Everything you need at an affordable price – the Pro 3 3500 is as close to perfect as it comes

The Pro 3 has the essential dentist recommended features you want and need in an electric toothbrush.
It is a strong performer, that cleans the teeth well. We rate is at the best overall electric toothbrush.
Of the different variants in the Pro 3, it is the 3 3500 that is our top choice. It comes supplied with a travel case.
Pros
- Easy to keep clean
- 2 weeks of use on a single charge
- Multiple cleaning modes (if desired)
Cons
- No icons on the handle to show which cleaning mode is selected
- Defaults to the daily clean mode
Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
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Oral-B Pro 3 - 3500 | 29,936 Reviews | £100.00 £44.99 | View on Amazon |
It might be worth considering these
We don’t really feel you can do any better than the Pro 3 3500 when you consider features for the price.
The Pro 3 3000 doesn’t come with a travel case, so might be a better pick if you don’t need such. Typically there isn’t much if anything to be saved.
The Vitality 100 is an option if you are on a real budget, but there are quite a few sacrifices for limited savings.
Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
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Oral-B Vitality | 7,524 Reviews | £35.00 £28.69 | View on Amazon |
Design, usability, clean & general use
Considering the relatively limited box contents, the Pro 3’s box is a bit larger than you might anticipate but typical of other Oral-B brushes.
A blue coloured outer cardboard box shows a picture of the toothbrush you will be getting inside. Listed on the box are some of the main features of this brush. Interestingly, there is no mention of the cleaning modes available.

It is nice to see that Oral-B have opted for cardboard inside the box rather than polystyrene that they have used in the past. It is better for the environment and recyclable at least.
What you get in the box depends on the variant chosen. The Pro 3 3000 comes with no extras over the toothbrush and charging stand itself. This is both a positive and a negative. I like it because it means you and I are not left with items we won’t actually use.
The Pro 3 – 3500 shown in the images within this review, comes with a travel case. A handy extra for many people.
It would be nice if the Pro 3 3000 rather than the 3500 variant came with the case as standard. By no means a deal breaker, I think the travel case would have been a particular bonus and clinched this as a must buy for many people. Many of us do spend nights away where we need to take our toothbrush. Without it, we have to buy or find some other solution to protect the head and handle from damage when in our travel bags.
It would have also been nice to have had an additional brush head in the box, but the variants available at the time of the review come with just 1.
The Pro 3 is designed like most other electric toothbrushes, with a tall cylindrical handle. Actually, it is not perfectly round, it’s slightly thicker than it is wide, but we are talking millimetres of difference.

On top of the handle is where the brush head sits. Everything is fairly standard. It still feels solid and well built.
Compared to other models, the design is actually a little different. It has a styling that has not been used before.
What stands out is the lack of grips on the handle. Many other Oral-B models have a large rubber grip to help keep a secure hold in hand. Cheaper handles tend to have this on the front, and premium models like the Genius series, on the back.
This is not so with the Pro 3.

There are no large rubber grips. The back of the handle does have a series of small dimples, which do provide a bit of additional grip to the fingertip. They are quite subtle and run the length of the handle. They help but are not quite as tactile and effective as the raised plastic ridges you get on the Pro 2 2000 or Smart 5 5000.
This lack of grips makes the handle look slightly more stylish, minimal and cleaner. It is also easier to wipe clean. Toothpaste residue can build up on the rubber grips of other handles and be harder to remove.

There is an oval shaped panel in the upper third of the brush handle that is of a rubber/silicone construction and helps provide some security in hand, it is just a lot less than what I am used to on an Oral-B brush.
This oval shaped panel is generally matched to the colour of the brush handle. The exception being the white variant, which has a dusty grey coloured button.
Within this panel is the power come function button.
There is a concave shape to the button which means it is easy to detect with the fingertip and in hand, the thumb naturally falls to this position.
Printed on the button is a power icon, it is white in colour and stands out nicely from the panel in which it is placed.
There is a real minimal look to this handle overall.
In the lower third of the handle is a battery status LED. The LED will flash red when the battery inside the handle is low and it flashes green when being recharged.
The rechargeable lithium battery sealed inside the handle offers 2+ weeks of battery life on a full charge.
Underneath this is an Oral-B and Braun logo that are grey in colour.
On the base of the handle is a recess into which the protuberance on the charging stand fits. Some regulatory information is printed here too.
The handle does stand upright on a flat surface.
It is worth knowing that the Pro 3 – 3000 series is available with different coloured handles. The options are alabaster white, pink, electric blue or black onyx.
The availability of the colour does depend on the variant.

