Last updated 5 November 2026. Written by the Clean Smile Home team. We sell both brushes, so we've tried to be straight about where each one falls short. The test figures in this guide come from independent reviewers, named in the sources at the end, and the specifications come from Oral-B.
The short answer
The Oral-B iO3 is the better toothbrush. The iO2 is the better deal. The iO3 has a light ring that shows when your pressure is too light, right or too hard, a Whiten mode, a reminder to change the head and a stronger clean. The iO2 costs about £25 less, lasts roughly twice as long on a charge and has an extra-gentle Super Sensitive mode. Both take the same iO brush heads.
If you only read one more line, make it this one. Buy the iO3 if you press too hard or want the stronger clean. Buy the iO2 if you have sensitive teeth or gums, hate charging, or want the iO head for as little money as possible.
The rest of this guide explains why, with the numbers, the trade-offs most comparisons skip, and the questions we get asked most often about these two brushes.
Oral-B iO2 vs iO3: comparison table
| Feature | Oral-B iO2 | Oral-B iO3 |
|---|---|---|
| Released | January 2025 | Earlier; the iO3 was the cheapest iO before the iO2 arrived |
| Brushing modes | Super Sensitive, Sensitive, Daily Clean | Daily Clean, Sensitive, Whiten |
| Pressure sensor | Small red light in the power button when you press too hard | Light ring: white for too little, green for right, red for too much |
| Slows the motor when you press too hard | Oral-B says yes; one tester saw no change | Yes |
| Brush head replacement reminder | No (fading bristles only) | Yes, a yellow light |
| Timer | 2 minutes, pulse every 30 seconds | 2 minutes, pulse every 30 seconds |
| Battery, Oral-B's claim | Up to 4 weeks | Around 2 to 2.5 weeks |
| Battery, independent tests | 37 to 53 days | 10 to 20 days |
| Battery capacity | 600 mAh | 750 mAh |
| Full charge time | Up to 24 hours (Oral-B) | Up to 16 hours (Oral-B) |
| Noise | About 64 dB in the gentle modes, up to 72 dB in Daily Clean | Up to 64 dB |
| Weight with head | About 124 g | About 135 g |
| Screen, Bluetooth or app | No | No |
| Brush heads | Any Oral-B iO head | Any Oral-B iO head |
| Charger | Magnetic stand, UK 2-pin shaver plug | Magnetic stand, UK 2-pin shaver plug |
| Colours | Night Black, Calm Pink, Forest Green | Matt Black, Blush Pink, Ice Blue |
| Warranty | 2 years | 2 years |
| Price at Clean Smile Home | £34.95 with travel case | £59.77 with travel case |
Prices checked on 5 November 2026. Battery and noise figures come from Electric Teeth, Expert Reviews, T3 and Tech Advisor. Their numbers don't always match, and we explain why in the battery section below.
Who should buy which: the quick version
- You're switching from a manual toothbrush: either works. The iO2 was built for this and starts gently. The iO3 teaches you better pressure habits.
- Your dentist has told you that you brush too hard: iO3. The green light is the whole reason to pay more.
- You have sensitive teeth or gums: iO2, for the Super Sensitive mode.
- You drink a lot of tea, coffee or red wine: iO3, for the Whiten mode and the stronger clean.
- You travel a lot or forget to charge things: iO2. A month or more per charge is hard to beat.
- You're buying for two people: the iO2 Duo gives you two handles for £55.19, less than one iO3 and a set of heads.
- You're buying a gift: iO3. It looks and feels like the more premium brush in the hand.
What the iO2 and iO3 have in common
Before getting into the differences, it helps to know how much is shared, because it narrows the decision down to a handful of features.
Both are part of Oral-B's iO range, which launched in 2020 with the iO9 and has since spread down to cheaper models. The iO range uses a magnetic drive instead of the gears and shafts in older Oral-B brushes like the Vitality and Pro 3. In practice that means a smoother, quieter feel in the mouth, with less of the buzzing that travels up through your jaw on cheaper brushes.
