Reviews You Can Rely On

Hum by Colgate Battery Powered Review

Though the bristles aren't the softest, we love the reward system on the highly interactive app
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Hum by Colgate Battery Powered Review
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Price:  $30 List
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Manufacturer:   Colgate
By Genaveve Bradshaw and Mallory Paige  ⋅  Sep 13, 2024
60
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#14 of 19
  • Cleaning - 40% 5.5
  • Comfort - 30% 4.8
  • Ease of Use - 20% 8.1
  • Battery Life - 10% 7.0

Our Verdict

We enjoyed the Hum by Colgate for its interactive app and reward system. We also think kids will find the app very enjoyable and motivating, so you may not have to regularly remind them to brush. We also appreciated that it has a sensitive mode, in part because the bristles are on the rougher end of the spectrum. This toothbrush is very easy to use and manages to clean our teeth okay, but we did have to brush a bit longer for it to clean super effectively. It's very affordable for being a smart electric toothbrush that makes brushing fun by connecting to a mobile app. Check out our best electric toothbrush review to see how it ranks versus competitors.
REASONS TO BUY
Interactive app with options for kids and adults
Unique reward program encourages brushing
Sensitive setting
Budget-friendly
REASONS TO AVOID
Bristles can be too rough for sensitive mouths
Less robust vibrations
Concerns for product longevity

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards Top Pick Award
Best for Kids
Best Buy Award
Most Gentle, Great Battery Life and Value
Best Buy Award
Best Value Electric Toothbrush
Top Pick Award
Best Buy Award
Best Value for Included Brush Heads
Price $30 List
$23.99 at Amazon
$40 List
$39.95 at Amazon
$50 List
$49.96 at Amazon
$30 List
$19.97 at Amazon
$60 List
$39.95 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
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Bottom Line While not the equipped with the softest bristles or most robust vibrations, we really like the interactive app and think kids will tooAn gentle, minimalist toothbrush with a long-lasting battery that cleans wellInexpensive yet fully capable, this electric toothbrush is a solid choice for just about everyoneA great entry level option, but falls a little short in terms of overall cleaning abilityAffordable, effective, and user-friendly — this device offers value with good cleaning and extra brush heads
Rating Categories Hum by Colgate Batt... Philips One Philips Sonicare 4100 Quip Aquasonic Black Series
Cleaning (40%)
5.5
6.9
7.9
6.1
6.8
Comfort (30%)
4.8
8.1
8.3
7.1
6.4
Ease of Use (20%)
8.1
8.0
7.8
8.4
8.0
Battery Life (10%)
7.0
9.0
5.0
10.0
4.0
Specs Hum by Colgate Batt... Philips One Philips Sonicare 4100 Quip Aquasonic Black Series
Measured Battery Life 62.5 days 30 days 49.5 days 170 days 31 days
Pressure Sensor No No Yes No No
Number of Brushing Modes 2 modes:
Clean
Sensitive
1 mode:
Clean
1 mode:
Clean
2 sensivity levels
1 mode:
Clean
4 modes:
Clean, Soft, Whiten, Massage
Estimated Annual Brush Head Cost $19.98 for (2) two packs $15.92 for (2) two packs $44.96 for (1) four pack $28 for (4) 1 packs $19.90 for (2) two packs
Charger or Battery Info Magnetic USB-A USB USB
(block not included)
1 AAA battery 100 - 240VA
50-60Hz
0.8 - 1.6W
American Dental Association accepted? Not Listed Not Listed Not Listed Yes Yes
Waterproof / Resistant Yes, can use in shower No, cannot be used in the shower Yes, can use in shower Yes, can use in shower Yes, can use in shower
Number of Brush Head Styles Available 1 style available in 2 colors 1 style available in multiple colors 8 styles, most available in 2 colors 1 style available in multiple colors 3
Number of Included Brush Heads 1 1 1 1 8
Thirty Second Reminder Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Two Minute Alert Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Travel Case Included Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Measured Handle Weight 2.2 oz 1.4 oz 3.2 oz 1.2 oz 3.6 oz
App Yes No No Yes*

*must manually enter data unless using a Smart model
No
Available Colors 2 4 3 6 1
Decibels from 6ft Away 42.4 dB 40 dB* 42 dB 40 dB* 53 dB
Decibels from 3" Away 43.9 dB 40 dB* 58 dB 40 dB* 68 dB

Our Analysis and Test Results

The toothbrush itself is affordable and solid, but it really stood out with the Hum app. It has settings for adults and kids and comes with a cool reward program built in. Not only does the app help ensure that you brush every single tooth, but you can earn “Smile” points that can be redeemed for dental hygiene supplies like toothpaste. The app was easy to use and this extra gamification is a fun bonus.

Performance Comparison


hum by colgate battery powered - the smaller size of the hum bristles makes it great for kiddos.
The smaller size of the hum bristles makes it great for kiddos.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Cleaning


We use several stages to evaluate cleaning ability. To begin, we spend an entire day eating, drinking, and trying to get our teeth as dirty as possible. Then, we chew up a pink plaque-disclosing tab before brushing. At this point, we can clearly see which spots the toothbrush missed. Then we brush for a couple of minutes to see how much plaque was actually removed from our teeth.

