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Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9000 vs DiamondClean

Sonicare DiamondClean vs DiamondClean 9000 Header Image

Which one would we choose?

Our choice: Sonicare DiamondClean (3rd Gen/2019)
2nd choice: Sonicare DiamondClean 9000

The DiamondClean 9000 essentially replaces the DiamondClean.

Technically and from a user experience point of view, the newer DiamondClean 9000 is the better toothbrush and would be the one I pick.

However, the key issue here is the price.

The older DiamondClean is significantly cheaper than the 9000 and the one to buy.  

The price premium for the 9000 is not justifiable, when in reality, used correctly, both toothbrushes clean the teeth extremely well.

If the premium is £40 or less go for the 9000.

Our Choice
Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Sonic electric toothbrush HX9331/32
Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9000 Black Electric Toothbrush, 4 Modes, 3 Intensities, Gum Pressure Sensor, App, Connected Handle, UK 2-Pin Bathroom Plug, Packaging May Vary
Brush Name
Sonicare DiamondClean (2019/3rd Edition)
Sonicare DiamondClean 9000
Customer Rating
Electric Teeth Rating
4/5
4/5
Price
£404.53
£171.82
Prime
-
-
Our Choice
Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Sonic electric toothbrush HX9331/32
Brush Name
Sonicare DiamondClean (2019/3rd Edition)
Customer Rating
Electric Teeth Rating
4/5
Price
£404.53
Prime
-
Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9000 Black Electric Toothbrush, 4 Modes, 3 Intensities, Gum Pressure Sensor, App, Connected Handle, UK 2-Pin Bathroom Plug, Packaging May Vary
Brush Name
Sonicare DiamondClean 9000
Customer Rating
Electric Teeth Rating
4/5
Price
£171.82
Prime
-

Video Comparison

Sonicare DiamondClean 9000 vs DiamondClean [UK]

Key Differences

The following table lists the key differences between each brush.

A more detailed list and explanation of the differences can be found beneath the comparison table.

DiamondClean 9000DiamondClean
Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9000 vs DiamondClean 1Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9000 vs DiamondClean 2
Recommended Retail Price (RRP)£340£270
Cleaning ActionSonicSonic
Number of Cleaning Modes45
Timer & PacerYesYes
Pressure SensorYes
(not visible)
Battery Life (Days – Manufacturer claimed)1421
Battery TypeLi-IonLi-Ion
Number of Brush Heads Included11
Travel CaseYes
(with in case charging)
Yes
(with in case charging)
BluetoothYes
Position Detection Technology
Handle Colour(s)Black
Pink
White
White
Black
Pink
Rose Gold
Other Key Information3 brushing intensities / Brush head
replacement
reminder /
Brush head
mode pairing
  • The DiamondClean has 5 cleaning modes (clean, white, deep clean, gum health & sensitive)  compared to the 4 of the DiamondClean 9000 (clean, white+, gum health & deep clean+).
  • The DiamondClean 9000 has 3 brushing intentistes (low, medium & high) not available on the original DiamondClean.
  • The DiamondClean 9000 has extra buttons and icons on the handle
  • The DiamondClean 9000 has Bluetooth connectivity.
  • The DiamondClean 9000 has BrushSync technology.
  • The DiamondClean 9000 has a pressure sensor.
  • The DiamondClean 9000 has a USB cable built into the case rather than a detachable cable.
  • The DiamondClean comes in 4 colours (black, white, pink & rose gold) compared to the 2 colours (black & pink) of the DiamondClean 9000.
  • The DiamondClean 9000 has a retail price of £340 compared to the £300 of the DiamondClean.

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.

There are several different variants of the DiamondClean 9000. The standard package is the single handled black or pink brushes. It is these that I include in this comparison.  However, there are too dual handled packages with different box contents excluded from this comparison. 

The DiamondClean has also been upgraded since it launched (2016) and is essentially in its 3rd generation/2019 model.  Therefore precise differences will vary depending on generation compared.  It is the 2019 model I am comparing here.  There is too a dual handled option with a different box contents, excluded from this comparison.

More information can be found in the hands-on review of each brush.

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

If you are not already confused with all the mentions of DiamondClean, I am going to make things a little simpler by referring to the latest DiamondClean 9000 model as DC9 from now on!

