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 Pillow Talk Racy has a powerful top setting and covers an impressive range from low to high. It’s great for everyone but those who need extreme power.

The starting power is a 2 out of 10 vibration strength. So it begins soft enough for people who need a warmup and those overstimulated by intensity. And its top level reaches 7.75 out of 10, a strength I consider intense. Although there are a few bullets with more extreme upper settings like the Blush Limited Addiction and BMS Swan Maximum, I orgasm effortlessly and reliably with the Pillow Talk Racy.

With the Pillow Talk Racy’s incremental speed control, it covers its power range completely. You’ll hold the button to gradually increase power in tiny increments and release it when you’ve reached your desired strength.

As a result, steps between power levels are very comfortable – not jarring. And you have a ton of intensity levels available in each part of the power range (gentle, moderate, and strong). Many other bullet vibrators may cover a wide power range but do so with only a few distinct intensity levels.

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 majority of the Pillow Talk Racy’s vibrations are rumbly. Only the top few power levels cross into the neutral-feeling range, which I actually really enjoy. The more expensive We-Vibe Tango X and the discontinued original Tango are the only two bullet vibrators I’ve tested with comparable power that are more rumbly than the Pillow Talk Racy.

The Pillow Talk Racy is a great, affordable bullet for those who prefer rumbly vibrations.

The Pillow Talk Racy is an excellent toy for internal use. Although longer, full-sized G-spot vibrators are easier to leverage and maneuver, the Racy is my favorite mini G-spot vibrator.

The Racy’s handle is longer than my other G-spot bullets, allowing your hand more space to grip the toy while using it internally. This helps keep your hand and fingers comfortable while leveraging the vibrator for firm pressure.

As a mini version of the full-sized Pillow Talk Sassy (1.5 inches wide), the Racy is slimmer at just 1.03 inches wide. People who find large toys uncomfortable will prefer the Racy’s narrower head (I like it more personally). But people who like girth and feeling “full” will enjoy the Sassy more.

I enjoy rumbly vibrations for internal stimulation, so the Pillow Talk Racy’s rumbly low and moderate power levels are fantastic. And even though the high-powered settings are not rumbly, they’re still strong enough to have an enjoyable impact.

I love the slightly flexible core, which makes inserting and moving this vibrator easier and more comfortable than a rigid toy. The bulbous shape of the Racy’s head also spreads the pressure comfortably!

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 Pillow Talk Racy lies between broad and focused. Its rounded G-spot tip is broader than most bullet vibrators at 1.03 inches wide. But as a mini vibrator, it’s still more focused than large toys like full-sized G-spot vibrators, wand vibrators, and even other mini vibrators like the We-Vibe Touch X.

This is my favorite size for applying firm pressure because it comfortably distributes the stimulation but is still narrow enough to target a specific area. The coverage is not focused exclusively on the clit, but it’s also not blanketing your whole vulva.

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 Pillow Talk Racy is exceptionally comfortable and easy to use for clit stimulation (also see our section discussing G-spot use above).

At 5 inches in length, it’s one of my longest bullet vibrators. This length makes it easier to leverage and provides more space to grip the handle comfortably without your fingers getting tired or cramped. The vibrations also don’t travel much into my hands, so I can play comfortably for a long time.

The hooked end makes it even easier to apply firm pressure without wrist or finger strain. And I love that the core is slightly flexible, which keeps the firm pressure from bumping into my pubic bone too hard.

The incremental control system takes getting used to, but I like it. You increase power by holding down the button. The Pillow Talk Racy will gradually increase strength until you release the button when you reach your preferred intensity. To go back to the gentlest power, you can double-click the button.

The downside of this method is that you can’t step back down a power level or two. You’ll have to return to the beginning by double-clicking – then hold down the button again. However, I’ve found that this hasn’t felt disruptive during use. And the advantage of this method is that it inherently provides tiny, comfortable steps between power levels – never a large, jarring leap.

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 Pillow Talk Racy is remarkable during sex.

The typical angled shape of G-spot vibrators like the Racy makes them more convenient during sex. The Racy’s curved tip fits more naturally between our bodies without needing to angle the handle outward as I would with a straight bullet vibrator.

Since the Racy is also longer than most bullet vibrators I’ve tested, my hands don’t need to reach as far and take up space between my legs. The head is small enough to slip into tight areas easily. And the slightly flexible core moves comfortably with your body to maintain contact and prevent uncomfortable bumping around.

If you’re hoping to use a bullet vibrator during sex, this is one of the most convenient and effective ones for the job!

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 Pillow Talk Racy is one of my absolute quietest bullet vibrators. This is especially impressive considering its excellent power.

It’s one of only four bullet vibrators we tested that had noise levels so low our Sound Level Meter could not pick up the sound. Even on high power, its decibel levels did not exceed the ambient background noise of the room itself.

My partner could not hear it from behind a closed bedroom door on any power level during our testing. In fact, the noise is so low I hardly notice the sound myself while I’m using the Racy. So the Pillow Talk Racy is an excellent choice if you live with others or are distracted 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 Pillow Talk Racy’s battery life is disappointing. In our testing, it only lasted 40 minutes continuously vibrating on its highest power – well below average.

I prefer my bullets to last for at least an hour. Plenty surpass this, including our best overall bullet vibrator, the We-Vibe Tango X. However, you can extend the Pillow Talk Racy’s runtime if you also use the lower and middle power levels. But you’ll want to remember to charge the Racy between each use.

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 Pillow Talk Racy has excellent build quality! The only aspect of the Racy’s build that I don’t like is that it uses a pin-charger through the toy’s body with self-healing silicone. While not inherently worse, most companies have moved to using magnetic chargers. But the rest of the build is superb.

It’s covered in a smooth, luxurious silicone. Its flexible core is not flimsy – it feels sturdy, high-quality, and has a good weight. The textured grip, metallic colored accents, and crystal button feel elegant. The Racy’s button is also easier to press than my other Pillow Talk bullet (the Pillow Talk Flirty). I expect the Pillow Talk Racy to last a while!

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 Pillow Talk Racy is easy to clean because it’s IPX6 splashproof. It can resist high-pressure streams of water, so you can run it safely under the faucet while cleaning it with soap and water. But you should not completely submerge it or use it underwater.