Both take the same round iO brush head. Every iO head fits every iO handle, from the iO2 all the way up to the iO10. That matters for running costs, which we cover later, and it means you aren't locked into one head type. The flip side is that iO heads do not fit older Oral-B handles, and older Oral-B heads do not fit iO handles. If you have a drawer full of Precision Clean or Cross Action heads, they won't work with either of these brushes.
Both have a two-minute timer that pulses every 30 seconds. The pulse is your cue to move to the next quarter of your mouth: top right, top left, bottom left, bottom right, or whatever order suits you. Dentists in the UK recommend two minutes, twice a day, and most people who time themselves for the first time are surprised how short their usual brush was.
Neither has a screen, Bluetooth or the Oral-B app. In the iO line, app connectivity starts at the iO5 and the small colour display starts at the iO6. If you want the brush to track which teeth you've missed, neither of these will do that, and you'll need to spend a fair bit more.
Both charge on a magnetic stand with a UK 2-pin plug made for bathroom shaver sockets. Neither charges over USB, which is a fair complaint in 2026 and one Tech Advisor raised in its iO3 review. If your bathroom has no shaver socket, you'll need a cheap 2-pin to 3-pin adapter.
Both come with a two-year manufacturer's warranty.
So the choice comes down to seven differences: the pressure sensor, the modes, cleaning power, battery life, the head reminder, noise and price. We'll take them one at a time, most important first.
Difference 1: the pressure sensor
This is the biggest difference between the two brushes, and in our view the one that should decide it for most people.
How the iO3's pressure sensor works
The iO3 has a light ring around the top of the handle, just below the brush head. While you brush, it shows one of three colours. White means you're barely touching your teeth. Green means the pressure is right. Red means you're pressing too hard, and at the same time the motor slows down to take some force off your gums.
The useful part is the green light. Most brushes only tell you when you've done something wrong. The iO3 also tells you when you've got it right, which makes it much easier to learn. Within a week or so, most people find they can keep it green without thinking about it. Because the ring goes all the way round the handle, you can see it in the mirror whichever way you're holding the brush.
How the iO2's pressure sensor works
The iO2 has a single small light in the power button, on the front of the handle. It turns red when you press too hard. There's no green light, so you never get told you're doing it right, only that you're doing it wrong.
Reviewers have been blunt about this. Expert Reviews found the light very hard to see while brushing, because the front of the handle is often turned away from the mirror or hidden by your hand. T3 liked the iO2 overall but also said the light was small and hard to spot. Electric Teeth called the sensor weak.
There's also a disagreement about what happens to the motor. Oral-B says the iO2 slows the brush down when you press too hard, and Expert Reviews noticed this. Electric Teeth, in its own testing, said it couldn't detect a change in motor speed. We can't settle that one for you. What we can say is that a slowdown you might not feel and a light you might not see add up to a weaker warning than the iO3's ring.
Why pressure feedback matters
Brushing too hard is one of the most common habits dentists see. It wears down enamel near the gum line and can push gums back over time, which leads to sensitivity. Manual brushers are especially prone to it, because with a manual brush pressure is how you get a clean. With an electric brush the motor does the work, and pressing harder just stops the head from moving properly.
If you already know you brush hard, or your hygienist has pointed out wear or receding gums, the iO3's ring is worth the extra money on its own. If you're a light brusher already, it matters much less.
Difference 2: the brushing modes
Each brush has three modes, and they share two of them.
| Mode | iO2 | iO3 | What it's for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Clean | Yes | Yes | Full power, everyday brushing |
| Sensitive | Yes | Yes | Lower intensity for tender teeth or gums |
| Super Sensitive | Yes | No | The gentlest setting, for very sensitive mouths or the first weeks after switching |
| Whiten | No | Yes | A varied pattern meant to polish off surface stains |
Super Sensitive on the iO2
Oral-B designed the iO2 for people moving from a manual brush. When they unveiled it in Berlin in January 2025, the pitch was the easiest switch to electric. That's why it starts in Super Sensitive every time you switch it on. The first few uses of any powerful electric brush can feel ticklish or even a bit much, and starting gently gives your gums a chance to get used to it.
