Braun Series 7 vs 9 : which is better ?

I’m totally aware of how being reluctant between the Braun Series 9 and Series 7 gives headaches. I’ve always been telling myself: “Is the Braun Series 9 worth the upgrade, or more specifically, is it worth ditching the classic Braun 7?” Here arises the “Braun Series 7 vs 9 dilemma.”

A hard-and-fast rule that people often implement is opting mindlessly for the shaver that adopts higher specs. Unluckily, that doesn’t turn out so well when comparing the Braun Series 7 to the Series 9. 

So, this article would’ve been impossible to write if I hadn’t put the Series 7 and Series 9 under some rigorous testing to give an honest, unbiased verdict on this Series 7 vs 9 battle.

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Let’s Take Out The Stubble First

No, not that real stubble—I mean the variants. Every Braun electric shaver has a myriad of variants, hence the word “Series” in every Braun-branded shaver. The Series 7 offers a wide range of variants, like 790cc, 740cc, 740s, 760cc, 720s, and 740s. 

On the other hand, the Series 9 electric shaver boasts some models, like 9370cc, 3930s, 9340s, 9090cc, and 9095cc.

Why Are Variants Important To Consider?

Primarily because you’ll run into substantial differences between all these variants. For instance, in the Braun Series 7 realm, the 790cc shaver includes a charging and cleaning center, unlike the 740s shaver. To further highlight the gap between the variants, the 720s electric shaver doesn’t support wet & dry shaving, as well as charging stations.

A pro tip here is that you can employ when ditching variants is to look at the final letters of the shaver model—if it’s “s” (stands for solo), then charging and cleaning stations aren’t included in the package. If it’s “cc” (stands for charging and cleaning), then you’ll enjoy the hands-off automatic cleaning.

At the other end of the spectrum, the 9370cc electric shaver supports wet & dry shaving, while the 9090cc shaver of the Braun Series 9 is capable of dry shaving only.

Get Ready For The Comparison

Picking a low-end Braun Series 7 model to compete with the high-end Series 9 for a comparison would be blatantly unfair. So, we’ll be shedding light on the Braun Series 7 790cc and the Braun Series 9730cc.

These two variants will join us in our shaver final showdown since they’re the best-selling in their respective categories, and we had them undergo our hands-on tests for our assessment of the best clean shave.

The Short Answer

Buy The Braun Series 7 If:

• You’re on a budget
• Have a sensitive skin
• You’re concerned about cheap razor head replacements

Buy The Braun Series 9 If:

• You’re willing to spend more for an upgrade
• You want to trim more hair per stroke
• Your skin is very sensitive

Both of them is typical option for shaving for elderly man.

Braun Series 7 Vs Series 9: How Do They Come Head-To-Head?

Our comparison will hinge upon 6 critical aspects that users often stumble upon when their facial hair coexists with an electric shaver. It’s worth noting that no shaver will rise victorious from this shaving competition. Instead, I’ll share some fair-minded thoughts based on a real-life test of both the Braun Series 7 and Series 9.

1. Shaving Elements

Since the Braun Series 7 and Series 9 are foil shavers, mentioning the shaving elements is crucial to drawing a picture of how these models compare. The shaving elements here correspond to the blade system incorporated in each one. These blades underneath are veiled by foils that initiate the first step for obtaining a clean shave.

The Braun Series 7 790cc shaver features a 4-blade setup. At the heart of this lineup lies the ActiveLift trimmer, specializing in shaving flat-lying hairs. Then comes Braun’s 2 OptiFoils to shave less daunting hair and a Skin Guard to neutralize any irritation that may arise from the friction with your skin.

These 4 shaving elements have been the standard for any flagship shaver until the Braun Series 9 unraveled its 5-blade system with 2 OptiFoil elements, a Direct & Cut trimmer for omnidirectional hairs, a Skin Guard for after-shave smoothening, and the dauntless HyperLift trimmer, which captures flat-lying hairs. 

You can argue that the Series 9 is capable of delivering a cleaner shave since it has more shaving elements, and that’s right. Based on the test, this shaver has removed more hairs per stroke than the Series 7. However, note that the addition of the Direct & Cut trimmer may cause irritations for users with super sensitive skin.

In the long run, you’ll notice that there’s no competence gap between the blade systems in both shavers, especially that the extra titanium-plated HyperLift trimmer in the Series 9 is basically a rebranded version of the ActiveLift system found in the Series 7. 

