SONIC Chic DELUXE Rechargeable Travel Toothbrush, Silver

Product Information

The step-up ProtectiveClean models come with a pressure sensor and timer as standard, along with some useful extra features; some will run at higher speeds and give you a choice of brushing modes. In many ways, this would be your ideal first Sonicare brush; the chunky handle is comfortable to hold while brushing, and there’s an easy-start feature that sees the brush start off with a lower number of vibrations during the first week of use, steadily ramping up to its full 31,000 brush movements per minute. Key specs – Cleaning modes: 4; Battery type: Li-ion; Accessories included: Brush head, charging cradle, travel cap; Battery life (tested): 2hrs 27mins; Warranty: 1yr

Getting kids to clean their teeth well is rarely easy, but a decent electric brush can help – and this one will make it fun, too. The interactive Bluetooth app puts the character Sparkly, who loves nothing more than cleaning his teeth, at the centre of the action on your device. Not only can kids mimic Sparkly cleaning his teeth in real time, focusing on different sections of their mouth, but they can gain rewards including food, accessories and new skills for him by cleaning as they should and for the required two minutes.However, the top reason to get the DiamondClean 9000 is that you’ll be getting the best clean available in the Sonicare range, and one of the best from any electric toothbrush. The Deep Clean+ mode might be too much for some people, but, with three intensity settings, you can adjust the brush to suit your teeth, or simply switch to the regular Clean mode, or the White+ mode that will leave your teeth feeling polished. Meanwhile, the Gum Health mode is brilliant for treating soft, sensitive gums. READ NEXT: The best water flossers to buy The best Sonicare toothbrushes you can buy in 2023 1. Philips One Electric Toothbrush: The best electric travel toothbrush As for the brush itself, it feels and works much like a mid-range Sonicare toothbrush, with four brushing modes designed for cleaning, whiting, sensitive teeth and a gum massage, and a nice, slim handle with a grippy, rubber feel. It switches itself off when the usual two-minute brush is done, and pulses every 30 seconds during use to remind you to brush another quadrant. Battery life is brilliant, with enough charge to get you through a good month of brushing before recharging via the USB cradle. Whether or not you fancy the subscription, this is a great sonic toothbrush at a very competitive price. The mid-range ExpertClean brushes add smart features to the mix and may include even more brush modes and features. You’re also likely to get more advanced battery technology and better accessories, such as a charging stand or travel case. As before, the 3100 is compatible with the full range of Sonicare heads, and now supports BrushSync tech, with an LED indicator that lets you know when the head needs changing. What’s more, the clean isn’t far behind what you’d expect from Sonicare brushes twice the price. Sure, you only get 31,000 motions per minute where the top of the range models hit twice the speed, but your gnashers still come away feeling clean across the surface, and you get a nice, deep sweep along the gumline and between the teeth. You’ll have to pay more for extra cleaning modes and the battery life – just over 60 minutes – is disappointing, but this is still the best entry-level brush.

Battery life is also solid for a budget brush, and only takes four hours to recharge. Most importantly though, this is a big step up in cleaning from manual brushes or the cheaper battery models, and you can kit out the whole family without breaking the bank. The ProtectiveClean 6100 still doesn’t offer the same cleaning performance as the higher-end models, but it doesn’t feel inferior in everyday use; teeth still feel sparkling-clean after brushing. Meanwhile, you get roughly 14 days of use from a single charge – although, in practice, it’s likely closer to 20 or more before your toothbrush runs out of juice. With just the one setting, it’s pretty basic, but you still do get a timer – the brush pulses every 30 seconds and switches itself off after two minutes. We also like the unusual pink, blue and yellow colour options available. While the One doesn’t have the brushing power of the larger Sonicare brushes, it’s way ahead of other battery-powered electric toothbrushes, and does a great job of leaving your teeth feeling clean and looking shiny. The relatively gentle movement is also brilliant for massaging along the gumline. You still have the usual subtle vibration alert to encourage you to brush each quarter of your mouth for 30 seconds, with a more noticeable alert when it’s time to stop. You don’t get the same cleaning power as with the mid-range Sonicare brushes, but there’s still more than enough here to keep your teeth feeling clean and smooth. Key specs – Cleaning modes: 3; Battery type: Li-ion; Accessories included: 2 brush heads, charging travel case, charger; Battery life (tested): 1hr 33mins; Warranty: 2yrs

