Review: Hot Octopuss PULSE DUO LUX

Last year my partner and I had the pleasure of reviewing Hot Octopuss’s amazing masturbator meets couples toy, the PULSE III DUO, which has since been renamed as simply the PULSE DUO. Completely unique to anything I’ve ever tried before, it was a huge stand out for me, but as my partner’s first ever toy in general, it was a big deal. Unfortunately, though, right after that review our lives got pretty busy, we moved house and he took on a new full-time job, and so the PULSE DUO sadly got tucked away into his underwear drawer and mostly forgotten about. This year, however, we (like everybody else) have had a lot more time on our hands, and when lockdown started one of the first things my partner asked me was, “What ever happened to that Hot Octopuss toy?”. Well, I was more than happy to remind him of its location, but I also knew that a newer version, dubbed the PULSE DUO LUX, had recently been released, and asked if he would be interested in trying it with me, to which I received a resounding yes. Luckily the lovely folks over at Hot Octopuss were then kind enough to send one out for review, thus making our self-isolation a hell of a lot more fun!

Apart from being more powerful, as well as a few other small changes, the PULSE DUO and PULSE DUO LUX are essentially the same toy. But there is one key difference between the two that really lets them stand apart, and that is their remotes. While the PULSE DUO came with the most basic one-button clicker possible, the PULSE DUO LUX goes all out, providing you with two wearable watch-style controls. I’ve never seen a sex toy remote anywhere near as luxurious and sleek as this, not to mention the fact that there is two of them, allowing the toy’s dual motors to be controlled independently. Featuring four buttons that correspond to those on the toy itself, as well as having a strap made entirely of silicone with a range of holes to fit all sizes, this is an extremely well thought-out addition that I absolutely adore. Plus, aside from the Hot Octopuss logo they’re very discreet, allowing them to be stylish enough to wear practically anywhere.

For those who haven’t read my previous review, essentially the Hot Octopuss PULSE, for which there are multiple versions of, is an upgraded type of penis vibrator that uses the company’s powerful oscillation technology. While the PULSE DUO toys can then be used on their own like a traditional masturbator (and there are also the alternative PULSE SOLO toys if that’s all you’re interested in), they also feature additional vibrations on their back, so that a partner may be stimulated by it at the same time. Because of this, the new Hot Octopuss PULSE DUO LUX was exciting news for both my partner and I. Other than the remotes, the two PULSE DUO toys look practically the same, with the most noticeable difference between them being that while both grey, the PULSE DUO has more of a blue tone to it. After this the only other notable visual changes is that the PULSE DUO LUX features an additional button, the word LUX on one side, and further ridges on its back which complement the rest of the product’s design. Since I loved the sleek futuristic design of the PULSE DUO I’m super happy that Hot Octopuss have changed so little about it, while still doing enough to allow the two to be quickly differentiated. Then, in terms of abilities, the PULSE DUO LUX really stays true to its name, keeping everything about the PULSE DUO that made it so great, whilst improving on others. Still USB rechargeable, fully waterproof, and made entirely of body-safe silicone, the PULSE DUO LUX also uses the same combination of vibrations paired with Hot Octopuss’s signature PulsePlate technology, but with even more power. Then, rather than just having three basic vibration speeds for the clitoral stimulation, the PULSE DUO LUX has nine, alongside an extra six pattern modes, allowing this secondary motor to no longer feel like an afterthought. Plus, unlike the PULSE DUO, you can actually use the vibrations on the PULSE DUO LUX independently, making this toy a lot easier to use solo as a clitoral vibrator, in the same way that it can be used solo as a penis vibrator.

