Oral-B Pro 2 2500 vs Pro 3 3500

Detailed comparison: what’s the difference between the Oral-B Pro 3 - 3500 and Pro 2 2500?

I want to let you know that as differences in electric toothbrushes go, the number here is limited.  The 2 brushes are very similar.

In fact, for the most part, it is the actual design/look of the handle that separates them.

If you look at them, you will see that the Pro 2 2500 has a large rubber grip that runs down the front of the handle, which the Pro 3 - 3500 does not have.

The 3500 you have a much cleaner and more minimal look compared to the 2500.  

It is designed this way to mimic Oral-B’s top of the line iO Series.

Where the large rubber grip on the 2500 provides grip, this is now limited to the power button on the 3500.

But, although the 3500 is now all smooth touch plastic, it isn’t as slippy as you might expect.  The 2500 does feel marginally more secure in the hand.

The benefit of doing away with the large rubber grip is that the Pro 3 is easier to keep clean.  Toothpaste residue doesn’t build up on the handle in quite the same way as the 2500.

The grip on the back of the handle has changed too.

On the Pro 2 2500 are a series of raised ridges that offer a rougher but effective method for resistance against the fingertips.  This doesn’t stretch the length of the back of the handle. But, the dimpled texture you find on the 3500 does.

These dimples are more subtle both from a design and grip point of view, but they do work.

If you struggle gripping onto items then the 2500 is better than the 3500.

Linked to this design change is a change in the handle colour too.

The Pro 2 2500 has a gloss white plastic body and it is the rubber grip, be that pink or black that contrasts with the white to give it that colour pop.  There is also a white gripped variant of the Pro 2 2500, albeit this is less common stocked. 

With the Pro 3 3500, the handle itself is either pink or black in colour.  The power button matches the handle too.

With the Pro 2 2500, the travel case provided is either black or white.  Black with the black gripped unit or white with the pink and the white gripped unit.

With the Pro 3 3500, the pink handle comes with a white case.  But there are actually 2 different styled cases that come with the black coloured handle.

It is either all black in colour, or there is the variant called the ‘Black Mondrian’.  This has a white case with a printed design/decal on it. This decal has darker black, grey and blue colours at the top.  These then gradually fade to lighter shades down the length of the geometric design on the case.

An additional design change with the Pro 3, is the introduction of a LED light ring around the neck of the brush handle.  It wraps a full 360 degrees.

This is similar to the premium Genius and iO series brushes that Oral-B offers.

The light colour is not customisable, nor does it stay lit the whole time.  But, when the built-in pressure sensor is activated, the light ring is lit red.

The Pro 2 2500 has a visible pressure sensor, but unlike the Pro 3, this is positioned primarily on the back of the handle.  It has a red plastic panel compared to the white of the Pro 3 - 3500.  Both light up and are visible, but the extra surface area of the Pro 3’s sensor makes it a slightly more practical implementation.  

Design aside, they do the same job.  When the sensor is activated they both light up red to alert you that you are brushing too hard.  Reduce the pressure and the lights go out.

The penultimate difference between these 2 brushes is the cleaning modes available.

Both offer the standard daily clean mode and a more gentle sensitive mode.  But, the Pro 3 offers a third brushing mode, known as whitening.

Whitening is designed to assist with polishing the tooth surface and achieving a brighter and whiter smile, by more effectively cleaning away external surface stains on the teeth.

Whilst it may provide some benefit, particularly if used with a 3D White brush head, the differences are going to be extremely subtle, if not impossible to notice.  

Your brushing technique, routine and diet will have a bigger impact on your teeth and making them whiter than the brushing mode alone.

It should be noted, that the brush heads supplied with either the Pro 2 2500 or 3 3500 can differ.  Typically they are either CrossAction or 3D White with both models.  Although, there is a variant of the Pro 2 2500 that comes with a Sensi UltraThin brush head.

To confuse things slightly more this is what you usually get supplied:

• Pro 2 2500 black gripped handle - CrossAction brush head (white plastic shaft)
• Pro 2 2500 pink gripped handle - 3D White brush head  (white plastic shaft)
• Pro 2 2500 white gripped handle - Sensi UltraThin brush head (white plastic shaft)
• Pro 2 2500 black gripped handle Midnight Black edition - CrossAction brush head (black plastic shaft)

• Pro 3 - 3500 black - CrossAction brush head (black plastic shaft)
• Pro 3 - 3500 black Mondrian - CrossAction brush head (black plastic shaft)
• Pro 3 - 3500 pink - 3D White brush head  (white plastic shaft)

All the heads are available to purchase separately and are interchangeable, should you have a preference.

Those then are the key differences.  

Does one clean better than the other?

No.

Assuming you use either brush handle with the same style of brush head then there is no difference between the way in which these two brushes clean.

Use the Pro 2 2500 or the 3500 and you will achieve thorough cleaning results.

It can be argued that the additional whitening cleaning mode, offered on the Pro 3 can bring extra benefits. Potentially, it can do, particularly when paired with a 3D White brush head. However, in reality, any differences are going to be extremely small, if at all noticeable. 

Is one better priced than the other?

Yes, the Pro 3 3500 is the better value toothbrush.

Previously it was the Pro 2 2500. It has however been discontinued resulting in the sales price of the remaining stock being increased.

Looking at the prices, officially, there is a £10 difference in the retail price of these products.  

The Pro 3 - 3500 has a suggested price of £90 compared to the £80 of the Pro 2 2500.

Very rarely would I ever suggest paying retail price.

This is because (if you were not already aware) it is very common for electric toothbrushes, particularly Oral-B models, to sell at around 50% less than retail price.

With this discount factored in the Pro 2 2500 would cost around £40, whilst the Pro 3 - 3500 will cost £45. Thus the difference in price is now just £5.

This makes picking between each much more difficult.

Prices are always subject to change and the discount isn’t always exactly 50%.

And because the Pro 2 2500 had been on the market for longer than the 3500, the average selling price was actually around £35.  This took the difference back up to about £10.

It is not a significant price difference, but it is reasonable given the price range these brushes find themselves in.

Thus the Pro 2 2500 was better value, as a general rule, until it was discontinued.

Generally speaking now, the Pro 2 2500 commands a premium over the 3500 which I can't justify paying.