How does the Braun Series 5 stack up against Series 7? Check out our Braun Series 5 vs 7 comparisons to see whether the new model is an upgrade or downgrade.
Braun Series 7 are highly prized shavers from Braun, while Series 5 is in the middle of the road of the brand’s lineups. Placed against each other, will Series 5 be eclipsed by its formidable brother?
Braun always brings significant or minor makeovers to their products, whether in the same series or price ranges. Let’s check out our Braun Series 5 vs 7 comparisons to see their differences before deciding which one suits you better.
Overview Of Braun Series 5 & 7
Braun Series 5
Braun Series 5 was launched to fill the gap between the entry-level Series 3 and the higher-end Series 7. While in the middle, their performance is virtually on par with Series 7.
Braun also released a new Series 5 in 2020. Despite the manufacturer’s effort to improve their products, this new launch is a major downgrade from the iteration we’ll discuss below.
Some of the most popular models from Braun Series 5:
Model | Use | Cleaning Station |
5040s | Wet and dry | No |
5030s | Dry only | No |
5070cc | Dry only | Yes |
5050cc | Dry only | Yes |
5090cc | Wet and dry/Dry only | Yes |
5190cc | Wet and dry/Dry only | Yes |
5195cc | Wet and dry/Dry only | Yes |
Braun Series 7
The Braun Series 7 was released in 2007 and quickly earned pride in the most recommended electric shaver lists. They have been one of the best-selling shavers of the brand for unparalleled shaving comfort, great build quality, and outstanding cleaning stations.
Some of the most popular models from Braun Series 7:
Model | Use | Cleaning Station |
760cc | Dry only | Yes |
790cc | Dry only | Yes |
740s | Wet and dry | No |
797cc | Wet and dry | Yes |
799cc | Wet and dry | Yes |
7865cc | Wet and dry | Yes |
Comparison Chart
Factors | Braun Series 5 | Braun Series 7 |
Including Shaving Elements | 3 | 4 |
Shaving Head | Pivoting Head | Pivoting Head |
Type Of Headlock | Multi headlock | Precision headlock |
Shaving Technology | Skin Sensitive Technology | Intelligent Sonic Technology |
Linear Motor Speed | 9,500 RPM | 10,000 RPM |
Shaving Time | 45 minutes | 50 minutes |
Wet/Dry | Yes | Yes |
Battery | Li-Ion | Li-Ion |
Battery Indicator | Hygiene, battery status, travel lock | Hygiene and battery status |
Display Screen | LED | LCD |
Quick Charge | 5 minutes | 5 minutes |
Cordless | Yes | Yes |
Cleaning/Charging Base | Yes | Yes |
Cleaning Station | 3-action alcohol-based station | 4-action alcohol-based station |
Accessories |
|
|
Rating | 4.7/5 | 5/5 |
Braun Series 5 Vs 7 – A Detailed Comparison
Build And Design
Appearance
When placed side by side, Series 5 sports a sleeker shape than Series 7. It’s slightly longer and smaller in the lower body. The stunning black hue paired with blue, red, black accents makes this model all the more aesthetically pleasing.
The look of Series 7 simply cannot stand out in the competition.
Shaving Elements
The shaving blade systems in Series 5 and 7 are fairly similar. They consist of two foils with a trimmer mechanism located in between. The foils are designed to cut hair at the base. Meanwhile, the trimmer catches hairs that are long and lie flat and pre-cut them for the foils to manage easily.
Besides, each cutting element in both shavers can swivel horizontally and vertically on its own. One thing to tell the difference between the two models is the presence of a skin guard in Series 7.
This feature ensures that the blades won’t cause undue friction while gliding across your skin. It means you can enjoy a more comfortable shave with the Braun series 7.
Shaving Head
Although the cassettes from the two series house almost identical cutting elements and are of virtually the same size, the outer frame of the Braun Series 7 is a little bit smaller than Braun Series 5. It not only gives the electric shaver a sleeker look but makes it easier to get around hard-to-reach areas like the jawline or Adam’s apple.
The pivoting heads of both series respond pretty well to even minute changes of facial contours. Yet, we find the series 7 has a slight edge in this aspect.
Specifically, the shaving heads of both shavers move in 8 directions. Yet, with Macro and Micro-Motions, the series 7 can easily embrace your facial contours and keep constant contact with the skin. The result is that you’ll get a closer shave with fewer passes (and a lower risk of irritation).
Both cutting heads can swivel back and forth. Alternatively, you can opt for the locking mechanism when working with areas that need high accuracy. Locking the two heads is quite different, though. The locking switch of Series 5 is located on the front of the body, whereas Series 7’s is on the side of the cutting head.
Trimmer
Both Series 5 and 7 come with a precision trimmer, but their placements are different.
The trimmer of Series 5 slides out from the back of the shaving head. As ergonomic as it might appear, the trimmer does not protrude from the shaver’s head and let you check how the trimming is going on.
This design can also be seen in the Braun 3 model. Nevertheless, when placed side by side, the series 5’s trimmer is noticeably shorter than the series 3’s, making the users find it more difficult to see how they’re doing with their sideburns or beard lines.
Unlike Series 5, the Braun Series 7 has its trimmer placed in front of and perpendicular to the shaver. This placement, unfortunately, does not resolve the problem that the previous models have. That said, we have a better experience trimming with this electric shaver than the series 5.
Trimmers from both series are above average. Yet, if you often trim mustache and sideburns, you may want something more efficient as those from Panasonic shavers.
Motor
The motor from Series 7 runs at 10,000 RPM, slightly faster than Series 5 (9,500 RPM).
