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 recommendations are based on years of hands-on testing and a deep understanding of the Oral-B range.
Our overall Oral-B recommendation
We rate the Oral-B Pro 3 3500 as the best Oral-B electric toothbrush, all things considered.
This is also our choice for the best electric toothbrush of all toothbrushes available today, irrespective of brand.
The Pro 3 3500 offers the features we regard as essential (a pressure sensor and a timer) at an affordable price.
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 your 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 learned that most people would rather save a bit of money than have lots of features they may not use, making the Pro 3 3500 a perfect fit.
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.
You will see that the more feature-rich, and typically more expensive models are shown on the right, compared to the cheaper models on the left.
If you need more detail on any of the brushes, read on or leave a comment.
Cleaning Action |
Number of cleaning modes |
Clean |
Sensitive |
Gum |
White |
Deep Clean |
Tongue |
Other modes |
Timer |
Pacer |
Pressure Sensor |
Pressure Sensor Additional information |
Display |
Display Additional information |
Battery life |
Travel case included |
Charging travel case |
Bluetooth connectivity |
Position tracking |
Find out more |
The Oral-B range explained
The Oral-B range is essentially split into 2 main categories.
There is the 'iO Series' which sits alongside the Vitality, Pro, Smart and Genius brush handles, which fall under the 'all other brushes' category.
Multiple iO models exist, offering different features at varying price points.
Compare this to the 'all other brushes' category which has further sub categories each with a number of different models that together offer the same variety of options. There are just more choices.
Below we detail the names of each series and the key ways in which each differs.
iO Series
Our Oral-B iO Series comparison article explains at length the key differences between all the models. However, we have summarised the key differences below.
All iO Series have a built-in 2 minute timer, 30 second pacer and a pressure sensor.
All models offer and oscillating and rotating cleaning action with the added cleaning dimension of microvibrations. This is equivalent to the 3D cleaning action found on most models within the 'all other brushes' category.
iO2 (£)
- Cost effective option.
- The essential features you require and no more.
- 3 cleaning modes.
- Basic pressure sensor.
- No cleaning mode icons/labels.
iO3 (£)
- A great budget choice.
- The essential features you require and no more.
- 3 cleaning modes.
- Smart (visual) pressure sensor.
- No cleaning mode icons/labels.
- Brush head replacement reminder.
- Variant with additional accessories such as travel cases.
iO4 (£)
- Good value choice.
- The essential features, plus a little more.
- 4 cleaning modes.
- Smart (visual) pressure sensor.
- No cleaning mode icons/labels.
- Brush head replacement reminder.
- Bluetooth connectivity.
- Variant with additional accessories such as travel cases.
iO5 (££)
- Good value choice.
- The essential features, plus quite a bit more.
- 5 cleaning modes.
- Smart (visual) pressure sensor.
- Cleaning mode icons.
- Brush head replacement reminder.
- Bluetooth connectivity and 6 zone real-time tracking
- Travel cases likely included.
iO6 (££)
- Fantastic value and performance - our top pick.
- The essential features, plus quite a bit more.
- 5 cleaning modes.
- Smart (visual) pressure sensor.
- Black and white display with cleaning mode icons and labels.
- Brush head replacement reminder.
- Bluetooth connectivity and 6 zone real-time tracking.
- Travel cases likely included.
iO7 (££)
- More features than you need with a higher price tag.
- The essential features, plus quite a bit more.
- 5 cleaning modes.
- Smart (visual) pressure sensor.
- Black and white display with cleaning mode icons and labels.
- Brush head replacement reminder.
- Bluetooth connectivity and 6 zone real-time tracking.
- Magnetic charging stand capable of recharging in ~3 hours.
- Travel cases likely included.
iO8 (££)
- More features than you need with a higher price tag.
- The essential features, plus quite a bit more.
- 6 cleaning modes.
- Smart (visual) pressure sensor.
- Color display with cleaning mode icons and labels.
- Brush head replacement reminder.
- Bluetooth connectivity and 6 zone real-time tracking.
- Magnetic charging stand capable of recharging in ~3 hours.
- Travel cases likely included.
iO9 (£££)
- Top of the line and most capable handle with a price tag to match.
- The essential feature plus more brushing modes, Bluetooth connectivity with real-time tracking and the premium extras the company offers.
- 7 cleaning modes.
- Smart (visual) pressure sensor.
- Color display with cleaning mode icons and labels.
- Brush head replacement reminder.
- Bluetooth connectivity and 16 zone real-time tracking.
- Magnetic charging stand capable of recharging in ~3 hours.
