So, you are thinking about the Braun Series 9 PRO+. It is a big purchase. I get it. With numerous electric shavers available, selecting the right one can be overwhelming. You hear words like “sonic technology,” “AutoSense,” and “5-element head.” What does it all mean for your morning shave?
I spent several weeks with this shaver. I did not just use it once. I tested it every way I could. I used it on one day of stubble. I used it on a full week’s beard. I tried it dry at my bathroom sink. I tried it wet in the shower with my favorite gel.
My goal here is straightforward: to inform you, in plain English, whether this high-end shaver is the right tool for your face, your routine, and your budget.
Is it the best electric shaver you can buy right now? For many people, the answer is yes. It is incredibly comfortable, smart, and effective. But it is not a perfect match for everyone. Its high price is a serious consideration, and its strengths are tailored to a specific kind of shaver. Let us break it all down together, step by step.
- The Good Stuff:
Very Comfortable. The best for sensitive skin. It glides. No pulling.
Smart Tech. It feels your beard. It changes power. Your chin gets more power. Your neck gets less.
Great for Daily Shaves. If you shave every 1-3 days, you will love it.
Fast and close. Great Extras. The cleaning station is great. The travel case has a battery.
- The Not-So-Good:
Very Costly. It is a big investment.
More Costs Later. You need new heads every 18 months. Cleaning fluid costs money.
Hard with Long Beards. One week of hair? It can work. But it is slow.
Real Shaving Tests (In Short)
I used this shaver in real life.
Test 1: The Daily Shave (1-3 Days of Hair).
This is its best job. It is fast and gentle. My skin felt fine after. No redness. If you shave often, you will love this.
Test 2: The Weekend Test (5-7 Days of Hair).
I let my beard grow for a week. The PRO+ can do it. But it took two tries to get smooth. For very long beards, another shaver type may be faster.
My tip: Use the ProTrimmer first. Shorten the long hair. Then use the foil head. It works better.
Test 3: Wet or Dry?
You can use both ways. I like dry for speed. But wet with gel was great. More comfy. Easy to clean under the tap.
First Impressions and Feel: Out of the Box
The unboxing experience feels premium. What you find inside depends heavily on the exact model number you buy (like the 9599cc, 9675cc, or 9577cc).
All PRO+ models share the core shaver with the new ProTrimmer, but the accessories vary. Some come with just a charger and a travel pouch.
The more expensive “cc” models include the fantastic cleaning and charging station.
Picking up the shaver, it feels solid and well-made. It has a good, substantial weight in your hand—not too heavy, not too light.
The body is a mix of matte and glossy plastic with metal accents. The back has a large rubberized section that gives you a confident, non-slip grip, even if your hands are wet. It just feels like a quality tool designed to last.
You will notice the large, prominent head and the crisp LED display on the front. It shows your battery level and, helpfully, tells you when the cutting head needs to be replaced.
On the back, the new ProTrimmer waits with a satisfying click. From the start, it is clear this is a complex, sophisticated device.
The Heart of the Machine: How It Actually Works
This is not a simple razor with a spinning blade. Think of it more like a mini computer designed for your face. The magic happens through a combination of brilliant hardware and smart software.
How the Shaver Works
- This is not a simple razor. It is smart. Here is how it works.
- The 5-Part Head. The head has five jobs.
- Two thin foils cut short hair.
- A gold ProLift blade grabs flat hairs.
- A silver Direct & Cut trimmer cuts long hair.
- A SkinGuard protects your skin.
- The whole head moves. It turns to follow your face. You can lock it in place. This helps under your nose.
The Smart Brain
This is the secret. The shaver has a smart motor. It feels how thick your beard is. It checks 160 times per second. Thick hair on your chin? More power. Sensitive neck? Less power. You do nothing. It just works.
The Big Upgrade: The ProTrimmer
The trimmer on the back is new. It is made of strong steel. It is wider and sharper. I used it for my sideburns. It is a real tool now. Not an afterthought.
1. The 5-Element Shaving Head: A Team of Specialists
This is where the shaver touches your face. It is not one piece; it is a team of five specialized components working together inside what Braun calls the 96M shaving head cassette.
2. Two Ultra-Thin OptiFoil Elements: These are the outer foils.
They are incredibly thin sheets of metal with microscopic holes. Their job is to catch very short hairs and cut them off right at the skin level. They are also your first layer of skin protection.