It’s basic, with just one setting, but you do get a timer, with the brush pulsing every 30 seconds and switching itself off after two minutes. We also like the unusual pink, blue and yellow colour options available. The One doesn’t have the brushing power of a larger Sonicare brush, but it’s ahead of other battery-powered electric toothbrushes, and does a great job of leaving your teeth feeling clean and looking shiny. The relatively gentle movement is also brilliant for massaging along the gumline. Plus, while you don’t get all the extra brushes or charging glass of the flagship model, it does still come with a handy USB charging case, which makes this a fantastic toothbrush both for home and for travel. Moving up to the ProtectiveClean range upgrades you to a better set of features, but without the smart app connectivity and premium accessories that make the ExpertClean and DiamondClean models more expensive. You still get the most important features, though, including a quad-pace timer, BrushSync tech and a pressure sensor – which alters the vibration to warn you if you’re brushing too hard. You also get a choice of Clean, White and Gum Care modes, plus three intensity settings per mode.

Key specs – Cleaning modes: 3; Battery type: Li-ion; Accessories included: 2 brush heads, wireless charger; Battery life (tested): 68 mins; Warranty: 1yr The Sonicare 3100 is one of Philips’ entry-level Sonicare brushes, but in actual use you’d struggle to notice; the core technology works brilliantly and it’s compatible with all the brush heads. Philips sells it with a ProResults head attached, along with a USB charger. The best sonic toothbrushes you can buy in 2023 1. Colgate ProClinical 150: Best budget battery-powered sonic toothbrush Philips is widely seen as the technology leader with its Sonicare line of brushes, but we’ve also found several smaller brands that make excellent alternatives. As you move through the price range, you’ll generally find that you get higher speeds, quieter and more efficient motors, slimmer handles, and a longer battery life. Keep going, and you’ll also find additional features including Bluetooth connectivity, built-in sensors, and smart app support or a built-in screen. You don’t necessarily need these features to give your teeth a good, consistent brush, but they can help. Is there anything else worth looking out for?

If pearly whites is what you’re after then the best Philips Sonicare electric toothbrushes promise minimum effort for maximum results

Philips also produces a Sonicare for Kids brush aimed at younger children, along with the Philips One electric toothbrush, which delivers basic Sonicare tech inside a slimmer, cheaper brush. You get three brushing modes – Clean, Sensitive, and White – with the Sensitive mode particularly easy going. The Clean and White modes give you a more in-depth clean, similar to what you’d get from a mid-range Sonicare brush. Just be aware that there’s no pressure sensor to stop you brushing too softly or too hard, and the brush shuts off automatically when your two minutes of brushing time is up. Battery life is roughly in line with the Philips Sonicare at just under 70 minutes, but that’s still more than enough to get you through a month of use without a recharge.

With any electric toothbrush, heads are a big deal. Philips manufacturers a range of different heads aimed at specific dental needs, ranging from the basic Plaque Defence and ProResults head to the Whitening heads, Optimal Gum Care heads, Intercare and A3 Premium All-in-One heads. Some other brushes may be compatible with Philips heads, but on others you’ll get a basic head with high-quality DuPont bristles, but nothing special. On the plus side, they’ll often throw in a replacement head or two, and you may find the heads cheaper to replace in future. The basic Sonicare 1000, 2000 and 3000 ranges deliver a basic toothbrush with just the essential features. These include a two-minute pulse timer and – with the 3000 series – a pressure sensor to ensure you’re not brushing too lightly or too hard. Earlier 3000-series models used an NiMH battery, but the newest Sonicare 3100 has switched to lithium-ion, delivering around 76 minutes of brushing; this translates to around 19 days between recharges, which is a little longer than the specified 14. More expensive Sonicare brushes feature more stamina, but this is a great budget option to keep your teeth and gums in shape.

The best Sonicare toothbrushes you can buy in 2023

Finally, the DiamondClean models deliver the highest brush speeds, more settings and features, smart technology and – with the flagship Prestige brushes – premium accessories. If your budget allows, we’d opt for the ExpectClean 7300, which can often be found at a similar price to the ProtectiveClean in the sales. Nevertheless, this model still offers great value if you’re not fussed about the latest in toothbrush features and tech. However, the top reason to get the DiamondClean 9000 is that you’ll be getting the best clean available in the Sonicare range. The Deep Clean + mode might even be too intense for some people, but you can turn down the intensity or switch to the regular Clean or White + mode that will leave your teeth feeling polished, and even get rid of much of the plaque and debris that can accumulate between your teeth. Meanwhile, the Gum Health mode is brilliant for treating and toughening up soft gums. Key specs – Cleaning modes: 3; Battery type: Li-ion; Accessories included: 2 x brush heads, travel case, charger; Battery life (tested): 1hr 19mins; Warranty: 2yrs