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Braun Series 3 Wet & Dry Electric Shaver Review

by  Kin Liu -  Last updated on February 8, 2022

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From coffee grinders to irons to toothbrushes, Braun shavers have been a household name for many home and self-care appliances, perhaps none more so than for its range of electric shaving and beard trimming.

Braun has been making electric shavers since the 1950s, although in this article we will be looking at their modern, and more popular shavers, the Braun shaver Series 3.

The Braun Series 3 lies at the more affordable end of electric shavers. Although this means that it doesn’t have all the cutting-edge features that some of the higher series have, it is still an excellent range of entry-level, foil shavers, especially compared to other electric shavers of a similar price this should top the list in a grooming kit list

And it is still designed by Germans, although it is made in China, as it is only Series 5 and above that are manufactured in Germany itself.

In this article we will go through all of the different features what the Braun Series 3 electric razors have to offer. We’ll take a look at its design, battery life, how it can be cleaned, and most importantly, its performance.

We’ll also explore the different models that are available, and what they have to offer. By the end of this article, you’ll know everything you need to know about the Braun Series 3 electric shavers.

Design

The Series 3 electric shavers come in the black and blue colour scheme. The main handle tends to be black, with blue detailing, which is the case for the 3010S, 3040S, 3080S and the 3010Bt, although the 3070cc and the 3000S are completely black and it works well for a close shave. The 3010s has been rated 4 out 5 stars.

Beyond the colours, they all have a very similar design with an indicator panel on the front. This panel includes the power button and the shaver head replacement timer. One of the main pieces of feedback from people who tried this shaver was that it is a very comfortable fit.

It fits snugly in the hand, with the thumb naturally coming to rest over the power button. It also feels a bit sturdier than a lot of the more expensive models, which is a great plus. In terms of the shaver head, it has three cutting heads and a trimmer.

We’ll take a look at the trimmer in more detail below. As far as the three cutting heads are concerned, the two outer foils are designed with a pattern of irregularly shaped holes in the foil shaver, with the purpose of trapping the shorter hairs and cutting them very short.

Then there is an inner cutter which is designed to cut the long hair, and also to lift the hairs that lay flat against the skin. Around this central cutter there is white plastic, which works as a tiny comb to guide the hair towards the cutter.

It is worth mentioning that the shaving head is very flexible, as each of the three cutting heads can go up and down, as well as left or right. This should make it easier to go over the more difficult areas. We will explore how well it works in the performance section of this article.

Series 3 ProSkin 3080s
  • 3 pressure-sensitive shaving elements for efficiency and skin comfort

Battery

In general the Braun Series 3 shavers last for close to two weeks, although some have a better battery life than others.

The 310S, which is the cheapest option, lasts for around thirty minutes from one charge, but most of the other models, which cost a bit more, tend to last for around forty-five minutes. This means that if you spend four minutes shaving, they will last for around eleven shaves.

However, it only takes an hour to reach full charge, and if you run out of charge, it only takes five minutes to be sufficiently charged for a shave. So you don’t really need to worry about them running out of battery and being unable to use them.

The Braun Series 3 works on 100-240V AC, which means that it can be used pretty much anywhere in the world, as long as you have a travel adaptor. However, the cord of the charger is coiled, a bit like old-school telephones.

This means that it is the shortest charger on the market. Although that won’t be a problem for everyone, it does mean that for some people it won’t be long enough to reach the bathroom counter.

The cord can either be plugged directly into the bottom of the shaver, or it can be plugged into the charging stand. A lot of people have reported that the cord is quite stiff while plugging it directly into the shaver, so the charging stand can be a good alternative.

Sale
Braun Electric Series 3 Razor with Precision Trimmer, Rechargeable, Wet & Dry Foil Shaver for Men, Blue/Black, 4 Piece
  • CLOSE, CLEAN SHAVE: 3 blade free floating system follows facial contours for a flawless finish and includes a middle trimmer to cut difficult hairs along with 2x SensoFoil shaving elements for ultimate closeness and skin comfort
  • CAPTURES MORE HAIR: Precision trimmer for accurate moustache and sideburn trimming, includes a specialized MicroComb designed to capture more hair in each stroke *compared to Braun series 3, tested on 3 day beards
  • BUILT TO LAST: Durable cordless electric shaver, lasting up to 7 years and designed for hair removal with water, foam or gel

Cleaning

Something that you might not have realised about the Braun Series 3 is that the shavers that they are waterproof to up to 5m. Although we aren’t suggesting that you should take them snorkelling with you, it does mean that you can keep them clean using running water, without worrying about damaging them.

