What the cleaning experience is like and how clean our teeth felt after brushing.
How well it cleans Score SummaryWhat the brush is like in-hand; how grippy it is, what the balance is like, how easy it is to remove brush heads.
How it feels Score SummaryDoes the brush have our recommended features of a timer, pacer & pressure sensor and how well do they perform?
Recommended features Score SummaryHow long does the battery last, how long does it take to charge and does the brush have a battery level indicator?
Battery performance Score SummaryWhat are the total ownership costs over the space of several years and how expensive are replacement brush heads?
Price Score SummaryHow easy is it to clean the brush, how noisy is it, does it come with a travel case or any other useful items?
Additional items & features Score SummaryHow long is the warranty, what is the manufacturer's reputation and how strong are its environmental efforts?
Support & reputation Score SummaryApplies to smart toothbrushes only. How well does the smart technology work and how useful is the app?
Smart features Score SummaryOur verdict
It's 5 years on since I first published my AquaSonic Black Series review and having now revisited the Black Series and the Vibe, I can say that they are both still worth consideration.
They are excellent value toothbrushes that will appeal to anyone looking to buy an electric toothbrush on a budget.
They clean the teeth well and are comfortable brushes to use.
The cheap price does mean that the materials used don't feel quite as premium as the likes of Oral-B and Sonicare brushes, but this is something that can be overlooked if you're aiming to save money.
Vibe vs Black Series
This review covers both the AquaSonic Vibe and the AquaSonic Black Series because they are almost identical products and cost the same amount. The only difference is that the Vibe is available in a greater range of colors.
It's worth pointing out that replacement heads only seem to be available in black or white, so if you go for a colored version of the Vibe, once the initial set of heads included in the box have run out you may have a mismatch between handle and head color.
The photos used throughout this review are of the Vibe. Any references or descriptions made throughout the review are applicable to both brushes unless stated otherwise.
Pros |
Cons |
|---|---|
Long battery life |
No pressure sensor |
|
Good box contents |
Cheap materials |
How well it cleans
The Vibe scores well here because it did a perfectly good job of cleaning my teeth. After conducting plaque disclosing tests, I've got no concerns about its cleaning performance.
Performance is good, but it's not as gentle as I would like
The motor in this brush head offers 40,000 vibrations per minute. This is actually 9,000 more than Sonicare toothbrushes. You can tell the difference, but I see no evidence to suggest it makes the cleaning any better. In fact, my teeth do feel slightly cleaner when I've used a Sonicare or Oral-B brush.
The Vibe / Black Series come with 4 cleaning modes, which the manual describes as:
- Clean - Standard mode for superior teeth cleaning
- Soft - Gently caress, carefully clean sensitive mouth
- Whiten - Teeth cleaning with polishing and whitening
- Massage - Pulsates for gum stimulation
To be honest I can’t say that the soft mode felt very soft.
I do not have sensitive gums, but it felt quite intense. Combine this with the stiff bristles of the brush head and it was not as gentle as if I were using a sensitive mode on the brush of a leading brand.
Having a range of modes may work well for some people, but to be honest they are far from essential. Most people, myself included, will stick to the ‘clean’ mode for the vast majority of brushing sessions.
It is not clear how the number of vibrations differ between each mode. The whiten mode sounds and feels most intense and like it is using all 40,000.
The 'Ultra-Whitening' part of the name is misleading
When we first purchased these brushes several years ago, the product listing and the box referred to them as 'Ultra Sonic'. Without getting into the science (you can read more about that here), this is confusing because there are different types of cleaning technology available in electric toothbrushes. Sonic and ultrasonic (one word) are two such types of brushing technology.
In the case of AquaSonic, ultra sonic was split into two words. But, just to be clear, this is not an ultrasonic brush, it is a sonic toothbrush. The AquaSonic Vibe / Black Series is equivalent to a Sonicare toothbrush. It does not perform like an ultrasonic toothbrush.
