Philips Sonicare 4100 Series Review

How the 4100 looks, feels and works

I want to make mention of the retail packaging the 4100 Series comes with.

It is typical Sonicare in the colours, branding and design.  It is nice because it is consistent and the box clearly shows what the brush is and what the key features are.  It works well on store shelves.  

A nice touch is that the image on the box is colour matched to the handle inside making it very obvious what you will get.

Surprisingly some brands seem to forget to mention key features on their packaging.  In some instances, it is hard to know what you are actually buying.

Philips is working to improve its sustainability globally. Credit where credit is due, the 4100’s box is minimal in size and weight.  The outer box and inner tray are made from cardboard and are easily recyclable.

As I will explain in more detail later, Philips has now even changed its conventional charging stand to reduce plastic use.

So why then, do the brush handle, the brush head and the charging stand come wrapped in plastic! It is LDPE 4 plastic, which can technically be recycled, but it is still fairly difficult to do.

It is admirable that Philips has reduced the overall packaging size and weight, but is it not missing an obvious trick? Removing this plastic would further reduce environmental impact.

A slim toothbrush that is easy to keep clean

First impressions of the 4100 Series are great.  

It looks good and feels nice in the hand.

Compared to its predecessor it is slimmer by between 0.1 and 0.2 of an inch and about 1 ounce or so lighter.

This does impact battery life, but thankfully not too much.  More on this later.

It definitely isn’t the most grippy of all the toothbrushes I have used.  Some have more raised notches and rubber panels to assist. However, the matt coating means it doesn’t feel slippery to the touch.

A benefit, which isn’t perhaps immediately obvious, is that the brush is easy to rinse and wipe clean.  You don’t get the same buildup of residual toothpaste and gunk as you can on some other brushes. Particularly those with rubber grips on the handle.

Like most toothbrushes, this one is made up of 2 key parts – the brush handle and the brush head.

The handle itself is not a perfect cylinder. Although rounded, the edges are very slightly squared off which makes it feel solid and pleasant to hold.

The 4100 feels good quality and durable

The 4100 feels good quality and durable. There are some lesser known brands that are cheaper, but the materials just don’t compare.

I can’t really fault the handle design.

The 4100 Series is available in a number of different variants. Functionally, the brush handles are the same, the difference is the colour. 

Your options are:

• Sugar rose- HX3681/21
• White – HX3681/23
• Black – HX3681/24
  • Comes with black coloured charging stand
• Deep pink – HX3681/26

I have the HX3681/23 variant which is white in colour. 

On the front of the handle, just below the metal shaft is the Philips Sonicare logo, in a gray font.

There is a nice clicky feedback to the power button

Beneath this, within the upper third of the handle, is the power button. It appears to have an almost seamless design, despite being rubber, compared to the plastic of the brush handle itself.

It is concave and has a power icon embossed on it. It is colour matched to the handle too. There is a nice clicky feedback to the button. It isn’t very firm, so it’s quite easy to activate. Great for those with limited dexterity.

It is hard to explain, but there is a contouring to the plastic of the handle that creates a long oval shape around the power button. It adds a design cue to the handle and becomes a natural resting place for the thumb. 

It is then only in the lower third of the handle do you have any extra notable detail on the front of the handle. Here sit the icons and LEDs for the brush head replacement reminder and the battery. The LED sits above each icon. More on this shortly.

The rest of the handle, including the sides and back are smooth to the touch, with no raised elements for grip etc. 

The only exception to this smooth design is on the back of the handle. Right at the bottom is a small plastic notch extending from the handle. This is designed to prevent the handle from rolling about when laid on a countertop.

The base of the handle has a recess within it. This is a space into which the charging stand fits to wirelessly recharge the internal battery.

The base has some regulatory information printed on it along with the model number.

The 4100 series does stand upright on a desktop.

The top of the handle tapers very slightly, just before flattening out to give a surface for the brush head to sit over. Extending from the top here is the metal shaft that connects to the brush motor inside the handle.

The provided brush head simply pushes onto and pulls off of this. There is no need to twist or lock any head in place.

Once fitted, if you take a look at the handle from the side, the head sits perfectly vertically. There is no angling of the brush head as is the case with some other models.

It cIt comes with 31,000 brush strokes, not 62,000 movements

The motor in the 4100 isn’t the same as that used in the more premium Sonicare models.

The 4100 motor does offer up to 31,000 brush strokes, but it doesn’t achieve the 62,000 movements often quoted with the more expensive models. It is configured differently.  

As a result, the 4100 can feel less powerful/intense compared to some other Sonicare toothbrushes.

