Sonicare vs Oral B Comparison: Which Lineup Represents Best Models?
When people speak of “Inseparable Twins,” I’m pretty sure they mean babies you cannot differentiate in between. Did you know, we have two electric toothbrush brands that can be tagged the same as well?
Phillips and Braun are two giants in the toothbrush industry. Sonicare and Oral B are the two behemoths that are hard to topple for any brand in terms of features and benefits.
Comparing these two? Any user would say it’s like comparing apples and oranges.
These two brands have some common grounds.
For example, these brands embraced the changes as the days progressed. Now, we see Phillips Sonicare and Braun Oral B as toothbrushes that can work well with receding gums, gingivitis, and braces.
But, what if I told you that it’s only on the surface. Go beneath and you’ll find that these two product lines give different names to their features. These two “Toothbrush” lines offer diversity in user experience and differences in how they achieve their goals.
These intriguing dynamics are what prompted me to go for an Oral B vs. Sonicare comparison article. In here, I’ll be diving nose deep into the history of these two brands, the similarities as well as the differences each of the models have.
Let’s get on with it.
Top 2 Philips Sonicare Electric Toothbrush
Philips Sonicare DiamondClean (Best Overall)
Philips Sonicare Flexcare Platinum
Top 2 Braun Oral B Electric Toothbrush
First: History of Braun Oral B
Funnily enough, Oral B and Braun were two different entities altogether. Oral B has a rich heritage in terms of history. We seem them in the scene even in the late 50’s and early 60’s.
First ever toothbrush to come out of this franchise is Oral-B 60. For those of you who don’t know, it had 60 tufts. Hence the name.
This brand has the prestigious honor of traveling to space. More specifically, the moon itself. This brand accompanied esteemed astronauts of Apollo 11 in 1969 to the moon.
Fast forwarding to 1990 and we see Oral B teaming up with Braun. In 1991, the company won Edison Award for inventing the technology that tells you when a brush head has gone bad and needs replacing.
Another few years down the line (in 2006 to be precise), these two franchises formed an alliance with Proctor and Gamble or P&G. Ever since then, Oral B is going from strength to strength.
Where Did Phillips Sonicare Come from?
For those of you who don’t know, Phillips Sonicare is originally a Dutch company with a rich heritage. Before 2000, there was a company named Optiva Corporation. In 2000, Phillips Domestic Appliances and Personal Care took over this franchise.
There and then, it became Phillips Oral Healthcare Inc. The following year, it changed its name to what you call it today. “Phillips Sonicare.” The franchise has turned out to be one of the best electric toothbrushes out there in the USA.
As we are done with a brief history of Oral B and Sonicare, let’s look into some of the similarities that these two brands will offer you.
What Are the Similarities?
Firstly, you’ll find charging stations in both the franchises. Every model comes with one. You don’t have to carry the brushes around in search of a power outlet anymore.
Another thing I found useful is the is the LCD display. Both of the two brands come equipped with it. This display is quite helpful when it comes to seeing all the crucial metrics and mode stats.
If you didn’t know, both these brands provide warranty and guarantee options for users. Phillips Sonicare and Oral B both provide two-year warranty periods. If you really want to draw some Phillips Sonicare vs. Oral B stats, the “Money Back Guarantee” is something to go by.
In case of Braun Oral B, the time limit is 60 days. Phillips Sonicare offers 28 days of “Money Back” guarantee.
Have you heard about the “Two Minute Timer?” Both of these brands have one. Each of the models will signal you after every thirty seconds. This means you need to brush the other side of the jaw.
Oral B vs. Sonicare: Overarching Differences
I will get into the differences and in-depth comparison when it comes to each of the rival models of these two franchises. But for now, let’s focus on some of the overarching differences that define Sonicare and Oral B respectively. I’ll be brief about this.
The Brands Differ in Brushing Techniques
As if it wasn’t obvious! Phillips Sonicare and Oral B have two distinct ways of brushing your teeth. You can call it their signature difference. For example, Sonicare uses vibration to take care of dirty teeth.
The brushes make do as many as 31,000 strokes per minute. These repeated strokes grant the user maximum accuracy possible in order to get his/her teeth cleaned.
On the other hand, Oral B grants you Oscillation technology. The brush moves around your teeth by 16 degrees (at best). While doing that, the head spins as part of 2D and 3D technologies. The 2D version allows for 7600 rotations per minute.
The 3D version allows for 8,800 oscillations AND 40,000 pulsations to comfort your teeth.
Brush Heads and Brushing Modes
To be frank, Phillips Sonicare wins this round with a simple brush head design compared to its counterpart. The brush head doesn’t rotate. Overall, the size of these brushes is smaller than Oral B. So, they are more manageable than their counterparts.
