Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9500 Review
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
This Product Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9500 | |||||
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Awards | Best Premium Electric Toothbrush | Best Electric Toothbrush for Most People | Most Gentle, Great Battery Life and Value | Best Value Electric Toothbrush | |
Price | $280 List $279.96 at Amazon | $300 List $219.99 at Amazon | $100 List $79.96 at Amazon | $40 List $25.96 at Amazon | $50 List $39.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Bottom Line | This is a great toothbrush but prohibitively expensive for most people | If money is no object, this model excels across the board; namely with cleaning | Nearly flawless, this model offers everything you need with minimal drawbacks | An gentle, minimalist toothbrush with a long-lasting battery that cleans well | Inexpensive yet fully capable, this electric toothbrush is a solid choice for just about everyone |
Rating Categories | Philips Sonicare Di... | Oral-B iO Series 9 | Philips Sonicare Pr... | Philips One | Philips Sonicare 4100 |
Cleaning (40%) | |||||
Comfort (30%) | |||||
Ease of Use (20%) | |||||
Battery Life (10%) | |||||
Specs | Philips Sonicare Di... | Oral-B iO Series 9 | Philips Sonicare Pr... | Philips One | Philips Sonicare 4100 |
Measured Battery Life | 24 days | 38.5 days | 46 days | 30 days | 49.5 days |
Pressure Sensor | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Number of Brushing Modes | 9500 & 9700 Series - 3 intensities and 5 modes: Clean, White+, Gum Health, Deep Clean+, and Tongue Care 9300 - does not have Tongue Clean |
7 modes: Daily Clean, Sensitive, Whiten, Gum Care, Intense, Super Sensitive, Tongue Clean |
3 modes: Clean White Gum Care |
1 mode: Clean |
1 mode: Clean 2 sensivity levels |
Estimated Annual Brush Head Cost | $44.96 for (1) four pack | $49.99 for (1) four pack | $44.96 for (1) four pack | $15.92 for (2) two packs | $44.96 for (1) four pack |
Charger or Battery Info | 100 - 240V 50/60Hz 0.5 - 1.3W |
100 - 240VA 50-60Hz 3.0W |
100 - 240V a.c. 50/60Hz 0.4 - 1.4W |
USB | USB (block not included) |
American Dental Association accepted? | Not Listed | Yes | Not Listed | Not Listed | Not Listed |
Waterproof / Resistant | Yes, can use in shower | Yes, can use in shower | Yes, can use in shower | No, cannot be used in the shower | Yes, can use in shower |
Number of Brush Head Styles Available | 11 and tongue brush | 4 styles, most available in 2 colors | 8 styles, most available in 2 colors | 1 style available in multiple colors | 8 styles, most available in 2 colors |
Number of Included Brush Heads | 3 and tongue brush | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Thirty Second Reminder | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Two Minute Alert | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Travel Case Included | Yes, charging case | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Measured Handle Weight | 5 oz | 4.9 oz | 4.4 oz | 1.4 oz | 3.2 oz |
App | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
Available Colors | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
Decibels from 6ft Away | N/A | 53 dB | 45 dB | 40 dB* | 42 dB |
Decibels from 3" Away | N/A | 73 dB | 67 dB | 40 dB* | 58 dB |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The DiamondClean Smart finished just ahead of the Brio SmartClean in our testing process. While the Brio is the most comfortable of this trio, the Sonicare DiamondClean Smart did do the best in our cleaning test. The DiamondClean Smart is by far the most expensive in our fleet, costing a great deal more than any other model we tested.
Performance Comparison
Cleaning
For our next metric, we ranked and scored how well each brush cleaned by performing a plaque removal test. This accounts for 40% of the final score for each toothbrush, with the DiamondClean Smart tying for the top spot of the entire group.
For this test, we had our judges skip brushing their teeth in the morning and encouraged them to consume as many sugary foods as possible. They then used a plaque disclosing tablet in the afternoon, which stained all of the accumulated plaque over the 18 hour period or so since they last brushed a bright red. We then took before photos, had them use the DiamondClean Smart for a standard cleaning cycle, and took after-brushing photos, using those to determine scores.
The DiamondClean Smart removed virtually all of the stained plaque for most of our testers, with only one person missing a few of the harder-to-reach places on the inside surfaces of their teeth, putting it on par with the best brushes that we have seen to date.
Comfort
We had a panel of testers rate the brushing comfort of each product, and they also compared the noise level and the ability to detect too much brushing pressure. We used these factors to finalize the scores. None of our panel of judges had any major issues with this toothbrush, with most of them rating it as one of the more comfortable models.
We particularly liked how this toothbrush felt to hold, with its matte finish and size feeling very ergonomic in your hand. However, some of our testers with more petite mouths did find it slightly unpleasant when brushing their back molars and this brush is just powerful enough to be a little too much for those with the most sensitive gums. However, you can use the sensitive mode to mitigate this if you find that it bothers you.
It's about average in terms of noise, being overall one of the quieter brushes in terms of amplitude. However, we did find this brush to have a high pitch whine that can be a bit irritating. This toothbrush also won some extra points by having a pressure sensor that will slow the brush down if you are pressing too hard.
Ease of Use
We graded and judged how easy to use the interface to run and switch cleaning modes on each brush is, how difficult it is to clean, if there is an easy option for storing additional brush heads, and if there is a two-minute timer to ensure you brush the correct amount. It is quite easy and intuitive to switch between modes using the additional mode select button. You simply press the button to cycle through the different cleaning options, of which there are five, and the mode indicator you are in will light up accordingly.
The charging cup does not have any storage for additional brush heads, but the USB charging case does have spots to store two brush heads.
This Sonicare toothbrush has an integrated timer with quadrant pacing to help you brush for the prescribed amount each day.
Battery Life
For the remaining 10% of the total score, we assessed the battery life of each electric toothbrush. To take both brushing and standby power draws into account, we ran each brush for a standard brushing cycle in the morning and evening, awarding points on how many days each one lasted.
This toothbrush lasted for 24 days in our test — impressive, considering the standby power draw of the smart features.
Value
This brush is the absolute worst option if you are shopping on a budget. Period.
Conclusion
While the DiamondClean Smart is a very cool, top-rated toothbrush that scores well across the board, its extraordinarily high price tag makes it quite hard to recommend.