
Which one would we choose?
Our choice: Oral-B iO Series 9 (Amazon, Walmart)
2nd choice: Oral-B iO Series 6 (Amazon, Walmart)
All of the iO Series handles share many great features. They all have a 2 minute timer, pacer, smart pressure sensor, 2 week battery life and a stylish design to name just a few things.
Importantly, the cleaning action and results are the same irrespective of the model.
But, if you want the very best brush from Oral-B with all the newest features and you are prepared to pay for it, the iO9 is the brush to pick.
It has a travel case in which you can charge the brush. It can track 16 different zones in the mouth when you brush. It then gives personalized feedback, highlighting areas for improvement, so we achieve a better standard of brushing.
In reality, it is the iO6 that is the most sensible purchase for most people.
It offers a blend of premium features and performance at a more affordable price point. You get the in handle display and real-time tracking, but just 6 zones rather than 16.


Video Comparison
In the video below we compare all of the brushes in the Oral-B iO range.
Key Differences
The following table lists the key similarities and differences between each series.
Series 3 | Series 4 | Series 5 | Series 6 | Series 7 | Series 8 | Series 9 | Series 10 (coming soon) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
Recommended Retail Price (RRP) | CDN $100 | CDN $140 | CDN $190 | CDN $240 | CDN $300 | CDN $340 | CDN $400 | CDN $TBC |
Handle Colour(s) | Quite White | Quite White / Matte Black / Icy Blue / Lavender | Quite White / Matte Black / Blush Pink | Gray Opal / Black Lava / Pink Sand | Onyx Black / White Alabaster / Sapphire Blue | Onyx Black / White Alabaster / Violet Ametrine | Onyx Black / White Alabaster / Rose Quartz / Aqua Marine | Cosmic Black / Stardust White |
Number of Cleaning Modes | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 |
Daily Clean | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Sensitive | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Super Sensitive | X | Yes | Yes | X | X | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Intense | X | X | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Whitening | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Gum Care | X | X | X | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Tongue Clean | X | X | X | X | X | X | Yes | Yes |
Interactive Display | X | X | X | Black & White | Black & White | Colour | Colour | Colour |
Cleaning Mode Icons/Labels | X | X | Yes | On display | On display | On display | On display | On display |
Real-Time Zone Tracking with AI | X (No Bluetooth) | X | Yes – 6 zones | Yes – 6 zones | Yes – 6 zones | Yes – 6 zones | Yes – 3D teeth tracking – 16 zones | Yes – 3D teeth tracking – 16 zones |
Number of Brush Heads Included | 1 x Ultimate Clean | 1 x Ultimate Clean | 1 x Ultimate Clean | 1 x Ultimate Clean | 2 x Ultimate Clean | 3 x Ultimate Clean | 4 x Ultimate Clean | TBC |
Brush Head Replacement Reminder | Light on handle | Light on handle | Light on handle | On display | On display | On display | On display | On display |
Travel Case | X | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes – Power2go Charging Travel Case | Yes – Power2go Charging Travel Case |
Battery Life | 2 weeks | 2 weeks | 2 weeks | 2 weeks | 2 weeks | 2 weeks | 2 weeks | 2 weeks |
Battery Charge Feedback | Power button LED | Power button LED | Power button LED | On display | On display | On display | On display | On display |
Charging Stand | Standard charger (2 pin US / 110-130v) | Standard charger (2 pin US / 110-130v) | Standard charger (2 pin US / 110-130v) | Standard charger (2 pin US / 110-130v) | Magnetic charger (2 pin US / 100-240v) | Magnetic charger (2 pin US / 100-240v) | Magnetic charger (2 pin US / 100-240v) | Magnetic charger with iO sense technology (detachable 2 pin US / 100-240v) |
Noise (dB) | 64 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 72 | 72 | 72 | 64 |
Other Key Information | Takes up to 16 hours to recharge | Takes up to 16 hours to recharge | Takes up to 16 hours to recharge | Takes up to 12 hours to recharge | Takes up to 3 hours to recharge | Takes up to 3 hours to recharge | Takes up to 3 hours to recharge | Takes up to 3 hours to recharge |
Here is a bullet point list of the differences between the models we get requested to compare most.
iO Series 3 vs Series 4
- The Series 3 has 3 cleaning modes (daily clean, sensitive & whitening) compared to the 4 of the Series 4 (daily clean, sensitive, super sensitive & whitening). The extra mode the iO4 has is super sensitive.
- The iO3 does not have Bluetooth like the iO4.
- The iO3 LED light ring colour can’t be changed.
- The iO4 comes with a travel case. The iO3 does not.
- The Series 3 has a recommended retail price of $100, $40 less than the $140 of the Series 4.



