Philips Sonicare Prestige vs DiamondClean vs DiamondClean Smart

Detailed comparison: Sonicare 9000 vs 9900 vs 9750

Having used lots of different toothbrushes, including all the current Sonicare brushes, I can confirm that none of these brushes offer a dramatically better clean than each other.

Believe it or not, whilst they might clean a bit better than the cheapest Sonicare brushes, the differences are not significant. Picking one brush over the other isn’t going to radically improve your toothbrushing or general dental health. 

Where these brushes differ is in the features they offer and how you and I interact with them daily.

A great example of this is with the travel cases they all come with.

Both the Prestige and DiamondClean allow the toothbrush to be charged whilst in the case,

provided they are connected to a power source. The Prestige uses a detachable USB Type-A to USB Type-C cable. Whereas the DiamondClean 9750 has a USB Type-A cable that is hardwired into the case. The Type-C is newer and future proofed. But there is a notable convenience to having the cable built into the case.

The 9000 does or does not come with a charging travel case depending on the version you buy. The ‘special edition’ is the most widely sold and that case does not offer charging. The standard variant does. It has a built-in USB cable like the 9750. 

I think you’d agree, when you travel, you want to travel lighter, if possible. Thus, the Prestige stands out here. The travel case is slimmer and more compact, complete with a wrist strap compared to the more bulky, strapless cases of the 9750 and 9000 brushes. The handle itself is a bit slimmer (tenths of inches between them). It is also about .7 ounces lighter. 

However, if you like to travel with a spare or share a brush handle with a partner, the bulkier cases might suit you better. They hold 2 heads rather than the 1 of the Prestige.

Unless my teeth and gums are particularly sensitive, I tend to stick to the default cleaning mode. Thus, multiple modes have limited benefits for me. But, I know many people, this might be you, really like the ability to dial in the cleaning power to just the way you like.

All 3 brushes allow this to some extent. All have a high, medium and low brushing intensity in addition to their cleaning modes. The 9000 has 4 modes, clean, white, gum and deep clean, the same as the 9700 and the 9900. But the Prestige and DiamondClean Smart each have an extra mode.  Where the Prestige has a sensitive mode, the 9700 has a tongue care option.

Number of cleaning modes
Clean
Sensitive
Sensitive
Gum
White
Deep Clean
Cleaning mode notification
Brushing intensities

Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9900 Prestige	Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9750	Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9000 Special Edition
5	5	4
	-	-
	-	-
-
3	3	3

These differences are very subtle in the scheme of things and are not going to have any notable impact on your long term oral health.

The brushes default to the last used mode, but the DiamondClean 9000 and the Diamond Clean Smart 9750 do allow you to change the mode right from the brush handle, using the dedicated cleaning mode button. The Prestige does not have this. You have to go into the app to change modes. It’s annoying, but I speak from experience when I say I barely ever change brushing modes, so this limitation of the Prestige isn’t as significant as it might seem at first.

I prefer the backlit brushing mode labels you get on the DiamondClean 9000 and 9750. It makes it obvious at a glance which mode you have active. You need to refer to the app with the Prestige. It’s a bit frustrating.

Durability has been improved with a seamless button design on the Prestige. This prevents gunk and grime from building up around the power button like it can on the DiamondClean 9000 and Smart 9750. The downside is that the pressure sensitive button on the Prestige is quite firm. Those with arthritis or dexterity issues won’t like this.

I do like Sonicare’s implementation of the pressure sensor. The vibrations through the handle are very obvious. This is great for someone who might be blind or partially sighted. But, the 9000 does lack a visible sensor like the DiamondClean Smart 9700 and the Prestige. If you brush in front of a mirror, your eye is drawn to the purple light emitted. Again, it’s not a big issue, just a small difference. Either way, you are still alerted when you are putting your teeth at risk by brushing too hard.

It’s a similar situation with the scrubbing sensor available on the Prestige 9900 and 9750. Both alert you via the app, but only the 9900’s light ring will be lit yellow. If you are blind, there is no way to easily tell the difference between the scrubbing and pressure sensor. The handle vibration pattern is the same.

