The Mirror, the original wall-mounted home gym, hit the fitness scene in 2018. Since then, brands have continued to launch innovative takes on the newest home gym essential. The game-changing equipment can bring your favorite aspects of an in-studio workout to your living room, or pack the power of a personal trainer with smart A.I. that corrects your form in real time. Below, we unpack the pros and cons of the current workout mirrors available on the market—and tap experts for their take on the smart workout equipment. Some workout mirrors also have two-way communication features so you can interact with your favorite instructors. Others use cameras and AI technology to automatically adjust your weights or suggest new workout classes and goals. Many models can be mounted to your wall to take up a minimal amount of space. There are a few free-standing options on our list as well, along with some that have an option for either free-standing or mounted. While a few of our picks entail just the workout mirror itself, others are more of an all-in-one fitness solution, with weights and additional equipment included. Each mirror has its own features and capabilities, which we’ll outline in our list below. Bonney adds that exercise is not a one-size-fits-all experience, so what works for one person will not necessarily work for another. That’s why it’s helpful that each of our picks includes a free trial of at least 30 days. “I’m a fan of anything that makes it more convenient to exercise,” Bonney says of exercise mirrors. “Exercise is vital for staying fit and improving your overall well-being, especially as you age. Not exercising regularly comes with high health costs and is inherently a pathologic state.” Research has shown even just 10 minutes of exercise per day can improve longevity. “A study published earlier this year in the esteemed JAMA journal estimated that 110,000 deaths per year would be prevented1 if U.S. adults greater than age 40 increased their physical activity intensity to moderate, for just 10 minutes per day,” Bonney explains, noting that even greater benefits were seen in those exercising for 20 to 30 minutes per day. If you don’t have enough time in your day (or the desire) to commute to the gym, don’t want to pay for frequent boutique exercise classes, or simply want to step up your already existing home gym setup, a workout mirror could be a great choice for you. “Many years ago, exercising = going to the gym, but [that’s] not the case anymore,” Bonney says. “Pelotons, treadmills, at-home gyms, online classes, gadgets like the Tonal and Mirror are helping people exercise and gain all the benefits that come with regular use!” The Tempo offers a heavy focus on strength-training, making this a great choice for weightlifters. Even so, it’s equally fitting for beginners, as 3D sensors in the screen track your movements and provide real-time feedback on how to improve your form. The included exercise equipment is also tracked by the program, which counts reps and weight amount to track your progression. Not only is the equipment smart, but it’s high quality, too, with Olympic weight plates and a floating system that allows the plates to rotate on the handlebar, protecting your wrists from strain. The closest thing you’ll find to having a personal trainer in your home, the program allows you to either follow a trainer’s predesigned program or curate your own workout routine based on your fitness goals. Either way, the Tempo app will autoload the next class in your progression onto the screen and provide the recommended weight and goal based on previous data. (Don’t worry! You can always drop down the weight on days where your body needs a break, and the program will automatically adjust). The screen itself is 42-inches with an HD display so clear it feels almost life-like, and reviewers rave about strong sound quality, too. As with most smart workout equipment, you’ll need a membership to maximize your mirror and partake in classes, such as boxing, yoga, HIIT, cardio, meditation, and mobility. A free 30-day trial is included with your purchase, starting the day your Tempo Studio is delivered. 1:1 coaching is available, which you can explore through a free 30-minute video consultation. Delivery includes installation and set-up, so all you need to do is make sure you are home to direct the team into your room of choice. If you’re low on space, it’s also worth considering the Tempo Move. A favorite of our deputy commerce editor Braelyn Wood, it uses the iPhone’s camera to track your movement instead of a mirror with a hockey-puck sized processor that connects to your television screen. You’ll still get the same quality weights and a sleek holding case, but save money and space. Subscription cost: $39 monthly
