Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. This means that at no cost to you, we may earn a small commission for qualifying purchases.
Last Updated on February 27, 2023
Oral B Pro 1000 vs Sonicare 4100: Which Electric Toothbrush is Better?
Ever since the pandemic, people are caring more and more about personal hygiene, and that includes oral cleanliness. The demand for electric toothbrushes is higher than ever.
The two big names associated with the oral health industry, Oral B and Philips, are not unfamiliar to everyone. They have been taking over the electric toothbrush market for years now. Both producers have their own striking features and characteristics. It can be a difficult task when it comes to choosing the one for the household.
In this article, we will focus on two products from the two big brands, the Oral B Pro 1000 and the Philips Sonicare 4100. We will also help you find out which one is more suitable for you and how to choose the best option. Stick around and find out everything you need to know about these two brushes.
Oral B Pro 1000 Vs. Philips Sonicare 4100 at a glance
Oral B Pro 1000 advantages:
- 3D Technology, oscillates, rotates and pulsates up to 8800 movements and 20000 pulsations per minute to remove plaque
- Gum pressure control automatically stops the brush pulsation when the user is brushing too hard
- The built-in timer encourages users to brush for the recommended time
- Pacer that momentarily pauses the brush to remind the user to switch to a different quadrant of the teeth
- American Dental Association (ADA) approved
- Its single cleaning mode makes the brush very easy to use
- 4 colors options including white, black, pink, green
- Water-resistant handle
Oral B Pro 1000 disadvantages:
- Battery life roughly lasts for 10 days only on a single full charge
- Although there is a built-in pressure sensor, it is not visible
Philips Sonicare 4100 advantages:
- There is a built-in timer that makes you stick to the two-minute brushing schedule
- Brush sync technology to remind you when to get a new brush head
- This brush operates with sonic technology. It moves the brush head up to 62000 times per minute, creating microbubbles that support cleaning between teeth
- Automatic power off
Philips Sonicare 4100 disadvantages:
- Sideways movement makes the brush handle easier to be damaged in time in comparison to the rotational movement that Oral B uses
- The brush does not come with any extra replacement brush heads in the original package
- No travel case included
- Only two colors option (white and black)
Editor’s choice: Want to skip to the big reveal? Oral B wins!
If you do not want a detailed breakdown of how each product performs, here is the verdict! While both Oral B and Philips electric toothbrushes do an exceptional job in giving an awesome cleaning experience, the Oral B Pro 1000 wins, hands down! It gives a more all-rounded cleaning ability.
It will probably take a more top-of-the-line Philips toothbrush to catch up on the strength. At a similar price point, the Oral B Pro 1000 offers features that outrun the Philips Sonicare 4100.
Get your Oral B Pro 1000 to enjoy a deep cleaning experience twice a day.
What’s the Difference Between Them?
Right out of the box comparison
Both devices are super simple to set up. They both give similar impressions right out of the box.
Oral B Pro 1000:
- 1 x Oral-B Pro 1000 brush handle
- 1 x CrossAction brush head
- 1 x White charging stand
- Documentation
Philips Sonicare 4100:
- Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4100 electric toothbrush
- 1 x C2 optimal plaque control brush head
- Charging stand
- Documentation
Although the content is rather similar, the outlook of the Sonicare 4100 box is visibly larger. There is no justification for why the packaging has to be so big, especially when the market is calling for less packaging for environmental reasons. At the same time, the Pro 1000 comes in a sleeker box. It is more modern and environmental-friendly.
Both products do not come with supplementary items such as extra brush heads or a travel case. They only contain exactly what you order. If you do not like the standard brush heads, there are plenty of options to choose from that fit your needs. At this price range, products are mostly not equipped with extra brush heads or travel cases. So, this does not come as a surprise.
Winner: Since the two products come in a similar fashion in terms of content, Oral B should win this round by successfully creating more sustainable packaging as Sonicare is dumping too much plastic in this one-time box.
