Beauty & Health · 4 products compared
Best IPL Hair Removal Device: Philips vs Braun vs Ulike
Philips Lumea 7000 vs Braun Pro 5, Sensica and Ulike Air 10: our IPL hair removal comparison and which one is worth it for your budget.
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At a glance
- 1€255See at Amazon
- 2
€393.60See at Amazon - 3
€344.90See at Amazon - 4
€499.99See at Amazon
Prices and availability as of 16 Oct 2026 and subject to change. The price shown on the store at the time of purchase applies.
Our top pick is the Philips Lumea 7000 BRI921/00: it's the safest IPL device for most buyers, thanks to a reasonable price, separate body and face attachments and nearly 3,800 buyer reviews. If you want the highest rating among widely reviewed models and budget matters less, the Braun Silk·expert Pro 5 PL5100 is the strongest alternative.
The other two models, the Sensica Sensilight PRO Wireless IPL and the Ulike Air 10 Pro IPL, have appealing spec sheets but very few reviews. At these prices, that's a real gamble.
What to know before buying an IPL device
IPL targets the pigment in the hair. That means it works best on dark hair and light to medium skin. On blonde, red or white hair, results are usually poor, and very dark skin is often not compatible.
The approach is the same across brands: frequent sessions in the first few weeks, then maintenance touch-ups. You need to shave the area before every session. No home device guarantees permanent hair removal, and the figures manufacturers quote are best-case maximums.
Philips Lumea 7000: the sensible choice
The Philips Lumea 7000 BRI921/00 is the cheapest device in this comparison. It's also by far the most reviewed, with a 4.2/5 rating from 3,781 reviews. Philips claims up to 98% hair reduction. The kit includes two attachments, one for the body and one for the face, plus a Satin Compact pen trimmer, handy for touch-ups or pre-session shaving.
Its rating isn't the highest, and a review count this large inevitably includes some disappointed buyers. But for a first IPL device, it's the lowest-risk option.
Braun Silk·expert Pro 5: the top-rated proven model
The Braun Silk·expert Pro 5 PL5100 scores 4.5/5 from 872 reviews, the best rating among devices with a meaningful number of reviews. Braun promises up to 6 years of smooth skin.
On the downside, it costs about €140 more than the Philips, runs on mains power and comes with just one head and a pouch. At this price, we'd have liked a dedicated face attachment.
Sensica Sensilight PRO: cordless, but few reviews
The Sensica Sensilight PRO Wireless IPL is the only model here explicitly marketed as cordless. It offers an XL window for the body and a precision window for the face, six energy levels and an automatic glide mode.
The problem is that it has just 20 reviews for a 4.2/5 rating. At nearly €345, it costs more than the Philips without the same track record.
Ulike Air 10 Pro: the most features, the most risk
The Ulike Air 10 Pro IPL has the most ambitious spec sheet: dual lamp with SHR mode, "Sapphire ice" cooling for comfort, a SkinSensor skin sensor and claimed results in 2 weeks. Its 4.7/5 rating is the highest in this comparison.
However, that rating rests on only 13 reviews, and it's the most expensive device in the lineup. It will mainly appeal to people who dread the heat sensation and are willing to pay for a still largely unproven model.
Which one should you choose?
- First purchase or tighter budget: Philips Lumea 7000 BRI921/00.
- Best proven satisfaction, bigger budget: Braun Silk·expert Pro 5 PL5100.
- You absolutely need a cordless device: Sensica Sensilight PRO Wireless IPL, knowing the trade-offs.
- Comfort and the latest tech come first: Ulike Air 10 Pro IPL, accepting the limited track record.
Side by side
| Spec | Best overallPhilips Lumea 7000 BRI921/00 | Highest ratedBraun Silk·expert Pro 5 PL5100 | Best cordlessSensica Sensilight PRO Wireless IPL | Ulike Air 10 Pro IPL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 4.5 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| Accessories | 2 body and face attachments + Satin Compact trimmer | 1 head + pouch | XL body window + precision face window | Not specified |
| Amazon rating | 4.2/5 (3,781 reviews) | 4.5/5 (872 reviews) | 4.2/5 (20 reviews) | 4.7/5 (13 reviews) |
| Key claim | Up to 98% hair reduction | – | – | Dual SHR lamp, sapphire cooling |
| Price | €255.00 | €393.60 | €344.90 | €499.99 |
| Power | – | Corded | Cordless | – |
| Price | €255 | €393.60 | €344.90 | €499.99 |
Prices and availability as of 16 Oct 2026 and subject to change. The price shown on the store at the time of purchase applies.
