Detailed comparison: what’s the difference between the Power Flosser Cordless 3000 and Cordless Advanced?

The first notable difference between these two cordless water flossers is the physical unit shape and size.

They are very similar in their overall profiles, but there are some subtle differences.

The size and weight of the Cordless Advanced is as follows:

• Height (with nozzle) – 29.4cm / 11.60 inches
• Width – 7.1cm / 2.80 inches
• Thickness/depth – 10.2cm / 4.0 inches
• Weight (with nozzle) – 360g / 0.80Lbs

And the size and weight of the 3000 Cordless Power Flosser is:

• Height (with nozzle) – 30.8cm / 12.13 inches
• Width – 6.5cm / 2.6 inches
• Thickness/depth – 6.5cm / 2.6 inches
• Weight (with nozzle) – 289g / 0.6Lbs

As you will see from the specification and the hands-on images shown throughout, there isn’t really a significant difference between them.  The greatest difference is in the weight, where the Philips flosser is .2lbs lighter than the Waterpik.

Again similar, there are some differences in the button design and placement as well as grips and other overall aesthetics of the flosser.

The Philips has 3 buttons. They are a power, mode and intensity button, whereas the Advanced has just a power and intensity setting.

The Waterpik buttons have a rubber/silicone coating which makes them a little softer to the touch and slightly more grippy than the plastic concave design of the power flosser.

Very notable is the additional textured surface on the back of the cordless Advanced.  It gives the hand and fingertips extra surface area to grip, which is particularly useful when the unit and your hands are wet, which inevitably happens when using an oral irrigator.

The overall shaping of the flossers are just different.  Both have removable water tanks, but the one on the Sonicare unit dominates the base, more so than Waterpik. It is a design thing, the Waterpik Advanced’s tank blends more into the overall body of the flosser, with more of it exposed to the rear.

The additional visibility of the water tank on the 3000 is in part due to the extra size.

The Power Flosser has an 8.4oz/250ml capacity, compared to the 7oz/209ml of the Cordless Advanced.

Whilst it is possible to achieve a full floss of the teeth with both, you get extended usage times with the Philips water flosser.

It offers anywhere between 60-85 seconds whereas the Advanced offers just 45-65 seconds, subject to intensity.

The Advanced is available in 4 different colors whereas the Power Flosser is available in 3.

You can buy the Cordless Advanced in white, black, blue, and gray colour options compared to the white, black and mint of the Philips Cordless 3000.

Both models have 3 intensity settings, which can be chosen using the relevant button.  The exact pressure/water flow difference is not known, but we believe them to be very comparable.

The Philips has an additional flossing mode, deep clean, that isn’t available with the Advanced.  It provides water with a varying pressure/intensity to offer a different type of clean, rather than the default constant pressure given by the Advanced or the clean mode available on the 3000.

Both models come with multiple nozzles that can be rotated within the flosser.

It should be noted that the Waterpik nozzles are considerably easier to rotate, thanks to the design of the Advanced.  Although possible on the cordless 3000 they are much stiffer and require almost 2 hands to do so.

The Advanced comes with 2 x standard jet tips as well as 1 x orthodontic and 1 x plaque tip.

The Power Flosser comes with 1 x standard nozzle and 1 x quad stream nozzle.

As the names imply, the standard nozzles are comparable.  The orthodontic and plaque tip are more specialized and won’t be suitable for all.

The quad stream tip is also a bit more specialized in that it pushes the water out in an X formation, rather than the standard jet. But, it can be used by anyone, rather than being designed with a specific user in mind.

What you get with Waterpik that you don’t with Philips is a hard plastic storage case for the nozzles. That said, the Power Flosser 3000 does allow for a nozzle to be stored inside the reservoir, when not in use.

Both come with drawstring pouch cases for the main flosser unit itself.

A small little extra with the Waterpik is the plastic plug provided that goes into the nozzle fitting when the flosser is being transported.  This helps prevent water from coming out of the unit if residual moisture is inside.  This could just leak out of the power flosser.

Built into the Philips flosser is a timer.  This helps encourage even flossing, so all interdental spaces gain even attention.  You don’t get this with the Waterpik.  It is helpful for new and experienced users alike.

The Power Flosser is said to give 2 weeks of use on a full charge compared to the 3-4 of the Advanced.  Both models outperformed their claimed life in our hands-on testing.  The Advanced returned slightly better results.

The Waterpik has an innovative magnetic charger which I really like and it works well in a bathroom environment, but it is bulkier and less practical when travelling than the USB type c charging port the 3000 offers. 

The Sonicare comes with a 2 pin USB plug adapter for the USB type a to type c charging cable to connect to. The Advanced has a USB type a connector at the opposing end of the magnetic charger, but no plug adapter.

Does one clean better than the other?

The short answer is no.

The cleaning performance is essentially like for like when used correctly.

However, technically it isn’t possible for me to say conclusively which cleans best as there isn’t any data that compares the 2 products side by side.

Whilst we have used both, our hands-on testing isn’t scientific or designed to detect the clinical differences between each.  

Both have been proven, by the respective brands to remove 99.9% of plaque on treated areas. And no doubt if you posed this question to each, they would suggest theirs is best.

Included with each is a standard jet tip nozzle which works in the same way with both models.  However, unique and exclusive to the Power Flosser 3000 is the Quad Stream jet tip that pushes the water out in an X formation.

This water flow does cover a larger surface area and therefore could be considered to be beneficial and more effective. Philips have undertaken their own clinical testing, which has shown how the Quad Stream tip can result in up to 180% healthier gums for those patients with periodontal disease. 

But these findings were compared to manual flossing and didn’t compare to a standard jet tip or the Waterpik devices.  In addition, this was discovered using their countertop equivalent to this cordless model.  So, although suggestions are there it is far from a confirmed fact.

It is the case too that Waterpik has a wider array of nozzle styles to suit specific users' needs which may be advantageous, as Philips offers a much more limited range.

Potentially going in the Waterpik’s favour is the fact that the Cordless Advanced has been awarded the Canadian Dental Association (CDA) and the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance  At the time of writing, the Cordless Power Flosser 3000 has not.  

That said, Philips countertop power flossers have been awarded this seal for the ADA only.  Given that the brands need to submit and pay for the testing by the CDA and ADA it might well be that they haven't done this for the Cordless 3000. I don’t know for sure but it would likely achieve the same seal of acceptance if submitted.

Here at Electric Teeth we solemnly believe either of these products can be beneficial for your oral health if used correctly.  It is better to pick and use one, rather than delaying use and trying to pick what might be considered as the best.

Is one better priced than the other?

The retail price of the Waterpik Advanced is higher at $132.84 compared to the $99.99 of the Cordless 3000 from Philips.

A $30+ price premium for the Waterpik is fairly sizeable.

Both can be purchased for less than retail. Expect to pick the Advanced up for nearer to $120 and the 3000 for around $80.

What should be considered though is the cost of the replacement nozzles.  Whilst the Sonicare 3000 might well be cheaper to purchase initially, the ongoing cost does actually make it marginally more expensive.

A pack of 2 jet tip nozzles for the Waterpik model will cost around $12.  Compare this to the $18 for the Sonicare.

Over 3 years, the Sonicare will cost around $125 vs the $144 of the Advanced. But the Sonicare will cost a little more over longer periods.

In truth, there is little difference between them from a cost point of view.

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.