Oral-B iO7 review: Affordable luxury

Oral-B has so full a spread of electrical toothbrushes that deciding which one is for you’ll confuse even a dentist. On the final depend, 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 one of the best fashions within the Oral-B line-up, however even then there are—relying on the place on the earth you might be primarily based—eight totally different fashions to select from: beginning on the price range iO Collection 3 and ending with the top-end super-expensive Collection 10.

The entire iO Collection handles share most of the similar 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 identical regardless of the iO mannequin that you simply 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’re going to use solely the fundamental Every 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 cost effective Collection 3, reminiscent of sensible options and an built-in display to show brush mode, period, charging pace and battery life.

You possibly can try the professionals and cons of every of the Oral-B iO Collection toothbrushes in our Oral-B electrical toothbrush comparability function.

Our Finest Worth iO Collection Oral-B electrical toothbrush is the iO Collection 6. Our Finest 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 point out timer and battery life
•  3-hour quick cost
•  Gentle 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 nicer however doesn’t convey any new info than the b&w one. I wouldn’t pay the additional cash simply to have a coloration show on my toothbrush.

The display offers you just a little welcome icon—both sunshine, winky or a smiley face and a good day.

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

Nonetheless, it may be straightforward to overlook these in case your ideas drift off to different issues, as will be frequent when performing an earthly process very first thing within the morning or final thing at night time.

The show comes into its personal right here. I discovered it best to verify by its reflection within the mirror slightly than flip it spherical and take a look at the comb itself, spraying my face because of this.

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

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

You possibly can personalise your iO7 brush by selecting from one in every 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 while you assert the best quantity of stress. For those who press too laborious, the neck ring will glow pink.

These are easy and efficient methods to provide you visible suggestions in your brushing method.

The iO7 is available in three deal with coloration choices: Black Onyx, White Alabaster, and Blue Electrical; though discovering the blue mannequin exterior of the US isn’t as straightforward as the opposite two fundamental colours.

Within the iO7 field there’s a fast-charging magnetic charging puck, a strong journey case, the comb deal with and two brush heads. The case is helpful for retaining your costly brush protected, 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 once 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 isn’t 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 possibility.

Efficiency

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

In fact, a very powerful issue to contemplate 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 could really feel just a little 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 Every day Clear to be too gentle, 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 gotten chosen. The default brush mode is Every day Clear, and is probably going the primary—perhaps solely—mode you employ.

The iO7 has 5 cleansing modes: Every day Clear, Delicate, Intense, Whiten & Gum Care. This compares to the six of the iO8: Every 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 must contemplate the iO8 over the iO7. However most customers, as expressed earlier than, will doubtless keep on with Every day Clear solely, so may lower your expenses and purchase the better-value iO6, though the charging time is significantly longer (12 hours slightly than the iO7’s three).

If you’d like the 30-second Tongue Clear mode, you’ll want to contemplate 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 follow, I discovered it lasted round 10-11 days. To be truthful, 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 an ordinary two-pin plug. Purchase within the UK, nonetheless, and also you’ll get a shaver socket plug.

In my (UK) lavatory, this generally is a hit-or-miss affair when charging as I typically must hold the shaving plug pushed to 1 aspect to function. To be truthful, that is doubtless only a wiring fault in my house, however I ended up shopping for the identical charger with an ordinary UK plug and charged out of the toilet. (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 lavatory/shaving socket considering.

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Oral-B iO7 vs Oral-B iO8

The easy variations between the Oral-B iO7 and iO8 are the iO8’s coloration show and further Tremendous Delicate brushing mode.

should 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 pace or equipment between iO7 and iO8. As such, we suggest the cheaper Oral-B iO7 over the iO8.

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Sharing

• Not designed for sharing
• App options will probably 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 hold monitor of your particular person brushing data.

For those who do share the identical brush, the comb head substitute 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 doubtless share a charger, this fashion of saving on prices is appreciated.

You possibly can all the time purchase one other charger or journey case individually should you determine you want two of all the pieces.

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Related options and app

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

The iO7 connects through Bluetooth to the free Oral-B cellular app, obtainable for iOS and Android. The app gives interactive real-time brushing suggestions. Observe, although, that you need to watch your telephone display when you brush if you wish to monitor the protection as you go.

Whereas this works effectively, I believe that the majority customers will desire to simply brush their tooth with out having to stare at their telephone—though some folks will leap at any likelihood to stare at a telephone at any time of the day!

You don’t must open the app to make use of the toothbrush, and most customers received’t hassle, though you’ll be taught extra about your brushing expertise should you use it no less than to start with.

The costlier iO9 and iO10 provide 3D floor AI brushing monitoring if you actually need to get the fullest illustration of your brushing efficiency and method. These fashions monitor 16 zones slightly than the six of the iO7.

You too can use the app to regulate brush settings, set brushing objectives, go on “dental care journeys”, see previous brushing efficiency, acquire badges and get reminders to switch your brush head.

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Value

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

Within the US, it’s broadly obtainable direct from Oral-B, and from different retailers reminiscent of Amazon, Goal and Finest Purchase for round $219.99.

Within the UK, the iO7 has a ridiculous RRP of £454, which is actually effectively overpriced. Nonetheless, in actuality you’ll discover the iO7 less expensive at numerous retailers, reminiscent of 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 bear 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 must be rarer and cheaper than should you use a guide or much-cheaper electrical toothbrush.

As talked about earlier, look out for twin packs that provide 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 a substitute of the ludicrous £560 record worth. That’s simply £117.50 per iO7 toothbrush.

Because the magnetic charger will doubtless 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 must be changed each three months, as after this time it tends to turn into much less efficient.

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

Similar to the pricier iO8/9/10, the well-made and handsome iO7 boasts all of the options you should take excellent care of your tooth–a visual stress sensor, clear timer and vibrating nudges, vast alternative of brushing modes (though not as vast 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 one of the best 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 typically, take a look at one of the best Oral-B brushes we’ve examined.