But where the white and black handles are all white and all black, the pink and blue models have a white base to them. This white base creates a ring that is about 8mm deep at the bottom of the handle. It is quite a bold contrast. I think it would have been nicer if this part was colour matched to the rest of the handle.
It may have something to do with styling, that I don’t understand or appreciate. It should also be noted that irrespective of the colour of the brush handle, the charging stand on which it sits is white.
And in most instances, the brush head is white too. Even with the black model, only a couple of variants come with a black coloured brush head.
Another small thing to note is on the back of the handle towards the bottom are 2 raised dots. They look a bit odd or out of place. But these are quite clever in what they do. If the brush is laid on a worktop, they reduce the chance of the brush rolling around, keeping it face up.

At the top of the brush handle, just below where the brush head attaches is a clear plastic ring. It runs around the whole handle. This is the 360 degree visible pressure sensor.
The Pro 3 3000 is the most cost effective model in the Oral-B range to offer a full 360 degree visible pressure sensor. The Pro 2 2000 and 2 2500 have visible pressure sensors, but theirs is about half the size and doesn’t wrap around the whole handle.
If you are not familiar with a pressure sensor, what happens is that when brushing, should the handle detect too much force is being used, it will turn on a light, so the ring is lit red.
As we know, red is often used as a warning colour.
The size and position of it should catch your attention. That said, the light is strongest on the backside of the ring, where the LED is located. It is not a consistently strong ring of red light as you might expect. The light is weaker on the front side of the light ring. I think Oral-B should and could easily fix this. If it is lit red, you need to reduce the pressure.
Brushing too hard can damage the teeth and gums, so it is best avoided. This sensor helps reduce the chances of long term damage happening.

It is more useful than you might think, particularly if you are new to electric toothbrushes.
Most of the time you want to make sure you are not activating this sensor.
When it is activated, in addition to the red light, you should hear the sound of the motor change. This is an audible alert, in case you miss the light.
Until such time as the pressure is reduced, the motor will also reduce the number of movements and pulsations delivered to the brush head, in an effort to limit any potential damage.
As a consequence, this changes the brushing sensation, which acts as a third alert mechanism.
It would also be nice if the handle vibrated differently like Sonicare models do. But, alas it does not.
Once the pressure is relieved, the light will go out, the motor will return to full power for the cleaning mode selected and the sound the brush makes will have changed too.
Extending from the top of the handle is a metal shaft.
This is connected to the powerful motor inside the handle and is what causes the brush head to oscillate, rotate and pulsate when connected.
Supplied in the box is a single brush head. The exact style of the head depends on the variant selected. It is the CrossAction that is most common and the default option. But, models like the Pro 3 3500 you see in the hands-on images show the 3D White brush head.
The CrossAction or the Sensi UltraThin are our preferred styles of brush head to use, as we explain in our brush head guide.
The head pushes onto that metal shaft and pulls off when you want to remove it. No twisting or locking into place is required.
The small round CrossAction head has bristles angled at 16 degrees, which gives it quite a unique look. It does an excellent job of cleaning the teeth. It is able to reach the back of the mouth and very effectively remove plaque, bacteria and debris off the teeth and from the gumline.
After every use, my teeth felt lovely and clean.
It is one of a range of small round interchangeable brush heads that Oral-B offer for their electric toothbrushes.
Other styles of brush heads, which are compatible with the 3000 include:
- FlossAction
- 3D White
- Sensi UltraThin
- Precision Clean
A very small point to note is that the CrossAction and 3D White brush head supplied with the Pro 3 have what are known as CleanMaximiser bristles.
Basically, this is a new name for fading indicator bristles. They alert you when you need to replace the brush head.
These are the green coloured bristle tufts. On most CrossAction heads, without CleanMaximizer bristles, these are blue in colour.

