What the cleaning experience is like and how clean our teeth felt after brushing.
How well it cleans Score SummaryWhat the brush is like in-hand; how grippy it is, what the balance is like, how easy it is to remove brush heads.
How it feels Score SummaryDoes the brush have our recommended features of a timer, pacer & pressure sensor and how well do they perform?
Recommended features Score SummaryHow easy is it to clean the brush, how noisy is it, does it come with a travel case or any other useful items?
Additional items & features Score SummaryHow long does the battery last, how long does it take to charge and does the brush have a battery level indicator?
Battery performance Score SummaryWhat are the total ownership costs over the space of several years and how expensive are replacement brush heads?
Price Score SummaryHow long is the warranty, what is the manufacturer's reputation and how strong are its environmental efforts?
Support & reputation Score SummaryApplies to smart toothbrushes only. How well does the smart technology work and how useful is the app?
Smart features Score SummaryOur verdict
The stylish design, strong cleaning results and the best battery life I’ve experienced in any Oral-B brush make the iO2 a good choice for new electric toothbrush users.
Yet, the total cost of the iO2 across 3 years is about $50 more than the similarly featured Oral-B Pro 1000, which cleans the teeth just as well. This is because iO brush heads are more expensive, but have no noticeable benefit.
If your budget allows, spending only slightly more to get the iO3 is worth it. You gain a better and easier to use pressure sensor. If you do go for the iO2, the starter kit, which comes with an extra brush head, is the best value option.
Pros |
Cons |
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37 days battery life |
Expensive heads |
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Slick design |
No cleaning mode icons |
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Sensitive cleaning modes |
Poor pressure sensor |
How well it cleans
I’ve given the iO2 full marks for its cleaning performance. As you can see from the photo of my plaque disclosing test, it removed all the plaque from my teeth. This may sound strange given what I’m about to say about the weaker cleaning action, but it goes to show that power isn’t everything.
Despite having a weaker motor, the iO2 cleans just as well
The iO2 has a new motor compared to other iO models; Oral-B calls it a ‘linear magnetic drive system’. Oral-B is yet to publish specifics on it, but as far as I can tell it works similarly to other iO motors. When brushing I couldn’t tell if it had the micro vibrations that are a characteristic of the iO range, but I have suspicions it might not. Or if it has, the number of them are significantly reduced.
The iO2’s motor does feel weaker; it’s less intense and less invigorating. I didn’t get quite the same deep clean feeling that I enjoy getting from other iO brushes. But the question is, does it matter? If it’s doing its job of removing plaque, I can’t fault its performance. The deep cleaning feeling is a preference, not a necessity.
If you already own a more powerful electric toothbrush, you may be disappointed with the “weaker” clean of the iO2. If this is your first brush, you’ll be none the wiser.
The weaker cleaning action could be good for sensitivity
If you’ve got sensitive teeth or gums, you may find that you prefer a more gentle cleaning action. This is essentially what sensitive cleaning modes do — reduce the intensity of the bristle movements.
Not only does the iO2 have a weaker clean as default, it also comes with sensitive and super sensitive cleaning modes (in fact it defaults to super sensitive). If you suffer from sensitivity, you may appreciate this range of gentler cleaning options.
There is a big caveat here, though. I’ll cover this in more detail in the recommended features section below, but the iO2’s pressure sensor leaves a lot to be desired. I, and our-in house dentists, rate a good pressure sensor as a must-have feature if you experience sensitivity, so do consider some of the alternatives I recommend below if this is applicable to you.
How it feels
Just like other iO models, the iO2 feels great in the hand and has a nice lovely smooth feeling to it, yet is somehow still grippy thanks to its matte finish. I’ve been using the forest green color which really does look smart in my opinion.
It’s sleek just like the rest of the iO range
One of the temptations of the iO range is its stylish design and premium feel. I mentioned above that the Pro 1000 performs just as well as the iO2, but has cheaper heads. The caveat here is that the iO2, in my opinion at least, looks and feels nicer than Oral-B’s Pro, Smart and Genius models. That being said, other brushes have a more dimpled texture to them, which may be preferable for those with dexterity issues as there’s more to grip on to. That said, from my use, despite the lack of textured surfaces, I can’t say the iO2 and the iO range in general are more slippery per se.
I’ve always enjoyed the in-hand balance of iO models. They are slightly heavier than some of Oral-B’s older models, but for me this adds to the premium feel. The handles are thicker and give a larger surface area to hold onto.
The textured power button is different to other iO brushes
The iO2’s power button is slightly different, and potentially better when compared to other iO models. Its concave shape is larger with 2 parallel rows of raised dots that form an almost complete circle.
This texture does make it easy to locate without looking, but it’s not like other implementations are hard to find, they’re just different.
In terms of resistance, I found the power button to be about right — not too firm and not too soft to use.
