The Philips Sonicare 3100 and 4100 Series are relatively new models in the Philips Sonicare range. They have a lot of similarities, including the same handle size, weight, and battery. With so many similarities, how then do you decide which of the two to go for? What indeed separates the 4100 from the 3100? Let’s find out below.
Key Differences Between Sonicare 3100 vs 4100 Series Specs
- One Key difference between Philips Sonicare 3100 and 4100 is that the Sonicare 4100 cleans five times better than the Sonicare 3100 which cleans three times better than a manual brush.
- The other difference is that the 4100 is better tuned so that it feels like it has more intensity in the brush strokes when compared to the 3100. Although the 4100 provides the same number of brush strokes, the motor has a different feel for better results than the 3100. The 4100 has what Sonicare calls microwaves in its brush strokes that provide higher amplitude than the brush strokes provided by the 3100.
- Another difference can be discerned in the brush head that comes with the package. The 3100 comes with a C1 ProResults brush head while with the 4100, you get the better C2 Optimal Plaque control. The C2 Optimal Plaque Control brush head that is in the 4100 is a better brush head because it descales plaque by up to seven times better in comparison to a manual brush. The C1 ProResults that comes with the 3100 is a more basic brush head that is said to remove plaque only two times better than a manual toothbrush.
- The Sonicare 4100 gives you better options in choosing the model that fits your style because it comes in six colors (Deep Pink, White, Azure Blue, Dark Forest, Sugar Rose, and Black) while the 3100 comes in three colors (Deep Pink, Black and White).
- The other obvious difference is that the Sonicare 3100 is five dollars cheaper than the 4100 at the time of writing this post.
Verdict
If you are torn on which model to choose between Sonicare 3100 and 4100. I would recommend that you go for the 4100 because of the superior differences it has. The 4100 has more intensity because of how differently it is tuned in comparison to the 3100. It also comes with a superior brush head that cleans seven times better than the C1 brush head available in the 3100. You also get a wide variety of colors to choose from to suit your style, all for a negligible price difference of five dollars (at the time of writing).
Table of Contents
Similarities
- They both have one cleaning mode and two cleaning intensities (low and high).
- Both the 3100 and 4100 have the brush head replacement BrushSync technology that reminds you to replace your brush head embedded in them.
- They share other features like two minutes timer, pacer, and a pressure sensor that notifies you when you are pressing too hard. They also both don’t have a travel case.
Sonicare 3100 Review
Last update on 2023-06-03 at 04:41 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The 3100 Series was brought to the Sonicare range in early 2022. It technically replaces the DailyClean Series. It is rather slim. Plus it’s lighter and thinner marginally in hand, in comparison to other Sonicare handles. It is fashioned as an entry-level toothbrush, though it really and truly has premium features such as a pressure sensor, a BrushSync-enabled 2-minute timer, and also a thirty-second pacer (quad pacer).
Nevertheless, the recognized Sonicare site and product packaging don’t encourage the BrushSync as a feature because 3100 doesn’t presently come packed with a BrushSync-enabled head.
The 3100 comes with USB charging but no two-pin socket charging. Although USB charging is the latest trend especially if you are traveling, it will possibly frustrate other people because unless you have a USB charger, you can only recharge through your other devices like your phone or laptop.
The 3100 comes in 3 colors (deep pink gray and black). It’s slim and pretty light too.
Pros
- It has dual intensity settings in which you can choose between high and low power.
- There is a timer and pacer which encourage you to brush for the dentist’s suggested time of two minutes.
- You get a Pressure sensor that alerts you when brushing too hard.
- Although not highly promoted the 3100 has premium BrushSync technology – a reminder when brush heads need replacing. The reason it’s not advertised is that the package does not come with a BrushSync-compatible brush head but if you buy a compatible brush head you will enjoy the BrushSync features.
- It is quite stylish due to its slim handle design which also makes it effortless to clean and maintain.
- The USB charging stand helps it much more convenient for some people especially when traveling.
Cons
- In comparison with premium Sonicare models that make 62000 bristle movements, the 3100 cleaning action is not as effective as premium models because it only makes 31000 bristle movements – its brush motor has a different configuration.
- The pressure is not visual but rather vibrates
What is in the package?
- One x White USB charging stand
- One x White Sonicare 3100 brush handle
- One x C1 ProResults brush top with travel case.
