Oral-B iO Series 6 Review: The Traveler's iO

Specifications

The Series 6 Proposition

The Oral-B iO Series 6 is a straightforward product: take everything the Series 5 offers and add a travel case. Same linear magnetic drive. Same five cleaning modes. Same LED display. Same app connectivity. Same pressure sensor. Same battery life. The only tangible difference is the included hard-shell travel case that protects your toothbrush and a spare brush head during transit.

This makes the Series 6 one of the easiest products to evaluate in the entire Oral-B lineup. The question is not whether it is a good toothbrush — it is identical to the Series 5, which we already consider the best value in the lineup. The question is whether you value an included travel case at $30.

The Travel Case

The included travel case is a hard-shell protective case with a snap closure. It fits the toothbrush handle plus one or two spare brush heads. The case is compact enough for a toiletry bag and sturdy enough to protect the brush in a checked suitcase. It does not charge the toothbrush (unlike some premium Sonicare cases), but the 10-day battery life means most trips will not require mid-trip charging anyway.

For frequent travelers, having a proper case matters. It prevents the brush head from touching other items in your bag, protects the handle from getting accidentally activated, and keeps everything organized. A similar third-party case on Amazon costs $10-15, so the $30 premium includes some markup — but the convenience of a case specifically designed for the iO handle and heads is worth something.

Same Great iO Experience

Since the Series 6 is functionally identical to the Series 5 in terms of brushing, everything that makes the Series 5 excellent applies here. The linear magnetic drive provides a smooth, quiet brushing experience that is noticeably more refined than traditional Oral-B models. The five cleaning modes — Daily Clean, Intense, Whiten, Sensitive, and Super Sensitive — cover every brushing scenario. The LED display shows your current mode, and the pressure sensor uses colored light to indicate whether your brushing pressure is appropriate.

The Bluetooth app connectivity tracks your sessions, monitoring duration and pressure over time. The 2-minute timer with quadrant pacing ensures you brush for the full recommended duration, pausing every 30 seconds to prompt you to move to the next section of your mouth. All standard iO replacement brush heads are compatible.

Why It Exists in the Lineup

The Series 6 fills a specific niche. Oral-B knows that the Series 5 is their best value proposition, and they know that many buyers want a travel case. Rather than raise the Series 5 price and include a case for everyone, they created the Series 6 as an optional upgrade for those who need it. It also provides a stepping stone in the pricing ladder between the Series 5 ($119) and Series 7 ($179), helping Oral-B capture buyers at every price point.

From a consumer perspective, this approach is actually consumer-friendly. You are not forced to pay for a travel case if you do not want one, and those who do can get exactly what they need.

Pros and Cons

Who Should Buy the iO Series 6?

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