Guide · Charging and batteries
A rechargeable sex toy is the most convenient in everyday use and is easier to make fully sealed, but the battery is built in and the charging cable is often product-specific. A battery-powered toy never needs charging and outlives its battery, but needs new batteries and often has a shorter run time. The most important things to check before buying are the charging connector, the run time relative to the charging time, and whether the cable is included.
Most vibrators in our reviews have a built-in rechargeable lithium battery. You charge them with a cable to a USB port, just like a phone. It's convenient, and because the battery is built in and no battery hatch is needed, it's easier to make the casing sealed enough for IPX7.
Battery-powered toys, which run on ordinary disposable AAA batteries or the smaller N size, are still found in some models, including from Fun Factory, and in toys with a removable bullet. They never need charging. When the batteries run out you swap them, and the toy is going again within a minute.
Neither option is best for everyone. Below we go through what sets them apart, how the different charging connectors work and what to check before you buy. How long a built-in battery lasts over the years, and how to look after it, is covered in how long does a sex toy last.
Rechargeable – pros: no batteries to buy, no battery hatch that can leak, and often published figures for both run time and charging time.
Rechargeable – cons: the battery can rarely be replaced, so the toy is finished when the battery is worn out. The charging cable is often product-specific, and if it goes missing the toy is out of action until you get a new one. It has to be charged in advance, and the charging time can be longer than the run time.
Battery-powered – pros: never needs charging, is ready to go straight away with fresh batteries, and the toy doesn't age along with a built-in cell. No cable to lose. Fun Factory Mr. Boss is an example: no charging cables and no built-in cell that loses capacity over the years.
Battery-powered – cons: batteries are often not included, the run time is often short or not published, and water resistance depends on the battery compartment being properly closed. Fun Factory, for example, writes in its FAQ that its battery-powered products are waterproof on exactly that condition.
Almost all rechargeable toys have a USB plug at the end that goes into the charger. The difference is at the end that goes into the toy. In practice there are three types.
The toy has a USB-C port, and any standard USB-C cable will work. The advantage is obvious: if you lose the cable, you can borrow your phone's. The downside is that the port is an opening in the casing, which has to be covered by a flap or plug for the toy to be waterproof.
Fun Factory has switched to USB-C in several models. Miss Bi, Be One and Bi Stronic Arc all charge with standard USB-C. On the Bi Stronic Arc, the port sits behind a rubber plug that has to be pushed in for IPX7 to apply. Also note that the cable isn't always included: Fun Factory explicitly states that a USB-C cable is not included with the Bi Stronic Arc and Miss Bi.
The toy has two or more metal contacts on the surface, and the cable attaches with a magnet. There's no opening in the casing, which makes it easier to seal the toy fully. Magnetic cables are used in the Nova 2 from We-Vibe, the Premium 2 from Womanizer, the Mono Flex from Satisfyer and the Lush 3 from Lovense, among others.
The downside is that the cable is product-specific. We-Vibe writes that only the original cable should be used for the Nova 2, and Womanizer sells a replacement cable for the Premium 2 for 10 euros. At Lovense, the magnetic cable for the Lush 3 is shared with around thirty of the brand's products, but it doesn't work like a standard USB-C cable.
The warranty often doesn't cover the cable. We-Vibe excludes charging cables from the warranty for the Tango X and Rave 2, and Womanizer excludes the charging cable for the Premium 2. So keep the cable with the toy.
A third variant is a round pin connector or a thin pin that goes into a small hole in the toy. It's common in cheaper models but also turns up at bigger brands. Svakom uses a pinhole connector to USB-A for the Echo 2, LELO a product-specific lead with a round connector for the Liv 3, and Lovense a pin connector for the Domi 2. Just as with a magnetic cable, no ordinary phone cable will work.
The run time tells you how long the toy lasts on one charge. The charging time tells you how long it has to sit on the charger to be full. The ratio between them says a lot about what it's like to live with the toy – and it varies enormously.
Womanizer gives 240 minutes of use on 120 minutes of charging for the Premium 2, so two minutes of use per minute of charging. Lovense gives up to 370 minutes of use on 150–160 minutes of charging for the Domi 2. At the other end, Fun Factory gives about 30 minutes of use on about three hours of charging for the Bi Stronic Arc, and Satisfyer about 60 minutes on about four hours for the Mono Flex.
