Happybrush Eco Vibe 3+ Review: Sonic Brushing Done Right

Electric toothbrushes come in two broad families, and the choice between them matters more than the choice of brand. Oscillating brushes use a small round head that rotates, working around one tooth at a time at a comparatively gentle 8,000 to 10,000 rotations per minute. Sonic brushes use a longer head that vibrates rapidly back and forth, typically somewhere between 20,000 and 60,000 movements per minute.

Both clean thoroughly. Oscillating models are often easier for newcomers, because the technique is self-explanatory and the lower frequency is less startling; they also tend to be cheaper, and they suit anyone dealing with heavy plaque or tartar. Sonic brushes take a little acclimatisation, but the motion stays close to that of an ordinary manual brush, which makes them quick to adopt. The vibration loosens plaque and the resulting micro-currents in the foam carry it away, which is notably gentle on both teeth and gums.

That gentleness is the main argument for a sonic brush. It is well suited to anyone with sensitive teeth or gums, exposed tooth necks or general discomfort while brushing, because vibration is far softer than rotation. People with braces, bridges or implants also benefit, since the micro-currents reach into the most awkward gaps. And if you simply want to brush quickly, or you are used to the hand movement of a manual brush, the larger and more familiar head makes it easy to get a good result.

Among the sonic brushes tested, the Happybrush Eco Vibe 3+ stood out for a very good cleaning result, plenty of power and a long battery life. Brushing with it feels closer to stroking the teeth than scrubbing them. The motor delivers up to 40,000 vibrations per minute — genuine power — while the relatively soft heads clean thoroughly yet stay kind to the gums. The effect is pronounced enough that you find yourself running your tongue over your teeth afterwards to check.

A timer signals every 30 seconds when to move to the next quadrant of the mouth, then buzzes twice briefly once the full two minutes are up. Usefully, it does not shut itself off at that point as some rivals do, so you can carry on if you want to. There are three cleaning programmes — normal, sensitive and polish — which is ample; most people settle on one and stay there. A neatly concealed display shows the active mode, lighting up briefly in use and then disappearing again.

The rest of the waterproof housing is matte black. That will not be to every taste, but it is clean, modern and neutral, and rather smart with it.

The supplied charging station is equally clean in design and comes with a USB-C cable. It is unusually easy to keep clean: rather than the studs, grooves, ridges and recesses that collect dripping toothpaste on most charging bases, it is simply a flat black platform on which the brush stands. It is a small piece of design thinking that prevents a genuinely unpleasant problem.

For frequent travellers, the travel lock is a welcome feature, activated by holding the power button for five seconds. It stops the brush switching itself on inside a suitcase and draining the battery. You can also leave the charger at home without much worry, provided the trip runs to under eight weeks — that is roughly how long the lithium-ion battery lasts between charges, which is well above average.

There is an environmental bonus too. The Eco Vibe 3+ is produced sustainably in Germany, and its housing is made entirely from recycled plastic.

Two things fall short. The Eco Vibe 3+ is frequently sold in assorted sets bundling various toothpastes and differing numbers of brush heads, which makes choosing needlessly confusing and complicated. And there is no pressure control, which would have been a welcome addition — though in fairness that feature is missing from most sonic brushes rather than this one in particular.

In the UK the Eco Vibe 3+ AllBlack Starter Kit is listed and shown in stock. The kit contains the sonic toothbrush itself, one attachment brush with triple bristles, and the charging station with its USB-C cable.

Note that the plain Eco Vibe 3 sold more widely in Britain is not the same product: the 3+ is the version made in Germany, with the longer battery life and USB-C charging in place of USB-A. If the eight-week battery and the USB-C base are what you are after, check which of the two a listing is actually offering before ordering.

The Happybrush Eco Vibe 3+ convinces on most counts. Its solid, modern, uncluttered design raises a smile as soon as it comes out of the cardboard packaging. In use, up to 40,000 vibrations per minute deliver an excellent cleaning result, and a battery life of up to eight weeks means that cleaning does not tail off after a handful of sessions. The travel lock, the well-considered charging station with USB-C, and the sustainable German production all earn it further credit. Only the missing pressure control and the sometimes bewildering range of set offers count against it.

Taken as a whole it is an easy recommendation, and for most people the best sonic toothbrush of those considered. Complete newcomers will need the usual short adjustment period, but should get on with it well.