Pillow Talk Racy vs BMS Swan Maximum Bullet Side-By-Side Comparison
Performance Ratings
Our Verdict
The BMS Swan Maximum Bullet and Pillow Talk Racy are both affordable bullet vibrators with wide power ranges, but they cater to different preferences.
The BMS Swan Maximum is the better choice if you crave extreme intensity. It has a significantly higher top strength (42% stronger) than the Racy and an incredibly long battery life. However, its vibrations are primarily buzzy, and its tiny size means the vibrations easily travel into your hand, making it less comfortable to hold and leverage. The combination of extreme strength that’s so buzzy is overstimulating to me, and some may find it overwhelming.
The Pillow Talk Racy is the better option if you prefer more rumbly vibrations and a comfortable grip. Because it has a longer handle and an angled head, the Racy is much easier to hold and leverage without vibrating your fingers. It’s also exceptionally quiet, and is designed for external or internal use, so you can enjoy both clitoral and G-spot stimulation. While its top strength isn’t as extreme as the Swan’s, it is still intense and powerful enough for most people.
Choose the BMS Swan Maximum for overwhelming power and long battery life, but go with the Pillow Talk Racy if you prioritize rumbly vibrations, comfort, and quiet operation at a similar price.
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Vibrations: Power And 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.
The BMS Swan Maximum Bullet has the strongest top power of all my bullet vibrators, reaching an 11 out of 10 strength. You read that right—an 11. The Swan Maximum was released after my first round of bullet vibrator testing, but it beat out my previous most powerful bullets, the Blush Limited Addiction and Doxy Bullet, which I had rated 10!
The BMS Swan Maximum’s 11/10 power is stronger than I could ever need. In fact, without the silicone grip that comes with the bullet, its top setting is too strong to hold in my hand!
Thankfully, it also has the widest power range of my bullets (another benefit over the Blush Limited Addiction and Doxy Bullet), starting at just a 2.5 out of 10 vibration strength. So, it has plenty of milder settings if you prefer gentle to moderate stimulation.
The press-and-hold buttons also let you gradually increase and decrease intensity in tiny steps. With such a comprehensive power range, most people will find some intensity levels they enjoy.
Vibrations: Frequency (Rumbliness)
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 BMS Swan Maximum’s vibrations are primarily buzzy. The lowest power levels are moderately rumbly, which is a nice, gentle intro. But by the time you reach settings with moderate strength, the vibrations feel neutral. And they quickly become buzzy as you increase the intensity higher.
Whether this is good or bad depends on your preferences. Some people prefer buzzy vibrations, whereas others want rumbly (low-frequency) vibes.
Since I prefer moderate intensity, I only need to use the first half of the Swan Maximum’s power levels – so I typically use those rumbly and neutral vibes. But if you’re interested in those extremely intense top settings, you have to love buzzy vibrations.
However, none of my rumbly bullet vibrators come close to the Swan Maximum’s vibration power. The We-Vibe Tango X is my strongest rumbly bullet, reaching a top strength of 7.75.
When it comes to bullet vibrators, you generally need to choose between more power or more rumbliness. If strong, rumbly vibrations are your priority, a wand vibrator like the Lovense Domi 2 or BMS Swan Era Wand is better. Because wand vibrators’ motors are heavier, they’re often both rumbly and strong.
G-Spot Use
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!
Stimulation Precision
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.
Whether you prefer broad or focused stimulation is up to your personal preference.
The BMS Swan Maximum Bullet provides a versatile experience because you can use the thin lipstick tip (just 0.75 inches wide) for very precise contact. But you can also press the side of the bullet to your body to cover more area for those who prefer to spread the stimulation out more.
Comfort & Ease of Use
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 Swan Maximum Bullet is very easy to use, but it has some uncomfortable aspects.
