Oral-B iO7 review: Affordable luxury

Worth When Reviewed

$219

Finest Costs Right now: Oral-B iO Sequence 7

$151.33

Oral-B has so full a spread of electrical toothbrushes that deciding which one is for you’d confuse even a dentist. On the final rely, Oral-B has almost 20 completely different brushes to select from.

The superior iO sequence, with a cleansing system powered by a quieter brushless motor, are the most effective fashions within the Oral-B line-up, however even then there are—relying on the place on the planet you might be primarily based—eight completely different fashions to select from: beginning on the price range iO Sequence 3 and ending with the top-end super-expensive Sequence 10.

All the iO Sequence handles share lots of the identical options, together with each oscillation and sonic “micro vibrations” as a part of the cleansing course of.

All have a two-minute timer to make sure you brush for the really helpful time, pacer, sensible strain sensor to guard your gum line from over-brushing, and first rate battery life.

Certainly, the fundamental cleansing motion is similar regardless of the iO mannequin that you just buy.

The variations are largely the variety of brushing modes supplied by every mannequin: the Oral-B iO3 has three, Oral-B iO4 has 4, Oral-B iO5, Oral-B iO6 and iO7 have 5 (though not the identical modes), the Oral-B iO8 has six, and the Oral-B iO9 and Oral-B iO10 each have seven.

If you will use solely the fundamental Each day Clear mode, then you possibly can safely ignore all the additional modes, however the later Sequence iO fashions do have just a few different options to cease everybody selecting the most affordable Sequence 3, similar to sensible options and an built-in display screen to show brush mode, period, charging velocity and battery life.

You’ll be able to try the professionals and cons of every of the Oral-B iO Sequence toothbrushes in our Oral-B electrical toothbrush comparability characteristic.

Our Finest Worth iO Sequence Oral-B electrical toothbrush is the iO Sequence 6. Our Finest Luxurious mannequin is the iO Sequence 8.

So what of the iO Sequence 7—may this be the candy spot between affordability and premium options?

Design

• Black-&-white display screen to point out timer and battery life
• 3-hour quick cost
• Gentle ring strain sensor

The iO7 is the entry-level of the high-end iO fashions, fourth to the 1O8, iO9 and the iO10. It has all the important thing options of the highest fashions, together with three-hour quick charging and a full-colour OLED display screen.

The iO7 has a monochrome show, in comparison with the iO8/9/10’s coloration OLED show. A coloration show appears nicer however doesn’t convey any new info than the b&w one. I wouldn’t pay the additional cash simply to have a coloration show on my toothbrush.

The display screen provides you just a little welcome icon—both sunshine, winky or a smiley face and a hi there.

When you begin brushing, the display screen shows the timer, exhibiting you a hoop that fills every quarter each 30 seconds—indicating time to maneuver on to a brand new part of your mouth.

I discovered this show fairly troublesome to see throughout brushing, and primarily relied on the haptic vibration each 30 seconds.

Nonetheless, it may be straightforward to overlook these in case your ideas drift off to different issues, as might be frequent when performing an earthly process very first thing within the morning or last item at evening.

The show comes into its personal right here. I discovered it best to test by its reflection within the mirror quite than flip it spherical and have a look at the comb itself, spraying my face in consequence.

The display screen additionally exhibits you the remaining battery life—in increments of 5%—every time you end brushing.

You can even open up the app and utilizing the brushing suggestions timer there.

You’ll be able to personalise your iO7 brush by selecting from one in all ten vivid colours for the sunshine ring across the brush’s neck. The sunshine ring glows in your chosen coloration as quickly as you start brushing.

It switches to inexperienced while you assert the perfect quantity of strain. In the event you press too arduous, the neck ring will glow purple.

These are easy and efficient methods to offer you visible suggestions in your brushing method.

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The iO7 is available in three deal with coloration choices: Black Onyx, White Alabaster, and Blue Electrical; though discovering the blue mannequin outdoors of the US isn’t as straightforward as the opposite two primary colours.

