This 3-in-1 Vibrator Makes It Easy to Switch It Up in Bed

Since downsizing to an apartment with limited storage, I’ve come to see the value in versatile sex toys, or gadgets that can be used in multiple ways. Of course, multipurpose pleasure products “aren’t just great for people like me who are short on space—they are also a good investment for people who have never used a sex toy before,” says sex and relationship therapist Katherine Hertlein PhD, LMFT, expert with Blueheart and professor in the couple and family therapy program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Medicine.

“Vibrators with various settings and modes of stimulation allow you to explore a range of sensations to discover what feels best,” she says. “Versatile options are also ideal if you enjoy switching between different types of stimulation or want a toy that can be used in different ways, whether during solo or partnered play,” she adds.

So when I heard about a three-in-one toy from Playboy’s Pleasure line called the Vibrato ($136, babeland.com), which functions as a wand vibrator, a vibrating dildo, and a G-spot stimulator, I decided to give it a spin. Read on to learn why I recommend this multitasker to any pleasure-seeker who is new to sex toys, short on storage space, or otherwise craving variety.

The design

The Playboy Pleasure Vibrato looks like the lovechild of a wand vibrator and a single-ended dildo. One side of the toy features a bulbous, squishy head that is designed to stimulate a big surface. The large size makes it ideal for massaging your entire glans clitoral, or the external portion of the clitoris, Suzannah Weiss, CSE, MPS, AASECT-certified sex educator, love coach, and author of Subjectified: Becoming a Sexual Subject, tells SELF.

The other side of the toy—which functions as the handle of the wand portion—is a 5.75-inch long dildo with a motor that allows it to vibrate, twirl, or twist. When used as a dildo, the Vibrato can help people who enjoy penetration get theirs, Weiss says. Many vulva-owners enjoy penetration even more after a clitoral orgasm, as the vagina often expands and becomes more lubricated in response to pleasure, she says. As such, she loves that each side of the vibrator can provide a different kind of orgasm.

With the rotating feature enabled, the long, ribbed side can also be used for targeted G-spot stimulation. The G-spot is a zone of tissue inside the vagina along the front wall that often responds to pressure, explains sex and relationship expert Tara Suwinyattichaiporn, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Human Communication Studies at California State University. While fingers can be a fine way to stimulate this hot spot, applying consistent pressure to the area can fatigue your (or a partner’s) hand and forearm muscles, Weiss notes. Toys that are longer and wider than fingers—especially if they move in either a come-hither or rotating fashion (like the Vibrato does)—tend to be the easiest way to experience G-spot pleasure, she says.

Look and feel

Periwinkle and sparkly, the Vibrato looks more like a skin care device than like something that belongs in my bedside collection. But I like having the option to use a toy that doesn’t look like a body part—personally, I find them playful.

The wand doesn’t feel like a sex toy, either. The head has a surface that can best be described like a disco ball, while the dildo side sports carved indentations that snake around its shaft. Turns out, the patterns actually serve a purpose: “Texture on sex toys can add variety to sexual repertoire, which can stimulate your body to an even greater degree [than smooth toys],” Suwinyattichaiporn tells SELF.

Despite the unique sensations it offers, the Vibrato is still silky to the touch. The bulk of the vibrator is made from soft, body-safe silicone. The only exception is the portion in the middle that connects both ends, which is made from ABS plastic (also a non-porous, body-safe material).

Before taking a new sex toy to bed, I spend some time learning how to turn it on and off, as well as how to use the various functions—so I did the same with the Vibrato. As a person who is admittedly bad with technology even when I’m not seconds away from orgasm, I generally look for gadgets with intuitive button designs. To me, that means just one single switch or a clearly labeled control panel.

The Vibrato has three buttons, which allow you to control each end of the toy separately. While I love that the vibrator’s dual motors can be operated independently, there is a learning curve to figuring out which buttons do what. Each one is engraved with a design meant to depict the feature it operates. To switch on the wand portion of the toy, you hit the middle option, which has a graphic of a wand head emitting vibrational waves. To turn on and increase the dildo’s vibration, you press a button with a squiggly line. To activate its rotating capabilities, you hit the one with circular arrows.

After a few minutes of fiddling with the controls, I got the hang of it—however, I think the slightly confusing design keeps this vibe from being quite as beginner-friendly as it could be.

My experience

Unlike most motorized sex toys, which need to be plugged in prior to use, the Vibrato comes fully charged. So immediately after investigating the buttons and giving the toy a quick wash with warm water and fragrance-free soap (it’s waterproof, another bonus), I got down to it.

To start, I stripped to my silk skivvies, keeping them on as a buffer just in case the vibrations from the wand were too intense. When they weren’t, I threw my underwear to the floor and reached for some water-based lubricant in my night table. I discovered that even the highest of the eight vibration settings is pretty darn moderate—especially as far as wand vibrators are concerned. This is likely because the Vibrato’s head is pretty small, meaning the motor at that end is tinier and less powerful than those in more rumbly options, like the Hitachi Magic Wand. Further, the Vibrato is a rechargeable toy, not a plug-in one, which means it isn’t getting nonstop power from the wall the way some other wand vibes do.

While its less-intense settings may not be ideal for those who enjoy (or need) a powerful vibe, my clitoris is incredibly responsive, so the fact that I could use the Vibrato sans-panties was a huge perk for me. I also love that while the handle-turned-dildo portion can vibrate, it only does so when turned on; when it’s not activated, it doesn’t buzz at all. This means when I used the toy as a wand vibrator, my hand didn’t numb out—a common complaint I have with some other vibes.

Penetration rarely makes an appearance during my masturbation sessions, as I often experience dyspareunia (or pain during penetration). However, I was eventually able to give the dildo side of the toy a try when my long-distance partner was in town. After a thorough preplay session, my partner lubed up the Vibrato and slowly slid it inside me.

The insertable end is just 1.4 inches in diameter—about the girth of one to one and a half fingers—which we learned makes it a great way for me to enjoy penetration when my body isn’t able to accept something thicker (like multiple fingers or a penis, for example). Plus it vibrates, which no human body part can do!

The price

At $136, this vibrator doesn’t exactly deserve the title of a budget-friendly sex toy. But considering that the Vibrato can be used as a wand vibe, dildo, and G-spot stimulator, it certainly earns its keep as a high-value bedside must-have.

The fact is, many similarly-shaped external wands (like FemmeFunn’s Ultra Wand or Dame’s Com Wand Vibrator) will put you out $75 and $119 dollars, respectively. Meanwhile, my go-to single-ended dildo, The Fun Factory’s Limba Flex, rings in at $75. Finally, the unique twirling technology that enables the Vibrato dildo to move like a finger is similar to that used in toys like Lelo’s Mona 2 and We-Vibe’s Nova 2, which both cost around $150.

Given that buying three separate gadgets that perform the functions of the Vibrato would total over $300, I argue that the Vibrato is well worth its price point. Plus, I’m now willing to spend extra just to keep my sex toy collection a little more manageable.

The bottom line

The Playboy Pleasure Vibrato is currently one of the few sex toys I haven’t tucked away in storage, as I can use it externally or internally, solo or with my partner. And while I don’t think this toy will do it for power hunters or size queens, it’s an incredible investment for people who are in the market for their first-ever pleasure product, as well as those looking for a truly versatile vibe.

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