You’ll get the same close shave with both shavers in normal circumstances since the OptiFoils remain unchanged in number. Yet, the Direct & Cutting element in the Series 9 shaver is only reserved for cutting hairs, unlike the OptiFoils in the Series 7, which only serve closeness instead of trimming. 

Winner: The Braun Series 9 models

2. Shaving Experience & Performance

At first glance, you may deem the Braun Series 9 more competent, given its linear motor speed of 40,000 CPM compared to 30,000 CPM in the Braun Series 7. Yet, the difference between both is almost negligible in real-life applications, and the reason is plain simple.

Both the Series 7 790cc and the Series 9 rely on the SyncroSonic technology that emits 10,000  micro-vibrations to help pick up the traditional pace of the linear motor speed. Overall, you’ll feel there’s a slight edge to the Series 9 performance because of the extra HyperLift trimmer rather than the motor.

Regarding the intensity of the shaving process, the Series 7 790cc features 5 different shaving modes to conduct a clean shave, the fastest being the Turbo mode and the slowest being the Sensitive mode. 

Since the Series 7 is exceptionally gentle on the skin, you won’t probably use the 5 personalized modes and will let the foil shaver adjust the power according to the shaving scenario. But, how is that possible?

The department where the Braun Series 7 vs Series 9 battle reaches equilibrium is when you know that the Series 7 supports the same AutoSense technology found in the Series 9. This smart sensor determines how dense your beard is and adjusts the performance 13 times per second to provide the optimal power needed for the shaving session.

If you’re all about spec sheets, the Series 9 definitely wins. Yet, when it comes to real-life usage, there’s that very subtle difference that you won’t even notice if you’re just concerned about getting a clean shave.

Winner: Tie

3. Ergonomics

After a thorough use of both shavers, I’ve found that the key to excellent ergonomics lies in both the grip and the elasticity of the shaving head. So, let’s take a look at both.

3.1 Grip

There’s no doubt that the Series 7 has paved the way for a standard design that most manufacturers in the shaving industry decided to follow. It boasts the protruding shaving head and the sleek profile of the grip. Back in the day, the grip was as wide as the razor head (like in the Series 3), a really terrible idea in 2020! 

At first glance, you’ll notice that the Series 7 is considerably slimmer than the Series 9, and this is the truth. They’re both reinforced with rubberized back for a snug grip so that they don’t slip mid-shave. While the Series 9 has some bulk compared to the Series 7, it still maintains a balanced weight distributed across your handspan.

Although the materials remain untouched in both shavers, the looks have undergone some modifications in the Series 9. You won’t find the eye-inducing glossy finishes of some Series 9 models in the Series 7 790cc. Yet, the Series 9 still uses the same plastic that Braun uses in the Series 7. I expected the incorporation of a fancier material in this high-end shaver.

At the end of the day, the grip’s comfort and the overall durability remain unnoticeable in both the Series 7 and the Series 9.

Winner: Tie

3.2 Shaving Head

The shaving head is where the Series 7 and Series 9 part ways in the 7 vs 9 comparison. First off, both shaving heads have the foils and trimmers afloat when you apply pressure to your skin, providing a shave as close as 0.05mm. Moreover, the Series 7 has a rear locking mechanism that holds the pivoting head in place while shaving.

The only difference between the locking mechanism on both shavers is that the Series 9 can swivel back and forth in 10-degree increments when the locking feature is activated, unlike the Series 7, where it remains stationary.

The Series 9 has the pivoting head much bulkier than the Series 7 because of the extra Direct&Cut trimmer, and this contour flex head adapts to your contours in 10 different directions, which is exceptionally important when you want a neat shave across the jawline. On the other hand, the Series 7’s razor head moves in 8 different directions.

The difference in flexing is only obvious to the trained eye. As you probably guessed, the Series 7’s compact razor head is more capable with the upper lip and other inaccessible areas, whereas the bulky Series 9 moves more fluidly, yet makes it hard for beginners to reach for the problem areas. So, the unanimous winner title goes to the Series 9.

Winner: the Braun Series 9

Some users find the lack of wet & dry operation a dealbreaker in the realm of shavers. Being the easiest section of our Series 7 vs Braun Series 9 comparison, both shavers luckily support wet & dry operation. But, there’s something you should consider before jumping onto your bathtub for an efficient shave.

