LELO Mona 2 luxury G-spot vibrator review (plus comparison to an affordable alternative)
You probably don't need an introduction to LELO. They were once revered as the luxury "it" brand, and I understand why. LELO offered sleek, body-safe, and woman-oriented Pleasure Objects that were ahead of their time. Despite the price hikes, the gimmicks, and the PR nightmares of recent years, the average person thinks of LELO as upscale and fancy. And because of that brand recognition, you don't turn down reviewing a LELO Mona 2 if you're an up-and-coming sex blogger.
The LELO Mona 2 is a staple in many sex bloggers' collections, and for a good reason: it's hard to top its versatility. This G‑spot vibrator has a filling 1.45" wide swell, an angled neck, and ten speed settings with gradual increments. And the highest speed is powerful for the LELO Mona's size class.
Whether I use it internally or externally, the result is long, shaking, overwhelming orgasms. I come quickly but spend ample time having another one and another one and another one. What's not to love?
Well, the LELO Mona costs over $150 at full price.
Let that sink in for a minute.
The brand can't swindle me with silk and suave alone. Sure, I might drool over a luxury metal vibrator's looks, and when an expensive oscillator provides something genuinely unique, I publicly declare my love for it.
But the LELO Mona isn't that. Even though it's a fantastic G‑spot vibrator, I'd rather save money if something comes close enough.
LELO Mona 2 dupe: Pillow Talk Sassy
My once-holy grail rechargeable vibrator, the BMS Factory Pillow Talk Sassy, is about $100 less (with code SUPERSMASHCACHE at Peepshow Toys) and very similar to the Mona 2. There are some differences where the Mona outperforms the Sassy, but the Sassy has two important factors going for it: price and rumble.
This review dissects all of the differences so that you can decide for yourself whether the Mona 2's price is worth it. If the Sassy isn't the vibrator for you, I've included two other Mona 2 alternatives to check out.
Also? Check out the Je Joue G‑Kii for the ultimate G‑spot vibrator — it has an even steeper curve.
Overall shape and build
From the side view, these two vibrators have similar G‑spot curves, though the Mona's is more tapered and pointy at the tip. The insertable length is the same, at 4.5", and the width is almost the same— the Sassy's head is a little fuller. BMS Factory's Pillow Talk silicone is only the slightest bit more draggy.
The differences are more pronounced as you move down the shaft and handle. The LELO Mona 2 has a rigid, silicone-coated ABS plastic body, while the Pillow Talk Sassy has a flexible neck and hard head. You can thrust more aggressively with the Mona because of its firmness. However, with the vibrations turned on, the Sassy is plenty intense too.
The Mona also has a more contoured handle and complete control interface, while the Sassy has one Swarovski crystal button at the base. More on that later.
Power and rumble
When I halfway submerge the heads in water, both splash a little. However, the Sassy's splash and water displacement are way more noticeable. Though their highest speeds are comparable in power, the Sassy's is lower-pitched with a slightly bigger range of motion. This affordable alternative notably has deeper, rumblier vibration quality than the LELO Mona 2.
Click to zoom in on the images below or watch the video on my Instagram.
But my clitoris is a far more critical judge than my ears, palms, or a bowl of water. It recognizes how much difference a vibrator's shape makes. It's slightly easier to get off with the LELO Mona's pointy tip than the Pillow Talk Sassy's egg-shaped head. Both vibrators result in the gasping and shaking that would make my boyfriend jealous, though.
But once the plateau dips down, the Sassy more readily rockets my arousal meter back up to the climax zone. Even at the highest speed, I can keep going and going with the Sassy, thanks to its rumble.
Speed range
On the low end of the spectrum, the Mona 2 has a broader range of speeds. Its first setting is so mild that I can barely discern that it's moving at all. Meanwhile, the Pillow Talk Sassy's first setting is a basslike purr that can still get me off with enough pressure. That's enough variation for me. Even though I'm sensitive to vibrations and can appreciate a gentle vibrator, I'd probably never use the LELO Mona 2's bottom three speeds.
Thank goodness that, like with the Pillow Talk Sassy, I can hold down the Mona's "increase" button to quickly increase the speed. The Mona has so many speed settings that, for practical purposes, the change is gradual. Turning up the Mona 2's speed is stop-motion, while turning up the Sassy is only slightly smoother, like a regular video. And that's where the similarity between the two vibrators' controls ends.
Control interfaces
The Pillow Talk Sassy has one button. Press to turn on or off. Hold the button up the speed. That's it. That annoys some people because most vibrators turn on when you hold the button and jump to the next speed when you press it. On the flip side, you can instantly turn the Sassy off if, say, you forgot to lock the door, and someone walks in. You can't do that with the Mona.
However, the Mona 2 has a full, 4‑button control panel, as luxury sex toys should. Two of the buttons change speed, while the others change the pattern setting. You can combine speed settings with five patterns: two pulsing rhythms, two with wavy escalations, and one randomized. Of those, the only one consistent enough to do anything for me is the fast pulsing. The others can be fun for edging, though.
The true price of a LELO product
If you must have a LELO Mona 2, buy it from the lovely and inclusive people at Spectrum Boutique so that it balances out a little. The monetary prices are far from the only things I dislike about LELO.
For one, LELO's (and its sister company, Picobong's) once-basic line-up is now full of gimmicks galore. The Soraya Wave is an overpriced imposter that sways back and forth against your G‑spot— but does it so incredibly slowly and with such shitty vibrations. A dry-clean only dick tux. A smartphone remote control app that doesn't allow you to access all of the settings right away.