My order with Hot Octopuss for the PULSE DUO LUX was placed on the 11th of June and I received it promptly on the 22nd, which was great considering the current COVID-19 related shipping delays. The package was then 100% discreet, with no mention of the sender or the contents. Consistent with previous Hot Octopuss products I’ve reviewed, the box for the PULSE DUO LUX was then quite simple, featuring images and details on the toy paired a monochromatic colour scheme. One downside, however, is that unfortunately the box looks like it had quite a rough journey here, and is incredibly damaged (thankfully this did not affect the toy). While Hot Octopuss aren’t completely to blame for this, I do think a little bit of packaging protection (as it was just in a plastic packaging slip with nothing else) would have gone a long way, as this is easily the worst condition I’ve ever received anything in, and it certainly wasn’t a good first impression for such an expensive product. Inside the box I then found the toy alongside its drawstring bag, charging cord and two small instructions manuals. Of note though is that I found the drawstring bag to be of much poorer quality than the one I received with the PULSE DUO, with thinner fabric and a far more basic tie system, and so it wasn’t all that surprising when it started to fall apart during the review process. Plus, the instructions are very brief, containing only pictures rather than words (typically these sort of “quick-start” guides, which have recently become quite popular, will be supplemented with more detailed instructions online, but this is not the case for this toy), and following them was a constant frustration over the course of this review. Finally, the product also comes with a 1 year manufacturers warranty.

Charging the Hot Octopuss PULSE DUO LUX remains the same as it was for the PULSE DUO. Just plug the USB end into a USB port, and then place the magnetic end onto the charging plate of the toy. The magnet for this toy is then quite strong, so you shouldn’t have to worry about it falling off. Plus, one thing I love about the chargers for the Hot Octopuss PULSE toys is that they include their logo on it, making them easy to identify. When charging the light on the toy will display red, and this will change to green when it is fully charged. The toy should then take three hours to charge, which will give you one hour of playtime. As for the remotes these are battery powered, and use a CR2032 battery which is included with both. Upon receiving my PULSE DUO LUX however I did find that one of the remotes had a flat battery, but luckily I had a spare and was able to replace it. Still, considering the price of the product, this wasn’t exactly ideal.

Controlling the Hot Octopuss PULSE DUO LUX is almost the same as the PULSE DUO, with the exceptions being that it adds a stand-by mode, for easier couples use, and an additional button for the “turbo” mode, which was previously accessed by simply holding down the plus button. This does in turn make it a little bit more complicated to use than the PULSE DUO, which is not helped by the brief instructions, but it doesn’t take too long to get use. Additionally, as with the PULSE DUO, only the toy’s penis oscillations may be controlled with its buttons, and to control the clitoral vibrations you will need to use a remote. Basically, though, there are four buttons on the toy, with two on each side, and these are labelled fairly well, with one group featuring a plus and minus and the other group featuring a lightning bolt and circle. As with the PULSE DUO, the circle indicates the toy’s power button (again, I would have thought a power symbol would work better here), and can be held down for two seconds to place the toy into stand-by mode, which is indicated by the toy vibrating two times and turning its lights on, or to turn the toy off. Once in stand-by mode you can click the power button again to turn the PULSE DUO LUX’s lowest oscillation mode on, and you can then press the plus button to increase the oscillation strengths, for which there are eight levels, and the minus button to decrease them again. You can also then press the power button at any time to cycle through the 6 pattern modes, and these also respond to the different oscillation strengths. Lastly, you can press the lightning button to put the toy on turbo mode, which is essentially an extra ninth oscillation strength.

