Product · PHILIPS
Sonicare 5500: two modes and EasyStart
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The Philips Sonicare 5500 is built for people who want an electric toothbrush to behave like a toothbrush. It has only two modes, Clean and White, and an EasyStart feature that builds power gently over the first fortnight of use. There is no app or display in the listing. For an older relative, a first-time electric brush user or anyone put off by settings menus, that short feature list is the point.
- Modes
- 2
- Display
- Not stated
- Battery
- Not stated
- Start-up help
- EasyStart over 14 sessions
In its favour
- Only two modes, Clean and White, so there is little to get wrong.
- EasyStart raises brushing power gradually over the first 14 sessions.
- The pressure alert pulses and reduces vibration if you press too hard.
Good to know
- Battery life is not stated in the listing.
- The charger comes without a power adapter.
Our take
Two modes and a gentle ramp up
Philips describes Clean mode as focused on plaque removal and White mode as working a little harder on surface stains. That is the whole menu, which makes it hard to end up in the wrong setting by accident.
EasyStart increases brushing power over your first 14 brushing sessions, according to the listing. If the buzz of a sonic brush feels strange at first, this softens the switch from a manual brush. The listing quotes 62,000 bristle movements per minute from Next-Generation Sonicare Technology.
How it reacts to heavy brushing
The pressure alert gently pulses and reduces vibration when you push too hard. Because it changes the feel of the brush rather than lighting up, you notice it even if you are not looking at the handle. Unlike the Sonicare 7100, there are no intensity levels to set, so the brush runs at one strength once EasyStart is finished.
SmarTimer and BrushPacer are both named in the title, which means a timed two-minute session with prompts to move around the mouth.
Box contents and charging
You get the 5500 handle, one W2 Optimal White head, a travel case and a charger. Philips states the power adapter is not included, so check how the charger connects before you buy. Battery life is not given anywhere in the listing, which is a gap for travellers.
Philips adds a two-year warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee. The listing lists the weight as 313 g.
Where the 5500 stops
This brush has no app, no display and no intensity control. Anyone wanting a named Sensitive mode should look at the Sonicare 7500, which also quotes a 21-day runtime. The Sonicare 7100 keeps EasyStart and adds three intensities, app guidance and four heads in the box.
Verdict
The Sonicare 5500 suits someone who wants the fewest possible choices: two modes, a gentle start and a brush that eases off when pressed too hard. If you want to turn the power down permanently or track brushing in an app, the Sonicare 7100 is the better fit, and the Sonicare 7500 makes more sense if a long runtime and a Sensitive mode matter.
Compared with alternatives in: Best electric toothbrushes that are easy to use, Best electric toothbrushes with a whitening mode, Best quiet electric toothbrushes
Amazon listing title: Philips Sonicare 5500 Electric Toothbrush, Sonic Toothbrush with 2 Modes, Pressure Alert, EasyStart, SmarTimer and BrushPacer, White, Model HX7110/02 [New Technology]