HiSmile Electric Toothbrush Review: Separating Social Media Hype from Reality

The HiSmile Brand Story

HiSmile launched in 2014 as an Australian teeth-whitening brand, starting with at-home LED whitening kits. The company quickly became a social media phenomenon, partnering with high-profile influencers and celebrities including Kylie Jenner, Conor McGregor, and thousands of micro-influencers across TikTok and Instagram. The brand's pastel-colored, photogenic products were designed to look good in social media content, and the strategy worked brilliantly from a marketing perspective.

The electric toothbrush is a natural extension of HiSmile's product line, positioned as part of a complete oral care routine alongside their whitening products, toothpaste, and mouthwash. However, HiSmile's background is in cosmetic whitening rather than dental health technology, and that distinction matters when evaluating their electric toothbrush.

Design: Where HiSmile Shines

If you judge a toothbrush by its appearance, HiSmile deserves high marks. The sleek, minimalist design comes in several on-trend colors, and the packaging has the premium, unboxing-ready quality that social media brands have perfected. The handle feels good in hand, with clean lines and a matte finish that looks at home on any bathroom counter or in any Instagram flat lay.

The USB-C charging is a genuinely welcome feature that most established brands still lack (many Oral-B and Sonicare models use proprietary charging bases). Being able to charge your toothbrush with the same cable as your phone is a practical convenience, especially for travel.

Cleaning Performance: Where HiSmile Falls Short

Here's where the honest assessment gets uncomfortable for HiSmile fans. The sonic motor in the HiSmile brush delivers vibrations that feel noticeably weaker than comparably priced options from Oral-B, Sonicare, or even BURST. The cleaning sensation is gentle to the point of being underwhelming, especially for users who have experience with more established electric toothbrush brands.

The three cleaning modes (Clean, Sensitive, Whitening) offer minimal differentiation. The Whitening mode is particularly misleading: no electric toothbrush can whiten teeth through vibration alone. True whitening requires chemical agents (like hydrogen peroxide) that are separate from the physical cleaning process. The "whitening" mode on the HiSmile is simply a slightly different vibration pattern, not a whitening treatment.

The soft bristles are gentle on gums, which is positive for people with sensitivity, but the trade-off is reduced effectiveness on stubborn plaque. Users with healthy gums and normal plaque levels may find the brush adequate, but anyone needing thorough plaque removal will be better served by more powerful alternatives.

HiSmile vs. The Competition at $50-60

The comparison table tells the story clearly. For less money, both Oral-B and Sonicare offer stronger cleaning, pressure sensors to protect your gums, and the ADA Seal of Acceptance. HiSmile's advantages are purely aesthetic: better design and USB-C charging. If dental health is your priority, the established brands win decisively.

The Whitening Question

Many people discover HiSmile through their whitening products and then purchase the toothbrush as part of the ecosystem. If you're already invested in HiSmile's whitening toothpaste and mouthwash, adding their brush creates a cohesive routine. However, any sonic toothbrush will work equally well with HiSmile's whitening toothpaste, so brand loyalty shouldn't drive the toothbrush decision.

For actual whitening benefits, the toothbrush itself matters less than the products you use with it and your professional dental care. A better strategy is buying a powerful electric toothbrush from Oral-B or Sonicare and pairing it with whatever whitening toothpaste you prefer.

Who Should Buy HiSmile

HiSmile is best for people who prioritize aesthetics and brand identity in their oral care products, want USB-C charging convenience, or are already loyal to the HiSmile ecosystem. If having a beautiful toothbrush motivates you to brush more consistently, there's genuine value in that, since the best toothbrush is the one you actually use.

However, if you're primarily motivated by dental health outcomes and value for money, there are objectively better options at the same price point or lower.