The BMS Essential Bullet is very strong for a small, budget-friendly bullet. Its wide power range sets it apart from other inexpensive bullets. It’s the only option I’ve tested with soft, medium, and intense power levels at this price point. 

This broad range is excellent for those who enjoy strength but also need gentle settings while warming up. It’s also great for beginners who want to learn their preferred power range (not everyone loves extreme power).

The BMS Bullet has 4 total power levels, with the first starting at 2.5 out of 10 vibration strength. This great warm-up level is comfortable for those who are easily overstimulated. The top strength reaches 7.75 out of 10, which is intense and packs plenty of power for most people.

With only 4 settings, it doesn’t have as many power levels in each range as some bullets, like the BMS Swan Maximum Bullet or Pillow Talk Racy, which both have continuous power ranges that gradually increase in tiny steps. But for the price, the BMS Essential has a great power range.

The power level on the Le Wand Baton is incredibly weak. With 6 power levels beginning at a whispering 0.3 out of 10 vibration strength, the Baton maxes out at only 2.5 out of 10 – too little for me to orgasm with. Most people are going to need something stronger.

Even if you’re worried about overstimulation, you can find options with several soft warm-up levels and strong upper levels at this price. The Lovense Ambi has multiple power levels in the low range because you can make minute adjustments in the app to get your perfect level. And it reaches an 8 out of 10 on high, so you have a wide range to work with.

Or if you’d like to stick to bullets with on-toy buttons only, the Je Joue Classic, We-Vibe Tango X, and We-Vibe Touch X each have low, gentle powers and reach 7.75 out of 10 on high.

And finally, if you want a high concentration of low to medium-strength settings, the Lelo Mia 2 has 12 total power levels. They start at the very softest of any of my bullets at a 0.1 out of 10, and reach a 3.25 out of 10 on high. It’s still mild for those who get overstimulated by intensity, but at least I can orgasm with the top strength of the Mia. Though, it does take a little effort.

We rate bullets with rumbly vibrations higher than those with buzzy ones because it’s what most people prefer. Some people, including myself, still appreciate a neutral feeling or even slightly buzzy vibrations. 

The BMS Essential Bullet has acceptable rumbliness but won’t satisfy those prioritizing deep rumbliness. Only the lowest power level falls in the rumbly range. And since that power level is a 2.5 out of 10 intensity, most people will only use this level while warming up.

The two middle power levels are in the neutral range, and I consider the top strength “moderately buzzy.” I personally enjoy all 4 of its power levels.

If deeper rumbliness is a high priority, you’ll have to increase your budget a bit. The Pillow Talk Racy is the most affordable option with great rumbliness. Or the Original We-Vibe Tango, which is being sold at a discount while stock remains.

We rate bullets with rumbly vibrations higher than those with buzzy vibrations because it’s what most people want.

The Le Wand Baton has subpar rumbliness. Its lower settings are rumbly, and the higher ones feel neutral. But since they’re all so weak, the vibrations have little impact.

The We-Vibe Touch X and Je Joue Classic hit that same frequency range of moderately rumbly to neutral but have much greater strength. This is a sweet spot for me, and I really enjoy the feeling of these vibrations.

If you’re looking for the most rumbly option, the We-Vibe Tango X has 8 power levels, and every single one is extremely rumbly.

The Le Wand Baton comes with a textured silicone attachment intended to provide clitoral stimulation while inserting the bullet’s first inch internally for vaginal stimulation. So in theory, you can use the Baton for dual-stimulation (simultaneous clit and internal stimulation).

This is a fun idea, but it provides little stimulation in actual use. The Baton’s vibration power is already weak, and the clitoral attachment dampens the vibrations even more – I hardly feel them.

Since the bullet is straight (no upward curve), leveraging it for G-spot stimulation is also very hard. So it vibrates around the vaginal entrance – not on your G-spot. It’s best to think of the Baton as an ordinary clitoral bullet and not count on dual-stimulation.

If you care about G-spot stimulation, the Pillow Talk Racy is a much better G-spot bullet vibrator.

The BMS Bullet has mostly precise stimulation because it’s a thin, small bullet. So whether you use the very tip or the side of the bullet, it covers a fairly limited surface area.

This is great if you like focused clitoral stimulation. For those who enjoy a bit more breadth, you can’t spread the pressure out much as you can with a wider bullet like the Blush Limited Addiction or Satisfyer Ultra Power Bullet 5. How much precision you enjoy is entirely a personal preference. 

The stimulation of the Baton is quite precise. With other bullets like the Je Joue Classic, I can cover more surface area if I use the side of the bullet. But the Baton is very slim at only 0.7 inches wide, so the stimulation is focused.

If you like precise stimulation, the We-Vibe Tango X or Je Joue Classic are better bullet vibrators that provide focused stimulation with their lipstick-shaped and tapered tips. And you can also vary the precision by using their slightly wider sides.

The BMS Essential Bullet has below-average comfort and ease of use. It can be tiring to use for extended periods because of the small size and vibrations in your hand. 

You can adjust your hold on the bullet to limit how distracting the vibrations feel in your hand. I find they’re worse if you’re holding the bullet loosely or at the very end. But they lessen if you grip the bullet tightly. They’ll be noticeable throughout your experience, though.

Since it’s so short, it takes effort to grip the end tightly, and it’s difficult to leverage the bullet. It takes effort from your fingers and arm to maneuver and press it where you want. Longer bullets like the Blush Limited Addiction provide more space to grip, and you can leverage them more easily with minimal finger-work.

