Peloton’s popularity may have peaked, but the high-end spin bike is still in high demand. Considered to be one of the best exercise bikes on the market, the Peloton has two models: the classic Peloton Bike and the upgraded Peloton Bike Plus. If you’re struggling to decide which version best suits your needs, CNET’s fitness experts are here to guide you.
Watch this: I spent a month riding the Peloton Bike Plus — and liked it
The newer, enhanced model is ideal for dedicated Peloton enthusiasts. For those shopping for a Peloton on a tighter budget, you can now get the original Peloton for less than the newer model. A recent CNET survey found that US adults spend an average of $91 on subscription services monthly, and the Peloton might add to your subscription spending. Both Peloton bikes need the same Peloton All-Access Membership if you want to use all the features like live classes and performance tracking, but the Bike Plus will cost you more upfront.
If you’re considering adding a Peloton bike to your home gym setup, check out our comparison guide below to understand how the specs and features stack up between the two models. Before making your purchase, also think about whether you prefer a brand-new Peloton or if you’re okay with a refurbished unit, which could save you hundreds of dollars regardless of which bike you end up going with.
The Peloton Bike is the original Peloton model, with slightly pared-down features compared to the new upgraded model. But, if you’re looking for a Peloton experience and want to save around $600, the original Peloton won’t disappoint.
The Peloton Bike also offers access to live and on-demand classes, and gives you metrics in each class. You will also have access to the leaderboard, which lets you see who else is riding with you in class in real-time. One thing you don’t get with the original Peloton Bike is the Apple Gym Kit integration, but you can still pair Bluetooth devices like headphones or heart-rate monitors that use ANT+.
The Peloton Bike Plus is the latest Peloton Bike model that has all the bells and whistles an avid Peloton fan could ever want. Besides an upgraded, slightly bigger touchscreen that rotates (so you can do other Peloton workouts, like strength training, off the bike) one of the more notable features is an option on the resistance knob that allows the instructor to automatically adjust your bike resistance based on their recommendation.
The bike features access to live and on-demand classes with a leaderboard that lets you see which other members are in class with you. You also get access to metrics like power, cadence, resistance and heart rate during your rides. The Peloton Bike Plus is also compatible with the Apple GymKit and Apple Watch, which pairs your Peloton with your Apple Watch for heart-rate monitoring integration.
Overview: Which one is right for you?
Price
Right now, the Peloton Plus is between $600 to $1,000 more than the Peloton Bike, depending if you buy new or refurbished. This may not be as huge of a price difference when you consider the overall investment involved in a bike is already pretty high. However, some people will be served by the original Peloton. We untangle how they’re different below.
Quality
Both bikes deliver when it comes to quality. Both have nearly identical stats for performance and construction with minor differences. One of the biggest differences is the digital resistance knob adjustment on the Peloton Bike Plus with the option for Auto Follow during class.
Tech
The tech features on both bikes are pretty similar, but the Peloton Bike Plus does have 4GB RAM compared with the Peloton Bike’s 2GB. Both bikes come with 16GB of internal storage. The Peloton Bike Plus has a USB-C charging port, which is convenient for charging devices while you ride. The original Peloton has a standard USB port. Both bike models have Bluetooth.
Features
The Peloton Bike sound system is slightly less powerful, with a two-channel rear-facing stereo speaker system with 16 watts of total power. The Peloton Bike Plus has 26 watts of total power, 2.2 channel front-facing stereo speakers and 2.2 rear-facing woofers.
Size
The two bikes are about the same size and take up the same amount of space. The bikes have a 4- by 2-foot footprint (smaller than an average yoga mat, Peloton says), but Peloton recommends you have at least 8-foot ceilings in the room where you use the bike. You’ll also want about two feet of space around all four sides of the bike, according to Peloton.
Display
Both bikes have touchscreens, with small differences in size. The Peloton Bike Plus screen comes in at 23.8 inches, while the original Peloton bike is 21.5 inches. Only the Bike Plus has the rotating feature. This could be a game-changer if you love doing Peloton workouts off the bike and want to simply swivel the screen to go lift weights in another area near the bike. The Bike Plus also has reduced-reflective and anti-smudge coating, which the original bike does not come with.
Delivery
The delivery and assembly cost is included with either Peloton bike.
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