To get the best idea of what these electric scooters are like to use, I recruited my friends' kids — boys and girls who range in age from 7 to 10 — and who were all too eager to try out these fun new toys. I let them ride around for a while, observed how easy or difficult it was for them to use the scooters, and got their opinions on the scooters, too

Based on this testing, the best electric scooter for kids is the Segway Ninebot eKickScooter C2 Lite. Its lengthy name notwithstanding, the kids who tried it out loved its looks and its handling — I had to force them to come in for dinner! Plus, at $169, parents loved its price too.

However, if that model isn't quite what you — or your kid — is looking for, we have plenty of other kid-tested recommendations, including models with colorful LED lights and even Bluetooth speakers.

Here are the rest of our picks for the best electric scooters for kids.

The best electric scooters for kids today

Best overall

The neighborhood kids could not wait to try out the Segway Ninebot eKickscooter C2 Lite, and took to it instantly, scooting up and down the block like they'd been riding it for years. The C2 Lite's handbrake on the left and thumb throttle on the right were intuitive for kids to learn.

I also like the C2 Lite's design; there are few exposed cables, and its blue deck sweeps elegantly from the front stem to the rear tire. Parents (including myself) also appreciated that the deck was covered with a very grippy material, lessening the chances that a kid might slip off. Another nice safety feature for parents: The C2 Lite has three speed modes, so you can limit its top speed to 7.5 miles per hour (MPH), which I found helpful for kids just starting out.

While you can't see them during the day, the underside of the C2 Lite has some colorful LEDs that illuminate the ground beneath the scooter; however, as with most kids' scooters, there's no headlight or taillight.

If you have a child who's a bit older, you should check out the Segway Ninebot Kickscooter C2 Pro ($249 at Amazon). Designed for kids aged 6-14, it has a top speed of 12.4 MPH, a max range of 9.9 miles, an adjustable handlebar, ambient lights, and even a Bluetooth speaker, so your kid can rock out on their way to school.

Best Razor scooter

Razor has been making scooters — both electric and traditional — for decades, so it has a pretty good idea of its target audience. The Razor Power Core E100 has been one of its more popular electric scooters for kids for several years now, but while our child tester had a grand time on it, I found its design to be a little dated.

Our kid tester Chase found it easy to learn; as with most electric scooters, it has a twist-grip acceleration controls and a hand-operated front brake. It tops out at 10 mph, so it's fast enough for your kid to get to school on time but not so fast that it ventures into dangerous extreme sports territory. He also liked the E100's air-filled tires, which delivered a smoother ride over bumpy sidewalks.

However, you can't limit the top speed, as you can with other scooters. The Razor E100 can manage up to 40 minutes of drive time, or up to 10 miles of distance, which is a bit shorter than our top pick.

The Power Core E100 comes in a bunch of colors, but it has what I'd generously call a "classic" design — others might call it dated — that doesn't hold up well against newer models from Segway and even Razor. For instance, the battery feels like it's just tacked on to the bottom of the scooter, and its motor juts out from the rear hub.

However, because it's a bit older, you can often find it for less than some of the other models on this page. This is especially true since Razor has released an updated version of this scooter, the Razor Powercore XLR100 ($159 at Razor).

• Read our full Razor E100 review.

Best for teens

When your kids get a little older, they're going to want a more grown-up electric scooter. The NIU KQi 100P should satisfy that urge, as it reaches a top speed of 17.4 MPH and has a range of up to 18 miles. Plus, its relatively low price of $349 will likely appeal to parents worried that their child might damage something more expensive.

Even better: your kid can electronically lock the scooter using their smartphone and set an alarm to go off if someone tries to steal it. While your kid should always secure it with one of the best bike locks, we know they can be forgetful.

The KQi 100P is perfect for teens, but it actually performed so well in testing that I named it the best electric scooter for adults on a budget. If you don't mind spending a little more, the KQi 100F has folding handlebars as well as turn signals, though it has a lower top speed of 15.5 MPH and a range of 15 miles — though that may not be a bad thing if your kid is a bit of a daredevil.

• Read our full NIU KQi 100P review.

Best dirtbike-style scooter

Chase, our test rider, couldn't get enough of the Blipper, which is more of an electric dirtbike than a scooter, but was too fun not to include here. This zippy little ride has 16-inch tires and a 250W motor to give them a safe, but enjoyable time as they rip around the block.

While the Blipper doesn't have any suspension, its large tires and padded seat offered Chase plenty of comfort as he rode over bumps and holes — or maybe he was enjoying himself so much that he didn't notice. And, with a top speed of 12.5 mph, they won't be going so fast as to be dangerous — not that they shouldn't wear a helmet regardless.

Our only quibble with the Blipper is that its battery ran out too quickly, which goes to show you how much fun our test rider was having.

• Read our full Droyd Blipper review.

Best sit-down scooter

Stylish kids who prefer to sit down instead of standing up may like the Razor Pocket Mod Miniature Euro electric scooter, which is a seriously cool ride.

Like the rest of the Razor family, it comes in a variety of colors and even features a cubby for stowing books, jackets, or whatever else needs to be stored.

Like the Vespa you'd see zipping around the streets of Paris or Rome, the Pocket Mod features a twist-grip throttle and a rear suspension system. In testing, this made for a comfortable ride.

The 12-inch tires are a bit bigger than the norm, but that's to help sustain its top speed of 15 mph for up to 40 minutes of riding time.

Also consider

Electric scooters compared

Still undecided? Here's a quick look at each scooter, its top speed, range, and recommended rider age. Bear in mind that the advertised range of an electric scooter is based on ideal circumstances; in practice, it will often be 60-70% of what the company claims.

How to pick the best electric scooter for your kid

Here are three things to consider before buying an electric scooter for your child:

How big is your kid? Many electric scooters made for kids have a weight limit of 120 pounds. Even though your child may weigh less than that, a bag loaded with schoolbooks may push it over the limit.

How old is your child? The electric scooters we recommend on this page are intended for children ages 8 and up. For kids younger than that, we recommend nonelectric scooters. However, as your child grows older, they may need — or want — an electric scooter with more capabilities. Plus, they may not want to ride the same scooter as when they were a small kid.

How far does your child have to go? If you're getting your child an electric scooter so they can get to school and back, consider how far they have to travel. If it's a longer distance, you'll want to get a scooter with a better range, so your kid doesn't get stuck pushing the scooter home.

Safety tips for children

Always wear a helmet
According to a national poll at the University of Michigan (initially reported in the The New York Times), only 59% of parents said their child wears a helmet while riding a bike, skateboard or scooter. Don't be part of the 61% whose kids don't. While our list of the best bike helmets is geared more for adults, those same companies also make helmets designed for children. You'll want to look for a helmet that has MIPS or a similar shock absorption technology, which helps prevent rotational head injuries.

A little less than half of all states have laws that require children age 17 and under to wear helmets when riding bicycles, while nearly all states have laws regarding the use of helmets when riding low-powered cycles, such as electric scooters.

For extra protection, consider investing in a pair of elbow and knee pads for your kid. Look for a set that includes wrist guards. Reflective gear is also a good idea if your child will be riding close to sundown.

Add bells, horns, and lights
To keep the price down, many electric scooters for kids lack bells, horns, or lights, as kids should not ride their scooters after dark. Still, a little extra safety measures don't hurt, and all of these can are inexpensive and can be easily found online or at a local bike shop. At the very least, we recommend adding a bell to the handlebars. You can also check out our picks for the best bike lights, which should easily fit on many scooters.

Don't buddy up
Kids like to have fun, but remind them that buddying up with a friend on an electric scooter isn't the best idea. Every scooter has a weight limit, and even if your child and a friend come under that number, putting an extra person on the vehicle makes it harder to balance and steer.

Check local laws and regulations
A Consumer Reports survey found that more than 1 in 4 riders weren't entirely sure about the traffic laws related to riding electric scooters. If you, too, aren't sure, check with your city about its rules. In most cases, you can't ride e-scooters on sidewalks and instead have to use bike lanes and share the road with cars. If you're anxious about your kid riding across busy intersections, try to map out a route that avoids streets with high pedestrian and car traffic.

Learn to use hand signals
It's never too early to learn the universal language of hand signals. That's right: The DMV-mandated signals for turning left, turning right and stopping come in handy when riding an electric scooter. To keep your kid safe out on the road, make sure that they not only know these signals, but also understand how to properly use them. However, it can be tricky to make a hand signal and ride a scooter with one hand.

Avoid hauling extra weight
Your child will likely travel with a backpack on the way to school. But make sure they understand that hanging a bag, or even a sweater, on the handlebars of their scooter can throw the vehicle off balance. If carrying cargo is a concern, consider an electric scooter that's outfitted with a basket or storage space.

Check for defects
Electric scooters require a bit of assembly before they're ready for the road. For models like the Razor E100, you'll have to attach the handle to the base before the scooter's ready to roll. Once it's assembled, do a thorough safety check. First, perform a visual inspection, to confirm that everything is connected correctly and the wheels are inflated and sturdily in place.

Then, charge the battery to full power and take the scooter for a test run. Check out the brakes and throttle, trying them really hard. If you find a defect with the product after you've taken it around the block, contact the manufacturer immediately.

Teach your kid how to ride properly
Electric scooters are not as tolerant of bumps and potholes than cars because the wheels are smaller. Before your kid ventures out on their own, take them around the block for a few test runs. Teach them how to safely take off, accelerate and decelerate, hit the brakes, and maneuver around uneven sidewalks and sticks in the road. Manufacturers often include safety instructions with the scooter that you can refer to as you teach your child the ins and outs of driving their new vehicle.

How we test the best electric scooters for kids

You can only test the best electric scooters for kids by actually letting kids test them. Since my own child is too young, I recruited my friends and neighbor's kids to try out the scooters on streets and roads that were closed off to traffic.

All of the kids who tested the scooters — both boys and girls — were between the ages of 7 and 10, with various levels of riding experience. Some were already familiar with riding non-electric scooters, of both the two- and three-wheeled variety.

As part of the testing, I wanted to see how easy it was for a child to figure out how to use an electric scooter. While most have standard controls — a grip throttle and a hand brake — others use different methods of acceleration and braking. For the most part, kids are pretty fast learners, and can gain a good level of competence fairly quickly.

After they're done riding, I asked them for their impressions, beyond the usual kid response of "it's cool." A kid not wanting to get off a scooter — or if multiple kids are arguing over who gets to ride it next — is a pretty good barometer of a scooter's popularity.

Because most of these scooters requires at least some assembly, I also consider how long, and how difficult they are for parents to put together. Usually it's a simple matter of attaching the handlebars, which only takes a few minutes.

All rides are done under the supervision of adults, and the children are wearing appropriate safety equipment. After, we ask them for their impressions — that is, if we can get them off the scooters.

