Electric Shaver Comparison

Braun Series 9 Pro vs Philips Norelco S9000 Prestige – Differences & Comparison

It may seem odd to compare the Braun Series 9 Pro and Norelco Philips S9000 Prestige shavers because of the first major difference. The first big difference is the Series 9 Pro is a foil electric shaver, and the S9000 Prestige is a rotary-style shaver!

This comparison will also include the latest Series 9 Pro+. As it does not differ very much and the update had no bearing on its performance at all, I will refer to the S9 Pro in this article, and you’ll know I am covering the S9 Pro and Pro+.

However, based on both of these being the top of the range within the brands Braun and Philips, and they both share somewhat similar price tags, I wanted to provide a comparison.

The other aspect that puts these two together in a comparison article is they both introduced new methods of charging the shavers (more about that shortly). However, we are going to compare the main aspects of these shavers; the accessories and charging methods are in addition to what is most important about an electric shaver.

Some of the most important aspects I compare here are the build quality, ergonomics, comfort while shaving, maneuverability, and closeness of shave – the end result. Things like LED indicators, accessories, and new charging methods follow these important factors.

Foil vs Rotary Shaver — Quick Overview

Most of you will already know the differences between a rotary and foil shaver and maybe even the pros and cons of each. However, it is worth a quick recap for those who know and extremely useful for those who don’t know to understand the basics between them.

As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words……..

The visual differences are very easy to see. What’s most important is how they differ in the manner they are used.

Foil Shaver (Braun Series 9 Pro)

The foil shaver has blades enclosed between the mesh foils where most of the cutting happens. The shaver is used in a backward and forwards or up and down movement only when shaving. Many foil shavers, including the Braun Series 9 Pro, have more cutting elements than just the foil cutters, with one usually helping to pick up flat-lying hairs to cut.

It has been known for some time that foil shavers usually give a closer shave than a rotary. However, this is slight when comparing a similar shaver in a price range and barely noticeable unless a user is shaving with something like a Panasonic Arc 5 (it’s aggressive, though, and may not have the comfort factor, but it gets close).

Rotary Shaver (Philips S9000 Prestige)

Rotary shavers may have anything from 2 – 6 rotary blades on a shaver head, but most, like the S9000 Pro, most of them have three blades. The hair is cut similarly to the foil shaver, but instead of the hair being cut beneath the foils, the hair is cut underneath the circular blade heads.

The big difference with the rotary shaver is it is used circularly and has much better maneuverability than a foil shaver over the various contours of the face.

Many users have a preference for one type than the other, and personal preference seems to play a big part in what type a person prefers to use and buy.

Let’s Compare What’s Most Important

Let’s compare the build quality, ergonomics, comfort while shaving, maneuverability, and closeness of shave – ‘the end result’. And, we will also look at the accessories and cost.

Feature/Aspect	Series 9 Pro	Prestige S9000
Build Quality	9/10	8/10
Ergonomics	8/10	9/10
Cutting Power	10/10	10/10
Maneuverability	7.8/10	9/10
Shaving Comfort	10/10	10/10
Closeness of Shave	9/10	9/10
Charging	9/10	9/10
LED Indicators	9/10	10/10
Accessories	9/10	7/10
Trimmer	5/10	6/10
Replacement Blades	18 months	2 years
Quietest	7/10	10/10
Price Comparison	Approx: $250 USD, £230, €244	Approx: $260 USD, £250, €250

Build Quality

I found the Philips S9000 did have an overly plastic feel to it while the Series 9 Pro feels more solid. The rubberized sides of the Pro could be contributing to making it feel more solid.

The Pro wins on build quality for me.

Ergonomics

The Prestige S9000 is slimmer than the Braun 9, which makes it a bit easier to hold and handle. They both equally have good ergonomics and rubberized sides, which help users hold the shaver firmly.

I like the S9000 just a tad bit more because of the slim design.

Cutting Power

Both the S9000 and 9 Pro have high cutting ability and power. Most of the top-end electric razors promote how many cutting actions per minute they have, and Philips states the S9000 has 150,000 cutting actions per minute while Braun states the 9 Pro has 40’000.

We can’t just compare both of these apples to apples, as one shaver is foil and the other is rotary. If we compare with the same type of shaver, we can see one has more than another, but not against foil and rotary as the blades and head are completely different.

What we can compare is the cutting power in performance while using them, which is a much better marker overall, anyway. After all, the most important thing is how they shave.

In my experience, both of them cut extremely well and a person could easily think the Philips Prestige has no power at all because it is so quiet, but that’s not the case, it has plenty of power.

There is no clear winner in terms of cutting power, although a buyer could lean more toward the quieter motor of the Prestige.

Head Movement and Flexibility

Both of these shavers offer very good flexibility in the blades and good head movement. These are all factors that help a shaver to move along the various contours of a person’s face easily.

The Prestige does offer better movement because of not only having the different movements of each blade but the head moves 360 degrees. The head on the Braun 9 Pro moves backward and forwards and can also lock, but it just doesn’t offer quite as much movement with the contours of the face as the Philips.

Maneuverability

As I have mentioned earlier – one of the biggest pros of rotary shaver is its maneuverability. The S9000 definitely does have the edge over the Pro, but the Pro has the edge over the S9000 when it comes to shaving longer straight strokes.

The Series 9 Pro is also slightly bulkier, especially in terms of the head design. Shaving under the nose area is easier with a rotary shaver like the S9000.

Shaving Comfort

Both of these are the most comfortable electric shavers I have used and tested. The Braun Series 9 Pro in the test and review surprised me with how comfortable it was to shave with such power and closeness.

