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Published: February 10, 2024

Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart review

Author: Jon Love (14 Comments)
Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart review 1

Superb in so many ways, just a bit pricey

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One of the best brushes on the market today. It offers a superb clean and a great box contents. It has more features than you need, but if you desire the best technically, then this is one of them.

Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9700
Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9700
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Pros

Cons

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Premium design

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Bluetooth connectivity isn’t essential and adds to cost

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Real-time tracking via Bluetooth can be valuable to the most committed users

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No smartphone stand

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USB charging travel case

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Expensive

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Reminds you when to replace your brush head

Cheaper alternatives are available

Make no mistake, the DiamondClean Smart is a seriously great toothbrush. But, unless you have money to burn, Oral-B's iO6 is a similar alternative.

Naturally, there are pros and cons. The cleaning action is different and there is no charging travel case, but the cost saving is quite significant for not the biggest compromises.

Alternatively, the 4100 Series from Sonicare doesn't feature all of the smart tech and is a fraction of the price.

Oral-B iO Series 6 (iO6)
Oral-B iO Series 6 (iO6)
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Design, usability, clean & general use

The Smart offers a lot of features, so this review is quite lengthy and this section probably the biggest, but you will know all there is to know by the end of it. If you have a question or think we have missed something, let me know in the comments.

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First things first, let me talk about the design of the brush, how it looks, how it feels.

Smart and stylish this brush most certainly is.  It is clearly part of the DiamondClean range with the aesthetics that are present here, there is a continuity.

Now, depending on the model you opt for depends on the color.

The 9300 comes in 4 different color options, black, pink, white, and silver, with the 9500 also available in rose gold.

This color relates to the brush handle.

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The detachable brush heads made by Sonicare are available in white or black color too.

With the white or pink handle, you get white colored brush heads, whilst with the silver or black handle, you get black colored brush heads to match.

The most premium DiamondClean Smart 9700 Series comes in one color only, Lunar Blue.  The brush heads provided with this handle are black in color.

I personally really like the lunar blue but the black and grey are nice too.  In fact, they are all very smart!

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Continuing the color theme, the provided travel case changes too.  The lunar blue, black, and silver come with a lack case, whilst the pink and white come with a white colored case.

The brush handle itself has a smooth premium finish to it.  Just like the DiamondClean (non smart version) if you have ever seen or used that.

It is hard to explain what it actually feels like.  It is not like a glossy hard plastic. Of course, it is a solid construction but it feels more premium than most other brushes.

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On the front of the brush handle, on towards the top is the Philips Sonicare logo in a muted gold color.

Below this (about two thirds of the way up the handle) is the main power button.

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It is of a concave design and the thumb sits comfortably into it.  There is a large power icon on it.

It is not as resistive as some power buttons or does not give the same level of feedback, but you can, of course, tell when you have turned the brush on or off.

Below this button are 3 lights, that increase in size left to right.  It looks a little like a phone signal might on your smartphone screen.  Each light represents the intensity setting of the brush.

If 1 light is lit, the brush is set to the lowest intensity.  This is referred to as ‘Low’.  2 lights lit and the intensity is now at ‘Medium’, and if all 3 lights are lit, that is the ‘High’ setting which will give the full power of the brush (subject to cleaning mode).

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Below this sits another concave button.  This is the mode/intensity button.  You press this to change between the 5 cleaning modes or change those 3 levels of brushing intensity.  The modes can be changed when the brush is switched off, whilst the intensity can be changed when the brush is switched on.

Towards the bottom of the handle, the names of the available cleaning modes are built into the handle.  Each one lights up when selected.  They do not all light up at the same time.

The light that shines out from these cleaning modes and the brushing intensity icons is a white light.

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Below this is the brush head replacement reminder and the battery icon.

The brush head icon is one of the most innovative features of this brush and what makes it smart whilst setting it apart from the rest of the electric toothbrushes on the market.

It will illuminate and pulse when it is time to change the brush head for a new one (normally at 3 months).  It is an excellent extra visual reminder over and above the fading indicator bristles found on the brush head itself.

This works in conjunction with the smart RFID chip built into the brush head to know when to remind you.  It doesn’t just log when you first attached the head, it actually knows how long each head has spent brushing!

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At the base of the brush is the LED light ring or the pressure sensor indicator.  I will explain this in a bit more detail later in the review.  But when activated it lights up a nice purple color and addresses what I have felt to be one of the bigger failings in previous models.

