Braun has spent more than a decade setting the standard for the electric shaver category with the Series 9, which on paper makes the newly minted $600-plus Nevo shaver a tricky proposition. If the beloved Series 9 was already that good, what exactly is left to improve?
Turns out, quite a bit. The fancy Nevo doesn’t reinvent the shave, but it meaningfully upgrades the experience where it matters most, starting with smarter engineering, more premium materials, and better customer care. The Series 9 is still an elite buy for most folks, but if you want Braun’s most refined shaver yet and are willing to pay, this is surely it.
I’ve been testing electric shavers for years, including every recent Braun flagship, and have spent the past month mowing my stubble with the Nevo. Here’s what sets it apart, and who should stick with the Series 9 instead.
- Braun's closest, smoothest shave to date
- The AeroTouch foil glides where other foils drag
- A stainless steel unibody and premium feel in hand
- Excellent insurance policy
- The price of admission is steep
- The Series 9 Pro+ gets you most of the core performance for less
The Nevo is overbuilt in the best way possible
Braun's biggest hardware upgrade isn't something you'll notice during your shave, but it's the reason why the Nevo will survive years of drops, travel, and daily use.
The biggest engineering upgrade is the body itself. Instead of building the housing from seven separate pieces like the Series 9, Braun hydroforms the Nevo’s stainless steel housing into a one-piece “unibody.” The result is an ultra-thin 0.55 mm frame that’s noticeably stronger and feels exceptionally solid in hand. Translation: This thing is basically drop-proof.
“No one’s ever had the crazy idea to take water and push it into a form and have a shaver housing be born of that process,” Braun industrial designer and Director of Communications Benjamin Wilson told me. “The material actually gets more compressed, and it becomes even stronger than it was before.” At its Frankfurt launch, they even parked a 1936 Auto Union car on top of one Nevo to prove the point.
Everything on its core face is laser cut, with a barely-there PVD coating that gives it a sleek but durable finish. Amidst all of these upgrades, Braun wisely resisted reinventing the ergonomics. It feels similar to the Series 9 in hand, which I presume is exactly what longtime Braun users will want.
It gives you a closer shave with fewer passes
The Nevo’s biggest performance upgrade is its new AeroTouch foil shaver head. Instead of the smooth finish found on most foil shavers (including the Series 9), it has a subtle microtextured surface that glides more easily across the skin. The difference is especially noticeable around the neck and other wrinkle-prone areas, where foil shavers can tug and force extra passes.
Compared to the Series 9, I consistently need fewer passes to get the same clean shave, and my skin looked noticeably calmer. The Nevo doesn’t eliminate irritation altogether. I still managed a couple of razor bumps when I pressed too hard during my first few shaves, but once I switched to a lighter touch and slower strokes, it delivered one of the smoothest foil shaves I’ve had.
Braun also upgraded everything beneath the foil. The Nevo packs 250 diamond-sharp cutting edges, with more blades below the surface and sharper edges than its predecessor, too. As is a hi-tech shaving standard, its motor adjusts up or down with denser or patchier whiskers.
Like the Series 9, Nevo uses four shaving elements: two foils that push skin down so hair can be cut close, plus two central elements that help catch longer oddball hairs. Braun says it is designed for up to seven days’ growth. I used it on slightly longer scruff and was still able to shave it down cleanly, with only a few stubborn patches needing the rear trimmer. That same rear trimmer also handles sideburns, edgework, strays, and, when toggled halfway, locks the flexible shave head when you want less movement.
The premium extras make a big difference
Nevo has a few exceptional features to further raise its profile, plus some terrific carry-overs from the Series 9.
First and (I believe) foremost is Braun’s new White Glove Service, which is essentially the brand’s version of AppleCare. Sure, you already have the 5-year warranty, but Braun will also send you a new device within that 5 years if yours breaks due to common user error, not just manufacturing issues.
I’m also relieved that the Nevo does not require an app to make it go. I am very church-and-state about using my phone in the bathroom, which is why I love the TFT display on the Nevo’s face, which cycles between cleaning functions, care prompts, head replacement indicators, and battery life.
The cleaning and charging dock, which Braun calls the Care Center, takes things a step further by charging, cleaning, lubricating, and drying the shaver automatically. One cartridge of cleaner fluid should last about 35 cleaning cycles. I am definitely not a daily cleaner, so I can make that last six to nine months. This Care Center is also about 15% smaller than that of the Series 9, a small but welcome improvement if your bathroom counter is anything like mine.
Nevo also carries over one of my favorite Series 9 features: the PowerCase. And thank god: this remains one of Braun’s most practical luxury features. For starters, it protects the shaver in a dopp kit or suitcase, but it also acts as a backup battery, extending runtime by 50% for up to six weeks of shaving.
Some Nevo models also come with swappable heads, like a ProCare massage head that also aids in applying moisturizer. Kind of extraneous, in my opinion, but it’s there if you want it.
Is the Braun Nevo worth it?
That’s the million dollar question, or rather, the $600 one.
I don’t think Braun set out to reinvent the foil shaver. It set out to refine one that was already the benchmark. Between the more durable body, smoother shave, and more thoughtful ownership experience, its perfection lies in the sum of its parts.
The real question is whether the Nevo is excellent, because it is. The better question is how does the Nevo compare to the Series 9, and which one should you actually buy?
| Braun Nevo Shaver Key Specs | |
|---|---|
| Price | Starts at $600 |
| Replacement Head Cost | $100 |
| Battery Life | 1:1 charge/runtime ratio (60 minutes for both) |
| Quick Charge | 5 minutes |
| PowerCase | Extends runtime by 50%, up to six weeks of shaving |
| Waterproofing | 100% waterproof for wet/dry use |
| Care Center | 7-in-1 system, 15% smaller than the previous station |
| Best For | Daily shaving and up to and around 7 days growth |
You’re the kind of person who wants Braun’s best. The Nevo is for the guy who wants the most cutting edge, bar-raising device, with precision adjustments that push the category forward. From the damage-defying hydroform body to the ultra light, minimal-touchpoint foil head, to the shrunk-down docking station, every upgrade feels considered without throwing away Everything Braun already got right in the Series 9.
Independent of design and performance, my favorite feature might be the insurance policy. And I’m the kind of guy who values that almost above everything else. I think the 5-year guarantee is reason alone to invest in this tool.
Lastly, if you are irritation and bump prone, I do think the Nevo has a noticeable edge over the Series 9. It’s not a night-and-day difference, but the smoother glide and reduced friction made a difference on my skin. Just remember: A light touch goes a long way.
The Series 9 remains exceptional. The Nevo exists to advance what Braun already got right. So, above all, if you want a terrific, close shave, the Series 9 still delivers one of the best foil shaving experiences you can buy, along with many of the same conveniences, including the rear trimmer, Care Center, and PowerCase on select models.
There isn’t a change in battery charge time or run time with the NEVO, compared to the latest Series 9 Pro+ releases. So if those performance stats matter most to you, I’d save the money and buy the Series 9. You’ll still get an outstanding shave, just without the upgraded materials, White Glove Service, and few of the finer regiments that make the Nevo Braun’s flagship.
