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Philips Norelco i9000 Prestige / Prestige Ultra Electric Shaver vs Braun Series 8 Electric Shaver
Which one has the downsides you can live with?
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The short answer
Philips Norelco i9000 Prestige / Prestige Ultra Electric Shaver ranks higher (#2 vs #3 of 8) and scores better on easy cleaning, durability. Braun Series 8 Electric Shaver wins on skin comfort, battery.
The biggest complaint about the Philips Norelco i9000 Prestige / Prestige Ultra Electric Shaver is pricey for small gains; for the Braun Series 8 Electric Shaver it's pricey replacement heads. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Side by side
| Philips Norelco i9000 Prestige / Prestige Ultra Electric Shaver | Braun Series 8 Electric Shaver | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in electric shavers | #2 | #3 |
| Price tier | $$$ | $$$ |
| Type | Rotary | Foil |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | 10% | 12% |
| Overall score | 4.1 | 4.1 |
| Closeness | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Skin comfort | 4.0 | 4.5 |
| Battery | 4.0 | 4.5 |
| Easy cleaning | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Durability | 4.0 | 3.5 |
Price tiers: $ under $80 · $$ $80–200 · $$$ over $200. Highlighted = clearly better (a score gap of 0.3 or more, or a 1–2★ share at least 3 points lower). Scores are explained, with sources, on each product's page.
Top complaints
Philips Norelco i9000 Prestige / Prestige Ultra Electric Shaver
- Pricey for small gains
ShaverCheck lists the price and only incremental gains over earlier Philips models as cons. Wirecutter says you're paying for frivolous extras such as a light-up pressure sensor and app coaching. Amazon's summary says some owners find it disappointing for such an expensive model.
- Irritation and battery are hit-or-miss
ShaverCheck, whose reviewer has sensitive skin, had occasional stinging and redness and says foil shavers usually shave closer. Amazon's summary says some owners find it excellent for sensitive skin while others report lots of irritation, and some complain of fast battery drain.
- App sign-up, no USB-C, no wall charger
Wirecutter notes the GroomTribe app requires registering an email address. ShaverCheck says some features are app-only and the shaver uses a Philips-to-USB-A cable with no USB-C and no charger included.
Braun Series 8 Electric Shaver
- Pricey replacement heads
Wirecutter says the foils should be replaced every 18 months and a new head runs about $70. ShaverCheck lists the pricey head as a con, though it costs less than a Series 9 cassette.
Source: Wirecutter, ShaverCheck (Series 8 review) - Not the closest on coarse beards
ShaverCheck found the neck and chin sometimes left slightly rough patches with coarse, dense hair and says Panasonic's Arc 4 and Arc 5 shave closer. Amazon's review summary says opinions on its functionality and value are mixed.
- Head only pivots one way; weak trimmer; bulky extras
Wirecutter notes the head pivots only vertically, the built-in trimmer is no match for a standalone one, and the cc version's cleaning station and nearly 10-inch charging case take up space. ShaverCheck calls the slide-out trimmer mediocre and says the shaver is pretty loud; Amazon's summary calls noise feedback mixed.
Who should pick which
Pick the Philips Norelco i9000 Prestige / Prestige Ultra Electric Shaver if
Rotary fans
Shaving every few days
Easy rinsing and a long warranty
Skip it if: You want the closest shave possible (a foil is closer); You don't want app features or registration; You want USB-C or a wall charger in the box
Pick the Braun Series 8 Electric Shaver if
Daily shavers who want Braun comfort for less
Sensitive skin
Long battery life
Skip it if: You want the closest possible shave on a dense beard; You need a good built-in beard trimmer; You don't want to pay about $70 for heads
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