There is too little between them or nothing to say one is better than the other. Both get top marks based on comparing with other shavers.

Closeness of Shave

Again, there is nothing between the two shavers. Both shave as close as an electric shaver can at this moment in time.

They are not quite as close as razors, including a safety razor, but these electric shavers are narrowing the gap.

Charging

Braun Series 9 Pro: A fully charged battery takes up to an hour to be charged, although users can give the shaver a quick 5-minute charge for 1 or 2 shaves. A full charge will provide users with about 60 minutes of cordless shaving time.

Prestige S9000: There are two types of shaver models within the Prestige S9000 in terms of charging. One type comes with a QI charging pad, and the other has a normal wall plug charger.

Everyone will not favor the charging pad and the time it takes to charge (up to 3 hours). This is the longest any shaver takes to charge. The model with the QI charging pad can also be used after a quick 20-minute charge, but it cannot be used without the QI pad.

The Prestige S9000 that comes without the QI pad takes an hour for a full charge and provides a user with 60 minutes of runtime. A quick charge of 5 minutes can also provide a shave.

If we ignore the prestige that comes with the QI pad, both shavers will be the same. Keep in mind the S9 Pro and Pro+ can also come with the PowerCase charger (a type fo power bank ravel case).

Other Aspects of the Shavers to Compare

That’s the most important aspects covered which are very much deal breakers when choosing a shaver for many buyers. Now, we can take a look at other aspects that may not affect the choice of shaver so much.

LED Indicators

I don’t know about you but I do like a few LED indicators. Of course, they are not deal breakers, but they are convenient to have, especially for knowing an accurate battery charge left.

Personally, I prefer a percentage charging indicator that the Prestige has rather than numbered. Both have got everything they need and more.

Accessories

Most electric shavers come with accessories, and shavers like the Braun Series 9 Pro and S9000 Prestige will have various model numbers that come with or without accessories. Here are the accessories that may come with the shaver:

Note: None of the accessories improve a shaver’s performance and end result shave. You can clean and charge both these shavers easily without the accessories, but some users find them convenient.

Series 9 Pro: The PowerCase is a nice touch by Braun and the first of its kind. It is like having a power bank that gives a user a quick boost charge when needed while traveling. The cleaning and charging stand also became a very useful and convenient accessory, which grew on me after I first thought it was only a gimmick.

S9000 Prestige: Philips was the first to introduce a charging pad like the QI Pad, and it is very useful and convenient to lay the shaver on top of the pad when shaving is finished without worrying about charging. The head can be taken off the S9000, and the various attachments can be used, which some users find useful; however, they are not necessary and are not as good as a dedicated appliance (e.g., a beard trimmer).

If I were to choose the models that include the main accessories (which I did), I lean more towards favoring the Braun Series 9 Pro. I just find the cleaning and charge station and the PowerCase a better choice than the QI Pad and attachments.

Trimmer

The trimmer aspect of these shavers is quite different. The Braun 9 Pro has its trimmer attached to the body, while the Prestige has an attachable trimmer.

Electric shaver trimmers are always a sore subject for me as they rarely perform. The Prestige attachable trimmer is slightly better than the 9 Pro; however, a user needs to attach and detach the trimmer from the Prestige, which is a bit more work for the user.

I will continue to touch up the sideburns with a razor for now. Thanks. Actually, Braun improved the detail trimmer (now called a Pro Trimmer) and it is an improvement that I found was better and useful.

Which Shaver Is The Quietest

This is an easy one. The S9000 is so quiet it is hard to believe it can cut through stubble and beard hair so easily and quickly.

The Series 9 Pro is quite a loud shaver as expected from a foil razor with that much cutting action going on.

The Technical Stuff

The specs on the sales pages and in the instruction manual tell us about various features like Precision Nano blades, Beard Sensitivity Sensors, and other features. Both the S9000 Prestige and Braun Series 9 Pro have a built-in beard adaption type sensor and share high-quality blades or foils.

The only significant extra feature that stands out between the two is the Prestige has three adjustable power modes. I have only ever found the need to use the Prestige shaver in high mode, and I could easily do without that feature, but others may find it useful.

Price Comparison

Now, this is an important consideration. How much is this gonna all cost?

• Prestige: Approx: $260 USD, £250 GBP, and €250 Euros. *
• Series 9 Pro: Approx: $250 USD, £230 GBP, and €244 Euros. *

*Prices will vary based on the accessories included, and some models with more accessories cost more than the above prices.

Replacement Blades

• Prestige: Approx: $59.99 USD, £59.99 GBP, and €46 Euros. *
• Series 9 Pro: Approx: $59.99 USD, £49.99 GBP, and €50 Euros. *

*The Prestige blades last for up to 2 years, and the Braun 9 Pro blades last for up to 18 months. The Prestige has the edge over the Braun and gives users an extra 6 months without changing the blades.

Both shavers have replacement blades that are similar in cost and quite pricey. However, they do have a decent lifespan.

Final Thoughts – Which Shaver Is Best?

Both of the shavers are great, perform well, and provide a comfortable and close shave. There is not much between them on the important matters and end result.

Choosing between the two could come down to personal preference of preferring a foil razor over a rotary style razor that’s top of the range. Both of these outperform (in my experience) previous models made by Braun and Philips.

Somebody who has taken to having a cleaning and charge station with shavers might lean toward the Braun Series 9 Pro more, while another person who rates maneuverability highly might go for the Norelco Philips S9000 Prestige.

Whichever shaver a buyer chooses, they are going to get one of the best on the market. One thing they may need to do is decide which model number to choose from that series and the accessories that come with it.

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