You’ll need an Echelon Connect membership to access the classes. If you opt for the money-saving 2-year Echelon Connect membership, you’ll also get free shipping. With any other membership, you’ll need to pay $200 for delivery—and even at that cost, you’re on your own with installation. While reviewers say installation is fairly quick, the mirror is quite heavy (52 pounds), so you’ll likely need an extra set of hands to lift it up to the wall, as well as a stud finder. With 85 reviews on the Echelon website, this smart fitness mirror has a 4.1 out of 5 overall rating. The lowest ratings are still three stars, most of which focus on the desire for more classes. However those comments are from nearly a year ago or longer, and more recent reviews note a wide selection of classes, with options that “continue to grow.” Many rave about the ability to search by class duration and workout type, including cardio, HIIT, pilates, barre, and yoga. Subscription cost: $40 monthly, $400 annually, $600 for 2 years Whether you prefer yoga, strength training, mobility, barre, or HIIT, you’ll find something in the workout library. Barre fans can opt to add a wooden barre attachment that truly brings the studio feel to life. But what’s most impressive about this mirror is the crisp, clear display and two-way communication function. Yup, you can even interact with your favorite Barry’s instructors, thanks to a recent partnership between the two brands. Right now, your purchase will come with a free 30-day personal training package. You can choose between the custom training package which includes personalized, on-demand sessions, or the custom + live, which also gets you 1:1 live trainings. After the trial ends, the custom package is $149 per month and the custom + live package is $399 per month. Delivery and installation are not included with your purchase and cost an additional $250. Subscription cost: $52 monthly The display is quite large (43-inches) and the reflective screen shows your full body. You’ll have to use the corresponding app to scroll through classes, as the device has no touchscreen. However, the app houses a huge variety of workout programs, such as HIIT, barre, boxing, pilates, cardio, yoga, and strength training. There are no live classes or personal training sessions available yet, but new classes are added weekly. Parents with active kids will enjoy the built-in games that help children learn balance and coordination. Adults of all ages can benefit from the mirror’s AI sensor, which helps the device give feedback on your form and tracks your number of reps. Installation is included in the $100 delivery fee, which is significantly less than other brands that charge north of $200. If you’re short on space, you might consider the Fiture Mini, which is a bit smaller (63” H x 20” W X 2” D) and more portable. There are currently about 50 reviews on the brand’s website, all of which are positive. The mirror has a 4.9 overall rating (out of 5), with strong praise about its design, the app, and the variety of workouts. Many people mention how “spot on” the body scanning is, the crystal-clear visuals, and how seamless the delivery process is—plus, kids seem to love the gamified features. Subscription cost: $39 monthly Another surprising selling point is the initial strength assessment. When you set the Tonal up, you’ll be prompted to go through a series of exercises that will set the bar, if you will, for future workouts. You can redo this assessment at any time if you feel the machine is not properly adjusting to your progress, but reviewers say the weight adjustments are “spot on.” You’ll need a membership to access classes (and there is a one-year commitment at sign-up), but enrollment will get you access to strength training, HIIT, yoga, barre, cardio, breath work, meditation, and more. You’ll be pleased to learn that this machine does have a touchscreen, so while there is an app you can connect with, pretty much everything can be done through the wall-mounted mirror. Just note, there is no option to make this mirror freestanding, and it does clearly look like exercise equipment, as opposed to other options that tend to blend in more with the room’s aesthetic. This machine is extremely heavy, weighing in at approximately 150 pounds. The good news? Professional installation is included in your delivery charge. As soon as your order is processed and confirmed, you’ll receive an email to complete a pre-installation survey and your order will be shipped within 1 to 3 weeks. Installation tends to take about an hour, but you can just sit back and relax and tell the team where to mount it. Subscription cost: $49 monthly With a monthly membership, you’ll have access to over 10,000 classes, which you can filter by instructor, duration, workout type, and other parameters. Barre, boxing, dance, kickboxing, pilates, pre- and postnatal exercises, strength training, and other workouts are all offered. There are also options for personal training. You’ll be able to track your workouts and progress through the corresponding app, which you can sync with Strava or Apple Health. One major callout is that this mirror does not have a touchscreen, so any navigation will need to be done in the app. And while delivery is free, the team will not install your mirror for you. It weighs 70 pounds, so we would not recommend trying to set it up without an extra set of hands. There are over 600 reviews for the mirror on the brand’s website, and it still maintains a 4.9 out of 5-star rating overall. People call it a “game changer” and say that the mirror has helped them gain confidence and stay energized and motivated. Subscription cost: $39 monthly You’ll also want to consider the types of classes you’re looking for and make note of the options available through each of these devices. Do you want a mirror that comes equipped with everything you need to work out from home, or do you already have a large selection of equipment? Lastly, make note of the dimensions of each product and whether it is free-standing, mounted, or has the option for both.