Within the iO7 field there’s a fast-charging magnetic charging puck, a strong journey case, the comb deal with and two brush heads. The case is helpful for retaining your costly brush secure, and it additionally stops the comb going off in your suitcase if by chance bumped in transit—I as soon as arrived at my vacation spot solely to listen to a deep vibrating noise emanating from my baggage on the carousel, leading to a useless battery once I most wanted a brushing session after a long-haul flight.

Tech Advisor’s toothbrush aficionado, Emma Rowley, reckons that the Oral-B journey case isn’t as sharply designed because the one which comes with the Sonicare DiamondClean 9000.

The iO9 and iO10 include a power2go charging case that may cost the comb inside, in comparison with the iO7 and iO8’s non-charging case-only possibility.

Efficiency

• Wonderful brushing efficiency
• 5 brushing modes
• Two-week max battery life

In fact, crucial issue to think about when selecting an electrical toothbrush is its cleansing efficiency.

Whereas conventional Oral-B brushes oscillate solely, the iO brushes each oscillate and sonically vibrate, eradicating plaque much more effectively.

This dual-action cleansing works wonders, and my hygienist complimented me on the distinction as soon as I’d moved to the iO brush.

It could really feel just a little harsh at first, however you quickly get used to the brushing and your enamel really feel nice after the regulation two minutes.

In the event you discover the Each day Clear to be too mild, check out the tooth-rattling Intense mode. My daughter instantly set hers to Delicate.

Oral-B

Brush modes

The on-brush show is the place you possibly can see which brush mode you’ve got chosen. The default brush mode is Each day Clear, and is probably going the principle—perhaps solely—mode you employ.

The iO7 has 5 cleansing modes: Each day Clear, Delicate, Intense, Whiten & Gum Care. This compares to the six of the iO8: Each day Clear, Delicate, Tremendous Delicate, Intense, Whiten & Gum Care.

What’s Tremendous Delicate and do you want it? In case your enamel are extraordinarily delicate, then it’s best to take into account the iO8 over the iO7. However most customers, as expressed earlier than, will seemingly follow Each day Clear solely, so may get monetary savings and purchase the better-value iO6, though the charging time is significantly longer (12 hours quite than the iO7’s three).

If you would like the 30-second Tongue Clear mode, you’ll want to think about the iO9 or iO10.

Oral-B

Charging

The cheaper iO6 can take as much as 12 hours to cost its lithium-ion battery, in order that’s the primary profit the iO7 has over the iO6. That mannequin makes use of the usual charger with the pillar within the center. The iO7, just like the 8, 9 and 10, makes use of a more moderen magnetic charger in both white or black.

The iO7’s battery ought to final for 2 weeks. In apply, I discovered it lasted round 10-11 days. To be honest, I typically brush for longer than two minutes as I wish to deal with cleansing my gums as a lot as my enamel.

Purchase within the US and Oral-B’s charging puck has a normal two-pin plug. Purchase within the UK, nevertheless, and also you’ll get a shaver socket plug.

In my (UK) toilet, this is usually a hit-or-miss affair when charging as I typically must maintain the shaving plug pushed to 1 facet to function. To be honest, that is seemingly only a wiring fault in my residence, however I ended up shopping for the identical charger with a normal UK plug and charged out of the lavatory. (If any reader shares this drawback, I’d love to listen to from you.)

A easy resolution can be to supply USB charging of the comb, though I perceive the old-school toilet/shaving socket pondering.

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Oral-B iO7 vs Oral-B iO8

The straightforward variations between the Oral-B iO7 and iO8 are the iO8’s coloration show and further Tremendous Delicate brushing mode.

in the event you don’t want a Tremendous Delicate brush mode—the iO7 does has a Delicate mode—the colour display screen isn’t price the additional value of the iO8. It’s good however on no account important.

There’s no distinction in brushing efficiency, charging velocity or equipment between iO7 and iO8. As such, we suggest the cheaper Oral-B iO7 over the iO8.

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Sharing

• Not designed for sharing
• App options might be restricted
• Brush heads characteristic symbols to distinguish them

With the top-end iO brushes priced at a premium, the concept of sharing the identical deal with however swapping out the brushes for every particular person is economically interesting.

