Knowledgeable’s Score
Execs
- Nice brushing efficiency
- Gentle ring strain sensor
- Two-minute brushing timer
Cons
- Not a good selection for sharing
- 12-18 hour charging time
- 2-week battery life
Our Verdict
The iO4 has the identical nice brushing efficiency as different iO brushes – and it’s cheaper than most. Nevertheless it’s an ungainly mannequin whose sensible options aren’t nearly as good as these of the iO5. Nor are you able to keep away from app use solely, like you may with the iO3. That is one to purchase for those who see an excellent deal.
Value When Reviewed
This worth will present the geolocated pricing textual content for product undefined
Finest Pricing As we speak
Value When Reviewed
$100
Finest Costs As we speak: Oral-B iO Collection 4
There are 9 fashions within the iO vary, and that is the third most budget-friendly – and the most cost effective to incorporate sensible options. Oral-B has expanded its vary at each the highest (the iO 10) and backside (the iO2, 3 and 4) and the value distinction between them is large.
To check brush options and costs in addition to professionals and cons, take a look at our Oral-B iO Collection information. In it, we examine all of the iO fashions, clarify how they differ and advise on what you must pay for each. You can too take a look at our greatest Oral-B brush round-up, which has our prime suggestions for Oral-B electrical toothbrushes of every type.
There’s additionally a giant distinction in options as properly, with the iO10 providing a full color OLED display screen, real-time brushing suggestions, a fast-charging magnetic dock and 7 brushing modes.
However if you would like a simple electrical toothbrush that simply does what it’s speculated to do – clear enamel brilliantly – the iO4 is an effective choice. Nevertheless, it has some idiosyncrasies that imply it’s not an incredible choice for sharing. And, for those who’re not enthusiastic about sensible options, it’s not for you both: to get essentially the most from it, it’s laborious to fully keep away from utilizing the app.
Design and Construct
- Comes with a journey case
- 4 color choices
- Colored gentle ring which doubles as a strain sensor
Within the field, you’ll get the iO Collection 4 deal with and a brush head, a easy white plastic journey case and a charging stand. The stand is identical because the one you get with a traditional Oral-B brush. You should use them interchangeably. Within the US, the charger has an ordinary two-pin plug and within the UK, it has a shaver plug.
The comb takes a minimum of 12 hours to cost, and if one individual is utilizing it, you’ll have to cost it roughly each two weeks. Oral-B claims that its battery will last as long as three weeks between fees, however that’s provided that you utilize it for precisely 4 minutes a day. Most of us will typically brush just a little longer or sometimes brush after meals or earlier than going out, which isn’t factored into the model’s estimate.
Battery life and charging is about the one method this iO will not be a step up from the traditional, non-iO Oral-B brushes. If you’d like magnetic quick charging, you’ll have to take a look at an iO7 or above.
Emma Rowley / Foundry
Emma Rowley / Foundry
Emma Rowley / Foundry
The iO4 shares the identical fluid form as the opposite iO fashions and at first look, there’s little to decide on between them. It is available in a number of color choices: black, white, gentle blue and lavender. I’m testing the sunshine blue mannequin. As you’ll see from the photographs, iO brush heads solely are available black or white, so go for the lavender or blue and also you’ll get a dual-colour brush.
There are two buttons on the deal with: one for on/off and one to cycle via the 4 brushing modes.
There’s a lightweight ring across the neck of the comb, which has a variety of makes use of. Within the app, you may select from one in all ten brilliant colors to personalise it. And while you’re accomplished your assigned brushing time, the sunshine ring will cycle via the spectrum of colors as a type of dental well being equal of a high-five.
The sunshine ring’s key use, nevertheless, is as a strain sensor. It’ll gentle up in crimson for those who’re urgent too laborious and glow inexperienced while you get it excellent.
As you may think, given its cheaper price level, the iO4 has a pared-back sdesign. The place the iO6 and above have a display screen, and the iO5 shows its 5 brushing modes, the iO4 simply has a grippy rubber strip – there’s no show in any respect. This isn’t essentially an issue, but it surely does imply it’s possible you’ll want to enter the app to verify your brushing mode (extra on this later).
Emma Rowley / Foundry
Emma Rowley / Foundry
Emma Rowley / Foundry
By the way, I’m evaluating the iO4 with the opposite iO fashions so you realize what you’re getting and the place the compromises are, however actually, I feel that this brush has the whole lot you want for actually good dental care: good brushing efficiency, a timer and a strain sensor.
Efficiency and Options
- 4 brushing modes
- Quiet in use
- Strain sensor and brushing timer
Most significantly, what you may count on is great brushing efficiency. We expect that iO fashions are considerably higher than traditional Oral-B brushes, with an efficient cleansing movement that mixes oscillation with micro-vibrations. That’s actually the rationale to purchase one.