The catch is that once you're used to it, you'll probably want Daily Clean, and the iO2 doesn't remember your last mode. Expert Reviews found this annoying, because you have to press the button twice each time to get to full power. There is a workaround: according to Electric Teeth, if you hold the power button for about five seconds you can change the order the modes come up in, so Daily Clean is first. Hardly anyone reads the manual far enough to find that, so it's worth knowing.
The iO2 doesn't have icons for its modes. The light in the power button flashes once, twice or three times to show which one you're on, which is easy to miss.
Whiten on the iO3
The iO3 swaps Super Sensitive for Whiten. Whiten modes use a changing pattern of speed meant to polish away surface stains from tea, coffee and the like. They don't change the natural colour of your teeth, and they're no substitute for professional whitening. Think of it as a polish rather than a bleach. If staining bothers you, it's a useful extra. If it doesn't, you'll probably never use it.
The iO3 has a separate mode button, which is handier than the iO2's single button, but it also has no icons or labels. You need to remember the order: Daily Clean, Sensitive, Whiten. Electric Teeth listed this as one of the iO3's few real weaknesses.
Which mode set is better?
For sensitive teeth, the iO2's set is better. For everyone else, it's a wash. Most people end up using Daily Clean almost all the time on either brush, so the third mode matters less than it looks on a spec sheet. If you want both Super Sensitive and Whiten, the iO4 has all four modes plus the iO3-style pressure light, but it costs more.
Difference 3: cleaning power
Here the iO3 has a real advantage, and it's the one spec sheets tend to leave out.
The iO range's selling point is a combination of the round head oscillating (turning back and forth) and tiny extra vibrations at the bristle tips. Oral-B calls these micro-vibrations. Together they give the iO its smooth, polished-teeth feel.
Expert Reviews reported that the iO2 uses a different motor that lacks the micro-vibrations of the other iO brushes, and found its clean less intense as a result. Electric Teeth also described the iO2's motor as feeling weaker than other iO models. Tech Advisor, meanwhile, said in its iO3 review that the real reason to buy it was its brushing power.
To keep this in proportion: both brushes clean well. Electric Teeth described them as similar in cleaning, and the iO2 is still a big step up from a manual brush. You're unlikely to see a difference at your next check-up because you bought one rather than the other. Technique and brushing for the full two minutes matter far more than a bit of extra motor power.
But if you want the iO's smooth-teeth feeling in full, the iO3 delivers more of it. If you're coming from an older Oral-B like a Pro 3 or Vitality and you liked how powerful it felt, the iO2 may feel a little tame in Daily Clean.
Difference 4: battery life and charging
This is where the iO2 wins, and wins clearly.
The numbers
| Source | iO2 | iO3 |
|---|---|---|
| Oral-B's claim | Up to 4 weeks | About 2 weeks (Tech Advisor quotes Oral-B at around 18 days) |
| Electric Teeth test | 37 days | 17 to 20 days |
| Expert Reviews test | 212 minutes of brushing, about 53 days at 4 minutes a day | Not tested |
| T3 test | 5 to 6 weeks | Not tested |
| Tech Advisor test | Not tested | 10 to 14 days |
Why the figures vary
The spread looks odd at first, but it makes sense. Battery life depends heavily on which mode you use. Super Sensitive and Sensitive draw less power than Daily Clean, and because the iO2 starts in Super Sensitive, testers who didn't always switch up would see longer life. It also depends on how long you brush, how hard you press and how new the battery is. A reviewer who brushes for two minutes twice a day in the gentle mode will get more days than one who brushes for three minutes on full power.
Whichever source you trust, the pattern is the same. The iO2 lasts roughly twice as long as the iO3 on a charge, even though the iO3 has the larger battery (750 mAh against 600 mAh). The iO3's stronger motor uses more power.
