If you are looking for your first power toothbrush or you simply are a frugal person who wants to pay only for toothbrush features you are going to use every day, the entry-level power toothbrushes from Oral B – the Oral B 1000, 1500, or 3000 – look like a very attractive choice.
OralB 1000 and OralB 1500 seem to be very similar models. What sets them apart and is it worth paying even more for the 3000th model?
Let’s find out and begin by checking the comparison table.
| Price | Modes | Battery Life | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 1 - Daily Clean | 10 days | |
| Higher | 2 - Daily Clean, Sensitive | 14 days | |
| Highest | 3 - Daily Clean, Sensitive, Gum Care | 10 days |
Quick Links
- 1 Oral B Pro 1500 vs 1000 vs 3000 Comparison Table
- 2 Oral B Pro 1000 Overview
- 3 Oral B Pro 1500 Review
- 4 OralB Pro 3000 Overview
- 5 Features Overview
- 6 Battery Type
- 7 Price
- 8 Replacement Brush Heads
- 9 Package contents
- 10 Oral B 1000 vs 3000
- 11 Oral B 1000 vs 1500
- 12 Comparison vs 500 | 2000 | 2500
- 13 Frequently Asked Questions
Oral B Pro 1500 vs 1000 vs 3000 Comparison Table
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. For example, Oral B 3000 is called Oral B 3 3000 and has different specs.
Oral B Pro 1000 Overview
This is an affordable toothbrush with a minimum set of features. It has a single brushing mode, a bare-bones pressure sensor, and the 2 minute timer.
Quick Specs:
- Modes – 1 (Daily Clean)
- Movements – 20,000 pulsations/min; +8,800 oscillations/min
- Pressure Sensor – Yes
- Battery – Standard NiMH
- Colors – Black, White
You can learn more about it in my Oral B Pro 1000 review.
Oral B Pro 1500 Review
The Oral-B Pro 1500 is a next-level version of Oral-B 1000 with an added second brushing mode (Sensitive mode), a new Lithium-Ion battery, and a faster and more powerful motor.
TIP: Do you want to know how to buy this toothbrush and save?
I stumbled upon the Oral-B Kids Electric Sparkle & Shine toothbrush that looked similar to Pro 1500.
I did a quick research and learned that the Oral-B Kids Electric Sparkle & Shine (and Star Wars) is, in fact, the Oral B Pro 1500 model sold in a different box labeled for kids. Some shoppers have commented that the kid’s version is cheaper! Click here to see the Oral-B Kids electric toothbrush price and availability!
Quick Specs:
- Modes – 2 (Daily Clean, and Sensitive)
- Movements – 45,000 pulsations/min and 9,900 oscillations/min
- Pressure Sensor – Yes, visible
- Battery – New Lithium-Ion
- Colors – White only
It is worth mentioning that with 45,000 pulsations per minute the Oral B Pro 1500 currently is the most powerful toothbrush in the OralB Pro product line.
Thanks to the new Lithium-Ion battery technology, the Oral B Pro 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 11-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.
There is also a new Oral B Smart 1500 model that recently became available. As far as I can tell, the only difference is improved design and the 360 Smart Ring instead of the visible pressure sensor.
OralB Pro 3000 Overview
This is a refreshed version of the affordable model with a few extra features.
You can learn more about it in my Oral B Pro 3000 review.
It is worth mentioning that this toothbrush features 3 cleaning modes and Bluetooth connectivity, but it is not as powerful as Oral B Pro 1500 reviewed above.
Quick Specs:
- Modes – 3 (Daily Clean, Sensitive, and Gum Care)
- Movements – 40,000 pulsations/min; +8,800 oscillations/min
- Pressure Sensor – Yes, visible
- Battery – Standard NiMH
- Colors – Black, White
- Connectivity – Bluetooth
Features Overview
Now we will see how these models compare feature by feature.
Cleaning Modes
Now let’s try to understand why would you want to get a toothbrush with multiple cleaning modes.
Oral-B 1000 features only one brushing mode – the Daily Clean mode. This is the basic cleaning mode built-in all Oral B models. I am pretty sure many users of more advanced toothbrush models have in fact never used other modes except this one.
When I was researching the newer Oral B 1500 model, the specs page on the manufacturer’s website claimed that it has only one brushing mode – the Daily Clean Mode. It looked fitting because the model name 1xxx means 1 mode.
Then I checked the product page here, and noticed that several Oral B Pro 1500 users say that it has 2 modes – Daily Clean and Sensitive.
I contacted Oral B to clarify this matter and their customer support representative replied that the users are actually right. This brush indeed has two brushing modes. You may ask – what does the Sensitive mode do? In this mode, the motor power is reduced to 7,400 oscillations and 33,000 pulsations per minute to provide a more gentle brushing experience if you have sensitive teeth.
