Rose-shaped suction vibrators, often simply called “rose toys,” captured the collective consciousness in 2022, introducing suction vibrators—which have been around for about a decade—to a broader audience. Other reviewers and I tested one at the time, finding that its pulsing air suction offered reliably intense clitorial stimulation. (Although we think NS Novelties’s Inya The Rose is great, we still recommend the Dame Aer as the best suction vibrator.)
Increasingly, manufacturers are building suction-vibration technology into sex toys for people with penises. I learned of one such toy, the rechargeable Male Rose 2, while browsing booths at the Adult Novelty Manufacturers Expo in Los Angeles this year. Curious as to whether this model lived up to the hype behind its name, I sent one—along with two other, similar toys—to a cis male tester who is a self-proclaimed connoisseur of sex toys designed for penises.
I’ve reviewed sex toys for Wirecutter since 2014, and I remember clearly when German brand Womanizer’s first air-pulse-technology suction vibrators hit the scene that year. These days, dozens of sex-toy makers are producing toys featuring similar technology, with suction models growing in popularity. So after seeing the Male Rose model on display, I had to know whether air suction works as well for penises as it does for clitorises.
Insofar as the sensations of suction vibration on the clitoris and penis are comparable, the answer is a resounding maybe.
Pleasure, of course, is highly subjective. So when evaluating sex toys, we also consider factors such as battery life, lubricant compatibility, and the use of body-safe materials. In addition to the Male Rose 2 ($70), I sent our tester an Arcwave Ion Pleasure Air Smart Silence Male Masturbator ($200) and a Blowmotion Suction Vibrating Male Masturbator ($150). Of the three, he preferred the relatively pricey Arcwave Ion, which was the only model of the three to produce pulsing air-suction sensations. It features the same patented Pleasure Air technology found in the widely beloved Womanizer suction vibrators. (Arcwave and Womanizer are both WOW Tech Group brands.)
This penis stroker, which incorporates technology found in sex toys meant for clitoral stimulation, is meant to stimulate the frenulum. It’s waterproof and can be disassembled for cleaning.
The 6-inch-long Arcwave Ion silicone stroker is open at both ends, with the suction component placed on the bottom wall to stimulate the sensitive frenulum area on the underside of the penis head (which has nerve endings similar to that of the clitoris). The company recommends using water-based personal lubricant.
Our tester reported that it was easy and comfortable to use: “The buttons are positioned on the bottom of the toy so that they are easily accessible with your index finger without being easy to accidentally press,” he said. The sleeve “is flexible enough that you can apply pressure to it from the outside to change the sensation, but not so flexible that it feels difficult to keep your penis where you want it without feeling forced to squeeze in a specific way,” he added.
The Arcwave Ion was the quietest of the three suction-vibration strokers our tester tried. An effective “smart silence” feature turns off the suction when the device is not in contact with skin, and the function resumes when pressure is applied.
Most importantly, it delivers the incredible sensations that air-pulse vibrator enthusiasts love. Our tester rated the toy a “solid nine” out of 10. At Lovehoney, customer reviews agree that this toy’s sensations are unique among penis strokers. Asone reviewer put it: “’I did not realize my penis was capable of feeling like this.” Wrote another: “It is so intimate and powerful and completely takes you away to a different land!”
Arcwave claims that the Ion—which recharges via USB on a sleek dock that, thanks to an internal desiccant pack, can also help to dry a damp, just-washed toy—has a battery life of 70 minutes. Our tester found that claim “overly optimistic, even if you use it on the lowest setting.” Because of the toy’s dual openings and the ability to disassemble it to wash the suction and stroker components separately, cleaning the waterproof Arcwave Ion is simple.
Far messier during use is the Male Rose 2, our tester found. This toy features a clear thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) rose-shape vibrating stroker cup on top of a rigid handle with buttons that control power, suction (with both manual and automatic modes), and vibration.
The Male Rose 2 provides all-over suction, plus vibration at two points targeting the sides of the penis. (You can turn the toy 90 degrees to position the vibrating bullets on the frenulum, although the toy is slightly more difficult to operate in that orientation.) Including its handle, the toy is around 8 inches long, with an insertable depth of about 4 inches.
An exit port on the handle is crucial for cleaning the toy: You fill it with warm, soapy water, press the suction button, and voilà, the base of the toy ejects the liquid contents into your sink. Unfortunately, our tester found that this port can leak (lubricant or body fluid) while the toy is in use, causing the handle to become unpleasantly slippery and the toy to emit “an unpleasant crackling or gurgling noise every time the airflow changed direction.”
Compared with the Male Rose 2, Lovehoney’s Blowmotion Suction Vibrating Male Masturbator is somewhat less messy during use. “The Blowmotion fixes the main flaw of the Male Rose 2 by applying suction to the outside of the stroker, so fluids and air don’t mix,” our tester reported. At 10 inches, the Blowmotion device is larger than the Male Rose 2 or the Arcwave Ion, almost to the point of being unwieldy. It looks—and in the hand feels—like a bowling pin, yet with only 4 inches of insertable depth, the internal stroker sleeve is somewhat restrictive. Our tester also found the button placement problematic: “The controls aren’t positioned well relative to the overall size of the stroker; the tapered end is obviously intended as a handle, but if you use it as such you can’t reach the buttons.” He also didn’t like that releasing this toy’s suction cuts the vibration, and that the toy was especially difficult to clean.
In the end, neither the Male Rose 2 or the Blowmotion Suction Vibrating Male Masturbator could compete with the sleek Arcwave Ion. But is the Ion—the most expensive of the bunch—worth the spend? Possibly, if you think you will find the air-pulse suction pleasurable, and having a quieter-than-most toy is a top priority. The charging-and-drying dock is both effective and beautiful, elevating this toy to a statement piece. Arcwave backs purchases made directly through its website with a 100-day satisfaction guarantee (the company issues a voucher for use on a different product). And the Ion is warrantied against manufacturing defects for two years, providing additional peace of mind that this investment will provide long-lasting pleasure.
This article was edited by Tracy Vence and Kalee Thompson.
