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 or 3000 – look like a very attractive choice.
OralB 1000 and OralB 3000 seem to be very similar models. What sets them apart and is it worth paying more for the 3000 model?
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.
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Oral-B Pro 1000 vs Smart 3000 – The Takeaway
Oral B Pro 1000 vs Smart 3000 is a draw. The 1000 model is a cheaper model with 1 mode, no smartphone application, and no Bluetooth feature, but it gets the job done. Oral B 3000 becomes a viable option for people with sensitive teeth and gums when having a 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.
Oral-B Pro 1000 vs 3000 Comparison Table
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 3000
- Modes – 3 (Daily Clean, Whitening 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 10 days of twice a day of 2-minute brushing
- Colors – White, Black
Oral B 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:
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- 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 3000 Overview
The Oral-B Smart 3000 is an updated version of the Oral-B Pro 3000 with a Whitening brushing mode instead of a Gum Care mode and a Lithium Ion battery instead of a NiMH battery. But it is still based on an older brush handle model.
In my experience, the Oral-B Smart 3000 electric toothbrush is a fantastic option for those who want to elevate their oral care routine. This sleek and feature-packed toothbrush offers a blend of performance, convenience, and affordability that’s hard to resist.
What sets the Smart 3000 apart is its three brushing modes – Daily Clean, Sensitive, and Whitening. These options allow users to personalize their brushing experience based on their specific oral health needs. The built-in pressure sensor helps protect your gums by alerting you when you’re brushing too hard, a feature I find particularly helpful.
Another aspect I appreciate about the Smart 3000 is its Bluetooth technology, which syncs with the Oral-B app, providing real-time feedback and guiding you towards better brushing habits. Its long-lasting battery life of up to two weeks on a single charge adds to the overall convenience.
In short, the Oral-B Smart 3000 electric toothbrush strikes a great balance between advanced features and ease of use, making it an excellent choice for those looking to improve their oral hygiene routine.
Quick Specs:
- Modes – 3 (Daily Clean, Whitening, 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 10 days of twice a day of 2-minute brushing
- Charger with charging stand and brush head box for 4 brush heads
- Colors – White, Black,
You can learn more about it in my Oral B Smart 3000 review.
Features Overview
Now we will see how these models compare feature by feature.
Cleaning Modes
Now let’s try to understand why you would 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.
OralB 3000 has 3 modes – Daily Clean, Sensitive for gentle cleaning of sensitive teeth and gums, and the third mode – Whitening mode for surface stain removal.
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 Pro 1000 model makes 20,000 pulsations per minute, and the Smart 3000 model makes 40,000 pulsation movements per minute.
Pressure Sensor
Both models have built-in pressure sensors, 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 3000 comes with a visible pressure sensor – 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.
Timers
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
Only one brush from the compared models features Bluetooth connectivity and a smartphone app. It is the OralB 3000 toothbrush. The latest generation Oral B 3000 features Bluetooth connectivity that lets it connect to your smartphone and provide assistance using the Oral B app. It also tracks brushing time as well.
Travel Case
These toothbrushes do not come with a travel case.
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
- 3000 – white and black
Battery Type
Both brushes come with a Lithium battery that lasts up to 10 days when fully charged. The complete charging process takes about 22 hours.
The previous generation Pro 3000 toothbrush had a nickel metal hydride battery with slightly worse performance.
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 almost twice the price of Oral B 1000.
Replacement Brush Heads
The toothbrushes can use different brush heads – CrossAction, FlossAction, Precision Clean, 3D White, Sensitive Gum Care, Deep Sweep, Dual Clean to name a few.
Package contents
Oral B Pro 1000 comes with 1 toothbrush handle, 1 charging station, and 1 brush head.
Oral B 3000 features a more advanced corded charging station with a brush head storage box for 4 brushes.
Conclusion
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. That will be substantial upgrade from a manual toothbrush.
If you think you need information about other toothbrushes, go to the best electric toothbrush reviews page for more details!
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!