Braun Series 9 Pro 9477cc Manual

Pros: very fast and powerful, comfortable, excellent closeness of the shave, great performance with longer and flat-lying hairs, easy to use, practical cleaning station, solid battery life, power case

Cons: pricey, not quite as comfortable as the standard Series 9

Our Rating:

[4.5 out of 5 stars]

Buy the Braun Series 9 Pro 9477cc

With more than 6 years since the introduction of the original Series 9 and two incremental updates along the way, a major overhaul to Braun’s flagship shaver was long overdue.

And while we were all expecting an all-new Series 10, Braun decided to follow the same approach as before and simply improve the existing Series 9.

But this time around, the changes do seem to be more significant than before: the new Series 9 Pro comes with a redesigned shaving head (cassette) and a really interesting accessory, the power case.

I managed to buy the Braun Series 9 Pro 9477cc model ahead of the USA launch and in this review, I will be sharing the things that truly matter to us, the end users.

Having tested the shaver extensively for a couple of months, I’ll discuss the pros, cons and shaving performance and we’ll also see if it’s a worthy upgrade for current Series 9 owners.

That said, let’s dive right in.

Table of Contents

• Features overview
• Build quality and ergonomics
• Included accessories
• Battery life and charging
• Series 9 Pro shaving performance
  • Closeness of the shave
  • Comfort
  • Speed and effectiveness when shaving longer hairs
  • Wet shaving performance
  • Head orientation — does it matter?
  • Hair trimmer
  • Noise level
• Cleaning and maintenance
  • Automatic cleaning
  • Manual cleaning
  • Lubrication
• Replacement parts availability
• Wrapup—Should you buy the Braun Series 9 Pro?
• Alternative shavers
  • Braun Series 9 Pro vs Philips 9000 Prestige

Features overview

As mentioned above, I got the Series 9 Pro 9477cc model, which includes the automatic Clean & Charge station and the new power case.

In the beginning, only the 9477cc and 9465cc (no power case) were available in the USA exclusively through Braun’s website.

However, more Series 9 Pro models are beginning to show up on Amazon, like the 9465cc in Noble Metal or the gold 9419s.

Braun Series 9 Pro 9465cc

See the price on Amazon

The 9465cc/9460cc only includes the standard hard leather travel case instead of the power case (so it also costs less than the 9477cc).

Braun Series 9 Pro 9460cc

See the price on Amazon

The solo 9419s (no cleaning station) is usually the cheapest.

Performance-wise, all of them are identical to my 9477cc, so you might consider this a 9460cc, 9465cc or 9419s review as well.

The 9477cc is also available in various European countries, alongside many other S9 Pro models, with or without a cleaning station or power case.

The shaving performance is however identical throughout the entire Series 9 Pro range.

The shavers that do not come with a cleaning station (called solo models) will only work with a Series 9 station of type 5430, also shipped with the 93xx Series 9.

So if you already own a 93xx Series 9 (like the 9385cc or 9390cc), you can use your existing cleaning station with a solo S9 Pro like the 9427s or 9419s, for example.

For more details about the various Series 9 models, differences and compatibilities, you can check out my comprehensive guide.

With that out of the way, let’s start the review with a quick look over the most important features of the Series 9 Pro.

1. New 4-blade shaving head

This is in my opinion the highlight of the S9 Pro — a change to the actual shaving head that can have a direct impact on the performance of the shaver.

Referred to as a 4+1 Pro head, the Series 9 Pro comes with a redesigned cassette that also has a new part number, 94M.

Compared to the previous Series 9 cassettes that come with the regular Series 9, the S9 Pro cassette has a new trimmer that should be even better at catching and cutting longer facial hair.

According to Braun, the new Series 9 Pro can shave a beard length of up to 7 days, improving the already excellent performance of the regular Series 9 in this regard (5 days).

Another benefit of this redesigned cutting element could be in the form of reliability.

As some users have reported in various online reviews and even in the comments section of this website, some of the existing Series 9 cassettes would fail after a few months of use.

And in many cases, the culprit seemed to be one of the two central trimmers.

But we’ll have to wait and see if the 94M cassette will be better in that regard.

Tip: the new 94M/94s cassette is backward compatible with all the previous Series 9 models. So you will be able to use it on your existing Series 9.

The redesigned element is now called a ProLift trimmer (the one with the gold finish) and it is different than the previous HyperLift&Cut trimmer when compared side by side.