Frequently asked questions

To make things simple, I've narrowed down the hundreds (if not thousands) of treadmills out there to just three recommendations to suit you and your circumstances.

Buying a treadmill is a significant investment, so you need to ensure you're choosing the one that's right for you and your training regimen. The right treadmill will weatherproof your marathon training during the winter, allow you to run when the baby naps, or just get in some miles on your lunch break when time is against you. On the other hand, the wrong treadmill can just as easily become a very expensive place to hang clothes.

Along with my team of expert testers, I've picked the top three best treadmills to consider. Personally, if I had the room, I'd install the Peloton Tread in a heartbeat. However, I've also found a more affordable option, suitable for those who prefer walking over running, and a foldable option that helps save a little space.

Best treadmill for classes

The Peloton Tread is by far my favorite treadmill, ever. It's like having a running coach, DJ, and group of running mates in your living room. Plus, if you are installing a treadmill in your living room, this one is nicer to look at than most treadmills, and has a pretty neat footprint.

Although I told you not to care about it, the large screen is great to use, especially as you'll spend most of your time watching classes when running on this tread. It has a 23.8-inch touchscreen display, although you can't rotate it to the side like you can on the Bike+, which is a bit of a bummer if you want to do your cool-down stretch next to the tread.

Another thing I told you not to care about is the control knobs on the machine arms. I stand by my prior statement — these aren't a deal breaker, but they do make it easy to quickly change the intensity. That said, you can completely ignore them and let the instructor change the intensity of the treadmill for you if you wish.

I found the treadmill comfortable to run on and relatively quiet. The machine's footprint is pretty small, but you don't feel like you're being confined by it, and you can pick up the pace when you need. It's got a decent top speed and incline, and most runners will get an awful lot out of this machine.

With Peloton, however, you're buying a bigger package, and all that coaching comes with a monthly cost that might put some runners off. The Peloton All Access Membership will set you back $44 per month, although that does cover multiple users, so everyone at home can use it.

You don't have to take classes on the treadmill — there's your usual running modes where you can follow trails around the world, or cool games like Lanebreak, but the classes are Peloton's bread and butter, I, personally, found it super motivating, but if you'd prefer to just listen to your podcast and stick to your training plan, or watch Netflix while you run, don't spend thousands of dollars on this treadmill.

I've tried most of the 'Peloton dupes' on the market, and as far as virtual coaching goes, it's the best of the best in my opinion. There's a huge variety of instructors, with daily live classes and thousands of runners on leaderboards to high-five along the way. It's a community, and you only need to head to the waiting pen of a major marathon to know that community is what running is all about.

My Tom's Guide colleague, Mike Prospero, also tested the Peloton Tread+ — the brand's larger, much more expensive treadmill. The experience isn't radically different, but you get a more immersive display, better speakers, increased incline, and a longer slatted running surface. I'd personally save your money and invest in the Peloton Tread. See you on the leaderboard.

• Read our full Peloton Tread review

Best affordable treadmill

I don't need to tell you that the world is getting more expensive, and if you're a runner who just wants a basic treadmill to clock some miles on when the weather is rough, I see you, and I hear you. Running is a sport that's, on paper, free, but it's anything but by the time you've got the gear and signed up to the race, and for that reason, the Deerrun A1 Pro has made it onto this list as my affordable pick.

It's incredibly cheap, with a RRP of $459, not to mention the fact that I’ve regularly seen it in sales for under $300. If you're a newer runner, you're looking for a machine to use occasionally, or you need a treadmill you can fold away because you've got kids or animals in the house, you can't go wrong here.

Despite its lower price, I was impressed by its performance. The belt runs smoothly for even extended periods at its top speed of 10mph. Best of all, the treadmill actually folds flat — perfect for storing either upright or under the couch.

It's not perfect, though. The running belt is small, meaning you may feel cramped when running at top speeds (especially if you're taller and/or have a longer stride). The incline has to be adjusted manually, too. The partner Pitpat app is also pretty terrible, and you have to use an Allen key to fold the machine up, which does defeat the point somewhat, if you're looking to get it out of the way quickly. I’m not sure I’d back the machine to hold up as well as pricier models to heavy use, either, and it glitched during testing when we attempted to do a second hour-long run in two days.

All those problems are surmountable if you just need a treadmill for occasional use with short runs, though, and as long as you regularly lubricate its belt, the Deerrun A1 Pro is a great option for those whose budget runs to hundreds rather than thousands of dollars.

• Read our full Deerun A1 Pro folding treadmill review

Best under-desk treadmill

If you're looking for a treadmill that can help you get your steps in while you work, the DeerRun Q1 Mini is a great option.

It's super affordable already with an RRP of $149, but it also frequently goes on sale, meaning you can usually get it cheaper than this. Plus, it's easy to use, thanks to its remote and its screen that allows you to see, at a glance, how far you've walked.

It's also smaller and lighter than most other under-desk treadmills, meaning that it should slot away neatly in between uses.

It's also pretty simple — there’s no incline, there are no handles, and there’s nowhere to hold your phone — but this is expected from a walking pad.

You should keep in mind, however, that you won't be able to run on this under-desk treadmill. With a top speed of 3.8mph, it should be fast enough for most walkers, but faster workouts just aren't possible. Additionally, if you're on the taller side, you may run into some problems with the short belt.

Finally, while the walking pad does tuck away neatly under your couch, it does not fold, meaning you'll have to clear some space for it.

If you're working from home and want an easy way to increase your step count without spending a fortune, then the DeerRun Q1 Mini is a great option.

• Read our DeerRun Q1 Mini review

Best foldable treadmill

If you want a treadmill that doesn't take up too much space, but that you can still perform running workouts on, then the Urevo CyberMega Smart Treadmill is a great choice.

It's less than $1,000, yet has a top speed of 12.5 mph and top incline of 12% — both higher than you'd usually see at this price point. It was able to keep up with marathon training during testing, which is very impressive for a foldable treadmill.

Speaking of these features, during testing it felt sturdy even at these higher speeds or sharper inclines. It's not the the fastest when changing speed or incline, but it didn't wobble about too much when increasing the latter while running, which is a big plus. Additionally, even at high speeds, the belt runs smoothly and fairly quietly.

The belt isn't the largest, though, which is common in compact treadmills. Additionally, during testing, we found that it did not feel as sturdy as other, heavier treadmills, like the Peloton Tread.

Still, the Urevo CyberMega is a compact treadmill that can match the demands of even experienced runners. Plus, with its space-saving design, it combats most of the issues you'd have with a larger treadmill. It's convenient and it performs very well, making it great for anyone looking for a folding machine that can keep up with their training.

• Read our full Urevo CyberMega Smart Treadmill review

Also tested

As I’ve mentioned, as a team, we’ve run on hundreds of treadmills. Here are some other options worth considering that didn’t make my top three:

How to choose the best treadmill for you

When choosing a treadmill, it’s easy to get lost in high-spec screens and powerful speakers, and forget about what’s important — how comfortable it is to run on. Here’s what matters when shopping for a treadmill, and what you shouldn’t worry about quite as much.

What to look for in a treadmill

Top speed

This might sound obvious, but it’s super important, especially if you’re hoping to use the treadmill for speed sessions. A lot of the time, the treadmill will put its top speed in miles, or kilometers per hour, so take a second or two to convert this into a mile-per-hour running pace.

I’d probably avoid anything that has a top speed of 8 miles per hour. You’ll also want to look at incline too — most treadmills will have a top incline of 10-12%, which is more than enough for most runners.

The size of the belt

Again, it might seem obvious, but if you’re a taller runner, you’ll want to measure out the size of the belt to ensure you can comfortably stride out on it.

Installation restrictions

Treadmills are a nightmare to install — they’re heavy and fiddly, and not designed to be moved once they are in situ. If you live in an old building, you might want to think about the weight of the treadmill (plus the weight and impact of you running on it).

I live in a Victorian cottage, and the Peloton delivery guys wouldn’t install the treadmill upstairs, as they said they couldn’t guarantee it wouldn’t come through the ceiling mid-run. Something to think about.

Built-in features

Talking of Peloton, think about what you want to get from the treadmill. If you want to run and watch Netflix, you probably don’t need to fork out for a treadmill that prides itself on classes.

Safety features

As someone with a toddler and a dog in my house, safety is a huge priority when testing a treadmill at home. Look for treadmills with folding belts, safety keys, and passcode unlocks to keep everyone safe.

Companion apps

Again, this might not be something you’ll worry about if you just want to clock your miles and jump off, but I always tell people to download and try a couple of Peloton classes before buying the Bike or Tread to see if it’s for them. You’ll soon know.

What not to worry about when shopping for a treadmill

Fans

They are never very good — you’re better off putting your treadmill near a window, or just moving your tower fan next to your treadmill when you’re running on it.

Alternatively, you can buy one of these fans attached to a clamp for about $30 on Amazon. An affordable solution if you don't want to drag a fan around the house each time you go for a run.

Screen spec

A perhaps controversial opinion, but I’ve never cared about the specs of the screen on my treadmill. It’s not a television, it’s something to run on when the weather is gross. One thing I’d care more about is whether the screen rotates, if I wanted to take built-in classes next to the treadmill, but even then, I’m not sure this is a game-changer.

Cup holders

When was the last time you drank from your Stanley mid-run? Most of the time, it’s just somewhere to store your phone.

Speakers

Again, they’re never very good, they’re always a bit tinny, and 99% of the time, you’ll use your headphones anyway. If a treadmill does have live classes, Bluetooth connectivity is vital, and extras like syncing to your running watch are definitely a plus.

How easy it is to reach the controls

This is something brands always shout about, and sure, it can make a difference, but it’s not the be-all and end-all. By design, all treadmills will have a screen that’s close enough to change the pace quickly.

How I tested the best treadmills

Along with the Tom’s Guide fitness team, we’ve run hundreds of miles on the treadmills for testing. As runners, we know what we’re looking for.

If you’re going to spend thousands of dollars on a piece of equipment, you want to be sure it’s right for you, so we got the verdict of runners of different heights and paces before giving them the seal of approval.

I’m a 3:38 marathon runner, and am 5 feet 2, with a pretty short stride. On the other hand, Tom’s Guide’s fitness writer Nick Harris-Fry is a 2:25 marathon runner who is 6 foot 1, so was able to ensure the treadmills on test could keep up with him (as nobody else on the team can).

We often spend our lunch breaks staring at the blank, windowless wall in our test center, as we clock up miles on the treadmills. While we’re wondering what the weather is like outside, we’re looking at how comfortable the treadmill is to run on, how loud the belt is, how much space we have, and how easy it is to adjust the controls on the treadmill. We also look for little extras, like how easy it is to connect the best running headphones and the best running watches to the treadmill.

