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Oral-B iO6 Review

Oral-B iO6 Review 1

Our Verdict

5 Star Rating

If you want a toothbrush that cleans the teeth well, is stylish and a bit more capable than most, but you don’t want to spend a fortune, the iO Series 6 has you covered. 

It is the best value model within the current iO range. It strikes the balance between features and price.

For those wanting the most capable, the iO9 will suit you better.

Pros

  • A premium looking handle with a built-in display
  • The small round brush head cleans the teeth really well
  • Timer and pacer encourage brushing for the recommended time
  • Visible pressure sensor – alerts you when you are brushing with the correct & incorrect force
  • Quieter than other Oral-B brushes
  • Bluetooth and AI can be valuable to the most committed users

Cons

  • iO specific heads required which are more expensive
  • Bluetooth connectivity isn’t essential and adds to the cost

Where to buy the Oral-B iO6

Here are some of the current prices and retailers stocking the iO6 Series from Oral-B.

It’s always worth checking eBay too.

Consider these other brushes

The iO6 is a great all round toothbrush, packing a real punch. But it is more than the average user needs.

We recommend considering the brushes from our best electric toothbrush post, particularly the ‘best overall’ choice:

Our Choice
Oral-B Pro 3 - 3500 - Black Electric Toothbrush, 1 Handle with Visible Pressure Sensor, 1 Toothbrush Head, 1 Travel Case, Designed By Braun, 2 Pin UK Plug
Oral-B iO6 Electric Toothbrush with Revolutionary iO Technology, 1 Toothbrush Head & Travel Case, 5 Modes with Teeth Whitening, UK 2 Pin Plug, Grey Opal
Brush Name
Oral-B Pro 3 3500
Oral-B iO6
Electric Teeth Rating
5/5
5/5
Approx. Price
£39.99
£299.99
Boots
Oral-B iO6 Review 2
Oral-B iO6 Review 2
Ebay
Oral-B iO6 Review 4
Oral-B iO6 Review 4
Our Choice
Oral-B Pro 3 - 3500 - Black Electric Toothbrush, 1 Handle with Visible Pressure Sensor, 1 Toothbrush Head, 1 Travel Case, Designed By Braun, 2 Pin UK Plug
Brush Name
Oral-B Pro 3 3500
Electric Teeth Rating
5/5
Approx. Price
£39.99
Boots
Oral-B iO6 Review 2
Ebay
Oral-B iO6 Review 4
Oral-B iO6 Electric Toothbrush with Revolutionary iO Technology, 1 Toothbrush Head & Travel Case, 5 Modes with Teeth Whitening, UK 2 Pin Plug, Grey Opal
Brush Name
Oral-B iO6
Electric Teeth Rating
5/5
Approx. Price
£299.99
Boots
Oral-B iO6 Review 2
Ebay
Oral-B iO6 Review 4

How does the iO6 compare to other brushes?

The Series 6 is a very likeable toothbrush.

It is without doubt a more capable and feature rich toothbrush than the average user needs. This goes for the whole iO family of brushes.

But, if you want something with more capability, then this is a really good option, because it strikes the balance between features and price.

The iO7 sits above the 6 in the range and only really benefits from a premium magnetic charger. It does charge the brush in a quarter of the time, but for most, myself included, this isn’t a deal breaker.

The iO5 is a little more cost effective as it doesn’t have the in handle display. But, it doesn’t remember the last cleaning mode used and I don’t think the icons on the handle are as intuitive as the icons you get on the display with the iO6.

The iO4 is cheaper still, but the lack of icons for the different cleaning modes on the handle is frustrating and it doesn’t offer the real-time tracking like all the other iO models. 

If you want the best tracking facilities, you need the iO Series 9 or 10. This is because they track 16 zones rather than the 6 of the iO6, therefore giving more personalised feedback.

Importantly, all the iO brushes clean the teeth as well as each other. 

An older model like the Genius X offers the same tracking capabilities as the iO6. The handle isn’t quite as slick in its design. The rubber grips do have a tendency to catch toothpaste residue making it harder to clean. And the brush is a bit noisier. But, the brush heads are half the cost.

If you are not bothered about real-time tracking and would rather save a few pounds, I do strongly encourage you to consider models like the Pro 3 series. This packs a real punch for the price and despite being about half that of the iO6, the cleaning results are not inferior.

We go into more detail about Oral-B’s range in our post on the best oral-b electric toothbrush.

Video Review

Oral-B iO Series 6 (iO6) Review

Oral-B iO6 in-depth review

The first of the iO Series brush handles launched in 2020. It wasn’t until about 1 year later that the Series 6 was added to the range.

The stand out difference from the 7, 8 and 9 is the supplied charging stand.

It uses a standard Oral-B brush charger, rather than the premium magnetic charger other models have.

This is one of the ways Oral-B has reduced the price compared to the other iO models.

See my full Oral-B iO6 review below to find out about the other similarities and differences.

