After careful hands-on testing, we feature our favorite gear and gadgets as Mashable Selects products in our dedicated shopping guides.
Going to the gym is so 2019. Dumbbell Rack For Gym
Since the pandemic, working from home and working out from home has become the norm — and we don't think the almighty home gym is going anywhere.
While building a home gym might be easy for folks with extra rooms and garages to spare, not everyone has space to house a treadmill and a million other fitness machines. That's where smart fitness mirrors come in.
Fitness mirrors work by displaying a professional trainer on a screen to lead you through a workout. Some options act as actual mirrors that allow you to see yourself and the trainer as you exercise, allowing you to self-correct your form. Other options aren't actually mirrors at all, but give you AI-powered form recommendations, among other smart features.
Instead of streaming a Chloe Ting workout from your tiny phone every day, workout mirrors display a trainer right in front of you on a big screen with a small footprint. Most only require a few feet of wall real estate and can be mounted on the wall or used with a stand. You'll obviously need a few feet of open space to do your workout comfortably, but you'll be able to take a yoga class, work on your cardio, and lift weights without needing to own any huge, bulky machines.
All workout mirrors will require a close outlet and a stable, speedy internet connection to access live and on-demand workout classes. The list of the best fitness mirrors below also includes both touchscreen options and mirrors that have to be controlled through a smartphone app.
If you're the kind of person who can't just go to the gym and lift weights to the sound of music, a workout mirror can make getting in shape way more motivating. Most fitness mirrors emulate the vibe of a studio-style class with a pro trainer, guided exercises, and high-energy music. If you're the type of person who pays (or would pay) hundreds per month to take a class in a fitness studio, a workout mirror will save you tons of money in the long run.
All of the fitness mirrors on this list require a separate monthly or yearly subscription to access live and on-demand content. These memberships usually only run around $30 to $50 per month, but it is an additional cost to consider. In short, workout mirrors will be worth it for people who will actually use them on a regular basis and can justify the ongoing monthly membership costs.
If the upfront prices of fitness mirrors are keeping you from taking the plunge, know that all of these picks offer financing options where you can pay monthly for your mirror for anywhere between 12 and 48 months — no credit card required. Most of the brands in this list are partnered with Affirm, but others use similar BNPL (buy now, pay later) financing services through TD Fit Loan and Citizens Pay.
Before it was discontinued, we recommended the Lululemon Studio Mirror (formerly known simply as Mirror) as the best fitness mirror for most people. Unfortunately, you can't get one anymore — not a new one, at least. Those who already own a Mirror from back in the day can still access workouts on their device via a Peloton login, so they aren't completely obsolete, but because they're no longer on the market, we can't recommend it as our top pick any longer. Sorry, Mirror fans.
Our new top pick is undoubtedly the FORME Studio. It's not much different from the now-discontinued Lululemon Studio Mirror — it has the upbeat studio-style classes, the high production value, the top-notch trainers, and the great navigation system that you'd find in the Lululemon Studio Mirror, so you're not really sacrificing anything by choosing it as your alternative. In fact, the FORME Studio is way better than the Lululemon Studio Mirror in size and aesthetic departments. It's bigger, features a touchscreen, and has a more elegant look to it overall. On the downside, it costs about $1,000 more than the original Mirror, but if you have the spare cash on you, we think it's worth the splurge.
If you're interested in weight lifting or strength training, consider Tonal or Tempo. Tempo uses free weights, while Tonal features smart digital weight in the form of a cable machine. Both systems use AI sensors to correct your form, but Tonal goes the extra mile in the smart features category. Long story short, if you want to learn how to bench press, squat, and deadlift, go for Tempo. If you're looking to get toned and tune into in-depth smart metrics, go for Tonal.
If none of these three options sound up your alley, there are plenty of other workout mirrors on the market, each with its own unique features. Read on to discover the best fitness mirrors, and see how the Mirror stacks up to the competition.
The FORME Studio and the now-discontinued Lululemon Studio Mirror are basically the same in all but screen and price. Both boast boutique studio-style fitness classes, high-end production, seamless class navigation, and upbeat trainers. The FORME, however, is larger and more elegant on the exterior and it boasts a touchscreen (so you can really feel like you live in the year 3000 while you work out). It's unfortunately more expensive than our previous top pick, coming in at $2,495.
