I switched from manual shaving to an electric razor due to skin irritations and ingrown hairs. I can't really grow facial hair, so just needed something to shave my patches of hair. I also used this razor for mainly dry shaving to avoid irritation of my face. I have tried a couple of other electric razors 2-3 times the price of this razor, but did not seem to work for me.

While sometimes it can take more than a couple of tries to get a close shave on a portion of my face, it gets the job done a majority of the time. The head is easy to remove and clean for the next time that you shave. For battery life, I usually have to charge it one time each week which I think is pretty good. Given the price point for the razor and relatively low cost for replacement cutter heads, it has met my expectations and will be using it on the daily and when I travel.

I purchased this shaver for my husband. His review follows.

The Braun 3040s is a competent shaver and gets the job done. However, it is inferior to nearly 30-yr old Braun technology, i.e., the Braun system 1-2-3 cl3525 shaver, also designated as 5567U, which I purchased in 1995. (Braun's use of multiple product numbers and designations is very confusing!)  I recently purchased the 3040 since my 5567 will not last forever. I've had the 5567 repaired a number of times over the years: new batteries, multiple repairs of the pop-up trimmer, replacement of a cracked gasket, and even a new case since the rubber nibs had worn off. Unfortunately, the locally owned shaver repair shop that serviced it over the years has now gone out of business. Through it all, the 5567 has been an excellent shaver, small, lightweight, reasonably quick, fairly quiet, cleanly shaves my beard in the areas on my face where the hairs lay flat against my skin (i.e., use of the pop-up trimmer), and the battery keeps its charge for at least a week's worth of shaves. I routinely charge it weekly, when I also scrupulously clean it with a brush, compressed air, and then lubricate it.

I purchased the new Braun 3040s because of my history with Braun, my preference for foil shavers, and since their shavers get good ratings. Also, I needed a new shaver since, as I said, mine is not going to last forever. 

I selected the 3040s since I didn't need all the bells and whistles of the more expensive Brauns, and with respect to the pivoting shaver head on the more expensive models, I can see no value in it. As a customer with an engineering background the pivoting shaver head looks like it ups the cost and complexity of the shaver and does little or nothing to improve the shave.  It seems to me that a good shave is all about the foil and conforming to my face.  The swivel head seems like a problem and would potentially limit the force and control I have with a fixed head; in fact, one reviewer on Amazon said as much.

Another feature I don't like on the current Brauns, except for the M90 (see below), is that they now have a double foil with a blade arrangement between. Again, I fail to see the value and prefer the simple single foil arrangement in my old 5567.

The new 3040 is disappointing.  It is larger and heavier, the head is too big to easily fit between my mustache and nose, it runs at a higher speed and so is buzzier and more annoying, and the positioning and location of the pop-up trimmer on the shaver makes it work less well that the one on the 5567.  Apparently, there is a version that comes with a locking foil-retraction feature for one of the foils, that would make it easier to position under my nose, but according to Braun that is not available in the U.S. It also takes me longer to shave with the 3040 than with my older 5567, and even though the battery is newer technology I barely get a week out of a full charge, less than I get with my 5567. Perhaps that is because the shaves take longer. On the plus side, even though larger, it feels good in the hand.

Another disadvantage of the 3040 due to its buzzier/louder noise level than the 5567, is that the motor/foil noise masks the sound of my whiskers being cut, a decided disadvantage. With the 5567 I can clearly hear the difference between the foil cutting beard, vs. cutting on shaved skin. It makes it easy, without always having to run my fingers over my beard, to know when an area has been cut adequately clean.

It is amazing to me that 30 years of shaver research has seemingly been unable to produce a razor that works any better than 1990s technology, and in fact in some ways is inferior. I wish Braun would tell the product guys to bring back the simple 5567 with the only needed improvement being a more durable mechanism for the pop-up trimmer. That would be fabulous.  It is a pity to see "advancements" that in fact, are no advancements at all in terms of performance. Perhaps Braun's one shaver "advancement" has been reducing costs. I paid $60 for the 3040 on Amazon, which is exactly what I paid for the 5567 back in 1995. But the inflation-adjusted price of the 5567 would be about $114 in 2022. So, Braun has succeeded in keeping costs down. However, I would rather pay more and get the quality product, or at least have that as an option.

As a side note, I did also purchase a Braun M90 just to give it a try, since it is a single-foil design like the 5567.  It is less expensive than the 3040, but unfortunately does not have a rechargeable battery. It is nice and small and I do prefer it to the 3040, but I have not used it extensively. It is, however, still not as good as the venerable 5567.

To qualify the beard that is being used to assess the shavers, see the attached photos. I have to shave daily, not because my growth is that thick, but because many of my hairs grow parallel to my skin's surface and I am prone to in-grown hairs if I do tend to them on a daily basis.

I use an electric shaver for convenience. They don't work as well as a blade but it's possible to get the appearance of having shaved without the prep necessary for shaving with a blade.

This is the lowest price tier for an electric shaver. It meets my expectations for shave quality. It takes about 2 minutes on my beard, YMMV. You can use it wet or dry. With soap and water on my skin it's more comfortable than dry. It's easy to clean. The blades and foil are an integrated unit which is a plus for me.

For over 10 years I've used a Remington shaver that did OK. The problem I had was losing the blades down the drain when I cleaned it under running water. Shaking it sometimes dislodged them. I decided to buy something different after the most recent blade down the drain experience came a week after replacing the foil and blades. I know, I could have stopped up the drain. The sink trap on the sink I use has glue on a joint that is supposed to be able to be unscrewed so it's impossible to retrieve stuff without a saw and replacing the trap.

I'm pleased with this shaver. If you want an inexpensive shaver that does a decent job it's a good choice.

I replaced a wornout Panasonic with this razor. I use this intermittently and on other days shave with a 5 blade razor. This gives me almost as close shave as the 5 blade razor. It takes a little longer to shave but is gentler on my face. It shaves as good or better than the $250 Panasonic it replaced. I am very impressed!!!

This has been my first foray into the world of electric shavers. The Braun Series 3 has been pretty darn good, I must say! It's a lot less irritating on my skin as a daily shaver. One issue I have though is that it is not great at shaving my neck hairs. I have to shave the area over and over and over and even then it is just not very good at leaving a smooth finish. It works a lot better on my cheeks and 'stache. So overall I think it's pretty good - and a great affordable travel shaver, but ya the neck thing has me wondering if I need to upgrade to a higher model in order to really get a clean shave in the neck zone.