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Ulike Air 10 vs. Braun Silk Expert Pro 5: What’s the Difference?

By Alice
Updated: April 10, 2025

If you think you’ve seen the best of IPL, you’ve got to check out Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 and Ulike Air 10. These two devices are beast-like in their performances, and hardly can any other IPL gadget, even earlier ones from these two brands, rub shoulders with them. In critical areas like design, functionality, and safety, you can have a hard time choosing one above the other.

However, these two super-premium IPL devices have areas where they are different. Consequently, one is better than the other. This article aims to highlight these differences so you don’t get confused when making your purchasing decision. Nevertheless, let’s first look at the things that connect these two IPL gadgets together, that is, their similarities.

Table of Contents:

Ulike Air 10 vs. Braun Silk Expert Pro 5: Similarities

  1. Both devices are at-home light-based IPL handsets. That means that they both operate under the same broad categorization of Intense Pulsed Light technology.
  2. As of the time of this article, both devices are the best of each brand. That is Air 10 is Ulike’s best while Silk Expert Pro 5 is Braun’s best.
  3. You can get both devices on credit with up to six months of financing at 0% APR.
  4. Both devices have automatic skin tone sensors that detect compatibility and help to select the right intensity and power mode that won’t hurt you.
  5. Braun and Ulike both claim that their devices have been clinically tested and proven to be safe.
  6. Both brands offer excellent customer-centric services like a money-back guarantee and free standard delivery to eligible locations.
  7. Their box contents are similar in that both have a razor, glasses/goggles, pouch/bag, and charging accessories.

Ulike Air 10 vs. Braun Silk Expert Pro 5: Differences

The comparison between these two IPL devices is so balanced because they are the best of both brands. Similarly, both brands have made a great name for themselves in the hair removal space. In fact, it’s next to impossible that one would list up to three best hair removal brands and exclude these two. However, the following are salient areas where both IPLs differ

  • Timeline for Visible Results: Ulike Air 10 Leads

People hardly have patience when it comes to removing unwanted body hair. As such, when considering the best tool or method, the question, “How long do I have to wait before I achieve my aim?” is always asked. IPL in general is not an on-the-spot hair removal method because of its action pathway. There is a waiting time, and the shorter this time, the better a device is rated.

In this regard, Ulike Air 10 takes just two weeks to produce results that will leave no room for doubts. It will take Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 four weeks to produce similar results.

By no means is this timeline arbitrary; the technology and energy of the light stored in each device are what make the difference. The Ulike Air 10 IPL has dual lights that not only shorten treatment time but also increase the light energy delivered by up to 65%, which is twice what Braun’s single light can achieve. Similarly, this light output is several miles ahead of any previous IPL device released by Ulike.

But that’s not all the reasons Ulike Air 10 beats Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 in result output; there’s also the SHR mode that really breaks the deal. Working in tandem with the dual light head, this clinically inspired mode raises the total energy output per four pulses to 26 joules. With this value, even the most stubborn hair has no option but to give way.

However, Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 operates within the standard energy output of most IPL devices, which is 3 – 6 J/cm. Of course, this trails Ulike Air 10, which is why you may have to wait longer to see the results that Ulike will give in just two weeks.

  • Comfort and Safety During Treatment: Ulike Air 10 Leads

No matter how effective a hair removal method may be, if it compromises comfort and safety, it is not worth it. For the record, IPLs are not carcinogenic, but if there’s a misuse of these gadgets, it can cause sunburn, hyperpigmentation, and other side effects. Besides, if you’ve got sensitive skin, the heat generated by the action of the light on the melanin in your skin can cause you some discomfort. That’s why every IPL manufacturer includes safety features like modes, intensity levels, and other parameters on their product.

Ulike Air 10 takes the lead in this aspect because of its NextGen Sapphire Ice Cooling technology. Its earlier release, Ulike Air 3, debuted this company’s patented Sapphire Ice-Cooling tech, but it isn’t near what this NextGen Ice Cooling tech offers. This feature ensures that people with sensitive skin can use this IPL handset without suffering sunburn or irritation.

In addition to this cooling tech, the handset has a smart skin tone sensor that automatically selects the best working mode and intensity level to doubly ensure that you’re safe. Of course, that takes away the guesswork and ensures that you are not receiving less or more light than is safe and effective for your hair removal needs.

