What is the difference between the Pro 500 and Pro 1000?

The Pro 1000 ($49) adds two critical features: a pressure sensor that alerts you when you brush too hard, and pulsating action (the third dimension of 3D cleaning). The Pro 500 only oscillates and rotates. The $20 difference buys meaningful improvements in gum protection and cleaning effectiveness.

Does the Oral-B Pro 500 have a pressure sensor?

No. The Pro 500 does not have a pressure sensor. This is a significant limitation since brushing too hard can cause gum recession and enamel damage. If protecting your gums matters, the Pro 1000 at $49 adds this essential safety feature.

Is the Oral-B Pro 500 better than the Vitality?

Slightly. The Pro 500 has better battery life (7 days vs 5) and a marginally improved motor. Both lack a pressure sensor and pulsating action. The $4 difference is minimal, so the Pro 500 is the better choice between the two, but both are outclassed by the Pro 1000.

Oral-B Pro 500 Review: A Step Above Vitality

Bottom Line: The Oral-B Pro 500 ($29) is a marginal improvement over the Vitality with better battery life, but it still lacks a pressure sensor and pulsating action. We strongly recommend spending $20 more on the Pro 1000 for features that genuinely protect your oral health.

Specifications

Price	~$29
Technology	Oscillating-Rotating (no pulsating)
Cleaning Modes	1 (Daily Clean)
Battery Life	~7 days (14 sessions)
Pressure Sensor	No
Timer	Yes (2-minute with 30-second pacer)
App Connectivity	No
Display	No
Brush Head Type	Standard Oral-B
Charger	Pin-style charging stand
Travel Case	No

Where the Pro 500 Fits

The Oral-B Pro 500 sits between the $25 Vitality and the $49 Pro 1000, offering a small step up from the cheapest model without reaching the feature set that makes the Pro 1000 so highly recommended. Like the Vitality, it uses basic oscillating-rotating technology without the third dimension of pulsating movement. And like the Vitality, it lacks a pressure sensor.

The improvements over the Vitality are real but modest: better battery life (7 days versus 5), a slightly more refined motor, and the addition of a 30-second quadrant pacer within the 2-minute timer. These are nice but not transformative. The fundamental limitations — no pressure sensor, no pulsating — remain.

Cleaning Performance

The Pro 500 cleans teeth effectively for its price point. The oscillating-rotating action of the round brush head provides better plaque removal than a manual toothbrush, reaching between teeth and along the gumline more effectively than manual brushing strokes. The 2-minute timer with quadrant alerts helps ensure you spend adequate time in each section of your mouth.

Without pulsating action, the Pro 500 relies solely on the rotation to break up and sweep away plaque. The Pro 1000 adds thousands of pulsations per minute that push the bristles against the tooth surface, loosening plaque before the rotation removes it. Clinical studies show that the oscillating-rotating-pulsating combination removes more plaque than oscillating-rotating alone, which is why the $20 step up to the Pro 1000 is consistently recommended.

The $20 Question

The Pro 500 exists in an uncomfortable middle ground. At $29, it saves you just $20 compared to the Pro 1000, but that $20 buys two significant features: a pressure sensor and pulsating technology. The pressure sensor alone can prevent gum damage that costs hundreds or thousands to repair at the dentist. The pulsating action improves cleaning effectiveness measurably.

We have a hard time recommending the Pro 500 when the Pro 1000 exists at $49. It is like buying the basic model of a car that lacks airbags when the next model up with airbags costs only slightly more. The savings just do not justify what you give up.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Affordable at $29
Better than a manual toothbrush
7-day battery (better than Vitality)
2-minute timer with quadrant pacer
Uses affordable standard Oral-B heads

Cons

No pressure sensor — gum risk
No pulsating action — weaker cleaning
Only $20 less than the far better Pro 1000
No display, no app
Basic plastic build

Who Should Buy the Pro 500?

Best For:

Budget buyers who absolutely cannot stretch to $49 for the Pro 1000
Secondary brushes for guest bathrooms or travel
Kids/teens who need an inexpensive starter brush

Strongly Recommend Instead:

The Pro 1000 at $49 — pressure sensor and pulsating action for $20 more
The Vitality at $25 — if you absolutely want the lowest price, save $4 more

Compare to Similar Models

Feature	Pro 500	Vitality	Pro 1000
Price	$29	$25	$49
Technology	Osc-Rotating	Osc-Rotating	Osc-Rot-Pulsating
Pressure Sensor	No	No	Yes
Battery	~7 days	~5 days	~7 days
Quadrant Pacer	Yes	No	Yes

Related Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

The Pro 1000 adds a pressure sensor and pulsating action for $20 more. These features meaningfully improve gum protection and cleaning effectiveness. The Pro 500 only oscillates and rotates.

No. The Pro 500 lacks a pressure sensor. The Pro 1000 at $49 is the cheapest Oral-B with this important gum-protection feature.

Slightly. The Pro 500 has 7-day battery (vs 5) and a quadrant pacer. Both lack a pressure sensor and pulsating. The $4 difference is minimal. Both are outclassed by the Pro 1000.