What's more, the run time often applies at a low setting. For the Lush Mini Lovense gives up to 236 minutes, but says the time drops to 63 minutes at the highest level. The same toy has fast charging: seven minutes of charging gives an hour of use according to the manufacturer.
Powerful features draw more power. Thrusting, two motors and heating usually mean a shorter run time than a simple vibrator. More on thrusting vibrators in the thrusting vibrator guide.
Most battery-powered vibrators take two AAA batteries. Toys with a removable bullet often take an N battery (LR1), a smaller size that not every shop stocks. Check which type applies and whether the batteries are included: for Mr. Boss, Wicked Angel and Darling Devil they aren't, whereas Rocks-Off includes an N battery with the Rude Boy.
Several manufacturers explicitly advise against rechargeable batteries in these toys. Fun Factory specifies ordinary 1.5-volt batteries for Mr. Boss, Wicked Angel and Darling Devil, and Rocks-Off advises against rechargeable cells in the Rude Boy because their voltage is too low. So use the battery the manual specifies.
Take the batteries out when the toy won't be used for a while. Fun Factory recommends removing the batteries after use for the Darling Devil and leaving the battery compartment open during storage for the Wicked Angel. And check that the compartment is properly closed before you rinse the toy.
Run times are rarely published. Fun Factory gives about 45 minutes on two AAAs for the Wicked Angel, and Rocks-Off gives 2 hours and 30 minutes for the O Boy. For Mr. Boss and Darling Devil, no run time is published at all.
1. Charge fully before first use, unless the manual says otherwise.
2. Dry the toy and the contacts completely before charging. Svakom writes that the Echo 2 must never be charged while wet, and XOCOON that its toy must never be charged in or near water. IPX7 applies to the closed product, not a toy with the cable plugged in.
3. Use a standard USB port or a 5-volt charger. A mains adapter is rarely included: We-Vibe, Womanizer and ROMP don't supply one with the Tango X, Premium 2 and Beat Bullet. Svakom states that only chargers with a 5-volt output should be used for the Echo 2, not fast chargers.
4. Use the original cable when the manufacturer requires it. ROMP states that only the original cable may be used for the Beat Bullet.
5. Don't use the toy while it's charging if the manual prohibits it. Lovense writes that the Domi 2 must not be used while charging, and BMS Factory prohibits it for the Palm Power Pocket.
6. Keep an eye on the indicator. Most toys flash while charging and stay lit when full. On the Tango X, the travel lock is also deactivated automatically during charging.
7. Charge regularly even when the toy isn't in use. We-Vibe recommends in the Tango X manual that the product be charged regularly. How to look after the battery in the long run is covered in how long does a sex toy last.
The magnetic cable isn't seated properly. Magnetic connectors can attach slightly askew. Check that the indicator lights up, and turn the connector round if it fits both ways.
The contacts are dirty or damp. Lube residue and moisture can interfere with the connection. Wipe the contacts clean with a dry cloth and let the toy dry completely.
Wrong cable. A cable from another toy can look as if it fits without being made for it. Use the one that belongs to the toy.
The charger. Try another USB port or another 5-volt charger.
The battery is dead. A built-in lithium battery loses capacity over the years and can rarely be replaced by yourself. If the toy is still under warranty, contact the retailer or manufacturer – don't open it yourself, as that often voids the warranty.
Bring the right cable – it's easy to forget when it's product-specific. A toy with USB-C is the easiest to charge when travelling, since your phone cable works. A battery-powered toy doesn't need charging at all, but bring spare batteries in the right size.
Special rules apply to lithium batteries when flying, and the rules can differ between airlines and countries. Check what applies where you're travelling. More on travel locks, batteries and security checks in travelling with sex toys.
Charging connector: USB-C, magnetic cable or pin? Can you get a replacement cable?
Is the cable included? And are the batteries included if it's battery-powered?
Run time and charging time: are both published by the manufacturer, and does the run time apply at a low or high setting?
Water resistance: IPX7 according to the manufacturer, and does it only apply with the flap or plug closed? See waterproof sex toys.
Warranty: does it cover the battery and the cable, or are they excluded?
If you want to compare models by run time and charging, all the reviews are gathered in best mini vibrator, best rabbit vibrator and best wand vibrator.