The iO7 can be utilized as a shared brush, though you’ll lose a number of the sensible options within the app because it received’t maintain observe of your particular person brushing information.

In the event you do share the identical brush, the comb head alternative reminders within the app received’t work correctly.

Some retailers promote a value-pack field that features two handles, however just one charger and case. As most households will seemingly share a charger, this manner of saving on prices is appreciated.

You’ll be able to all the time purchase one other charger or journey case individually in the event you resolve you want two of every little thing.

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Linked options and app

• Actual-time brushing suggestions
• Brush head alternative reminders
• Gamification options

The iO7 connects through Bluetooth to the free Oral-B cellular app, accessible for iOS and Android. The app affords interactive real-time brushing suggestions. Notice, although, that it’s a must to watch your cellphone display screen whilst you brush if you wish to observe the protection as you go.

Whereas this works nicely, I believe that almost all customers will favor to simply brush their enamel with out having to stare at their cellphone—though some folks will bounce at any likelihood to stare at a cellphone at any time of the day!

You don’t must open the app to make use of the toothbrush, and most customers received’t trouble, though you’ll study extra about your brushing expertise in the event you use it not less than to start with.

The costlier iO9 and iO10 provide 3D floor AI brushing monitoring if you really want to get the fullest illustration of your brushing efficiency and method. These fashions monitor 16 zones quite than the six of the iO7.

You can even use the app to regulate brush settings, set brushing objectives, go on “dental care journeys”, see previous brushing efficiency, accumulate badges and get reminders to switch your brush head.

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Worth

The Oral-B iO7’s value level varies wildly relying on the place you’re primarily based.

Within the US, it’s broadly accessible direct from Oral-B, and from different retailers similar to Amazon, Goal and Finest Purchase for round $219.99.

Within the UK, the iO7 has a ridiculous RRP of £454, which is definitely nicely overpriced. Nonetheless, in actuality you’ll discover the iO7 less expensive at varied retailers, similar to Amazon, Boots and Currys, and even at Oral-B’s personal on-line store—on the time of writing it was on sale for £150 at these retailers, with out refills.

That’s nonetheless costly however bear in mind how a lot a visit to the dentist prices and the preliminary outlay fades into insignificance. Use this toothbrush accurately, and people journeys to the dentist needs to be rarer and cheaper than in the event you use a guide or much-cheaper electrical toothbrush.

As talked about earlier, look out for twin packs that supply two brushes however only one charger. These could make shopping for a number of brushes rather more viable. Oral-B UK is promoting the two-pack (one black, one white) for £235, on the time of writing, as an alternative of the ludicrous £560 checklist value. That’s simply £117.50 per iO7 toothbrush.

Because the magnetic charger will seemingly differ from the outdated conventional pronged charger, a household will discover it extra handy to all be capable to use the identical charger—though clearly this considerably will increase the outlay.

Keep in mind that to maintain it efficient, a brush head needs to be changed each three months, as after this time it tends to change into much less efficient.

The iO brushes require particular brush heads that value $17 / £15 every. If you purchase the comb, test what number of heads are included as some packs included two or extra; others simply the one.

Verdict

Whereas we rated the Oral-B iO8 as probably the greatest electrical toothbrushes round, the iO7 is notably inexpensive and all you sacrifice is the colour show and the Tremendous Delicate brushing mode.

Similar to the pricier iO8/9/10, the well-made and handsome iO7 boasts all of the options you might want to take excellent care of your enamel–a visual strain sensor, clear timer and vibrating nudges, vast alternative of brushing modes (though not as vast because the 8/9/10) and premium brushing efficiency–in addition to quick charging and a pleasant, if monochrome, show.

For extra electrical toothbrush shopping for choices, take a look at our round-up of the most effective electrical toothbrushes we’ve examined. In the event you’d wish to see how the iO7 measures up towards different iO fashions and different Oral-B brushes on the whole, take a look at the most effective Oral-B brushes we’ve examined.