Laifen Wave electric toothbrush review

After we reviewed the Swift hair dryer from progressive Chinese language model Laifen, we awarded it a comparatively uncommon 5 stars. Now we’re wanting on the Laifen Wave, the corporate’s first electrical toothbrush.

It comes superbly packaged, in eco-friendly, recycled supplies, and Laifen isn’t shy about making claims for its progressive design and brushing expertise. However what’s it like to make use of?

Design & Construct

• Comes with three specialist toothbrush heads
• Vibrating and oscillating motion
• All settings modifications have to be made within the app

The Laifen Wave is an electrical toothbrush that each sonically vibrates at 66,000 vibrations per minute – greater than a Philips Sonicare, and way more than the variety of vibrations must class it as sonically efficient – and oscillates as nicely.

Nonetheless, change it on and also you’ll see an enormous distinction in its movement from rival brushes. With a large, 60^o diploma vary, its oscillation is clearly seen, and you’ll alter it to your liking.

The Wave is a compact brush with a chunky, shiny deal with. It’s wider and shorter than competing fashions. The deal with is simply 12cm lengthy, in comparison with the Oral-B iO’s 16cm, and it doesn’t taper.

Its dimensions imply it may really feel a bit odd within the hand and its end means it may get slippery when moist. Nonetheless, its compact dimension means it’s a superb choice for journey.

Within the field, you’ll get the comb deal with, a magnetic charging cable and three toothbrush heads with totally different bristle formations. The charging cable doesn’t include a plug, so that you’ll want your individual sort C energy adapter to have the ability to cost it.

The comb heads are labelled as ‘gum care’ (high-quality, gentle bristles), ‘super-clean’ (with a concave formation) and ‘ultra-whitening’ (a ‘W’ formed design). Offering all three choices is a pleasant contact nevertheless it does imply that should you favour one design, you’ll must restock after simply three months.

Emma Rowley / Foundry

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The larger downside is that the comb heads don’t appear to be of the very best high quality. First off, their shiny end begins to point out scratches after a interval of use, they usually don’t match significantly nicely onto the comb deal with.

Laifen says that there ought to be a small hole between brush head and deal with (in line with the person handbook, “a spot of <1mm is important for operation”, which appears unlikely) however in follow, the heads are troublesome to connect. Solely one of many three offered was simple to place into place and take away. One other jammed, and once I lastly wrenched it off, the central fixing was nonetheless connected. That was much more troublesome to take away, and I didn’t handle it with out tearing the pores and skin on my finger.

Emma Rowley / Foundry

This alone makes me barely nervous about recommending the Wave. I sometimes don’t wish to suggests merchandise that will injure our readers.

Brush head replacements value $9.99 for a three-pack and $16.99 for a six-pack (we are able to’t but see UK costs). Once more, these are blended packs, which isn’t supreme.

Nonetheless, should you actually just like the Wave, there’s a workaround. It does appear to be completely suitable with Philips Sonicare brush heads. These are nicely made and have the substantial benefit of not slicing bits from folks’s fingers.

The Wave prices in simply 2.5 hours, which could be very quick for an electrical toothbrush and, in line with Laifen, its battery will final for a formidable thirty days. This was borne out in our testing.  

On the comb deal with, there are two units of indicator lights and a single button. Oddly, Laifen considers this one of many brush’s promoting factors. In line with the blurb on its web site, it’s a “pressure-sensitive button”. To my thoughts, that’s what any outdated frequent or backyard button does: it responds to strain. I did repeatedly press it to attempt to detect some form of particular engineering – however typically a button is only a button.

Lengthy urgent the additional particular button takes you into and out of flight mode.

The highest indicator mild lets you realize which of 4 brushing modes you’re in – however there’s a catch. You possibly can solely change between modes and alter brushing energy and oscillation within the app, which signifies that you gained’t have the ability to abandon the app altogether, even should you’re not eager on linked gadgets.