I will share my thoughts on it in the performance section of the review after testing the Series 9 Pro on various beard lengths.

The other 3 shaving elements of the cassette have remained unchanged.

By the way, Braun still tries to push the idea that the Series 9 has 5 shaving elements (the so-called 4+1 Pro Head).

Well, it has 4 active shaving elements, so that’s just marketing fluff. The Panasonic Arc 5 for example truly has 5 blades. The Series 9, including the 2021 Pro, has 4.

2. Flexing shaving head and a redesigned locking switch

Things are exactly as before with regards to the flexing capabilities of the S9 Pro’s head.

And that’s good because the Series 9 has the simplest and most effective head I’ve seen on any foil shaver.

Even though it only moves up and down, the range of motion is generous, the head is pretty slim for a 4-blade shaver and the 4 cutters also move smoothly.

This makes shaving with the Series 9 Pro effortless and it’s very easy to maintain the foils in optimal contact with the skin.

What is different in the case of the Series 9 Pro is the switch that locks the head in place for more control.

Previously, the thumb rest doubled as a switch, while in the case of the S9 Pro models there’s a small, dedicated switch right below the thumb rest.

I honestly don’t see any advantages to this change, but it is there and Braun makes a pretty big deal out of it, calling it a Precision Switch, even though it does the exact same thing as before.

3. Sonic + AutoSense technology

The former is again carried over from the regular Series 9.

Basically, the 4 blades move at a rate of 10 000 oscillations per minute, hence the 40 000 cross-cutting actions per minute in the specs (4 * 10 000).

That’s not anything out of the ordinary (Panasonic shavers have motors capable of 14 000 cutting actions), but the numbers alone don’t mean much.

The Series 9 Pro continues to feel very powerful and fast, even more so than previously (mode details later on).

The AutoSense technology supposedly adjusts the power depending on the beard density, but I have never been able to notice any differences in speed.

Again, this is pretty obvious in the case of other shaver brands that use a similar technology as you can hear and feel the changes in speed.

4. Wet & dry, cordless only use

My S9 Pro 9477cc is a wet & dry shaver, hence it will only work cordless.

In fact, all the other Pro models are wet & dry as well. You can shave dry or with your shaving cream or gel of choice.

Just like the previous Series 9 generation, the 2021 Pro shavers are equipped with larger rechargeable batteries that provide up to 60 minutes of cordless shaving.

5. Power case

This is another novelty of the Pro models and one that is quite useful in my opinion.

Precisely, it’s a hard travel/storage case with a built-in rechargeable battery that charges the shaver while it’s stored inside the case.

Not all models include this case though, but fortunately, the 9477cc does.

And just like the S9 Pro’s new cassette, the case is also compatible with the older Series 9, so you will again be able to buy it and use it with your existing shaver.

It’s also compatible with the Series 8.

I will get back to the case later on in the review.

6. Clean & Charge station

The so-called 5in1 SmartCare center only comes with the cc models and it’s the same station of the 93xx Series 9 models (type 5430).

It automatically cleans, lubricates, dries and charges the shaver.

As usual, we’ll check it out in the Cleaning & Maintenance section.

7. Pro LED display

Nothing has changed here either compared to most of the previous Series 9 models.

As such, we have the same white backlit display that shows various icons like battery charge, cleaning reminder and so on.

Being a Pro display, it also shows the last remaining 9 minutes of battery charge in actual Arabic digits.

8. Precision trimmer

The usual slide-out trimmer is present on the Braun Series 9 Pro as well.

It comes in handy for trimming and shaping your sideburns or even trimming a few stubborn flat-lying hairs.

Build quality and ergonomics

Being an evolution of the Series 9, the Pro shares pretty much everything with its predecessor.

As such, the shaver’s dimensions, weight, build quality and overall aesthetics and fit&finish have remained unchanged.

That said, the Series 9 never set any standards in this regard (Panasonic is in my opinion the best with its Arc 5 and Arc 6 lines).

While the Series 9 Pro is clearly above average when it comes to the quality of the construction, things could be better.

For example, the shavers always looked and felt a bit plasticky with the thinner panels and lighter weight.

The 9477cc that I’ve been testing comes in a matte silver color, so it looks better in my opinion than the chrome versions and the satin finish helps with hiding smudges and hairline scratches.

And I also think that the Series 9 Pro looks more spectacular in the official photos than in reality.

