Bye
bye beardy.
Once
again the beards of Test Pit Towers must be removed. Yes folks, our
chins are for the chilling, as we're very happy to welcome into our
gadget-testing fold another shaving innovation from Braun. This one
is packed with features and cleverness, so as we bid adieu to our
face fuzz, we get reviewing the Braun 9040s Series 9 Shaver.
The
9040s is one of Braun's latest shavers, sitting in the new Series 9
of male grooming equipment. The shaver itself has the classic Braun
look that we're very used to here, with the addition of one hell of a
beefy head. That is because the business end of the Braun 9040s
Series 9 Shaver will, so claim the makers, give a chap the most
comprehensive shave he's ever had. Best get shaving then, eh?
Before
we stepped into the bathroom though, we gawped at one very nice
inclusion. The Braun 9040s Series 9 Shaver comes with a hard shell
case. WHICH WE LOVE. We tend to go a bit gaga over sunglasses,
earphones, and just about anything that ships with a hard shell case,
as it not only demonstrates a high quality commitment by the
manufacturer, but they're also just damn handy. In this 'case' (tee
hee) the Braun 9040s Series 9 Shaver fits snugly in to a coffin-in
like protector with a zip-up closer. Very nice touch, Braun.
Slide
out the shaver itself and you have a very solidly built gadget here,
that feels like it has a nice mix of smooth and grippy surfaces. Grip
is clearly something Braun have considered, as the Braun 9040s Series
9 Shaver can indeed be taken into the shower as it is fully
waterproof. That means a wet shave is possible, something we really
like to see in an electric razor. No matter what technological
ingenuity can be packed into a device like this to keep your face
cool while dry shaving, we still prefer the cool moisturising
benefits of foam and water.
Just
a sixty minute charge by way of the included cable will provide you
with a fifty minute run time. So depending on how often you shave,
and for how long, one juice-up session should last you a couple of
weeks. Also, if you find yourself flat and in need of a quick touch
up, a quick five minute charge will provide enough time to give your
handsome face a once-over.
The
collection of kit on the head of the shaver features two OptiFoil
cutters, a HyperLift and Cut Trimmer for cutting flat-laying hairs
around the chin and neck, and a Direct & Cut trimmer, for
capturing hairs that grow in different directions. Because of this
impressive array of blades, just one pass over your stubble-ridden
skin produces a close and clean shave. The Braun 9040s Series 9
Shaver also features Sonic Technology which can produce up to 10,000
micro vibrations per minute, helping to push your beard hair upwards,
making them easier to cut.
The
results are great. It feels like using an electric version of a
multi-bladed razor, and depending on how thick your beard and
moustache are when you start, a single pass over all areas of your
face is enough. There was no nipping, no pulling, and thanks to the
short of amount of time you have to use it to get a clean shave,
there was hardly any sense of post-shave burn. Also, for those you
want to keep their sidies nice and straight (or their tash in tip-top
condition) the Braun 9040s Series 9 Shaver also has a pop-up trimmer
on the back.
It's
a bold statement, but this has to be the best shaver we've yet seen
from Braun. Well-built, compact, waterproof, and able to produce a
clean shave with just one pass... brilliant. Oh, and don't forget the
case!
Around
£190