A good option, but there is a better choice

The slim handled 2100 Series cleans the teeth well.
It boasts a 2 minute timer and pacer, which are essential features of any good electric toothbrush.
The biggest downside is that it lacks a pressure sensor, which is a useful feature for preventing you from brushing too hard.
Pros
- 2 intensity settings β choose between low and high power
- Slim, stylish handle β easy to keep clean
- USB charging stand makes it more convenient for some
Cons
- No pressure sensor
- USB charger makes it less convenient for some
- Sonic motor configured differently to premium models
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Sonicare 2100 Series | 1,971 Reviews |
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View on Amazon |
Similar brush but better value
The 2100 is far from a bad brush, but the 1100 Series is essentially the same, with just 1 brushing intensity rather than 2. Itβs normally cheaper and is our best budget Sonicare toothbrush.
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Sonicare 1100 Series | 4,106 Reviews |
$32.95 |
View on Amazon |
Simple to use with a slim and minimal design
The 2100 feels surprisingly premium despite the affordable price.
Durable and quality feeling in the hand
It is slimmer and lighter in the palm than previous cheap Sonicare brushes and it looks more appealing too.
The water resistant white plastic handle has a slightly squared design to it. This helps give a secure in hand feel and allows the palm to grip the brush better given the lack of textured surfaces on the handle itself.
The matt finish to the plastic looks smart and there is a distinct lack of gloss finishes, which can make a brush look cheap. Aesthetically, it looks better than comparable Oral-B models in my opinion.
Able to stand upright on a countertop, the brush shouldnβt roll easily when laid flat thanks to 2 raised mouldings on the back of the handle.
Squeezing the handle doesnβt result in any dubious sounding creaks or groans from the plastic.
The minimal design looks good and does make it easier to keep clean.

You can switch between 2 brushing intensities
It only has 1 cleaning mode, but with the choice of a high or low intensity. Just press the power button to switch between them. Unfortunately, there are no labels or icons on the handle to show which you have selected. You can tell the difference between them based on the sound and intensity.
The high mode is my preference as it delivers the most satisfying clean.
Low is a welcome option and ideal for when your teeth and gums feel a bit tender or inflamed. Itβs good for helping first-time electric toothbrush owners get used to their new brush.
The 2100 also has an EasyStart mode, which gradually increases the brushing intensity over the first 14 sessions to ease you in.
There is no whitening or gum care mode. Despite the common misconception that additional modes bring extra benefits, they rarely do.

The power button gives a nice clicky feedback
The only button on the handle has a concave shape, with a rubber finish and power icon embossed. Itβs easily detected by the fingertip and when pressed gives reassuring feedback whilst producing a clicky sound.
It isnβt very firm, great if you suffer from arthritis and painful joints.

2 minute timer and pacer encourage even brushing of the teeth
Brushing time and technique are more important in achieving clean teeth than any particular brush. Therefore the 2 minute timer built into the 2100 Series is very helpful.
If you turn the brush off yourself, you havenβt brushed for long enough. It turns itself off automatically at the end of a cleaning cycle.
1 of the 3 features our in-house dentists recommend, the 2nd is a pacer.
Encouraging you to brush all the teeth evenly, the 2100 will, at 30 second intervals pause the bristle motion. It creates a change in sound and brushing sensation. This is your cue to move between the 4 sections of the mouth until all have been brushed.
Brushing the inner, outer and biting surfaces of the teeth is vitally important. Donβt spend 2 minutes brushing only the front teeth you see when you smile.
The lack of pressure sensor is the main downside
No pressure sensor built into the 2100 Series is my main complaint. Itβs the 3rd feature dentists recommend be present.
You donβt need it to brush your teeth well, but it can help prevent you from damaging the teeth by brushing them too hard.
Scrubbing doesnβt clean the teeth better. It will, in time, wear the teeth and gums. If you know youβre an aggressive brusher, pick the 4100 Series instead.
Itβs less powerful than most sonic brushes but still cleans well
The motor that moves the bristles of the brush head is tuned differently to the motors found in premium Sonicare models. It doesnβt achieve the 62,000 movements of some of Sonicare’s more expensive brushes.
It means the 2100 doesnβt offer quite the same intensity and deep clean feeling when in use. But, unless you have used a Sonicare toothbrush before, youβd have no reason to question it. The sonic vibrations give a thorough and clean feeling.
Cleaning results are not impacted. They are most definitely comparable and perfectly satisfactory.
Iβve got no complaints and your dentist wonβt either, providing you use the brush correctly.