Charging time
Both are slow to charge, which is common across Oral-B's range. Oral-B quotes up to 24 hours for the iO2 and up to 16 hours for the iO3. Electric Teeth measured closer to 18 hours for the iO2. In practice, if you leave either one on its stand overnight, a flat battery won't stop you brushing the next morning, since even a short charge gives you a few sessions.
Does battery life matter?
If your brush lives on its charger, not much. Plenty of people never let it run down. But if you keep it in a cupboard, share a socket with a shaver, or travel for work, a month or more between charges is genuinely useful. With the iO2 you can go on a fortnight's holiday and leave the charger at home. With the iO3 that's cutting it fine.
If you do take a charger away with you, our guide to travelling with an electric toothbrush covers adapters and voltages.
Difference 5: the brush head reminder
Dentists and Oral-B both recommend changing your brush head every three months, or sooner if the bristles splay. Worn bristles clean noticeably worse.
The iO3 has a yellow light in the mode button that comes on when it's time for a new head, based on how much you've used it. It's easy to reset when you fit a new one.
The iO2 doesn't have this. It relies on the blue indicator bristles on the head, which fade towards white as they wear. Those bristles are on iO heads used with either brush, so the iO3 effectively gives you two reminders and the iO2 gives you one.
Is that worth paying for? We'd call it a nice extra rather than a reason to buy. A note in your phone calendar every three months does the same job. But if you know you're the sort of person who uses a head until it looks like a squashed spider, the light helps.
Difference 6: noise
The iO range is quieter than older Oral-B brushes, and both of these are pleasant to use early in the morning without waking the house.
The figures are a little mixed. Electric Teeth measured the iO3 at up to 64 dB. It measured the iO2 at about 64 dB in its gentle modes, but up to 72 dB in Daily Clean, and described that mode as louder and more mechanical sounding than other iO brushes. Expert Reviews, on the other hand, listed a quieter motor among the iO2's good points, so your experience may depend on which mode you use most.
For context, Electric Teeth measured an Oral-B Vitality at 73 dB, so even the iO2's loudest mode sits at the level of a basic Oral-B. If noise matters to you and you'll mostly use Daily Clean, the iO3 is the quieter brush at full power.
Difference 7: price and running costs
At Clean Smile Home, the iO2 with travel case is £34.95 and the iO3 with travel case is £59.77 to £59.79 depending on colour. That's a gap of about £25.
The iO3 has an RRP of £160, but almost nobody pays that. Like most Oral-B brushes, both models spend much of the year discounted, so it's worth comparing the price you'll actually pay rather than the RRP.
The real cost over three years
The handle is only part of what you'll spend. iO heads cost more than older Oral-B heads, and that's the most common complaint about the whole range. Expert Reviews and Electric Teeth both mentioned it.
Here's what three years looks like, assuming one person, a new head every three months (12 heads in total) and our 8-pack of iO Ultimate Clean heads at £31.27, which works out at about £3.91 a head.
| iO2 | iO3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Handle with travel case | £34.95 | £59.79 |
| 12 brush heads | £46.91 | £46.91 |
| Three-year total | £81.86 | £106.70 |
| Cost per month | £2.27 | £2.96 |
The difference works out at about 69p a month, or a bit over 2p a day. Put like that, the iO3's pressure ring, head reminder and stronger clean look cheap. On the other hand, if you'd rather keep the £25 in your pocket, the iO2 gets you the same heads and the same basic iO experience for less.
You can bring head costs down further by buying 8-packs instead of 4-packs (our 4-pack is £21.41, or about £5.35 a head) and by changing heads on schedule rather than early. Using a worn head for six months doesn't save money if it means a filling.
Value for two people
If you're kitting out a couple, the iO2 Duo at £55.19 gives you two handles in Night Black and Calm Pink for less than a single iO3. Two iO3s would cost about £120. That makes the iO2 the obvious pick for households on a budget, as long as neither of you is a heavy-handed brusher.
What the reviewers said
We don't run lab tests ourselves, so it's worth knowing what independent testers concluded. Here's a summary in our own words.
