AT Game On Aus, we like to stretch the definition of gaming to help keep things interesting. In addition to stuff like computer games and TTRPGs and card combat games, we also cover peripherals, laptops, phones, and gaming-related tech in general.
I’m sure many of you looked at the main image for this story and went “An electric razor? What does that have to do with gaming? Did someone find a way to run Doom on it or something?”
No, sadly you cannot run Doom on this product, but you can use it to make sure you look presentable for streams, video content, cosplay, or gaming meetups (among other things), which is why I’m classifying it as gaming-related and reviewing it. (It’s good to be Editor In Chief!)
The German-made Braun Series 9 Pro is an electric foil shaver, which means that instead of circular rotating cutting heads, it has a metallic mesh ‘foil’ over the top of blades which oscillate from side to side. Shaving enthusiasts (yes, they’re a thing) have been arguing over which type is better since the early 1940s.
As someone who doesn’t have a full beard (thus subverting the stereotype of ‘male gamer being in their mid-30s or older with a beard’), I have to shave regularly lest I look like I’ve been marooned on a tropical island for some years.
Until now, I’ve never been able to do it with an electric razor. I have a coarse beard and find that using a traditional electric shaver just causes them to jam up and become useless very quickly, forcing me to shave with a blade instead.
Now, I enjoy a good blade shave with its hot water, lathery foam and smooth finish, but I’m a busy man and don’t always have time for such indulgence, which is why I’ve often wished an electric razor actually would be effective for me – and now I’ve found one.
The Braun Series 9 Pro is not only the only electric shaver I’ve ever used that actually works properly on my beard, it also works wet or dry – meaning I can use it in the shower, over the bathroom sink, or while making my morning coffee like I’m in some sort of movie opening scene.
I was really surprised by how close a shave I could get with the razor – while not quite as smooth as a safety razor shave, it was still extremely good. Electric razors, due to their operation, can also start to feel hot against your skin, but I didn’t have that issue at all with the Series 9 Pro.
The unit was comfortable to hold and the adjusting head allowed for the foils to follow the contours of my face; you can also lock it in place for fine work such as trimming just under your nose etc.
I was particularly impressed by the lack of skin irritation I experienced with the Series 9 Pro – it can be an issue with electric razors, but I had no problems at all on that front.
Another impressive feat is how well it handles multi-day growth. I don’t always shave every day so knowing that I can still use the razor effectively even after a couple of days of growth has been extremely useful.
From a gaming industry perspective, the most obvious use here is for streamers and content creators wanting to make sure they’re looking good before going on-camera, and the wireless nature and long battery life of the razor make it ideal for that, even if you’re working remotely or outdoors.
The review unit (the Series 9 Pro 9467cc) also came with a nifty cleaning and charging station. You stick the razor upside down into it and it automatically charges, and if you push a button it will automatically clean it, using a canister of cleaning fluid stored in the base, then dry it out. It works very well and meant I didn’t have to worry about cleaning the basin etc when I’d finished shaving – just stick the razor into the base unit, activate the cleaning process, and leave it to do its thing.
The base station is a bit on the chunky side and needs a power point (as well as replaceable cartridges) to function. Braun say the cartridges should last for about eight weeks of daily use – it’s also important to note you can clean the razor manually, too, and there are ways to extend the life of the cleaning cartridge (particularly if you’re not shaving or cleaning the shaver every day).
Also included was a leather travel case, and an AC adaptor for plugging either the razor or the charging/cleaning station into a wall. It’s a standard Australian two-prong power plug, but if you’re travelling most hotels have multi-plug shaver outlets in the bathroom – or you can just use a travel adaptor. The battery runs for an hour (and I’ve never taken that long to shave) and can be quick-charged in a few minutes if you need to use the razor for a touch-up or quick stubble once-over.
As impressive as the Series 9 Pro is, I found it didn’t handle the coarser hairs on my neck nearly as well as it handled the rest of my face. There’s a flip-up attachment that is used to help straighten neck hairs to let the shaver work more effectively, however, but this does add to the shaving time.
It’s also not very quiet, which is something to take into account if you are shaving in the morning while someone else is asleep or on a video call close by.
All this excellent comes at a price – more specifically, AUD$499 at time of writing. It’s not cheap but it is easily the best electric razor I’ve ever used so in this case, which certainly
While the Braun Series 9 Pro isn’t likely to convert a dedicated blade shaver, I think it’s going to be very hard to top this offering for electric shaver users.
If you want an well-made and effective electric razor and charging/cleaning station that provides a quality shave, even for people with sensitive skin then I think you’ll be as impressed with the Braun Series 9 Pro as I have been.