- Charging travel case and additional brush heads likely included.
iO10 (£££)
- Top of the line and most capable handle with a price tag to match.
- The essential feature plus more brushing modes, Bluetooth connectivity with real-time tracking and the premium extras the company offers.
- 7 cleaning modes.
- Smart (visual) pressure sensor.
- Color display with cleaning mode icons and labels.
- Brush head replacement reminder.
- Bluetooth connectivity and 16 zone real-time tracking.
- iO Sense magnetic charging stand capable of recharging in ~3 hours and providing visual brushing feedback.
- Charging travel case and additional brush heads likely included.
All other brushes
Vitality Series (£)
- A great budget choice.
- Lacks some desirable essential features.
- Up to 3 cleaning modes.
- 2D cleaning action - oscillates and rotates.
- Built-in 2 minute timer and 30 second pacer (subject to model).
- No battery status LED.
Pro Series (£)
- Great value and performance - our top pick.
- The essential features you require and no more.
- Up to 3 cleaning modes.
- 3D cleaning action - oscillates, rotates and pulsates.
- Built-in 2 minute timer and 30 second pacer.
- Basic pressure sensor/visible pressure sensor (subject to model).
- No cleaning mode labels/icons on the handle.
Smart Series (££)
- Enhanced functionality and performance for a reasonable price.
- The essential features, plus a little more.
- Premium handles with more features and accessories
- Up to 5 cleaning modes.
- 3D cleaning action - oscillates, rotates and pulsates.
- Built-in 2 minute timer and 30 second pacer.
- Visible pressure sensor.
- No cleaning mode labels/icons on the handle.
- Bluetooth connectivity.
- Additional accessories such as brush heads and charging travel cases are included (subject to variant).
Genius Series (£££)
- More features than you need with a higher price tag.
- The essential features, plus more brushing modes and Bluetooth connectivity.
- Up to 6 cleaning modes.
- 3D cleaning action - oscillates, rotates and pulsates.
- Built-in 2 minute timer and 30 second pacer.
- Visible pressure sensor.
- Cleaning mode labels/icons on the handle (with the exception of Daily Clean mode).
- Bluetooth connectivity.
- Real-time tracking and feedback on brushing habits, with the ability to log brushing sessions to the smartphone app and track performance over time. (Select models)
- Additional accessories such as brush heads, charging travel cases and brush head stands are included (subject to variant).
Detailed brush vs brush comparisons
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.
We test them side by side and then give our verdict on which one is best. Many of them also contain comparison videos:
- Oral-B iO Series comparison
- Oral-B Pro 3 3000 vs Smart 4 4000
- Oral-B iO vs Genius X
- Oral-B Vitality Pro vs Pro 3
- Oral-B iO3 vs Pro 3
- Oral-B Pro 2 2000 vs Pro 3 3000
- Oral-B Smart 4 4000 vs Smart 5 5000
- Oral-B Smart 5 5000 vs Smart 6 6000 vs Genius 9000
- Oral-B Pro 2 2000 vs Smart 4 4000
- Oral-B iO vs Genius 9000
- Oral-B Pro 1000 vs Pro 2 2000
- Oral-B Pro 2 2500 vs Pro 3 3500
- Oral-B Pro 2 2500 vs Pro 3 3000
- Oral-B Pro 2 2000 vs Pro 2 2500 vs Pro 2 2900
- Oral-B Vitality Comparison – Vitality vs Vitality Plus vs Vitality Pro
The best Oral-B brushes by category
These are the three Oral-B brushes that we recommend the most. Continue reading to find out why we recommend each one.
Best overall: Oral-B Pro 3 3500 / Amazon, Oral-B / ~£44.99
Best budget: Oral-B Vitality / Amazon, eBay / ~£23.29
Best top of the range: Oral-B iO9 / Amazon, Oral-B / ~£249.99
Best overall
Oral-B Pro 3 3500
The Pro 3 3500 contains all of the essential features our in-house dentists recommend.
The small round brush head is easy to move around the mouth and get into the tightest of spaces.
In our testing we've consistently found that the oscillating, rotating and pulsating head does a great job of cleaning the teeth. It sounds cliche, but you do really get that dentist clean feeling.
More on why we rate it as the best....
Power the brush on and you have the choice of 3 cleaning modes. Daily Clean is your everyday option whilst sensitive suits those who want a more gentle brushing experience. You have the option of whitening mode too.
All the modes last for 2 minutes, during which time the 30 second pacer is active to encourage you to brush all the teeth in the mouth evenly.