The term “waterproof” doesn’t necessarily imply that these shavers are 100% impervious to water. Don’t forget about the power plug that could get sabotaged in the shower since it’s not entirely sealed. Water-resistance refers to their ability to be cleaned over the sink or to withstand minimal water splashes.

That said, you can use both the Series 7 and 9 with gel or foam. However, make sure you rinse the razor heads before connecting them to their charging and cleaning stations since leftover foam may potentially damage the cleaning station.

Winner: Tie

5. Charging And Cleaning Station

Both the Series 7 and Series 9 come with compliant charging and cleaning stations. The cleaning station uses Braun’s alcohol-based Clean&Renew cartridges (included with both packages) for renovating the shaver and brushing out the stubble. Moreover, the station charges the electric shaver simultaneously while cleaning for a 50-minute shave on a full charge.

The Series 7’s cleaning station has a more detailed user interface with some led display for the suggested cleaning levels, and you can insert the Clean&Renew cartridge inside the station compartment and keep it in there for future cleaning processes. This station cleans stubble, lubricates the blades, and sanitizes the foils.

I found the cleaning station of the Series 9 much easier to use with just one button that automatically determines the cleaning scenario beforehand. In addition to what the Series 7’s station does, this one employs an internal fan to dry the shaver in no time, something that the Series 7 can’t do.

Note that you shouldn’t use the cleaning station after every shave. I’d recommend manually cleaning the shavers over the sink with mild water to wipe off dead skin particles and meticulous stubble.

Winner: the Braun Series 9 models

6. Post-Purchase Replacements

The cost of ownership can make or break an electric shaver. Typically, Braun recommends that we replace the razor heads every 18 months in case of extensive use, and I find that quite fair. For me, the Series 7’s razor head lasted up to 20 months until I noticed a degradation in performance.

In this department, the Series 7 undoubtedly crashes the Series 9 when it comes to expenses. Since the Series 9 features dual trimmers in the middle, the replacements will definitely turn out to be pricey.

Foil shavers use what we call cassettes, which are replacement heads for the foils that hide the blade system underneath. The Series 7 uses the 70s cassettes, compatible with the 790cc model, whereas the Series 9 utilizes the 92s cassettes.

When you replace the shaver head after the 18-month threshold, you’ll notice a 25% increase in performance compared to the worn-out foils. That’s why I deem the cost of ownership to be the most paramount aspect in the long term.

Winner: the Braun Series 7

Afterthoughts On The Braun Series 7 Vs 9

It’s now evident that we can monitor the improvements that were molded into the form factor of the Series 9 compared to the previous generation. I really liked that Braun decided to move the pop-up precision trimmer to the back in the Series 9. The placement of the Series 7’s trimmer on the front made me feel cramped when I wanted to even out my sideburns.

Likewise, the razor head’s locking mechanism shifted places in the Series 9 to the front, allowing for an effortless slide to switch back and forth between the ergonomic mode and the incremental stationary mode, which isn’t found in the Series 7.

If I were to point out to a valuable upgrade, it’d definitely be the premium display in the Series 9 instead of the bulky indicators of battery status and hygiene in the Series 7. Moreover, I’m glad that the 9’s cleaning station features an inbuilt fan for straightforward drying.

Many key features remain intact in both models, including the AutoSense technology, the Intelligent Sonic technology, the Li-Ion battery capacity, and most importantly, the Active Cooling system, which prevents the blades underneath from heating the foils up to avoid potential razor burns.

On the other hand, we can also notice that some features were wiped off from existence during the transition between the Series 7 and 9. The most noticeable one is the +/- buttons for adjusting the shaving intensity. However, both shavers still support the AutoSense technology that manages power according to the beard’s density. 

Another thing that I miss in the Series 9 is the indicators of the cleaning station. The Series 7’s cleaning station has some 4 onboard LEDs on the right that give you an idea about how clean the shaver is in the form of drops.

For instance, the 3-drop indicator denotes that the shaver needs a thorough cleaning process. On the right, you get 3 LEDs that give you an idea about the longevity of the Clean&Renew solution, which typically lasts for 30 cleaning sessions.

Conclusion

After all, the substantial difference between the Braun Series 7 and 9 has nothing to do with performance or power. Yes, I know that there is a 10,000 CPM increase in the linear motor speed, but it’s almost imperceptible in real-life usage. Note that I chose a winner for every round based on my personal testing. However, I provided bias-free information for you to bring the Braun Series 7 vs 9 battle to a decisive victory for either shaver based on your shaving needs and budget.