The California Exotics Compact Mini G vibrator has quite a bit of power wrapped in a small package. It’s about five inches total, with the first two being the smooth G-spot tip, the second two the ridges, and the last the battery cap. It also has two rubber O rings – one between the tip and ridges, and one between the ridges and battery cap. This makes the toy waterproof, but a little finicky to clean. The vibrator has Cal Exotics velvet cote, which give it a nice soft feel with a bit of drag. Even though it feels nice and soft, it is made entirely of hard plastic, so if you don’t like insertables with no give, you’ll want to avoid this one.

Since it’s waterproof, it’s easy to clean in a sink with soap and water. You’ll definitely have to take a bit of time cleaning all the ridges carefully, because they’re all too happy to trap any lubes and juices. You can use any water or silicone based lubes you like and be good to go, but I’d hesitate to use something oil-based. There’s fine print on the bottom of the card insert that says “use a rubber-safe lubricant” due to the velvet cote.

The package it comes in is a basic clear clam shell with a little cardboard insert. It’s not particularly trashy – there’s a naked couple on the front but they’re basically “whited out” save for their shoulders up, and covered by the Cal Exotics logo and the “five functions” label. There weren’t any separate instructions included, but a one-touch vibe is easy to figure out and the battery slots have /- labels.

For being powered by two AAAs, the Compact is strong. And thrummy. It’s not suuuuper deep, but it’s definitely not high and buzzy. This holds for all five of the functions, none of which are weak. There’s low, medium, and high constant vibration, a short pulse (bz-bz-bz) and an alternating pulse (bz-bz-BZ-bz-bz-BZ). For me, the low setting is perfect. I don’t usually need a crazy strong vibrator I’ll admit, but the low setting on this vibe feels more like the medium settings on others of similar type. The vibrations are really focused towards the head, which is nice since it lets you harness all the power you want right where you need it with only some traveling up the shaft (no numb fingers!).

In the noise department, I’d say it is moderately loud. The low setting is pretty easy to cover with white noise (a fan or light music) or a blanket tossed over your body, but the higher settings jump quite a bit in volume. Not “is that a buzz saw?” loud, because they can be muffled by blankets, but the toy does remain somewhat audible.

I really like the battery compartment on this. You twist off the cap, and a little plastic sheath slides out where you can pop in two batteries. It moves easily, so you don’t have to spend ten minutes banging your toy around trying to get the batteries out when you’re through. The top of the battery cap is also where the single push button control is. Push it once to turn on, and then again to cycle through each function until it turns back off. Easy as pie.

I like and hate the G-spotting tip. The small curve works for me in getting the right area, but the pointiness of it does not – especially since there’s a finishing mark on the very tip that I can feel. Hard, fast thrusting was just shy of painful for me – and without that kind of action, I can’t get any waterworks. I also think since it’s such a gentle curve and little point, people who don’t know -exactly- where to go to hit their G-spot could have problems using this to any effect. Even people who do know might run into trouble, since the G-spot tends to like hard, firm pressure. The plastic is good and firm, but the tip was just too pokey-proddy feeling to really get me going.

The ridges are pretty much a total flop. With normal thrusting, you only kind of feel them – mostly, you just end up with something finicky to clean when all is said and done. They’re very pronounced if you twist the vibe while inserted, but that’s not really something I do when I’m trying to get a G-spot orgasm. They are nice for gripping, though, because even with lube they keep things from getting overly slippery.

Even though it’s marketed as a G vibe, I think the Compact shines more as a clit vibe. Like pinpoint stimulation? Use that G-spot intended tip. Like more diffuse vibes? Flip it around and the back of the head will work for you. You can also kind of ‘cup’ yourself with the little curve on the G-spot head for nice sensations. I also really like the Compacts length when using it clitorally, since it’s easy to get where you want to be while keeping your wrists comfy. The compact size is also nice since it doesn’t wander into the territory of being too bulky and unwieldy for use in partner sex.

All in all, I think as a G-spotter this toy is pretty "meh" – it’s just too much of a “one prodding finger” feel. It is great as a thrummy, versatile clit vibe though, and that’s its saving grace.