Remote Control Sex Toys NZ: How They Work and How to Choose

Remote control sex toys split the toy from the controls. The vibrator is worn or held in place, and the speed and pattern are changed from a small handheld remote or from a phone app. That makes them easy to use on your own, fun to hand over to a partner, and in the case of app controlled toys, usable when the two of you are in different cities. This guide explains how remote control vibrators work, the difference between a wireless remote and an app, and how every remote control toy in our New Zealand range compares on control, power and price.

Looking for vibrators in general? Start with our vibrators NZ buyer's guide, then come back here for the remote control options.

Remote control sex toys at a glance

There are two kinds of remote control toy. The right one depends mostly on how far apart you and the controls will be.

How remote control vibrators work

Every remote control vibrator has two parts: the toy, which holds the motor and a receiver, and the controller, which sends the signal.

• Handheld remote. The remote arrives ready to use with the toy. Press a button and the toy changes speed or moves to the next pattern. There is nothing to install, which is why a remote egg is the simplest way to start.
• App controlled. The toy pairs with a smartphone by Bluetooth, and the app becomes the remote. Because the app can also connect two phones over the internet, a partner can take the controls from somewhere else entirely. Our product pages describe these toys as controllable from anywhere in the world through the app.

In both cases the vibrations come from the toy itself, so the things that matter with any vibrator still apply: the shape, the number of modes, how it is powered and what it is made of. Our guide to vibrations explains how different motors feel.

Handheld remote or app: which suits you?

If you live together and want something playful for a night in, a handheld remote does the job from $29.99. If you spend time apart, or you like the idea of patterns controlled from a screen, app controlled is the one to choose.

Remote control toys in our NZ range

These are the remote control and app controlled toys we stock, with the control type, modes and power listed on each product page and current prices.

A few things stand out. The three eggs at $49.99 share the same listed size, weight and ten speeds, so choose between them on the look and shape shown in the photos. The Comfort Vibe is the lowest priced way to try a remote, and it runs on AAA batteries instead of a charging cable. All three app controlled toys cost the same, so that choice comes down to who will wear it. You will find more shapes in the vibrators collection.

Remote control sex toys for couples

Handing the remote to someone else is the whole appeal for many couples. One person wears the toy, the other decides what happens next, and neither of you has to reach for a button at the wrong moment.

• Start at home. Try the toy together in the bedroom first, so you both know how each mode feels and which ones to skip.
• Agree on a stop signal. A word or a tap that means pause keeps it relaxed for the person wearing the toy.
• Swap roles. Take turns with the remote. It is a simple way to learn what your partner enjoys.
• Keep it light. A remote egg at $49.99 is a low pressure way to bring a first toy into shared play.

If this is the first toy you are bringing into a relationship, our guide on how to introduce sex toys into your relationship covers how to raise the idea. The couples vibrators collection has the full range for shared play.

Long distance play with an app controlled vibrator

Our couples sex toys guide covers why app controlled toys suit couples who spend time apart. This section is the practical side: the setup, which takes a few minutes the first time.

1. Charge the toy fully with the USB cable before the first use.
2. Install the app named in the instructions that come in the box, on both phones.
3. Pair the toy with the wearer's phone by Bluetooth. Keep that phone nearby during play, as it is the link to the toy.
4. Invite your partner through the app so they can take the controls from their own phone.
5. Do a test run while you are both on a call, so you know the connection works before the night you have planned.

The PleasureSync and the BlissWave are wearable eggs designed for women, each with nine vibration modes and a soft textured tip. Both are made from silicone and recharge by USB. A steady internet connection at both ends matters more than anything else, so plan around good reception.

Remote control sex toys for men

Most remote control toys are shaped for women, but not all of them. The VibeNest Remote Control Vibrator for Men is an app controlled egg shaped for prostate play, with the same nine modes and long distance control as the other app toys in the range, at $149.99. Use plenty of lube, go slowly, and follow the instructions supplied with the toy. Our guide to male anal toys explains how to get started safely, and the anal toys collection has other options.

The Strap On Fantasy Vibrator is a unisex choice at $59.99. It is a vibrating strap on, 40mm wide and 180mm long, with stepless vibration, so the intensity can be turned up or down smoothly instead of in fixed steps.