Commonly the base of the electric toothbrush will have a recess into which a prong on the charging stand for the brush will fit.  Not here.  The base of the brush is flat.  It still receives the charge via this flat surface but does so

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The remainder of the rounded square handle is smooth to the touch with no additional icons, grips or features to speak of.  I would really like a bit more grip on the handle, be that rubber or raised contours to the back of the handle.  Many other brushes offer this.  I understand why Sonicare have omitted this and to be fair the brush is not super slippy in hand.

Right at the top of the brush handle, just under where the brush head connects is a ring.  On most models, it’s a dark grey/black color but on the Blue model, it is gold.  It contrasts the brush handle slightly.

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The primary reason we buy an electric toothbrush is to clean our teeth and the Sonicare does a fantastic job of this.

Delivering up to 31,000 strokes per minute the bristles of the brush head skim across the tooth surface and along the gumline to sweep away plaque, bacteria, and debris.  It is according to Sonicare able to remove up to 10x more plaque and give you healthier gums in just 2 weeks compared to a manual toothbrush.

Studies have suggested that Oral-B’s oscillating, rotating and pulsating heads offer better overall cleaning performance.  But there is too plenty of supporting evidence to show how Sonicare does an equally good job.

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As good as the Sonicare clean is, my personal preference is for Oral-B.  I actually find the clean a bit more aggressive and a bit rougher, which I like.

There is clinical debate over which is better.  Ultimately, both provide a significant improvement over a manual brush.

On the other hand, the Sonicare is quieter, producing a humming sound when in use whereas the Oral-B models have a much louder mechanical sound to them when running.

Brushing the teeth is not possible without the brush heads.  These come included in the box.

There are 4 styles of brush head included with the DiamondClean Smart.

These are:

  • Philips Sonicare C3 Premium Plaque Control Toothbrush Head
  • Philips Sonicare G3 Premium Gum Care Toothbrush Head
  • Philips Sonicare W3 Premium White Toothbrush Head
  • Philips Sonicare T1 TongueCare+  Toothbrush Head (Not provided with DiamondClean 9300 Series)
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All new brush heads, these are not quite like the brush heads you may already know and used.

They have been scientifically engineered with the bristles to be the right length and angle, they are available in black or white color options to complement the brush handle, but the brush heads themselves are smart.

Built into every brush head is a little chip.

This radio-frequency identification (RFID) chip acts as a way for the brush head and handle to communicate.  It is core to the Brushsync technology built into this toothbrush.

Brushsync is made up of 2 parts, brush head reminders, and mode pairing.

When connected to the DiamondClean Smart brush handle (or other brushsync enabled handle) the brush will automatically be set to the most appropriate cleaning mode for that brush head.  The chip and the brush handle communicate to trigger this action.

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The heads also know how often and for how long they have been used.

The DiamondClean Smart offers up to 5 cleaning modes (model dependent), those modes are:

  • Clean
    • It lasts for 2 minutes and is designed to be used with intensity level 3. It gives a thorough and complete clean.  It is recommended that you use the Premium Plaque Defense brush head with this mode.  This is the mode most will use on a daily basis.
  • White+
    • It lasts for 2 minutes and 40 seconds and is designed to be used with intensity level 3.  The best brush head to use is the Premium White brush head.
  • Gum Health
    • It lasts for 3 minutes and 20 seconds and is designed to be used with intensity level 3.  The best brush head to use is the Premium Gum Care brush head.
  • DeepClean+
    • The amount of time DeepClean+ runs for depends on whether or not the handle is connected to the app. In connected mode, DeepClean+ runs for 2 minutes and provides BrushPacer feedback every 20 seconds. In non-connected mode, DeepClean+ runs for three minutes and provides BrushPacer feedback every 30 seconds.
  • Tongue Care
    • It lasts for just 20 seconds and is to be used with intensity level 1 and the Tongue Care+ brush head.

You may wish to consult the instruction book that comes with the brush for a step by step guide on how to make the best use of each of these modes. We also cover them in detail here.

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Now, when considering these modes with the Smart brush heads, if you were to fit the Tongue Care brush head and the brush will know to operate the Tongue Care mode, selecting it for you.

Replace with the Plaque Control brush head and the brush will change to the Clean mode.

It might be a super lazy approach, but in the age of modern convenience why not?! It is a neat touch and something we have thought brushes available today should be able to do.

You can manually change what mode is used with each brush head and what intensity setting you want set.  The brush heads will work on any mode at any intensity, but the brush is clever enough to know and preset some settings for you for the ‘ideal’ clean and performance.

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To change the cleaning mode used, whilst the brush is off, press the mode/intensity button the correct number of times until the desired mode is selected.

