The Braun Series 5 stands out in its price range, offering exceptional value and brand reliability. Braun has significantly revamped the Series 5 with the latest models, including the Braun 5018s, 5020s, and 5050cs. These new designs are distinctly different from their predecessors, making them easily recognizable. Having used the Braun Series 5 5020 for several months, I’ve thoroughly tested its performance and authenticity. In this comprehensive review, I’ll delve into every detail of the new shaver, highlighting its pros and cons, and providing useful guides. Before you decide on your next shaver, make sure to read this full article to understand the key aspects you need to know.
Pros
- Close shaving result
- Waterproof and EasyClean system
- Wet/dry shaver
- Good battery life
- SmartClick trimming facility
- 5 trimming combs
- Smart LED
- Light-weight
Cons
- Fixed shaving head
- Cheaper built quality
- No travel pouches
- Not good for longer hairs
- No foil protective cap
Insights
The Braun 5020s shaver is designed for versatile 2-in-1 men’s grooming, all while maintaining an affordable price to boost its popularity. Its main features are quite compelling, but a deeper dive is necessary to fully appreciate this shaver. Let’s break it down step-by-step:
Shaving Elements: The Braun EasyClean Series 5 shavers, like their predecessors, feature three advanced foil shaving elements. These include two regular foil blocks and a central trimmer block, all working in harmony to deliver an efficient shaving experience. The outer foils are designed to cut hairs very close to the skin, while the middle trimmer’s primary function is to capture and pre-cut longer, flat-lying hairs, guiding them towards the outer foils for a closer shave.
Shaving Head Flexibility: The Braun 5020s shaver head features flexible shaving elements that move up and down during use, providing a comfortable and efficient shave by adapting to skin contact. However, the EasyClean models from Braun have a fixed shaving head, which does not pivot. This design can be problematic in tricky areas, making the shaving process cumbersome and requiring more wrist work. In comparison, the older version’s flexible heads are better suited for shaving all types of hair with less effort.
EasyClean Technology: Braun has introduced a new technology in their latest Series 5 shavers called EasyClean. This innovation allows for cleaning the shaver with direct running water. The shaver features a cutout system in the neck, designed to channel water through and remove debris. However, in practice, I found this system less effective. Despite Braun’s claims that you don’t need to remove the foil cassette for cleaning, I had to do so to achieve a thorough clean.
Wet/dry Shaving: All EasyClean models are 100% waterproof, allowing you to use them under the shower or for wet and dry shaving. The Braun Series 5 5020s supports the use of shaving cream, foam, and gel for a refreshing wet shave, or you can opt for a quick dry shave.
Power Source: Braun has equipped the Series 5 EasyClean shavers with a powerful Lithium-ion rechargeable battery for cordless use. The Braun 5020s offers up to 50 minutes of continuous shaving power on a full 1-hour charge. Additionally, it features a 5-minute quick charge option, allowing for an urgent shave even when the battery is fully drained.
LED Display: Braun used a smart LED display in the Braun 5020s shaver that feels more advanced than the older generation Series 5 shavers. The display shows the battery life, charging indication, hygiene indication, travel lock indication, and replacement part indication. I prefer the new display to the older display which looks more user-friendly.
Trimming Facility: The new generation Series 5 shavers feature a tremendous addition: Braun’s SmartClick technology. This innovation includes a SmartClick precision trimmer attachment. To use the trimmer, simply remove the foil cassette and attach the trimmer in its place. The SmartClick trimmer replaces the older generation’s slide-up trimmers, offering a more user-friendly experience. In addition to detailing, the SmartClick trimmers can trim longer hairs to create stubble for a closer shave.
What’s in the Box?
The Braun 5020s and other new-generation Series 5 shavers have the same technical specifications. The main differences lie in their color schemes and the additional attachments included in each package. For instance, the Braun 5018s is a basic model, offering just the trimmer attachment, while the Braun 5050cs comes with a bodygroom attachment, two bodygroom combs, and a beard trimmer attachment. So, let’s see which attachments make this model unique.
