What the cleaning experience is like and how clean our teeth felt after brushing.
How well it cleans Score SummaryWhat the brush is like in-hand; how grippy it is, what the balance is like, how easy it is to remove brush heads.
How it feels Score SummaryDoes the brush have our recommended features of a timer, pacer & pressure sensor and how well do they perform?
Recommended features Score SummaryHow long does the battery last, how long does it take to charge and does the brush have a battery level indicator?
Battery performance Score SummaryApplies to smart toothbrushes only. How well does the smart technology work and how useful is the app?
Smart features Score SummaryWhat are the total ownership costs over the space of several years and how expensive are replacement brush heads?
Price Score SummaryHow easy is it to clean the brush, how noisy is it, does it come with a travel case or any other useful items?
Additional items & features Score SummaryHow long is the warranty, what is the manufacturer's reputation and how strong are its environmental efforts?
Support & reputation Score SummaryDoes the brush have Bluetooth and real-time tracking?
Bluetooth connectivity Score SummaryHow many zones are used for real-time tracking?
Real time tracking Score SummaryDoes the brush provide feedback on tracking via the app, the brush or both?
Tracking feedback Score SummaryHow much can the features and settings be customised?
App features & customisation Score SummaryWhat's the overall experience of the smart features, all things considered?
Overall user experience Score SummaryOur verdict
The Sonicare Series 7100 is excellent in every aspect of its design. It’s nice to use, it has outstanding battery life and a fantastic pressure sensor.
The main downside is that it has more than most users need, which adds extra cost.
It has Bluetooth connectivity, but it’s not a fully fledged smart toothbrush. If you truly want a smart toothbrush, you may as well spend more and get the full feature set from the Prestige 9900.
If you’re not bothered about smart features, you can spend less and still get the benefits of the 7100. The Series 6100 would be a good choice in that respect.
Pros |
Cons |
|---|---|
Excellent battery life |
Limited Bluetooth functionality |
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Nice design |
How well it cleans
As with the other brushes in this late 2024 range from Sonicare, The Series 7100 will do an excellent job of cleaning your teeth, provided you use it with the correct technique.
I’ve included before and after photos of my disclosing tests below, which show that it removed almost all of the plaque from my teeth.
Some of my comments below may seem contrastingly negative to the high score in this category, but that’s simply because the 7100 does its fundamental job of cleaning your teeth very well. The superfluous cleaning modes and new motor technology don’t add much beyond that, thus the criticism.
The 12 cleaning configurations are more than you need
The Series 7100 comes with four cleaning modes — standard, sensitive, gum and whitening.
You then have three intensities available for each cleaning mode, thus giving the option of twelve configurations in total.
Truthfully, this is far more than is necessary for a good oral hygiene routine. Having a single cleaning mode is enough for most people. Having a sensitive mode is often useful. Gum mode isn’t very different to sensitive mode and whitening mode is a bit of a gimmick.
To then have 3 intensities for each one of these modes is overkill in my opinion.
If you do suffer from sensitivity, having a range of intensities to choose from is arguably worth paying for. In that respect, the cheaper Series 6100 is worth considering. It has standard and sensitive modes with 3 intensities each, so 6 configurations in total.
With the 7100, whitening mode and gum mode and their three intensities get added on. They’re not worth paying extra money for in my opinion.
The new motor technology isn’t very noticeable
The Series 7100 and the other brushes released in Sonicare’s late 2024 range include "next generation" sonic technology, which is designed to maintain consistent power even in tight spaces like those between the cheeks and the molars.
The idea is that when you inadvertently apply pressure the bristle movement remains steady.
I didn't notice a dramatic difference compared to previous Sonicare models, but the clean definitely felt consistent and powerful throughout.
I am used to testing the most up to date electric toothbrushes, though, which may not suffer from motor slowdown as much as older models. If you've experienced slowdown with older electric toothbrushes, you might notice this new technology more than I did.
How it feels
The Series 7100 features a comfortable, solid handle with a matte finish. It's a pleasure to hold and use.
A larger but comfortable handle
The 7100 and other new handles in this range are larger than previous Sonicare models like the 1100 and 3100 Series, giving them a satisfying weight when held. For perspective, they're roughly 30-40% bigger than the likes of the 4100 Series.
This size difference could be either an advantage or disadvantage depending on your needs. If you struggle with dexterity, you might prefer a lighter, slimmer design for easier handling. Conversely, if you have difficulty gripping smaller objects, the Series 7100's larger handle could be beneficial.
