Tenga Iroha Mai — Test & Review
Rachel Worthington
Rachel Worthington
| : | 26 |
| : | Experienced |
| : | Female |
| : | Bisexual |
| : | We-Vibe Tango X |
- Are very sensitive to vibrations
- Are interested in trying out new sex toy technology
- Love the beautiful, understated design
- Prefer stronger vibrations
- Aren't willing to pay a premium
- Are looking for a toy that will provide clit stimulation as well
The new Iroha Mai range from Tenga is certainly innovative, and beautiful, too! Rather than regular vibrations that you might be used to, the Mai uses Haptic WAVE technology, which feels more similar to the haptic feedback on a smartphone or a controller. Imagine tapping, thrumming and pulsing sensations coming from your vibe and transmitting to your g-spot!
A Bit of a Let-Down
I hadn’t heard of the Iroha Mai until I received it in the mail — I actually won it as part of a Tenga surprise box giveaway! I got the Tsuru model, which is a gorgeous white color, and was excited to experience this innovative and very pretty g-spot vibrator. Unfortunately, while I loved the idea, the execution felt a little lacking to me. The size? Great. The shape? Great. The vibrations? Way too weak.What Exactly is Haptic WAVE Technology?
The Mai is the first vibrator from Iroha (Tenga’s vulva-centric brand) to use this new vibration tech. It uses low-frequency waves to make vibrations — just like a speaker vibrates with the bass, or how your phone can provide haptic feedback when you press a button. The idea is to create very deep, rumbly vibrations and patterns that are based on actual sounds. In fact, when you hold the Iroha Mai up to your ear and cycle through the different rhythms, you can actually hear the vibe playing sounds and music! This is one of the toys I’ve tried where I actually enjoyed the patterns more than the steady speeds.What Went Wrong?
I think it’s a neat idea, but the final product just doesn’t live up to expectations. The vibes, while definitely rumbly, are extremely lackluster. As a g-spot stimulator, it does an okay job, but needs to be paired with something else to get you anywhere near climax. And, as a clit vibrator? Forget it! It was so weak that I actually felt frustrated. Usually, I like to start using a g-spot vibe on the clit to get warmed up before inserting it, but it was pretty impossible with the Mai. If you’re looking for a similar toy that can do both, I also tested out the Dame Arc and enjoyed it! You can find more information about that toy further down the page.
The Iroha Mai is really a beautiful sex toy. It looks luxurious in an understated way, and I enjoy the sleek, white design. It feels like a nice, grown-up toy, and even comes with a storage/charging case rather than your standard storage pouch. The shaft is nicely curved and has a bulbous tip, which are both great for hitting the g-spot. Personally, I would have preferred a slightly thicker girth, but I think it's great for a quickie, and would also be great for newbies.
The controls for the Iroha Mai are very simple, just press the 'three dots' button to cycle through the different intensity settings, and the 'flower' button to cycle through the different patterns. Each of the 10 patterns can be enjoyed at three different intensities. The curve of the shaft also makes it a little easier to reach your sweet spots without too much reaching. The vibrations do travel down the handle a bit, but since they're not very powerful, it's not particularly uncomfortable.
On the surface, the Iroha Mai feels like a very high-quality toy. The silicone is very soft and the whole toy is well-constructed. However, the vibrations are just not at the level I would expect for such a premium, high-quality toy.
For most people, I honestly can't recommend buying the Iroha Mai. It is very expensive for a toy that is just not powerful enough for the vast majority of users. It is definitely beautiful, and you can tell that they were really trying to innovate with the Haptic WAVE technology, but they missed the mark on this one. For your money, you do get a combination charging stand and storage case, but I still don't think that those things justify the price tag.
The vibrations from the Mai are certainly different than most other vibrations, and they have a nice rumble to them. However, as mentioned previously, they're just way too weak for me. On the plus side, though, they are extremely quiet, even on the highest intensity. The battery life is shorter than I would like, but that doesn't bother me so much when I consider how often I will be reaching for this toy (not so much).
The packaging for this toy is really beautiful. It's very grown-up and has an understated luxury to it that is right up my alley. It has the name of the Iroha Mai and a picture on the front of the cardboard box, along with the 'model' name, in this case 'Tsuru'. It also has a safety seal for that extra peace of mind.
The Iroha Mai is covered in soft, body-safe silicone. It's not squishy or flexible, but does feel nice and smooth. It's also waterproof and submersible up to 50cm, so it's easy to clean with some water and mild soap. You can also use it in the bath or shower! When not in use, you can keep it in the accompanying case, which doubles as a charger and a display stand!
| Vibration speeds | 3 |
| Vibration modes | 10 |
| Length | 6.9 inches |
| Insertable length | 4 inches |
| Diameter | 1.3 inches |
| Flexibility | Rigid |
| Materials | Silicone |
| Waterproof | Yes (Not Charging Base) |
| Battery Life | At least 60 minutes |
| Rechargeable | Yes |
| Charging Time | 90 minutes |
| Travel Lock | No |
| Remote Controls | No |
| Storage Bag Included | Comes with Charging/Storage Case |
| Colors Available | White (Tsuru), Pink (Toki) |
- Curved shaft for easy g-spot stimulation
- Several unique vibration patterns to choose from
- Beautiful design
- Optional charging case
- Very quiet
- Very weak vibrations
- Expensive
- Short battery life
- Weak magnetic charger
While I am intrigued by the possibilities of Iroha's Haptic WAVE Technology, I just don't think they've hit the nail on the head with this one. The Iroha Mai felt like a let-down to me, and I can't really recommend that most people go out and buy it, especially at the price that they're offering. However, maybe they'll continue to work on it in other toys in the future? I'm definitely open to the idea of trying another Haptic WAVE toy, since those vibrations are incredibly rumbly.
