If you want to increase your strength, build muscle mass, and shed fat, a smart strength training machine can help you meet your goals right at home. This category gained traction when Tonal entered the market in 2018, offering a full gym’s worth of strength training equipment—and a virtual personal trainer—in one sleek, wall-mounted machine. We’ve tested and reviewed all the major smart strength training products on the market, and the Tonal 2 is our top pick due to its high-quality build, excellent classes, and helpful AI-powered form feedback. Read on for all of our favorite at-home strength training devices, followed by important factors to consider before buying one.
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
EDITORS’ NOTE
October 22, 2025: With this update, we replaced the original Tonal with the Tonal 2 and added the Speediance Gym Monster 2. We removed the Peloton Guide, Forme Studio, NordicTrack Vault, and Tempo Studio due to lack of availability. We currently have two smart fitness machines in PC Labs for evaluation, from Hydrow and Peloton.
Best Digital Weight Machine
Tonal 2
- Built-in camera for Smart View
- Meaningful form guidance
- Fantastic Aero classes
- Excellent companion app
- 250-pound resistance limit
- Expensive and requires a monthly membership
- Same screen size as the previous generation
- Speakers can sound tinny at times
- Movement tracking from the side requires a phone
The Tonal system is like having a weight room’s worth of equipment—and a virtual personal trainer—all in one sleek, streamlined machine that mounts to your wall. It offers up to 250 pounds of resistance (50 pounds more than the original machine) and supports hundreds of moves to work your upper body, lower body, and core. Its artificial intelligence technology sets the weights for you, tracks your reps and progress in real-time, and adapts as you get stronger, so you always get a challenge. The second-generation machine utilizes an integrated camera, sensor data from the cables, and machine learning technology to monitor your form and provide corrections when you make a mistake. In addition to strength training, it offers a variety of fun and effective workouts, including Aero (aerobics with resistance), HIIT, and yoga, all set to good music and led by encouraging, knowledgeable trainers.
As long as you can afford it, the Tonal 2 is an excellent smart strength training machine for beginner, intermediate, and advanced lifters. Its 250-pound resistance limit should be sufficient for most people. Any workout on the Tonal 2 can be done in partner mode, making it a viable option for couples and housemates who want to work out together. Just note that a professional must install the system, and you will need a sturdy wall with 16-, 19-, or 24-inch wood or metal studs. A reliable Wi-Fi signal is another requirement.
Monthly Membership Fee
$59.95
Dimensions
50.9 by 21.5 by 5.25 inches
Display Size
24 inches
Recommended Floor Space
7 by 7 feet
Supported Weight (Base Model)
250 pounds
Supported Accessories
Smart Handles, Smart Bar, Rope, T-Lock Rope, Bench, Heart Rate, Monitors
Learn More
Tonal 2 Review
- Good selection of live and on-demand classes
- Sleek, discreet design
- Connects with heart rate monitors and Bluetooth headphones
- Lets you compete with others on a leaderboard
- Screen glare in bright rooms can make it difficult to see the instructor
- Need your own weights for some strength classes
- Can’t rewind or fast forward on-demand classes
The Echelon Reflect appears to be an ordinary full-length mirror when not in use, but it cleverly conceals an integrated 32-inch, 1080p touch screen on which you can stream workout classes. It features a touch screen and offers access to thousands of live and on-demand exercise classes across a range of modalities for body conditioning, strength training, and recovery.
The Echelon Reflect is a compelling choice for apartment dwellers in cities where gym memberships are expensive and there’s not much space at home. Its $39.99 monthly membership that gives you access to a wide variety of classes, including lower-, upper-, and total-body strength, as well as core, HIIT, kickboxing, strength, pilates, and yoga. You will need to bring your own dumbbells to the strength training classes.
Monthly Membership Fee
$34.99
Dimensions
50 by 20 by 2 inches
Display Size
32 inches
Recommended Floor Space
6 by 2 feet
Supported Weight (Base Model)
N/A
Supported Accessories
Dumbbells, Heart Rate Monitors
Learn More
Echelon Reflect Review
- Fun, effective workouts
- Attractive, compact design
- High-quality equipment
- Displays leaderboards
- Works with heart rate monitors and Apple Watch
- Requires a TV and iPhone XS/XR or later
- Occasionally misses, miscounts reps
- Weight recommendations are sometimes off
The compact Tempo Move relies on your iPhone and TV to provide a relatively inexpensive smart strength-training experience. It provides weight suggestions and rep targets for each move, tracks your performance, and gives real-time form feedback. Tempo also adds an element of competition with in-class leaderboards that rank participants by rep count and volume lifted. Its trainer-led classes leave you feeling the burn and eager to work out day after day, making it a worthwhile alternative to much pricier machines.
The Tempo Move is an excellent choice if you’re just getting started with strength training, don’t have much space, or need to stick to a budget. And it’s not just about strength workouts; the platform also offers HIIT and mobility sessions. Just note that the Move requires a TV and iPhone XR or later. (Android users are out of luck.) The Tempo Move starter kit comes with dumbbells and 35 pounds of weight plates, but the cabinet has room for four 10-pound weight plates (available with the Plus kit) that work with the system.
Monthly Membership Fee
$39
Dimensions
24 by 18 by 18 inches
Display Size
N/A
Recommended Floor Space
6 by 6 feet
Supported Weight (Base Model)
50 pounds
Supported Accessories
Dumbbells, 10-Pound Weight Plates, Heart Rate Monitors
Learn More
Tempo Move Review
- Many exercises and workout options
- Basic workout tracking
- Almost 200 fully guided, class-like workouts
- Optional rower accessory
- Doesn’t require a subscription
- Doesn’t provide useful feedback on form
- No live classes
- Many workouts have a patchwork presentation
- Swapping hardware configurations can be tedious
The Speediance Gym Monster 2 is a freestanding smart exercise machine that offers up to 220 pounds of resistance (110 pounds per arm) and features a 21.5-inch 1080p touch screen. It supports over a hundred different strength training moves and offers a library of workouts with video guidance. It doesn’t have any live classes, and can’t provide nearly as much useful form feedback as the Tonal 2, but it doesn’t require a subscription.
