Braun Series 3 Review ProSkin 3040s: Reliable Shaver

Having trouble finding that elusive, perfect electric shaver? You don’t want to break the bank but you still want a well-designed and reliable product?

Well, I’ve got some good news, as I’ve been having the same problem for quite a while.

After countless hours of searching and comparing different products, I’ve finally stumbled upon an electric shaver that suits all my needs.

The Braun Series 3 line of electric shavers has long been an enthusiast’s favorite. The entire line of products has been recently redesigned, bringing you even better value for the money.

At a Glance

Braun’s foil-style shavers are considered by many to be the best, as they are well-designed, reliable, and reasonably priced. Products from the Series 3 line are considered mid-range, and they are usually suited for all budgets.

So, the redesigned ProSkin 3040s features a sleeker shape, but it doesn’t differ from the last model that much. This should not be observed as a bad thing. Included in the box are the actual shaver, the charging plug, and the cleaning brush.

The shaver has a good battery life and it features a quick charge option, so you can charge in just five minutes when you’re in a hurry.

It comes from the line of wet and dry shave products, which means that you can use it with or without cream, according to your preference.

Those who like to shave while showering will appreciate the fact that this electric blade is 100% waterproof.

It requires almost zero maintenance and the cleaning process couldn’t be easier.

Who Is It For?

If you're looking for an affordable electric shaver that will provide you with smooth and comfortable shaves, combined with other great features such as long hair trimming, then it's worth checking out. That being said, let's take a closer look at Braun ProSkin 3040s and all its features.

The Key Features

As a part of Braun's Series 3 line of wet and dry shavers, it seats neatly somewhere in the middle. Sure enough, there are more affordable products such as the Braun Series 3 3010s, while others like the Braun Series 3 3050cc come with their own alcohol-based Clean & Charge station.

This convenient gadget charge lubricates and hygienically cleans the shaver so it feels brand new each time you shave.

The ProSkin 3040s has the usual three-blade kit, where the outer two foils cut hairs closer to your skin, and the middle trimmer deals with the longer ones. The middle trimmer has a micro comb that feeds the hair to the cutter, making it much more efficient.

All three elements have the option of moving independently, although they cannot be replaced separately as they are placed in a single cassette.

Braun ProSkin 3040s comes with an integrated long hair trimmer as well, so it's not just for your facial hair.

You can easily check the battery status via a 3-step LED indicator and the good news is that there is a 5-minute quick charge option available for when you're in a hurry and need a quick shave.

The shaver is waterproof.

Compared to Braun's more expensive shavers, its main downside is that it doesn't come equipped with the pivoting head. To compensate for this, the three independently floating elements follow the contours of your face.

Good Weight With a Grip to Match

When you take it in your hand, the Series 3 ProSkin 3040s has a nice weighted feel. The blue rubber inserts lined with debossed circular patterns provide an excellent grip, especially when your hands are wet or covered in shaving foam.

Overall, the ProSkin 3040s feels very solid and durable. Even though it doesn't have a travel lock, the power button is rubberized and it requires substantial force to press so it can't be turned on by mistake.

The protective cap also extends over the power button, so to a certain degree it covers up for the lack of an actual travel lock.

Be careful when removing the shaving head as you have to really press hard on the sides. Hold it tightly as not to drop it or damage it somehow.

Showerproof Shaving

One of the most appealing features of the Braun ProSkin 3040s is that you can use it with or without shaving cream. This also means that you can shave after or during a shower.

Another positive thing about this shaver is that it's 100% waterproof and you can wash it under running water without damaging it.

Braun went to great lengths during the testing and they claim that it can be submerged as deep as 500 meters without suffering any damage. Think about shaving while scuba diving, right?

Lacking in Long Hair Lopping

Its overall dry shaving performance is very good. I strongly suggest using it every day or perhaps every two days for getting the best results. In terms of closeness and comfort, the ProSkin 3040s is really outstanding.

When shaving short hair, it was all fair and square, but when trying to deal with some longer hair after a few days of growth the shaver did come off as a bit underpowered.

Very often longer hairs get left behind so you might want to give these areas a few more passes. Still, this is a basic electric shaver and in this price range, you can't expect it to work miracles around longer hairs.

On the other hand, wet shaving is a much better experience with the ProSkin 3040s. The comfort and the closeness of the shave are almost perfect.

It's important to note that noise levels are pretty low, especially considering the fact that it's still a low-end electric razor.

The middle trimmer in the cassette does tend to get a little too hot at times, but it's nothing that can't be resolved by just putting a drop of fine machine oil on it.

Braun ProSkin 3040s also features the long hair trimmer, but it simply doesn't cut it (pun intended) in terms of sharpness. Quite often you'll have to make additional passes while tweaking your sideburns.

Quick Charging for Long Action

There are no big surprises here. The shaver can only be operated cordless to avoid any safety issues.

It's equipped with a rechargeable Ni-Mh battery which comes with a compact charger with an extendable cord.

When fully charged, the battery will last up to 45 minutes, which is excellent, especially when compared to high-end electric razors. This should be enough for all sorts of facial hair shaving feats.

There is also a quick charge option for when you're in a hurry and the battery is drained completely. In just five minutes you can charge it enough to get a quick shave.

It’s an excellent feature, especially considering the fact that we're talking about a Ni-Mh battery.

Wet and Dry Cleaning

As mentioned earlier, the ProSkin 3040s does not come with a Cleaning and Charging station, so you have to clean it on your own. Don't worry, it's not that much of a chore.

If you prefer dry shaving, then you simply remove the shaving head and tap it out to get rid of the stuck hairs. There is a cleaning brush included in the kit that you can use to remove the remaining debris from the inner area of the shaving head.

Note that the cleaning brush should not be used on the inner blades and foils because it could damage them. You can always rinse the shaver under running water.

If you prefer wet shaving, I highly recommend using liquid soap and running hot water to clean the shaver from all the grit and debris from the shaving head. Thorough cleaning is not that easy, since all three floating elements are combined in a single cassette.

I strongly advise you to apply a drop of fine machine oil on all the foils once a week. This is definitely a must for all those who clean the razor with water on a regular basis.

Replacement cassettes are the same 32b or 32s models used in the previous Braun Series 3 line of shavers. The only major difference now is that the color of the micro comb around the middle trimmer is white instead of black.

Final Verdict

As a part of the recent redesign line of the Braun Series 3 line of electric shavers, the ProSkin 3040s is one of the strongest contenders on the market.

Considering its affordability, I've found that it offers quite a lot. The choice between dry and wet shaving, its waterproof properties, excellent battery life, and easy maintenance are all great features that come at a pretty fair price. I would recommend it to anyone who wants a reliable electric razor without breaking the bank.