Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9000 – Electric Toothbrush with App

The Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9000 HX9917/88 is a sonic electric toothbrush delivering 62,000 brush strokes per minute. That's higher than many other models – and the brand uses that speed to loosen plaque efficiently. The brush works with an app, but it's not mandatory. Without the app, it functions as an advanced toothbrush with four modes and a pressure sensor. With the app, you get a 3D mouth map and progress reports. A lithium-ion battery lasts 14 days under normal use – 84 minutes of brushing on a full charge.

The built-in pressure sensor warns you when you're brushing too hard – the handle pulses and a ring lights up purple. That's direct, physical feedback you can't ignore. The app adds a 3D mouth map that highlights problem areas, plus a scrub sensor that warns against aggressive scrubbing. The app is needed for full functionality – without it, the sensors still work, but you miss the visual reporting. The DiamondClean 9000 can't connect to the internet on its own; Bluetooth is the only wireless connection. That limits the app to showing historical data, not real-time cloud synchronisation.

The box contains the handle, an A3 Premium all-in-one brush head, a Premium Gum Care brush head, a charging glass and a USB charging travel case. The charging glass is a nice touch – you place the brush inside and it charges inductively. The travel case has its own USB connection, handy for on the go. The brush heads need replacing every three months for optimal performance; the BrushSync replacement reminder on the handle lets you know when it's time. The bristles on the A3 Premium are angled – the brand claims this removes up to 20x more plaque, even in hard-to-reach areas.

With 84 minutes of battery life, the DiamondClean 9000 isn't the longest-lasting toothbrush, but 14 days is enough for most users. The charging glass sits on the bathroom shelf and after 24 hours the battery is full again. The timer (BrushPacer) divides the mouth into four 30-second zones – a standard feature that helps you give each quadrant equal attention. The illuminated display shows the selected mode and intensity, plus a battery indicator. The handle is slim and ergonomic, with an oval shape that sits comfortably in the hand. The brush is for adults, not children.

The DiamondClean 9000 works with Bluetooth 4.0 – an older version, but sufficient for transmitting brushing data. The app is compatible with Android phones and tablets with Bluetooth 4.0, and with iPhone 4S or later on iOS7 or later. No Wi-Fi, no cloud – the data stays on the device and is sent to the app via Bluetooth.