Swap the comb on and use a agency press on the second button to modify between its 4 brushing modes. The iO4 is quiet in use, with only a small noticeable change in vibration between completely different modes.
The modes are whiten, day by day clear, delicate and gum care. For most individuals, this will probably be loads. No, there’s no devoted tongue cleansing mode, however the toothbrush police aren’t going to return for you for those who use one other setting to brush your tongue.
Nevertheless, there isn’t a indicator on the comb itself to let you realize which brushing mode you’re utilizing – and it may be laborious to distinguish between them by vibration solely. To verify the mode, you’ll want to enter the app to examine.
However as soon as in there, you may decide to re-order modes (in order that the one you utilize most comes on first) and switch off those you’re not utilizing. So, you could possibly take away delicate and day by day clear, and place whiten first. Then you definately’d know you have been utilizing whiten as your day by day brushing mode, with a secondary gum care choice. Nevertheless, this does imply that if you wish to share the comb, it’s a must to agree on the identical personalisation.
By the way, if you wish to share an iO brush, the fashions don’t have interchangeable plastic rings in numerous colors like these that include the traditional brush heads. As an alternative, there are symbols printed on to distinguish between them.
Emma Rowley / Foundry
Emma Rowley / Foundry
Emma Rowley / Foundry
As you sweep, you’ll get suggestions within the type of the sunshine ring strain sensor, plus stutter alerts (a change within the vibration) to let you realize to maneuver on to a brand new part of your mouth each 30 seconds. After two minutes, there’s an extended stutter to let you realize you may cease.
The app
- Swap brushing modes on and off
- Mechanically tailor brush settings for braces or different dental points
- Brushing session data
The iO brushes (besides the iO2 and three) are all sensible brushes however for those who’re not into that type of factor, the excellent news is that you just don’t really want the iO4’s sensible options in day-to-day use.
However if you wish to personalise the comb – and that may be a key a part of its set-up – you’ll have to obtain the app (free and accessible for Apple and Android), make an account and pair your brush.
It will let you swap on and off brushing modes, change the color of the sunshine ring, change the general brushing time (with a spread from 1 to 4 minutes 30) and swap off the 30-second alerts.
You’ll additionally be capable of see data in your previous brushing classes (time and overpressure). There’s additionally the choice to embark on a “dental care journey”. In case you have braces or bleeding gums, for instance, the app will routinely alter your brush’s settings for a specified time interval, that can assist you to care higher in your enamel.
Lastly, for those who do need real-time brushing suggestions, you may open the app whereas brushing and see a countdown timer and strain sensor onscreen.
If you’d like extra real-time brushing suggestions, the iO Collection 5 includes a sensor you need to use along with the app that can assist you to raised deal with getting all-over protection while you brush.
Value and availability
Within the US, the iO10 has an MSRP of $100, though you may get it for below $80 now. You should purchase it from Amazon and Walmart.
Within the UK, issues are a bit extra difficult. It had an inflated launch value of £240 however you clearly shouldn’t pay that for it. On the time of writing, many retailers are promoting it for round £90-£95, together with John Lewis, Boots and Amazon. That is what you need to be paying for this brush. Verify our iO Collection information to seek out out what you must pay for every mannequin and what their distinctive options are.
Do you have to purchase the Oral-B iO4?
The place brushing efficiency is worried, the iO4 is sensible, like all of the Oral-B iO brushes. The vary is pricey but it surely’s a great brush, and for those who see it on sale, go for it.
However we don’t assume it’s the most effective worth brush within the sequence. If you’d like a related brush, we’d counsel spending just a little extra and going for the iO Collection 5, which has higher sensible options. When you don’t care about sensible options in any respect, go for the iO3.
The iO4 is an an ungainly spot within the center the place you might want to use the app to set it up, however gained’t get a lot additional use from the sensible options. And which may be off-putting. It’s not unreasonable for individuals who’ve paid $100/£100 to count on to see the brushing modes displayed on the deal with.
And don’t neglect that the shortage of brushing mode symbols on the deal with does make it tougher to share. If you wish to personalise it, it’ll imply re-pairing each time you sweep. Plus, sharing it between two folks means one 12-hour (minimal) charging session per week – and that’ll rise if youngsters use it as properly. It in all probability gained’t get you thru a household vacation.
For extra electrical toothbrush choices and to seek out out which brushes we suggest, take a look at our round-up of the most effective electrical toothbrushes we’ve examined. If you realize you need an Oral-B, take a look at our Oral-B round-up as a substitute.