The lesser power on offer here isn’t immediately obvious. Even for me and I have tested hundreds of brushes.

This is because on the 4100 the ‘amplitude’ (the distance covered or the sweep angle of the bristles) has been tuned to be higher.

This makes the cleaning experience with the 4100 Series feel more intense and thorough.

According to Philips, it enables the 4000 Series to remove 5x more plaque compared to the 3x of the 1, 2 and 3000 Series brushes.

Technically, more power or movements does mean better cleaning results.  But, it isn’t quite as simple as this, there are more factors at play.

You can have the best toothbrush in the world, but it’s no good if you are using it all wrong.

Your brushing time, frequency and technique all have a part to play.  Did you know you should hold the toothbrush at a 45 degree angle to the gumline? Our helpful guide explains the correct ways to brush your teeth.

The 4100 still does a very good job.  My teeth feel clean after each brushing session. It is just a bit of a shame that you are not getting the ultimate Sonicare cleaning experience.

The 4100 works with the full range of Sonicare brush heads

Included in the box with the Sonicare 4100 power toothbrush is a single C2 Optimal Plaque Control head.

It has been designed to be used everyday. It provides a thorough all round clean of the teeth. It works to remove the plaque that builds up as a result of eating, drinking and lifestyle habits.

It is one of our most recommended brush heads.

It is important to be aware that this is just one of a number of different brush heads the company offers.

With few exceptions, all the heads are compatible with the 4100 Series. You want the push on and pull off heads, not the screw on style.

Each head is engineered to achieve different results. For example, teeth whitening or improving gum health. The cut, shape and length of the bristles all vary.

There are also more premium options that have a silicone coating on the back of the brush head. This is instead of the plastic you see on the C2 head. This is to make it softer on the gums and cheeks. 

The range of heads is confusing. Our ultimate guide to Sonicare brush heads explains each in more detail.

The thing to note here is that it is best to pick and use any Sonicare brush head, rather than worrying about which to pick. But, should you have a preference you do not have to stick to using the C2 Optimal Plaque Control head that comes with it. 

BrushSync technology tells you when to replace your head

You may already be aware, but in recent years Philips has made the majority of its brush heads ‘smarter’.

It has done this by placing a microchip into the base of the head.  

The Radio Frequency Identification Chip (RFID) communicates with compatible brush handles. The 4100 series is one of those compatible brushes.

The handle then tracks how long each brush head has been used for.

Once the head has been used for the equivalent of 3 months, a light on the brush handle illuminates.

The light acts as a visual indicator that the head has now passed its optimum condition and needs to be replaced.

Once the head is replaced the system is essentially reset.

This clever system is otherwise known as BrushSync technology.

For it to function you need a compatible handle and head.

Heads without the RFID chip can be used on a BrushSync enabled handle, but you don’t gain the benefits.

I touch upon this within the pricing section, but these are more expensive. They cost around CDN $13 per head compared to CDN $10 of a regular head.  Third party/aftermarket heads can’t offer compatible heads.

They aren’t exactly good for the planet either.  They make an already complicated product even more difficult to recycle.

Arguably you don’t need this technology.  Built into the heads are bristles that will fade in colour over time and with use.  They go from a blue to a pale blue/translucent colour.  

The fading bristles do the same thing as the brush head replacement reminder system on offer.

Yet, too many people still don’t replace their heads. Our own research a few years ago discovered 26% of people only replace their head every 6 months.  That is twice the recommended time.

Worn heads can be damaging to the teeth and gums and less effective.  Thus, replacing them regularly is important.

Hence Sonicare trying to find a solution that will alert and help users.
This BrushSync technology article explains it in more depth.

You can switch between 2 brushing intensities

The 4100 offers 2 brushing intensities.

You have a softer and more gentle ‘low’ mode and a more powerful ‘high’ mode.

It is quite nice to have the choice, although the more powerful high mode is the one you will most likely want to use.

The softer mode is good to have if your gums are a bit inflamed and tender to the touch.  It is also a more pleasant option for first time electric toothbrush users.

Additional cleaning modes and their benefits are often overrated.  Rarely do they bring significant benefits. A single cleaning mode is generally all you need.

In many respects, 2 brushing intensities achieve an additional mode.

If I were to recommend an additional mode over a standard clean mode, it would be a sensitive mode.  The low intensity mode is this.

The brushing results are pleasing

I have found the brushing results to be really quite pleasing.  I get that deep and invigorating clean feeling after each use.

The cleaning intensities are activated by a single press of the power button. 

The brush will default to the last used mode, which is great. You don’t have to worry about switching to the correct one each time.