- The Shaver Itself
- A SmartClick precision trimmer attachment #
- 5 Trimming Combs: Again, you can differentiate the models based on their attachment items that come with the packages. The specialty of the Braun 5020s model is, the shaver comes with 5 trimmer combs that fit on the SmartClick trimmer. The Braun Series 5 5020s shaver provides 6 trimming lengths(0.5mm, 1mm, 2mm, 3mm, 5mm, 7mm) with and without the trimming combs.
- A small cleaning brush
- Charging cord
There is no cleaning or charging dock with Braun Series 5 EasyClean shavers. But you can use Braun Series 7’s and Braun Series 6’s SmartCare units for your Series 5 shaver and that fits for EasyClean shavers perfectly.
Personal Experience
I had to try the shaver in all the angles since a completely new pattern foil shaver. I tried the Series 7’s new shavers first though, which comes with an identical style and frame. But Braun Series 5 5020s comes with a fixed head which is why it took much effort for the total shaving result. I tried the shaver from all angles including wet/dry, under the shower, longer hairs, and more. It works well in wet atmospheres even under the shower. The shaving result is close enough that I felt satisfactory. While used without any shaving lubricator or dry shaves, it feels comfortable for its pressure-sensitive shaving elements but felt a little problematic for the fixed shaving head. However, it’s not a good shaver for shaving longer hairs but the precision trimmer filled the gap. You can trim off the longer hairs with the trimmer attachment and make them short stubble and then operate the shaver to make close and smooth results. Likewise, you’ll find the shaver problematic in some fields but you can overcome the hassles using it cleverly.
The Braun 5020s comes with an identical shaver cassette to the older Series 5 shavers that feature 3 pressure-sensitive shaving elements. But the shaver head is fixed that will not pivot while operating and you have to make more wrist work to shave perfectly in the tricky areas. I liked the new head technology whereas Braun used the SmartClick system on the head where you can easily attach and detach attachments for extra grooming needs. Although the older Series 5 shavers have robust built quality, the popup trimmer feels problematic to use for new users. I think Braun filled the gap in new-generation shavers with the new SmartClick precision trimmer that feels pretty handy. The shaver is 100% waterproof that allows shaving under the shaver or use wet/dry and all the Series 5 shavers have the same feature though. Although a cheaper built quality, Braun made the Braun 5020s lighter than the previous models. Moreover, the LED display feels more advanced and the matte plastic finish feels premium.
Overall, I found this shaver is ideal for regular users who want premium features and attachments in a budget.
Comparison with Alternatives
While there are many shavers available within this budget, the following models are the closest alternatives to the Braun 5020s.
Braun Series 5 5150cs: The Braun 5150cs stands out as the most expensive model in the EasyClean series, featuring some unique attachments. While both shavers differ in their color schemes, the 5150cs offers a bodygroom attachment designed to trim body hair without causing nicks and cuts. Additionally, it includes two body grooming combs: one for sensitive skin and another for trimming longer hair. Uniquely, the Braun 5150cs comes with a charging stand, a rare feature among EasyClean shavers, allowing for secure recharging on the countertop. In contrast, the Braun 5020s includes five beard trimming combs, which the 5150cs lacks. Therefore, your choice of shaver should be based on your specific grooming needs.
Verdict
Despite some limitations, Braun has successfully revamped the Series 5 to be simpler, more user-friendly, and affordable. Their effort is commendable. The Braun 5020s is a reliable shaver for regular wet/dry shaves and general trims. However, it falls short in terms of build quality and shaving longer hairs compared to older Series 5 models. The SmartClick trimmer effectively bridges this gap by trimming longer hairs into stubble. Additionally, the trimming combs are a valuable addition, making this shaver ideal for men who prefer versatile hair grooming.
Should You Buy the Braun 5020s Shaver?
Yes, if you want a versatile electric shaver for facial grooming.
Yes, if you need a feature-rich shaver without breaking the bank.
Yes, if you value brand reputation and quality products.
No, if you prefer a shaver with an automatic cleaning system and cleaning docks.
No, if you want a shaver with pivoting shaving head.