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 Lovense Ambi has an outstanding power range. It begins gently, climbs through moderately powerful middle levels, and reaches an intense top setting.

The Ambi’s top strength of 8.0 out of 10 is plenty for me. It has comparable power to my favorite mid-sized vibrators like the Lelo Mona 2 or Lovense Hyphy. Often, I orgasm on one of the upper-middle levels, never reaching the top setting, as I enjoy moderate strength.

The Ambi’s lowest power setting is a 1.5 out of 10 vibration strength, which is very soft. The Lovense Ambi’s wide power range is great for anyone who needs milder settings while warming up to avoid overstimulation.

There is a quirk to be aware of: in order to access the Lovense Ambi’s full power range, you’ll need to use the Lovense app. Using the app, you can gradually adjust the power in tiny increments from its low power of 1.5 to its top strength of 8.0. This is great for anyone who finds large steps distracting.

However, just 3 preset power levels are accessible using the button on the Lovense Ambi’s base. But you can set the 3 levels to whatever strength you want. Just navigate to the “Adjust Levels” screen in the Lovense app and set each setting to your preferred intensity.

I love the default preset levels and haven’t changed mine out, but you can if you want to!

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 rumbly vibrations higher than buzzy ones because it’s what most people prefer.

The Lovense Ambi has a pretty good amount of rumbliness. The first half of the power range feels rumbly. Then, the stronger half of the power levels feel neutral or moderately buzzy.

If you love rumbly vibrations, you’ll have some settings to enjoy on the low to mid-powered end, but nothing strong and rumbly. If you want comparable power with deeper vibrations, consider the We-Vibe Tango X.

But I actually love the feeling of neutral or somewhat buzzy vibrations in a bullet vibrator. When vibrations have enormous power, like large wand vibrators do, buzziness makes them feel overwhelming. That’s why I prefer rumbly wands like the Magic Wand Rechargeable over buzzy ones like the Doxy Die Cast 3.

But the intensity of small bullet vibrators is moderate in comparison. Some buzziness in a bullet vibrator adds a kick at the surface that helps me orgasm more easily. As a result, the Lovense Ambi is one of my favorite bullet vibrators. It has plenty of settings toward the center of the spectrum, from moderately rumbly to moderately buzzy, that I really enjoy.

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 Lovense Ambi is generally slightly broader than most bullet vibrators but still more precise than other vibrators. And its unique shape lets you vary the precision of the stimulation.

The Lovense Ambi’s rounded head is 1.04 inches wide, whereas the famous We-Vibe Tango X is just 0.69 inches wide – much more precise. The Ambi’s slight extra width is great for those who enjoy applying firm pressure because you can hone in on a fairly small area while still spreading the pressure out more comfortably than a narrow bullet vibrator.

The rounded head also has a subtle lip that you can use to make the stimulation more precise. You can use the tip on the back of the toy for very focused stimulation. However, I’ve found that using the back tip positions the Ambi at a more awkward angle. The motor is also closer to the rounded end, so I use that side. If you want even broader stimulation, you can press the long, flat end against your whole vulva, too.

Do what works for you – the unique shape provides much more variation in how you can use the Ambi than most bullet vibrators.

The Lovense Ambi’s app has incredible features for close-range play. I’ve tried many remote and app-controlled vibrators, and Lovense has the best app – it’s the most feature-rich, is the easiest to use, and has the best connectivity (discussed here).

The Lovense app gives you detailed control of the Ambi’s vibrations. Using the “Remote” feature, you can set the Ambi’s power to your precise, preferred strength. Simply raise or lower the on-screen dot to incrementally adjustment the vibration strength.

Press the “Float” button to hold the power at that intensity. Or click “Loop” to easily create a repeating pattern in the moment. You can also create a pattern you enjoy and save it to use again later. We’ve found pattern creation in other apps like We-Vibe to be much clunkier than Lovense’s simple, intuitive implementation.

You can also connect multiple Lovense toys simultaneously and control each toy within the app. The Lovense screen will provide a separate control dot for each connected toy. So if you have a wearable G-spot vibrator like the Lovense Lush 3 or Lovense Vulse, you can control it while using the Ambi on your clit.

You can browse through unlimited patterns that other Lovense users have created and shared in the “Discover” section and save them to your own frequently used library under “My Patterns.” Adjust the speed of each pattern to make it just right for you!

You can also use the Music and Sound features to control the Ambi’s vibrations using music saved on your phone or sound picked up by your phone’s mic. You used to be able to control the Ambi using Spotify, but Spotify discontinued support for third-party apps in 2022.

You can also adjust how sensitive the Ambi is to the music or sound so that the noise must be louder for the Ambi to vibrate.

You can also set an alarm so your Ambi vibrates at a certain time. However, this feature is more useful for Lovense’s wearable vibrators like the Lovense Lush 3 or Lovense Ferri. It’s unlikely you’ll wake up holding the Lovense Ambi in just the right spot!

The Lovense app’s long-distance features (and connectivity discussed below) are also the best of any long-distance vibrator.

Using the Lovense app, a long-distance partner can control your Ambi from anywhere in the world. They’ll use the same “Remote” screen that you have when controlling the Ambi nearby using Bluetooth. The functionality is not reduced for long-distance play like it is with Satisfyer’s app (which is used to control the Satisfyer Ultra Power Bullet 8).

Your long-distance partner can set the exact vibration strength they want using the “Float” feature, and they can quickly and easily create a pattern for you to enjoy using the “Loop” function. They can also send you predesigned patterns they’ve created or other Lovense users have shared.

