Review: Hot Octopuss PULSE QUEEN

I’m someone who values quality over quantity, which is a trait you’ll notice many of my favourite sex toy manufacturers share. Yet even I have been starting to get a little impatient waiting for the next Hot Octopuss release. I’ve tried every single one of their vaginal toys (as well as a few of their masturbators) since they started making them back in 2017, although while that sounds impressive there have actually only been four, with one of those since being discontinued. It has to be one of the smallest collections of any award-winning adult brand, but whatever they’re doing it’s working, with all three of the currently available products being absolutely top notch and some of the best toys I own. Yet it’s now been almost four years since the last release, so where’s my new obsession? Well, it turns out we have to first go back to that discontinued toy.

The Queen Bee Returns

Initially a masturbator brand, the first toy UK-based Hot Octopuss ever made for those with vulvas was the Queen Bee. While it released to the public with much fanfare (mostly due to some genius marketing), it was met with mixed reviews from bloggers, and when I finally got round to reviewing it myself in 2019, I too was left unsure what to think. Applying their patented PulsePlate technology, which is essentially just an oscillating plate that rapidly moves back and forth, from their masturbators to the Queen Bee made sense in theory, but there were numerous issues that caused it to fail. For instance, it was horrendously loud (I related it to a motorbike in my review), it took a whopping four hours to charge, and it was made of TPE, a potentially unsafe material. Plus, a big problem I noted at the time was how much it seemed like an unfinished prototype for something else. Well, now we finally know what that “something else” is, because it seems the Queen Bee has been reborn as the PULSE QUEEN!

Product Description

Now, I haven’t actually seen Hot Octopuss mention the poor Queen Bee anywhere in their marketing for the PULSE QUEEN, but the inspiration is clear (their website even calls the PULSE QUEEN the “world’s first wand with PulsePlate Technology”, which is the same thing they said about the Queen Bee in 2017). And I’m glad to see the idea finally revisited, especially as oscillators have become more popular in recent years. But I also agree that this isn’t as simple as the PULSE QUEEN being the Queen Bee 2, with its new design not just “reinventing the wand” (as per its tagline), but reinventing itself. Smaller, lighter, and far more stylish, the PULSE QUEEN no longer looks like a prototype, but instead a product I’d be proud to display on my nightstand. In fact, its appearance now reminds me more of an air pressure wave toy than anything else, and this also reflects the way it is designed to be held. Ignoring stereotypical toy colours, which also pairs with its unique look to keep it fairly discreet, the PULSE QUEEN’s turquoise silicone is then silky smooth, and on the back you’ll find a wide panel of ABS plastic with a black to turquoise gradient on it. Here is where the toy’s three buttons are located, and as usual Hot Octopuss have made them very clear, both to the eyes and to the touch. Above and to the side of this are then the two Hot Octopuss logos, which are embossed in the silicone, and at the bottom is a hole for the charging cord. Finally, there is that PulsePlate on the front, which, just like the rest of the toy, is about half the size of the one on the Queen Bee. However, another big change that I’m excited about is that whilst the original PulsePlate was essentially flat, this one protrudes from the centre to form a triangular shape. Then, as with the Queen Bee, the Hot Octopuss PULSE QUEEN is also body-safe, USB rechargeable and 100% waterproof.

Packaging

My order for the PULSE QUEEN was placed with Hot Octopuss on the 24th of July and I received it on the 30th, which was a great turnaround considering they’re based in the UK. Plus, the package was also 100% discreet, with no mention of who the sender was or what was inside. The box for the PULSE QUEEN itself was then fairly similar to products I’ve owned from the brand in the past, arriving in a sturdy cardboard box featuring an image of the toy and plenty of information on what it can do. Opening this up, you’ll then find the toy resting safely in card, as well as a charging cord, two small manuals, and a storage bag (this isn’t as high quality as the one that came with the Queen Bee, but it is still very nice and more in line with what I’ve received with more recent Hot Octopuss products). Finally, the Hot Octopuss PULSE QUEEN also comes with a one year warranty.

Charging

Charging the Hot Octopuss PULSE QUEEN is easy, especially as it has been completely overhauled since the Queen Bee. Now all you need to do is plug one end into the hole at the bottom of the toy’s handle, and place the other end into a USB port. Once on charge the toy’s light will begin to flash, and this will then become solid upon completion, with charging taking around 150 minutes to provide 40 minutes of play time.

Controls

The great buttons that were featured on the Hot Octopuss KURVE return on the PULSE QUEEN, and I am so happy to see them. Large and protruding, these buttons are easy to read and find, even if you cannot see them, and they bring a level of comprehensive control to the PULSE QUEEN that wasn’t even really necessary, but that is more than welcomed. The middle round button functions as a power button, which can be held down for three seconds to either turn the toy on or off, with it always starting on its lowest speed and steady mode. You can then continue clicking this button to cycle through the toy’s eight modes (the manual and website both specify seven modes, with there even being a graphic showing what each of the modes is. However, I’ve checked many times, and my copy definitely has an additional mode in position four that is not included on the graphic, and six and seven have their placements flipped), or you can use the plus and minus buttons to increase or decrease the speed. There are nine speeds in total, and each of the eight modes also respond to these, meaning there are a lot of combinations to be had.