Main Features
- It uses sonic cleaning technology that makes 31000 brush strokes in a minute
- There are dual cleaning intensities
- It has a Built-in invisible pressure sensor- it vibrates to alert you when brushing too hard.
- It has a quad pacer and a Two-minute timer
- It automatically turns off after the required two minutes brushing period.
- It has the BrushSync brush head reminder system
This might be subject to change, although the brush head provided with the 3100 series by default is the C1 ProResults brush head (one of the primary brush heads within the Sonicare range). The 3100 has two brushing intensities. Sonicare themselves suggest 3x far more plaque removal when using the 3100 sets alongside a mechanical toothbrush.
The 3100 motor has up to 31,000 brush strokes, though it does not realize the 62,000 movements frequently quoted with the costlier versions. It’s configured differently. This makes it feel a little bit underwhelming.
The 3100 nonetheless does a really good job. My teeth seem clean after each brushing session. The 3100 features a pressure sensor built in.
When the brush detects an excess of pressure is now being utilized, the handle vibrates, the brush sensation changes as well as the audio changes as well. The handle is water resistant Sonicare offers a 2-year warranty which covers some physical or maybe workmanship faults, but not user damage. The battery life of the 3100 series is fourteen days. unlike many toothbrush charging stands which have a two-pin plug, that has a USB connector. When you would like to demand the brush on a standard two-pin adaptor on the wall socket, you are going to need to utilize a USB plug adapter
verdict It’s much more than good and is in reality a beautiful well-designed toothbrush. I do like the thin handle and tiny details Sonicare built into this particular.
Sonicare 4100 Review
Last update on 2023-06-03 at 11:11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Sonicare 4100 makes 31,000 movements per second, succeeding in giving much better angles that a mechanical toothbrush can’t provide. It is also significantly less bulky than some other energy toothbrushes. This is the new 4100 that is going to replace the protectiveclean 4100.
Sonicare 4100 features a built-in sensor that lights up the deal when you’re using excessive pressure while brushing.
Pressure sensor
It has a pressure sensor. Putting on a lot of strain while brushing shortens the lifetime of the brush head and also damages your gums. With this particular feature, you’d not have to have an alternative brush head prematurely.
BrushSync Technology
The integrated BrushSync technology keeps an eye on the number of times you’ve implemented the identical brush head and also reminds you to replace your brush heads when the time is due.
Easy Start Feature
The 4100 has an easy start feature which makes it easier to change from manual brushing to electric toothbrushes. With this particular system, Sonicare will gradually set the strength of the toothbrush just for the first fourteen times you use it until you get to the whole cleaning power.
Battery
The battery-operated Sonicare 4100 is rechargeable and lasts for an estimated two weeks on one charge.
Key Features
- It has a comfortable and slim brush handle
- Various color style options
- It employs patent sonic cleaning action though configured differently and this feels different from premium models
- Two brushing intensities
- Pressure sensor to prevent you from brushing too hard
- 2+ week battery life
- Water-resistant handle
- Two-year warranty
- The 4100 comes with one x C2 Optimal Plaque Control brush top included. Its 2 intensities
Conclusion
Which of these two models cleans better than the other? There is no straight answer to this question because if you use these brushes two times one day, for two minutes each time, together with the proper brushing method and you’re likely to get excellent cleaning results.
Nevertheless, there’s a distinction between the setup of the brush motor in the 4100 Series. Sonicare claims that the 4100 Series removes five times more plaque than a mechanical toothbrush while the 3100 is acclaimed to clean three times better than a manual toothbrush despite the fact that both brush motors provide 31,000 brush strokes per second.
The 4100 Series engine is tuned in such a way that the amplitude (“the maximum extent of a vibration or oscillation, measured from the position of equilibrium”) is greater in the 4100 than in the 3100, perhaps this is what Sonicare calls micro-vibrations. This makes the vibrations from the 4100 feel more intense and invigorating than the 3100 but according to Sonicares data, this does make a bit of a significant difference to the dental cleaning.
Price Comparison
Last update on 2023-06-03 at 05:54 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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Dr. Tom Bell has a PhD in Medical Anthropology. He has a keen interest in oral health topics and is the founder of dentalrave. He has been an oral health researcher and electric toothbrush enthusiast for over 10 years. When not talking about dental hygiene and gadgets, Tom likes spending time outdoors hiking.
