So you’re on the market for an electric toothbrush, but you can’t choose between the Oral B 500, 1000 and 1500. Well, you’ve come to the right place.
Electric toothbrushes have come a long way since their invention in the 1960s. Many of their modern features confuse consumers. It’s hard to say what you need and what you don’t have. This is where my criticism comes in.
In this one-on-one, I will explain what makes the three models unique. We will compare the similarities and differences so that you know what you get with each product.
After extensive testing, I decided that one of these Oral B options is easily the best. Read on to find out which one.
Oral B Pro 500 vs 1000 vs 1500 – Comparison Table in 2020
Contents
- 1 Oral B Pro 500 vs 1000 vs 1500 – Comparison Table in 2020
- 2 Oral B 500 better Than a Manual Toothbrush
- 3 A Well-Rounded Workhorse: Oral B Pro 1000 Review
- 4 Stepping Up the Competition: Oral B Pro 1500 Review
- 5 The Similarities Between the 500, 1000, and 1500
- 6 The Differences Between the 500, 1000, and 1500
- 7 How Do the Oral B 500 vs 1000 Stack Up?
- 8 Oral B 1000 vs 1500: Which is Better?
- 9 How to Decide Between Oral B 500 vs 1500
| Feature | Oral B 500 | Oral B 1000 | Oral B 1500 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleaning Action | 2 D | 3 D | 3 D |
| Pressure Sensore | No | Yes | Yes |
| Mode | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Battery Life | 7 Days | 10 Days | 14 Days |
| Brush Head | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 30-sec Reminder | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Smart Timer | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
Oral B 500 better Than a Manual Toothbrush
Our first product is the barest of bones, the Oral B electric toothbrush. I found the 500 to be exactly what it said on the box. But is that enough for you?
Like all Oral B products in our comparison, the 500 is easy to hold in the hand, thin and light. The rubber grip extends to the back of the toothbrush where you will find some molded grooves.
The 500 Series stands out in the Oral B range due to 2D cleaning. 2D cleaning does not vibrate during brushing. Your other two options both handle 3D cleaning. I will explain more about this feature in the comparisons later in the review.
Another feature of the 500 is the 2-minute timer. The moment you turn on the 500, a timer begins. After two minutes the brush head vibrates, and you know you’ve brushed long enough. It’s a great feature and reminded me every time without fail.
However, this model does not have quad pace technology like 1000 and 1500. In addition to the 2-minute timer, the quad pace signals you to change your brushing area every 30 seconds.
Most of us favor one side of our mouth while chewing and brushing. This leaves portions of your mouth vulnerable to cavities and plaque buildup. With quad pace, you don’t brush one side longer than necessary. Sadly, the Oral B 500 lacks the feature.
Get Oral B 500 at Amazon
One thing I liked about the 500? It is compatible with the entire range of Oral B brush heads. Oral B has named the included brush head “precision cleaning”, which is an excellent, versatile brush head.
The standard charger is small and easy to install. The battery is a nickel-metal hydride battery. There is nothing wrong with the battery, but I would prefer a lithium-ion because it lasts longer.
My tests have confirmed that you are considering a charge of around 6-7 days, brushing twice a day for two minutes. However, no LED light is installed to alert you when the brush is low on the battery. If you do not always keep the device on the charger, you may run out of juice.
While not a determining factor, the lack of battery display can be annoying. If you’re like me, you often rush in the morning. A dead toothbrush is the last thing you have to deal with when you are an hour late for work.
Now let’s talk about the oscillations or the number of rotations the brush head can perform in one minute.
Lower electric toothbrushes can vary greatly due to their less powerful motors. With the 500, the engine performs around 7800 rotations per minute.
The engine works, but nowhere near as good as the other options on our list. Overall, I discovered the power output dull and disappointing.
The 500 does not have a pressure sensor. But if you press hard enough while brushing, you will hear the motor tension. It is not as accurate as an actual pressure sensor. If you press your brushes, this may not be for you.
A Well-Rounded Workhorse: Oral B Pro 1000 Review
Oral B would classify the Oral B Pro 1000 as a second-level entry-level toothbrush. I would call it the sweet spot. There is a lot of value in oral B Pro 1000.
Holding the device in my hand, I can say that it is stronger than the 500. The slim profile and the rubber handles on the side are well designed.
