Which one would we choose?
Best overall: Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9900 Prestige / Philips, Amazon / ~£259.99
Runner up: Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9400 / Philips, Amazon / ~£169.99
Best value: Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9000 / Philips, Amazon / ~£139.99
Our verdict
The Philips Sonicare Prestige 9900 is the ultimate choice, it represents the best of Sonicare.
From my testing, I feel that it is the best smart toothbrush available today. It has a comprehensive range of features and a great travel case. It cleans the teeth exceptionally well, whilst looking good and feeling great in the hand.
Previously I had recommended the DiamondClean Smart 9400 as the best overall choice as it struck the balance between performance, features and price. Compared to the 9900, little is sacrificed. However, there is no longer such a difference in price, so the 9900 is a stronger consideration.
The DiamondClean 9000 has fewer features but still has the essential ones you need. I can vouch for it cleaning the teeth just as well.
In fact, all three brushes all cleaned my teeth equally well as one another. The differences in features had a small impact on user experience, but not my overall dental health.
Does one clean better than the other?
No. They all clean the teeth comparably.
However, if you want to be pedantic, there is an argument that the DiamondClean Smart and Prestige models may achieve better results than the DiamondClean 9000.
This is because of the educational tools and data they offer over the 9000.
The 9000 tracks and logs some of your brushing habits, but it does not track and display your brushing in real time. It won’t show you areas of the mouth and teeth you haven’t brushed, whereas the others do.
If you are committed to monitoring this information, you can learn to improve your brushing technique.
But, ultimately this is making you a better brusher. The brush itself is not cleaning the teeth any better.
In reality, it is a lot of effort for very little gain. I’ve got all these models and more. Do I use the tracking data and log into the app regularly? No, I don’t.
People who have bought these models and similar ones have said the same thing to me.
This tech isn’t necessarily a waste, but there is no point paying for and having it unless you will use it to the point where it is beneficial.
The brushes I recommend in our best electric toothbrush post are far cheaper and can still brush your teeth just as well.
Key differences
| Find out more |
| Electric Teeth Rating |
| Retail price |
| Cleaning Action |
| Number of cleaning modes |
| Brushing intensities |
| Timer |
| Pacer |
| Pressure Sensor |
| Battery life |
| Battery type |
| Number of heads included |
| Travel case included |
| Bluetooth connectivity |
| Position tracking |
| Noise |
| Warranty |
| Buying options |
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Our Choice
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| Review | - | Review |
(4.9)
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(4.9)
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(5)
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| £550 | £401 | £350 |
| Sonic | Sonic | Sonic |
| 5 | 4 | 4 |
| 3 | 3 | 3 |
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| 20 second sextants | 30 second quadpacer | 20 second sextants |
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| 14 days | 14 days | 14 days |
| Rechargeable Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) | Rechargeable Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) | Rechargeable Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) |
| 1 | 2 | 1 |
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| 71dB | 71dB | 71dB |
| 2 years | 2 years | 2 years |
Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige vs DiamondClean 9000
- Handle design/colours
- The DiamondClean 9000 is available in 3 colours (white, black & pink) vs the 2 colours (blue & gold) of the Prestige 9900.
- The DiamondClean 9000 has text labels on the handle to show which mode is active. The Prestige does not. This information is shown in the smartphone app only.
- You can change the brushing mode on the 9000 using the mode button. To change modes on the 9900 Prestige you have to do this in the smartphone app.
- The Prestige is slightly slimmer and lighter in hand.
- The Prestige has a seamless button design for improved durability.
- Cleaning modes
- The Prestige has an additional cleaning mode (sensitive) to make a total 5 vs the 4 modes of the DiamondClean 9000.
- The 9000 changes cleaning mode based on the style of brush head attached.
- Technology
- The 9900 Prestige has real-time tracking.
- The Prestige 9900 has a visible pressure sensor that lights up purple, the 9000 does not have.
- The Prestige 9900 has a scrubbing sensor that lights up yellow, the 9000 does not have.
- Battery
- The Prestige achieved 4 weeks of use on a full charge vs 3 weeks of the 9000. Both have a claimed life of 14 days.
- The 9900 Prestige has a charging stand with a USB Type-A connector whereas the 9900 has a 2 pin shaver plug.
