Whilst each has its place within the market, it is the Pro Series that is the most logical option for the majority. 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. There is no battery in the case, to charge the brush and anything connected via the USB cable the case has to be connected to mains power.

Perfecting your brushing routine, including the brushing time, technique and frequency will bring more positive benefit than any particular toothbrush. A smaller and final difference between the two models is the colour of the brush handles, or more precisely the rubber grip that runs down the front of it. Place these brushes side by side and it is almost impossible to tell the difference between each of them. Bristles of the brush head should just skim the tooth surfaces. You don’t need to brush hard to clean your teeth effectively.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.

If you’re not bothered with the whole idea of apps and smart toothbrushes, then the iO Series 3 is amazing value and, arguably, the best brush in Oral-B’s whole range. It boasts the same magnetic drive technology as the other brushes in Oral-B’s flagship iO-Series range, but comes without the advanced sensors and Bluetooth connectivity to monitor your brushing and send the data to your smartphone. In practice, that means a quieter brush with a more comfortable vibration, and one that still leaves your incisors feeling polished and your molars super-clean, as well as doing a fantastic job of clearing plaque from between your teeth. You have to stand in front of your smartphone when brushing and can’t really move as the brush movements need to be seen by the camera. You can learn more about this mode and how it differs but reading our article, Oral-B cleaning modes explained.But, the whitening mode is often overrated. The Genius X does command a premium for this technological upgrade and you get a little less in the box. Otherwise, it has the same tech and the same key strengths as the iO Series 6 and iO Series 9, giving you a smoother brush with less vibration than the older Genius models, yet still delivering an excellent ‘fresh from the dentists’ clean. You also get the same pressure sensor and timer, the same two weeks plus battery life, and the same OLED display and app-connected features. Given that the differences between this brush and the Series 9 are minor, the Series 8 makes a pretty strong case for itself as the best Oral-B brush to buy.The great number of choices you have within the Oral-B range can make it really quite difficult to decide which toothbrush is right for you. The image below is a comparison chart that shows the main models available from Oral-B today, along with the features and functions each offer. The reality is, 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. It does too come with a premium travel case, similar to that of the Genius X, which allows the brush to be charged whilst inside. However, like the X, this requires a separate proprietary power adapter.

Both come with a premium travel case and a 2+ week battery life. A visible pressure sensor, 2 minute timer and pacer are built-in too. iO Series vs Genius X 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. BUT, one of the biggest flaws of the Smart 5 is the fact that you can’t easily tell what cleaning mode you are using. The Genius resolves this issue to a point with a series of icons that illuminate on the handle when the selected mode is in operation. 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.You too get a visible pressure sensor, but this now lights up not only red to alert you when you brush too hard, but green too, to show you are using just the right amount of pressure. Battery life isn’t up there with some Sonicare models – you’re looking at a recharge roughly every three weeks – but if you want the latest and greatest toothbrush tech for less, there’s no better buy.

Oral-B iO™ with revolutionary iO™ technology is the latest Oral-B electric toothbrush. After six years of research and over 250 patents, Oral-B iO™ sets the new standard of brushing performance, experience, and design. Experience a deep but uniquely gentle clean with a new frictionless magnetic drive. It directs all energy to the bristles to generate new micro-vibrations. The result is Oral-B’s best ever clean: 6x more effective plaque removal along the gumline for 100% healthier gums in one week.There is not much difference in the size and weight all told, only a few grams but sit them side by side and we think that most would prefer the in-hand feeling of the Smart 5.