Dyson CameraJet review: A clever concept with some everyday frustrations

I think the entire world did a double take when Dyson announced its first-ever electric toothbrush last month. The brand has built its reputation on hair tools and air products, so a toothbrush with a built-in camera and liquid-flossing system was certainly an unexpected move. That said, Dyson knows how to get people talking, and despite the price tag, I was curious enough to try it for myself.

I've actually held off publishing this review for a while, partly because of the issues people have been reporting online. I've had no functional problems with my own CameraJet after a month of use, but Bloomberg has reported that Dyson is preparing a new batch. So, whilst my experience has been trouble-free, it's worth keeping that wider picture in mind.

Here's what it's like to live with the CameraJet, and whether I'd spend this much on a toothbrush again.

Price and availability

One of the biggest talking points is, naturally, the price. The Dyson CameraJet costs £419.99 in the UK or $499.99 in the US, but you do get a fair bit in the box, including two brush heads, a 400ml bottle of low-foaming mouthrinse and low-foaming toothpaste. The two brush heads alone would otherwise cost £25 or $29.99.

You can buy the CameraJet directly from Dyson, although stock seems to come and go, so it's worth checking John Lewis and Currys as well. There are two finishes to choose from – Ceramic Ultra Blue and Ceramic Pink – both of which have an unmistakable Dyson look.

Unboxing and set up

The CameraJet's setup process isn't complicated, but it does take a little more effort than a typical electric toothbrush.

After unboxing and attaching one of the brush heads, I unwound the USB-C cable from the base of the charging dock, connected it to a power adapter and plugged it into a wall socket. A green LED light on the base came on, and a setup animation appeared on the toothbrush's screen. My first full charge took around three hours, so it's worth giving it some time before your first proper brush.

Whilst it was charging, I filled the integrated mouthrinse reservoir in the dock with the low-foaming mouthrinse. You simply press the small button on top, and it stops automatically once the reservoir is full. You can also fill the magnetic mouthrinse tank directly on the toothbrush, but you'll need to top it up fairly regularly.

I'll get into the app shortly, but setup and connecting the toothbrush are straightforward too, especially if you're already familiar with the MyDyson app. Just follow the on-screen prompts, and you'll be connected in no time.

Design and features

The CameraJet is essentially Dyson's attempt to combine three steps of oral care – brushing, flossing and rinsing – into one device. The headline feature is a built-in 100,000-pixel macro camera that uses AI to identify the gaps between your teeth. It's a strange thing to get used to, but it's also what sets the CameraJet apart from anything else on the market.

The camera works with Dyson's Gap Optical Targeting technology, which scans 28 images per second to identify the gaps between teeth. When it spots one, the toothbrush can fire a targeted jet of mouthrinse within 100 milliseconds. A specialised lens widens the camera's field of view, whilst LED Dome Technology is designed to disperse the liquid without blocking the camera's view.

The CameraJet's built-in 12.5ml mouthrinse tank has an anti-gravity design, meaning it uses an expanding diaphragm rather than a straw to keep the liquid flowing. That means it can still deliver mouthrinse whether you're holding the brush upright, tilting it or awkwardly reaching around your back teeth.

The tank is designed to hold enough mouthrinse for a cleaning session, but we'll get into this more shortly.

That liquid-flossing system is the other big difference. Rather than firing a needle-like stream like some water flossers, the CameraJet uses a wider, conical jet. Dyson says this is designed to sweep away more plaque in one burst, whilst using lower pressure to be gentler on gums and enamel.

The brush head itself has two types of bristles, shaped to follow the contours of your teeth. The firmer inner bristles are designed to lift surface stains, whilst softer outer bristles clean along the gumline. There's also a silicone-backed sonic dampener, which is intended to make brushing feel gentler and reduce noise.

Each brush head has an RFID tag, so the toothbrush can recognise it, keep track of how many cleaning sessions it's completed and tell you when it's time for a replacement. If you have sensitive teeth or gums, there's a separate sensitive brush head available, and you can also choose between three brushing intensities – Gentle, Variable and Deep Clean.

The CameraJet also has an automatic mode that jets mouthrinse as you brush, or a manual mode for when you'd rather control the jet yourself. Onboard sensors provide feedback as you go, letting you know when to move to another part of your mouth or adjust your technique.

App

As mentioned, the CameraJet connects to the MyDyson app, so there’s no need to download a separate app just for your toothbrush. You can view a live feed of the inside of your mouth on your phone, whilst the app offers guided cleaning, how-to videos, brushing and flossing insights, coverage maps and personalised feedback showing where you’ve cleaned well and where you’ve missed spots.

Dyson says the camera only activates during live viewing or automatic jetting, and that images aren’t recorded or stored on the toothbrush or in the cloud. You can also opt out of personalised oral care insights if you’d rather keep things private there too.

