Our choice: Pro 1500X
The Oral-B Pro 1500X, 1500X and Pro 3000 are almost identical brushes. The difference is the colour of the handle and the brush head that comes in the box. Apart from that, the features and design are the same.
The Pro 3000 has now been discontinued, so any remaining stock is expensive. The Pro 1500X is far cheaper. It is currently our top choice for Australia's best electric toothbrush.
The 1500X is a black version of the 1500X, but we have found the 1500X to be more readily available.
Oral-B Pro 1500X, 1500X, Pro 3000 review
In the sections below I have included a review of the Pro 1500X. The 1500X is essentially the same as a brush named the Pro 3 3500 in the UK or the Oral-B Smart 1500 in the USA. The only difference between the brushes is the colours (and the plug type that they come with).
The Pro 1500X comes with a plug suitable for Australia.
The photos below therefore reference the UK model that we reviewed, but they are still fully applicable to the Pro 1500X.
Please be aware that the Pro 1500X comes in black, not pink or white as shown in the photos.
Our verdict
The Pro 1500X has the essential dentist-recommended features you need in an electric toothbrush: a timer, pacer and pressure sensor.
It is a strong performer that cleans the teeth well, but its price isn't inflated by unnecessary features. It's 3 years on since we first tested it and we still rate it as the best overall electric toothbrush.
How well it cleans
The 1500X is a solid performer that will clean your teeth extremely well if used correctly.
The small round brush head reaches tight spaces and gives good cleaning results
Included in the box with the Pro 1500X is a single brush head. Oral-B's oscillating-rotating brush heads are smaller than the sonic ones from the likes of Sonicare and can feel quite aggressive in comparison. They do make it easy to reach the tightest of spaces, though.
If you like an invigorating clean, the 1500X certainly doesn’t disappoint. It sounds cliche, but a ‘dentist clean feeling’ really does apply here. It is approved by the Oral Health Foundation and backed by clinical evidence. Used correctly, the Pro 1500X will remove plaque effectively.
If you have sensitive teeth and don't like such a powerful clean, the softer Sensi UltraThin brush head and the lower powered cleaning mode can be beneficial.
Whilst power is far from the most important factor in achieving good cleaning results, I am often asked how many oscillations and pulsations models offer.
The Pro 1500X series motor generates up to 9,900 oscillations and 45,000 pulsations per minute. The exact number depends on the brushing mode selected.
There are a variety of heads that are compatible with the 1500X. We take a closer look at them in our Oral-B brush heads guide, but the key thing to know is that each head cleans comparably.
Our preference is the softer Sensi UltraThin or the slightly firmer bristled CrossAction. Most dentists will advise a soft bristled brush, hence the Sensi UltraThin being a great option.
How it feels
Overall, the Pro 1500X is a pleasant brush to use. Its construction looks and feels a bit cheaper than some competing models, but this is reflected in the price.
Slim, sleek, and easy to clean
Like most other electric brushes the Pro 1500X has a cylindrical handle. Actually, it is not perfectly round, it’s slightly thicker than it is wide, but we are talking millimetres of difference.
It will stand upright on a countertop and strategically placed raised dots on the rear of the handle prevent the brush from rolling along a flat countertop.
Unlike some older models from Oral-B, the 1500X doesn’t have any large rubber panels on the handle to aid with grip. There's a small section around the power button, but the result is a much cleaner look to the handle and less grime buildup.
A softer, dimpled texture to the plastic body also replaces the raised lines that have adorned the rear of brush handles such as the Smart 4.
The brush isn’t slippery by any means. It feels solid and generally secure.
The sleek and minimal design means that the water resistant handle can be rinsed under the tap and easily cleaned off. You don’t get grime building up as it did in the contoured rubber grips.
Of plastic construction, there is a gloss finish to the handle, which is available in white, black and soft pink colour. It is primarily cosmetic, but the matte finish of most Philips Sonicare and even Oral-B’s iO Series handles do look and feel better to the touch.
For lack of a better expression, it just makes the Pro 1500X look and feel a bit ‘cheap’ in comparison. But, then again, it does cost a lot less.
On the front of the handle, the power button is housed in a panel with a slightly different texture to the rest of the brush. This makes it easier to locate in the dark, should you need to. As with most Oral-B models, I found the resistance of the button to strike the right balance between firm and gentle.
The power button is pressed to change cleaning modes. It provides haptic feedback to confirm your press has been registered.