It has great controls with two press-and-hold buttons that let you increase and decrease power continuously – there are no jumps between settings. Simply hold the increase or decrease power button, and the Swan Maximum will gradually change power. This control system makes finding the exact power level you need easy.
Some other bullet vibrators, like the Pillow Talk Racy and Flirty, have a similar continuous system. But these bullets have just one button, so you can only increase power gradually. To decrease power, you have to turn them off and on again to start over. So, the BMS Swan Maximum’s second button is helpful.
I personally find the Swan Maximum’s buttons take firm pressure to hold down, which is tiring if you change power often. The Pillow Talk Racy’s button is easier to press. And if you don’t need super tiny power adjustments, ordinary clickable buttons like those of the Blush Limited Addiction are fine. But the Swan’s two press-and-hold buttons have their benefits in finding your ideal strength.
The BMS Swan is only adequately comfortable. The bullet is shorter than I prefer, and the base tapers inward, forcing you to grip it toward the middle of the bullet. This makes the usable length even shorter, causes my fingers to feel cramped in a tight space, and doesn’t provide as much leverage as longer bullets.
The Swan Maximum’s vibrations travel into my hand, too. They’re comfortable at low to medium power levels, but they’re distracting at the top half of the settings. The silicone Comfy Cuff that comes with it is a must if you plan to use the higher powers—it helps dampen the vibrations in your fingers but doesn’t completely eliminate them.
The Blush Limited Addiction is another extremely powerful bullet with less (but not zero) vibrations in your hand. With very powerful bullet vibrators, your fingers are close to the motor since bullets are tiny. So, if you’re particularly sensitive to vibrations in your fingers, try a mid-sized toy like the Lovense Hyphy or a small wand vibrator like the Lovense Domi 2.
Use During Sex
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 Swan Maximum is excellent to use during sex. Its small size and tapered tip make it easy to fit into tight spaces. And since it can reach very high powers, it provides plenty of stimulation.
If you’re not using the silicone cuff to dampen the vibrations that travel into your hand, you can use it to attach the bullet to your fingers. That way, you can maneuver and press the bullet to your body without gripping it. While it’s not completely hands-free, like some couples vibrators, it’s minimal effort.
This can make it easier to hold during sex. Though, I can only tolerate using it this way on the low to medium levels (which have plenty of strength for me). If I use the Swan Maximum’s highest levels, I need to use the Comfy Cuff to dampen the vibrations instead.
Noise
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 Swan Maximum Bullet has good noise levels, considering its enormous power.
When I used it in the bedroom, my partner could only hear it on the highest settings from the other side of the bedroom door. We also found that he could only hear the Swan Maximum when the bullet accidentally brushed up against the comforter on my bed, which made a louder sound. When I kept the vibrator pressed to my body, he couldn’t hear it on the highest setting.
If you’re concerned about noise, stick to the medium power levels, which are still quite powerful. You can also turn on music or a fan to mask the noise.
Battery Life
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 Swan Maximum Bullet has an amazing battery life. After charging it fully, I ran it on its highest power until it died – 139 minutes later. It lasted longer than any of the other bullets I’ve tested so far.
This was especially surprising since extremely powerful vibrators often die faster (since they use more power). All the bullet and mini vibrators that come close to the Swan Maximum’s battery life are substantially weaker.
Build Quality
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 Swan Maximum Bullet has a good build quality but is not luxurious. The ABS Plastic has a nice, metallic look and feels well-made, but it shows scratches easily. It seems durable but feels lighter than I expected due to the metallic look. Bullet vibrators actually made of metal, like the Le Wand Grand Bullet, are heavier and feel more solid.
The silicone buttons have a nice feel, and the detachable silicone grip is very plush. I wish the grip was wider to cover more surface area since the vibrations travel easily into my fingers, but it still does the trick well enough.
Cleaning
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.
The BMS Swan Maximum Bullet is IPX7 waterproof, so it’s very easy to clean. You can fully submerge it while scrubbing or use it in the bathtub.