Which Oral-B iO toothbrush should you buy?
For most people, the iO3 (about $110 with two heads and a case): it’s the cheapest iO with the light ring that shows green and red. The iO2 (about $60) is the gentlest start, the iO5 (about $120) adds the app, and the iO9 adds a screen and charging case. The iO10 wasn’t on Amazon US when we checked.
Written by Nora Lindqvist. Last checked and updated .
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Our three, in ten seconds
Best iO for most peopleOral-B iO Series 3The iO3 is the step where the iO range gets its best feature: a light ring that glows green when your pressure is…about $110 on Oct 30, 2026Today’s price
Gentlest and cheapest iOOral-B iO Series 2The iO2 is built for people coming from a manual brush.about $60 on Oct 30, 2026Today’s price
Cheapest iO with the appOral-B iO Series 5The iO5 adds two more modes (five in all: Daily Clean, Whiten, Super Sensitive, Sensitive and Intense), app tracking…about $120 on Oct 30, 2026Today’s price
Jump to a section
Oral-B’s iO range runs from a $60 entry brush to flagships with screens, and every one of them takes the same heads. That makes the choice simpler than the model numbers suggest: decide how much feedback you want, then buy the cheapest iO that gives it to you.
| Brush | Picked for | Type | Price on Oct 30, 2026 | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral-B iO Series 3 | Best iO for most people | Oscillating-rotating with magnetic iO drive | about $110 | Price |
| Oral-B iO Series 2 | Gentlest and cheapest iO | Round head, iO entry motor | about $60 | Price |
| Oral-B iO Series 5 | Cheapest iO with the app | Oscillating-rotating with magnetic iO drive | about $120 | Price |
| Oral-B iO Series 9 | The flagship worth buying | Oscillating-rotating with magnetic iO drive | Varies | Price |
| Oral-B iO Kids | The iO for children | iO round head, kid tuned | about $45 | Price |
Best iO for most people
Oral-B iO Series 3
- Cleaning actionOscillating-rotating with magnetic iO drive
- Pressure warningSmart sensor: red when too hard, green when right
- BatteryAbout 2 weeks
- HeadsiO heads (Ultimate Clean, Gentle Care, Radiant White)
- Amazon price, Oct 30, 2026about $110
The iO3 is the step where the iO range gets its best feature: a light ring that glows green when your pressure is right and red when you press too hard, placed where you can see it in the mirror. It has three modes (Daily Clean, Sensitive and Whitening), a two-minute timer and a head-change alert, and Oral-B’s listing describes the smooth motion and micro-vibrations used from the iO3 upwards.
Amazon US sells it as the iO3 Limited bundle, with two heads and a travel case, which is why it was about $110 on October 30, 2026 rather than the $75 to $90 older reviews quote. Read our iO3 review for the full picture.
Gentlest and cheapest iO
Oral-B iO Series 2
- Cleaning actionRound head, iO entry motor
- Pressure warningAutomatic: slows the brush and shows red when you press too hard
- BatteryOral-B says long-lasting; no day figure on the listing
- HeadsiO heads (Gentle Care, Ultimate Clean)
- Amazon price, Oct 30, 2026about $60
The iO2 is built for people coming from a manual brush. It starts on a Super Sensitive setting, has Gentle and Daily Clean above that, and slows down and signals red when you press too hard. One button, no menus, no app. At about $60 it’s the cheapest way into iO heads, and the right brush for very sensitive teeth. What you give up is the iO3’s green-and-red ring and its Whitening mode. Our iO2 vs iO3 page goes through the trade.
Cheapest iO with the app
Oral-B iO Series 5
- Cleaning actionOscillating-rotating with magnetic iO drive
- Pressure warningSmart sensor: warns of too much and too little pressure
- BatteryAbout 2 weeks
- HeadsiO heads
- Amazon price, Oct 30, 2026about $120
The iO5 adds two more modes (five in all: Daily Clean, Whiten, Super Sensitive, Sensitive and Intense), app tracking of where you brush, and a travel case in the box. Its pressure sensor shows both when you’re right and when you’re pressing too hard. About $120 on Amazon US. It cleans exactly like the iO3; pay the extra only if you’ll use the app to find the areas you miss.
The flagship worth buying
Oral-B iO Series 9
- Cleaning actionOscillating-rotating with magnetic iO drive
- Pressure warningSmart sensor: red too hard, white too soft, green right
- BatteryAbout 2 weeks
- HeadsiO heads
A colour screen on the handle shows mode, timer, battery and head reminders; 3D tracking in the app splits your mouth into 16 zones; and the box includes four heads, a charging travel case and a 3-hour fast charger. Seven modes, and a pressure sensor that warns you about too little pressure as well as too much. The Amazon US listing had no main offer on October 30, so we couldn’t record a price; check the seller before buying. See our iO9 review.
