Suri Core 1.0 Review

Design

• Lightweight handle that comes in a choice between four colours
• White brush head has medium/soft bristles
• Comes with magnetic mount and wireless charger

Prior to using the Suri Core 1.0, I don’t think I ever considered whether my toothbrush was stylish. My previous toothbrush was a manual, bamboo number that I kept in a wonky ceramic mug I made in a pottery class, so clearly I don’t have a particular style. 

Even so, I can appreciate that the Core 1.0 undoubtedly looks nice enough. It comes in a choice of four colours, including Haze (Green), Ember (Orange), Nightfall (Blue) and Moonrise (Grey), with my review unit the latter, more muted shade. While I do quite like the more eye-catching Ember or Nightfall shades, Moonrise matches better with the white brush head. 

Unlike the Suri Pro 2.0 which matches the brush head’s colour to its base, all Core 1.0 will come with a white brush head, regardless of the shade of base you choose. 

The brush itself is lightweight at around 62g, and is comfortable and easy to hold, even for someone who didn’t previously use an electric toothbrush. On the base is a button that allows you to select between two different modes, with one being a more gentle clean, and locks the device when you’re travelling. 

Otherwise, the Suri 1.0 Core also comes with a discrete charge stand, a plant-based head cover to protect the bristles when travelling and a magnetic mount.   

Of course, the most important aspect of the Suri 1.0 Core is its brush head. Unlike Oral-B alternatives, the 1.0 Core has a slim, oblong head shape that feels more like a manual toothbrush. You can only choose one level of firmness with the bristles, even when you’re buying replacement heads, which is medium-soft. I actually found this more on the soft side which made me feel as if my teeth weren’t quite as clean as my usual manual brush would do – but I’ll go into more details about this later.

Features

• Sonic vibration brush head
• Pressure sensor noticeably vibrates when you brush too hard
• Built-in two minute timer
• Brush heads can be sent back to Suri for free recycling

At its heart, the 1.0 Core is fitted with sonic technology that promises up to 28,000 sonic vibrations. This motion, according to Suri, lifts away plaque and also creates “tiny bubbles around your teeth and gums” that promise to clean beyond where the bristles can reach. 

There’s also a timer that automatically stops the toothbrush after two minutes to make sure you brush for the dentist-approved amount of time. In addition, there’s a pressure sensor that detects when you brush too hard and will pulse to notify you.

Once it’s time to replace your brush head (which should be around every three months), you can send your used ones for recycling with Suri’s prepaid mailer bag which can be requested by contacting Suri’s support team or buying a set of brush heads. You can also send your used brush heads to Suri’s freepost address, simply by writing “Freepost Suri” on any envelope. I haven’t tried this myself, but it’s definitely good to have a fallback option.

Performance

• Felt more gentle/less powerful than I expected
• Pressure sensor works well
• Promise of up to 27 days of battery life in-between charges

Overall, I’ve found that the 1.0 Core’s movement felt less powerful than Suri’s “28,000 sonic vibrations” claim would suggest. I started with its more gentle mode and that made me feel as if my teeth hadn’t been brushed properly – a less than ideal way to start my day. Even on the more powerful setting, once the two-minute timer is finished I feel that I need to restart it to give my teeth another quick once over. 

I should disclaim that I am a touch over-zealous when it comes to brushing my teeth, and have been berated by dentists for brushing too hard. Maybe I’ve conditioned myself to connect tougher brushing with a deeper clean, but I have found myself feeling that the Suri 1.0 Core isn’t quite as powerful as I’d have expected. The Pro model promises up to 32,000 vibrations, which perhaps might suit me and other fellow intense brushers better.

Speaking of being a keen brusher, the pressure sensor does a good job at nudging me when I push down too hard. It does this by giving a few strong pulses, which is good wake-up if you tend to zone out when brushing. 

One good thing about the more gentle overall brush is that it suits veneers, bridges and the like. I myself have two bridges (basically two fake teeth that are attached to my actual teeth) plus have wiring that binds my front teeth together and never felt the toothbrush was too harsh. Plus, I imagine if you have particularly sensitive teeth then you’ll appreciate the more gentle brushing on offer here.

Suri promises the 1.0 Core will see up to 27 days of battery life. I charged the toothbrush when I first got it, as per Suri’s instructions, and have used it at least twice daily for just over two weeks now, and it’s still going strong.

Should you buy it?