Laifen Wave Electric Toothbrush review: the iPhone of toothbrushes is finally here

It’s no secret that the best electric toothbrushes will give your pearly whites a far superior clean than a manual toothbrush (but you can read our manual brushing vs electric toothbrush breakdown if you still need convincing).

Less plaque, healthier gums, and fresher breath are just a few of the benefits, but it’s also true that electric toothbrushes are way better for whitening. The only downside, of course, is that they come with a far heftier price tag than their manual counterparts which only cost couple of quid rather than hundreds of pounds. And while some argue that electric toothbrushes are a necessity rather than a luxury, it’s not always that easy to splash the cash when you’re on a budget. 

Thank heavens then for the clever people at personal care appliances brand Laifen who - following on from the success of their award-winning Laifen SE High-Speed hair dryer - have recently ventured into the world of oral care with the launch of the Laifen Wave: a powerful dual-action electric toothbrush that offers three-times brushing efficiency for a very affordable price. Want to know more? Let’s get into it.

LAIFEN WAVE ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH REVIEW: PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

The Laifen Wave Electric Toothbrush is currently available from Laifen EU / Laifen US, as well as selected third party retailers including Amazon UK / Amazon US.

Available in three different colours, prices vary depending on the finish you choose. The cheapest option is the ABS White Plastic version at €79.99 / $69.99; the Aluminium Alloy costs €89.99 / $79.99; and the premium Stainless Steel option costs €99.99 / $99.99. We tested both the ABS White Plastic and Aluminium Alloy designs for this review.

LAIFEN WAVE ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH REVIEW: UNBOXING AND SET-UP

There’s no doubt about it: I got genuine ‘unboxing my new iPhone’ vibes when I opened the Laifen Wave – and it got me super excited. It can’t be an accident that every aspect of the packaging – from the peel-off sealing strips that helped me gain entry to the white, 90%+ recyclable cardboard packaging, to the square instruction booklets with rounded edges and coiled-up charging cable – is reminiscent of opening an iPhone.

Looks aside, you get a toothbrush handle inside the box, a packet containing three different types of brush head, an instruction manual, a magnetic fast-charging Type-A power cable you can plug into a USB port, and a USB-A power adapter (you don’t get an adapter in the US, and I believe the magnetic cable is a USB-C).

Setting up is simple when following the Quick Start guide. My Wave arrived fully charged, as indicated by a solid green light on the handle, but if yours isn’t, you’ll need to charge it first.

To turn on the device for the first time, you have to long-press the on/off button for two seconds to disable the flight mode. Next, remove the protective cover from the motor shaft before popping on your chosen brush head, then press the on/off button once to turn it on, and then quickly press it twice to select your chosen brushing mode out of three (the toothbrush has a default brushing duration of two minutes).

Connecting to the simple companion app also lets you customise your settings much further, including setting up 30 second increment notifications. But if you don’t connect to the app, you’ll still have an electric toothbrush that performs exceedingly well regardless.

LAIFEN WAVE ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH REVIEW: DESIGN

Available in three finishes of Stainless Steel, Aluminium Alloy and ABS White Plastic, the Wave’s handle has a seamless build with zero gaps to prevent dirt and debris from accumulating. 

Smooth to the touch, the single-piece design is key to the toothbrush’s 1PX7 waterproof rating, meaning you can submerge it in water up to 1m for 30 minutes without causing damage (you know, in case you drop it in the bath, or just want to give it a really good rinse).

Indeed, it turns out Laifen is the first company to utilise nano molding technology in an electric toothbrush - a process commonly employed in flagship smartphones - to create a secure bond between the outer shell and the internal structure for amazing stability and durability. 

Sleek and sophisticated, the Wave boasts a modern design that will look great in any bathroom, with one pressure-sensitive button for users to easily switch through the three different modes - indicated by three lights near the top of the handle – plus a clear yet discreet light lower down to show whether you’re in Flight Mode or not.

Another light indicates the battery life by blinking green when charging, shining solid green when it’s between 50-100%, shining yellow below 50%, shining red below 20%, and blinking red when the battery is below 10%. Equipped with a long-lasting Dual Lithium-on high-energy battery system that rapidly charges in just 2.5 hours, a single charge lasts up to 30 days when used twice a day for two minute each time, making it ideal for travel.

Despite being packed with the latest tech (there’s more coming, believe me), the streamlined, compact handle stands at a mere 12cm tall - minus the motor shaft for attaching the brush heads to – again making it easy to travel with. The handle also features an ergonomically rounded, 45° angle edge at the top so it’s comfy to hold, too.

The handle is lightweight, although the weight does increase slightly as the finish gets pricier and more premium: the ABS White Plastic weighs 135.3g; the Aluminium Alloy weighs 151.4g; and the Stainless Steel weighs 163.4g. But whatever the finish, you’ll always get low-noise level of 55db, which makes the Wave gentle on the ears.

Finally, the Wave comes with three distinct antibacterial brush heads - Gum Care, Super-Clean, and Ultra-Whitening - each uniquely designed to suit specific needs and shaped to clean the contours of the teeth while easily reaching deep into the gaps between teeth. 

The Gum Care brush has ultra-fine 0.02mm tapered bristles that provide a powerful deep clean while still protecting the gums, and the Ultra-Whitening and Super-Clean brushes use DuPont-manufactured nylon bristles with a 90% rounding rate and a diamond design to efficiently polish and whiten teeth.

Each of the incredibly petite brush heads are made using the industry’s most advanced copper-free tufting process, which allows for a more compact design while inhibiting bacterial growth, and features a metal counterweight on the back of the brush head to help eliminate motor shaft vibrations for more stable oscillations that are gum-friendly and quiet. 