Variants of this toothbrush

The iO Series 6 brush handle is available in 4 different colour options. Your choices are:

  • White Alabaster
  • Black Onyx
  • Pink
  • Anthracite Grey

Technically each brush handle is the same, the difference is the colour of the brush handle itself.

All should come with a travel case that holds the handle and up to 2 brush heads.

Where a black handle often comes with a black travel case, in most instances with the iO6, the travel case is actually white in colour.

The supplied Ultimate Clean brush head with the black iO6, is colour matched.

In addition to the single handled units, there are a couple of dual handle or ‘duo’ options.

With these you get 2 x iO6 brush handles in the box, 2 brush heads and 1 charging stand. You don’t get a travel case with the duo options.

The options are:

  • Black and pink
  • White and pink

What’s in the box?

  • 1 x Anthracite grey iO Series 6 toothbrush handle 
  • 1 x White Ultimate Clean brush head
  • 1 x White charging stand
  • 1 x White travel case
  • Documentation
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Key Features

  • 5 cleaning modes
  • In handle display
  • Built-in timer and pacer
  • Smart pressure sensor
  • Quiet brushless motor
  • Bluetooth connectivity
  • Real-time position detection

How the iO6 looks, feels and works

The retail packaging doesn’t affect your use of the iO6, but I do feel it is worth a mention.

Compared to some of the Oral-B unboxing experiences I have had, this is much better.

The cardboard box, complete with a cardboard inner has a very typical Oral-B design to it. It is fairly consistent with other models. However, there has been a real improvement in the amount of information printed on it.

In the past, it would state 5 cleaning modes, but never say what they were. Now, these are clearly identified. Other features are highlighted and explained too.

Somewhat disappointing is the fact that the travel case is wrapped with a plastic sleeve. 

Oral-B iO6 Review 11

A display built into the stylish brush handle

Following on from the iO7, 8 and 9, the Series 6 retains the same premium design.

It is in truth almost impossible to tell them apart unless you really understand the differences.

I think it looks and feels great.

There is a rounded shape to the handle with no harsh edges.

It is just a couple of centimetres thick and wide.

It is the same shape, size and weight (for the most part) as the other iO handles. 

Unlike the iO Series 4 and 5, the iO6 has a display built into the brush handle.

You get a black and white display, like the Series 7, not a colour one like the 8 and 9. But I don’t think the lack of colour really hampers the user experience that much.

Arguably overkill, I do think it is a great addition and adds to the premium characteristics of the brush.

What I particularly like about it is that it gives more meaningful information. You don’t just get a cleaning mode icon, you get a label for the name of that cleaning mode. It just makes everyday interactions that bit better.

Oral-B iO6 Review 12

As an added bonus there are small customisations that can be made via the display, that would usually be reserved for the app, if there was no screen.

Above and below the display are buttons. The top is the power button and the lower is the mode button that allows you to cycle through options on the screen.

Unlike cheaper Oral-B brushes and even premium models from years gone by, there is a distinct lack of textured surfaces on the iO’s handle.

Instead, the handle has a smooth, but resistive coating to the plastic. That might sound odd, but basically, it isn’t as slippery to the touch as you expect.

The benefit of less grip is that the handle is easier to keep clean. It can easily be rinsed and wiped. You don’t get a buildup of toothpaste residue and grime within the textured surfaces of the rubber, as is the case with other models.

The iO6 feels good quality and is durable

Although of plastic construction rather than metal, like the SURI toothbrush for example, the iO6 does still feel solid and durable in hand.

Having been making toothbrushes for many years, Oral-B knows what works.

Aside from the aforementioned screen and buttons, on the front of the handle you will also find a printed Bluetooth icon along with the Oral-B iO logos.

The back and sides of the handle are free from any notable ports or controls.

There is no raised plastic nodule on the back of the handle to stop it from rolling about. But when laid flat it tends only to wobble a bit, rather than roll, due to the weight and shape of the handle.

A notable difference compared to the Series 7, 8 and 9 is the base of the brush handle.

Whilst the iO6 will stand upright on a countertop without issue, there is a recess in the base of the handle for the prong on the charging stand.

This is the same on most electric brushes from Oral-B, including the 4 and 5 models in the iO range.

Oral-B iO6 Review 13

It’s water resistant, but not submergible

Most toothbrushes, including the Series 6 are designed to withstand the rigours of twice daily use.

Water, wet hands, toothpaste and saliva are all in store for your handle. 

Whilst I don’t suggest trying to submerge the iO6 unnecessarily, the handle is water resistant so a good rinse under the tap and even use in the shower are perfectly acceptable things to do.

And because the display in the handle of the brush isn’t touchscreen you don’t get any issues with interaction.

I have previously used brushes like the Oclean X which do have a touchscreen and can be very fiddly to use, particularly with moisture on the fingertips. The swipes and gestures are not always picked up. No such problem here.

It has a few more cleaning modes than you need

The iO6 has no fewer than 5 different cleaning or brushing modes available.

I believe that this is 3 or 4 more than you actually need, but you do have the choice.

Interestingly, the 5 modes on offer here are different to the 5 modes available on the iO5.

