Our Verdict
The Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4300 is a very good electric toothbrush, featuring Sonciare’s BrushSync reminder technology.
The built-in timer and pacer are welcome inclusions, as are the automatic power off and EasyStart technologies.
Simplicity comes in the form of just 1 cleaning mode, with the option of changing the cleaning intensity. And the battery life is fantastic.
Sadly the overriding negative is the price — there are alternatives that could be considered within or below this price range.
Pros
- 1 cleaning mode makes it nice & simple to use
- Timer and pacer encourage brushing for the recommended time
- Pressure sensor – alerts you when brushing too hard
- BrushSync technology – reminder when brush heads need replacing
- Included travel case protects the handle & up to 2 heads
- Long battery life between charges
Cons
- Better value options exist (see other choices)
Where to buy the Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4300
Here are some of the current prices from retailers stocking the Philips 4300 ProtectiveClean.
It’s always worth checking eBay too.
Consider these other brushes
Whilst the Oral-B iO is a great toothbrush, we strongly recommend the brushes from our best electric toothbrush list, particularly the ‘best overall’ choice.
Having tested hundreds of electric toothbrushes, here are our top choices as of March 2023:
Oral-B Pro 3 3500 — Best overall
It has the essential features you need, cleans the teeth well & is affordable. (Amazon, eBay)
Sonicare Prestige 9900 — Most features
It won’t clean the teeth any better, and it has more features than you need, but it is the ultimate choice if a smart toothbrush is what you want. (Amazon, Ebay)
SURI — Best environmental choice
Slim, durable and designed to be less impactful on the planet. (SURI website)
Oral-B Vitality — Best budget
It isn’t the best but it is a strong performer for the price. It lacks a pressure sensor & the battery life isn’t great, but it’s cheap. (Boots, Amazon)
Video Review
Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4300 in depth review
The name Philips Sonicare is one that is long associated with oral healthcare and for the most part producing excellent toothbrushes.
From an everyday cleaning and usability point of view, the ProtectiveClean 4300 seems to be no exception to this model.
Launched in the Summer of 2018, it offers advances on technology first introduced in 2017, in a more cost effective, lesser featured package.
We rate it as the best Sonicare toothbrush, all things considered.
Variants of this toothbrush
There are several different models within the Sonicare ProtectiveClean range that are technically different in their abilities.
In addition to these models, there are different variants of the 4300 which we are reviewing here.
Technically the variants are identical. They have the same brushing modes and cleaning ability. The difference is the colour of the brush handle, the box contents and the price.
Each option is assigned a different Sonicare part number too.
Listed below are the different variants of the Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4300 and what you will get in the box.
- ProtectiveClean 4300
- Black Grey – HX6800/44
- 1 x Black grey brush handle
- 1 x Black W2 Optimal White brush head
- 1 x Black charging stand
- White and Mint – HX6807/24
- 1 x White and mint brush handle
- 1 x White W2 Optimal White brush head
- 1 x White charging stand
- White and Mint – HX6807/51
- 1 x White and mint brush handle
- 2 x White W2 Optimal White brush head
- 1 x White charging stand
- Light Blue – HX6803/04
- 1 x Light blue brush handle
- 1 x White C2 Optimal Plaque Defence brush head
- 1 x White charging stand
- Pastel Pink – HX6806/04
- 1 x Pastel pink brush handle
- 1 x White C2 Optimal Plaque Denfece brush head
- 1 x White charging stand
- Black Grey – HX6800/44
- ProtectiveClean 4300 with travel case
- Black Grey – HX6800/03
- 1 x Black grey brush handle
- 1 x White C2 Optimal Plaque Defence brush head
- 1 x White charging stand
- 1 x White travel case
- Black Grey – HX6800/87
- 1 x Black grey brush handle
- 1 x Black W2 Optimial White brush head
- 1 x Black charging stand
- 1 x Black travel case
- Navy Blue – HX6801/03 – DISCONTINUED
- 1 x Navy blue brush handle
- 1 x White C2 Optimal Plaque Defence brush head
- 1 x White charging stand
- 1 x White travel case
- Deep Pink – HX6805/03 – DISCONTINUED
