It’s been a while since I was this excited about a new bullet vibe—and this one goes for under $25! The Essential Bullet by BMS Factory feels like it was specifically made to garner praise in my Affordable Bullet Vibes ranking.
BMS Factory is renowned for making strong “PowerBullet” motors, found in toys like the Swan Wand Mini and, more recently, the (truly kick-ass) Pillow Talk Sassy. But “strong” and “rumbly” are different qualities: a vibe can be strong without being rumbly (that’s easier to pull off!) or rumbly without being especially strong.
Contents
Essential Bullet Power + Vibration Rumble
I’m impressed enough with the Essential Bullet’s rumbliness and overall power that comparisons with the We-Vibe Tango, the “gold standard bullet,” are unavoidable. The BMS Essential Bullet starts out slightly stronger than the Tango’s first steady speed, and the Essential Bullet’s fourth and final steady speed beats the Tango for power. Granted, the Essential’s top two speeds are somewhat more buzzy than the Tango’s—I rated it 2 points less out of 10 for sheer rumbliness. But have I mentioned it’s less than a quarter of the Tango’s price???
The Essential Bullet is so strong, it actually spins around in your hand when you turn it on, Exorcist-like! It also turns easily besides sheer power: its smooth coating. The Essential Bullet is a slick, but somehow satiny ABS plastic, with a silicone control button. BMS Factory doesn’t say this, but my guess is that it has a body-safe PU (polyurethane) coating on the plastic, to give it a feel that’s more luxurious.
Texture, Finish, and Shape
That silky quality is one reason why I see myself reaching for the Essential Bullet more often than the comparably priced Charged Vooom Bullet, even though I don’t really need the Essential Bullet’s extra power. (Though I sometimes glad for the rumbly gentleness of the Vooom’s first setting, like when my sensitive clit has been overwhelmed by other toys.) Very slick plastic—even the kind found in greats like the Tango—just isn’t appealing to me personally, so the Essential Bullet’s coating wins out there.
I’m also a fan of the Essential Bullet’s rounded shape, because it’s a happy medium between really pinpoint and broader clitoral stimulation for me. The end sits under my clit really comfortably. And on its first speed, the Essential Bullet so rumbly that I don’t feel the need to move it up and down my vulva to better stimulate the shaft of my clitoris. The Essential Bullet’s vibes easily achieve that kind of penetrating stimulation. My favorite time to use it is when I’m feeling lazy after a round of orgasms, but I just want one more—without much work.
How To Control: Essential Bullet Power Button
To power on the Essential Bullet vibrator, you hold down the power button for 2 full seconds, and it starts vibrating.
Tap the button again, and again, to cycle through all 9 vibration functions.
The Essential Bullet’s single button does mean that you’ll need to go through all the speeds—4 steady and 5 patterned—if you want to decrease one power level.
However, unlike a similarly powerful and affordable bullet, the Maia Jessi, the Essential Bullet’s steady speeds go from low to high rather than starting on the highest speed (a.k.a. being backwards, because why).
The one disadvantage of this toy for me is that it’s a bit difficult to power off. When I first started testing it, I thought you had to cycle through all the functions—like, if I was on speed #2, hit the control button 8 times, a serious inconvenience. But take note: it turns out that you just have to press the silicone control button hard to turn it off: Hold down on the power button for 2 seconds!
Best Storage / Travel Case!
And I almost forgot to mention it comes with a sturdy storage case too—super convenient for keeping the Essential Bullet and its cord together in general, or when you’re traveling in particular.
This is the best, compact, sturdiest case I’ve ever owned with a vibrator. Really handy.
Overall Thoughts
The Essential Bullet is a good toy in general, but it’s really damn good for the price tag. Compared to the We-Vibe Tango, the Essential Bullet is a little more difficult to grip because it doesn’t have the slight flare at the bottom—but it’s also very close to having the same power, and some good rumbliness, for a quarter of the price. And I’m drawn to the Essential Bullet’s satin finish and the more-rounded tip.
So, to steal the closing from my comparative ranking: If you want nice rumbly power on a budget, the BMS Essential Bullet is excellent. I can’t think of a better option.
You can pick up an Essential Bullet here!
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