If you want to see how they differ you can refer to our Oral-B iO Series comparison.

The modes you get are:

  • Daily Clean
  • Gum Care
  • Sensitive
  • Whitening
  • Intense

To change between each, you press the lower of the 2 buttons on the front of the brush handle.

You can continue to cycle through the modes until you get to the one that you want. You then press the power button to confirm your selection.

The brush will remain set to the chosen cleaning mode during your brushing session and it will default to that the next time you turn the brush on.

This is a great feature. It really annoys me if you have to complete multiple button presses every time to get the cleaning mode you want, because the brush doesn’t remember, the iO5 does this.

I appreciate that this is a bit of a first world issue and an unlikely deal breaker.

For those who use the app, you can actually control the order of the cleaning modes and even disable those you don’t want.

Whilst choice is nice, Daily Clean is the best mode to use for most people, and the Sensitive mode can be beneficial if you want a less intense cleaning action. But, modes like whitening and intense don’t provide any significant benefit to you.

If you want to learn more about the different brushing modes on Oral-B handles, do check out our guide to Oral-B cleaning modes.

The timer and pacer help you to brush for the right amount of time

An essential feature of any good toothbrush is a 2 minute timer and pacer. It is something our in-house dentists recommend.

You will be pleased to know that these are built into the iO6 as standard.

As the brush is turned on the pacer and timer are activated.

At 30 second intervals the pacer kicks in. You will note a pause in the bristle motion, a change in sound and brushing sensation and a vibration in the handle. This is your cue to move from one section of the mouth to another.

This then repeats every 30 seconds, until the brush gets to 120 seconds (2 minutes).

The idea is that you break the mouth up into 4 sections: 

  • upper right
  • upper left
  • lower right 
  • lower left
Oral-B iO6 Review 14

You spend 30 seconds cleaning each section. As you do, you try to give equal attention to the front, back and biting surfaces of the teeth. 

If you do, come the 120 seconds of brushing time, you should have achieved an even clean to the teeth and gums.

You will need to press the power button to turn the toothbrush off, as it does not power off automatically as some other brushes do. Well, it would if you left the brush running for 5 minutes, but I don’t recommend doing so.

As you power the brush off, no matter how long you have been brushing for, you will get an emoji style face appear on the screen. What face it is depends on your brushing time.

Brush for an insufficient amount of time and you will get a sad face. Brush for 2 minutes and you get a smiley face. If you brush for much longer than required you will see a starry eyed smile.

Around the world, dental professionals are in almost unanimous agreement that you should be brushing your teeth twice a day 2 minutes at a time. And cleaning in between the teeth at least once a day.

The reality is far too few do, with the average brushing time being just 45-70 seconds in total per day.

If you are guilty of this, you are putting your oral health at risk.

It is worth knowing that during any brushing session you do get a timer on the screen too. It isn’t necessarily the easiest to see based on the way you hold the brush, but it is there should you need to refer to it.

The smart pressure sensor alerts you when you brush with the correct or incorrect amount of pressure

This is probably one of the best pressure sensor implementations in any electric toothbrush on the market today. 

Around the neck of the brush handle is a light ring that changes colour depending on the pressure applied.

This is another dentist recommended feature.

The colours and what they mean are as follows:

  • White  – Low pressure – not enough force is being applied. This is the default setting.
  • Green – The right amount of pressure is being used.
  • Red – High or excessive pressure is being applied and the force should be reduced.
Oral-B iO6 Review 15

As best as possible you want the light ring to be lit green for the entirety of the brushing session.

It is worth noting that the white light can be customised to an alternative colour via the smartphone app.

Too much pressure can damage the teeth and gums. As such when the red light is active, in the daily clean, intense and sensitive modes the number of brush head movements will be reduced until the pressure is relieved.

If using the smartphone application when brushing you will be alerted via the on-screen graphics only when too much force is being applied.

The sound of the brush handle does differ very slightly when excessive force is being used. It does not alter the vibration pattern felt via the handle, like Sonicare brushes do.

This smart sensor isn’t exclusive to the iO6. It is available on all Oral-B iO series handles.

The iO’s motor is quieter

When the iO Series was introduced, so too was a new motor.

Different from motors used in other models, the brushless magnetic drive system used exclusively in the iO Series results in a slightly different, albeit similar cleaning experience.

The motor used in the iO6 is the same as all other iO models.

But another benefit is that the brush is quieter in operation, with a different pitch to the sound. Some other brushes are really quite loud. 

The iO6 operates at approximately 64 decibels, although on some modes the noise produced is even less.

If noise is important to you, you can see how this compares to other models in our post on the quietest electric toothbrushes.

It sounds clichéd, but you get that dentist clean feeling

I can’t fault how well the iO6 cleans my teeth.

It might sound like an ad, which this is not, but I do have that deep an invigorating feeling as if I have just been to the dentist, after each use.

The different cleaning modes have some bearing on the intensity of the clean, but of course, this is your choice.

Irrespective of the mode, use the correct techniques and you will get a good clean of the teeth and gums.

