If you're reading this, there's a good chance you're at the same point I was once at:
"Is this thing really worth spending that much money on when I don't even know how often I'll use it?"
I completely get that hesitation.
When I first started looking into electric toys, I knew basically nothing about them, let alone things like .funscript and all the extra possibilities that come with it.
What made researching even harder was how polarized the information online seemed to be. On one side, you had promotional posts that felt like they were written by people who didn't really know what they were talking about. On the other, you had hardcore geeks discussing custom setups, connection methods, bridges, and every technical detail imaginable. Both groups are pretty vocal, but there wasn't much information about the things an average buyer actually cares about.
Before buying The Handy, I went down the same rabbit hole myself. I looked through the device list mentioned in my What is Funscript? guide, researched IoST Index devices, and looked into things like Intiface Central and buttplug.io.
After going around in circles for a while, though, I eventually realized something: for most people, the biggest hurdles with a device like this aren't complicated technical specifications. They're ease of use and privacy, both visually and acoustically.
So here's what I actually care about as a buyer, based on my own experience.
Problem #1: Ease of Use
Long Setup Times Kill the Mood
Unless you're planning to lock yourself away for several hours with absolutely no interruptions, anything that takes more than a few minutes to set up can be enough to kill the mood. If you've ever used a VR headset, you probably know exactly what I mean. Put on the headset, get everything tracked, launch the software... and half the enthusiasm is already gone.
A lot of DIY setups require you to start a local server on your computer, configure a connection bridge, and deal with various networking issues yourself. For me, that's simply too many things that can go wrong.
The Handy handles this part surprisingly well. It supports both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Over Wi-Fi, it can automatically connect to a saved network when you turn it on, while Bluetooth lets you connect directly to your playback device. The connection and .funscript commands are handled through The Handy's official servers, so from the user's perspective, there's no complicated setup involved. Enter the connection code, and you're basically good to go.
That's also the main reason I chose to prioritize The Handy when I developed OriPlayer. I can leave the complicated connection handling to their infrastructure and focus on giving users a smooth experience.
Problem #2: Visual Privacy
How Easy It Is to Store, and How Obvious It Looks
With a device like this, one of the biggest concerns is simply where you're going to put it when you're not using it. Nobody wants a huge device that's difficult to store, or something sitting around that immediately makes it obvious what it is.
One of The Handy's biggest advantages is its external Velcro strap system. The easiest way to think about the device is as a single-axis 3D printer. At its core, it's basically a motor and screw mechanism that moves up and down. That design has a few major advantages:
- It's very compact. When you're not using it, it's easy to put away. Just looking at the machine itself, you wouldn't necessarily know what it is.
- The sleeve is separate from the machine. Unlike some products that build the sleeve mechanism directly into the main body, The Handy keeps it external. That means the device itself can stay relatively compact, while you have much more freedom in choosing what sleeve you want to use.
As long as you can secure it properly with the Velcro strap, or use a suitable 3D-printed adapter, and the motor has enough power to drive it, you can use pretty much any sleeve regardless of brand. That was actually one of the main reasons I picked The Handy in the first place. The machine and sleeve can also be stored and cleaned separately, which I find much more practical from a hygiene and maintenance standpoint.
Problem #3: Acoustic Privacy
How Loud It Gets During Use
If you live somewhere with thin walls, have roommates, or simply don't want other people hearing what's going on, noise is a big deal. Anyone who's used a motorized toy or even a 3D printer knows how surprisingly noticeable mechanical noise can be at night.
And this is where the differences between the generations become particularly interesting.
Comparing the Different Versions
I originally bought the first-generation The Handy and used it for a year or two. Then, when The Handy launched its second-generation Kickstarter, I decided to back it and got the The Handy 2 Pro. I now own both generations, so I can compare them from the perspective of someone who has actually used them rather than just looking at the specifications.
1. The Handy (1st Generation)
Pros
- More affordable.
- No built-in battery means it's relatively lightweight, which makes it easier to hold.
Cons
- Poorer acoustic privacy: The plastic housing around the screw and motor contains a lot of empty space, which creates noticeable resonance during operation and makes the mechanical noise louder. If you're using it late at night, this is something you'll definitely want to keep in mind.
- The power cable gets in the way: Since there's no built-in battery, you have to keep it plugged in while using it. You're constantly dealing with the cable and its length, which can be surprisingly annoying.
2. The Handy 2
This is essentially The Handy's answer to many of the first generation's shortcomings.
- Quick-release strap: The connection between the strap and the machine now uses a quick-release mechanism, making it much easier to separate the sleeve from the device. This makes setup and cleanup noticeably more convenient.
- Built-in battery: The Handy 2 switched to USB-C charging and finally gets rid of the annoying power cable during use. You're no longer tied to a particular position or limited by where the cable happens to reach.
- Much quieter: The heavier body, reduced internal resonance, and silicone outer shell do a much better job of suppressing the mechanical noise. The improvement in acoustic privacy is immediately noticeable.
3. The Handy 2 Pro
If you have the budget and want to go a step further, The Handy 2 Pro takes the same basic design and pushes it further.
- Longer battery life: It has a larger battery capacity.
- Quieter and faster: It uses upgraded mechanical components designed to handle higher speeds and more demanding remote control and
.funscriptoperation. At the same speed, it can also keep the noise lower than the standard version.
I also have a comparison video that an official member of The Handy team posted on their Discord server back when the Pro was still in development, and the difference is surprisingly easy to hear.
Note: The comparison in this video is between The Handy 2 Pro and the first-generation The Handy, recorded while the Pro was still a pre-release unit. After actually getting the retail version myself, I didn't notice a huge difference from what you hear here. That said, noise levels can vary a bit from unit to unit and with how well it's maintained, so take it more as a rough reference than an exact number. One thing worth flagging, too: after several months of use without any upkeep or lubrication, the noise can creep up a bit compared to when the unit was new. Turn your sound on before you hit play, or the comparison won't mean much.
If You're Asking Me What to Pick
If you're asking me directly, my gut ranking is: Pro > 2 >>>>> 1st gen. The Pro wins on hardware spec compared to the 2, and the 2 is a solid step up in design from the 1st gen. In practice, I'd say the Pro feels far better than the 1st gen. If it's just between the 1st gen and the 2, I'd go with the 2. Whether to go all the way to the Pro really comes down to budget.
If your budget allows it, I'd lean toward getting the top spec outright: sleeves are the part you can swap out often for variety, but the motorized unit is something you'll keep using for a long time, and a lower-spec one is more likely to just end up sitting in a drawer.
Final Thoughts: Should You Buy One?
If you're like me and don't want to spend a bunch of time sitting in front of a computer playing network engineer, you probably just want something that's easy to use, easy to put away, reasonably quiet, and capable of delivering a hassle-free .funscript experience.
For that kind of use, The Handy series is, in my opinion, worth considering. It costs more than most, but the day-to-day experience of actually using it is genuinely comfortable. (Full transparency: this is a referral link. You pay the exact same price as on the official site, but I earn a small commission that provides extra support for my work. If you decide to grab one, using this link means a lot!)
Hopefully, this perspective from an ordinary buyer's point of view saves you some time digging through endless forum posts and technical discussions. And if you're interested in this kind of interactive experience, feel free to give OriPlayer a try with The Handy and see what a genuinely hassle-free connection feels like.