iO Series 4 vs Series 5
- The Series 5 has 5 cleaning modes (daily clean, sensitive, super sensitive, intense & whitening) compared to the 4 of the Series 4 (daily clean, sensitive, super sensitive & whitening). The extra mode the iO5 has is intense.
- There Series 5 has cleaning mode icons on the handle that the iO4 does not have.
- You can change the cleaning mode on the iO5 before turning the brush on. You can’t do this on the iO4.
- The iO5 has real-time tracking of 6 zones that the iO4 does not have.
- The Series 4 is available in 4 colours (quite white, matte black, icy blue and lavender) compared to the 3 colours (quite white, matte black and blush pink) of the Series 5.
- The Series 4 has a recommended retail price of $140, $50 less than the $190 of the Series 5.



iO Series 5 vs Series 6
- Although both have 5 cleaning modes, they are different. The iO5 has daily clean, sensitive, super sensitive, intense and whitening, whilst the iO6 has daily clean, sensitive, intense, whitening and gum care. The iO5 has super sensitive whilst the iO6 has gum care.
- The iO5 has a brush head replacement reminder light in the cleaning mode button. The iO6 has this reminder on the display.
- The Series 6 has a black and white display in the handle whereas the iO5 has backlit icons.
- The Series 5 takes up to 16 hours to recharge compared to the 12 of the Series 6.
- The Series 5 gives battery feedback via the power button icon. This is on the display with the iO6.
- Both models are available in 3 different colours. The iO6 comes in gray opal, black lava & pink sand and the iO5 quite white, matte black and blush pink.
- The Series 5 has a recommended retail price of $190, $50 less than the $240 of the Series 6.



iO Series 6 vs Series 7
- The Series 7 comes with a magnetic charger that recharges the battery in 3 hours, compared to the standard Oral-B charger supplied with the Series 6 which takes up to 12 hours.
- The magnetic charger with the iO7 supports 100-240v whilst the iO6 charger supports 110-130v.
- The Series 7 comes with 2 brush heads rather than 1 of the Series 6.
- Both models are available in 3 different colours. The iO6 comes in gray opal, black lava and pink sand, and the iO7 white alabaster, black onyx and sapphire blue.
- The Series 6 produces up to 64 decibels of sound compared to the 72 of the iO7.
- The Series 6 has a recommended retail price of $240, $60 less than the $300 of the Series 7.



iO Series 7 vs Series 8
- The Series 8 has 6 cleaning modes (daily clean, sensitive, super sensitive, intense, whitening & gum care) compared to the 5 of the Series 7 (daily clean, sensitive, intense, whitening & gum care). The extra mode the iO8 has is super sensitive.
- The Series 7 has a black and white interactive display compared to the colour display on the Series 8.
- The Series 7 comes with 2 brush heads compared to the 3 of the Series 8.
- Both models are available in 3 different colours. The iO7 comes in white alabaster, black onyx and sapphire blue, whilst the iO8 is available in black onyx, white alabaster and violet ametrine.
- The Series 7 has a recommended retail price of $300, $40 less than the $340 of the Series 8.



