I had high hopes for Kiiroo’s new Luxus brand. The concept of synchronized toys for couples isn’t new, but when done well, it can genuinely enhance intimacy during penetrative sex. At $149, this isn’t an impulse purchase for many people, so I was curious to see how Luxus would differentiate its take on connected couples’ toys.
The question is: does the Luxus deliver on its promise of tech-enhanced pleasure, or does it fall into the same traps as so many other ‘smart’ sex toys?
Marketing missteps aside, the real question is whether the Luxus actually works as advertised.
Here’s how this couples’ set performed in practice.
Design & technology
Luxus Couples’ Vibe
The Luxus is a $149 sex toy set that comprises two components: the LuxHer clitoral vibrator and the LuxHim cock ring. They are designed with penetrative penis-in-vagina sex in mind, with the aim of providing the clitoral stimulation that most people with vulvas require to orgasm.
My first impression when I unboxed the Luxus set was “wow, these toys are tiny!” The LuxHer measures 6cm in length, and the LuxHim measures 5cm. The LuxHim is very stretchy, though, so can accommodate most penis sizes. Both are made of smooth and body-safe silicone. The LuxHer is rechargeable via the included USB cable, and both are waterproof.
Inside the box, you’ll also find two reusable “stickers” to secure the LuxHer against the body (these cannot be used by anyone with body hair, which feels like a design flaw), a harness to hold it in place, and a finger grip to make manual use easier.
The main USP of the Luxis is that the two toys ‘communicate’ with each other via sensors, meaning that the vibrations in the LuxHer can change based on the proximity and movement of the LuxHim.
There are two ways to use the Luxus set: App Mode or Manual Mode. App Mode requires the FeelConnect app, which we’ll look at in more detail below. Manual Mode is controlled through a single-button interface, and there are several ways to use the set.
Performance in-use
Without the LuxHer, the LuxHim is just a basic cock ring. According to my partner, the band is stretchy enough to get it on and wear it comfortably, and tight enough to be stimulating without being painful. I don’t really understand why it doesn’t have a vibrating function, since vibrations can also be pleasurable for people with penises.
The LuxHer is, I’m sorry to say, a pretty terrible vibrator for me. Though the shape is excellent, with a broad body and then a hooked tip for precision clitoral stimulation, it might be the buzziest thing I have ever used. This is honestly almost impressive considering the number of buzzy vibes that have come across my desk in the years I’ve been a sex writer.
It is frankly ludicrous to me that a toy that’s being billed as luxurious has a motor this bad. It’s also baffling because, having tried toys like the Kiiroo Pearl3 and the Kiiroo Fuse, I know that Kiiroo can do better. Admittedly, this is the first of its new brand, so things will hopefully improve in future models.
The problem with so many toys designed for clitoral stimulation during penetrative sex is that they somehow still manage to treat the clitoris as an afterthought. With toys like this, it feels like companies are paying lip service to the idea that the clit is important, without bothering to understand anything about how clits typically like to be stimulated.
Apart from its shape, the only thing I actually like about the LuxHer are the accessories that come with it. The finger sleeve and harness (sold separately), in particular, are great additions. I’d use them all the time if this was a vibrator worth using, but alas. They’re so good, I’m tempted to see if I can make them work with any other toys in my collection just so that this entire set wasn’t a total write-off.
The LuxHer takes about 2.5 hours to charge, and its battery life lasts up to five hours depending on the intensity.
User experience, UI and app functionality
Where the devices do set themselves apart from most rivals, are the features aimed specifically at couples having penetrative sex, thanks to the inclusion of two magnets – one in each device – that enable these options.
The “Distance” function is sort of cool, and I like that you can choose between four possible ranges of intensity (0-60 percent, 0-100 percent, 15-60 percent, and 30-100 percent).
Within the range you select, the vibration intensity changes based on how close the toys are to one another. However, the maximum distance at which this works is only about 10 cm, or just under 4-inches.
In addition, while I think this is an interesting idea, it wasn’t enjoyable for me in use. I also tried attaching the LuxHim to a dildo to simulate using it during penetrative sex, and it just felt like a particularly annoying vibration pattern.
“Speed Mode” is another fun idea that’s lacklustre in practice. The idea of this is that the faster the LuxHim moves, the harder the LuxHer will vibrate. In other words, the faster the penis-owner thrusts during penetrative sex, the more vibrations the vulva-owner will receive.
Speed Mode only sort of works, responding to a change in speed perhaps 70 percent of the time, and the reaction is very delayed. Again, given the short range of the sensors, the reality is more like an irregular vibration pattern. It also indicates another fundamental misunderstanding about how pleasure works for many people with vulvas. We don’t want to have to ‘earn’ half-decent clitoral stimulation through hard and fast pounding, and we probably don’t want our partners wearing themselves out just to get the toy to buzz slightly faster. This entire concept is just weird to me. It was roughly around here that I wrote in my notes: “who would want this!?”
The manual user interface is also annoying. With just one button on the LuxHer, you have to scroll through a lot of settings to find the one you want. On the plus side, each of the different functions has a light colour associated with it, but you’ll still need to either memorise them or check the list every time to get the setting you want.
After this underwhelming experience, it was time to try out the app controls.
The FeelConnect app is free, and my Luxus connected in seconds. You can connect multiple toys to the app and select the one you want, so don’t worry if you already have a Kiiroo toy connected. All of this is pretty good, considering the issues some toys have simply connecting to apps.
However, within the app, you can supposedly use all of the usual FeelConnect options like Touch Control and Clap Control. In my testing, the Touch Control and Patterns settings barely worked; instead of smooth vibrations, I got a kind of inconsistent buzzy juddering before they cut out completely. Clap Control did not work at all.
Custom Mode allows you to create personalised settings. Once you’ve done this, they save directly to the device, allowing you to access them in Manual Mode.
Kiiroo Luxus review: the verdict
Unfortunately, this is not a toy (or set) that worked for me, and I once again find myself asking if this concept was tested on a human at any point during its development.
If you’re looking for something similar, there are a few options for you to consider. Kiiroo offers a number of toy bundles for couples, including options for different-sex and same-sex couples. If you’re a different-sex couple looking for a bundle of interactive toys, I recommend one of the Pearl3 or ProWand sets.
If you are after a tech-driven wearable clitoral vibrator with a great motor, I recommend the Lovense Flexer. For a toy to wear during penetrative sex, the We-Vibe Chorus is a powerful classic. And for high-tech cock rings, the We-Vibe Bond is a great option.
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