Braun Series 9 Pro+ 9577cc Review: a premium shaver that finally makes daily shaving less of a chore

I’ve been using the Braun Series 9 Pro+ 9577cc for a few weeks now, after years bouncing between cheaper Braun models and manual cartridges. I bought it knowing the price is high and honestly expecting to return it if it felt like just another overhyped gadget. I shave almost every day, sometimes skip to 2–3 days, and my beard is medium‑thick with some annoying flat hairs on the neck that usually cause irritation.

From the first week, what struck me most was how predictable it is. I know roughly how long a shave will take and I don’t end up with a red neck for half the day. It doesn’t magically give a barber-level result, but compared to my old Series 5 and disposable razors, the comfort is clearly better. I’ve used it both dry in the morning rush and wet with gel on weekends to see if the difference is worth it.

I’ve also used the full package: the SmartCare cleaning station and the PowerCase. I travel fairly often for work, so the case with built‑in battery was one of the reasons I went for this bundle instead of just the shaver alone. I wanted to see if it’s a gimmick or something you actually appreciate when you’re in a hotel with too few outlets.

Overall, it’s not perfect and it’s clearly not cheap, but it does feel like an upgrade over mid‑range models. In this review I’ll go through how it’s built, how it shaves, how the battery and cleaning system behave day to day, and if I think it’s worth paying the premium or if a lower Braun series would be enough for most people.

Let’s be honest: the price is high, especially for the full 9577cc kit with SmartCare station and PowerCase. If you’re coming from a 30–50€ shaver, the jump is big. The question is whether the extra comfort, performance and accessories justify that premium for your situation. In my case, shaving almost daily with sensitive skin, the answer leans towards yes, but it’s not a no‑brainer for everyone.

Where it earns its price is in comfort and consistency. I spend less time going over the same spots, my neck is less irritated, and I don’t have to think about charging much. The PowerCase and cleaning station are nice quality-of-life extras that make it easier to keep the shaver in good shape and ready to go. If you travel often or hate manual cleaning, you’ll actually use these features instead of them just collecting dust.

On the other hand, if you only shave twice a week, have skin that tolerates pretty much anything, or don’t care about having the absolute top Braun model, a Series 5 or 7 will probably be enough and will save you a lot of money. You still get a decent shave, just with a bit more time and slightly less comfort. Also, if you’re used to a safety razor with cheap double-edge blades and you like that ritual, this will feel expensive both upfront and in terms of replacement heads, even if it’s more convenient.

So in terms of value, I’d say it’s good but not outstanding. You’re paying for premium convenience and comfort, not for some miracle shave. If you have the budget and shave often, the investment makes sense over a few years. If you’re counting every euro or only shave occasionally, there are better value options in Braun’s own lineup or from competitors.

Design-wise, the Series 9 Pro+ definitely looks like a high‑end shaver. The metallic silver finish gives it a more expensive vibe than the lower Braun ranges, and the head with its 5 cutting elements looks serious. In the hand, it has a bit of weight but nothing crazy; you can use it for 10–15 minutes without feeling like you’re lifting a dumbbell. The weight is around 1.45 kg including everything in the box, but the shaver alone is obviously much lighter than that number suggests.

The handle shape is comfortable, with a slight curve that makes it easy to grip. There’s some rubberized texture on the back which helps when your hands are wet, especially if you shave in the shower. The main button is well placed, easy to hit with your thumb without repositioning your hand. There’s also a small lock switch to stop the head from moving freely, which is handy for doing the mustache area or under the nose where you want more control.

My main criticism is that, for this price, it’s still a lot of plastic. It’s well-finished plastic and doesn’t feel cheap, but if you expect a metal body, you’ll be a bit disappointed. Some users mentioned they would have liked more stainless steel, and I agree. The head mechanism and the ProTrimmer blade do use stainless steel, and that part feels solid, but the body is clearly designed to be light and cheaper to manufacture.