The iO for children
Oral-B iO Kids
- Cleaning actioniO round head, kid tuned
- Pressure warningAutomatic: slows the brush
- BatteryUp to 28 days (Oral-B figure)
- HeadsiO heads (gentle)
- Amazon price, Oct 30, 2026about $45
The iO Kids uses the iO fitting in a kid-friendly handle, with Super Sensitive, Sensitive and Daily Clean settings, a pressure sensor that slows the brush, a music timer and a battery Oral-B rates at up to 28 days. The Stitch edition sold by Amazon.com was about $45 with a travel case. It works with the Disney Magic Timer app.
The iO range at a glance
| Model | Modes | Pressure feedback | Screen | App tracking | In the Amazon US box | Price, Oct 30, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iO2 | 3 | Slows down and shows red | No | No | Handle, 1 head, charger | About $60 |
| iO3 | 3 | Light ring: green right, red too hard | No | No | Handle, 2 heads, travel case | About $110 |
| iO5 | 5 | Light ring: right and too hard | No | Broad zones | Handle, 1 head, travel case | About $120 |
| iO9 | 7 | Red, white and green (too hard, too soft, right) | Colour display | 3D, 16 zones | Handle, 4 heads, charging case, fast charger | No main offer |
| iO10 | 7 | Colour-coded light ring | Colour display | 3D, plus coaching on the iOSense charger | Not listed on Amazon US | n/a |
| iO Kids | 3 | Slows down | No | Disney Magic Timer app | Handle, 1 head, travel case | About $45 |
What every iO shares
All iO brushes take the same heads, so you can move up or down the range without throwing anything away. iO heads don’t fit classic Oral-B handles like the Pro 1000, and classic heads don’t fit an iO. Every iO has a two-minute timer and a pressure sensor; the differences are in how the brush tells you about pressure, how many modes it has, and whether it tracks where you’ve brushed.
What each step up buys you
iO2 to iO3 (about $50 more): the light ring that confirms when your pressure is right, a Whitening mode, and in Amazon’s bundle two heads and a travel case. This is the most valuable step in the range.
iO3 to iO5 (about $10 more): app tracking, two more modes and a case. Worth it if you’ll open the app for the first few weeks to learn where you miss; otherwise not.
iO5 to iO9: the screen, 3D tracking, seven modes, four heads and a charging case. The screen is the one feature people keep using after the novelty fades. At full price it’s a luxury; on a deep sale it’s tempting.
iO9 to iO10: the iOSense charger, which gives coaching on the base itself. The iO10 wasn’t listed on Amazon US when we checked on October 30, 2026, and the iO9 does everything that affects your teeth.
iO heads, explained
Ultimate Clean is the default everyday head, about $10.20 each in a five-pack on Amazon US when we checked. Gentle Care has softer bristles for sensitive gums and recession, about $12.20 each in a four-pack. Radiant White is a polishing head for surface stains. Every type fits every iO handle, and the light ring or screen will remind you when it’s time for a fresh one, roughly every three months.
Model numbers to look for
The box and listing tell you exactly what you’re getting. The iO3 bundle Amazon sells is model iO G3.2Q6.2KD; the iO5 is iO G5.1A6.1K; the iO9 listing we track is iOM9.4B2.2A. The iO2 we track has been on Amazon US since July 2024 and the iO3, iO5 and iO9 since 2022. If a listing doesn’t show a model number, or the seller isn’t Amazon or Oral-B, check before you pay.
iO or a Sonicare?
If you already know you like Oral-B’s round head, stay in the iO range. If you’re unsure, or your teeth are sensitive, compare the iO3 with the Sonicare 5900 on our Oral-B vs Sonicare page: the iO3 has the better pressure feedback, the Sonicare the gentler feel and longer battery.
Handle Replacement heads
* Partly estimated: the handle had no main Amazon offer, the exact head wasn’t on sale, or only a reseller listed heads.
iO3 or iO5?
If you’d use the app for even a month to find the spots you miss, the iO5’s extra $10 is well spent. If you know you won’t, the iO3 is the same brush with two heads in the box.
Decode the number on the box
The code on the carton describes the package, not the motor, which is why two numbers can be the same brush.
Type the number on your box
HX…
A Philips Sonicare product code
The digits describe the box, not the motor: colour, how many heads, case or no case. Two codes can be the same brush.
HX90…
Usually a Sonicare head pack, not a handle
The head packs we priced on October 30 were HX9042 (C3 Two-in-One, two), HX9044 (C3 Premium Plaque Defence, four) and HX9094 (A3 Premium All-in-One, four). A low price plus a row of heads in the photo is the giveaway.
C1, C2, C3
Sonicare cleaning heads
All click on, and all fit any modern adult Sonicare handle.
G2, G3
Sonicare gum care heads
Softer bristles, same click-on fitting.
W2, W3
Sonicare whitening heads
A polishing cup in the middle. Keep these away from veneers and crowns.
