Blue Ribbon Review: Braun Series 9 PRO Electric Foil Shaver

Efficiency, power, and thoughtful design—without ever being too much.

Why is the Braun Series 9 Pro one of my favorite grooming products of all time?

This top-shelf shaver delivers what I consider the gold standard of electric shaving: a finish so close it genuinely feels like you’ve used a manual razor, minus any irritation or razor burn. This powerful tool consistently delivered the smoothest, most thorough shave on a single pass. The difference is tangible: where other shavers leave me with stubble that demands attention by evening, the Series 9 Pro buys me an extra half-day or more between shaves, turning “5 o’clock shadow” into something closer to “midnight shadow.” I also appreciate that its foil head doesn’t go for the “more is more” approach here: There are two foil shavers paired with two crossbar lifting elements, all protected by a skin guard bar that creates just enough distance for comfort without sacrificing closeness.

I take noticeably fewer passes with each shave when I use this Braun device, and that lockable pivot head is your best friend, whether you need it to pivot whichever way OR stay fixed as you glide across the skin.

BRAUN SERIES 9 SHAVER
BUY IT ON AMAZON: PRO // PRO+B

You’ll feel and hear the auto-sensor adjustments happening in real time. Again, that precision lock switch comes in handy to help create clean lines, and the hovering pop-up trimmer gives you clear visibility while detailing. Yes, other devices boast better battery life, but when the Braun delivers nearly five hours of runtime and the closest shave in the category (if not the fastest, too), that decreased battery life is less notable.

This is simply the best electric razor you can buy if you want results that rival a traditional blade. And—spoiler alert—I awarded it the best overall shaver (foil OR rotary) in our electric shavers roundup on YouTube, hence why it’s winning this Blue Ribbon award:

Braun Series 9 PRO Electric Razor Key Stats:

Blades: 5 shaving elements including ProLift trimmer
Motor: 10,000 oscillations/minute, 40,000 cutting actions/minute
Head System: 40-degree flexible head with lock
Battery: 60 minutes runtime, 1-hour charge, 5-minute quick charge
Waterproof: Yes
Price Range: $300-$500 depending on accessories

Check out more of our best foil and rotary razor picks below, and learn how to choose the best electric razor.

The Best Foil Shavers for Men

The Best Rotary Shavers for Men

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Adam Hurly

Adam Hurly has covered grooming since 2013, and for GQ since 2016. He has written for just about every other men’s publication, too, with bylines found in Men’s Journal, SPY, Forbes, Robb Report, Esquire, Men’s Fitness, Byrdie, Bloomberg, Runner’s Journal, Popular Mechanics, Birchbox Man, nearly every international GQ, and more. Adam is a South Dakota native and University of Kansas graduate. He has lived in San Francisco, New York, Berlin, and now Lisbon.