Braun Series 7 Electric Foil Shaver

Product Description

The Braun Series 7 790cc-4 electric foil shavers have the world’s only intelligent Sonic technology that automatically increases power in difficult areas. Powered by a lithium ion battery, the Braun Series 7 790cc electric shaver is the smart choice for the discerning man. Significantly gentler and more efficient than any rotary shaver, the Series 7 electric razor contours to the curves of your face with flexible blades on a fully pivoting head for maximum coverage. This electric shaver also adapts to your beard density, using up to 10,000 micro vibrations per minute when needed. With less strokes and pressure required while shaving, the results are smooth skin without the skin irritation. And as the Series 7 electric razors shave as close as 0.05mm, as thin as half a human hair, that smoothness lasts longer, for a highly efficient and superior shave. The electric shaver also comes with a Clean&Charge station, the world's only 5- action alcohol-based system that hygiencially cleans, charges, and lubricates the blades and shaver. Engineered, tested and made in Germany, you are guaranteed exceptional performance every day, for up to 7 years. The best environmental temperature for charging is between 41 degree Fahrenheit to 95 degree Fahrenheit / 5 degree Celsius to 35 degree Celsius. Do not expose the shaver to temperatures higher than 122 degree Fahrenheit / 50 degree Celsius for extended periods of time.

Features

• Intelligent Sonic technology automatically increases power while shaving in difficult areas and on denser hair

Top Reviews

I dont know why it needs to pop out like that. My old one was tight to the ...
by ACiDrAgOn (4 out of 5 stars)
March 26, 2018

Miss my old braun which finally wouldnt turn off and just buzzed until it died, it lasted over 10 years! So bought this one. The base keeps my cleaning fluid from evaporating which is an improvement. My old one would dry out so fast to where I would take it out and cover it every time I finished using it. But I noticed this shaver pulls my hairs sometimes. Also the sideburn shaver is awful. I dont know why it needs to pop out like that. My old one was tight to the shaver and was easy to use and I even used it to freehand any hairs that stuck out in between haircuts. But I wouldn't dare to try it with this for the fear of shaving a bald spot on my head. The head flexes in and out which is nice and there is a battery and hygiene indicator which is nice.
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It will dull fairly quickly
by Blitzkrieger Man (2 out of 5 stars)
July 5, 2017

"Seven years" yeah right. Mine didn't even last one.

Quick background: I have thick (Eastern/Central European) facial hair and had relied on the Braun series 5 model all throughout high school before the battery died. Seeing as it was out of the two year warranty, I figured three years out of a new razor was worth upgrading to the 7 series. One thing I want to make clear is that the main razor will more or less last and do the job of providing a clean shave. However, the blade is very "sensitive", so to speak, especially over time. It will dull fairly quickly. This is not a huge issue provided you trim your hair short enough that you can go over it a bunch of times and from different angles, and keep up with replacing the main head every 6 months-year and clean it with the solution every time it says it needs it. (Though it will still "pull" hairs sometimes and cause razor burn with repeated use.) Even with that upkeep do expect razor burn and the pulled hair to be issues, but the main reason that forced me to write this review comes from something I'd taken for granted: the attached trimmer.

Right away, my main focus went to the attached trimmer when I received my 7 series. I felt that the trimmer was inferior to the 5 series in that it seemed cheaper and did not seem to trim as closely- which meant patches of stubble could not be shaved thoroughly. You can literally compare the two: the 5 series has a larger blade that feels more secure with its vertical sliding action compared to smaller blade with the flip action. I've attached pictures below to highlight this. Beyond the quicker dulling (which should be a big complaint in and of itself) the 7-series also contains a major design flaw in that you cannot take apart the trimmer to clean it in any significant way. Lo' and behold not even a year later the flipper gets stuck thanks to excess trimmed hair that is near-impossible to clean out. With enough shaking/adjusting the thing closed, but upon opening again it broke off altogether. Seems curious that they would design it this way.

Yes: I could go through customer service. But my line of work requires that I be clean shaven consistently. Which for me means a shave every other day. I cannot afford to go through customer service and must order a new trimmer. For a razor advertised to last seven years and for mine to not even last one...I advise a high level of caution when going with the seven series. At least if you have thicker facial hair. The main head still works--for now--so my solution is going to be to order an outside trimmer and still use the main head for shaving. But the fact this is even necessary screams to me that this thing shouldn't have been A) advertised to last beyond two years. B) Shouldn't be this expensive. While we're on the matter: I'm not sure why they created a trimmer that you can't unattach. Let alone one that is inferior to the 5 series.