All of Oral-B’s brushes are clinically proven and the iO6 is no exception.

Oral-B has posted impressive clinical results with their iO brushes and there is plenty of additional data from independent third parties that confirm how good the plaque removal is for an Oral-B toothbrush.

The oscillating, rotating and micro vibrating head effectively disrupts and removes plaque.

In the US, the iO Series has been awarded the American Dental Association’s Seal of Acceptance, confirming it meets the claims made by the manufacturer.

Compared to the motor in the Pro 3, Vitality, and Genius X for example, the sensation of the brushing is different.

The magnetic motor in the iO feels a little softer and less aggressive.

You need iO specific brush heads and they are expensive

Unlike a manual brush where you throw the whole thing every 3 months, electric brushes need only the bristles to be replaced.

Just pull off the head and push on a new one. No twisting or locking into place is needed.

Something you really need to be aware of is that the iO Series has its own range of brush heads.

This means only heads designed for the iO family of electric toothbrushes will fit and work with the iO6.

Oral-B’s brush heads that fit the Vitality, Pro 1, Pro 2, Pro 3 and Smart Series don’t fit.

This is annoying for existing Oral-B brush owners that might be upgrading and have spare brush heads.

But, perhaps the most galling part is that the iO heads are much more expensive. About twice the price. Expect to pay around £8 per head rather than around £3.

It might be a bit bold to say Oral-B are profiteering here, but is there sufficient justification for such a price premium?

The iO6 comes supplied with 1 Ultimate Clean brush head, which provides a very satisfying clean.

It has slightly firmer bristles that are angled at 16 degrees to effectively remove plaque from the teeth and along the gumline.

It is not the only style of head available though.

You can choose between:

  • Ultimate Clean
  • Gentle Care
  • Radiant White
  • Specialised Clean
Oral-B iO6 Review 16

The ultimate clean and gentle care are our top choices. 

You can choose the one you prefer, you don’t have to stick with the style that comes included in the box.

You can learn more about the specific differences between each head and why we select each by reading our post on the Best Oral-B brush heads.

Be reminded when it is time to replace your brush head

3 months is the recommended time to replace them because, assuming you brush for the recommended time, the bristles will wear and become less effective.

The rounded tips can become uneven and potentially damage the gums and abrade the tooth surface.

Whilst it is unlikely that you are going to do any significant damage if you were to use the head for 4 months, it is best to avoid using it for this long if you can.

The iO6 will actually remind you when it is time to replace the head via the app and on-screen. This only works if you log within the app when you last replaced it.

Oral-B iO6 Review 17

These reminders are really helpful as the brush heads themselves don’t always have fading indicator bristles to remind you.

If your brush head shows obvious signs of wear sooner than this, you want to replace the brush head sooner too. It might also be a sign you are brushing incorrectly, perhaps with too much force.

Once you have replaced the head, you should reset the reminder within the app.

The reminder system works on a number of assumptions and isn’t tracking the head via a unique tracking chip like Sonicare do with their BrushSync enabled heads.

So the iO6 wouldn’t know if you replaced the head after 1 month unless you specifically told it.

Track your brushing habits via your smartphone using Bluetooth

All of the iO Series brush handles offer Bluetooth connectivity. 

This means you can connect the iO6 to your smartphone, using the free Oral-B app for Android and iOS, and get insights into your oral care routine.

It is what some might call a ‘smart toothbrush’.

As a general rule, we don’t recommend smart brushes. This is because you don’t need them to achieve a good clean. 

Not to mention they use more resources and can be more expensive.

But, some people, maybe yourself, might like the idea of getting more information on how you are brushing and being alerted to insights and patterns within your routine.

The principle of the app is to educate and encourage people like you and I to take more control and ownership for our oral health.

If we can learn what we are doing well and where there are areas for improvement, we can make the appropriate corrections before problems arise.

Changes and improvements to the app are being made all of the time, this is the beauty of such a toothbrush. But as it stands you can customise the order of the cleaning modes, set specific oral care journeys, see the battery status, change the colour of the light ring and track how long you have been using a particular brush head, amongst other things.

As you brush you are able to see which cleaning mode you have selected. The screen will change when you are applying too much pressure and more.

Track your brushing in real-time and improve your brushing immediately

One of the more unique features of this premium toothbrush is the ability to track its position of in the mouth. 

Sensors in the handle relay the orientation of the brush back to the app in real-time, which turns the data into on-screen visuals.

The idea being it helps you to learn what areas of the mouth you are and are not brushing well, so that you can take corrective action, either immediately or the next time you brush.

Based on how well you brush, you are given a score.

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This score, along with other bits of brushing data are presented in a dashboard that you can take learnings from.

The app looks to build up an average score and understanding of your habits, but you can drill down into individual brushing sessions.

Even if you use the brush at times without the app, the handle will store some of the data and sync this with the app next time.

Without getting into too much minute detail, the whole system is very clever. Conceptually it is a very good idea and with serious commitment, some will gain a real benefit.