Oral B gives a rotating brush head to its models. One can find a different design assigned to each of the models. These heads are bigger than their counterparts. One would think that the larger head would be pricier as well. As it turns out, they aren’t! The replacement brush heads are cheaper than normal.
How Many Brushing Modes Do These Brands Have?
The answer is “Multiple.” Each brand has more than four modes at its disposal. I’d say the trophy for this round of Phillips Sonicare vs. Oral B match goes to the latter. That too, comfortably!
Phillips incorporates as many as 5 modes in the top tier toothbrush of theirs. When it comes to the best electric toothbrush from Oral B, you get one better. You get 6 modes that you can utilize. These modes come with Oral B 7000 Brush.
There’s just one hitch. The Oral B brushes are louder than their Sonicare counterparts. If you are willing to look past the noise, these models are great options for your money.
How Do the Batteries Stack up to the Challenge?
This round of Oral B vs. Sonicare goes to Phillips Sonicare. Simply put, you get as many as 3 weeks’ worth of battery life out of the most advanced model from Phillips. Oral-B’s most advanced model gives you less than 10 days’ worth of juice.
The wailings of Oral B continue further. These models support 110 volts’ worth of energy. Meaning, you get to use them within the US. Anywhere else you go, keep an adapter in the backpack to adapt to the power source.
On the other hand, Phillips gave its models a compatibility towards both 110V and 220V sources. Meaning, you can use these models no matter which part of the world you travel to or belong to. That’s convenience at its best.
The Battle of the “Pressure Sensors”
Okay, I lied. This is not so much of a battle as it is convenience. Pressure sensor tells you if you are brushing too hard or too soft. Most of the Oral B models come with the capacity (Accept for Oral B Deep Sweep 1000 and the Vitality Series).
On the contrary, we rarely see pressure sensors in the case of Phillips Sonicare models. I remember Philips Sonicare Flexcare HX6921/02 having this convenience out of all the models.
How Does the Price Fair?
Quite well, actually. Oral B models are technologically more advanced than their Phillips counterparts. Users get more options and spare parts (i.e: the brush heads). They should be priced higher, right?
Wrong!
Best Oral B toothbrushes are priced lower than the Sonicare ones. Yes, despite all their advancements and spare brush heads, the brand manages to keep the price tag down.
An In-Depth Oral B vs. Phillips Sonicare Model-to-Model Comparison
That’s right! I had enough of the general comparison metrics. It’s time to look deeper into certain models of the two franchises. Let’s look deeply into each of the toothbrushes from the two different camps. This way, we’ll be able to understand which toothbrush serves users better under certain conditions.
Oral-B Genius Pro 8000 vs. Philips Sonicare DiamondClean
First up, it’s the heavyweights. I mean Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield of the toothbrushes. Or… Klitschko and Fury for some people. Just like the pros of boxing, these two are the “Big Boys” of these two franchises.
When I look at the battery lives of these two models. DaimondClean has the edge over Genius Pro 8000. The former has a battery life of 14 days compared to 10 days of the latter. But avid users of Genius Pro will tell you that the juice runs for one or two extra days depending on the user.
One thing is certain. We have Li-ion batteries for both of these models.
Both of these products come with a fancy travel case. Yet, as I mentioned, Oral B models are only good for 110V power outlets. That means you can’t go anywhere outside the US and Canada with these brushes. On top of that, charging mechanism is not too good with this model.
On the other hand, Sonicare DiamondClean offers people compatibility with 110V and 220V outlets. These are perfect for a vacation outside Canada and the United States.
I must commend the guys for coming up with as many as “Six” brushing modes for this Oral B product. Sonicare falls behind with “Five” modes. Regardless of the number difference, these modes are more or less the same.
One thing I like about the Genius Pro 8000 is that it lets people know when to change the brushing head. Yes, it comes equipped with an indicator for that reason.
I know for some of the users, tongue cleaning is not such a big deal. Yet, in a comparison, everything factors in while deciding the best product when comparing between two identical ones.
One thing that tilts the comparison ever so slightly in favor of Genius Pro is the “Bluetooth” facility. This brush offers you this facility so that you can connect it to your Smartphone. Use an app that comes with the package. With this, people can record their brushing patterns and show it to the dentists for better treatment. Trust me, it helps. A lot!
I wouldn’t dare to put out a definite answer as to which one wins the battle. Yet, if you prefer traveling a lot and a bit of a boost in charging capacities, go for DiamondClean. Users who are in for a “Feature-beefed” brush should go for Genius Pro 8000 hands down.
| Product Name | Brush Modes | Voltage | Battery Life | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral-B Genius Pro 8000 | 6 | 110 V | Upto 10 days | |
| Philips Sonicare DiamondClean | 5 | 110-220 V | Upto 3 weeks |
Oral-B Pro 7000 vs. Philips Sonicare Flexcare Platinum
Let’s wind down our Oral-B vs. Sonicare Competition a bit. Let us look at “Second Best” products from each lineup for now. Just to be clear, we’re still in the “High-End” realm. It’s just that these models aren’t my “Out of the Hat” choices for users.