As for the main razor itself: it does seem to work okay-ish. It does dull and will eventually begin to "pull" on hairs if they aren't trimmed short enough, and will eventually give you razor burn. But it is more or less identical to the 5 series and was worth the convenience of having an electric razor. That convenience being that its harder to cut yourself and doesn't theoretically need replacing every use. That is contingent on the trimmer lasting, however, which mine didn't beyond a year. A major issue with the Braun's in general is that only the main head is attachable. This means that the trimmer or battery will dull over time which means that the actual lifetime is MUCH shorter than the advertised one. In the 7 series case- don't expect it to last longer than 2 years. I've gone ahead and attached a few pictures. In addition to comparing the main attached trimmers. I want you also to notice the long crease that hair seeps into at the base of the razor's head.

In Summary:

A) The trimmer of the 7-series is made more cheaply and with worse design than the 5-series. (In my case it just broke off.)

B) Brauns in general advertise long-lasting, but because only the main head of the razor is attachable this means that either the battery or Trimmer will give way to wear/tear over time long before the main head's mechanism fails. This to me would seem like common sense.

C) The main head definitely does wear faster than one would think, and while it does do the job of providing a clean shave--this is contingent on having a trimmer buzz your beard short enough for it to do the job. (Yes, even after 1-2 days of growth.) Seeing how much hair seeps into the creases of this thing, I wouldn't be surprised if the main function lasts to the two year mark.

Overall, the problems of B and C are bearable. Those two were issues I'd dealt with with the 5-series. But A just made me mad to the point where I had to write this review. Not even a year of use and already a critical mechanism failure. I literally have no interest in going out of my way for this other than to punish Braun for gross and false advertising. I'd be an idiot for literally believing this thing would last the advertised seven years, but not even one? For those of you looking at this review and wondering about the two year warranty. Go ahead and take a look at the long list of conditions relating to use the warranty and you tell me if its worth the hassle.
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A bitter end to an otherwise nice shaver
by Colby (1 out of 5 stars)
August 13, 2015

This is a fantastic electric razor. I previously had a Braun 390cc from the mid 2000s and the battery was finally shot. I was able to score a Philips Norelco 9300 on promotion but was hugely disappointed with that shaver. The build quality was subpar for such an expensive shaver and the cleaning station was a disaster (software bugs made it clean endlessly for hours and hours). I returned it and got the Braun 790cc. I should've got this to begin with...

Update: The Braun has taken a turn for the worse. My Series 7 has made two trips to the repair depot because the cleaning station incorrectly senses the fluid level and thinks it's empty, when it is not. It refuses to run a cleaning cycle if it senses the fluid level is empty. Braun service replaces the cleaning station but, based on the numerous complaints online, it is clear to me that this is a fundamental engineering issue with the Series 7 and not an isolated case.

Replacement foils are now very hard to find and prohibitively expensive. I wouldn't even consider investing in a new foil/cutter block because my Series 7 will soon be out of warranty. My feedback for Braun's engineering team would be to go back to basics and get rid of the complex electronic crap that breaks down and the customer won't be able to fix once it's out of warranty. You have lost a loyal customer.
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Customer support is horrible!
by Jason P (1 out of 5 stars)
December 10, 2015

My one star rating has to do with Braun customer support. I bought this razor and I was very impressed with the quality of the product as well as the shave it provided. After 3 months of using the razor, I noticed that the battery started to leak. I contacted customer support and I provided a picture of where the battery was leaking (where the charger plugs in). I requested a replacement razor since this was clearly a manufacturer defect. The response was that they can't simply replace my razor and instead, I must send the razor to their service center where it will take 15 business days so that they can fix and send it back. I was quite disappointed to find out that Braun didn't supply a prepaid shipping label, so I had to pay to ship my razor to a Braun service center when I only had it for 3 months.

My razor was delivered to the service center on 11/6/15. It is now 12/10/15 and I still don't have my razor. I've contacted Braun customer support multiple times to try and get an update. Braun is unable to locate my razor and they are having issues communicating with their service center. So far, they are refusing to send me a replacement.

What's so disappointing is the fact that I really enjoyed the razor, but at this point, I'll never buy another Braun product again since I know they won't provide adequate support.
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For me it's an extremely close shave with zero effort and zero irritation
by Jim Morton (5 out of 5 stars)
November 28, 2018

This is my 2 month review update (almost 2 months). This runs like a dream and shaves so close that I barely know my own face. My face is baby butt smooth. I watch TV while I shave. I clean it once a week MANUALLY by taking off the screen blade assembly and LIGHTLY tap it on my desk, then I use some can air to blow it out. I then use a drop of gun oil on my finger tip and massage it into the screen and blades.