There are no rubber grips like some other Oral-B models. It might not feel quite as secure in hand for some, but the benefit is that it is easy to wipe clean.
In use, it is a little noisier (78dB) than models from competing brands. The built-in rechargeable battery lasts a little over 2 weeks on a full charge.
You also get a travel case included which isn’t all that common for brushes at this price.
There is little not to like about the Pro 3 3500. It has the essential features you need, whilst being affordable.
Read our Oral-B Pro 3 3500 Review.
The Pro 3 3000 is an equally good choice. The 3500 is a variant of the Pro 3 Technically they are the same. The 3500 comes with the travel case included. They are usually about the same price making the 3500 a better buy.
What we like |
What we dislike |
---|---|
Timer and pacer encourage brushing for the recommended time |
No icons on the handle to show which cleaning mode is selected |
Visible pressure sensor – alerts you when brushing too hard |
Defaults to the daily clean mode |
2 weeks use on a single charge |
|
Travel case included |
|
Good value for money |
Best budget
Oral-B Vitality
The Vitality brings many of the benefits of an electric toothbrush at an affordable price.
It is a really good option for a first electric toothbrush.
Unfortunately, it does lack a pressure sensor. This means that there are no alerts when you brush too hard.
This is somewhat made up for by how incredibly grippy the handle is. It is suitable for children, adults and seniors.
More on why we chose it
The single cleaning mode is more than satisfactory and when used correctly provides a good clean of the teeth.
Oral-B's small round brush head performs well and is easily moved between the tooth surfaces.
Using a 2D cleaning action, it isn't as intense a clean as premium models that offer a 3D action, but is more than good enough.
Built-in is a rechargeable battery which offers 8+ days of use on a full charge. Unfortunately, you get no feedback from it when the power is low. There is no LED notification light.
Read our Oral-B Vitality 100 Review.
What we like |
What we dislike |
---|---|
Easy to use single cleaning mode |
No pressure sensor |
The grip on the handle helps to securely hold the brush |
No battery status feedback |
Timer and pacer encourage brushing for the recommended time |
Battery life |
2D cleaning action |
Best top of the range
Oral-B iO (Series 9)
The Oral-B iO Series 9 is one of Oral-B's top of the line brushes. There is a model that sits above it in the range, the iO Series 10, but we advise opting for the iO9 instead.
The main difference between the iO9 and the iO10 is the charging stand, but the 10 tends to be priced so much higher than the 9 that it's not worth the extra money.
The iO9 cleans the teeth really well and includes various high tech features to assist you in brushing your teeth better.
More on why we chose it...
The essential features — 2 minute timer, 30 second pacer and visible pressure sensor — are included. In fact, the iO's pressure sensor lights up green to show when the correct pressure is being applied, in addition to red, when the brushing force is too great.
The iO has a new magnetically driven motor. This makes the brushing experience thorough but slightly more gentle, and quieter, than other Oral-B models.
The 7 different cleaning modes can be changed via the power and function buttons on the handle.
The selected mode is shown on the colour LED display built into the handle. One of the only brushes to offer this, it also gives visual feedback via emoji style faces on how well you have brushed.
Like many other smart brushes, it has real-time tracking, but the iO9 has the most comprehensive monitoring of the iO series. It tracks 16 zones with clear visual feedback via the smartphone app. You can take corrective action immediately to achieve maximum coverage with each brushing session.
It is supplied with a magnetic charging stand and the lithium battery can be replenished in just 3 hours. 2 weeks use is possible from a full charge.
Also included is a hard protective travel case that doubles up as a charger.
Read our Oral-B iO9 Review.
What we like |
What we dislike |
---|---|
Premium looking handle with built-in display |
Expensive – better value options exist, like our best overall choice |
The small round brush head cleans the teeth really well |
iO specific heads required which are more expensive |
Visible pressure sensor – alerts you when you are brushing with the correct & incorrect force |
Travel case comes with a separate power adapter rather than a built-in USB cable & accepts only 1 brush head |
Rapid recharging with the magnetic charging stand |
Bluetooth connectivity isn’t essential and adds to cost |
Bluetooth & AI technology works well |
|
Quieter than other Oral-B brushes |
A comparison of our 3 recommendations
The table below compares the features and cost of our 3 recommendations above.
Retail price |
Typical selling price |
Brush head cost |
Approximate 3 year cost |
Pressure Sensor |
Timer |
Pacer |
Number of cleaning modes |
Bluetooth connectivity |
Find out more |
Buying options |
How Oral-B's smart toothbrushes differ
The features of a Bluetooth-enabled Oral-B toothbrush differ between ranges and models.