Installation is never fun, but hopefully you’ll only have to do it once. What’s more important is the overall customer service you receive from the brands, as well as things like the connected apps, and how easy they are to use.

For each treadmill, we’ll do a number of different sessions on it — from easy, slow miles (especially tedious when staring at that blank wall I mentioned), to faster sessions to see how the treadmill copes. For the Peloton Tread, I took endless classes to get an overall feel for the different options on offer. For the WalkingPad treadmills, I looked at how easy they were to fold and drag around from room to room, especially on carpet.

Where we can, we also install the treadmills in our homes to see how much space they realistically take up. And when all the miles are complete, and we’re desperate for some fresh air, we swap notes (sometimes on a run), and come up with our verdict.

FAQs

Meet our treadmill testing team

For most people, the 11-inch iPad Air M4 is the best iPad thanks to its strong balance of price, performance and features. With its M4 chip, it has the power for multitasking, gaming, video editing and everyday work without the premium cost of an iPad Pro (this should be reserved for power users with its incredible performance). If you want to spend a lot less, the iPad 11 delivers reliable performance, a sharp 11-inch display and 128GB of starting storage for less. And for a portable size for reading and travel, the iPad mini 7 is a great choice.

There's always a new iPad on the horizon, and we're expecting to see an upgraded iPad mini 8 at an upcoming Apple event. If there's an Apple tablet coming up soon, we recommend holding off on buying until the latest model comes in (and until we've done our hands-on testing) so you can grab the latest tablet. In the meantime, I've put together our expert advice and in-depth reviews in this guide to help you find the right iPad for you. Let's dive in.

The best iPads you can buy today

The best iPad overall

The 11-inch iPad Air M4 easily pushes its way to the top spot as the best iPad for most, considering it now delivers speedy M4 power, upgraded 12GB RAM and Wi-Fi 7 connectivity for the same $599 price as the previous M3 model. Whether it's for browsing the web and watching shows, for some on-the-go work or some gaming, this tablet finds the right balance between affordability and performance.

Now with the might of M4, the iPad Air offers a notable performance boost, making it the most powerful Air to date. With 12GB of memory onboard, that also makes it even better for video editing and gaming, as it can better handle multitasking without breaking much of a sweat (this is a MacBook chip, after all).

Otherwise, expect the same features we loved from past Air models carried over: the same sharp, vivid visuals with its Liquid Retina display, along with that slim and lightweight design that is comfortable to hold for hours. Oh, and the 12MP cameras are always a nice bonus.

Sure, it's more of a spec bump as we've come to know, but that doesn't take away from how far the iPad Air has come in sheer performance. We would have loved to see Face ID make an appearance, along with a boost in battery life and a more affordable Magic Keyboard, but this is still the best iPad (and tablet) for most.

• Read our full iPad Air M4 review

The best budget iPad

The latest iPad 11 may not be a huge departure from the previous iPad 10, nor does it come with the premium features you’ll find on the iPad Air or iPad Pro with Mac-level performance. But it’s hard to deny the value you can get from Apple’s cheapest tablet.

Boasting the same sleek and slim lightweight design as its predecessor's exciting refresh, this portable tablet pushes its entry-level roots further with significantly improved performance thanks to its A16 upgrade. From juggling windows in iPadOS 26 to playing impressive titles like Destiny: Rising, the iPad 11 can handle the demands of most.

Throw in its longer-lasting battery life (it even beats the iPad Air M3 and iPad mini 7), fantastic 11-inch Liquid Retina (2360 x 1640) display for smooth, detailed visuals and larger 128GB base storage space, and the iPad 11 makes for a worthy tablet for most. Just take note, it’s not compatible with Apple Intelligence, and only supports Apple Pencil (USB-C) — no Apple Pencil Pro support, disappointingly. Still, not bad for its $349 starting price.

But if all you need from a portable tablet is to browse through websites, watch videos or shows on the best streaming services and play some mobile-friendly games, the base iPad achieves all that and more for less.

• Read our full iPad 11 review

The best iPad for performance

Conversations about whether or not the iPad Pro can replace your laptop have been going on for years, but the iPad Pro 2025 might finally end such discussions. If you’re looking for an absolute powerhouse tablet that can rival a laptop’s performance, battery life and display quality, this is the slate for you.

This is now my favorite iPad. The main draw is still the stunning 13-inch tandem OLED panel, with its inky blacks, vivid color, bright whites and overall sharp 2752 x 2064 resolution. I’m not being hyperbolic when I say this tablet’s display is every bit as good as, or better than, many of the OLED laptops we've reviewed. It’s truly a sight to behold.

The Apple M5 processor might be overkill for a tablet, but that laptop-like performance is what makes this worth considering as a laptop replacement. Whether it’s something demanding like exporting large video files or simpler tasks like web browsing, the iPad Pro M5 can handle just about anything you throw at it, even gaming.

To use the iPad Pro M5 as a laptop replacement, you’ll need the Magic Keyboard. Unfortunately, that peripheral costs a hefty $349 for the model compatible with the 13-inch iPad Pro. And if you want the Apple Pencil Pro, that’s an additional $129. Considering how this 13-inch tablet starts at $1,499, the costly peripherals will put a bigger dent in your wallet.

Though expensive, the iPad Pro M5 is worth it if you want a device that functions as both a laptop and a tablet. And even if you don’t, that gorgeous screen could be worth the asking price.

• Read our full iPad Pro M5 review

The best small iPad

All iPads are relatively easy to travel with, but the iPad mini 7 is the ideal tablet for when you're out and about due to its small size, light weight and durable design. In my opinion, it's the best iPad for reading novels and manga.

This is the most portable and lightweight iPad available, offering many of the same features as its bigger and stronger siblings. It has the iPad Air's thin bezels, flat-edged design, and support for the Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil USB-C. Its A17 Pro CPU is blazing-fast and its battery life is shockingly good for a small tablet. This tablet is a small wonder, to be sure.

Thanks to that A17 Pro chip, the new iPad mini is nearly 25% faster than its predecessor. You can have multiple tabs open and have a video running and this tablet will keep on chugging. It’s also capable of playing graphically demanding games like Resident Evil 4 and Assassin’s Creed Mirage at steady frame rates. And with iPadOS 18 installed, you can take advantage of powerful Apple Intelligence features like Writing Tools.

Though I’m a big fan of the previous model, the new iPad mini 7 improves on it in meaningful ways. Sure, I wish the front camera was landscape-oriented and that the tablet supported Apple Pencil 2, but these flaws don’t detract from what is an otherwise fantastic device. Considering it has the same starting price as its predecessor, the iPad mini 7 is a no-brainer for those who want the iPad experience in a smaller form.

• Read our full iPad mini 7 review

Best iPads Performance Test Results

In our testing, here’s a look at how each iPad compares in performance. Obviously, numbers don’t tell the entire tale, but they give you a good idea of what these iPads can do in key performance areas.

Best iPad Performance Test Results

Slide through to see Geekbench and 3DMark benchmarks for each iPad

< Prev

Geekbench (single-core)

Next >

iPad Air M4

3745

iPad 11

2589

iPad Pro M5

4155

iPad mini 7

2883

01,5003,0004,5006,000

Geekbench (single-core) Data

Product	Value
iPad Air M4	3745
iPad 11	2589
iPad Pro M5	4155
iPad mini 7	2883

iPad Air M4

13342

iPad 11

6176

iPad Pro M5

16517

iPad mini 7

7213

05,00010,00015,00020,000

Geekbench (multi-core) Data

Product	Value
iPad Air M4	13342
iPad 11	6176
iPad Pro M5	16517
iPad mini 7	7213

iPad Air M4

40

iPad 11

15

iPad Pro M5

59

iPad mini 7

14

015304560

FPS

3DMark Wild life Extreme Unlimited Data

Product	Value
iPad Air M4	40
iPad 11	15
iPad Pro M5	59
iPad mini 7	14

1 of 3

Best iPads Display Test Results

We test the brightness (in nits), color range (sRGB and DCI-P3) and color accuracy (Delta-E) of every tablet we test, and iPads generally come with the best displays around. That's especially true of the iPad Pro M5, which features a gorgeous OLED display.

Best iPad Display Test Results

Slide through to compare each iPad's results in brightness, sRGB, DCI-P3 and Delta-E

< Prev

Brightness

Next >

iPad Air M4

489

iPad 11

506

iPad Pro M5

561

iPad mini 7

490

0150300450600

Nits

Brightness Data

Product	Value
iPad Air M4	489
iPad 11	506
iPad Pro M5	561
iPad mini 7	490

iPad Air M4

116.2

iPad 11

108.8

iPad Pro M5

116

iPad mini 7

107.7

037.575112.5150

%

sRGB Data

Product	Value
iPad Air M4	116.2
iPad 11	108.8
iPad Pro M5	116
iPad mini 7	107.7

iPad Air M4

82.3

iPad 11

77.1

iPad Pro M5

82.1

iPad mini 7

76.3

0255075100

%

DCI-P3 Data

Product	Value
iPad Air M4	82.3
iPad 11	77.1
iPad Pro M5	82.1
iPad mini 7	76.3

iPad Air M4

0.28

iPad 11

0.3

iPad Pro M5

0.27

iPad mini 7

0.21

01

Delta-E Data

Product	Value
iPad Air M4	0.28
iPad 11	0.3
iPad Pro M5	0.27
iPad mini 7	0.21

1 of 4

Best iPads Battery Life Test Results

iPads comes are among the longest-lasting tablets around, with every iPad offer at least 9 hours of battery life. Each will get you through a general work day (around 8 hours), along with a little leftover for watching shows or playing games later on.

In any case, here's how each compares:

Best iPads Battery life Test Results

In our battery test, we set the iPad's display to 150 nits of brightness and have it endlessly browse the web via Wi-Fi until it runs out of juice.

Battery life (hh:mm:ss)

iPad Air M4

09:44:00

iPad 11

11:26:00

iPad Pro M5

13:18:00

iPad mini 7

10:36:00

03.757.511.2515

hours

Battery life (hh:mm:ss) Data

Product	Value
iPad Air M4	9.733333333333333
iPad 11	11.433333333333334
iPad Pro M5	13.3
iPad mini 7	10.6

Best iPad: Frequently Asked Questions

How to choose the best iPad for you

I hope the choices above have helped you decide which iPad to get. But if you want more to consider, there are a few key questions you can ask yourself to further hone in on the best iPad for you.

How do you plan to use this iPad? Is it mostly going to stay within easy reach of the couch and be used primarily for light entertainment like browsing Wikipedia, watching YouTube videos, or reading comics? Then you don’t need something as powerful as an iPad Pro. You’ll be perfectly happy with either model of the iPad Air. Heck, even the base iPad will suffice.