My wife tried it and she loves it. She can't believe how comfortable the shave is and she loves the slight vibrations.

In my original review, I suggested that the user keeps it locked back but I now find it great to unlock it and let it float.

TIP: NEVER PRESS HARD WHEN SHAVING, just go over the area in multiple directions till you don't hear any more cutting. Pressing hard will wear out the blades. If manually cleaning ALWAYS USE A DROP OF LIGHT HIGH QUALITY OIL EACH TIME. Cleaning without the cleaning fluid gives great results as long is it is a gentle and use some air to assist in blowing it out and oil to reduce blade friction. A Touch of alcohol and letting it dry before adding the oil can help sanitize.

My original review is below and it still stands other than locking the head.

Maybe this is too soon to rate but I will come back if this status changes. First: I have very light whiskers, but they are tough. I was previously using a great razor (old style butterfly twist to open double edge safety razor). I was using it because my whiskers would get stuck in the multi-bladed razors and I would go through blades almost every shave. My butterfly gives almost as close and allows me to open it up and clean it.

Ok, I am old and getting lazy in my retirement so I thought about getting an electric. I have used several in the past but was never satisfied, but I figured the tech must me much better. I also realize most companies build very cheap now a days. So I considered it and took the leap. I bought this Braun 790cc7 razor using Amazon Prime. 2 working days and I have it. I AM SO VERY HAPPY WITH MY FIRST SHAVE.

I opened the box, took inventory, started reading the booklet and then put the razor in the charger unit (without the cleaning fluid). 3/4 charge I pulled it and started shaving my 3 day old beard with out a precut. I half expected it to pull and rip the hairs off my face but SHAZAM, it was easy and no pain and my shave was faster than my butterfly and just as smooth. I KNOW, YOU DOUBT THE CLOSENESS. But it's true. For one, my butterfly with a premium expensive blade does good but not as good as the multi blade razors. But this Braun 970cc matches the closeness of my butterfly.

I no longer have to buy blades each month. I no longer have to stop the bleeding on my face (mostly neck and around my mouth. I just have to charge it or use it corded, and then clean.... OH! BTW! I opened it up to clean it manually and this fantastic machine ground the whiskers so fine I barely had any hairs to clean. I tapped it as the instructions say and then blew out with some compressed air (just a 2 second burst) and it is spotless. After assembling the head back to the body, I added a drop of oil as the book said to do and lightly rubbed it in and then ran it for about 20 seconds. The oil I used was a light gun oil.

One thing I recommend for anyone using this... DON'T PRESS THIS HARD AGAINST THE FACE. Lightly go over it and go over in small segments, not long strokes. I also found that I did better by locking the head back so it didn't float. That way I could angle the blades as I felt it across my face, and I can control the pressure. If this shaver poops out on me, I will update my review.
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My second Series 7. Love the shave.
by John Bradshaw (5 out of 5 stars)
June 22, 2018

My second (2) Braun Series 7... My last one lasted me nearly five (5) years, finally died when I tried to replace the blades.

Three (3) things I love...
1. Extremely close shave.
2. Extremely gentle shave, especially on the neck.
3. Does not leave me with bumps, red marks, or ingrown hairs.

Three (3) things I like...
1. The blades last me between 12-14mo. I shave every 1-3 days.
2. The shave solution lasts me between 3-5 weeks, on average. It smells good, leaves the razor with a pleasant odor.
3. The battery lasts me several days on a trip without additional charging.
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When Replacement Blade Time Comes It's Going To Hurt
by John Rich (2 out of 5 stars)
April 22, 2017

I have waited well over a year to review this shaver just so that I could say I fully understood its nuances. Having used all of the major brands/styles of shavers over the years I, unfortunately, can't recommend this product.

It definitely takes me longer to get a close shave than any other razor I've ever used (even the cheaper models). The center shaving element can cut you if you are not careful or are a little over aggressive in your shaving.

The cleaning & charging station is nice to have and does keep the razor reasonably clean. It can clog over time though resulting in a razor that never gets clean and it leaves a residue that you have to wipe off. The cleaning cartridges are an added consumable expense that you have to consider. However, if you are spending this much on a razor it's probably not much of a consideration.

The biggest problem is the cost of the replacement blade. It has almost doubled in price and now costs 35% of this shaver's cost. For that price, I could buy a cheaper competing shaver, use it until it's dull, throw the shaver away, buy a new one...and still save money over this replacement blade.

