This guide is a work in progress.
Which Zumio model is the best? What’s the cheapest Zumio knockoff/dupe? Which pinpoint sex toys are the strongest?
These are some of the questions I’m keen to answer as I build this guide. (And hoard pointy sex toys from around the globe.) But first, for those of you who are new to these toys:
What is the Zumio and why is it so fucking good?
The Zumio is the ultra-pinpoint sex toy that moves so quickly it blurs. It’s The tip isn’t vibrating, it’s oscillating: swaying in tight, circular motions. This friction-based stimulation can be intense, especially in pinpoint form.
Pinpoint sex toys provide direct stimulation. You’re able to target a very specific part of your body – perhaps the right side of your clitoris is the most sensitive? The sensation also stays pretty localized. No more buzzing your entire vulva!
But not all pinpoint toys are oscillators like the Zumio. Some simply funnel regular vibration into a rigid-yet-flexible tip. These can be uniquely pleasurable in their own way.
Something to keep in mind that these toys’ intensities will depend on how you use them. How aroused you are, how much pressure you’re using, the angle you’re holding the toy; there are a lot of variables. When trying these out yourself, be adventurous! Explore variation and investigate nuance.
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ZUMIO X
$98 USD
Purple
7 inches tall
✔️ Rechargeable
✔️ Waterproof
✖️ Quiet (loud buzzing)
✔️ Easy cleaning
The original Zumio, the model that started it all! It’s the most intense option currently on this list.
Zumio funnels wand-like power into a tiny tip. This hard plastic “spirotip” oscillates (sways) in tight circles. Its rotation is damn near microscopic, yet the sensation shivers past the surface like rumbling vibrations. You can hold it in a hovering position, allowing the full range of motion to stroke your skin, or you can press down and let the movement transfer as a rapid throbbing.
The Zumio X – or Zumio Xena – has a pebbled tip and a long neck/stem. (So long that if you’ve never used such a toy before, it’s probably going to feel unwieldy.) The Zumio X embodies “pinpoint,” with the Zumio E being the only toy with a narrower tip. My clit feels huge in comparison. It’s a great motivator to treat it more like a dick, stroking and exploring (and sneaking the tip under my clitoral hood.)
Being plastic and stimulating through friction, the tip can feel abrasive compared to traditional vibrators. The stimulation provided by hovering the tip against your skin could almost be described as “sharp.” But (at least in my experience) that’s only at first. The Zumio makes my clit harder than any other sex toy (including air pulsators) so once I’m fully turned on the abrasiveness disappears.
You can also avoid the “sharp” feeling by pressing down instead of hovering. That’s generally how I prefer to use the toy. Depending on how you angle the Zumio X, you can use the stem itself for stimulation too. To me, this makes the sensation rumblier, but it depends on how much pressure I apply.
All Zumio controls are the same. There’s 3 buttons: a standalone power button, and entwined increase/decrease buttons. They’re subtle so it can be a pain to locate them by touch, but they’re very sensitive. The Zumio X has 8 total speeds.
Who is it best for?
If you’re looking for the most intense (both in terms of power and pinpoint pressure) toy on this list, you’ve found it. The Zumio X set the precedent. It’s strong, straightforward, and maybe even a little mean.
ZUMIO I
$98 USD
Teal
7 inches tall
✔️ Rechargeable
✔️ Waterproof
✖️ Quiet (loud buzzing)
✔️ Easy cleaning
The Zumio I and Zumio S have broader tips than the original Zumio. This softens their intensity… a little bit.
Zumio funnels wand-like power into a tiny tip. This hard plastic “spirotip” oscillates (sways) in tight circles. Its rotation is damn near microscopic, yet the sensation shivers past the surface like rumbling vibrations. You can hold it in a hovering position, allowing the full range of motion to stroke your skin, or you can press down and let the movement transfer as a rapid throbbing.
The Zumio I – or Zumio Iyana – has a shorter gyrating neck than the original Zumio. It also has a wider, spoon-like tip to help soften the pinpoint intensity. But it’s still rigid plastic rotating at high speeds. “Gentler” does not mean “gentle.”
I often masturbate sitting at my desk, and the Zumio I’s scoop tip is a dream. When hovering, it cradles the head of my clit or cups it from below, humming with less sharpness or buzz than the Zumio X. I find it more satisfying… but less intense. (You can still imitate that sharpness by using just the tip of the spoon.) With more surface coverage comes more friction, and I find myself needing to reapply some Sliquid for longer sessions.
