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Philips Sonicare 4100 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush HX3681 review

No. 10 of 10 in our electric toothbrushes ranking · Updated · How we rank

Our verdict: The Philips Sonicare 4100 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush HX3681 ranks 10th of the 10 electric toothbrushes we compare, with 8.4 out of 10.

Philips Sonicare 4100 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush HX3681

8.4/10

The Philips Sonicare 4100 HX3681 is a rechargeable sonic toothbrush with a pressure sensor and a two-minute timer. It suits people moving up from a manual brush who want the basics from a familiar brand.

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Why it's here

  • Pressure sensor and a two-minute Smartimer
  • Slim, light handle with a gentle sonic feel
  • Heads are easy to find at US retailers

Keep in mind

  • One cleaning mode, with only two intensity settings
  • No travel case in the box
  • Charging base uses a USB-A plug, not USB-C

Why the Philips Sonicare HX3681 scores 8.4

Each bar shows where it places among the 10 electric toothbrushes in this guide, so a full bar is 1st of 10. How happy owners are counts for most of the score.

  • How happy owners are10th of 10
  • How many rated it4th of 10
  • How new it is6th of 10

Level with the Waterpik Sensonic Electric Toothbrush STW-03

The Waterpik Sensonic Electric Toothbrush STW-03 and the Philips Sonicare 4100 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush HX3681 score the same, so either is a safe pick. The Waterpik Sensonic Electric Toothbrush STW-03 goes first because it is the newer design. The Philips Sonicare 4100 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush HX3681 has been rated by more owners.

About the Philips Sonicare HX3681

The Sonicare 4100 is Philips' entry-level rechargeable sonic brush. Its core feature is a pressure sensor: when you press too hard, the handle gives a pulsing sound and reduces vibration, which Philips says helps protect your gums.

Two timers pace the session. The SmarTimer runs for two minutes, and the QuadPacer signals every 30 seconds so you spend equal time on each quarter of your mouth. Philips says the brush is clinically proven to remove up to 7x more plaque than a manual toothbrush, based on two two-minute brushings a day on standard mode.

Philips lists a 14-day battery life. It charges from a USB charger that comes in the box, with a light on the handle showing battery status. A travel case is not included. The handle is slim, and the brush takes Philips Sonicare replacement heads.

What owners report about the Philips Sonicare HX3681

Owner feedback available for this model was limited, so this section is brief.

What came through is that people value the battery, which lasts about as long as Philips says, and the slim handle. Owners moving from a manual brush like the cleaner feel and the timer that keeps them to two minutes.

The complaints are about cost and build. Replacement heads are seen as pricey, and some owners switch to third-party heads that fit. Some find the head small, and some find the pressure alerts too sensitive. A few report the power button failing or the motor getting louder within about a year, though that is a minority view.

Who the Philips Sonicare HX3681 suits

It fits first-time electric brush buyers, anyone with sensitive gums who wants a pressure warning, and people who want a Sonicare with easy-to-find heads and no app or extras.

Look elsewhere if you want several modes, a travel case or USB-C charging. The Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 5100 adds modes and intensity levels, and the kingheroes set and Aquasonic Black Series come with a travel case and extra heads.

Questions about the Philips Sonicare HX3681

How long does the Philips Sonicare 4100 HX3681 battery last?

Up to 14 days on a single charge, according to Philips. A light on the handle shows battery status.

Does the Philips Sonicare 4100 HX3681 have a pressure sensor?

Yes. When you press too hard it gives a pulsing sound and reduces vibration, according to Philips.

What warranty does the Philips Sonicare 4100 HX3681 have?

Philips lists a 2-year warranty on its product page. Check the warranty terms for conditions.

How long is the brushing timer on the Philips Sonicare 4100 HX3681?

Two minutes. The SmarTimer tracks the full session and the QuadPacer signals every 30 seconds so you move to the next quarter of your mouth.

What is the difference between the HX3681/23 and the other HX3681 versions?

The suffix after HX3681 is a regional or color code, such as /23, /24 or /26. The page for another color lists the same battery life and timers, but check the code on the listing to confirm the exact version.

Other electric toothbrush picks

The other badge winners in our electric toothbrushes ranking.

All 10 electric toothbrushes, compared

  1. 1 COSLUS C30 Electric Toothbrush for AdultsBest Choice 9.0 Check Price
  2. 2 7AM2M Sonic Electric Toothbrush for Adults, Type-C Charging 9.0 Check Price
  3. 3 Oral-B Pro 1000 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush 8.9 Check Price
  4. 4 Aquasonic Black Series Ultra Whitening Toothbrush 8.9 Check Price
  5. 5 Philips Sonicare 5300 Rechargeable Electric ToothbrushBest Premium 8.9 Check Price
  6. 6 Philips Sonicare 1100 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush 8.7 Check Price
  7. 7 Oral-B iO Series 5 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush 8.7 Check Price
  8. 8 Oral-B iO Series 4 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush 8.4 Check Price
  9. 9 Waterpik Sensonic Electric Toothbrush STW-03 8.4 Check Price
  10. 10 Philips Sonicare 4100 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush HX3681This review 8.4 Check Price
See the full electric toothbrushes ranking

The Philips Sonicare HX3681 on Amazon

Philips Sonicare 4100 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush HX3681

The Philips Sonicare 4100 HX3681 is a rechargeable sonic toothbrush with a pressure sensor and a two-minute timer. 8.4 out of 10.

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How we score it

Every score here comes from our ranking model; no editor sets the order. Too few review sites cover electric toothbrushes for their verdicts to lead, so this ranking is led by owners. It ranks products by how happy owners are, holding back any product few owners have rated until more agree. How many rated it and how new it is only settle close calls, and value for money earns its own badge rather than a higher place. We compared 20 models for this guide before settling on these ten.

Brands can't pay to be included or to move up. We last checked these picks in November 2026.

How we rank, in full

Where these facts come from