BMS PalmPower Recharge vs Magic Wand Original 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 Magic Wand Original (formerly known as the “Hitachi” Magic Wand) is a very high-powered wand, but it only has two power levels. Both are pretty strong, so those who need soft levels to warm up will also need to have another toy on hand.
The vibrations range from neutral to moderately buzzy (no rumbly settings). While I personally enjoy the Magic Wand Original’s vibrations, most people will prefer the more rumbly powers the Magic Wand Plus and Magic Wand Rechargeable offer.
The Magic Wand Original’s plush head provides a comfortable experience. But unfortunately, its soft vinyl material is porous (not body-safe). Porous materials cannot be fully sanitized, so you’ll need to purchase a sanitizable silicone cap to keep this wand clean. At that point, the Magic Wand Plus is cheaper and performs better overall.
Though the Magic Wand Original was innovative for its time, the upgraded models (the Magic Wand Plus and Magic Wand Rechargeable) are better choices for most people today. They have a broader power range with more intensity levels – so you can enjoy softer vibrations when warming up turn up the extreme power when you’re ready! They’re also more rumbly – a characteristic most people prefer. And their heads are made of plush, comfortable, body-safe silicone.
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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 Magic Wand Original is an extremely strong wand with only two power levels.
Even its lowest strength is much more powerful than any of my non-wand vibrators. It’s so strong, I typically only use the lowest setting. And even then, I prefer to use the Magic Wand Original over my clothes or underwear because of the intensity.
Its lowest strength pushes the boundaries of what I can handle when I’m not adequately warmed up – still enjoyably powerful, but any more strength would become overwhelming for me. I think many people will need softer levels to warm up.
While I enjoy the Magic Wand Original’s powerful vibrations, the body-safe Magic Wand Plus has some significant advantages over the Original.
The Plus has four power levels instead of the Original’s two settings – and these four levels cover a broader power range. They start softer than the Magic Wand Original which can prevent overstimulation early on. And it finishes even stronger than the Magic Wand Original.
At a comparable price, most people will enjoy the vibrations of the Magic Wand Plus more.
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.
Because most people want a wand vibrator with deep, rumbly vibrations, we rate these higher than buzzy wands. But it’s definitely a personal preference.
The Magic Wand Original has buzzy vibrations on high power. But the lower level which I use most has neutral-feeling vibrations: neither rumbly nor buzzy.
Personally, I don’t need all my vibrators to be extremely rumbly. I actually really enjoy the Magic Wand Original’s neutral vibes. But, I think most people want something more rumbly overall. Or at least a wand with some rumbly settings to enjoy.
If that’s you, both the Magic Wand Plus and Magic Wand Rechargeable are more rumbly than the Original when they’re vibrating at comparable power. And both have extremely rumbly low levels.
They’ll be a better fit for most people. But the Magic Wand Original’s vibrations are good for those who enjoy vibrations between rumbly and buzzy.
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.
The size of the Magic Wand Original makes it a little trickier to maneuver than some smaller wands like the Lovense Domi.
But with wands this powerful, I don’t need to maneuver them into a very precise spot. Or leverage them much for extra pressure. The strong, broad vibes easily stimulate the entire area. So maneuverability may not be as important to you.
Because the head is broad and the vibes are powerful, but not rumbly I feel the vibrations in my legs more than I’d like sometimes. This can occasionally become fatiguing. I don’t have this issue with smaller, more precise wands like the Lovense Domi 2. Or more rumbly full-sized wands like the Magic Wand Plus or Rechargeable.
Some of the Magic Wand Original’s vibes also travel into the handle. But it’s not too distracting to me.
I find the Original comfortable against my body, because the head is so plush. So it doesn’t bump uncomfortably against my pubic bone with heavy movement as some firm wands do.
I also really like the switch button. You can toggle between the top and low power. It’s intuitive and very easy to feel where the button is with your fingers – so you can easily control it without looking.
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.
I enjoy the Magic Wand Original in most sex positions, though not Doggystyle.
I think it works extremely well in Cowgirl. In this position, there’s plenty of open space, so the long handle does not get in the way. I move around a lot in this position, and I find many wands bump into my pubic bone uncomfortably. But the Magic Wand Original’s plush head provides cushioning to keep it comfy. Though I’ll note, the Magic Wand Plus’s and Rechargeable’s body-safe silicone heads are also plush and comfortable)
In Spooning and Modified Missionary positions, the Magic Wand Original is fairly easy to use. Though, in these positions my legs are usually somewhat closed. And I can’t fit the Original’s wide head as close to my clit as I can with a small wand like the Lovense Domi 2. But since the vibrations are so strong, I don’t need to position this wand precisely. So it’s not a deal-breaker for me, and I still enjoy it in both these positions.
