App-controlled vibrators are hugely popular at the moment. Companies like We-Vibe and Lovense are particularly well-regarded for excellent app-controlled toys, beloved of long-distance lovers everywhere. So it was only a matter of time before the adult entertainment giant Lovehoney released its own version.
The Desire line is Lovehoney’s range of luxury sex toys. The latest editions are app-controlled versions of existing devices, specifically the Desire knicker vibrator that we’re looking at here, and the Desire prostate massager, which we’ve also reviewed.
While in the process of updating this review, we noticed that this device has been replaced by the model below.
Review Images
Recommended For
Not Recommended For
Lovehoney Desire App-Controlled Knicker Vibrator: Design and Hardware
As mentioned, the Desire App-Controlled Knicker Vibrator is an upgraded version of the previous Desire Knicker Vibrator, which you controlled via a handheld remote across a short-range. It comes smartly presented in the signature Desire purple and black packaging, and inside you’ll find the vibrator, a charger, instruction manual, a pair of knickers, and a small black faux-leather storage pouch.
The Desire App-Controlled Knicker Vibrator is a compact, lightweight and slimline toy, measuring just 4 inches in length. It is best described as a saddle shape, designed to lie comfortably along the vulva when worn, and with a nub at one end that’s designed to rest against the clitoris. The single button is at one end, on the side that would be facing away from the body in use.
This toy is completely waterproof, rechargeable via the included USB cable, and also features a handy travel lock to stop it being activated accidentally.
The knickers are black lace and tie-up at the sides with ribbons, making them suitable for a fairly wide range of sizes. Anyone from a size 6 to a size 20 should be able to wear them comfortably. Sadly there is not a plus-size version available yet. However, it’s easy to use the toy with an ordinary pair of knickers if the provided set doesn’t fit or isn’t your style.
Body-Safe Materials
The Desire App-Controlled Knicker Vibrator is made of ABS plastic and smooth, silky silicone. This means it not only feels luxurious to the touch, but is completely non-porous, phthalate-free and body-safe.
Water-based lubricant is always recommended with silicone toys. It is best to clean your toy with some gentle soap and warm water or a body-safe sterile wipe. To completely sterilize it, put it in a 10% bleach solution for 5 – 10 minutes and then rinse thoroughly.
Power and Patterns
Anyone new to my reviews should take note of a very important fact: I am a power queen. The absolute number one thing I want in my sex toys is intense, strong, rumbly vibrations – and lots of them.
With that caveat in place, I will say that I would have liked this toy to be a touch more powerful. The motor isn’t bad, but it does tend towards being quite buzzy, especially on the higher settings, so I cannot recommend it to fans of intensely powerful vibrations. I like using this toy at the start of a session for teasing and build-up, but usually end up switching to something more powerful after a while.
It has 7 different pulsing patterns and one constant vibration mode. Each of these can be used at different levels of intensity when combined with the app.
Lovehoney Desire App Functionality
This toy is controlled via the Lovehoney Desire app, which you can download for free on your Android or iOS device from the respective app store. Setting up an account takes about two minutes, including verifying your email address. For added privacy, you can only search for a user by username, not by email address.
Once you’re logged in, you have two options for your toy: “Use Solo” or “Use with a Partner.” Once you’ve picked one, you have to pair the app to your toy via Bluetooth, which takes about five seconds.
In “Solo” mode, you get a screen where you use simple arrow buttons to navigate through the different patterns and swipe up or down the screen to increase or decrease intensity. These controls are easy and intuitive to use and neatly solve the problem of having to press lots of buttons on the toy to change the setting.
The “Partner” mode is a little more complex. I tested this out with my partner, who lives about an hour away. It took us around 30 minutes to get their phone to communicate with my toy to make this functionality work, which was frustrating and very nearly had us giving up on the whole thing. (The things we do to bring you a review, dear reader.)
To give access to your toy, first you have to find them via their username. Once you’ve added each other, they can request remote access to your toy using the “Control Partner” button. This process means that you have to give someone permission each time they want to play, so there is no chance of them randomly turning your toy on at an inconvenient time! Once remote control is enabled, the controlling partner gets the same screen as in the “Solo” mode, allowing them to change the toy’s setting and speed at a distance. Isn’t technology great?
There is also a chat function within the app, so you can exchange instant messages, video call, or audio call each other while using the toy via remote control. This is a nice touch that adds to the advantages of this toy for helping long-distance lovers stay connected. It makes things much hotter, after all, if your lover can hear your voice or see your face as they tease you with the toy.
Another interesting feature in the app is the ability to save your favorite modes in the “Favourites” tab so that you can return to them quickly in future sessions.
You can use the toy without the app, but functionality is limited. The single button on the body of the toy switches between the eight modes, but each will vibrate only on its highest intensity if used in this way.
Is it actually fit for using out in public?
The appeal of this specific type of toy is the naughtiness factor of using it in public, where no-one except you and your partner knows what’s going on. In practical terms, though, it’s a little more complex than that.
Could you use this toy for this purpose? Yes, absolutely. Is it a good idea? That’s a harder question. The Desire App-Controlled Knicker Vibe isn’t particularly quiet. I buried it under several layers of thick blankets, and the sound was still very audible, which means it will not be sufficiently muffled by ordinary clothing. It is probably fine to use in very loud places (a rock concert or a loud nightclub!), but I think you’ll quickly get some funny looks if you use it in a coffee shop or restaurant with ordinary levels of ambient noise.
Remember: including others in your sex play without their consent is never okay, and forcing unsuspecting members of the public to know that you’re wearing a vibrator counts as including them.
A bigger problem than the noise, though, is the light. The button (which is on the side that faces away from the body) lights up very brightly in either blue or red. I tried the toy through a pair of knickers and a pair of light trousers, and the light was very noticeable through the clothing. It was not visible through a pair of dark denim jeans, however – so if you’re going to try to use this toy out in public, be strategic about what you wear. Heavier, thicker clothes are essential if you want to be discreet.
Again, though, I am unconvinced as to the advisability of using this toy in public. Unless you’re somewhere very loud, the odds of making someone uncomfortable by being obvious are just too high.
