The Braun Series 5 is a mid-range and one-step advanced version of the Braun Series 3 that offers a premium shaving experience at an affordable price. The Series 5 has some advanced features and functions that make it appealing to the users. The Series 5 has a similar shape and design as the Braun Series 6 and Braun Series 7, but it is cheaper. The latest generation of the Series 5 shavers has EasyClean technology that is different from the older generation. Braun recently improved Series 5 to increase customer satisfaction and acceptance in the grooming industry. I have tried both versions of the Series 5 shavers, but the latest ones are more available on the market, and Braun has stopped producing most of the older ones. In this article, I will compare the latest and the older Series 5 shavers and also compare them with other alternatives to help you decide whether the Braun Series 5 is suitable for you.
Pros
- Pressure-sensitive foils for comfortable shaves
- Close and efficient result
- EasyClean technology for fast, easy, and hygienic cleaning
- Shaving and trimming combo facility with EasyClick trimmer
- Wet/dry shaves
- Lightweight and easy to handle
Cons
- Not a robust built quality
- EasyClean neck sometimes feels flimsy
- Not good for long and flat-lying hairs
- Fixed head
Insights
The latest Braun Series 5 comes in a variety of models, but all the models come with identical features and technology. Here, I’ll analyze everything and share the insights to judge their features and benefits thoroughly.
Shaving Elements:
The Braun Series 5 shavers have three foil shaving elements, just like the previous generations. The head has two types of foils: two SensoFoils and one middle trimmer. The SensoFoils cut the hair at the skin level to create a clean and smooth shave. They are the main elements of a flawless shave. The middle trimmer captures and cuts long and flat-lying hairs to make them short and ready for the SensoFoils to finish the job for a close shave. All the foil elements are flexible and can move up and down and swivel from both sides. The flexible foils control the pressure while shaving by flexing up and down to prevent irritation. The goal of these pressure-sensitive foil elements is to provide a close and comfortable shave for any skin type.
EasyClean Technology:
The Braun Series 5 shavers have EasyClean technology which is a new system in electric shavers and in this Series. You can see the EasyClean logo on the front of the shaver, below the neck. The neck has a hole and a cutout system in the head that lets you use running water to clean the shaver. The water flows through the hole and the cutout system and washes away the hairs and debris from the blades and foils. Braun engineered this technology for the Series 5 to make the cleaning process simpler with tap water. Therefore, Braun does not include a cleaning dock with the new Braun Series 5, as they believe that the user can clean the shaver well without a dock.
EasyClick Trimmer: The Braun Series 7, 6, and 5 shavers have an innovative EasyClick technology that lets you switch the attachment heads that come with the shaver package to suit your grooming needs. The EasyClick trimmer is a common extra attachment head that comes with all the S5 shaver models. Braun’s new EasyClick design replaced the built-in pop-up trimmers of the older generation S5 and S7 shavers with an EasyClick trimmer attachment that has more functions or facilities. For example, it can pre-trim the long hair, which the older generations could not do without a separate beard trimmer. It can also trim the sideburns and the mustache precisely, like the previous pop-up trimmers. Moreover, you can attach the EasyClick trimmer attachment from any side of the shaver (front or back) as you prefer or find convenient.
Waterproof: Beyond EasyClean technology, you can simply rinse the S5 shaver’s foil chamber and housing under running water to remove any hair and debris from the blades and foils. The body of the shavers are also fully washable, so you can submerge them in water without damaging them. Since the shavers are 100% waterproof, you can enjoy a refreshing and comfortable shave in the shower.
Wet/dry Shaver: All the Braun Series 5 shavers give you the freedom to choose how you want to shave. Whether you prefer a smooth and soothing wet shave with your favorite shaving cream, foam, gel, water or a fast and convenient dry shave. The shavers are designed to work with any shaving product and to protect your skin from irritation and dryness.
Battery and Power Source: All the Braun Series 5 shavers are only for cordless use and they comes with a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery. The shavers provide 50 minutes of cordless shaving power with a charge (takes about an hour). They also have a quick charging option that lets you have a full shave with a 5 minute charge while the battery is fully drained and you are on the go.
LED Display: The S5 shavers have an LED display that indicates different statuses of the shaver. You can see the battery level with three dots and a red plug icon when it needs charging. You can also see a padlock icon for the travel lock, a head icon for the replacement head, and two droplets for hygiene. The display is very useful to keep you informed about important conditions of the shaver.
Travel Lock: The shavers have a travel lock system that lets you lock the shaver when you are not using it or packing it. This stops the shaver from turning on by mistake and wasting power or damaging the shaving head. To activate the travel lock, you need to hold the power button for 3-4 seconds. To deactivate it, do the same thing again.
Msc: Braun says that the S5 shavers have an auto-sensing motor that adjusts the shaving power based on the beard thickness. However, I did not feel any difference in the shaving power with different beard densities in practice. I think it is just a promotional trick.
What’s in the Box?
The Braun Series 5 shavers have the same features and technology, but they have different packages and items. The price of each model varies based on what it comes with. Let’s see what you can expect from a S5 electric shaver package.