The packaging of the brushes has now been updated slightly and the new description being used is 'Ultra-Whitening'. Again, this is confusing because there is no such thing as 'Ultra-Whitening'. Even calling something a 'whitening' toothbrush is arguably inaccurate, so where does the 'ultra' part come in?
This brush does have a whitening mode, but a toothbrush cannot strictly whiten the teeth. Stains (from food, drinks, smoking etc) can make your teeth look darker and discolored. A toothbrush can make the teeth appear whiter by cleaning such stains off the surface of the teeth. But, it is not actually changing the natural tooth color.
Any good tooth brushing routine can remove stains from the teeth. Thus, it is a bit of a stretch to say this is a whitening toothbrush, let alone describe it as 'ultra-whitening'.
AquaSonic is not alone in using gimmicky marketing terms to sell toothbrushes, but nonetheless it is an odd choice of wording. A more accurate description would simply be 'sonic toothbrush', as is almost the case with the instruction manual:
How it feels
When holding the AquaSonic Vibe / Black Series there is a noticeable difference compared to more expensive brands. If I inspect the materials closely, I can tell that the quality is not as high as more premium models. Given the price, this isn't surprising. It's not the biggest downside seeing as it still cleans very well.
The handle of the brush itself is not perfectly round, but it has rounded edges. There is a slight squaring to the overall handle shape that makes it easier to hold.
At the top of the handle is a chrome colored ring and there is another at the base. The chrome is plastic and not metal. It catches the eye, but it is this that on closer inspection makes the brush feel a bit cheaper.
The base of the brush is flat, which means that it will stand upright on a worktop. On the back are contoured grooves that run the length of the handle. They are functional and help the fingers grip onto the brush when in hand. I like this subtle yet practical addition.
The brush handle is wrapped in what appears to be some sort of silicone or rubber material. Although smooth, it does help with in hand grip. It is much better than the glossy plastic bodies you get on many brushes.
Both the cleaning mode and on/off buttons need a little force to activate them. Neither give the most satisfying feedback as you press them, but they work well enough.
Recommended features
This is one area where the Vibe / Black Series doesn't score so well compared to others. This is because it lacks a pressure sensor, which is a feature that dentists recommend, especially for first time electric toothbrush users. It alerts you when you are brushing with too much force.
If you are truly on a budget you can of course get by without a pressure sensor, but be aware that you should not scrub the teeth, the bristles need only skim the surfaces of the teeth to keep them clean.
If you can afford to spend a little more, a pressure sensor is a feature worth paying for. I go into more detail in the price section, but you will need to look at models like the Sonicare 4100 Series or the Oral-B iO3 to get such a feature.
The other features that are recommended for an electric toothbrush are a timer and a 30 second pacer, which the Vibe / Black Series does have. The timer and pacer work well and function on all 4 of the cleaning modes that the brush offers.
At the end of the 2 minute cleaning cycle, the brush will turn itself off automatically. Many brushes now do this, but I think it is an underrated feature. It is a clear signal that the 2 minute clean is complete and it saves you some effort turning the brush off. Oral-B toothbrushes do not have this feature.
Additional items & features
This is another section where the Vibe / Black Series does not score highly, but that is by design. It doesn't come with many additional items and features in order to keep the price as low as possible. Given the four cleaning modes and the travel case, it actually includes more than we would expect at this price point.
The travel case is basic but functional
The case is of an all plastic construction. It can protect the toothbrush handle and brush heads when your toothbrush is on the move with you. It feels pretty durable and like it could take a few knocks.
The case is typical of that supplied with an electric toothbrush. It holds the brush handle and up to 2 brush heads. It's a nice bonus to get one included at this price.
There is a vent in the base of the case to allow airflow and help dry off the head and handle.
Sonicare heads are compatible with this brush
Something worth pointing out is that Sonicare replacement brush heads are compatible with the AquaSonic Black and Vibe series. Sonicare BrushSync (the feature that tells you when it's time to replace the head) won't work, but other than that the heads are compatible.
When we first published our AquaSonic reviews several years ago, one of our criticisms was the difficulty in sourcing replacement heads. This made it more significant that Sonicare heads are compatible with the brush. AquaSonic's own replacement heads are now readily available, but it's reassuring to know that Sonicare brush heads can be used in their place should that change.