However, if you need a tablet for creative purposes or even to act as a laptop replacement (which requires the pricey Magic Keyboard), you should consider the premium-priced iPad Pro with M5. Both the current 11-inch and 13-inch models are incredibly performant due to packing Apple's top-of-the-line processor. And if money is no object, the 13-inch model gives you extra screen space.

How much storage do you need? You can’t upgrade an iPad’s storage after you’ve purchased it, so it’s good to know how much you’ll need beforehand. If you plan to store a good amount of high-res videos and apps on your iPad, then the 128GB of storage the base iPad starts with might not be enough, though you can upgrade to 512GB. The iPad Air and iPad Pro start with 128GB and 256GB (respectively) and you can upgrade to as much as 1TB to 2TB (respectively). The iPad mini 7 starts with 128GB and you can upgrade up to 512GB.

Do you want cellular connectivity? Having an iPad that can access cellular data networks really improves your quality of life by letting you use Internet-reliant apps wherever you can get a signal. However, if you're not planning on taking your iPad on the go, you'll probably be just fine with a simple Wi-Fi-only model.

How we test iPads

We put the iPads we review through the same lab tests as the best iPhones and the best laptops, focusing on overall performance, display quality and battery life.

Below is a summary of what each test is for:

• Performance: We use benchmarks such as Geekbench to test overall CPU performance, 3DMark for 3D graphics, and Adobe Premiere Rush for video editing.
• Display: We use colorimeters and light meters to measure how colorful and bright these tablets’ screens can get. We measure both SDR and HDR brightness in nits, color representation in sRGB and DCI-P3 color gamuts (closer to 100% is best), and Delta-E for color accuracy (closer to 0 is best).
• Battery test: Our in-house battery test, which times how long it takes — while surfing the web with brightness at 150 nits — to drain a tablet of charge.

After that, we do the same things you do — browse the web, watch YouTube, play games, compose emails — and then a lot more. We try and write some (or all) of our tablet reviews on the tablets we're testing, on an attachable keyboard if possible. Nobody wants to write a magnum opus on a glass screen, after all (though no judgment if you do!).

All of the best smart scales have a connected app that is easy to navigate and understand. Most models also connect to some of the best workout apps so that you can see all your health and fitness stats in a single place, combined with the data recorded by your fitness tracker or smartwatch.

After hundreds and hundreds of weigh-ins, my team found that the best smart scale for most people is the Withings Body Smart. It gathers more data than a lot of scales on the market, and the app is exceptionally easy to navigate. There are also modes for athletes, pregnancy, and an eyes-closed mode, which impressed us.

Best smart scales you can buy right now

Best smart scale overall

This may be one of the highest-spec smart scales you can get for under $100. Withings has really outdone itself with the Body Smart, including visceral fat index, body composition, and even hydration level metrics.

This can be used for casual hydration tracking, general health statistics, or for those in training: the scale comes with athlete, pregnancy, eyes closed, and baby modes, so hopefully all members of the family can join in, if they so desire.

While the Withings app is easy to navigate, with helpful information stuffed into every corner, some extra features like Health Improvement Score and Body Score are locked behind a paywall. It’s an extra $99 (yearly) subscription if you want to take full advantage of everything Withings offers.

For those getting into fitness, or just wanting to keep a general check-up of their health, the Withings Body Smart is a great place to start, with enough information on the app to teach you everything you need to know.

• Read our full Withings Body Smart review

Best budget smart scale

Wyze has a history of launching budget-friendly smart scales, but the Scale X is a huge improvement over the older scales, as it also has the option to track your muscle mass percentage. Of course, you could always figure this number out on your own by dividing muscle mass by body weight, but this does it for you.

It's compatible with Fitbit, whereas the previous Wyze Scale S wasn't. All of your in-depth body data is displayed clearly within the app, with a body weight trend graph and dedicated sections for each metric.

Tapping on a section will show your results, along with a slider bar and a definition of the specific measurement. It's an easy-to-use scale, with the option to store eight different profiles. There are also luggage, pet, and baby modes, which we appreciated during testing (especially when packing for a long-haul flight).

The downside with this cheap smart scale is the app, which doesn't really give you an awful lot of information to support the wealth of data. While it's great that you can see your muscle mass, it doesn't give you any context, like whether it's in a good range. This is nit-picking, though — all-in-all, it's a fantastic, affordable scale.

• Read our full Wyze Scale X review

Best premium smart scale

The Withings Body Scan 2 is the latest version of the Withings Body Scan, which we previously featured as the best premium scale.

The Withings Body Scan 2 improves on the original by taking things its predecessor tracked (for example, body fat, muscle, basal metabolic rate, and water mass) and giving you even more insight into them. The Withings Body Scan 2 allows you to explore 60 different biomarkers subdivided into various categories, as well as tracking their changes across time. You can do this for up to eight users, too, meaning the whole family can get in on it.

It's also the first smart scale (as far as we're aware) which is able to spot signs of potential hypertension. While this does not mean the smart scale can replace advice given by a medical professional, this could still be a life-saving feature under some circumstances.

In testing, we found it incredibly easy to use, thanks to the retractable handle that you hold onto while the Body Scan 2 scans your body. The handle displays all the data the Body Scan 2 is collecting, as well as key insights via traffic light-style graphics.

With this being said, if you're just looking for casual health tracking, you'll likely find that the Withings Body Scan 2 is just not worth it.

It's excellent for both amateur and professional athletes, as well as those who have specific concerns about their health, but with a $599 price tag plus an (optional) $99 per year subscription to unlock the scale's full functionality, it's undeniably expensive.

Plus, while the health data it gives is incredibly granular, a lot of it is simply not necessary for the average user to know — meaning you could trade these insights for a cheaper model, like the Withings Body Smart.

The Withings Body Scan 2 is one of the most comprehensive, inclusive at-home health devices on the market right now. But all of the data it provides you with does come at a very high cost. It's up to you to determine whether or not it's worth it.

• Read our full Withings Body Scan 2 review

Best smart scale for body fat

The Renpho Smart Body Fat Scale is easy to use and provides a breadth of information for those who want to track their body composition changes.

There are 13 metrics tracked using the scale’s built-in bioelectrical impedance analysis tech to measure body fat percentage, skeletal muscle percentage, and overall muscle mass, fat-free body weight, subcutaneous and visceral fat, body water, bone mass, and more.

The large LED display is clear and easy to read, instantly showing weight. To see additional metrics, you’ll need to have the app connected and your phone with you, as the scale's display only shows body weight.

The downside here is that, unlike other models, you can only see your body weight on the scale itself; you'll need to use your phone to see the rest. Plus, if extreme accuracy is vital for you, the Renpho only tracks in 0.2 lbs increments, rounding up.

In some cases, this could hinder your ability to know whether a weight loss or gain goal is on track. If this is the case for you, it might be worth looking into more expensive smart scales, such as the Withings Body Smart, which tracks in 0.1 lbs increments.

• Read our full Renpho Smart Body Fat Scale review

Also tested

The smart scales in the guide above aren't the only ones we've tested, as we're regularly trying out connected bathroom scales so that we can recommend the models that are actually worth your money. But if you're after more options, these are the smart scales that didn't quite make the cut.

Which Withings smart scale should you buy?

Should you buy the Withings Body Smart, the Body Scan, or the Body Comp? This depends on your budget, and the metrics you care about. The Body Smart is the most affordable, and has most of the body composition metrics most people would need. It doesn't have things like the advanced heart rate features, or the nerve health score, but I'd argue most people don't need these, making the Body Smart my top pick.

How to choose the best smart scale for you

A smart scale isn’t a device you want to replace often, so you want it to be reliable, well-rounded, and fill all your fitness tracking needs. In other words, don’t let price be your ultimate decision-maker.

It’s worth it to stretch your budget for one of the best smart scales that will last you at least a few years, and supports the exact data you’re interested in following. Review all the metrics a given smart scale offers before buying.

That said, if you’re in temporary living quarters or are working towards a short term fitness goal, a budget smart scale, like the Wyze Scale, is an excellent choice. It won’t last a lifetime but will satisfy your immediate needs.

Another thing to pay attention to is whether a smart scale has some kind of ‘safe mode’ for people with pacemakers or people who are pregnant. Safe mode, or ‘weigh only’ mode, disables bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA), which uses a weak electric current to determine body fat percentage and could pose a safety threat to certain users.

Fitbit users could even connect one of the best Fitbits to Fitbit smart scale models, helping you keep on top of your daily health and fitness stats.

How we test the best smart scales

For our review of the best smart scales, we take a number of factors into consideration. First, we check that the scale offers an accurate reading using a dumber digital scale, the highly rated EatSmart digital bathroom scale. If the readings are within a fraction of a pound of each other, we can recommend them. The readings shouldn't take more than few seconds, either.

Aside from price, we also explore the variety of metrics a scale offers, how many unique users the scale supports, the scale’s connectivity options and the user-friendliness of the scale’s companion app. We like to see whether the app provides background information on your body’s statistics, too. Plus compatibility with third-party health programs plays a role in our testing.

The last thing anyone needs is more anxiety, so we look for the best smart scales to make stepping on the platform less intimidating. A smart scale’s metrics should reveal to you that your body is more than your weight.

FAQs

To help you make the right choice for you, we've tested the best exercise bikes on the market to help you decide which to install in your spare room or garage gym. Right now, the best exercise bike if you're looking for a community of like-minded individuals to motivate you is, unsurprisingly, the Peloton Bike+. It's been around for a while, but it's still a fantastic bike.

If you're looking for a bike with air resistance, the best choice right now is the Wattbike Air. It's an impressive bike from an impressive brand, and will help you get fit.

If you're a cyclist who prefers to be out on the road, the Zwift Ride with KICKR Core is a great choice. It feels pretty close to cycling on the road, and you'll even be able to join a virtual spin class with your mates on Zwift.

We've also found other alternatives to suit every style of cyclist and budget. Dig out your cleats and get ready to ride, but read on to find our top picks first.

Best exercise bikes you can buy right now

Best air resistance exercise bike

When we tested the Wattbike Air, we were (quite literally) blown away by this air resistance bike. It's similar to those you might have used in the gym, with a manual resistance wheel on the side, and is best suited for sprints and HIIT training, rather than standing out of the saddle and climbing.

The air resistance tops out at 2500W, which is higher than the Wattbike Proton’s 1800W. However, if hill climbs are your preferred exercise bike workout, then you’ll be better off with the Proton.

That said, thanks to the fantastic companion Wattbike app, if you're looking for a bike to help you boost your fitness, rather than pedal for hours, the Wattbike Air is a great choice. Erin found the app had plenty of excellent features and workouts, and was able to hone her cycling technique by using it.

It's also a subscription-free bike, which is a massive plus, and gives it an edge over other exercise bikes, such as the Peloton Bike+.

