Oral-B Pro 650 CrossAction
A practical electric toothbrush (oscillating-rotating) that helps you brush more effectively than a manual brush.
Oral-B vs Philips Sonicare: Which Is Better?
Oral-B and Philips Sonicare are the two dominant electric toothbrush brands in the UK, and shoppers often weigh one against the other. Both are excellent; the main difference is the cleaning action. Here's how they compare.
Oral-B (oscillating-rotating)
Oral-B uses a small, round head that oscillates and rotates, cupping each tooth individually. Many people find this feels very thorough, and the round head is easy to target on each tooth. The range is wide and clearly tiered (Vitality to iO), heads are widely available and often cheaper, and there's a model at almost every price. The trade-off is that some find the spinning action less gentle than sonic.
Philips Sonicare (sonic)
Sonicare uses a larger, manual-brush-shaped head that vibrates side to side at high speed. Many find it gentler on the gums while still cleaning thoroughly, and it tends to be a little quieter. The numbered range is easy to navigate, battery life is often excellent, and the premium models feel very refined. Heads can cost a little more than Oral-B's.
Which should you buy?
Honestly, both clean very well - choose on feel and features, not the badge. Prefer a targeted, tooth-by-tooth feel and the widest range of cheaper heads? Oral-B. Prefer a gentler, quieter sonic clean with great battery life? Sonicare. Match the timer, pressure sensor and modes to your needs in your budget, and you'll be happy with either.
Our top picks
#1
#2 
Oral-B Pro 1
A practical electric toothbrush (oscillating-rotating) that helps you brush more effectively than a manual brush.
#3 
Philips ProtectiveClean 5300
A practical electric toothbrush that helps you brush more effectively than a manual brush.
#4 
Oral-B Smart 6
A practical electric toothbrush (oscillating-rotating, 5 cleaning modes) that helps you brush more effectively than a manual brush.
#5 
Oral-B Vitality CrossAction
A practical electric toothbrush (oscillating-rotating, 1 cleaning modes) that helps you brush more effectively than a manual brush.
#6 
Oral-B Complete Deep Clean
A practical electric toothbrush (oscillating-rotating) that helps you brush more effectively than a manual brush.
Frequently asked questions
Is Oral-B or Philips Sonicare better?
Both are excellent and closely matched - the difference is the cleaning action (Oral-B oscillates and rotates; Sonicare vibrates sonically). Oral-B has a wider range and cheaper heads; Sonicare feels gentler and quieter. Choose on preference, not brand.
Which has cheaper replacement heads?
Oral-B heads are generally a bit cheaper and very widely available, partly because there are many compatible third-party options. Sonicare heads tend to cost a little more. Check current head prices for the specific model you're considering.
Bottom line
Our top pick is the Oral-B Pro 650 CrossAction (our score 9.6/10) - A practical electric toothbrush (oscillating-rotating) that helps you brush more effectively than a manual brush..