The iO series of electric toothbrushes made by Oral-B is considered the top of the line due to its enhanced functionality and aesthetics. Each progressive model in the iO series offers increasing value and features while maintaining the quality and comfort that Oral-B is known for. All of the iO toothbrushes come endorsed by the American Dental Association.
We evaluated each of the toothbrushes in the iO series including Series 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.
Display
Not all the iO series toothbrushes come with a fully vibrant color display. In fact, Series 3, 4, and 5 have no display at all. Series 6 and 7 have black and white displays that exhibit the cleaning mode that is currently active. It does make it easier to choose and remember what mode you’ve chosen. For Series 5 the display is not color, but just one of five icons that illuminate to tell you which mode you’re on.
For the Oral-B iO Series 8 and 9 there a brightly illuminated color displays that wish you Good Morning when you begin then tell you what the battery charge is, followed by clearly giving you a display of the mode you have selected.
Cleaning Modes
The Oral-B iO series has a total of seven cleaning modes. Not all of them are available in all the models. The seven modes include Daily Clean, Sensitive, Super Sensitive, Intense, Whitening, Gum Care, and Tongue Clean.
- FOR HEALTHIER GUMS IN JUST 1 WEEK remove 100% more plaque* with ORAL-B’s MOST ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY *vs a...
- PROTECT YOUR GUMS WITH iO PRESSURE SENSOR, Oral-B's only one to signal if you are applying the PERFECT...
- Always MAXIMIZE YOUR CLEAN with iO LIGHTRING TIMER -that celebrates a dentist recommended 2-minute brush- and...
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Daily Clean
This is standard and designed for daily oral cleaning. It removes plaque and maintains oral health in the two minutes it is designed to run. The idea is to spend 30 seconds on each quadrant of the mouth. The built-in timer will alert you via a tone when the 30 seconds are up. All models, from iO Series 3 to Series 9 have this mode.
Sensitive
The sensitive mode is designed for those who need gentler brushing. It was designed to balance optimal cleaning power with a light touch for those with sensitive tissue. It is recommended by dentists even more than manual brushing. The cleaning cycle is also for two minutes with 30-second portions for each quadrant. Sensitive mode is available on all models.
Whitening
The whitening mode is suitable for both daily and infrequent use. The goal of this mode is to polish the teeth, giving them a dentist-cleaned look by removing surface stains. It requires twenty seconds longer than the previous two modes. The first two minutes are for the four quadrants like the previous modes, and add 20 seconds to polish the front teeth. Whitening mode is available on all models.
- FOR HEALTHIER GUMS IN JUST 1 WEEK remove 100% more plaque and even 2.5X in between teeth* with ORAL-B MOST...
- TRACK AND IMPROVE YOUR BRUSHING HABITS over time with ORAL-B APP through performance reports, journeys, and...
- PROTECT YOUR GUMS WITH iO PRESSURE SENSOR, Oral-B's only one to signal if you are applying the PERFECT...
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Super Sensitive
Super sensitive mode is for those who have extremely delicate gums and oral tissue, and for those who are new to electric toothbrushes. Each cleaning cycle runs for two minutes with 30-second quadrants. This mode is only available on Series 4, 5, 8, and 9.
Gum Care
This model is designed for those who experience bleeding gums or who have sore mouths. Not only does this mode clean the teeth, but it also gently massages the gums below it thereby stimulating blood flow to the area. This nurses the gums back to health.
Intense
The Intense mode is designed for deep cleaning. It doesn’t require spending any extra time in the individual quadrants, so the brushing time is still the same 2 minutes. For those using the Oral-B iO with this function for the first time, the results on stained teeth are instantly obvious after the first cleaning, then continue to improve over the next week. This mode can only be found in the iO series and specifically in Series 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.
- FOR HEALTHIER GUMS IN JUST 1 WEEK remove 100% more plaque and even 2.5X in between teeth* with ORAL-B’s MOST...
- NEVER MISS A SPOT with the A.I. POWERED ORAL-B APP that tracks how and where you brush in real-time
- PROTECT YOUR GUMS WITH iO PRESSURE SENSOR, Oral-B's only one to signal if you brush TOO HARD, TOO SOFT or JUST...
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Tongue Clean
This mode is exclusive to the Series 9. It is designed to gently clean the tongue and the inner cheeks after the teeth have been cleaned. It is gentle enough to use on the tissue directly and suitable for daily use. It only lasts for 30 seconds.
Time and Zone Tracking
The internal clock keeps track of how long you spend on each quadrant and alerts you when it is time to shift to the next quadrant. The iO range has intelligent position detection and knows where (the zone) you are brushing without you having to elaborate. It even keeps track of which side you have completed.
For the iO Series 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, the mouth is divided into four zones. The left and right maxillary (upper jaw) and left and right mandibular (lower jaw.) For the Oral-B Series 9 however, it is divided into sixteen zones. Your smartphone can show you, in real-time, where you are brushing and how long you need to brush in that zone. If you miss a spot, it will remind you.
