Oral-B iO Series 8 Review: Color Display Premium

Specifications

Where the Series 8 Fits

The iO Series 8 occupies an interesting but somewhat awkward position in the Oral-B lineup. It sits between the popular Series 7 ($179) and the flagship Series 9 ($299), offering a color OLED display as its primary upgrade over the Series 7 while lacking the full 3D tracking capabilities of the Series 9. At $219, it asks you to pay a meaningful premium for visual polish.

The color OLED display is genuinely impressive. Unlike the black-and-white screen on the Series 7, the Series 8's display shows vibrant, colorful animations and graphics. Mode selection is displayed in full color with intuitive icons. The timer countdown is more visually engaging with colored progress bars. The smiley face at the end of a session is animated and colorful. It sounds trivial, but in practice, the color display makes the brushing experience feel more premium and engaging.

Six Cleaning Modes

The Series 8 adds a sixth cleaning mode — Tongue Cleaning — to the five modes shared by the Series 5, 6, and 7. Here is the complete list:

• Daily Clean — Standard everyday mode
• Intense Clean — Higher intensity for deeper cleaning
• Whiten — Polishing action for surface stain removal
• Sensitive — Reduced intensity for tender gums
• Super Sensitive — Gentlest mode available
• Tongue Cleaning — Optimized speed and pattern for cleaning the tongue surface

The Tongue Cleaning mode is a nice addition for people who include tongue brushing in their routine (and dentists generally recommend it for reducing bacteria that cause bad breath). Whether this single extra mode justifies the price difference from the Series 7 is debatable. Most people use their toothbrush on their tongue briefly during the Whiten or Daily Clean mode anyway.

AI Tracking and App Experience

Like the Series 7, the Series 8 includes AI-powered brushing recognition through the Oral-B app. The motion sensors in the brush detect which areas of your mouth you are cleaning, and the app provides real-time feedback showing covered and missed zones. This is the same zone-based tracking as the Series 7, not the more advanced 3D mapping available on the Series 9.

The app experience is otherwise identical across all Bluetooth-enabled iO models: session tracking, brushing scores, pressure monitoring, head replacement reminders, and routine customization. The Series 8 does not unlock any exclusive app features.

Battery and Build

Battery life on the Series 8 is approximately 12 days with twice-daily 2-minute sessions, a modest improvement over the 10 days offered by the Series 5 through 7. This places it between the mid-range models and the flagship Series 9 at 14 days. In practice, the difference means a day or two more between charges, which is nice but not transformative.

Build quality matches the premium positioning. The handle has a refined matte finish, feels substantial but not heavy, and is available in multiple color options. The included travel case is well-made and protects the brush during transit.

The Awkward Middle Child

The honest assessment of the Series 8 is that it is a good toothbrush in a difficult position. If you value the color display over the Series 7's black-and-white screen, the $40 upgrade makes sense — but for just $80 more, the Series 9 gives you seven modes instead of six, 3D tracking instead of basic zone tracking, a premium magnetic travel case, and longer battery life. That is a lot more value for an $80 step-up.

Meanwhile, the Series 7 at $179 gives you the OLED display experience and AI tracking at $40 less, with the only sacrifices being color (it is black-and-white) and one fewer mode. For many people, those differences are not worth $40.

Pros and Cons

Who Should Buy the iO Series 8?

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