- Accessories & box contents
- The 9900 comes with an A3 Premium All-in-One head vs the C3 Premium Plaque Control head with the 9000.
- The 9900 Prestige’s travel case uses a USB Type-C power connector, whereas the 9000 has a USB cable hardwired into it.
- The DiamondClean 9000’s travel case can hold 2 brush heads compared to the 1 of the Prestige.
- Price
- The Prestige has a retail price of £550 compared to the £350 of the 9000.
Please note. Every effort is made to ensure the key differences listed are correct, but these differences are subject to change without notice. Products and the box contents can be changed without notice and different variants can exist.
So many DiamondClean models, it’s confusing
Philips has previously and currently does manufacture lots of different ‘DiamondClean’ branded electric toothbrushes.
Some fall under the ‘DiamondClean Smart’ range, whilst others ‘DiamondClean’ (non-smart) family of brushes.
Yet, those under the ‘DiamondClean’ range have what many would consider to be smart features such as Bluetooth connectivity. The DiamondClean 9000 is one such example.
The range of brushes, not accounting for colour variations, is unnecessarily complicated. It makes it very difficult to choose between one model and another when in reality they are very similar.
Detailed comparison: Sonicare 9000 vs 9400 vs 9900
Having used lots of different toothbrushes, including all the current Sonicare brushes, I can confirm that none of these brushes offer a dramatically better clean than each other.
Believe it or not, whilst they might clean a bit better than the cheapest Sonicare brushes, the differences are not significant. Picking one brush over the other isn’t going to radically improve your toothbrushing or general dental health.
Where these brushes differ is in the features they offer and how you and I interact with them daily.
A great example of this is with the travel cases they all come with.
All 3 allow us to recharge the toothbrush whilst inside, provided they are connected to a power source. The Prestige uses a detachable USB Type-A to USB Type-C cable. Whereas the others use a USB Type-A cable that is hardwired into the case. The Type-C is newer and future proofed. But there is a notable convenience to having the cable built into the case.
I think you’d agree, when you travel, you want to travel lighter, if possible. Thus, the Prestige stands out here. The travel case is slimmer and more compact, complete with a wrist strap compared to the more bulky, strapless cases of the 9400 and 9000 brushes. The handle itself is a bit slimmer (a few millimetres between them). It is also about 20g lighter.
However, if you like to travel with a spare or share a brush handle with a partner, the bulkier cases might suit you better. They hold 2 heads rather than the 1 of the Prestige.
Unless my teeth and gums are particularly sensitive, I tend to stick to the default cleaning mode. Thus, extra modes have limited extra benefits for me. But, I know many people, this might be you, really like the ability to dial in the cleaning power to just the way you like.
All 3 brushes allow this to some extent. All have a high, medium and low brushing intensity in addition to their cleaning modes. The Prestige has an extra mode, sensitive, to make 5 in total. This is compared to the 4 on the other brushes.
| Number of cleaning modes |
| Clean |
| Sensitive |
| Sensitive |
| Gum |
| White |
| Deep Clean |
| Cleaning mode notification |
| Brushing intensities |
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Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9900 Prestige
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Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9400
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Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9000
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| 5 | 4 | 4 |
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| - | - | - |
| 3 | 3 | 3 |
The brushes default to the last used mode, but the DiamondClean 9000 and the Diamond Clean Smart 9400 do allow you to change the mode right from the brush handle, using the dedicated cleaning mode button. The Prestige does not have this. You have to go into the app to change modes. It’s annoying, but I speak from experience when I say I barely ever change brushing modes, so this limitation of the Prestige isn’t as significant as it might seem at first.
I prefer the backlit brushing mode labels you get on the DiamondClean 9000 and 9400. It makes it obvious at a glance which mode you have active. You need to refer to the app with the Prestige. It’s a bit frustrating.
Durability has been improved with a seamless button design on the Prestige. This prevents gunk and grime from building up around the power button like it can on the DiamondClean 9000 and Smart 9400. The downside is that the pressure sensitive button on the Prestige is quite firm. Those with arthritis or dexterity issues won’t like this.
I do like Sonicare’s implementation of the pressure sensor. The vibrations through the handle are very obvious. This is great for someone who might be blind or partially sighted. But, the 9000 does lack a visible sensor like the DiamondClean Smart 9400 and the Prestige. If you brush in front of a mirror, your eye is drawn to the purple light emitted. Again, it’s not a big issue, just a small difference. Either way, you are still alerted when you are putting your teeth at risk by brushing too hard.