However, some of the shavers, such as the 3050cc and the 3070cc come with a clean and charge station. This is a 3-action, alcohol-based station, which cleans, charges, and lubricates the shaver every day, helping to keep it feeling fresh.

If you’re not getting the clean and charge station, some users suggest that cleaning the shaver after every one or two shaves, and lubricating the blades once a week (with sewing machine oil) is a great way to keep the shaver looking and feeling like new.

Braun Electric Razor for Men, Series 3 3050cc Electric Shaver, Rechargeable, Wet & Dry Foil Shaver, Clean and Charge Station
  • MicroComb guides more hair into the cutting parts of the electric shaver for faster shaving
  • Three independently floating cutting elements adapt to facial contours
  • 1 hour charge lasts for one whole week of electric shaving

Performance

The Braun Series 3 shavers have a buzz sound that begins when you switch them on, but it is a lot quieter than a lot of other brands, particularly in this price range. It is best used on hair growth that is three days or less. Once the hair gets longer, the shaver tends to either miss them or tug them, rather than cutting them clean.

Users of the various Braun Series 3 shavers agree that they are effective across the jawline, cheeks and chin, as well as under the nose. However, the neck seems to be a bit of a more problematic area.

It also struggles a bit more with hair that goes in different directions and lays flat against the skin, so you’ll need to have patience if that sounds like your own hair.

The wet/dry models hold up really good in the shower, as well as when shaving dry, and tend to be a little smoother in the shower. As all wet & dry electric shavers, the Series 3 3010s can only be operated cordless.

However, multiple reported problems when trying to use shower foam, as the electric shaver blocks the blades so that it is just pushing the foam around your face. However, as the electric shaver can go in the shower anyway, the foam is made somewhat redundant on the other hand it is really easy to use and esy to clean and is highly recommended.

Sale
Braun Electric Razor for Men, Series 3 310s Electric Foil Shaver, Rechargeable, Wet & Dry
  • 3 pressure-sensitive shaving elements for efficiency and skin comfort
  • Rechargeable long-life NiMH batteries
  • Wet&Dry shaver for use with water, foam or gel

Trimmer

One of the best features of the Braun Series 3 electric shavers is the trimmer, for a number of reasons. Firstly, the cutting head of the trimmer in Series 3 is wider than any of the other pop-up trimmers on Braun shavers.

This does mean that it is less precise, and therefore less adept at mustaches, sideburns, or goatees. However, being wider means that you can use it for trimming the beard hairs to a shorter length before shaving, which is very useful.

When it comes to pop-up trimmers, many of them sit at the same height as the rest of the shaving head. However, this one pops up to be higher than the cutting heads, which is a really great feature for a great product. For one thing, it means that you can see what you’re doing while you’re trimming.

Also, it is better than a lot of pop-up trimmers at cutting longer hairs, although it wouldn’t be ideal as a replacement for actual beard trimmers. But if you’re on the road, or just need to do a quick trim, this gets the job done. It is perfect for sensitive skin and will give any razor burn, at the same time giving you a smooth shave.

Be warned that one user reported that it can have a tendency of pinching the skin when you try to slide it back into place after use, so just watch out for that.

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Different models available

There are a number of different models available in the Braun Series 3, so we are just going to run through some of the more popular models, and highlight their main features and advantages or disadvantages.

3080s

Series 3 ProSkin 3080s
  • 3 pressure-sensitive shaving elements for efficiency and skin comfort

The Braun series 3 ProSkin 3080s has both wet and dry capability, and it comes with a charging stand. This one comes with a precision mode, which should help with the under-the-nose area. It comes in black, with blue detail, and comes with both a charging stand and a travel case. This model has received a 5 star rating.