• Read our full Wattbike Air review

Best exercise bike for community

The Peloton Bike+ is the upgraded version of the Peloton Bike, the connected exercise bike that popularized virtual spin classes. The Bike+ comes packed with Peloton tech, including a large touchscreen for you to interact with the Peloton app.

While the premium bike plays a part, the experience relies heavily on the app's on-demand and live classes. It's an expensive option — the bike is $2,500, and its required membership costs $44 per month — but after testing it, we have to say that it's definitely popular for a reason.

The Peloton instructors are famed for their high-energy classes, so if you're after a way to keep motivated to train regularly, the Bike+ is a good option. Plus, aside from the software, the Bike+ actually feels like the kind of equipment you'd find in a studio.

When we visited the Peloton Studio in London and tried a 30-minute in-person class, we found it to be intense, but a lot of fun. Plus, the studio bikes still had the famed leaderboard, so he could see how his performance fared compared to all the members spinning away at home, too.

The bike also has an auto-resistance mode, where the magnetic resistance will automatically change based on the instructor's recommendations, so you don't need to worry about fiddling with menus or buttons, and can just keep peddling.

The display is also where you'll find all of your workout stats, and you can view your training history to keep track of your progress. The Bike+ has a rotating display too, so you can swivel it and do mat-based workouts instead.

It's a tech-heavy option, and an expensive one, but it's also one of the most versatile exercise bikes available right now. Peloton has also thought about the smaller details, like adding water bottle holders, USB-C charging ports, and Bluetooth.

• Read our full Peloton Bike+ review
• Peloton Bike vs Peloton Bike+ — which should you buy?

Best real life exercise bike

If you want an exercise bike, but don't want to shell out for a smart one, the Zwift Ride is a great option. It offers great value for money, and costs half as much as a smart bike.

It’s the easiest and most enjoyable way to ride on Zwift, and after testing it out, I have to say that it's also the bike I’d buy if I were starting afresh with my indoor cycling setup.

If you're new to the Zwift app, it allows you to cycle on virtual routes alongside your friends, do workouts, and ride iconic courses. It's like social media for cyclists, and it's a great way to beat the boredom indoors.

The Zwift Ride comes with the Wahoo KICKR Core trainer, which is one of the best turbo trainers on the market. You have to connect the two together, but once riding the bike, it feels like a complete unit in the same way as other smart bikes.

The ride is smooth and very quiet — if you use a fan to keep you cool during workouts, which I highly recommend doing, you can barely hear the bike itself.

Shifting gears using the handlebar controls and Zwift Cog is seamless and quiet as well, and the KICKR CORE responds quickly to changes in the gradient when riding routes on Zwift to automatically adjust for climbs and descents.

It's closer to cycling outside than a lot of the other bikes on this list, and is a great pick.

• Read our Zwift Ride smart bike review

Best budget exercise bike

Despite its budget-friendly price, the Yosuda Indoor Cycling Stationary Bike isn't lacking in features. It comes with a display to help you keep tabs on your workout stats. It shows essential metrics like time, speed, distance, and calories.

Of course, this doesn't come close to the amount of data you can track on a smart exercise bike like the Peloton Bike+, but it's a helpful way to track your progress for a fraction of the price.

Unlike the Peloton Bike+, there are no classes to join (unless you clip on the included smartphone mount and use a workout app or free YouTube session), but it's a durable beginner-friendly bike.

When I initially set up the bike in testing, I was worried it would feel a bit unstable. Fortunately, that wasn't the case. Instead, whether I took it for a speed or distance ride, the bike stayed firmly on the ground while in use.

The friction system added enough resistance to make my workouts effective, but after a while, you'll probably want to upgrade to a machine that'll challenge your muscles a bit more. But for cardio-boosting workouts on a budget, it's a great choice.

• Read our full Yosuda Indoor Cycling Stationary Bike review

Best Peloton alternative

The Echelon EX-3 used to be in this spot, but now the Echelon EX-5s has taken its place — and for good reason, too. Like the Peloton Bike+, the EX-5s has a magnetic resistance system with 32 levels to choose from, as well as a 21.5” HD touchscreen that flips 180º.

The magnetic resistance is quiet, too, so you won't disturb others in your home or nearby neighbors, even when you're doing a high-intensity workout.

At $1,299, it's cheaper than a Peloton, but still offers elite coaching, upbeat motivation, and excellent workout performance. In testing, I was pleased with the high levels of adjustability on the bike that allowed me to customize it to myself, as well as how convenient and simple the touch-screen display was to use.

There is a drawback, though. Not only is the Echelon EX-5s more expensive upfront than other non-Peloton bikes, but you also need to purchase a membership that works out at $399 per year to get the most out of the bike. You do get access to a huge selection of workouts with this subscription, though, not just the bike sessions. So, if you're looking for a bike to replace your gym membership completely, this is an excellent choice.

Additionally, I did notice some stability issues during high-speed workouts or during exercises that required me to come off the seat. I didn't feel like I was going to fall off, but this is something to keep in mind. Also, the bike took around two hours to set up — not ideal if you were looking to get in a workout right out of the box.

Still, these are fairly small complaints. Overall, the Echelon EX-5 is a great, lower-cost alternative for those looking for the community of a Peloton but not the price tag.

• Read our Echelon Ex-3 Smart Connect Bike review

How to choose the best exercise bike for you

Choosing an exercise bike for your home can be a challenge. After all, you first need to decide whether you want a standard friction-based bike or a smart one, and factor in the increased cost of a smart bike and the ongoing subscription.

However, once you've made a decision between the two styles, there are other practicalities, like the physical size of the bike, whether it can be easily stored away between sessions, and if the bike can be adjusted for your height and posture.

It's also worth thinking about the exercise bike's resistance mechanism. This will affect how much you can customize the intensity, and you can select from magnetic resistance, flywheels, and belt-driven bikes.

Magnetic resistance generally has the largest range, usually covering 100 different levels, and is the quietest, but bikes with these systems are often towards the higher price bracket too.

Also tested

We regularly review exercise bikes, but not all of them will make the main roundup. Some come close, though. So, if you're after more options, these are the bikes we've tested that didn't quite make the cut.

Air vs magnetic exercise bikes

These two types of bikes are similar, but produce resistance differently. Air bikes essentially have a large fan, which you power through pedaling. The faster you go, the faster the fan. This makes them great for high-intensity internal training (HIIT), especially as you need to overcome the initial inertia of actually moving the physical parts.

The downside is that it's very noisy. Magnetic bikes are a lot quieter. These use magnets (surprisingly) to accurately control the resistance. So you can set it at level 10, and increase to level 11 as your performance improves. It's a more consistent experience and better suited to classes or progressive overload training.

Aside from the experience, price often factors in here, too. Air bikes are generally less expensive, as the fan mechanism isn't as complex, while magnetic bikes are more complicated and also higher cost. If you're working out at home or in a shared space, the quiet of magnetic resistance is worth the difference, though.

Upright vs recumbent vs spin exercise bikes

In our round-up, we primarily focused on spin-style exercise bikes. These are designed for you to lean forward close to the handlebars, as if cycling intensely on a road bike. These are great for intense classes of the sort Peloton deals in.

The focus of spin bikes is to allow you to pedal at higher intensity and to lift out of your seat with ease. If you don't typically use a road bike or want a more traditional cycling position, then you'd want an upright bike instead.

These do what the name suggests: the seat, pedal, and handlebar positions are designed to keep you upright, not leaning forward. This is a typical cycling position, and best for if you want to work out and raise your heart rate, but without the variability and intensity of spin classes.

Recumbent bikes are slightly different from spin or upright bikes. These allow you to lean backwards, supported by a more chair-like seat with a full back rest. This style of bike is common if you're just getting into exercise or during injury recovery sessions.

Because of your positioning, the impact on your joints is a lot lower, so it allows you to exercise without placing strain on your knees. The lower intensity also makes recumbent bikes great for graded exercise programs.

How we test the best exercise bikes

To help you determine which exercise bike is best for you, we put them to the sweat test! We install each of the bikes in our homes or workout studio for at least a month, and put them to the test over several different workouts.

Since we had the bikes to hand, we looked at how easy it was to use, move around the house, maintain, and, for the smart exercise bikes, the range of classes on offer.

Plus, we consider any extras like how many profiles you could set up, and useful accessories like phone mounts and water bottle holders. And on the smart machines, we looked at the ongoing subscription costs associated with the bike, and what you get for your money.

FAQs

Another big win at this size? You don't have to make compromises on brightness as you do on the smaller (and power-limited) TVs. At Tom's Guide, we've tested the latest TVs of all sizes for years, and have found 55-inch screens hit the sweet spot. Nothing says this better than the LG C5, which we recommend as the best 55-inch TV you can buy. While we've tested the LG C6, you'll get more value with the C5.

That's not the only 55-inch TV to look out for, as the Hisense U65QF offers plenty of bang for your buck, while the Samsung S90F OLED is the TV made for gamers. I've put together all our expert advice and hands-on testing to help you pick the right 55-inch TV for your space in this guide, along with other TVs we've tested that you'll want to consider. So, let's dive in.

The best 55-inch TVs available right now

Best 55-inch TV overall

You might have seen that LG released the C6 in early 2026, and wonder why last year's C5 is at the top of this roundup instead of the newer (and presumably better) model. We tested the C6, and it is a great TV, but the upgrades from the C5 are relatively small, and now that you can buy the C5 at around half its launch price, it's the better option.

It's not a compromise either: the C5 really impressed us from the moment we pressed the power button. The image is vibrant, the colors look exceptional, and it was just so easy to get immersed in the stunning scenes on the TV. And because everything looked so good, it's the perfect option for movies, games and sport.

The impressive contrast means you see each scene properly, helped by the fact that we found the C5 handled all shades of black well — particularly useful given all modern movies are extremely dark. The TV is bright, making it a good choice for naturally brighter rooms, but Dark Room Mode helps if you're a fan of late-night viewing.

Plus, the C5 has a 120Hz refresh rate, making it a great choice for fast-moving scenes, like in live sport. Helpfully, this is also the same rate consoles output at, so the C5 is a good choice for gamers too (though you might want to look at the Samsung S90F for its dedicated Gaming Hub).

The only thing we didn't like so much on the C5 was the remote. The design is unusual and takes some getting used to. LG fixed this with the C6, but it's definitely not worth an extra $1,000 compared to the C5, which is the most fantastic TV in all other respects and would make a great addition to your home.

• Read our full LG C5 review

Best budget 55-inch TV

If value is what really matters here, the Hisense U65QF Mini-LED is the 55-inch TV that has this in spades. It's one of the best budget TVs on the market, as this TV’s color accuracy and strong HDR brightness deliver picture quality that looks well above its price bracket. The U65QF’s good color and brightness mean you’re rarely left wanting more, especially if you care about day-to-day streaming or movie nights in a bedroom, dorm or anywhere you place this screen.

