[rogerrogerr]

Re. toothbrush, I have to take the opportunity to give Philips credit for the Sonicare electric toothbrushes they made ~15 years ago. That thing just keeps trucking, it’s incredible. I go on 2 week trips and don’t even bring the charger, and have no worries about it dying.

It must have been crazy overspecced, I expected it to be a 5-year disposable piece of non-serviceable tech.

[rootusrootus]

Yeah I was going to say, I'm at 20 years on a Sonicare (pushing 25 now that I remember it is 2026, damn...) and it still works fine. Holds a charge long enough that I've never run out on vacation.

[xp84]

They are good! Although my wife manages to kill hers every few years, I don't think I've ever actually had one die myself. I also have my original UV sanitizing charger unit that I purchased new circa 2009!

I've found that one can buy just new handles on ebay though, without the head and chargers, for only like half the super high retail prices or less, even for the "higher end" models, so I do that every 5-8 years or so if one gets too bad.

[dzhiurgis]

I saw this posted somewhere too, but my first Sonicare lasted 10 years, next one 5 and last one 2 which also mirrors my experience.

[wwalexander]

If only Philips would support USB-C for their OneBlade electric razors, instead of a USB-A to proprietary figure 8 barrel plug cable.

[renata]

I got a no-name USB adapter for mine and it hasn't killed it in the couple of years I've had it, that's the one I take for travel. You can search for "USB QP2520" to find one.

[morsch]

I know, right. And the other manufacturers are the same, razors/grooming tools that just have a USB C plug are rare to nonexistent. My assumption is that it's down to some regulation regarding waterproofing somewhere. Though of course USB C plugs can be waterproof.

[kurthr]

Part of the reason is that they used NiMH for the batteries in those (I have 3 that are 20-30 years old some predating the Phillips logo). All of mine still work. The NiMH is good for 1000s of deep cycles. The one from the mid 90s is only good for about 15x 2min brushings. Luckily, you can still get new heads for them!

[moffkalast]

Ha I thought mine was on the verge of dying after a good few years of use (amazon reviews were all like, yeah it only lasted a two years), so I ordered a new one, but the old one keeps going so I keep the new one in reserve looming over it menacingly, and it just refuses to kick it lol.

[sudobash1]

Also, it looses functionality gracefully in that it is still a perfectly serviceable toothbrush even if it is out of battery.

That said, I have never had a Sonicare run out of battery either.

[m463]

I have a sonicare. great. The travel case it came with is actually an inductive charging case with a USB-A hidden inside ready to be unfurled.

[wwalexander]

The pricier ones have a case with just a USB-C port.

[m463]

it's possible current models have moved on. My toothbrush is a couple years old now (which is a good thing!)

EDIT: just looked. current ones have bluetooth and an app. sigh.

[kevin_thibedeau]

My first Sonicare eventually died of a battery failure 20 years ago. My second would not die and I was stuck buying the old style heads that were hard to clean. I finally gave in and replaced it just recently. Modern lithium cells last forever in low drain, low duty cycle applications like a toothbrush.

[DiogenesKynikos]

I bought a cheap electric toothbrush from a no-name Chinese company. The battery lasts 6 months on one charge with daily use. It cost about $20. I wouldn't be surprised if it's manufactured by the same factories that make Philips' toothbrushes.

And of course, it charges with USB-C.

[stavros]

Counterpoint, mine died after a few years to the point where it would only go a few days between charges. Maybe the BMS wasn't good, because this started happening after it completely died on me on a trip once.

[interloxia]

Philips knows how to penny pinch. Don't buy the more recent low end models.

Their kid's app has been great.

[BizarroLand]

Same. I was given one as a gift for graduation college in 2012 and it's still going strong

[ak217]

Both Philips and the similarly sturdy Oral-B. You know they are good because they have a sealed design that uses induction to charge. By contrast the toothbrush mentioned by the OP won't last long with that flimsy door and the USB port in a wet environment.

[pupppet]

Another vote for the Sonicare.