The C1 SimplyClean brush head does a good job of cleaning all over the tooth surface and along the gumline.
Different styles of Sonicare brush heads are available and compatible with the 2100 Series. Youβve got a choice if you desire such, but the ProResults/SimplyClean is one of our preferences.
If you have a small mouth, a sonic toothbrush might not be right for you. The oval heads tend to be larger than the oscillating-rotating counterparts from Oral-B.
Satisfactory 2 week battery life on a full charge
17 days is the average usage time Iβve achieved with the 2100.
A few days longer than the 14 claimed by Sonicare, this is perfectly satisfactory. Yet, the performance of the rechargeable Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) battery is below the market average of 3-4 weeks.
The slimmer profile likely has a bearing but isnβt necessarily justification alone. Other slim handled brushes outperform here, but they may cost more.
An LED in the handle of the brush changes colour and flashes to give feedback on the remaining charge. This is very valuable in daily use. Previous affordable Sonicare models have lacked such.

USB charging has some advantages
A new style of charging stand is included. Compared to previous stands with a 2 pin power adapter, this has a USB type A male connector. The cable is hardwired into it and measures 43 inches (110cm) long. The footprint of the stand is smaller too with a more rounded shape.
A protuberance on the top of the stand still exists. This fits into the base of the brush handle.
A full charge can take up to 24 hours.
USB connectivity allows us to take advantage of powering it from more sources such as a computer or portable battery bank. It arguably makes it more travel friendly too
Itβs for environmental reasons that no 2 pin USB power adapter is provided. Many of us now have such we can use to connect the 2100 to a power outlet. Although I know some will be frustrated you donβt get one included.

A fair price with few compromises
$40 is about what you should pay. Thatβs a small discount on the $45 retail price.
Replacement brush heads cost around $10 each. This makes the 3 year ownership total about $150. Itβs not bad value.
Our top recommended electric toothbrush, the Oral-B Smart 2000 works out at $168. You get the pressure sensor the 2100 lacks.
If you want a sonic toothbrush and youβre on a budget, the 1100 Series is typically better value. Youβll save $10 on average.

2 year warranty included as standard
An industry average 2 year warranty against defects and workmanship is provided.
Budget brushes like the 2100 can often come with compromises. Thankfully reliability doesnβt appear to be one that applies. It seems well built with no reason to suggest it wouldnβt last a good few years.
Disappointingly, in an era where environmental impact is important, the 2100 has no serviceable parts. There is no ability to undertake a repair without rendering it useless.

Environmental impact
We donβt know the exact environmental impact of the 2100, the data isnβt available. However, as a general rule, the impact of electric toothbrushes is around 11 times more than a manual brush.
Given the lack of unnecessary extras, the 2100βs impact shouldnβt be much different to the average brush.
It doesnβt have smart features or use Sonicareβs RFID enabled brush heads that use more of the planet’s resources.
Impact is further reduced by excluding a 2 pin power adapter. But at odds with this is the lack of repairability and the fact that the handle and stand come wrapped in plastic.
Where some manufacturers now use plant based plastics, Philips heads primarily use petroleum based, thus using more of the finite resources,
Philips has partnered with schemes such as TerraCycle in some countries, but doesnβt have its own scheme.
Conclusion: functional and affordable
If you are on a budget and want a toothbrush from a leading brand, the 2100 Series is a good choice.
It looks good, cleans the teeth well. The main downside is the lack of a pressure sensor.
Iβd pick the 1100 Series though. Itβs typically cheaper with just 1 brushing intensity rather than the 2 on the 2100. Itβs our choice for a Sonicare toothbrush on a budget.
Size Guide
- Height (without head) – 17.3cm/6.8 inches
- Height (with head) – 23.4cm/9.2 inches
- Width – 2.5cm/0.9 inches
- Thickness – 2.7cm/1 inches
- Weight (without head) – 93g/3.3oz
- Weight (with head) – 98g/3.5oz
All are approximates
Noise
- 60dB