Welcome to OnlyVibes, the vibrator review series where we recommend a single sex toy that is really freaking great. Maybe you’ve never used a sex toy in your entire life, or maybe you’re a veteran with a nightstand drawer that practically buzzes on its own. No matter your level of masturbatory mastery, there’s a good chance you’ve had questions about what’s worth your money, especially because everything everywhere is more expensive these days and vibrators are no exception.
Considering Cosmo’s almost 60-year history of putting your pleasure (and wallet) first, we’re firmly committed to ensuring you know just as much as we do about the pros and cons of every vibrator that comes across our desks. That’s why you can count on us to only recommend products we’ve personally tested and genuinely love. Ready to buzz in? Read on.
One of the many very fun things that happens when you write about sex for a living—hi, it’s me, your faithful associate sex and relationships editor here at Cosmo—is that you tend to accumulate a pretty robust collection of sex toys. And while this is a job perk I’d never take for granted, the truth is, after a while, you kinda feel like you’ve seen (and, ahem, tried) it all. Which is to say that, a few years and hundreds of vibrators into my career, it takes a lot for me to be truly wowed by a new addition to my overflowing pleasure chest. Enter: the Lelo Dot, the first vibrator I’ve encountered in years that’s made me stop and say, Oh, wow, that’s new! And while this toy and I have gotten quite intimately acquainted over the week of daily (and nightly) testing I’ve conducted to bring you this expert review, I can confirm the novelty has not worn off.
The TL;DR: Why the Lelo Dot Is OnlyVibes-Approved
- It offers a truly unique addition to your sex toy collection.
- It’s great for beginners and vibrator connoisseurs alike.
- It’s Actually! Freaking! Quiet!
Pros
- Precise clitoral stimulation
- Eight varied vibration patterns
- Works great on all your erogenous zones
Cons
- Skews pricey if you're on a budget
- Some reviewers wrote they'd have preferred stronger speeds
So what exactly is this little vibrating unicorn, and what makes it so unique? The Lelo Dot—which comes in a sleek luxe box and includes a storage pouch, lube sample, USB charging cable, and a warranty code—is an external vibe designed with clitoral stimulation in mind. But unlike other kinds of clit-focused vibrators, like wands or suction vibes, the Dot is all about super-precise stimulation. As clit-havers are aware, there’s often a particularly sweet sweet spot that can really take you over the edge. With its tiny, bendable tip that vibrates in an elliptical pattern, the Dot makes it easy to hit just the right place. Meanwhile, “the rotation allows for more clitoral nerve endings to be stimulated at once but without it being too intense or too pinpointed,” says sex educator Gigi Engle, a COSRT-registered, GSRD-accredited sex and relationships psychotherapist and a sexpert for 3Fun. “This toy is great for people who enjoy direct and constant external clitoral stimulation.”
But unlike bigger, buzzier vibes like wands that can (temporarily!) numb the area around your clit during an extended sesh, the Dot’s small but mighty tip delivers various levels of stim without desensitizing, which makes it perfect for play with multi-orgasmic potential. “It gives you just enough sensation without going over the top or being too buzzy,” says Engle.
So if you, like me, are big on the clitoral stim, trust that the Dot is very worth taking for a whirl. Maybe you find other external toys like wands to be a bit much, or maybe you need more direct contact than a suction vibe can provide. Or, hey, maybe you (like me) love it all and are just looking to add a little something new to your rotation. Either way, I can confirm that the Dot has definitely earned a starting position on my sex toy roster. Here’s exactly why I recommend adding it to yours too.
Lelo Dot Pros
You Probably Don’t Already Own a Vibrator Like This
Again, while I could never be jaded by something as wonderful as vibrators, I’ll admit that it takes a lot to impress me in that department. Whenever a new sex toy comes across my desk—especially one that claims to be “revolutionary,” “groundbreaking,” or otherwise some kind of industry game changer, my immediate reaction is, Okay, so what makes this so different from all the other vibes I have sitting at home right now?
Honestly, the answer is usually, Pretty much nothing. Not so with the Lelo Dot! This toy has proven to be a truly unique and valuable addition to my collection—one that provides a whole new kind of external sensation than the toys I tend to favor. I’ve rarely encountered other vibrators of this variety (although both Zumio and Zalo make similar products, see below), which is saying something. If your nightstand could use a little refresh, the Dot can definitely shake things up.
Multiple Intensity Levels = Good for Beginners and Seasoned Sex Toy Enthusiasts Alike
Listen, while I don’t like to play favorites, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a wand girl first and foremost. I’m a busy woman, and my trusty Magic Wand gets the damn job done, okay? So, as someone whose go-to toy is of the big and buzzy variety, I’ll admit that when I first saw the Dot and her teeny-tiny little tip, I was skeptical as to whether it could provide the kind of sensation I look for in a plaything.