Recommended features
This is another section where the 1500X does very well because it has a strong implementation of the key features we look for in an electric toothbrush: a timer, a pacer and a pressure sensor.
The visible pressure sensor is easy to spot out the corner of your eye
Scrubbing and using lots of force as you brush will damage the teeth and gums over the long term. Oral-B has for many years built pressure sensors into its toothbrushes and the Pro 1500X is no exception.
When the handle detects you are brushing with excess force the motor will slow the brush head and the light ring at the top of the handle will illuminate red. When it does, you need to relieve the pressure until the light goes out.
I found the light ring relatively easy to spot out the corner of my eye and in the mirror. There's no vibration alert through the handle like you get with some Sonicare models.
If you know you have a habit of brushing with too much force, the Pro 1500X will help you rectify this.
A minor irk, in which no way affects daily use, is that the light is strongest on the back side of the ring where the LED is located. It is not a consistently strong ring of red light as you might expect.
The 2 minute timer and pacer help you clean your teeth evenly
A timer and pacer are included in all but the cheapest of brushes these days and their implementation is fairly standard.
The pacer momentarily pauses the brushing action every 30 seconds to tell you to move on to the next part of the mouth. After 2 minutes the alert changes slightly to tell you that you have brushed for long enough.
Unlike some brushes, the Pro 1500X doesn’t power off automatically after two minutes. This isn't an issue, though, especially if you like to brush for longer than 2 minutes.
Additional items & features
The Pro 1500X comes with the essentials only – it doesn't have extra items and features that drive up the price.
The basic travel case is handy for nights away
The Pro 1500X comes with a basic but functional travel case. It is a simple, plastic shell that will protect your brush and bristles from damage and dirt. It also prevents accidental activation of the brush when it's in your luggage. It's useful for the odd occasion when you need to take the brush away overnight.
3 cleaning modes to suit different preferences
You get 3 different modes on all 3 variants of the Pro 1500X.
- Daily Clean
- Sensitive
- Whitening
Daily Clean is my preference and the one I recommend most people use. The option of Sensitive is great for those who want to enjoy a less intense cleaning action, or for those days your teeth or gums might feel a little more tender.
Sensitive is also a great choice for first time electric toothbrush users. It makes for a more pleasing introduction to the increased power such brushes offer.
Don’t worry too much about which mode you use. Although differences exist, they are minimal. Fundamentally, if used correctly, you will achieve a good clean with any of them.
The lack of cleaning mode labels is a minor irritation
Regardless of which mode you finish brushing with, the Pro 1500X defaults to Daily Clean each time you turn it on. This may be a minor irritation if you always brush with Sensitive, for example, but I didn't find the extra button press to be much of an inconvenience.
There are no icons, LEDs or labels to show or confirm what mode you have selected. You will learn them in time based on the sound and sensation, but they are ordered as above.
It’s frustrating, as many competing brushes do have labels, but it’s just the way Oral-B design their mid-tier models. It’s a small inconvenience and doesn’t stop me from using or recommending it.
It's one of the louder brushes I've tested
Oral-B brushes are amongst the loudest available today, with the Pro 1500X registering at 73.5 decibels in my testing.
It makes quite a mechanical noise, not a gentle humming sound like most sonic toothbrushes.
Personally I haven't found this to be a problem and it doesn't stop me from recommending the Pro 1500X. If you're in a house where you need to keep toothbrushing noise to a minimum, it is something that's worth factoring into your decision.
If you want a spinning Oral-B style brush that's quieter, the iO Series 3 from Oral-B produces 64 decibels. It's worth noting that Bitvae makes the R2, which is another oscillating-rotating (spinning) brush, but that's even noisier at 75dB.
It's an easy brush to keep clean
The minimalist design of the Pro 1500X and the glossy plastics it's constructed from mean that it's easy to rinse and keep clean.
I've found that a quick run under the tap after each use helps to prevent grime from building up. An occasional wipe with a damp cloth also helps.
Something to be aware of with any electric toothbrush is that grime will build up inside and around the brush head if it isn't regularly removed and rinsed. On Oral-B's older style brushes like the Pro 1500X, the metal rod where the head attaches is actually easier to keep clean than the newer iO range. There are less crevices for grime to build up in.
Battery performance
2+ weeks is the claimed usable life of the Lithium-Ion battery sealed inside the Pro 1500X brush handle, based on 2 cleans per day each 2 minutes in length. I achieved 19-20 days and have noticed much more consistent battery performance than the iO Series brushes.