If you have even more cash lying around, you can turn the FORME into a Tonal alternative by adding the Lift or Barre packages — complete with integrated digital weights and/or a detachable ballet barre for pilates and barre classes. The FORME Lift will run you $4,990 total ($1,495 more than Tonal's system), while the FORME Barre package will run you $2,790.
Check out our full review of the FORME Studio for more info.
If you're more interested in getting toned than lifting heavy weights — you guessed it — Tonal is the fitness mirror for you.
Tonal brings you total body workouts without all the free weights, resistance bands, and other pesky fitness accessories. It's basically an amped-up, smart version of a traditional cable machine. Instead of guessing how much weight you can handle though, Tonal's strength assessment will give you custom weight suggestions for a totally personalized workout. During your workout, you won't ever need to manually adjust the weight — Tonal's AI does it for you.
You'll get 200 pounds of digital weight, sensors that monitor your form and give you feedback, a digital spotter that will help you if needed, and live and on-demand studio-style classes. The only real downside to Tonal is that it has some pretty strict installation requirements, and isn't the most renter-friendly pick. The Tonal trainer also had a recent price increase (by $500), so you may want to look into financing through Affirm if you choose to bring one home.
Oh, and if it makes you feel more powerful, Tonal is endorsed by Lebron James. Just saying.
Check out our full Tonal review for more info on all the smart features it has to offer.
While Echelon used to feature two different sizes of touchscreen Reflect fitness mirrors, the original 40-inch version is no longer available. Luckily, the 50-inch version is still in production and is just as good as the latter (if not better). If you're interested in basic workout classes across a pretty big variety of genres, the Echelon Reflect will give you the features you need without the overwhelming bells and whistles of some of the other options.
All you'll need is to log into the Echelon app to access the library of over 2,000 on-demand classes. There are up to 40 new live classes added to the app daily, too, so you won't get bored doing the same workouts over and over again. If you already have another connected Echelon device, you can use the same account to access classes on the Reflect.
Note that the Echelon Reflect price doesn't include any type of installation, so be prepared to bust your drill and measuring tape out.
Weight lifting in the gym can be intimidating, but the Tempo studio will ease you into the lifting life in style. Not only does the Tempo look like a high-end piece of furniture, it also comes packed with AI technology that checks your form during each workout class you take and offers modifications to get the best of each exercise. Basically, it's like having a personal trainer at home with you.
Really, the only downside of the Tempo is that if you want to get into heavy lifting with exercises like bench pressing, deadlifting, and anything that requires a barbell or a bench, you'll need to purchase either the Plus or Pro bundle, which "racks up" extra costs upfront.
During testing, writer Brenda Stolyar appreciated Tempo's high-end equipment and how the AI tech keeps you in-check for optimal workouts (and less potential injuries).
Head to our full review of the Tempo Studio for more info.
If the Mirror and the NordicTrack Vault had a baby, you'd get the ProForm Vue. It's the same price as the Mirror, has a back-of-mirror storage situation similar to the Vault, and runs on iFit. If you own any other connected device that runs on iFit (or if it's just your go-to workout app on your phone), you won't need to purchase an additional membership. If you don't have an iFit membership, you'll score a free 30 day trial with purchase of the Proform Vue.
The ProForm Vue features a 22-inch touchscreen, and comes with a solid amount of accessories: a 10 pound barbell, two five pound dumbbells, and four 2.5 pound weight plates. All of these accessories can be stored on the back of the Vue, so everything will stay tidy.
The price of the Vue was recently dropped from $1499 down to $999, making it an even more attractive option in comparison to other mirrors on this list.
The NordicTrack Vault has one of the sleeker designs of the fitness systems on this list and actually looks like a minimalist mirror when not in use, too — similar to The Mirror. The Vault's main draw is that its screen hangs on a hinged door that swivels in multiple directions, so you don't necessarily need to have room to work out directly in front of the mirror.
During testing, reporter Amanda Yeo found that the performance of the Vault just wasn't up to par with the price. When you combine six to seven-second loading times between each screen with a non-functional installed camera, plus an additional cost of $500 for the cabinet to come with weights, you'll probably be better off with a different smart mirror.