It’s a similar situation with the scrubbing sensor available on the Prestige only. The handle vibrates and the light ring is lit yellow. If you are blind, there is no way to easily tell the difference between the scrubbing and pressure sensor. The handle vibration pattern is the same.
I think we all like to get a bit extra for our money, so the fact the DiamondClean Smart comes with an extra brush head compared to the 1 supplied with the 9000 and 9900 is nice. All models can use the same brush head styles, albeit the ones supplied are different.
Oddly it is the cheaper 9000 and 9400 that have the brush head mode pairing feature. This changes the brushing mode based on the type of head you attach. It saves 1 or 2 button presses should you like to change mode when you change the bristles. It is far from necessary. I find I use the same brush head style. There is very little reason to be switching heads regularly.
A rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery is sealed inside the water resistant brush handle. Philips suggests all 3 offer up to 2 weeks of use on a full charge.
Exact usage time varies based on mode and intensity. I’ve found that the Prestige performed best with around 4 weeks of use, the Smart 9400, a little over 3 weeks and the DiamondClean a couple of days behind that.
Both the DiamondClean 9000 and the Smart 9400 have a 2 pin power adapter on the end of the charging stand, suitable for a shaver socket. The Prestige has a USB Type-A connector. There is a USB to 2 pin adapter supplied in the box.
The stand style differs slightly too. The 9900 and 9000 have a charging base and puck configuration, whereas the DiamondClean Smart comes with the classier looking, but much more bulky glass charging stand.
Where these models perhaps differ most is with the Bluetooth technology and position sensors built into the handles. I will be the first to tell you that you don’t need Bluetooth connectivity on a toothbrush. Yet all 3 have it. The 9000 doesn’t offer real-time tracking though like the other 2 models.
| Bluetooth connectivity |
| Position tracking |
| Smart Features Additional information |
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Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9900 Prestige
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Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9400
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Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9000
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| Real time position tracking. Cleaning modes can be changed via the app only. | Real time position tracking. | - |
What this means is that you get no feedback from the app as you brush. Data is logged and can be reviewed after brushing. It monitors brushing time and frequency. It doesn’t show what surfaces of the teeth you have and haven’t brushed like the DiamondClean Smart 9400 and the Prestige. With these models, you can take immediate action to correct any errors in your technique.
Is one better priced than the other?
When we first published this post there was greater difference in price between the Prestige and DiamondClean Smart.
Now that some time has passed they are closer in price. That being said, when we last updated this post, they both still cost over £200 each.
The DiamondClean 9000 is currently about £50 to £60 cheaper, but it doesn't quite offer the full smart experience that the others do and it's still on the more expensive side for an electric toothbrush.
I can’t honestly say the premium for any of these brushes is worth it. It’s only justifiable if you want the very best tech available.
Our main recommendation from Sonicare, the 3100 Series is significantly cheaper and is sufficient for most people. Used correctly it can do a perfectly good job of cleaning your teeth.
Ongoing ownership costs are similar as they all use the same style of brush head. But, because the 9400 comes with more brush heads in the box, it does work out better value, as you don’t have to buy so many replacements.
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Our Choice
|
Our Choice
|
Our Choice
|
Our Choice
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric Teeth Rating |
(4.9)
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(4.9)
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(5)
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(4.4)
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| Category | Best overall | Runner up | Best value | Still great |
| Philips | View price | View price | View price | View price |
| Amazon | £259.99 | £169.99 | £139.99 | £29.99 |
Conclusion
If you're considering these three brushes, you're probably interested in a top of the range, smart toothbrush.
If that's the case, the DiamondClean 9000 doesn't quite measure up to the other two in terms of features.
It's still an excellent brush and can clean your teeth just as well, but its smart technology isn't quite as good.
If you want the very best, the Prestige is my pick. However, the DiamondClean 9400 is almost as good, so if it's on offer a lot cheaper, it's certainly a contender.
I got a 2 pack of the 9000 DiamondClean toothbrushes for a good price, but it didn’t included any travel cases. Phillips sell the travel cases individually through their store. I like the look of the prestige travel cases, but not sure if the travel cases for the 9000, 9400 & 9900 are all interchangeable with the brush handles? I.e. Can I buy the 9900 travel cases individually through for the 9000 and have it fit properly?