I personally don't have any dexterity issues and found the 7100 comfortable despite its increased size. While it's bigger than the Sonicare 9900 Prestige, I can see design elements that were clearly inspired by Sonicare’s flagship model.
The buttons offer comfortable tactile feedback
This new Sonicare range returns to physical buttons, moving away from recent designs. The 7100 features both a power button and a mode selector — the latter serves dual purposes, switching between modes when the brush is off and adjusting intensity when it's on.
LED indicators clearly display your selected mode and intensity settings.
The buttons have a nice responsiveness that requires minimal pressure — a thoughtful feature for those with joint pain. Compared to the Prestige 9900's seamless but firmer button design, these physical buttons feel like a practical improvement.
There is a potential drawback: the small gap between button and handle could collect debris over time. During my testing, this hasn't been an issue, though it's worth noting this gap was specifically what led Sonicare to develop seamless buttons previously.
I still recommend a quick rinse after each use to remove toothpaste residue, which helps maintain both hygiene and longevity.
The power button's concave shape creates a natural fingerprint, making it easy to locate by touch. This is especially helpful for visually impaired users or when brushing in low light conditions.
Recommended features
The 7100 nails the basic features I always look for in an electric toothbrush: a timer, pacer, and pressure sensor. The pressure sensor is particularly well done, which I'll get into below.
Three ways to know you're brushing too hard
With the Series 7100, you'll know if you're pressing too hard in three different ways: you'll hear it, see it, and feel it. This triple approach means you're less likely to miss the warning, regardless of whether you're visually or hearing impaired.
When you press too hard, the motor sound changes and you feel vibrations in the handle. This alone is a good alert – it's what you get with the cheaper 5300 and 5500 models – but the 7100 goes a step further.
If you push too hard whilst brushing a light ring at the bottom of the handle lights up. I could easily spot this from the corner of my eye, and it's even more obvious if you're brushing in front of a mirror.
I like that you can turn off the pressure sensor if you want to. I wouldn't personally do this and do recommend leaving it on, but the option is there if you want it.
Auto power off and sextant pacing
Like most Sonicare brushes, the 7100 shuts off automatically after 2 minutes – letting you know you've hit the dentist-recommended minimum brushing time.
The pacer divides your mouth into 6 sections with 20 seconds for each, rather than the usual 4 sections for 30 seconds each.
Sticking with 4 sections might be slightly easier to follow, but in real-world use, there's not much difference. What really matters is making sure you're giving equal attention to all your teeth.
Smart features
The Series 7100 offers mid-range smart functionality, connecting to your phone via an app but lacking the real-time tracking capabilities of more advanced models like the 9900 Prestige.
While brushing, the app displays only a basic timer with six mouth sections, without any personalised tooth mapping or position tracking. There's no relationship to your teeth. You can move the brush at any angle and it doesn't change what's on screen.
The data points the brush logs are when you’ve brushed, how long for and how much pressure you used. It doesn’t tell you that you forget to brush your upper right quadrant of teeth, for example.
The colour-coded dashboard offers useful information that may satisfy most users, encouraging improvement through visual data and on-screen messages.
Overall I give the app a 7/10 for user experience. I would say there’s a missed opportunity to do a bit more and communicate which mode or intensity setting you're using in real-time. It could also display the remaining battery percentage.
It does track brush head usage and provides helpful tips, but falls short in personalised guidance about your technique.
This smart functionality may benefit those committed to monitoring their brushing habits regularly. However, if you'll only engage with the app briefly before abandoning it, the additional price isn't justified.
For a more complete smart toothbrush experience, you’re better off looking at the Sonicare DiamondClean Smart or Prestige 9900.
Options comparable to the 7100 from other brands are the Oral-B iO6 and Oclean X Pro Digital.
Additional items & features
The Series 7100 has an excellent implementation of the main features we recommend, plus a couple of nice touches that help it stand out from similar brushes.
In the sections below I comment on those features and considerations that are not included within our other review categories.
It won't wake the neighbours
I measured the Series 7100 at 65dB during testing. Not the quietest Sonicare, but not loud by any means.
For most users noise isn't a dealbreaker and isn’t something I would prioritise unless there’s a strong reason to keep it to a minimum.
For the sake of comparison, in the table below and throughout this article I have included SURI 2.0, which gets our Editor's Choice recommendation in our best electric toothbrush post.
