Braun Series 9 Pro+ review: Is this the closest thing to a perfect electric shave?

Welcome to T3's review of the Braun Series 9 Pro+, a flagship electric foil-based shaver for all types of facial hair.

Electric shavers save a huge amount of time first thing in the morning while you're rushing to get out of the house. There's no need for the painstakingly slow rigmarole of slapping shaving products all over your face while being tied to the sink, because you can quite literally be shaving while you read your morning emails, sort your clothes out for the day or make a cup of tea.

We've been so impressed by the Braun Series 9 Pro+'s overall performance that it's shot straight to the top of the list in our guide to the best electric shavers. Here's the full lowdown for your perusal.

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Braun Series 9 Pro+ review: price and availability

The Braun Series 9 Pro+ sits firmly in the premium end of the electric shaver market, though there is a bewildering number of model variants and bundles to choose from. The entry-level package as reviewed here includes the shaver, charging cable and travel case, while moving up the range adds Braun’s excellent SmartCare cleaning station, PowerCase charging case, replacement cleaning cartridges and even beard trimmer and body grooming bundles.

Expect to pay around £240 for a basic UK model and upwards of £700 for the full monty set. In the UK, the Series 9 Pro+ is widely available from Braun, Currys, Boots, John Lewis & Partners and Amazon.

In the USA, the Series 9 Pro+ is stocked by Braun ($399.99), Amazon ($319) and Walmart ($459), depending on the specification and accessories included.

Braun Series 9 Pro+ review: design and features

It’s no easy task shopping for an electric shaver. For starters, there are about six main brands on the UK market – Braun, Philips, Panasonic, Remington, Manscaped and Wahl – and each one of those brands lists a bewildering range of models in a wide variety of variants. Take the Braun range for instance. I stopped counting when I reached over 50 different models in various combos and price bands.

Now, I can’t speak for Remington, Manscaped, Panasonic or Wahl but I have tested models from Philips and Braun, and while Philips produces a sterling range of three-headed rotary shavers, I always find myself gravitating towards the Braun catalogue.

Visually, the Series 9 Pro+ is instantly recognisable as a Braun flagship model, with a clean, functional, utilitarian design that prioritises practicality over aesthetics. While there are some subtle cosmetic tweaks compared to previous Series 9 models and even the Series 7, the overall shape and ergonomics remain largely unchanged. And who cares, since Braun has spent years refining a design that just works.

Construction quality is expectedly high, with a housing that combines rigid plastics with textured rubber panels on the rear. These rubber strips provide plenty of grip, even when used with wet soapy hands. At just over 200g (204g to be precise), the Series 9 Pro+ feels chunky in the hand without becoming cumbersome during longer grooming sessions. The body, meanwhile, is fully waterproof, allowing for both dry shaving and use with shaving foam or gel.

Cleaning under a running tap is also very straightforward – simply press the sides of the head and it pops off to expose the inner foil and the connectors on the main body. The product comes with a brush to help release any trapped hair dust that inevitably always remains even while the shaver is being rinsed under a tap.

Not one to shy away from using a raft of promotional buzzwords to help sell this shaver’s various features to the masses, Braun has pulled out all the stops for this particular model. Let’s kick off with the 5+1 head, which combines five synchronised cutting elements along with a rear-mounted, flip-up surgical-grade stainless steel Precision ProTrimmer for detailed trimming of sideburns and beards.

According to the blurb, each cutting element performs a specific role. The two OptiFoil cutters capture short stubble close to the skin, the titanium-coated ProLift blade is designed to lift flattened hairs before cutting, the Direct&Cut element deals with hairs growing in different directions and the SkinGuard bar helps reduce skin contact and irritation.

The Series 9 Pro+ also features a ProSensoAdapt system which allegedly measures beard density 300 times a second, automatically adjusting motor output to maintain optimal cutting performance. I can’t say I’ve noticed any change in motor speed during my time with it but then I haven’t got a heavy beard to deal with. But, hey, it’s good to know it’s there.