Best overall
1. Philips Lumea 7000 BRI921/00
4.5The safest pick: lowest price, full accessories and thousands of reviews to back it up.
Best for A first IPL device
- Philips claims up to 98% hair reduction.
- Two separate attachments let you treat both body and face.
- The Satin Compact pen trimmer helps with touch-ups and pre-session shaving.
What we like
- Cheapest in the comparison
- Huge number of reviews
- Face attachment and trimmer included
What could be better
- Lower average rating than the Braun
- 98% figure should be treated as a maximum
Highest rated
2. Braun Silk·expert Pro 5 PL5100
4.0The best proven satisfaction in this comparison, but at a significantly higher price than the Philips.
Best for Bigger budgets wanting proven satisfaction
- Braun claims up to 6 years of smooth skin.
- Mains power means you never depend on a battery mid-session.
- A storage pouch is included.
What we like
- Highest rating among heavily reviewed models
- Several hundred reviews
- Long-lasting results claimed
What could be better
- About €140 more than the Philips
- Only one head, no dedicated face attachment
- Cord limits freedom of movement
Best cordless
3. Sensica Sensilight PRO Wireless IPL
3.5The only explicitly cordless model in the lineup, but just 20 reviews at a higher price than the Philips.
Best for Anyone set on going cordless
- Cordless operation makes it easier to treat legs and hard-to-reach areas.
- Two windows, XL for the body and precision for the face, cover every area.
- Six energy levels and an automatic glide mode let you tailor each session.
What we like
- Cordless
- Body and face windows
- 6 energy levels
What could be better
- Very few reviews
- Pricier than the Philips for the same rating
4. Ulike Air 10 Pro IPL
3.5The richest spec sheet and the top rating, but from only 13 reviews and at the highest price.
Best for Heat-sensitive skin, big budgets
- The dual lamp with SHR mode is the most advanced technology in the lineup, according to the manufacturer's specs.
- "Sapphire ice" cooling aims to make flashes more comfortable.
- The SkinSensor analyzes your skin, and Ulike claims results in 2 weeks.
What we like
- Built-in cooling for comfort
- SkinSensor skin sensor
- Highest average rating
What could be better
- Most expensive in the comparison
- Only 13 reviews, not enough track record
- 2-week results yet to be proven long term
The verdict
The Philips Lumea 7000 is the one to go for for most buyers: it's the cheapest, the most reviewed and the best equipped with accessories. The Braun Silk·expert Pro 5 is worth the extra cost if you want the highest rating backed by hundreds of reviews. The Sensica and Ulike have their selling points (cordless, cooling), but with 20 and 13 reviews at over €340, they're best avoided unless you have a specific need. If your hair is light (blonde, red, white) or your skin is very dark, skip it: home IPL is unlikely to work for you.
How we compared: We did not test these devices ourselves. Our ranking is based on manufacturer specifications, prices recorded in euros, and the average rating and number of buyer reviews on Amazon. We give significant weight to review volume: a high rating from a dozen reviews is less reliable than a slightly lower one from several thousand. Read our full method
Readers' podium
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Questions people ask
What is the best IPL hair removal device in 2024?
For most buyers, the Philips Lumea 7000 BRI921/00 offers the best balance of price, accessories and satisfaction backed by nearly 3,800 reviews. The Braun Silk·expert Pro 5 is rated higher but costs considerably more.
Philips Lumea vs Braun Silk-expert: which should I choose?
Choose the Philips Lumea 7000 if you want to pay less and get a face attachment, and the Braun Silk·expert Pro 5 if you want the higher average rating (4.5/5 vs 4.2/5). The Braun is corded and comes with a single head.
Is IPL hair removal permanent?
No. A home IPL device reduces hair growth over the long term but doesn't guarantee permanent hair removal. Maintenance sessions are still needed after the initial phase.
Does IPL work on blonde hair?
Generally not, because IPL targets dark pigment in the hair. Blonde, red or white hair responds poorly, and very dark skin is often incompatible.
Do you need to shave before an IPL session?
Yes, you should shave the area before every session so the light acts on the root rather than the hair on the surface. The trimmer included with the Philips Lumea 7000 can be used for this prep.
Is the Ulike Air 10 worth it?
It's hard to say, since its 4.7/5 rating is based on just 13 reviews for the most expensive device in this comparison. Its cooling and dual lamp are appealing, but the track record is lacking.
