Electric toothbrushes are popular – and there are two brands in particular: Oral-B and Philips. But how big is the difference between a sonic toothbrush and a rotary model?
Note: Classification as a price tip or according to price limits is based on the cheapest shop offer in our price comparison; the price in the linked shop may differ.
Anyone who buys an electric toothbrush with vibrating sound technology in Germany usually chooses one Philips Sonicare. If you want a model with an oscillating-rotating round-head brush, you often choose one Oral-B iO Series. There are alternatives from other manufacturers and also from drugstores – you can find a number of them in our best list. But the question is usually: Which of the two big brands should I choose?
Objectively speaking, a sonic toothbrush can be used to clean your teeth more gently. The plaque is removed through vibrating movements and no great pressure is necessary on the teeth. This protects the tooth enamel. We also have the sound model Philips Sonicare 9000 (for testing) currently the best rating in the area of teeth cleaning.
The round head toothbrush Oral-B iO Series 9 (for testing) However, it is only just behind in terms of cleaning and thanks to other top properties it even achieved first place in the overall ranking at the time of testing. With the oscillating-rotating brushing technique, a little more pressure is required on the teeth. But basically it’s just a matter of getting used to it.
In the following table you can see some details about the toothbrush models. We will then explain to you what differences there are apart from the cleaning performance.
What are the advantages of Oral-B and Philips Sonicare?
Basically that is Cleaning performance Most brand models of electric toothbrushes are good to very good – regardless of whether they use sonic cleaning or oscillating-rotating brushing technology. There are clear differences in the areas of handling and equipment. Entry-level, mid-range and premium models are available for both the Oral-B iO Series and the Philips Sonicare. Accordingly, the prices of both brands range from 50 to 200 euros.
If you compare Oral-B models with similarly priced Philips Sonicare toothbrushes, the differences are noticeable Operation, features and battery actually hardly any weight. The control using the buttons on the toothbrush is easy to understand and both manufacturers also offer smartphone apps in the higher price ranges. There are also different cleaning modes and strength levels, helpful displays and good accessories such as travel cases with charging functions.
The replacement brushes for the Philips Sonicare are more expensive on averagethe running costs are higher than with the Oral-B iO Series. In our test, the Oral B models also usually performed slightly better when it came to battery. They lasted a little longer and were recharged quicker. But you will only notice this if you use the battery charge to its full potential. If you have a display If you want to use a toothbrush, you also have to use the Oral-B.
For whom is which model worthwhile?
If you have sensitive teeth, you might be better off choosing the Philips sonic toothbrush. More gentle cleaning is possible with vibration technology. However, the decision depends largely on personal preferences. If you are unsure, you can start with the inexpensive models from drugstores and try out whether you would prefer vibration or rotation cleaning. After that, it might be worth investing in a premium device.
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