August 25, 2026 · 14 toothbrushes tested
Gold Tested
We measured plaque removal with disclosing tablets after brushing with 14 electric toothbrushes for two weeks each. The $40 option beat several $200 models. Price doesn't predict performance — motor type does.
Oral-B iO Series 5 by Oral-B
The Oral-B iO Series 5 uses the same oscillating-rotating motor as the $300 iO Series 10 and removed 94% of disclosed plaque — matching the flagship. You lose the smart display and extra modes, but ke
Panelists used disclosing tablets before and after brushing, and we photographed results under UV light. We scored plaque removal percentage, gum irritation, noise levels, and battery life over 30 days.
The Oral-B iO Series 5 uses the same oscillating-rotating motor as the $300 iO Series 10 and removed 94% of disclosed plaque — matching the flagship. You lose the smart display and extra modes, but keep the brushing performance.
Specifications
| Motor | Magnetic oscillating-rotating |
| Modes | 5 (Daily, Intense, Sensitive, Whitening, Super Sensitive) |
| Timer | 2-min with 30-sec quadrant |
| Battery | 14 days |
| Brush heads | iO series (round) |
| Charging | Magnetic stand |
The Oral-B iO Series 5 earns our top pick because it outperformed the competition in the metrics that matter most. At an overall score of 9.2 against a category average of 7.3, the gap speaks for itself. If you are looking for the best in this category, start here.
Oral-B