- 1 x Deep pink brush handle
- 1 x White C2 Optimal Plaque Defence brush head
- 1 x White charging stand
- 1 x White travel case
- Light Blue – HX6803/03
- 1 x Light blue brush handle
- 1 x White C2 Optimal Plaque Defence brush head
- 1 x White charging stand
- 1 x White travel case
- Pastel Pink – HX6806/03
- 1 x Pastel pink brush handle
- 1 x White C2 Optimal Plaque Defence brush head
- 1 x White charging stand
- 1 x White travel case
- Black Grey – HX6800/03
- ProtectiveClean 4300 dual handled packages
- Pastel Pink and Black Grey – HX6807/34
- 1 x Pastel pink brush handle
- 1 x Black grey brush handle
- 2 x White C2 Optimal Plaque Defence brush head
- 2 x White charging stand
- 2 x White travel case
- Pastel Pine and Black Grey – HX6800/35
- 1 x Pastel pink brush handle
- 1 x Black grey brush handle
- 2 x White W2 Optimal White brush head
- 1 x White charging stand
- 1 x White travel case
- 1 x Black travel case
- White and Mint – HX6807/35
- 2 x White and mint brush handle
- 2 x W2 White Optimal White brush head
- 1 x White charging stand
- 2 x White travel case
- Pastel Pink and Black Grey – HX6807/34
Not all retailers stock each variant. So, if you have a particular one you want, then you may have to shop around to find it; best to go to Sonicare’s website, and see who is stocking that particular colour option.
It is the Navy Blue – HX6801/03 variant that I am reviewing.
What’s in the box
- 1 x Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4300 electric toothbrush
- 1 x C2 optimal plaque defence brush head
- 1 x Charging stand
- 1 x Travel case
- Documentation
Key Features
- Sonic cleaning action – 62,000 movements per minute
- 1 cleaning mode
- 2 intensity settings
- Built-in pressure sensor
- 2 minute timer and 30 second pacer
- Automatic power off
- Brush head reminder system
Design, usability, clean & general use
I want to start this main part of the review off by praising Sonicare on their approach to packaging the 4300.
Compared to previous models, the box is smaller, which means less cardboard use and better from a shelving and transportation perspective.
Both the outer and inner tray are recyclable.
The brush handle, head and charging stand are wrapped in plastic, which is a shame, but they are labelled as recyclable.
It is a small thing, but I feel significant. Compare this to Oral-B who use a polystyrene inner tray as part of their packaging, in today’s world is this right or required?
Out of the box and in hand the ProtectiveClean 4300 is a lovely solid and premium feeling electric toothbrush.
It is hard to explain, but there is something about the way Sonicare products feel in hand. There is a certain quality and feeling of ‘premium’ over and above the competition.
In the box you get the brush handle, the brush head, charging stand and the travel case in addition to the instruction manual.
The 2 key parts are the brush head and handle.
The handle is available in a number of different colours.
The brush is made up of 2 key parts, the handle and the detachable brush head.
The handle is rounded in its shape and has the fairly typical electric toothbrush look to it.
The finish of the plastic has a matt feel rather than the quite common glossy White you see.
Despite the minimal gripping points, it feels like you can hold the brush quite securely.
It would be nice if there were a few strategically placed pieces of rubber to grip onto, but this may detract from the clean design.
The 4300 is available in 5 different colour options at the time of writing. Those options are:
- Black Grey
- Navy Blue
- Light Blue
- Pastel Pink
- Deep Pink
All come with a white coloured charging stand, travel case and brush head. These accessories are not colour matched as they are on some other models.
Around the power button on the brush handle is a plastic panel. On all models, with the exception of the black grey, this panel is white in colour, to contrast with the brush handle.
It is the black grey that I have on test here that has a black plastic panel around the handle, for a more stealthy look.
Sonicare do make black coloured brush heads, travel cases and charging stands. It would be nice if this black model had those colour matched accessories. By no means a make or break issue, but to me, it would have added a little extra to the package.
Taking a detailed look at the brush handle then.
On the front of the handle, at the top, is the Philips Sonicare logo.