Braun’s SkinPro 2.0 tech, which is also a skin tone sensor, does the same thing – optimize your experience by automatically selecting the best intensity level for your skin. However, Braun doesn’t feature any corresponding technology that does what the NextGen Ice Cooling tech of Ulike does. As such, you cannot get the same no-irritation and no-sunburn assurances that Ulike guarantees from Braun Silk Expert Pro 5.

  • Price: Ulike Air 10 Leads

Nobody purchases any product without considering the price. And for most rational buyers, the goal is to get the best at the least price possible. Of course, that is not to say that they would sacrifice quality for money, but if they can save while getting the best, it would be a worthy purchase.

Considering the years of research and premium materials that go into making high-end IPL handsets like the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 and Ulike Air 10, you can understand why they aren’t going to sell for less. But even at that, one is cheaper than the other.

The Ulike Air 10, without any discount, sells for $399. However, because it is just getting to the market, there is a $100 discount for the first 5,000 purchases. That makes the price to be just $299. Braun Silk Expert Pro 5, on its part, sells for $429. The interesting part is that all features showcased in Braun’s product are in Ulike Air 10, and the latter even has more.

So, if we are considering value for money, Ulike Air 10 guarantees that. The box content of both devices is similar, but Ulike incorporates even much more features than Braun.

  • Design: Both Devices are at Par

Agreed; distinction based on design may be subjective but it’s crystal clear that it’s not an unimportant factor. No matter how good a product is, if not properly presented or it’s not user-friendly, it might not achieve its goal. But in fairness, both Braun and Ulike did an excellent job in crafting their devices.

First, let’s consider their intensity levels, which is a determinant of their flexibility to meet different skin needs. Both devices feature ten levels from which users can choose. As earlier mentioned, if you are unsure of which level to set these devices to, their sensors can do this for you.

Also, regarding ergonomics, which is a reflection of how physically appealing and easy to hold the devices are, it’s difficult to choose one over the other. Both assume the shape of the hand and will not be a burden to carry for 10 minutes or less than it takes to complete a full-body session.

  • Precision and Time to Complete Treatment: Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 Leads

There is always a challenge with a one-size-fits-all solution, and that’s because of the dynamism of nature. The body has contours and many places where unwanted hair often exists are not straightforward to access. Braun took this into consideration when crafting their Silk Expert Pro 5 IPL. In addition to the standard cap that comes with the IPL handset, there are two other precision caps and one wide cap that ensure that you get a precise treatment.

So, let’s say you are treating the bikini lines or somewhere on your face with just a few strands, you can use the narrow head cap that will deliver the light only to the affected area. Unfortunately, because such replaceable caps don’t come with the Ulike Air 10, you may find yourself flashing the high-energy light into skin areas you don’t have hairs to remove. In short, it’s a bit more challenging to achieve precision with the Ulike Air 10 than with the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5.

Ulike Air 10 vs. Braun Silk Expert Pro 5: Comparison Table

A more convenient way to quickly appreciate the similarities and differences between these two high-end IPL products is to pitch them against each other in a table as shown below.

Parameters Ulike Air 10 Braun Silk Expert Pro 5
Intensity Levels 10 10
Smart Skin tone sensor Yes Yes
Money Back Guarantee 90 days 100 days
Free Shipping Yes Yes
Price $399 $429
FDA Clearance Yes Yes
Box Content IPL handset, glasses, razor, drawstring bag, charging accessories IPL handset, Venus razor, three additional caps, carrying pouch, and charging accessories
Suitable for The whole body The whole body
Ice-Cooling Tech? Yes (NextGen) No
SHR Mode? Yes (for high energy output) No
Additional Caps for precision? No Yes (one wide; two precision caps)
Full-Body Treatment Time 10 minutes 10 – 15 minutes
Earliest Time to See Visible Results 2 weeks 3 – 4 weeks
Payment Spread? Yes Yes
Power Modes 4 3

Conclusion

Braun is a reputable German brand that has been churning out high-quality body grooming devices for over 100 years. As such, there’s no doubt that the Silk Expert Pro 5 is an industry-leading, highly effective IPL handset. However, it trails the newly-released Ulike Air 10 IPL Handset in critical features such as dual lights, SHR mode, Ice-cooling technology, and affordability. All of these significantly affect users’ experience, and that is why the Ulike device is better.

If you are among the early birds to get the clinically-backed and experts-vetted Ulike Air 10, you can save $90 by paying $309 for it instead of $399. It’s indeed the first among IPL devices to feature these daring and critical attributes that greatly improve hair removal via IPL.

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