Further to this, I do find that Sonicare brush heads are more comfortable to use on my gums. I don’t have a microscope to be able to check, but I suspect AquaSonic bristles are rough cut.
This means the tip of each bristle has not been through a polishing process that would round the tips. Unpolished tips are sharper, less even and can be more aggressive on the gums and soft mouth tissues.
It is not a massive issue for most, but some may get a bit of a stabbing sensation when brushing. The bristles also feel at the stiffer end of the scale to me — they are not the softest bristles I have used.
The bristle length is a little longer at the top and bottom of the head (the green bristles). This is to help with cupping around the tooth and getting into the interdental spaces.
The clean from these brush heads is satisfactory and my teeth feel clean after use. But, on odd occasions, the experience just felt a tiny bit rougher than the likes of a Sonicare or Oral-B brushing experience.
Battery performance
The built-in rechargeable battery is claimed to last up to 4 weeks on the standard clean mode, which is good. My hands-on testing revealed it actually lasted in excess of 5 weeks.
One of the benefits of newer electric toothbrushes tends to be battery life. Many of these challenger brands, such as AquaSonic, are putting leading brands like Oral-B and Colgate to shame. Most Oral-B models offer a battery life of 7-14 days.
Sonicare sets the bar for battery life amongst the big name brands. Although it generally suggests 2-3 weeks battery life, it's not uncommon for its brushes to last 4-5 weeks.
The Vibe / Black Series is claimed to last around 4 weeks, based on 2 cleans per day each lasting 2 minutes. I achieved 39 days. That's an impressive 78 brushing sessions. In total, this is about a week and a half additional battery life over what was claimed. 4 weeks battery life is good, but over 5 is very good.
The lithium-ion battery is fixed inside the brush handle and is not user removable. It can take up to 24 hours to fully charge the brush, which is on the high side compared to other brushes. Overall, it's not a difference paying too much attention to.
There isn't an indicator to show the charging status of the battery, but there is an LED that illuminates green during use when the battery is above 20%, or red when it's below 20%. It's not the brightest, nor ar the mode names, but it does the job.
The charging stand is typical of a toothbrush charging stand. There is a prong on the top that fits into the recess on the base of the toothbrush and charges it wirelessly. The stand has a 2 pin US plug on it and a cable that is about 4 feet (1.2 meters ) in length.
The usage time from the battery means that you don’t need to take the charging stand when travelling unless it is an extended trip. Should you need to take the stand, it supports 100-240V. This means that if you travel internationally you may only need a plug adapter to use it in certain countries, a voltage adapter will not be needed.
|
AquaSonic Vibe Series
|
|
Philips Sonicare 4100 Series
|
|
Oral-B iO Series 3 (iO3)
|
|
Oral-B Pro 1000
|
Price & buying advice
Here at Electric Teeth we like to provide an approximate cost of ownership over the space of 3 years. This includes the purchase price of the brush and replacements heads and creates a benchmark for toothbrush comparisons.
8 brush heads are included in the box of the AquaSonic Vibe / Black Series, which is enough for 2 years if you change your head every 3 months as advised by dental organisations.
At the time of writing, AquaSonic sells it's heads in packs of 2 for $9.95, or packs of 8 for $24.95, so depending on which you go for you are looking at a cost of $12.48 to $19.90 for an additional 4 heads.
The current 3 year cost for the Vibe or Black Series therefore comes out at between $59.85 and $52.43.
By way of comparison, the Sonicare 4100 has an approximate 3 year cost of $150 and the Oral-B iO3 a cost of $196.
I mention these two brushes because, if your budget allows, I do think they are worth considering alongside the AquaSonic brushes. Yes, they are more expensive, but they do come with a pressure sensor, which as mentioned above is a strongly recommended feature. They also have a more premium feel and are backed by longer standing manufacturers.
