Today, sex toys are also moving towards "intelligence," evolving from simple vibrators to smart devices that can be remotely controlled, synchronized with music rhythms, or even interact with storylines—no longer a novelty.

So, the question arises: If you plan to enter this market and want to make your product smart, how much money do you actually need to prepare?

In reality, the required investment varies greatly depending on the path you choose—the key lies in which approach you opt for.

Different paths mean vastly different investments and completely different target audiences

Currently, there are two main ways to achieve intelligence in sex toys:

Path 1: Adopt existing mature technical solutions
Service providers like "Dongguan Dream Network Technology" have already developed complete smart control systems for sex toys, including mobile apps, Bluetooth chip modules, control logic, and more. All you need to do is handle the exterior design, find a factory for production, and integrate the modules.

The advantages of this approach are obvious:

• Overall costs are relatively controllable, around 100,000 RMB,

• Low technical barriers, no need to build an in-house team,

• Short cycle, with a product prototype achievable in weeks,

• Ideal for startup brands or traditional companies transitioning into the smart product market.

Path 2: Build an R&D team from scratch
Of course, you can also assemble your own team to develop the app, customize chips, and write protocols. This would require a full-fledged product, technical, hardware, and software development team. Even with modest salaries—say, 10,000 RMB per person per month—a team of 78 people would cost 78,000 RMB monthly, adding up to hundreds of thousands annually.

More importantly, the development cycle is long, and the risk of errors is high. If things go wrong, the initial investment could be wasted. Without sustained funding and R&D management capabilities, it’s easy to "burn through the budget."

For newcomers, how to choose the best solution?

If you’re a fledgling brand, tight on funds, or lack technical expertise, then clearly, prioritizing the "mature solution + custom design" route is the safer choice. It saves time and money, allows quick market testing, and gathers user feedback for product iteration.

Only after validating the market, having sufficient technical reserves, and aiming to create differentiated, exclusive high-end products should you consider building an in-house R&D team for deep development.