Oral-B electric toothbrush comparisons

If you’ve landed on this page, you’re probably wondering what the difference is between the various Oral-B electric toothbrushes.

Initially, it can be rather confusing, but we’ve included some resources below that quickly and simply explain the differences.

These include:

• Our overall Oral-B recommendation
• Oral-B comparison chart
• Brush vs brush comparisons
• An overview of the Oral-B range

For a broader comparison of things such as brushing modes and replacement brush heads, check out our comparisons hub page.

You can also find video comparisons on our YouTube channel.

Our overall Oral-B recommendation

The main brush that we recommend, is the Oral-B Smart 1500 — it is our pick for the best Oral-B electric toothbrush.

This is also our choice for the best value electric toothbrush of all toothbrushes available today, irrespective of brand.

The Smart 1500 offers the features we regard as essential (a timer and pressure sensor) at an affordable price.

It also benefits from extra cleaning modes, notably sensitive, which is ideal for those who have sore gums or find the standard cleaning mode a little too intense.

Despite the name, this brush does not have any ‘smart’ (Bluetooth) features and does not connect to your smartphone.

It does too benefit from a lithium battery meaning it offers around 2 weeks of use on a full charge.

As you move up the Oral-B range, the brushes become more expensive, but they do come with additional features and accessories. We regard these as “nice-to-have” rather than essential.

Spending more or picking a premium model does not necessarily result in a better clean of the teeth. Each brush, irrespective of features still requires you to use it regularly and correctly.

This isn’t to say those features aren’t useful for some people. But, we have learnt that most people would rather save a bit of money, than have lots of features they may not use, making the Smart 1500 a perfect fit.

If money isn’t an issue, and you really want the best of the best check out our other recommendations here.

Oral-B electric toothbrush comparison chart

The image below is a comparison chart that shows the main models available from Oral-B today, along with the features and functions each offer.

If you click on the image you can enlarge it.

You will see that the more feature-rich, and typically more expensive models are shown on the right, compared to the more cost effective models on the left.

This chart should help you pick the model most suited to you if you have particular requirements of your toothbrush.

If you need more detail on any of the brushes, read on or leave a comment.

Brush vs brush comparison posts

The comparison chart above allows you to see the key differences between each model at a glance.

However, for those who require more detail, we do have a number of comprehensive written comparisons.

Below, is a list of models we have compared to one another, plus some that we have compared to their Sonicare equivalents.

We’ve also included some broader comparisons on our electric toothbrush comparisons hub page.

• Oral-B iO Series 4 vs 5 vs 6 vs 7 vs 8 vs 9 vs 10 Comparison
• Oral-B iO9 vs iO10 vs Sonicare 9900 Prestige
• Oral-B Pro 1000 vs Philips Sonicare 4100 Series
• Oral-B Smart 1500 vs Philips Sonicare 4100 Series
• Oral-B iO vs Sonicare DiamondClean Smart
• Oral-B Pro 1000 vs Smart 1500
• Oral-B Pro 1000 vs Smart 3000
• Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4100 vs Oral-B Pro 1000
• Oral-B Pro 1000 vs Pro 2 2000
• Oral-B Pro 500 vs 1000
• Oral-B Vitality vs Pro 1000
• Oral-B Smart 1500 vs Smart 3000
• Oral-B iO vs Genius X
• Oral-B iO vs Genius Pro 8000
• Oral-B Pro 6000 vs Pro 7000
• Oral-B Genius X vs Sonicare DiamondClean Smart
• Oral-B Pro 7000 vs Genius Pro 8000
• Oral-B Genius X vs Genius Pro 8000
• Oral-B Pro 3000 vs Pro 5000
• Oral-B Pro 5000 vs 7000
• Oral-B Pro 500 vs Vitality

Overview of the Oral-B range

Within the Oral-B range are a number of sub-categories or series into which particular models fit.

Below we detail the names of each series and the key ways in which each differs.

