Waterpik Aquarius vs Philips Sonicare Power Flosser 3000

Detailed comparison: what’s the difference between the Philips Power Flosser 3000 and Waterpik Aquarius?

The first notable difference between the 2 irrigators is the design of the units.

They look similar in their overall shape.

Both have water tanks sat on top of the main countertop flosser unit.

On the front sits the flosser handle, docked within a cradle with the hose coiled into the body of the main unit beneath the handle.

Both have a rounded design and similar and take up a similar footprint on the countertop.

In my opinion, the Power Flosser 3000 looks like the more clean and more modern unit, with smoother lines and a more consistent flow to parts of the unit.

Yet, the Waterpik is potentially more practical with more texture on the pressure control dial, allowing for a more secure grip when turning the dial to the desired setting, particularly if the hands are wet.

The size and weights are as follows:

Waterpik Aquarius:

• Height (with nozzle) – 29cm / 11.4 inches
• Width – 15cm / 5.9 inches
• Thickness – 13cm / 5.1 inches
• Weight – 813g / 1.79Lbs

Sonicare Power Flosser 3000:

• Height (with nozzle) – 29cm / 11.4 inches
• Width – 13.5cm / 5.3 inches
• Thickness/depth – 9~13cm / 3.5~5.1 inches (larger figure includes handle)
• Weight – 695g / 1.53Lbs

Whilst it probably doesn’t make a big difference if the unit is to remain in one place most of the time, but the Sonicare is 0.2lbs lighter.

The controls for the Waterpik are set off to the far left side of the flosser whereas they are a little more centrally placed on the Power Flosser.  I can’t say I have noticed any great difference or benefit in the way I used them. Perhaps the pronounced buttons on the Waterpik are slightly easier to use.

Having no functional impact on the flossers is the colors they are available in.  The Power Flosser is available in 1 color only, white.  Nothing wrong with this really, it is inoffensive and works in most environments.  However, the Aquarius is available in 6 different colors. You have the choice of black, blue, orchid, mint green, burgundy and white.

I like this a lot, because it might only be a small difference, but to a user it can be quite a big thing.  A flosser that suits someone's color taste or even bathroom design better might just encourage them to use the irrigator more.

Water flossing is messy and can be awkward at times to correctly position the tip into the right space in the mouth at the correct angle.  Something that really sets these 2 units apart is the rotating nozzle of the Aquarius.  The Power Flosser has no ability to rotate the tip.

The handle can naturally be twisted, as can the Aquarius, but you don’t have that extra dimension of control to reach more accurately to certain areas of the mouth.

Both of the units give a good flossing time, although the exact usage time will vary depending on the cleaning mode and pressure setting chosen.

The water tank on the Aquarius is a little larger with a capacity of 22oz or 651 ml compared to the 20.3oz or 600ml of the 3000.

What this means is that set to the highest mode, the Aquarius takes 90 seconds to drain the tank, whereas it takes just 75 seconds with the Power Flosser.  An extra 15 seconds of usage time is available from the Aquarius.

Both units have lids over the top of the reservoir to prevent dust and debris from getting into the tank.  The Waterpik is hinged on the left side, whereas the lid is completely removable with the power flosser with no hinge.

2 cleaning modes are available on either unit.  Philips offers a clean and deep clean mode on the 3000 whilst Waterpik only really name their second mode, massage.

Although named differently, there is some similarity.  The standard clean mode provides a constant jet of water at the desired pressure setting.

With deep clean or massage mode the water pulsates at different intensities for a different cleaning sensation and to assist with massaging the gums and encouraging better gum health.

Provided in the box with the Power Flosser are 2 nozzles or tips if you prefer.  You get 1 x standard nozzle and 1 x quad stream nozzle with the 3000.

The Aquarius comes with 3 x standard jet tips as well as 1 x orthodontic, 1 x plaque seeker, 1 Pik Pocket and 1 x toothbrush tip.

As the names imply, the standard nozzles are comparable.  

All of the others are more specialized and engineered to treat more specific personal circumstances.  Not everyone will require them all and in some regards is a bit of a waste.  But, they are there in the box for those who need them.