The older reviews may sing this shaver's praises but the times have changed...
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Mixed feelings with this - get the Series 9 instead
by Johnny thunder (3 out of 5 stars)
August 21, 2018

As of this writing, i've had the Braun Series 7 for 9 months. This is a long review, so if you need to skip to the most important point, just read the verdict towards the bottom.

I always found rotary shavers to be effective at tackling the wirey hair in my light beard. However, it got to the point that I felt the rotary shavers of today felt "cheap," compared to previous generations.

Enter the Braun...I purchased a Series 5 and a Series 7. I'll compare this model to the Series 5, as well as to the rotary shavers I used to have.
*Why the Series 7?*

I got the Series 7 because it is the most-recommended shaver on the planet. This is how I would break-down the differences between them:
-Series 1 - Terrible, avoid at all costs
-Series 3 - Good starter shaver for teens with thicker skin
-Series 5 - Good for light and medium-light skin, does an adequate job with sensitive skin, pivoting head, excellent build-quality. Second most-powerful motor. Not recommended for medium or heavy stubble.
-Series 7 - Most-recommended shaver on the planet, good for just about every skin type, has a massaging shaving experience, good features for sensitive skin, good build quality, second-most-powerful motor, replacement heads are wayyy too expensive and justify purchasing the Series 9.
-Series 8 - See Series 5 above, as this is a re-branded Braun Series 5 (Model 5795). Costco-exclusive that appeared around 2019. Not really a true successor to the Series 7, as it does not include an extra shaving blade in the cassette. Has a longer-lasting battery, though.
-Series 9 - Top-of-the line, has an extra blade compared to the Series 7, excellent build-quality, most-comfortable shave, most-powerful motor, design is based-heavily on the Series 5. Blades are expensive, but may not be as expensive as the Series 7.
*Why the 790cc-series?*

I purchased this specifically from Amazon, as it seemed to be the only retailer that sold the 790cc series. Therefore, I specifically opted for this "older" generation because it can be used corded and cordlessly. No longer do I have to wait for the shaver to charge, as I can just plug it in. More importantly, when the battery dies, I can still use it corded until the motor dies. I don't have to look into replacing the battery myself, unlike a lot of cordless razors that cannot be used while plugged-in.

If you don't know, the Series 7 is probably the most-recommended men's shaver on the planet. Why? A host of reasons, including:
-It has been out since 2010
-Cool-looking design
-A very close shave
-A comfortable shave, thanks to the massaging, pulsating motor
-A motor that adjusts to your beard
-Five power settings

Why do I diverge from the crowd? Well, the Series 5030 was released in 2012 - a full two years after the Series 7 was released. The changes were so successful that the 5040-series from 2016 was essentially the same - minus the dual power function. The 2015 Series 9 looks practically-identical to the Series 5. I think that says alot, as the Series 7's design didn't carry-over to another model - at least not yet. Here's why I prefer the Series 5.
-Cost - This is the mac-daddy of all issues when comparing the 5 and the 7. Not only is this cheaper than the Series 7, but the blades are cheaper as well. The Series 7's most-well-known issue is that the same, high-quality blades that came with your Series 7 are notoriously-difficult to find...so much so, that there is actually price-gouging. While a Series 7 blade could fit on a Series 5 razor, the opposite isn't true, unfortunately.
-Design - From an aesthetic POV, I like the Series 5 better. But more importantly, the "locking head" truly locks. The Series 7's perhaps second-most well-known issue is that the lock will break with normal usage, which isn't covered under the warranty.
-Build quality - I found that Series 5 felt more substantial than the Series 7. I already thought that the Series 7 had great build quality, but the Series 5 beats it in my honest opinion. Both the 5 and 7 are miles-ahead of anything low-to-mid-grade from Norelco, and slightly edges-out their highest-grade options.
-Grip - I can get a firmer grip on the Series 5 than the Series 7
-Indicator lights - The Series 7 has a hard-to-read LCD screen, which shows the battery and hygiene levels...except the hygiene monitor doesn't work by detecting cleanliness...the only thing that it detects is how long it has been since you cleaned it in the cleaning station. In other words, the hygiene indicator is a cash-grab. The Series 5, on the other hand, has LED lights that don't require ambient light to see clearly. Only a waterdrop icon appears when it says it needs to be cleaned - I just ignore it.
-Beard trimmer - I find that the Series 5's beard trimmer is designed better and less-likely to break.
-Cord placement - the power port is located at the back of the Series 7, which means that the unit has to be face-down when you charge it. If you had a corded model, it makes shaving with the cord very awkward. The Series 5 power port, on the other hand, is located on the bottom - so you can charge it from any angle you want.
-Travel lock - The Series 5 has one; the Series 7 doesn't. The Series 7 tries to make up for this by making the power button recessed and thereby more difficult to press.