If you are not already aware, it is important to replace a brush head every 3 months on average, sooner if the bristles are showing obvious signs of wear.
Whilst some heads will look well used after this time, they can almost look as good as new. But, the tips of the bristles will have become worn during this time as they pass over the teeth and gums.
Using for longer than 3 months can potentially lead to them doing more damage than good and not cleaning the teeth as well.
It is easy to forget when you last replaced the head, so what happens is that over a period of approximately 3 months, the green bristles on the head are dyed yellow to indicate the brush head requires changing. If you see lots of yellow bristles, replace the head.
And if possible recycle your used brush head. In fact, recycle all your oral care items.
To actually use the Pro 3 3000 all you need do is press the power button on the brush handle once and it will launch into the ‘Daily Clean’ cleaning mode.
This is one of 3 modes available on the Pro 3.
The second mode is called ‘Sensitive’ and the third, ‘Whitening’.
In Oral-B’s words (taken from the manual) this is what each mode is designed for:
- Daily Clean – Standard mode for daily cleaning
- Sensitive – Gentle, yet thorough cleaning for sensitive areas
- Whitening – Exceptional polishing for occasional or everyday use
It is up to you which mode you use.
Any can be used on a daily basis if you wish. All will provide a good clean to the teeth and gums if the brush is used correctly.
My personal preference is Daily Clean or Sensitive mode.
Whitening has limited additional benefit in my opinion. Yes, the speed and cleaning pattern is different. But, it is perfectly possible to whiten the teeth with the other cleaning modes
Don’t worry too much about which mode to use, you are best to just pick one and stick with it. Selecting a different mode is not going to fundamentally change the cleaning results you get.

Our Oral-B cleaning modes article explains each mode and how they differ in a little more detail, should you be keen to learn more.
For those that are interested, the Pro 3 3000 series motor/brush head moves at up to 9,900 oscillations per minute and delivers up to 45,000 pulsations per minute too. The exact number of movements depends on the brushing mode selected.
There is only 1 physical button on the 3000. This turns the brush on and off and allows you to change between the cleaning modes.
A single press of the power button will turn the brush on.
When the brush is powered on it will default to the daily clean mode.
To select the sensitive or whitening mode you have to press the button a further one time for sensitive and two times for whitening.
So, one press to turn the brush on and launch daily clean, a second press to change it to sensitive and a third press for whitening.
A fourth press will turn the brush off. Or alternatively, press and hold the power button for about 2 seconds will also turn it off.
Therefore if the sensitive mode is your preference, you have to press the power button twice, every time you use it.
I have to admit this is a bit frustrating, but something that is common amongst the mid-range brushes from Oral-B.
This does not tend to be the case with Sonicare brushes.
It would also be nice if there were some form of indicator or icon on the handle to reconfirm to you that you have selected the right mode. With practice, you learn and can tell the difference. But, a simple LED next to the name of the mode on the handle would be good. It saves you from having to think quite so hard and just makes everyday usability better.
When any of the brushing modes are in use, the built-in timer and pacer are activated too.
The timer and pacer are included to help encourage you and me to brush for the dentist recommended 2 minutes.
This has been found to be the optimum amount of time for achieving clean teeth and gums
During a 2 minute clean the idea is that you spend 30 seconds cleaning each section (quadrant) of the mouth.
Those 4 sections are, upper right, upper left, lower right, and lower left.
At the 30 second intervals, the brush will provide an audible warning via a slight pause in the brush motor. You will also notice a change in the brushing sensation too. This is your cue to change quadrant.
Once the 2 minutes are up, 3 brief pauses in the brush motor will be heard and felt. The brush will continue to run at the end of the 2 minutes, you then need to turn it off, it will not do this automatically.
This timer and pacer are what I consider essential to a good electric toothbrush and can make a significant difference to the way we brush and ultimately our long term oral health.
When it comes to dental advice and information on how to take care of your teeth, the Oral Health Foundation are one of the leading bodies.
It is then pretty reassuring to know that the Pro 3 has achieved their ‘Approved’ status which means the brush has met and surpassed certain standards and tests that the independent board put together.
As you might expect, the Pro 3 3000 toothbrush handle is water resistant.
Whilst Oral-B does not specifically state in the manual not to use it when bathing, it should be fine to use in the shower, but do avoid submerging it in the bath for example. A rinse under the tap etc is fine too.
Do be sure to keep the charging stand away from water.
As I have already intimated, the Pro 3 – 3500 variant comes with a travel case. This is a fairly basic but functional plastic case. It will protect it from damage and accidental activation.

