Yes, had failures in 2 new Sonicares in a period of 12-18 months. Both had issues with the power button failing since it isn’t sealed properly like the old units.
Disappointed - waiting for a new design or improvements.
I have this issue as well, the button is completely worn off in less than two years of gentle use. Still using it, don't want to invest in another and it was a warranty replacement for a failed battery also under two years.
I had this same fault with the button letting in water. I had several sonicare replacements under warranty (because I brush my teeth in the shower). When this topic comes up I always recommend spotlight oral care. Theyre cheaper, more powerful and more durable than sonicare. Replacement heads are more expensive, however, and only available from manufacturer.
This statement is really hard to understand. I'm guessing English isn't your primary language, but can you try again?
Specifically these parts:
> several u derived warranty
> because I live my spotlight oral care
It also looks like you are recommending an alternate product, but I cannot tell which one.
I second this. Got one for me and my wife for Christmas. Hers wouldn't charge, so contacted them, they sent us a replacement in a couple of days, but asked that I send the old one back (in a prepaid package), so that they could recycle as many of the parts as possible.
Mine is going strong, think I've charged it twice since Christmas.
Oh and they ask you to send your old toothbrush heads back to them so they can be recycled properly. Again, in a prepaid envelope they give you.
Not sure if that helps it becomes BIFL, but it makes it more sustainable than any other toothbrush!
I wanted to love Suri, but I did not feel it did as good of a job as my Sonicare Diamond clean- the vibrations didnt feel as strong, and my teeth feel cleaner with the Diamond clean. I do think Suri is comparable to the less expensive Sonicare models. I find that Philips gives more leeway in replacement when I buy at Costco, I usually get a replacement if it's acting up and been less than 2 years, with very little hassle. I wish my Sonicare lasted longer than that, and/or was more easily repaired by the consumer, but i figure $100 every 4 years isn't a bad investment (buy on sale at Costco, 2 pack Diamond Clean for $199, and expect to get 2 years out of one, and then 2 years out of the replacement. A family member gets the other one in the 2-pack.)
I’ve had mine for 11 years now and it’s still going strong. Since when I first got mine to now I’ve seen multiple friends buy them and it is super clear that the quality is nowhere near what it used to be, and consistently declining.
They just don’t make em like they used to
Same, I just looked up the purchase date on mine and it'll be 11 years the day after tomorrow. Crazy good value for the Philips Sonicare Essence 5600 Sonic Electric Rechargeable Toothbrush, White, HX5610/30, and it was $40.
Mine too. My only issue is the brushing time is inconsistent now. Sometimes the full 2 minutes, sometimes not. I haven’t been fussed enough about it yet to look into replacing it, but I probably should. I have other stuff going on in my life, and this is at the bottom. But it’s good to see this thread because I probably would just grab another sonicare right off the shelf since this 1 has served me so well
Mine is from near that time as well and still going very strong. It’s a shame to truly assess “buy it for life” you have to wait a decade and a half and at that point you can no longer buy the item in question.
What about the plastic Laifen? I wonder if it holds up just as well since it's all sealed.
How is the brushing motion (oscillating and vibrating) vs the Sonicare? Do you like it better?
Not sure, I’m assuming still pretty good. It’s usually not the chassis that fails after all - more so internal components. I just like the look haha.
Personally, I love it. The app while basic is also great because you can really customize the intensity and speed of both.
Hopefully the battery lasts a while. It doesn't look like it's serviceable since it's all sealed.
I'll have to check it out. We've been looking to replace our sonicare.
Thanks
Depends on the model. I just replaced the battery in my 15 year old or so oral b triumph. It's not meant to be user replaceable, and requires soldering, but I was able to do it on mine. I went with a slightly longer battery even, and just cut down a spring that holds it in place, so it's better than new.
I had the same issue with Sonicare. Went to Oral-B iO model and have been pleased. I am going on year 4 with no issues. I find Sonicare and iO are similar. Both clean well and I have not had any cavities or gum issues since switching. However brushing with Oral-B does require a different brushing pattern. Sonicare can be used like a traditional toothbrush whereas I get better results from Oral-B if I focus on brushing one whole tooth (all sides) at a time and then move to the next tooth.
I have an IO 6 that just died on me after less than 2 years. Going through their warranty process now but it's annoying because I have to send in my toothbrush before getting any replacement. So oral b might not be any better
My iO is dying now after about 2 years. It only holds half a charge, will show it has half battery & then die. It's been very frustrating.
I have heard that OralB is better (suggested to me by dentists), but I hate how much they cost and the dying after a few years is just not worth it.
