Review (5/5): great alternative to pricey rechargeable models w/ sealed battery compartments
I had a $120 Sonicare system that came complete with power brush handle, charging base, sonicare brush heads & it was great up until the sealed unit/non user replaceable batteries/designed to be thrown away power brush handles died/wouldn't hold a charge. The sonicare brush system itself is great & I noticed an improvement in my teeth & gum health along with the use of a WaterPik, but the non user replaceble power brush handles made me not want to buy another Sonicare system again. Phillips Sonicare just tells you to throw them out when they don't hold a charge. Same with their Phillips/Norelco Shavers, but those at least I can use plugged in/corded after the internal rechargeable battery dies & it's no longer "cordless"
The Phillips Sonicare battery operated toothbrush is the best of both worlds. You get your Sonicare powered toothbrush system, it uses standard AA batteries, & Sonicare E-series brush heads which I usually get a 6 pack at Costco when they have the $9-10 off coupon promotions making it about $40/6 E-series brush heads (locally at drug stores, its $12-18). Now the best part, since it uses Standard AA batteries, I just buy high numbered mAh rechargeable batteries designed for high drain/power usage so I basically have a rechargeable Sonicare brush head system that won't go obsolete when the batteries die (user replaceable & not sealed like the Sonicare systems with sealed power brush handles & charger bases)...
I read reviews of it getting wet inside the battery compartment before purchasing & haven't experienced that. I make sure to face the handle down so gravity & running water would make the water go towards the top/brush head & not the bottom base/battery cover compartment. Haven't had any issues with corrosion, water getting inside the battery compartment, or inside the unit.
I use my UV sanitizer for the brush heads which came with my previous system.
All in all awesome, like my previous $120 system, but w/o the non replaceable batteries. I've used it daily for about a year or so without any issues & it performed about the same as my $120 sonicare system, minus the quad pacer timer, low battery/charge warning, and of course charger base.. but what I have right now is basically the same thing.. a rechargeable sonicare toothbrush system... it's not as convenient to recharge as just docking it on the charger base, but if you buy high mAh batteries, you really don't have to charge that often.. I get at least 2 weeks between charges with 3200 mAh Panasonic batteries designed to work with digital cameras & other high drain/power consumption electronics & toys.
Amazon had it for almost half than what Target & local retailers sold it for at the time. Great purchase & I don't miss much from the rechargeable all in 1 packaged systems.