In our testing, everything we watched, from animated films to live-action blockbusters, looked at least watchable, and that includes darker movies where it struggles the most. For anything above this, you'll be getting great details and colors. Bright, conventionally lit movies like “Barbie” and “Dune: Part Two” came through looking thoroughly satisfactory, while screen reflections and glare were definitely there, but never disruptive. For a budget set that might live in a multipurpose or sunlit room, it’s a reliable screen for its sub-$1,000 price.

Like to game, too? The U65QF runs at a native 144Hz refresh rate, which is higher than you’ll find on most TVs in this price band. That means fast-paced sports and action scenes stay clear and smooth. That's great news if you’re a casual gamer or just don’t want to miss a play during the big game.

But at this price, you're bound to find some compromises. The biggest annoyance was the limited viewing angles. As in, if you stray off-center, you start losing color and detail more quickly than on pricier sets. The Amazon Fire TV OS also drags down the experience a bit; it’s less user-friendly and not as slick as the webOS platform on the LG C5, which can make simple tasks feel clunkier day-to-day.

If you're mainly trying to stretch your dollar for a big, bright and accurate picture, the Hisense U65QF is the best budget 55-inch TV we can recommend right now. If you want a more polished smart TV experience, look elsewhere, but for most people who want great, clear picture quality for less, the U65QF hits the sweet spot.

• Read our full Hisense U65QF review

Best 55-inch TV for gaming

The Samsung S90F is a terrific TV, but then so are the LG C5 and Hisense QD7. What sets the S90F apart is the brand's focus on gamers, adding useful software features and hardware boosts — the 120Hz refresh rate, a dedicated Gaming Hub and four HDMI 2.1 ports — which combine to make this the best 55-inch TV for gaming.

Though it also has another thing going for it: low input lag. We measured this at just 9.1ms, and you're looking for a number under 10ms for competitive online games. Meanwhile, the LG C5 hit 9.1ms in a specific boosted mode, but its native input lag is 12.9ms. Of course, these are fractions of a second, but it does make a big difference.

The S90F runs Samsung's Tizen smart TV platform, which comes with a Gaming Hub. If you plug a console into one of the HDMI ports, the TV recognizes it and even stores a list of titles you've played recently. If you jump back in through the Gaming Hub, it automatically enables the TV's Game Mode too for improved performance.

The 120Hz refresh rate makes it ideal for console gamers, as the current-generation hardware outputs at 120Hz, so if you go higher, you're paying for a refresh rate you don't need. PC gamers might prefer one of the best gaming TVs, though, as those can reach up to 165Hz, so those are a better option if you want to use a gaming PC.

This is all fantastic in theory, but it would be a waste if the S90F didn't also make everything look so good. The picture is impressively clear, vibrant and colorful. It handles contrast brilliantly, so whether you're playing gritty games with lots of dark blacks and shadows or kaleidoscopic, it's an exceptional TV.

• Read our full Samsung S90F OLED TV review

Also tested

Best 55-inch TVs: Frequently Asked Questions

How to choose the best 55-inch TVs

I get that you're on a guide to the best 55-inch TVs, but before you go deep in your research, it's worth taking a moment to think about exactly why you want this specific size TV.

You may have checked out our guide to choosing the perfect TV size for your room and found that 55 inches is exactly what you need for your space. Or maybe you heard that the best 50-inch TVs have a few trade-offs (like reduced brightness) and want the smallest option with the biggest performance.

Price might also be a factor, as 55-inch TVs are pretty much identical to the best 65-inch TVs, but smaller and cheaper, so why not save some money when you don't need the larger screen. These are all great reasons to choose a 55-inch set, but be sure it's really what you need before you hand over your money.

Once you're set on the size, think about what you want the TV for. Is it for background viewing (in which case, price is going to be a factor over specs) or for playing games (where high refresh rates and HDMI 2.1 ports are important)? Is the set going into a bright room? Then you'll need a TV with high brightness measurements.

Generally, all the attributes that make a good TV mean that it'll be good for watching films and TV shows (though keep an eye on how it handles blacks and contrast), but refresh rates and contrast are especially important for live sports, so keep that in mind if you plan to watch the summer's games.

How we test the best 55-inch TVs

There are two parts to our TV testing process: the lab and real-world settings. Each TV we review comes into our lab first for objective benchmark testing. We use specialized equipment for this, including a colorimeter, pattern generator, spectroradiometer and calibration software.

You can read more about how we test TVs, but the main reason we go this route is to gather consistent and objective data about each set. This makes it possible for us to compare between models, see what's changed when a new version gets released and check how the manufacturer's performance claims hold up.

Having specific data also means we can factor that into how we decide which TVs suit particular use cases. If we take gaming TVs as an example, input lag is incredibly important here. Though for TV show or documentary watching, perhaps the color accuracy is the most crucial aspect.

Once we have everything locked into our spreadsheets, we get to do the fun part — use the TVs. We set them up just as you would to see how they perform in the real world. Brightness data is useful, but we also need to find out how the TV holds up in a bright room, and whether the anti-glare or reflective coating actually helps.

We put on sports, movies, TV shows and play games, keeping a critical eye on the TV's performance (not the media itself). This allows us to see whether the TV makes the colors pop on something like "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" and how well it can handle the shadowy blacks of "The Batman", or pretty much any Christopher Nolan movie.

See, I've found that picking up one of the best TVs of yesteryear is the way to go. You don't pay the flagship price, but you get a great TV that's dropped the dollars to become more affordable. Don't bother with the dedicated budget models — just get an old flagship.

A the moment, though, my top recommendation proves me wrong. The Hisense QD7, a fantastic budget set that performs well no matter what you're watching or playing, is now often available for less than its $500 retail price. The Hisense U75QG throws a proverbial spanner in the works. I'd say it's a great budget choice for gamers, but it's got plenty going for it for everyone else as well.

There are more options besides, of course. There are so many wallet-friendly options to choose from, so I've condensed everything down below to make it easier to find the best budget TV for you — all backed up with detailed reviews and lab testing.

Best budget TVs available right now

Best budget TV overall

The Hisense QD7 is easily the best budget TV we've tested, and it's also the best TV under $500 right now. Going on specs alone, it's hard to gauge cheaper TVs, as you can never be sure what the performance will really be like. But the QD7 is an exceptional TV that you pick up without breaking the bank (with just one small flaw).

During our testing, we were most impressed with how the set handles colors. Hisense equipped the QD7 with quantum dot crystals, which absorb some of the backlight and emit it as green and red light. This improves the vibrancy of the image, and we liked how the colors in movies, TV shows and games really popped.

The LEDs in the display are individually controllable (not by you, but by the TV), which means that the set can adjust the colors and brightness in specific areas to adapt to the picture. This really helped when we watched shadowy things like "Stranger Things" and "Dune," which have a lot of darkly colored scenes.

Plus, it wasn't just that the image looked colorful and dark in all the right places, but you could actually pick out the details happening in the shadows. For some TVs, this is a struggle, but the QD7 handled these different shades of black well. This should also mean the TV lends itself to sports viewing.

And in terms of vibrancy and color, it does. In live matches, you often have parts of the pitch in shade and others in sun, and the QD7 can handle that. Where it struggled a bit was with fast movements, which tended to blur due to the set's 60Hz refresh rate. We switched on motion smoothing while testing, and this helped, though.

Sadly, Hisense installed Amazon's Fire TV software on the TV. It's slow, loaded with ads and hard to navigate. It's not the worst problem to have, but it's a shame since international versions have Google TV installed, which is a lot better. But if you can get over that hurdle, the Hisense QD7 is easily the best budget TV right now.

• Read our full Hisense QD7 review

Best budget gaming TV

I know this guide is all about budget TVs, but when we're talking about products that can reach several thousand of dollars, many of the best TVs under $1,000 also generally fall into this range, even though that's still on the pricier side. But the $700 Hisense U75QG (we've found one for as low as $579!) really works hard for your money, especially its impressive gaming features.

Budget TVs are generally getting better for gaming, but it's still rare to find something as well-equipped as the U75QG. There are four HDMI 2.1 ports, which improve bandwidth for console gaming, and this set even has a 165Hz refresh rate, comfortably above the 120Hz needed for consoles, making it an excellent choice for PC gaming.

We tested it with a PS5, playing Armored Core 6 and Silent Hill f. It was on fast-paced Armored Core 6 that the TV really excelled, as the 9.6ms input latency came close to the performance you'd find on the (much more expensive) best OLED TVs. Meanwhile, Silent Hill f looked fantastic, thanks to the TV's handling of colors and contrast.

Quite literally, this TV outshines the competition, as it is more than four times brighter in SDR than the Hisense QD7 and almost three and a half times brighter than the Hisense U65QF in HDR. Not that those TVs aren't bright; it's just that the U75QG punches well above what you'd expect at this price.

These brightness levels mean that it's the best budget TV for brighter or sunlit spaces too. The only thing we found was that there was a bit of glare in direct light, which isn't necessarily an issue, but might make you consider where in your room you want to place the TV or if there's a way to keep it out of the sun.

The colors look great too. We had a fun time watching the cartoonish chaos in “The Super Mario Bros Movie," and although it's mostly known for its bleak dystopian view of the future, the colorful elements of "Blade Runner 2049" really stood out too. And, incredibly, we could pick out details in the all-consuming darkness of "The Batman."

• Read our full Hisense U75QG review

Best budget 55-inch TV

If you're working on a budget, one of the best ways to keep the cost down is to choose a smaller TV. Before you go for the smallest and lowest-priced option, you should take a look at how to pick the right TV size. If you happen to land on a 55-inch model, then the Hisense U65QF is going to be the best budget TV for you.

Like the Hisense QD7, this model is also under $500, and we felt it lands the right balance of features, performance and price. Not least of all because it comes with a 144Hz refresh rate and two HDMI 2.1 ports, making it a fantastic pick for gamers or if you want to watch live sports over the summer without breaking the bank.

The refresh rate is particularly interesting at this price, as we found that you don't get the slight blurring during fast-paced scenes or action that you find on the Hisense QD7. And unless you play PC games, it's a better value option for gamers than the U75QG, as consoles can only output at 120Hz anyway, so 144Hz is plenty.

So when we used the TV to play Indiana Jones and The Great Circle with the set's Auto Low-Latency Mode (ALLM) enabled, which turns off any of the TV's resource-heavy features to reduce lag, it was like gaming on a much more expensive TV.

Like with the QD7, the only real downside to the set is Amazon's Fire TV software. It's our least-favorite TV operating system, as it's slow, hard to navigate and filled with ads. But once you have your favorite streaming apps installed, you won't need to use it much, thankfully.