I think we all like to get a bit extra for our money, so the fact the DiamondClean Smart comes with 7 extra brush heads compared to the 1 supplied with the 9000 and 9900 is nice. All models can use the same brush head styles, albeit the ones supplied are different. 

Oddly it is the cheaper 9000 and 9750 that have the brush head mode pairing feature. This changes the brushing mode based on the type of head you attach. It saves 1 or 2 button presses should you like to change mode when you change the bristles. It is far from necessary. I find I use the same brush head style. There is very little reason to be switching heads regularly.

A rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery is sealed inside the water resistant brush handle. Philips suggests all 3 offer up to 2 weeks of use on a full charge. 

Exact usage time varies based on mode and intensity. I’ve found that the Prestige performed best with around 4 weeks of use, the Smart 9700, a little over 3 weeks and the DiamondClean a couple of days behind that.

Both the DiamondClean 9000 and the Smart 9700 have a 2 pin power adapter on the end of the charging stand, suitable for a US power outlet. The Prestige has a USB Type-A connector. There is a USB to 2 pin adapter supplied in the box.

The stand style differs slightly too. The 9900 and 9000 have a charging base and puck configuration, whereas the DiamondClean Smart comes with the classier looking, but much more bulky glass charging stand.

Where these models perhaps differ most is with the Bluetooth technology and position sensors built into the handles. I will be the first to tell you that you don’t need Bluetooth connectivity on a toothbrush. Yet all 3 have it. The 9000 doesn’t offer real-time tracking though like the other 2 models. 

Bluetooth connectivity
Position tracking
Smart Features Additional information

Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9900 Prestige	Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9750	Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9000 Special Edition
		-
Real time position tracking. Cleaning modes can be changed via the app only.	Real time position tracking.	-

What this means is that you get no feedback from the app as you brush. Data is logged and can be reviewed after brushing. It monitors brushing time and frequency. It doesn’t show what surfaces of the teeth you have and haven’t brushed like the DiamondClean 9750 and the Prestige. With these models, you can take immediate action to correct any errors in your technique.

Does one clean better than the other?

No. They all clean the teeth comparatively. 

However, if you want to be pedantic, there is an argument that the DiamondClean Smart and Prestige models may achieve better results than the DiamondClean 9000.

This is because of the educational tools and data they offer over the 9000.

The 9000 tracks and logs some of your brushing habits, but it does not track and display your brushing in real time. It won’t show you areas of the mouth and teeth you haven’t brushed, whereas the others do.

If you are committed to monitoring this information, you can learn to improve your brushing technique.

But, ultimately this is making you a better brusher. The brush itself is not cleaning the teeth any better.

In reality, it is a lot of effort for very little gain. I’ve got all these models and more. Do I use the tracking data and log into the app regularly - no, I don’t.

People who have bought these models and similar ones have said the same thing to me. 

This tech isn’t necessarily a waste, but there is no point paying for and having it unless you will use it.

Is one better priced than the other?

Most definitely. 

The Prestige 9900 is the most expensive ($500) whereas the DiamondClean 9000 is the most affordable ($270). There is a staggering $230 price difference in their suggested retail price.

The Smart 9750 costs $120 less than the Prestige at $380.

Be aware that the 4100 Series electric toothbrush at around $65 is sufficient for most.

Even having used these extensively, there is nothing that really says these products are worth these asking prices.

Thankfully, typical selling prices tend to be a bit less. You are looking at about $240 for the 9000, $310 for the 9750 and $400 for the 9900.

I can’t honestly say the $160 premium for the Prestige is worth it. It’s only justifiable if you desire and want the best.

Ongoing ownership costs are similar as they all use the same style of brush head. But, because the 9700 comes with more brush heads in the box, it does work out better value, as you don’t have to buy so many replacement sets of bristles.

The table below shows the most up to date information on prices, enabling you to make a more informed decision.