Hold it in a vertical orientation and it is hinged on the left side. There is a secure plastic clip on the right side.
The Bruan and Oral-B logo are debossed onto the front of the case. The logo is too on the clip on the right side. It holds the Pro 3 brush handle and up to 2 brush heads. The heads clip into one half of the case, whilst the handle clips into the other.
The larger surfaces of the case are flat, but the edges are rounded, for a softer look and do also make it more comfortable when held in the hand.
There are holes in the case for ventilation which is great.
The colour of the case depends on the variant, but typically they are a solid black or white.
The Pro 3 – 3000 is a really lovely electric toothbrush and it is a great option for both new and experienced electric toothbrush owners. However, it might not be for everyone. And for this reason, Oral-B offers a 30 day money back guarantee that you can take advantage of if you are not happy for any reason.
If you keep the brush, which I suspect you will, it is then supported by a 2 year warranty, which can be extended to 3 years at no extra cost, by registering online.
Pro 3 3000 vs Pro 3 3500 vs 3900
There are several different variations of this ‘Pro 3’ toothbrush.
Technically, the Pro 3 3000, the 3 3500 and the 3 3900 are the same.
What differs between these 3 models is the handle colour and box contents.
In a nutshell, the 3500 is the same as the 3000 but comes with a travel case. The 3900 contains 2 x 3000 handles in its box contents, but no travel cases.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of the differences.
- Travel case
- The 3 3500 comes with a travel case included in the box. It holds the handle and 2 brush heads
- This is not supplied with the Pro 3 3000 or 3 3900.
- The 3 3500 comes with a travel case included in the box. It holds the handle and 2 brush heads
- Handle, brush head and charger quantity
- The Pro 3 3000 comes with 1 handle, 1 brush head and 1 charger included.
- The Pro 3 3500 comes with 1 handle, 1 brush head and 1 charger included.
- The Pro 3 3900 comes with 2 handles, 2 brush heads and 1 charger included.
- Handle colours
- The Pro 3 3000 is available in 4 colour options (black, pink, blue & white).
- The Pro 3 3500 is available in 2 colour options (black or pink).
- The Pro 3 3900 is available in 2 colour options (black and pink).
- Retail price
- The Pro 3 3000 has a retail price of £90 – sells for around £40.
- The Pro 3 3500 has a retail price of £90 – sells for around £40.
- The Pro 3 3900 has a retail price of £140 – sells for around £55.
My recommendation is to buy the Pro 3 3500, providing it is the same price as the 3000 or within about £5. Unless you specifically need an additional brush handle.