But a few of the sticking points are as follows:

  1. You need to be committed to making improvements

To get the improvements you want or the app encourages you need to really work hard at making the necessary changes. Essentially you have to be prepared to correct your mistakes. If you do, this should benefit your oral health.

Ideally, you want to have your phone with you each time you brush, which isn’t something everyone will want to do.

  1. The tracking isn’t that accurate – 6 zones rather than 16

The tracking works, but it isn’t perfect. 

Some sessions seem better than others, but I will often have the app registering a different zone to the one I am actually brushing. There can be a noticeable lag/delay in the visuals.

The app shows the on-screen visuals based on 6 zones (upper right rear, upper front, upper left rear, lower right rear, lower front and lower left rear) compared to the 16 zones (all the tooth surfaces) that are tracked on the iO9 for example.

Tracking 16 zones is more accurate and meaningful than 6. You might always be failing to brush the inside surfaces in a particular zone. But, you wouldn’t know this as the 6 zone tracking isn’t as specific.

It’s not a massive issue, but the pacer on the iO6 is set to 4 quadrants by default, yet the app is set to 6 zones. Thus a 20 second (sextant) pacer might be more useful to encourage even brushing in the ones being tracked.

Whilst I won’t claim to have the perfect brushing technique, I do think it is perhaps better than most. That said, even I struggle to get perfect scores all the time. Perhaps I have faults or it is partly down to the tech?

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  1. Once you have made the improvements, you probably won’t want to track

If you have a terrible routine and habits this brush can aid improvement. But what about when you have mastered it?

Let’s assume you have got a pretty accurate brushing score every time for the last 3 months. The motivation to use the app inevitably wears off.

Yes, you can periodically log a few sessions to ensure you are still doing the right thing, but have the value and benefit gone?

  1. You can achieve similar results for a fraction of the price 

You don’t need a smart toothbrush to perfect your routine.

Yes, it could help, but you could save a lot of money by buying a more affordable toothbrush without the tech and instead learning the correct approaches from other sources.

Get personalised recommendations and tutorials from your dental hygienist or watch some of our oral care videos that show you how to brush correctly.

With a few minutes of your time and several brushing sessions where you really put into practice what you have learnt, you can achieve the same results.

Accessories and extras

Included in the box with the iO6 is a travel case.

Where usually the case is colour matched to the handle, in most instances, you only get a white case with the Series 6. Why, I don’t know.

There are potentially some other variants that will have a colour matched case or come with a brush head storage holder for 2 heads.

The travel case is pretty basic but perfectly functional. It does the job of protecting the handle and preventing accidental activation. 

Oral-B iO6 Review 20

Holding the case vertically, it is hinged on the left side, opening up like a book.

It is made from lightweight moulded plastic.

The ends of the case are rounded, as is the top lid. The base is flat, so it sits on a worktop.

Debossed onto the top lid is the Oral-B iO logo with a push style clip on the right side to lock the case closed or to open it up.

Inside the case, it holds the brush handle and up to 2 brush heads.

There are a couple of small openings to allow for airflow so that a wet brush head can dry out whilst inside.

Summary of the iO6’s design, usability & general use

  • Minimal look to the brush handle which is easy to keep clean
  • Black and white display
  • Available in a variety of colours
  • Separate power and cleaning mode buttons
  • 5 different cleaning modes
  • Defaults to the last cleaning mode used
  • It has a built-in 2 minute timer and 30 second pacer
  • Excellent visible smart pressure sensor helps reduce the chance of doing damage
  • Quiet, brushless magnetic motor
  • Great cleaning results from the small round brush head
  • 1 x Ultimate Clean brush head supplied
  • Additional brush head styles are available separately 
  • Brush head replacement reminder system
  • Connects to a free smartphone application via Bluetooth
  • Real-time tracking is available to encourage better oral care routines
  • The real-time tracking isn’t as comprehensive as models like the iO9 with 16 zone tracking
  • Options to customise the brush handle
  • Travel case included

The battery lasts 16 days on a full charge

Oral-B says the battery life of the iO6 is 2 weeks.

This is pretty standard now across the Oral-B range, iO series brush handle or not.

In my hands-on testing, I achieved 32 brushing sessions, each 2 minutes in length.

That is equivalent to 16 days of use or about 2 days longer than the advertised 2 weeks.

I don’t think it is acceptable for a premium brush like this to offer anything less. Competitors outperform here.

Therefore the Series 6 achieves my benchmark, but isn’t exactly excelling.

Usage time does appear to vary

As far as I am aware the physical battery is the same in all iO models, but there does seem to be slight differences in the usable life.

Each model gives marginally different results. The iO4 seems to marginally outperform the 6 for example.

But at times even the one model can perform better and then next time a little worse.

16 days was about the average I have gotten from the iO6, but I have achieved at times just 10.

I am unable to say conclusively, but I do wonder whether the Bluetooth connectivity and the display have a part to play at times draining a little more power.

I try to keep my usage as consistent as possible, but I use the brush as you would at home, rather than bench tests in a lab.

You get a standard Oral-B charging stand

The iO6 comes with what I call a ‘standard’ Oral-B charger.

