Sonicare a3 vs c3 are premium brush heads by Philips Sonicare. They are both standard size and are marketed as day-to-day brushing solutions because they both remove up to ten times more plaque than a manual brush.
They are also made in such a way that they contour with the structure of your teeth to enable you to clean all teeth effectively. So which of these two is better value for money?
Which one should you go for? Are there any differences between Sonicare a3 vs c3? We explore these questions below. Editors note: If you cannot find the A3 all-in-one toothbrush head in stock, here is a combined variety package that can serve as a stop-gap buy.
Key Differences between Philips Sonicare Brush Heads a3 vs c3
The key difference between Sonicare a3 vs c3 brush heads is that the A3 is marketed as an all-in-one brush head. The A3 is better than the C3 because of its “all-in-one” capabilities, you don’t have to buy different brush heads for different purposes like cleaning gums, removing plaque, and even whitening teeth. This is unlike the C3 which is mainly primed for plaque removal.
The other difference is in the texture of the bristles. The A3 gives you better value because it has soft bristles which when combined with the multiple bristle movements (62000 bristle movements per minute) easily dislodge plaque that has built up and also clean your gums.
Since the bristles are soft, they are also quite good in improving gum health especially if you use a Sonicare model that has a sensitive cleaning mode or at least has modes that allow you to vary the intensity of the brush oscillations.
This is unlike the C3 brush head which has medium-soft bristles. The medium-soft bristles are perfect for removing plaque but they are not primed for cleaning gums because the medium-soft texture may be a little bit aggressive for gum cleaning.
The A3 is compatible with more Sonicare models (20 models to be exact). This is better than the C3 which is only compatible with 15 models. Greater compatibility with Sonicare models gives you better options on the kind of brush handle you choose.
Price Comparison:
Last update on 2023-06-07 at 06:32 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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Verdict
The A3 all-in-one brush head is a better option in this comparison because it does all three functions (gum care, whitening, and plaque removal) while the C3 is only superior in plaque removal.
We recommend the A3 because its all-in-one functionality helps you tackle different oral cleaning issues with just one brush head thereby saving you the money you could have used to buy other brush heads designed for different specific functions like gum care and teeth whitening.

Sonicare A3 Specifications and Review
Last update on 2023-06-07 at 06:32 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The A3 Premium All-in-One toothbrush head is a multipurpose brush head designed to remove 20x more plaque than a manual toothbrush and provide comprehensive care for the teeth while improving gum health up to 15x in six weeks (compared to a manual toothbrush).
- The Philips Sonicare Premium All-in-One brush head is a multi-purpose brush head that combines plaque removal, gum health, and whitening into one. It eliminates the need to switch between different brush heads for different needs.
- It is compatible with BrushSync technology, providing mode-pairing and replacement reminders when used with a BrushSync-compatible handle.
- Clinical studies have shown that it can improve gum health and remove up to 100% of stains from the tooth surface.
- The A3 Premium All-in-One brush head has a curved profile that helps the bristles reach exactly where they need to, and a rubber piece around the bristles to prevent accidental tooth-brushing.
- The head features differently shaped bristle clusters and angled bristles that effectively clean the tooth surface, with longer bristles at the top and bottom to reach around the tooth. The angled bristles of the brush head help remove up to 15x more plaque, even in hard-to-reach areas, and the longer bristles clean deep to improve gum health up to 7x in just two weeks. It also has shorter bristles in the middle for good contact with the tooth surface.
- The bristles on the side of the head are longer and more flexible, allowing them to absorb excess pressure and clean along the gumline.
- The triangular tips of each bristle also help buff the tooth surface to remove stains with a view to making them whiter.
- The A3 Premium All-in-One brush head is designed with triangular tips that offer a larger surface area for cleaning than traditional rounded tips.
- It easily clicks on and off of the brush handle for a secure fit and easy maintenance. The built-in chip in the brush head communicates with compatible brush handles to launch the optimal cleaning mode and intensity level for effective plaque removal.
This brush head is compatible with the 3100 Series, ProtectiveClean 4300, ProtectiveClean 5100, ProtectiveClean 6100, ExpertClean 7300, DiamondClean 9000, DiamondClean Smart, and Prestige 9900 models, as well as any other Sonicare model with BrushSync mode pairing.
It can also be used on the 2 Series, 3 Series, 5 Series, CleanCare, DailyClean, EasyClean, 1100 Series, 2100 Series, FlexCare, FlexCare Platinum, FlexCare+, and HealthyWhite models, although the “Smart” feature will not be activated on these models.
Sonicare C3 Specifications and Review
Last update on 2023-06-07 at 06:32 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Sonicare C3 Premium Plaque Defence brush head offers a deep clean with 4 times more surface contact than a manual brush head. It is designed (adjusts to the unique contours of your teeth) to follow the unique shape of the teeth and gums, with flexible sides that complement the unique bristle pattern to remove up to 10 times more plaque, even in hard-to-reach areas. The brush head thoroughly cleans in between teeth and along the gumline, adapting to the contours of the mouth with soft rubber sides.
- It is precision engineered to make use of all the sonic vibrations from the brush handle’s motor, creating bubbles with toothpaste and driving them deep between teeth and along the gumline for gentle and effective cleaning.
- The brush head easily clicks on and off the handle for a secure fit and easy maintenance and features a built-in chip that communicates with compatible brush handles to launch the optimal cleaning mode and intensity level for effective plaque removal.
- It has medium soft, tightly packed bristles that smoothly glide along the gum line for a gentle and effective clean, even without the perfect technique.
- The brush head’s soft rubber sides flex to adapt to the shape of your teeth and gums, absorbing excess brushing pressure and enhancing the sonic cleaning power, while the bristles adjust to the shape of your teeth and gums for up to 4x more surface contact than a regular brush head for deeper cleaning in hard-to-reach areas.
- The brush head has a built-in replacement reminder that lets you know when it’s time to replace it, so you don’t have to remember, and works with any Sonicare click-on handle to provide optimal performance.
- It also has fading reminder bristles to indicate when it is time to change the head (recommended every 3 months), and can be used with a smart Sonicare brush handle that monitors usage and reminds the user to change the head at the right time.
- When used with a Philips Sonicare BrushSync compatible handle (such as the DiamondClean Smart or ProtectiveClean), the brush head unlocks Smart features like BrushSync mode-pairing, which triggers the handle to select the optimal mode and intensity level for exceptional plaque removal, and BrushSync replacement technology, which tracks how often and how hard you brush and will notify you when it’s time to replace the head.
It is compatible with the 3100 Series, ProtectiveClean 4300, ProtectiveClean 5100, ProtectiveClean 6100, ExpertClean 7300, DiamondClean 9000, DiamondClean Smart, and Prestige 9900 models, as well as any other Sonicare model with BrushSync mode pairing. It can also be used on the 2 Series, 3 Series, 5 Series, CleanCare, DailyClean, EasyClean, and 1100 Series, 2100 Series, FlexCare, FlexCare Platinum, FlexCare+, and HealthyWhite models, although the “Smart” feature will not be activated on these models.
The brush head and handle work together to provide unrivaled cleaning, with high-speed vibrations in the handle powering up to 62,000 brush movements per minute that create gentle cleaning sweeping bubbles with toothpaste and drive them deep between your teeth and along the gum line.
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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.