Summary of design, usability, clean & general use
- Minimal, clean design
- Not as much grip as some other models
- A small oval rubber panel around the power button provides some in hand grip
- Dimpled texture to the back of the handle
- Available in 4 colours (alabaster white, pink, electric blue, black onyx)
- Solid and well built
- 3 cleaning modes (daily clean, sensitive & whitening)
- Does not remember the cleaning mode last used
- No cleaning mode icons or labels on the brush handle
- Cleans the teeth really well
- Built-in pressure sensor including 360 degree visible sensor
- Built-in 2 minute timer and 30 second pacer
- 1 x brush head supplied – style depends on the variant – typically CrossAction
- Other brush head styles are available separately
- Rechargeable battery built-in
- Lithium battery offers 2 weeks of battery life
- Travel case only available with Pro 3 – 3500 variant
- Oral Health Foundation approved
- Water resistant
- 30 day money back guarantee
- 2 year warranty – extend to 3 years for free by registering online
Battery life
Sealed inside the handle of the Pro 3 3000 from Oral-B is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) battery.
This battery is not user-replaceable and is recharged via the supplied charging stand.
Oral-B suggests a usage time of 2+ weeks (14+ days) on a full charge.
The plus (+) makes it a bit vague as to how much above 14 days you will get.
Based on a 2 minute clean, I was able to complete 40 brushing sessions on a full charge. This is equivalent to 20 days of use.
In fairness to Oral-B, this is nearly 3 weeks, a week longer than suggested.
Now, in all honesty, by about day 19 the motor was beginning to slow and the cleaning power was quite weak and noticeably not as good. But it is safe to say that you will get at least 2 weeks out of the brush.
Overall I am pleased with this.
I ran my battery test on the standard daily clean mode. It is possible that an extra day may well be achieved if you use the sensitive mode.
It does not quite perform as well as the likes of the Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4300 or 5100, which are logical alternatives to the 3000. They last up to 5 weeks on a full charge.
There are no other Oral-B brushes at the time of review that offer better battery life than this.
Your opinion may well be different, but typically I wish for the battery to last at least 2 weeks on a full charge.
This is because it gives the flexibility to go away for a few days or even a couple of weeks on business or for a holiday, without having to worry about taking a charger with you. As you can tell the Pro 3 allows just this.

Provided in the box with the 3000 is a standard Oral-B charging stand.
The white coloured stand is a little thicker and wider than the handle itself and has a protuberance on the top, which aligns with a recess found in the base of the handle.
Hardwired into the charging stand is a 2 pin power adapter suitable for UK bathrooms. The power cord is approx 90cm/3 ft in length.
The 2 pin connector works on 220-240v and can be connected to a 3 pin UK socket with the use of an adapter.
Connect the adapter to the outlet on the wall, sit the 3000 on the stand and it will begin charging.
It can take up to 12 hours to charge the brush fully.
When on the stand, the battery status indicator on the front of the brush handle will flash green.
If the battery is completely flat it can take up to 30 minutes or so for it to begin flashing.
Once fully charged, the light will stop flashing and turn itself out.
Electronic circuits in the charger and toothbrush prevent the battery from being overcharged. So, if the brush is left on the charger for extended periods of time, you don’t need to worry.
When in use, the battery icon will flash red if the battery is getting low.
You should still be able to complete a couple of brushing sessions, even when the battery is low, before it runs out completely. However, as the power decreases the brush head movements may reduce too.
For those who do travel, the provided charging stand supports 220-240v. This means that should you need to take the charging stand with you, you may need a voltage and plug adapter too, subject to where you are travelling. This would be the case if you were going to the USA for example.
Summary of battery life
- Claimed battery life of 2+ weeks
- Achieved a maximum of 20 days in my hands-on testing
- Supplied with a charging stand
- Takes up to 12 hours to charge fully
- Flashing green LED when the battery is charging
- Flashing green LED will stop when the battery is fully recharged
- Flashing red LED when the battery is low
- Can be left on the stand
- Stand support 220-240v
- Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) battery sealed inside
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.
The Pro 3 3000 has a recommended retail price of £90.00.
It is very common for many electric toothbrushes, particularly Oral-B brushes to sell for a fairly significant discount on their retail price.
You can normally get it for about 50% less than RRP, so selling prices are typically around £40-45.
This discounted price is much more reasonable and affordable. I would not encourage you to pay full price for these products.
The Pro 3 3500 (with the travel case) has a retail price of £90 too. It seems odd given that you get the benefit of the case too.

