These are the three sonic brushes that finished first, second and third in our electric toothbrush rankings. The Nuve AuraOne scored 96 out of 100 at $99. The Philips Sonicare Prestige 9900 scored 92 at $379. The DiamondClean 9000 scored 88 at $199. The price gap is the obvious story, so this page is about what the extra money buys and what it does not.
At a glance
| Nuve AuraOne | Sonicare Prestige 9900 | Sonicare DiamondClean 9000 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $99 | $379 | $199 |
| Our score | 96 / 100 | 92 / 100 | 88 / 100 |
| Motor | Sonic, 150 to 250 Hz sweep and vibration | 62,000 micro-movements per minute | 62,000 micro-movements per minute |
| Modes | 5: Clean, Soft, Strong, White, Polish | Auto-adaptive (SenseIQ) | 4: Clean, White+, Deep Clean+, Gum Health |
| Timer | 2 min, reminder every 30 s | 2 min with quadrant pacer | 2 min smart timer |
| Pressure sensor | No | Yes, adaptive | Yes |
| App | No | Yes, brushing maps | Yes |
| Display | HD display on the handle: mode and battery | Mode indicator | Mode indicator |
| Battery and charging | 1200 mAh, USB-C | 14 days, magnetic charging pad and case | 14 days, glass charger or USB-C case |
| Waterproofing | IPX7 | IPX7 | IPX7 |
| Weight | 135 g | 167 g | 134 g |
| In the box | Handle, 2 heads, USB-C cable, manual | Wireless charging travel case | Charging travel case, glass charger |
| Warranty | Lifetime on motor, battery and electronics | 2 years | 2 years |
Cleaning
All three are proper sonic brushes and all three clean well. The Prestige 9900 took the highest cleaning score of the three, 96 against the AuraOne's 94 and the DiamondClean's 90. The Philips motors spec a higher movement count; the AuraOne runs a 150 to 250 Hz sweep with vibration and what sets it apart is the head, DuPont bristles on silicone shock-absorbing pads with a soft rubber back. In four weeks of daily use the AuraOne's clean felt consistent from full charge to the low-battery warning, and polished along the gumline rather than scrubby. Nobody buying any of the three is giving up cleaning performance.
Modes and the timer
The AuraOne gives you five named modes and shows the active one on an HD display on the handle. The DiamondClean gives you four. The Prestige does something different: SenseIQ adapts intensity to how you brush, so there is no mode to pick. Which approach you prefer is personal. People who like to choose Soft on a sore day and Strong after coffee want the AuraOne or DiamondClean; people who never want to think about it want the Prestige.
All three run a two-minute timer. The AuraOne's reminder every 30 seconds and the Prestige's quadrant pacer both move you around the mouth; the DiamondClean's timer is simpler.
Pressure sensor and app
This is where the Sonicares earn part of their price. Both have a pressure sensor; the Prestige's SenseIQ lowers intensity as you lean in, which is a genuine safeguard for anyone who scrubs. Both connect to the Sonicare app for brushing maps and session history. The AuraOne has neither. It keeps everything on the handle, and its answer to brushing too hard is a cushioned head rather than a sensor. If your dentist has told you that you brush too hard, the sensor is worth paying for. If not, most people stop opening the app within a couple of months, and the maps stop mattering.
Noise
The AuraOne is the quiet one. Its low-noise motor was markedly quieter than the high-pitched whine of most sonic brushes, the Sonicares included. The Prestige is quiet for a full-power Sonicare; the DiamondClean is a typical one.
Charging and travel
The AuraOne charges over USB-C from any phone or laptop charger, with the cable in the box and a two-colour battery indicator that warns you before it runs out. It ships without a travel case. The Prestige ships with a magnetic wireless charging travel case, which is the best travel setup of the three and a real reason to buy it if you are on the road a lot. The DiamondClean comes with a glass charging cup and a USB-C charging case.
Warranty and price
Philips covers both brushes for two years. Nuve covers the AuraOne's motor, battery and electronics for life, and sells it with a 30-day trial. Over the life of the brush the Sonicare replacement heads also cost more; a year of Nuve heads is $19 for a four-pack.
Which one to buy
Buy the Prestige 9900 if you want the pressure sensor and the app, you travel often, and $379 is not a problem. Buy the DiamondClean 9000 if you want a Sonicare with a pressure sensor and a Gum Health mode at $199. Buy the AuraOne if you want the cleaning, the modes, the timer and the quiet motor without the app, at $99 with a lifetime warranty. That last combination is why it is our Best Overall pick. Read the full AuraOne review for the four-week notes.