- Electric Teeth scored the iO3 81 out of 100 (4.8 stars) and the iO2 74 (4.4 stars). It said the iO3 was worth the extra money over the iO2 for most people buying a budget iO, and called it almost perfect apart from the price of heads. It praised the iO2's battery but criticised its pressure light and weaker motor.
- Expert Reviews was the toughest on the iO2. It liked the battery life and the gentle, quiet clean, but found the pressure light nearly useless and the clean less powerful. Its advice for most people was to buy an iO3 on sale instead.
- T3 was kinder, calling the iO2 a simple, no-fuss brush that gets the basics right and suits people coming from a manual toothbrush. Its main gripes were the slow charging and the small pressure light.
- Tech Advisor reviewed the iO3 and liked its cleaning performance, pressure sensor and timer. It marked it down for the slow charge, roughly two-week battery and lack of USB charging, and said it suits people who keep their brush on its stand.
The pattern across all four is consistent. Reviewers prefer the iO3 as a toothbrush, and they like the iO2 as a cheap, gentle, long-lasting way into the iO range.
Which is better for your situation?
Sensitive teeth
Go for the iO2. Super Sensitive is the gentlest setting on either brush, and the iO2 starts in it by default. That said, the iO3's Sensitive mode is perfectly gentle for most people, and its pressure ring may help sensitive teeth more in the long run, because pressing too hard is a common cause of sensitivity in the first place. If your sensitivity is ongoing or getting worse, mention it to your dentist, since it can have causes a toothbrush won't fix.
Receding gums or a history of brushing too hard
Go for the iO3. This is exactly the problem its pressure ring is built to fix, and the green light retrains your habits in a way the iO2's red light can't.
Switching from a manual toothbrush
Either is a good choice. The iO2 was designed for you, and its gentle start makes the first week more comfortable. The iO3 will teach you better habits sooner. If money is tight, the iO2 is the sensible way to try electric brushing without spending much. If you can stretch to the iO3, we'd lean that way, because the pressure light is most useful to people who learned to brush by scrubbing.
Upgrading from an Oral-B Vitality or Pro 3
Probably the iO3. The Pro 3 has a 360-degree pressure light similar to the iO3's, so moving to the iO2 would feel like a step down in that respect. Remember that your old heads won't fit, so budget for iO heads.
Tea, coffee or red wine drinkers
The iO3, for the Whiten mode and the extra cleaning power. Neither brush will undo deep staining, but the iO3 is better at keeping surface marks under control.
Braces or other orthodontic work
Either brush works, but ask your orthodontist first. Many recommend an electric brush during treatment. The iO3's pressure feedback can be useful, since pressing hard around brackets is easy to do. Some people also use a specialist head or an interdental brush alongside.
Teenagers
The iO2 is a sensible first electric brush. It's cheap, it doesn't need charging often (which matters with teenagers) and it's gentle. If they tend to scrub, the iO3 is the better teacher.
Frequent travellers
The iO2. With a month or more per charge, you can often leave the stand at home. Both of our listings include a travel case, which keeps the head clean in a wash bag.
Couples and families
The iO2 Duo is the value pick. If one of you brushes hard and the other doesn't, consider one of each. They share heads, so you can buy one big pack between you.
Buying a gift
The iO3. It has the nicer finish, the light ring looks more premium, and at under £60 it's still a reasonable present. The iO2 with 3D White toothpaste bundle is a good lower-cost option.
How the iO2 and iO3 compare with the iO4 and iO5
If you're weighing up the iO2 and iO3, it's worth knowing what a bit more money gets you.
The iO4 has all four modes (Daily Clean, Sensitive, Super Sensitive and Whiten), the iO3-style green and red pressure light, and a hard travel case. It's the one to look at if you want Super Sensitive and good pressure feedback in the same brush.
The iO5 adds Bluetooth and the Oral-B app, which can track your brushing. Some people love the app. Plenty of others use it for a week and forget about it. Unless you know you'll keep using it, the iO2 or iO3 does the important parts just as well.