iO Series 7 vs Series 9
- The Series 9 has 7 cleaning modes (daily clean, sensitive, super sensitive, intense, whitening, gum care & tongue clean) compared to the 5 of the Series 7 (daily clean, sensitive, intense, whitening & gum care). The extra modes the iO9 has are super sensitive and tongue clean.
- The Series 7 has a black and white interactive display compared to the colour display on the Series 9.
- The Series 9 has full 3D tracking for your cleaning performance, monitoring 16 zones rather than the 6 of the iO7.
- The Series 7 comes with 2 brush heads compared to the 4 of the Series 9.
- The Series 9 comes with a power2go charging case that allows the iO to be charged inside whereas the Series 7 comes with a standard travel case.
- The Series 9 is available in 4 colours (black onyx, white alabaster, rose quartz & aqua marine) compared to the 3 colours of the Series 7 (black onyx, white alabaster & sapphire blue).
- The Series 7 has a recommended retail price of $300, $100 less than the $400 of the Series 9.



iO Series 8 vs Series 9
- The Series 8 has 6 cleaning modes (daily clean, sensitive, super sensitive, intense, whitening & gum care) compared to the 7 of the Series 9 (daily clean, sensitive, intense, whitening, gum care & tongue clean). The extra mode the iO9 has is tongue clean.
- The Series 9 has full 3D tracking for your cleaning performance, monitoring 16 zones rather than the 6 of the iO8.
- The Series 9 comes with 4 brush heads compared to the 3 of the Series 8.
- The Series 9 comes with a power2go charging case that allows the iO to be charged inside whereas the Series 8 comes with a standard travel case.
- The Series 9 is available in 4 colours (black onyx, white alabaster, rose quartz & aqua marine) compared to the 3 colours of the Series 8 ( (black onyx, white alabaster & rose ametrine).
- The Series 8 has a recommended retail price of $340, $60 less than the $400 of the Series 9.



iO Series 9 vs Series 10 (coming soon – some details TBC)
- The iO10’s magnetic charging stand has iO Sense Technology to give visual feedback (via multiple LEDs) on the brushing routine. The iO9 does not have this.
- The iO10’s pacer is often set to 20 second (sextant) intervals compared to the 30 second (quadrant) intervals of the iO9.
- The iO9 is available in 4 colours (black onyx, white alabaster, rose quartz & aqua marine) compared to the 2 colours of the iO10 (cosmic black & stardust white).
- The Series 10 produces up to 64 decibels of sound compared to the 72 of the iO9.
- The iO9 has a power adapter hardwired into the charging stand and a separate, detachable, adapter for the power2go case. The iO10 has just 1 detachable adapter for both the charging stand and power2go case.
- The Series 9 has a recommended retail price of $400, $TBC less than the $TBC of the Series 10.
These differences are explained at length later in this article. However, you might wish to learn more about each brush being compared. To do so, check out our hands-on reviews:
Please note. Every effort is made to ensure the key differences listed are correct, but these differences are subject to change without notice. Some very subtle configuration differences and app customizations are excluded. Products and the box contents can be changed without notice and different variants can exist.
Detailed comparison: what’s the difference between the Oral-B iO Series 3, Series 4, Series 5, Series 6, Series 7, Series 8, iO Series 9 and Series 10?
Since the iO Series launched in 2020, the range has increased from 3 different models to 8.
The range starts with the iO Series 3 and is topped off by the most feature rich and expensive model, the Series 10.
As the model numbers imply, the larger the number the more features and the higher the price tag.
The number of differences between each model in the range is fairly limited. Although if you compare iO3 to the iO10 then there are inevitably a few more.
Technically there are more similarities than there are differences.
Here is a list of ways in which all 8 models within the iO Series are the same. All of the models have:
- Built-in timer (2 minutes)
- Built-in pacer (30 seconds/quadrants (20 sextants on iO10))
- Built-In smart pressure sensor – lit red when the pressure is too great, green when it is just right and white when there is insufficient pressure
- Rechargeable lithium-ion battery offering 14+ days of use between charges
- Bluetooth technology to connect to a smartphone (the iO3 is the only exception)
- Frictionless magnetic drive system
- Oscillating-rotating cleaning action with micro-vibrations
- Use iO specific brush heads