3. The Gold ProLift Blade: Sitting in the middle, this looks like a tiny gold comb.
Its job is to find flat-lying hairs—those stubborn ones that grow parallel to your skin—and gently lift them up so the foils can slice them off. This is key for a close shave on the neck.
4. The Silver Direct & Cut Trimmer: This is a straight, sharp blade.
It targets longer, unruly hairs that the foils might miss on the first pass. It lines them up and cuts them cleanly.
5. The SkinGuard: This is a simple metal bar, but it is crucial.
It sits in front of the foils and gently stretches your skin ever so slightly. This creates a smoother surface for the foils to glide over and helps prevent nicks and irritation.
This entire team is mounted on a truly flexible head. It does not just tilt back and forth. It pivots and swivels in 10 different directions. It floats over the curves of your cheekbones, your jawline, and the tricky hollows of your neck.
You can also use a switch on the front to lock the head at a fixed angle. This is perfect for precise work under your nose or for creating a sharp line at your sideburns.
Real-World Shaving Tests: My Week with the PRO+
Reading specs is one thing. Using the shaver on your own face is another. Here is exactly how it performed in different, common situations.
Test 1: The Daily Driver (Shaving 1-3 Days of Growth)
This is the Series 9 PRO+’s absolute sweet spot. If you shave regularly, this machine will make you happy. My morning routine became faster and more pleasant. The shaver glides effortlessly. You do not need to press it into your skin. Just let the weight of the shaver do the work and guide it along.
Because it is so gentle, I could do multiple passes over tricky areas (like my Adam’s apple) without any irritation. The result was a consistently close, comfortable shave that left my skin feeling healthy, not scraped raw. If your main goal is a fast, irritation-free daily shave, this shaver is almost unbeatable.
Test 2: The Weekend Challenge (Conquering 5-7 Days of Growth)
I wanted to test its limits, so I let my beard grow for a full week. The PRO+ can handle it, but this is where you see its design priorities. It is built for comfort and efficiency on shorter hair.
The long beard, it required a systematic approach. Going straight in with the foil head would have been slow. The better method was to use the ProTrimmer first. I used it without any guard to quickly reduce the bulk of the week-long growth down to a short stubble. This took just a minute.
Then, I followed up with the foil head. This two-step process worked beautifully. The shaver efficiently cleaned up the remaining stubble, giving me a smooth finish. While it handled the job, if you regularly shave off very long beards, a heavy-duty rotary shaver might be faster as a single tool.
Test 3: Wet Shave vs. Dry Shave
The Series 9 PRO+ is fully waterproof, so you have options. For the ultimate speed, a dry shave is fantastic. It is quick, clean, and you can shave anywhere.
For the ultimate in comfort, I highly recommend trying a wet shave. Using a good shaving gel or cream in the shower was a luxurious experience. The lubricated surface allowed the shaver to glide even more smoothly, resulting in absolutely zero irritation. It also makes cleaning the shaver head ridiculously easy—you just rinse it under the shower stream.
The Extra Gear: Clean and Charge
- The shaver is great. The extras make it better.
- The 6-in-1 SmartCare Center.
- This cleaning station is fantastic. Put the shaver in. It cleans it. It dries it. It charges it. It uses a special fluid. The fluid kills germs. Your shaver feels new every day. Want an easy life? Get a model with this station.
The PowerCase (In Premium Kits)
This accessory is designed for the frequent traveler. It looks like a sleek, hard-shell sunglasses case. Inside, however, is a powerful battery. When you are on the road, you place your shaver into the PowerCase, and it charges it wirelessly. A full case can give your shaver several weeks’ worth of extra charges.
This means you can travel for months without ever needing to find an outlet and plug in your shaver’s cord. It eliminates battery anxiety completely.
For anyone who spends a lot of time in hotels, this is not just a nice-to-have; it is a game-changing convenience.
The Real Cost
The box price is high. But the real cost is more.
- The Shaver: Starts near $400. Kits with the station cost more.
- New Heads: Change the head every 18 months. A new head costs $40 to $70.
- Cleaning Fluid: If you have the station, you need new fluid. Change it every two months.
- The Initial Purchase: This is your highest cost. You are paying for German engineering, top-tier materials, and years of research and development.
- Replacement Cutting Heads: Braun recommends changing the entire shaving head cassette (the 96M head) approximately every 18 months. This is crucial. As the foils and blades wear down, your shave becomes less close and less comfortable. A new head costs between $40 and $70. This is a necessary maintenance cost to keep your shaver performing at its best.