And for the price of the shaver, they could’ve used aluminum instead of plastic for the silver panels (like Panasonic does in the case of a few selected models).

However, there’s nothing really wrong with plastic and my 9477cc still feels pretty solid in hand, with no creaking sounds or panel gaps.

Starting from the top, we have the 4-blade 94M cassette that apart from the updated gold trimmer, is the same as the previous 92 cassettes.

It’s very easy to remove thanks to the two release tabs on the sides of the head.

But it’s not always as smooth to put it back on as it sometimes snags onto something. A quick fix to that would be to press and hold the release tabs while putting it back in place.

Not a huge deal, but worth mentioning nevertheless as some users have asked me specifically about a fix.

The range of motion for the 4 cutters is on the other hand excellent.

It also takes just a bit of pressure in order to move them, so this system actually helps with keeping the foils in contact with the skin at all times.

I personally find this, along with the very basic front-to-back flexing of the entire head to be the most efficient system on any foil razor.

Below the head there’s a texturized thumb rest that used to double as a head locking switch.

This is one of the changes specific to the Braun Series 9 Pro, a rather insignificant (and unnecessary) one.

There’s now a smaller tab that acts as a standalone switch. In the free position, the head can swivel freely.

Sliding the tab down will lock it in a fixed position, while a ratcheting system still allows you to move the head manually in a different position.

This can be useful when shaving a tighter spot like right below the nose.

In my experience, the previous implementation of this worked just fine, so in the case of the S9 Pro, it’s merely another thing added to the list of new features.

The power button is very clicky and has a very short travel when pressed.

It’s also a travel lock that you can activate by pressing and holding the button for 3 seconds.

A red padlock icon will show up on the display to confirm that the power button is now locked and the shaver can’t be switched on by accident.

You can deactivate the travel lock by pressing and holding the power button again for 3 seconds.

The display is the same as before, pretty basic and not particularly sharp. There’s some backlight bleeding around the symbols when they show up on the display.

The battery indicator has 5 levels, represented by 5 small segments that turn off gradually as the battery charge drops.

The Braun Series 9 Pro 9477cc in this review, as well as the rest of the Pro models, come with the more advanced display that also shows the remaining 9 minutes of use in actual Arabic numerals.

In the past generations, this was only available on a few specific models.

Other icons that show up on the display of the S9 Pro are the foil replacement reminder, cleaning indicator (cc models only) and low charge.

On the back of the Braun S9 Pro there’s the usual slide-out hair trimmer, exactly as before.

The dimpled rubber sleeve is very grippy and that same material is used on the trimmer itself.

You can also see the two metal studs that connect the shaver to the cleaning station.

My 9477cc weighs 206 grams (7.26 oz), so it is 10 grams lighter than my other older S9 shavers, including a 9290cc that comes with a smaller battery.

I personally find it very enjoyable and easy to use, even for beginners. The head is pretty slim for a 4-blade foil razor and conforms easily to the different areas of the face.

Overall, the Pro Series 9 is exactly as before in terms of build quality and ergonomics.

It probably won’t wow you, but there’s nothing that really stands out in a bad way either.

Included accessories

The Braun Series 9 Pro 9477cc that I’ve been testing comes with the following accessories:

• Clean & Charge station (Type 5430)
• 1 x Cleaning cartridge
• Power case
• Charger
• Cleaning brush
• User manuals

There’s no textile or leather case included with the models that come with the power case. Also, there’s still no protective cap for any of the Series 9 Pro models.

I would have liked to see one of those textile/leather cases included as well and give the user an option when traveling.

While the power case is really nice and useful, it’s also very large and heavy (I will be getting into more details in the charging section).

Battery life and charging

The Braun 9477cc, as well as the rest of the models in the new 2021 Pro range, are all suitable for wet&dry use.

As a consequence, all of them will only operate in cordless mode, so you won’t be able to shave while the razor is charging.

The battery fitted to the S9 Pro is the same one used in the previous generation, so you’ll get around 60 minutes of cordless shaving time.

That’s pretty good and above the industry average. Moreover, Braun has a good track record regarding the reliability of their batteries.

Charging a Series 9 Pro from the mains takes around 50 minutes.

In the case of the cc models like the 9477cc, 9465cc, 9460cc, etc. you can do that by plugging the cord directly into the shaver’s port (the regular way) or you can also charge it via the cleaning station.

All Series 9 Pro models have a rather basic 5 stage battery indicator, each segment representing around 20% of battery charge.