The first difference between these 2 models are the cleaning modes available.

The original DiamondClean has 5 modes, they are:

  • Clean
  • White
  • Deep Clean
  • Gum Health
  • Sensitive

The DC9 on the other hand has 4 modes.  They are:

  • Clean
  • White+
  • Gum Health
  • Deep Clean+

As you will see, sensitive mode is missing.

This is similar to the gum health mode, so it is not a significant loss.

In fact there is limited data to really suggest that any of these extra modes are indeed beneficial, although I am sure Sonicare would argue otherwise.

The ‘+’ added to the end of the names makes no difference either as far as I can tell.  

Our Sonicare brushing modes explained article goes into some extra detail, should you wish to learn more.

Sonicare DiamondClean 3rd Gen & 9000 side by side

Where the DC9 gains is with the ability to change the intensity of any cleaning mode.

With the choice of low, medium and high, you can change the power delivered to the bristles.

Essentially, the 4 modes now become 12.

What this ultimately means is you can find the perfect brushing experience for you.

This does have a knock on effect to the look of the brush handle.

Whilst both are very similar, the DC9 has an extra button below the power button.

This new button controls the brushing intensities and the cleaning modes.

You can change the cleaning modes when the brush is turned off and the intensity when the brush is turned on.

In between the 2 buttons are 3 vertical bars that are lit with a white light when the intensity is selected/changed.

DiamondClean brush handles from Sonicare

The DC9 does benefit from a few other features.

Possibly the most significant of which is the Bluetooth connectivity, something not found on the 3rd generation model.

Whilst brushing the handle tracks and stores certain pieces of data.

After a brushing session is complete, this data is sent to the Sonicare smartphone application, if a paired smartphone is within range.

The data is collated and displayed on screen, with any other data it has from the last 7 days.  It then allows for you to review this and gain insights and an understanding of your habits.

Green icons means everything is good and you are taking good care of your mouth.  Grey and orange colours indicate areas for improvement.

By reviewing this you should be able to understand how you can improve, if you need to.

BrushSync technology is another feature of the DC9.

There are 2 parts to it.  

The first part is the brush head replacement reminder, which tracks the brush heads that are attached to the brush handle.  These brush heads have a microchip in them.

Based on the brushing time elapsed and pressure used a warning light will be lit, when the head should be replaced.  This should activate at around 3 months/90 days.

The principle is that this reduces the chances of using an old/worn out brush head for too long.  

The second and less useful part of this technology is the pairing feature, whereby the most appropriate cleaning mode is selected based on the style of brush head attached.

Sonicare DiamondClean 9000 in black laid flat next to DiamondClean 3rd Gen in white

Brushing with too much force, particularly over extended periods of time can damage the teeth and gums.  This is why the DC9 has a pressure sensor built-in.  

When excessive force is detected, the brush handle will vibrate in a very obvious way that changes the overall sound of the brush too.  This is your alert to reduce the pressure and in turn reduce the risk to your teeth and gums.

A particularly useful feature on both of these brushes is that the travel case allows you to charge the brush whilst inside.  This is reliant on the provided USB cable being connected to a power outlet though.

Such a feature is particularly handy for those who travel a lot or perhaps do not have a shaver socket in their bathroom.

The design of the cases are slightly different, but both hold the handle and up to 2 brush heads.

The key difference here is that the 2019 DiamondClean has a detachable USB cable, whereas the DC9 has the cable hardwired into it.

The cable with the DC9 is stowed on the bottom of the case and is accessed via a removable panel.  

Both do the same job, just there is no chance or losing or forgetting the cable with the DC9.

The last significant difference is the colours of the brush handles.

The original DiamondClean comes in 4 colour options:

  • Black
  • White
  • Pink
  • Rose Gold

The DC9 on the other hand is available only in:

  • Pink
  • Black
Sonicare boxes

Does one clean better than the other?

No.  

Whilst they have slightly different offerings, these brushes essentially clean the teeth as well as each other.

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.

And the additional sensitive cleaning mode on offer on the DiamondClean isn’t going to make any significant difference in terms of brushing for someone.

Where the possible differences and benefits of the DiamondClean 9000 come in are around some of the extra features that it offers.  

What they can do is help educate and encourage you and in ways the original DiamondClean does not, so as a consequence they improve the experience and indirectly help you brush better.