- Cleaning Cartridges: If you own the SmartCare Center, you will need to buy new cleaning fluid cartridges. Braun suggests replacing the cartridge every two months with daily use. This is an ongoing expense for the convenience and hygiene that the station provides.
- The Value of Your Time: This is harder to quantify, but real. The speed of a good shave and the lack of irritation save you minutes every day and frustration overall. For a busy person, that time and comfort have real value.
How to Take Care of It?
Easy care tips are here:
- Clean it often. Rinse the head under hot water after you use it. Tap it dry.
- Use the station. If you have the SmartCare Center, use it. It keeps your shaver perfect.
- Change the head. Do not wait. Change the shaving head every year and a half.
Who Should NOT Buy This Shaver?
This shaver is amazing. But not for all.
- On a Budget? This is a luxury. If money is tight, look at the Braun Series 7. It costs less and is still great.
- Shave Once a Week? If you only shave a full beard every 7 days, a different shaver type may be better.
- Need the Closest Shave? The PRO+ is very close. But if you must have the closest ever, look at the Panasonic Arc6. It cuts closer, but can feel harsh.
Two Excellent Alternatives to Consider
The Series 9 PRO+ sits at the top, but the “best” shaver is the one that best fits you. Here are two other superb shavers that excel in different areas.
1. For Raw Cutting Power and Ultimate Closeness:
If you have a very tough, dense, coarse beard and your number one goal is to mow it down as close to the skin as possible, the Panasonic Arc5 is a legendary choice. Its linear motor is one of the most powerful in the world of electric shaving. It feels incredibly fast and efficient on thick hair. The trade-off is that all that power and speed can sometimes feel less forgiving on very sensitive skin compared to the gentle, adaptive glide of the Braun.
2. For Sensitive Skin on a Sensible Budget:
If you love everything about the Braun approach—the comfort, the smart motor, the quality—but the Series 9 price gives you pause, the Braun Series 7 is your answer. It shares the same core AutoSense technology that adjusts power to your beard. It is famously gentle and fantastic for daily shaves. While it may not have the absolute latest head design or the fancy ProTrimmer, it delivers about 90% of the Series 9 comfort and performance at a significantly lower price. It is one of the best value-for-money shavers in the Braun lineup.
Keeping It Running: Simple, Essential Care Tips
A shaver this good deserves proper care. Luckily, it is not complicated.
- Clean It After Every Use: This is the single most important thing. Immediately after shaving, pop off the head and rinse it thoroughly under warm running water.
- Tap out the excess water and let it air dry. This prevents gunk from building up and keeps the blades sharp.
- Use the SmartCare Center Religiously: If you have it, use it after every shave. It is the best thing you can do for the longevity and hygiene of your shaver.
- Oil Is Key (Even Without the Station): Once a month, after rinsing, put a single tiny drop of clipper oil on the foils and blades.
- Run the shaver for a few seconds to spread it. This prevents rust and keeps everything cutting smoothly.
- Do Not Wait to Replace the Head: You will notice when the shave starts to pull more or feel less close.
- Do not suffer through it! Changing the head every 12-18 months makes a night-and-day difference. It feels like getting a brand new shaver.
Questions You Might Have
The shave is almost the same. The PRO+ has a better ProTrimmer. Some PRO+ models also have a massage head.
If you hate cleaning, yes. It is easy. It keeps your shaver clean and working great. You can live without it. But it is nice.
About 60 minutes of shaving. For a 3-minute daily shave, that is weeks. A 5-minute quick charge gives you power for one shave.
Yes. It is one of the best. The gentle foils, the skin guard, and the smart motor all stop irritation.
The Final Verdict: Who Is This Shaver For?
After all this testing, the conclusion is clear. The Braun Series 9 PRO+ is not just a shaver; it is the current pinnacle of comfortable, intelligent, daily electric shaving. It is engineered to remove hair in the most skin-friendly way possible.
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Buy the Braun Series 9 PRO+ if:
- You have sensitive skin.
- You shave every day or two.
- You want a smart shaver.
- You like comfort and a close shave.
Think about another shaver if:
- Your budget is small (look at the Braun Series 7).
- You often shave off a week of beard.
- You need the closest shave and have tough skin (look at Panasonic).
For the daily shaver who sees grooming as part of a refined routine, not a battle with his face, the Braun Series 9 PRO+ is worth every penny. It transforms a mundane task into a quick, effective, and genuinely pleasant experience. It is an investment in your comfort and your time, delivering a smart, smooth, and deeply satisfying shave, day after day.