In addition, you will experience a lot more vibration and noise shaving with Series 5, whereas the counterpart gives you a less trembling and quieter shave. Overall, shaving with either series is quite loud, which is a caveat of electric shavers.
Grip
Series 5 has a larger body but feels well-balanced in hand. The shavers from both series come with a textured plastic wrap for a more secure grip for both dry and wet shaving.
Display Screen
The LED screen of Braun Series 5 sits ergonomically in the facade of the shaver. So you can have a glance at the battery and hygiene status of the shaver.
On the other hand, the display screen of Series 7 is positioned at the bottom. Older models have quite a dim light, making it hard to read in low light conditions. Braun did make an effort to fix it, yet the display screen of this series is still subpar to their lower-end sibling.
Travel Lock
Unfortunately, the Braun series does not come with this function. You want to be careful carrying it on the go to avoid draining the battery. However, you can lock a Series 5 shaver when traveling by simply pressing and holding the switch for 3 seconds.
Shaving Performance
Closeness
Series 5 is on par with Series 7 in terms of shaving closeness. With almost the same cutting elements, shavers from both series can satisfy most men. They do not deliver the closest shave in the category of foil shavers but are still at the top of the class.
Shaving Long Hair
Series 7 performs better with long hair that lies flat or grows in various directions. The results are pretty good when it deals with two or three days of hair growth.
The model has 10,000 micro-pulsations with an efficient lift-and-cut mechanism. These pulsations help you get a closer shave off long, flat-lying hairs with fewer strokes. Series 5 is less efficient in this regard.
Comfort
While the closeness of the Braun shavers is not class-leading, they are more or less a benchmark of comfort. The shave heads remain cool throughout the grooming process, while many other competing models get hot within the first few minutes.
Series 7 has a slight edge, however. It provides a comfortable, smooth shave even when you press harder than normal.
The Sonic Technology assists the shaver in lifting and cutting more hair with one pass. Thus, you’ll need fewer strokes in a shave to appear just as dapper. Fewer strokes also mean less risk of skin irritation or razor burn, which makes the series 7 suitable for sensitive skin.
In addition, thanks to 10000 micro-pulsations per minute, Braun series 7 gives a gentler massage while shaving your hair than its brother. You’ll look forward to the shave rather than feeling dreadful about it with this Braun model.
Speed
Thanks to their more powerful motor, Series 7 shaves fairly faster at full capacity. But according to the skin area, it also allows you to adjust the motor’s power, thereby the speed.
There are three personalized modes: Sensitive, Normal, and Intense. Thus, you can always slow down a bit for more sensitive, irritation-prone areas.
Thus, Series 7 is a clear winner in this aspect with its shorter shaving time and speed flexibility.
Wet And Dry Use
Both Braun models are suitable for wet and dry shaving. While they give the same performance in the dry shave, you’ll likely enjoy more wet shaving with Series 5 shavers.
Battery
Series 5 provides 45 minutes of cordless shaving, while the battery capacity of Series 7 is improved to 50 minutes.
Charge
Both series take an hour to fully charge. They both have a quick charge solution when you’re pressed for time. It takes only 5 minutes for their batteries to take in enough juice for a single shave.
Cleaning And Maintenance
Manual Cleaning
Braun models have a special design of shaving heads called the cassette. The blades, foils, and other components seemingly form a unity, making it a chore to clean them manually.
Even if you clean the head thoroughly, there are still hair clippings and gel left inside. It is the case for both series, and that’s where automatic cleaning stations come in.
Automatic Cleaning Station
Cleaning stations of Series 7 can clean, dry, lubricate, and charge the electric razor. They are one of the most efficient and fastest cleaning systems on the market.
Series 5 shavers have bulkier cleaning stations. Braun also skips the drying feature for these models to bring down the cost. It means you have to wait for 3 to 4 hours for the shaver to dry thoroughly.
Accessories
The number of accessories is quite similar with both series. The main difference is that Series 7 comes with a travel case for convenient packing on the go.
Price
Series 5 shavers belong to the lower-end lineup, so they would cost less. Paying more for Series 7 means you’ll enjoy an improvement in the performance (though quite minor).
Quick Rundown Of Braun Series 5
Pros
- Great value for the money
- Comfortable shave
- Sleek look
- Close shave
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- Ideal for people usually on the go
Cons
- Quite noisy and produces more vibrations
- Hard to clean manually
Who Is Suitable?
Braun Series 5 represents a strong option for those looking for an affordable shaver without compromising much quality and performance.
Even with some shortcomings, this Braun shaver is nearly as good as Series 7. All in all, it is great value for money, and most budget-conscious people would be satisfied using it.
Quick Rundown Of Braun Series 7
Pros
- Close shave
- Gives a more comfortable shaving experience
- Suitable for sensitive skins
- Long battery life
- Outstanding cleaning station
- Quieter and less vibrating
Cons
- More expensive
- Dull appearance
Who Is Suitable?
Braun Series 7 is among the best choices for those looking for a comfortable shaving session. Since this model is gentle and forgiving, we highly recommend it for those with sensitive skin.
Although this shaver is not the best to groom long hair, it is adequate for people who shave every two or three days.
What Is The Best Overall?
Both Series 5 and 7 are two compelling shavers with certain shortcomings of their own. So, in the Braun Series 5 vs 7 competition, who is the winner?
If price steps out of the scene, Series 7 is the best overall since it wins more categories. Depending on your needs and priorities, you can consider their strengths and weaknesses to make the best decision.
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