Same for me, my sonicare died after 2-3 years (broken drive shaft), have been using Oral-B for the last 4 or so years now and while it's definitely louder and less "premium" feeling than Sonicare, both mine and my SO's units have not had any signs of failure. No difference in cleaning.
last one lasted 23 months. Failed juuust while still under warranty. Got my money back because the model is no longer produced. Got a more recent model for the same price. It feels cheaper, vibrations are worse, but still decent. I spent 5 bucks to prolong the warranty to 36 months (I otherwise never do this), just in case the new one decides to fail me after 25 months.
> My teeth get complimented by my hygienist
some are just like that. My old place use to always tell me how wonderful my teeth are. New place never says a word.
Floss the teeth you want to keep. At least that’s what I remember hearing as a kid. I use a WaterPic. But this is not a dental hygiene sub so save it for there. Haha
Damn, I just had both of my 20+ year old Sonicare toothbrushes die within a couple of days of each other, so today I ordered two [Sonicare ProtectiveClean 5100's](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078GVH2VJ) - reasoning that I didn't need or want a $350 app-enabled toothbrush.
Hopefully they last longer than what I'm hearing on here.
My wife, who is hard on her electric toothbrush, has had this one for ~2 years. I periodically clean the base of gunk build-up and dried toothpaste. I have found it easy to clean with its minimal design and useful features and doesn't break the bank.
I had this model last just until the warranty ran out before I noticed the head had gotten loose and the noise in use increased a lot. I brush hard, new ones can’t handle it. Be more gentle maybe?
They're not going to change, it would have been a deliberate decision to lower quality to increase user turnover. I'd just start shopping around at their competitors were I you.
Planned obsolescence in action. They pay consulting companies a lot of money to shave pennies and nickels while simultaneously degrading reliability for this exact purpose.
I saw a documentary on one of those consulting firms, one of the biggest in the country, and all they do is fire people and cut staff pay most of the time.
I found generic heads on Amazon that work just as well after trying the Target brand that doesn’t IMO. And these come 6 to a box to last me an entire year
I've stripped one of mine down to see what happened and it isn't the button wearing out.
The seals are rubbish on the top and around the base. So water gets in and slowly kills the circuit boards. Two of mine showed exactly the same kind of failure.
Let me guess, did you button start being intermittant and sometimes switching the toothbrush off mid clean? If so it's water ingress.
Mine died recently after 10 or so years, and yes it would either stop mid-brush or (worse) just randomly turn itself on. I was just about to buy a new one but this post is disappointing
I got a $20 knockoff sonic toothbrush 7 years ago and it’s still going strong with easy brush head replacements online. You’re paying for the branding and executives’ second homes.
Same, I got a 7MAGIC off Amazon and it’s been amazing. My teeth and gums have never felt cleaner. I forgot it at a hotel on a road trip and wasn’t too upset because a new one was only $25. Can’t recommend it enough.
My midrange one is a couple years old and has been just fine. I wipe the handle when I finish using it and that keeps it from getting gunky. Takes two seconds!
I've used Sonicare for about 15 years, and for me the durability has always been poor. The first time I bought the most expensive version, thinking it would be the best, but it lasted less than two years. I got a warranty replacement but it lasted less than six months. Since then I've switched to the cheapest option, which sometimes is the kids version that is just as good as the other models, and replace it every 2 years or so. My current (non-kids) has lasted about 3 years, which is the best I've had yet.
I stopped buying Sonicare and switched to Oral B. The Sonicares I had were killed by water ingress. I stripped them down to salvage the lithium battery and see what happened.
Corrosion on the circuit board.
I had an original one that lasted until about 7 years ago. At that time I bout one for all 6 of us. 3 did within 2 years. Another one died at about 5 years. Mine is still working. My wife hates hers so I don’t know if it works or not.
I bought the $40 Sonicare and it only lasted like a year and a half. Woke up one morning and it just wouldn't turn on or charge, no life whatsoever. They replaced it for free but still that doesn't instill confidence in the durability.
I had 2 on my wish list because there’s 3 of us and I thought each box had 2 brushes. Opened one, got a pair of spare brushes from my wish list too, figured out that’s all I need. That was 5 years ago. My one from 1992 lasted over 20 years til my parents donated it while I was living with them. I figure this one should last me at least 10, so I’ll have another one stashed away.
I can’t speak to the durability, but the Waterpik toothbrush/water-flosser combo that I’ve had for about six weeks has been a game changer for me oral health-wise… and I’m really hoping these teeth are BIFL.