This is the same stand that comes with the Oral-B Pro 600, Pro 2 2000, Pro 3 3000 and the Smart 5 5000.

You do not get the premium magnetic charging stand that comes with Series 7, 8 and 9 of the iO range.

Oral-B iO6 Review 21

It is as a result that the iO6 is slightly more affordable.

It is important to be aware as lots of promotional materials for the iO range show the stylish and quick charging magnetic stand which you don’t get.

This charger is white in colour, irrespective of the handle colour you have.

Hardwired into it is a power cable that is about 1.2 metres (4 feet in length) and has a 2 pin UK power adapter suitable for UK bathroom shaver sockets.

If you want to connect to a UK 3 pin power outlet, you will need to purchase a plug adapter.

On top of the stand is a prong which fits into the recess on the base of the brush handle. 

The brush will only sit one way on the stand.

Once on the charger, it takes up to 12 hours to fully recharge.

Built into the toothbrush is technology to prevent overcharging, so you can leave it on the charger all the time if you prefer. 

220-240 volts are supported by the stand. Making it suitable for a limited number of locations.

If you desire to travel with the iO6, to say the USA for example, you will require both a voltage and plug adapter.

In this instance, it might actually be cheaper and more cost effective to buy a US specific charger.

Oral-B iO6 Review 22

Battery charge status feedback

Unlike other models that have an LED on the brush handle to give an indication on the remaining power in the battery, the iO6 does not have such.

As you might well have guessed, feedback is given via the LED display.

Shown about 15 seconds after you turn the brush off, you get an animated graphic of a battery and a percentage number above on the screen.

The battery icon has a differing number of bars within it, subject to the charge level. More bars equals more charge remaining.

The percentage is a precise number such as 73% rather than in increments of 10 for example.

You can also view the amount of charge in the battery via the smartphone application.

The app will store the last known charge status until such time data is synced again and an updated reading given.

When the battery is low (around 10 percent remaining) the icon on the screen will turn red. The motor will reduce its speed and the smart pressure sensor will blink red too.

When placed on the charging stand, the charge level is shown on the screen and the smart pressure sensor ring light will slowly pulse with a white light to confirm it is charging.

Once fully charged the light will go out.

The battery is not user replaceable

Inside the handle is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) battery.

It is similar to that built into your smartphone and other mobile gadgets.

Oral-B has sealed it inside the handle to limit the potential of damage. 

Water can really hamper electronics. Therefore the handle has been designed to limit the likelihood of any moisture getting inside. 

The consequence is that the brush isn’t repairable at home.

Removing the battery or attempting to do so will basically render the brush useless.

This approach is common across the industry and needs to change, in the interest of the environment.

A battery will often last 5+ years, but it is very handy to have the option of at least replacing it if you need to.

Summary of battery life

  • Rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery built-in
  • Expected to last 2+ weeks on a full charge
  • Achieved 16 days in hands-on testing
  • A charging stand is included in the box – it’s not magnetic
  • 2 pin power adapter hardwired into the stand
  • The charging stand supports 220-240v
  • Takes up to 12 hours to recharge the battery
  • Battery charge level is shown on the display and within the app
  • A pulsing red light ring means the battery could do with being recharged
  • A pulsing white light when on the stand means the battery is being recharged
  • No light when on the stand means the battery is fully charged
  • The battery is sealed inside and is not replaceable.

Price & where to buy

I have included links to buying options here at the start of the review.

In the section below, I discuss the price more generally and in relation to similar products.

At the time of review, £299.99 is the retail price for the Series 6.

You should be able to get it at a 50%

Let’s not beat around the bush with this one; that is expensive, high end features or not.

But often you will see the iO6, and many other brushes, ‘discounted’ to 50% of the retail price.

It is almost pointless Oral-B setting such a high retail price because for a large proportion of the time, retailers and even Oral-B themselves are actually selling the Series 6 for far less than they suggest it is worth.

The high price just allows for an impressive discount figure to be applied to the sales page or ticket.

Selling prices do vary and are always subject to change, but on average you should be able to buy the iO6 for around 50% less than the retail price.

Thus look for those who are selling it around £150.

In fact, according to data for one online retailer, the average selling price over the last 180 days is actually around £120. That is a 60% discount over that period.

Oral-B iO6 Review 23

How it compares to other Oral-B prices

As you might expect other models in the range follow a similar pricing strategy.

Arguably there are better savings on the most premium models as the discount is higher.

The iO9 has a staggering £499.99 price point and sells for around £250.

£100 more expensive than the iO6, it is a fairly sizable premium, even if some of the extras are worth a bit more.

The iO5, which sits below the 6 actually sells for around £140, so around £10 difference.

The iO7, which is technically better than the 6, tends to sell for around £200. That is a £50 premium for a magnetic charging stand.

You can probably see how the iO6 now looks like a good buy compared to some of the other models. 

iO6 brush heads are overpriced

I said what few others do.

Oral-B are being a bit cheeky in the prices commanded for the heads compatible with the iO6.

