Oral-B iO Series 2 electric toothbrush review

Oral-B’s iO collection up to now presents wonderful brushing efficiency, together with a extremely seen and efficient strain sensor, a selection of brushing modes, brushing timer, and a spread of different options, relying on the mannequin you select.

There are such a lot of iO fashions obtainable (9, together with the newly launched iO2) that you’ll find one to completely match your preferences. Nonetheless, it’s not simple to decide on between them should you don’t know what each presents. Take a look at our Oral-B electrical toothbrush information to seek out the fitting mannequin for you.

I’ve been trying ahead to the discharge of the iO2, the most-budget pleasant iO brush now obtainable. However once I began testing it, I discovered that it wasn’t precisely what I’d anticipated. Learn on to seek out out why.

Design & Construct

• Three brushing modes
• Brushing timer alerts
• Strain sensor – but it surely’s onerous to see whereas brushing

At first look, the iO2 seems identical to another iO brush. It’s the identical dimension, with the identical matt deal with and it makes use of the identical iO brush heads.

Emma Rowley / Foundry

Emma Rowley / Foundry

Emma Rowley / Foundry

However it’s a bit lighter. At 117g (and not using a brush head), it weighs 10g lower than the iO4 (127g).

The opposite huge, seen distinction is that it lacks the sunshine ring across the neck that each different iO brush has. The sunshine ring has quite a few features. It’s ornamental (you may personalise the color within the app). It cycles via a rainbow of colors once you’ve accomplished your dentist-approved two minutes of brushing time. And much more importantly, it acts as a shiny pink/inexperienced strain sensor: once you’re utilizing the correct quantity of strain, it glows a gentle inexperienced. Press too onerous and the sunshine ring turns pink.

It’s simply top-of-the-line iO options – and the iO2 doesn’t have it. As an alternative, there’s a tiny, 1x5mm indicator gentle that flashes pink should you press too onerous. Because it’s on the entrance of the comb, it could’t be seen within the mirror for more often than not that you simply’re brushing. It’s simply nowhere close to nearly as good.

Oral-B says that once you press too onerous, the motor additionally slows to guard your gums. You possibly can hear a change in vibration however because the brushing efficiency is already so light, it’s onerous to really feel a lot of a distinction.

Emma Rowley / Foundry

Emma Rowley / Foundry

Emma Rowley / Foundry

The iO2 is easy to function, with a single button to energy it on, cycle via the three brushing modes and – with a protracted press – change it off.

You should purchase the iO2 in black, white or in a brand new forest inexperienced color. Keep in mind that, as iO brush heads solely are available black or white, you’ll have a dual-colour brush should you go for inexperienced.

The iO2 has three brushing modes: super-sensitive, light and each day clear. It additionally includes a quadrant alert within the type of a change of vibration each thirty seconds to let you already know to maneuver on to a brand new part of your enamel. After two minutes, there’s an extended alert to let you already know that you simply’ve completed brushing. However the brushing session received’t cease mechanically, so you would miss the alert should you zone out.

As you’d anticipate at this value level, the comb has no sensible options.

Efficiency & Options

• Very light
• Lengthy battery life
• Full cost takes 24 hours

The seen variations between the iO2 and different iO brushes are one factor however there are invisible variations as effectively.

The iO2 has a special motor to the remainder of the collection, which can clarify why it’s a bit bit lighter. There’s not loads of element from Oral-B on the motor however as quickly as you turn it on, you’ll discover that the comb isn’t as highly effective as different iOs and delivers a a lot gentler cleansing efficiency.

This isn’t essentially a foul factor: Oral-B has positioned the iO2 as an electrical various for individuals who normally use a handbook brush. In case you discover the vibrations of extra highly effective brushes to be too sturdy, the iO2 could possibly be the electrical toothbrush for you.

Personally, I choose the sensation of a typical iO – though that’s to not say that the iO2 doesn’t clear your enamel simply as effectively. After utilizing it for some weeks over the testing interval, I do assume it brushes effectively.

The iO2 has one large benefit over all the opposite brushes within the iO line – its battery life, which Oral-B says ought to final for a month. This makes it an excellent choice for sharing, and for taking away once you journey.

Roughly talking, you’ll get round two weeks of life between expenses from another iO brush. We have a tendency to seek out that the higher-spec brushes with extra bells and whistles don’t final as lengthy. Nevertheless, the 7, 8, 9 and 10 fashions have 3-hour quick charging, which mitigates this rather a lot.  

When the battery wants charging, the strain sensor indicator will glow pink. And it’ll flash inexperienced on the stand when it’s charging. However because it wants 24 hours for a full cost, it is a brush you don’t wish to let run down utterly.

Your finest guess is to maintain it on the included charging stand, or a minimum of cost it frequently. It makes use of the identical charging stand as all of the much less dear iO brushes, which comes with a typical two-pin plug within the US and a shaver plug within the UK. We want iO brushes featured USB charging, however not even the top-flight fashions do at this stage.

Emma Rowley / Foundry

Emma Rowley / Foundry

Emma Rowley / Foundry

Value & Availability

The iO2 has not but been launched within the UK.

Within the US, you should purchase the iO2 starter equipment – comprising the deal with, two brush heads and a charger – from Amazon for round $64-$65, relying on whether or not you select the white, black or inexperienced color choice. It is a higher worth choice than shopping for from Goal or Walgreens for $59.99, as you’ll solely get a single brush head with buy.

Do you have to purchase the Oral-B iO2?

In case you’re presently utilizing a handbook brush and need a light electrical toothbrush with a protracted battery life, the iO2 is a stable selection. However keep in mind that alternative brush heads for conventional Oral-B brushes can be cheaper, so a standard (non-iO) Oral-B brush will prevent cash within the long-term.

For these trying to get all the perfect options of an iO with out paying an enormous sum, we’d say that spending an additional $20 for the iO3 is the higher guess. However we’ve got extra budget-friendly suggestions in our round-up of the perfect Oral-B brushes.