Brush heads: easy to get on and off, larger than non-iO heads
In terms of brush heads, the iO2 is no different to other brushes in the range. They work the same and they’re just as expensive. The heads are easy enough to pull on and off, which is important because you’ll want to do this after every use to help keep the brush clean (more on that below).
iO heads are pleasant enough to use, but there is a noticeable difference if you’re coming from an Oral-B brush in the Pro, Smart or Genius range. The surface area on the back of the head is bigger – I would estimate by about 10 percent. I can’t say I’ve found it impacts cleaning results, but it doesn’t feel quite as nimble at getting into tight spaces. This could be worth considering if you have a very small mouth or tight gaps you need to fit the brush head into.
The neck of the brush head is also thicker, which I’ve never found to be a problem during extensive testing of the iO range, but a difference worth pointing out.
Recommended features
The features we recommend as essential are a timer, pacer and pressure sensor. The iO2 scores well here because it does include all three of these, although the pressure sensor isn’t implemented nearly as well as other brushes. The timer and pacer are simple features that work as expected.
The pressure sensor leaves a lot to be desired
The other brushes in the iO range have one of the best pressure sensor implementations I've seen in a toothbrush. A light ring below the brush head illuminates when you're brushing with either insufficient, the correct or incorrect amount of pressure. Other pressure sensors only alert you when you brush too hard.
The iO2 does not have the light ring and only alerts you when you're brushing with too murch force. And to make matters worse, I found the alert on the iO2 very difficult to notice when brushing. Rather than using the light ring of other iO models, the LED notification has been placed within the power button. This made it almost impossible to see when the brush was in my mouth. No other indication is given, such as an audible beep or a change in the motor speed.
Depending on the angle that you are holding the brush, you may see the iO2’s alert reflected in the bathroom mirror. It’s far from ideal and if you spend a little more you can get the superior sensor with the iO3.
In this slideshow you can see the iO2 pressure sensor compared to the more advanced pressure sensor on other iO models:
It’s worth mentioning here that if you’re a blind user, none of the iO models are good in this respect because they rely on a visible pressure sensor alert. Sonicare handles are a better alternative because they change the vibration pattern in the handle to alert you.
Battery performance
Lasting 37 days, the battery life of the iO2 is the best I’ve experienced on any Oral-B brush. This marks a noticeable change — usually battery life is one of my gripes about Oral-B brushes when compared to the likes of Sonicare and challenger brands. Until now, the best I’ve gotten out of an Oral-B brush is around 20 days.
In my testing of the rest of the iO range I’ve found that those further up the range actually have worse battery life. This runs counter to what you may expect when paying more money for a brush, but I suspect it is the Bluetooth connectivity and in-handle display that drains the battery more.
What’s strange is that the iO2 has a lower capacity battery (600 mAh) than the iO3 (750 mAh), but has a longer battery life. I found that the iO2 lasts 37 days compared to 18 to 20 days of the iO3, so quite a difference especially given the smaller capacity. It’s not a difference worth giving too much priority to, though, unless a long battery life between charges is very important to you.
I did find that the iO2 takes a little longer to charge than other iO models. Oral-B states 24 hours compared to the 16 of the iO3. But I’ve found it to be a bit quicker, at around 18 hours approximately. Given you only need to do this once or twice a month, it’s not a big deal. If you charge it after every use, you won’t notice any difference.
The LED on the iO2 handle (the same one that gives the pressure sensor alert) provides feedback on the battery level. In case you are interested, it’s a lithium-ion battery that the iO2 uses. The iO2 comes with your standard 2 pin charger and operates at 110-130 volts.
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Oral-B iO Series 2 (iO2) Starter Kit
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Oral-B iO Series 3 (iO3)
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Oral-B iO Series 6 (iO6)
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Oral-B iO Series 9 (iO9)
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Price & buying advice
For price, I’ve given the iO2 a relatively low score (a higher score is better in our scoring system), but this is mainly due to the cost of iO brush heads driving up the overall spend over the brush’s lifetime.
At the time of writing, the iO2 was priced at $60. There’s also a starter kit option, which comes with an additional brush head (Gentle Clean), priced at $65. As it stands, the starter kit works out the better value option.
The alternatives are worth considering
If you’re shopping on a budget, it’s worth giving strong consideration to the Oral-B Pro 1000. Over the space of three years it works out about $50 less due to the cheaper brush heads. iO brush heads cost approx $12 each, whereas non-iO heads are $5 each, for no discernable difference. It’s quite a premium given the Pro 1000 has a similar feature set. The trade-offs are that its battery life is worse, its design isn’t as slick and it’s a little noisier. If these factors aren’t very important to you, there’s a saving to be had. For a bit more money you can get the Smart 1500 which comes with a visible pressure sensor.
If it’s definitely the iO range that you’re interested in, I recommend the iO3. For around $10 more you get the advanced pressure sensor mentioned above, plus the brush head reminder system that alerts you when it’s time to change your brush head. If you can afford it, these are features worth paying for.
| Overall Score |
| How well it cleans |
| How it feels |
| Recommended features |
| Additional items & features |
| Battery performance |
| Price |
| Support & reputation |
| Buying options |
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Our Choice
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81
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75
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75
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79
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100
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100
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100
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100
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88
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88
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76
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76
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100
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63
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63
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82
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22
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13
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20
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20
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53
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67
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43
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57
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43
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43
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100
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100
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90
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90
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90
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90
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Additional items & features
Being an entry-level budget option within the iO range, the iO2 doesn’t have anything in the way of additional items (unless you buy the starter kit variant), therefore it does not score very highly in this category. The upshot of this is that it keeps the overall price down.