When the brush is powered on that button can be used to change the intensity of the brush.  The cleaning mode can be changed only when the brush is powered off.

The brush will remember the last cleaning mode used if the brush automatically powers off at the end of the cleaning cycle. So, if clean was the last mode used and the brush turned itself off, it will launch into this when powered on, if the brush head has not been changed.

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As I suggested earlier, these heads go one stage further and work in conjunction with the brush to light up a brush head reminder icon (when appropriate) to give you a visual clue it is time to replace the brush head. It knows how long each head has been used for because of the chip.

So if you were to use the same brush head every day for 3 months's the icon would light up around the 3 month period.  If you have only used that head 3 times in 3 months it will not light up until you have had 3 month's use from the head.

All Sonicare brush heads (with exception of tongue clean) have reminder bristles that are the blue in color, which over a typical 3 month period will fade from a relatively strong blue to white color.  If they turn white, replace the head.  This is another visual clue if the flashing light on the handle doesn’t do it for you.

You can tell if it is a smart brush head by the icon towards the bottom of the brush head, it looks like a WiFi logo.

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New technology comes at a price, unfortunately.

A pack of 2 heads has a retail price of $30 whilst a pack of 4 has a price of $50.

This gives an average cost per head between $12.5-15 each.

Thankfully retailers are knocking the prices a bit and if you buy a 4 pack you can get the average cost per head down to about $10 each.

Compare this to a non-smart brush head and there is an extra charge of about $2 per head.

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You can use standard Sonicare brush heads (cheaper) on the DiamondClean Smart, but the brush will not automatically change cleaning modes, it will also not tell you when it is time to change the brush head.

Smart brush heads like these provided will also not offer any smart functionality on any other brush other than those with Brushsync.

Built into the handle is the battery, motor and all the other clever tech.

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The battery is not user removable and is a Lithium-Ion battery for those who are interested.  It lasts for a minimum of 2 weeks, but can last for a lot longer (over 3 weeks), subject to the cleaning mode used.

Sonicare brushes produce some of the longest performing batteries in the market.

One way in which they conserve power is by having the brush automatically turn off at the end of each cleaning cycle.  You need not turn the brush off, it does it itself at the end of the clean.  It conserves power and is another example of a small but useful convenience and is the best way I can think of to tell you that the clean is over.

This functionality ties in with the built-in timer that is in the brush.  At 20 second intervals, you get a notification via a beep, a pause in the motor and brush head motion that it is time to change area and focus on cleaning the next section of the mouth.

You get 6 x 20 second intervals per 2 minute clean, so you focus on the following areas:

  • Upper right back teeth
  • Upper front teeth
  • Upper left back teeth
  • Lower left back teeth
  • Lower front teeth
  • Lower right back teeth

These timings are all based on professional recommendations and most modes last for 2 minutes.

As important as the brush is the way in which you clean your teeth.  Sonicare goes to quite some detail in the manual about how to clean your teeth, so pay attention. The technique is different for an electric toothbrush to a manual one.

This brush is water resistant.  You can rinse it under the tap and it will survive a life in a bathroom.  Sonicare does not advise use in the shower and you should not submerge the brush in water.

One feature that I believe helps a lot with achieving a good habit is the pressure sensor.  A feature that has for a long time been on Oral-B brushes but has never really been present on Sonicare models.

Built into the handle when the sensor detects when too much pressure is applied to the teeth it reduces the speed of the brush motor and the light ring on the bottom of the brush emits a purple light.  It will remain purple until such time as the pressure is released.

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The bristles need only skim the teeth.  Too much pressure can be damaging and lead to gum recession.  There is a bit of a false myth that electric toothbrushes cause recession.  They do not.  If anything they are better for recession!

If you use the smartphone app it will show on screen too that you are brushing too hard and need to relive some of the force.

As pretty as the light is, you do not want it to come on.  Don’t worry though if it does, just know how to solve the issue.

Some might argue the purple light is a bit of a feminine color.  There is no option to change it.  It’s not my favorite color, but I don’t dislike it and it is noticeable, that is the main idea.

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I like the principle of how it is implemented, it looks smart without detracting from the design.  However, unless in a darker room the light is actually not that obvious.  You may see it if brushing in front of a mirror, but I think Oral-B’s neck placement is more obvious, not to mention brighter.

It would be nice if there were some of the customization options like there is with the Oral-B Genius X LED Smart Ring.

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Another novel piece of tech built into the Smart handle is something present on cheaper Sonicare brushes too.  It is called Easy-start.

