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2022-06-18 21:03:21 By : Ms. Bi Elaine

Going to the gym is so 2019.

Since the start of the pandemic, working from home and working out from home became 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. And no, the Mirror isn't the only one on the market anymore.

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. Owning a fitness mirror is basically like working out in the future.

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 that 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 run around $30 to $40 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.

For most people, we'd recommend the Mirror. It looks great in pretty much any home, has insanely polished classes, and has the capability for personal training, if you're into that. As the first workout mirror of its kind, The Mirror has a pretty large community and a big backlog of classes. The workouts are powered by Lululemon, so the yoga and bodyweight classes are particularly good. It doesn't come with any included accessories and you probably wont do any really heavy lifting here, but the classes it does offer are motivating and well-paced. There are also filters on the compatible app that allow you to search for exactly the class you want, down to the equipment needed, intensity level, time, and instructor.

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 of 2022, and see how the Mirror stacks up to the competition.

If you need an all-in-one workout solution but don't have the space for an actual home gym, the Mirror is probably the best option for you. It combines trainer-led studio style workouts with an actual mirror that you can see yourself in, so even beginner fitness fans can get their form on point with every workout. 

With training powered by Lululemon, there are hundreds of options to choose from and each class feels Peloton-level polished. Pick from live or on demand classes across 17 categories including boxing, yoga, stretching, cardio, toning and more. There are also class lengths from five to sixty minutes, so you'll always have time to get some activity in.

In terms of design, the Mirror is the most streamlined of this list. The minimal design fits with any home aesthetic and looks like a normal floor-length mirror when it's turned off. It can be wall mounted or leaned against the wall with a stand for a rental-friendly option.

Check out our full review of the Mirror for more info.

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.

More from Mashable writer, Brenda Stolyar:

"Rather than having to piece together different weights and equipment for your makeshift home gym, Tempo provides you with all of the necessities plus a large catalogue of live and on-demand classes. Most importantly, it keeps you in check — allowing you to emerge from quarantine newly muscled and with that very proper lifting technique."

Read our full review of the Tempo Studio.

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 also 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 downside to Tonal is that it has some pretty strict installation requirements, and isn't the most renter-friendly pick.

Oh, and if it makes you feel more powerful, Tonal is endorsed by Lebron James. Just saying. 

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 overall idea of the Vault is the same as the Mirror too, with the addition of a built-in weight cabinet and a 360 degree mirror. 

The main downside is that if you want your Vault to come fully loaded with weights and accessories, it'll cost you an additional $500. The Vault comes without weights for a lower price ($1499) if you already have your own dumbbells, kettlebells, and resistance bands. Otherwise, you'll have to shell out a total of $1999 to get the full strength training experience. 

The Vault also 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. 

While Echelon now features two different sizes of touchscreen Reflect fitness mirrors, the real stand out from the brand is the original Reflect. The screen isn't touch-enabled, and it's the smallest of the pack at 40 inches, but with a price of $749.99, its hundreds of dollars cheaper than all the competitors. If you're interested in basic workout classes across a pretty big variety of genres, the OG Echelon reflect will give you the features you need without the 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 on a daily basis too, so you won't get bored doing the same workouts. 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. 

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.