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Our picks at a glance
- 1Best OverallPhilips Sonicare 5300 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush4.522,791 ratingsSee it on Amazon
- 2Most in the BoxAquasonic Black Series Ultra Whitening Toothbrush4.5139,162 ratingsSee it on Amazon
- 3Best Rotating BrushOral-B iO Series 3 Limited Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush4.319,402 ratingsSee it on Amazon
These three electric toothbrushes take different approaches. The Philips Sonicare 5300 lists a pressure sensor, three modes and three brush heads in the box. The Aquasonic Black Series comes with eight brush heads, a wireless charging base and a travel case. The Oral-B iO Series 3 is Oral-B's round-head iO brush with a pressure sensor and a light-ring timer. Each is rated 4.3 or higher across more than 19,000 ratings on Amazon.
How we picked
We searched Amazon for electric toothbrushes and set aside sponsored results, kids' brushes and listings rated below 4.3 or on fewer than 200 ratings. Sorted by rating, many listings showed near-perfect scores from a few dozen ratings, and we passed on those. We also passed on two well-rated Sonicare models, the 5100 and the 6100, because Amazon showed no main buy button for either when we checked. The Oral-B Pro 1000 and the Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4100 are left out here because they are the two models in our Oral-B vs Sonicare comparison.
Then we saved each finalist's title, bullets, specification fields, seller and return terms. If you floss too, see the best water flossers.
Philips Sonicare 5300 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush
It pairs a pressure sensor, which the Aquasonic listing does not mention, with three heads in the box and sale by Amazon.com. Philips says the sensor alerts you to protect gums and optimize cleaning, and lists three modes (Clean, White and Gum Care), a 2-minute Smartimer with QuadPacer, and a BrushSync reminder for replacing the head. The box holds three brush heads (one G2 Optimal Gum Care and two DiamondClean), a travel case and a charger, and Philips says the battery runs up to 2 weeks per charge. The description also mentions 3 intensity settings, which the bullets do not.
What the listing says
- Pressure sensor (per Philips)
- 3 modes: Clean, White, Gum Care
- 2-minute Smartimer and QuadPacer
- 3 brush heads, travel case and charger in the box
- Up to 2 weeks per charge (per Philips)
Shipped and sold by Amazon.com, with free 30-day returns, per the listing.
Aquasonic Black Series Ultra Whitening Toothbrush
The most rated of the three, at more than 139,000 ratings. Aquasonic lists a motor at 40,000 vibrations per minute, 4 modes with a smart vibration timer, wireless charging and an IPX7 waterproof rating, and the box holds 8 DuPont brush heads and a hard-shell travel case. The listing says the brush is accepted by the American Dental Association. The battery is described two ways: the bullets say lithium-ion, while a specification field says 1 C battery.
What the listing says
- 40,000 VPM motor; 4 modes (per Aquasonic)
- Smart vibration timer
- Wireless charging base
- 8 brush heads and a travel case included
- ADA Accepted (per the listing)
Sold by Aquasonic Official and shipped by Amazon, with free 30-day returns, per the listing.
Oral-B iO Series 3 Limited Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush
This iO Series 3 pairs a round head with what Oral-B calls smooth spinning brush motion and gentle micro-vibrations. It lists three modes (Daily Clean, Sensitive and Whitening), a smart pressure sensor, a light-ring 2-minute timer, a lithium-ion battery and a travel case, and its title says two replacement brush heads. Oral-B says it is clinically proven to remove up to 400% more plaque along the gumline than a regular manual toothbrush. Its 4.3 rating, across more than 19,000 ratings, is the lowest of the three and sits exactly at our floor.
What the listing says
- Round head with micro-vibrations (per Oral-B)
- 3 modes: Daily Clean, Sensitive, Whitening
- Smart pressure sensor; light-ring timer
- Lithium-ion battery; travel case
- Title lists 2 replacement brush heads
Shipped and sold by Amazon.com, with free 30-day returns, per the listing.
Side by side
| Toothbrush | Motion (as listed) | Modes | Heads in the box | Seller | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philips Sonicare 5300 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush | Sonic (per description) | 3 | 3 | Amazon.com | 4.522,791 ratings |
| Aquasonic Black Series Ultra Whitening Toothbrush | Vibrating, 40,000 VPM | 4 | 8 | Aquasonic Official | 4.5139,162 ratings |
| Oral-B iO Series 3 Limited Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush | Round head, spinning with micro-vibrations | 3 | 2 replacement heads listed | Amazon.com | 4.319,402 ratings |
What to look for
Pressure sensor
Philips lists a pressure sensor that alerts you to protect gums; Oral-B says its sensor alerts you if you press too hard. The Aquasonic listing does not mention one.
Brush heads
Check how many heads come in the box: 3 with the Sonicare and 8 with the Aquasonic. The Oral-B listing lists two replacement heads and does not say whether another comes attached.
Charging
The Aquasonic uses a wireless charging base. Philips says its battery runs up to 2 weeks per charge, and Oral-B gives no figure for the iO Series 3.
Seller
The Sonicare and the Oral-B are sold by Amazon.com. The Aquasonic is sold by Aquasonic Official and shipped by Amazon.
The bottom line
The Philips Sonicare 5300, with a pressure sensor, three modes and three heads in the box.
The Aquasonic Black Series, with eight heads, a wireless charger and a travel case.
The Oral-B iO Series 3, Oral-B's round-head iO with a pressure sensor and a light-ring timer.
Frequently asked questions
Sonic or rotating: which is better?
We do not rank the motions against each other. The Sonicare description calls the 5300 a sonic toothbrush, the Aquasonic listing describes 40,000 vibrations per minute, and the Oral-B iO describes a round head with spinning motion and micro-vibrations. Our Oral-B vs Sonicare page sets two specific models side by side.
Which ones have a pressure sensor?
The Sonicare 5300 and the Oral-B iO Series 3 both list one. The Aquasonic listing does not mention a pressure sensor.
How many brush heads come with each?
Per the listings: three with the Sonicare 5300 and eight with the Aquasonic. The Oral-B iO Series 3 listing lists two replacement heads and does not say whether another comes attached.
Is the Aquasonic really ADA accepted?
Its listing says it is accepted by the American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs. We have not confirmed that with the ADA.
Why are the ratings different from what I see on Amazon?
Ratings change over time. The figures here are what each listing showed on the date at the top of this page.
Ratings and listing details were checked on Amazon on the date shown at the top of this page. We have not used these; everything above is from their Amazon listings.
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