BMS PalmPower Recharge vs Bodywand Aqua Side-By-Side Comparison
Performance Ratings
Our Verdict
Unlike the full-sized version (the PalmPower Extreme) which is one of my favorite wands, the BMS PalmPower Recharge gets a “no” from me.
When it works correctly, it’s incredibly strong for its size. But I’ve gone through two of these wands in 6 months, and have encountered the same issue with each. After several minutes of play, my BMS PalmPower Recharge will not keep a steady power. It seems to have a mind of its own – wavering back and forth; dropping power randomly.
I also find the thin, tapered handle difficult to hold. And the seam that runs through the middle of the head is uncomfortable.
Other wands in this price range are higher quality and perform better overall – jump here to see how these wands compare.
The Bodywand Aqua is a reasonably budget-friendly wand massager – but there are better wands at this price.
The Bodywand Aqua’s vibrations are weak for a wand, and they’re fairly buzzy. The overall quality is poor. Over time, this motor has developed a very noticeable rattling sound. And this wand runs on 3 AA batteries, which means you’ll spend more on the Aqua over the long run than you would on a comparable rechargeable wand.
Some of my favorite wands, the Magic Wand Mini and FemmeFunn Ultra Wand, are in the same price range but perform much better than the Bodywand Aqua. And I even prefer some cheaper rechargeable wands (jump here to compare).
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Vibrations: Power And Range
When the PalmPower Recharge is working properly (see the issues I encountered here), it has excellent vibration power and range – especially for a wand this small.
The BMS brand excels at fitting powerful motors into compact toys! For instance, the PalmPower Extreme is one of my most powerful wand vibrators despite being just a mid-sized wand. And the BMS Essential Bullet is my cheapest bullet vibrator with excellent power. The PalmPower Recharge is no exception.
It also has soft low levels that are great when warming up. Then you press and hold the button to gradually increase power.
The PalmPower Recharge’s top power feels 70% as strong as the Doxy Die Cast’s (my strongest wand vibrator). That’s really impressive given how much smaller and lighter the PalmPower is – the Doxy is nearly 5x heavier.
Unfortunately, it frequently drops back down to a lower power level. So in practical use, it doesn’t always maintain that top strength.
At the same cost, you can get the FemmeFun Ultra Wand, which is similar in size (though has a slightly larger head), and reaches the same top strength of 7/10. The downside is that it starts somewhat strong even on the lowest power level. So if you need some soft warmup levels too, you may consider the Magic Wand Mini instead.
Or if you’re up for a larger wand, the Magic Wand Plus is also about the same price. And it has an even wider power range. It’s the most powerful wand under $100.
While I’m happy with the BMS PalmPower Recharge’s vibration strength when it’s working well – these other wands have provided a much more reliable experience.
The Bodywand Aqua Massager is one of my weaker wands. It’s only a good option for those who prefer soft stimulation.
Its strength is similar to the middle power levels on many of my non-wand vibrators. The highest power is just enough for me to orgasm, but I prefer more strength.
Smaller vibrators with this power are often enough for me, since their vibrations are more focused. But the Bodywand Aqua’s wide head spreads the soft vibrations over a broad area – making it feel too weak and diffuse.
I usually prefer sex toys that offer a gradual increase in intensity, so I like that the Bodywand Aqua provides 6 intensity levels. But with this wand, I just skip straight to the highest power before it does anything for me.
You can do better than the Bodywand Aqua at this price. Both the Blush Noje W4 and Maia Zoe are more powerful and less expensive. And two of my favorite wands with greater power, the FemmeFunn Ultra Wand and Magic Wand Mini, are about the same price as the Bodywand Aqua.
Vibrations: Frequency (Rumbliness)
The BMS PalmPower Recharge’s lower powers are fairly rumbly. But it gets buzzy on its highest powers.
My favorite wands tend to be a little more rumbly than this wand. The Magic Wand Plus (high-powered) and Dame Com (moderately powered) are great, rumbly options in this price range.
Or for a rumbly wand closer to the PalmPower Recharge’s size, consider the Lovense Domi 2.
We rate wands with rumbly vibrations higher than those with buzzy vibrations since most people prefer the deeper feeling they give. But some do prefer buzzy vibrations – so choose based on what you enjoy!
The Bodywand Aqua is a fairly buzzy wand vibrator. It only has one power I consider moderately rumbly. But it’s the softest setting, so I rarely use it. Because this wand massager is fairly weak, you’ll likely spend most of your time on its highest settings – and these are all moderately buzzy.