It’s worth noting that the brush heads have a lifespan that lasts for three months of regular use, but affordable replacement brush heads are available to buy in packs of three for €9.99/$9.99.

LAIFEN WAVE ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH REVIEW: FEATURES

Make no mistake, the Laifen Wave is ridiculously powerful with its proprietary high-response servo system that integrates leading motor power technology into electric toothbrushes for the first time. 

Unlike the regular sonic vibration motors found in many electric toothbrushes that can only reach 2 watts, the Wave’s servo system can generate a whopping 6.1 watts for an increase in brushing efficiency that’s three times more powerful.  

Moreover, the groundbreaking dual-action functionality combines an industry-leading 60° ultra-wide oscillation range with high-frequency vibrations – up to 66,000 per minute, which is more than double that of other brands and is the highest available on the market - for effortless brushing in a vertical motion to deeply clean teeth while simultaneously protecting the gums.

The 60° oscillation angle is three times wider than other brands, which allows for wider vertical movements that can clean hard-to-reach areas of the mouth. This action also aligns with the dentist-recommended Bass brushing technique for complete oral health, where you hold your toothbrush parallel to your teeth, tilt the brush to a 45°, and angle the brush so the bristles are slightly under the gumline.

To cater for consumer’s differing brushing habits and individual oral hygiene needs, Laifen provides an intuitive companion app for further customisation options. Simple to use, this is where you can turn on timing reminders and switch the Flight Mode function on or off, as well as adjust the brushing duration between one and five minutes. 

Additionally, you can individually customise the three modes on the toothbrush across three different settings - Vibration Strength, Oscillation Range, and Oscillation Speed – and ten levels of intensity/range for a personalised brushing experience. With the High-Frequency Mode enabled, you can go ever higher (levels 11 to 20) if you’re feeling brave.

Finally, there’s a Lift to Wake function that awakens the toothbrush out of its battery-conserving Sleep Mode when you pick it up, while the Flight Mode – which can be turned on and off by long pressing the pressure sensitive button for two seconds, or by using the app – ensures you’ll never accidently activate the toothbrush during travel or drain the battery.

LAIFEN WAVE ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH REVIEW: PERFORMANCE

I don’t think I’ve ever been bowled over by an electric toothbrush before, but the Laifen Wave has changed all that. The power it generates is mind blowing, and from the very first use, it left my teeth felt exceptionally clean and incredibly smooth in comparison to my big brand electric toothbrush that cost more than double the price.

Indeed, it’s so powerful, I only ever used it on the first or second modes in their prescribed factory settings because the third mode is teeth-clatteringly strong. But the good news is the handle features several shock-dampening features to reduce the vibrations to your hand.

For myself, I decided to adjust the three modes to suit the three different types of brush head for those occasions when I wanted to switch up my brushing. Therefore, I kept the first mode on gentler settings when using the Gum Care brush head, and increased the vibrations for the Super-Clean (mode two) and Ultra-Whitening brush head (mode three).

I definitely enjoyed being able to fully customise and control the power and oscillation range to suit my brush heads, and found the app really easy to navigate. And, once you’ve set things up to your liking, you’ll only need to return to the app to turn the Flight Mode on and off, which is a genius touch.

Don’t get me wrong, it took me a few days to get used to the pressure-sensitive on/off button and the way I had to double-tap my way through the modes, but it became second nature within a week. 

A few reviewers have complained about the pressure-sensitive button being tricky to control, and that they found the brush heads hard to remove and pop back on. I honestly don’t know what they’re talking about, and I’d advise those people to fully read the instruction manual so they know how to work it properly (the brush heads have to be correctly aligned with the motor shaft to put them on easily).

Equally, I don’t know what they’re referring to when they say the handle is slippery when wet. I’ve never had an issue with either of the handle finishes I’ve used, and only found them to be compact and therefore comfortable to hold. It’s also a doddle to keep the handle squeaky clean because there’s nowhere for toothpaste to get trapped.

I love the long battery life, the super-fast charging, and the powerfully magnetic power cable that connects with a satisfyingly snappy click, plus the fact I can charge the toothbrush through a USB port. While it’s not an issue for me, I can see why some would prefer a stand or charging brick, but I’m personally fine with resting the brush on its side while it’s charging (it’s not like the brush head goes anywhere near the surface).

The real game-changer for me, however, is the extremely petite brush heads - and the 60° oscillation behind them. The brush heads are so small, they glide very easily around the mouth and comfortably tackle hard-to-reach areas, especially at the back of the mouth.

And, thanks to the oscillating action, you really do only need to glide the brush head over your teeth, because it completely removes the need to perform that ‘up and down’ motion and does the hard work for you. The results, especially around the gumline, feel incredible, and the clean feeling lasts all day.

In conclusion, the Laifen Wave might not have the AI capability of some priciest electric toothbrush brands, and it might not be able to tell you when you’re pressing too hard, or analyse your brushing technique. But it does firmly put the power – and the power to control it - in your hands.

LAIFEN WAVE ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH REVIEW: VERDICT

The Laifen Wave Electric Toothbrush boasts industry-leading oral health tech for a budget price we think is hard to beat. With it’s dual-action combination of 60° oscillations and high-frequency vibrations - plus a monster of a motor that delivers 3x increased brushing efficacy - you’ll enjoy deeply clean, whiter teeth and healthier gums every time you switch it on.

Quiet, compact, and lightweight, its sleek design is comfortable and easy to use, as is the companion app for customising the oscillation and vibration levels. Brownie points go to the 30-day battery life, super-fast charging capabilities, and Flight Mode option to save on power (and embarrassment). You won’t be disappointed.