Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. Promo code: VIOLETGREY

So the lovely folks at Honey Play Box asked if I could review one of their new app-controlled sex toys. Naturally, I said yes!

So here we are, with my review of the app-controlled Ryder Thrusting G-Spot and Clit Vibrator.

As you can see from the photo, it has a thrusting dildo with clit-stimulation, for dual-action pleasure. The Honey Play Box site claims the following:

• 1 year warranty
• App-enabled vibe.
• Ergonomic dual-end design, which, “treats your g-spot and clit to a euphoric dual orgasm”.
• Rich textures to, “enhance friction and add more to your play.”
• Mutiple thrilling modes
• Body-safe & IPX7 Waterproof silicone that, “feels wonderful against your skin and is safe for aquatic adventures”. So you are able to use this in the shower as well.

Like many app-controlled sex toys, you need to make sure you’ve got your Bluetooth switched on so you can connect your device to your phone. You’ll need to download the Honey Play Box app (available in the Apple and Google stores) to do this. On the Honey Play Box app, you can send your partner an invite, and once they’ve accepted, they can control your toy. App-controlled toys are a great choice for long-distance couples, and this is no exception, as well as for any couple or polyamorous partners who just want to have fun.

Ryder is available on honeyplaybox.com and retails for £60.00 GBP. Like many sex toys, Ryder is rechargeable and comes with a charging cable. You can also use Ryder without the app and adjust the speed and intensity settings via the button at the base of the toy.

To the review!

WHAT I LIKED

The thrusting – it was my first time trying a thrusting dildo and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised! As I’ve said in previous reviews, internal vibrations don’t really work for me. While, yes, for the dildo to thrust it needs to vibrate a little to move, the thrusting motions felt great. It took a bit of getting used to at first, but I liked the steadiness and how you can control the speed and intensity of the thrusts with what you need at the time. While there is a button at the base of the toy, I preferred to control the pace and intensity through the Honey Play Box app.

Wellness, not just vibrations – Something I thought was really cool was that you can also use the app to track your menstrual cycles. So as well as using the app for fun sexy times, you can track your periods and exercise regime all on the same app. I love me some multitasking!

Dual action – I like the fact that you can get clitoral and internal stimulation in just one toy. While I like a variety of toys that specialise in certain pleasures, I value a practical toy that performs multiple functions.

Connecting to music – I love music. I can’t go a day without listening to music. Music also inspires me with my writing and also getting in “the mood”. So to have your vibrator connect to your Spotify and the vibrations, intensity, and thrusts form a pattern in sync with decibel changes made me nerd out when I first saw it on the app. While I do like the concept, however, it felt like I was getting fucked in morse code. So the erratic patterns didn’t do anything for me. That being said, I preferred to control the pace and intensity manually while listening to music. While it’s brilliant it can do that, I think the patterns need improving.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE

Clit stimulation was too long for me – The curve that is meant to meet the clitoris wasn’t a good fit for me as it actually sat just above my clit. So having to constantly readjust to get proper clitoral stimulation became frustrating over time.

When your screen goes black, so does the app – This was on my phone specifically. I’m unsure if it does the same with other phones, but for the purpose of this review, I’ll go on the assumption that it does. Controlling a sex toy via an app can be a very fun way to explore things, especially with a partner. However, when you’ve found what works for you and you’re getting lost in pleasure, the last thing you’re thinking about is to keep your thumb firmly on the screen (especially when using the manual control settings) or your screen will turn off. This happened to me a few times when testing this product. I was in the zone, having a good time, then all of a sudden, the toy stopped. When your screen turns off, the toy does too. Then began the process of connecting the toy to Bluetooth again, and having to start all over again. So I’d say that app controls for the toy would work better with a partner controlling the functions while you go nuts. It needs improvement for solo play.

Not much actual riding – With the toy being advertised as a rider, and by the shape of its design, I was really excited to see how it performed as a sitting sex toy. Where I could sit down while I get external and internal stimulation. However, my expectations left something to be desired. While yes, it can work while you’re sitting, you’ll only reliably get clitoral stimulation. The internal thrusts have a tendency to stop completely when sitting normally, so you’ll have to sit at an angle for them to start again.

Voice commands – Now, I like this in theory. You can use the app to enable voice commands to control the Ryder. However, when trying the voice commands on my phone, it didn’t really work. In all fairness, I think I may have done it wrong! Having said that, I think some users may feel uncomfortable with their voice being used due to privacy concerns. I couldn’t find specifics in the Privacy Policy regarding data and a user’s voice, so this may be something Honey Play Box may have to clarify on.

Couldn’t save waveforms – The app says you can save waveforms the user creates. However I couldn’t find the functions to do this. I found the function to loop it, but not to save it. Now, I know I’m due for another eye test, so that might be it! 😂 However after some searching I couldn’t find a save feature. If there is, it needs to be made clearer for the user.

I want pleasure, not a calorie counter – What I found quite amusing at first, is how after a vibe session, the app lets you know how many minutes and calories burned. While this made me laugh at first, it did make me a little uneasy. This can be problematic for people who are in recovery for eating disorders or obsessive patterns when it comes to calories counting (having had experience with disordered eating, it gave me pause for thought.) I’ll be honest, at the end of a vibe session, I don’t really care about how many calories I’ve burned. I just want to have a good time.

OVERALL RATING

RYDER TOY: 3/5

APP: 2.75/5

Really good concept with a lot of potential, but it could do with some improvements.

Once again, thank you to the folks at Honey Play Box for sending me this to review!