Overall, I like the aesthetics of Oral B Pro 1000. The model is available in two versions, pure white or black and white. I recommend the black and white models.
I may be crazy, but I can’t keep a clean electric toothbrush handle to save my life. I rinse them off after each use, but the full white brush handles get a brown ring around them in a week. The black and white model stays clean longer.
In addition, 1000 is the only model available in black and white until you reach the highest (and most expensive) Oral B electric toothbrushes.
The installed motor manages a regular rotation of 8,800 per minute. Using the brush for a week, I found the cleaning to be deep and long-lasting.
If you switch from a manual brush, you may find strong oscillations. I did. But after a week, I adapted.
Oral B 1000 comes with the two-minute scrub timer and quad space technology. This function tells you to change sides every thirty seconds by varying the vibration of the brush head. After your fourth switch, the device will ring again to turn it off. Remember – the toothbrush doesn’t turn off automatically, you do.
In practice, I have found that the quad pace works well, as long as you use the functionality correctly. I find it hard to be careful when I brush my teeth. But the option is practical.
Get Oral B Pro 1000 at Amazon
The pressure sensor on the Pro 1000 prevents me from damaging my gums. When you brush too hard, the motor reduces the power of the brush head until you relax. Still, there is no LED indicator for the pressure sensor.
The charging support is the same as most of the other Oral B brushes. But the battery is a sort of reinforced nickel-metal hydride battery. On the box, it announces seven days of autonomy. I found that the brush takes about eight days before I have to put the charger back overnight.
The forward-facing battery icon is also a much-needed feature for me. The LED flashes red when the power supply is almost exhausted and flashes green when charging. I have never had a problem maintaining a charged battery in the Pro 1000.
Finally, you get a cross-action brush head with 1000, which is my favorite of all Oral B brush heads. Having used most of their brush heads, I find that the cross-action comes closest to the gums.
Stepping Up the Competition: Oral B Pro 1500 Review
The all-white Pro 1500 is perhaps the most expensive of the three electric toothbrushes I’ve tested, but it’s also the most rounded.
I found that the style and placement of the handle reminded me of a lot of Oral B Pro 1000. The rubber on the side handle on the handle is secure. The rear handles tilt to easily lock your finger or thumb.
I’m not the biggest fan of white toothbrushes, however. For me, white products get dirty, it’s as simple as that. I like the design of oral B Pro 1500, but I would like it to be in black.
When I started this exam, I didn’t think I would care about the different brushing modes. The other two models come with the primary mode, called Daily Clean. Oral B Pro 1500 also includes another mode, called Sensitive or Massage.
You know what? The secondary mode is very practical.
Have you ever used dental floss too hard? Or bite on a sharp edge of certain snack foods and itch your gums? Well, I do. With Sensitive mode, the motor rotates more slowly and with fewer rotations. That way, I can let my mouth heal for a few days without having to go through the regular daily cleaning mode on my sore spot.
NOTE: At the time of this review, the description of the Oral-B 1500 product indicates that it has only one brush mode, Daily Clean. It’s wrong. I called Oral-B and a customer service representative said that they were repairing the copy. Depending on how precisely their marketing team corrects the error, keep in mind that the 1500 model has 2 brush modes.
Get Oral B Pro 1500 at Amazon
The sensitive mode also has a 2-minute timer and quadruple space, so you can brush evenly and for the recommended time.
Another great improvement that I found useful was the lithium-ion battery. You get roughly double the life of batteries with nickel-metal hydride batteries. Thus, from the 8 days of a nickel-metal hydride battery to 12-14 days with Oral B Pro 1500.
This is especially important for people traveling, and people like me who forget that things with batteries need to be charged until they blink with their red LED eye.
Speaking of LEDs, the light surrounding the neck of the brush handle turns on when the pressure sensor activates. Whenever you brush too hard, the motor accelerates the power and triggers the LED. I corrected my brutal brushing faster with the LED indicator than without.
If you are told to brush too hard and need an appropriate pressure sensor, Oral B Pro 1500 is a great option.
The Similarities Between the 500, 1000, and 1500
- Although the models can be delivered with different brush heads, they are compatible with the whole Oral B range. They range from gums sensitive to bleaching, and even one for dentures. You can also buy universal brush heads. However, I would recommend those made by Oral B. I find that the universals do not clean as well and wear out much faster.