Crucially, all parts of the Series 9 Pro+’s foil system move independently like a car’s suspension. Couple this with a shaving head that pivots through 40 degrees and you have a shaver that maintains superb contact across the changing contours of the jawline and neck without excessive wrist movement. Nevertheless, if you prefer no movement from the head itself, you can simply lock it off and choose from five different static positions up to a limit of 20 degrees each way.

Heading to the battery department, the Series 9 Pro+’s lithium-ion battery provides around 60 minutes of cordless operation, while a five-minute quick charge delivers enough power for at least one full shave if you've forgotten to recharge it.

A clear LED display indicates battery and foil status plus travel lock activation. However, I personally would have much preferred a USB-C charging method to save having to remember to pack the bespoke charging plinth when going away for a long period.

Despite the Braun’s raft of tantalising features, not every design decision here is quite on the money. For instance, the integrated flip-up trimmer’s cutter extends from the rear of the grip rather than sitting flush within the body. If you naturally grip the shaver high up near the head (something I tend to do), the protruding trimmer’s cutter presses into the inside of the index finger, making the otherwise comfortable handle feel, er, less comfortable.

Likewise, because this model is also available with a cleaning station, there are two small but noticeable steel charging studs that you can also feel if holding the shaver near the head. I hasten to add that if held the way the designers intended with the thumb on the textured front plate, you won’t have any of these tactile issues.

On the plus side, I do love the smooth spring action on the rear trimmer which is activated by touching a tiny button and moving the thumb up and down to engage and disengage the cutter.

Braun Series 9 Pro+ review: performance

The Braun Series 9 Pro+ delivers exactly what you'd expect from a flagship foil shaver – an exceptionally close, remarkably comfortable shave that almost rivals the feel of a traditional wet razor.

I've been using the Pro+ for the past few weeks and have been exceedingly impressed by how well it has handled my middle-aged visage. I don't have the thickest of daily hair growth, specifically around the lower neck, but the Pro+'s two OptiFoil cutters and clever ProLift trimmer have successfully captured neck hairs growing in different directions without requiring endless passes over the same area. Yes, the shaver struggled a bit during a recent heatwave when the humidity index was sky high but then that's the case with all electric shavers in damp and sticky atmospheric conditions.

I've been especially impressed by the flexibility of this model's shaving head which pivots 40 degrees, allowing the suspended cutting elements to follow every contour of my slim, angular bone structure like an Olympic skier at a mogul event.

For me, comfort is where the Series 9 Pro+ really shines. Even when used daily, it has remained exceptionally gentle, with no pulling or snagging and positively no post-shave redness. In fact, I have felt zero skin irritation since the first day of using it.

I've mostly used this model dry for time-saving effectiveness but it also provides a fast, fuss-free and extremely smooth morning shave when paired with shaving foam or gel, thanks in no small part to its fully waterproof design.

The integrated precision trimmer, too, has also performed well when tidying up sideburns and I can imagine it's just as efficient at defining a beard line or trimming around a moustache. However, as I've mentioned above, I do wish the sharp cutter head of the trimmer didn't protrude quite so much when it's not in use since I can feel it against the inside of my forefinger when shaving. It's not a deal breaker because the unit is supposed to be held lower down the grip where it is exceedingly comfy. That said, I still find myself subconsciously holding it nearer the foil head because that's the way I've been holding my older Series 7 model. But, hey, that’s my problem.

Minor anomalies aside, the Braun Series 9 Pro+ is a truly outstanding product, combining speed, comfort and consistency with a level of refinement that makes shaving feel less like a chore. For most users, it's about as close as an electric shave currently gets to the smoothness of a razor blade while being significantly kinder to the skin. Also, the battery lasts for weeks on a single charge.

Braun Series 9 Pro+ review: verdict

The Braun Series 9 Pro+ is a stupendous electric shaver that justifies its flagship status with exceptional shaving performance and impressive comfort. This one delivers consistently close results with minimal irritation, making it one of the finest foil shavers I've ever used.

Its only ergonomic flaw is the protruding rear precision trimmer which can dig into the index finger if you naturally grip the shaver high up the body. But fortunately this minor design oversight is easy to forgive when the shaving results are this darn good. If outright performance is your priority, I think the Series 9 Pro+ is one of the very best electric shavers currently on the market.