Braun Series 5 vs Philips Series 5000 – Comparison – Which Is Best?

If you’re trying to choose between the Braun Series 5 and the Philips Series 5000, you’re not alone. These two shavers are a fair match-up, and I recently took the time to compare them thoroughly—head-to-head.

In this article, I’ll walk you through the main differences in design, features, and performance. I also did a side-by-side shave test, which gave me some additional insights. Hopefully, by the end of this, you’ll you’ll have a clearer idea of which one suits you better.

Let’s Compare What’s Most Important 

Let’s compare the design, ergonomics, grip, blade heads, charging, and other factors, as well as shaving performance. I will also mention approximate costs.

Design & Ergonomics

The Braun Series 5 feels noticeably slimmer than the Philips 5000. It features a rubberized grip on the back, and it fits snugly in the hand—especially around the top, where your index finger naturally rests. That kind of ergonomic fit makes a big difference in maneuverability, at least in my experience.

The Philips, on the other hand, is a bit bulkier and square in shape, although it does taper toward the bottom. The rubberized grip on the back area is still excellent, but it doesn’t fit as snugly in the hand as the Braun.

I found myself appreciating the slimmer design of the Braun when moving around tighter spots on my face after giving the shavers my full attention during the shaving comparison.

The S5 is a smaller shaver, as shown in the next photo below.

Shaver Heads and Blades

Here’s where the two shavers really diverge, with the obvious main difference between these being that the 5000 is a rotary style, and the S5 is a foil-type shaver.

The Philips Series 5000 is a rotary shaver with a 360° flex head, and three angular blade heads that move independently. These features make it easier to maintain contact with our skin over tricky areas like the chin and jawline. The flex and adaptability are great if you’ve got more pronounced facial contours.

The Braun Series 5 uses a foil system with three shaving elements: two foil cutters and a middle trimmer for longer hairs. The individual elements flex independently, but the whole head is fixed in place—it doesn’t pivot like the Philips. You’d need to upgrade to the Braun Series 6 or 7 for improved head movement and flex.

Replacement Foils/Cutters: The cassette for the S5 can last up to 18 months, and the shaver heads for the S5000 last between 12 and 24 months, so there is not much difference between these.

Cleaning & Maintenance

Both shavers are relatively easy to clean.

The Braun Series 5 features a design they call “EasyClean.” There’s a gap in the top section of the head that allows water to run through easily, so you can rinse it under a tap without needing to remove the head (supposedly, but not always the case).

The Philips is just as simple, maybe even simpler. It features a push-button release that opens the head for quick rinsing. This head does not separate from the body of the shaver, which is quite convenient when drying the shaver after cleaning.

One added step with the Philips, though—you’ll want to deep clean the rotary cutters about once a month. You pop them out individually and clean out any stubborn debris and gummed-up stuff.

One more thing: the Philips 5000 works with their Quick Clean Pod system, which is ideal for those who prefer semi-automatic cleaning (I review the Quick Clean Pod separately here). The Braun Series 5 does not come with the Braun cleaning station option, which makes sense, given its name and design, “EasyClean,” unlike the Braun Series 6 and Series 7.

Battery Life & Sound Level

Battery life is good on both, but the S5000 offers slightly longer runtime.

• Braun Series 5: 50 minutes standard or 40 minutes in turbo mode
• Philips 5000: 60 minutes

As for noise levels—this might matter more to some than others—but the Philips S5000 is significantly quieter than the Braun S5. It’s a noticeable difference, as you can hear in the video below (click ‘unmute’ to hear).

Detail Trimmer

Now, this is one of those features that can be a dealbreaker for some people. The Philips 5000 features a built-in slide and flip-out trimmer that allows for quick use on sideburns or detailed work. Super convenient.

The Braun Series 5 doesn’t have a built-in trimmer. You have to remove the shaving head and attach a separate trimmer head, which isn’t ideal if you’re someone who uses a trimmer regularly. Personally, I don’t mind attaching the trimmer—it’s not a dealbreaker for me—but I get why some guys would prefer the convenience of an integrated option.

Other Features/Aspects

Other features and aspects of these shavers are minor and not what I would consider deal breakers, which include accessories, travel locks, and LED indicators. Both have more than adequate LED indicators to show us how much charge we have left, etc.

Both also feature a built-in travel lock, which is a useful addition.

Side-by-Side Shaving Test

I shaved half my face with each shaver—Braun on the right, Philips on the left. I kept the Braun on standard mode (no turbo) to keep the test fair, especially since the turbo version isn’t available everywhere.

Here’s what I found:

• Comfort: Philips wins here. It glided smoothly along my skin, especially around the jawline and chin. The Braun struggled a bit, crossing the jawline because of the fixed head.
• Maneuverability: Braun had the edge thanks to its slimmer design. But once I got used to the bulkier Philips, it didn’t bother me much.
• Leftover Hairs: Both left a few patches, but the Braun left more, especially around the sideburns. The S5000 also clears up much quicker, which really matters.
• Speed: Surprisingly, the Philips felt a bit quicker. I had expected the Braun to be faster, but that wasn’t the case in real use.
• Post-Shave Feel: I waited about 20 minutes and felt no irritation from either shaver. That’s a good sign.
• Closeness: Pretty much neck and neck. Both did a solid job, even on my neck area, where I struggle to shave against the grain, which can be a bit tricky.

Having fewer leftover patches and comfort is at the top of the list of requirements. The S5000 definitely wins on that front.

As I have quite coarse hair that also tends to grow in various directions, I found the S5000 to be the best overall. However, guys with finer hair growth, which is generally easier to shave, will have a better time with the S5 than I do.

I find that the S5 works better on shorter hair, such as shaving every two days, rather than longer hair with three or four days of growth. Keeping the stubble minimal makes a big difference.

I have wet-shaved with both shavers using a traditional shaving cream whipped up into a lather. Neither made any positive difference to my shaving experience; however, both can be used to wet shave if needed with your favorite shaving lubricant.

Price Comparison

Please note that prices for electric shavers are subject to change, making it challenging to provide an exact figure. I can provide a current comparison, though!

Philips S5000 – $88 – £100 – €110

Braun S5 – $70 – £65 – €77

It’s generally quite challenging to find a cheaper S5000 model outside of the USA, and they mostly come with more than the basic accessories. This hikes the prices up.

The older Philips S5000 models are priced similarly to the Braun S5, and some of these models are still available. However, they are not quite the same shavers (not to say they are not efficient shavers).

If this comparison were based on price matching, then at the moment, the Philips 3000 Series and older 5000 Series models are more directly comparable.

Final Thoughts – Which One to Choose?

If I had to choose just one of these shavers to keep, I’d opt for the Philips Series 5000—and not by a small margin, either. The comfort and the way it keeps consistent contact with the skin really sold it for me (plus how it leaves fewer leftovers and clears up more easily). The Braun is still a solid shaver, but in this comparison, it just didn’t perform quite as well overall.

If you’re looking for a slimmer design or don’t mind swapping in an attachment for trimming, the Braun might still appeal to you. But for an all-round comfortable, quieter, and slightly more effective shave, I’d recommend the Philips.

Keep in mind that my skin and hair type are primarily suited for rotary-style shavers. Other guys know they get along best with foil-type shavers, so it’s best to know what type suits you best.

Another thing to keep in mind is the price difference; the Philips S5000 generally costs more than the S5.

Do let me know if you’ve any questions about these shavers—or if you’ve used either of them and would like to share your experience. Drop a comment below—I always reply.

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