It is an option that gently increases the power over the first 14 brushings to help you get used to the brushing with the electric toothbrush and is really designed for those moving to the brush from a manual one, where the extra power may seem too much.

The Easystart feature works in all modes other than TongueCare+ mode.

The brush comes with the mode deactivated, but it can be turned on. Refer to our FAQ’s for details on this process.

Part of what makes the DiamondClean Smart unique and indeed Smart is the Bluetooth connectivity and the application that is available for Android and iOS.

The ethos is education.  Encouraging and advising to clean better.  The app is not geared to offer up a lecture on what’s right and wrong, but tips and diagrams to show you how to be better and improve over time.

Paying attention to what the app says will help your oral health and could in time decrease your dental bills because you are taking better care of your mouth.

To get the best value and functionality from the brush, you need to use the app at the same time as you brush your teeth.

This will allow you to see in real-time how well, or not, you are brushing.

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When using the app and brush together you do not need to be actually looking at your phone the whole time, but it is good to glance at it occasionally.

For me, this is one of the biggest oversights made by Philips.  There is no smartphone holder included.

A basic cradle that would hold the phone at a nice viewing angle would have been a nice touch, to keep your hand free and the phone safe.  It need not have been a bulky suction cup affair as per the Oral-B Genius Pro 8000.

It would cost just a few dollars to include and finish the package nicely.

Sadly instead, you will either need to hold the phone in hand to see what's going on in the app and track your performance or fashion your own stand.

Via an on-screen graphic of the teeth in your mouth, the app guides you around the sections of the mouth you need to brush.

The theory is that you clean the teeth evenly when you follow this.

The teeth turn from a dull colour to a bright white as you brush. The longer you brush the whiter they get. Areas that get insufficient brushing time remain dull.

Although it is best to follow the graphic on screen, you can clean the teeth in any order you see fit and the app will acknowledge the position of the brush and change the colour of the teeth on-screen accordingly. Whilst its not always 100% accurate it is fairly good most of the time.

At the end of the brushing session, areas of the mouth you missed or did not give enough attention to are coloured yellow.

Essentially, the colour changing teeth allow you to really easily see how well you are doing and make improvements straight away, because you are being shown where to pay more attention.

If you don't use the app when you brush, you won't get the same level of real-time feedback. However, it will sync data when the 2 are next connected. It stores up to 28 sessions of data.

The app has recently been updated and presents a summarized view of your brushing data for the last 7 days. This is a positive because there is less opportunity to become overwhelmed by all the data.

You can dig further down into the app for a bit more historic data if you want it, but you don't get as much historic data (months & years) as you once did.

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The main progress screen shows the average time per session and per day. It also shows the pressure levels used.

Green icons are good. Orange icons highlight areas you need to work on.

This information is helpful for sure, particularly for new electric toothbrush users.

Within the app, it gives you details about the brush heads you have been using. It will log each one and show how many brushing sessions you have left.

You can within your profile set details about yourself. You can also get more information about your particular brush handle, as well as update the software that your brush handle is using.

Sonicare I think have done an ok job with the app. Initial setup and configuration are straightforward and I had no issues pairing the app with the brush. That said there is room for improvement. I think bringing back more data logging would be useful.

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In an ideal world, we would like to see the ability for more people to share a brush handle between users (changing the brush head of course) to get more value from it.

Whilst possible, sadly the Bluetooth connectivity option becomes redundant.  This brush can pair with multiple phones but is only capable of logging one set of data.  There is no way to differentiate between users.  The handles see’s any brushing session as that of the main user.  Thus sharing the DiamondClean Smart handle will defeat the very point of the brush.

I am sure in time there will be a solution to this, but presently there is not.  The only option is to buy another brush.

A great experience overall.  Some may find it overkill.  Sometimes I think this. Do I want or need such?  It is clever, but you do need to form a  bit of a habit.  For some, it could become obsessive to log everything completely.

If you have any question over the value of the app and think it is a bit of a gimmick, the DiamondClean Smart is not really for you, go look at the DiamondClean.

Depending on the variant you go for will depend slightly on the box contents.

All have a premium travel case, the difference being the 9500 Series I am reviewing here and the 9700 allow for the brush to be charged in the case.  This is not possible with the 9300.

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Without a doubt, the best travel case I have experienced to date for a toothbrush, the hard case is finished in a soft touch leather.

Robust, it will certainly take some knocks and can hold the handle and up to 2 brush heads.

A magnetic closure keeps the lid shut, not fiddly clasps or buttons, but easy enough to open too. It looks and feels every part as premium as the brush.