So then, let me walk you through the main differences between these brushes.
One of the main differences is the number of brushing modes available on each handle.
You have the choice between 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7.
7 is the maximum number of cleaning modes available on any Oral-B brush.
The modes and which model has what are listed in the following table.
Cleaning Modes | Series 3 | Series 4 | Series 5 | Series 6 | Series 7 | Series 8 | Series 9 | Series 10 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number of Modes | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 |
Daily Clean | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Sensitive | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Super Sensitive | X | Yes | Yes | X | X | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Intense | X | X | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Whitening | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Gum Care | X | X | X | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Tongue Clean | X | X | X | X | X | X | Yes | Yes |
For most users, 1 mode, daily clean, is more than satisfactory. Although a second lower powered and more gentle mode such as sensitive can be appealing.
You don’t need lots of extra brushing modes. As I highlight later, the reality is the different modes don’t really affect the overall cleaning ability of the brush.
Each of the modes are designed to be run for 2 minutes. The only exception is tongue clean which is set for 30 seconds.
With each mode, differing amounts of power are used from the motor at different times. This impacts the angle of oscillation at the bristle tips to create brushing patterns and effects that are different from one another.
Just because the Series 7 does not have a tongue clean mode does not mean you can’t brush the tongue with the Series 7. You would just need to use a different mode.
To learn more about the differences, do read our Oral-B cleaning modes explained article.

All models bar the iO3 and 4 allow you to select the mode you want to use prior to turning the brush on.
The iO5 does not default to the last used mode, whereas other models do.
5 of the 8 variants have a display built into the brush handle.
3 of them are colour displays, whilst the other 2 are black and white.
Which models have what is shown in the following table.
iO3 | iO4 | iO5 | iO6 | iO7 | iO8 | iO9 | iO10 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Interactive Display | X | X | X | Black & White | Black & White | Colour | Colour | Colour |
The black and white displays operate in the same way, but are just not quite as nice to look at. But in all honesty, it has minimal impact on your use of the brush each day.
They do too allow additional functionality not possible on those models without the screen.
For example, you can change the handle language, the colour of the smart ring and even reset it right from the display.
With the iO4 and 5, you need to do these things from the smartphone app.
The iO3 offers no opportunity to change the colour of the light ring.
One of the biggest benefits of the display is that it makes it much easier to see which of the brushing modes you have selected.
There are no cleaning mode icons on the handle of the iO3 and 4.
The iO5 has 5 icons that get backlit but no actual mode name.
On the displays you get both an icon and the mode name, this makes it much easier to confirm which mode you are selecting and have set.

Another small but notable difference is the noise the motors/brushes make in operation. The iO4, 5 and 6 are quieter than the 7, 8 and 9.
iO3 | iO4 | iO5 | iO6 | iO7 | iO8 | iO9 | iO10 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Noise (dB) | 64 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 72 | 72 | 72 | 64 |
All models come supplied with at least 1 x Ultimate Clean brush head in the box, although some models come with more.
A brush head should be used only for 3 months, as after this time it tends to become less effective.
All iO models have a reminder system built into the app and into the brush handle. How this reminder is displayed differs.
The iO3, 4 and iO5 have a yellow light that gets lit in the centre of the cleaning mode button. The handle will vibrate too.

Those models with a display will show a notification on the screen.
All of the iO models come with a travel case provided in the box.
The case will protect the brush handle from damage and accidental activation, whilst also protecting up to 2 brush heads.
There are some more differences between the cases to be aware of too.
iO3 | iO4 | iO5 | iO6 | iO7 | iO8 | iO9 | iO10 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Travel Case | X | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Brush Heads Held | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
In Case Charging | X | X | X | X | X | X | Yes – uses separate power adapter | Yes – uses separate power adapter |
As the table above shows, the most premium models, the iO9 and 10 have a travel case that only holds 1 brush head rather than the 2 of all the others.
This is in part due to the in case charging they offer.
What this means is that the rechargeable battery in either handle can be replenished, whilst inside the travel case, providing the proprietary power adapter is connected.
The power adapter is supplied in the box, but is specific to Oral-B.
The charging case doesn’t have a place to store the power adapter and the brushes can’t be charged via a USB cable.
100-240v is supported by the power plug.

