Braun Nevo: a next-level razor
1-9-2026
Translation: Katherine Martin
Video: Valentina Sproge-Werndli
Cutter: Valentina Sproge-Werndli
Pictures: Valentina Sproge-Werndli
Yes, this razor gives you a really smooth shave. And it’s gentle on the skin to boot. Is it comfortable to hold? Absolutely. What can I say? The Braun Nevo is the best electric shaver I’ve tested so far.
Look, I get it. To be successful, you have to blow your own trumpet every now and again. But Braun has taken the fanfare around its new Nevo razor to new heights. According to the promotional blurb, the device is «a new dawn of skin smoothness», one in which men «no longer have to compromise», offering a «perfectly close shave and smooth skin». I suspect the main objective behind jazzing up that wording was to justify the razor’s hefty list price. When it first went on sale, it fetched a price of around 800 francs or euros. Now, just a few weeks later, prices have dropped significantly. Depending on the model and features, you can buy the razor for under 500 francs.
Mind you, that’s still a lot of money. Too much? To find out, I tested the new Nevo over the course of several weeks. I tried it on stubble ranging from one to seven days old, both wet and dry. While I was at it, I compared the Braun razor to top-of-the-range razors from competing brands, specifically from Panasonic and Philips. As you can see in the video at the top of the page, I wanted to see how it compared to the Series 9. Previously, that was the best high-end razor in Braun’s line-up.
My verdict after nearly 100 shaves? The Nevo does a thorough job and irritates my skin less than the other razors in this comparison. I notice the difference on every part of my face, but especially on my neck, where the skin isn’t quite as firm as it was in my youth.
Having said that, shaving with the Nevo isn’t quite the experience you see portrayed in its promo video. The model gently runs the Nevo over his angular chin, making his stubble disappear as if by magic and leaving his skin as smooth as a glass-ceramic hob. Either I haven’t mastered the correct technique, or my stubble is more unruly than this Adonis-faced model. In any case, I need to run the razor over my face three or four times before I feel like my skin is smooth enough. But yes, it scratches me less often than competing shavers. Braun seems to have got something right here; the razor has «250 diamond-sharp blades», propelled by an oscillating motor to move 10,000 times per second. Now, don’t be too blinded by Braun’s salesy claim that the Nevo performs «40,000 cutting actions». That’s just the number of motor oscillations multiplied by the number of blades. If you look at previous razors, you’ll find the same specs.
When I try the Nevo on hard-to-reach, sensitive areas like my chin or upper lip, I notice the foil really is a bit smoother. According to Braun, it glides 20 per cent better – something it attributes to its «Aerotouch Technology».
More chip power, less noise
It isn’t quite as easy to gauge how much the Autosense feature has improved in comparison to the Series 9 models. That, by the way, is Braun’s name for the processor inside the shaver, which adjusts the motor power to suit beard density. In other words, in especially hairy areas, the Nevo will ramp up the power. Generally speaking, it’s bound to be better for the longevity of the motor not to have it constantly running at maximum power.
Speaking of the motor, the Nevo really is slightly quieter than its predecessor, the Series 9. Not significantly so, but you do hear the difference. Most importantly, the pitch of the buzzing sound isn’t as annoying. Braun chalks this up to the razor’s «newly designed internal architecture». There’s also an «innovative damping system that decouples the motor from the outer casing and reduces vibrations.» Braun has apparently confirmed in an acoustics lab that the shaver is quieter, but it doesn’t mention a specific percentage reduction. Sometimes, what manufacturers don’t say speaks volumes.
Stainless steel and an OLED display
The product design aspect of the Nevo is what comes closest to being revolutionary. As for its appearance? Not so much. The Series 9 and the Nevo have clear similarities. Looks-wise, the most significant design change took place between the Series 7 and the Series 9.
One thing that is new about the Nevo, however, is that it’s less plasticky. The casing is made of thin, lightweight stainless steel, which is supposedly extra durable and sturdy. I like the way it feels in my hand. Even so, the Nevo isn’t a patch on the stainless steel elegance of an iPhone. The back panel with the retractable trimmer is made of plastic. As is the shaving head, despite its silvery sheen. Not to mention the power button.
The new OLED display distracts from all this plastic. Coloured icons on the screen tell you what to do, when the razor needs to be charged or cleaned and how much of the 60-minute battery life is left.
Much to my delight, Braun has resisted the temptation to cobble together an app. I’m not exactly broken up about the lack of smartphone notifications delivering priceless information such as my longest shaving streak. I’ll also cope just fine without knowing how long my average daily shave lasts. Sometimes, less really is more.
A razor that lasts a lifetime?
If we’re talking about the lifespan of a pricey product, however, then more certainly is more. Let’s face it, it’s not exactly helpful if a shaver can survive an accidental fall from a fifth-floor balcony thanks to its stainless steel casing, only to end up in the bin the following day on account of a dud battery.
Braun has thought ahead on this, designing the battery to retain at least 80 per cent of its capacity after 1,000 full charge cycles. Let me do some quick maths on that here:
- One charging cycle gives you 60 minutes of runtime.
- So, 1,000 charging cycles works out at 60,000 minutes of runtime.
- If one shave takes five minutes, you’ll be able to shave 12,000 times.
- This would amount to about 33 years if you shave every day.
Alright, I didn’t factor battery degradation into my calculations there. So let’s just say the battery life is 25 years, which is still fantastic. If you’ve got a thicker beard and, as a result, take longer to shave, you might be more likely to wear out the Nero’s battery quicker. In which case, Braun offers a battery replacement service. «We’ve made repairs even easier and faster,» Braun said, in a response to a media inquiry I sent them. Alrighty then. Hopefully replacing the battery won’t cost me a fortune if the worst comes to the worst.
In a nutshell
Not revolutionary, but a seriously good razor
The Nevo’s predecessor, the Series 9 shaver, was already a really good device. It’s just that the Nevo is a little bit better. Braun hasn’t revolutionised shaving with its new top-of-the-line model, but it’s propelled it forward once again. That’s why I’m giving the Nevo five stars. Its combination of sharper blades and a better gliding foil makes my skin feel smoother and less irritated. Aside from that, Braun is still Braun. Yes, the cleaning station keeps the razor clean, but it requires cleaning cartridges as consumables. Plus, you need to change the shaving head every 18 months.
Pro
- Easy cleaning and drying in the station
- Easy-to-understand display
- Long battery life
- No app required
- Close, very smooth shave
Contra
- Expensive cleaning cartridges
- At 90 centimetres long, the power cable is slightly short
Martin Jungfer
Head of Content
Martin.Jungfer@digitecgalaxus.chJournalist since 1997. Stopovers in Franconia (or the Franken region), Lake Constance, Obwalden, Nidwalden and Zurich. Father since 2014. Expert in editorial organisation and motivation. Focus on sustainability, home office tools, beautiful things for the home, creative toys and sports equipment.
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