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SURI 2.0
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Philips Sonicare 4100 Series
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Philips Sonicare Series 5500
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Philips Sonicare Series 6100
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Philips Sonicare Series 7100
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LEDs and sounds that actually help
The 7100 handle has some thoughtfully placed LEDs that give you useful info without making it look like a Christmas tree.
At the top, three LEDs (getting smaller as they go down) sit between the power and mode buttons to show the selected intensity level. Under the mode button, clearly labeled LEDs show which cleaning mode you're using. Further down, there's a BrushSync LED to tell you when it's time for a new brush head.
Near the bottom, you get three battery indicator lights. This is better than the single light on some other Sonicare models — having three gives you more detailed feedback and ultimately a better heads-up when you're running low on power, compared to those with a single LED.
I also appreciate the little beep and vibration given when you put the brush on the charger. It may sound minor, but if you're partially sighted, it's a helpful "yes, it's charging" confirmation.
The charging travel case needs a proprietary cable
At the time of writing, all variants of the 7100 come with a charging travel case.
Charging travel cases are useful because they give you the means to conveniently charge your brush whilst on the road. Not that you should need to do it that often given how good the 7100 battery life is.
A degree of that convenience is lost with the series 7100 because it requires a proprietary cable for charging.
Other brushes like the Sonicare Prestige 9900 and SURI use a USB-C cable, which is the type used to charge most smartphones. This means you only need to take one cable to charge both if you go away.
The case itself is compact and perfectly functional. With the other brushes in this range there is an option to purchase the brush without a travel case, in case you wanted a way to reduce the overall cost and rarely travel with your brush.
It’s easy to clean
Like all the brushes in this range, the Series 7100 is easy to wipe or rinse clean. The smooth handle doesn't have any textured surfaces or rubber grips that could wear down over time and house residue.
I do recommend paying extra attention to the button areas — give them a good rinse to prevent toothpaste buildup.
While water shouldn’t get inside the brush through the gap between the power button and handle, dried toothpaste residue could get stuck in there and become a pain to clean out if it builds up over time, so do make sure you rinse it out after use.
It’s the only brush in the range to have mode pairing
The 7100 is the only brush in this range from Sonicare to have mode pairing. This means that should you attach a specific head, like the W2 Optimal White head, the brush will automatically switch to whitening mode. It’s hardly the most important feature, but it’s one way that the 7100 differentiates.
The 7100 works with Sonicare’s BrushSync technology. When you use BrushSync-compatible heads, the dedicated LED will let you know when it's time for a replacement. Keep in mind that BrushSync heads cost more, so if you're watching your budget, you might prefer to stick with regular heads. The good news is the 7100 works perfectly well with both types.
For more detail on the different options, check out our post on the best Sonicare brush heads.
As for removing brush heads, the resistance feels just about right. Detaching a head from the 7100 can sometimes feel slightly stiff, but this is common with most electric toothbrushes.
Battery performance
The 7100 and the other new Sonicare brushes in this range have some of the most impressive battery life I've seen in a toothbrush. As an added bonus, if/when the time eventually comes, replacing the battery is relatively straightforward.
41 days of battery is fantastic
Sonicare claims a 21-day battery life for the 7100, but in my hands-on testing it averaged 41 days when using the standard mode, so almost double. That's well over a month of use from a single charge.
The battery size is one of the main differences between these newer brushes and some of Sonicare's older models. The larger battery means less frequent charging for more usage, which could be a deciding factor if you're choosing between models.
By comparison, the 4100 Series clocked in at just 17 days in my tests. Not terrible by any means, but the difference becomes meaningful if you dislike the charging routine or travel frequently.
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SURI 2.0
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Philips Sonicare Series 5500
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Philips Sonicare Series 6100
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Philips Sonicare Series 7100
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Philips Sonicare 3100 Series
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Philips Sonicare 4100 Series
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DIY battery replacement
While Philips Sonicare doesn't mention this in the manual or officially recommend it, if / when the battery loses capacity further down the line, you can replace it yourself without much hassle.
I've documented the process (video here) and found it surprisingly accessible with basic tools - just a Torx and Phillips screwdriver are needed.
When you’re buying a brush you may not be thinking that far ahead, but should it come to it, it is useful to be able to do it yourself rather than sending the brush off for repair.
To do it, simply unscrew the Torx screw in the base of the handle and pull off the base cap. Then push down on the spindle at the top to slide out all the internal components. Just be careful of the spring that might pop out. It uses a 750 mAh battery.
