Similar to the Sonicare DiamondClean smart brush, Oral-B's smart version also comes with a Bluetooth app to monitor brushing activities (Android or iPhone). The app has more features than Sonicare's, but has Bluetooth connectivity issues similar to Sonicare's earlier software versions. 10/10 for the brush - good cleaning functions, more brush variety, cheaper than Sonicare's, several modes, good battery life. A 6/10 for the app - somewhat confusing interface, spotty connectivity (face recognition and position detection can be frustrating and more trouble than actually useful - Oral B frequently can't tell up from down, or right from left). The app appears to be optimized for the iPhone, whereas I, and over 60% of the rest of the smartphone world, use an Android device. It does have a useful timer, a decent tracker and combines other utilities such as the weather and the news while you brush. For comparison, I'd give the Sonicare app 8/10 (points off for its randomly inaccurate brushing data) with the significant updates noted below. Both apps require you to be watching your cellphone or tablet while you brush, which is less than convenient in front of a bathroom mirror; Oral-B provides a bulky but effective and surprisingly strong suction attachment to hold your phone to the mirror, with the Sonicare you essentially have to prop up your phone or tablet somewhere on your bathroom counter. The Oral-B app is camera-based for location detection, so you need precise phone alignment for it to recognize where you are brushing (hence the suction attachment); their standard timer function familiar to Oral-B users will work without location sensing. Sonicare uses accelerometer sensors in the handle to tell where you are brushing, so will work without having a specific alignment for phone or tablet - but you will need to be able to see the app to accurately record brushing. The Oral B app will record offline brushing (up to 30 sessions) and later transmit to the app. If either app loses it's way during brushing using location sensors, you'll need to start over to accurately record your brushing session - something you may not be willing to do multiple times when heading out to work or late for an appointment. They also may store some of your personal health information (aka your toothbrushing sessions) in the "cloud" so if you're concerned about foreign governments hacking into your teeth, not for you. Considering people usually dedicate minimal time to brushing anyway, you may find that you just skip the phone/Bluetooth thing altogether. Both brushes have countertop chargers - Sonicare's can either be their charging glass or standup charger, and occupies minimal counter space, as well as combining a glass to rinse. Oral-B has built in brush storage, but takes up about twice the counter real estate - you can separate the charger from the brush storage for a more compact profile. Both take about the same amount of time to charge, but the Sonicare brush lasts about 50 percent longer on a charge; either will get you through a week or more traveling on a charge, and both have a travel charger case (Sonicare's is extra for their lowest-priced 9300 series - about $45; included for the 9500 and 9700). Oral-B's travel case has a nifty clip for holding your cell phone upright, but most real-world phones come in a case (mine does), so won't fit in the clip (mine doesn't): note to Oral-B. Oral B's case does have a spare USB connector for your phone or other devices. Neither have a sterilizer for brush heads (Sonicare has for other models), but the dental literature jury is still very much out over whether this is even useful. Sonicare's brush in use, for those familiar, uses their "sonic" technology, essentially vibrating debris off with a conventional brush head, while Oral-B's uses their rotating round brush to clean - which is slightly more effective in removing persistent stain and plaque in my experience. Sonicare's handle is slightly "smarter" than Oral-B's, recognizing which brush head is connected to the handle adjusting for the type of head and keeping track of the number of uses of each brush head, even if you switch. The "less than genius" Oral-B only counts the number of times you used the handle, regardless of which head is attached, it doesn't "know" which type of head you are using, and there is no way to reset the head when you attach a new one, so using this for replacement timing is questionable if you use multiple heads, however their app does include automatic replacement ordering from Amazon when the handle cycles "x" number of times and resets the brush head. Most users I suspect will replace the head when the blue indicator bristles turn to white, just like on the "non-smart" Oral B. Sonicare's app, on the other hand, doesn't store sessions in the handle, so if you brush without your phone that session will not be recorded in the app, you can't go back to review previous sessions and you can't delete sessions. Sonicare is slightly less noisy, but they are electric toothbrushes, so "Bzzzzz." Electric brushes, BTW, are generally more effective at cleaning your teeth, so either is an improvement over manual brushes for the majority of people. For the bottom line, either brush will effectively clean your teeth used properly, with a slight nod to the Oral-B/P&G for its scrubbing action for cleaning consistent plaque and stain for me, and multiple brushes available. Either connected app is clearly in its embryonic stage with a slight nod for stability going to Sonicare, for utility going to Oral B, and the hope that there will be greater functionality for both with future updates. Both brushes are relatively the same value for cost, with the Oral-B substantially cheaper most places, and slightly cheaper brushes (which can represent a significant cost over a year). Sonicare for design and ergonomics; it's the "Apple" of toothbrushes, with the Oral-B the "PC" equivalent. Good ergonomics for both, and it's a matter of personal preference. I currently use both - I find the Sonicare individual head tracking useful as well as better location sensing, while the Oral B handle has a better form factor, and the head provides slightly better cleaning and is more maneuverable. Your choice will depend on what you value in a brush, and is a substantial investment in your oral health that you won't regret with either.