The quad stream tip from Sonicare is also a bit more specialized in that it pushes the water out in an X formation, rather than the standard jet. But, it can be used by anyone, rather than being designed with a specific user in mind.

In operation, the Aquarius produces around 70 decibels of sound no matter the mode or the pressure setting chosen.  The power flosser on the other hand produces around about 70 decibels only when set to the highest pressure level of 10.  Set to level 1 and it is operating in the region of 52-54 decibels, nearly 20 less than the Aquarius.   If you particularly want a quiet irrigator, the Power Flosser is the one to go for.

A couple of more subtle, but still important differences relate to the power supplies.

Hardwired into the Waterpik is a 2 pin US power adapter that supports 120VAC.  This cable extends from the back of the water flosser.

With the Sonicare however it has a removable barrel pin connector power adapter.  This plugs into the very base of the unit and the 2 pin US power adapter on the other end supports 100-240v.  

What this means is that the power supply is suited for international travel, you need a plug adapter only, no voltage adapter.  And the position of the cable allows for the flosser to be pushed right back up against a wall or flat surface, whereas the Aquarius needs an inch or so’s clearance for the cable.  

The power flosser will certainly fit better in confined spaces.

And aside from the price that is covered in a separate section, the Waterpik comes with 36 month or 3 years warranty, rather than the 24 months or 2 years of the Philips Sonicare.  All being well both will far outlast their warranty period.  There are without doubt advantages to the extra year of warranty supplied with the Waterpik.

It is just worth mentioning some of the similarities.

• Both have 10 pressure settings controlled via a rotating dial.
• Both have slider switches on the handle to control water flow.
• The hoses and power cords are of comparable lengths.
• A timer/pacer is built into the Aquarius and Power Flosser.

Does one clean better than the other?

The short answer is no.

The cleaning performance is essentially like for like when used correctly.

However, technically it isn’t possible for me to say conclusively which cleans best as there isn’t any data that compares the 2 products side by side.

Whilst we have used both, our hands-on testing isn’t scientific or designed to detect the clinical differences between each.  

Both have been proven, by the respective brands to remove 99.9% of plaque on treated areas. And no doubt if you posed this question to each, they would suggest theirs is best.

Included with each is a standard jet tip nozzle which works in the same way with both models.  However, unique and exclusive to the Power Flosser 3000 is the Quad Stream jet tip that pushes the water out in an X formation.

This water flow does cover a larger surface area and therefore could be considered to be beneficial and more effective. Philips have undertaken their own clinical testing, which has shown how the Quad Stream tip can result in up to 180% healthier gums for those patients with periodontal disease. 

But these findings were compared to manual flossing and didn’t compare to a standard jet tip or the Waterpik devices. So, although suggestions are there it is far from a confirmed fact.

It is the case too that Waterpik has a wider array of nozzle styles to suit specific users' needs which may be advantageous, as Philips offers a much more limited range.

Both models have achieved the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance.  

Here at Electric Teeth we solemnly believe either of these products can be beneficial for your oral health if used correctly.  It is better to pick and use one, rather than delaying use and trying to pick what might be considered as the best.

Is one better priced than the other?

The retail prices of these 2 countertop water flossers are essentially identical.  $89.96 for the Philips 3000 and $89.99 for the Waterpik Aquarius.

As tends to be the case with such products, they are often sold with a bit of a discount.

Prices are always subject to change and vary from one stockist to another.  But, you should be able to buy the Aquarius for around $70 with the Power Flosser 3000 costing about $70-75.

So, again even with the discount, no meaningful difference.

What should be considered though is the cost of the replacement nozzles.  Over years of use, this can have an impact.

A pack of 2 Waterpik nozzles typically costs $10, so $5 each. With Philips, their standard F1 tip costs $13 for a pack of 2.  This makes each nozzle around $6.50, or $1.50 more than Waterpik.

Factor in too that you get more nozzles in the box with the Waterpik and there is a bit of an additional saving to be had.

Priced over 3 years, you are looking at a total cost of about $102.50 for the Philips Sonicare Power Flosser 3000, compared to the $85 for the Waterpik.

$20-25 over 3 years isn’t much, but it is a difference that will be more meaningful to some.

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.