Philips Sonicare 3100 vs Philips Sonicare 4100
Over three years, with heads at each maker's own pack price, the Philips Sonicare 3100 costs about $113 to the Philips Sonicare 4100's $123. Every other published figure for both is in the table, with the rows where they differ tinted.
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
Philips Sonicare
Philips Sonicare 4100
Pressure sensor14-day battery · no case
~$50
Philips' long-selling 4100 pairs a pressure sensor with two intensity levels and a BrushSync reminder that lights up when the head is due.
Best for: The classic budget Sonicare with a replacement reminder
| Specification | Philips Sonicare 3100 | Philips Sonicare 4100 |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$40 | ~$50 |
| 3-year cost | ~$113 ($40 handle + 11 heads at $6.66) | ~$123 ($50 handle + 11 heads at $6.66) |
| Type | Sonic | Sonic |
| Motion | Sonic (vibrating head) | Sonic (vibrating head) |
| Pressure sensor | Pressure sensor (vibration or sound): Vibrates the handle to alert you when brushing too hard | Pressure sensor (vibration or sound): Vibrates the handle and makes a pulsing sound as a reminder to ease off |
| ADA Seal | No listing found | No listing found |
| Timer | 2-minute timer | 2-minute timer |
| Quadrant pacer | Yes, every 30 seconds | Yes, every 30 seconds |
| Modes | 1: Clean | 1: Clean |
| Intensities | not published | 2 |
| Screen | None | None |
| App | No | No |
| Battery | 14-day battery (Philips spec: operating time up to 14 days) | 14-day battery (Philips spec: operating time 14 days) |
| Travel case | No | No |
| Heads in the box | 1 | 1 |
| Head family | Sonicare click-on | Sonicare click-on |
| Head compatibility | Any Philips Sonicare click-on head (C1 SimplyClean, C2, C3, G3, A3, W); not Philips One heads | Any 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 every | 3 months (maker) | 3 months (maker) |
| Warranty | 2 years | 2 years |
| First listed | 2021 | 2021 |
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
Philips Sonicare 4100: what it gives up
- One mode, no travel case and no app, the same bare kit as the $40 3100
- No speed figure published for this CTN
- Two different handles are sold under the 4100 name, which makes spares shopping confusing
Full pages: Philips Sonicare 3100 · Philips Sonicare 4100