Dyson’s $500 AI Toothbrush Disappears 12 Days After Launch
Dyson’s $499 CameraJet toothbrush has been pulled from the market less than two weeks after its debut, following reports of overheating and other hardware problems.
The CameraJet launched on September 1 in Paris as the centerpiece of Dyson’s new “Dental System.” Founder James Dyson introduced the toothbrush after six years of development, with the company pitching it as a new way to combine brushing, flossing, and mouthwash into a single device.
And this is not exactly a typical electric toothbrush. CameraJet has a 100,000-pixel macro camera built into the brush, paired with machine-learning software Dyson calls Gap Optical Targeting. The system analyzes 28 images per second to spot gaps between teeth, then aims a small jet of mouthrinse at them while the user brushes.
All of that technology comes at a price. CameraJet launched in the US for $499 and in France for around €479, with sales through Dyson’s website, its Demo Stores, and select retailers.
But the launch did not last long. CameraJet can no longer be purchased from Dyson’s US, UK, or French websites. Instead, shoppers are now met with a “Notify me” option.
The sudden change comes as customers report problems with some of the first units shipped. Cybernews reported complaints ranging from overheating and charging failures to water collecting inside the battery compartment. Some users also shared images that appeared to show oxidation on internal components.
Much of the story first unfolded on social media. A French product designer shared information from a source who described “a bit of a PR disaster… brewing at Dyson,” along with a screenshot of an email showing that a CameraJet had been sent back to the company’s warehouse. Another person, who said they work in retail, claimed the sales pause was related to an overheating problem involving the way brush heads are changed.
Dyson has given a more limited explanation. According to reports from France, the company said a “component defect” had affected a small number of units and cited high demand as another reason for the product’s disappearance. It has not publicly addressed all of the specific problems being reported by customers.
It is an awkward start for one of Dyson’s experimental product launches. The company had presented CameraJet as a possible answer to some common brushing problems, citing research that people brush for an average of only 45 seconds instead of the recommended two minutes. It also pointed to the roughly 3.7 billion people worldwide living with oral diseases.
That puts early buyers in a strange position. Some have reportedly returned their devices, but Dyson has not issued broader public guidance telling CameraJet owners what to do. Anyone still hoping to spend $499 on Dyson’s take on the toothbrush will have to join the waitlist and see whether it makes a comeback.
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