A charging cable (which is 60cm in length) is actually built into the case and tucks away underneath it.  On the standard DiamondClean it is a detachable cable, that could easily be lost.

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On the underside of the case, you remove a large panel to reveal the cable neatly nestled within the case.  With one end firmly wired into the case, at the other end is a standard USB Type A connection that can be connected to a USB port on a computer, on a wall charger, to a battery bank and more, to charge the brush where you like whilst in the case. I love this, despite the fact you need not charge the brush all that often with a 3 week battery life.

The cover that hides the cable has been cleverly designed and can actually be refitted whilst allowing the cable to be fed out through the back.

Given the price, including a USB power adapter for a mains connection would have been a nice touch.

With all models, you get the charging glass.

Think of a glass tumbler you might have a drink of spirits like Whiskey from.  Put the Sonicare logo on the front of it and sit it on a plate that has a power connector attached to it and you get the idea.

Lent in the glass, the brush does not stand upright.

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The power connector is a 100-240v and connects to the US mains power outlet.

The good news here is that it supports international voltages if traveling, all you may need is a plug adapter.  But then again you may just use the charging case?

Another complete oversight, in my opinion, is not providing a brush head storage compartment.

As a minimum, the DiamondClean Smart comes with 3 brush heads, but with the 9700 it comes with 8.  There is nothing to store these in.

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For years Oral-B have provided a basic brush head storage compartment that held those you used regularly within close reach.  But the DiamondClean does not benefit from such.

Sonicare do make a stand, it holds up to 4 brush heads upright inside a stylish clear plastic container.  It protects them from dust and debris and makes access to them easy.  This is offered with the DiamondClean Smart in other countries, just not in the USA.  I do not understand why.

For the price paid it should have been included with the 9700.

Finally for this section, for added peace of mind, the DiamondClean Smart comes with a 2 year warranty which covers any brush faults that are not as a result of user damage.  You can extend this by a further 6 months if the brush is registered online, there is no cost to this.

Summary of design, usability, clean & general use

Slim and stylish brush handle with a solid build
Minimalist design, potentially could do with more grip points
Cleans the teeth very well
Up to 5 cleaning modes, shown on brush handle via white light
3 power intensity setting
Smart brush heads that automatically change the cleaning mode
Brush head reminder system
Built-in 20 second pacer and 2 minute timer tells you when to change quadrant and finish brushing
Automatically powers off at the end of the cleaning cycle
Pressure sensor with LED although the light is set to purple and not that bright
Bluetooth connectivity with logging and live tracking of clean
Great travel case with USB charging

Battery life

The suggested battery life on the Sonicare website and marketing materials for the DiamondClean Smart is just 2 weeks/14 days.

However, the reality is that like many of Sonicare’s cheaper brushes, it is much better than this.

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In my hands-on testing, I managed some 50 cleaning sessions on the standard ‘Clean’ mode with the intensity set too high.  That’s 100 minutes of usage time or 25 days.  11 days more than the quoted 14.

However, the Gum Health cleaning mode lasts just under twice as long as the standard clean mode, thus reducing the battery life to just 14 days/2 weeks.  This then is why Sonicare claim 2 weeks battery life.  You only get this is using Gum Health mode.

Whilst Sonicare are actually quoting the worst battery life you might get from the brush, I think they are underselling themselves a bit here as most other brands always quote the maximum possible rather than the minimum.

Unless you decide to always use the longest cleaning sessions you will get anywhere between 14-25 days usage out of this brush.

Of course, should you be draining the power quickly you have two options to recharge the brush.  These are via the charging glass provided or the USB travel case (USB travel case not provided with the 9300 Series).

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The charging glass may sound strange but that is what it is.  Like a small tumbler, you might have a stiff drink from, the Sonicare branded glass sits on a plate, which in turn connects to the mains power supply.  It supports 100-240v.

The brush sits in the glass at an angle, not upright like most others and uses the wonder that is inductive charging to replenish the internal battery.

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Innovative is the travel case, it is an accessory that is included with the DiamondClean, but with the Smart model we have here, an improvement has been made that rather than a detachable USB cable as before, this is now built-in.

At the other end of the cable is a full sized USB Type A connector.

When not in use this tucks away under the case.

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With the brush handle in the case, you can now charge it but connecting the charging travel case to a laptop, a wall-mounted USB socket or a suitable wall adapter.

There is no battery in the travel case itself.

It takes at least 24 hours to fully charge your Philips Sonicare. This charging time is longer than most other brushes, but then the battery life is quite a bit longer.