For our second stress test, we rub coffee grinds into a tooth model and brush on the daily setting for 1 minute. With these scores in hand, we're able to rank each brush based on cleaning.


The Hum scored okay on our cleaning test, but there are a few reasons it ended up below average. First off, during our first round of brushing, our gums began to bleed (granted, our tester has sensitive gums). Between the coarse bristles and the feeling that we needed to brush more since the brush doesn't have any oscillation or large bristle movements, we found the regular mode too intense.

The results of our plaque removal test with the Hum by Colgate Battery Powered.

During our second round, we used the sensitive setting and found it much more comfortable. Plus, it provided a cleaner result. When using the guided app, it took about three and a half minutes to reach a clean rating.

We like the app on the Hum by Colgate.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

There were a few spots of leftover plaque on the lower inside portion of the mouth after brushing for just over three minutes and earning a clean rating on the app. But it still ranked well. That said, this brush may be too rough for people with particularly sensitive teeth and gums.

hum by colgate battery powered - the hum by colgate battery powered is incredibly quiet compared to...
The Hum by Colgate Battery Powered is incredibly quiet compared to most electric toothbrushes.
Credit: Genaveve Bradshaw

Comfort


To test for comfort we evaluate how each brush feels in the mouth, what the bristles are like, and if the vibrations are jarring or comfortable. We also use a decibel meter to see how loud each unit is. Brushes that include a gentle mode or a pressure sensor also receive accolades as they help to avoid overly harsh brushing sessions. Once all of this is calculated we give each brush a score, which accounts for 30% of the overall rating.


Unfortunately, the Hum by Colgate is quite uncomfortable for those with sensitive gums. We found the bristles to be a bit coarse and the standard mode too rough. Luckily, it has a sensitive mode, and our testers liked that setting much better. With the stiffer bristles, we would definitely recommend using the sensitive setting, even if it takes a bit longer to get your mouth clean. It has a simple handle vibration, and the bristle head moves very little. Compared to other electric toothbrushes, you may need to make much more of an effort to manually brush your teeth for a complete clean.

hum by colgate battery powered - the hum by colgate (far left) has a smaller bristle head than other...
The Hum by Colgate (far left) has a smaller bristle head than other toothbrushes.
Credit: Genaveve Bradshaw

The Hum by Colgate has a simple design that is similar to a manual toothbrush. It weighs in at 2.2 ounces and is available in two colors. It was comfortable in our hands during testing and reached back molars easily.

hum by colgate battery powered - the hum brush is one of the lightest we've tested.
The Hum brush is one of the lightest we've tested.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Ease of Use


During this part of the test, we look at how many modes the toothbrush has and how easy it is to cycle through them. We also note how easy (or annoying) it is to clean the toothbrush itself. Lastly, we take into account travel cases, storage for additional brush heads, and if there is a built-in timer. Overall, the Hum by Colgate performed really well in our ease of use test. It has a single button, which is very intuitive.


You can change the mode by pressing the power button and we really liked that it saves your last used mode. So, if you always want to use the sensitive mode, you don't have to cycle through it each time. It simply auto-reverts to your last-used mode, which is handy.

It also has a small indicator light above the button. It shines pink for sensitive mode and white for regular. This brush is technically water-resistant but should not be fully submerged or used in the shower. It buzzes at the two-minute mark to alert you, though you may find you need a longer brush time if you're following the guidance in the app and using its gentle mode.

hum by colgate battery powered - the hum electric toothbrush is very simple to use with a single...
The Hum electric toothbrush is very simple to use with a single button.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

The Hum includes a matching travel case. It's sturdy and easy to use, but you do have to remove the brush head in order to store it in the case. And it does not include any space for additional brush heads.

hum by colgate battery powered - we like the included travel case for the hum, but you do have to...
We like the included travel case for the Hum, but you do have to remove the head.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Battery Life


The Hum by Colgate is a battery-operated toothbrush. It is very easy to replace the single AAA battery and we found it lasted quite a long time. To test, we ran each toothbrush for four minutes every day and noted when it needed a new battery (or recharge).


This brush lasted for 62 days before it needed a new battery. While this isn't as long as the 170 days some battery-powered brushes lasted, it's still a very long battery life — especially considering the app connection. This could be great for anyone who travels for extended times or often forgets to recharge.


There is no battery indicator on the toothbrush itself, but the app does show a percentage of battery left. Since we like the app so much on this brush, we have always used it and can easily keep track of the battery left.

hum by colgate battery powered - it's very easy to change the aaa battery on the hum toothbrush.
It's very easy to change the AAA battery on the Hum toothbrush.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Should You Buy the Hum by Colgate?


The Hum by Colgate is a great option for kids and anyone who is looking for a way to motivate themselves to be on top of their dental hygiene. It's incredibly intuitive and fun to use, and the app helps ensure that you brush for at least two minutes. It performed well in our testing, and we like that it includes a travel case and the ability to earn free Colgate products.

What Other Electric Toothbrush Should You Consider?


If you're not planning to use the app and are willing to spend a bit more, it's worth considering the Aquasonic Black Series toothbrush. It is an incredible value, cleans well, and includes several replacement heads. Or if you're looking to stay under the $20 mark, the Quip toothbrush is a great pick. It has a long battery life and is very intuitive to use.

Genaveve Bradshaw and Mallory Paige