Braun vs Philips IPL: Pro 7 IPL vs Lumea 9000 Series, which is best?

The brands

Braun and Philips are top brands for at-home IPL. They’ve released several IPL devices over the last decade, these being their latest, and flagship, products.

Both these devices use powerful light energy called Intense Pulsed Light (IPL). When flashed against your skin, the energy heats and damages your hair follicles, which slows and reduces your hair growth. It takes several regular sessions, during which your hairs stop growing. Then, periodic use keeps you fuzz and stubble free.

Learn more: how home IPL works.

See also: the Braun Pro 7 IPL models comparison.

Next is a quick comparison table of the key specification and performance data for both devices from my thorough testing. Keep reading the following sections to learn more about what’s the same, what’s different and what’s better in this Pro 7 IPL vs 9000 Series review.

Braun vs Philips IPL comparison table

Here’s a quick look at the compoarison spec for the Braun Pro 7 IPL and Philips Lumea 9000 Series.

What’s the same?

Both the Pro 7 and the 9000 Series are top quality premium at-home IPLs, with 2-year warranties, and similar styling, too. Each has exceptional build quality with top-notch long-lasting materials. Their robust power cords give 2 metres of flexible, tangle-free slack. And the IPL bulbs give many more flashes than you’ll ever need, to get silky-smooth and stay that way for years (if not forever).

Both devices are amongst the most powerful at-home IPLs, with almost identical optical fluence ranges (the 9000 Series is just a smidge higher). This means, if you can safely use the higher intensities on light skin, you’ll get longer lasting results than less powerful rivals. For darker skin tones, use the lower intensity levels.

You also get up to 4 interchangeable flash heads for different body areas. But there are some impressive upgrades with those of the 9000 Series. More on that later.

They have all the essential safety features, too. This includes an inbuilt UV filter, skin tone sensors that won’t flash if your skin is too dark, and skin contact sensors that stop accidental mid-air flashes which could hurt your peepers. This means you don’t need safety goggles for either device.

Next, let’s look in detail at the key differences so you can decide which is best for you.

What’s different?

Here’s more detail on each of the differences…

Shape & comfort

Each device has its own distinct size, shape and weight, and therefore a specific technique to zap around your body.

The Pro 7 is a sleek, lightweight and gently curved, compact, handle-shape. It fits comfy in my hand, in a relaxed grip between my fingers and thumb, right over the large flash button. The precise, curved shape keeps the power cord out of my way, and the simple lights and controls are visible on the sides and top. It’s handy and intuitive to manoeuvre around my body.

The 9000 Series is a larger and much heavier gun-shape, but surprisingly handy even in my smaller hands. It’s intuitive to grip the long tapered handle, which also directs the power cord well out of the way. It’s heavy because there’s a rechargeable lithium battery inside. However, I feel no wrist strain as the balanced shape is easy to pivot, and as I rotate my grip, the flash trigger is always just below my fingers or thumb. The simple LED controls sit on top, with a bright ‘ready to flash’ light visible along the back ridge.

Controls & sensors

Aside from how you hold and manoeuvre each device, there are also contrasting ways to control the IPL intensity.

The Pro 7 has clever automatic skin tone sensor technology inside. The sensor detects your skin tone before every flash and matches the best of 10 small IPL increments. So, each flash is slightly more precise for your unique tone. If the flashes sting a bit, you can lower it a notch or two in sensitive mode. Or opt for extra sensitive mode to lower it right down to level 1.

The 9000 Series doesn’t have this auto-match sensor. Instead, it has manual up and down controls where you set your best level. So, to keep it simple, it has just 5 intensity levels to choose from. The high levels are for light skin and the low levels are safe for darker tones.

If you are unsure which level is right, you can instead use the optional SmartSkin sensor. This detects your tone and highlights the best match intensity for your specific body area (I’m pastey, so I’m level 5 all over!). Just lower the intensity a level if the flashes are too hot.

I like both these clever sensors and intensity controls, and whichever you choose is down to preference. You may like the super simple Pro 7 that does the decision making for you. Just position and zap. Or you may want full hands-on manual control with the 9000 Series, and the helpful SmartSkin sensor as a reassuring back-up. Both are excellent, safe, and reliable.

Flash heads

Both the Pro 7 and the 9000 Series have up to 4 flash heads (depending on the model). Interchangeable flash heads aim to make it easier and faster for you to flash different body areas.

The Pro 7 IPL, like most other at-home IPLs, has flat heads with different size flash openings. But the 9000 Series flash heads are more advanced. Here’s how…

First, they have curves to fit your body contours for closer contact and easier flashes. And, second, they have filters and chips to target the IPL energy for improved comfort and results.