Sitting roughly a third of the way down the handle is the round power button. The button itself is concave and makes for a natural place to rest the thumb. It is made of rubber and has a power symbol embossed on it.
It is around this button that sits the aforementioned panel, which is white in colour on most handles.
The brush handle is smooth to the touch, and the plastic construction has been coated to give a matt finish, but one that also has the feeling of grip to it.
Unlike some glossy white handles of the past, this does not feel too slippery in hand.
Towards the bottom of the brush handle sits the BrushSync LED and symbol, below this is the battery LED and symbol below that.
Taking a look at the back of the brush, you would normally expect to find ridges or raised dots to offer up grip, but not here.
The rear of the handle of the 4300 is smooth to the touch, the only exception being a little protrusion just before the bottom of the handle.
Some may wonder what it is. Well, this very simple notch is ingenious in what it offers. Should you lay the brush flat on a worktop, this notch stops the brush from rolling, even if knocked. No more dirty brush bristle. Simple, but effective.
The base of the brush handle allows for it to stand upright on a flat surface. But the base does have a recess in it, into which the prong on the charging stand fits.
Moving to the top of the brush handle is where you find the metal shaft that the interchangeable Sonicare brush heads connect to. This metal shaft feeds into the motor sealed inside the handle.
Brush heads simply push on over this metal shaft and clip in place and pull off with ease.
With a head fitted, when you look side on at the brush handle you will see the head is at a slight angle. The reason for this is that it helps give a better reach towards the back of the mouth. A subtle but important design feature that enhances the overall usability.
There is only 1 cleaning mode available on the ProtectiveClean 4300.
This Clean mode uses the full power of the internal motor, moving the brush head bristles at up to 31,000 times per minute.
I like the simplicity of just 1 mode. It suits most users well and does not complicate matters with additional choices that will rarely be used.
As a result of the 1 cleaning mode, there are no LEDs or symbols on the handle to show you which mode is selected.
Nor are there any icons for the brushing intensity that is selected.
The ProtectiveClean 4300 offers the choice between a high and low intensity, to give you the choice of a softer or more invigorating cleaning experience.
In many respects it is equivalent to having a powerful ‘Clean’ and a ‘Sensitive’ mode on the handle, albeit not labelled as such.
My preference is for the high setting where you get the full power of the motor, but the low setting is certainly more gentle and will appeal to many.
This lower setting is most useful for those with inflamed or sensitive gums.
Pressing the power button turns the brush on, it is then a case of pressing the power button 1 or 2 more times to change the intensity.
It will be obvious, which is which during use.
Press and hold the power button to turn the brush off. Or alternatively, you can let the brush turn itself off.
One of the extra features it comes with is automatic power off, this happens when the 2 minute cleaning cycle has ended.
2 minutes is the dentist recommended cleaning time.
You need to brush twice a day for 2 minutes.
Sadly, too few of us brush for this time, so the automatic power off helps encourage us to brush for longer.
But there is another core feature built-in and that is the pacer.
The pacer activates at 30 second intervals, by pausing the brush motor briefly.
This pause alerts you, via the change in brush sound and the lack of movement in the brush head, that it is time to change quadrant.
If you are not familiar with the quadpacing setup built into the 4300, allow me to explain.
Whilst dentists recommend 2 minutes of cleaning twice a day, what this does not help with is ensuring you and I brush our teeth evenly.
The idea is that you break the mouth up into 4 sections. Upper right, upper left, lower right and lower left.
You spend 30 seconds cleaning each section, that way, over the 120 seconds (2 minutes) of brushing time, you will give a relatively even clean to the teeth and gums.
The pacer acts as an alert to you, to change quadrant as you brush, to encourage this even clean.
Of course, you don’t have to follow it, but it is good practice.
Do be aware, that there is a particular recommended technique with cleaning the teeth. The brush head should be held at a 45 degree angle to the teeth. If you want to learn the correct way, check out our helpful guide, to brushing with an electric toothbrush.
Offering 31,000 brush strokes (62,000 movements) per minute, the bristles of the brush head move rapidly over the surface of the teeth and gums to dislodge bacteria, plaque and food debris.
