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🦉 WE READ 41 OWNER COMMENTS
Oral-B iO Series 9: what owners actually say
Owners call the iO Series 9 'crazy brilliant' and a huge upgrade over cheap brushes — but several say skip the smart features, and replacement heads cost noticeably more than older Oral-B models.
What owners complain about
- Battery failures on new units FEW
One owner reports owning 3 of the new iO models and says all of them developed battery problems within a short time.
- Expensive replacement heads SOME
An owner who upgraded from a Genius X says iO refills are more expensive than for their old brush and hopes Oral-B lowers the price; others point to third-party 'knock off' heads as a workaround.
- Smart features lose appeal fast FEW
One owner used the tracking features for a few months, got bored, and now only uses the internal timer — they recommend buying the cheaper Series 3 and saving money instead.
- Messy, awkward mode switching FEW
Switching to Tongue Clean mid-session doesn't show the 20-second countdown on the phone unless you change modes without powering off, and the brush display is often covered in saliva and toothpaste, making it hard to read.
- Confusing charging case FEW
A new owner couldn't figure out the charging case because it isn't obvious the cord must be plugged in — they assumed it worked like a standalone battery pack.
What owners love
- Dramatic upgrade over cheap brushes
Owners coming from cheap Amazon electric toothbrushes say there is 'no comparison' — the iO9 spins much faster and cleans visibly better.
- Quiet and holds a charge
Compared with an old Braun unit that was 'very noisy' and wouldn't hold a charge, one owner calls the iO9 'brilliant' on both counts.
- Powerful intense clean
The intense clean mode is described as 'scary' (in a good way) and the overall brush as 'crazy brilliant'.
- Excellent value on discount
Multiple owners bought at deep discounts — 60% off, 99 Euros on Black Friday, or two iO9s for the price of one iO10 — often bundled with a travel pack and toothpaste.
- Useful extra modes
The Tongue Clean mode is called out as an important, valued feature.
Surprising patterns
- Third-party 'knock off' brush heads are claimed to be just as effective and much cheaper — a direct workaround to the refill cost complaint.
- The iO9 was silently updated in Spring 2026 with a brighter colour screen, and the super sensitive cleaning mode was replaced with 'Smart Adapt' — so units bought at different times may differ.
- Several buyers only came to the iO9 because the iO10 launch kept being delayed; one owner even received theirs as a warranty replacement for a broken Genius X. UK pricing (£500) is also flagged as far higher than the US ($300).
WHO SHOULD SKIP IT
Buyers who mainly want a basic electric brush — one owner says the tracking novelty wears off in months and the Series 3 does the job for far less — and anyone unwilling to pay more for iO replacement heads than older Oral-B models.
Synthesised from 41 real owner comments across 1 platforms. Every point is grounded in the comments — no marketing, no AI guessing. How we do it →