It should be noted too that the quality of the case is better with the iO 7, 8, 9, and 10. They are a bit thicker and more durable.
The case colour does also depend on the variant you select. Black handled brushes typically come with a black coloured travel case and white cases with white handles.
Inside the handles of the iO Series is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery. All offer around 2 weeks of life on a full charge.
All the handles offer some feedback on the remaining charge, but how they do this is different.
Those with displays show on screen after each brushing session, a battery icon and a percentage reflective of the remaining charge.
The iO3, 4 and 5 give feedback via the LED in the power button.
It will be lit with a white light most of the time. Only when the charge is around 10% or less will it pulse red.
Provided in the box with every brush is a charging stand. But these do differ depending on the model.
iO3 | iO4 | iO5 | iO6 | iO7 | iO8 | iO9 | iO10 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Charging Stand | Standard charger | Standard charger | Standard charger | Standard charger | Magnetic charger | Magnetic charger | Magnetic charger | Magnetic charger with iO sense technology |
Charging Time | Up to 16 hours | Up to 16 hours | Up to 16 hours | Up to 12 hours | Up to 3 hours | Up to 3 hours | Up to 3 hours | Up to 3 hours |
Supported Voltage | 110-130v | 110-130v | 110-130v | 110-130v | 100-240v | 100-240v | 100-240v | 100-240v |
The 3, 4, 5 and 6 all come with a standard Oral-B charger. This is the same as you would get with any rechargeable electric brush from Oral-B.
White in colour, irrespective of your handle colour, the brush fits only 1 way to it.
It takes 12-16 hours to recharge the brush using this stand which is compatible with 110-130v.

The magnetic charger provided with the iO 7, 8 and 9 is certainly more premium.
The magnet holds the brush on the handle and it can be placed in any orientation.
Whilst few of us ever need a toothbrush to recharge in just 3 hours, the stand will allow this. And comes in both black and white colour options, subject to the handle colour.
It also supports a wider voltage range. This means that if you were to travel to the UK from the USA for example, you need just a plug adapter and not a voltage adapter like you would with the standard charging stand.
The iO10’s stand is a little more feature rich still.
The iOSense smart charger as it is called, still offers the same magnetic attachment and 3 hour charging as the 7,8 and 9 Series. But, it also has additional iO Sense technology built in.
You have 6 LEDs and a clock on the front to help encourage even brushing and good coverage of the teeth as you brush.
The idea is you get meaningful feedback on how well you are brushing without having to refer to the smartphone application.

The final meaningful difference between these models is the colour of the brush handles.
As a general rule, all models are available in black or white, but some are available in more options.
Black models tend to come with black coloured heads and white, white heads. Other colour handles may have either white or black heads, it varies per model and colour.
The models and available colour choices are shown below.
iO3 | iO4 | iO5 | iO6 | iO7 | iO8 | iO9 | iO10 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number of Colour Choices | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
Handle Colours | Quite White | Quite White / Matte Black / Icy Blue / Lavender | Quite White / Matte Black / Blush Pink | Gray Opal / Black Lava / Pink Sand | Onyx Black / White Alabaster / Sapphire Blue | Black Onyx / White Alabaster / Violet Ametrine | Black Onyx / White Alabaster / Rose Quartz / Aqua Marine | Cosmic Black / Stardust White |

Does one clean better than the other?
No, simply put they all clean as well as each other.
All 8 models within the iO range use the same brush motor with the same configuration.
Yes, models like the 8 and 9 Series do have extra cleaning modes enabled compared to the 3, 4 and 5. But, these modes don’t necessarily change the actual cleaning results.
Using the intense mode won’t necessarily remove more plaque from the teeth and gumline.
Instead, the modes alter the user’s experience and comfort with the toothbrush.
There are arguments to suggest a toothbrush that suits a user’s needs or wants better, can result in improved cleaning of the teeth. But, the evidence for this, particularly clinical data is basically non-existent.
For many years Oral-B and other brands have offered multiple cleaning modes on electric toothbrushes and I have yet to see any meaningful data to suggest these extra modes pay dividends for the majority of users.
If you want whiter teeth, it is fair to assume you need a whitening mode. But, you don’t need a whitening mode to make the teeth whiter. The standard daily clean can achieve this.
Factors like your brushing time, technique and toothpaste all have an impact on the results.