Cleaning Ability
Oral B Pro 1000:
- Scientifically developed bristles to remove more plaque
- Automatic indicator to remind users to change the brush head
- Clean Maximizer technology
Sonicare 4100:
- Optimal Plaque Control
- “Brush Sync” feature
- Flashing light after 3 months to remind users to replace the brush head.
The brush heads that come with the body for the two products are quite different in their cleaning ability. The Oral B one comes with a nice Cross Action brush head while the Philips comes with an Optimal Plaque Control head.
The Cross Action head is one of the top brush heads Oral B has to offer. It is a big win for users that it comes with the package since most people will have to purchase it additionally otherwise.
Bristles are carefully calculated to be angled at 16 degrees. This design does more than give it a unique look. It also maximizes each rotation to remove more plaque. Besides, the bristles on the Cross Action head use the new Clean Maximizer technology developed by Oral B. In essence, there is a fading indicator telling its users when to change the brush head.
The green bristles will fade to yellow in about 3 months, depending on how vigorously it is used. Three months is the recommended time by dentists to replace the head with a new one.
On the other side, the Philips Sonicare 4100 comes with an Optimal Plaque Control. It is a brush head that leans more towards the basic side. The 4100 has a feature called ‘Brush Sync’. It performs similarly to Oral B’s Clean Maximizer Technology. When the brush head is newly fitted to the handle, there is a chip built into the head.
It is detected by the handle. The electronics inside of the handle will keep track of how long you have been using the head. After the three-month mark, the indicator light will flash an amber color to tell you that it is time to change the head.
By looking at the specifications, the two toothbrushes are branded equally as impressively powerful. Despite the multi-billion dollar research and development, after using it for an extended period of time, the Sonicare 4100 has a reputation for deteriorating in its intensity and cleaning power. This is likely due to the lack of proper maintenance in design.
The product is made to give explosive results that stun its audience at the beginning without giving too much thought to maintenance. This is the product to buy if you are chasing after the new model each year. But if you intend for it to last, you may reconsider getting the Sonicare one.
On the contrary, the Oral B Pro 1000 is made to last from start to finish. Rarely you will hear users complain about a drop in performance. The vibration intensity will remain the same throughout the years, given the right maintenance and care.
Winner: After much consideration, the Oral- B Pro 1000 shows a better cleaning capacity than the Philips Sonicare 4100. The brush head that it comes with has a stronger cleaning power to remove stubborn plaque and stains as compared to the standard brush head on the Sonicare 4100.
Moreover, based on user reviews, the Sonicare 4100 does not usually last as long as the Pro 1000. Yours might end up in the repair shop a little quicker than you would want.
Which One has Better Quality in Design?
Oral B Pro 1000:
- Good grip so it does not slip when wet
Sonicare 4100:
- Matte surface that is currently trending
Sonicare has a matter surface as opposed to Oral B’s glossy layer. The preference for this is highly personal but matte is currently trending. However, Sonicare has much fewer gripping points than Oral B, making it easier to slip from the user’s hand. Dropping your electric toothbrush is something you want to avoid because these expensive devices are delicate. They are not made to take a hit.
On the Oral- B Pro 1000’s handle, there is a series of small dimples to increase friction when it is wet. Although it may be less effective than the raised plastic dots, the dimples are easier to clean and will less likely to generate bacteria. It is very important to keep these oral health products as hygienic as possible.
The power buttons are on the front panel of both products. It is the most traditional design but it never fails to deliver. On the back of the brushes, the Oral- B Pro 1000 has two raised dots whereas the Sonicare 4100 has a horizontal protrusion at the bottom to keep the toothbrushes stable when they are laid flat.
Since both toothbrushes only come in one cleaning mode, there is no additional knowledge you need to acquire before using them. The Oral- B’s brushing mode is called the Daily Clean mode. It gives a good clean to the teeth and gums gently without damaging your soft muscles.