Should you want to change, press the power button promptly for a second time. It will then select the other intensity.

A third press will turn the toothbrush off.

If you wish to change intensity mid cycle, you have to turn the brush off first.

It is a shame that there are no LEDs on the handle to make it really clear what intensity you have selected.  For example, 1 LED for low and 2 LEDs for high.  Premium Sonicare models do. 

EasyStart eases you in 

If you are a new electric toothbrush user a sonic toothbrush, even set to a lower intensity, can seem quite powerful and intense.  It is a different sensation from a manual brush.  Some people are not at all phased by it, whilst others struggle.

EasyStart is a feature that gradually increases the power of the toothbrush over the first 14 brushing sessions (7 days).  This helps you get used to the brushing sensation and power that a Philips Sonicare toothbrush offers.

Come the end of the 14 sessions you should have gotten used to the sensation and can happily use the brush at the full power settings.

The 4100 comes with Sonicare’s EasyStart feature activated by default.  It is possible to deactivate this if you require.

The timer and pacer help you to brush for the right amount of time

Most dental professionals and health bodies recommend brushing the teeth twice a day, and to do so for at least 2 minutes each time.

This advice has existed for decades, yet too few brush for the right amount of time, if they even brush twice a day at all. 

Let’s be honest, there are more fun things to do than brushing your teeth.  Even when you do, it is easy to get distracted or think you have been brushing for longer than you have.

With the 4100, you shouldn’t be able to get it wrong.

Firstly, the 2 minute timer, or SmarTimer as Philips names it, is activated from the moment you turn the brush on.

In fact, the brush turns itself off automatically after a 2 minute brushing session.  So, if you turn the brush off, you know you haven’t brushed for long enough.

It is all well and good brushing for 2 minutes, but no good if you only clean the front teeth.

The QuadPacer or 30 second timer is designed to help you clean the teeth more evenly.

At 30 second intervals the pacer kicks in.  You will note a pause in the bristle motion, a change in sound and brushing sensation.  This is your cue to move from one section of the mouth to another.

This then repeats every 30 seconds, until the brush gets to 120 seconds (2 minutes) at which point it will turn itself off.

The idea is that you break the mouth up into 4 sections: 

• upper right
• upper left
• lower right 
• lower left

You spend 30 seconds cleaning each section. As you do, you try to give equal attention to the front, back and biting surfaces of the teeth. 

If you do, come the 120 seconds (2 minutes) of brushing time, you should have achieved an even clean to the teeth and gums.

Of course, you don’t have to follow it, but it is good practice.

The pressure sensor alerts you when you brush too hard

When brushing your teeth, the bristles need only really skim the surface of the teeth. You need just a little bit of pressure, not lots. Too much pressure can cause wear on the teeth and gums and in the long term result in irreversible damage.

To help prevent this, the 4100 has a pressure sensor built-in.

When the brush detects too much force is being applied, the handle vibrates very differently.  You can feel the change in your hand.  At the same time, the brushing sensation changes. As does the sound the brush generates.

The BrushSync replacement reminder LED also flashes amber. Given its position and size, it is not the easiest to see.  You don’t get a large visible LED as you do on many Oral-B brushes or models like the DiamondClean Smart.

It is these changes though that alert you to the issue at hand.

Relieve the pressure to stop these alerts and prevent any damage.

If you are new to the 4100 Series, you might begin activating the sensor quite frequently.  Within a few days though you will get used to how much pressure is appropriate.

Once you do, you shouldn’t activate it all that often, but it is still a useful tool to have built into the handle.

It’s water resistant, but not submergible

Sealed inside the 4100’s brush handle is all the technology that makes this brush function. This includes the user rechargeable battery, which should give 14+ days of use on a full charge.

The handle is water resistant. This means it has been designed to resist the water, toothpaste and saliva that it will come into contact with. A rinse under the tap to clean it is fine. Sonicare tends to advise not using the brush when bathing, but I know many do brush their teeth whilst in the shower. The important thing here is to avoid full submersion in water.

Accessories and extras

The 4100 comes with the essential things you need and not lots of unnecessary extras.  You certainly don’t need anything else.  Maybe a 2 pin charger, rather than USB charging, but everyone has different opinions on that.

A travel case can be handy for those on the go.  Even for infrequent travellers, a case can be useful.  It protects the handle and head from damage and accidental activation. Sadly there is no case supplied with the 4100.

Sonicare does also offer a 2 year warranty that covers any mechanical or workmanship faults, but not user damage.

The 4100 is a very pleasant toothbrush that I genuinely struggle to find fault with.  I would have no issue using this on a daily basis.