A3
Sonicare All-in-One
Philips' premium head and the priciest regular refill we priced.
iO …
An Oral-B iO handle
iO handles use a magnetic drive and take iO heads only. The letters after the series number are colour and box contents.
D…
A classic geared Oral-B handle
Vitality, Pro, Smart and Genius all sit here. They take round heads with the classic shaft, never iO heads.
CrossAction, Gentle Care, Ultimate Clean
Oral-B head names, not brush names
Oral-B names heads in words rather than codes on its US listings. Ultimate Clean and Gentle Care are iO heads; CrossAction is a classic round head.
iO G3.2Q6.2KD
Oral-B iO Series 3
Current; sold on Amazon US as the iO3 Limited bundle. On Amazon US since August 2022. Our review
iO G5.1A6.1K
Oral-B iO Series 5
Current. On Amazon US since July 2022. Our review
iOM9.4B2.2A
Oral-B iO Series 9
Current. On Amazon US since August 2022. Our review
HX3681/24
Philips Sonicare 4100
Current; refreshed as HX4031 in July 2026. On Amazon US since December 2021. Our review
HX7133/02
Philips Sonicare 5900
New generation; on Amazon US since December 2025. On Amazon US since December 2025. Our review
HX9990/13
Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige
Current (first sold 2021; HX9990). On Amazon US since March 2022. Our review
HX6321/02
Philips Sonicare for Kids (HX6321)
Current; first sold 2015. On Amazon US since May 2015. Our review
D100.413.2K
Oral-B Kids 3+ Rechargeable
Current; Amazon US offer was from a third-party seller (Oct 30, 2026). On Amazon US since June 2020.
Wave Pro
Laifen Wave Pro
Launched January 2026. On Amazon US since January 2026. Our review
S2
SURI Pro Sonic Toothbrush
Current (model S2); on Amazon US since August 2025. On Amazon US since August 2025. Our review
SCTB
Aquasonic Black Series
Current; first sold 2017. On Amazon US since June 2017. Our review
SF-04CD012-4
Waterpik Sonic-Fusion 2.0
Current (SF-04 Professional). Our review
HX6423/34
Philips Sonicare 5300
Current; on Amazon US since 2020. On Amazon US since February 2020. Our review
HX7421/07
Philips Sonicare 7300
New generation; on Amazon US since December 2025. On Amazon US since December 2025. Our review
HX9834/92
Philips Sonicare Next-Gen DiamondClean 9900 Prestige
New; on Amazon US since August 31, 2026. On Amazon US since August 2026.
HX3601/01
Philips Sonicare for Kids, Design a Pet Edition
Current; on Amazon US since March 2023. On Amazon US since March 2023.
AS-TBSH-PRO3-BK
Aquasonic Black Series PRO
Current; PRO UV version adds a UV base. On Amazon US since September 2024.
H1D2
Bitvae D2
Current; on Amazon US since November 2024. On Amazon US since November 2024. Our review
CC-04CD010-1
Waterpik Sensonic Complete Care
Current; on Amazon US since June 2024. On Amazon US since June 2024.
Nothing here matches. Codes change with every box, so search the number together with the brand and read what is listed in the box rather than trusting the number.
Handle codes are the ones printed on the listings we checked on Oct 30, 2026. Anything not listed is usually a store bundle or a head pack.
I already have heads. Will they fit a new handle?
Only inside the same family. Oral-B iO heads fit iO handles and nothing else, classic round heads fit every Oral-B that is not an iO, and any modern click-on Sonicare head fits any modern Sonicare handle.
What we checkedWe mapped every handle on this site to its head family and the price of a genuine pack.
Our pick for thisPhilips Sonicare 5300Price
The one in the shop has a different number. Is it the same brush?
Usually yes. Philips in particular sells one handle under several numbers depending on what is in the box, and a club-store bundle is often the same motor with extra heads.
What we checkedAmazon US sells two Sonicare 4100 versions side by side at the same price: the older HX3681 and the July 2026 HX4031 with three intensities.
Our pick for thisPhilips Sonicare 5300Price
The questions that come up
The iO3. It’s the cheapest iO with the light ring that shows green and red, and Amazon US sells it with two heads and a travel case.
Do all Oral-B iO heads fit all iO toothbrushes?
Yes. Every iO head fits every iO handle, from the iO2 to the iO10 and the iO Kids.
Do Oral-B iO heads fit the Pro 1000?
No. The iO range and the classic Pro range use different fittings.
Which iO models have the app?
The iO5 and above, plus the iO Kids with Disney’s Magic Timer app. The iO2 and iO3 don’t connect to the app.
Is the Oral-B iO10 still sold?
We couldn’t find it on Amazon US on October 30, 2026. The iO9 gives you the screen, 3D tracking and charging case without it.
How long does an iO battery last?
About two weeks of twice-daily brushing for most adult models. Oral-B rates the iO Kids at up to 28 days.