Because these vibrations are buzzy, they feel less impactful to me. Unless you know you prefer buzzy vibes, you’ll likely want to choose another wand.
The Magic Wand Mini (a personal favorite) and Maia Zoe are more rumbly wands at comparable prices.
Comfort & Ease of Use
The BMS PalmPower Rechargeable is not painful or difficult to use. But it has some quirks to get used to.
I find the thin, tapered handle awkward to hold and leverage. And I’m not a fan of the seam running through the middle of the head either. The seam is there so you can remove the default head, and put on a PalmPower Recharge wand attachment. But the seam is uncomfortable when I press the wand to my body.
The control system is a feature you’ll either love or hate. It has one button – and instead of tapping once to change the power level, you press and hold the button. The power continues increasing until you release the button. I personally find it irritating because you can easily pass up your intended power level. Then you need to turn the wand off and back on to start over.
For comparably priced wands with more traditional controls and comfortable heads consider the Magic Wand Mini or Magic Wand Plus.
If you want a comfortable wand with an especially small head like the PalmPower’s, the Lovense Domi 2 is a good option.
Though the Bodywand Aqua is not difficult to use, it has some inconveniences.
First, it’s battery-operated – not rechargeable. This means you need to keep AA batteries on hand and this cost adds up. So although the Aqua seems budget-friendly, it’s really more expensive than comparable rechargeable wands. And you can’t simply recharge it when it dies – you’ve got to find some AA batteries or head to the store.
When I’m using the Bodywand Aqua, it feels as though most of its weight is in the handle, rather than the head. So the wand’s balance tips the head away from you instead of pressing it deeper into you.
You can also feel the vibrations in your hands. Since it’s pretty weak, it’s not too distracting. But many wands dampen vibrations in your hands better.
Use During Sex
The BMS Rechargeable does pretty well during sex. It’s short and has a small head, so it fits easily between your bodies. And maneuvering it around your vulva is a breeze.
It does best in Spooning, Modified Missionary, and Cowgirl positions. If it weren’t for the uncomfortable seam along its head and its unreliable power, I’d really enjoy the PalmPower Recharge during sex.
It’s not the best choice for Doggystyle though. I find mid-sized or taller wands work better in this position. Since you also have to support your bodyweight, reaching back so far with a small wand can get tiring.
The Lovense Domi is one of my favorites to use in all positions. It has a slightly longer handle than the PalmPower Recharge, which helps in Doggystyle. But its head is still short and slim – so it fits easily between legs and bodies.
Or if you’re needing to stick closer to the PalmPower’s price, the FemmeFunn Ultra Wand is a great option! It’s fairly small and has a more comfortable head. So it works better in all positions.
The Bodywand Aqua works fairly well during sex.
Its compact size makes it fairly easy to maneuver and apply pressure. But for a short wand, its head is large. So it takes up more space than other small wands like the Lovense Domi 2 or Maia Zoe.
And it’s one of the heaviest compact wands. So it can still get tiring, especially in Doggystyle. I need to reach far back with its short handle, and hold the Aqua’s weight up between my legs.
Its neck has the right amount of flexibility though – not so much that applying pressure is difficult; But not too little that its firm head becomes uncomfortable.
However, the Bodywand Aqua’s soft, buzzy vibrations just don’t provide much impact for me during sex.
I prefer compact wands with more strength or rumbliness like the Lovense Domi 2 and Magic Wand Mini.
Noise
In a silent house, the BMS PalmPower Rechargeable’s upper power levels can be heard from the other side of a closed bedroom door. But its middle and low levels remain inaudible. This is fairly common with wands this powerful.
And when I turn a box fan on in the bedroom, my partner can no longer hear the wand from the other side of the door. Music will also mask its sound.
If you are nervous about noise, the Viben Sultry has even more power than the PalmPower Recharge, but it remains inaudible behind a closed door on all power levels. Even without a fan or music.
Note: The sound levels recorded in the video and measurements above were taken before the Build Quality issues developed. For a listen into the BodyWand Aqua’s sound now, see the video here
During our testing, the Bodywand Aqua had relatively low decibel readings. However, in practical use, my partner can hear it behind a closed bedroom door beginning at its middle power level.
The main problem is that this wand has developed a strange rattling sound that consistently pops up when I’m using the Bodywand Aqua. When it rattles, it’s loud and distracting.
For a more discreet wand in the Aqua’s price range, consider the Magic Wand Mini. It’s a bit more powerful, more rumbly, and remains inaudible behind a closed door on all power levels.
Attachment Compatibility
The BMS PalmPower Recharge is only compatible with BMS’s attachments designed specifically for the PalmPower.