3040s

Sale
Braun Electric Series 3 Razor with Precision Trimmer, Rechargeable, Wet & Dry Foil Shaver for Men, Blue/Black, 4 Piece
  • CLOSE, CLEAN SHAVE: 3 blade free floating system follows facial contours for a flawless finish and includes a middle trimmer to cut difficult hairs along with 2x SensoFoil shaving elements for ultimate closeness and skin comfort
  • CAPTURES MORE HAIR: Precision trimmer for accurate moustache and sideburn trimming, includes a specialized MicroComb designed to capture more hair in each stroke *compared to Braun series 3, tested on 3 day beards
  • BUILT TO LAST: Durable cordless electric shaver, lasting up to 7 years and designed for hair removal with water, foam or gel

The series 3 ProSkin 3040s is very similar to the 3080s. It also comes with both wet shaving and dry shaving compatibility, as well as a precision trimmer. This one doesn’t offer a charging stand or travel case in the purchase, but it is a little cheaper. This product has been rated 5 stars by most of the users.

3050cc

Braun Electric Razor for Men, Series 3 3050cc Electric Shaver, Rechargeable, Wet & Dry Foil Shaver, Clean and Charge Station
  • MicroComb guides more hair into the cutting parts of the electric shaver for faster shaving
  • Three independently floating cutting elements adapt to facial contours
  • 1 hour charge lasts for one whole week of electric shaving

In contrast to the last two options, this shaver is only for dry shave. However, it is one of the few models of electric shavers in the Series 3 that can be used while it is charging. So if you’re often in a hurry and tend to forget to charge, this would be a good option for you. It also comes with a clean and charge station, so it should always feel as good as new.

310s

Sale
Braun Electric Razor for Men, Series 3 310s Electric Foil Shaver, Rechargeable, Wet & Dry
  • 3 pressure-sensitive shaving elements for efficiency and skin comfort
  • Rechargeable long-life NiMH batteries
  • Wet&Dry shaver for use with water, foam or gel

The cheapest shaver of all of these options, at under $40, the 310s has the capability to shave in both the wet and the dry. It comes with the brighter blue sides and charges in just an hour. If you’re looking for a bargain then this is the best option for you.

3010Bt

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The 3010Bt is another foil shaver in this range that is capable of shaving in both the wet and the dry. It comes with five different combs, from 1-7mm, so you should be able to deal with different levels of your beard. In terms of colour, this one has bright blue strips down each side which make it stand out from the others. It is in the middle of the price range of these options.

3000S

Braun Electric Razor for Men Foil Shaver, Rechargeable, Black, 4 Piece Set
  • ULTIMATE COMFORT: 3 independently floating shaving elements adapt to your contours for greater comfort
  • FASTER & GENTLER SHAVE: A specialized Micro Comb captures more hair in each stroke*, for a faster and gentler shave *Versus Braun Series 3. Tested on 3 day beard
  • BEST EFFICIENCY: The thin precision head is uniquely designed to tackle hard-to-reach areas, like under the nose

The 3000S is one of the cheaper options in this range of shavers. It comes in a sleek black design and has a thin precision head. Although it is designed as a dry shaver, it is still waterproof up to 5m, like all of Braun’s shavers, so you should be able to clean it without any difficulty.

3070cc

No products found.

The 3070cc, which is our last one to evaluate here, is also the most expensive of the options presented, at closer to $100. For that price though, you get a shaver that comes with a clean and charge station, as well as a travel pouch for if you’re ever on the road. This option comes in plain black.

Conclusion

The Braun Series 3 isn’t the most advanced series of electric shavers (you can look to the higher numbered series within Braun for starters), however, there is a reason why it is such a popular choice with people. As an entry-level foil shaver, it really does have a lot to recommend it.

The three different cutting heads, which are all really flexible, mean that you are able to get a clean shave, even over the more contoured parts of the face. And although some people find the neck a bit trickier, it is still capable of providing a good shave.

The battery life means that you can go for well over a week without having to worry about charging it, but equally, as it just needs a five minute charge to fully shave your face, you shouldn’t have to worry about running out of battery.

The fact that all the Braun electric shavers are waterproof to 5m is another excellent feature. Keeping the shaver clean is a great way to keep it highly functional and to prevent the need for buying a new one.

However, our favourite feature of the Braun Series 3 has to be the pop-up trimmer. It is wider and pops up higher than most other shavers, making it much more effective than so many others like it.

Different models offer some different features and come with some different additions, such as a travel case or the clean and charge station, but after taking a look at our list, and having read the different features of the series, you should now be in a much better place to choose your new shaver.

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Last update on 2024-10-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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