Hi Rich.
Your DiamondClean 9000 brush handles will not fit in the 9900 Prestige case. I know this as the handles are different sizes.
I *think* the 9000 will work in the case suitable for DiamondClean Smart 9400, but I can't give 100% guarantee. There are travel cases for the 9000 you have. This is the one linked from the Philips product page.
Thanks for the information. I'm unsure which one I should buy Diamond Clean 9000 or Diamond Clean 9400. I like Tech gadgets like the Sonicare app on my IPhone and would like to the most functionalities on the app. When I understand you review right, than has the 9400 much more than the 9000?
This is correct. The 9400 has real-time tracking that the 9000 does not have.
First, thank you for the great work that you do. I find product information on features and specifications often confusing with so many similar Sonicare models. Question: in what way, if any, does the Bluetooth app, the integration and real time brush guide features differ between the prestige 9900 and Smart 9700? Thanks!
Hi Norbert.
To keep things simple here, they don't.
Fundamentally the integration and real time tracking between these 2 models are the same.
Great and detailed review pointing out the keydifferences, just what I was looking for
Thank you for the great review!
I am using so far an older model of Sonicare (without app) and share it with my partner (of course each with their own brush head). Can we still do that with these newer models, which means, one toothbrush must be able to connect to two smartphones and track two brush heads simultaneously.
Thank you for your fast answer. So maybe the best deal would be a duo set of the 9000. Although it has not the option to teach to improve our cleaning technique, right?
We could still use the A-head, right?
Yes, that is certainly a more affordable option. It won't give you the option to teach to improve your cleaning technique as you suggest.
You can use the A3 brush head, most certainly.
Another couple of options if I may...
Buy the DiamondClean Smart or the 9900 Prestige and a cheaper Sonicare toothbrush. You can both swap between either brush after a few weeks. You normally learn the key things about improving your brushing within a month or so, if not sooner. So, after several weeks you have less need to rely on the teachings of the app.
Or buy 2 cheaper brushes, without all the tech. Watch a few videos that demonstrate how to brush. Put that into practice and save yourself £££.
Ultimately, pick what you are happy with.
Hi Vanessa.
No, you can't do this. The brushes work on the basis of 1 user and 1 smartphone. There is no option to differentiate between users.
You can do as you do now, but all the data will sync to one phone only and would combine both the brushing data of you and your partner.
Thank you for the information. I found the differences and prices quite hard to fathom, particularly with the discounts available. I saw one on Boots but wasn’t sure that it was the exact one I’d seen on their website but slightly cheaper. The one in the shop had a rather attractive lime green travel case. So I came home and went onto the websites and decided that the all in one brush of the Prestige was a good idea but the price was not. Although I think I could have bought it more cheaply elsewhere online I signed up to the Philip’s subscription where the cost is spread over 12 months and you get a new brush through the post every 3 months. After the end of the 12 month period you can continue with a subscription for a new brush 4 x year.
Norma. It is very confusing. I do hope my comparison at least helped a little.
Their new subscription offering is indeed a nice option. 👍
It’s extraordinarily helpful!
First of all fantastic review. very much detailed & totally appreciated.
As a user of both brushes the DCS takes the spot for me because of one thing. the reliability of prestige on that freaking app. How many months, years are we supposed to use this app? max with a very patient person 3 months after that you just wanna brush away, big mistake by Philips as with DCS you can do it within the brush & with this all in one brush head it will be easier.
It is just not practical to use this app in longevity. no way sometimes you're like i just want to brush my freaking teeth DCS can do it right there with the press of a button with changing modes.
This brush didn't feel like an upgrade but as a person who frequently changes modes from deep clean to gum care this prestige felt like a liability because of its reliability on the app. I can understand you bought a new brush might as well use the app but for how long? Real world scenario, You go to the bathroom wash your face the sink is wet, you then dry it keep the phone or hold it with dry hand, brush then change mode, brush & all this without having your first cup of coffee?
The case of DCS as rightly said can carry 2 brushes & one less cord.
The 9900 felt to me like a downgrade from DCS.
Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts. These are so valuable to us and other readers.