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Published: January 4, 2024

Oral-B Pro 650 review

Author: Jon Love (10 Comments)
Oral-B Pro 650 review 1

Editor's note

Since this review was created, the box contents has altered.

In almost all circumstances the Pro 650 is supplied with a tube of toothpaste, rather than the travel case mentioned and shown in this review.

The brush has not changed, just the included box contents.

If you particularly want a travel case, the Oral-B Pro 680 comes with a case included.

A good brush, but you can do better without spending as much

star star star star

A lovely slim, grippy toothbrush that does a more than satisfactory job of cleaning the teeth.

The pressure sensor doesn’t encourage corrective action and the battery life isn’t great.

Pros

Cons

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Slim & grippy handle

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Battery life is just 7 days

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Easy to use with 1 cleaning mode

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The pressure sensor isn’t obvious

This brush is better

I strongly urge you to opt for the Oral-B Pro 3 3500 over the Pro 650.

The Pro 3 addresses some of the shortcomings of the 650 and you don't need to spend a great deal extra either.

A visible pressure sensor, more powerful brush motor, longer battery life and additional cleaning modes are all part of the reason it is our top pick in our list of best electric toothbrushes.

If you are on a budget however and you want something now rather than saving up for our recommended model, the Vitality 100 is the brush to go for.

Design, usability, clean & general use

For me, the Pro 650 is one of the nicest looking brushes on the market today. Personally I am drawn to the black rubber grip that runs down the main body, perhaps a little masculine compared to the more unisex silver, whites and blues we see on some other brushes.

However, female readers do not be put off by the colour as this is a lovely slim and comfortable brush when in the hand.

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The slim profile does have a knock on effect on the battery life, but more on that later.

Around the main chassis are strategically placed grips. Regretfully, a little less of the more premium rubber is used, instead plastic raised grips or contours are prominent, but the band of Black rubber that runs down the front provides quite a high level of grip, so I am being a little picky.

Above and below the power button are a number of raised grips which your thumb naturally catches on.

The single power button sits in a slight recess, but itself is pronounced and gives a tactile feedback.​

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Take a look at the lower third of the brush find the battery power icon, above which is a small amount of branding, which is barely noticeable, embossed into the rubber.

Turn the brush around and the smooth white plastic rear panel is home to an increasing number of raised grips which are practically placed and functional.

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Unlike the slightly more premium Pro 2 2000 the Pro 650 does not have a pressure sensor built into this and this is another area that keeps the cost down. A pressure sensor illuminates when too much force is applied to the teeth through the brush. If you feel you would like such a feature then you must take a step up to the Pro 2 2000.

On the very bottom of the brush is a recess into which the charging stations prong will sit into to transfer power without a physical connection to the brush and in turn keeps the brush stable on the stand.

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Measuring just 2.5cm wide and 3cm thick and no more than 127g this is a comfortable brush to hold.

No brush would be complete without a brush head and with the Pro 650 we have on test here is a CrossAction head. A more recent addition to the Oral-B range this head has a series of angled bristles which are designed to effectively remove plaque but also ensure they clean deep between the teeth and provide a good coverage over teeth surfaces.

Speaking from experience I can say that even after years of using an Oral-B floss action head, I noticed the difference with the CrossAction. The clean and the way it brushed the teeth was different.

As you may be aware, the benefit with Braun electric toothbrushes is that you can actually opt for different brush heads to suit your needs. From Floss Action to Interspace heads there are a variety of options. You need not be stuck with one.

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You may wonder how such a brush can boast to remove up to 100% more plaque than a manual brush?

There are a variety of things behind this claim.

The smaller brush head in comparison to most manual brushes, is scientifically engineered to ensure you get the best clean. Being smaller, you are able to easily reach more areas of the mouth. The addition of the 3D technology which rotates, oscillates and pulsates means that the brush head achieves a motion and cleaning pattern that is just not possible when compared to a manual brush.

When you power on the brush with a single press on the power button, you launch straight into the only cleaning option on the brush, the daily clean mode. This lasts for two minutes and at 30 second intervals, you will hear the sound from the brush change as the oscillation of the brush head changes ever so slightly to indicate to change quadrant.

At the end of the 2 minute cycle, the head will again change its oscillation to give another tone to confirm the cycle has ended.

A good oral hygiene routine will include at least 2 of these cleans each day.​

The built-in timer in this brush is, in my opinion, a highly underrated feature. It is all too easy to think we have been brushing for longer than we have, as many of us get bored when completing a mundane task like cleaning the teeth. This built-in timer makes it simple. There is no excuse not to achieve the full 2 minutes.