The iO Series has their own range of heads. Other Oral-B brush heads that fit models like the Pro 1, Pro 2, Pro 3, Smart 4 etc don’t fit the iO Series.

Oral-B redesigned its range of heads when the iO Series was first introduced. 

Average selling prices for the iO heads are twice that of the standard ones.

Expect to pay around £8 per brush head, compared to a more wallet friendly £3.

How the long term ownership costs work out

At Electric Teeth we like to price a brush over a 3 year period to give a bit of a benchmark by which to compare it to other models.

According to our research and feedback, affordability and value for money are important to people when buying a toothbrush

The iO6 is going to cost about £150 to purchase.

You then need to factor in replacement heads every 3 months, at £8 per head.

Over 3 years that is an additional cost of £88.

Your total ownership cost is then about £238.

This is quite expensive. Not the most expensive brush, but one of the more premium options.

The Pro 3 3500 is one of the best value brushes on the market, costing £78 over 3 years.

That is nearly 3x cheaper than the iO6. And for the saving, you are certainly not getting a clean 3 times as bad. In fact, there is little to distinguish between the two.

Please note that all prices quoted are approximates and will vary based on location, supplier and time of purchase.  These figures were correct at the time of writing and should not be relied upon as hard fact, but used as a guide during your decision process.

Summary of price & where to buy

  • List of buying options included here
  • Recommended retail price of £299.99
  • Generally available with a 50% discount to make it £150
  • Replacement brush heads cost about £8 each
  • Works out at £238 over 3 years
  • Models like the Pro 3 3 3500 cost a third of the price

My thoughts on reliability and repairability

Oral-B is an established player within the oral care sector and their electric toothbrushes are on the whole very reliable.

It is not possible to say that the iO6 would never fail, but the odds are very low.

The screen is potentially a more risky addition to the handle as it isn’t tried and tested like some other technology.

The fact it is not a touchscreen does work in its favour.

But, having been using the iO Series handles for a couple of years at the time of review, I have not heard of screen failure being a real issue.

As standard, you get a 2 year warranty and it is really great that there is the option of a free additional 3rd year of warranty available if you register the brush.

Unfortunately, no parts on the brush are designed to be user serviceable. This isn’t uncommon for an electric toothbrush. With a need to move to more sustainable approaches this is disappointing.

Sustainability

Electric toothbrushes don’t fare well in their impact on the environment because of materials needed for their electrical components, heavy weight when shipping, and the need to be disposed of as e-waste.

This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t use one. You need to balance effective cleaning and disease prevention against the environmental impact.

Electric toothbrushes can reduce the need for dental treatment. And avoid the need for planetary impacts that come from procedures such as fillings.

There is a lack of detailed evidence to confirm that a filling is worse than use of an electric toothbrush. But, with the data available, dentist Gemma Wheeler believes that a single filling is worse than an electric brush with a usable life of 5 years.

There is no perfect solution as yet. We want to see manufacturers doing more to tackle this issue and achieve significant improvements.

Schemes to recycle brush heads only scratch the surface of what needs to be done.

Related to the iO6 specifically:

Pros

  • Recyclable cardboard box and inner tray.
  • Uses the standard Oral-B charger which is lighter and more compact.
  • Not lots of unnecessary extras in the box.

Cons

  • The in handle display isn’t a necessary feature.
  • The travel case comes wrapped in plastic, which isn’t necessary.
  • The Bluetooth technology isn’t necessary either, requiring additional components.
  • No user serviceable parts.
    • Removing the battery breaks the brush.

Conclusion

The iO6 is the best value for money brush within the iO Series in my opinion.

It cleans the teeth really well and has the dentist recommended features.

It doesn’t have the advanced tracking and premium charger and case of the iO Series 9, but the price reflects this.

If you want something more capable but don’t want to spend unnecessarily, this brush is that ideal balance.

If you are prepared to forgo some features you can save a lot of money with recommended alternatives, which we include in our best electric toothbrush post.

Our Choice
Oral-B Pro 3 - 3500 - Black Electric Toothbrush, 1 Handle with Visible Pressure Sensor, 1 Toothbrush Head, 1 Travel Case, Designed By Braun, 2 Pin UK Plug
Oral-B iO6 Electric Toothbrush with Revolutionary iO Technology, 1 Toothbrush Head & Travel Case, 5 Modes with Teeth Whitening, UK 2 Pin Plug, Grey Opal
Brush Name
Oral-B Pro 3 3500
Oral-B iO6
Electric Teeth Rating
5/5
5/5
Approx. Price
£39.99
£299.99
Boots
Oral-B iO6 Review 2
Oral-B iO6 Review 2
Ebay
Oral-B iO6 Review 4
Oral-B iO6 Review 4
Our Choice
Oral-B Pro 3 - 3500 - Black Electric Toothbrush, 1 Handle with Visible Pressure Sensor, 1 Toothbrush Head, 1 Travel Case, Designed By Braun, 2 Pin UK Plug
Brush Name
Oral-B Pro 3 3500
Electric Teeth Rating
5/5
Approx. Price
£39.99
Boots
Oral-B iO6 Review 2
Ebay
Oral-B iO6 Review 4
Oral-B iO6 Electric Toothbrush with Revolutionary iO Technology, 1 Toothbrush Head & Travel Case, 5 Modes with Teeth Whitening, UK 2 Pin Plug, Grey Opal
Brush Name
Oral-B iO6
Electric Teeth Rating
5/5
Approx. Price
£299.99
Boots
Oral-B iO6 Review 2
Ebay
Oral-B iO6 Review 4