OralB 3000 has 3 modes – Daily Clean, Sensitive for gentle cleaning of sensitive teeth and gums, and Gum Care (replaced Whitening mode from an older version) for extra care. You have already learned about Sensitive mode from the chapter above. So what is the Gum Care mode? I was not able to find a satisfying explanation. The manufacturer says it is a massage mode to stimulate gums.
I noticed that the manufacturer has replaced the Whitening mode but the brush is still supplied with a 3D White brush head that is specifically designed to provide a whitening effect. Does the 3D White brush head work equally well with the Daily Clean mode? That’s something worth investigating if you are planning to make your teeth a couple of shades brighter.
Brush Movements
The Oral-B Pro 1500 provides more brushing power than any other Oral-B toothbrush, excluding Genius models. 9,900 oscillations and 45,000 pulsations per minute in the Daily Clean mode – that is the output of this model. There is no surprise that sensitive teeth can not take so much power, so the manufacturer added the Sensitive mode described above.
The Oral B 3000 provides a bit less movement at 8,800 oscillations and 40,000 pulsations per minute, and the OralB 1000 cuts the pulsation power in half providing 8,800 oscillations and 20,000 pulsations per minute.
Pressure Sensor
All 3 models have a pressure sensor built-in but it works differently.
The 1000th model has a basic pressure sensor that has been around for years. If you press too hard, the brush stops working.
The Pro 1500 and 3000 have a visible pressure sensor – the red LED that blinks when you brush too hard – while the brush keeps working.
Timers
All models reviewed here share the two types of timers.
The two-minute timer lets you keep track of the total brushing time. The brush stutters every 30 seconds informing the user that is time to move to other quadrants of the mouth.
These systems make sure you are brushing for 2 minutes just like all dentists recommend and spend equal time cleaning 4 zones of your mouth.
Connectivity
Only one brush from the compared 3 models features Bluetooth connectivity and a smartphone app. It is the OralB 3000 toothbrush.
Design
All brushes share similar designs. In fact, they are so alike that they used to share the same Quick User Manual at some point.
There are some differences in available colors:
- 1000 – white, black, and recently added green and pink
- 1500 – white only
- 3000 – white and black
Battery Type
Two older models reviewed in this article, the Oral B 1000 and 3000, have the tried and tested standard NiMH batteries that last up to 10 days with a single charge. The complete charging process takes around 22 hours.
The newer Oral B Pro 1500 brush has a Lithium-Ion battery that will last 2 full weeks. It is 4 days more than the NiMH battery. When the battery is close to empty, the motor slows down and the LED light reminds you to charge it. You will be able to use the brush a couple more times. In comparison, the brushes with NiMH keep running until the battery is dry, then the motor stops and warning flashes.
It can be a game-changer when you travel. If you use your toothbrush at home and keep it on the charger at all times, the difference is questionable.
Price
Discussing prices can be tricky as different retailers offer different prices, promotions, and delivery options.
It is safe to say that Oral B Pro 3000 is twice the price of Oral B 1000, and Oral B 1500 is somewhere in the middle (if you missed it, please scroll up to the Oral B Pro 1500 review to learn how you can get this model cheaper).
Replacement Brush Heads
The three toothbrushes are cross-compatible with the same wide range of replacement brush heads – CrossAction, FlossAction, Precision Clean, 3D White, Sensitive Gum Care, Deep Sweep, Dual Clean to name a few.
Package contents
All packages have 1 toothbrush handle, 1 charging station, and 1 brush head – usually PrecisionClean for 1000 and CrossAction for 1500 model (included brush heads may vary).
Oral B 3000 features a more advanced corded charging station with a brush head storage box for 4 brushes.
Oral B 1000 vs 3000
Check the Oral B 1000 price here!
Check the Oral B 3000 price here!
If you are in a hurry and want a quick update about the two Oral-B’s most popular affordable toothbrushes, here are the essential differences between Oral B Pro 1000 vs 3000.
Basically, there are 3 major differences:
- 1 brushing mode vs 3 modes,
- no app vs Bluetooth connectivity and app,
- no box vs bundled brush head storage box.
As you have already noticed, the OralB 1000 is the cheaper model with 1 mode and no smartphone application and Bluetooth feature.
Oral B 3000 becomes the viable option if you have sensitive teeth or gums and having Sensitive brushing mode is a must. The included brush head storage also is a nice perk, especially if more than one person will use the toothbrush.
Let’s take a look at other differences between 1000 and 3000 models.
Brush Movements
Both brushes use advanced OralB technology that is generating 8800 oscillations per minute. The difference is in the number of pulsations per minute.
The 1000th model makes 20,000 pulsations per minute, and the 3000th model makes 40,000 pulsation movements per minute.
Pressure Sensor
Both models feature a pressure sensor that prevents from brushing too hard and damaging the tooth enamel and gums. This feature works differently in both brushes.
In OralB 1000 the sensor stops the toothbrush as soon as it detects excessive pressure, so you physically can not damage the enamel. Dental health professionals should be happy!
