Braun Series 5 Review – The EasyClean Affordable Generation Shaver
Braun Series 5 Electric Shaver
The Braun Series 5 of this generation is known as the EasyClean. It is ergonomically friendly, and I found it performs well for an affordable shaver. While it is not in the same performance area as the top-end shavers, the Series 5 has shaved very well for me.
Pros
Good build quality and design
Ergonomically friendly
It provides a close and comfortable shave for a shaver at this price
As Braun states, it is easy to clean
Flexible movement of the shaving elements helps the shaver move along the contours of the face
It deserves a thumbs up for the balance of performance and cost
Cons
Leftover patches are frequently found that need more shaving
No cleaning dock or station with this model
The Braun Series 5 EasyClean is an electric shaver from a series of 1 – 9 (minus 2) manufactured by the popular German company–Braun.
It comes in at below the mid range, in terms of price, among Braun shavers.
The 5020cs, 5018s, 5035s, 5049cs, 5050cs are the US models, and the 50-B1200s, 50-W4650cs, 50-M4500cs , 50-W1500s , 50-B4650cs are the EU/UK models. They’re the exact same shaver, and there are likely more model numbers, but that covers more than enough. The different numbers correlate with color, the country they are sold in, and the accessories or attachments the razor is sold with.
The above model numbers are all fundamentally the same shaver with the same design, cutting power, and ability.
Update 2024 (USA) – The S5 got an upgrade (or change)–only in the USA. These models have been given a turbo mode feature which enables us to press a button below the power button to change teh power mode from standard to turbo. Everything else is the same with the shaver.
The model numbers for the turbo models have been changed from 50** to 51** (example, 5018s to 5118s). See the Series 5 Turbo Model review here if you are from the USA.
This model reviewed here is touted as the EasyClean Braun Series 5, which shaves wet or dry. I’ve added it to the annual best electric shavers roundup for men based on being an affordable shaver– and the best Braun shavers roundup.
In this review, I will run through the important features, results after testing it out while shaving wet and dry, and trying it out as a head shaver (although it’s primarily a facial shaver). I shall also mention who the Braun Series 5 is best suited for.
Description & Features
Unboxed, a buyer gets the shaver, manual, charging power lead, trimmer, and a small cleaning-up brush with the 5018S (50-B1200S) model I purchased. The standard 5 Series comes with no attachments (bar the trimmer), and others have various attachments.
Build Quality and Ergonomics
Very good ergonomics and the slimline design with hand grips make the Series 5 very comfortable. The most fragile part of this shaver and all other electric shavers is the head section with the cutters; otherwise, the whole unit feels solid.
This model has a fixed shaving head which is not as flexible while shaving as the higher-priced flexible head models. Buyers are looking to pay more for shavers with flexible heads than for this model (the Series 6 starts off the flex head movement feature among Braun shavers, the S7, S8, and S9).
Some users may not appreciate having to attach and detach the trimmer. Many shavers have the trimmer built into the body that can be released for use, and that can be very useful, requiring no removal of the blade head. However, if you do not require a trimmer very often or you don’t mind attaching it every time, you’ll be pleased it’s not attached.
Definitely designed very well. It is a perfect fit for most users’ hands, and there should be no slipping with the grip provided.
The S5 has a very slim design compared to shavers like the S8 and S9, and my guess is part of that is because of not having a built-in trimmer on the back. Not having that trimmer has its benefits and the S5 is a better fit in the hand than the higher-end Braun models.
Shaving Elements
The cutting system uses two outer foils and a center trimmer. The two outer foils handle the bulk of the shaving and provide the closeness, while the trimmer targets longer, flat-lying hairs (those damn tricky stubborn hairs).
These three elements move independently, allowing the shaving head to maintain close contact with the skin along various contours.
Other shavers ike the Arc 5 and S9 Pro have more shaving elements, but I find three are sufficient if they are adequately powered.
Charging and Battery
I cannot vouch for the longevity of battery life as I usually use, test, and review shavers, razors, and other products over a monthly period. I have not yet found any complaints about the longevity of battery life, which is encouraging.
The battery seems to take less than an hour to charge, and I get a lot of shaves out of each charge. The indicator lets a user know when the battery is running low and when it is fully charged.
Countries not using the two-prong EU plug sockets will need to use an EU two-prong adapter to plug the charger lead into the shaver when buying the 50-B1200s EU model. This does not apply to US and Canada models for users within the US and Canada.
LED Display
I must admit to having difficulty finding what all the LEDs were supposed to indicate. They can not be seen without being lit up, the manual was unclear, and Braun’s website gave very little information. I did work it all out eventually.
The indicators are as follows: Dots in the center for charging level, padlock for travel lock (press and hold to lock and unlock), red foil indicator for when the shaver head needs replacing, plug shape warning light to indicate a lead is attached when pressing the on button, and water droplets sign when the unit is placed in a smart charge and cleaning accessory that the shaver does not come with.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Cleaning is a feature of this shaver that should stand out, hence why Braun calls it EasyClean (opening in the neck). It is very easy to clean and can be washed with warm water without removing the blades while shaving with it, but after using it, it still requires cleaning properly. I still remove the blades to make sure it’s cleaned very well.