Controlling the PULSE DUO with its remote during couples use was easily the worst part of that toy. Basically, that one-button remote was the only way to control the toy’s clitoral vibrations, whilst the penis oscillations couldn’t be controlled by it at all. That meant that if my partner wanted to adjust his stimulation during use then we’d have to stop whatever we were doing so he could fiddle around with the toy’s buttons between us, while if I wanted to adjust mine then I would have to make sure I was holding onto the little remote, which only had limited capabilities anyway. So by including two comprehensive and wearable remotes with this upgraded version of the toy, Hot Octopuss have truly knocked it out of the park. Of the two, there is remote “A” which controls the penis vibe and features silver detailing, and remote “B” which controls the clit vibe and features rose gold detailing. Both remotes then feature the same four buttons, which correspond to the buttons on the toy, although instead of a lightning bolt for the turbo mode they use the Hot Octopuss logo. To connect the remotes to the PULSE DUO LUX you can hold down their power buttons for two seconds whilst the toy is in stand-by mode, and success will be indicated by the motor that corresponds to the remote used turning on. The buttons then function exactly the same as the ones directly on the toy, meaning that the clitoral vibrations feature the same amount of speeds and patterns as the oscillations. One thing to note though is that even when you turn both motors off using the remotes, the PULSE DUO LUX will remain in stand-by mode until you turn it off properly, which will drain its battery if forgotten about (and as the only indication that it’s on is some very small lights, this is easy to do). Overall though the remotes work great, and the only minor issue I have with them is that I wish the visual difference between the two was more obvious, as it took me quite some time to notice the alternate colouring, and even now I still have trouble remembering which is which, or even seeing it in low light.

I’m not a watch-wearer, but I love the silicone straps that the PULSE DUO LUX’s remotes come with. Almost the reverse of the usual application process for putting something like this on however, as the silicone hole is pushed down onto a pin, and its end is then secured against your arm. Personally I find this easier to put on than a regular watch, but my partner, who is a watch-wearer, doesn’t feel the same way. For him, it feels strange and unnatural, and I always find him struggling to get his on long after I’ve already got mine ready. Despite this though the remotes fit both of us perfectly, and once on we’ve experienced no issues with the straps coming loose. Additionally, if you don’t fancy wearing the strap, the remotes themselves also pop right out of the silicone and can be used entirely independently from them. Although as convenient as this is (especially for cleaning), it has resulted in the remotes falling out on their own frequently during couples use, and there’s nothing more mood-killing than going to increase the speed in the middle of things only to find an empty hole where the remote should be. So with this in mind, a way to properly secure the buttons within their silicone straps would be great for future editions.

The idea that the Hot Octopuss PULSE DUO LUX’s oscillations are more powerful than the PULSE DUO’s is just crazy to me since they were already so strong. But sure enough, the LUX is way more intense. In fact, the power difference between the two is so much that you can actually see it, which is majorly impressive. Being so much more powerful though did cause concern for me in regards to its noise level, considering that the PULSE DUO is one of the loudest toys that I own. The first time I turned it on I was actually surprised, because the PULSE DUO LUX is somehow slightly quieter than the PULSE DUO. But as my partner was quick to point out to me, that is until you place something against the PulsePlate, after which the PULSE DUO LUX becomes much louder, and far more so than the PULSE DUO. Then, as for the clitoral vibrations, these seemed like they would be a completely different ballpark from the old ones, considering they have three times the amount of vibration levels. However, even though there are more levels, I find the actual range quite similar to what was contained in the PULSE DUO, if only more spread out. This means that overall the vibes are still rather weak and buzzy, easily being drowned out by the oscillations when they’re activated, which is a big disappointment, especially considering that I know how good Hot Octopuss have gotten at making powerful and rumbly clitoral vibrators these days. Plus, while the vibrations don’t add much to the overall noise level of the PULSE DUO LUX, they don’t have to, because even without them this toy easily takes out the spot of my loudest sex toy, making privacy during use very difficult (much to my partner’s dismay).