If your brushing technique is bad, there is an argument that the real-time tracking and Artificial Intelligence (AI) built into many of the iO models can help you achieve better results.
This is because it actually monitors how you are brushing and the areas you cover and for what time. Personalized feedback is then gained which you can use to take corrective action.
Real-time zone tracking varies from one brush to another
Not all the brushes have the same level of tracking.
The models and their abilities are shown in the following table.
At the bottom of this section I have also included a video to help explain the differences.
iO3 | iO4 | iO5 | iO6 | iO7 | iO8 | iO9 | iO10 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Real-Time Zone Tracking with AI | X | X | Yes – 6 zones | Yes – 6 zones | Yes – 6 zones | Yes – 6 zones | Yes – 3D teeth tracking – 16 zones | Yes – 3D teeth tracking – 16 zones |
There is a strong argument to suggest that the iO9 and 10’s tracking of 16 zones can encourage you to brush all your teeth better than when you track just 6 zones.
The 16 tracked zones are as follows:
- Upper rear right
- Front surface
- Biting surface
- Inside surface
- Upper font
- Front surface
- Inside surface
- Upper rear left
- Front surface
- Biting surface
- Inside surface
- Lower rear right
- Front surface
- Biting surface
- Inside surface
- Lower front
- Front surface
- Inside surface
- Lower rear right
- Front surface
- Biting surface
- Inside surface

Whereas the 6 zones tracked with the other models are:
- Upper rear right
- Upper front
- Upper rear left
- Lower rear right
- Lower front
- Lower rear right