The opening in the neck and system of allowing water to flush through is a kind of a gimmick, but it does help when rinsing teh shaver, especially when shaving and using soap or shaving creams. In my experience, it just won’t clean it thoroughly enough alone (i.e., without taking the cassette off).
Other Braun shavers come with a cleaning and charging station, which this series 5 does not. There is nothing wrong with simplicity and paying less, I guess!
Blades only need replacing every 18 months, which is good enough for most of us and keeps costs low after the initial purchase. Replacement cassettes are part number 53B.
The blade head clips on and off easily, but not as easily as push-in types like on the S8 and S9 shavers.
Attachments and Accessories
The 5018s (50-B1200s) come with a trimmer, while others come with a trimmer attachment, body groomer attachment, and charging stand.
I only bought the model with teh trimmer as I know these attachments are never a great buy and underperform based on my needs and expectations.
Some models come with additional combs to use with the trimmer.
These attachments are easily clipped on and off, just like the blade head mentioned above.
It’s quite odd that we dont get offered a travel case, not even a very simple fabric pouch. I guess that is all about reducing costs on their end and on our end.
Shaving Performance
As usual, I spent about a month using and testing out the S5 electric shaver.
Note: I have been back to the S5 many times since first using this range of S5 shavers for other reviews and videos.
I used it for wet shaving in the shower and out, with and without shaving foam, and dry shaving. I also tested out how well it shaved my head, even though it is primarily a face shaver.
Part of the test also involved using the shaver on various amounts of hair growth (i.e. daily, every 2 – 3 – and 4 days). With most electric shavers, including this Braun, up to 2 or 3 days is best, but I do like to push them a little at first for review purposes.
4 days of growth – This was way too much growth for the shaver to deal with, and I ended up with many patches and stray hairs. I could get the job done eventually, but it took a lot of shaving. Of course, the best way to shave with any electric razor is to get the hair trimmed down as close as possible with a trimmer or clippers first, so no real surprises there that it was a lot of work.
2 – 3 days – This was the ideal range and a lot easier, well –two days was best. I had to spend a few minutes shaving, but it was easy, and there were fewer patches of hair to pick up on after.
Daily – I am not a fan of shaving the neck daily as it can cause irritation. This shaver was very good at not giving me neck irritation grief, which really surprised me. I only did three consecutive days of shaving with the S5, and I did not risk more, as I could see my neck was starting to complain.
How did it perform when shaving your head? As long as the hair was only a few millimeters long (best at hair clipper without a comb length) and no more than 2 – 3 days of growth, it gave a close shave and was reasonably easy to use, even at the back of the head.
It’s not quite as easy as a shaver like the Skull Shaver PitBull Gold. The PitBull is a shaver designed for head shaving; however, the Braun Series 5 has its pros over these shavers designed specifically for head shaving (i.e., better at facial shaving).
Wet shaving with foam did feel slightly more comfortable (slight), but I don’t like the residue that gets left inside electric shavers after using foam, soaps, and shaving creams. I do wonder if these may lessen the longevity of blades/cutters. On top of that, electrics are all about convenience and no mess, and if I am slapping on a cream or soap, I am getting a manual razor out.
How close was the shave? Not quite as close as using a razor, but fairly close, with just the odd patches of stubble left that I could remove when going over the area more and with added pressure.
The longer flat-lying hairs were an issue, and the shaver found it hard to pick them up. This is why it works best without too much growth (i.e., less than 3 days).
Noise level? It’s fairly quiet and does not vibrate too much (it does vibrate though). This may be due to the motor being less powerful than other shavers I have used.
Bottom Line – A surprisingly close shave that performs well daily or every two to three days. Good for a shaver within its price range and does the job OK, with effort, though.
Value for Money
Compared to high-end and very low-end electric shavers, the Braun Series 5 EasyClean is priced very well and affordable as a below mid-range shaver, costing approx $69.99+ US, £64.99+UK, and €89.99+ EU.
Prices may vary. The more basic (fewer attachments) a buyer purchases the series 5 with –the cheaper it will be.
Cassette replacements, cost around $34.99 US, £24.99 UK, and €27.99 EU.
Final Thoughts – Verdict (Who’s It For?)
This could be a better-performing shaver; however, for an electric shaver within its mid-price range, it’s decent and has a lot of positives going for it. The main issue has been performance, which can improve when sticking an extra $50 or so toward the purchase.
It would suit guys who shave every two days or daily and don’t really have coarse hair. Gents who also shave their heads (and facial shave with an electric) every 2 or 3 days may find it a good purchase.
It’s a shaver that’s just above budget-friendly and is better than much cheaper models. As mentioned above, it’s a good shaver, but not great.
If a buyer can use any of the attachments for trimming hair, then go for that model; otherwise, they would be best suited to buy the cheapest with fewer attachments, like the Braun Series 5 5018s (50-B1200S UK/EU) model. As I have mentioned above, these attachments are not great in my experience, and dedicated trimmers or groomers work much better.