I was disappointed that you can’t use live viewing and guided cleaning at the same time. Once you learn what the different vibrations mean, it’s easier to follow the toothbrush’s feedback, but having to choose between the camera and guided mode feels like an unnecessary compromise. On the live view, the lens does get blocked every now and then, but this is easily amended by shifting the toothrbush around.

Otherwise, the app works really well, and I particularly liked being able to check the battery status so I knew when the toothbrush was fully charged.

Performance

The CameraJet is one of the most controversial products I've reviewed in a while, but its cleaning performance is where Dyson really gets things right. My teeth have felt noticeably cleaner since I started using it, and the combination of brushing, flossing and real-time feedback delivers a thorough clean whilst helping you improve your technique. For me, this is easily its biggest strength.

That said, there are some fairly significant design flaws that stop me from fully getting on board with it. The first is the dock – its size, the rather over-the-top attempt at a travel case, and the fact that it can't do anything without being plugged into a power outlet.

If you're like me and only have a shaver socket in your bathroom – or no plug at all – you'll need to find somewhere else to keep it, such as your bedroom, and refill the toothbrush there. I'd much prefer to be able to charge the dock and then move it into the bathroom, where it could charge the toothbrush and refill it as needed, but that's not an option. Instead, you're left either keeping the dock plugged in elsewhere in the house and returning the toothbrush to it after every use, or leaving the toothbrush in the bathroom and filling it manually when needed. The latter can be a bit messy, as the small filling hole makes spills fairly easy.

Dyson also makes a big deal of the CameraJet being travel-friendly, thanks to a large acrylic case that fits over the entire dock – but I'm not convinced. I don't know about you, but I don't want to give up that much suitcase space for a toothbrush. You could take just the toothbrush itself and some mouthrinse to refill it, but there's no cap to protect the brush head, leaving it exposed to whatever else is rattling around in your bag. That's not ideal for any toothbrush, let alone one with a built-in camera.

On the plus side, I like both the mouthrinse and toothpaste, and they taste good as well. The spearmint toothpaste is particularly nice, although be prepared for mess as its downward-facing design can cause it to collect around the lid and leak out. You can use your regular toothpaste and mouthrinse with the CameraJet, but Dyson's low-foaming formulas are designed to work best with the brush, so you'll probably get the most out of it by sticking with those.

Brushing with the CameraJet is also messier than I expected. After my first session, I quickly realised that I needed to keep my mouth fully closed whilst brushing, otherwise the mouthrinse jet could end up spraying the mirror. The toothbrush itself can also get messy, as the toothpaste and mouthrinse are more watery than conventional formulas, so liquid can run down the handle and onto your hands. You can learn to avoid some of this with practice, but it's something to be aware of, particularly if you're used to a more traditional electric toothbrush.

In a slightly strange way, the mouthrinse jet is also one of the CameraJet's most satisfying features. There's a small burst of achievement every time it hits the right spot, and over time, you'll start to learn where the gaps in your teeth are. The on-brush feedback helps with this, too, and I appreciate the quick vibrations that let me know when it's time to move on to another area.

Battery life is a strong point, with around two weeks from a full charge. The bigger issue is how often you'll need to refill it – I've realised I have more gaps between my teeth than I thought, and each session used around 1-1.5ml of mouthrinse. That meant topping it up fairly regularly, so I got through the supplied mouthrinse quite quickly, and replacing it could become an ongoing expense if you stick with Dyson's own formulas.

Ultimately, the CameraJet has the makings of a brilliant toothbrush. The cleaning performance is impressive, but a few practical quirks make it more fiddly to use than it should be. I've had no issues with my own unit, though the problems others have reported are hard to ignore. Dyson has some refining to do, but I'm curious to see where it takes this idea next.

Verdict

The CameraJet is a fascinating take on oral care, and after using it for a while, I can see what Dyson is trying to achieve. My teeth feel cleaner, the liquid flossing is satisfying, and the feedback gives you a better idea of how well you're brushing. Unfortunately, the practical side of things doesn't quite live up to the technology. The dock is bulky, having to keep it plugged in is a pain, and the regular refills and messy handling become tiresome over time. My own unit has worked without any issues, but the problems reported by other users are also worth bearing in mind. There's a lot of potential here, but at £420, I'd like to see Dyson iron out these everyday frustrations before I'd fully recommend it.

Alternatives to consider

There's nothing quite like the CameraJet on the market, but if you're after a high-tech toothbrush, I'd also consider the Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9900. Its feedback is built into the handle, helping you see which areas need more attention and which you've already cleaned. Once you're finished, it displays a visual coverage map so you can go back over any missed spots. It can cost a similar amount to the Dyson when it's not on sale, so I'd keep an eye out for a deal.

If the CameraJet has made you question whether you need all this technology in the first place, I'd point you towards the SURI 2.0. It's a slimmer, more minimalist electric toothbrush with sonic cleaning, a pressure sensor and a useful travel case. You don't get the camera, liquid flossing or all the feedback, but you do get a really good clean.