Here are the Lumea 9000 Series heads:

And the Pro 7 IPL heads:

So, if you want a device with several targeted heads for greater comfort and results, the 9000 Series is the clear winner.

However, after my testing, I conclude you don’t really need all the heads with either device.

With the Pro 7, I find the wide and second precision head overkill. The versatile medium head, and just one precision head, gets the job done fast with less faff.

The large curved-in flash head with the 9000 Series is brilliant. I love it for precise and easy coverage on legs and other areas below my neck. So, you can use it non-stop to flash your lower and upper legs, bikini area, tummy, arms, chest, back (with an assistant) and underarms.

The smaller face or precision window is helpful for your upper lip and jawline, too. And although I like the idea of the targeted bikini and underarms heads, I don’t think they’re vital. Especially if they cost considerably more. That’s because the larger curved-in body head is so easy and quick, and gives me fast smooth skin results.

Cordless vs corded

The 9000 Series has a helpful feature that the Pro 7 IPL does not. It also works cordless on battery power.

Cordless use is handy if you want to disconnect and zap your lady tache or bits in the privacy of your bathroom. The face and bikini heads slow the flashes by about 1 second, so you’re not rushed around tricky bits. And a battery charge lasts roughly 30 minutes, so it’s plenty of time to zap these small areas.

However, don’t plan on using it cordless for larger areas like back, torso or legs with the body head. The flashes slow by about 1.5 seconds which take ages versus on mains power. It’s tedious, especially on the higher intensity levels (see session speeds in the next section). And the limited battery run time means you likely won’t finish the entire area either.

Sensation

The cooling fans whir and there’s a soft ‘pop’ with each bright flash. The Pro 7 flashes are more dazzling than the 9000 Series. To lessen the glare, work in a well lit room, or wear sunglasses / IPL glasses.

Since the devices are equally powerful, the flashes feel similar on your skin. They feel warm to hot, and sometimes sting in sensitive areas. These can differ by person. I feel a sharp sting on my outer bikini line, tops of my thighs, and ankles with both devices. Reduce the intensity a notch or use a sensitive mode if it’s too intense. The Lumea 9000 gives you a bit more control at each intensity setting, if you need it.

Afterwards, my skin feels warm and is pink in a few places, but this fades quickly with both devices.

Flash rates & session speed

It’s important your chosen device gives you quick sessions, because you’re more likely to stick with them. You can do your full body in one session with both the Pro 7 and the 9000 Series, but the Pro 7 is noticeably faster.

With both devices, the flash rate is fastest on the lower IPL intensities. That’s because they use less energy, and so it’s quicker for the bulb to power-up between flashes. Both devices give a single flash (press and release) or continuous flashes (with the flash button pressed) to ‘glide’ over your skin.

Gliding with continuous flashes is the best way to cover large body areas, such as legs. And here, the Pro 7 IPL beats the 9000 Series for speed.

Here are the average session speed results from my tests:

Time per session taken from the average of 5 test sessions.

Gliding on the higher intensities, the Pro 7 IPL is fast but under control. However, the Pro 7 flash rate slows a little as the bulb gets hot. And it’s changeable if both the skin contact sensors aren’t totally flush with your skin. The flashes are dazzling too. I find this a little overwhelming in extra sensitive mode / the lower intensity levels because the flashes are rapid. For more control, I prefer stamping instead of gliding.

In contrast, the 9000 Series flashes are always steady, so it’s quick to find your rhythm. The flashes are bright but less irritating because the flash head shape and contact sensor design means much closer skin contact than with the Pro 7. The slightly slower regular rate also suits the larger gun-shape. Level 1 hits the sweet spot for a smooth and accurate glide over my legs and torso. There’s a slight pause between flashes on level 5 so it could be a tad faster, but overall I appreciate there’s greater control and precision than the Pro 7.

So, which should you choose? If you want the fastest sessions, it’s clearly the Pro 7 IPL. It takes a little more concentration and practise, but it’s easy once you’ve mastered it. However, consider the 9000 Series if you have darker skin and will use the lower, faster intensity levels because it’s much easier to control. Or, if you’ll use the higher intensities and are happy to compromise a little on speed, I recommend the steady and precise 9000 Series for less overlap or missed hairy bits.

Braun vs Lumea app

Both the Pro 7 and the 9000 Series have branded companion apps to help you get started and plan your sessions. But the Braun smart app is far more slick, quick, and easy to use. It also has more features, but not all of them are terribly helpful.

