Magic Wand Original vs Calexotics Charisma Mystique 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 Calexotics Charisma Mystique is a cheap, dual-ended mini wand, but it underperforms in most areas compared to other wands, including others in this price range.
The wand end’s vibrations are extremely buzzy, not rumbly, and its maximum strength is mediocre. The controls are frustrating, and the high-pitched noise makes it harder to enjoy. While the second motor in the handle offers a slightly better experience with mildly rumbly vibrations, neither end stands out in performance or comfort.
If you’re specifically looking for a dual-ended wand with two very different tips, and you know you prefer buzzy vibrations, this may be worth considering. But for most people, the Romp Presto and Orion Your New Favorite Wand are better budget-friendly wands.
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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.
This is a dual-ended wand, and both the Calexotics Charisma Mystique’s motors have a mediocre power range with primarily moderate-feeling strengths.
The wand end’s first setting has a 1.7 out of 10 strength, but since the vibrations are buzzy, it doesn’t feel as gentle a start as other similar wands provide. The 3 power settings aren’t as gradual of steps as I’ve found with other wands either.
The Charisma Mystique’s maximum 4.92 strength is enough power for me, especially since the vibrations are so buzzy, causing the vibes to strongly affect the exact area you touch them to. However, this is less than half the power of my strongest wands. If you want more extreme strength, the Orion Your New Favorite Wand is the strongest in this price range.
The handle end has its own motor and starts a bit softer at 1.20, reaching a top strength of 4.67. It also has 3 power levels and 9 patterns, just like the wand end. The lower starting point makes it slightly better for a gentle warmup, though its top strength is no stronger than the wand end.
For a moderate experience with more gradual steps, consider the more affordable Romp Presto. Or for a more intense experience, consider 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 score rumbly vibrations higher than buzzy ones because it’s what most people prefer. However, I often enjoy neutral-feeling or moderately buzzy vibrations, so choose based on your preference.
The Charisma Mystique’s wand end is one of the buzziest wands we’ve tested. None of its settings fall into the rumbly range, and even as someone who enjoys moderate buzziness, I found the sound of its high-pitched vibrations distracting.
The handle end is slightly better. Its low setting is moderately rumbly and much more comfortable. You could use that end for a more rumbly warmup. But if you want a wand with rumbly settings throughout, the BMS Swan Era Wand is a better option in this price range.
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 Calexotics Charisma Mystique is comfortable, aside from some handle vibrations. But the controls are a big drawback, and one of the main reasons I don’t recommend it.
Each motor has a single button to control it. But the button only cycles forward through 3 power levels and 9 patterns – you can’t go backward or adjust strength independently of pattern. That means to decrease the power, you must cycle through all the remaining settings!
Worse, the toy’s memory feature restarts it where you left off, meaning you can’t reset it to the lowest strength by turning the toy off and back on.
Besides the controls, the Mystique is easy to maneuver and apply firm pressure with because of its slim handle and firm internal core. The handle is long enough to find a comfortable grip easily. And even though the head is firm, its small size makes it comfortable to limit pressure to where you want it.
Some vibrations travel into your hand, especially at higher intensities. This can feel tickly or distracting over time. For better controls and reduced hand vibrations, I recommend the Romp Presto.
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 Charisma Mystique is decently usable during sex because of its small size and dual-ended design.
The small head fits into tighter spaces (like during face-to-face positions) than a full-sized wand, and if the wand end doesn’t reach comfortably, you can flip it to use the slimmer handle end, so it’s pretty versatile. The firm core also makes it easy to leverage, even for long periods, in all positions.
However, the vibrations themselves aren’t that great, so you need more direct clitoral contact with this wand than with others. And the awkward controls make mid-sex adjustments annoying. Overall, in this price range, I still prefer the Romp Presto during sex.
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 Charisma Mystique has average noise levels in terms of volume, but the high-pitched tone of the vibrations is grating, which makes me not want to use it.
My partner couldn’t hear it through a closed door on low or medium, but easily heard it on high. Since you have to cycle through the loudest setting every time you adjust the intensity, this isn’t a discreet wand.
The Romp Presto is quieter across all settings and better if you live with others – it was inaudible from the other side of the door on every setting in our test.
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 Calexotics Charisma Mystique has very poor compatibility with attachments.
It fits with the Lovense Domi attachments and two of my other smaller attachments. This provides some variety, but if you want many options, the Charisma Mystique is not for you.
Most attachments are designed for wands with full-sized heads, and the Mystique’s compact head just isn’t compatible with them. If you want a low-cost wand that works with a broad variety of accessories, the Orion Your New Favorite Wand is a better choice.
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!
We test mount compatibility with both the Liberator Axis and Wanda mounts. The Calexotics Charisma Mystique has very poor compatibility with the Axis and does not fit at all in the Wanda.
The Wanda is designed to let you straddle the mount or sit on it for hands-free stimulation, but the Mystique is too small and falls too deep into the mount, providing no stimulation.
The Axis, which holds the wand slightly angled while you lie on top of it, does manage to hold the Mystique in place. But the small head size makes it hard to get consistent stimulation. The wand doesn’t provide enough surface area or pressure to maintain good contact during movement.
If you’re looking for a mount-compatible wand at a similar price, the Orion Your New Favorite Wand’s full-sized head makes it fit both mounts much better.
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 Calexotics Charisma Mystique is rechargeable, but has a poor battery life, lasting only 47 minutes on high in our test.
Since this only reaches a moderate strength, this is unimpressive compared to the stronger Orion Your New Favorite Wand that lasts nearly 2x as long.
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 Calexotics Charisma Mystique has fair build quality.
The all-over silicone has a nice texture, and the toy has a solid weight that gives it a somewhat sturdy feel in the hand. Its moderately flexible neck holds up well to firm pressure without feeling like it might snap.
That said, several aspects feel cheap. The vibrations are very buzzy and high-pitched, which gives the impression of lower quality. And the pinhole charging port requires puncturing the silicone to insert the cable, which feels outdated and makes me nervous about the waterproof aspect long-term.
Despite the pinhole charging port, it’s rated as IPX7 waterproof, and so far has held up well to cleaning and submersion during our tests – so despite some low-quality touches, it seems structurally sound.