In terms of applying pressure, I honestly don’t notice a huge difference in sensation/coverage versus the Zumio X, despite the different shapes. It’s the same deep-reaching, rippling shivers. I do have to use higher speeds to achieve the same intensity though. It’s easier to blindly target specific spots (I love digging it down against the ‘root’ of my clit) but that almost goes without saying.
All Zumio controls are the same. There’s 3 buttons: a standalone power button, and entwined increase/decrease buttons. They’re subtle so it can be a pain to locate them by touch, but they’re very sensitive. The Zumio I has 8 total speeds.
Who is it best for?
Zumio is right to call this the “diffused” model. It’s ideal for someone who wants to enjoy the Zumio X but finds its tip too pointy/intense. The Zumio I gives you more surface to play with, but doesn’t sacrifice the Zumio’s trademark power. That being said, if you want gentle, you’re better off with the Zalo Bess.
SATISFYER TWIRLING FUN
$35 USD
Pink, red, and white
7 inches tall
✔️ Rechargeable
✔️ Waterproof
✔️ Quiet (like a whisper!)
✔️ Easy cleaning
Looking for pinpoint but mild? Here it is!
Satisfyer Twirling Fun and Twirling Joy have what Satisfyer calls “circulating vibrations,” meaning their tips rotate through sheer vibration force. The sensation is both substantially milder and substantially less physically abrasive than the Zumio.
This toy is buzzy, especially if you hold it in a hovering position. It’s a rapid, stinging pitterpatter that reminds me of the French Kiss Casanova. I prefer to press the Twirling Fun down and let the shivering manifest as ultra-pinpoint vibrations. I really love the fluttering, buzzing ripple of vibrations being funneled into one tiny spot.
The Twirling Fun is one of the meanest looking pinpoint toys on this list. But it’s actually one of the gentlest! Despite the marketing calling the Twirling Fun’s tip “unyielding,” it has some squish to it, and it bends under pressure. This means you can poke it around sensitive flesh (like a clit or nipple) and it’s only gonna feel slightly stabby.
The Twirling Fun’s neck and body are rigid and coated with powdery soft silicone. You can definitely feel the vibrations in the handle, which can be irritating. The buttons (+ and -) are raised so you can find them by touch, but they’re absolutely minuscule and require a firm press.
This toy has 12 settings: 5 steady speeds, and 7 separate patterns. Admittedly, there’s not much of a discernible power jump between individual speeds. The fifth and highest is definitely stronger than the first, but where exactly that increase happens is kinda muddled. Even maxed out, this toy can’t match the force of Zumio’s first setting.
Who is it best for?
Someone who’s curious about ultra-pinpoint toys but doesn’t want to spend much money. The Twirling Fun is very mild and more like traditional vibrations than oscillations. If you want something budget-friendly but still robust and oscillating, I’d suggest the Noje Quiver.
SATISFYER TWIRLING JOY
$40 USD
Pink, purple, and white
7 inches tall
✔️ Rechargeable
✔️ Waterproof
✔️ Quiet
✔️ Easy cleaning
It’s basically the Twirling Fun but without the fun.
Satisfyer Twirling Joy and Twirling Fun have what Satisfyer calls “circulating vibrations,” meaning their tips rotate through sheer vibration force. The sensation is both substantially milder and substantially less physically abrasive than the Zumio.
The Twirling Joy moves significantly less than any of the other toys on this list. Unlike the Zumio, Quiver, or Bess, the Twirling Joy’s neck is a single rigid piece; and unlike the Twirling Fun, it’s too thick to gyrate. That means its stimulation is pure vibration, and that vibration is pretty buzzy.
The motor feels like it should be stronger than the Twirling Fun’s, but its power doesn’t translate as efficiently. It’s a pretty mild vibrator, although being this pinpointed makes it more intense to use than your average battery-powered bullet.
The Twirling Joy’s long neck is subtly angled, which makes it easier to place against your body. The entire toy is coated in powdery soft silicone except for a textured plastic back. The plastic is so slick it’s actually harder to grasp with wet fingers than the silicone, so it’s more for aesthetic than function. The vibrations can be felt as strongly in the handle as the tip, so beware you’re prone to itchy fingers.
One thing this toy has going for it is settings versatility. There are 5 steady intensities and 7 patterns, but you can increase the intensity of any pattern. You control this with 3 tiny, raised buttons: increase, decrease, and squiggle. Squiggle is the power button as well as swapping through patterns.
