If you are looking for your first power toothbrush, or if you are simply a frugal person who only wants to pay for the toothbrush features you will use every day, Oral B’s entry-level power toothbrushes – the Oral B 1000 or 1500 – look like very attractive choice. There are even cheaper models, like the Oral-B Pro 500, but they lack some features that are considered must-haves these days.
The Oral B 1000 and Oral B 1500 appear to be very similar toothbrushes. What makes them different?
Let’s find out.
It is important to mention that I will review the models designed for the United States market. The Oral B model range for Europe is slightly different.
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Oral-B Pro 1000 vs Smart 1500 – The Takeaway
If you are in a hurry and want to get to the point, the subtle differences of Oral-B Smart 1500 make it superior in all areas – it has additional features like Sensitive mode, more advanced pressure sensor with visual warning, and a Li-ion battery that lasts 14 days, 4 days longer than the Oral-B Pro 1000.
That being said, the Oral-B 1000 is a good entry level toothbrush without extras like sensitive and whitening mode and is a good choice for experienced electric toothbrush users and novices.
Oral B Pro 1500 vs 1000 Detailed Comparison Table
Let’s look at these toothbrushes side by side.
Model
Features
Price
Oral-B Pro 1000
- Modes – 1 (Daily Clean)
- Movements – 20,000 pulsations/min and 8,800 oscillations/min
- Pressure sensor – Yes
- Visual pressure sensor – No
- Battery – Lithium Ion
- Battery life – up to 10 days of twice a day of 2-minute brushing
- Colors – White, Black, Green, Pink
Oral-B Smart 1500
- Modes – 2 (Daily Clean and Sensitive)
- Movements – 40,000 pulsations/min and 8,800 oscillations/min
- Pressure sensor – Yes
- Visual pressure sensor – Yes
- Battery – Lithium Ion
- Battery life – up to 14 days of twice a day of 2-minute brushing
- Colors – White, Black, Blue, Pink
Oral B Pro 1000 Overview
This is an affordable Oral B electric toothbrush with a minimum set of features. It has a single brushing mode, a bare-bones pressure sensor, and a 2-minute timer.
The Oral B Pro 1000 electric toothbrush is a popular and affordable option for those looking to upgrade their oral care routine. This toothbrush is designed with a round brush head featuring CrossAction bristles, which are angled at 16 degrees to effectively clean and remove plaque along the gumline and in between teeth. The toothbrush boasts a built-in pressure sensor, ensuring you don’t brush too hard and inadvertently damage your gums or enamel.
One of my favorite features of the Oral B Pro 1000 is its 2-minute timer, which encourages you to brush for the dentist-recommended time. The toothbrush pulses every 30 seconds to prompt you to switch quadrants, helping you achieve a balanced clean. With a waterproof handle and a long-lasting rechargeable battery, the Pro 1000 is both convenient and reliable.
While it may not have all the bells and whistles of higher-end models, the Oral B Pro 1000 provides a solid brushing experience that can greatly improve your oral hygiene. In my opinion, it’s an excellent choice for those who want to make the switch to an electric toothbrush without breaking the bank.
Quick Specs:
- Modes – 1 (Daily Clean)
- Movements – 20,000 pulsations/min; +8,800 oscillations/min
- Pressure sensor – Yes
- Visual pressure sensor – No
- Battery – Lithium polymer
- Battery life – up to 10 days of twice a day of 2-minute brushing
- Colors – Black, White, Blue, Pink
You can learn more about it in my Oral B Pro 1000 review.
Oral B Smart 1500 Overview
The Oral-B Smart 1500 is a next-level version of the Oral-B 1000 with an added second brushing mode (Sensitive mode), a visible pressure sensor, and a faster and more powerful motor.
The Oral B Smart 1500 electric toothbrush is a mid-range option that offers a fantastic balance between performance and value. Like the Pro 1000, the Smart 1500 features a round brush head with CrossAction bristles, angled at 16 degrees to provide superior plaque removal along the gumline and in between teeth. However, the Smart 1500 steps up the game with two cleaning modes: Daily Clean, and Sensitive, catering to a variety of oral care needs.
One standout feature of the Smart 1500 is its enhanced pressure sensor. It not only alerts you when you’re brushing too hard but also slows down the brush head’s speed to protect your gums and enamel. The toothbrush also comes with a 2-minute timer, promoting optimal brushing habits and reminding you to clean the teeth long enogh.
With a waterproof handle and a rechargeable battery that lasts up to two weeks on a single charge, the Oral B Smart 1500 is a reliable and user-friendly choice. In my experience, the additional cleaning mode and improved pressure sensor make it worth considering if you’re looking for a more personalized and protective brushing experience while still maintaining a reasonable price point.
Quick Specs:
- Modes – 2 (Daily Clean and Sensitive)
- Movements – 40,000 pulsations/min and 8,800 oscillations/min
- Pressure sensor – Yes
- Visual pressure sensor – Yes
- Battery – Lithium Ion
- Battery life – up to 14 days of twice a day of 2-minute brushing
- Brush Handle Colors – White, Black, Blue, Pink
Thanks to the new Lithium-Ion battery technology, the Oral B Smart 1500 battery life is almost an hour. That means you can use it for 2 weeks before charging it again. It is a noticeable increase from the 10-day battery life of the Pro 1000 model.
