Oral-B iO7 review: Affordable luxury

Value When Reviewed

$219

Greatest Costs Right this moment: Oral-B iO Collection 7

$151.33

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

The superior iO collection, with a cleansing system powered by a quieter brushless motor, are the perfect fashions within the Oral-B line-up, however even then there are—relying on the place on this planet you’re primarily based—eight totally different fashions to select from: beginning on the funds iO Collection 3 and ending with the top-end super-expensive Collection 10.

All the iO Collection 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 beneficial time, pacer, sensible stress sensor to guard your gum line from over-brushing, and respectable 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 Day by day Clear mode, then you possibly can safely ignore all the additional modes, however the later Collection iO fashions do have a couple of different options to cease everybody selecting the most affordable Collection 3, resembling sensible options and an built-in display to show brush mode, length, charging velocity and battery life.

You may take a look at the professionals and cons of every of the Oral-B iO Collection toothbrushes in our Oral-B electrical toothbrush comparability function.

Our Greatest Worth iO Collection Oral-B electrical toothbrush is the iO Collection 6. Our Greatest Luxurious mannequin is the iO Collection 8.

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

Design

• Black-&-white display to indicate timer and battery life
•  3-hour quick cost
•  Mild ring stress sensor

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

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

The display provides you a bit of welcome icon—both sunshine, winky or a smiley face and a hi there.

When you begin brushing, the display shows the timer, displaying 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 tough to see throughout brushing, and primarily relied on the haptic vibration each 30 seconds.

Nevertheless, it may be simple to overlook these in case your ideas drift off to different issues, as could be frequent when performing a secular activity very first thing within the morning or very last thing at evening.

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

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

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

You may personalise your iO7 brush by selecting from certainly one of ten brilliant 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 once you assert the perfect quantity of stress. For those who press too laborious, 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 is just not as simple as the opposite two primary colours.

Within the iO7 field there’s a fast-charging magnetic charging puck, a sturdy journey case, the comb deal with and two brush heads. The case is beneficial for retaining your costly brush secure, and it additionally stops the comb going off in your suitcase if unintentionally 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 lifeless battery after 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 is just not 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 choice.

Efficiency

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

After all, a very powerful 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 may possibly really feel a bit of harsh at first, however you quickly get used to the brushing and your tooth really feel nice after the regulation two minutes.

For those who discover the Day by 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 Day by day Clear, and is probably going the principle—perhaps solely—mode you employ.

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

What’s Tremendous Delicate and do you want it? In case your tooth are extraordinarily delicate, then you need to think about the iO8 over the iO7. However most customers, as expressed earlier than, will probably keep on with Day by 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 tooth.

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

In my (UK) rest room, this could be 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 probably only a wiring fault in my dwelling, however I ended up shopping for the identical charger with a typical UK plug and charged out of the lavatory. (If any reader shares this downside, I’d love to listen to from you.)

A easy answer could be to supply USB charging of the comb, though I perceive the old-school rest room/shaving socket considering.

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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.

when you don’t want a Tremendous Delicate brush mode—the iO7 does has a Delicate mode—the colour display 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 advocate the cheaper Oral-B iO7 over the iO8.

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Sharing

• Not designed for sharing
• App options shall be restricted
• Brush heads function 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 few of the sensible options within the app because it received’t maintain monitor of your particular person brushing data.

For those who 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 probably share a charger, this fashion of saving on prices is appreciated.

You may all the time purchase one other charger or journey case individually when you resolve you want two of all the things.

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Linked options and app

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

The iO7 connects by way of Bluetooth to the free Oral-B cell app, accessible for iOS and Android. The app provides interactive real-time brushing suggestions. Word, although, that you need to watch your cellphone display whilst you brush if you wish to monitor the protection as you go.

Whereas this works effectively, I believe that almost all customers will want to simply brush their tooth with out having to stare at their cellphone—though some folks will leap at any probability 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 be taught extra about your brushing expertise when you use it not less than to start with.

The dearer iO9 and iO10 supply 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 too use the app to regulate brush settings, set brushing targets, go on “dental care journeys”, see previous brushing efficiency, gather badges and get reminders to switch your brush head.

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Value

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

Within the US, it’s extensively accessible direct from Oral-B, and from different retailers resembling Amazon, Goal and Greatest Purchase for round $219.99.

Within the UK, the iO7 has a ridiculous RRP of £454, which is actually effectively overpriced. Nevertheless, in actuality you’ll discover the iO7 less expensive at numerous retailers, resembling 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 keep 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 ought to be rarer and cheaper than when 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 listing value. That’s simply £117.50 per iO7 toothbrush.

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

Do not forget that to maintain it efficient, a brush head ought to be changed each three months, as after this time it tends to turn out to be much less efficient.

The iO brushes require particular brush heads that value $17 / £15 every. Whenever you purchase the comb, examine 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 cheaper and all you sacrifice is the colour show and the Tremendous Delicate brushing mode.

Identical to the pricier iO8/9/10, the well-made and handsome iO7 boasts all of the options you could take excellent care of your tooth–a visual stress sensor, clear timer and vibrating nudges, large alternative of brushing modes (though not as large 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 perfect electrical toothbrushes we’ve examined. For those who’d wish to see how the iO7 measures up towards different iO fashions and different Oral-B brushes normally, take a look at the perfect Oral-B brushes we’ve examined.