As my partner’s biggest complaints regarding the original PULSE DUO were its size, weight, and noise level, improvements in these areas were definitely what he was hoping for when a newer version was announced. One thing he was not particularly interested in, however, was more power, as he was already quite satisfied with what the PULSE DUO provided. But despite this, he was still eager to try the additional strengths added to those that he had previously enjoyed. Instead, he found that even the lowest strength of the PULSE DUO LUX exceeds anything the PULSE DUO could do, making no two speeds on the twin toys the same. The result? A masturbator so intense that he is only able to use the first strength, and even that he finds a lot. He has told me that, “If your goal is to orgasm within 10 seconds, then the PULSE DUO LUX is king”. But as someone who typically prefers edging alongside porn, he has had trouble fitting this style of masturbation into his routine. In this regard, he continues to prefer the PULSE DUO for solo play, as he feels he is able to have “more fun” with it and simply be able to enjoy it more. In addition, he also found that with the PulsePlate now being so intense, it pushes his penis away from it during use, meaning that he now needs to hold himself in place, making this version a lot less hands-free than the previous iteration. As for my own solo use of the product, I did have a little trouble with how buzzy the vibrations are, but overall I found it worked well and was definitely a lot easier to use on my own than with the PULSE DUO, namely because of the improved controls and the fact that I didn’t need to have the oscillations running at the same time.

All of my previous complaints regarding the PULSE DUO’s couples use related to its controls, but with the new and improved wearable versions, these are all gone. Now, rather than struggling along and hoping we don’t need to change the speeds on anything, we can easily increase and decrease our motors all with a click of our individual watches, letting us both live out our spy fantasies. An improvement also of note is the new stand-by mode, as previously with the PULSE DUO you had to either turn the toy on before placing it over the penis (which could be quite uncomfortable) or turn it on while already on the penis (also uncomfortable, but this was how you had to control it in general). Now, however, you can turn the toy on without its motor running, place it over the penis, and then when we’re both in position we can activate the toy’s motors from our remotes. Plus, when in a couples position, my partner’s issue of the PulsePlate pushing his penis away doesn’t occur, making the experience for him much more enjoyable then when using it solo. Overall we both really enjoyed the experience of using the PULSE DUO LUX together, and other than the remote occasionally falling out of the silicone, we experienced no issues, which was great as it allowed us to spend much more time focusing on our connection and pleasure, rather than on the toy itself.

Cleaning the Hot Octopuss PULSE DUO LUX is very easy since it is waterproof, and also because it is an external toy so it won’t get too messy anyway. After use just give it a wipe down with some soapy water and rinse. You can then either let it air dry or dry it yourself, before returning it to its storage bag as it is quite lint-attracting. While the silicone straps containing the remotes can also be cleaned this way as they are waterproof, the remotes themselves are not, and must be removed and wiped down lightly if in need of cleaning. Additionally, make sure to not use silicone-based lubricant with this product, as it may react badly to the silicone it is made of, but if you do then first perform a spot test.

Out of every sex toy brand I’ve ever reviewed for, Hot Octopuss are by far the best at actually listening to customer and reviewer feedback, and improving their products accordingly. In that regard, the PULSE DUO LUX is no different. It specifically takes some of the biggest issues I had with the PULSE DUO, namely the controls, and perfects them for a much better user experience. Plus, they even took the time to increase the vibrations and oscillations. But, considering the main problems my partner had with the PULSE DUO were its size, weight, and noise level, two things that stayed the same and one that got worse, the PULSE DUO LUX wasn’t exactly everything that we were hoping for. Still, hearing from my partner that the improved oscillations were “too good”, and that he preferred the more subtle stimulation of the PULSE DUO, wasn’t what I was expecting. Despite this though, he has told me that he will definitely be more inclined to use it once he actually gets some time alone in the house when this lockdown ends. Then, in regards to the couples play, this is a totally different matter, with the toy and its dual remotes being a roaring success for the both of us, and one of the few things actually improving this lockdown! At the end of the day though, this is still quite an expensive product, and considering the faults that are still present I’m not sure if it’s worth it. But if you are looking to spice up play with your partner, particularly if you have a reason to avoid penetrative sex, or you know you love strong vibrations on your penis, then I think this could certainly be a worthy investment.

You can get the PULSE DUO LUX directly from Hot Octopuss for just $269.95 AUD / $189.95 USD!

I received this product in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Affiliate links have been used in this post.