Sonicare vs Oral-B: Which Makes the Better Electric Toothbrush?

We’re currently testing Sonicare toothbrushes and will do a full comparison between the two brands once that testing is complete. Over the past eight years we’ve tested, and in many cases retested, more than three dozen different electric toothbrushes. We assessed what it’s like to use each brush twice daily over several months and—for our picks—years. This involved timing brushing sessions and battery lives, replacing brush heads (every three months, or more frequently as needed), and cleaning the handles and charging stands. To stress-test each brush shortly after unboxing, we dropped it onto a tile floor from chest height and submerged it in water while running for a full two-minute brushing cycle. After testing eight toothbrushes, I found that the best electric toothbrush overall is the Oral-B Pro 1000 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush thanks to its blend of features and affordability.

While the feedback was great, and I think would be a motivation for some, for me it felt like one more thing I had to do before I could just brush my teeth, an activity that happens at times of day when I’m often half-asleep. When I didn’t want to turn on my brain, I also didn’t want to turn on the app. If you brush your teeth with too much pressure, you run the risk of damaging your enamel or gums. When looking for the best electric toothbrush, you’ll want to consider a few factors. The CariPro is a good brush, it just didn’t compare to the others on this list. While theoretically that might produce a deeper clean, I don’t think it did that for me.

The Genius 8000 can track the brush’s position in your mouth, thanks to on-board location sensors and access to your phone’s front-facing camera. Smart capabilities aside, the brush itself, like our pick, is a reliable tool. Like other models in the Oral-B line, it has superfluous cleaning modes oral b braun toothbrush and is compatible with any of the company’s replacement heads. The Genius has an on-board pressure sensor that flashes red when you brush too hard (no app needed). If you travel with an electric toothbrush, you’ll appreciate the included case, which can charge the brush handle and a phone.

The choice of charging options is a welcome addition (not all hotels and Air BnBs will have a suitable shaver socket), though it’s a shame there’s nowhere in the case to stash the cable. Instead, the brush’s six modes are marked on the handle, and the currently selected one is backlit. We also like the sleek, sophisticated design, soft handle grip, and customizable smart ring. The fact that the toothbrush remembers where you were in your brushing session if you inadvertently turn it off while brushing, is a useful feature that means you don’t have to start all over again. The Oral B Genius X is an impressively high-tech toothbrush that can improve your technique, but sonic toothbrush lovers may not enjoy the higher volume. Two buttons on the handle—one to power it on and off and another to cycle through the modes—make the brush very straightforward, so you won’t have to fiddle with any settings before beginning your brushing session.

It also comes with three brush heads, so no need to stock up on replacements for a while and a travel case, which is always a added bonus. The high-tech brush connects via Bluetooth to your smart phone, so you can customised the settings further for a professional feeling clean. The app also keeps track of how you’re brushing and detects if there are any areas of your mouth you’re missing.

Oral-B’s brushes specifically combine rotating motions with quick pulses to clean deep inside the pits and fissures in your teeth as well as the contact points between the teeth. Each brush also has 5 to 6 brushing modes (including DailyClean, ProClean, Whitening, and Gum Care) to help you customize your brushing to suit your needs. However, we recommend using a rechargeable electric toothbrush designed especially for kids, with smaller brushes and brush heads.

The quick and simple setup, straightforward charger (which we were pleased to discover is compatible with some other Oral-B brushes), and sturdy travel case make the Oral-B Genius 6000 an excellent portable choice. Presence of a pressure sensor that informs the user if they are pressing down on their teeth too hard. There’s an element of “gamification” to the experience, as the app records your performance each time you brush and lets you know how it compares to previous sessions, subtly encouraging you to do your best.

It was a slick operation, with four bathroom sinks each equipped with a smartphone and, when I visited shortly after lunch on Wednesday, a queue of people eager to clean their teeth. However, for the vast majority, the prices are prohibitive and the benefits for every dollar ($) spent certainly reduces. The great number of choices you have within the Oral-B range can make oral b genius toothbrush it really quite difficult to decide which toothbrush is right for you. Both aim to give feedback as if a dentist was monitoring your clean, but the 8000 just gives the feedback in a more interactive and instant way. Both brushes are fairly slim and lightweight in hand, but the Pro 1000 does not have the large amount of grip on the front of the handle like the 1500.