You can video chat or message with your long-distance partner within the Lovense app while they control your Ambi. You don’t need to use a separate messaging or video chat app. You can minimize the control panel to see your partner more clearly in the video feed.

Or, if you feel more comfortable without video, you can turn off your video feed and mic at any time. Or simply share control of your toy without a voice or video call.

You can also share control of the Lovense Ambi’s vibrations without allowing video or sound in the first place. This feature is especially useful for those who want to give control to an anonymous long-distance partner. You can generate a one-time control link for a set amount of time and anonymously send it.

Once time is up, that person cannot request control of your Lovense Ambi again unless you send them another link.

For a partner you’ll play with repeatedly, simply save their username to your saved partners list. You can also save multiple partners. If your partner also has a Lovense toy, you can simultaneously control each other’s toy.

Lovense also offers several partner settings unique to its app. For instance, you can allow a particular partner to control your Ambi without requiring them to request permission first, which helps you connect more quickly.

The Lovense app easily provides the most intuitive and feature-rich long-distance experience!

The Lovense Ambi’s connectivity with the app is extremely reliable. Lovense has the best connectivity – during both nearby Bluetooth control and long-distance control.

Connecting the Ambi to the Lovense app is quick and easy. The first time you connect, you’ll need to add the Lovense Ambi to your list of toys, which takes less than 20 seconds. Once you’ve added the Ambi, it typically connects immediately and automatically when you open the Lovense app.

Once connected, it rarely disconnects. I regularly play without any disconnections, even if I lock my screen or use other apps for extended periods.

If it loses connection, the Lovense Ambi usually re-pairs automatically, so it’s not very disruptive. Lovense is the best app-controlled brand for a smooth experience.

It also holds its close-range Bluetooth connection from a good distance (155 feet in our test). My partner and I tested the Bluetooth distance in the alley behind our house. I had my partner connect his phone to the Ambi and walk down the alley, continually changing my Ambi’s vibrations as he walked away. When the connection dropped we measured the distance (155 feet).

The Lovense Ambi also remains reliably connected during long-distance play as long as you and your partner have good Wi-Fi or a strong cell signal. Lovense’s long-distance features are not glitchy like We-Vibe’s often are.

This is how the long-distance connection works: the partner with the Ambi connects the vibrator to their phone using the typical Bluetooth connection – the same way you connect for nearby play. Since the Lovense Ambi’s Blutooth connection is excellent, this part of the long-distance connection is excellent too.

Then, your long-distance partner’s phone communicates with your phone over Wi-Fi or cell data to control the Ambi from afar—just like you and I are communicating long-distance over the internet right now. So, as long as you both have good Wi-Fi or cell signal, the connection is great.

For reference, my partner and I rarely, if ever, have an issue connecting long-distance in Lovense’s app. You don’t need outstanding internet – good is good enough!

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 Lovense Ambi is a very comfortable and easy-to-use bullet vibrator.

When I use vibrators, I press them firmly into my body. Because the Lovense Ambi has an angled head, leveraging it and applying pressure is much easier than it is with most bullet vibrators. This unique shape can be a little more awkward to hold than a straight bullet, but it helps leverage the Ambi to maintain good clitoral contact without taking up much space. And it’s still comfortable – it just takes some getting used to.

Like most bullet vibrators, the motor is close to your hand because the toy is so small. So some vibrations travel into your hand, but the silicone handle helps dampen them. They’re minimal, so I don’t find them distracting.

You can control the Lovense Ambi using the button on the base of the handle or through the Lovense app. The physical controls are just okay. It’s a single button, so you have to cycle through the 3 programmed intensity levels (which you can set in the app) and the 4 vibration patterns.

I don’t find it annoying since there are not too many settings. But if you frequently change power levels or patterns, you’ll want to control the Ambi using the app. You can access the Lovense Ambi’s full power range in the app and quickly move between settings and patterns.

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 Lovense Ambi is excellent during sex.

The angled head helps the Ambi slip easily between your legs without the base of the handle sticking out too far. This way, your hand doesn’t interfere with your partner’s body. You’re more limited when trying to angle and leverage a straight bullet vibrator during sex.

The rounded head distributes the pressure very comfortably. And its moderate width makes it easier to keep it in contact with my clit during sex than narrow bullet vibrators. The only reason I didn’t rate the Ambi a perfect 10.0 is that the handle is shorter than some. So, it can become tiring to hold after a while if you’re pressing hard.

But overall, it’s one of my favorites to use during 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 Lovense Ambi is very quiet. I can use every power setting, and my partner cannot hear it from the other side of the bedroom door. It’s definitely discreet enough if you share a wall with a housemate.

The buzzing sound itself is also mild and not distracting if you’re easily taken out of the mood by sound.

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 Lovense Ambi is rechargeable and has an acceptable battery life. I charge all my vibrators fully, then run them on their highest setting until they die. The Lovense Ambi lasted 55 minutes.

This is below the average bullet vibrator’s battery life. But since I typically don’t go up to the top strength, I can make the Lovense Ambi last longer. 55 minutes is still plenty for most people, but you’ll want to charge it between uses.

I’d recommend the We-Vibe Tango X if you want something about this strong that lasts 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 Lovense Ambi has fantastic build quality. There are no seams, and it’s completely covered in smooth, body-safe silicone. It’s not flimsy, and the button is easy to press and feels high-quality.

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 Lovense Ambi is very easy to clean because it’s completely IPX7 waterproof. You can fully submerge this while scrubbing with soap and water.