This applies to most models, although odd models/exceptions may exist

• Vitality Series ($)
  • The essential features you require and no more.
  • Satisfactory, but better options exist.
  • 2D cleaning action – oscillates and rotates.
  • 1 cleaning mode.
  • Built-in 2 minute timer.
  • Up to 1 week of battery life.
  • No battery status LED.
  • The most cost effective models.
• Pro Series ($$)
  • The essential features, plus a little more.
  • The ideal brushes for the vast majority.
  • 3D cleaning action – oscillates, rotates and pulsates. (Excludes Pro 500)
  • Up to 2 cleaning modes.
  • No cleaning mode labels/icons on the handle.
  • Built-in 2 minute timer and 30 second pacer.
  • Up to 2 weeks of battery life.
  • Battery status LED on the handle.
  • Affordable brushes.
• Smart Series ($$$)
  • Premium handles with more features and accessories
  • 3D cleaning action – oscillates, rotates and pulsates.
  • Up to 5 cleaning modes.
  • No cleaning mode labels/icons on the handle.
  • Built-in 2 minute timer and 30 second pacer.
  • Visible pressure sensor.
  • Smart toothbrushes with Bluetooth connectivity. (Oral-B Smart 1500 being an exception)
  • A battery life of around 2 weeks.
  • Battery status LED on the handle.
  • Higher mid-range prices.
• Genius Series ($$$$)
  • Premium handles with more features and better box contents.
  • 3D cleaning action – oscillates, rotates and pulsates.
  • Up to 6 personalized cleaning modes.
  • Cleaning mode labels/icons on the handle (with exception of Daily Clean mode).
  • Built-in 2 minute timer and 30 second pacer.
  • Visible pressure sensor.
  • Smart toothbrushes with Bluetooth connectivity.
  • Position detection technology to track the toothbrush in the mouth.
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) for enhanced feedback on your brushing.
  • A battery life of around 2 weeks.
  • Battery status LED on the handle.
  • Premium prices.
• iO Series ($$$$$)
  • Top of the line handle with the most advanced toothbrush technology.
  • 3D cleaning action – oscillates, rotates and micro-vibrates.
  • Up to 7 personalized cleaning modes.
  • Cleaning mode labels/icons shown on the display.
  • Built-in 2 minute timer and 30 second pacer.
  • Visible pressure sensor highlights correct and incorrect pressure.
  • Smart toothbrushes with Bluetooth connectivity.
  • Position detection technology to track the toothbrush in the mouth.
  • 3D teeth tracking with AI for enhanced feedback on your brushing.
  • Interactive display built-into the handle.
  • A battery life of 2+ weeks.
  • Battery life status is shown on the display.
  • Magnetic charger for more convenient and quicker charging.
  • The most expensive of toothbrushes.

As you can see, as you go up through the range the features and the prices increase.

Whilst each has its place within the market, it is the Pro Series that is most logical option for the majority.

Yet, due to a quirk in the Oral-B naming convention, the Smart 1500 is actually our toothbrush of choice.

It offers a blend of features and functions that benefit us as users at a price that most will find affordable.

Hopefully, this gives you a good overview of where various brushes fit in in terms of price and features, but if not please leave a comment or question.

In the sections below we compare Oral-B brushes that are close to each other in price and features. 

Smart 1500 vs Pro 1000

Winner: Oral-B Smart 1500

Read the summary below or read the full Oral-B Pro 1000 vs Smart 1500 comparison.

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The Pro 1000 is a good electric toothbrush, but the Smart 1500 is the more capable brush and the one better suited to new or experienced electric toothbrush users.

The most notable differences and benefits are the battery life and pressure sensor of the Smart 1500.

It offers 14+ days compared to the 10 days of the Pro. In reality, it actually lasts nearer 20 days. 10 days just seems poor by modern toothbrush standards. The 1500 does too use a Lithium-Ion battery compared to the Nickel Metal Hydride in the Pro 1000.

Although both brushes have a pressure sensor, the Smart 1500 has a visible sensor that stretches a full 360 degrees around the top of the brush handle. This makes it much easier to see when the toothbrush is in use.

You do to get a sensitive and whitening cleaning mode on the 1500, that you don’t on the Pro 1000. Not essential, but they are useful.

The 1500 is more expensive than the 1000, but it is a premium worth paying for the longer term benefits it provides.

Pro 1000 vs Pro 1500

Winner: Oral-B Pro 1500

Read the summary below or read the full Oral-B Pro 1000 vs Pro 1500 comparison.

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Despite the similar names, there are a few subtle differences between these 2 toothbrushes.

It is the Pro 1500 you will want to go for.

Both brushes are fairly slim and lightweight in hand, but the Pro 1000 does not have the large amount of grip on the front of the handle like the 1500. Instead, it has just a small amount at the top where the power button is located.