The Shaver Itself: The main and first item in the package is the Braun Series 5 shaver itself. Although all the models have the same built quality, every model has a different color scheme.
The Precision Trimmer Head: It’s a common attachment with all the S5 shaver models. The precision trimmer is engineered with EasyClick technology, which I explained earlier in the insights section. This attachment is useful for precision trimming and making pre-trims before a shave and even shaping the beard like a beard trimmer.
Cleaning Brush: there is a small cleaning brush with all the models to quickly brush away the hairs and debris from the shaver head. It’s useful for making quick dry cleans after every dry shave.
Charging Cord with Adapter: Another common accessory is the charging cord that comes with a universal power adapter. So, you can charge the shaver from anywhere, in any country, with this charging cord.
Trimming Combs: Some S5 models come with trimming comb attachments that are used with the trimmer attachments to trim the beard in different lengths.
Charging Stand: this is a sleek and convenient accessory that enhances the S5 shaver experience. It allows you to place the shaver upright on any flat surface and enjoy a stylish and secure charging process. The Charging Stand is compatible with select S5 shaver models and comes at an additional price that increases the main price tag.
Body Trimmer Head: it’s a versatile and handy accessory that complements the Series 5 shaver. It can be easily attached to the shaver head with the EasyClick system and is used to trim and style body hairs from the neck down. The Body trimmer is available with certain Series 5 shaver models and offers a smooth and comfortable grooming experience.
Cleansing Brush: Braun recently introduced a cleansing head attachment with some of their advanced electric shavers and even some Series 5 models. The cleansing brush is an accessory that you can attach to your Series 5 Shaver with the EasyClick system. It’s a handy attachment to clean your skin better than by hand, exfoliate and refine your skin, and prepare it for a smooth and comfortable shave. It makes your grooming life easier, more efficient, and more comfortable.
Travel Pouch: There is a drawback of Braun Series 5 in that there is no travel bag with the shavers for storing it or carrying it on the trip. But some very new models come with a sturdy travel pouch that protects the shaver from damage and dirt when not in use.
Braun Series 5 Shaver Models and Their Differences.
As stated before, all the Series 5 shaver models are identical in their making technology and features. However, each model has its own distinctive characteristics that set it apart from the rest. Let’s explore the models and see how they differ from one another.
Braun Series 5 5018s:
The Braun 5018s is the simplest and most affordable model of Series 5. It offers the same quality and performance as the more expensive models, making it a great choice for budget-conscious customers. The shaver package includes the main device, an EasyClick trimmer attachment for precise styling, a charging cord with a universal adapter, and a small cleaning brush to keep the shaver in good condition. The shaver has a stylish black and blue design with a soft rubber grip (all the S5 models come with this rubber grip) on the back for a comfortable and secure hold.
Braun Series 5 5020s:
The Braun 5020s is another affordable and well-liked model of Series 5 that has some additional features than the 5018s shaver. It has the same stylish and comfortable design and colour scheme as the 5018s, but it comes with more accessories to customize your grooming. The 5020s includes 5 extra trimming combs (1mm, 2mm, 3mm, 5mm, and 7mm) that let you trim your beard to the length you want.
Braun Series 5 5031s:
The Braun 5031s is also a budget-friendly model that comes with the same stylish and comfortable design and color scheme as the Braun 5018s. However, it has an added feature of a cleansing brush that helps you clean and exfoliate your skin before shaving, making the shave smoother and more pleasant. The cleansing brush is the reason why the 5031s costs a little more than the 5018s. However, the 5031s does not include any trimming comb, unlike the Braun 5020s shaver.
Braun Series 5 5050cs:
The Braun 5050cs is comparably a bit costlier model than the other models above and also it also comes in a different colour scheme (black and silver) than the others. This model comes with more accessories than the previous models for more grooming facilities. It comes with a charging stand for secure and stylish charging of your shaver on the surface. The model also includes a EasyClick body grooming trimmer attachment for grooming the body hairs. Furthermore, the shaver comes with 2 body hair trimming combs where 1 is for long hair trimming and another is for trimming hairs from sensitive skin.
Braun Series 5 5150cs:
The Braun 5150cs is the most advanced and premium model in Series 5, which comes with all the features of the rest of the models plus some more features and facilities. It’s an upgraded version of the previous models that comes with an extra mode button that allows you to have a turbo shaving mode for 28.5% more powerful shaving than others. Therefore, this shaver comes with a more powerful motor as well. It has the same color scheme as the Braun 5018s, and it has five beard trimming combs that of the 5020s shaver, a body groomer attachment, and two body trimming combs that of the 5050cs shaver. Moreover, it comes with a charging stand like the 5050cs model. Most importantly, it comes with a travel pouch that is completely new in the latest Series 5 shavers.
NB. All the models come with the basic items like Braun 5018s that I didn’t mention again in other models to avoid repeating.
Which Series 5 Model Should You Buy?
- The 5018s – if you want to save extra costs and do not require the extra accessories of other models.
