Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9000 vs DiamondClean Smart

Detailed comparison: what’s the difference between the Sonicare DiamondClean Smart and DiamondClean 9000?

The similarities between these brushes are greater than the differences.

The similarities in the names also does not help differentiate between the possible differences between each.

For simplicity I will refer to the DiamondClean 9000 as the DC9 and the DiamondClean Smart as the DCS.

The DCS offers 1 additional cleaning mode compared to the DC9.  This 5th cleaning mode is called ‘Tongue Care’ and as the name implies it is designed to help clean the surface of the tongue.

It is a shorter cleaning mode that lasts just 20 seconds compared to the typical 2 minute cleaning cycle.  This is because you don’t need to spend 2 minutes cleaning the tongue.

Because it is just 20 seconds, this mode does not make use of the brushes built-in timer in the same way other modes do.

Supplied with the DCS is 1 x TongueCare+ brush head, which you don’t get with the DC9.

This paddle shaped head has 240 very short silicone bristles which help clean the surface of the tongue effectively.

A standard brush head is perfectly fine to use too, but some may prefer the smaller, more specialised head.

The DCS does too come with a small bottle of Philips Sonicare BreathRX spray which is used when cleaning the tongue.

The supplied brush heads are where the DCS and DC9 differ.  

Just 1 x C3 Premium Plaque Defence brush head comes with the DC9, whereas the DCS has an additional 3 heads, making 4 in total.

Those additional heads are 1 each of the G3 Premium Gum Care and W3 Premium White brush head as well as the aforementioned TongueCare+ head.

Although the DCS comes supplied with them in the box, all can be purchased separately and can be used with the DC9.  

Only available with the range topping DCS 9700 is a brush head storage compartment.  Holding up to 4 brush heads it is a classy clear plastic unit that holds the brush heads upright.

It does not alter how the brush functions, just adds to the overall experience and is useful if you really decide to make use of the different brush head styles available.

Both of these models have a pressure sensor built-in that will vibrate the handle to alert you that you are brushing with excessive force.

The DCS however has a ring at the bottom of the handle that will be lit purple when the sensor is activated.  This therefore means you get a visual clue in addition to the sound and vibration of the brush handle changing.

I do not feel that this is an absolute essential feature, as the positioning on the bottom of the handle is not ideal, in my opinion.  However, it is a nice feature and it can catch the eye, particularly if you brush in front of a mirror.

Available in black and pink colour options the DC9 does not come in the cashmere grey and lunar blue colours of the DCS.  

Sadly, the lunar blue is exclusive to the 9700 and the grey and black only available on the 9500 variants.

They all look smart and it is a personal preference.

The design language, button placement etc is identical between the DiamondClean handles.

Another subtle difference between the DC9 and the DCS is that with the Smart variant you get a charging glass in the box.  

With the DC9, you get what Sonicare calls a glass charger, but it’s not glass and the implementation is different.

The glass with the DCS is most akin to a tumbler you might have a short alcoholic drink from.  It is made of glass and when the toothbrush is placed inside it, the brush does not stand perfectly upright.

On the other hand with the DC9, you are provided with a clear plastic frame that has a cutout for the DC9 handle.  When placed in it, the handle stands upright.  Although it looks like glass, it is definitely plastic.

Both sit on a charging plate to deliver the charge to the brush handle.  

Both look quite smart, but the glass with the DCS is certainly the more premium, and does take up a fraction more space on a countertop as a result.

The final and perhaps most significant difference is the Bluetooth connectivity and how the brush handles interact with the free Sonicare app.

Both brushes send key brushing data back to the app on your smartphone via a Bluetooth connection.

With the DC9, this data is sent at the end of a brushing session, so you are able to review data such as how long you brushed for and whether you used too much pressure.

This is then logged within the apps history.

With the DCS, whilst it does too log data post brushing for review at a later date, you can also see, in real-time, the location of the brush in your mouth.

The app provides an onscreen visualisation and highlights teeth you have and have not brushed.  This means you can respond instantly to make sure you have brushed all surfaces thoroughly before ending your tooth brushing session.  This is not possible on the DC9.

Does one clean better than the other?

No.  There is no noticeable difference between the clean that either of these brushes offer.

As far as I am aware both brushes use the same motor that delivers up to 31,000 brush strokes or 62,000 movements per minute.

They share 4 of the same cleaning modes.

The DCS does have the 1 additional tongue cleaning mode and associated brush head.  This could potentially help clean the tongue better than the 9000.  However, any differences would be small and in reality difficult to accurately track.

The alternative brush heads that come in the box with the Smart could potentially have some benefit, but this would be negligible and impossible to track.  These heads are available to buy and use with the 9000, so any advantage is purely the fact they are available in the box.

Where the DiamondClean Smart could be argued to clean better is via the data it offers to the smartphone application.

Ultimately whilst the brush doesn’t actually clean any differently to the 9000, the DiamondClean Smart 9500 and 9700 deliver real-time brushing data to the smartphone app, that you and I can take advantage of.

Seeing areas of the mouth we have missed or could pay more attention to can certainly result in achieving better oral health as a result.

However, with the correct brushing technique there is no reason you can’t get the same results with the DC9.  The difference is you are just not getting the app feedback.  You are relying on your obedience of a solid brushing technique.

You don’t have the fall back of the app to alert you to potential missed spots.

Is one better priced than the other?

Yes, the DiamondClean Smart is potentially cheaper and the better value purchase But ultimately it depends.

Technically, the retail price of the DiamondClean 9000 is £340.

Whereas the retail price of the Smart is £360 for the 9500 variant and £380 for the 9700 variant.

This therefore makes the 9000 cheaper by £20.

Based on the suggested retail price alone, I would suggest going for the DCS, because for a minimum of £20 more, you get 3 additional brush heads, a visible pressure sensor and real time tracking.

But, at the time of writing it is not quite that straightforward.

The DCS has been on the market for a couple of years, meaning that the typical selling price is actually a lot lower than the manufacturer suggested price.

You can expect to pay around £250 for the 9500 or 9700.  That is about 30% off retail.

Prices do naturally vary considerably from one seller to another, but it shouldn’t be too difficult to find them at this price.

The DiamondClean 9000 has only been available for a matter of weeks and is sticking around the £340 retail price.

Applying the same 30% discount logic this would reduce the price to around £240.

Yet again given the relatively small price difference I would opt for the Smart variant of the DiamondClean series.

Whilst it is less common for Sonicare products to be discounted to as much as 50% off, it is not unheard of.  

Therefore it is possible that the price drops to circa £170 which is a more significant saving over the Smart variant.

When you are spending this much money, spending a bit more to gain some of the extras of the range topping Smart variant could be worthwhile, if you genuinely feel you will get benefit from them. 

If you really think you will use the real time tracking in the app, then this is the biggest appeal for me.

I feel the actual selling price of the 9000 will hover more around the £170-200.

As a result I advise you to make an informed personal judgement on the price.

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.