Lelo Soraya Beads don’t dangle on a silicone cord like traditional anal beads. Instead, these vibrating anal beads are stacked in a graduated wand shape. (“Wand” as in bibbidi bobbidi butt stuff, not “wand” as in hitachi pelvis-rumbler.)

The Soraya Beads are luxury brand Lelo’s latest release, and my second Lelo sex toy review. Earlier this year, the Lelo Ora won me over with its one-of-a-kind stimulation. I was ready to be wowed.

soraya beads design and features

The Soraya Beads aren’t Lelo’s first foray into anal sex toys. They already have several prostate massagers in their line-up. But while those designs focus on targeted stimulation, the Soraya Beads are less anatomy-specific. If you’ve got a functional butt hole, you’ve got a place to snuggle a slicked-up set of Soraya Beads.

(Lelo’s marketing/phrasing on the universality of the design is a little weird. The ad copy says the Soraya Beads provide “anal pleasure for everyone […] be it the A-spot located slightly behind the G-spot in women or a P-spot in men.” This is so close to being inclusive.

There’s no need to gender (“in women/men”) body parts like g-spot, prostate, etc. Those terms already provide context for what kind of body you’re talking about. It’s especially weird when you’re talking about a toy specifically marketed as “gender neutral,” utilizing a symbol commonly associated with trans folks. But I digress…)

For broader appeal, the Soraya Beads are beginner-friendly: the first bead is the same size as my fingertip. The biggest bead is intermediately sized at 1.75 inches in diameter. (My partner can take all 4 beads with greedy ease. My bottom’s delicate, so I stop at the third bead.) You get about 6 inches of insertable length, which is comfortable for vaginal or anal use.

Like most Lelo sex toys, the Soraya Beads are made with body-safe silicone and accented with reflective faux gold. The silicone has a textureless, powdery-soft finish. Everything about this toy is firm: the beads are rock hard, and the rigid shaft only flexes with force. The only part of the Soraya Beads with any give is the soft silicone buttons, which are indented in the handle.

The Soraya Beads have 8 settings (including a steady speed), with +/- options to increase speed/intensity. Lelo’s pretty proud of the pattern settings, which include violin-inspired “bow motion”: roiling vibration that strums between the beads.

The Lelo Soraya Beads charge via USB. I’m pretty anal about certain things (cue laugh track), so I’m annoyed that the charge cord doesn’t actually fit the toy. The cord works fine (a soothing pulse of light behind the buttons signifies that the toy is charging), but having an awkwardly protruding prong makes the Soraya Beads feel.. unfinished. It’s strange for such a pricey toy.

These vibrating anal beads are waterproof, so you can add booty play to bathtime. I’m just happy I can wash this toy in the sink without worrying about breaking it. While some people douche before anal play, my partner and I don’t. That occasionally results in needing a more thorough clean-up!

Lelo includes a silky black drawstring bag for storage. It’s large and stretchy enough to put two or three more long/thin toys (like a g-spot vibrator and clitoral vibe), if you’ve got more toys you’d like to stash.

our experience with soraya beads

The Lelo Soraya Beads are designed for and marketed to anal newbies. (The box literally labels them “ideal for open-minded beginners.”) My partner and I have been having anal sex since before the great recession – but we still like these vibrating anal beads.

I love the subtly triangular shape of the Soraya Beads beads. It makes them easier to insert, especially the fingertip-sized first bead with its snubbed point. Being firm also makes insertion easier because the beads don’t bend or compress when squeezed by your sphincter. If you’re adequately relaxed, going slow, and using lots of lube, your body will yield.

There’s a subtle curve to the Soraya Beads shaft, and that’s a good thing! I find that when you’re inserting something in your ass, it helps to gently tilt it towards your front/belly. The Soraya Beads naturally angle in this direction.

The size progression from bead to bead feels very natural. (Although it does feel like a just slightly more intense stretch for the last bead.) There’s just enough space between each bead that your hole can partially relax. That’s a big part of why I love anal beads: if you’re moving them, you’re constantly engaging your nerve-rich sphincter. Gentle pressure; gradual stretch; relax. The transition/cycle feels amazing.

Because the Lelo Soraya Beads are a rigid wand instead of on a string, you can thrust the whole thing one-handed. This makes it easier to enjoy constant sensation, buuut the rigidity is overall less comfortable for my partner and I than traditional anal beads. Especially since they’re so firm! The tip is shaped for easier insertion, but if you’re not ready or you angle them wrong it can become jarringly pokey. It takes care and practice to get wild with these.

