Philips Sonicare 1100 vs Philips Sonicare 3100

Over three years, with heads at each maker's own pack price, the Philips Sonicare 1100 costs about $93 to the Philips Sonicare 3100's $113. The Philips Sonicare 3100 has a pressure sensor (pressure sensor (vibration or sound)); the maker lists none for the Philips Sonicare 1100. Every other published figure for both is in the table, with the rows where they differ tinted.

Philips Sonicare 1100 electric toothbrush

Philips Sonicare

Philips Sonicare 1100

No pressure sensor listed14-day battery · no case

~$20

Twenty dollars buys a genuine Sonicare handle here: 31,000 brush strokes a minute by Philips' count, a QuadPacer and SmarTimer, and a two-week battery.

Best for: The cheapest way onto Sonicare's click-on heads

Philips Sonicare 3100 electric toothbrush

Philips Sonicare

Philips Sonicare 3100

Pressure sensor14-day battery · no case

~$40

What the 3100 adds over the 1100 is a pressure sensor: the handle vibrates when you press too hard.

Best for: A Sonicare pressure sensor at the lowest price

Specification comparison of the Philips Sonicare 1100 and the Philips Sonicare 3100
SpecificationPhilips Sonicare 1100Philips Sonicare 3100
Approx. price~$20~$40
3-year cost~$93 ($20 handle + 11 heads at $6.66)~$113 ($40 handle + 11 heads at $6.66)
TypeSonicSonic
MotionSonic (vibrating head)Sonic (vibrating head)
Speed (maker's figure)31,000 brush strokes per minutenot published
Pressure sensorNo pressure sensorPressure sensor (vibration or sound): Vibrates the handle to alert you when brushing too hard
ADA SealNo listing foundNo listing found
Timer2-minute timer2-minute timer
Quadrant pacerYes, every 30 secondsYes, every 30 seconds
Modes1: Clean1: Clean
ScreenNoneNone
AppNoNo
Battery14-day battery (Philips spec: operating time 14 days)14-day battery (Philips spec: operating time up to 14 days)
Travel caseNoNo
Heads in the box11
Head familySonicare click-onSonicare click-on
Head compatibilityAny Philips Sonicare click-on head (C1 SimplyClean, C2, C3, G3, A3, W); not Philips One headsAny Philips Sonicare click-on head (C1 SimplyClean, C2, C3, G3, A3, W); not Philips One heads
Price per head$6.66 (Sonicare SimplyClean 6-pack (HX6016/77), $39.96 on usa.philips.com)$6.66 (Sonicare SimplyClean 6-pack (HX6016/77), $39.96 on usa.philips.com)
Replace heads every3 months (maker)3 months (maker)
Warranty2 years2 years
First listed20212021

Philips Sonicare 1100: what it gives up

  • No pressure sensor: the 3100 adds a vibrating one for $20 more and takes the same heads
  • Single mode and no intensity settings; the 4100 adds two intensities for $30 more
  • No travel case; the cheapest adult Sonicare with one is the $130 Series 6500
  • Philips' spec lists "1 charger" without saying what kind
  • No BrushSync head-change reminder, which the 4100 has

Philips Sonicare 3100: what it gives up

  • One mode; a Gum Health setting starts with the $60 Sonicare 5000
  • Philips lists it as support status, so stock may not last
  • No brush-movement figure published
  • Sonicare saves the travel case and app for adult handles from the $130 Series 6500

Full pages: Philips Sonicare 1100 · Philips Sonicare 3100