On the base of the deal with is a battery indicator mild which is able to glow inexperienced for 50%-100% battery life, yellow for 20%-50% battery life, crimson for 10%-20% and can blink crimson for lower than that. It glows blue when the comb is linked to the app, which it does by way of Bluetooth.

The one key function that the Wave doesn’t have is a strain sensor and that is one thing I missed whereas testing it. If you happen to are inclined to press too exhausting while you brush – and also you’ll know should you do, because the bristles in your brush will half within the center, palm-tree fashion, after a interval of use – this isn’t the comb for you.

Efficiency, Options & App

• Vibration velocity, oscillation vary and velocity adjustable
• App lacks superior options
• Larger brush settings too highly effective to make use of

If you happen to purchase the Wave, the app is non-negotiable. You’ll want it to make use of it to do something besides change the comb on and off, and activate flight mode.

The Laifen app is free to obtain and use, and obtainable for each Android and iOS. As soon as it’s in your cellphone, you’ll must make an account after which pair your brush, which you do by switching it on and holding it close by.

Design-wise, the app is freed from frills. Nor are there any secondary options, similar to monitoring your brushing efficiency or periods or suggesting methods to enhance your brushing method. As a substitute, it’s actually only a solution to get round having a mode button on the comb deal with, and shunt the related settings into the app. On the plus aspect, the deal with has a clear, minimalist type however there’s no getting away from the app if you wish to alter something.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

If you first change on the comb, the timer shall be set to the dentist-recommended two-minute brushing time, after which the comb will flip itself off. Within the app, you’ll be able to change this, in increments of thirty seconds as much as 5 minutes (which looks as if overkill, except you wish to flay the pores and skin out of your gums each time you sweep), and activate a 30-second vibration alert that’ll let you realize when to maneuver on to the subsequent quadrant of your mouth.

You may also select from one in all 4 brushing settings and inside these settings, alter vibration power, oscillation vary and oscillation velocity. This lets you create 4 customised brushing modes. We simply want that you may change between them on the deal with, as this may make life a lot easier.

It’s all the time troublesome to analyse precisely how nicely an electrical toothbrush performs however the Wave positively leaves enamel feeling clear and easy. There are steered settings and that is the place it’s best to begin earlier than making changes. What I discovered is that the upper settings – particularly the upper vibration power – are virtually unusable as the comb simply bounces off your enamel. Even the third setting of ten is highly effective compared to rivals.

Utilizing the Wave for a month, I felt that it delivered superb brushing efficiency however as I are inclined to press too exhausting once I brush, I missed having the security internet of a strain sensor and possibly wouldn’t use it long-term for that motive.

Value & Availability

The Wave shall be obtainable from 5 March within the US, UK and Europe. Within the US, you should buy it from Amazon and direct from Laifen, the place it can save you 10% should you purchase in March. There are three choices to select from, with totally different worth factors. It prices $69 for the plastic model, $79 for aluminium alloy and $99 for the stainless-steel mannequin.

Within the UK and Europe, the plastic mannequin is obtainable for €79.99, the aluminium alloy for €89.99 and the stainless-steel mannequin for €99.99, direct from Laifen. Once more, you’ll be able to presently save 10% should you purchase this month.

Though this isn’t a flawless electrical toothbrush, it’s superb worth at this worth

Do you have to purchase the Laifen Wave?

The Wave has loads going for it, particularly its lengthy, 30-day battery life. I additionally favored the truth that its settings are so adjustable that you could exactly tailor the comb’s efficiency to your liking. However the truth that you’ll want to make use of the app to make these changes is an pointless complication.

I even have considerations in regards to the high quality of the comb heads and the truth that three differing kinds are packaged collectively, which might get costly if you wish to stick to 1 sort.

However for its worth, the Wave is unquestionably a contender, particularly should you’re in search of a brush to take whereas travelling.

For extra shopping for recommendation and proposals, take a look at our round-up of one of the best electrical toothbrushes, one of the best low-cost electrical toothbrushes and one of the best Oral-B brushes we’ve examined.