Here’s a comparison table of the Braun Smart app vs Lumea IPL app:

*Lumea app with Skin AI function unlocked with QR code with the Lumea 9900 Series IPL.

To use the Braun smart app, you must first connect it via bluetooth to your Pro 7 IPL device. A bluetooth connection is good because the app can read settings and information from the device such as your mode, flash head, and number of flashes done. This, and the excellent app design, creates a superb guide and provides an accurate flash counter to track your session coverage.

The Philips Lumea app does not connect to the 9000 Series (or any other Lumea model). The app experience is comprehensive (covering contraindications, prep, how to, and aftercare), and with several helpful videos. But it’s more like a slideshow (so comparatively basic), with less reliable flash counting (done via your mic recording each flash ‘pop’ sound). However, you can download the app and have a look before you buy the 9000 Series.

Here are some screens to give you a feel for both (click to enlarge):

If you want a more comprehensive information resource, then the Lumea app is best. But if you like the idea of a concise, helpful walkthrough guide, the Braun Smart app gives you that.

But bear in mind, I don’t think you really need an app at all. That’s because both devices are simple to use, and quick to master. I find the apps helpful during the first session or two, but they don’t do your sessions for you and they slow me down once I know what I’m doing.

Effort & results

Even though Lumea 9000 sessions are slower, it’s still less effort overall than using the Pro 7 IPL. That’s because the start-up schedule is less frequent. This notches their ‘effort vs results’ score slightly above that of the Pro 7 IPL. Here are the start-up schedules for both devices:

You can expect similar results with the Pro 7 and 9000 Series during their start-up schedules because they have roughly the same power range.

Most people see results after just 1 or 2 sessions with softer, slower growing hair. It’s easier and quicker to shave before your next sessions with far fewer razor bumps, rash or sandpaper stubble. Next, you’ll notice small bald patches. These gradually get bigger until you have large smooth areas of hair-free skin!

With the Pro 7, you’ll typically see significant results after 6+ sessions (taking 5 weeks), and after 3 or 4 sessions with the Lumea 9000 (taking up to 6 weeks). With both, keep going until you have no more hair. Then switch to top-ups every 1 to 2 months, or as you need them. Spot treat any new hair growth as and when it appears.

Your top-ups are crucial for long-lasting results. The more you’ve done, the longer you can go in between them. Philips have study data showing hairs grow back if you don’t do your top-ups. And, after eight top-ups, you can get over 1 year of smooth hair free skin.

Both brands advertise fuzz-free hair reduction lasting 1.5 years if you follow their treatment plan and top-up schedule. Results vary by individual. Learn more here.

Value for money

Both the Pro 7 IPL and Lumea 9000 Series are premium devices from trusted brands. They’re top quality, very easy to use, powerful, and give proven long-lasting results. And they have premium price tags to match.

Here’s how their prices compare:

*Prices last checked April 2025

However, I think they’re not the best value for money and you could choose better. Let me explain why…

First, be wary of other reviews saying there’s an upgrade to the Pro 7’s performance. The Pro 7 IPL specification is actually identical to the predecessor device, the Pro 5 IPL (yup, I checked this with Braun). It has the same speed, power, heads, and results. Yet it costs considerably more.

What you’re paying considerably more for is just the bluetooth connection to the Braun Smart app. And that’s not vital because the Pro 7 is so darned simple and safe to use even without it. Looking at the price hike, I think it’s a rather gimmicky addition, and represents poor value, to me.

Thankfully, the Lumea IPL app is not the focus of the 9000 Series. Instead, you’re paying for superb quality, and their unique features in the cordless operation, comfy gun-shape, and targeted curved flash heads. But the major downside is the sessions are much slower than most, and specifically one rival IPL with the same power range and at a lower cost.

However, if you have your heart set on either of these devices, and you have the cash to spend, then go ahead. They are both excellent choices, and in my list of top 5 at-home IPL recommendations.

To sum up Braun vs Philips IPL…

Phew. Well done! You made it. That was a long one. I appreciate you sticking to the end.

To wrap up, the Braun Pro 7 IPL and Philips Lumea 9000 Series are excellent choices. There’s a negligible difference in their overall scores. They’re both superb quality, easy to use, and give super results. But the Pro 7 IPL gives noticeably faster sessions, so it’s easier to fit into a busy schedule.

Here’s the scores breakdown from my tests, and the key pros and cons to help you decide.

I hope you’ve found this Braun Pro 7 IPL vs Lumea 9000 Series review helpful. If you spot something that looks wrong, or if you’ve got a question, let me know!

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