Who is it best for?
Honestly, I recommend the Twirling Fun over the Twirling Joy unless you’re looking for a super-pinpoint but ultimately mild, buzzy vibrator. If you want something budget-friendly but still robust and oscillating, I’d suggest the Noje Quiver.
ZALO BESS
$99 USD
Green, purple, black
8.6 inches tall
✔️ Rechargeable
✖️ Waterproof (only splashproof)
✖️ Quiet (silent in use, loud when held away)
✔️ Easy cleaning
The Zalo Bess is the largest toy currently on this list.
I’m not an engineer, so I can’t confirm if the actual mechanics of the Zalo Bess qualify as an oscillator like the Zumio. But I can say the Bess feels like the halfway point between a Zumio-style oscillator and a traditional vibrator. Its teardrop tip rumbles away, subtly gyrating (so subtly I had to film it in slow motion to be sure) to deliver powerful, thrumming sensations. The Bess is thumpier and less stinging than the Zumio, but more visceral and pinpoint than a bullet vibrator.
In terms of speed/power, the Zalo Bess and Zumio X are almost about matched. But the Bess is less intense because of its limited gyrations, and its tip is 3x thicker and thus less pinpointed.
The Zalo Bess comes with three attachments: an easily lost ball (softens but doesn’t muffle the Bess’s power), a g-spotting “finger” (which I find ridiculous), and a somewhat prickly flower (which is great for torturous teasing.) They’re kinda hard to get on/off.
Another Bess bonus is that its handle doubles as a vibrator. The vibrations (which top out as half as strong as the Noje Fauna) aren’t robust or rumbly enough (for me!) to be the star of the show, but they’re great backup. Or a consolation prize, if you discover pinpoint stimulation’s not for you.
There are two buttons, one for each function: the pinpoint tip (which has 3 steady speeds and 5 patterns) and the vibrating handle (which has the same settings variety.) The buttons are small, subtly raised scallops on the handle. Strangely, Zalo decided to disperse the Bess’s steady speeds randomly between pattern settings.
Who is it best for?
Folks who find the Zumio too pointpoint or abrasive. Or folks who are only pinpoint-curious. Not only is the Zalo Bess larger and sturdier, it has attachments to make the tip less intense. It also has a vibrating handle, so even if you discover you don’t like pinpoint stimulation, the toy is still usable.
NOJE QUIVER
$52 USD
Purple
7 inches tall
✔️ Rechargeable
✔️ Waterproof
✖️ Quiet (loud droning)
✖️ Easy cleaning (only -ish, seams!)
Spoiler alert: for average use, the Noje Quiver is my favorite oscillator.
Like the Zumio, the Noje Quiver’s hard plastic tip moves in tight circles rather than vibrating. You can hover it against yourself to give it room to move, or you can press it down and force it to tremble in place (which feels more similar to vibration.)
The Noje Quiver has a bigger tip than the Zumio X, so it offers broader stimulation. (It’s still much smaller than the Zalo Bess.) That might be why the stimulation feels denser (rumblier?) than the Zumio’s. When I’m not craving the Zumio’s intensity, I prefer the Quiver’s diffused oscillations. I don’t orgasm as easily (or sometimes at all), but the journey is sometimes more enjoyable to me.
In terms of raw power, the Quiver’s top speed barely matches the Zumio’s first or second or the Zalo Bess’s second. The sensations are easily felt in the handle, so keep that in mind if you’re prone to itchy fingers.
Like the Zalo Bess, the Noje Quiver comes with attachments. The flexible, tentacle-like finger (the textured digit smacks around like a tongue toy) and a rabbit head with floppy ears (the ears are too far apart and flutter uselessly.) Both attachments create a lot of distance from the Quiver’s power, so they don’t enhance the oscillation so much as they disguise it.
The Noje Quiver has 7 speeds and 3 buttons to control them with: increase, decrease, and on/off. The buttons are silicone and easy to find by touch, but they can be hard to tell apart unseen. When you first turn the toy on, it’s automatically set to the middle speed for some reason.
Who is it best for?
People who want to try out pinpoint toys but aren’t willing/able to spend $100. Or folks who want a pinpoint toy but don’t want something too powerful (the Zumios) or too diffused (the Zalo Bess.) The Noje Quiver has attachments to make the tip less intense, so it’s even more ideal to folks wanting a softer experience.
Thank you, SheVibe and Blush Novelties, for sending me some of these toys in exchange for an honest review.
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