Those bristles need only skim the surface of the teeth and this is in part why Sonicare have built a pressure sensor into the brush handle of the ProtectiveClean 4300.
When the brush detects too much force is being applied, the handle vibrates and the brushing sensation changes.
The BrushSync replacement reminder LED flashes Amber when the sensor is activated too. Given its position and size, it is not the easiest to see.
It is these changes that alert you to the issue.
Relieve the pressure to stop these alerts.
It does not have the large visible pressure sensor like the light that the Oral-B Pro 3 3500 and Sonicare’s own DiamondClean Smart offer.
Personally, I do think the light makes it more obvious, particularly when most of us tend to brush in front of a mirror.
Sadly, the flashing amber light on the ProtectiveClean is on the wrong side of the handle for you to really notice, but you should notice the other changes and reduce the pressure applied, and this will draw your attention to the excess pressure, even if the light does not.
The vibration will kick in every time too much pressure is applied.
Within a few days, you will get used to how much pressure is appropriate.
Brushing too hard long term can potentially damage your teeth and gums. Excess pressure can also wear out the brush heads you use sooner too!
The average life of a brush head is 3 months. So, every year you should replace your brush head 4 times.
The 1 x C2 optimal plaque defence brush head that comes supplied in the box with the 4300 lets you know when it needs replacing.
It does this in 2 different ways.
The first is a way that applies to all Sonicare brush heads, fading indicator bristles.
As the head is used, the blue bristles fade to a very pale almost white/translucent colour. When they are this colour, it is time to change the head.
But a stand out feature of the ProtectiveClean 4300 is the BrushSync replacement reminder system.
Inside the brush head is a small microchip.
When the brush head is fitted to the brush handle, the chip is detected and the warning light will flash 3 times. This acts as confirmation that the handle has detected the head and that the electronics inside the handle will now keep track of it.
As you use the brush head, the handle continues to track how often it has been used.
The handle knows that the brush head should be replaced every 3 months, so once the handle detects that the brush head has been used for this amount of time, the ‘BrushSync’ LED on the brush handle will light up an amber/orange colour to tell you it is time to change the brush head.
But, the brush is cleverer still.
If it detects you have brushed 3 times a day every day or brushed with more pressure, it will activate the BrushSync alert system sooner, as the bristles will have worn out sooner than the typical 3 month time period.
By the same token, it will delay alerting you to replace the brush head. If you used that head just once a day over 3 months, it would not tell you to replace it until it had been used for the equivalent to 4 minutes a day for 3 months.
This is a very neat touch and shows how technology can be used in a positive way to better the nations oral health whilst also being cost effective (by not replacing brush heads too soon).
The C2 optimal plaque defence brush head is just one of a range of different brush heads available from Sonicare. Some are BrushSync compatible whilst others are not.
Key differences between them are the length, cut and shape of the bristles to achieve different results.
Some are engineered for plaque removal, whilst others are designed for helping the gums or whitening teeth.
It would be great if a couple of different styles or even another plaque defence head were included in the box.
The range of heads is confusing.
It is worth knowing that it is perfectly possible to use a non-smart brush head on the 4300 as it is perfectly fine to use a smart brush head on a handle that does not offer BrushSync technology. But, do be aware, the BrushSync will only work when a compatible head is used on a compatible handle.
Do also note there are ‘premium’ brush sync compatible heads that command a premium of £3-6.50 per head!
You can find out more about the heads and how each one differs by reading our ultimate guide to Sonicare brush heads.
The combination of the Plaque Defence head and the power of the motor built in the 4300 is great.
I have found the clean to be super and after several weeks of testing not felt let down or concerned by the results. I would have no issue using this on a daily basis or for a prolonged period of time.
Personally, I prefer the smaller round brush heads from Oral-B from a cost and convenience point of view, but I did not struggle too much with the Sonicare heads.
When you might be thinking can the 4300 offer any more, the answer is yes. it does.
EasyStart is a system that gently increases the power over the first 14 brushings to help you get used to brushing with the Philips Sonicare.
A simple, but innovative touch that shows an extra level of attention and care for first time electric toothbrush users.