DiamondClean Series 9000 vs 3rd Generation laid on left side of handle

These extra features include the BrushSync technology which will actively make you aware when you need to replace your brush head.  Therefore you replace your head more regularly than you might have previous and potentially increase the efficacy of the cleaning.

The choice of 3 different brushing intentisites, low, medium and high allows you to find the ideal brushing experience.  It ultimately offers 12 different cleaning configurations compared to the 5 that are on the DiamondClean.

Vibrations through the brush handle alert you when your brush too hard.  This then reduces the likelihood of you brushing the teeth with too much force and doing unnecessary damage to the teeth and gums.

The last and likely most significant difference, depending on your point of view is the smartphone application.

The data it offers for review perhaps gives the opportunity for you to become more aware of how well or not you are brushing.  Clear visuals make it easier to determine where you need to make improvements.

Not getting all green ticks or bars might just be that extra nudge you need to perfect your technique.

The possible benefits are more circumstantial than clinically proven.

Is one better priced than the other?

Yes.

The suggested retail price of the DC9 is £340 compared to the £300 of the DiamondClean.  This is not all that surprising.

The £40 premium, is in my opinion, justifiable given the ‘extras’ that the DC9 offers.

However, the reality is the typical selling price is not the retail price.

Of course, prices can vary from one seller to another and there are at times promotional periods where prices are more varied than they would normally be.

Discounts of 20% are common for Sonicare products.  At times that discount can be as much as 50%.

At the time of writing the original DiamondCleans average selling price is around £100, some £200 (67%) less than the retail price.

This is one of the biggest discounts I have seen on such products.

The DC9 on the other hand is being sold for or very close to it’s suggested selling price, with basically no discount.  Therefore the difference is much more significant and there is no justifiable reason to purchase the DC9 over the 2019 DiamondClean.

Taking the logic that a 20-50% discount is common, the newer DC9 should at some point drop to a price anywhere between £272 to £170.  

Whilst these prices are clearly a big saving on the retail price, they still a significant increase over the DiamondClean.

What I am saying here is that there is no reason to go for the newer model, as I can see it, when such price differences exist.

If the DC9 is only about £40 more expensive than the DiamondClean, then that is an acceptable premium to pay.

Based on the prices at the time of writing, the DC9 would have to be £140 or less.  

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.

Conclusion

These are 2 very capable toothbrushes that offer more than you need.

A very good electric toothbrush can be purchased for £50 or less.

Both brushes, as you expect, clean the teeth very well.

But, what these more premium models offer are some extras that make for a better overall user experience for some.  This experience might just be worth paying for.

What price or value that you may put on these will differ to another person.

But, the evidence I think speaks for itself. There is no reason to buy the DC9 when the original DiamondClean offers many of the benefits for considerably less. 

Our Choice
Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Sonic electric toothbrush HX9331/32
Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9000 Black Electric Toothbrush, 4 Modes, 3 Intensities, Gum Pressure Sensor, App, Connected Handle, UK 2-Pin Bathroom Plug, Packaging May Vary
Brush Name
Sonicare DiamondClean (2019/3rd Edition)
Sonicare DiamondClean 9000
Customer Rating
Electric Teeth Rating
4/5
4/5
Price
£404.53
£171.82
Prime
-
-
Our Choice
Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Sonic electric toothbrush HX9331/32
Brush Name
Sonicare DiamondClean (2019/3rd Edition)
Customer Rating
Electric Teeth Rating
4/5
Price
£404.53
Prime
-
Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9000 Black Electric Toothbrush, 4 Modes, 3 Intensities, Gum Pressure Sensor, App, Connected Handle, UK 2-Pin Bathroom Plug, Packaging May Vary
Brush Name
Sonicare DiamondClean 9000
Customer Rating
Electric Teeth Rating
4/5
Price
£171.82
Prime
-

Your Opinions

Do you own or have you used the Sonicare DiamondClean?

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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1 thought on “Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9000 vs DiamondClean”

  1. Long time I was looking for an article thst can describe at its best the differences between this 2 toothbrushes.
    As I am currently using the DC 2019, I want to upgrade to DC9000, but I required extra overview about the differences and this article helped me a lot. Great article and a lot of information provided. Thank you & Appreciate!

    Reply
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