Whilst it is a little bit more nuanced than this, fundamentally you have 2 choices:
- Oral-B smart toothbrush without real-time position tracking
- Oral-B smart toothbrush with real-time position tracking
The key difference here is that the brush either does or does not track and record the areas of the mouth you have and have not brushed during the cleaning cycle.
Those without real-time tracking will record a brushing session, including when and for how long you used the toothbrush.
During a brushing session, it will show a timer on the screen along with other data like what brushing mode you are using and it will alert you if you brush too hard.
Those with real-time tracking are doing the same, but with the additional data, which includes detailed visuals for review at a later time.
The way this works has evolved over the years. It first relied on your smartphone camera. The latest models rely on sensors in the brush handle.
During a brushing session, the app is highlighting which areas to brush and changing the visuals to denote those teeth you have brushed, in addition to the brushing time and pressure applied.
It is a more subtle difference, but those with real-time tracking can differ further. The vast majority track 6 zones of the mouth, whereas the top of the range models track 16.
Whilst we like many of the features and functionality that smart toothbrushes offer, we don't believe they are essential. And, for most people, smart toothbrushes are best avoided. Doing so saves you money and reduces the environmental impact of your dental health.
If you wish to learn more about how each smart toothbrush works with the Oral-B app, it is best to refer to hands-on reviews we have available for each brush.
The following table summarises the key differences between smart models.
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 pound (£) spent certainly reduces.
For the majority of people, myself included the Oral-B Pro 3 3500 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.
Watching some comparison videos, I seemed that IO pruduces more plentiful, thicker and creamy foam than classic technology (pro, smart and genius). Is my impression right?
Hi Jon. Your article was amazing, but I still have a dilemma, or maybe a trilemma. I'm looking to buy my girlfriend an electric toothbrush, and currently, Oral-B ones are on sale: Vitality Pro for 28€ (includes a travel case but no extra brush head), Pro Series 1 for 38.5€ (includes a travel case but no extra brush head), and Vitality Pro Duo for 45€ (includes an extra handle, which I'd use, but I'm not the priority here). Which one would you recommend? Thanks.
I would pick the Pro 1. It has a battery notification LED to let you know when the battery is low/charging that that Vitality Pro does not have. I think this is quite a big factor in daily usability. It also cleans a little bit better too in my opinion.
Great! Thanks Jon!
Hi Jon.
Two questions.
1) can I put a child's toothbrush head on my toothbrush for their teeth or is it too powerful? Their battery has died wondering whether I should replace the whole thing?
2) do you remember going Ski Bobbing for my birthday?
Pete
Hi Pete.
1) Yes provided you are not using an iO Series brush handle. It will depend on their age too. 6+ should be fine. If your brush has a slower or more gentle mode like sensitive then that can be helpful at least initially as they desensitise to the added power your brush will likely bring.
2) Absolutely! I'd be there in a shot if any friend of mine were having such a party. 6 or 66 it's got to be good fun.
hi thanks a lot for the details I like all this information
I would like to know if Oral-B iO Series 9 Electric can be used in porcelain veneers? thanks a lot
Yes, the iO Series 9 can be used to clean porcelain veneers. All electric toothbrushes can.
I was thinking comparing to my manual brushing and the oscillations/vibrations these have they could eventually damage/wear/abrase my porcelain veneers
thanks a lot, not even Oral-B documents this
thanks a lot
Why can't you show the model number?
Hi Neil.
By model numbers you mean the model numbers for the handles, such as D29, D36, D700, D701, D20 etc rather than Pro 2 2000, Genius X, etc?
If so, this is because generally products are marketed by the broader product name, i.E Oral-B Pro 2 2000 rather than D20 for example.
Hi, great site but oscillation level and pulse rate not easily found for comparison. Would be useful to add to the chart, would have thought this most important factor! Thanks
Hi Simon.
Thanks for the feedback Simon.
Whilst it does differ from one brush to another, to some extent I and the team here disagree about the importance.
Technique, brushing time and other routine habits have a greater impact than the number of oscillations and pulsations. Add to this the newer iO Series are not measured using this metric, so many of the newer brushes can't be compared.
That said, we do cover this, in our article comparing Oral-B cleaning modes here.
Hi, thanks for taking the time to reply.
No, I mean the "type number" (e.g. 3766, 3756) on the bottom of the toothbrush, or any other unique number for each model. As a consumer, it's almost impossible to tell which of the many variations of toothbrush is which by marketing name alone.
https://pgconsumersupport.secure.force.com/CarehubStandalone/articles/en_US/FAQ/How-do-I-know-which-Oral-B-electric-toothbrush-I-have#brandListDiv
OK Neil, thanks I understand.