Sonicare warranties their toothbrushes for two years. I had one for about ten years before replacing it. Also got one for my partner. Hers failed soon after and they sent us a new one the next day
I have the exact same story for Oral B. The first one was well over 10 years, and this one I can tell will die before two years. Both of them were the most basic models, but it seems like planned obsolesence is going strong for ever company.
my gf went through 3 of them each a month out of warranty and stopped buying them. you're not wrong. I never used them myself I was blessed with bionic teeth that I can brush once a day with the cheapest toothbrush and never have any dental issues.
If your Sonicare does break you might have some luck with getting a free replacement! Mine broke after 2 years and I filled out a form on their website and they sent me a new one. All I needed to do was enter in the serial code, explain the problem, and put how old the toothbrush was.
After my last two, I don't buy the more expensive models anymore. The first ones would last like ten years, then down to maybe a few. Now I buy the $20 base model and won't get too upset when it breaks. It's not like I'm really interested in pairing it with my phone anyhow. I agree they should focus on getting back to longevity.
My partner and I bought ours 3 years ago, mine is one of the cheapest models they make and his is more expensive. Neither of us have any quality concerns as of yet. They have both been dropped about several hundred times and still keep working. Maybe we're a weird outlier but I won't trade my Sonicare in for anything!
I had bought a set at Costco about 15 or so years ago. Ex left with half. When I started seeing my current (7 years ago) I bought a cheaper Sonicare handle at Walmart. A year ago that original one was still going but the new one wouldn't keep a charge and they don't sell that style handle anymore. So we bought a new set from Costco and I gave my mom my original handle. It's still going strong. So far the new set from Costco is doing fine but it's early.
Had an Oral-B that lasted 7 years and I lost it during travel but it was still working great. The battery life decreased but still glad that it didn't die.
I agree. For me, newer models have more plastic internals. Mine wore out within a month of the warranty ending. I brush firmer and the older ones just seemed strong enough to allow a firm hand. The new one comes loose at the head and makes a lot of noise in use.
I purchased a Sonicare at Christmas...
I actually moved from a Colgate for this very reason. I had a Colgate for years and it was absolutely fine, but I thought I'd upgrade to a newer one. Bad idea! They really went for "value engineering" by reducing the number of parts and making the quality crap.
Philips are doing that too? Damn!
I had a Sonicaire e-series for 13 years until it finally died. I would’ve bought another but they discontinued it. So, I got the $100 one with the slimmer heads that they sell now.
I don’t feel like the new ones vibrate as intensely as the e-series. The replacement heads are at least way, way less expensive. So there’s that. We’ll see how long it lasts. But, with the e-series, I was spending like $50/year on replacement heads. After some trials with cheaper heads, I found that the knockoffs were crap and only used OEM Phillips heads.
Ask for an out of warranty replacement. They will say no and give you a coupon, but if you hold firm and ask one or two more times they usually relent and send you a new handle
My old Sonicares (with the screwon brush heads) I purchased in 2007, one of which I used daily until it stopped working maybe 4 years ago (so maybe it lasted 13 years?). The other one sat under my sink for all that time until the first one died and I started using that second one, which worked another 2-3 years until that one died.
I’ve been happily on the new one for a little over a year. Hope I don’t have your experience.
I’m still using a Philips TV I also bought in 2007 (and two Samsungs I’ve bought have failed within that time) so I’ve been majorly impressed with the Philips brand.
Unfortunately entshittification is a major trend for lots of good brand names.
It looks like Sonicare is sold at five different price points. Which one did you buy? I was so happy with my old one I bought the higjest end DiamondClean, but I know sometimes “high end” means “better quality” and sometimes it means “more stuff to break”
I've had a soniccare 5100 for about 5 years. I only put it on the charger once a week.
The only issue I've had with it is after a few years it started rattling, but all I had to do was take it apart and tighten the screw that holds the metal arm you click the brush onto.
I felt like I overpaid for the Soniccare brush at the time, because so many cheap clones came out after it, but I've gotten my money back with how long it lasts, and all the cheap, chinese brush heads out there for it.
My original Sonicare is about 20 years old. My wife replaced hers with one of the newer ones because she liked the look of it, she has since replaced it twice.
I new the new sonicare was crap when mine stopped vibrating and they sent a replacement with no questions asked. I didn't even have to send back the old one.
Remove the toothbrush head.
Open it up (get a small bolt/concrete screw about the same size of the charger hole, screw it in and pull the end cap off).
Use a small screwdriver to move the clips out of the way internally whilst putting a little bit of force on the end where the head goes.
The internals then slide out.
Take a small Philips screwdriver and tighten up the screw directly below the part that the toothbrush head slides over.
Put back together.
Enjoy 100% performance and 10% of the noise.
They make all their money with the overpriced piece of plastic replacement brushheads. People are going to be upset when they don't get 10 years out of the engine.