If you are not used to the power of an electric toothbrush, the full 62,000 movements per minute can seem quite intense on first use. EasyStart eases you in.
It does come with a travel case.
The plastic case is hinged on the left side with interior moulded mounting points for the handle and up to 2 brush heads.
On the right side is a clip that holds the top and bottom halves of the case together.
Rounded in the design, it slides into most bags nicely and will protect the heads and handle from damage and accidental activation.
Inside the handle, is the rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery that offers 2 weeks usage between charges or so Sonicare claim. I managed 5 weeks!
When the power is low, the brush will indicate this through the battery indicator LED. Just pop it on the provided charging stand for up to 24 hours to fully recharge. You can get more information in the ‘Battery Life’ section of this review.
Designed to resist water, toothpaste and saliva, the handle of the 4300 is not designed to be used in the shower or the bath. A quick rinse of the handle is fine, but don’t go immersing it in water.
The handle feels robust and will generally take a few knocks in its life and I have no immediate concerns about the handles reliability.
Sonicare do offer a 2 year warranty that covers any mechanical or workmanship faults, but not user damage.
The design and features definitely beats the older, but cheaper Sonicare 3 Series that is still a cheaper buy at the time of review for not significant sacrifice.
Oral-B’s Pro 3 3500 is the best example of true value for money and it competes well with the 4300.
The Sonicare wins out for the BrushSync technology, design and overall quality but you do pay for this.
The 43000 cleans the teeth well, has all the core features of an electric toothbrush, plus a few more for added benefit. Sonicare have made a fantastic toothbrush.
Summary of design, usability, clean & general use
- Slim and comfortable brush handle
- Different colour options
- Sonic cleaning action with up to 62,000 movements per minute
- 1 cleaning mode
- 2 brushing intensities
- 1 brush head included
- Various styles of brush head available separately
- Brush head replacement reminder
- EasyStart programme
- Built-in timer and 30 second pacer
- A pressure sensor to stop you brushing too hard
- Travel case included
- 2+ week battery life
- Water resistant handle
- 2 year warranty
Battery life
One of the great features of the 4300 is the fact that it comes with a travel case, to protect the brush and make it more convenient to transport it.
Whilst some of us may be on the road or travelling more frequently than others, it is a nice to have as is a battery life that will last the time we are away for.
Most people tend to go away for a night, a long weekend, maybe a week or 2 on holiday.
I am pleased to say that the built-in battery within the ProtectiveClean will last in these instances.
Sonicare claim a 14 day battery life from the built-in (non-user removable) lithium-ion battery.
That is a total of 56 minutes usage time, based on 2 cleans per day of 2 minutes in length.
That is 2 weeks or 28 brushing sessions between charges.
The reality is though, that for me in my hands-on testing, I got a lot longer usage time.
From full charge to empty I got just over 5 weeks from the brush!
That is 2.5 times longer than Sonicare suggest.
75 cleaning sessions, on high intensity, each 2 minutes long is what I recorded.
Quite simply brilliant!
I can’t guarantee you will get quite as long, but it is safe to say that 2 weeks will be the absolute minimum you will get from this brush handle. In reality, you are going to get much longer.
You do get feedback on the battery and the remaining charge via the LED battery/charging icon on the front of the brush handle.
The way in which it flashes and the colour it is lit tells you how much power is in the Lithium battery.
A solid green LED means a full battery.
A flashing green LED means a medium battery.
A flashing amber LED and three beeps means a low battery.
A flashing amber LED and five beeps means no brushing sessions left, you need to charge the toothbrush.
A charging stand is provided in the box.
White in colour, the stand allows the brush to sit on top of it. A prong on the stand fits into the recess on the base of the brush handle.
Wired into it is a power cable with a 2 pin plug suitable for UK bathrooms.
Place the handle onto the charging stand and 2 beeps are emitted to let you know that its on charge.
The flashing light of the battery level indicator shows that the toothbrush is charging. When the handle is fully charged, the battery light shows goes a solid green for 30 seconds and switches off.
It can take up to 24 hours to recharge the battery fully.
A nice touch is that the stand does support voltages of 100-240v.