You do not have to fully charge your handle before first use, as the handle is pre-charged for first use. However, it is recommended to fully charge it after first use.

The charging indicator on the brush handle flashes white until the DiamondClean Smart toothbrush is fully charged.

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When the battery power is getting low, approximately 10% or less, the battery indicator lights up an amber/yellow color rather than white.

When the battery is completely flat the brush will beep 6 times and will not power on.

Built into the handle the battery uses Lithium-Ion technology and is not user removable.

It would be a nice touch if the brush reported an actual battery percentage (%) into the app, but sadly it does not. Only high, medium or low.

Summary of battery life

Up to 100 minutes of usage time or 25 days usage based on 2 cleans a day for 2 minutes
A charging glass included in the box
Works on 100-240 volts
A travel case capable of charging the brush included too
Connect the charging case to a USB socket for charging
Battery icon flashes amber/yellow when 10% or less
Brush beeps 6 times when no power left
Takes up to 24 hours to charge fully
The battery status light flashes until fully charged

Reliability & long term use

If you have ever come into contact with Philips products before, I suspect you have a pretty high regard for them.  Most people I speak to do consider Philips to be a premium brand where although their products are a little bit more expensive, you can very quickly understand why.

Their toothbrush brand Sonicare continues such traits.

Even the cheapest models Sonicare produce punch above their price point and show what is possible.  It is no surprise that many are so loyal to the brand.

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The DiamondClean Smart is very well constructed.  The materials are premium and the finish super.

Here at Electric Teeth we test the electric toothbrushes in a way that you would use it at home.

Whilst the odd knock or tumble may occur we are not putting the brush through extensive durability or stress tests.

We have tested every toothbrush we write about because that is the only way we can be so honest and direct about the points we make.

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To date, I have not experienced any issues with the brush and see few weaknesses.  The biggest weakness is likely the user, you or I actually making full use of what is on offer here.

Should the worst happen and the brush fail, then it is backed by a 2 year warranty.

Do be aware that the Sonicare DiamondClean Smart is water resistant so it can get wet and be wiped down with water but it is not waterproof so where possible avoid prolonged exposure to water to avoid doing damage.  Philips explicitly state in the user manual that it should not be used in the shower or bath.  Perhaps more caution than anything, but best not test it!

Conclusion

If there is such a thing as perfect, the DiamondClean Smart is the closest thing to it in the electric toothbrush world.

This is one of the best toothbrushes I have ever used.

A bit more grip on the handle would have been good as would a stand or holder for a smartphone.  Even better would have been a brush head storage unit, particularly with the most premium 9700 Series.  Omitting such does help keep the cost down, but it seems such an oversight when the price is already as high as it is.

Part of this price is innovation, but another part is for the superb quality and neat implementation of features that just work.

Battery life is right up there, the clean is excellent and travelers are covered with the quality travel case.

The different models do complicate the purchase decision, but also offers a quality option at different budgets.

The 9300 is the cheapest but the 9500 is worth the extra spend to get the USB charging case.

But if it's a bit too rich for your budget better value options exist.

Size guide

  • Toothbrush height with head - 25.5cm / 10 inches
  • Toothbrush height without head - 19cm / 7.5 inches
  • Width - 2.7cm / 1.1 inches
  • Depth/thickness - 3cm / 1.2 inches
  • Weight with head - 142g / 5oz
  • Weight without head - 137g/ 4.8oz
  • Travel case size - 23.2cm / 9.1 inches (L) x 7.2cm / 2.8 inches (W) x 5cm / 2 inches (D)
  • Travel case weight - 188g / 6.6oz without brush or 330g / 11.6oz with brush
  • Package weight - 1446g / 51oz

Noise

  • 71dB

Country of manufacture

  • China

FAQ

Are there different versions of the DiamondClean Smart?

There are 4 different models of the DiamondClean Smart.

You have:

  • 9300 Series DiamondClean Smart - $229.99
  • 9500 Series DiamondClean Smart - $269.99
  • 9700 Series DiamondClean Smart - $329.99
  • 9750 Series DiamondClean Smart  - $329.99

The models have a different number of cleaning modes:

  • 9300 Series - 4 cleaning modes - Clean, White+, Gum Health and Deep Clean+.
  • 9500 Series - 5 cleaning modes - Clean, White+, Gum Health, Deep Clean+ and Tongue Care.
  • 9700 Series - 5 cleaning modes - Clean, White+, Gum Health, Deep Clean+ and Tongue Care.
  • 9750 Series - 5 cleaning modes - Clean, White+, Gum Health, Deep Clean+ and Tongue Care.