Wearing a remote vibrator when you are out

Some couples like to take the game out of the bedroom, with one partner wearing a toy under their clothes on a date. If that appeals, a little planning keeps it fun and private.

• Keep it between the two of you. The point is a shared secret. Nobody around you should be able to see, hear or become part of it.
• Test the sound at home first. Run through the modes in a quiet room and note which are quiet enough for where you are going. Lower settings are usually the safer choice.
• Wear snug underwear so a wearable toy stays in place when you walk and sit.
• Agree on a stop signal that works without words, such as a text or a hand on the arm.
• Stay close with a handheld remote. Our product pages do not list a range in metres, so treat a handheld remote as a close range control and use an app controlled toy if you will be further apart.

How to choose a remote control vibrator

1. Decide who holds the controls and where they will be. Same room points to a handheld remote. Different places points to an app.
2. Choose the shape for the wearer. An egg is small and simple. A butterfly sits against the body and adds a second motor. The VibeNest is shaped for prostate play.
3. Check the power source. USB rechargeable toys are ready whenever they are charged. Battery models such as the Comfort Vibe need AAA batteries on hand.
4. Read the waterproof line carefully. On the remote eggs the listing says the egg is waterproof, which does not cover the remote. The Butterfly and the Strap On Fantasy are listed as 100% waterproof. If a page does not list a waterproof rating, wipe the toy clean instead of putting it under water.
5. Count the modes, then ignore most of them. Seven to twelve modes is plenty. Most people settle on two or three favourites.
6. Set a budget. Remote eggs run from $29.99 to $49.99, app controlled toys are $149.99, and the dual motor Butterfly is $189.99.

Not sure whether an egg or a bullet is the better shape for you? See egg vibrators vs bullet vibrators, or browse the bullet vibrators collection.

Which remote control toy should you buy?

Charging, cleaning and lube

• Charge before the first use and again after each session, so the toy is ready when you are. Make sure the toy is completely dry before you plug it in.
• Keep spare batteries for battery powered models, and take the batteries out if the toy will sit in a drawer for a while.
• Use a water based lube. Most toys in this guide are silicone, and a water based lubricant is the safe match for silicone. The lubricants collection has more to choose from.
• Clean the toy after every use with warm water and a toy cleaner from the sex toy cleaners collection, and keep the remote itself dry. Our guide on how to clean your sex toys has the full routine.
• Store the toy and its remote together in a clean pouch, so the pair is always in one place.

Frequently asked questions

How does a remote control vibrator work?

The toy contains a motor and a receiver. A handheld remote or a phone app sends a signal that changes the speed or pattern, so the person holding the controls does not need to touch the toy.

How far away does the remote work?

A handheld remote is a close range control, best used in the same room. Our product pages do not list a range in metres. For any real distance, choose an app controlled toy, which a partner can control through the app from another location.

Can my partner control the vibrator from another city or country?

Yes, with an app controlled toy. The PleasureSync, BlissWave and VibeNest pair with a phone by Bluetooth, and a partner can take the controls through the app from anywhere with an internet connection.

Are remote control vibrators quiet?

Small egg vibrators are among the quieter styles, and lower settings are quieter than higher ones. Noise varies between toys, so test each mode at home before you rely on it being discreet.

Are remote control vibrators waterproof?

It depends on the model. Our remote eggs list the egg as waterproof, which does not include the remote. The Butterfly Vibrator and the Strap On Fantasy Vibrator are listed as 100% waterproof. Check the features on each product page.

Is there a remote control sex toy for men?

Yes. The VibeNest Remote Control Vibrator for Men is an app controlled egg shaped for prostate play, with nine modes, at $149.99. The Strap On Fantasy Vibrator is a unisex option at $59.99.

What is the best remote control sex toy for a beginner?

A remote egg. The Comfort Vibe 12 Function Vibration Egg is $29.99 and runs on AAA batteries, and the rechargeable remote eggs are $49.99. Both are small, simple and need no app.

Shop remote control sex toys in NZ

Playmate Adult Store is proud to call New Zealand home, and orders are sent in discreet packaging. Compare remote and app controlled toys in the vibrators collection, add a water based lube to the same order, and start with the control style that fits how you and your partner like to play.