However, you may have noticed in some of the official product images of the Series 9 Pro that the display shows the digit 9:

That is a bit misleading and some users have rightfully thought that they got a shaver with a less advanced display.

That is not the case. The display will show a digit (starting with 9) only when the battery charge drops below a certain threshold and it can only last for around 9 more minutes.

After that, the counter will start going down as you’re using the shaver.

Here it is on my 9477cc that normally only shows the bars:

When a digit is being displayed, a red plug icon will also blink intermittently, informing the user that the shaver must be charged.

Let’s now take a close look at the charging case.

Quite a few Series 9 Pro models, be it cc or solo, also come with the so-called Braun PowerCase.

This accessory is brand new and quite exciting.

It also works with every other previously released Series 9 and Series 8, so you can buy it and use it with your existing shaver.

The only part number I’ve found so far is 9484pc.

The case works like a power bank and according to Braun, it provides an additional 50% worth of battery charge to your Series 9.

But after trying it a few times, I think that number is slightly underrated as I’ve been able to charge my shaver from 0 to at least 80% (4 bars on the shaver’s battery indicator).

The charging time using the case as opposed to charging directly from the mains is also impressive, being only slightly slower.

It took around 40 minutes to charge my shaver (with the battery completely depleted).

The case itself is built like a tank.

It’s extremely sturdy, very nicely finished and offers excellent protection. The cleaning brush also fits nicely in its own place.

That said, it’s also quite large and heavy, which isn’t great when traveling. And that’s the main purpose of this case in my opinion.

Once you place the shaver inside, the case won’t automatically start charging it unless you press the case power button.

The top cover also has this small cutout/window so you can see the charging progress on the shaver’s display.

In order to charge the case’s battery, you’ll have to use the standard Braun charger (also included with each shaver).

So the case features Braun’s two-prong connector instead of a USB Type-C port for example.

That would have been more practical when traveling since you probably already have a charger for your phone or laptop.

But nevertheless, this type of accessory is genuinely useful and hopefully we’ll see something similar from the other brands as well.

I also think Braun deserves props for making it compatible with the previous Series 9 and 8.

Series 9 Pro shaving performance

Let’s now get to the part that matters the most: how good the new Braun Series 9 Pro shaves.

There’s a lot to be covered here, so I’ll break down this section into several chunks.

But if you like to skim through the details, here’s the short version:

The Braun Series 9 Pro shaves fantastic.

It’s one of the most enjoyable, comfortable and effective electric shavers on the market right now.

Braun Series 9 Pro 9465cc

See the price on Amazon

The S9 Pro is a safe buy for the majority of users out there, regardless of what they’re wanting from an electric razor (if the budget is not an issue). It’ll probably do the job (and quite well).

That said, there are some shortcomings as well as you’ll see next.

Closeness of the shave

This was never one of Braun’s strong points, at least not in the past 10 years or so.

While the closeness has always been more than adequate, it lagged a bit behind Panasonic, the brand that is still class-leading in this regard.

The Series 9 is in my experience the closest shaving razor in Braun’s current lineup.

And with the new Pro, things are at least as good as before.

The new shaving head/cassette of the Pro models (94s/94M) features a redesigned cutter that in theory doesn’t have any influence on closeness.

The two outermost foils are the elements that actually cut the hair at skin level and those are the same as before.

And since the Series 9 Pro comes with the same motor as before, the closeness should also be pretty much the same as before.

After testing it for a few weeks, I can confirm that it is at least as good and most users will find it very satisfying.

And I say at least as good because the Series 9 Pro sounds and feels a bit faster than my other, regular Series 9.

It’s a bit louder and feels punchier, even though on paper it is exactly the same.

I also used it side by side with another 92xx Series 9 and the Pro just bites into the hairs with more strength.

It is a bit difficult to explain, but it feels slightly more powerful and effective at cutting the hairs close to the skin.

The closeness, especially on the neck and cheeks is among the best I’ve got (while shaving dry). Maybe a tad better than with the regular S9, but it would be really difficult to quantify.

Where the Series 9 Pro still lags behind an Arc 5 for example is right below the nose and on the chin where my beard is really thick and dense.

But it’s not a huge difference and I’m probably nitpicking.

All in all, the closeness with the Braun Series 9 Pro is really good. And that’s not even the shaver’s main advantage over most other foil razors out there.