The BMS Essential bullet also uses a one-button control system. You’ll use a single button to cycle through all 4 power levels and 5 vibration patterns. So, to move backward, you’ll need to press the button several times. Or I find it easier to simply turn the bullet off and back on again to start over at the lowest intensity. It’s manageable but could be better. 

I prefer bullets with separate buttons to increase and decrease power, like the Blush Limited Addiction or We-Vibe Tango X.

The Le Wand Baton is all 10s for comfort and ease of use. Since the vibrations are so gentle, I never feel them in my hand. The shape and size are easy to hold and leverage for good pressure. And it has a slightly flexible, comfy tip.

But if the incredibly low strength is a deal-breaker for you (as it is for me), I have better recommendations.

The We-Vibe Tango X is also exceptionally comfortable, and the Je Joue Classic is a close second. They are easy to maneuver and get pressure exactly where you want. The only thing I noticed about the Je Joue Classic is that the button clicks are so soft, and it’s hard to tell whether or not you’ve pressed the buttons – other than noticing the vibe change. But if you value excellent comfort but still want stimulating vibrations, either is a great choice.

The BMS Essential Bullet is difficult to use during sex because it’s so short that you have to reach down farther than usual, so then your hand takes up too much space. 

Even in fairly open positions like Spooning, the long reach required to use the BMS Essential is tiring. And your hand gets particularly in the way in positions like Missionary where space is already limited. Your partner may need to keep penetration shallow to avoid bumping into your hand. And your hand is so scrunched up that maneuvering the bullet in this tight space is tricky.

If you want a cheap bullet to use during sex and want a comfortable, less-distracting experience, I’d recommend the Blush Limited Addiction instead. The Blush Limited Addiction is much easier to maneuver because it’s still small enough to fit into tight spaces. But it’s long enough to leverage it easily, giving your hand plenty of room.

The Le Wand Baton is a nice size to maneuver, leverage, and easily fit into tight spaces during sex. It doesn’t interfere with either partner’s body. But since the power is so weak, I find it more distracting during sex than enjoyable. With the added stimulation of penetration, the vibrations are hardly even noticeable.

Many stronger options, including the We-Vibe Tango X, the Je Joue Classic, and the Lovense Ambi also do a great job of getting into precise spots easily and comfortably. They have excellent leverage for satisfying pressure during sex. And their power levels provide enough clitoral stimulation to enhance sex.

The BMS Essential Bullet is discreet. Even though it may have some louder decibel measurement than my other bullets (most bullets are very quiet), it’s still completely inaudible from behind a closed bedroom door. 

People outside your room won’t hear it. But the sound might distract you if you’re especially sensitive to noise. I consider myself fairly sensitive to sound and am not personally distracted by the BMS Essential Bullet’s noise. 

If you’re easily annoyed by vibration sounds, the Pillow Talk Racy and Pillow Talk Flirty are two of my quietest, relatively budget-friendly bullets.

The Le Wand Baton is exceptionally quiet, mainly due to its poor power. I can hardly even hear it while using it on its top setting. And certainly, no housemates will hear you using it.

But there are plenty of stronger options that are just as discreet. For those worried about roommates overhearing: The We-Vibe Touch X, Lovense Ambi, and Je Joue Classic are inaudible on all power levels from the other side of a closed bedroom door.

All 3 of these have low decibel levels too. And as someone who can be easily annoyed by noise, they sound perfectly acceptable to me. The Touch X especially is whisper-quiet and deeper sounding, so I hardly notice it.

The BMS Essential Bullet has reasonable battery life, lasting 75 minutes on high power during our testing. While there are longer-lasting bullet vibrators, 75 minutes is about average for bullets of this strength. And the manufacturer lists only 30 minutes on high, but my tests yielded much longer results, so I was happy with its performance.

This is ideal if you often forget to charge between uses. And you’ll extend the battery life beyond 75 minutes if you typically use some of the low or medium power levels too.

The Le Wand Baton is rechargeable and lasts for about 75 minutes on high power. This battery life is decent, but many bullets with much more power last just as long or longer.

The BMS Essential Bullet has a decent build quality. It has not given me any issues, but it feels a bit cheap. It’s the least expensive bullet I’ve tested, so I don’t expect a luxury or heavy-duty build. 

It’s made primarily of a silky lightweight ABS plastic, which feels thin but reasonably sturdy. Only the button is a more luxurious silicone material. It uses a charging system most sex toys have moved away from. You insert a charging pin through the self-healing silicone button into the toy. I’ve never experienced an issue with this charging mechanism, but it feels like it could damage the toy after a very long time.

It’s a nice toy to experiment on and figure out what you like, but not something you’d expect to last forever.

I base my ratings of Build Quality on my experience and how the toy “feels” to me unless I experience a substantial issue like the toy breaking. So we don’t weigh this score too highly. But if you’re looking for something that feels more solid, the Nasstoys Travel Vibe Mini is the cheapest bullet that felt exceptionally sturdy to me.

The Le Wand Baton feels and looks luxurious. It’s made of smooth silicone with a sleek metallic accent and feels very sturdy. It has quality buttons and a convenient built-in USB charging port.

Unfortunately, the luxury feel can’t make up for the poor vibrations. Both the We-Vibe Touch X and Lovense Ambi have a similarly luxurious, all-over silicone design and are much better overall.

The BMS Essential Bullet is 100% waterproof, making it easy to clean. You can completely submerge it while scrubbing it with soap and water.

The Le Wand Baton is IPX6 water-resistant, so cleaning it is easy. You can clean it under a running faucet with soap and water, but you should not completely submerge it.