Size Guide

  • Height (without head) – 18.3cm / 7.2 inches
  • Height (with head) – 24cm / 9.45 inches
  • Width – 2.8cm / 1.1 inches
  • Thickness – 2.8cm / 1.1 inches
  • Weight (without head) – 126g / 4.44 ounces
  • Weight (with head) – 134g / 4.7 ounces

All are approximates

Noise

  • 64dB

More Oral-B iO content

In case you hadn’t noticed, the Oral-B iO range now includes several models. 

We explain the differences in our Oral-B iO comparison

We’ve also reviewed each brush individually: 

FAQ

  • Is the iO6 an oscillating brush?
    • Yes, the circular brush head moves side to side and is supported by micro vibrations for extra deep cleaning. 
  • What brushing/cleaning modes are available?
  • What brush head does the Series 6 come with and what alternative ones can be used?
    • 1 x Ultimate Clean brush head is supplied with the Series 6.
    • Oral-B primarily offers a total of 4 different brush head styles for the iO range. Each can be purchased separately and used with this toothbrush. Those options are:
      • Ultimate Clean
      • Gentle Care
      • Radiant White
      • Specialised Clean
    • You can find out about each in our guide to Oral-B brush heads.
  • Does the iO6 have a pressure sensor?
    • Yes, it does.
  • Does the iO6 have Bluetooth?
    • Yes, it does.
  • Does the iO6 have real-time tracking & position detection?
    • Yes, it does.
  • Does it come with a travel case?
    • Yes, a travel case is included with the single handled variants.
  • Does it come with a charger?
    • Yes, a charging stand is included in the box.
  • How long does the battery last?
    • The battery lasts up to 64 minutes, which if used on the standard daily clean mode is 16 days based on 2 cleans per day.
  • Can I use the iO Series 6 in the shower?
    • Yes. The iO6 is water resistant so if you choose you can use it in the shower. Avoid submerging it in water.
  • Does the iO6 come with a warranty & how long is it?
    • If purchased new from an approved retailer the brush will come with a 2 year.
    • This warranty can be extended by a further year to 3 in total if you register the brush online on Oral-B’s website. 
    • Find out more about the Oral-B warranty.

Your Opinions

Do you own or have you used the Oral-B iO Series 6?

Are there certain features that you really like or dislike?

Let us know what you think about this brush and let others who may well be considering purchasing one know your opinions before they do.

About Jon Love

Jon is a leading voice on electric toothbrushes and has been quoted by mainstream media publications for his opinions and expertise.

Having handled & tested hundreds of products there really is very little he does not know about them.

Passionate about business and helping others, Jon has been involved in various online enterprises since the early 2000s.

After spending 12 years in consumer technology, it was in 2014 that he focused his attention on dental health, having experienced first-hand the challenge of choosing a new toothbrush.

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3 thoughts on “Oral-B iO6 Review”

  1. Hi, can I have a question?
    My wife wants to try an electric toothbrush. She tried my Oral-B Vitality. But she really doesn’t like the vibrating in her head.

    As I understand, Oral-B iO6 is less vibrating than Oral-B Pro 3500 because of its new magnetic technology?
    And if she will use a sensitive or a gum care mode, will it be even less vibrating?
    Or is it better to buy Sonicare for less vibrating?

    Thank you, Lucas.

    P. S.: Just for info, in my country is 3500 for 45 GBP and iO6 for 90 GBP.

    P. P. S.: I am sorry for my english.

    Reply
    • Hi Lucas.

      OK so this is a tricky question to answer, because ultimately it is going to be down to your wife personal opinion on the brushing movements/vibrations and how it feels.
      The iO6 still moves the brush head lots of times per minute and there is still a certain level of intensity and vibration in the brush head. The overall brushing experience is a little softer and less aggressive feeling (due to the new motor), so your wife may prefer this, but I couldn’t say for sure, because despite the differences there are still similarities.
      The additional modes do reduce the power/intensity further.

      Sonicare can feel less intense and more gentle. It is a different brushing sensation overall.

      I wonder if your wife tried the Oral-B a few more times, might she get used to it?

      Unless your wife is planning to use the smart features of the iO6, I still think the Pro 3 3500 is worth going for from a value for money perspective. Particualrly when you consider iO replacement brush heads are about twice the price of normal Oral-B heads.

      Reply
      • She tried Oral-B just twice and just for a few seconds. So hard to tell and we can try it a few more times.
        Thank you for your advice and have a nice day.

        Reply
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