Health & Wellness · Head-to-head
Braun Silk·expert Pro 5 (PL5137) vs Ulike Air 10
Which should you buy? Here's the honest call, pulled from our full The Best At-Home IPL Hair Removal Devices: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The Braun Silk·expert Pro 5 is the most foolproof at-home IPL thanks to its truly automatic skin-tone sensor and fast flashing, making it our top pick. The Ulike Air 10 is the runner-up and the smarter value for most people, trading a little sensor sophistication for outstanding cooling comfort and speed.
Braun Silk·expert Pro 5 (PL5137)
Buy itThe most complete at-home IPL: a genuinely automatic skin-tone sensor, fast flashing, and a long track record.
- Continuous skin-tone sensor reads your skin many times per second and auto-sets a safe intensity, so there is no manual guesswork
- Among the fastest devices reviewers have timed, with a gliding mode that covers both legs in minutes
- Can be used corded for uninterrupted long sessions and comes with a precision cap for smaller areas
- The most expensive device here, and the sensor lockout will refuse to fire on darker skin tones
- Corded operation means you are tethered to an outlet
Ulike Air 10
Buy itThe comfort champion: sapphire ice-cooling plus dual lamps make fast, nearly painless full-body sessions.
- Built-in cooling keeps the glass cold, which owners repeatedly describe as the most comfortable IPL they have used
- Two light sources deliver a wide window and quick flashes, so a full-body pass is short
- A skin sensor checks the area and will pause on tones it deems too dark, adding a safety layer
- Costs more than the simpler budget options
- Cooling and dual lamps add weight and heat, and the handset must stay plugged in
Side by side
| Braun Silk·expert Pro 5 (PL5137) | Ulike Air 10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Anyone who wants the safest, most hands-off experience and is willing to pay the most for it. | Sensitive users who want speed and comfort without stepping up to flagship pricing. |
| Price tier | $$$$ · flagship | $$$ · premium |
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Braun Silk·expert Pro 5 (PL5137) - The most complete at-home IPL: a genuinely automatic skin-tone sensor, fast flashing, and a long track record. Choose the Ulike Air 10 instead if sensitive users who want speed and comfort without stepping up to flagship pricing.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best At-Home IPL Hair Removal Devices: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).