If you want a visual clue or a dedicated timer in the form of a clock, then you will need to opt for the significantly more expensive brushes on the market or use the ‘Sound Connectivity’ option explained a little later.

Once you have completed the two minute cycle, the brush will continue to operate unless you press the power button again.

The fact that you use a toothbrush in the mouth and in a bathroom means the brush will get wet. The Pro 650 has been designed to live up to the moisture and toothpaste it will come into contact with. It will get dirty, but a good rinse and a wipe down with a cloth soon gets rid of this. The main buildup of grime I found is at the top of the lip on the brush head, just before the brush head connects to the main brush body.

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Whilst you have the charging stand, this limited edition Pro 650 also comes with a travel case, which will accommodate the brush and at least one head and protects it from damage and inadvertent activation when in a bag.

Another little feature which gives this brush a bit of an edge is the ‘Sound Connectivity’ feature.

What you need to do is download the app (click here for Android, or here for iOS) onto your device from the App Store. It is called ‘Oral-B App’ and make sure in the settings that ‘Toothbrush Sound Recognition’ is switched on.

Providing you then have the app open on your smartphone or tablet when you go to clean your teeth, the built-in microphones will listen out for the sound of the brush.

As it does, it begins a timer on-screen and logs your clean in the app.

The idea is great but there are a few issues in my mind.

  1. Not all that many of us may have a phone or tablet to hand as we are cleaning our teeth
  2. The app does not automatically load or begin timing unless you have opened it up
  3. The whole app is engineered for the more premium Smart Series brushes, which the 650 is not a part of.​

If you are really keen on logging your toothbrush activities then this has some benefit. It may be more interactive for children, as it does have some nice graphics; but the whole process feels like a bit of a hassle. In my mind, if you are really keen on logging your toothbrush cleans, you are likely going to be opting for a more premium brush.

Do not rule the 650 out because of it, you do not have to use this feature, but if you do, just be aware of the conditions of use.

Inevitably the battery will run down on the Pro 650. With approximately 28 minutes of cleaning time. When power is low, the battery status icon on the front of the brush will illuminate red to notify you of this.

Oral-B Pro 650 review 17

You do not get the battery status light come on all the time, it just illuminates red a day or so before the battery is actually likely to fail. When charging on the dock, it will flash green.

Having used a wide variety of electric toothbrushes I do believe the power and clean offered from the Pro 650 is as good as any of the more premium brushes, it just does not offer the range of cleaning options for those serious about oral hygiene.

When switching from a manual brush the experience is a little different. You need to be aware that the Pro 650 will possibly feel a little harsh for the first few cleans. This will be most obvious when the brush hits the gumline. You may find your gums become inflamed and bleed. This is not necessarily a bad thing. Generally speaking, this will be because your existing cleaning regime is not up to standard and the gums are sensitive. This will generally fade after about a week, but if it continues you should consult your dentist as you may have sensitive gums.

Summary of design, usability, clean & general use

A little more masculine looking with a black and white finish
Slim and comfortable to hold in the hand
Rubber grip and plastic ridges make it easy to hold even when wet
Power button provides good feedback and switches brush on and off
Provided CrossAction head does a good job of cleaning the teeth
1 cleaning modes - daily clean
1 brush head included
Built-in quad pacer and 2 minute timer tells you when to change quadrant and finish brushing
Can be used in the shower or immersed in water
Travel case included

Battery life

The slim profile of this brush does mean the battery life is impeded a little.

It will last on average 7 days. That is based on 14 two minute cleans or approximately 28 minutes of brushing time.

To be honest, this is pretty much the average. For more cleaning time you will need to go bigger, heavier and more expensive and possibly too pay for features you do not want.

If battery life is an issue the brush can be left constantly charging, technology in it will stop it from taking more power than it needs.

However, to prolong the life of the battery, it is good to run the battery down regularly and at least once every 6 months, deplete it completely.

Provided in the box is a charging station. Simply sit the brush on this and connect the 2 pin connector to a shaver socket in the bathroom. If you do not have a 2 pin shaver socket, you can get an adapter that converts it to a 3 pin connector for the UK mains.

The lack of such is not Braun being stingy, it is because they are designed to be charged from a shaver socket found in many bathrooms, which use this 2 pin configuration.

I have used this setup myself for years as I do not have a shaver socket in the bathroom.

I tend to leave the brush charging overnight as the charge is a little slower than conventional electronic items.

Summary of battery life

7 day battery life
Charging stand included
2 pin charger

Price & where to buy

The recommended retail price of this brush is actually £49.99, but you can generally get it for less than £30 online.

