If you want a toothbrush that cleans the teeth well, is stylish and a bit more capable than most,
but you don’t want to spend a fortune, the iO Series 6 has you covered.
It is the best value model within the current iO range,
in my opinion. It strikes the balance between features and price.
Hey, it’s Jon from Electric Teeth here.
Make no mistake, this brush offers more than you or I need. You could
save yourself a fair amount of money, opting for a lesser featured model.
The iO Series was first introduced in 2020, but the iO6 didn’t launch until a little later.
The main difference is that the iO6 doesn’t include the
premium magnetic charging stand that comes with the Series 7, 8 and 9.
Instead you get a standard Oral-B charger, that comes supplied with
most of their brushes. It takes up to 12 hours to recharge the Lithium-Ion battery,
as opposed to the 3 hours of the magnetic stand.
I certainly do not think this is a big deal,
as how many of us need our brush to charge this quickly.
Whilst on the subject, the battery gives 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 and via the display. More on both of these in just a moment.
The iO6 as you would expect cleans the teeth really well.
The oscillating and rotating brush heads cleaning action is clinically proven and has
the backing of the American Dental Association, having been awarded their Seal of Acceptance.
Using the same motor as the other iO brushes, the magnetically driven motor functions slightly
differently to the those included in other Oral-B brushes. Not only is the brush quieter
as a result, operating at around 64 decibels, but the brushing experience is different too.
It is more gentle and slightly less intense, but still able to achieve a very thorough clean.
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.
The iO6 comes with 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 choose 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 iO Series represents a real step up in design for Oral-B. The iO6 handle looks very
premium with a minimal amount of gripping points. The lack of grip doesn't mean the
handle is slippy to the touch, there is a resistive feel to the plastic body.
Such a design creates a brush that is easy to keep clean.
The water resistance allows the brush to be rinsed under
the tap or used in the shower if you so desire.
A stand out feature that captures the attention is the interactive black
and white display that is built into the handle.
It is flanked by a power button and mode button.
Whilst it is far from necessary, it is a neat feature and certainly adds to the premium feel.
You get emoji style feedback on your brushing, an on screen timer during a cleaning session
and you even have the ability to control more settings that are usually reserved for the app.
The display isn’t touchscreen which is somewhat surprising,
but preferred for a more reliable user experience.
There are 5 different cleaning modes to choose from. Simply switch between
them by using the lower of the 2 function buttons on the handle.
As you do, the icon and text on screen will change to show
you the modes available. Daily Clean and Sensitive are my go to choices.
Each mode is designed to be used for 2 minutes.
The iO6, doesn’t power off automatically after each brushing cycle, you will need
to press the power button. If you achieve the 2 minutes you will get
a smiley face on the screen to acknowledge your achievement.
Many people brush for just 45-70 seconds per day,
far less than the recommended 2 minutes twice a day. This is why the iO6 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, 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.
The timer and pacer are 2 of the dentist recommended features that
this brush has. Another is the visible pressure sensor.
The iO series has one of the best sensor implementations going. It has
a smart pressure sensor that changes colour based on the pressure applied.
If it’s lit white, you’re not applying enough pressure.
If it’s red, 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.
The iO6 is a smart toothbrush. This means it is Bluetooth enabled and can
connect to your phone via the free app available for iOS and Android.
Once paired you can track and log your brushing sessions to be able to get a good
overview of your habits. You can too use the app to personalise your brush and oral care routine.
Sensors in the handle and clever technology that processes this data allow you to get
real-time feedback on the screen as you brush.
For those who know their brushing routine isn’t great,
this tech can help as it will highlight areas for improvement.
If you brush too hard, miss certain areas,
or don’t brush for long enough, the app will let you know.
It is clever and potentially beneficial. But, the tracking isn’t perfect.
It can at times lag and not always register the correct zone.
It tracks 6 zones in the mouth, rather than all the individual biting surfaces.
Therefore the feedback isn’t as specific as it could be.
If you always fail to brush the inside surfaces of your upper right teeth,
it won’t tell you this. Oral-B’s iO9 would. This is because it tracks 16 different zones.
You are paying a premium for the tech and you need to be committed to get the best results.
The iO6 comes with a travel case. It is basic but functional. It will hold the handle and
up to 2 brush heads. It’s either black or white in colour subject to the handle colour.
With some variants, subject to location you will
get a separate brush head refill holder included in the box too.
In the USA, the Series 6 is available in 2 colour options, Gray Opal and Black Lava,
whereas in the UK and many other European countries you have the choice of Black Onyx,
White Alabaster, Anthracite Grey and Pink.
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 in the future to allow such.
The iO6 has a retail price of £300 in the UK or $150 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.
Over 3 years the Series 6 will cost about £238 or $252,
when you factor in the expensive iO brush heads.
Linked in the top right corner is our best electric toothbrush video
that lists some excellent and more affordable alternatives.
And despite what some might think, just because they are more affordable,
doesn't mean the cleaning results are compromised.
That said, as I stated at the top of the review,
the iO6 is a nice brush for those wanting an affordable, but feature heavy device.
The iO9 and 10 are certainly more capable if you want all the latest
tech. You will get more usable brushing data, but you will be paying a premium.
Linked in the description is a written review and links to buy the iO6 or possible alternatives.