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 Satisfyer Ultra Bullet 5 is the best budget-friendly option if you only need low to medium power. There are 5 total power levels, with the first starting at 1.25 out of 10 vibration strength. The highest setting reaches 5.25 out of 10, which is not intense, but I can orgasm with it.

These settings give you plenty of gradual power levels in that softer range. So it’s an excellent option for those who are easily overstimulated. However, it won’t be enough for those who crave strong vibrations.

For intensity lovers, I’d recommend the Blush Limited Addiction instead. This budget-friendly bullet starts at 5 and reaches a 10 out of 10 vibration strength. Since it begins with fair power, it’s best for those who don’t need very gentle settings.

If you want a bullet covering the spectrum from gentle to intense, you’ll need to increase your budget a bit. The Pillow Talk Racy is the most budget-friendly option that has plenty of levels covering both mild and strong stimulation.

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.

Rumbly vibrations are what people most often prefer, so we rate those higher than buzzy ones. Though many people prefer buzziness, so consider what you enjoy.

The Satisfyer Ultra Power Bullet 5 is moderately buzzy. While the two softest power levels are rumbly, the top 3 levels I use most are buzzy. As someone who enjoys the neutral-feeling range, I’m bummed that this bullet skips right over it.

But this is to be expected with the cost – most cheap bullet vibrators are buzzy. If you want rumbly vibrations, you’ll need to increase your budget. The most affordable option that falls completely in the rumbly section is the We-Vibe Tango if you can find it, otherwise go for the Pillow Talk Racy, which is also very rumbly. The We-Vibe Tango X is the most rumbly but a bit pricier.

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. 

You can get reasonably precise stimulation using the Satisfyer Ultra Power Bullet 5’s tip or more mid-focused stimulation by pressing its side to your body. The tip is great for direct stimulation in a fairly small area. And I also love the indirect stimulation of pressing the side to my lips. If you prefer broader stimulation, some other mini vibrators like the Dame Pom or We-Vibe Touch X may suit you better.

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 Satisfyer Bullet 5 is easy to hold and leverage. The shape is bulbous – bulging out in the toy’s middle and gradually narrowing toward the tip. It feels a little awkward in my hand but doesn’t inhibit good pressure or a firm grip.

The vibrations don’t travel into my hand either, so griping for long periods is comfortable.

There’s one button to control the vibration intensities and patterns, so unfortunately, you have to cycle through them all to get to the one you want. I prefer the bullets that let you power up or back down, like the Blush Limited Addiction. If greater control is a priority to you, the Satisfyer Ultra Bullet 8 is about the same cost, and you have greater control over it with the Satisfyer app.

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 Satisfyer Ultra Bullet 5 is alright during sex. The bulbous shape and short length make maneuvering more awkward during sex than by yourself, but it’s not impossible. The tapered shape makes it challenging to keep clitoral contact in positions facing your partner like Missionary.

In positions facing the same direction as your partner (like Spooning), it’s easy to keep this bullet pressed to my clit. Though leveraging it for good pressure is a little tiring on my fingers since it’s so small.

I prefer longer bullets during sex like the Blush Limited Addiction or Pillow Talk Racy. These allow you to loosely grab the end and adjust the angle and pressure with a light twist of your fingers.

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 Satisfyer Power Bullet 5 is inaudible on all power levels from behind a closed door. So it’s a safe option even if you have housemates. Part of why it’s so quiet is that it’s a mid-strength bullet.
There are also plenty of bullets out there that get stronger but still cannot be heard from outside your bedroom. The Lovense Ambi, Pillow Talk Racy, and Blush Limited Addiction are a few of my favorite discreet bullet vibrators.

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 Satisfyer Bullet 5 has great battery life, lasting nearly two hours on high power. So you can enjoy multiple sessions with it between charges.

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 Satisfyer Ultra Power Bullet 5 has reasonable build quality for its affordable price. The lightweight plastic definitely feels a little cheap. The button on the end takes some effort to press, which can be frustrating. But I’ve had no issues with performance or the toy breaking.

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 Satisfyer Ultra Power Bullet 5 is very easy to clean. It’s IPX7 waterproof which is completely submersible. So you can clean it with soap and water without worry – and even take it into the bath with you!