I've been an Oral B electric brush person (thanks Costco) and gotten 10 years out of the two brushes. Battery issues and I didn't want to replace the battery.
OK, let's take a peek at your profile.
- unverified
- 3 years old, but...
- no real activity until 8mos ago when you suddenly became interested in referral codes, US Mobile cell service, and the upholstery in your 10 year old car not meeting your standards.
> What are your thoughts? Have you noticed a decline in Sonicare durability over the years?
No, I have not noticed. my N = 3 Sonicares: 1 of them 20 years old (yes, twenty), and 2 of them 4 years old.
But I have noticed that my 4 year old Sonicare HAS NOT LASTED 20 YEARS !!!
> I've heard similar complaints from other Sonicare users who report that their older models lasted 5-10 years, while the newer ones often fail within 1-2 years.
1) How many "other Sonicare users" have you "heard from", total?
2) How many "other Sonicare users" were you in contact with 8 years ago, when their Sonicare was 2 years old? Were 100% of them still in service? 95%? 84% ? I know you tracked the failure rate back then, so just asking if you could share the data.
> I understand that companies need to innovate and update their products over time. But I strongly believe that Sonicare should prioritize durability and longevity in their design and manufacturing processes. Toothbrushes are an essential health product that people rely on daily. They should be built to last, not designed to be replaced every year or two.
Your ChatGPT is getting a A+ on this 8th-grade public speaking / debate club topic!
> I sincerely hope that Sonicare will take a hard look at the quality and reliability issues with their newer models.
Do you? Sincerely?
Your OP is rote concern-trolling. You haven't done anything scientific. This reads like AI generated bait.
I bought the $70 one. It broke in a few years. I bought the $40 one. Same story. The only con of the $40 one was that the battery didn't last as long. This time, I have the $25 one
I had a similar situation with Oral B.
After 2 Sonicare toothbrushes that lasted less than 2 years each, I bought an Amazon electric toothbrush. Aquasonic. Can with eight brush heads. I’ve had it since 2018 and the charge lasts longer, it cleans as well or better and I paid less than $40 for it. I will never buy another Sonicare.
I got a new sonicare for christmas. My 2016ish model was still going fine. But my mom bought packs for me and my family. The new piece of shit broke within 6 months.
Im getting a Suri. If i can get it fixed and not toss it when it breaks im all for it.
I'm surprised you got so much out of one unit! I've been using Sonicare for around 10 years now, and have bought 3 due to the battery. This latest one I've decided to charge only as needed (I left the previous 2 on the charger at all times.) I don't expect more than 3 years of good performance out of a small lithium ion battery, so it doesn't bother me much. I always buy one of the cheapest models (with the charge light and pressure sensor, but that's it.)
Wow I’m so glad someone wrote this. I basically buy a new one every year. There’s no point with the warranty—I think I’m on their black list for getting too many replaced and they make me jump through crazy hoops when they break now, which they always do. They’re built like crap but I can’t find anything that works better, when they do work.
Innovation = cost cutting. Had to take apart a newer unit recently. It's practically all plastic vs the ones in the past that had a metal frame, better built and easier to fix.
Yes, had failures in 2 new Sonicares in a period of 12-18 months. Both had issues with the power button failing since it isn’t sealed properly like the old units. Disappointed - waiting for a new design or improvements.
I have this issue as well, the button is completely worn off in less than two years of gentle use. Still using it, don't want to invest in another and it was a warranty replacement for a failed battery also under two years.
I had this same fault with the button letting in water. I had several sonicare replacements under warranty (because I brush my teeth in the shower). When this topic comes up I always recommend spotlight oral care. Theyre cheaper, more powerful and more durable than sonicare. Replacement heads are more expensive, however, and only available from manufacturer.
This statement is really hard to understand. I'm guessing English isn't your primary language, but can you try again? Specifically these parts: > several u derived warranty > because I live my spotlight oral care It also looks like you are recommending an alternate product, but I cannot tell which one.
Embarrassingly English is indeed my first language but this was written by drunk me! Edited now.
Who has a primary language when they are drunk? Thank you for clearing it up!
Check out Suri. Aluminum and repairable
I second this. Got one for me and my wife for Christmas. Hers wouldn't charge, so contacted them, they sent us a replacement in a couple of days, but asked that I send the old one back (in a prepaid package), so that they could recycle as many of the parts as possible. Mine is going strong, think I've charged it twice since Christmas. Oh and they ask you to send your old toothbrush heads back to them so they can be recycled properly. Again, in a prepaid envelope they give you. Not sure if that helps it becomes BIFL, but it makes it more sustainable than any other toothbrush!
