The Oral-B iO Series includes some very impressive brushes,
many of which offer far more than you or I really need.
The iO4 is essentially a detuned verison that retains some of the most beneficial elements.
It is a good electric toothbrush, with dentist recommended features.
It’s the most affordable iO model, but,
I don’t think this is a must buy toothbrush for most people.
Hey, it’s Jon from Electric Teeth here.
Make no mistake, the iO4 cleans the teeth well, I can’t fault it.
The small round brush head does a great job of cleaning along the
gumline and removing plaque and bacteria from the teeth.
And unsurprisingly it has been granted the American Dental Associations Seal of acceptance,
so you can be assured that the brush meets the claims the manufacturer makes.
If you have used an Oral-B brush before,
the brushing experience with the iO4 is a bit different. It still provides a deep clean,
but the brushing sensation is a little more gentle and less intense.
This is as a result of the magnetically driven motor built into the brush handle.
Another consequence is that it is quieter, maxing out at around 64 decibels.
The rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery and the other electronics required to make the
handle function are sealed inside the water resistant brush handle.
With a minimal and stylish design, the handle is very appealing. It
lacks the vast amount of rubber grip found on models like the Vitality or Genius,
yet despite this, it doesn’t feel slippy in the hand.
One beneficial consequence of less textured surfaces
is that the handle is easier to keep clean.
The handle is available in black and white colour
options. Although in some markets there are too some other choices.
You don’t get a display built into the brush handle like you do with the iO6,
7, 8, 9 and 10. Nor do you get any cleaning mode labels or icons on the brush handle. Therefore
it is almost impossible to tell which of the 4 cleaning modes you have selected.
There is a dedicated button to switch between the modes,
it is the lower of the 2 found on the front of the handle.
There is no option to change the mode prior to turning the brush on.
However, if you are wishing to connect the iO4 to your smartphone,
you can customise the order of the cleaning modes and even disable some if you desire.
The iO4 doesn’t power off automatically after 2 minutes, you will need to press the power
button to turn it off. When you do, the light ring around the neck of the brush handle will
cycle through a variety of colours to confirm the recommended brushing time has been achieved.
Many people brush for just 45-70 seconds per day,
far less than the recommended 2 minutes twice a day. This is why the iO4 has a pacer and timer.
They are designed to encourage you to brush for the correct time and to do so evenly.
Spend 30 seconds in each of the 4 quadrants of the mouth, being sure to brush all surfaces.
A brief pause in the brushing motion, along with a
vibration in the brush handle will alert you to move from one section to another.
You will then get a similar, but different notification at 2 minutes.
These are 2 of the dentist recommended features
to have in an electric brush. Aanother is a pressure sensor.
The iO4, like other iO Series handles has one of the best sensor implementations going.
The smart pressure sensor changes colour based on the pressure applied.
If it’s lit white, you’re not applying enough pressure.
If it’s red, and you’re using too much.
You want to see a green light all the time you brush.
Brushing with too little force won’t clean the teeth as well, whilst too much can be damaging.
It would be useful if the handle vibrated differently when applying
too much pressure, but sadly it doesn't.
To get the best results yourself, make sure you are using the correct brushing technique
and doing everything else you need to, to master your oral health. The video
linked in the top right corner explains all you need to know.
Included in the box is 1 Ultimate Clean brush head.
It has slightly firmer angled bristles for an effective clean.
It is 1 of 4 different brush head styles to chose from. A preferred
head for many is the softer bristled Gentle Care head.
Unfortunately the iO specific brush heads command a price point double that of replacement heads for
other Oral-B handles. This has a negative knock on effect on the ownership costs.
Like a manual brush, the bristles need to ideally be replaced every 3 months.
The iO4 has a brush head replacement reminder system to alert you when it is time. A yellow
light will be lit within the cleaning mode button, the handle will vibrate too.
If you are using the app, you will be notified there too.
The app is available for free on Apple and Android app stores.
Connect the iO4 via Bluetooth and you can track and log your brushing
sessions to be able to get a good overview of your habits.
If you use the brush at the same time as the app, you will get an on-screen timer
that shows the cleaning mode selected and if you are using too much pressure.
It does not track the exact position of the brush in the mouth. This means you don’t get
specific feedback on how well you are cleaning certain zones within the mouth. This advanced
real-time tracking and feedback is only available on the iO Series 5 and above.
Because the iO4 lacks this feature it is
more affordable and limited in the insights it can provide.
For those set on having a smart toothbrush,
you will be better served by the iO5. Or if your budget allows the iO9,
as this gives more detailed information as it tracks even more zones tha other iO models.
What’s included in the box with the iO4 depends on your location.
In the US it comes with a travel case, whilst in the UK and central European countries
there are variaints that include a case as well as a brush head storage compartment.
The travel case is basic but functional. It will hold the handle and up to 2 brush
heads. It’s either balck or white in colour subject to the handle colour.
The supplied charging stand is always white in colour.
That stand is the usual Oral-B charger supplied with most Oral-B brushes. It
will recharge the iO4’s battery fully in around 16 hours. You don’t get the
quick charging magetetc charger like you do with the iO7, 8 and 9.
You get just over 2 weeks of use on a full charge. This is
acceptable but not the best usage time available on brushes today.
Feedback on the charge level is given via the smartphone app,
or the backlit power icon on the handle.
The iO4 has a retail price of £240 in the UK or $99.99 in the USA.
Selling prices are often lower. Expect around 50% discount in the UK and European countries,
with the potential for up to 20% off in the US.
Compared to other models on the market, the iO4 commands a reasonable premium in the UK
and Central Europe. However, in the US, the premium is much smaller and more justifiable.
In many cases, opting for the more capable iO5 or 6 is a better choice over the iO4.
That said, due to iO specific brush heads being twice the price of other Oral-B heads,
you can save a fair amount of money by optiing for the Oral-B Smart 1500 in the
US or the Pro 3 3500 in the UK and Europe. You will forgo the smart features though.
Prices vary, but these alternatives can be as much as half the cost, when priced over 3 years.
And despite what some might think, just because they are more affordable,
doesn't mean the cleaning results are compromised.
The reliability of Oral-B products tend to be pretty good. You will likely get a usable life
far greater than the 2 year period that the supplied warranty supports you for.
It is a shame that in an age where we are becoming more environmentally considerate,
Oral-B have yet to make components like the battery easily replaceable.
Heres to hoping design approaches change very soon, to allow such.
If you think the iO4 is the brush for you, go for it. You could do a lot worse.
But, I think you can do a bit better too. I want you to gain real value from the brush you buy.
If you ditch the Bluetooth connectivity, it brings limited benefits anyhow, you can save quite a bit.
Opt for either the Pro 3 3000 if you are in Europe or the Smart 1500 for those in the US.
If you like your tech and want to track your oral care habits, you will realistically
be best served by models like the iO9 or 10.. You will be paying a premium though.
Weather it is right for you will depends on your needs and wants.
Click the links in the description to buy any of the mentioned brushes
or read the written review that accompanies this video.