In terms of ergonomics, I had no big complaints. It’s easy to angle the head along the jawline and neck, and the flexible head does help follow the contours. If you’re coming from a bulkier foil shaver, this will feel a bit more refined and easier to maneuver. If you’re used to a tiny travel shaver, this will feel big at first, but you get used to it quickly. Overall, the design is practical and good-looking, but not as “premium” in materials as the price might make you hope.

The shaver itself is rated for about 60 minutes of use on a full charge. In my real use, that translated to roughly 10–12 shaves of 5 minutes each before I started getting low-battery anxiety. So around two weeks of daily shaving is realistic if you’re not doing 15‑minute sessions. The battery indicator is clear enough with bars on the handle, so you can see roughly where you stand.

The nice extra is the PowerCase. It’s a rigid travel case with its own battery inside, and Braun claims up to 90 minutes of extra shaving time. I didn’t fully drain and time it with a stopwatch, but I did a 4‑day business trip taking only the shaver in the PowerCase and no cable. I shaved every day and came back with battery still left on both the shaver and the case. For travel, that’s honestly very convenient: you just drop the shaver in the case after use and it slowly tops it up.

Charging speed is decent. There’s a quick-charge function: around 5 minutes on the charger gives you enough juice for one shave, which I did test once after forgetting to charge. That’s handy if you’re the type who remembers to shave five minutes before leaving home. The downside is the charging cable is pretty short, and with the station taking up space, placement near a socket can be slightly annoying in a cramped bathroom.

Overall, battery life is more than enough for regular users. Unless you’re sharing the shaver with someone else or doing long full-body sessions (which it’s not really designed for), you’ll rarely worry about it dying mid-shave. The PowerCase is not essential if you never travel, but if you’re often on the move or stay in hotels, it stops you from hunting for outlets, which is genuinely pleasant.

For me, the biggest reason to pay more for a shaver is comfort. My neck is pretty sensitive and with cheaper foil shavers I often ended up with redness and a bit of burning, especially if I shaved two days in a row. With the Series 9 Pro+, that’s where I noticed the biggest difference. Even dry shaving, which usually irritates me, is much more tolerable. After a week of daily use, my neck wasn’t angry and I didn’t feel like I needed aftershave balm every single time.

The head has 5 synchronized cutting elements, and in practice that just means you need fewer passes over the same area to get things smooth. Less going back and forth usually means less irritation. On my cheeks and jaw, I get to a pretty close result in one or two passes. On the neck, especially where hairs grow in random directions, I still need several passes, but it’s not painful. Occasionally, if I push too hard or rush, I do feel some slight warmth on the skin, but nothing like what I had with older models.

I also tried it wet with shaving gel. Comfort goes up another notch there: the shaver glides more and the skin feels calmer afterward. The downside is it takes longer and you have to rinse the head more often, so I mostly do that on weekends. For weekday mornings, I stick to dry shaving and my skin is still fine. I didn’t get any cuts, which is expected with a foil shaver, but it’s worth saying for people switching from manual razors.

If you have very sensitive skin, I’d say this is one of the better electric options I’ve tried. It’s not magic: if you do a full 10‑minute session pressing hard, you’ll still feel it. But for normal 5‑minute daily shaves, the balance between closeness and comfort is pretty solid. Compared to my old Braun Series 5, I clearly get fewer red patches and less tightness, which for me alone justifies part of the price difference.

Braun advertises this Series 9 Pro+ as 100% made in Germany with up to 5 years warranty if you register it, which is reassuring. In the hand, it does feel well assembled: no creaks, no loose parts, and the head clicks into place with a solid feel. I’ve rinsed it under the tap many times (it’s fully waterproof) and used it with gel in the shower, and so far there’s no sign of water ingress or weird noises.

The parts that see the most wear are the foil head and the moving cutters. Braun suggests replacing the head around every 14–18 months depending on use. The replacement head isn’t cheap, but compared to some competitors it’s still acceptable. If you’re used to buying manual cartridges, the yearly cost is in the same ballpark or slightly lower, especially if you buy the heads when they’re on promotion. The ProTrimmer blade also seems solid; I’ve used it a lot for sideburns and mustache edges and it still cuts cleanly.

