Anonymous Sex Toy Review: The Magic Wand Is Now Rechargeable
AUTOSTRADDLE ANONYMOUS SEX TOY REVIEW #53:
It’s our 53rd Autostraddle Anonymous Sex Toy Review! Over the last few years, sex toy companies and stores have asked us to review their toys in exchange for, you know, their toys.
This week, one of our anonymous reviewers tried out the Magic Wand Rechargeable, sent by to us by Good Vibrations.
- Material: silicone head, ABS plastic body, silicone control pad
- Color: white, with blue accents
- Size: 13″ long
- Price: $125
no cord no cord no cooorrrddddd
The Magic Wand Rechargeable is a reboot of the original (formerly Hitachi) Magic Wand that takes “the Cadillac of vibrators” and makes it into something that pings as an actual vibrator rather than a clunky back massager universally used as a sex toy. The biggest and most notable change is that the Magic Wand is no longer tethered to an outlet — it has a battery life of a stated three hours and it runs when it’s plugged into the wall, too.
In terms of the massager to sex toy shift, the new model has four intensities instead of two — about 2,700, 3,800, 5,400 and 6,300 vibrations per minute, compared to 5,000 and 6,000 on the older toy — and four vibration patterns if you’re into that. (Is anyone out there into that? Can we turn the comments into a vibrator-settings-feelings open thread?) The control pad has lights to indicate what setting you’re on and when the battery is about to die. The buttons are just textured enough that you can play with them without looking, but if you have tiny hands this might be either an awkward or a two-handed endeavour. The toy is still pretty loud, but it’s quieter – Good Vibes gives it a 3 on a scale that goes up to 5 (the original was a 4). The head is softer, and is silicone instead of plastic. It’s still not splashproof or waterproof, but a girl can dream.
It doesn’t have to be plugged in. It doesn’t have to be plugged in. And when the battery dies, you can plug it in and keep going, though it won’t charge if you’re using it.
The look is a little different, too. When two Autostraddle reviewers tried it out in 2013, one noted, “This straight up looks like a prop from a 90s space movie that required a giant white ice cream cone that plugs into the wall.” The Magic Wand Rechargeable is half an inch longer, is a brighter white, and has more modern-looking controls and smoother lines. It’s just a bit prettier, but any time-travelling ’80s power feminists that might be around will definitely know what it is.
It’s probably time for a confession: I’ve never used an original Magic Wand.
With rare exception (what’s up, wearing Vixskin in the right harness), I primarily enjoy thuddy vibrators that can pinpoint a few places just around my clit. I also like my vibrators portable, rechargeable and waterproof. I use other toys, because it’s always fun to do something different and because I don’t want to get too used to anything, but when I’m done with everything else and I still haven’t come, those types of toys are what I reach for.
The wand has a reputation for being magic at making people come in about 30 seconds though, so I was obviously game.
The first few times I tried it were more in the interest of scientific inquiry than because I was feeling especially interested in masturbating at that exact minute. Sometimes I like using toys just for the hell of it because orgasm is not the goal of sex or sexual activity, so I was barely trying to come when the Magic Wand just sort of pulled multiple orgasms out of me. (I also don’t usually have multiple orgasms.)
Then it did it again.
My masturbation can be pretty involved (more than one toy, fingers, lube, different positions, different visual materials, etc.) but I could see the Magic Wand turning me in to the laziest masturbator ever. All I have to do to come is to lay back and wait for an orgasm to happen to me? I can’t imagine wanting this all the time but also I will finish this paragraph when my legs are working again.
Other times, I found the wand made it really easy to get too over-stimulated to come – on all but the lowest setting I had to stop a few times and go do something else before coming back to it. (It was better when I used it through underwear or pants, but then I had to masturbate in underwear and pants.)
Using it with a partner was more complicated. So far, most of the ways I’ve used the wand with a partner involve watching a partner or a partner watching me while one of us uses the wand essentially alone. The head is big enough that if it’s near someone’s clit there isn’t a lot of room for anything else. It was fun to touch the head to the bases of various toys during penetration, and having a partner there to hold the wand gave me a little bit more access with my fingers, but it still often felt like it was in the way.
It also automatically shuts itself off after about 20 minutes to keep from overheating. You can turn it right back on immediately, but it seems like only a matter of time before this happens at a crucial moment and the wand accidentally lands on the floor across the room. (I played with it a few times, and even after running it for an hour straight it never seemed to get more than body-heat warm.)
I’m not as in love with the Magic Wand Rechargeable as I thought I’d be, but it’s definitely going to live in my nightstand and not in the closet. If you’ve never used a Magic Wand, this is a great way to go if you like all-over vibrations that are pretty buzzy and crazy powerful. And if you need to replace an original Magic Wand or have been curious about trying one, this is your toy.