Philips Sonicare 7100 review: can a £350 electric toothbrush really be worth it? (aff)
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After years of using budget electric brushes, I tested a premium Sonicare model to see if smart features and serious power justify the hype and price drops
You must have seen the adverts for electric toothbrushes that seem violently expensive, and you must have thought to yourself: "Why would I spend £200 on a toothbrush?" I know I have.
And then the nice people at Philips invited me to test one of their top toothbrushes, from the Sonicare range. Let's just say curiosity got the better of me.
I've been using electric toothbrushes for years, but I usually go for the cheapest ones I can find. Mine's an Oral B and I think it cost about £30. It has a great battery, it cleans my teeth and... That's about all I can think of to say about it.
The Philips Sonicare 7100 I've been using for a few weeks doesn't cost £30 at all; in fact it costs £350 - more than 10 times the price of my trusty device. Can it possibly be that much better?
It's important to add at this point that big discounts on electric toothbrushes are common, and as I write this there's a navy blue Sonicare 7100 on Amazon for £120.99. Looking at the price history, you'd be wise to wait for a discount, as they do happen throughout the year.
But even at £120, it costs four times the amount my Oral B toothbrush set me back. There are clues as to why it's more pricey as soon as you get it out of the box.
It doesn't especially feel any more "premium" than mine and, if anything, the annoying little gap between the single brush head it came with and the main body doesn't scream high-end design. But then you dig a little deeper.
You also get a neat powered travel case, which contains the toothbrush and charges it at the same time.
And the wireless charger it comes with is USB-powered, which is a revelation to me, as my toothbrushes have always had those archaic two-pronged mains plugs, despite the fact barely anyone has those types of sockets any more.
And then you realise the Sonicare 7100 has an accompanying app. I've never felt the need to have an app helping me to brush my teeth, but it's really very good.
It links to the toothbrush via Bluetooth and accesses stored data, which builds up a pattern to let you know how your brushing routine is going, and how it can be improved.
Apparently my average brushing time has been a bit poor, but the pressure I've been applying has been excellent.
I need to clean my tongue more often, I’ve been advised, which is something I never thought I'd be told to do, and I've currently got 161 days left on my brush head. I can even reorder one in the app, if I wanted to.
The app will give you live tips as you brush, if you wanted them, and a countdown so you know how long to carry on for to save you a polite telling off.
Having said that, unlike some fitness trackers, living with a digital dental advisor isn't like being in an abusive relationship. It's very complimentary and any criticisms are gentle reminders, rather than character assassinations.
And then there's the toothbrush itself. After years of using the bargain basement, the power of the Sonicare 7100 really takes some getting used to.
Especially when the brush head is fresh and stiff, it feels almost uncomfortably powerful, but you do start to grow accustomed to it.
There are four brushing modes modes, which don't seem to make all that much of a difference, and three intensities, which you soon stop playing with, and a handy battery indicator counting down three stages until it's on its last legs.
Battery life is perhaps the only real disappointment with the Sonicare 7100. My ageing Oral B might have been a bargain, but its battery trots on for weeks between charges. The Philips can manage a couple of weeks at best. Granted, that's not a lifespan that's going to be in any way problematic, but it's strange there's a big difference between the cheap and the premium.
But as I said, that USB charging is a game-changer. And I can now confidently say, after several weeks of use, that my teeth are cleaner overall. I've yet to get a dentist to give me a professional evaluation, but I know he'll be impressed.
The question to be asked, then, is would I now pay £350 for a toothbrush? Of course not, don't be silly. Would I pay £120 for a toothbrush when the deals are on? I think I probably would.
It's very tempting to go for the cheapest one I can find again and, the truth is, they do a fine job. Most of the effectiveness of cleaning your teeth lies in your technique and your routine anyway.
But to have a smart system by your side every day, helping you to perfect that technique and routine, is very valuable. And if you can justify the expense, it's well worth having. I'm a lot more impressed than I thought I would be.