A good range of cleaning modes given the price
The iO3 comes with three cleaning modes — Daily Clean, Sensitive and Super Sensitive. At this price point, it’s a bonus to have a range of intensity options.
Unlike other Oral-B brushes, there are no icons to show which mode you are using. The LED indicator in the power button does however flash a different number of times to show which mode is currently selected. It’s easy to miss and not the most user-friendly.
A nice touch is that you can change the running order of the cleaning modes. When the brush is turned on, you cycle through the modes to the one you want and then hold the power button for five seconds to set it as the first mode. I like the simplicity of this compared to using a smartphone app to do it.
The sensitive cleaning modes are quieter than Daily Clean
When using Daily Clean mode, the iO2 is a little louder and more mechanical sounding than other iO models. I’ve previously measured the iO Series 3, 4, 5 & 6 at a maximum of 64dB, whereas the iO2 measured at 72dB. It’s worth noting that I also measured the iO7, 8 and 9 at 72dB, but this was on earlier versions of those models and more recent reports suggest their noise level has now been reduced.
When using the sensitive modes on the iO2 they were quieter, coming in at more like 64dB. Even though the iO2 was slightly louder, I found it just as pleasant to use than other iO brushes. It’s also worth stating that the noise is less harsh than the Pro, Smart and Genius ranges I’ve mentioned throughout this review.
Easy to rinse but beware of grime build up
The iO handle can be rinsed under a tap and is easy to wipe clean, but the brush heads and their connector are another story. Even with regular rinsing and cleaning, I’ve found additional maintenance is required. I wouldn’t say it’s enough to be a dealbreaker, but if you know that you’re very lazy with cleaning your brush, it may be better to look at another model.
The problem is that it’s easy for grime to build up within iO brush heads and the attachment they slide on to. Rinsing after each use and leaving the head off of the attachment to air dry will mitigate this to some extent, but you may still need some sort of tool to clean inside the head and attachment periodically.
I look at this issue more closely in this video, but you can see some examples of grime build up in the slideshow below.
Support & reputation
Like most electric toothbrushes, the iO2 comes with a standard 2 year warranty. And like other iO brushes, it feels well-made so you should expect it to last well beyond the warranty if you take good care of it. My iO9 is still going strong after nearly four years.
Sadly, the iO models have not been designed to be repairable at home. It is common practice for electric brushes not to be user serviceable. It’s a shame a more environmentally considerate approach is not being factored in by leading brands.
Environmental impact
This is a section that we don’t apply a score to because it’s very difficult to measure relatively without full data on the manufacturing and shipping processes.
However, based on our understanding of the environmental impact of electric toothbrushes, we do pass comments on things to consider about a particular brush.
Overall, the iO2 will be less impactful than other brushes that include more technology. Fewer moving parts means that fewer resources have been used to manufacture it. Its lesser box content also means that it is lighter to ship. The weight of a package contributes to the environmental impact it has.
Whilst Oral-B has partnered with schemes such as TerraCycle in some countries, it does not yet have its own recycling scheme for used brush heads or faulty products. As mentioned earlier, the iO2 is not the easiest to repair at home, which could lead to a shorter lifespan. That being said, it is relatively easy to replace the battery (see our video here), although this may invalidate the warranty should something else go wrong with the brush.
Oral-B brush heads are made from petroleum-based plastic, which uses up the planet’s finite resources compared to using plant-based plastics.
Conclusion: a solid performer, best suited to new electric toothbrush users
There's a lot to like about the Oral-B iO2. It's got the slick design and solid in-hand feel that the iO range has become known for. But, given its price and feature set, I can't help feeling it's oddly positioned within the Oral-B range.
For an extra $10 you can get the iO3 which has a more advanced pressure sensor and a more intense cleaning action. For the same money you can get the Oral-B Pro 1000 which works out about $50 cheaper over the space of three years. Or you can opt for the Smart 1500 which has a pressure sensor and the same benefit as the Pro 1000 of cheaper brush heads.
The non-iO brush heads mentioned above are also easier to keep clean. They don’t have the outstanding battery life of the iO2 (37 days!), which is worth mentioning again as the best I’ve seen in an Oral-B brush.
The iO2 is a brush that may suit new electric toothbrush users best. It’s a simple brush to get started with and, provided you don’t need the benefits of a pressure sensor, does a good job of covering the basics of an electric toothbrush.
Video review
Size guide
- Toothbrush height with head - 24cm / 9.5 inches
- Toothbrush height without head - 18.3cm / 7.2 inches
- Width - 2.8cm / 1.1 inches
- Depth/thickness - 2.8cm / 1.1 inches
- Weight with head - 124g / 4.4oz
- Weight without head - 116g / 4.1oz
- Package weight - 400g / 14.1oz
Noise
- 72dB
Country of manufacture
- Germany (handle & brush head) & Hungary (charger)