Lelo mentions targeting the prostate or cervical fornix (the latter by massaging against the vaginal wall.) But honestly, the tip is too narrow and stabby for us to try for spot-targeting massage. Maybe if you like really firm fingering.

Rigidity isn’t the only downside to the Soraya Beads design. My partner has short arms so they have a hard time handling the Soraya Beads on their own. It’s especially awkward trying to paw at the buttons. If they want to tease their ass, I’m the one doing the thrusting.

They can still enjoy the Soraya Beads solo because the toy is surprisingly comfortable to leave in place like a butt plug. Once the last bead notches into place, Buster can play with them hands free, writhing with the vibrations. (More on those in the next section.)

Obviously, unlike wearing a regular butt plug, you can’t sit or move around with the Soraya Beads. The large (but comfortably light) handle sticks out like a tail. It may be even more cumbersome to smaller-bodied users with tinier cheeks than my partner or I’s generous proportions. Even so, I love the handle – the loop is easier to grasp with wet fingers than a straight handle. And if you’re using enough lube, you’ve probably got damp hands.

lelo soraya beads vibrations

I don’t own a Lelo Soraya Rabbit, so I can’t compare the Soraya Beads vibration to its predecessor’s power. But I love this toy’s vibration. On higher settings it’s rumbly, shuddery in a way that reminds me of We-Vibe’s motors (on lower settings) but faster. There’s definitely a zinging overlay of buzziness (if you’re sensitive about vibration, this can sometimes manifest as itchiness), but it’s much less noticeable when you’re using the toy internally.

In my experience the Soraya Beads start at half strength, so if you find its starting speed too intense, hold down the – button.

At this price point, I do wish the toy had more power/muscle. Although you can increase the intensity of a setting by holding down +, if you’re holding/squeezing the toy (such as when it’s inside your ass), there’s not as much discernible difference in speed even though you can hear the motor working harder. Still, at its max, it’s about half as strong the We-Vibe Rave 2 or 1/3rd as strong as a Satisfyer g-spot vibe. (Both are pretty strong toys.)

But these vibrating anal beads’ claim to fame isn’t vibration power. It’s vibration pattern.

When Lelo says the Soraya Beads have “bow motion,” what they mean is the vibrations strum up and down the toy. Basically, if you choose a pattern setting, the beads will vibrate one or two at a time and then transition. To cycle between patterns (or get to the steady speed setting), click the vulva-esque center button.

I’ve experienced similar roiling vibration patterns from other vibrators, but some of these settings are deliciously smooth in a way that I can’t quite articulate. I’d even call the strumming elegant. Sure, some of the settings are your stereotypical choppy patterns (the stuff most of us skip over on the way to steady speeds.) But the settings where the fluttering rumbles course back and forth and make it feel like the toy itself is moving? Fucking magic.

I wish it was stronger magic (especially at this price point), but I’m still wowed. And I’m autistic; I fully appreciate what Lelo’s saying about drawing inspiration from violinists.

“There’s one pattern where the vibration is solid for a few beats but then swoops down the toy and back up again. That’s my favorite by far. It’s really unique,” my partner wrote in their notes.

My last compliment for the Lelo Soraya Beads’ vibration is the fact that the toy is pretty quiet. There’s a definite hum, but you can barely hear it through a blanket (unlike the Lelo Ora 3.) You definitely can’t hear it through a closed door. It’s almost exactly as loud as the aforementioned We-Vibe Rave 2.

The vibrations do buzz into the handle. So keep that in mind if you’re sensitive to itchiness. (Sometimes ‘side buzz’ can make my bad wrists cramp up, but I’m not as worried with the Soraya Beads because I can hold the loop easier than a traditional handle.)

final thoughts on soraya beads

I keep comparing these vibrating anal beads to a magic wand. But that doesn’t mean I expected their price tag to be on par with a wand vibrator.

The Lelo Soraya Beads are tricky to summarize. The beads are beginner-friendly and well-proportioned, but their rigidity can be intense and even uncomfortable if you’re not careful. The vibrations are decent, but they’re not as robust as I was hoping considering the cost. It’s the cascading, violin-inspired patterns that set the Soraya Beads vibration apart. The toy itself is as handsome as you’d expect from Lelo… but I can’t quite get over the ill-fitting charge cord.

There’s a lot of “but”s in this butt toy review. Both good buts and bad.

If the good sounds like it outweighs the caveats, you can buy the Lelo Soraya Beads in black or pastel purple.

Thank you, Lelo, for sending me the Lelo Soraya Beads Anal Massager Vibrator in exchange for an honest review.

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