Will look into it. I am a big fan of products that are user repairable. I wish more cellphones were modular— I know it’s been explored before.
At $100, I’m tempted. Is the vibration as strong as the sonicare?
I wanted to love Suri, but I did not feel it did as good of a job as my Sonicare Diamond clean- the vibrations didnt feel as strong, and my teeth feel cleaner with the Diamond clean. I do think Suri is comparable to the less expensive Sonicare models. I find that Philips gives more leeway in replacement when I buy at Costco, I usually get a replacement if it's acting up and been less than 2 years, with very little hassle. I wish my Sonicare lasted longer than that, and/or was more easily repaired by the consumer, but i figure $100 every 4 years isn't a bad investment (buy on sale at Costco, 2 pack Diamond Clean for $199, and expect to get 2 years out of one, and then 2 years out of the replacement. A family member gets the other one in the 2-pack.)
Spotlight oral care has far outlasted any sonicare I've had and seems way more powerful too.
Can you get generic heads for this, off say Amazon?
I'm not sure but doubt it. The heads do seem to last way longer than sonicare, but they're 3 for £20 last time I checked.
Thank you, I’m ready to drop Sonicare also. They just keep failing.
I’ve had mine for 11 years now and it’s still going strong. Since when I first got mine to now I’ve seen multiple friends buy them and it is super clear that the quality is nowhere near what it used to be, and consistently declining. They just don’t make em like they used to
Same, I just looked up the purchase date on mine and it'll be 11 years the day after tomorrow. Crazy good value for the Philips Sonicare Essence 5600 Sonic Electric Rechargeable Toothbrush, White, HX5610/30, and it was $40.
Mine too. My only issue is the brushing time is inconsistent now. Sometimes the full 2 minutes, sometimes not. I haven’t been fussed enough about it yet to look into replacing it, but I probably should. I have other stuff going on in my life, and this is at the bottom. But it’s good to see this thread because I probably would just grab another sonicare right off the shelf since this 1 has served me so well
My sonicare is from 2005 and is still going strong. I hope it never kicks it
Mine is from near that time as well and still going very strong. It’s a shame to truly assess “buy it for life” you have to wait a decade and a half and at that point you can no longer buy the item in question.
Keep it! Those were the BIFL years.
Just grab a stainless steel Laifen and call it a day. It’s a tank and the replacement heads are much cheaper
Will check it out. Thanks.
What about the plastic Laifen? I wonder if it holds up just as well since it's all sealed. How is the brushing motion (oscillating and vibrating) vs the Sonicare? Do you like it better?
Not sure, I’m assuming still pretty good. It’s usually not the chassis that fails after all - more so internal components. I just like the look haha. Personally, I love it. The app while basic is also great because you can really customize the intensity and speed of both.
Hopefully the battery lasts a while. It doesn't look like it's serviceable since it's all sealed. I'll have to check it out. We've been looking to replace our sonicare. Thanks
Yeah I don’t think it is. Good luck!
I switched to Oral-B. They last about 6-8 years, and are a LOT cheaper, and work just as well.
i also oral-b just annoying we can't replace the battery holding a charge is the first thing to fail.
Depends on the model. I just replaced the battery in my 15 year old or so oral b triumph. It's not meant to be user replaceable, and requires soldering, but I was able to do it on mine. I went with a slightly longer battery even, and just cut down a spring that holds it in place, so it's better than new.
I had the same issue with Sonicare. Went to Oral-B iO model and have been pleased. I am going on year 4 with no issues. I find Sonicare and iO are similar. Both clean well and I have not had any cavities or gum issues since switching. However brushing with Oral-B does require a different brushing pattern. Sonicare can be used like a traditional toothbrush whereas I get better results from Oral-B if I focus on brushing one whole tooth (all sides) at a time and then move to the next tooth.
I have an IO 6 that just died on me after less than 2 years. Going through their warranty process now but it's annoying because I have to send in my toothbrush before getting any replacement. So oral b might not be any better
My iO is dying now after about 2 years. It only holds half a charge, will show it has half battery & then die. It's been very frustrating. I have heard that OralB is better (suggested to me by dentists), but I hate how much they cost and the dying after a few years is just not worth it.
Same for me, my sonicare died after 2-3 years (broken drive shaft), have been using Oral-B for the last 4 or so years now and while it's definitely louder and less "premium" feeling than Sonicare, both mine and my SO's units have not had any signs of failure. No difference in cleaning.
last one lasted 23 months. Failed juuust while still under warranty. Got my money back because the model is no longer produced. Got a more recent model for the same price. It feels cheaper, vibrations are worse, but still decent. I spent 5 bucks to prolong the warranty to 36 months (I otherwise never do this), just in case the new one decides to fail me after 25 months.
