Braun Series 7 Makes Shaving Simpler and Faster (But Expensive)
We hate shaving. It’s annoying, boring, and requires enough concentration that you can’t do anything else and need to be fairly awake. At least, with a normal razor blade it does. Like many men, our reviewers have gone back and forth between electric rotary, foil, and cartridge blade razors. Each offers advantages over the others, and none of them is perfect.
The Braun Series 7 790cc comes close though. First, we should warn you- it’s expensive. You’d have to shave a lot, and for a long time, with a regular bladed razor to make up the difference in price. And this one is fairly large and bulky- not too bad, really, but certainly bigger, heavier, and harder to travel with than a regular razor. We’ve taken a look at another electric razor before, and worried about the cost then, at half the price of today’s top-end model. Both offer LCD screens, in fact, which are fun if a bit unnecessary. Both even offer units with a “bath”, here called the “Clean and Renew” system, which automatically cleans, lubricates, dries, and charges the device- all at the same time. OK, not quite at the same time, but as needed and without you needing to think about it.
The 790cc shows it’s value here most clearly. Whereas other systems that we’ve tried have been painful- requiring careful insertion, checking blinking lights, worrying about battery life- the Braun Series 7 has done the best job of minimizing those hassles. The battery lasts 50 minutes, but we doubt you’ll need to use it nearly that long- it’s also faster to shave with than any other razor we’ve seen or tried. One caveat: it still doesn’t perform well with longer hair, like sideburns, and the long-hair trimmer is mediocre. But, for daily use, it gets a close shave, painlessly, and quickly- and that’s worth quite a bit. Every razor seems to brag about technology, perhaps because guys are easily seduced by such claims, but this razor at least lives up the spec sheet. The pulsonic technology is similar, but a bit better and less annoying, than those found in other razors, allowing a smooth and comfortable shave. It adjusts to 100-240v automatically, and we liked the two-year warranty as well.
The blades do seem to last quite a while when cleaned in the bath regularly, staying sharp and cutting easily. Doing so every day, though, means that you’ll likely run through a cleaning fluid cartridge each month, adding a fair bit to your overall cost (about $5-$8 per cartridge). Gadget geeks should love this, and for others it may be simply a question of time and comfort versus cost. Guys, you have to shave, and you don’t have to love it- but you might as well enjoy a fast and painless shave with the Series 7 790cc. Sticker shock at over $200, but worth the investment, and it gets better (as most razors do) after a week or two of adjustment.