This ultimately means that should you need to take it with you when you travel, it will work anywhere in the world so long as there is power. You might just need a plug adapter to ensure it can connect to the power supply in the country you are using it within.
When not in use it is fine to leave the brush on the charging stand being topped up so it is ready for next use. However, best practice is to keep it off the charging stand (or not have it plugged in) until you need to charge it to achieve maximum life from the battery.
Summary of battery life
- Lithium-Ion battery technology
- Sonicare suggest 2 week battery life
- Achieved 5 weeks usage
- A solid green LED means a full battery
- A flashing green LED means a medium battery
- A flashing amber LED and three beeps means a low battery.
- A flashing amber LED and five beeps means no brushing sessions left.
- A charger included in the box
- Works on 100- 240 volts
- Takes about 24 hours to charge fully
- Can be left on the charger
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.
Right, so up until talking about price, things have been very positive for the 4300 and for good reason, Sonicare have done a top job.
Here, however, we have a potential sticking point.
I am reviewing this brush as it launches within the UK. At this time, the recommended retail price for ProtectiveClean 4300 is £179.99.
This is also the price I had to pay for it.
Now, I certainly do believe that to a large extent you get what you pay for.
I also don’t believe or have a desire for everything to be super cheap.
However, when you compare the ProtectiveClean to models from other brands – be that Colgate, Oral-B or even smaller companies like Uber Sonic, the suggested retail price for what you get just doesn’t add up in my book.
I consider the Oral-B Pro 3 3500 to be the closest alternative and that sells for about £45. That is £135 less!
I can buy Oral-B’s flagship Genius 9000 and get change from £179.99 and that offers a whole lot more than the 4300.
Hey, I can even buy Sonicare’s more premium DiamondClean for less.
So, you can probably see and understand why I have a negative view of the price.
There is most certainly innovation here that comes at a cost, but how much is that really worth?
Not as much as the current price would let you believe.
However…
In the UK, the electric toothbrush market, in particular, seems to be prone to artificially high retail prices.
What price they sell for is really quite different.
What I mean by this, is that they start out with a very high suggested sale price, but the reality is, within days or weeks of launch, the price is considerably less.
From what I have seen, Oral-B and Colgate are worse for this than Sonicare, but discounts range from 20-60% on average.
The Sonicare DiamondClean has a retail price of £299 but has an average selling price on Amazon of £120. That is some 60% off.
At the lower end of the range, the Sonicare EasyClean has a suggested retail price of £90, but is selling for £45, so essentially 50% off.
Oral-B’s Genius 9000 has a retail price of £280 but selling some 50% less at £140.
The Smart 4 4000 is worth £130 but sells for £60.
From these examples, you get the idea.
One of the few exceptions seems to be the flagship Sonicare DiamondClean Smart. It has a retail price of £380 and is being sold for £360-380.
Since launch, the prices have dropped, and the average selling price is £60 via many large online retailers.
Based on this price, the brushes abilities and offerings from the competition, the situation is much more positive.
If I were to be a little picky, and judging the brush on features and capabilities alone, this still feels a touch too high. The Pro 3 3500 from Oral-B retails around £45.
Whilst not technically as advanced, at the time of review the Sonicares very own EasyClean is available for £45 and is still a solid electric toothbrush for the money.
With that said though, there is a certain quality and confidence that comes with using this brush and that can really only be understood when you use it. It sounds odd I know, but trust me, there is just something that makes splashing out a bit more seem fine.
Whilst prices are always subject to change £60 is the magic price point in my eyes for the ProtectiveClean 4300.
Naturally, brush heads require replacement. Advice is to replace each head every 3 months. Of course, the 4300 will remind you to do this.
The technology required for this reminder system has thankfully not impacted the cost of the brush heads all that much.
As outlined in our guide to Sonicare brush heads, there are different types and styles of brush heads that can impact the cost.
The standard BrushSync compatible heads range from about £5.50-8.60 per head.
As an average, expect to pay about £7 per head.
You do have the ‘Premium’ Brush Sync compatible heads that command a little more per head. They can be as much as £13.50 each, but truthfully it’s not hard to pick them up for about £8-10.