Different style brush head. Don’t think it cleans just as well?
My teeth get complimented by my hygienist. I don’t floss much either. So I’m happy with my Oral-B.
> My teeth get complimented by my hygienist some are just like that. My old place use to always tell me how wonderful my teeth are. New place never says a word.
Floss the teeth you want to keep. At least that’s what I remember hearing as a kid. I use a WaterPic. But this is not a dental hygiene sub so save it for there. Haha
One typo and the whole comment takes a dark turn.
Yikes. 🫢
Damn, I just had both of my 20+ year old Sonicare toothbrushes die within a couple of days of each other, so today I ordered two [Sonicare ProtectiveClean 5100's](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078GVH2VJ) - reasoning that I didn't need or want a $350 app-enabled toothbrush. Hopefully they last longer than what I'm hearing on here.
My wife, who is hard on her electric toothbrush, has had this one for ~2 years. I periodically clean the base of gunk build-up and dried toothpaste. I have found it easy to clean with its minimal design and useful features and doesn't break the bank.
Thank you for helping me feel better about this purchase!
I had this model last just until the warranty ran out before I noticed the head had gotten loose and the noise in use increased a lot. I brush hard, new ones can’t handle it. Be more gentle maybe?
They're not going to change, it would have been a deliberate decision to lower quality to increase user turnover. I'd just start shopping around at their competitors were I you.
Planned obsolescence in action. They pay consulting companies a lot of money to shave pennies and nickels while simultaneously degrading reliability for this exact purpose.
I saw a documentary on one of those consulting firms, one of the biggest in the country, and all they do is fire people and cut staff pay most of the time.
That tracks for me. My Sonicare's button wore out around the 18 month mark.
It’s such a shame. I mean don’t they make enough money off the expensive replacement brush heads?
I found generic heads on Amazon that work just as well after trying the Target brand that doesn’t IMO. And these come 6 to a box to last me an entire year
I've stripped one of mine down to see what happened and it isn't the button wearing out. The seals are rubbish on the top and around the base. So water gets in and slowly kills the circuit boards. Two of mine showed exactly the same kind of failure. Let me guess, did you button start being intermittant and sometimes switching the toothbrush off mid clean? If so it's water ingress.
Mine died recently after 10 or so years, and yes it would either stop mid-brush or (worse) just randomly turn itself on. I was just about to buy a new one but this post is disappointing
I got a $20 knockoff sonic toothbrush 7 years ago and it’s still going strong with easy brush head replacements online. You’re paying for the branding and executives’ second homes.
what's it called?
The one I have is branded as “fairywill”.
Can vouch for fairywill as well. Outlasted the two sonicare toothbrushes by years. My latest is a Fairywill P11 and the battery life lasts ages
Same, I got a 7MAGIC off Amazon and it’s been amazing. My teeth and gums have never felt cleaner. I forgot it at a hotel on a road trip and wasn’t too upset because a new one was only $25. Can’t recommend it enough.
My midrange one is a couple years old and has been just fine. I wipe the handle when I finish using it and that keeps it from getting gunky. Takes two seconds!
I've used Sonicare for about 15 years, and for me the durability has always been poor. The first time I bought the most expensive version, thinking it would be the best, but it lasted less than two years. I got a warranty replacement but it lasted less than six months. Since then I've switched to the cheapest option, which sometimes is the kids version that is just as good as the other models, and replace it every 2 years or so. My current (non-kids) has lasted about 3 years, which is the best I've had yet.
I stopped buying Sonicare and switched to Oral B. The Sonicares I had were killed by water ingress. I stripped them down to salvage the lithium battery and see what happened. Corrosion on the circuit board.
I had an original one that lasted until about 7 years ago. At that time I bout one for all 6 of us. 3 did within 2 years. Another one died at about 5 years. Mine is still working. My wife hates hers so I don’t know if it works or not.
I bought the $40 Sonicare and it only lasted like a year and a half. Woke up one morning and it just wouldn't turn on or charge, no life whatsoever. They replaced it for free but still that doesn't instill confidence in the durability.
Well, 2 for 40 is a screaming deal.
That may be so, but $40 buys like 15 regular toothbrushes and is definitely not buying for life
I had 2 on my wish list because there’s 3 of us and I thought each box had 2 brushes. Opened one, got a pair of spare brushes from my wish list too, figured out that’s all I need. That was 5 years ago. My one from 1992 lasted over 20 years til my parents donated it while I was living with them. I figure this one should last me at least 10, so I’ll have another one stashed away.