Above that, the iO6 adds a small screen, and the iO9 and iO10 add features such as AI position tracking and more detailed coaching. They're lovely brushes, but they don't clean your teeth a great deal better than an iO3. They make it easier to brush well and more pleasant to do so, which is a different thing.
Getting the best results from either brush
An iO brush works differently from a manual brush, and a few habits make a real difference.
- Don't scrub. Guide the head slowly from tooth to tooth and let it sit on each one for a couple of seconds. The motor does the brushing. Moving it back and forth like a manual brush makes the clean worse, not better.
- Tilt towards the gum line. Angle the bristles slightly towards where the tooth meets the gum, which is where plaque builds up most.
- Use the 30-second pulses. Split your mouth into four quarters and move on each time the brush pulses.
- Keep it green. On the iO3, aim for the green light. On the iO2, try holding the brush so you can see the power button in the mirror for the first few days.
- Use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Spit afterwards, but don't rinse, so the fluoride stays on your teeth longer. This is NHS advice and works with any brush.
- Switch on in your mouth. Turning it on before it's in your mouth sends toothpaste across the mirror. Everyone does it once.
- Clean between your teeth too. No toothbrush reaches properly between teeth. Floss, interdental brushes or a water flosser fill that gap.
Common problems and how to fix them
"My iO2 always starts in the gentlest mode"
That's by design. Hold the power button for about five seconds to change the order the modes appear in, so Daily Clean comes first.
"I can't see the iO2's pressure light"
It's a common complaint. Try brushing in front of a mirror with the front of the handle facing out for a week. You'll get a feel for the right pressure, and after that you won't need the light as much.
"My iO3's battery doesn't last as long as it used to"
Lithium-ion batteries lose some capacity over time, but a sudden drop usually means the brush is being run in Daily Clean for longer sessions, or isn't sitting properly on the stand. Check that the handle clicks into place and the charging light comes on. If the battery fails within two years, it's covered by the warranty.
"There's gunk under the brush head"
Toothpaste and water collect where the head meets the handle on every iO brush. Take the head off once a week and rinse both parts under warm water. Leaving the head off overnight occasionally lets it dry out.
"My old Oral-B heads don't fit"
They won't. iO handles only take iO heads. Look for "iO" on the pack.
"The charger doesn't fit my socket"
The 2-pin plug is made for UK bathroom shaver sockets. For a normal 3-pin socket, use a 2-pin shaver adapter.
Our verdict
If we were buying one for ourselves and could afford the difference, we'd pick the iO3. The pressure ring is a feature you notice every single time you brush. The cleaning is stronger, and over three years it costs about 69p a month more. Electric Teeth and Expert Reviews both came to the same conclusion.
But the iO2 isn't a bad brush, and for some people it's the better one. If you have sensitive teeth, travel a lot, are buying for two, or simply want the iO head and smooth magnetic drive for around £35, it does the job well. Its battery life is the best of any Oral-B brush the reviewers had tested.
The one thing we wouldn't do is let the choice stall you. Either brush, used for two minutes twice a day with a fresh head every three months, will do far more for your teeth than the extra features on either one.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between the Oral-B iO2 and iO3?
The pressure sensor. The iO3 has a light ring showing white for too little pressure, green for the right pressure and red for too much. The iO2 only has a small red light in the power button when you press too hard. The iO3 also has a Whiten mode, a brush head reminder and a stronger clean, while the iO2 has a Super Sensitive mode and much longer battery life.
Is the iO3 worth the extra money over the iO2?
For most people, yes. At our prices the iO3 costs about £25 more, which is roughly 69p a month over three years once you include brush heads. The pressure ring alone justifies that if you tend to brush too hard. If you already brush gently, have sensitive teeth or want the longest battery life, the iO2 is the better value.
Do the iO2 and iO3 use the same brush heads?
Yes. Every Oral-B iO brush head fits both, including Ultimate Clean, Gentle Care and Radiant White heads. iO heads don't fit older Oral-B handles such as the Vitality, Pro or Genius, and older Oral-B heads don't fit iO handles.