Another comparable choice from Oral-B is the Pro 1000, which has an approximate 3 year cost of $105. Compared to the AquaSonic it lacks a travel case. It does have a pressure sensor, although it doesn't give a clear audible or visible alert and is easy to miss.
| Overall Score |
| How well it cleans |
| How it feels |
| Recommended features |
| Additional items & features |
| Battery performance |
| Smart features |
| Price |
| Support & reputation |
| Buying options |
|
Our Choice
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
83
|
74
|
80
|
75
|
|
100
|
94
|
100
|
100
|
|
88
|
76
|
88
|
76
|
|
82
|
45
|
100
|
63
|
|
42
|
53
|
22
|
20
|
|
60
|
67
|
53
|
43
|
| - | - | - | - |
|
87
|
100
|
43
|
100
|
|
77
|
50
|
77
|
77
|
Support & reputation
AquaSonic scores slightly below average in this category because it is still a relatively new manufacturer and only offers a 1 year warranty. We explain this in more detail in the following sections.
Company background and warranty
AquaSonic is a brand, managed by a California based company Pure Daily Care. Although it is a US company/brand, the toothbrush is designed and made in China. It has not been designed by Pure Daily Clean.
AquaSonic is what we regard as a 'challenger' brand. That is, a fairly new manufacturer that is competing with more established brands like Sonicare and Oral-B. It has now been around for over 5 years and I've seen several other challenger brands come and go in that time.
Since I first reviewed AquaSonic 5 years ago, it has resolved a couple of issues. One was the absence of a website and a method for contacting them about faulty products. The other was a lack of their own replacement brush heads.
The Vibe / Black Series comes with a 1 year warranty, which can be registered here for more information. The email address to contact in the event of an issue is: [email protected]. Many manufacturers do now include a 2 year warranty as standard. Others include only 1 year, but do offer replacements beyond the warranty period. We can't say if that is the case for AquaSonic so assume that you only have cover for 1 year.
Reliability & long term use
Being cheaper is a benefit, but the AquaSonic Vibe / Black Series is considerably cheaper. Brushes that are priced as low as AquaSonic have to cut costs somewhere.
In my opinion, this cost cutting exercise often happens in the parts and materials used. I have no evidence to suggest this is the case, but history and experience suggest this to me.
I have already mentioned how the build quality of this toothbrush is satisfactory, but in places it does feel and look cheaper than more expensive brushes. It by no means looks or feels as durable as Sonicare or Oral-B toothbrushes when in hand.
This alone does not mean it will fail or be less durable long term. Whilst my models have continued to work, I have seen some reports of the Vibe / Black Series brushes breaking and failing. From what I have seen, most of the time these incidents are being dealt with appropriately and replacements sent out.
Sometimes, what you gain in cost-saving, you do lose out on in support and peace of mind. If you are on a budget, but want the benefit of an electric toothbrush, the AquaSonic Vibe is worth buying. Overall, though, Oral-B or Sonicare are the better toothbrushes long term. I do believe they are worth the extra investment.
Environmental impact
This is a category that we don’t apply a score to because it’s very difficult to measure relatively without full data on the manufacturing and shipping processes.
However, based on our understanding of the environmental impact of electric toothbrushes, we do pass comments on things to consider about a particular brush.
Given the extremely cheap price, AquaSonic brushes are not likely to be an environmentally considerate option. Using the cheapest possible materials and cutting costs to the bare minimum doesn't leave much room for environmental allowances.
That being said, the brush itself offers minimum features and doesn't have any smart features. This means a lesser shipping weight and keeps component usage to a minimum, creatingbrush heads are made from petroleum-based plastic, which uses up the planet’s finite resources compared to using plant-based plastics less potential for e-waste when the brush fails.
As is the case with many brushes, replacement brush heads are made from petroleum-based plastic, which uses up the planet’s finite resources compared to using plant-based plastics
Conclusion
The AquaSonic Vibe is a satisfactory toothbrush that I could continue to use. It is good value. Essential features such as a timer and pacer are built-in, but it does lack a pressure sensor.
The included travel case and 8 brush heads are a real bonus. What lets it down a little is the product quality. It is not as well built and satisfying to use as the Sonicare 4100 or Oral-B iO3.
