A new magnetic charger means the brush can be recharged in as little as 3 hours, rather than the more typical 12. You have a dedicated cleaning mode button too. Press this to change cleaning modes on the 9000. With the 5000 you have to press the power button multiple times. Interspace: to be used on top of your daily brush head, for deep clean in hard-to-reach areas and healthier* gums Up to a point. Oral-B’s CrossAction, FlossAction, Precision Clean, Sensi and 3D White brush heads work across brushes in the Vitality, Pro, Smart and Genius lines, but iO Series brushes have their own specific Ultimate Clean and Gentle Care heads. What features are worth paying extra for?

Another slight difference is the 9000’s lovely travel case has a clip built into the lid that holds a smartphone, for using the app when travelling. Putting this to shame is the 9000’s travel case which is heavier, bulkier but much more premium to look at and touch. It also has the ability to charge the brush in the case, by connecting the provided charging cable. If this is not enough, a USB cable can be connected to the case and charge a device like a smartphone. Smart Series: The Smart series builds on the Pro series with Bluetooth connectivity and basic smart features. Some models are quite old now, but still effective. There is a great deal to like about the iO and this is without a doubt a step up for Oral-B. But, the downside is the price. It costs quite a bit more than the Genius X and does not deliver significant benefits that would be justifiable to most for the price. Conclusion

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Sometimes toothpaste can build up under the brush head and solidify to quite a tight bond. Then, when the brush head is ready to be replaced, it can break when removing it to leave this piece behind. To prevent this, we recommend the cleaning and maintenance routine noted in the manual. With either you have to power the brush on to change mode, but the Genius will remember the cleaning mode and start on this next time it is powered on, the 5000 does not. Sure, it plays a little rough and there’s no 3D action, but the Vitality Plus still provides good all-round cleaning. With fairly light pressure and a proper two-minute workout, my teeth felt smooth and clean, though I’m not sure you get the deep clean that pushes toothpaste in between the teeth that you get with the more expensive Oral-B and Sonicare brushes. Still, that’s nothing you can’t fix with some regular flossing – which you ought to think about even with a higher-end brush.

brushing modes: Daily Clean, Sensitive and unique Sensitive Plus mode for an amazingly gentle experience Oral-B's brush head fade from green to yellow to indicate when it's time to change, to keep a 100% cleaning efficacy Interestingly, despite the similar design, the Smart 6 is actually part of a range of brushes that includes the Smart 4 and 5 that sit below the Genius range. The next big difference is the battery life. The Pro 2 2000 has over twice the usage time. The Pro 600 will operate for 28 minutes, which is 7 days of cleaning based on one user. However the Pro 2 will last for 66 minutes which is 16 days of usage time.The reality is that you could use any mode on the brush to clean your tongue just ending the clean sooner. Although the speed and number of oscillations will be different. The 600 comes in light Blue or Pink whilst the Pro 2 2000 comes in a dark Blue or Pink. Both have gloss white plastic bodies. You get the standard features like the 2 minute timer, 30 second pacer, rechargeable battery and fading indicator bristles on the brush head.

The Smart 5 5000 comes supplied with a more suitable holder too. It sits on a work surface rather than needing to be attached to a wall. It is our opinion is smarter and less unsightly. You just need to pop your phone in it, which takes a couple of seconds compared to the tens of seconds with the genius brush configuration. You phone then sits in portrait or landscape orientation and shows the on-screen timer. Both do a job and give a home to brush heads, but the 9000 is a neater and more desirable solution. iO Ultimate Clean: tuft-in-tuft structure with 16 degree-angle bristles remove up to 100% more plaque for cleaner teeth and healthier gums* It does not mean the brush will actually clean the teeth better. In fact, both have the same motor inside and the same cleaning modes.A big improvement, it means you can go between charges for longer and works better for those who travel and are away from power.

READ NEXT: The best electric toothbrushes to buy Are all Oral-B brushes compatible with the same brush heads? While it’s cheap, the brush itself is well-designed, solidly built and easy to grip, with a rubberized coating covering all but the head and the last two inches of the handle. Oral-B has added a couple of flat ‘feet’ on the rear to make sure that it doesn’t roll off if placed horizontally on a bathroom shelf, and the heads slip on and off the standard Oral-B mounting on the top. Oral-B Vitality Plus review: What’s it like to use? As you move up the Oral-B range, the brushes become more expensive, but they do come with additional features and accessories. We regard these as “nice-to-have” rather than essential.

The best Oral-B electric toothbrushes to buy in 2023

In a word, simple. With no brushing modes to worry about, you simply charge the brush, apply toothpaste, press the big, rubberised button and start brushing. The only feature is a quadrant timer, which pulses the motor every 30 seconds with a longer pulse when you hit two minutes, which is really all you need to make sure that you’ve brushed for long enough. Smaller and less unsightly, it is designed to sit on a worktop rather than adhere to a wall or mirror. You just need to pop your phone in it, which takes a couple of seconds compared to the tens of seconds with the Genius brush configuration. You phone then sits in portrait or landscape orientation and shows the on-screen timer. The Smart 6 comes with1 x CrossAction, 1 x Pro White/3D White and 1 x Sensitive brush head, but the Genius 9000 comes with one additional brush head, that is the FlossAction head. So, yes there will likely be a noticeable are not going to make a significant difference to the overall cleaning results if you are already brushing twice a day for 2 minutes with the correct technique.