• Read our full Hisense U65QF review

Best budget TV for sports

When a match is on, there's nothing better than watching every goal, basket, throw, swing, hit and more in stunningly sharp detail with a flood of color. That's exactly what the Hisense U6SF Pro delivers, all for well under $700 even for a sizeable 55-inch Mini-LED TV. Sports fans on a budget, this one's for you.

Everything from glossy dramas to live sports looks vibrant and clear, and the built-in 2.1-channel, 40-watt speaker system (with subwoofer) adds a heft that's mighty impressive for a TV that costs this much.

Picture quality is where the U6SF Pro really earns its spot. The Mini-LED panel produces vibrant colors and impressive contrast, backed up by low lab-measured color accuracy and a wide color gamut range. In everyday viewing, this translates to rich, lifelike images whether we're catching up on NFL highlights or watching the latest Premier League matches.

This also stays punchy in a bright living room, which makes it ideal for those mid-day games. We measured an HDR peak brightness of 1,265 nits, so highlights pop even during daytime viewing, and the anti-glare screen coating genuinely keeps glare from washing out the picture. So, no need to pull the curtains just to see what’s happening on screen.

For sports and gaming, the U6SF Pro’s native 144Hz refresh rate means fast action stays smooth. A key feature specifically for sports, though? The U6SF Pro boasts an AI Sports Mode, which, for example, highlights a pitch and jersey colors in soccer, and even cranks up the noise from crowds and drowns out commentary (if that's what you want). In our testing, it made it easier to track players with no motion blur, and there was no oversaturation either.

If you’re willing to accept a bit of blooming in dark scenes (light from bright objects spilling over) and don’t mind basic Fire TV software, the Hisense U6SF Pro is a fantastic, low-cost pick for sports fans.

• Read our full Hisense U6SF Pro review

Best budget 43-inch TV

Don't need a massive TV screen but still want those flagship-level features without paying a fortune? The Sony Bravia 3 II is our top pick as the best budget TV for its size, especially since you can pick it up for under $600 at 43 inches (and only $100 more for every size up, ranging from 43 to 100 inches).

Essentially, the Bravia 3 II is a massive step up from the original Bravia 3, and you're getting premium performance without emptying your wallet. Out of the box, we measured impressive color accuracy and coverage across the board, meaning colors look lifelike and balanced, not muddy like on similarly priced TVs in this range. That played out in our movie testing: in the opening scenes of "Project Hail Mary," the Bravia 3 II managed both deep shadowy moments and sparkling highlights, keeping skin tones looking natural and metallic details crisp, even in tricky lighting.

Cartoons and live sports look just as good. Spongebob’s yellow was so vibrant, our TV expert, Arif, honestly hadn’t seen it pop like that before, not even on some OLEDs. Blues and reds came alive in the Krusty Krab’s kitchen, and the overall effect was a picture that felt vivid without ever crossing into oversaturated colors.

This is a "Sony" TV, after all, so the Bravia 3 II won’t hold you back when it comes to gaming. In Game Mode, we measured low input lag at 9.8ms, and with four HDMI 2.1 ports delivering 4K at 120Hz, you’ll have plenty of bandwidth for modern consoles or a gaming PC. This also means you can leave a streaming box, soundbar and your favorite console all plugged in at once.

The day-to-day experience is smooth as well, thanks to Google TV. However, audio is not its strong point, so you'll want to invest in one of the best soundbars to make the most of this screen. Plus, this is still an LED TV, so it struggles to bring much depth when it comes to darker scenes or colors (blacks can look more dark grayish

But if you want a smaller-sized TV that nails the basics, with great picture and a premium feel for the money, the Sony Bravia 3 II is the smartest buy for most people.

• Read our full Sony Bravia 3 II review

Also tested

How to choose the best budget TVs

The first thing I'd say when you're looking for the best budget TVs is not to focus solely on price. Of course, it's totally reasonable to keep the cost of the TV in mind, but I recommend keeping some other factors and considerations close at hand, too.

The first decision you should make is what size TV you really need, using our guide on how to choose the perfect TV size for your room. I wouldn't drop down below what you need, but you can save money by only paying for the size that works for your space.

I generally recommend 65-inch models, as that's the most popular size and is usually what we test. But the 55, 50 and 43-inch models often give similar performance for less. The only real difference as you drop down is often that they're not as bright since the pixels are closer together and get lower power to avoid overheating.

Lots of TVs get released every year with the latest features and improved specs, but each annual upgrade is incremental, and last year's models are very similar performance-wise but often at much lower prices. So you can get more for your money by not buying the latest TVs.

Then you want to think about what you actually want to use the TV for. If you'll be putting it in a bright space, then you need a set that'll be able to handle that without getting washed out or too much glare. Or maybe brightness isn't that important to you if you want to watch late at night in a cosy room.

But in that scenario, the quality and vibrancy of the color might override everything else. Those aspects are helpful for gamers too, especially if paired with a higher refresh rate and HDMI 2.1 ports so you can plug in your console or gaming PC. Vivid colors, good contrast and a high refresh rate are also crucial for sports viewing, too.

How we test the best budget TVs

When we start testing the best budget TVs, what we really want to know is whether each set is worth your money and represents good value with the right mix of performance and features. So we split our testing into two parts: detailed lab measurements to gather performance data and real-world testing.

You can read more about how we test TVs in the lab, but the short version is that we take a bunch of industry-standard tools and use them to measure color output, brightness and lag. This objective data makes it easier to compare TVs when every room and set of eyes might judge things in a more subjective way.

Plus, we use it to inform our recommendations when suggesting specific models for gaming, sports or particularly bright spaces. But the data is just one part of the puzzle, as it's just as important what the actual experience of using the TV in the same way that you would at home feels like.

So, we set them up in the usual way and watch things on them. We spend time with the software, apps and different settings and picture modes. We play games, plug in consoles and connect gaming PCs. And we sit back and cast a critical eye over the colors in vivid movies and the darker blacks in shadowy TV shows.

I used to think heavier (and therefore more expensive) was better, but the longer I've trained, the more I've found that ease of use, comfort and value wins out. That's why I've ranked the LifePro PowerFlow Plus as the best adjustable dumbbells overall.

These used to be my favorite budget set, they're not just good if you're looking to keep costs down. They range up to 25 lbs per weight, have a quick slider to adjust the load, and have flat sides to stop them rolling away between moves.

But for those of you after more choice, I've rounded up the best adjustable dumbbells, including my other favourites, the BowFlex Results Series 552 SelectTech Dumbbells, for a range of uses, experience levels and budgets to help you get the most from your at-home workouts and get the results you're after.

Plus, (whisper it) I actually leave most of my sets outside since I don't have a lot of storage space. So when I test, they're exposed to the elements and all still hold up well. Not that I recommend this, but if you're tight on space with fewer storage options, or you enjoy working out in the cold, it's something to consider.

The best adjustable dumbbells you can buy today

Best adjustable dumbbells for most people

I don't think the best adjustable dumbbells are those that cost the most or range up to the highest weight. Instead, I think the best dumbbells you can get are a mid-range, great value and easy to use set like the LifePro PowerFlow Plus.

There may be a time when you want to lift heavier than the 25 lbs per 'bell these reach, but for most people, they're a cost-effective way to train at home, and make a perfect starter set of weights without breaking the bank on a premium pair.

I'd call the LifePro PowerFlow Plus cheap premium adjustable dumbbells. The weight range is on the lower side and the plastic storage tray doesn't scream luxury. But for a bit more money than the basic sets, you get an easy to use load adjustment slide and flat-bottomed weights that don't roll away.

The steel handle was comfortable and with enough space (just) for two-handed moves, whether I was wearing gloves or not. I didn't have any trouble with sweat loosening my grip either. The only slight challenge I had was that the indented plate design with a smooth finish made it hard to hold onto during skull crushers.

It's a bit of a shame that the end of each weight has a plastic bumper — it makes the set feel cheaper than it actually is, and more fragile than the surrounding material. So while mine stayed intact during testing, I can easily imagine one accidental drop fracturing the plastic ends.

But for the most part, these weights were a breeze to use; I see anything that doesn't actively get in my way during workouts to be a win. And I didn't have to think about how to handle the PowerFlow Plus, they just sat in the storage tray until I needed to change the resistance and helped me train without a whole rack of weights.

Best adjustable dumbbells for a home gym

BowFlex dumbbells have consistently been some of the best since the brand established its popular SelectTech 552 weights almost 20 years ago. And in mid-2025, came a successor, the BowFlex Results Series 552 SelectTech Dumbbells.

These are not unlike the older model, but there's a clear focus on simplicity this time around. You won't find smart features, integrations with smartphone apps or complex adjustment mechanisms. In the best sense, these are traditional weights.

The weight plates come with a black coating, which should help prevent wear and rusting in the long term. I kept mine outside (as I don't have space inside for equipment), but covered, and apart from a bit of dust, they survived perfectly.

Like any good set of dumbbells, the handle is wide enough for double-handed use, and I found that the coated grip in the middle was easy to hold onto, even when I worked out without gloves. I tested them in early fall and didn't get quite as sweaty as during the height of summer, but the material should fare well in the heat too.

Changing weights is easy — just adjust the dial while they're in the storage tray. It's quick, and I prefer this way over sliders. The only thing that let them down a bit is that you had to turn the dial on both ends of the dumbbell, taking extra time, though you'll find the same on many other dial sets, like the Ativafit Adjustable Dumbbells.

And it's only a small thing, but the contoured storage tray is actually quite a nice change from the usual straight lines, and makes the dumbbells seem more like a premium bit of equipment that you've dropped almost $500 on than a collection of metal plates.

Though the tray's clip that locks the dumbbells in place as you change the weight can be a bit unpredictable, and I'd occasionally have to lift the weights and base, and gently knock it against the ground to loosen the connection.

But that and the double-adjustment mechanism aside, it's a welcome return to form for BowFlex under their new ownership, and I hope Johnson Health Tech continues along this path, releasing high quality weights that will last you for years.

And in keeping with that momentum, the brand also launched the BowFlex Results Series 52 SelectTech Dumbbells — these are almost identical, but have a white handle and a slightly more rounded profile. Tom's Guide's U.S. Editor-in-Chief tried this edition out and had this to say about the 'bells:

"The differences between the Bowflex Results Series 52 SelectTech dumbbells and the Results Series 552 are purely aesthetic: The latter have a tapered profile with black and grey colorways, while the newer set have a more rounded shape and come in black and white.

The 52s handle was also comfortable to grip — each grip wasn’t quite big enough for two hands, though — and the contoured base for each dumbbell let me set it down smartly."