It even comes with a built-in pressure sensor that slows down when you are brushing too hard. With this great feature, a new user can comfortably try the brush out even if they are not familiar with using an electric brush.
The handle of the Sonicare 4100 will vibrates if it senses too much pressure against your teeth. Additionally, the LED light on the side will flash. However, given its position, it’s almost impossible to see the flashing LED light when you are brushing. As for the vibration, it is not the most intense and some users may feel it is just part of the brushing motion.
Winner: Oral B Pro 1000 certainly wins this round. Philips Sonicare 4100 fails to compete with Oral B. The Pro 1000 has a higher range of design details such as the dimples at the back of the handle.
These trivial design thoughts go a long way. They represent attention to detail. While still giving a satisfactory performance if you examine it separately, the Sonicare 4100 seems to be a bit mediocre compared to the leading giant of Pro 1000. Sonicare 4100 has a less user-friendly design that keeps users’ needs in mind.
How Long can the Oral- B Pro 1000 and Philips Sonicare 4100 Last?
Battery life for an electric toothbrush is way less important to general users as it is usually placed stationary and always ready to be charged. That being said, a strong battery performance means your toothbrush is likely to have a longer life.
Besides, for those that are constantly on the road, having a long-lasting toothbrush is something to be thankful for. You can save extra space as you do not have to carry the charger with you.
Battery Life
Battery life of Oral B Pro 1000:
- 10 days of battery life per charge (2mins x 2 times/day= 40 minutes)
- Takes only 22 hours to charge fully
Philips Sonicare 4100:
- 14 days of battery life (2mins x 2 times/day= 56 minutes)
- Takes at least 24 hours to fully charge
Winner: Sonicare 4100 wins this battle. Having the extra battery life, you can carry a Sonicare for long travels without packing the charger along. But for ordinary users, you will hardly notice the difference as you are probably charging the toothbrush frequently anyways.
The charging time required for both products is fairly similar so there is no clear winner. The weight difference is also minimal with the Sonicare 4100 being 7g heavier. Users should consider their needs for travel and if battery life is a determining factor for them. If so, then Sonicare 4100 will make a better companion.
What are their Differences in Weight and Size?
Size Comparison
Oral B
- Height (without head) – 19.5cm/7.68 inches
- Height (with head) – 23.2cm/9.13 inches
- Width – 2.5cm/0.98 inches
- Thickness – 2.9cm/1.14 inches
- Weight (without head) – 118g/4.1oz
- Weight (with head) – 123g/4.3oz
Philips
- Height (without head) – 19cm/7.4 inches
- Height (with head) – 25cm/9.8 inches
- Width – 2.8cm/1.1 inches
- Thickness – 3cm/1.1 inches
- Weight (without head) – 125g/0.27lb
- Weight (with head) – 130g/0.29lb
Winner: Oral B Pro 1000 also wins this category with its thoughtful design, though the Philips Sonicare 4100 is not far behind. It is just not there yet. The Oral B Pro 1000 has more comprehensive and appealing features that are more pleasing to users.
That being said, for the most basic usage, the Sonicare 4100 is enough to satisfy your daily needs. It is by no means subpar or inferior. The Pro 1000 simply offers more features that fully justify the minor price difference and shows a better value for money.
Summary
Your personal hygiene is highly dependent on your toiletry arsenal. In a nutshell, both products are excellent and the sure leaders in the field. You will not regret choosing either the Oral B Pro 1000 or the Philips Sonicare 4100. But upon a thorough investigation, Oral- B is obviously more suitable for general use as well as in various settings.
Whether you are buying one for yourself or a twin pack to share with your partner, the Oral- B Pro 1000 is a brush that has a stronger cleaning ability and outstanding features. For the price you are paying, you will reap more benefits from Pro 1000. Get your Oral- B Pro 1000 today and enjoy the best oral hygiene you have ever experienced.