A company that makes unsafe condoms
But those shitty products are nothing compared to when LELO released the Hex condom. It's a textured condom with a graphene-inspired design for strength— far from their claim of being the only condom innovation in the past 70 years. Haughty and pretentious marketing aside, the condom itself seems benign enough, right?
Except you can continue to use the condom when it has a hole or a tear in it, and that's not a good thing. You could even poke holes in Hex condom, fill it with water, and use it to water your plants.
LELO has not only created such a monstrosity but is also proud of this design flaw. They call it a feature. I find this fact anything but benign.
I don't know about you, but if my condom were compromised, I'd prefer it ripping as conspicuously as possible, and I'd want to know ASAP. That way, I could promptly take appropriate action. I wince whenever I see people defending the Hex, and I have to remind myself, "If they want to keep using a broken condom, that's their choice."
Endorsing an abuser
LELO also had Charlie Sheen, a known abuser of women, be the spokesperson for the LELO Hex. Marvy Darling chronicles his list of offenses and drops the mic with:
[The people at LELO] only care about women’s health when it sells sex toys. When a woman is beaten, shot, threatened, or strangled? Well…
Oof. Lilly has compiled other sex bloggers' posts about the shitstorm. "Our campaign is not an endorsement of the past," LELO's social media manager responded. "It's about promoting condom usage, preventing STIs, and change."
But they're a multi-million dollar company. LELO could have afforded so many other celebrities, who don't have violent histories, to promote condom usage. Their choice was a publicity stunt, and they don't care— any press is good press to them.
Affordable alternatives to the LELO Mona 2
These products are friendlier to both your conscience and wallet while still making your junk happy.
Je Joue G‑Kii
“You sound like you’re getting stabbed,” a friend replied when I sent him a voice recording of me using the Je Joue G‑Kii.
Yeah, my orgasms with it were wild. It's not exactly cheap, but it's certainly less than the Mona 2 and feels fantastic. Read my Je Joue G‑Kii review.
BMS Factory Swan Wand Mini
I've seen reviewers suggest the BMS Factory Swan Wand as a rumbly alternative to the Mona, to which I want to shout, "Aw hell, no!"
To its credit, it is rumblier — and old fuck-buddy compared it to an earthquake. But its three speed settings are like jumping from 35 to 70 to 110 miles per hour. Its power is Hitachi-level. And while both the Magic Wand and Mona 2 are good toys, comparing them is like comparing a bulldozer to a Lamborghini.
Maybe you are willing to sacrifice precise speed control for more power and rumble. Then, by all means, get a Swan Wand Classic. You can find a video of the classic vibrating in a bowl of water on my Instagram. It's a quality toy, rumblier than the BMS Factory Pillow Talk Sassy, Swan Wand Mini, and Mona 2 alike, but I don't think it's nearly as versatile.
Personally, if I didn't want to insert the fat end of the Swan Wand, I probably wouldn't feel justified buying it for only three steady speeds. A Swan Wand Mini might be a good fit for you if you want a petite G‑spot vibe shorter and thinner than the Sassy, but it's not as rumbly.
BMS Factory Pillow Talk Sassy
I think the BMS Factory Pillow Talk Sassy is an absolute steal for the price. Hardly anyone knew about it when I first tried it, and I sought to rectify this travesty. I think everyone who is looking for a G‑spot vibrator on a budget should consider it.
Read my Pillow Talk Sassy G‑spot vibrator review here.
Take 10% off a Mona 2 or any other sex toy at Spectrum Boutique
You can use the coupon code SUPERSMASH10 at Spectrum Boutique to take 10% off a LELO Mona 2, Swan Wand, Swan Wand Mini, or anything else you want!
Disclaimer
Spectrum Boutique sent me the LELO Mona 2 in exchange for my honest and freely-given opinion. I also use affiliate links throughout this post. Clear your cookies before clicking and buying, and the links will bring me a commission at no extra cost to you.
The commission doesn't change how I feel about LELO. I still think they're a sub-par company. But I understand that you might still want to buy a Mona 2 or Smart Wand 2 Large.
Those are two of the few products I'd reluctantly recommend from LELO because they are better than the competition. Don't get the Hex. Or Mona Wave or Ina Wave or Soraya Wave. Those suck.
PLEASURE PRINCESS. COMPACT, HIGH-CAPACITY HUMAN. CERVIX SORCERESS.
I've tested over 350 sex toys and love diving deep for cervical orgasms, A‑spot stimulation, and kinky odysseys into the subconscious.
Mesmerizing mindfucking or physical fisting? Blowing men or minds? Opening books or legs? Why not all of the above?
Read more about me, my philosophy, and my love for cervical orgasms and deep penetration.
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This is probably a comment you wouldn’t expect: where did you get the peacock feather fabric? It’s absolutely gorgeous.
It's a vintage dress that I got forever ago 😀
Bummer that it was so long ago, that means I'll probably never find it. Would love to see the dress though! (I am peacock crazy.) Thanks so much for replying.
Thanks for the review and for the alternatives. Might have to get the Sassy.
I remember the first time I heard of LELO. My friend had a toy from LELO and I couldn’t believe how chique it looked. That year, my partner gave me a LELO Iris for Christmas. It was my first experience with a luxury toy. That’s about 10 years ago and it still works!
It’s a shame to see this company go backwards, not forward. They could have done so much more with this brand, could really have made a positive impact.
Thank you for taking the time to write at length about Lelo and their ethics. Many bloggers I follow have different opinions concerning Lelo, but never explain their reasoning or provide as many alternatives as you have here.
Thanks got a great review and for saving us a bunch of cash! I think the Sassy may be our next purchase.