We-Vibe Melt review: A disappointing app-controlled clitoral stimulator

I’m always excited when We-Vibe has a new product. As the creators of toys like the incredible We-Vibe Wand and Chorus, this company is doing some fantastic things in the sex tech space.

The We-Vibe Melt is the company’s first attempt at a suction-based clitoral stimulator of the type popularized by companies like Womanizer.

We-Vibe Melt: Design and Features

The Melt by We-Vibe is a clitoral stimulator that uses rapid pulses of air rather than traditional vibrations. The toy’s open nozzle surrounds the clitoris and stimulates it without direct contact to the glans. Some people find this can reduce or mitigate the numbing sensation they experience when using buzzy vibrators.

The Melt measures 6-inches in length and the nozzle opening measures 0.5-inches across. It’s light and comfortable to hold, with a gently tapered handle. Fully waterproof and USB rechargeable, you can use it anywhere and you’ll get around 120 minutes’ use out of a full charge.

The We-Vibe Melt is made of 100 percent silky smooth, body-safe matte silicone. The body of the toy is rigid, and the silicone around the nozzle is somewhat flexible. The original We-Vibe Melt was a coral pink/orange colour, and the new edition is an attractive midnight blue.
In the box, you’ll find the toy, a satin drawstring storage bag, a quick start guide, the charging cable, and a sachet of We-Vibe water-based lube.

Manual Play

I tested the We-Vibe Melt without the app to begin with. The toy features two buttons: Plus (+) switches the toy on and turns the intensity up, while Minus (-) switches the toy off and turns the intensity down. The Melt has 12 intensity settings and you can cycle up and down through them either by pressing the appropriate button repeatedly or just holding it down until you get to the level you desire. The buttons are easy to press and intuitively located on the back of the main body of the toy.

Unfortunately, this toy’s design didn’t really work for my body. The nozzle is very small compared to many of the other suction stimulators on the market. As a result, I found that it was either too intense (and therefore painful), or did not stimulate a broad enough area to be truly pleasurable. I was able to eke some enjoyment out of it via some creative positioning, but it did not get me even close to orgasm.

The We-Vibe Melt might work for you if you have a very small clitoris and/or prefer very direct stimulation to the glans only. If you have a larger clit or prefer a slightly broader sensation, this toy won’t be the one for you. A generous amount of water-based lube around the nozzle will make the toy much more comfortable to use though.

We-Vibe App Functionality

Having tested it with several of the company’s products, I find the We-Vibe We Connect app hit and miss. Sometimes it’s excellent, and other times it’s more trouble than it’s worth. Unfortunately, when it comes to the Melt, my experience was the latter.

We Connect is free and available on both Android and iOS. Once you’ve downloaded the app, the person who has the toy will need to pair it using the “Connect Toy” button. Use the instructions in the booklet to put your toy into pairing mode and ensure your Bluetooth is switched on. If you want to play with a partner, you’ll both need the app.

For some reason, the app demands access to your location data in order to work properly, which is a bit of a privacy nightmare and serves no discernable purpose.

There is virtually no point in using the Melt with the app if you’re playing by yourself. Since this toy has 12 inbuilt intensity settings and does not allow for ‘patterns’, there’s nothing you can do with the app that you can’t do using the buttons on the toy itself. The only real benefit to the app for solo play is if you find it easier to change the settings using your phone rather than to press the buttons on the toy.

Of course, if you’re playing with your partner in the same room, you could always hand your phone to them and allow them to control your toy at short range.

My long-distance partner and I tested the Melt and We Connect app to ascertain its long-distance potential. I do like that you can use We Connect and add a partner without having to create an account or input your email address. You’ll just need to send them a link which you can obtain in the app by tapping the three lines in the top left and then “Connect your partner.”

You can only have one partner added at a time, which isn’t ideal for polyam and non-monogamous folks, but it’s easy to remove a partner (via the Settings menu) and add someone else any time.

Once you’ve connected with your partner, they will be able to switch your toy on and off or change the intensity with a swipe of their finger. If you want to take control back, just hit “Take control” at any time. So far, so simple.

Unfortunately, we encountered two major problems with using the Melt and the We Connect app: connectivity and responsiveness. We couldn’t get the app and toy to remain connected for longer than about five minutes at a time, even when we both had a stable internet connection. The responsiveness was also slow and unreliable. Sometimes the toy didn’t respond to my partner’s input at all, and when it did, it took several seconds for the setting to change accordingly.

Since the connectivity and responsiveness were so poor and this toy’s setting options are limited anyway, we concluded that we’re unlikely to play with it again. Trying to get increasingly frustrating tech to work isn’t the recipe for a hot virtual sex date!

Overall Verdict

I expected to be blown away by the We-Vibe Melt. But in reality, I’m left with the impression of a toy that is just ‘okay’. The ergonomic and easy-to-use design is good, and the Melt has many promising features, including its long battery life and 12 intensity levels.

Unfortunately, it’s let down by the too-small nozzle and largely pointless, frustrating app experience. There’s no incentive for solo use of the app with this particular toy at all.

At $129.99 (£119.99 in the UK), the Melt is relatively expensive. Unless you desperately want the app capabilities for remote play, you can get a better suction toy experience with a cheaper product such as the Satisfyer Pro 2 or Womanizer Pro40.