Comparison · Bathroom · 2 models
Oral-B iO3 vs Philips Sonicare 3100: the two sensible electric toothbrushes, on sensors, battery and heads
The brush most dentists point at from each camp: Oral-B's cheapest model with the two-way pressure light, and Philips' cheapest with a pressure sensor at all. One oscillates with a round head and takes iO heads; the other buzzes at 31,000 movements and takes any Sonicare head. The decision is the sensor you will notice, the battery figure you can trust, and the heads you will buy for five years.
Quick answer
Side by side
| Model | Modes | Pressure sensor | Timer | Battery | Brush heads | In the box | Warranty | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral-B iO3 (travel case + spare head)the round head with the two-way pressure light | 3 modes | 360° light: too hard, too soft or right | 2-minute light ring, head-change reminder | Up to 4 weeks (Oral-B); about 2 weeks in reviews† | iO round heads | Handle, 2 heads, charger, travel case | 2 years | View listing |
| Philips Sonicare 3100 (HX4072/42)the sonic head with the buzzing handle | 3 intensities | Yes: handle vibrates | SmarTimer 2 min, QuadPacer 30 s | 14 days | Sonicare click-on (W Optimal White supplied) | Handle, 1 head, charger | 2 years | View listing |
Scroll sideways to see every column
† Figure from a retailer listing or otherwise awaiting confirmation from the manufacturer; other figures come from manufacturer manuals and leaflets.
Modes, sensors, timers and warranties are from Oral-B’s and Philips’ pages. The iO3’s battery figure is flagged because Oral-B’s claim and reviewers’ measurements differ; the 3100’s 14 days is Philips’ own. Box contents are from the listings.
The sensor
the round head with the two-way pressure light
Oral-B iO3 (travel case + spare head)
- Modes
- 3 modes
- Pressure sensor
- 360° light: too hard, too soft or right
- Timer
- 2-minute light ring, head-change reminder
- Battery
- Up to 4 weeks (Oral-B); about 2 weeks in reviews†
- Brush heads
- iO round heads
- In the box
- Handle, 2 heads, charger, travel case
Check price on Amazon
A 360-degree light ring behind the head: red when you press too hard, white when you are too gentle, green in the band Oral-B wants. Three modes, a light-ring timer and a head-change reminder, with a second head and a case in this bundle.
Strengths
- Pressure feedback in both directions
- Spare head and case included
- Three modes with a whitening setting
Limitations
- Slow to charge on the standard puck
- Battery life claim is optimistic against reviews
- No display of which mode is selected
Good for
- most adults replacing an older oscillating brush
- gum-health advice from a dentist
Look elsewhere if
- someone who wants app coaching
the sonic head with the buzzing handle
Philips Sonicare 3100 (HX4072/42)
- Intensities
- 3 intensities
- Pressure sensor
- Yes: handle vibrates
- Timer
- SmarTimer 2 min, QuadPacer 30 s
- Battery
- 14 days
- Brush heads
- Sonicare click-on (W Optimal White supplied)
- In the box
- Handle, 1 head, charger
Check price on Amazon
A haptic sensor: the handle’s vibration changes when you press too hard. Three intensities rather than modes, the SmarTimer and QuadPacer, an EasyStart ramp for the first fortnight, and the whitening head in the box.
The iO3 tells you about both mistakes and shows it; the 3100 tells you about one and makes you feel it.
Strengths
- Pressure sensor at a low price
- Three intensities
- Fourteen-day battery
Limitations
- Sensor is a vibration, not a light
- Supplied head is the whitening type, firmer than Philips' gum-care heads
Good for
- the sensible default for one adult
- someone told to ease off their gums
Look elsewhere if
- anyone who wants app tracking
Battery and charging
Philips: 14 days, lithium-ion, stated on the page. Oral-B: up to four weeks on some pages, about two by reviewers who count; the standard charger takes around 16 hours by user reports. Equal in practice, unequal in how far you can trust the number.
Heads, the five-year cost
The 3100 takes every Sonicare click-on head, sold in multipacks in supermarkets. The iO3 takes iO heads only, which cost more and come in fewer types. At four heads a year the Sonicare saves a noticeable sum over the life of the handle.
What is in the box
This iO3 listing: handle, two heads, charger, travel case. The 3100: handle, one head, charger. The case and the spare head are worth having and are part of why the iO3 costs more.
Which one, by brusher
- Told to look after your gums: Oral-B iO3.
- Prefers the sonic feel: Sonicare 3100.
- Lowest running cost: Sonicare 3100.
- Wants a travel case and spare head in the box: Oral-B iO3.
- Wants a battery figure to plan on: Sonicare 3100.
Sources
Facts checked 23 October 2026
- Oral-B UK — iO3 product page — Manufacturer documentation, checked 23 October 2026
- Amazon listing (Oral-B) — Retailer listing, checked 23 October 2026
- Philips UK — Sonicare 3100 HX4072/42 product page and specifications — Manufacturer documentation, checked 23 October 2026
- Amazon listing (PHILIPS) — Retailer listing, checked 23 October 2026
Which sensor is better?
The iO3's: it lights red for too hard, white for too gentle and green for right, so you see it in the mirror. The Sonicare 3100 changes the handle's vibration when you press too hard, which works once learned and is easy to miss in the first week. For someone told to go easier on their gums, the light wins.
Which battery lasts longer?
Philips states 14 days for the 3100 and reviewers get about that. Oral-B claims up to four weeks for the iO3 and reviewers measure about two. In practice both are a fortnight; Philips is the one whose figure you can plan on.
Which heads are cheaper?
Sonicare click-on heads fit every current Sonicare and come in supermarket multipacks. Oral-B iO heads fit only iO brushes and cost more. Over five years at four heads a year, this is the bigger difference between the two.
Which feels better?
A matter of taste: the Oral-B polishes one tooth at a time with a small round head; the Sonicare buzzes across two or three with an oval head. People who switch from manual often prefer the Sonicare feel at first. Borrow one of each for a night if you can.
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