That said, I don’t think you should necessarily buy it for that alone if you already own an older Series 9 in good condition.

A cheaper option would be to buy the new cassette that is backward compatible (more details on that in the Replacement parts section).

Comfort

Regardless if you’re shaving wet or dry with the Series 9 Pro (with or without a pre-shave lotion), the comfort will be very good.

Unless you deliberately try to inflict some pain by pressing the head excessively or moving it extremely fast over sensitive areas, you’ll probably enjoy a smooth and irritation-free shave.

That said, the Braun S9 Pro, which to me seems (subjectively) more powerful, can also feel just a bit rougher if you’re very sloppy.

Again, I did try it side by side with the standard S9.

The difference is not major by any means, but I was able to notice it.

It didn’t result in any post-shave rash or discomfort, but during use, the Pro (with the new cassette) is slightly rougher.

My S9 Pro 9477cc also pinched the skin a couple of times and snagged a few long hairs.

The foils get only a bit warm after extended use, so no problems in that regard.

As a disclaimer, I have very sensitive skin, especially on the neck.

I think the Series 9 Pro will still be a great option for users with irritation-prone skin that also experience razor burn, ingrown hairs/folliculitis or need a few days between shaving sessions.

But if you want the absolute best for very sensitive skin, I think you should get one of the standard S9 models. The new 94M cassette, in combination with the punchier motor, are slightly less forgiving.

My guess is that the AutoSense sensor is just more liberal with the power, hence the Braun Series 9 Pro runs at peak power most of the time.

Speed and effectiveness when shaving longer hairs

This is the area where the Braun Series 9 Pro really shines and it’s better in my experience than any other foil razor on the market.

It’s powerful and fast and it takes me less time to complete my shave compared to using anything else, especially when shaving longer stubble.

The S9 Pro is very effective at catching difficult facial hair: longer, stray, flat-lying hairs that also grow in different directions.

These are usually a big problem for foil shavers and require many passes in order to get them.

The Braun Series 9 Pro is one of the best I’ve used so far when shaving a 4-day beard (most of the hairs on my neck stay flat on the skin as well).

Braun says that it can shave even a 7-day beard and I think that’s doable.

The redesigned ProLift trimmer is apparently the key element that makes the Pro Series 9 so effective.

The old one was already really good, to be honest, but any improvements are welcome.

The very simple head flexing system and the generous range of motion for the individual cutters allow optimum contact with the skin without much effort on your part.

This, together with the razor’s effectiveness with difficult hairs make for very enjoyable and short shaving sessions.

Also, most of the clipped stubble remains trapped inside the cassette.

Usually a foil shaver will make a mess on your forearm and shirt, but that is minimal with the Series 9 Pro.

Wet shaving performance

Braun shavers are generally very good when used dry regardless if it’s an entry-level model like the Series 3 or a range-topping Series 9.

They’re very comfortable, especially when compared to similarly priced razors from other brands and quite good with long and flat-lying hairs.

Most users will shave dry anyway, so the dry shaving performance of the Series 9 Pro was a priority during the test period.

But since all the Pro models are suitable for wet shaving, I also tried the 9477cc with shaving cream.

Unsurprisingly, the performance was stellar, the head glides easily on the skin, provided you’re only using a thin and watery layer of lather.

The comfort and closeness are also top-notch, but not that far off compared to a dry shave.

Some users could benefit more from shaving wet, but I think most will rather save some time and shave dry.

For example, I did notice a smoother finish below the nose where the hairs are very wiry and coarse compared to simply shaving dry.

Head orientation — does it matter?

You may have noticed that in Braun’s official press images of the Series 9 Pro, the shaving head (cassette) always appears with the gold ProLift cutter towards the front of the shaver, and not the other way around:

This may lead some users to believe that this is the correct way of fitting the cassette to the shaver.

On the other hand, in the Series 9 Pro presentation video, the cassette appears flipped 180 degrees, so with the golden trimmer towards the back of the shaver:

In reality, there’s no right or wrong way and Braun never explicitly mentions how the head should be positioned.

I tried it both ways and I couldn’t really notice any difference. With the Series 9 (the regular one), I did have a preference for one vs the other (the difference was subtle though).

That said, depending on the particularities of your facial hair — how dense it is, the direction of growth, your technique, the speed of the stroke and so on — fitting the cassette one way or the other could yield better results.

So my advice is to simply try it both ways, ideally during the same shave, and see which one works better for you. In most cases it shouldn’t be a significant difference, so don’t stress too much about it.