But, at 2+ weeks it falls short of the industry average which is really at 3-4 weeks. By no means is this a deal breaker when considering the 1500X — this level of battery life is more than enough, especially if you charge your brush most nights.
When low, the battery notification LED will flash red and you may notice the motor slow. A full recharge takes up to 12 hours. The battery LED will flash green whilst charging, before turning off once complete.
The supplied white charging stand has a 90cm power cable with a 2 pin plug suitable for Australian bathrooms attached. It supports 220-240v.
The electronics in the handle mean you can leave the brush on the stand at all times to ensure full battery life. I have found that if the brush is often wet when placed on the stand grime can eventually build up, but it’s easily wiped clean.
Support & reputation
A 2 year manufacturer warranty is provided as standard. Going by my past experience with Oral-B brushes like this, you should be hopeful of 5+ years of service from the Pro 1500X.
By the very nature of the product they are not immune to failure, but on the whole reliability and durability is solid. I’ve had no reason to question the build quality and the finish of the handle.
If for whatever reason you aren’t satisfied when you first buy the brush, Braun offers a 180 day money back guarantee.
Environmental impact
In this section, we pass comments on things to consider about the environmental impact of the brush being reviewed.
With regards to the Pro 1500X specifically, you get the essentials in the box and not lots of unnecessary extras, which reduces its shipping weight. Unfortunately, the box is a little bigger than it needs to be.
Thankfully, Oral-B now uses all cardboard packaging, whereas polystyrene was previously used.
It is not a smart brush, thus reducing component usage and e-waste at the end of its life.
This is common amongst electric toothbrushes, but it has not been designed to be easily repaired at home. Trying to replace parts like the battery will likely break the brush. This makes it more likely to be discarded rather than repaired if broken.
While Oral-B has partnered with schemes such as TerraCycle in some countries, it does not yet have its own recycling scheme for used brush heads or faulty products.
Its brush heads are made from petroleum-based plastic, which uses up the planet’s finite resources compared to using plant-based plastics.
Conclusion: you'll struggle to find something better for less money
The Pro 1500X is a brush I have confidence in recommending. It is our recommendation for the best overall electric toothbrush.
It offers the most essential features of an electric brush and not lots of unwanted and unnecessary extras.
It cleans the teeth well and the choice of cleaning modes means it suits a variety of users.
It is a shame you can’t easily tell which mode you have selected and that it always defaults to Daily Clean mode, but that is how Oral-B configures its mid-range models and it isn’t a deal breaker.
Video review
Below is my latest video review of the Pro 3 (the UK equivalent of the 1500X), published 3 years after I first tested it. You can watch my original Pro 3 review here.
Size guide
- Toothbrush height with head - 23.2cm / 9.1 inches
- Toothbrush height without head - 19.5cm / 7.7 inches
- Width - 2.5cm / 1 inches
- Depth/thickness - 2.9cm / 1.1 inches
- Weight with head - 124g / 4.4oz
- Weight without head - 119g / 4.2oz
- Travel case size - 20cm / 7.9 inches (L) x 6cm / 2.4 inches (W) x 3.2cm / 1.3 inches (D)
- Travel case weight - 64g / 2.3oz without brush or 188g / 6.6oz with brush
- Package weight - 540g / 19oz
Noise
- 73dB
Country of manufacture
- Germany
Hi. Just looking at your review for the 1500x and comparing to the physical products available in shops - eg The Shaver Shop, Chemist Warehouse, etc. I see you wrote that the pro 1500x is black, not white or pink. You also wrote that the pressure sensor lights up. I'm not complaining about your review because I'm guessing products change. It's just that when I read your review and the product I buy doesn't have a pressure sensor that lights up, it makes me think I've bought a dodgy product. I looked on the bottom of the brush handle- it says it's a type 3791. I google that and it says its a pro 1000, not 1500x. So, then I'm thinking that Oral B is pretty dodgy selling old models in new packaging. Have you come across this practice? I would love to know your thoughts based on your extensive experience. Many thanks.
Hi Audrey.
No need to panic as such. Basically our review/comparison is slightly outdated now as Oral-B have updated the 1500x. It's a reaonsable change but has meant a few spec differences, including loosing the visible pressure sensor.
Due to limited resources we havn't yet been able to update this content, but it is our intention at the earliest opportunity.
Oral-B isn't being dodgy as such, but they do confuse matters by updaing models and changing design and specs whilst retaining the same names.