Philips Sonicare electric toothbrush
Hacker ApprovedThe most recommended of 3 electric toothbrushes
Long-lasting electric toothbrush people say still works for many years, and better than cheap models. Critics say low-end and recent models often fail within a few years.
Long-lasting electric toothbrush people say still works for many years, and better than cheap models. Critics say low-end and recent models often fail within a few years.
26 people gave an opinion
- recommend it
- 20
- criticize it
- 6
- approval share
- 77%
Recommended in 4 of 13 months
- November 2025: not recommended
- December 2025: not recommended
- January 2026: recommended
- February 2026: not recommended
- March 2026: not recommended
- April 2026: not recommended
- May 2026: not recommended
- June 2026: not recommended
- July 2026: recommended
- August 2026: not recommended
- September 2026: recommended
- October 2026: recommended
- November 2026: not recommended (month in progress)
Owned for 17 years
Median of the 8 owners who said how long they have had it.
Each square is one year.
Why it carries the badge
- 20 people recommend itNeeds 10 or more, met.
- 3.3 recommenders for every criticNeeds 2 to 1 or better, met.
- Recommended in 4 of 13 monthsNeeds 4 or more, met.
The same three rules apply to every product, and the badge can’t be bought. How the badge works
What people say about it
The reasons people give, with the number of comments that give each one. Open a reason to read what they said.
Why people recommend it
Each mark is one comment
Lasts many years, often a decade
“I'm at 20 years on a Sonicare (pushing 25 now that I remember it is 2026, damn...) and it still works fine.”
Comment from 14 Jul 2026 in “I'm a USB-C Maximalist” “All of mine still work. The NiMH is good for 1000s of deep cycles.”
Comment from 14 Jul 2026 in “I'm a USB-C Maximalist” “my first Sonicare lasted 10 years, next one 5 and last one 2”
Comment from 15 Jul 2026 in “I'm a USB-C Maximalist” - Comment from 14 Jul 2026 in “I'm a USB-C Maximalist”
- Comment from 14 Jul 2026 in “I'm a USB-C Maximalist”
- Comment from 11 Sep 2026 in “Following complaints, Dyson is withdrawing its $500 toothbrush from sale”
- Comment from 14 Jul 2026 in “I'm a USB-C Maximalist”
Better than cheap models
“Sometimes the overpriced brand names are simply the best options on the market”
Comment from 15 Jul 2026 in “I'm a USB-C Maximalist” “the cheap models are far inferior”
Comment from 15 Jul 2026 in “I'm a USB-C Maximalist”
What people warn about
Each mark is one comment
Units fail after a few years
“I find Philips Sonicare toothbrushes break after about a year, long before the battery gives up.”
Comment from 15 Jul 2026 in “I'm a USB-C Maximalist” “mine died after a few years to the point where it would only go a few days between charges”
Comment from 14 Jul 2026 in “I'm a USB-C Maximalist” “I've had the topline ones fail on me three times after a couple of years.”
Comment from 15 Jul 2026 in “I'm a USB-C Maximalist” - Comment from 15 Jul 2026 in “I'm a USB-C Maximalist”
Recent low-end models disappoint
“Philips knows how to penny pinch. Don't buy the more recent low end models.”
Comment from 14 Jul 2026 in “I'm a USB-C Maximalist” “$20 Sonicare can't do that!”
Comment from 1 Sep 2026 in “Dyson CameraJet electric toothbrush”
Other electric toothbrushes people recommend
The two most recommended other electric toothbrushes, with the same counts for each, so you can compare like for like. The tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs.
| Product | Recommend | Criticize | Approval | Months | Owned | Badge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philips Sonicare electric toothbrushThis page | 20 | 6 | 77% | 4 | 17 yrs8 owners | Approved |
| Dyson CameraJet electric toothbrush | 12 | 30 | 29% | 1 | — | — |
| Oral-B electric toothbrush | 8 | 2 | 80% | 3 | — | — |
What people said
25 of the 27 comments that mention it, newest first. Each links to the original comment.
“I swear buying a soniccare is literally half the effort required”
“I had good luck with soldering repairs with them.”
“They are still going strong after six years.”
“$20 Sonicare can't do that!”
“Sometimes the overpriced brand names are simply the best options on the market”
“my first Sonicare lasted 10 years, next one 5 and last one 2”
“I've had the topline ones fail on me three times after a couple of years.”
“You know they are good because they have a sealed design that uses induction to charge.”
“the cheap models are far inferior”
“I find Philips Sonicare toothbrushes break after about a year, long before the battery gives up.”
“My Sonicare worked for almost 15 years.”
“My first Sonicare eventually died of a battery failure 20 years ago.”
“I don't think I've ever actually had one die myself.”
“All of mine still work. The NiMH is good for 1000s of deep cycles.”
“mine died after a few years to the point where it would only go a few days between charges”
“Philips knows how to penny pinch. Don't buy the more recent low end models.”
“I have a sonicare. great.”
“Another vote for the Sonicare.”
“the old one keeps going so I keep the new one in reserve”
“it looses functionality gracefully in that it is still a perfectly serviceable toothbrush even if it is out of battery”
“I'm at 20 years on a Sonicare (pushing 25 now that I remember it is 2026, damn...) and it still works fine.”
“That thing just keeps trucking, it’s incredible.”
“the number of models and combinations is staggering”
“a basic cheap sonic toothbrush (sonicare)”
“a morning and evening cleaning make my teeth feel amazing and have helped me stay cavity free”
Counts come from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026. How we count. Report a mistake.