Magic Wand Original vs BMS Swan Era Wand Side-By-Side Comparison
Performance Ratings
Our Verdict
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.
The BMS Swan Era Wand is great if you’re on a budget and want gentle to moderate, rumbly vibrations with more precise stimulation than a typical wand vibrator.
The controls allow very gradual adjustability, and every setting is rumbly – a rare feature in this price range. This is great for those easily overstimulated because there are no big power jumps or buzzy vibrations.
The small head allows you to limit contact to the spots you want, preventing fatigue from vibrations hitting your leg or blanketing too much space.
However, it only reaches moderate strength, though good for its tiny size, and has poor mount and attachment compatibility due to its small head. If you need more intensity, or prefer the broad stimulation of a typical wand, the Orion Your New Favorite Wand is a stronger (though less rumbly) option with a full-sized head at a similar price.
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Vibrations: Power And Range
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.
The BMS Swan Era has a reasonable power range, starting gently and reaching a moderate 5 out of 10 strength on high.
This is only half the strength of my strongest wands, but it’s still stronger than most of my non-wand vibrators, and enough for me.
This is a wider power range and higher max power than most of what you’ll find in this price range. Only one wand at this price has as much range as the Swan Era while reaching a higher top strength – the Orion Your New Favorite Wand.
The Swan Era Wand’s press and hold, continuous control system allows you to make tiny adjustments to the power. If you want a slow, gradual build and don’t need anything too strong, the Swan Era is a great choice at this price. For more power, consider something stronger like the Orion Your New Favorite Wand.
Vibrations: Frequency (Rumbliness)
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.
We rate rumbly vibrations higher than buzzy ones because it’s what most people prefer. However, this is an area of personal preference, so consider what you enjoy.
The BMS Swan Era Wand is impressively rumbly, especially considering its tiny size and affordability. Every setting in this continuous range is either extremely or moderately rumbly. These low-frequency vibrations travel deep into your body for an impactful, spread-out feel.
The depth of the vibrations stood out to me when I first started using this toy because vibrations with this much depth are often more expensive. The Orion Your New Favorite Wand and Satisfyer Wand-er are the only comparable wands at this price point, but they’re larger.
It’s a great choice for those seeking rumbly vibes on a budget!
Comfort & Ease of Use
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.
The BMS Swan Era Wand is very easy to use and comfortable, with the exception of some vibrations in the handle.
It’s hard to avoid feeling hand vibrations on small wands like this since the motor is so close to your hand. However, since it’s so rumbly, I don’t find the handle vibrations distracting. But if you’re extra sensitive to this, the Romp Presto does a better job of keeping the vibrations isolated to the head.
Leveraging the short handle for long periods could be more tiring than wands with longer handles. But at just 4.9 ounces, its very light so it’s easy to hold. And the flared base provides a good leverage point for the thumb when applying pressure. This tiny wand is easy to move around, and the silky silicone provides a comfortable grip.
Traditional wands have a large head for broad stimulation, like the Orion Your New Favorite Wand. But the BMS Swan Era has a small head, which is great if you prefer more precise stimulation than large wands provide.
Since the Swan Era’s vibrations are so rumbly, they can bump against your pubic bone more easily since the vibration movements are bigger, so the small head is important. This way, you can limit contact to fleshier areas to keep it comfortable.
The single button press-and-hold control system is different than most and takes some familiarization if you’re not used to it. But it allows very gradual power adjustments instead of limiting you to preset power settings.
Hold the button until you reach the desired strength, then let go. Then tap once to turn it off, and again to start at the lowest strength. This makes it easy to reach the strongest or weakest power quickly.
Use During Sex
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.
The BMS Swan Era Wand is great to use during sex. The small head and short handle easily fit into tight spots.
In positions facing your partner, you can get direct contact, and since the vibes are so rumbly, they travel deep into your body, so stimulation is great. Since the head is firm, it can be uncomfortable if it gets pressed against your pubic bone, but the small size makes it easier to keep out of the way.
In doggystyle, the handle is too short to rest on the bed, but it’s so light that I can hold it for a long time without getting tired.
The head moves around more in the spooning position since it’s so small. It’s harder to keep wedged between your legs, but this also means the vibes don’t fatigue your legs as much. The stimulation is still good, but it’s not as consistent in this position as I’ve found with other wands with slightly broader heads like the Romp Presto.
If you want something small for easy maneuverability and versatility during sex, this is a great mini wand.
Noise
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.
The BMS Swan Era has mediocre noise levels, particularly because it sometimes rattles.
In our test from behind the closed bedroom door, my partner could not hear the lowest power, but mid-strengths were audible whenever I didn’t have the wand pressed to my body. And high power was always easily audible.
Our decibel recordings on high power are based on the noise level with the rattling sound. You can hear what it sounds like with and without the rattling in the video above, but of course you can’t control that. Sometimes when using the wand it wouldn’t rattle. Other times it’d start rattling after several minutes of use.
Even with a box fan running, my partner could still just barely hear the rattling on high power. Only music would mask the noise.
This means it’s not a good choice if discretion is important. The Romp Presto, another affordable mini wand, was inaudible from the other side of the door in all our tests if you need something quieter.
Attachment Compatibility
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.
The BMS Swan Era Wand has poor attachment compatibility, but you can still find a few options that work.
A couple of my smaller, or extra stretchy attachments worked well. The PalmPower Rechargeable attachments stayed on with friction, but they don’t snap into place for additional security like they do with their own wand.
Large wand heads have the best attachment compatibility, so the Orion Your New Favorite Wand is a better affordable wand if you prioritize this.
Mount Compatibility
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!
The BMS Swan Era Wand has very poor compatibility with mounts.
It does not fit in the Wanda Mount at all.
In the Axis, the small head prevents it from making good contact with your body. Some of the vibrations do travel for some stimulation since the vibes are so rumbly, but most people will find this stimulation underwhelming.
The Orion Your New Favorite Wand is a better wand in this price range if you want to enjoy hands-free play with a mount.
Battery Life & Power Source
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).
The BMS Swan Era Wand is rechargeable but has a shorter battery life than other wands. It lasted for 55 minutes on high power in our test, which could be enough if you charge between uses.
But the Orion Your New Favorite Wand lasts longer on an even higher top strength, so this is a better option if you frequently forget to charge.
Build Quality
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.
The BMS Swan Era Wand seems to have good build quality.
The all-over silicone provides a sleek, comfortable, and completely sealed feel. The neck has some flex but seems sturdy and not prone to breaking. The button has a nice press-feel, and I like the weight of it – neither too light nor too heavy.
Within the first week or two, the motor started rattling after a few minutes of higher-powered use, which could indicate degradation over time. It hasn’t affected performance so far, but it could be annoying to some.