In OralB 3000 the sensor will not stop the pulsations but only reduct the brushing speed. You will see (hopefully!) the bright red warning light flashing the toothbrush handle. If you are using the smartphone app, it will also alert you about the excessive use of force.
The long-time Oral B toothbrush owners claim that it may take a couple of weeks to get used to the brush and find the pressure balance. Then the sensor rarely gets activated.
The manufacturer suggests testing the pressure sensor regularly by applying excessive pressure for a short moment.
Connectivity
The latest generation Oral B 3000 features Bluetooth connectivity that lets it connect to your smartphone and provide assistance using Oral B app.
Design
Both brushes share similar designs but Oral B 1000 features a space-saving charger without a brush storage box.
Both models are available in black and white, but you can also get the 1000 model in green and pink.
Price
Usually, the Oral B 3000 is significantly more expensive, but the manufacturer is known to offer surprise discounts to Black Friday and holiday season shoppers.
Common Features
Here is a list of features both models share:
- Compatibility with all Oral B brush heads – CrossAction, FlossAction, Precision Clean, 3D White, Sensitive Gum Care, Deep Sweep, Dual Clean
- Timers
Package Contents
OralB 1000
- 1 toothbrush handle
- 1 charging station with cord
- 1 Precision Clean* brush head
OralB 3000
- 1 toothbrush handle
- 1 corded charging station with a brush head storage box for 4 brushes
- 1 3D White* brush head
*different batches may have different brush heads
Is it really all? Yes, it seems to me.
Which model should I get?
It depends if I want to pay a premium for the 2 extra brushing modes, brush-head box, and the smartphone app that will be fun to play with (for a while). That is really it.
If you have sensitive teeth and you need this Sensitive brushing mode, you will most probably choose the 3000 model.
If you think that you can live with only one brushing mode and have not intentions to play around with Bluetooth and smartphone app, save some money and get the OralB 1000.
If you think you need information about other toothbrushes, go to the best electric toothbrush reviews page for more details!
Oral B 1000 vs 1500
Now it is time to find the differences between OralB 1000 and its younger but more powerful cousin Oral B 1500.
So what is the difference between Oral B Pro 1000 vs 1500?
Check the Oral B 1000 price here!
Check the Oral B 1500 price here!
The Oral-B Pro 1500 is more superior in all departments – it has an additional Sensitive mode, it has a more powerful motor, and it features a Li-Ion battery that lasts 14 days.
Brushing Modes
In addition to the basic Daily Clean mode, the Oral B Pro 1500 has a second mode – the Sensitive mode with reduced motor power to provide more comfortable brushing.
Brush Movements
As I have already mentioned above, the Oral B 1000 generates 8800 oscillations and 20000 pulsations per minute.
The newer and more powerful motor of the 1500 model makes 9900 oscillations and 45000 pulsations per minute.
Battery Type
The newer Oral B 1500 features a Lithium-Ion battery that offers more uses between charging sessions and shorter charging time.
Conclusion
Is the extra Sensitive mode and more powerful motor sufficient arguments to pay a bit more? My answer – it depends on how much extra.
Comparison vs 500 | 2000 | 2500
These models I discussed in this review are often compared with other entry-level Oral B toothbrushes e.g. Oral B Pro 500, 2000, and 2500 models.
I am working on an article explaining the differences between these brushes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which model is the Oral-B Kids electric toothbrush based on?
It is based on the Oral B Pro 1500 model but sold in a different box and bundled with a Sensitive brush head.
How do these electric toothbrushes compare to Philips Sonicare’s cheapest models?
That is something I should investigate!
What about the Oral B Pro 2000?
This is a European model with 2 brushing modes.
I have seen the model Oral B Pro 2500 on Amazon. How does it compare with toothbrushes reviewed above?
Oral-B Pro 2 2500 also is a European model based on Oral B 2000. Basically, it is the Oral B 2000 with a colored handle grip and travel case.
Both Oral-B Pro 2000 and 2500 have not been officially released in the US, but you can sometimes find them on Amazon or eBay.
When you say sensitive teeth mode does that mean for sensitive gums as well?
I was thinking of the 1500 as I don’t need a bluetooth toothbrush. BUT My hygienists wants me to have one that will be more gentle for my gums?
thank you.
Sincerely,
Delores Childs
That is a great question, Delores! Yes, the sensitive mode also works for sensitive gums as well. In this mode, the toothbrush works with fewer oscillations and pulsations per minute, and the cleaning action is more gentle.
Ted, thanks so much for this very in-depth review, it is definitely the kind I like! Thanks to your tip, I ordered the Sparkle and Shine from Amazon because I wanted the 1500 and because it came as a cool Star Wars model! And you were correct, the manual that came with it was for a 1500 model.
Thanks for the update, Michael! I am happy I could help!
Thanks for much for your article, and the helpful tip about the kids 1500! My husband will be getting an extra fun star wars surprise this Christmas… hah!
Thank you for your comment, Michelle! I am sure your husband will appreciate it!