The Series 3 and 4 have no real-time tracking. The iO3 has no Bluetooth connectivity.
The Series 9 and 10 app screen is configured in such a way that you can clearly see which of the 16 zones you have and have not brushed.
16 dotted zones sit in the centre of the on-screen display in a circular formation. As each zone is brushed correctly, that dotted zone disappears until no dotted zones remain and all the teeth on the large vizualisation turn white.
When only 6 zones are tracked, you can essentially spend all the time cleaning only 1 of the surfaces within that zone and the brush will still consider the zone brushed. That isn’t the case with the premium iO9.
The extra detail in the tracking can pick up on more specific, but important improvements needed in your brushing routine.
Of course, with any toothbrush, iO series or not, you want to be giving fair attention to all of the 16 zones so you have an even clean to the teeth and gums.
Thus, to master your technique the Series 9 and 10 do have that bit extra to push you to make sure you are making the correct contact with all surfaces.
But, how much difference this really makes in everyday use, is a bit subjective.
This is the same for the iO10’s iOSense smart charger. It is helping bring useful information and feedback to you quicker and with more ease. But how well it works will depend to a larger extent on you as a user.
There is no long term data available that analyzes if apps and real-time tracking do have a beneficial impact compared to someone learning the correct brushing techniques via other means and implementing them.
To better understand and see how the 6 and 16 zone 3D teeth tracking works, watch the following video.
Is one better priced than the other?
Yes, inevitably, the ‘cheapest’ and most cost effective model in the range is the least feature rich model, the iO3.
It has the lowest retail price of CDN $100.
However, it is quite often possible to purchase these brushes for a bit less than retail.
Whilst it is no guarantee, you can often achieve a discount of about 20% across the range.
Thus the iO3 would therefore drop to CDN $80.
The iO3 is potentially the one brush in the range that won’t be discounted quite as heavily. The average price will likely be around $90
Compare this to the iO Series 9 which has a CDN $400 retail price or a more realistic everyday ticket price of CDN $320.
The following table shows the retail prices and average purchase price of each model.
It does also show the approximate ownership cost over 3 years for 1 person, when you factor in the purchase of replacement brush heads.
iO3 | iO4 | iO5 | iO6 | iO7 | iO8 | iO9 | iO10 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Recommended Retail Price (RRP) | CDN $100 | CDN $140 | CDN $190 | CDN $240 | CDN $300 | CDN $340 | CDN $400 | CDN $TBC |
Typical Purchase Price (approx 20% off RRP) | CDN $80-90 | CDN $112 | CDN $152 | CDN $192 | CDN $240 | CDN $272 | CDN $320 | CDN $TBC |
3 Year Ownership Cost (approx) | CDN $255 | CDN $277 | CDN $317 | CDN $357 | CDN $390 | CDN $422 | CDN $470 | CDN $TBC |
Of course, the table and quoted prices are just a guide. The actual selling prices vary from one retailer to another. Some models may work out even better value than those listed above.
As you might expect, models with extra features or increased box contents do command a premium.
Although the iO3 is the cheapest, it is the iO6 that is for most users the ‘best value’.
It has many of the most desirable features of the iO range, including the in handle display. But, it still remains relatively affordable.
You, therefore, get the best of both worlds as some would say.
The iO9, soon to be iO10 (when it begins shipping) will be the most technically advanced and serve those that want it all better.
Ultimately, pick the one you feel is best suited to you and pay a price you are happy to.
Please note that all prices quoted are approximates and will vary based on location, supplier and time of purchase. These figures were correct at the time of writing and should not be relied upon as hard fact, but used as a guide during your decision process.
Conclusion
All things considered, the differences between each model in the iO Series range are relatively subtle.
No one toothbrush is going to result in drastically better cleaning results.
As you will have seen, it easily becomes confusing to know which variant is best to buy.
All of these brushes offer more than what you need.
You don’t need to spend as the iO Series commands to clean your teeth well.
The Oral-B Smart 2000 does a decent job for a fraction of the price! All things considered, we rate it as the best electric toothbrush.
That said, the iO marks a major design change in the Oral-B lineup of products and is considerably quieter.
Whilst the iO9 is the most capable, it is the iO6 that for most people is the most sensible purchase. It commands a premium, but it is a balance between feature sacrifice and price.
Of course, when it comes down to it, the choice is yours. All being well this comparison at least lets you make a more informed decision.
Your Opinions
Do you own or have you used the Oral-B iO Series?
Are there certain features that you really like or dislike?
Let us know what you think about this brush and let others who may well be considering purchasing one know your opinions before they do.
Hi! Thank you so much for the model comparison. Super helpful! Do you know if models 3,4,5,6 are compatible with the magnetic charger despite just having a standard charger in the box? Just wondering if it could be a good strategy to purchase a model with less bells and whistles and buy a magnetic charger separately (Which is important to me). Thanks!
Great question.
I don’t recall actually trying this, but I don’t think it will work. If it did, it would likely be very inefficient in the way it charges and be more hassle than it is worth.
This is because inside both the stand and the brush handles there are wire coils that allow the charge to transfer without wires.
The position of this in the io3, 4, 5 & 6 is higher up around the recess on the base of the handle, into which the prong from the charging stand should fit. Whereas on the iO7, 8 and 9 this will be located on the base.
Thx so much for this comparison!
There are so many varied models and offers it is confusing to know what is the best option to choose.
You did a great job of feature & price comparisons.
Thanks so much for the in depth reviews, keep on!
🙂
Plus, I forgot to mention that in Canada, the MSRP for each iO brush head (and what Amazon’s selling them for right now) is $20. So if you get 3 extra brush heads with the 9 vs. the 7, that alone accounts for $60 of the $90 difference, at which point, the extra $30 to get the charging travel case, 3D cleaning and extra modes seems quite justifiable IMO.
Hello, first of all, your website is amazing! I am a huge geek when it comes to information, and your site has it compiled in a very easy to read manner – much better than on Oral-B’s own website! 🙂
The one comment I have is where at the beginning of the article in the blue box, you summarized the difference between Series 9 and Series 7, you left out the one big difference which is that Series 9 has “3D Clean Tracking”.
Hi Amir.
Thanks for the comment and the positive reaction to our content, I am so pleased you found it helpful.
You are indeed correct that the Series 9 has 3D Teeth tracking. Arguably it is a fairly big difference and something else that favours the iO Series 9.