The toothbrush features a visual pressure sensor that blinks right in front of your eyes if you press too hard.
If you are looking for an outstanding brushing performance without useless ‘features’, this model offers exceptional value for money.
You can learn more about it in my Oral B Smart 1500 review.
Oral-B 1000 vs 1500 Features Overview
Now we will see how Oral B Pro-1000 and Smart 1500 models compare feature by feature.
Cleaning Modes
Let’s explore why someone would want a toothbrush with multiple cleaning modes.
The Oral-B Pro 1000 has only one brushing mode – the Daily Clean mode. This basic cleaning mode is built into all Oral-B models, and I’m quite certain that many users of more advanced toothbrush models have never actually used any other mode. Even this basic cleaning mode removes 300% more plaque than a manual toothbrush.
In contrast, the Oral-B Smart 1500 offers an additional mode beyond the standard Daily Clean: Sensitive mode. With reduced motor power, this mode provides a more comfortable brushing experience. You may ask, what exactly does Sensitive mode do? Well, it reduces motor power to 7,400 oscillations and 33,000 pulsations per minute (data about previous generation Pro 1500 model), providing a gentler brushing experience for those with sensitive teeth.
Brush Movements
As mentioned earlier, the Oral-B Pro 1000 produces 8,800 oscillations and 20,000 pulsations per minute.
The newer and more powerful motor of the Oral-B Smart 1500 produces 8,800 oscillations and 40,000 pulsations per minute. It’s no surprise that sensitive teeth may not be able to handle that kind of power, which is why the manufacturer included the sensitive mode I mentioned earlier.
Pressure Sensor
Both models have a built-in pressure sensor, but they work differently.
The Pro 1000 has a simple pressure sensor that’s been around for years. If you press too hard, the brush will stop pulsing while still moving. There are no warning lights, but you may notice a change in the sound of the brush.
The Smart 1500, on the other hand, has a visible pressure sensor – a red LED light that comes on to tell you to reduce pressure. In addition, the pulsation of the brush head stops and the oscillating motion of the brush head is reduced.
2 Minute Timer
Both models reviewed here have the same type of timer.
The two-minute timer helps you keep track of your total brushing time. The brush stutters every thirty seconds to let the user know it’s time to move to another quadrant of the mouth. A long stutter indicates the end of the dentist-recommended two-minute brushing time. This system ensures that you brush for two minutes, as recommended by all dentists, and spend equal time cleaning all four areas of your mouth.
Connectivity
These toothbrushes do not have Bluetooth connectivity or a smartphone app.
Travel Case
These toothbrushes do not come with a travel case.
Design
All brushes share similar designs.
There are some differences in available colors:
- Pro 1000 – white, black, green, and pink
- Smart 1500 – white, black, blue, and pink
Battery – Type and Life
The Oral-B Pro 1000 has a Lithium battery that lasts up to 10 days on a single charge. The complete charging process takes about 22 hours. Previous generation Pro-1000 toothbrush had nickel metal hydride battery with slightly worse performance.
On the other hand, the Oral-B Smart 1500 brush has a lithium-ion battery that lasts a full two weeks. This is 4 days longer than the battery life of the Pro 1000. When the battery is low, the motor slows down and the LED light reminds you to recharge. You’ll still be able to use the brush a few more times.
The extra 4 days of battery life can make all the difference when traveling. If you use your toothbrush at home and leave it on the charger all the time, the difference may not be as significant.
The newer Oral-B Smart 1500 has a lithium-ion battery that allows for more uses between charges and a shorter charge time.
Price
Discussing prices can be tricky as different retailers offer different prices, promotions, and delivery options.
The Oral B Smart 1500 is around $30 dollars or 1.5 times more expensive than Oral B Smart 1500.
Replacement Brush Heads
The toothbrushes are cross-compatible with the same wide range of Oral-B brush heads – CrossAction, FlossAction, Precision Clean, 3D White, Sensitive Gum Care, Deep Sweep, and Dual Clean to name a few.
Package Contents
All packages have 1 toothbrush handle, 1 charging station, and 1 brush head – often it is PrecisionClean for Pro 1000 and CrossAction for Smart 1500 model, but included brush heads may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do these electric toothbrushes compare to Philips Sonicare’s cheapest models?
That is something I should investigate!
What about the Oral B Smart 2500?
This is a model similar to the Smart 1500 but with Gum care mode instead of Sensitive mode.
How did the previous generation Oral B Pro 1000 vs 1500 look like?
Below you can see previous generation Oral B Pro 1000 and 1500 electric toothbrushes.
Conclusion
When comparing the Oral-B Smart 1500 to the Pro 1000, it’s clear that the Smart 1500 Oral-B electric toothbrush comes out on top in several ways. It offers an extra Sensitive cleaning mode, has a more powerful motor, and has a Li-ion battery that lasts an impressive 14 days.
So, is it worth paying a little extra for these extra features? Well, in my opinion, it really depends on the price difference. If the cost isn’t too steep, I’d say the Smart 1500’s advantages make it a worthwhile investment. The Sensitive mode and the more powerful motor can contribute to a better brushing experience, tailored to your oral care needs.
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