The 1000 has a more subtle dimpled texture to the rear of the handle compared to the harsher, but more noticeable raised plastic ridges on the back of the 1500.

With the Pro 1500 you get an additional cleaning mode, a visible pressure sensor, double the battery life.  

The additional cleaning mode (sensitive) is a slower, less powerful mode that is a little more gentle on the teeth and gums, whilst still offering a thorough clean.

The visible pressure sensor is located on the back of the brush handle, just below the attachment for the brush head.  The orange/red panel will be lit red when activated, making it very clear when you are applying too much pressure.  

Relieve the pressure and the light will go out.

At the same time that the pressure sensor is illuminated, the motor will slow to reduce pushing too many movements to the brush head, reducing the chances of doing unnecessary damage.

The 1000 has a pressure sensor, but it is not visible and by no means as noticeable as that on the 1500.

And lastly, the big difference is the battery life.  With a lithium-ion battery compared to the Nickel Metal Hydride of the 1000, the 1500 battery lasts 2+ weeks on a full charged compared to the 10 days of the Pro 1000.

Pro 5000 vs Pro 7000

Winner: Oral-B Pro 7000

Read the summary below or read the full Oral-B Pro 5000 vs Pro 7000 comparison.

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What are essentially 2 older models within the Oral-B range today, they still do a decent job of cleaning the teeth.

There are quite a few similarities between them, but the Pro 7000 is the slightly more feature-rich and the brush that we would opt for.

The 7000 has an extra cleaning mode, known as Tounge Clean.

This is a cycle that lasts for 20 seconds with 7300 oscillations and 30,000 pulsations and designed for as the name suggests, cleaning the tongue.  

The reality is, you could use any mode on the brush to clean your tongue just ending the clean sooner.  Although the speed and number of oscillations will be different.

In the box with the 7000 is an additional brush head, which can be useful subject to which brushing modes are most important to yourself.

But it is perhaps the additional accessory known as the Smart Wireless Guide that is the real clincher for the 7000.

Not included with the very latest models sold today, this little clock like instrument can be a real game changer for those who get distracted when brushing their teeth.

One of the biggest improvements you can make to your oral health routine is the time you brush for.

It does indeed function as a 24 hour clock when not in use, but turn your toothbrush on and the screen displays the amount of time you have been brushing for.  It also guides you as to which quadrant you should be focusing on, which cleaning mode you are using, and how well you are doing.

It is a visual stimulus when you get distracted and in turn, acts as encouragement to brush better and for longer to get the star rating and smiley face at the end of each brushing session.

4 stars (1 for each quadrant) and a smiley face confirm you have brushed for the right amount of time.

It doesn’t track you quite like the Genius X or iO do, but it is very handy.  

Both brushes are Bluetooth enabled and will connect to a smartphone application if you want to make use of this.  It logs your total brushing time and frequency for you to review post brushing.  If the app is opened as you brush, you will get a visual timer on screen that acts much like the smart wireless guide.

Genius 6000 vs Genius 8000

Winner: Oral-B Genius 6000

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Put these two brushes side by side and the differences between them are much harder to tell, they look almost identical, however, there are some subtle differences.

The Genius Pro 8000 offers an additional cleaning mode, Tongue Clean.

This is a cycle that lasts for 20 seconds with 7300 oscillations and 30,000 pulsations and designed for as the name suggests, cleaning the tongue.  

The reality is, you could use any mode on the brush to clean your tongue just ending the clean sooner.  Although the speed and number of oscillations will be different.

It does too come with 2 extra brush heads included in the box.

Whilst both models come with a travel case, it is the premium case supplied with the 8000 that allows the brush handle to be recharged inside the case, providing the proprietary power adapter is connected.  This is not a feature available with the Pro 6000.

Both brushes offer Bluetooth connectivity, which means that they connect to an Android or iOS smartphone via an app.

Both brushes will track your cleaning performance and log it in the app whilst providing real-time feedback. But, the Genius Pro 8000 can go one stage further.

Known as enhanced position detection technology/tracking, the app installed on your smartphone uses the phones front-facing camera and sensors in the brush handle to accurately detect the position of the brush within the mouth.  

You have to stand in front of your smartphone when brushing and can’t really move as the brush movements need to be seen by the camera.

The idea is that it provides an enhanced cleaning experience and feedback as you brush.  