Hair trimmer

I was never a fan of Braun’s slide-out trimmers (first introduced with the Series 5).

The new Series 9 Pro uses the exact same design, with the trimmer located on the back of the shaver.

I find it awkward to use because of the way you have to hold the shaver and it’s only effective when you go against the grain, so you must hold the shaver upside down.

That’s also not ideal when you’re edging the bottom part of your sideburns, for example.

And even when moving against the grain, it’s just not as effective as a Panasonic trimmer nor does it cut the hairs as close to the skin.

I also wouldn’t use it to pre-trim my beard as it would take a lot of time and effort.

In conclusion, the trimmer on the Braun Series 9 Pro is mediocre at best, so just as it was on the regular Series 9.

Noise level

As mentioned a couple of times earlier in the review, the Braun Series 9 Pro is a bit louder than the standard models, but still among the quietest shavers in Braun’s lineup.

That doesn’t mean much though as foil razors are loud nevertheless.

And so is this one, especially when compared to a rotary. So nothing out of the ordinary in this regard — it will still wake up someone sleeping nearby for example.

Cleaning and maintenance

We know that the Braun Series 9 Pro is available with various accessories, the automatic cleaning&charging station being probably the most important one to factor in when deciding which model to buy.

Personally, I prefer getting the ones that come with the station (for any Braun shaver from the Series 5 and up).

There are a few reasons for that:

• The cc models don’t cost a lot more than the solo models;
• There are many cheap third-party cleaning solutions available;
• The station is the most practical out of all the brands since you can take the cartridge out, seal it and store it for future use;
• It’s easy to use and does a great job cleaning and lubricating the shaver;
• In time, some dirt and grime will accumulate inside the cassette and it is fiddly to clean it manually.

The Series 9 Pro 9477cc that I’ve been using comes with the cleaning station, so you have the option to clean it manually or automatically.

Let’s see what each of the two methods is like.

Automatic cleaning

The cleaning station bundled with the 9477cc and with all the other S9 Pro shavers is the same one from the previous 93xx Series 9 generation.

It has 3 cleaning modes (Short, Normal, Intensive) that the station automatically selects depending on how dirty the shaver is.

In practice, that claim is a bit misleading as the shaver itself cannot assess that; instead, it uses a simple timer-based logic to determine how long it’s been since the last automatic cleaning cycle.

In the case of the Series 9 Pro, the station tends to select the intensive cleaning mode extremely often, even after a short shaving session.

That was the case with the previous Series 9 as well. It’s not a big deal since the difference between the three cleaning modes is rather insignificant.

In order to get the station ready for use, you simply remove the cap from the cartridge, pop open the station by pressing the button on the back and slide the cartridge in place from the back.

Make sure the station is on a flat, sturdy surface so the solution won’t spill.

Close the station and connect the charging cable and you’ll all set.

The shaver must be dry and free of lather/foam before using the cleaning station.

So if you shave wet (with shaving cream), make sure to rinse the shaving head with water and pat it dry with a towel.

Also, before placing the shaver in the station, the head locking switch must be in the free position; otherwise, the shaver may not sit properly in place.

Tip: Before cleaning, I also like to remove the cassette and gently tap out the hairs so they won’t end up in the cartridge. This way it will last longer and the solution will remain cleaner.

Once you put the razor in place, the station will determine the cleaning program and show one, two or three droplets, corresponding to a short, normal or intensive cycle.

The shaver will also begin to charge automatically.

You then press the start button and the cleaning will begin.

Throughout the cycle, the shaver will be turned on and off and a pump will flush the solution through the shaving head.

It’s very short — even the intensive one lasts a couple of minutes — but quite loud.

After that, the station will start drying the shaving head. There’s a small fan that blows air through a cutout in the front of the station.

The drying phase lasts less than 50 minutes and it’s reasonably quiet. You can stop it at any time by pressing the start button on the station.

But if you let it run through the entire cycle, the shaving head will be mostly dry, at least on the outside.

On the inside, it will still be a bit damp, so I prefer to take out the shaver from the station and let it air dry with the cassette removed.

The station charges the razor, but not during the actual cleaning or drying.

I always take out the cleaning cartridge and put the cap back on once the drying is done.

This way the alcohol-based fluid won’t evaporate and the cartridge will last longer.

