So – the Braun Series 7 7071. First, it's recognizable as a Braun – very ergonomic, comfortable shape, rubberized “grippy" back, signature 3 stage head with two outer foils and a flat center cutter in a familiar Braun cassette. Cosmetically very similar, but that said, it's unlike any of the prior Series shavers that Braun has produced. Although touted as the “new" Series 7, it could be more accurately characterized as a “Series 10,” or a Series 8 if another shaver didn’t already occupy that slot (and the Series 8 is really just a modified 9). There is nothing else like it. The elevated 360 degree swiveling head and detachable trimmer are the signature features of this shaver.Skipping to the bottom line if you want to bypass the details, it delivers a great shave, smooth and comfortable, as good as the older Series 7 (which was excellent) or the Series 9 (which some think is better). Whether it is better than either is completely subjective - for me, perhaps slightly – but the cutters and head (that actually provide the shave) are virtually identical to other Braun offerings, which by themselves are outstanding. This "360" design does seem to keep the foils and cutters aligned and in contact with your face better, with less effort. Advantages: it's cheaper than either shaver. From the Series 7, a little. From the Series 9, a lot. It's slightly faster – with the 360 head, fewer passes, easier to maneuver, and it’s lighter by more than 10 percent. Disadvantages: for some, detachable trimmer. And it does require “fiddling" with this attachment if you use a trimmer, rather than just raising or lowering an attached trimmer. No head lock - if you use this feature, it’s missing in this shaver.General specifications:In size, somewhere between the old Series 7 and the Series 9, although closer to the 9. Slimmer than either, it weighs in at a svelte 6.6 oz, with the Series 7 at a hefty 7.8 oz and the Series 9 just behind at 7.7 oz, although you will note that the Series 9 is a considerably larger razor, with the extra weight of the old Series 7 accounted for by thicker plastic, more metal parts and a more robust build than either the 9 or the 7071.The cassette head of the 7071 is actually wider (1") than the older Series 7 head (3/4"), with a wider flat cutter bar. It has a flatter profile as well, and there appear to be no replacements currently available, with replacement costs also unknown. Ergonomically, it feels perfectly balanced, like most of the Brauns. It's substantially plastic, also like all the newer Brauns (and most modern electrics), but the connecting struts for the swivel arrangement appear to be made of metal. There is a charging port in the end for either cord charging or in the provided cleaning station, and a full charge takes about an hour, with a 5 minute charge for one shave. The charge is reportedly good for 50 minutes. Unlike the Series 9 and earlier Brauns, the charging cord is straight rather than coiled, and fairly long. The shaver is submersible and can be used wet or dry, so cannot be used as a corded shaver, in common with the rest of its rechargeable wet/dry relatives.The display is very basic, with a single vertical line indicating charge level - the shorter the line, the lower the charge. No percentages here. This is actually pretty functional, because I find I never pay much attention to my shavers that do display precise percentages – I generally charge them with every use at home, and when traveling as often as I can. The display also includes icons for cleaning required (two droplets), head replacement (a head shaped icon), and a red lock icon and charge cord icon (when the shaver is locked or charging). Like other Brauns, the shaver can be locked by holding down the power button for 3 seconds, and unlocked the same way. An info button below the main power button displays the status of the shaver when pressed. There is no speed adjustment like the older Series 7, being “automatically“ adjusted for beard thickness like the Series 9. Noise is about the same for shaver or cleaning station (although the absence of a fan makes the station completely silent when not cleaning).Accessories:The cleaning station is also a departure from Braun's traditional cleaning stations. This station is actually closer in function and appearance to the Philips Norelco stations, with a vertical arm that locks in and charges the shaver, rather than just dropping the shaver into the station. Unlike the Norelco stations however, or the other Braun cleaning stations, you can't just charge the shaver in the station – when you press the button on the vertical arm (which you must to lock in the shaver) it begins a cleaning (and charging) cycle, and a second press disconnects the shaver from the charger. There are no icons or indicators at all on the cleaning station – just a blue light on the Start button at the top of the arm, which comes on when the shaver is cleaning or charging, and sequentially turns yellow, then red when the solution needs changing. A plus - like all Braun stations from the Series 7 on - it uses the same alcohol-based cleaning cartridges. The cleaning cycle takes about the same amount of time (less than 3 minutes), and unlike in the Series 7 or 9 stations, there is no active drying cycle - induction or fan – just “drip-dry.” Which, considering the cleaning solution is mostly alcohol, actually works pretty well.Also unlike all the other Braun Series shavers, there us no built-in trimmer – the trimmer is an attachment that must be clicked on and off like the Norelco rotaries. A plus and a minus – easy to replace (presumably if made available), but an extra step and bother when shaving. This however follows the “new" Braun design of having multiple attachments for the shaver – face brush and beard trimmer for example – again very similar to Norelco's “system" design. It does seem to work slightly better as a trimmer than either the Braun built-in or detachable Norelco, and can be reversed for trimming beard or moustache.And unique to this Braun, there is no head lock button or mechanism – the head swivels freely (mainly in the back-and-forth dimension of other Brauns, but also laterally and up and down, although more stiffly – hence the “360” designation). And unlike on other Brauns, there is no head release button – the head and other attachments are removed essentially by “yanking" them off and “snapping” them on, which you must do with each shave if you use the trimmer, and it does take a bit of force. Head and attachments appear to be firmly attached, but not what you may be accustomed to if you’re a prior Braun user, and wear on the swivel mechanism is likely a legitimate concern with this design. Time will tell. Overall, a good addition to Braun's Series lineup - not really a replacement for any of them, but an addition to, depending on what you want in a shaver. There are plenty of choices between them, and the "new" Series 7 adds another - and a good one. Highly recommended.