Maintenance is pretty simple with the SmartCare station. You drop the shaver in and it automatically cleans, lubricates and charges. That keeps the head in good condition with minimal effort. The downside is the cleaning cartridges are consumables, so you’re adding an ongoing cost. If you want to save money, you can just rinse the head under warm water, let it dry, and occasionally add a drop of oil. I did a mix of both: station once or twice a week, water rinse the other days.

Based on the build quality and the warranty, I’d expect this shaver to last several years easily if you don’t drop it regularly. The plastic body might scratch over time, but that’s cosmetic. Mechanically, nothing feels fragile. For the price, I’d have liked a bit more metal, but in terms of actual durability, I don’t see any red flags. Just be aware of the long-term cost of replacement heads and cleaning cartridges when you do the math.

Performance-wise, Braun advertises this as suitable for 1, 3 or 7‑day beards. I put that to the test. On a 1‑day beard (my usual routine), it’s honestly easy: two passes on the cheeks, a bit more attention on the neck, and I’m done in about 4–6 minutes. The result is very close, not quite as baby-smooth as a fresh manual razor, but close enough that no one will notice unless they rub your face.

On a 3‑day beard, it still handles things well. The ProLift element does seem to catch the longer hairs without too much pulling. I did notice that if I skip three days, I need to go a bit slower and make sure I move against the grain in all directions on the neck. Still, no major tugging and no pain, just a bit more time. The integrated ProTrimmer is handy here: I sometimes use it to trim down the mustache area or some stubborn longer hairs before going in with the main foil.

On a 7‑day beard, though, it’s a different story. It will cut, but it’s not very comfortable. You feel more pulling, and the head clogs faster with hair, so you’re constantly stopping to rinse. Braun says it’s suitable for 7‑day beards, but in real life I’d say it’s not ideal. If you regularly let your beard grow for a week, you’re better off trimming it down first with a dedicated beard trimmer and then finishing with the Series 9. Otherwise, expect some discomfort and a longer session.

Where it shines is the consistency: day after day, the shave feels the same. No random days where it suddenly irritates more or misses patches. It also does a good job on tricky areas like under the jawline and around the Adam’s apple, as long as you stretch the skin a bit and take your time. Compared to the Japanese foil competitor I tried before (Panasonic), the Braun feels more forgiving but a tiny bit less ultra-close. For my skin, that trade-off is worth it.

Out of the box, you get quite a bit of stuff: the Series 9 Pro+ shaver itself, the SmartCare 6‑in‑1 cleaning and charging station, one cleaning cartridge, the PowerCase (a rigid travel case with a built‑in battery), a short charging cable, and a small cleaning brush. No pouch apart from the PowerCase, because that basically acts as the travel case. Everything is packed fairly tightly, no nonsense, but it does feel like a lot of plastic and cardboard for one shaver.

The shaver arrives partially charged; mine showed two bars out of five, so I could test it right away. Braun claims up to 60 minutes of shaving on the internal battery and up to 90 extra minutes from the PowerCase. In simple terms, that means you can go on a week‑long trip without touching a wall socket if you shave quickly. In practice, I’ll explain later, but it’s not far from reality if you’re not super slow.

The SmartCare station is fairly bulky, so it’s clearly meant to stay in one place in the bathroom. You drop the shaver in, press the button, and it automatically chooses a cleaning program. It also charges at the same time. The cleaning cartridges are consumables, so there’s an ongoing cost there; if you use it after every shave, you’ll go through them quicker. You can still rinse the shaver under the tap, so you’re not forced to use the station every time.

Overall, the bundle feels like the “full package” version of an electric shaver. On the plus side, you’re basically set with everything you need for a while. On the downside, if you live in a small place or hate clutter around the sink, the dock and the PowerCase are more stuff to manage. And the cable being quite short is a bit annoying; for the price, they could have thrown in a slightly longer one.