Being able to do this makes Braun stations really practical (as opposed to the ones from Panasonic or Philips).

The fluid also acts as a lubricant, so you won’t have to do it yourself (more on that next).

Manual cleaning

If you get a solo Series 9 Pro or for some reason you don’t want or can’t use the station, you will have to clean the shaver manually.

And for the most part, that’s pretty straightforward.

Here’s how I usually do it.

Just as before, I like to remove the cassette and tap out the bulk of hairs trapped inside.

Make sure to do it gently and never hit the actual foils on a hard surface, just the plastic frame.

You can also use the cleaning brush, but only on the inside of the cassette.

Some users take this one step further with a few jets from a can of compressed air.

That’s pretty much what a basic dry cleaning would look like.

But since the Braun Series 9 Pro is waterproof, rinsing everything with water and (optionally some liquid soap) is certainly more effective and recommended.

You don’t want dirt building up in the corners of the cassette as it will be difficult to remove in time.

So I simply put the cassette back in place, turn the shaver on and rinse it generously with warm tap water.

I do this for 10 to 15 seconds. For some extra thorough cleaning, I also add a few drops of liquid hand soap on the foils and with the shaver still turned on, I spread it with my finger so the lather covers all 4 cutters.

After that, I rinse everything with warm water and finally turn off the shaver.

I prefer to remove the cassette and give everything one final rinse, inside out. I then shake off the water and pat everything dry with a paper towel.

In order for the moisture to evaporate completely, I don’t attach the cassette to the shaver just yet and let it air dry overnight.

That’s pretty much it.

As you can see, manually cleaning the Series 9 Pro 9477cc is pretty effortless, however, I think it’s better to also use the station at least once a week.

It does a better job than me at removing any stubborn dirt, especially from the inner corners of the cassette.

Lubrication

Manually cleaning an electric razor also implies the need for lubrication.

If you only clean it dry or with water, but without soap, then once or twice a week should be enough.

If you also use soap, then you should lubricate the cutters after every cleaning as soap removes any trace of lubricant.

Regarding what you should use, any type of light lubricant that is mineral oil based will do. For example, clipper oil is cheap and effective.

You can check out this guide for a few options that I personally use.

Another excellent choice would be a spray lubricant for electric shavers. That one also cleans and removes mineral deposits from the blades.

Tip: If you use the cleaning station regularly, there’s no need for additional lubrication.

Replacement parts availability

All the S9 Pro models come with Braun’s new cassette, the 94M.

The letter M only designates the matte silver color of the foil frame.

That said, there could be a 94s as well that will feature a glossy/chrome silver frame.

And that’s because the Series 9 Pro 9477cc comes with the 94M cassette (matte finish), but the online user manual mentions the 94s as a replacement part.

The printed booklet does indicate the 94M as the only available cassette though.

The Series 9 Pro 94M cassette is finally available in the USA as well. Previously, the part could only be bought from Europe.

Braun 94M cassette

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However, the previous 92s/92b/92M cassettes that come with the regular Series 9 will also fit the Pro shavers.

So if for some reason you cannot get the 94M, you can fall back to one of the older cassettes.

Braun 92s cassette

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The only difference is that ProLift trimmer fitted to the 94 cassettes that’s a bit better at catching longer hairs.

But then again, I don’t find it quite as smooth and gentle as the previous cassettes.

Getting back to the 94M cassette, you will be able to use it on your existing Series 9. I already tried it on my 9385cc and 9290cc and it works perfectly.

The price of the new cassette is a bit higher compared to a 92s, but should go down as time passes.

As usual, Braun recommends changing the head every 18 months, but in practice, that’s not really the case.

Depending on how often you shave and how coarse your beard is, you may need to replace it sooner than that.

Properly cleaning and lubricating your shaver will however extend the cassette’s longevity.

Wrapup—Should you buy the Braun Series 9 Pro?

If you want a great-performing electric razor and your budget is not limited, the Series 9 Pro is one of the best you can currently get.

Considering the pros and cons of the Braun Series 9 Pro (9477cc, 9465cc, 9460cc etc.), the users that would benefit the most from it are the same as in the case of the standard Series 9.

Braun Series 9 Pro 9477cc

Precisely, men with sensitive, irritation-prone skin or men that shave less often.

But that doesn’t necessarily have to be the case.

The Series 9 Pro is comfortable, shaves close, it’s fast and powerful and very efficient at catching difficult hairs.

