BMS Essential Bullet vs Nasstoys Intense Travel Vibe Mini Side-By-Side Comparison
Performance Ratings
Our Verdict
The BMS Essential Bullet is a great “first vibrator” to experiment with because it’s one of the cheapest bullet vibrators, but it’s pretty versatile and performs reasonably well.
It covers a broad frequency range from rumbly to buzzy. And it has gentle, mid-strength, and intense power levels. So you can learn what you prefer with this vibrator. That way, you can make an informed decision when you’re ready to invest in something that’s higher quality.
The noise level is higher than some bullet vibrators but still discreet enough to use behind a closed door without being noticed. And the battery life is good for such a tiny but strong vibrator.
Its tiny size makes it less comfortable to grip, maneuver, and leverage solo or during partnered sex than longer bullets. And although it covers a broad range from gentle and rumbly to strong and buzzy, it only has 4 power levels. So it doesn’t cover those ranges as in-depth as premium bullets with more settings like the We-Vibe Tango X or Lovense Ambi.
But it performs very well for its low price. I recommend it to those on a budget or who want to start learning their vibrator preferences without spending too much.
The Nasstoys Intense Travel Vibe Mini is an excellent, budget-friendly bullet vibrator for those who enjoy strong, buzzy vibrations.
It’s very comfortable to use, is discreet, and has a great battery life. It has excellent vibration power (8.75 out of 10), especially for the price! However, it has no mild settings. The gentlest power level is a 6 out of 10 vibration strength.
This bullet vibrator is not for those who need gentle warmup settings or prefer rumbly vibrations – if that’s you, consider some alternatives I discuss here. But the Nasstoys Intense Travel Vibe Mini is excellent for those who want intensity on a budget.
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Vibrations: Power And Range
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 Nasstoys Intense Travel Vibe Mini lives up to its name because its power levels are all strong – especially for such a small, affordable bullet vibrator. The starting point is already a 6 out of 10 vibration strength, and the top power reaches an 8.75 out of 10.
I can orgasm using just its first setting, which is comparable to the strength of many mid-sized vibrators. And the 3 settings it has are enough to provide comfortable, gradual steps between levels since its power range is relatively narrow.
If you like intensity, it’s excellent. But if you need mild warmups or prefer softer settings, this bullet vibrator may be too strong for you. In this price range, consider the Pillow Talk Flirty if you prefer mild stimulation. Or consider the Blush Limited Addiction if you want intense top settings but need just a touch less intensity on low. Bullet vibrators with much wider power ranges, providing very gentle and intense settings, are pricier.
Vibrations: Frequency (Rumbliness)
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 most people prefer them. However, plenty of people enjoy buzzy vibrations more.
The Nasstoys Travel Vibe Mini is much better suited for those who like neutral or buzzy vibrations (like me). It has no rumbly settings. The lowest level is neutral, the middle is moderately buzzy, and the most intense setting feels extremely buzzy.
These buzzy vibrations have more of an impact at the surface which can make them feel more intense. Some people will find that overstimulating, but others will love it.
If you prefer low-frequency, rumbly vibrations, you’ll have to increase your budget. The most affordable rumbly option is the Pillow Talk Racy. Or for exceptional rumbliness the We-Vibe Tango X is best. But in general, the most rumbly bullet vibrators I’ve tested are less intense than the Nasstoys Intense Travel Vibe Mini. So, decide based on which you care more about.
Stimulation Precision
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.
Like most bullets, the Nasstoys Intense Travel Vibe Mini provides more focused stimulation than other kinds of vibrators. Compared to other bullets, the amount of precision is toward the middle of the spectrum.
The Intense Travel Vibe Mini is 0.83 inches wide where the tip begins to taper – this feels focused but certainly not pinpoint. By pressing the side of the bullet to your body, you can get comfortable, firm pressure that’s not too precise. Or, if you prefer more pinpoint precision, the tip is tapered – so you can press the top of the bullet to limit the contact to a small area. This can be great if you like direct clitoral stimulation.
Comfort & Ease of Use
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 Nasstoys Intense Travel Vibe Mini is comfortable and easy to use.
Its 3.8-inch length is long enough to easily leverage without tiring your fingers or wrist. Although the vibrations travel into my hand some, they’re less noticeable once I press the bullet against my body. I don’t find them distracting.
The button is easy to press without changing your grip, but it’s a one-button control system. This means you have to cycle through the 3 power levels and 7 patterns on a loop – there’s no separate button to decrease power.
But I appreciate that turning the bullet off and back on resets the vibrator to its softest power. It’s an easy workaround to quickly decrease the intensity.
If you value having separate controls to increase and decrease power, the Blush Limited Addiction is the best option at this price point.
Use During Sex
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 Nasstoys Travel Vibe works great during sex!
It’s a great length to leverage. Alghough it’s a straight bullet, so you don’t get the additional help that a curved shape (like the Pillow Talk Racy) provides. The width of the head is small enough to fit in tight areas yet large enough to hit the right spots comfortably.
I can angle the bullet vibe well without the base bumping into my partner’s chest in positions where we’re facing each other. And the tapered tip maintains really good contact with my clit – I can easily get direct clit stimulation during sex.
If you are looking for a bullet that works well to stimulate during sex, the Nasstoys Intense Travel Vibe Mini is one of the best at this price.
Noise
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 Nasstoys bullet is very discreet, especially for its power.
During our testing, I could use every power level without my partner hearing the vibrations from the other side of our closed bedroom door. So there’s no concern if you live with housemates.
We measured its top intensity level at 46.1 decibels – lower than most bullet vibrators with this much strength.
As someone who can be a little sensitive to noises in general, I don’t find the sound of its vibrations annoying or distracting at all. It’s a powerful, discreet bullet vibrator.
Battery Life
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 Nasstoys Travel Vibe is rechargeable and has one of the longest-lasting batteries of the bullets we’ve tested. During our test, it lasted 105 minutes at maximum power. It’s challenging to find one this strong that lasts this long.
Build Quality
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 Nasstoys Intense Travel Vibe Mini feels well-made, and I’ve had only good, reliable experiences with it. It has a nice weight that makes it feel solid, especially compared to other budget bullet vibrators. And the body-safe ABS plastic material is very smooth and comfortable. I like the feel of the button too.
Cleaning
The BMS Essential Bullet is 100% waterproof, making it easy to clean. You can completely submerge it while scrubbing it with soap and water.
This bullet is IPX7 waterproof, which makes cleaning very easy. You can fully submerge it while scrubbing without worrying about water causing damage.