Oral-B Pro 1000 vs Smart Clean 360

Detailed comparison: what’s the difference between the Oral-B Smart Clean 360 and Pro 1000?

Neither of these toothbrushes are defying convention with the typical cylindrical handle design with removable brush heads.

When looking at them both there are only a couple of small differences. One difference is the buttons on the front of the toothbrush. The Pro 1000 has just 1 power button with a concave design.

The Smart Clean on the other hand has 2 buttons, one for power and one to change the cleaning modes. These are convex in design, therefore sitting slightly proud of the handle. In both instances, my hand naturally finds these buttons and I can’t easily say one is better than the other.

Another difference is on the rear of the handle. 

Both have textured gripping areas, but they are slightly different. The Pro 1000 has a dimpled texture to the hard plastic body of the brush. The 360 has a softer touch rubber grip with a dimpled texture. 

The 360 is slightly more comfortable to hold, but due to the material choices, the 1000 is easier to clean. Toothpaste and other debris don’t stick to the plastic like the rubber.

I do like that the Pro 1000 is available in 4 colors, the choices are white, black, blue and pink. In these instances, the whole plastic handle is this color. With the Smart Clean, the handles are all white. However, I have seen versions where the grip around the power and mode buttons is black on one of the handles. It is a subtle difference, but helps differentiate handles between couples for example.

I’ve yet to find a good reason for having lots of cleaning modes on a toothbrush, but the Smart Clean 360 does tick that box if you like a choice. There are 5 modes to choose from, compared to the 1 mode on the Pro 1000.

Daily Clean is available on the 360 too, but the extra modes you get are sensitive, gum care, whitening and pro clean.

If I were to wish the Pro 1000 had any additional mode it would be sensitive as the brushing intensity is less and more pleasant on the teeth and gums if they are tender or perhaps inflamed and bleeding.

Both brushes use the same range of small, round interchangeable brush heads.

Because the 360 comes with 2 brush handles, you get extra brush heads in the box. The Pro 1000 comes with 1 x CrossAction, whereas the 360 comes with 2 x PrecisionClean and 1 x FlossAction.

Each head has its pros and cons, I generally recommend the CrossAction of Sensitive head (not supplied with these models) as the bristle type to choose. 

Like the 360 Smart Clean, the Pro 1000 has a pressure sensor built into the handle. This means, that if it detects I am brushing with too much force, it will slow the number of movements in the brush head.

Forceful brushing can, over time, be damaging to the teeth and gums. When I relieve the pressure, the number of movements in the head is increased.

However, even to myself as a long time electric toothbrush user, it is almost impossible to tell that the sensor is activated on the 1000. There is a small sound change and nothing else.

This is where the 360 differs. 

The light ring around the neck of the brush handle will be lit red when the sensor is activated.

If I see a red light, I know I need to reduce the amount of force.

It is far more obvious, therefore I can take corrective action much more quickly.

It still can be missed, but given I, and I am sure many others brush in front of a mirror, it is far more user friendly than the Pro 1000’s implementation.

Another key difference is the battery sealed inside the handle of each brush.

The Pro 1000 uses a Nickel Metal Hydride battery, whereas the Smart Clean has a Lithium-Ion.

Claimed usage time is 10 and 14 plus days respectively. I managed 10 from the 1000 and up to 20 from the Smart Clean 360.

It’s not a deal breaker, but I think the extra usage time benefits many. It also means that should I travel I have less need to worry about taking the charging stand with me if I use the Smart Clean.

When it comes to travel, the 360 is better because travel cases are provided in the box. I think it is an underrated accessory. I don’t travel loads, but I love the option of the case when I do. It beats throwing it in a wash bag.

When the power is low or the brushes are on charge, they do display the feedback differently. The Pro 1000 has an LED for the battery charge status in the lower third of the handle. With the 360, feedback is given via the light ring on the neck of the handle. I don’t have a preference, albeit, most brushes tend to take the design approach of the Pro 1000.

Does one clean better than the other?

Yes, the Smart Clean can clean the teeth better than the Pro 1000. However, don’t expect significant differences.

Both have a 3D cleaning action offering 8,800 oscillations, but the motors are configured differently and the number of pulsations offered is what sets them apart.

The 360 delivers up to 40,000 compared to the maximum 20,000 of the Pro 1000.

When I used each side by side I didn’t see or feel a significant difference in the cleaning results.

However, with repeated use over weeks and months, the added cleaning power of the 360 could have a small, but beneficial impact in removing more plaque to keep your mouth healthy.

Is one better priced than the other?

Yes, the per handle price of the Smart Clean 360 is better.

There isn’t a huge amount of difference between the 2 models. The extra value of the Smart Clean comes from the additional features the brush has alongside the extra charging stand and travel cases that are supplied.

The Pro 1000 has a retail price of $70, but accounting for discounts and the competitive market, you can generally buy this for around $50.

The SmartClean 360 has a retail price of $100. Discounts do sometimes come up, but far less common. So, expect to pay full retail, meaning each handle costs $50 like the Pro 1000.

Ongoing ownership costs per handle are the same as both models use the same affordable interchangeable brush heads.