The Fairy Mini is certainly the spiritual successor and perhaps replacement for the venerable Hitachi - the name that has become the famed Wand of Wands. As such, the Mini has all of the same basic uses of the Hitachi - from a back massage to massaging more intimate places. And it certainly has the power to back up the Hitachi, without some of its rival's dilemmas.

Let's face it - when talking about massage wands, it all comes down to, "But how does it compare to the Hitachi?" So, that's the way we'll proceed.

The Advantages and Advances
First off and most notably, the Fairy Mini has a versatile speed setting. Rather than "High" or "Low", you have a rotary potentiometer to dial up or down the power level of the device. This is a HUGE plus over the Hitachi, which suffers from two-speeds-fit-all.

There's also something different in the motor itself that differentiates it from the Hitachi - whereas the Hitachi burns up (to the point of failure) after about 30 minutes, the Fairy doesn't suffer from this problem. I attribute it to both the variable speed and the motor, as well as general design - while there are very few outward indicators of the differences between the two engineering-wise, the Fairy Mini doesn't seem to suffer the same overheating.

Oh, and worth mentioning - while the low end is slower than the Hitachi's slowest speed, the high end is...unknown. Honestly, I've never pushed it to full throttle, and I'm afraid that if I did my building would start to shake. (Long story)

Could go either way...
There are a few aspects to the Fairy Mini that are neither pros nor cons to its design. Most obviously is the case design. The Fairy Mini has a fairly ergonomic-shaped handle, with the control wheel located at about the right place for the thumb. The catch to this is that it's a bit of a challenge to figure out the optimal placement to holding it for one's self without accidentally spinning the wheel one way or another. And the wheel is sensitive - a little touch one way or another can cause a noticeable effect.

The control wheel itself is also a bit of a mixed bag, for when it comes to personal preferences. The overall design of the handle suggests that it's designed to be held with the head of the wand being at the top of the fist. It's most comfortable that way. But the wheel spins in what seems counter-intuitive - down is more power, up is off. So the design of the wheel is that the natural motion of the thumb is towards turning the power down or off, not increasing it.

It's not inconceivable ("You use that word...") that the wand is designed to be held back-handed (cord up, head down), but it feels less natural that way as the wrist then gets in the way. But this could just be personal experience/preference.

Disadvantages
Really, I only have two key criticisms here, and one is certainly a matter of personal taste - the color. While I understand the target audience, this device really could benefit from another color style. Really, I suppose this is more a criticism of Eden Fantasys instead, as the manufacturer DOES provide it in black as opposed to pink and white, but it is carried by very few state-side vendors in that color scheme.

The second problem is the motor itself, which produces a distinct whine as it speeds up and warms up. Not everyone may hear it, due to individual hearing ranges. If you have cats or dogs, they WILL. Really, it's the key reason I don't use the device more frequently, as it is a fairly potent toy. My ears just can't stand the whine or the ringing in my ears after I power it down.

Another, lower-level disadvantage is that the Fairy Mini doesn't have the "standard" size massage head. As a result, it suffers from being unable to accept the toys designed for other wands, such as the Hitachi and most Hitachi-clones. It's something worth considering when investing in a wand.

Materials
For various obvious reasons, you can't boil the Fairy Mini to sterilize it. It's plastic, and it's not remotely water-resistant. On top of that, the head is made of a peculiar textured material that seems like a perfect germ-trap. For these reasons, I'd recommend always using a condom if you're going to be sharing the toy, even if you're using a silicone attachment on top. Better to be safe.

Personal experience is a mixed bag for me - as I've noted in other reviews, vibration is hit-or-miss for me, personally, and I haven't been to any parties lately to get other people to try it for science. What I will say is that it's a fairly impressive massage wand and packs a punch. Compared to the Hitachi (can't be avoided), it's more consistently thumpy in vibration rather than buzzy, whereas the Hitachi feels more buzzy to me on the low end and thumpy on high. And again, there's the matter of the peculiar motor control wheel and the whine of the motor.

Overall, I like the toy, but keep it on reserve. I hate to suggest wearing ear protection while using a toy, but...yeah. The high-end whine after it warms up is a distinct downer for me.

On the other side, I have to equate it to the SR-71 for an obscure quote from one of her former pilots: "No matter how fast you were going, she could always give you a little more if you needed it." I have yet to find out what the top speed of the vibe is, and I'm a little afraid to even try to find out.