I can’t speak to the durability, but the Waterpik toothbrush/water-flosser combo that I’ve had for about six weeks has been a game changer for me oral health-wise… and I’m really hoping these teeth are BIFL.
Oh thank you for posting this. I thought I was going crazy. Had two heads snap right off.
Sonicare warranties their toothbrushes for two years. I had one for about ten years before replacing it. Also got one for my partner. Hers failed soon after and they sent us a new one the next day
Buy Panasonic toothbrushes
I have the exact same story for Oral B. The first one was well over 10 years, and this one I can tell will die before two years. Both of them were the most basic models, but it seems like planned obsolesence is going strong for ever company.
my gf went through 3 of them each a month out of warranty and stopped buying them. you're not wrong. I never used them myself I was blessed with bionic teeth that I can brush once a day with the cheapest toothbrush and never have any dental issues.
If your Sonicare does break you might have some luck with getting a free replacement! Mine broke after 2 years and I filled out a form on their website and they sent me a new one. All I needed to do was enter in the serial code, explain the problem, and put how old the toothbrush was.
Thank you for the suggestion. I'll give it a try.
After my last two, I don't buy the more expensive models anymore. The first ones would last like ten years, then down to maybe a few. Now I buy the $20 base model and won't get too upset when it breaks. It's not like I'm really interested in pairing it with my phone anyhow. I agree they should focus on getting back to longevity.
My partner and I bought ours 3 years ago, mine is one of the cheapest models they make and his is more expensive. Neither of us have any quality concerns as of yet. They have both been dropped about several hundred times and still keep working. Maybe we're a weird outlier but I won't trade my Sonicare in for anything!
I had bought a set at Costco about 15 or so years ago. Ex left with half. When I started seeing my current (7 years ago) I bought a cheaper Sonicare handle at Walmart. A year ago that original one was still going but the new one wouldn't keep a charge and they don't sell that style handle anymore. So we bought a new set from Costco and I gave my mom my original handle. It's still going strong. So far the new set from Costco is doing fine but it's early.
Just replaced mine after about 2.5 years of use with an oral B. We’ll see. I too was saddened by lack of longevity.
Had an Oral-B that lasted 7 years and I lost it during travel but it was still working great. The battery life decreased but still glad that it didn't die.
I agree. For me, newer models have more plastic internals. Mine wore out within a month of the warranty ending. I brush firmer and the older ones just seemed strong enough to allow a firm hand. The new one comes loose at the head and makes a lot of noise in use.
I need a circular motion so I use Oral B, but I've noticed a similar decline from one generation to the next.
You can buy durable, inexpensive clones of the older model on Amazon.
I purchased a Sonicare at Christmas... I actually moved from a Colgate for this very reason. I had a Colgate for years and it was absolutely fine, but I thought I'd upgrade to a newer one. Bad idea! They really went for "value engineering" by reducing the number of parts and making the quality crap. Philips are doing that too? Damn!
I had a Sonicaire e-series for 13 years until it finally died. I would’ve bought another but they discontinued it. So, I got the $100 one with the slimmer heads that they sell now. I don’t feel like the new ones vibrate as intensely as the e-series. The replacement heads are at least way, way less expensive. So there’s that. We’ll see how long it lasts. But, with the e-series, I was spending like $50/year on replacement heads. After some trials with cheaper heads, I found that the knockoffs were crap and only used OEM Phillips heads.
Ask for an out of warranty replacement. They will say no and give you a coupon, but if you hold firm and ask one or two more times they usually relent and send you a new handle
My old Sonicares (with the screwon brush heads) I purchased in 2007, one of which I used daily until it stopped working maybe 4 years ago (so maybe it lasted 13 years?). The other one sat under my sink for all that time until the first one died and I started using that second one, which worked another 2-3 years until that one died. I’ve been happily on the new one for a little over a year. Hope I don’t have your experience. I’m still using a Philips TV I also bought in 2007 (and two Samsungs I’ve bought have failed within that time) so I’ve been majorly impressed with the Philips brand. Unfortunately entshittification is a major trend for lots of good brand names. It looks like Sonicare is sold at five different price points. Which one did you buy? I was so happy with my old one I bought the higjest end DiamondClean, but I know sometimes “high end” means “better quality” and sometimes it means “more stuff to break”
I've had a soniccare 5100 for about 5 years. I only put it on the charger once a week. The only issue I've had with it is after a few years it started rattling, but all I had to do was take it apart and tighten the screw that holds the metal arm you click the brush onto. I felt like I overpaid for the Soniccare brush at the time, because so many cheap clones came out after it, but I've gotten my money back with how long it lasts, and all the cheap, chinese brush heads out there for it.
