If you care more about the size of your electric toothbrush, how it looks, and its battery life than cleaning performance, then we think the Quip is for you. This compact toothbrush couldn't compare to the top-tier models in our cleaning tests but it is sleek and stylish with impressive battery life. It is also one of the cheapest electric toothbrushes around — though it still costs quite a bit more than a manual model — so it's a decent value if you are set on getting an electric toothbrush.
Very easy to use, solid battery life, great cleaning power
Inexpensive, great battery life
Travel case included, inexpensive, extensive battery life
Inexpensive, long battery life
Cons
Rubber bristles can feel disconcerting, didn't do well in our cleaning test
Only a single cleaning mode
Limited features, not the best cleaning performance
Only one brush head, only one mode, similar to manual toothbrush
Bulky, poor cleaning abilities, difficult to keep clean
Bottom Line
Boasts a cool look, but felt very similar to a manual toothbrush when we used it
An excellent all-around toothbrush that cleans well and is particularly easy to use
It provides average overall performance, an excellent battery life, and a great price
A simple budget toothbrush that cleans well and is comfortable for sensitive gums
An inexpensive option that adds a little vibration to an otherwise normal toothbrush
Rating Categories
Quip
Philips Sonicare Pr...
Fairywill D7 Sonic
Philips One
Oral-B 3D White Action
Comfort(40%)
5.0
6.0
6.0
6.0
4.0
Cleaning(30%)
5.0
7.0
7.0
7.0
5.0
Ease of Use(20%)
9.0
8.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
Battery Life(10%)
10.0
7.0
9.0
7.0
10.0
Specs
Quip
Philips Sonicare Pr...
Fairywill D7 Sonic
Philips One
Oral-B 3D White Action
Charger info
N/A
100 - 240V a.c.
50/60Hz
0.4 - 1.4W
N/A
USB
N/A
Estimated annual brush head cost
$20
$50
$12
$19
$13
Waterproof/resistant
Can use in shower
Can use in shower
Yes, up to 1 meter up to 30 min
No, cannot be used in the shower
Can use in shower
Number of different brush heads
1
8
2
1
3
Measured battery life
90 days
28 days
50 days
30 days
103 days
Number of brushing modes
1 clean
1 clean
5 modes: white, clean, sensitive, polish, massage
1 mode
1 clean
Pressure sensor
No
Yes
No
No
No
Thirty second reminder
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Two minute alert
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Travel case included
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Weight
1.1 oz
4.3 oz
2.6 oz
2.4 oz
2.5 oz
App
No
No
No
No
No
Show full specification detailsHide full specification details
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Quip has a few innovative features that set it apart from other models. It is available with plastic, metal, or limited edition trims and runs off standard AAA batteries rather than a rechargeable lithium battery. Quip also offers a subscription service where they will send you a new battery, brush head, and toothpaste every three months. This makes it a great option for someone who wants a minimalistic electric toothbrush and doesn't have to ever worry about forgetting to buy replacement brush heads, toothpaste, floss, or cleaning out a charging base.
Performance Comparison
The Quip is sleek, stylish, and about as simple as it gets when it comes to electric toothbrushes.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Comfort
The first thing that we evaluated and scored for each electric toothbrush is how comfortable they are to brush with. We had a diverse group of judges use each brush and award them a score based on how comfortable they felt to use each product daily. This accounts for 40% of the final score, with the Quip earning a decent score compared to the rest of the brushes in the group.
The Quip's brushing action is very gentle, making it a good option for anyone with sensitive gums. The brush head isn't overly large or deep, so even those with more petite mouths. It is also one of the quietest toothbrushes of the entire group.
The rubber bristles can feel a little odd while brushing with the Quip.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
However, the Quip does not have a built-in pressure sensor to alert you if you are pressing too hard. It also doesn't have a sensitive brushing mode but we didn't find this to be too much of an issue, since the standard brushing mode is so gentle to begin with.
Each brush head also has a tongue cleaner on the back.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Cleaning
Next, we tested and scored the cleaning performance of each toothbrush. To do this as objectively as possible, we had several testers abstain from brushing their teeth for 18+ hours to build up a healthy amount of plaque. Each of them then used a plaque disclosing tablet to tint the plaque bright pink and use the Quip. Scores were determined by comparing the before and after photos and seeing how much plaque was removed. The Quip performed about average, earning an unimpressive score in this metric, which accounts for 30% of the total for each product. This toothbrush didn't come close to doing a perfect job cleaning any of our judges' teeth, with noticeable spots of plaque remaining for each of them.
The cleaning performance of the Quip is far from the best we have seen.
Credit: Austin Palmer
However, this was when we used the Quip more like an electric toothbrush than a manual toothbrush, slowly moving it in small circles across your teeth. It does seem like the cleaning performance would be drastically improved if you brushed like a manual toothbrush when using this product, lightly scrubbing your teeth.
The Quip is so limited in functions that it is very easy to use.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Ease of Use
After cleaning and comfort, we moved on to rating and scoring the convenience and ease of use of each toothbrush, which is responsible for 20% of the overall score. While the minimalistic nature of the Quip means that it lacks many of the convenience features of other products, this actually made it significantly easier to use, earning it one of the higher scores of the group. It only has a single cleaning mode so there is no confusion when it comes to swapping between modes and is waterproof enough to take in the shower or rinse off. This brush's power button and overall design are sleek and smooth, so there aren't a lot of areas for grime to accumulate, and is easy to clean.
This toothbrush includes an adhesive-backed holder.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
The Quip has a two-minute timer with quadrant intervals but doesn't have a good storage solution for other brush heads. They are also a bit more difficult to change than with other products, so it seems like it is more of a one-person toothbrush, rather than something that can be shared.
The Quip has an exceptionally long battery life, powered by a AAA.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Battery Life
For the final 10% of the total score, we looked at the battery life of each of these powered toothbrushes. The Quip stands out from the other toothbrushes by relying on a conventional AAA battery as a power source, rather than wirelessly recharging an internal lithium battery. This provides a surprisingly long battery life, earning the Quip top marks in this metric.
The manufacturer claims that the Quip can last for 90 days before needing a new battery and we have no reason to doubt this. It was still going strong at well over 50 days, significantly outperforming the vast majority of the other products.
Value
The Quip is one of the least expensive models that we have tested so it can be a good option if you are shopping on a budget but you are locked into using their proprietary brush heads and you lose the benefit of being able to share the toothbrush, which can increase the lifetime cost.
Conclusion
We find it hard to recommend the Quip on its performance alone. However, if the subscription service and sleek looks appeal to you, then it's a solid choice and shouldn't disappoint. It also is a great option for the frequent traveler with its compact size and lack of a charger.
Is an electric toothbrush really better? We explain about...
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GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison.