You can remove the default silicone cap over the motor and replace it with any of the PalmPower’s attachments. The attachments and motor have matching grooves that secure them to each other.
BMS offers several attachments for this wand, so you still have some selection range. They have insertable attachments for G-spot, prostate, anal, and dual-stimulation. They also have some fluttery attachments to change how your clit stimulation feels. But there are no compatible attachments designed for penis stimulation.
And other brands’ attachments do not fit the PalmPower Recharge since its head is so much smaller than other wands. If you want more attachment selection than BMS provides, you’ll likely want to choose a full-sized wand like the Magic Wand Plus or Magic Wand Rechargeable which are compatible with attachments from many brands.
The Bodywand Aqua is compatible with a limited range of wand attachments.
The attachments designed for the Le Wand Petite fit the Bodywand Aqua too. These cover a fairly broad range of stimulation including clitoral, G-spot, anal, prostate, and dual-stimulation. So you can likely find something to enjoy.
The PalmPower Extreme’s G-spot attachment also fits the Bodywand Aqua. But this doesn’t contribute much since Le Wand offers several G-spot attachments of higher quality.
Mount Compatibility
I test all my wands with my two Liberator mounts for hands-free play: the Axis and Wanda.
Unfortunately, the BMS PalmPower Rechargeable is too small for either mount. I can’t get any clit stimulation from it.
The head just barely sticks out past the Axis, and it’s completely swallowed up in the Wanda. Plus, since the tapered handle is so thin, the mounts hold the PalmPower Recharge very loosely.
If hands-free play is a big priority to you, I’d recommend getting a medium or large wand.
The Dame Com and Magic Wand Plus both work well with Liberator mounts. They’re in the same price range as the PalmPower Recharge.
And my favorite wand to use in mounts is the BMS PalmPower Extreme. This wand’s angled head is positioned just right and applies the best pressure during hands-free play.
I test my wands with my Liberator mounts – the Axis and Wanda. The Bodywand Aqua works well with both.
Its medium length is perfect for the Liberator Wanda. The Aqua’s head sits just above the fabric of the mount so you can easily lower your weight onto the wand. By leaning forward or backward you can vary the Aqua’s pressure and stimulation – and because its head is so broad, it stays in contact with your clit easily.
The Bodywand Aqua also has excellent compatibility with the Liberator Axis. Even though I usually prefer curved wands in this mount, the Bodywand’s head is broad enough that it reaches my clit and applies good contact and pressure. The Aqua’s handle is also a good width for the Axis. It fits easily and is thick enough that it does not shift around during use.
If you’re ok with the low power of this wand, it can be a good fit for hands-free play. It’s the cheapest wand that works well in mounts.
But one of my personal favorites to use with mounts is the Dame Com, and this is only about $20 more. The Com’s curved handle makes it excellent at applying firm pressure. And it’s deep, rumbly vibrations are more impactful.
Battery Life
The BMS PalmPower Rechargeable has a relatively short battery life compared to other wands. It lasts for about an hour on high power – which is still plenty of time for most people, but you’ll need to remember to charge it between uses.
If you enjoy longer sessions, many wands provide more playtime between charges. The Lovense Domi 2 is a similar size to the BMS PalmPower Recharge and lasts over 2 hours on high.
The Bodywand Aqua uses 3 AA batteries. During our testing, it lasted 250 minutes continuously running on its highest power. And then…
Time to buy more batteries.
This expense adds up – a rechargeable or plug-in wand is much more cost-effective. There are many comparably-priced rechargeable wands with better overall performance. Or you could spend more on the wand itself with the money you’ll save on batteries.
Build Quality
The BMS PalmPower Recharge’s poor build quality is the main dealbreaker for me.
The motor fluctuates between power levels, rather than remaining at the intensity I set. The fact that it drops from 100% power to 20%, then jumps back to 40% makes it very distracting to use. And it sometimes causes me to lose my orgasm.
I noticed this issue with the first PalmPower Rechargeable I bought, so I purchased a second one to review in case it was a fluke. Unfortunately, I encountered the same issue with the replacement.
The Bodywand Aqua has below-average build quality. The handle’s plastic feels somewhat cheap and you can really feel the vibrations in your hands.
The Aqua has also developed a rattling sound within our first 6 months of using it, and this rattling has gotten worse over time. Though the motor still vibrates, this makes us think its overall build is less durable than other wands.
In addition, this wand takes AA batteries instead of being rechargeable or plug-in, which at this point is the industry standard for quality vibrators. We’ve also had the batteries get lodged in the handle, and they can be difficult to remove.