We found this to be extremely effective in upping the ante on oral hygiene.
Conveniences
The entire iO series reminds you of a few things when it comes to keeping your teeth clean. But it does not stop there. It also reminds you when you need to change the brush head. That is displayed on the color display for Series 8 and 9, and on the icons on Series 6, and 7.
Series 3, 4, and 5 have a light that will come on to remind you that you need to replace the brush head.
In the box for Series 3,4,5, and 6 there is just one brush – the Ultimate Clean. In the box for Series 7, there are two brushes. For Series 8 there are 3. In Series 9 you will find 4 brushes.
- In just 1 week REMOVE 100% MORE PLAQUE and GET 3X HEALTHIER GUMS* switching to ORAL-Bs MOST ADVANCED...
- EXPERIENCE ORAL-BS SMART BRUSHING: display to select cleaning modes, track your brushing time, replace timely...
- NEVER MISS A SPOT with the A.I. POWERED ORAL-B APP that tracks how and where you brush in real-time
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Battery and Charging
Each full charge on an Oral-B iO will last two weeks. This makes taking them on a trip easy. You don’t have to bring the charger unless you’re going away for good while.
Series 3, 4, and 5 take 16 hours to get to a full charge, while Series 6 takes 12 hours, and Series 7, 8, and 9 need just 3 hours for a full charge.
The current charge your brush has is on display on Series, 6, 7, 8, and 9. On the other three, there is an LED light to indicate that the battery is charged. On the 3, 4, and 5, however, you will not be able to see how much charge remains.
Series 3, 4, 5, and 6 come with a standard charger that works with US wall outlets. You will need an adapter when you travel overseas. Series 7, 8, and 9 come with a magnetic charger that is convenient to use.
Travel Case
Series 3 does not come with a travel case. However, Series 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, have a travel case. Series 9 has a little more. It comes with a travel case that acts as a charger as well. The travel case for the Series 9 is also significantly more attractive.
- In just 1 week REMOVE 100% MORE PLAQUE and GET 3X HEALTHIER GUMS* switching to ORAL-B’s MOST ADVANCED...
- KEEP YOUR MOUTH HEALTHIER FOR LONGER! Join 8 out of 10 people that became better brushers thanks to iO...
- BRUSH CONVENIENTLY on the go with the 3H FAST CHARGER and TRAVEL CASE. Display always track your battery...
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Aesthetics
Series 3, 4, and 5 have identical color offerings, including Quite White, Matte Black, and Icy Blue. Series 6 comes in Gray Opal, Black Lav, and Pink Sand. Series 7 comes in Onyx Black and White Alabaster, while Series 8 comes in Onyx Black, White Alabaster, and Violet Ametrine. Finally, Series 9 comes in Onyx Black, White Alabaster, Rose Quartz, and Aqua Marine.
The iO series is not that loud considering it vibrates very close to your auditory senses. Series 3, 4,5, and 6 emanate 64 decibels. Series 7, 8, and 9 are a little louder, at 72 decibels.
- In just 1 week REMOVE 100% MORE PLAQUE and GET 3X HEALTHIER GUMS* switching to ORAL-B's MOST ADVANCED...
- KEEP YOUR MOUTH HEALTHIER FOR LONGER! Join 8 out of 10 people that became better brushers thanks to iO...
- EXPERIENCE ORAL-B'S SMARTEST BRUSHING: 6 clean modes and colored interactive display to track your brushing...
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Price
The seven toothbrushes in the iO series we evaluated begin at the lowest price of the Series 3 and escalate gradually to the highest price of the Series 9.
What we noticed about all the models in the iO series is that they are well-built. They handled exposure to water and cold well, without ever causing any problems during the review process. We checked social media to see if that was the case for users who had used them for longer periods and found our finding consistent with theirs.
As for the original nylon brush heads, they were a little stiffer than the no-brand heads that one can find almost anywhere. But the design quality of those brushes was not as high as the originals.
There is a reason they are as stiff as they are, and that’s because the force of the cleaning action has been calibrated with the handle. If a less brittle or softer brush is used, it will not perform as intended. We tried it using a rusty plate and compared original brushes with softer non-original brushes. The latter performed below expectations.
- You will receive 1 Oral-B iO Series 9 White Alabaster Electric Toothbrush, 4 Oral-B iO Ultimate Clean...
- 7 Smart Modes for personalized brushing: Daily Clean, Whitening, Gum Care, Sensitive, Intense, Super...
- Interactive color display for real-time coaching
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Oral-B iO Series Conclusion
It is clear that the Oral-B iO Series 9 is the best of them.
It is also clearly obvious by its price point. But the 9 seems to be worth the extra price for several reasons and is the reason it stands at the pinnacle of our review. Not only is it functional and possesses superior aesthetic qualities, but it also goes the extra mile in keeping teeth clean and healthy.