Both aim to give feedback as if a dentist was monitoring your clean, but the 8000 just gives the feedback in a more interactive and instant way.  Both are designed to educate rather than lecture you on the ‘best’ method.  The end goal is better oral health.

The problem is that the 8000’s enhanced tracking requires dedication and commitment that many are not prepared to give, particularly due to the setup.

In the box with the 8000 comes a smartphone holder, with a suction cup, much like you might have in a car.  In this instance, you adhere it to a mirror or wall in your bathroom, at head height.  You put your smartphone in before brushing, stand in front of it, and the app. The camera and brush work together to give you this real-time data.

All told, whilst the idea and ethos are good it is a bit of a hassle.

We think on the whole most will prefer the experience the Smart 6 offers.

Then when you factor in the price, the premium to be paid for the 8000 will for many be difficult to justify for the relatively slim benefits it ultimately offers.

Yes, the 8000 is technically the better brush all things considered.  But, it is the Genius 6000 that is more cost effective and practical to use on a daily basis.

Genius Pro 8000 vs Genius X

Winner: Oral-B Genius X

Read the summary below or read the full Oral-B Genius Pro 8000 vs Genius X comparison.

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Place these brushes side by side and it is almost impossible to tell the difference between each of them.

There are more similarities between these 2 brushes than there are differences.

However, despite their looks, there is 1 significant difference that separates these 2 brushes.

The Genius X has built-in sensors and Artificial Intelligence which track the movement of the brush handle when in use.

This does away with one of the biggest frustrations of the Genius Pro 8000 when it came to real-time tracking of the toothbrush in use.

With the 8000 you have to stand still in front of the camera on your smartphone for it to track, you do not have to with the X.

The tracking technology is clever on both models and it can encourage and help you achieve a better clean, but the Genius X makes the whole process much more user friendly, with a lot less hassle.

It does not mean the brush will actually clean the teeth better. In fact, both have the same motor inside and the same cleaning modes.

The trade off in many respects is the price.

The Genius X does command a premium for this technological upgrade and you get a little less in the box.

Both come with a premium travel case and a 2+ week battery life. A visible pressure sensor, 2 minute timer and pacer are built-in too.

iO Series vs Genius X

Winner: Oral-B iO Series

Read the summary below or read the full Oral-B iO vs Genius X comparison.

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The Oral-B iO has been redesigned from the ground up. From the motor to the handle, to the brush head, it has all changed.

The new magnetic driven motor is quieter and the way it works produces a cleaning sensation that is similar, but different.

Does it clean the teeth better? No, not really. Both do a great job of removing plaque.

However, there is no denying that the iO looks and feels the part.

There are fewer gloss plastics and large expanses of rubber grips, with a much more exclusive looking design.

A display has been built into the handle that allows you to control certain features of the brush and gain some real-time feedback without the need for the smartphone application.

Just like the Genius X, this is a smart toothbrush, but the technology has been enhanced even further to provide a more accurate tracking and feedback loop so that you and I can brush better.

You get the standard features like the 2 minute timer, 30 second pacer, rechargeable battery and fading indicator bristles on the brush head.

You too get a visible pressure sensor, but this now lights up not only red to alert you when you brush too hard, but green too, to show you are using just the right amount of pressure.

A new magnetic charger means the brush can be recharged in as little as 3 hours, rather than the more typical 12.

It does too come with a premium travel case, similar to that of the Genius X, which allows the brush to be charged whilst inside. However, like the X, this requires a separate proprietary power adapter.

There is a great deal to like about the iO and this is without a doubt a step up for Oral-B. But, the downside is the price. It costs quite a bit more than the Genius X and does not deliver significant benefits that would be justifiable to most for the price.

Conclusion

The great number of choices you have within the Oral-B range can make it really quite difficult to decide which toothbrush is right for you.

Ultimately, all of the brushes will provide a very good clean to the teeth and gums if used correctly.

Perfecting your brushing routine, including the brushing time, technique and frequency will bring more positive benefit than any particular toothbrush.

Premium models may bring benefits for some. However, for the vast majority, the prices are prohibitive and the benefits for every dollar ($) spent certainly reduces.

For the majority of people, myself included the Oral-B Smart 1500 is the toothbrush to go for. It offers a balance of cleaning performance and features at a price most will find affordable.

If you really do desire the absolute best, irrespective of price, then it has to be the iO Series 9.