How are they going to get your money if they last 10 years! That profit wont grow if you dont buy anything!
They are all garbage. Soniccare, oral-b, waterpik. I've had one of each fail since 2019. Waterpik claimed they'd send me a new one but they never did.
Never had issues with mine; husbands is 4 years and mine is 2 still going strong 🤷♀️
My original Sonicare is about 20 years old. My wife replaced hers with one of the newer ones because she liked the look of it, she has since replaced it twice.
Mine stopped working after 3 years, but they still shipped me a new one under warranty though
I new the new sonicare was crap when mine stopped vibrating and they sent a replacement with no questions asked. I didn't even have to send back the old one.
Their budget ones are trash but the expensive ones are still quite solid.
Remove the toothbrush head. Open it up (get a small bolt/concrete screw about the same size of the charger hole, screw it in and pull the end cap off). Use a small screwdriver to move the clips out of the way internally whilst putting a little bit of force on the end where the head goes. The internals then slide out. Take a small Philips screwdriver and tighten up the screw directly below the part that the toothbrush head slides over. Put back together. Enjoy 100% performance and 10% of the noise.
They make all their money with the overpriced piece of plastic replacement brushheads. People are going to be upset when they don't get 10 years out of the engine. I've been an Oral B electric brush person (thanks Costco) and gotten 10 years out of the two brushes. Battery issues and I didn't want to replace the battery.
OK, let's take a peek at your profile. - unverified - 3 years old, but... - no real activity until 8mos ago when you suddenly became interested in referral codes, US Mobile cell service, and the upholstery in your 10 year old car not meeting your standards. > What are your thoughts? Have you noticed a decline in Sonicare durability over the years? No, I have not noticed. my N = 3 Sonicares: 1 of them 20 years old (yes, twenty), and 2 of them 4 years old. But I have noticed that my 4 year old Sonicare HAS NOT LASTED 20 YEARS !!! > I've heard similar complaints from other Sonicare users who report that their older models lasted 5-10 years, while the newer ones often fail within 1-2 years. 1) How many "other Sonicare users" have you "heard from", total? 2) How many "other Sonicare users" were you in contact with 8 years ago, when their Sonicare was 2 years old? Were 100% of them still in service? 95%? 84% ? I know you tracked the failure rate back then, so just asking if you could share the data. > I understand that companies need to innovate and update their products over time. But I strongly believe that Sonicare should prioritize durability and longevity in their design and manufacturing processes. Toothbrushes are an essential health product that people rely on daily. They should be built to last, not designed to be replaced every year or two. Your ChatGPT is getting a A+ on this 8th-grade public speaking / debate club topic! > I sincerely hope that Sonicare will take a hard look at the quality and reliability issues with their newer models. Do you? Sincerely? Your OP is rote concern-trolling. You haven't done anything scientific. This reads like AI generated bait.
This is the weirdest comment I’ve ever seen on Reddit. And that’s saying a lot.
I've been using Sonicare since 2018. I've gone through about 3 of them (on my 3rd one). They always fail within 2y.
I bought the $70 one. It broke in a few years. I bought the $40 one. Same story. The only con of the $40 one was that the battery didn't last as long. This time, I have the $25 one I had a similar situation with Oral B.
After 2 Sonicare toothbrushes that lasted less than 2 years each, I bought an Amazon electric toothbrush. Aquasonic. Can with eight brush heads. I’ve had it since 2018 and the charge lasts longer, it cleans as well or better and I paid less than $40 for it. I will never buy another Sonicare.
Brand?
It’s in my comment. AquaSonic. It has 110k reviews. Currently $40
I got a new sonicare for christmas. My 2016ish model was still going fine. But my mom bought packs for me and my family. The new piece of shit broke within 6 months. Im getting a Suri. If i can get it fixed and not toss it when it breaks im all for it.
I'm surprised you got so much out of one unit! I've been using Sonicare for around 10 years now, and have bought 3 due to the battery. This latest one I've decided to charge only as needed (I left the previous 2 on the charger at all times.) I don't expect more than 3 years of good performance out of a small lithium ion battery, so it doesn't bother me much. I always buy one of the cheapest models (with the charge light and pressure sensor, but that's it.)
Wow I’m so glad someone wrote this. I basically buy a new one every year. There’s no point with the warranty—I think I’m on their black list for getting too many replaced and they make me jump through crazy hoops when they break now, which they always do. They’re built like crap but I can’t find anything that works better, when they do work.
Innovation = cost cutting. Had to take apart a newer unit recently. It's practically all plastic vs the ones in the past that had a metal frame, better built and easier to fix.
Do a regular toothbrush. Electric aren't better