- The two-minute timer is installed in all three models. It’s a fantastic feature. I find it hard to remember when to stop brushing and rarely brush long enough. When you do something with which you want to end and start (or end) your day, you often think that more time has passed. Dentists recommend 2 full minutes of brushing, and you’ll get it every time.
- Independent research has shown that oscillating technology cleans better than sonic technology. Whichever model you choose, you clean more plaque and maintain a healthier mouth than with other big brands. Not only that, a manual toothbrush oscillates about 300 times a minute. Making the commitment to buy an Oral B electric toothbrush is a big step towards a healthier, plaque-free mouth.
- Like me, you can be a versatile expert. If so, the water-resistant design of Oral B is a huge advantage. I usually shower with my electric toothbrush in one hand and my razor in the other. But keep in mind, water-resistant does not mean waterproof. Soaking any electrical device underwater for more than thirty seconds is a terrible idea.
- The included charger is identical. It is small, white, with a cord about two feet long. I have noticed that it requires a smooth surface and because it does not have a flat base, it tilts easily. I would have preferred a wall mount because my bathroom is small. But if you have a shelf high enough for the device, keep it on the charger.
- The design and ergonomics of Oral B are renowned for a reason. I found the three models easy to hold and use. They are thin and light. The grip points on the side and back of the device mean that it will not slip out of your hand. Most importantly, they maneuver around your mouth without a problem. The slim neck design also makes it easy to reach your back molars.
The Differences Between the 500, 1000, and 1500
- Depending on the degree of diligence of your oral care skills, you may need to quad pace. It is installed in the 1000 and 1500 models. Quadpace is a vibration timer, which means that it does not emit any beep. Dentists recommend brushing each section of your mouth for thirty seconds. If you’re having trouble balancing your brushing time, you’ll want the quad.
- Only the Pro 1500 comes with a second brush mode, called Sensitive. If you are concerned that your gums are receding, or if your dentist has told you to take a sensitive toothbrush, you will want the sensitive brush mode available on Oral b pro-1500. And if you are worried, Oral B also has a sensitive brush head. But you buy this separately.
- Batteries! Each model’s batteries contain different charges. The 500’s nickel-metal hydride battery holds a charge for approximately five days. The 1000’s reinforced nickel battery operates for seven or eight days. And the 1500’s lithium-ion battery has the longest charge of three to 14 days. Remember that you run the device twice a day for two minutes.
- I finally found Oral B’s pressure sensor technology useful. I didn’t know that I had pushed so hard on my teeth while brushing my teeth. The 500 does not have a pressure sensor. Oral b 1000 does, but it’s just a variable change in the engine. Oral b pro-1500 slows down the engine like the oral b 1000, but it also has a red LED on the neck of the device.
How Do the Oral B 500 vs 1000 Stack Up?
If you go from manual to electric, I understand the temptation to buy the basic model. With certain products, this logic works. Here, I do not recommend it.
With the Oral b 500, you get the primary electric toothbrush. It will clean better than a manual, no doubt. But it is also limited in many ways when you compare it to oral b 1000. And I contend that many of its limits hurt your potential for a clean, healthy mouth.
First, the 500 has a 2D cleaning capacity. 2D means “oscillating-turning”. This is essentially the rapid spinning action of all Oral B electric toothbrushes. The 1000 is equipped with 3D cleaning.
In fact, the 500 is the only Oral B model that does not have 3D cleaning. 3D cleaning enters a pulsating action into the toothbrush head. This helps to reach the plate beyond the point of contact of the bristles. You get a deeper cleaning with 3D technology.
Beyond 3D cleaning, the 1000 also offers quad-space and pressure sensitivity. Sure, you get the basic 2-minute timer with the 500. I found the quad pace useful, but the real value lies in the pressure sensitivity.
When I am stressed or I move away, I brush too hard. Using the 500, I had a hard time knowing when I exaggerated my brushing. With the 1000, you feel that the engine is reducing its power. It helped me a lot in controlling the pressure I was using when brushing.
Another positive point with the 1000 is what is inside the handle. Although both models are nickel-metal hydride batteries, the 1000 lasts a few more days on average per charge.
Oral b 1000 also includes LED indicators for low battery and active charge. Day by day, I find the low battery indicator useful. I don’t have room in my bathroom to keep the toothbrush on a charger. So knowing when I’m running out of battery saves me from headaches.