The typical working life of an electric toothbrush is normally 3-5 years. Many will, in fact, last a lot longer, with good care.
To try and give some sort of gauge for overall ownership cost, here at Electric Teeth, we like to price the brush over a 3 year period to give a benchmark and allow comparison to other brushes.
There is the initial purchase price and the cost of replacement brush heads.
I will give 2 scenarios, the full retail price option and what I feel will actually be the more common and realistic price.
At full retail, the price of the brush is £180, plus 11 replacement heads over 3 years at a cost of £7 each. This brings the cost to £257 or 23p per day.
At the more sensible price of £80, plus the £77 for the brush heads, the total cost will be £157 or 14p per day.
These prices do exclude the cost of water, toothpaste and electric to charge it, but you get a rough idea.
Sharing the brush handle, but switching heads with other users in your household will only help bring the cost down and drive more value from it.
In comparison to what I consider as the competition, this brush is a bit more expensive.
The Oral-B Pro 3 3500 is the logical alternative and that works out at 7p per day.
To be fair to Sonicare, that does not have the BrushSync feature and as is always the case, the brush heads are cheaper, by about £4 per head, so this makes quite a big difference.
As much as I like the 4300, it is a fair chunk of money extra to spend.
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
- Live price comparison of 4300 here
- Recommended retail price of £179.99
- Actually selling for £50-80
- Brush heads vary in price, on average £7 each
- Works out at around £0.14 per day over 3 years
- Oral-B Pro 3 3500 is cheaper
Reliability & long term use
There are many reasons why Sonicare remain as one of the biggest and most trusted brands within the oral healthcare space. Product quality and reliability are just 2 reasons as to why.
The very nature of the product, moving parts and electronic circuits, used in an environment that contains water increases the likelihood of product failure.
However, my own experiences and feedback from site visitors would suggest that they are perhaps the most reliable brand within this space.
The quality of their products is excellent. The 4300 is no exception.
Materials feel great, the workmanship and fitting of parts are to a very high standard and you can see why Sonicare is often priced at a premium.
Whilst the failure rate is generally very low, should something go wrong then the 4300 is backed by a 2 year manufacturer warranty.
For convenience you can go online and register it after purchase, but should you be in the unfortunate position that it fails during that first 2 years of ownership, contact Sonicare and they will repair or replace it for you.
Conclusion
The ProtectiveClean 4300 is a very good electric toothbrush.
I can praise it on many levels.
Importantly it cleans well, but in today’s world, that is not enough.
The built in timer and pacer are very welcomed as are the automatic power off and EasyStart technologies.
Simplicity comes in the form of just 1 cleaning mode, with the option of changing the cleaning intensity.
The BrushSync replacement reminder is clever and useful and a brilliant example of how technology can be used in simple but effective ways to improve our oral health.
And the battery life is fantastic.
Sadly the overriding negative for me, is the price.
At the time of review, the brush is selling for the RRP of £179.99. No matter how I look at this brush it does not represent good value and you should consider the alternatives at this price.
However, when taking into account the dropping price and that it is available for £70-90 the picture is much more rosy.
Overall there is a lot to like here. Sonicare have done a top job and I have no issue recommending this brush. But, the Oral-B Pro 3 is comparable and more affordable.
Size Guide
- Height (without head) – 19cm/7.4 inches
- Height (with head) – 25cm/9.8 inches
- Width – 2.8cm/1.1 inches
- Thickness – 3cm/1.1 inches
- Weight (without head) – 125g/0.27lb
- Weight (with head) – 130g/0.29lb
All are approximates
FAQ
- Is the ProtectiveClean 4300 an oscillating brush?
- No. It is a Sonic electric toothbrush.
- How many cleaning modes does the ProtectiveClean 4300 have?
- The 4300 has just 1 cleaning mode known as ‘Clean Mode’, it lasts for 2 minutes. It does, however, have the ability to change the cleaning intensity between high and low.
- What brush head does it come with and what alternative ones can be used?
- The brush head supplied with the 4300 is C2 Optimal Plaque Defence. You get 1 included in the box.
- Does the ProtectiveClean 4300 have a pressure sensor?