First Impressions

There was no denying that the Hot Octopuss Queen Bee was a powerful sex toy. The problem when it came to actually using it was that the PulsePlate is such a different method of stimulation, and anyone accustomed to vibrations (like myself and other bloggers) found it difficult to get used to. And this is an issue that has continued with other oscillators I have tried more recently, such as the Lora DiCarlo Carezza. So I was hoping that somehow Hot Octopuss had found a way to overcome that when I accepted this review. Turning the PULSE QUEEN on for the first time, I was immediately met with such a level of intensity that almost every time I go to use it (you’d think I would have gotten use to it by now), I instinctively try to turn it down, because surely this cannot be the first speed! But indeed it is, and even though the PULSE QUEEN is so much smaller, it feels far stronger than the Queen Bee. This is then further amplified with that pointed, rather than flat, PulsePlate, which helps focus the oscillations. The very unfortunate downside to all this though is once again the noise. In fact, it is my sad duty to tell you that the PULSE QUEEN is even louder than the original Queen Bee, which is just shocking. But! There is some good news, which is that the sound does significantly reduce once pressure is applied to the PulsePlate, so much so that the PULSE QUEEN does become quieter than the Queen Bee in use. Even with this though, it does make this toy one of the loudest I’ve ever tried, and is absolutely not a product you can use with any kind of discretion.

My Experience

The Hot Octopuss PULSE QUEEN’s whole thing is that it is a reinvention of the wand massager. Yet nothing about it says wand to me… that is, until I start using it. Placing it on my clitoris, I immediately connect with those deep rumbly oscillations, feeling completely akin to the style of vibrations I love so much. But at the same time it is so much more than that, with the PULSE QUEEN bringing a level of versatility that a typical massager just can’t achieve. This all comes down to that PulsePlate and the wide range of movement it has, allowing you to fine tune your experience with the toy depending on how far you hold it from yourself. You see, usually if you held a massager near, but not on, your clitoris, you’d feel next to nothing, and once on there isn’t a whole lot of change in sensation. But with the PulsePlate, you can enjoy a sliding scale of stimulation depending on how much pressure you apply. This makes a toy that already had an unusually high level of customisation even more adaptable, and is particularly great considering it starts off so strong. For those who do enjoy a bit of force though, the PULSE QUEEN also allows for that, and the handle design makes this even easier than with a typical massager. Although there is a limit to this, as too much pressure will ultimately make the PulsePlate turn off, a flaw that unfortunately usually rears its head during orgasm. It’s also interesting to note just how much of an improvement this toy is from the earlier Queen Bee. Not only does having the PulsePlate no longer be flat make a huge impact, allowing for far easier clitoral stimulation, but the oscillations themselves are on a completely different level, feeling significantly more powerful and also a lot more like traditional vibrations, helping to remove my previous issues. Overall, this toy has just been a joy to use, with satisfying orgasms coming easily. It is just a shame about the noise level, which is really the biggest downside here.

Cleaning & Care

Cleaning the Hot Octopuss PULSE QUEEN is very easy since it is waterproof, and also because being an external toy means it won’t get too messy (you can even use it through your underwear!). After use just give it a quick wipe down with some soapy water and then rinse before leaving it to air dry. There is a chance fluids may have also become trapped around the PulsePlate, so do be careful to check this area and rinse it if needed. After this you can store it in the bag it came with. Additionally, do make sure to not use silicone-based lubricants with this product, as it may damage the material it is made of.

Final Thoughts

I called the Hot Octopuss Queen Bee a prototype, because, whilst it needed a lot of work, there was absolutely a gem there just waiting to be refined. So it was such a shame when the brand quietly discontinued it, and I had given up hope for a successor many years ago. Yet as soon as I saw the PULSE QUEEN, I knew exactly what it was, even if the UK brand didn’t mention it. A complete reimagining design-wise, not only is this toy much more aesthetically pleasing, but it is so much smaller too, and with a vastly improved PulsePlate. It is this which both sets it apart and allows it to emulate the wand massagers it aims to reinvent, bringing those rumbly and deeply penetrating vibrations, whilst simultaneously allowing for a greater level of flexibility and personalisation. All of this, of course, comes with the snag that is its volume, which really does give you the full-sized massager experience and then some. But at least this time, it is worth it. So, for those who are in a position to be a little noisy, then I highly recommend this for lovers of rumbly vibrations, especially if you want something that has the power but not the size of a regular wand, and it may also be ideal for those looking for a clitoral vibrator with a lighter, yet still satisfying, touch.

You can get the PULSE QUEEN directly from Hot Octopuss for just $149.95 AUD / $99.95 USD!

Last updated: 30/10/24

Price at the time of writing: $149.95 AUD / $99.95 USD

This post was sponsored by Hot Octopuss, but as always, all opinions are my own. Affiliate links have been used in this post.