaning station) models. And in all honesty, that’s really all the flexing you need from a foil electric shaver. They are however identical performance-wise to the USA models and use the same shaving heads. The cost of ownership is also among the lowest with the reasonably-priced replacement heads that tend to last more compared to other entry-level foil razors from other brands. As a personal side note, I recommend getting a solo Series 3 (basic or ProSkin) since you’ll be saving some money and the shavers are easy to clean manually. Even though the Series 1 is underwhelming when it comes to shaving performance, I have to give props to Braun for including a hair trimmer on all models and also a protective cap.
The shaver reads and adapts to your beard density, removing hairs in every stroke for a smooth shave. At the touch of a button, the 5-in-1 SmartCare Center intelligently selects the necessary cleaning program, automatically charges and hygienically cleans, lubricates and dries your shaver. The redesigned Precision Switch locks the shaver’s head and enables you to easily capture tricky hair—offering unparalleled precision and control.
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). The powerful built-in Li-ion battery charges your shaver for up to 6 weeks of shaving without the need for a cable. There are a few things that separate the best electric razors from the pack. Here are the standards you should hold them to, with insights from the grooming experts I interviewed. For this story, I rounded up the top dozen devices based on research, reviews, reputation and conversations with my most trusted barber and grooming sources. I narrowed that list down to the eight most likely contenders, including the four distinct picks above.