- Yes, it does. The handle vibrates to alert you. There is no visible pressure sensor.
- Does the ProtectiveClean 4300 have Bluetooth?
- No, it does not.
- Does the 4300 come with a warranty & how long is it?
- Yes, it comes with a 2 year warranty.
- Does the ProtectiveClean 43000 have a built-in timer?
- Yes. At the end of a 2 minute cycle, the brush automatically turns off signalling the end of the cleaning time. If you want to extend your clean, you will have to power the brush back on. It does also have a 30 second pacer also referred to as a quadpacer. At 30 second intervals a slight pause in the brushing mode to tell you to change quadrants. There are 4 quadrants to the mouth.
- How long does the battery last?
- Sonicare claim 2 weeks. Hands on testing achieved 5 weeks!
- Does it come with a charger?
- Yes, a charging station is included with the ProtectiveClean.
- Can this be fixed to a wall?
- The ProtectiveClean 4300’s charging station or brush head holder has not been designed to be fixed to a wall.
- Can I use the ProtectiveClean 4300 in the shower?
- No. Although the handle is designed to be water resistant, Sonicare do not advise use in the shower.
- Does it come with a travel case?
- Yes, a travel case is included in the box.
- How to turn on and off EasyStart
- Put the handle on the plugged-in charger.
- Press and hold the power on/off button while the handle remains on the charger.
- Keep the power on/off button pressed until you hear a single short beep (after 2 seconds).
- Release the power on/off button.
- Triple tone of low-med-high means the EasyStart feature has been activated.
- The brush head replacement light and battery light will also blink green 3 times in unison to confirm activation.
- -Triple tone of high-med-low means the EasyStart feature has been deactivated. The brush head replacement light and battery light will also blink amber 3 times in unison to confirm deactivation
- How to turn on and off brush head reminder
- Put the handle on the plugged-in charger.
- Press and hold the power on/off button while the handle remains on the charger.
- Keep the power on/off button pressed until you hear a series of two short beeps (after 4-5 seconds).
- Release the power on/off button.
- Triple tone of low-med-high means the Brush head replacement reminder feature has been activated. The brush head replacement light and battery light will also blink green 3 times in unison to confirm activation.
- Triple tone of high-med-low means the Brush head replacement reminder feature has been deactivated. The brush head replacement light and battery light will also blink amber 3 times in unison to confirm deactivation.
- How to turn on and off pressure sensor
- Put the handle on the plugged-in charger.
- Press and hold the power on/off button while the handle remains on the charger.
- Keep the power on/off button pressed until you hear a series of three short beeps (after 6-7 seconds).
- Release the power on/off button.
- Triple tone of low-med-high means the pressure sensor feature has been activated. The brush head replacement light and battery light will also blink green 3 times in unison to confirm activation.
- Triple tone of high-med-low means the pressure sensor feature has been deactivated. The brush head replacement light and battery light will also blink amber 3 times in unison to confirm deactivation.
- If you continue holding the power on/off button after the three short beeps, the activate/deactivate sequence repeats.
Your Opinions
Do you own or have you used the Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4300 Series?
Are there certain features that you really like or dislike?
Let me and other users know your opinions know, your input is valuable.
And of course, should you have any questions, just ask.
Hey!
Great site and awesome
Reviews!
Wonder what the difference between Philips HX6800/03 and Philips HX6800/04 ?
Hi Robert. I do believe that these are the same toothbrush. However, I believe the HX6800/04 is a European variant, meaning it would come with a 2 pin EU plug on the charger rather than a 2 pin UK plug.
There are a number of reasons why Sonicare might have issue a different part number like this for a toothbrush. Sometimes they can be the same product but made in different factories (or so I am led to believe). But, in this instance, I do believe it is the region of the world they are designed for/sold within.
This tooth brush is far too harsh, if there is a way to turn it down it is not easy to find. I would not buy it again. It is a VERY uncomfortable clean
Hi am Ronak I really appreciate your help or helps me see a brighter smile .You have really helped ,e John , I watch you or him on you YouTube you are really helpful.
Your most happiest
Ronak.
Thank you for your help
Glad I could help.