The Philips One by Sonicare signals a new era of electric toothbrushes. This battery-powered toothbrush is compact and easy to use, with a one-touch button and a slim handle. It’s a toothbrush that’s so small you would almost think it was a manual toothbrush, but it cleans your teeth with the power and vibrations of a Sonicare.
What’s included with the Philips One toothbrush?
The Philips One toothbrush is designed to be compact. Unlike other Sonicare toothbrushes you may have tried before, this one is tiny: about as slim as a manual toothbrush, and barely any heavier. Similarly, its packaging is very stripped down.
Included with your Philips One by Sonicare toothbrush, you’ll find a brief instruction manual and a travel case. That’s it! No cords or chargers needed. The toothbrush comes equipped with a replaceable brush head, and there’s an AAA battery in the handle so it’s ready to go as soon as you open the package.
What makes sonic toothbrushes different
Manual and electric toothbrushes work very differently. With a manual (traditional) toothbrush, the aim is to scrub plaque from your teeth and gum line with hand and wrist motions. Proper use is typically described as making small, brisk circles along your gum line and teeth.
With electric toothbrushes, however, there’s an extra vibration or oscillation to help the job along. They’re meant to be slowly moved from tooth to tooth, angled down into the gum line or into the valleys of your teeth. The micro vibrations in a sonic toothbrush help dislodge plaque from under your gum line, leaving you with a brighter smile, cleaner teeth, and healthier gums.
I find sonic toothbrushes to be very effective for my teeth, and I’ve converted a few of my friends and family members over to them, too. My sister swears her new electric toothbrush changed her life—I gave her one for her birthday last year, and I’ve been getting “Rae, my teeth feel SO CLEAN” texts from her all year long. My personal magic combination is a Philips Sonicare toothbrush and a handheld WaterPik, which leave my mouth feeling clean even if I’ve just eaten a bunch of gummy candies.
Some of that squeaky-clean feeling comes from the vibrations, but some of it is about the timing, too. Electric toothbrushes alert you every 30 seconds with a quick pause in their vibrations or oscillations, so you always know when it’s time to move on to the next quadrant of your moth. It’s a great feature for little kids… Or for those of us who like to read while we brush our teeth.
My experience with the Philips One by Sonicare battery toothbrush
I’m a self-confessed oral hygiene nerd, so I was really excited to get to try the Philips One by Sonicare. But I was hesitant, too: I’ve tried other battery powered toothbrushes before, and I haven’t liked them. They’re usually too bulky or too buzzy, leaving my mouth feeling somewhat wobbly instead of sparkling clean.
Well, I should have trusted in my favourite toothbrush brand from the start.
The Philips One is nothing short of excellent. I don’t like everything about it, but for the price, I was blown away. Its soft, tapered bristles were gentle on my sensitive teeth, and its exuberant vibrations got my mouth nice and clean.
Even if you’re just looking at the toothbrush’s design, it’s immediately evident that this is a toothbrush unlike anything else at the drugstore. The sleek design of this battery powered Sonicare is offered in a range of different colours, and each one looks slim and sophisticated—nothing like the clunky children’s toothbrushes you used to have to get if you wanted something battery powered. And, because the handle is so light and slim, the toothbrush itself is less unwieldy than your typical Philips toothbrush, making it easier than ever to brush.
How does the Philips One by Sonicare compare?
The first big difference that you’ll notice about the Philips One? Its price. Philips One toothbrushes are significantly more affordable than Sonicare’s other electric toothbrushes—and this battery-powered version is even cheaper. Even the replacement heads for the Philips One by Sonicare toothbrush are more affordable than Sonicare’s other replacement heads.
The next thing that you’ll notice is the size. While it comes with a very bulky case, the One itself is tiny! The handle is much slimmer than you’d expect from a powered toothbrush (on par with a manual toothbrush), but the head is actually a lot larger. The One’s bristles are soft and tapered, and its head is the same size as a typical adult manual toothbrush.
I prefer a smaller toothbrush head to reach the back corners of my molars. That said, I love the soft bristles on this toothbrush. They do a great job of gently removing plaque from my teeth. Other Sonicare heads that I’ve tried are small, but their bristles are very stiff, which makes me worry about over brushing.
However, the One only does one thing. It has a single power button and a single setting. You’re paying a lot less than you would for a higher end Sonicare model, and you get less as a result. Don’t get me wrong; this toothbrush does an amazing job. It’s just lacking in the bells and whistles. You can’t turn on whitening modes, select a gum health mode, or change your power levels. And if you like that stiffer brush head, which a lot of people do, you’re out of luck with the One by Sonicare.
The Philips One battery vs the one power
Philips released two versions of the One, and they’re a little confusing. Both are technically powered, and both technically have a battery in them. The two look identical and are both called the One, which is where I get a little stuck.
So, let’s clear things up. The Philips One Battery Powered Toothbrush (reviewed here) is powered by a AAA battery, which needs replacing every 3 months. It’s available in Miami (this coral shade), Mango (yellow), Mint (light blue), and Midnight Navy.
The Philips One Rechargeable offers all of the same benefits; the same size and bristles and timer. However, it runs off of a rechargeable battery, so it’s heavier (212 g instead of 105 g) and a little more expensive. It needs to be charged using a USB-C cable every month, and it’s available in Champagne (Shimmer), Black (Shadow), Sage, and White (Snow).
Both of these toothbrushes are simple, with a one-touch power button and (unlike most Sonicare models) no intensity levels, battery lights, or whitening functions. However, they’re a great choice for anyone who just wants something basic and beautiful. My Philips One Battery Powered Toothbrush fits easily into a toiletry bag, and unlike bulkier electric toothbrushes, it’s just the right size for a toothbrush holder. This smart-looking toothbrush does its job well—and it does it with style.
Shop the Philips One by Sonicare at Best Buy today.