The models come in different color options:

  • 9300 Series - 4 color options - white, black, pink and silver (some call it grey).
  • 9500 Series  - 5 color options - white, black, pink, rose gold and silver (some call it grey).
  • 9700 Series - 1 color option - lunar blue.
  • 9750 Series - 1 color option - rose gold.

With me still?

Finally, as a result of the different cleaning modes they have slightly different box contents.

Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9300 Series:

  • 1 x DiamondClean brush handle
  • 1 x C3 plaque control brush head
  • 1 x G3 premium care brush head
  • 1 x W3 premium white brush head
  • 1 x Glass charger
  • Premium travel case

As of late 2020, 3 new variants of the 9300 exist (HX9903/09, HX9903/19 & HX9903/49) these have a different box contents:

  • 1 x DiamondClean brush handle
  • 1 x C3 plaque control brush head
  • 1 x Glass charger
  • Premium travel case

Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9500 Series:

  • 1 x DiamondClean brush handle
  • 1 x C3 plaque control brush head
  • 1 x G3 premium care brush head
  • 1 x W3 premium white brush head
  • 1 x TongueCare+ brush head
  • 1 x Glass charger
  • USB charging travel case

Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9700 Series:

  • 1 x DiamondClean brush handle
  • 3 x C3 plaque control brush head
  • 2  x G3 premium care brush head
  • 2 x W3 premium white brush head
  • 1 x TongueCare+ brush head
  • 1 x Glass charger
  • USB charging travel case

Just to add slightly more confusion, Sonicare introduced is a newer variant of the 9700, the 9750.

Model number HX9954/56, it has all the same features of the 9700 and is Lunar Blue in color, but the box contents is different.  It comes with 4 brush heads (of each) instead of 8, but comes with a brush head storage unit that has not previously been offered with the 9700.

Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9750 Series:

  • 1 x DiamondClean brush handle
  • 1 x C3 plaque control brush head
  • 1  x G3 premium care brush head
  • 1 x W3 premium white brush head
  • 1 x TongueCare+ brush head
  • 1 x Glass charger
  • USB charging travel case
  • 1 x Brush head storage unit

So those are the different models and what sets them apart from each other.

I do hope that makes sense and answers the question ‘What is the difference between the Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9300, 9500 and 9700 Series?’.

Aside from these differences, the brushes share all the other same features and benefits.

In this review, I am taking a closer look at the Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9500.

How to change Sonicare DiamondClean Smart toothbrush cleaning mode?

The Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart is equipped with a second mode selector button.

First, make sure the toothbrush is turned off

Press the modes button to change modes

Find your preferred mode and put the toothbrush in your mouth

Turn on your Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart to start brushing in the selected mode

Your Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart will store your preferences for the next brushing session.

How to disable the Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart brush head reminders?

Place the handle in the charger

Press and hold the mode selector button

Press the power button three times whilst holding the mode selector button

Release all buttons

The reminder should now be disabled

What is brush head mode pairing?

A microchip in your brush head tells your DiamondClean Smart which one you're using. So if you click on a gum-care brush head, for example, your toothbrush knows to select the optimal mode and intensity for that brush head. All you need to do is to press the power button.

Do I always need to brush with the Philips Sonicare app?

The brush can store up to about 28 brushing sessions of data.

To avoid losing any data, download the Philips Sonicare app and sync your handle by connecting your toothbrush to the app. You will see that your data will be automatically uploaded to your progress report and the activity-tracking feature.

Can I activate or deactivate the pressure sensor?

Place the handle, with a brush head attached, in the plugged-in charger.

The pressure sensor is enabled by holding the mode/intensity button and by pressing the power button twice while on a charger. The handle will beep twice to confirm it is enabled.

The pressure sensor is disabled by holding the mode/intensity button and by pressing the power button twice while on a charger. The handle will beep once to confirm it is disabled.

How do I activate or deactivate the Easy-Start mode?

Place the handle in the plugged-in charger.

Easy-start is enabled by holding the mode/intensity button and by pressing the power button once while on the charger. The handle will beep twice to confirm it is enabled.

Easy-start is disabled by holding the mode/intensity button and by pressing the power button once while on the charger. The handle will beep once to confirm it is disabled.

Author: Jon Love

Related Topics

Leave a comment

J
Jon
December 3, 2022

Jon, Thanks for the complete and detailed review. I am confused as to the how/why there is now the A3 Premium brush. It automatically adjusts to 'clean'. Is the purpose to manually use it in one of the other modes so you don't need to change brushes? If this is the case, how can any one mode be optimized for (it's) bristles if you use other modes as well? Is this a gimmick to cut the cost from using specific brushes? Thanks for your help.

