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- Outstandingly close and comfortable shave
- Superb build quality
- Excellent cleaning and charging system
- Very expensive
- Uses a two-pin shaver plug instead of USB-C
- Companion app adds very little
If you wanted to blow an entire month’s grocery budget on a premium electric shaver, Braun has historically been very willing to take your money.
The company has long offered excellent models, such as the Series 9 Pro +, that arrive with autonomous cleaning pods and battery-packed portable carry cases, as well as smartphone connectivity and the sort of gadgetry flourishes buyers expect from a £400-plus stubble trimmer.
However, the company says the new Nevo represents its biggest leap in years, pairing an all-new stainless steel design with a completely redesigned shaving head and one of the most comprehensive charging and cleaning systems currently available.
Naturally, it arrives with an eye-watering price tag. At its full retail price, the entry-level package costs almost £740, while the version supplied with Braun’s charging Power Case and 7-in-1 Care Centre stretches towards £900 – although substantial discounts are already commonplace.
The big question is whether Braun has finally built the ultimate electric shaver, or if diminishing returns have caught up with the premium end of the market.
Braun Nevo: What do you get for the money?
There’s no mistaking that the Nevo is Braun’s newest flagship shaver. The stainless steel body feels exceptional in the hand, with a reassuring weight that immediately sets it apart from cheaper plastic rivals.
It looks and feels even better than the Series 9 Pro+: every surface is beautifully engineered and the overall fit and finish are among the best I’ve encountered from any grooming product – even if its metallic body easily picks up finger smudges.
When shopping for the Nevo, you’ve got a few bundle options, with retail prices ranging from £740 to almost £900. Most packages include the 7-in-1 Care Centre, which automatically cleans, lubricates, dries and charges the shaver whenever it’s docked. However, the top-tier package offers the most, including a replacement head, additional cleaning cartridges and the Power Travel charging case.
The full-colour display on the Nevo itself is bright, sharp and easy to read, showing its battery level, cleaning reminders and maintenance alerts at a glance. There’s also Bluetooth connectivity but, beyond the initial setup, I found very little reason to use Braun’s companion app. Unlike Philips’ GroomTribe app, which at least provides live shaving guidance, Braun’s app feels more like an extension of the information already available on the shaver itself.
My biggest immediate frustration, however, revolved around charging. Both the Care Centre and the Power Travel case rely on Braun’s traditional two-pin bathroom plug, which feels a little behind the times when a lot of modern shavers have made the switch to USB-C charging.
With only one shaving socket awkwardly tucked away inside a bathroom cabinet, I found myself buying an adaptor just to charge everything from a standard wall socket. At this price, USB-C feels like an obvious omission.
How I tested the Braun Nevo
As with all shavers I review, I used the Braun Nevo as my primary electric shaver for several weeks. Initially, I tested it on several days of beard growth to see how well it sliced through longer hair, and then daily on shorter stubble to maintain a clean-shaven look.
I assessed shaving comfort, closeness and ease of use, while making notes on any irritation or issues with daily maintenance. During testing, I also measured battery life by running the shaver continuously from a full charge until the battery was exhausted.
I also compared its performance directly against rivals in the same price bracket, including the Panasonic 900s, the Philips 900 Series, and Braun’s own Series 9 Pro+.
How well does it shave?
I don’t want to stray too far into hyperbole territory, but this is the best electric shaving experience I’ve had so far.
Braun’s new AeroTouch shaving head pivots far more freely than previous models, allowing it to hug every contour of the face instead of simply tilting from side to side. Combined with five synchronised cutting elements, adding up to 250 “diamond sharp” blades according to Braun, it removes an impressive amount of hair with each pass.
Even after leaving several days of growth, I experienced virtually no snagging or pulling. The shaving head simply glided across my face with remarkable ease, cutting longer hairs cleanly while remaining exceptionally gentle on the skin. And the integrated precision trimmer, which slides up from the rear, is excellent for tidying sideburns, sharpening beard lines and even tackling the occasional stray ear hair.
More importantly, it was incredibly quick. Areas that normally require multiple passes with rivals such as the Manscaped Chairman Plus or even the excellent Laifen P3 were dealt with in a single sweep. Across a typical morning shave, I’d estimate it almost halved the amount of time I normally spend in front of the mirror.
Like Braun’s other premium foil shavers, though, this is very much an all-or-nothing experience. If you prefer leaving designer stubble, you’ll need a separate beard trimmer.
How easy is it to use?
Despite the amount of accessories that often come inside the box, shavers are rarely complicated pieces of tech. That rings true of the Braun Nevo.