The Phillips’ product offers you three distinct cleaning modes. The user gets Clean, Deep Clean, and white. This doesn’t sound much, right? That’s because it isn’t. Compared to this, Oral B Pro 7000 offers you “Six” (you read it right) modes that you can utilize. Yes, the “Tongue Cleaning” mode is there too!
Of course, you can chop and change between three modes of Flexcare Platinum with three different intensity levels. But think about what you can do with as many as six modes.
If you think FlexCare platinum doesn’t have any “Ace” in its sleeves (read: mechanism), you are wrong. This thing comes with Sonic Technology that removes up to 10 times the bacteria and filth in your mouth than its peers do. Cool, eh?
It will continue to be so until the guys at Oral-B switch it up with a Li-ion battery just like their counterparts.
If you want “Timed” brushing, both of these models come with the Quadpacer system. It tells the user when to move to another side of the jaw. I’d advise my readers to spend two minutes to brush their teeth and move these brushes to another side every thirty seconds.
While brushing, Phillips FlexCare produces 31000 vibrations per minute. If guys think that’s insane, Oral-B Pro 7000 produces 48000 vibrations AND 8000 oscillations when it comes to washing our mouths.
Unlike FlexCare+, FlexCare Platinum doesn’t have the Bluetooth connectivity. Users can’t monitor their brushing habits and the brush itself for wear and tear. The Pro 7000 excels with the Bluetooth capacity here. As with the previous model, people can monitor and record their brushing sessions here too.
I like the travel pouch each of these models carries. As usual, FlexCare Platinum scores it big with flexibility in terms of offering a greater range in terms of voltage than Pro 7000.
Oral B edges out in terms of how many brush heads people get with it. One has three additional brush heads with the main package. FlexCare platinum only offers you one. People need to change brush heads every three months. So, offering only one is a bit letdown.
Buying two extra heads will do. But, it means spending more money. I guess we have a clear winner in this price range.
| Product Name | Brush Modes | Brush heads | Color | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral-B Pro 7000 | 5 | 3 | Black | |
| Philips Sonicare Flexcare Platinum | 3 | 1 | Grey |
Oral-B Pro 5000 vs Philips Sonicare HealthyWhite HX8911
We’re heading to “Mid-Range” brushes now. While these products are not as highly priced as some of the others on my list, they are not short of benefits. Call these two “A Perfect Balance” between price and performance if you would.
Still, I’d say Pro 5000 is a bit too much in terms of price compared to HealthyWhite HX8911. The latter is sitting pretty thanks to the reputation of the company. HealthyWhite has been in the reckoning long enough among the users. Numerous benefits of this product certainly help.
Bear in mind, it is “Floss-Like” and not a replacement for flossing.
The HX8911 has only two cleaning modes as opposed to Pro 5000’s “Five.” HX8911 offers 7 times better cleaning efficiency than that of other brands. This thing takes out 90% of the stains on your teeth. I’m not the one claiming this. Manufacturers have gone to great lengths to establish this fact.
This thing comes with a QuadPacer for “Thirty Second” interval times. People get the “Smart Timer” as well which sets the brushing length to two minutes.
Yes, you guessed it right. QuadPacer instructs the users four times in a standard session to switch sides while washing their mouths. It doesn’t get the blessings of a “Bluetooth Technology.” Here, Pro 5000 edges out Sonicare by providing their brush the necessary boost.
Unfortunately, Phillips didn’t include a “Pressure Sensor” here. Oral B didn’t forget to do so. Also, if you are using the latter, your brush handle is a good fit for any of the brush heads of the franchise.
Battery life continues to be the woe for Oral B. Yes, in case of Pro 5000 as well. You get a maximum of 10 days’ worth of juice after a single charge. Its opponent will provide you 16 days’ boost with a 24-hour long charging session.
If you are thinking that Oral B spared a Travel Case with this package, it didn’t. Its counterpart takes the cake with a sophisticated travel case and travel charger along with the package. Also, this product does save the counter-top space in your bathroom. It looks elegant too!
The “Pro 5000” is leagues ahead when it comes to rotating and oscillating as you know. It just so happens that the way it operates benefits tooth-to-tooth cleaning as well. I’d suggest this one ahead of Sonicare product for obvious reasons.
| Product Name | Brush Modes | Brush heads | Color | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral-B Pro 5000 | 5 | 2 | Blue | |
| Philips Sonicare HealthyWhite | 2 | 1 | White |
Oral-B Pro 3000 vs Philips Sonicare 3 Series
These two are the ones that got us users divided. There’s no doubt that these two are the best in terms of price vs. performance ratio within their respective brands. Yet, I’m pitting them against each other for Oral B vs Sonicare comparison. Let’s see which one offers a louder bang for my bucks.