If you’re looking for a smart strength training machine and already have a pretty good grasp on how you want to work out, the Speediance Gym Monster 2 is worth checking out. Since it’s freestanding, it’s a good option if you don’t have an empty wall you can install a machine on.
Learn More
Speediance Gym Monster 2 Review
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The Best Smart Strength Training Equipment for 2025
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Buying Guide: The Best Smart Strength Training Equipment for 2025
What Is Smart Strength Training?
At the most basic level, smart strength training equipment offers greater convenience, interactivity, and guidance than, say, a basic set of dumbbells. These machines connect to the internet, and most have a screen on which you can stream workouts (though more affordable options rely on your TV or phone for that functionality).
Many offer large on-demand libraries of guided classes with knowledgeable instructors, as well as customized workouts and programs based on your goals and fitness level. If you’re interested in getting into a weight-lifting routine but you’re not sure where to start, a smart strength training machine can guide you.
The Tonal 2 uses artificial intelligence to set the weights for you in each mode, track your reps and progress in real time, and adapt its recommendations as you get stronger so you always face a challenge. The machine even offers real-time and post-workout form feedback to keep you honest and safe.
Some smart strength training machines even feature live classes with fun social features, like the ability to virtually cheer other users on, so you feel like you’re not working out alone. Tempo, for example, adds a bit of friendly competition to its workouts with in-class leaderboards that rank participants based on the total volume you lift and the reps you complete.
How Much Do Smart Strength Training Machines Cost?
The most feature-rich smart strength training machines cost thousands for just the hardware, and membership fees have steadily increased over the years, reaching $59.95 per month on the high end. That puts them out of reach for many people, but more affordable options are available.
Smart workout mirrors typically cost at least $1,000, plus monthly class membership fees. Most lack AI-enabled movement tracking features, but they still offer a wide range of classes like strength training and yoga. All you need to follow along with the strength workouts are a few sets of dumbbells. On the more affordable end, the Tempo Move offers trainer-led classes and form feedback starting at $708 for the first year to cover both the subscription and equipment, and $39 per month thereafter for the subscription.
Tempo Move (Credit: Angela Moscaritolo)
Smart fitness mirrors and strength training machines are much less prevalent now than they were during the height of the pandemic, and many of our favorites have been discontinued, including the Lululemon Mirror, the NordicTrack Vault, and the Peloton Guide.
If you want to start incorporating weight lifting into your routine without making a significant investment, an inexpensive workout app might suit your needs. Most of these apps, including Apple Fitness+ and Openfit, offer strength training workouts you can follow when you’re at the gym or just at home. Openfit even lets you turn on your camera during live workouts, so the trainer can see you and offer form corrections in real time.
Electromagnetic Resistance vs. Traditional Weights
Some smart fitness machines like the Tonal 2 use electromagnetic technology to simulate weights with resistance, while others work with free weights. Both systems have their pros and cons. I’m partial to old-school free weights, but there’s no denying the appeal of Tonal’s convenient, space-saving design.
Each of the Tonal’s arms offers up to 125 pounds of resistance, for a total of 250 pounds. The system supports some 300 upper and lower body moves, like barbell glute bridge, goblet squat, inline chop, and standing incline press. Some of the moves on the Tonal are a bit awkward, though, and the cords can occasionally rub your arms.
Tempo, on the other hand, uses free weights. The base Tempo Move package comes with 15-pound Olympic dumbbells and 35 pounds of weight plates, while more expensive kits add a 25-pound barbell and up to 180 pounds of additional weight plates. You must use Tempo’s color-coded weights for the system to track your movements.
Some other smart strength training products, like the computer vision-equipped Peloton Cross Training Series, work with any brand of weights. If you already have a weight rack at home, or even just some dumbbells that are collecting dust, these products can help inspire you to use your existing equipment.
Can Smart Strength Training Machines Correct Your Form?
When you strength train alone at home, you must use the utmost caution to avoid injury. Improper technique when training with physical or resistance-based weights can result in injury. That’s where AI-powered form feedback comes into play.
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These systems use sensors and/or cameras to track your joints and AI to determine whether you’re performing an exercise correctly. When you do a bicep curl, for instance, your wrist point moves as you lift the weight up toward your shoulders, but your elbow point should stay in place. If the system notices your elbow point moving when performing this move, it may offer an audio correction via the speaker or a text alert on the screen.
I do squats all the time, so I know that my knees aren’t supposed to go past my toes at any point. But I still find myself making that mistake when I start getting fatigued during a challenging workout, and both Tempo and Tonal have called me out for it.
The movement-tracking camera on the Cross Training Series Row+ (Credit: Angela Moscaritolo)
Form feedback has evolved to become a key differentiator on smart fitness machines. Peloton is leaning into the trend with its Cross Training Series Plus models, which feature a built-in AI camera, similar to the discontinued Guide, to analyze your movements, track your reps, and provide form corrections to help you train safely.
Regardless of which strength training product you pick, be sure to adequately warm up beforehand, don’t be too proud to do the suggested modifications, and strive for proper form over speed. Remember that you’re working out without the supervision of a human trainer, so listen to your body and if something feels wrong, back off.
With that in mind, you can’t go wrong with any of the smart strength training options we’ve selected here. And for connected workouts beyond strength training, check out the top smart fitness equipment we’ve tested overall, including everything from treadmills and bikes to rowing machines.