Price & buying advice
Whilst it’s a great brush, the Series 7100 does push beyond our recommended price range.
Brushes like this sometimes feel like they have a strange price point because they aren’t expensive enough to offer true ‘smart’ features, but they are more expensive than brushes that offer only the key features.
If you feel like the Bluetooth features I’ve described above will be useful to you, by all means go for the 7100. You could check the price of the Sonicare Series 7100 in its charging case and charging cable being exhibited, which sits just below it in the range and has the same Bluetooth features. The Series 6500 does not have Gum Care mode, but other than that there is very little to differentiate them.
If you’re not bothered about Bluetooth, the Series 6100 sits in the middle of the range and still has the nice design and pressure sensor features. It has a good range of cleaning intensities (6) and a sensitive mode.
If you are interested in the full Bluetooth experience, the Prestige 9900 is the brush to look at. We recommend it as the best top of the range brush in our best electric toothbrush post. I’ve included all four brushes in the comparison table below, along with our recommendation for the best overall electric toothbrush, SURI 2.0.
| Overall Score |
| How well it cleans |
| How it feels |
| Recommended features |
| Additional items & features |
| Battery performance |
| Smart features |
| Price |
| Buying options |
|
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
87
|
85
|
83
|
87
|
|
100
|
100
|
100
|
100
|
|
88
|
88
|
81
|
97
|
|
82
|
82
|
82
|
82
|
|
71
|
62
|
62
|
68
|
|
80
|
80
|
73
|
77
|
|
45
|
- |
83
|
- |
|
43
|
57
|
27
|
57
|
Support & reputation
The Series 7100 includes a standard 2 year UK warranty. The build quality feels robust and based on my previous experience with Sonicare products, I would expect it to serve you well beyond the warranty period.
It's worth mentioning that while the brush handle and packaging indicate it’s "Made in Netherlands," the charging stand bears a "Made in China" mark. This isn't specific to this model — components are likely manufactured in China with final assembly taking place in the Netherlands. This practice is fairly standard for most consumer products today, but something to consider if manufacturing origin is important to you.
As I’ve mentioned above, the battery is user-replaceable. I don’t want to make too big a deal of this, but surprisingly this isn’t possible with many electric toothbrushes. The fact that you can install a new battery rather than purchasing an entirely new brush can save money and reduces environmental impact.
Environmental impact
We don't assign a score to this category as it's challenging to evaluate accurately without comprehensive data on manufacturing processes and shipping logistics.
However, here are some observations regarding the Series 7100.
The packaging consists of paper and cardboard instead of plastic materials. This represents a modest but positive shift away from the single-use plastics that I've criticised previously.
According to Sonicare's website, certain brush heads now incorporate 70% bio-based plastic. While still plastic, these bio-based alternatives make use of renewable resources rather than petroleum-derived materials.
Sonicare previously operated a Terracycle recycling program for brush heads, but this has been discontinued. It would be good to see it introduce its own recycling initiative similar to SURI to help manage waste.
The 7100 incorporates basic smart functionality, meaning more components than a non-smart brush and consequently greater environmental impact. BrushSync heads also contain RFID chips, making them more resource-intensive and wasteful than standard brush heads.
On a positive note, the user-replaceable battery makes it easier to extend the product's lifespan rather than replacing the entire unit when the battery deteriorates.
Conclusion
The Series 7100 really is a very nice brush to use. It’s nice in the hand, the battery life is great and the pressure sensor implementation is among the best I’ve used.
It’s not cheap, though. If you’re not bothered about Bluetooth, you can get very much the same experience from brushes lower in the range, such as the 6100.
If you are interested in Bluetooth, it could be worth spending a bit more on something like the Prestige to get full smart functionality.
Video review
See the video review below to find out more about my hands-on experience testing the Sonicare Series 7100.
Size guide
- Toothbrush height with head - 24cm / 9.4 inches
- Toothbrush height without head - 18cm / 7.1 inches
- Width - 2.8cm / 1.1 inches
- Depth/thickness - 3cm / 1.2 inches
- Weight with head - 123g / 4.3oz
- Weight without head - 118g / 4.2oz
- Travel case size - 19.4cm / 7.6inches (L) x 3.4cm / 1.3 inches (W) x 5.1cm / 2 inches (D)
- Travel case weight - 109g / 3.8oz without brush or 232g / 8.18oz with brush
- Package weight - 517g / 18.2oz
Noise
- 65dB
Country of manufacture
- Netherlands (handle) & China (charger & case)