You will struggle to find a cheaper electric toothbrush than this that offers performance and quality.

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Replacement brush heads come in at around £12-14 for a pack of 4 which is on par with most other brushes.

We like to work out the long term costs of using any electric toothbrush. In the case of the Pro 650, using the average price, rather than the cheapest, assuming one user of the brush you will have a first year cost of £40 (£30 for the brush and £10 for 3 replacement brush heads).

Ongoing costs will then equate to approximately £13 for brush heads and the small cost of electricity to charge the brush.

Based on 3 years of ownership, which is the length of the warranty with this product if you register the brush online with Braun, then the cost will come to approx £66 or just 6p per day.

Of course, use it for longer or between more of you and it can become even more cost effective.

Please note that all prices quoted are approximates and will vary based on location, supplier and time of purchase.  These figures were correct at the time of writing and should not be relied upon as hard fact, but used as a guide during your decision process.

Summary of price & where to buy

Recommended retail price of £49.99
Can typically be purchased for less than £30
Costs approx £66 or 6p per day over 3 years

Reliability & long term use

All brushes be it the cheap or expensive will at some point fail, it is a fact of life, the question is, just how long will it last?

With Oral-B products, you can get up to 3 years warranty, which is very good. You get a standard 2 years when you purchase it and a further year if you register online.

Not discharging the battery fully and failing to keep the brush clean will assist in reducing the working life of the Pro 650.

The main grime builds up at the bottom of the brush head but a god wipe and rinse will solve this.

Extensive experience and research means the brush should easily last 3 years (you have the warranty for this long) and likely beyond. Oral-B from Braun is not some toothbrush startup, but the market leader.

Conclusion

You can do a lot worse than opting for the 650.

The slim handle is grippy, the cleaning results are good and the 1 cleaning mode ensures it is no more complicated than it needs to be.

You have to the recommended timer and pacer.

But, the pressure sensor isn't brilliant and the battery life is a bit short, hence you can do a bit better by picking the Pro 3 3500, which packs more punch for the most minimal of extra cost.

Size guide

  • Toothbrush height with head - 23cm / 9 inches
  • Toothbrush height without head - 19.5cm / 7.7 inches
  • Width - 2.5cm / 1 inches
  • Depth/thickness - 3cm / 1.2 inches
  • Weight with head - 124g / 4.4oz
  • Weight without head - 119g / 4.2oz
  • Package weight - 400g / 14.1oz

Noise

  • 72dB

Country of manufacture

  • Germany
Author: Jon Love

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Mg
Mrs gascoyne
September 23, 2018

I've just purchased the oral b 650, I can't get it to occilate, when I press the button it just turns off

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
September 24, 2018

When you turn the brush on, the head begins moving rapidly? If so, then this is the 3D cleaning motion in action. One press of the button turns on, a second press of the power button will turn the brush off.

A
Aiden
January 6, 2018

I brought a oral b electric toothbrush and i lost the instructions can you send me some

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
January 7, 2018

Aiden, I presume it is the Pro 650 you have purchased. If so click here for the instructions.

LO
Lisa Onofrio
May 18, 2017

Hi, can you please help me I have got a Oral B PRO 650 it has got 2 minute Timer on it I just want to know if you need to set it up? and how do you to it if you need to set it up? thank you.

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
May 18, 2017

It should work straight out of the box. Power it on a small you will hear it work at 30 second intervals.

MC
Michael Cotter
August 27, 2016

Just picked one of these up on a special offer from Savers for £19 as my old brush was on its way out it seemed a good bargain

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
August 28, 2016

Very good price. Let us know what you think of it once you have had time to use it Michael.

E
Edward
April 20, 2016

I've read somewhere in a review that the 650 is slightly less powerful (slower) than the 2500 in general cleaning mode. Is this true or is it someone making it up? Thanks

JL
Jon Love - Chief tester
April 25, 2016

Hi Edward, We are not trained or have conclusive evidence to confirm what you have read. We too have read that the Pro 650 is not as strong or as powerful as the 2500. That said when we tested them we didn't notice any difference. This is perhaps something to direct to Oral-B themselves as a question. The speed does only have some bearing. It will help clean the teeth better but ultimately more important is regular cleaning (twice a day) than an electric toothbrush. A manual toothbrush will never get to the speeds of an electric! Currently on Amazon there is about £7-8 difference between the price of the two of them, so you may wish to opt for the 2500 for peace of mind and the added features, even if you may not use them. Apologies that this does not give you a conclusive answer but we hope it helps.

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