I will also happily admit that I was wrong! The Dot features eight different vibration patterns and a range of intensities, and while the lowest of those was a tad on the timid side for me, one or two clicks up got me right where I needed to be. Whether you prefer a gentle touch or a full-blown buzz, the Dot delivers, making this a great option for sex toy users of all experience and preferred intensity levels.
It’s Actually Quiet! (No, Really!)
One thing almost every vibrator I’ve ever encountered claims to be is “whisper quiet.” And as a woman with multiple roommates and walls so thin they may as well be nonexistent, I can confirm that not all vibrators are as quiet as they claim to be! I’d even go as far as to say that many of them are, in fact, quite loud! This means that you can usually find me masturbating under multiple levels of weighted blankets with the air conditioner blasting in even the coldest of weather just to muffle the buzzing. (Sexy mental image, I know.)
But I am simply thrilled to announce that Ms. Dot here is one of the few toys in my rotation that I can use freely, without subjecting my roommates to any unwanted knowledge regarding my solo-sex routine and without subjecting myself to unwanted arm workouts from assembling my pre-masturbation blanket-of-silence sandwich. Even at its highest vibration setting, this baby passes the roommate test.
Lelo Dot Cons
I Mean, It’s a Little Weird-Looking, TBH
The first time I laid eyes on the Lelo Dot, I thought, Why does it look like a Teletubby? And to be totally honest with you, I still kind of think it looks like a Teletubby. You see it, right? Something about the little round body with the long antenna? You know what, never mind—we don’t need to get into it. The point: While this toy still channels full Lelo luxury, the overall design is just a little…silly looking. Which is fine! But if a more traditional and/or nondescript looking vibe is what you seek, this ain’t it, my friend.
It’s a Bit on the $$$ Side
As noted, Lelo is all about luxury. And while you absolutely get what you pay for when it comes to this high-end brand—from all-around quality to long-lasting batteries to overall chicness—Lelo products are definitely not what you might call budget-friendly. When it’s not on sale, the Dot will cost you a splurgy $179. Is it worth the investment? Absolutely—but only if you’re sure this is the toy for you. For your average shopper, the price tag makes this a tough toy to justify as an impulse buy or as purely a novelty purchase. So if you don’t happen to have extra cash to drop on a vibrator these days, I’d recommend browsing some of these more, shall we say, thrifty options.
It Stops if You Press the Tip Too Hard
This may be more information than anyone really wants or needs from me, but I’m a girl who really likes to lean into my orgasm. Which is to say that when I’m mid-O, best believe that whatever (or whoever) is the source of that pleasure is getting pushed up against my pussy as hard as humanly possible. This is easy to do with a wand or, say, a man’s face. It is, alas, not easy to do with the Lelo Dot. Why? Because if you bend its super-soft, super-bendy tip too far, the toy stops vibrating until you adjust it back to its standard position. This, as you might imagine, is a super frustrating thing to have happen in the middle of an orgasm—like, only slightly less so than your vibrator literally dying on you. Not! Ideal!
It’s worth noting, however, that the Lelo Dot Cruise ($199), an updated version of this toy, has corrected this issue by implementing “Cruise Control” technology that keeps the stimulation consistent no matter how hard you press. So if you’re someone who really likes to get in there, consider checking out the Cruise instead.
Similar Options to Give Your Wallet ~Options~! 💸
CalExotics Red Hot Ember Flickering Tongue Vibrator
Pros
- Flexible flickering tip for tongue-like sensations
- Seven vibration patterns
Cons
- Only three speeds
Pros
- Comes with three attachments to target all your sweet spots (and double as an internal toy)
- Eight vibration modes
Cons
- Runs a smidge steep at $99
Pros
- Eight adjustable speeds
- Sophisticated "Pressure Sensing" technology adjusts the intensity based on how hard you press
Cons
- Fine tip might be too intense for some users
Overall conclusion: If clitoral stimulation is what you’re after, you need this...just for the cool experience alone.
If you’re an external stim lover looking to mix things up—or if you consider yourself clitorally curious but find mainstays like wands and suction toys to be not quite it, the Lelo Dot may be just the thing. Whether it’s your very first buy or your latest addition, this fun and funky little number brings something truly unique to the nightstand.
Kayla Kibbe (she/her) is the Associate Sex and Relationships Editor at Cosmopolitan US, where she covers all things sex, love, dating and relationships. She lives in Astoria, Queens and probably won’t stop talking about how great it is if you bring it up. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