The colour display is clear and intuitive, giving a simple view on remaining battery time, while using the single-button controls quickly becomes second nature. Everything feels responsive and thoughtfully laid out, with the shaver automatically adjusting motor output to suit different beard densities without requiring any manual intervention.
The fully waterproof construction means it can be used wet or dry, although I found dry shaving so comfortable that I didn’t need to reach for the shaving foam.
As mentioned earlier, the smartphone app adds little to the experience. It provides maintenance reminders and product information, but everything you really need is already displayed on the shaver itself or in the manual provided.
What’s the battery life like?
Braun quotes up to 60 minutes of cordless shaving from a full charge, with a five-minute quick charge providing enough power for one 15-minute shave.
During my own rundown testing, I achieved 52 minutes on the first discharge and 54 minutes on the second. That’s slightly below Braun’s official claim, although the bright colour display and powerful motor are likely to consume more energy than many rivals.
Fortunately, battery life concerns are mitigated if you own the supplied Power Travel case. Once fully charged, it provides enough additional capacity for weeks of shaving without needing to find a plug, making it ideal for holidays or frequent business travel.
That said, it’s worth noting that the portable Power Travel case is weighty, and when you factor in the shaver, it becomes quite a bulky thing to lug around. Some of the smaller, palm shavers from the likes of Panasonic and Laifen are arguably better suited for frequent travellers.
How easy is it to clean?
Braun’s new 7-in-1 Care Centre is super easy to use and, while I’m not normally a fan of additional bathroom clutter, it does prevent the need to clean up the smattering of stubble that inevitably covers the sink when using the standard tap-and-rinse technique.
Simply add the included cleaner cartridge into the base of the dock, place the shaver into the dock and press the power button (bear in mind you’ll need to plug it in first). The Care Centre automatically cleans, lubricates, dries and recharges the shaving head before it’s ready for the next shave. It’s genuinely effortless and encourages regular maintenance far more effectively than manually rinsing under a tap.
That said, the cleaning process is lengthy and all that rinsing and drying is a little bit noisy. Expect to leave it for a good 10-15 minutes before it’s ready.
You’ll also have to replace the cleaning cartridges every two months or less, depending on how often you shave and clean the Nevo. A pack of four on Braun’s online store costs £30 (that’s £7.50 per cartridge), but you can save money in the long term by opting for Braun’s “value pack”, which gets you 16 for £63 (around £4 per cartridge).
How portable is it?
The supplied Power Travel case is an excellent addition if you can afford it, but probably not required for those planning to predominantly use the Nevo at home. And even without it, you still get a basic travel case included.
The Nevo I reviewed, however, did come with the Power Travel case. It keeps the shaver protected while simultaneously acting as a portable battery pack, allowing multiple weeks of shaving away from home without needing to carry the charging cable.
It’s undeniably bulky, but unlike the Philips i9000 Prestige Ultra, I found the trade-off worthwhile thanks to the sheer amount of additional battery capacity it provides. Again, USB-C charging would have made travelling even easier, but the Power Travel case largely offsets that inconvenience.
Is it good value?
This is a very difficult question to answer, as the shaver is undeniably expensive, especially when judging it by Braun’s RRPs.
Even the standard package sits firmly in luxury territory, while the full bundle borders on the absurd at its official £900 retail price. On top of this, Braun recommends replacing the shaving cassette every 18 months. Admittedly, this is a longer shelf life than some rivals – Laifen recommends replacing the P3 heads every four months, for instance. But the replacement heads cost £80 each, which is as much as some shavers.
Thankfully, Braun is already discounting the Nevo heavily, making the flagship package far more realistic and more in line with options from Philips and Panasonic. At the time of writing, for instance, you can get the basic bundle for £370 (RRP: £740) or the full package for £480 (RRP: £900).
Compared with some of its rivals, you’re paying for genuinely meaningful improvements rather than gimmicks. The shave is faster than the Philips i9000 Prestige Ultra, more comfortable than the much cheaper Manscaped Chairman Plus and noticeably more refined than the Laifen P3.
Whether those improvements justify spending several hundred pounds is another question entirely. For occasional shavers, the answer is probably not. For those chasing the closest possible electric shave every single day, it’s an expense much easier to justify.
Should you buy the Braun Nevo?
If price is no object, the Braun Nevo is currently the finest electric shaver I’ve tested. Its combination of exceptional build quality, outstanding shaving performance and genuinely useful accessories make it feel every bit like a flagship product. Unlike many premium gadgets, the improvements are immediately noticeable every time you pick it up.
The lack of USB-C charging and expensive replacement cassettes are disappointing, while the companion app contributes very little to the overall experience.
Those are minor criticisms, however. If you want the fastest, smoothest and most effortless electric shave currently available, the Braun Nevo sets a new benchmark.
