Smart Wand Vibrator by LELO

For years the Hitachi Magic Wand was the undisputed king, or queen, or maybe just ruler of the vibrators. It sure doesn't look sexy, but its power and size deliver a sexual experience unparalleled among battery powered or electric vibrators. And so a couple of generations of sex toy enthusiasts and independent sex shops rallied around this unlikely massager and elevated its status to sexual totem.

There were always cheap knock offs of the Magic Wand, but those manufacturers copied the shape and design without matching the strength and quality of the motor, a losing proposition. Since the early 2000s a couple of smarter sex toy designershave come along looking not to replace the Magic Wand but to refine it, or offer meaningful alternatives for those who love it but might want something else.

Swedish toy designer LELO has now entered the fray with their Smart Wands, powerful wand style massagers available in two sizes and offering a few nice additions along with some unnecessary bells and whistles.

The Smart Wand has a long curved handle, it's lighter and slightly more ergonomic than the Hitachi. One side of the handle is ABS plastic and the other is a soft silicone which covers the rest of the vibrator. The design is ideal for solo or partner play. Unlike the Magic Wand the soft flexible head is completely covered by silicone, making the toy fully waterproof.

Two push buttons control the strength of vibration and a third button allows you to switch between eight modes of vibration (i.e. pulsing, rolling up and down). Hold the middle button down for 3 seconds and the Smart Wand enters "SenseTouch" mode. In this mode the vibrator starts at a low hum and speeds up when the head comes into contact with a body. The firmer the vibrator is pressed against skin, the faster the motor goes. This feels a bit gimmicky. Pressure and vibration are two different sensations, and while many will want both at equal measures, some people will want a lot of pressure with mild vibration, while others will thrill to the feeling of a high speed buzz lightly brushing across their body. Of course you don't need to use this mode, so it's just an extra that may be unnecessary.

The real heart of the toy is the powerful motor which runs for up to 2 hours on a single charge (and takes about the same amount of time to fully charge). It isn't quite the same as the Hitachi Magic Wand, but it's the closest thing I've felt in a rechargeable massager of this size. It is also remarkably quiet, something that can't be said for the toy that inspired its creation.

Like most LELO products, the Smart Wand comes with a travel lock option, which makes it safer for sex toy airplane travel. It also comes with a one year warranty, and what they call a 10 year guarantee, which states that if your toy breaks in the first ten years, you can purchase another for 50% off. You just need to register the product and keep your receipt!

Pros

• Lighter and smaller than the Magic Wand, the design is great for couples and for solo play.
• A powerful but quiet motor that features multiple speeds and eight modes of vibration.
• Rechargeble and fully waterproof, possibly the most powerful waterproof vibrator on the market.

Cons

• The three button control mechanism can be confusing in the dark, making it easy to press the wrong button, lose track of where you are, and throw everything just a little off rhythm.
• While it may be more convenient in size and more attractive in design, it's still less powerful and more than twice the price of the Magic Wand.

LELO provides clear instructions with the product and the three button interface is easy to use. I was skeptical at first that the toy would be fully waterproof as the jack for plugging in the charger is exposed on the base of the toy. But after multiple tests the promise of waterproof-ness has held, and online customers seem to agree.

Don't use the Smart Wand while it is charging

The Smart Wand is immersible and easy to clean with warm water and a mild soap. Even though the toy is immersible it should not be boiled in water (as the internal mechanisms can be damaged by the heat).

Never use silicone based lubricant with the Smart Wands as they have silicone exteriors which will be damaged by the lubricant. The manufacturer recommends only using water based lubricant.

Disclosure: A review sample of this product was provided by Good Vibrations. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.