Q&A Cage Match: Sonicare EasyClean vs. Sonicare Essence

Sonicare EasyClean	vs.	Sonicare Essence 5600

… Fight!

In the last few weeks, I’ve noticed an influx of people looking to compare the Sonicare EasyClean and the Sonicare Essence 5600. Now, I mean, you could kick back and read the full reviews on each brush, but I have a better idea. But I’ll tell you right now, it’s not much of a fight.

Brush Design

Sonicare EasyClean	Sonicare Essence
slimmer, lighter newer model snap-on brush head design avoids buildup issues compatible with both ProResults brush heads and newly-released DiamondClean brush heads	heavy, clunky older model brush head design can lead to gunky buildup

Winner:

No contest here, really. The Essence did its part for years for the Sonicare line, but the EasyClean (and its current generation siblings) correct a lot of deficiencies in the brush design.

Settings

Sonicare EasyClean	Sonicare Essence 5600
31,000 movements per minute “Clean” – runs two minutes “easy-start” mode for new users Quadpacer Pause function	31,000 movements per minute  “Clean” – runs two minutes “easy-start” mode for new users no Quadpacer

Winner:

but not by much. The Quadpacer feature (for the uninitiated: your dentist recommends a two-minute brushing session, so Quadpacer times you and breaks each session into 30 second chunks so each section of your mouth gets equal attention) is the only major difference between them. I know it doesn’t seem like much, but I’ve seen Sonicare users who downgraded to the Sonicare Essence cite its absence as a disappointment. Oh, and that Pause function to let you slather on some extra toothpaste without losing your place is kind of handy, too.

Price

Sonicare EasyClean	Sonicare Essence
~$90 (before sales)	~$70 (before sales)

Winner:

Yeah, yeah, it’s no shock that the Sonicare Essence’s list price is the cheaper of the two models, but I’ll tell you — I can’t remember the last time I haven’t seen it heavily discounted. Amazon.com has sales on all its electric toothbrushes frequently, but when it comes to this brush, they’re not shy about cutting back the price. If you’re looking for a bargain basement option that will still clean your teeth, the Essence has its price tag in its favour.

Potential Issues

Sonicare EasyClean	Sonicare Essence
Small and light means it’s easily knocked over Old brush heads from earlier generation won’t work No travel case, but it does support 100-240VAC and 50/60hz	Did I mention the weird gunky buildup? Ew. Ni-MH battery suffers when at full charge, so treat it with care Has travel case, but model available in the US only runs on 110v current Different brush heads from the rest of the current Sonicare line

Winner: 

. It’s the gunk, man. I’ll admit, it’s frustrating that the EasyClean doesn’t include a travel case, but supporting 100-240v current makes it the obvious choice for travellers anyway.

Customer Rating

Sonicare EasyClean	Sonicare Essence
4.6 stars	4.4 stars

Winner:

Drumroll, please…

Winner: Sonicare EasyClean

And there you have it. I’ll be honest with you, this is probably as close to a blowout as this website is likely to ever see. If you’re looking to save money and don’t mind a strict cleaning regime (for your toothbrush, not your teeth — I mentioned the gunk, right?), the Essence is reasonable choice, but the

is the better brush by far.