I find it more difficult to use the Magic Wand Original in the Doggystyle position. With the rounded head, I need to angle the handle really low to fit the head on my clit how I enjoy it. But then the handle bumps into the bed. The Plus and Rechargeable have more squared-off heads that fit better for me. I don’t need to angle their handles so extremely to get clit stimulation in Doggystyle.
Overall, it’s still a decent option during sex, though I prefer the Plus and Rechargeable. Or if you want a powerful wand that’s extremely easy to maneuver during sex, consider the compact Lovense Domi 2.
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.
Unfortunately, the Magic Wand Original is louder than most wands. I don’t find the sound distracting, but you’ll need to be conscious if you live with housemates.
If my partner stands on the other side of our closed bedroom door, he can hear it vibrating even on low power. When I turn on a box fan in the bedroom, my partner can no longer hear it on either setting. Playing music also drowns out the Original’s noise.
If low noise is important to you though, there are extremely powerful wands with more discreet low levels like the Magic Wand Plus and BMS PalmPower Extreme. Their softer settings are still powerful enough for me to orgasm while remaining more discreet.
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.
Alongside other full-sized wands, the Magic Wand Original has the broadest range of compatibility with wand attachments.
Since Magic Wand is the most famous massager brand, many attachments are designed specifically for the Magic Wand Original, Plus, and Rechargeable. Though the Original’s head is slightly shorter than the Plus or Rechargeable, I’ve found all three wands are compatible with the same attachments.
You can find a compatible attachment for pretty much any kind of stimulation – G-spot, anal, prostate, penis, clitoral texture, dual-stimulation. You name it, you can likely find an attachment for it.
I also want to reiterate that the Magic Wand Original’s head is porous and cannot be sanitized. So if you go with this wand, you’ll want to get a body-safe silicone cap attachment like the Pleasure Works Pop Top. This is one of the reasons I recommend most people go with the Magic Wand Plus instead.
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 two Liberator mounts for hands-free stimulation: the Wanda and Axis. The Magic Wand Original works well with the Axis and is average with the Wanda.
The Axis is best if you lie on your stomach, while the mount holds your wand horizontally at a slight upward angle between your legs.
The Magic Wand Original’s handle is a good thickness for a secure fit in the mount. I usually prefer curved wands in this mount so their head is angled up closer to my clit. But even though Magic Wand Original’s handle is straight, its head is large enough that the wand maintains excellent contact with my clit. I can also easily shift my weight down harder onto the Magic Wand’s head for firmer pressure when I want.
The Magic Wand Original is average when used with the Wanda. This mount holds the wand nearly upright. You can typically straddle the wand on your knees or bend all the way forward on your elbows and knees (in a sort of Doggystyle position).
With shorter wands, the head sits just past the fabric. So when straddling a short wand, I can lower my weight onto the wand’s head for good pressure and stimulation. But the Magic Wand Original sticks out too far to easily straddle it.
The only way I can get comfortable clit stimulation is to get on my elbows and knees. So it’s a bit more limited, but this position still provides a good way to get hands-free clit stimulation. And on my elbows and knees, there’s plenty of room to have sex with my partner from behind while the Magic Wand Original is in the Wanda.
With a lot of movement, the Wanda’s fabric will occasionally toggle the power button which can be annoying. I haven’t experienced this issue with other wands, since the Magic Wand Original is the only one I have with an old-fashioned toggle switch.
If you want the best hands-free experience, the BMS PalmPower Extreme is excellent with both mounts. Its medium length is better with the Wanda. And its angled head is perfect in the Axis. It’s easily my favorite wand to use hands-free with mounts!
Battery Life & Power Source
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 Magic Wand Original is a plug-in wand, so battery life is not applicable. Corded wands have their own set of advantages and disadvantages.
A plug-in wand like the Magic Wand Original is always ready to go. You’ll never reach for it only to realize you forgot to charge the battery. But you have to play near an outlet (though the Magic Wand Original’s cord is 6 feet long so you have plenty of room). Some people also find a cord mildly annoying to work around.
If you find cordless wands more convenient consider the Magic Wand Rechargeable or BMS PalmPower Extreme (which is a bit more powerful too).
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.
Unfortunately, the Magic Wand Original has a porous vinyl head. Porous materials can harbor bacteria and cannot be fully sanitized. To make this wand body-safe, you can purchase a $20 silicone cap to cover the wand’s head. You can remove this cap and wash it between uses.
When you factor in the cost of the cap, it’s cheaper to just purchase the fully body-safe Magic Wand Plus.
Other than this, the Magic Wand Original is high-quality. The hard plastic handle and toggle button feel solid and built to last. And the head has a nice plush feel, which adds to the comfort – though the body-safe silicone of the Magic Wand Plus and Rechargeable are also soft and comfy.