Most reputable electric toothbrushes come with a 2 year warranty, but AquaSonic only offers 1 year.
If you're on a tight budget but want an electric toothbrush, it is well worth considering. If you can stretch a bit further, consider one of our other recommendations above.
Video review
Having first reviewed the Vibe and the Black Series several years ago, I've now created this updated video to discuss whether they are still worth buying from 2024 onwards.
Size guide
- Toothbrush height with head - 25cm / 9.8 inches
- Toothbrush height without head - 19cm / 7.5 inches
- Width - 2.8cm / 1.1 inches
- Depth/thickness - 2.8cm / 1.1 inches
- Weight with head - 113g / 4oz
- Weight without head - 118g / 4.1oz
- Travel case size - 22cm / 8.7 inches (L) x 8cm / 3.1 inches (W) x 4.5cm / 1.8 inches (D)
- Travel case weight - 144g / 5.1oz without brush or 257g / 9.1oz with brush
- Package weight - 499g / 17.6oz
Noise
- 65dB
Country of manufacture
- China
Brush heads do not fit securely into handle and vibrate out after 15 - 20 seconds.
Hi Barry.
If you are having a probelm with the brush heads, you will need tog et in contact with Aquasonic. Perhaps there is a fault with your brush heads or the handle you have.
I can't say I recall others having such issues.
I received an Aquasonic Elite Ultra on the Vine Voice program from Amazon for review. It states a motor speed of 50K VBM.
There is no gentle cycle, like for gums. Every cleaning mode is much too strong and intense for my tolerance level. In short, the vibrations on my tongue, gums, and soft tissue drive me crazy.
I certainly feel the polishing benefits, but at too great a cost. And no one here is mentioning micro-plastics. I can only assume these devices introduce much more of this into our systems over time than a manual brush.
Hi Roger.
The Elite Ultra is not a model I have tested yet to make comment.
When you refer to micro-plastics, you presumably mean from the degrading bristles?
Unless you are swallowing the paste then the liklihood of plasitcs being ingested are slim.
It isn't something I have researched to any great degree if I am honest to see what quality data exists to confirm or not whether such is an issue we should be concerned about.
I have aqua blue electric tooth mine now is on red when it will be turned green green
Hi Sarah
It can take up to 24 hours to charge the brush fully.
Excellent review on the Vibe. I thought for sure you would be the first one to mention whether or not the timer resumes after shutoff and then being turned back on m maybe 30b seconds later to resume the count down like my Sonnicare does. In case you need to have both hands free for a moment without toothpaste flying everywhere and without resetting the timer. A surprisingly extremely useful feature that goes overlooked. The lack of knowing that prevents me from buying this brush...It is a deal breaker, potentially. Otherwise, this is the best review I've read on the brush. I await your follow-up with bated breath....
Hi Gabe.
Great question. Short answer is no, it does not have this feature.
I've personally checked just now and I can confirm that stopping the brush mid-cycle will cause the timer to reset.
Thus if you have brushed for 1 minute. Turn the brush off for 15 seconds and start it again, it will run for 2 minutes until it then powers off, rather than the 1 minute you would expect.
My aquasonic will not charge. How do I get this fixed?
Thank you.
Hi Andrea.
You will need to contact the seller from whom you purchased it. I believe you likey purchased it via Amazon. If you go back to your order history, you will be able to contact the seller to help resolve this issue.
I bought an AquaSonic T2082B from Amazon in 4/19, use it only once a day because I am disabled and bedbound at home and depend on an aide, and already the battery will not hold a charge.
Gail Zimmer
I lost my charger for the electric Aquasonic tooth brush and now the battery needs charging. Where can I buy a charger that fits this particular toothbrush?
Alvaro.
I would suggest you try contacting the seller/company you purchased it from to see if they can help, but I think you will struggle to get one if I am honest. I have found that a Philips Sonicare charger does transfer some charge to the battery, but the fit on the stand is not great and I couldn't comment on how efficient and effective it is for long term use.