Bullets and lipstick vibrators are the smallest powered products sold, and they are the ones most often recommended for a first purchase, for travel, and as a second product alongside something larger. This guide explains what separates the two shapes, why small products do so much of the work in most people's drawers, and what to check on a listing before buying one.
Bullet or lipstick
A bullet is a plain capsule, 5 to 7 centimetres long, with a rounded end and a single button. A lipstick vibrator is the same motor in a case styled like a lipstick, usually with an angled tip and sometimes a cap that hides it. Inside, they are the same product: one small motor, a built-in battery, a handful of steady speeds and patterns. The lipstick's angled tip gives a slightly more precise point; the bullet's rounded end is more forgiving. The cap makes a lipstick vibrator less obvious in a bag, which is the only real reason to choose it. The bullet in this range is a capsule about 5.5 centimetres long and 1.7 across from the maker's drawing, listed as ABS with silicone, with ten patterns and a magnetic charging lead.
Why small works
The motor in a bullet is small, which means less vibration than a wand but also less noise, less weight and a more precise point of contact. Most people use a bullet externally and briefly, where precision matters more than depth, and that is where a small product wins. It is also the easiest product to clean, because there is no neck, no arm and no seam to collect residue, and the easiest to pack. Many people who own larger products reach for the bullet most often because it is quick.
What to check on a listing
Charging. Magnetic contacts or a USB socket; never a coin cell, which this store does not stock. Magnetic contacts have no socket to keep dry.
Material. ABS for the capsule is normal; look for silicone where the product touches the body, or at least a smooth, seamless ABS body.
Button. One button on the end, with a long press to switch off. Products that need the button held to switch on are easier to carry.
Travel lock. Some makers include one; none of the makers in this range states one, so pack the product switched off with the lead unplugged.
Rating. Most bullet listings say waterproof without a figure. Treat an unrated product as splash-resistant: rinse, do not submerge.
Travel
A bullet is the product to take on a trip. It is small, it charges from any USB port or power bank, and its lithium cell is the size of the one in an earbud case. The travel guide covers packing and airport screening; the short version is that a switched-off bullet in a wash bag attracts no attention.
Pairing
A bullet pairs with almost everything. With a wand, it gives the precise option next to the broad one. With a G-spot shape, it covers external use while the other product is internal. With a partner, it is the product most easily handed over. The wearable in this range is the natural next step for someone who likes a bullet and wants to keep their hands free.
Care
A bullet needs the least care of any powered product, and the routine takes a minute. Wash with warm water and mild soap, wipe the contacts dry, and charge only when the capsule is dry. Store it in its box or a small bag so the silicone does not pick up lint. Replace it when the battery no longer holds a useful charge; the cell is not replaceable.