My mouth is cleaner with the cross-action brush head supplied with the 1000. The clean, precise head wrapped in the 500 is fine, but not nearly as useful.
Between the 500 and the 1000, I would buy the 1000 each time. Even at regular price, the 500 is too lacking to be worth its price.
Oral B 1000 vs 1500: Which is Better?
When you choose between 1000 and 1500, your decision comes down to feature sets.
Both models have 3D cleaning, which is great. But they are pointing at different speeds. The Pro 1000 motor operates at 8,800 rotations and 20,000 pulses per minute. The Pro 1500 motor operates at 9,900 rotations and 45,000 pulses.
What does this mean to you? I found that the Oral B 1500 cleans better and faster than the 1000. The downside is that the 1500 takes longer to get used to than the Oral B 1000, due to the beefier engine.
Adjusting to the 1500 is not difficult, however. I took maybe a few days of brushing to acclimatize myself to the more powerful engine of the 1500.
In addition, if you fear faster oscillations, you can always switch to sensitive mode. Unlike the 1000, the 1500 has two cleaning modes, Daily Clean and Sensitive. Sensitive mode drops the power of the motors to around 8,000 rotations, a power similar to the 1000.
I like the black and white color design of the 1000. Unfortunately, the 1500 is only available in white. So it sucks.
The 1500 abandons the nickel-metal hydride battery and exchanges it into lithium-ion. I discovered that the 1500 had 14 days of normal use until it needed to be recharged. This represents on average 6 or 7 days of use more than the 1000. Almost double, this is something to consider, especially if you are traveling.
Then there is the pressure sensor. Both models alert you when you brush too hard. However, the 1000 does this mechanically, reducing the power of the brush head. The 1500 does the same, plus it has a red LED to let you know.
I liked the LED indicator of the pressure sensor on the 1500. It is useful. But it is not compulsory. What matters is that you know when you are brushing too hard. And they both do.
Between the 1000 and the 1500, I chose the 1500 if it is on sale or if you can afford it. Otherwise, the 1000 is a good choice for an electric toothbrush.
How to Decide Between Oral B 500 vs 1500
Oh man, where do I start? I noticed the most significant difference in brushing experience between the Oral b 500 and Oral b 1500.
The 500 does nothing good. He gets away with the existing, being a cheap option. If you’ve ever owned electric toothbrushes in the past, stay away from 500. The only reason I see someone buying it is because of the budget.
You get a better brushing experience with the 500 compared to a manual toothbrush. But side by side with the 1500? It is not a contest.
When I returned to brushing with the 500 after a week with the 1500, my mouth wept and my teeth wept. Joking aside, I noticed a difference.
The 2D cleaning capabilities of the 500 do not withstand the 3D characteristics of the 1500. When I flossed, I marked more plaque with the 500. This is not a good sign.
In testing the effectiveness of the oscillations of the three, I found the most significant difference between the 500 and the 1500. The 500 is a milder experience, but I don’t think you are looking for softness in a toothbrush. Instead, you are looking for efficiency. And the 1500 is more efficient.
Really, everything I noticed when comparing the 500 with the enlarged 1000 when I compared it to the 1500. You get a lot less with the 500.
Oral B seems to keep the 500 as an entry-level product. It is there to facilitate consumer access to the electric toothbrush market. The 500 works. It is fully built and will last you for years. But the price difference between the 500 and the other models is not large enough to justify what it lacks in terms of benefits.
The Best Overall Choice for You
As a user, I know you want the best quality for your money. But that doesn’t always mean that you buy the cheapest option. Example: Oral B electric toothbrushes
After my in-depth comparison, I cannot recommend the 500 to anyone other than the absolute budget buyer. The 500 is better than a manual toothbrush, but switching to 1000 reveals a lot of value.
The real struggle is between the Oral B Pro 1000 vs 1500.
In my opinion, the 1000 does everything I need to do it. It is equipped with a pressure sensor, an 8-day battery, and 3D cleaning.
Though, if the 1500 is on sale or if you require a sensitive cleaning mode, the upgrade offers decent value. You also get the lithium-ion battery and the more powerful motor.
Overall, I recommend the Oral B Pro 1000. It’s a great electric toothbrush that is well worth your money.
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