The Phillips Sonicare line of electric toothbrushes has, for some time now been a coveted option for those that value the power an efficiency of an electric handle. Today, we will be taking an in-depth, side by side look at the Sonicare 2, and the Sonicare 3 to determine for potential buyers what makes them similar, and what makes them different.
Products Overview
Generally, the Sonicare 2, and the Sonicare 3 are on the same line they do share a similar set of features. Both offer users a thorough clean that greatly surpasses the capabilities of a manual toothbrush by utilizing impressive technology that makes the handles as effective as possible.
They are both powerful, and thanks to a variety of settings and features, versatile enough to be an attractive option for most people. Naturally, the Sonicare 3 offers more features and settings (such as the Quadpacer) that will give users extra options when it comes to brushing their teeth. However, the extra features do come at a cost, and the Sonicare 3 is generally more expensive than the Sonicare 2.
Unfortunately, neither handle takes advantage of the Bluetooth support that many new brushes are currently using.
Appearance and Designing
Both handles do well to stay true to the typical design of an electric toothbrush. They are sleek, elegant, and minimally adorned with buttons. In fact, the Sonicare 2 bears only the power button on its front plate, while the Sonicare 3 gives you a LED light below the power button to show you the battery status. You can also select the different brushing modes by clicking this power button.
The Sonicare 2 series is available in 6 color options to suit the tastes of a variety of users, and they have different Part Number – HX6211/XX. On the other hand, the Sonicare 3 only offers 1 color option.
If you would like to remove plaque and freshen your breath all in one go, you can try the special edition – TongueCare Plus Kit (HX6218/10) which offers one TongueCare+ tongue brush and one BreathRx tongue spray.
The Sonicare TongueCare brush head will clean away the bad-breath bacteria on your tongue through the high-speed stroke (31,000 vibrations per min) while the BreathRx spray will kill up to 99% bad breath bacteria.
Key Difference between Sonicare 2 series and Sonicare 3 series
As I have mentioned, these handles are in many ways similar, though they do bear some differences that may help you decide between them.
- Both handles also have their own unique area of focus. The Sonicare 2 is designed with plaque control in mind, while the Sonicare 3 focuses on maintaining the health of your gums. The Sonicare 3 accomplishes its mission of healthier gums by featuring a special brush head designed specifically for removing plaque along the gum lines. Meanwhile, it is the sheer power and efficiency of the Sonicare 2 that makes it ideal for removing plaque. The 31,000 brush strokes that it is able to deliver per minute make it 6x better than a manual brush at removing plaque.
- The Sonicare 2 is powerful(removes up to 6X more plaque) and it also has a handy timer that ensures you brush your teeth for the doctor’s recommended 2 minutes, but aside from that, it is a rather basic electric toothbrush.
- The Sonicare 3, on the other hand, is much more loaded with features. Sonicare’s third installment benefits from the same power as its predecessor, but also boasts a slew of new features that will allow users to optimize their brushing experience to their own exact needs.
- The Sonicare 3 features 3 intensity settings (Low, Mid, High) that will ensure you are comfortable as you brush, so even people with sensitive gums can approach this area of their mouth with confidence. It also has the timer that is included in the Sonicare 2, as well as a Quadpacer which notifies users with a vibration when it is time to move their brushing to another region of their mouth.
- Finally, the Sonicare 3 has a more powerful battery system, the brush handle was assembled with Lithium ION battery while Sonicare 2 only gives you the NiMH battery. In general, the lithium battery has longer service life than a NiMH battery, it has the longer operation/standby time and more effective recharging cycle.
Pros and Cons
PROS
- Highly Efficiency: If you are new to the world of electric toothbrushes you will probably be quite impressed by the efficiency that both of these handles are able to boast. You will find that either brush is able to remove nearly 100% more bacteria than traditional brushes making either an excellent option for the person that is just looking to upgrade their oral hygiene regiment.
And, as mentioned earlier, the Sonicare 3 has the added benefit of being designed to sensitively handle the gum line so that you can minimize the risk of gingivitis without worrying about injuring yourself.
- Sufficiency Features: While the Sonicare 2 isn’t loaded with features, you are still going to get the timer which will help you hit the two-minute mark with your teeth cleanings. If you opt for the Sonicare 3, you get even more desirable features such as the pacer and the different settings that are designed to make a wider variety of users feel comfortable with the brush.
- Affordable Price (For Sonicare 2): Affordable is, of course, relative both to your budget, and to the price of the day (as the cost of items of every variety is very prone to change) but that said in the world of electric toothbrushes, the Sonicare 2 is available at a price that keeps it very competitive with other comparable models.
Now, that said, the discounted price does come at the cost of some features, but if you are willing to live with in order to get a brush that won’t break the bank, the Sonicare 2 may very well be for you.
- Superb Brush Head: The brush head on the Sonicare 2 & 3 features a convex profile that maximizes its efficiency in hard to reach places while still providing users with a thorough and satisfying clean. The bristles are designed to be soft on sensitive teeth and gums, but hard on germs and bacteria.
The brush head even features blue reminder bristles that will fade to white when it is time for you to change out the head. Of course, this is a relatively small feature in the grand scheme of things, but if you tend to forget to change out your brush head as often as you should it is one that you will appreciate.
CONS
- No App Support: These days it is almost peculiar not to see an electric toothbrush taking advantage of Bluetooth technology. Handles that communicate with your smartphone are able to give you more detailed feedback on your brushing technique, which can subsequently result in better cleanings. Of course, this technology is certainly not necessary to the function of the brush, but it is nice to have. If you want the highest tech possible out of your brush, you aren’t quite getting it with either of these handles.
- Simple (For Sonicare 2): It’s great that the Sonicare 2 is affordable, but the simplicity of this handle may be a turn off to electric toothbrush users that are accustomed to higher-end technology. As mentioned, even the Sonicare 3 isn’t meeting a few of the check marks that are beginning to become industry standards, but this is particularly true of the Sonicare 2. Depending on your needs and interests, the relatively simple features offered by the Sonicare 2 may not be impressive enough to sell you on the handle.
Conclusions and Suggestions
Which brush is best for you? It really depends on what you are looking for. If all you want is a brush that will offer a significant upgrade from the manual model that you have been using, the Sonicare 2 is a more budget-friendly option that is still sure to give you the thorough clean that you are looking for.
If, on the other hand, you are already well versed in the world of electric toothbrushes and want something with a few more bells and whistles, consider the Sonicare 3 series. In the long run, it doesn’t cost tremendously more than the 2 series and does indeed come with several features that make it a little bit more thorough and advanced.
At the end of the day, either brush represents a great opportunity to give your oral hygiene routine a big upgrade.
