Sonicare vs Oral-B
Sonicare vs Oral-B: Which Is The Best?
Sonicare vs Oral-B. The two big names in electric toothbrushes. Which should you get? There are more than just budget considerations to look at here. We’ve compared the two most popular models in each of these product lines to see how they shape up. First up, the Philips Sonicare Essence 5300.
Sonicare Essence
This is the most popular model in the Sonicare electric toothbrush range, although not the most featured or expensive one. For those who just want a great, functional electric toothbrush without the bells and whistles and specialty features that inflate the price of the Essence 5752 model and the Flexcare series, this is a great unit. It comes with all the features you’ve come to expect from a top of the range electric toothbrush, including the 2 minute timer, high speed bristle operation and a wonderfully thorough cleaning action. The deep cleaning offered by this brush really is one of its standout features.
The slender heads used by this product makes moving it around inside your mouth very easy, and they last a good long while (up to 6 months). To help a new user get used to the motion of the brush, the brush gently increases power over the first 12 uses, which is handy as the full vibration takes a little bit of getting used to.
One charge typically lasts around 2 weeks, which makes this a good brush for travelling, but it’s probably safer to take the charger along.
This toothbrush usually clocks in at around the $60 mark, but Amazon sometimes runs a special on it for around $49, making the legendary Philips quality much more affordable.
Let’s look at the Oral-B unit before we reach a verdict.
Sonicare vs Oral-B: The Oral-B Vitality Precision
The big selling point of the Oral-B products is their price.
Usually selling at around $40, they are slightly cheaper as an initial investment than the Sonicare units, although the latter has a reputation of lasting considerably longer. If you’re in a budget squeeze right now though, the Oral-B will obviously attract your attention.
The Oral-B electric toothbrush also offers a 2 minute timer, but unlike the Sonicare it doesn’t shut off, but simply buzzes. So, if you still want to clean up a few spots, you can happily continue.
The motion of the brush is different from the Sonicare as the entire head rotates, compared to the Sonic technology on the Sonicare where the individual brushes are in motion.
Overall the Oral-B electric toothbrush does a great job of cleaning the teeth, and it is a great investment to make in your dental care.
Sonicare vs Oral-B: Comparison & Verdict
| Feature | Sonicare 5351 | Oral-B Vitality |
| Price | $49-$60 | $35-$45 |
| Battery Life | 2 weeks | 5 days |
| Head Replacement Cost | Around $20 for 2 | Around $20 for 3 |
| 2 Minute Timer | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 2 Years | 2 Years |
| Amazon 4 & 5 Star Reviews | 84% | 86% |
| Amazon 1 & 2 Star Reviews | 11.1% | 7.9% |
For its price, the Oral-B remains a sound investment. The considerably shorter battery life gives it a major disadvantage though, and therefore we still opt for the Sonicare as the best electric toothbrush, if it is within your budget. The cleaning action feels more thorough than the Oral-B, the longer battery life is great and the build quality is just that few notches better.
If budget is of no concern, the Philips is a great long term investment. If you’re a little strapped, the Oral-B Vitality is decent enough. Aesthetically, if that’s important to you, the Sonicare is also a much classier looking unit.
And that’s a wrap for Sonicare vs Oral-B toothbrushes.
