ConsFirst / At-home IPL hair removal / Compare
Braun Skin i·expert Smart IPL vs Ulike Air 10 IPL Hair Removal Device
Which one has the downsides you can live with?
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The short answer
Braun Skin i·expert Smart IPL ranks higher (#1 vs #3 of 8) and scores better on results (as reported), durability & flash life.
The biggest complaint about the Braun Skin i·expert Smart IPL is expensive; for the Ulike Air 10 IPL Hair Removal Device it's results vary between people. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Side by side
| Braun Skin i·expert Smart IPL | Ulike Air 10 IPL Hair Removal Device | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in at-home ipl hair removal | #1 | #3 |
| Price tier | $$$ | $$ |
| Type | IPL | IPL |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | 9% | 13% |
| Overall score | 3.7 | 3.5 |
| Results (as reported) | 4.0 | 3.5 |
| Comfort (pain, heat) | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Speed & coverage | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| Skin-tone range | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Durability & flash life | 4.0 | 3.5 |
Price tiers: $ under $150 · $$ $150–350 · $$$ over $350. 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
Braun Skin i·expert Smart IPL
- Expensive
Women's Health says the price is the only thing it doesn't like. InStyle says it sits at the higher end of the market and the upfront cost could be a hurdle unless on sale. Amazon value-for-money mentions are mixed.
- App not for everyone
GH notes some users didn't like having to use an app, and app functionality gets mixed Amazon feedback.
- Stings for some
Amazon's summary says opinions on pain are mixed: some find it virtually painless while others report stinging. Effectiveness is also a mixed topic (96 mentions).
Ulike Air 10 IPL Hair Removal Device
- Results vary between people
In Wirecutter's three-month panel, some testers saw major hair-growth reduction while others saw minimal to no change. Amazon's summary says some owners say it works well while others report it doesn't function properly (functionality is a mixed topic, 675 mentions).
- Irritation for some
A few GH testers had irritation, including hives, after use, and GH suggests skipping it if your skin is sensitive. Byrdie notes it occasionally pinches skin. (InStyle's tester, by contrast, never had tender skin.)
Source: Good Housekeeping, Byrdie - Single big head, noisy fan, frequent sessions
Wirecutter found its one head too big to hold evenly on concave or convex spots. Women's Health says the cooling fan is a bit noisy. InStyle notes you need to use it every other day to see results, and both legs took about 20 minutes.
Who should pick which
Pick the Braun Skin i·expert Smart IPL if
People who want app reminders and coverage tracking
Light to medium skin with dark hair
Treating the bikini area (GH notes its manual covers the female pubic area)
Skip it if: You don't want to use an app; You're on a budget (the Pro 5 has the same core hardware); You have dark brown or black skin (GH)
Pick the Ulike Air 10 IPL Hair Removal Device if
Comfort, thanks to the cooled head
Thick or stubborn hair (dual-flash mode)
Gliding over legs with auto-flash
Skip it if: You have very dark (Fitzpatrick VI) skin, or blonde, red, gray or white hair (Forbes); Your skin is on the sensitive side (GH); You want one head small enough for knees and ankles (Wirecutter)
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