I would concede the following points to the Series 7
-Power button location - The series 5's power button is located in an awkward situation. So when you first start shaving, don't be surprised if you accidentally turn it off. Annoying, but with a bit of practice, you'll overcome this.
-More comfortable shave - I like the pulsating shave
-Quicker shave - It takes less time and effort, compared to the Series 5
-Power Levels - You can choose one of five power levels. For someone with a light, sensitive beard, this is great and I definitely notice a difference.
*Shaving Experience*

As previously mentioned, I have a light beard - so anything over the Series 5 is overkill for me. Since beard types are different, I would recommend at least the Series 7 if you have at least a medium beard.

The shave with the Series 5 is adequately-comfortable, but does take more passes than the Series 7 or Series 9 to get their same level of closeness.
*Should I upgrade to the Series 7?*

The short answer would be that it depends on the thickness of your beard, as well as your skin sensitivity.

For the longer answer is, if you can find a great deal, just go with the Series 9. You may pay more for the razor, but it'll even itself out by the cheaper blades.
*Is the cleaning station worth it?*

In my experience - no. I own both the Series 5 and 7, and each has a cleaning station. While it does a good job, I didn't like the station's build quality and the fact that replacement cartridges can get expensive. In other words, it's a cash-grab. Basically, you put the shaver head-first into the cleaner. It'll charge while it cleans and will use the power of gravity to pulsate-out the hair to the bottom of the cleaning cartridge.

Instead, I take a glass with soap, flip the shaver head-first, and dunk it into the water while it is running (don't do this if you have it plugged-in). The hair will naturally fall to the bottom of the glass and the blades will be clean - its the exact same concept as the cleaning station - albeit safer (not flammable) and less-expensive. Once it is dry, i'll put a little oil on it.
*Value*

I felt that this was a good deal for the $125 I paid for it.
*Verdict*
3/5 Stars - I have very mixed feelings on the Series 7. This is a nice product, but any nice product has to be backed by a great design and plentiful spare parts. While it offers a wonderfully-comfortable shave with customizable power options, I would definitely get the Series 9 over this. There's a reason that the newer 2012 Series 5's design was used for the 2015 Series 9, instead of the 2010 Series 7.

The extremely-high prices for genuine Series 7 replacement blades, as well as the likelihood of the Series 7's locking head breaking with normal use make me hesitant to recommend this shaver.

If the Series 7 is overkill for you, go for the Series 5. If you *must* get a Series 7, just fork-over some extra money for the Series 9. I've tried it and it is everything that the Series 7 should have been and more - no need for power levels, more durable, excellent locking head, more powerful, shaves faster - I could go on and on.
*UPDATE 1 - July 3, 2019*

I've had the Braun Series 7 for 9 months and it works fine - I don't use it as much as my Series 5, though, which would explain why I haven't had to deal with the hassle of being gouged for a new Series 7 blade.
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Replacement Foils are VERY expensive and RARE.
by NinjN (1 out of 5 stars)
November 17, 2016

Be careful, Replacement Foils for the 790cc are almost non-existent as another reviewer wrote. You're going to be paying upwards to 70$ for a replacement foil that is nearly out-of-stock everywhere and likely not as good as the original foil. Think down the line a year later when you need a replacement foil, how hard to find and even more expensive they'll be by then...unless they update the shaver and restock all of a sudden, but I wouldn't hold my breathe till it happens.

And with how often you may be replacing the replacement Foils, you'll likely be spending the price of a series 9 shaver in a few years.

I personally have to travel 20+ miles just to go to a store in my state that MAY have them in stock.

The shaver itself is at least 5 year old model, look at list date. This shaver will technically be a dinosaur in a few more years.

p.s. You CANNOT return this to Amazon because of its material design, so you either gift it to someone or sell it back. Or try and refund it through Braun's horrid 6-10 week waiting period. I resold mine in as little as a few minutes through Ebay.
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Don't buy - Updated to: - maybe buy
by Roy (3 out of 5 stars)
December 23, 2016

The replacement blades/foil kit issue appears to have been resolved. I enjoy the razor it's self but not the cleaning unit. It became clogged causing the fluid to not circulate properly and I've been unable to unclog it. I've been manually cleaning the razor by hand for the past few years.

Original post:

Braun apparently discontinued the replacement blades/foil so you're throwing your money away if you buy one of these. A few 3rd party sellers currently have the replacements for double the price or more of what they were. Because of this I'm really upset with Braun and unless they correct this problem quickly I'll never purchase any of their products again.

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