In comparison to that, Sonicare 3 Series HX6610-01 toothbrush comes with a single cleaning mode. It has the three intensity levels. A single mode pales in comparison to Pro 3000’s three.
Sonicare 3 is better than a manual toothbrush in every respect. It offers 6 times better cleaning and coverage than the manual ones. Also, it is gentle along your gum line. If you are not happy with the speed, you can experiment with three different levels and find out which suits you better.
These three modes are great when the users are looking for a comfortable and slow cleaning experience. These three modes offer them a certain amount of control. For people with sensitive teeth and gums, “Control” is needed.
I don’t need to tell my readers that both of these models come equipped with a SmartTimer and a QuadPacer. SmartTimer helps the user to set a “Two-Minute” brushing time. QuadPacer signals the user to switch gum sides in every thirty seconds.
Does, Pro 3000 has a pressure indicator? You bet it does! Whenever the user puts too much pressure on the teeth, a red light flashes. It is clearly visible to the user from any angle.
A Sonicare 3 Series brush is always a better product in terms of its battery life of 18 days. Then, you have the compatibility with variable voltage specifications. But this thing loses out to its counterpart in replacement and storage options. You need to buy a brush head when using Sonicare 3 Series.
But Oral B provides the replacement for free. With the package, you get as many as 3 replacement heads. The company has provided you a bigger case than Phillips in order to store these three additional replacement heads.
That’s not the end! Pro 3000 body can fit with any brush head developed by Oral B. You can customize the product the way you see fit for an effective cleaning experience.
Oral-B White Pro 1000 vs Philips Sonicare 2 Series
Let’s say, a user is just getting used to electric toothbrushes and taking baby steps toward using them. He’s in need of an “Entry-Level” product. This is where Oral B and Phillips Sonicare offer nearly identical and competent products. So, Oral B vs Sonicare comparison gets stiffer as well.
As usual, HX6211/04 or the Sonicare 2 Series offers people six times better cleaning than manual brushing would do. At this price, Sonic Technology with 31000 rotations is a blessing. You get one cleaning mode. But I wouldn’t complain White Pro 1000 offers a single mode as well.
Phillips offers users an EasyStart with this model too. Earlier, I didn’t cover this feature to great extent. It helps a beginner to get used to the speed levels of Sonicare. With this little thing, Phillips slowly increases the speed of the brushes. It takes first 14 uses for the brushes to reach their potential.
Both of these two brands feature their signature traits in these models as well. For Phillips, it is 31000 rotations per minute. Oral B rotates, oscillates, and pulsates at the same times. But as an entry-level electric toothbrush, White Pro 1000 rotates 20000 times per minute.
Both of these brands feature SmartTimer and QuadPacer. The first one is a clock that sets “Two-Minute” brush time. The second one is an indicator that flashes every thirty seconds. This tells you to switch sides and thoroughly clean your teeth.
With Sonicare 2 series, you get a brush head that’s easy to put together with the body. One can snap it on at the time of cleaning teeth. Oral B provides one “CrossAction” brush head as well. With Pro 1000, you don’t get spare brush refills like other models.
There’s not much to choose between these products when it comes to cleaning. Oral B fans will claim that it provides better cleaning. But I know that Phillips offers better control with variable speeds. At less than $50 price, I’d take it.
When it comes to battery life, my loyalties lie with Phillips Sonicare. Even in the case of “Low Price” products, this company offers 2 weeks on a fully recharged battery. Its counterpart manages to dish out one week at the very best. That is, 28 minutes of use ONLY!
When push comes to shove, these two brands dish out their best. In this case, it is when the price point is at its lowest. To be honest, I don’t have the balls to call any one of the two “A Clear Winner.” You know what? I’ll cop out. This is a draw. I can’t see any product from either of the two franchises winning.
Let Us Draw the Line
We have to end it somewhere. After this long and tiresome debate, the winner to Sonicare vs Oral B battle is still unclear. I can’t point my finger at one product from any brand and call it the best.
However, if we look at features, most of the Oral B models come through. These products have top-of-the-line features with fitting benefits. Most models have a justifiable price tag as well.
Looking at Oral B, I see oscillation, rotation, and pulsating movements. You get Bluetooth connectivity with certain models as well. There’s the issue of pressure control and modes for sensitive gums.
I’m tempted to call it in favor of this prestigious brand. Yet, people won’t oversee the extent of battery life Sonicare provides. Simple yet comfortable brushing system is great for newbies.
At low price range, Phillips provides top-notch products that make loudest bang for the buck. Also, when it comes to preventing gingivitis, Sonicare seems to be a tad bit better than the competition.
Ultimately, it comes down to the needs, choices and priorities of people using these products.