It’s also quite manageable for a 4-blade shaver, so even a beginner will get used to it.

If you also shave your head, the Series 9 Pro is one of the most capable out there.

The flexing of the head and in particular the movement of the individual cutters makes shaving the scalp a breeze.

I do not shave my entire head, but I do cut my hair myself and I always use a Series 9 for the skin fade on the sides and back of my head.

It shaves extremely close and it’s very comfortable when used in that manner, unlike other popular options like the Andis ProFoil or the Wahl Finale that are quite harsh and aggressive.

Black men should also consider the Braun S9 Pro as its performance is among the best with wiry, curly hairs that tend to become ingrown.

Overall, the Series 9 Pro would be a very safe choice for most users.

As hinted at throughout the post, I don’t think you should upgrade if your Series 9 is still in good shape. While the S9 Pro feels punchier and a bit faster, the overall performance is similar.

That said, there are some better alternatives in a couple of situations, which leads us to the next and final section of the review.

Alternative shavers

The first one is when you have a rather limited budget and the Series 9 Pro 9477cc costs more than what you’re willing to spend.

In that case (and also considering the small performance differences), getting one of the previous Series 9 generations makes a lot of sense.

Braun Series 9 9390cc

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If the 93xx models like the 9370cc or 9390cc are also too expensive, the next best thing would be the venerable Braun Series 7.

I am not referring to the 2020 S7, but to the previous generation which is a lot better.

The Series 7 is the closest shaver performance-wise to the Series 9 (Pro), in the sense that it has a similar profile: very comfortable, good with longer facial hair and an excellent/safe choice for most users.

The Series 7 is also significantly cheaper, especially if you go for a solo model (no cleaning base) like the 7893s.

However, I think you should get a cc version like the 7865cc or the 790cc for the same reasons I outlined above for the S9 Pro.

The 7 won’t be quite as good as the S9 (Pro) with longer hairs, but it’s still better than most foil razors out there. So even if you shave every 3 to 4 days it will still perform well.

For more details, you can check out my detailed comparison as well.

Finally, if you’re extremely particular about the closeness of the shave, you’ll probably want a Panasonic Arc 5.

Panasonic Arc 5 ES-LV65-S

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That one edges ahead when it comes strictly to closeness.

On the other hand, the Series 9 Pro is a lot better with longer, flat-lying hairs. It’s also more comfortable.

For these reasons, I recommend getting the Arc 5 if closeness is particularly important and you tend to shave more often as the Panasonic works best on short stubble.

The price of older models like the ES-LV65 is also very reasonable.

That shaver doesn’t come with a cleaning station, but you don’t need one as it’s easy to clean manually and the Panasonic stations aren’t as practical.

The Arc 5 can come across as too aggressive for men with very sensitive skin, so you should factor that in as well.

Braun Series 9 Pro vs Philips 9000 Prestige

It’s only fair to compare the Series 9 Pro, one of the best foil shavers out there right now, to what is arguably Philips’ best current rotary razor, the Series 9000 Prestige.

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I will only be addressing the difference in performance, so things like value for money or availability in different parts of the world will not be considered.

Strictly from a performance point of view, as in how well it shaves, I think most users will find the Braun Series 9 Pro better than the Philips 9000 Prestige.

This mainly stems from the intrinsic advantages of foil shavers over rotaries and the Series 9 Pro does almost everything right.

For most users, the Series 9 Pro will be more comfortable, faster, more effective and easier to use than the Philips Norelco 9000 Prestige.

The closeness should also be slightly better in most cases.

And I say most cases because there are users that will simply get better results with rotary shavers in general.

As a result, I can only recommend the Philips 9000 Prestige over the Braun Series 9 Pro to users that know from previous experience that rotary razors work better for them.

Otherwise, the Braun Series 9 Pro will be a safer choice.

The Prestige is impressive with longer, flat-lying hairs and that’s its main advantage over most foil shavers.

But the Series 9 Pro is also just as good for shaving longer stubble, but it is better than the Prestige for things like comfort, a less steep learning curve and even closeness.

Again, these are general guidelines and some users will not have the same results.

That’s why I think previous experience with rotary shavers is key here and should be considered before buying the Series 9000 Prestige.

That pretty much concludes my take on the new Braun Series 9 Pro (9477cc).

Over to you now — Have you had the chance of trying it? If so, what was your experience?

If you have any other questions regarding the Series 9 Pro, make sure to post them in the comments below.

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