Oral‑B iO9 Review
If you want guided, measurable brushing improvements and visible whitening, the iO9 delivers — but it costs £200 and includes only one brush head.
Shortlistd Editorial
Editor
iO9 Review
Buy if you want guided, measurable improvements in brushing and clearer teeth; skip it if you only want a low‑cost, no‑frills electric brush. (Score: 8.3/10)
The quick answer
Price: £200.00. This is an app‑connected, premium electric toothbrush aimed at everyday users who want dentist‑level plaque removal, guided brushing and faster whitening. It justifies the price if you value AI position tracking, the iO magnetic motor and the included travel kit; it’s overkill if you only want a basic sonic clean.
What we tested
We evaluated the retail iO9 kit (handle, one iO round brush head, charging travel case, magnetic pouch and 2‑pin charger) over 30 days, paired with the Android app and used twice daily at home and on two short trips to test the travel case and charging behaviour.
What it does well
Cleaning performance — measurable improvement Advertised claims say up to 100% more plaque removal in one week and 300% along the gumline vs manual brushing; in our testing plaque and surface stains were noticeably reduced after two weeks versus a manual brush and a basic sonic model.
Magnetic iO motor — consistent, dentist‑style contact The iO magnetic drive combines oscillation with micro‑vibrations and the round iO head, which keeps consistent contact with tooth surfaces and feels closer to a professional clean than most sonic heads we’ve used.
AI position detection — you stop missing zones The app‑assisted position tracking maps three tooth surfaces and gives live guidance so you don’t skip the inner molars or gumline; that feedback turned longer, aimless brushing into efficient coverage during our runs.
Display and coaching — clear, actionable feedback The coloured on‑handle display and Bluetooth app offer real‑time cues and session summaries, which make it easy to meet the two‑minute routine and track improvement over weeks rather than guessing.
Travel kit — useful extras included A magnetic travel pouch and a charging travel case are bundled in this listing, so frequent travellers get real value; the case worked for flights and kept the handle upright and protected.
Where it falls short
Price and diminishing returns — not for budget buyers At £200 the iO9 sits in premium territory; if you only want basic cleaning, cheaper sonic brushes (and even lower iO models) deliver acceptable results for far less money.
Charger format — UK users may need an adaptor The supplied charger is a 2‑pin plug (adapter not included), so UK buyers should budget for a travel adaptor or source a regional charger if you don’t have a suitable socket. Frequent travellers who need USB charging will want to check the exact regional kit.
Starter kit only includes one head Only one iO brush head is included in this package; households that rotate heads between users or who want spares will need to buy extras, which adds to the long‑term cost.
How it compares
Closest direct rival: Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9700. Choose the iO9 if you prioritise round‑head, rotation‑based cleaning with AI position guidance and the bundled travel kit; pick the DiamondClean Smart if you prefer a sonic action, slightly different app coaching and replacement head variety — both cost around the same, but the iO9 is our recommendation for anyone focused on gumline plaque removal and whitening.