- The 5020s – if you want the same shaver as 5018s and plus trimming lengths facilities alongside shaving and precision trimming.
- The 5031s – if you need the same shaver as the 5018s shaver plus a cleansing and exfoliate facility with a cleansing brush.
- The 5050cs – if you are ready to spend a bit higher and want some more facilities like a charging stand, body trimming head, and body trimming combs.
- The 5150cs – if you want the most advanced and all-in-one shaver that will provide all the facilities of the 5050cs and come with five beard trimming combs and a travel pouch.
My personal choice is the all-in-one model 5150cs that insignificantly cost a bit higher than others. But provides all the facilities I prefer.
Personal Experience
The design and shape of the Braun Series 5 shavers are identical to Series 7 and 6. Its lightweight body and secure rubber grip at the rear side make it very easy to grasp. The foil elements are made to provide comfortable and adaptive shaving operations, and they do their job very well.
However, the fixed head felt very underwhelming to me since it doesn’t allow the head to adapt to the facial curves and shave flexibly. As a result, I need to do more wrist work to complete the shave, and even it feels cumbersome to shave below the jawline.
The EasyClick system to change the attachment heads is another cumbersome system since there is no release button to detach the current head and switch to another. So, I need to pull off the head with my thumb and index finger using brute force and then place the other head accordingly. However, the EasyClick system makes the shaver versatile to achieve more grooming facilities at a time.
The innovative EasyClean system felt underwhelming to me because it doesn’t clean the debris thoroughly, and I need to apply my own cleaning technique for hygienic cleaning. First, I pull off the head and clean the housing and the inside of the foil chamber with warm water. Since none of the Series 5 shavers comes with an automatic cleaning station, it’s really cumbersome to thoroughly clean the shaver to keep it dirt-free and hygienic. However, the shavers easily suit the cleaning stations of Series 7 and Series 6’s cleaning stations. So you can use one of them to clean your S5 shaver in case you already have one, or you can buy a cleaning dock separately for your convenience.
The S5 shaver provides me a very close and comfortable result that I didn’t expect with such an inexpensive device but I got it. However, it shows its weak face while trying on very thick and long stubble. Therefore, S5 shavers are not good for shaving thick and long stubble but provide very good results with short (1-2 days) stubble.
The EasyClick trimmer does its job very well, but sometimes it feels cumbersome to make precision trimming in narrow areas since the heads are wider than built-in precision trimmers. The attachment combs and other accessories are a plus to make the shaver more functional and achieve more grooming work.
Comparison with Alternatives
There are some foil and rotary alternatives to Braun Series 5 that you can buy in the similar price range.
Panasonic Arc3: The Panasonic Arc3 is a foil shaver that features 3 flexible foil shaving elements that adapt to the contours of your face. Unlike the Braun Series 5, which has a fixed head, the Arc3 has a pivoting head that allows you to shave at different angles. The Arc3 shaver has a solid and durable feel, but it is also heavier and bulkier than the S5. The Panasonic ES-LL41-K Arc3 shaver includes attachment combs that let you trim your beard to different lengths, but they are attached to the built-in popup trimmer of the Arc3 shaver, which is not as effective as the S5 shaver. The Arc3 shaver also has a lower battery life than the S5, as it only lasts for 40 minutes of cordless shaving, while the S5 lasts for 50 minutes. However, both shavers have a 5-minute quick charging option for emergency shaves.
Philips Norelco 3500: The Philips Norelco 3500 is a rotary shaver that has 3 circular blades that spin to cut the hair. It has self-sharpening comfort-cut blades that glide smoothly and gently over the skin without causing irritation. It also has a 5D pivoting head that bends and flexes in 5 directions to follow the curves of your face and deliver a flawless and comfortable shave. The shaver has a simple and ergonomic design with a rubber grip and an angular shape that fits well in your hand. It has a popup trimmer that lets you trim your beard with precision, unlike the Braun Series 5, which has an EasyClick trimmer. The shaver is cordless and has a long battery life of 60 minutes, compared to the Braun Series 5, which has 50 minutes. The shaver also has a 5-minute quick charging option that allows you to shave when the battery is low. If you prefer a rotary shaver, the Philips Norelco 3500 is the best alternative to the Braun Series 5.
Verdict
Braun Series 5 is a mid-range electric shaver Series that offers a good balance of price, features and performance. There are some limitations and also lots of advanced alternatives in Braun’s line, but S5 is a compact package for budget-conscious users. The shaving efficiency and comfort of this series excels most of its alternatives in this price range.
Should You Buy a Braun Series 5 Shaver?
Yes, if you intent to buy a very balanced priced electric shaver for close and comfortable shave.
Yes, if you shave regularly and like wet/dry shaver
Yes, if you are tired of cleaning shavers after every shave and searching for fast and easy cleaning solution.
No, if you have very coarse and flat-lying stubborn beard.
No, if you are uncomfortable with fixed shaving heads
No, if you are tired of switching the heads for shaving and trimming, and you like integrated trimmers instead.