To be honest, from my experience it is just as problematic to use the handle type number as it is the handle model number.
For example, the type '3766' also known as model number 'D501' is used for the Oral-B GumCare 2, Pro 2, 2000, 2500, 2900, 2950, Pro 1000, Pro 1500, Pro 2000, Pro 3000, Pro 4000, Smart 1500, Smart 2500 brushes.
The type and model number has a role to play. But, these can still be configured differently, for example, the number of cleaning modes on offer. So is it any clearer for people? 🤔
Unfortunately, I think Oral-B and other manufacturers make it a little more complicated than it needs to be with all the different names/numbers and options.
We welcome all feedback here, so I would love to hear why you would feel these would be more beneficial. Our aim is to help and makes things simpler where possible.
Ouch. If there was a simple way to uniquely identify each model that would be ideal. I wonder what they use internally? It can't be a hundred effectively random names that all sound vaguely the same :)
Hello.
The chart is very useful.
I think it would help if you included the information about the number of oscillations and pulsations of each model.
Also the type of battery (lithium etc.)
Thank you.
Thanks for the feedback Renata. We will definitely consider this for future updates.
The vast majority of models now come with Lithium batteries, but there are exceptions.
Others have asked about us showing the numbers of oscillation and pulsations on this chart previously. To be honest this is something we are unsure on. The reality is the number of movements, for the most part, have a limited impact on the cleaning results. Thus we don't want to imply that more equals better, but we do acknowledge that people do want to know this information.
We will certainly bear your comments in mind as we continually review our approach.
I have the Oral B Pro 5000. I've had it a few years and desired a little more power now. Will I see any significant difference if I upgrade to Genius X ? I'm solely interested in power pulsation and oscillations and have no interest in the smart features. I'm struggling to find any chart which compares oscillation speeds between the models. I'm dislike iO having separate expensive heads. Would you have any information that can help me?
Hi James.
I don't have the figures of the number of oscillations and pulsations on the older Pro 5000 available to give confirmation of the power difference. And add to this, there have been various iterations of the 5000 over the years, so it would be important to find out the exact one to say 100%.
I am confident that the Genius X motor is more powerful. I think the Pro 5000 you might have has something in the region of 8,800 oscillations and either 20,000 or 40,000 pulsations.
The Genius X has up to 10,500 oscillations and 48,000 pulsations.
Power isn't normally promoted or documented as it is a small part of the toothbrushing experience. More power doesn't necessarily equal a better clean. Your total brushing time and technique have a big part to play.
So, yes there will likely be a noticeable are not going to make a significant difference to the overall cleaning results if you are already brushing twice a day for 2 minutes with the correct technique.
If your existing brush is working, I would generally say stick with that until such time as it actually needs replacing.
I would like to see a comparison of noise levels. Oral-B pro 2 2500 is unpleasantly loud. What about the others? At least my (very) old Vitality is much quieter.
Thanks for the comment. This is something we are adding to more content we produce. We have not checked the sound level of every Oral-B model. Most are within a few decibels of each other. The Oral-B iO is the quietest Oral-B model at the moment that we have measured the sound on.
Our article about the quietest electric toothbrush might be of interest to you.
What is the differences between Oral B Pro 2 2900 and Oral-B PRO 2 2950N ?
And are either of them is better than Braun Pro760 ?
Hi Niks.
From what I can tell, the Oral-B Pro 2 2900 and Pro 2 2950N are the same thing. The difference appears to be that the 2900 is marketed and sold in the UK primarily, whilst the 2950N is sold within central Europe in countries like France, the Netherlands etc.
If you have a Oral-B Pro 760 already that is working fine, it is not necessarily worth the upgrade.
Technically, the handles in the 2950 package are newer. The key differences are:
- Pro 2 2950 brush handles have a visible pressure sensor built-in the Pro 760 does not
- Pro 2 2950 brush handles have a lithium-ion battery that offers 2 weeks of use on a full charge compared to approx 7 days of the Pro 760
- Pro 2 2950 has 2 brush handles in the box compared to the 1 of the Pro 760
- Pro 2 2950 is slightly more powerful, with more movements per minute in the brush head
- Pro 760 comes with a travel case that the Pro 2 2950 does not
- Pro 760 is cheaper
I hope that helps. Any more questions, just let me know.
thank John for this detailed information. I really appreciate your expertise and would like to title you as ''JohnTeePedia''.
Have a nice day !!