The Pro 3 3900 (dual handle) also has a retail price of £140.
Both the Pro 3 3500 and 3 3900 also often sell for 50% less. Making them £45 and £70 respectively.
When looking at buying any Oral-B model you need to shop around and consider your options. There is no pattern. At times certain coloured handles or variants will be cheaper than others. I was able to buy the variant with a travel case for less than the one with the case.
Of course, if you can get the case for no extra spend, or anything less than £5 extra I would say it is worth picking this option over the variant without the case.
Any price below £50 for the Pro 3 3000 or 3 3500 is pretty reasonable, all things considered. If you can get it for nearer £40, then that is an even better deal.
Ultimately, pay a price you deem fair and are happy to pay.
All brushes require replacement brush heads for each user every 3 months. Replacement heads can be purchased in packs of 4 and whilst prices do vary, you are generally looking at a price of around £3 per replacement Oral-B brush head.
Using the average cost (based on one user) and ownership over 3 years, the Pro 3 3000 will cost £78 or 7p per day to own.
This price does exclude the cost of water, toothpaste and electric to charge it. This price also works on some assumptions, but you get a rough idea.
You can bring the cost down further if you were to share it with other members of your household. All you need to invest in is extra brush heads.
All told it is a pretty fair price to pay for the Pro 3.
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 £90
- Generally available with a 50% discount; circa £45
- Replacement brush heads cost around £3 each
- Works out at around £0.07 per day to own over 3 years
- Pro 3 3500 variant with travel case often same price as Pro 3 3000
Reliability & long term use
The fundamental technology that Oral-B use to power this toothbrush and provide the great clean is no different to most of the brushes the company offers.
The handle design of the Pro 3 3000 is slightly different though.
It has the classic cylindrical shape, but the plastic body of the handle and the 360 degree pressure sensor is a new combination.
The 360 degree sensor has been made available on premium Oral-B toothbrushes such as the Genius X, but the very minimal handle design is a little different to what has been available previously.
Having used this brush for a couple of weeks and analysed it, I have no immediate cause for concern.
Oral-B has a good reputation for build and durability and I have little reason to doubt that here.
Should the worst happen and it fails in some way, you have a 2 year manufacturer warranty and that is on top of the 30 day money back guarantee, which allows you to return it, even if it’s not faulty!
Conclusion
The Pro 3 is a brush I have confidence in recommending. It is our recommendation for the best overall electric toothbrush.
The 3 3500 comes with a travel case and is our overall pick for the best electric toothbrush today.
The 3000 offers the most essential features of an electric brush and not lots of unwanted and unnecessary additional extras.
Of course, it cleans the teeth well and the choice of cleaning modes means it suits a variety of users.
It is a shame you can’t easily tell which mode you have selected and that it always defaults to the daily clean mode, but that is how Oral-B configures its mid-range models and it isn’t a deal breaker.
Size Guide
- Height (without head) – 19.5cm/7.68 inches
- Height (with head) – 23.2cm/9.13 inches
- Width – 2.5cm/0.98 inches
- Thickness – 2.9cm/1.14 inches
- Weight (without head) – 119g/4.2oz
- Weight (with head) – 124g/4.4oz
All are approximates
Noise
- 78dB
Hello there,
I saw on Lazada/Shopee there is a model that looks exactly like 3500 but on the box it says Oral-B Pro Ultra. Does anyone know what is the difference between the models?
Thanks and best regards,
I’ve not personally handled this product, but from looking online at Lazada, it looks very similar. It appears to have an extra cleaning mode.
Overall very similar indeed. It looks potentially a very good toothbrush.
This is a fantastic, in depth review, thank you. Would this toothbrush be suitable for an eight and 10 year old, if the brush head was changed to the Oral B sensitive clean brush head? Or is it too powerful?
it should be fine Karen. Just use the more gentle cleaning modes with the sensitive head to begin with and make sure you are communicating with your children to ensure they are happy etc.
THanks for this site. Very informative and helpful.
Best wishes
Gary Hodes
Thank you for such a comprehensive review. I was looking on ebay and can see a couple of people selling the white handle with travel case. Is this an older version do you think? This colour combination doesn’t seem to exist new. Many thanks!
Hi Helen,
It’s possible that it is the older version. It could be worth asking the seller. Note that it is only the 3500 that comes with a travel case.