Braun or Philips – who makes the better shaver?

Lorenz Keller

21.10.2025

Translation: Patrik Stainbrook

Pictures: Lorenz Keller

They’re bulky and expensive, razor-sharp yet gentle on the skin. Which shaver has the edge in a comparison between the top models from Braun and Philips?

I’m old school and prefer wet shaving. I usually shave with a safety razor and shaving cream. I only use electric shavers in exceptional cases, such as for testing purposes. Over the last two months, however, I’ve swapped my safety razor, virtually unchanged since the 19th century, for two state-of-the-art shavers.

Spoiler: the two top models from Braun and Philips haven’t quite converted me, I’m still loyal to wet shaving. Nevertheless, during this test, the electric shavers proved how convenient and enjoyable they are to use on a daily basis. But who has the edge? Braun with the Shaver 9 Pro+ or Philips with the i9000?

I compared the two top models from our best-selling brands and awarded one to five points in each category. The focus was on shaving and handling in everyday use; accessories and extras played a secondary role in this comparison.

Price: expensive top models

You can get the cheapest shavers from Braun and Philips for as little as 40 to 50 francs. The two products I tested are of a completely different calibre. Both cost over 400 francs, but come with accessories such as a cleaning station.

Braun Series 9 Pro+: at time of testing, the top model cost around 415 francs in our store. The styling tool is expensive, but it’s at least a little cheaper than the competitor’s model. It’s made in Germany.
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Philips Shaver Series i9000 Prestige Ultra: costing almost 500 francs at time of testing, the Philips is one of the most expensive shavers in the range. It’s made in the Netherlands.
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Shaving results: clean, but not perfect

Anyone used to wet shaving will be disappointed by electric shavers at first. What used to be a clean shave in one stroke now takes two to three passes – at least with heavy beard growth like mine. The top candidates blow more basic models, such as the travel shavers I tested, out of the water.

But both the Braun and the Philips failed to consistently remove all the stubble from my neck. Hair kept growing longer in certain places, which I then had to remove with a wet shaver. This is only a problem with beard hairs that lie flat.

Braun Series 9: this model is a foil shaver. This means several blades move back and forth in a straight line under a thin, perforated metal foil. It’s good at cutting straight edges, but it takes me a little longer to really get rid of all the stubble.
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Philips i9000: the Philips rotary shaver makes quick work of larger surfaces. The manufacturer uses three revolving circular blades that individually adapt to the contours of your face. The drawback is I can’t cut precise lines quite as easily with it, for instance at the transition to the hair on my head (which admittedly is less of a problem for me…).
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Chin, neck and the rest: flexibility is key

The areas of the face around the nose, mouth and chin as well as the neck are critical when shaving.

Braun Series 9: although the angle of the shaving head is ultra-adaptive, the wide blades make it trickier for me to reach the sides of my chin. On average, I need one more pass over my chin than with the Philips model.
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Philips i9000: the Dutch manufacturer’s shaver comes into its own in hard-to-reach areas of the face. Each of the round blades adapts individually to the contours. This is a surefire way to get rid of almost all my stubble without any major contortions. But the Philips isn’t perfect either. Neither of the test candidates, as already mentioned, do a good job of cutting hair growing in different directions on my neck.
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Comfort: audible differences

I have quite sensitive skin. I find dry shaving to be an unpleasant experience. Fortunately, I can use both appliances on wet skin or even with foam. The latter makes too much of a mess on the shaving head for me, so I simply wash my face with warm water before shaving and don’t dry myself. Still, both models are among the gentlest electric shavers I’ve tested so far.

Braun Series 9: the Braun causes more skin irritation, because I tend to have to go over my skin a few more times to get the same results. The blades also feel harder and blunter. However, what really bothers me is the volume. I measured 76 decibels in normal mode. That’s as loud as a vacuum cleaner or street noise – and verging on unpleasant for me.
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Philips i9000: the Philips is audibly quieter. I measured values below 70 decibels, which doesn’t bother me during my daily shave. This model is much gentler on the skin. The shaving head feels comfortably muted.
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Battery: long runtime – fortunately

I have to criticise the manufacturers for their choice of charging port. Both Braun and Philips use a proprietary connector instead of the universal USB-C. I’m deducting points from both of them for this.

Braun Series 9: the model from Germany not only has its own connector, the charger cable is also permanently connected to the charger. So you always have to carry everything about with you. I measured 57 minutes in the battery runtime test. This is less than Philips, but is enough so you don’t have to rush. After all, a shave doesn’t take more than five minutes.
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Philips i9000: I measured 73 minutes for the i9000. This puts the shaver head and shoulders above its direct competition. The manufacturer went for a different type of connection. Although the connector is only compatible with Philips, the cable can be connected to any charger with a USB-A port. It’s just a shame I have to buy this myself.
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Cleaning: quick and easy

Not only can you wash both shavers under the tap, you can also clean them with a cleaning solution. So this chore is a breeze.

Braun Series 9: it even comes with a whole cleaning station. You can load the shaver into it and hygienically clean it with an alcohol-based cleaning fluid. For this, you need to buy pods that last around two months each. A pack containing a year’s supply of six costs just under 28 francs. If you only want to shake out or wash off the stubble, you can remove the shaving head completely with two clicks.
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Verdict: a narrow victory for Philips

Let’s move on to the rating: according to my calculations, the Braun Series 9 scores 18 points, the Philips i9000 19 points. A narrow victory for the manufacturer from the Netherlands, and one which aligns with my gut feeling. If I had to choose between them, I’d shave with the Philips every day.

But it really comes down to personal preference. The small difference in points shows you can’t go wrong with the Braun. And perhaps a foil shaver like this will suit the contours of your face and your beard growth better than mine. Or maybe the travel charger case, included with the Braun, is important to you.

I prefer the Philips, because it’s gentler on the skin and I can get a clean shave quickly and easily. If I don’t wet my face, I do have some dry patches afterwards, but less than with any other electric shaver I’ve tested so far. I still won’t be switching though. I find wet shavers more enjoyable to use and more thorough. I’m happy to put up with the extra minute or two they require.

Lorenz Keller

Senior Editor

Lorenz.Keller@digitecgalaxus.ch

Gadgets are my passion - whether you need them for the home office, for the household, for sport and pleasure or for the smart home. Or, of course, for the big hobby next to the family, namely fishing.

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