Which is better for sensitive teeth, the iO2 or iO3?
The iO2, because it has a Super Sensitive mode as well as Sensitive, and it starts in the gentlest setting every time. The iO3's Sensitive mode is still gentle, and its pressure ring helps you avoid brushing too hard, which is a common cause of sensitivity.
How long does the battery last on the iO2 and iO3?
Oral-B quotes up to four weeks for the iO2 and around two weeks for the iO3. Independent testers got 37 to 53 days from the iO2 and 10 to 20 days from the iO3, depending on mode and brushing time. Either way, the iO2 lasts roughly twice as long.
Does the iO2 or iO3 have Bluetooth or an app?
No. Neither connects to the Oral-B app. In the iO range, app connectivity starts at the iO5 and a screen starts at the iO6.
Does the iO2 have a pressure sensor?
Yes, but it's basic. A small light in the power button turns red when you press too hard, and Oral-B says the motor slows down too. There's no green light to show correct pressure, and reviewers found the light hard to see while brushing.
Does the iO3 have a whitening mode?
Yes. The iO3's modes are Daily Clean, Sensitive and Whiten. Whiten polishes away surface stains such as tea and coffee marks. It doesn't change the natural shade of your teeth.
Is the iO2 newer than the iO3?
Yes. Oral-B unveiled the iO2 in January 2025 as a new entry-level model below the iO3. Newer doesn't mean better here, though. The iO2 is a simpler, cheaper brush aimed at people switching from a manual toothbrush.
How long does it take to charge the iO2 and iO3?
Oral-B quotes up to 24 hours for the iO2 and up to 16 hours for the iO3. A short charge gives you a few sessions if the battery runs flat.
Can I use the iO2 or iO3 abroad?
Yes. Both come with a 2-pin charger for UK bathroom shaver sockets. Abroad, you'll usually need a plug adapter. The iO2's long battery often means you won't need the charger at all on a short trip.
Which is better for kids?
Both are adult brushes, and Oral-B makes separate electric brushes with smaller heads and softer settings for young children. For teenagers, the iO2 is a sensible, low-cost first electric brush: gentle, cheap to replace if it gets dropped, and it rarely needs charging. If your child is having orthodontic treatment, check with the orthodontist first.
How often should I replace the brush head?
Every three months, or sooner if the bristles look splayed. The iO3 has a light to remind you. On both brushes, the blue bristles on iO heads fade as they wear.
Is the Oral-B iO better than a Sonicare?
They work differently. Oral-B iO brushes use a small round head that rotates and vibrates, and Sonicare brushes use a larger head that vibrates side to side. Both clean well. It mostly comes down to which feels better in your mouth and how much you want to spend on heads.
Shop the brushes in this guide
- Oral-B iO2 Electric Toothbrush with Travel Case, £34.95 (Night Black or Calm Pink)
- Oral-B iO2 with Ultimate Clean Head and Travel Case, £36.79
- Oral-B iO2 with Travel Case and 3D White Toothpaste, £36.77
- Oral-B iO2 Duo, two handles, £55.19
- Oral-B iO3 Electric Toothbrush with Travel Case, £59.77 (Matt Black or Blush Pink)
- Oral-B iO Ultimate Clean Brush Heads, 4-pack £21.41 or 8-pack £31.27
Free UK delivery on orders over £30. For more on the brand, read our Oral-B brand guide, or browse everything in oral care.
Sources
- Electric Teeth: Oral-B iO2 review
- Electric Teeth: Oral-B iO3 review
- Expert Reviews: Oral-B iO2 review
- T3: Oral-B iO2 review
- Tech Advisor: Oral-B iO3 review
- Oral-B: Which iO electric toothbrush is right for you?
- Dental Tribune: Oral-B iO2 launched in Berlin
This guide is general information, not dental advice. If you have pain, bleeding gums or ongoing sensitivity, see your dentist or hygienist.
