LELO review, the brand, its lineup and which LELO to buy

What it is.

LELO is one of the best known premium sex toy brands. It built its reputation on design: smooth silicone shapes, quiet motors, rechargeable batteries and packaging that looks more like consumer electronics than a novelty product. Its toys are sold through its own site, specialist retailers and Amazon.

The lineup is broad. Unlike Womanizer, which centers on air pulse, LELO makes a toy for nearly every category, which is why the useful question is not whether to buy LELO but which LELO to buy.

We grade toys on the brand's stated specs, the materials it lists and how the mechanism works on paper. We do not run hands on tests, so nothing here is a claim about how any one person will feel.

What is in it.

LELO says its toys are made of body safe silicone, and most of the range is rated waterproof by the brand. Those are the two specs that matter most for any toy. Silicone is non porous, so it can be cleaned properly. A waterproof rating means you can wash it under the tap, which is the whole cleaning routine.

Material is a hygiene question, not just a comfort one. In a 2014 study from Indiana University, HPV was detected on a TPE vibrator 24 hours after cleaning in some cases, but not on a silicone vibrator.

The lineup.

LELO's range breaks into six families. These are the models we list, with what the brand and the listings say about each.

• Sonic clitoral toys. The Sona 2 Cruise uses sonic waves, which stimulate through pressure rather than a vibrating surface. Cruise Control holds intensity steady when the toy is pressed harder. Our LELO Sona review covers it in depth.
• Dual stimulation. The Enigma pairs a sonic external head with a curved internal arm in one toy. It is our overall pick in the best vibrators.
• Rabbits. The Soraya 2 has separate motors for the shaft and the external arm. The INA 3 has a more curved shaft and a broad external arm, with 10 vibration modes, per the listing.
• Internal. The Gigi 3 is a curved G-spot vibrator with app control.
• Minis. The Mia 3 is lipstick sized and charges from a USB port. The Lily 3 is a pocket sized bullet with 10 settings, built for quiet use.
• Wands and couples. The Smart Wand is a waterproof wand, unusual in a category where most are not. The TIANI Harmony is a couples vibrator worn during sex, with two motors synced through an app.

Pros and cons.

Pros

• Body safe silicone across the range, per the brand
• Most toys rated waterproof, so cleaning is simple
• Quiet, rechargeable and well finished
• A toy for nearly every category, from minis to wands
• Sonic technology for people who find vibration too direct

Cons

• Premium priced, often several times a budget equivalent
• Similar mechanisms are available for less from Satisfyer and Lovehoney
• Fixed shapes on rabbits and dual toys do not suit every body
• Minis like the Mia 3 are not strong toys

Who it suits.

People who want finish, quiet and waterproofing, and who will pay for them. People who find direct vibration too much, for whom the Sona line is the main reason to choose LELO. People who want one brand across several toy types. Buyers who already know which type of toy they like and want the refined version.

Who should skip it.

Anyone buying a first toy on a tight budget, who should start with the Satisfyer Pro 2 or a Lovehoney own brand toy and upgrade later. Anyone who wants maximum power, which is a corded wand's job; see the Magic Wand review. Anyone set on air pulse specifically, who should look at Womanizer.

How it compares.

	LELO	Womanizer	Satisfyer	Lovehoney own brand
Main mechanism	Sonic and vibration	Air pulse	Air pulse and vibration	Vibration and suction
Material (brand stated)	Body safe silicone	Body safe silicone	Silicone	Silicone on the rechargeable range
Waterproof	Most models	Most models	Most models	Many models
Price tier	Premium	Premium	Budget	Mid range
Range breadth	Very broad	Narrow	Broad	Broad

Which LELO to buy.

• Most people. LELO Sona 2 Cruise.
• One toy, internal and external. LELO Enigma.
• A classic rabbit. LELO Soraya 2, or the INA 3 if you prefer a curved shaft. Compare them in the best rabbit vibrators.
• Internal only. LELO Gigi 3.
• First toy, or travel. LELO Mia 3, or the Lily 3 for something even quieter. More in the best bullet vibrators.
• A wand you can rinse. LELO Smart Wand Medium.
• With a partner. LELO TIANI Harmony, or see the best couples vibrator.

Value for money.

LELO is good value only if you value what it adds. The extra money buys quieter motors, a better finish, waterproofing and a brand that will still be there to honor a warranty. It does not buy a fundamentally different experience: a Satisfyer air pulse toy and a LELO Sona do similar jobs by different means. The sensible path for an uncertain buyer is to start with a low cost toy of the type you are curious about, then buy the LELO version if it gets used.

Care and lube.

Wash a LELO toy before first use and after every use with warm water and a mild, unscented soap. Rinse, dry fully, then charge. Store it in the pouch it ships with.

Use water based lube only. Silicone lube can degrade a silicone toy over time, and oil is hard to wash off. LELO sells its own lubricants, but we only grade lubes where osmolality and pH are published. Good Clean Love Almost Naked measures 240 to 269 mOsm/kg with a pH of 4.7, close to the body's own range. Others are graded in the lube index and ranked in the best water based lube.

Where to buy it.

LELO sells through the LELO official site and on Amazon. On Amazon, check that the seller is LELO or a named retailer rather than an unknown third party, which protects your warranty and return options. Start here: LELO Sona 2 Cruise on Amazon.