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
December 5, 2022

Hi Jon. I can only go on the information I have available to me and don't necessarily know if the official line from Philips Sonicare would be the same, but.... The A3 head exists to be a suitable all-in-one alternative for those people who would otherwise use multiple brush head styles. So rather than using the C2 Optimal Plaque Control (for general cleaning) and then the W Optimal White (for tooth whitening), the A3 does the job of both. Or at least aim to be the best of both. Thus saving effort on you as the user having to switch. Because it is BrushSync enabled it will default to a specific mode, in this instance clean as that is the most common mode people will use and where you will get optimal results. It is too the standard more on all brush handles. There is nothing stopping you from using it on any other brushing mode available on the brush handle. I can't say it is a gimmick as such, but from our experience, all the different styles of brush heads and cleaning modes are often overrated. They can potentially have benefits, but they tend to be limited. For most people just sticking with a particular brush head and cleaning mode and then perfecting their brushing time and technique is going to achieve the biggest gains. I hope this helps.

J
Jon
December 5, 2022

Yes, thank you. Reinforces my thoughts.

B
Barbara
June 11, 2022

What is your opinion of the Phillips 5100? I just bought it since it was recommended for gums but it's really noisy. What would be more quiet and good for gums? I already threw the box away.

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
June 13, 2022

Hi Barbara. We like the 5100. It does a good job of cleaning the teeth. I am sorry to report that the 5100 is actually quieter than some of the competition. Oral-B brushes are louder. Most comparable sonic toothbrushes are about the same in terms of how loud they are. There are one or two brushes that are slightly quieter, but there isn't necessarily a significant difference between them. Our guide to the quietest electric toothbrush gives a bit more info.

R
Robert
July 15, 2020

Hi Jon, I just purchased 9750 for my wife and myself, however, I am wondering if we can fit the sonicare for kids head brush on it. If we can, will that come at the expense of the kids app as well as additional feature in the original (kids) toothbrush (Gentle/Extra Gentle shorter start). Otherwise, thanks for your great work, it helped me choose the proper product. Robert

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
July 15, 2020

Hi Robert. You can fit the Sonicare for kids brush heads to the DiamondClean Smart (9750) handle. You can't properly use the DiamondClean Smart with the kids app. It is configured to work best with the kids toothbrush. You can use the kids app with a manual timer without the Bluetooth connection but this perhaps defeats the point somewhat. There may be a workaround, but if you and your wife are intending to benefit from the Bluetooth of the brush too, this opens up a whole host of issues. I would suggest that you consider the kids brush, if your child is quite young as that brush is easier to grip for them in most cases than the DiamondClean. Happy to provide more assistance if required.

B
Brian
December 5, 2019

thank you so much for explaining everything in detail, I just got a 9700 and was really curious what the purple light coming on was, but I figured it out on my own, then read that the reason coming on was I was pressing to hard, anyways, thanks so much for you learning, have a great day today my friend, Brian.....

TW
Tony Wilkins
April 25, 2019

Really appreciate the review. Just bought a 9700 and it is nice. However, the tracking doesn’t seem to work. It never shows cleaning the inside of my teeth (tongue side) and misses other areas randomly. Does it “learn” as you use it or are there certain tips to increase accuracy?

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
April 26, 2019

Hi Tony. Whilst the app/software will learn your brushing habits, it should out of the box be pretty accurate at picking up the location of the brush in the mouth, based on the way you would typically hold and position it. The first thing to do is to go to the app store and check it up to date. There might be a software update available that may improve this. From within the app, under the My Products menu, you can also check that your brush is up to date, by selecting the handle update option. You may want to run a test where you try brushing just the insides of your teeth (tongue side). Maybe play around with the angle and position of the brush and see what the app picks up. If that doesn't fix it, I suggest giving Sonicare a call.

TW
Tony Wilkins
April 26, 2019

Thanks for your response. It turned out I was doing the bottom teeth when it was wanting the top. When I changed that it worked remarkably well.

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
April 27, 2019

Ahh wonderful. Glad to read you sorted it.

KK
Kunal Khajuria
February 13, 2019

Thanks a ton Jon. These amazing review has made my life easier by helping me make an informed decision. Your reviews are elaborate, comprehensive and easy to read. Keep up the fantastic work.

L
L
December 24, 2020

Their warranty is a bad joke. We've been waiting months for a replacement that likely will never come.

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