64% of 22 verified owners recommend the Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4100, based on real owner verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube.
The headline score reflects owners (Reddit, enthusiast forums), independent lab tests, blogs with no affiliate links, and YouTube owner-comments when they line up with owners. YouTube is shown for perspective but kept out here — hover the i for why.
“feel so amazed by how smooth they are!”
“it is a) super loud, and b) feels like it's stinging my gums”
“Nice budget toothbrush. But I miss the wall charger.”
“I just got one and throwing my old brush away! Awesome”
“I just bought it but feel so harsh to my teeth”
“I might consider an upgrade when my 4100 croaks!”
“it splashes water into my face while rinsing under water”
“I've been using this one for 2 years and like it a lot.”
“This toothbrush is good enough for me.”
“shit build quality, packaging total garbage, high price for such a terrible offering”
“I was pleased to see that I can still get the exact same clean”
“I've been using it for a couple years and so far no issues, just a solid basic sonic toothbrush that absolutely makes a noticeable difference if used daily”
“When I set it on the case it wobbles all over the place.”
“I like it because it really effective at removing plaque”
“The vibration is very strong hurting my teeth and gum”
“I like that it doesn't have all the tech settings because I think it's too much of a hassle when I'm in a hurry.”
“The 4100 is SOOOO weak compared to the 5100. I still have plaque on my teeth after flossing, water picking, and using the brush for the full two minutes.”
“it's much easier to reach my back teeth vs. my old Oral B.”
“My dentist was super happy with the results”
“I have had two 4100s that stopped holding a charge after just a year of frequent but not regular use. I find that utterly ridiculous and unacceptable.”
“This is a great simple toothbrush.”
“I just bought the 4100 to replace my 5100 that I had used for over 5 yrs. I so regret not buying the more advanced model again.”
“I ended up getting that because I felt my 4100 was quite weak”
“it's done wonders to stop calculus”
Practical notes owners raise — setup, quirks, and issues to watch for. They don't say whether the person likes the product, so they're not counted in the score, but they inform the pros, cons, and who it's for.
“Colgate Optic White Renewal Teeth Whitening Toothpaste - mild flavor; I feel like it did an excellent job at whitening my teeth as I prepared for a big event, but over the course of time, which allows it to be more sensitive and not as hostile as many whitening products. I think the packaging references 10 weeks...”
“Yes, see page 21 here https://www.manua.ls/philips/sonicare-protectiveclean-4100-sonic-hx6812/manual They also include some nonsense pamphlet in the box about how they are helping the environment by using a recyclable box. It's all pretty disappointing.”
“Awesome guys - thank you all for the thoughtful replies... sounds like consensus is to buy a Sonicare (some say oral-b, but I think I've seen more votes for sonicare all over the internet) electric toothbrush and just get a tongue scraper to keep near it... that sounds good to me.”
“https://www.usa.philips.com/c-p/HX6817_01/sonicare-protectiveclean-4100-sonic-electric-toothbrush Looking at this. Basically hoping the sonic function works as a nerve stimulator/massage thing. 😁 Other than that, it's basically the timer function that I am looking at. Don't have a clock in the toilet for some reason.”
“Just don't get the super cheap $25 one.”
“Me being cheap, I usually try to go 4-6 months on single brush head instead of the recommended 3. I usually change it when I notice a difference in perceived mouth cleanliness.”
“I think the reason he is saying that is that the 4100's motor has been downgraded compared to the older ones. The old 4100 had a motor speed of 62000 movements per minute, while the new 4100 has a motor speed of 31000 movements per minute.”
“Someone in this post said that the old 4100 motor is in the new 4300, and that newer 4100 models have half the RPM”
“what makes you say there's a huge difference between the two models? I had an old 4100 and it was much more powerful than the newer version of the same model, is there anything else besides multiple modes on the 5100 that makes you say it would be worth it?”
“Hi did you ever find out the answer to this question? I have the same concern”
“Thanks for the detailed review. How frequently the head needs to be replaced?”
“Why do you regret buying the 4100? If you don’t mind me asking.”
“So I know this is 4 months old but It may be that 31000 brush strokes are the same as 62000 movements back and forth. I have seen the post with the motor pictures and I'm confident the 4100 was downgraded. I think the numbers are bs anyway. I'd love to know if the 4300 really does have the bigger motor?”
“Sorry man not reading all that how is it tho?”