I dropped mine irretrievably behind a radiator. New handle off ebay for £12, whittle a bit of plastic off the charger so the new one fitted, and I'm good to go.
You'll miss it if you go manual or get something crappier.

If you have some basic soldering skills, it's worth having a go at replacing the battery yourself. It's pretty easy to do and the batteries are only a few quid.

This is a good guide, there's not that much variation between models, but obviously yours might not be the same layout and same type of battery etc.

https://softsolder.com/2012/07/06/philips-sonicare-essence-5000-battery-replacement/

>>3854
Water picks are fine as an add-on and alternative to floss, but the Sonicare is still the best thing on the market by a long way. I'm also on my second one and would never go back to normal brushes.

I went ahead and got an Oral-B PRO 4000 because they didn't have the sonicare in stock, it was 50% off from being 2.5x the price of a sonicare and I didn't fancy waiting a few days with unbrushed teeth for one to be delivered. Because if it's more expensive, it must be better, right? Cunting thing doesn't even come with a travel case.

>>3856
I do, but I don't have access to a soldering kit.

>>3858
Any hackspaces in your town? You could try there.

>>3865
Do we have those here?

>>3866

Yes.

>>3868
Outside of London?

>>3869
Yes. Where are you?
Dunno if there' a register of them.

>>3869

Yes.

http://www.hackspace.org.uk/wiki/Main_Page