Philips vs Braun Electric Shavers – Which Is Best?
Buying a new electric shaver can be a daunting task, and not just because there are such a massive number of models to choose from. You’ve also got to decide between foil and rotary shavers, and that means that you’re going to need to make a decision about which manufacturer you’re going to spend your money with. The best selling shavers in the UK are made by two companies: Philips, and Braun. People often ask who makes the better shavers, and today we’re going to compare an contrast these companies to see if we can find an answer to that question.
Philips are the masters of the Rotary electric shaver, and indeed it was Philips who invented the rotary shaver mechanism back in the late 1930s and released their first shaver in the Netherlands.
Braun, on the other hand, specialise in foil shavers. These shavers have an oscillating mechanism which is covered by a thin, but strong, metal foil. Braun haven’t been in the shaver game as long as Philips, but having released their first foil shaver in 1950s, they still have over 60 years of experience under their belt.
Who is cheaper, Braun or Philips?
As both companies have a wide variety of models available, generally speaking, both companies have models out that can satisfy most budgets. That said, Braun shavers cover the midrange to higher end of the market, and will set you back between $45 and $150. If you’re looking to spend as little money as possible, or maybe just need a simple and cheap shaver to touch up on the go before meetings, then Philips are your only choice. They cover the low to high end of the market, with pricing varying wildly between just $12 to $250.
As a consequence of Braun’s tighter focus of the mid to high end of the market, they do have a lot less models available for purchase. This definitely makes your buying decision easier if you’re going with a Braun shaver, as compared to the confusing number of models which Philips offer.
Foil vs Rotary
As we’ve mentioned, Braun make foil shavers whereas Philips produce rotary shavers. Most men have a preference. Whilst there have been no official studies, the anecdotal evidence usually points to rotary shavers providing a closer shaver than rotary shavers. However, it’s generally agreed that foil shavers cause a lot less irritation and rashes on the skin after shaving.
As you can see, both shaving mechanisms have their benefits and pitfalls. If you do suffer with enflamed skin after shaving, then buying a Braun foil shaver will probably be the safest bet.
Battery Life
These days, most electric shavers tend to be rechargeable. Whilst this is a lot more convenient for those people who don’t have a power outlet in the bathroom, it does mean that you need to consider battery life. There’s nothing worse than getting half way through a shave only to realise that the battery is going to die before you’ve finished!
Modern Lithium batteries tend to perform very well, but there is still some difference between models. Generally, a mid-range or high-end shaver with a decent battery will take just 1 hour to charge. Bare in mind though, that these quick charging batteries will not be supplied at the lower end of the market where charging times will be much longer.
The amount of shaving time that you’ll get out of your Braun or Philips shaver is pretty comparable, however when it comes down to it Philips shavers have the edge. Philips latest shavers provide a full 60 minutes of battery life on a single charge, when compared with the 5o minutes that an up-to-date Braun electric shaver will provide.
They Clean Themselves!
One of the most advanced features that you’ll find in a modern electric shaver, is the one-touch cleaning function. This means that the shaver comes with a docking station which holds your shaver after you’ve finished shaving. Simply hit a button, and the docking station will clean, dry, lubricate and charge your shaver automatically. Such docking stations usually take a special cleaning fluid which also kills 99.9% of germs and leaves your shaver smelling lemon-fresh.
Both Braun and Philips shaver models offer this advanced feature, with several mid to high-end choices available.
So Which Company Sells The Most Shavers?
Both Braun and Philips have very popular shaver models on the market, but Philips have the edge in popularity also. We took a look at the Top 10 bestselling electric shavers on amazon.co.uk, and found that 5 of the 10 were made by Philips as opposed to 3 of them which were Braun. That said, it’s a close battle. With 8 out of the top 10 bestselling shavers being made by either company, they both have shavers flying off the shelves. However, Philips is clearly Britain’s favourite shaver manufacturer.
Customer Satisfaction
At the end of the day, all the features in the world make little difference if the customers don’t have anything good to say about a product. The great thing about the Internet, is that it is so easy to research what people have said about certain products; it’s a fast way to avoid buying a dud.
We’ve taken the customer ratings off all the currently available Braun and Philips shavers, and worked out the average satisfaction level of customers of both companies. Again, Philips have a slight lead here too, with 92% of customers rating their shavers 3 stars or higher as opposed to an 86% rate for Braun. Still, there’s not a huge amount in it, and it should be noted that several of Braun’s older models did drag down their overall rating.
As you can see, customer satisfaction is very high for both manufacturers, so either will be a pretty safe bet.
So What’s The Conclusion – Who’s Better?
Out of the factors that we’ve considered, Philips did have a slight lead over Braun. When you take into account the higher customer satisfaction level, and the fact that Philips are clearly Britain’s favourite shaver manufacturer we’d have to say that Philips would be the way to go. The PowerTouch PT920 is our current favourite for a dry shave, and the AquaTouch AT890 would be our shaver of choice for wet shaving with foam or gel.
The exception to this, would be if you are a sufferer of sensitive and irritable skin. In that case, a rotary shaver might well be too harsh for you and a Braun foil shaver would be an excellent alternative. The Braun Series 3 340s-4 is a great foil shaver at a very reasonable price.
All things considered, there doesn’t seem to be a huge difference in it, so we’re sure that you’ll be happy with your purchase whether you decide to go with Philips or Braun for your next electric shaver.
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