The Vault runs on iFit (similar to the ProForm Vue), so if you already have a membership, you won't need to sign up for a separate one. If you love iFit, this is good news. But during our testing, Yeo found that the iFit workouts used on the Vault lacked motivational content, were often labeled with confusing names, and simply weren't worth the long loading times.
For more details on the NordicTrack Vault, check out our full review.
Topics Fitness Tech Fitness Equipment
We hands-on tested the Lululemon Studio Mirror, FORME Studio, Tonal, Tempo, and NordicTrack Vault fitness mirrors. While we were impressed with the Mirror, Tonal, and Tempo for their high-production value classes, easy interface, and quality designs, the NordicTrack Vault left little to be desired.
Unfortunately, the Lululemon Studio Mirror (formerly known as Mirror) has been discontinued, so it's no longer a recommended pick in this roundup. Those with an old Mirror device can still use it with a Peloton login, but the old Mirror platform is gone, and new Lululemon Studio Mirror devices will no longer be produced.
While we haven't tested these models yet, we included the Echelon Reflect and the ProForm Vue for more variety. As more brands come out with their own smart fitness mirrors, we stick to reviewing and including the brands that have a proven track record in making quality fitness gear.
Some things we looked out for during our review and research processes:
Workout class quality: When purchasing a fitness mirror or smart home gym, the integrated workout classes are top of mind since you'll be using them every time you use the device. We prefer classes with thoughtful instructors, fluid pacing, and accurate descriptions. The classes offered through FORME Studio, Tonal and Tempo checked all the boxes. When testing the NordicTrack Vault, we weren't impressed with the iFit integration, so that's something to consider with any smart home gym that runs on iFit.
Screen speed: Like a smartphone, screen speed and responsiveness matter with a fitness mirror. Laggy, buggy screens and incompatible apps make you feel less motivated to use the mirror — the exact opposite of what should be happening with a thousand-dollar (or higher) piece of workout equipment.
User experience: Not only did we test the quality of the workouts, but we also ran through the entire UX of the mirrors we hands-on tested, including their compatible smartphone apps and the workout libraries. We prioritized models with easy-to-find classes, numerous filters, and simple, functional layouts.
You'll notice that this roundup is partially made up of reviews previously published on Mashable. If you want to learn more about any of the products that have been featured on our site, click on the review link in the product cards to head to the full write-up.
Fitness mirrors are a fantastic option for those who don't have the time or money to travel to an offsite gym multiple days per week. If you're one of those people, splurging on one of these high-tech smart home gym systems is well worth the money in the long term. Yes, the upfront cost can be a lot to wrap your head around, but once you get past that barrier to entry, you'll only have to pay the monthly membership for whatever workout platform you'll be using — most of which are a lot cheaper than a commercial gym membership. That, combined with the recouped commute time and the ability to exercise in private, makes it a more than justifiable expense.
Plus, most fitness mirrors make working out more accessible to the inexperienced gym-goer. You'll get to take guided workouts from talented trainers that focus on correct form, efficiency, and great vibes. If you're not used to taking in-person fitness classes, using a smart fitness mirror is a helpful way to get acclimated.
It depends on what kind of workouts you're looking for, but in some cases, yes, they absolutely can. Whether you're looking to just do cardio workouts, yoga, and other equipment-less routines, most smart fitness mirrors can give you a comprehensive plan to do exactly that. If you want a more traditional weight-lifting workout, some mirrors offer that, too (like Tonal and Tempo). So, as long as you pick the right fitness mirror for you, you should have all your bases covered — enough to be your entire home gym in one compact package.
Jae Thomas is a Colorado-based Deputy Shopping Editor for Mashable. They specialize in pet tech, smart fitness gear, finding the perfect gift, and sourcing the top deals on shopping holidays like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Jae has worked at Mashable since 2020, where they've written countless deals roundups and product reviews. Before Jae came to Mashable, they received a B.A. in Journalism and English Literature from New York University and wrote food and lifestyle content for publications like Bon Appétit, Epicurious, The Daily Beast, Apartment Therapy, and Marie Claire.
Gym Dumbbell Set When they're not testing products or writing about online shopping, you'll find Jae whipping up an elaborate meal, hiking, camping, or training their dogs, Miso and Dashi. Reach out to them on X at @jaetaurina or by email at [email protected].