If you have a choice, go for whichever is cheaper; they're the same weights. As Mike said: "You can’t go wrong with either the Series 52 or the older Series 552; unless you’re wedded to the look of one or the other, go with whatever’s on sale."

Best value adjustable dumbbells

If you want to avoid sliders and don't like the slider on the LifePro weights, the Flybird Adjustable Dumbbells have a twisting handle to change the load instead. This is one of the most convenient mechanisms and really does speed up the process, so if you want to drop the load mid-set to keep your form on point, these are a good option.

They adjust in 5 lbs increments, and run up to 25 lbs just like the LifePro PowerFlow Plus. The Flybird weights are a bit more expensive, though, but because the mechanism relies on the handle, there's additional knurling and texturing to improve your grip.

And to prevent accidents, you can't remove the plates once the dumbbell is lifted out of its storage tray. The plates fit together well, so there's not a lot of noise while you're working out, and the contoured handle helps you keep a firm grip, even when you've got sweaty hands.

When we originally reviewed these in 2021, we were disappointed that there weren't additional 'smart' features, like a companion app, which were common with other weights at the time (side note: this is during the same era as the NordicTrack iSelect dumbbells with Alexa voice-activation, which are now, thankfully, discontinued).

So at the time, we knocked the Flybird set down for this lack of 'modern' touches, but this isn't really a downside anymore. And, if anything, is a strength of classic dumbbells; without tech that needs upgrading, these dumbbells should last you for many, many years.

• Read our full Flybird Adjustable Dumbbell review

Also tested

We test a lot of adjustable dumbbells to make sure that we're genuinely recommending The Best. That doesn't mean that the others we've tried aren't good, so if you're after more choice, these are the weights that didn't quite make the cut.

How to choose the best adjustable dumbbells for you

Deciding on the best adjustable dumbbells for your home workouts will depend on how you like to train, weight range and your budget. If you're new to resistance training, aim for something on the lower load end, around 20 lbs.

If you're used to working with weights, consider going to 50 lbs, but you'll also notice that the price increases roughly in line with the extra weight. The maximum load is important, but so is the range and adjustment increments.

Go for a wide range if you want something that'll suit you several years from now as you get stronger, even if you initially have the load set on the lower end. But if you want to add some resistance to cardio or bodyweight workouts rather than do dedicated muscle-building sessions, a narrower range would work (and it's cheaper).

Pay attention to the adjustment mechanism too — premium sets have dials or sliders, cheaper sets have manually adjustable weights plates (like you'd find on a barbell at a gym). The dials and sliders are a lot easier, but you generally pay more for these sets, as they're typically on weights that have a larger range or higher load.

Generally, the heavier you go, the more you'll need to spend. If you're buying online, check your retailer's shipping policy too, as they may charge extra to deliver heavy items.

How we test the best adjustable dumbbells

Since I began exercising at home, I've used the workout app Centr for strength training sessions, so I do my usual weekly routine with each set of weights. This includes dedicated upper body workouts, high-intensity resistance training (HIRT) and some bodyweight routines where I generally add a low weight into the mix.

Most days, I train with workout gloves on. This helps improve my grip, which is useful for keeping good form, but to get a real sense of what the weights are like, I also do some sessions bare-handed to see how well the handles cope with sweaty palms and unusual holds, like during triceps skull crushers or dumbbell halos.

Because the training is varied, I need to keep changing the load I'm using, giving me the perfect opportunity to test out the weights adjustment mechanism. If the set uses manual plates, I look at how secure the locking nuts are, whether you can get them off easily, and if the plates are easy to get back into place in a pinch.

For those adjustable dumbbells with sliders or load selectors, I look whether you need a lot of dexterity to move them around (after all, you're probably gasping for breath and trying to recover between sets — not exactly ideal conditions for fiddly mechanisms) and how securely the plates stay in the storage tray.

FAQs

Right now, the best smartwatch for women is the Apple Watch Series 11. The latest model of the Apple Watch boasts improved battery life over its predecessor and is available in two different sizes, making it one of Apple's most comfortable wearables. It only works with iPhone, though, so if you're an Android user, you're better off going for something else.

If you're looking to track fitness, the best watch for women is the Garmin Venu 4. It has pretty much all of the features found on the high-end best Garmin watches, but in a stylish and svelte package.

We've tested dozens of smartwatches and fitness trackers in order to determine the bets smartwatches for women. Here, we'll take you through them, from the best for health tracking to the best if you're on a budget.

It's smartwatch release season! Which means we have new wearables from Apple, Google and Samsung about to hit shelves. Most brands have launched new versions of their Ultra watches — large models with big displays and longer battery life. This may be what you're looking for, but they are generally pretty hefty on your wrist and often weigh twice as much as the regular models. Which is why I'd keep an eye on the Apple Watch Series 12 and Google Pixel Watch 5 instead. We'll have our full reviews out soon, but in the meantime, I'd still recommend buying last year's models, which have similar features but for less money now the prices have dropped.

The best smartwatches for women right now

Best smartwatch for women overall

The Apple Watch 11 is the best Apple Watch yet. It’s not a major upgrade over the Apple Watch 10 in terms of features, but it does finally crack the 18-hour battery life mark.

While the Apple Watch 11 looks the same as the Apple Watch 10 on the surface, the little watch is twice as tough. Apple has made the protective glass of the screen much tougher, meaning the Apple Watch 11 can withstand more knocks.

The Apple Watch 11 ships with watchOS 26, which means it features Apple's latest Workout Buddy, an AI workout coach, a sleep score, and the first-of-its-kind high blood pressure alert feature (hypertension).

On board, there are more workout modes than you can imagine, as well as the ability to track your sleep, vitals, and cycle from your wrist. The Series 11 also gets a bump from LTE to 5G, giving it better cellular range than ever before.

That's why it's the best smartwatch for women (and for most people) if you have an iPhone.

• Read our full Apple Watch 11 review

Best smartwatch for women for Android

The Galaxy Watch 8 is Samsung's newest smartwatch model, and it offers a handful of new features and wellness tools not currently found on the Galaxy Watch 7, the most notable being Google's Gemini AI voice assistant built in.

While the older model is slated to eventually get this feature via firmware (the Pixel Watch 3, too), at present, Samsung's latest and the Pixel Watch 4 are the only smartwatches that ships with Gemini preloaded.

Gemini is by far the most useful on-wrist AI assistant I've tested, capable of handling a range of tasks and reliable when it comes to providing useful responses to inquiries like, "Can my 20-pound chihuahua mix eat blueberries, and if so, how many?”

There are also a handful of new holistic and fitness features on the Galaxy Watch 8 of varying usefulness. Cardiovascular Load and Samsung's new personalized running coach both impressed me during testing. The former lets you know how your lifestyle may be impacting your overall heart health, and the latter builds a full-blown multi-week training plan based on a simple 12-minute run test and your running goals.

The Galaxy Watch 8 strikes the balance of sleek and sporty, while two display sizes and a large collection of interchangeable bands offer ample customization. But the reason it really stands out as one of the best smartwatches for women is its integration with the fertility-tracking app, Natural Cycles.

Famously, the Oura Ring works with Natural Cycles, but the data syncs from one app to the other and you need a subscription to both to make it work. Samsung's implementation is different.

Natural Cycles' algorithm powers the menstrual tracking and fertility data in the Samsung Health app. So, you buy the watch and get access to some of Natural Cycles' key features without taking an additional subscription.

• Read our full Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 review

Best smartwatch for women for fitness

The Garmin Venu 4 has received some huge upgrades, making it well worth considering if you’re looking to upgrade your smartwatch. It comes with a price hike compared to its predecessor, the Garmin Venu 3, but it has a redesigned case, more accurate GPS, and more advanced health and fitness tracking features on board.

he Venu 4 has some of Garmin’s most premium health and training features, as well as a bunch of new ones built in, including the new sleep consistency and sleep alignment features, lifestyle logging, and health status.

From a safety perspective, the Venu 4 has a flashlight, which can change color as you're running at night, adding visibility to your workouts. It can be turned on by holding the back button down for a couple of seconds, and you can change the brightness by swiping up and down on the watch.

During testing, I was blown away by the design of this watch. It looks beautiful. The all-metal casing, rather than just the metal bezel on the Venu 3, gives the newer watch a more premium feel on the wrist. The watch has a bright, AMOLED touchscreen, as well as two physical buttons to allow you to navigate around the watch while wearing gloves or with sweaty hands.

• Read our full Garmin Venu 4 review

Best smartwatch for women for health tracking

The Fitbit Sense 2 is the company's premium smartwatch that comes with more advanced health and wellness features than the Versa line. Not only does it have an FDA-cleared ECG sensor and blood oxygen reading, but the Sense has the ability to measure electrodermal activity and skin temperature, too.

An update to the stress-detecting EDA (electrodermal activity) sensor plays a large role in the device’s success: now called cEDA ('c' for continuous,) the sensor monitors stress levels or heightened responses throughout the day, prompting the user to take action on mood monitoring with Body Response notifications.

During testing, we were impressed by the Sense 2's long battery life and attractive design, as well as the huge number of health tracking options. The Sense 2 works with both iOS and Android, and comes with onboard GPS, Alexa, and more.

• Read our full Fitbit Sense 2 review

Best budget smartwatch for women

The Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Pro is excellent for those looking for a great fitness tracker on a budget. It's $310 cheaper than the Apple Watch 11 with 20 times better battery life and effectively identical functionality.

At $89, it's by far the cheapest smartwatch on this list. There is a slightly more expensive Ceramic Edition that costs $109, the main draw of which is that it comes with a fluororubber strap instead of a TPU one on the base model. This strap is more resistant to UV rays, oils, harsh chemicals, and dust, as well as overall just looking more sophisticated. In testing, we found it to be more comfortable than a silicone strap, too.

You should note, however, that at the time of writing, the Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Pro isn’t officially available through Xiaomi in the U.S. It is available through certain third-party retailers, although you should be aware that doing so carries some risks.

When it comes to fitness tracking, the Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Pro uses a range of different sensors, including an accelerometer, gyroscope, and more, to accurately measure and track over 150 workouts, physical activities, and even board games, as well as passive metrics like steps, stress, and more. In testing, we found its metrics to be very accurate. It gives you an in-depth breakdown of your heart rate, aerobic or anaerobic activity, workout performance, calories burned, and more.

Beyond fitness, it also offers a range of breathing exercises, guiding you through activities like box breathing in times of stress or anxiety.

In terms of smartwatch functionality, you can receive notifications; however, it does not have a built-in mic or speaker, meaning you cannot answer calls via the Xiaomi Smartband 10 Pro. It does allow you to set custom text-based message responses for when you can’t answer calls, though.

If you do want to track every metric you can, you'll need to download the Mi Fitness app and enable permissions manually. Stress tracking, for example, is disabled by default. You should also keep in mind, however, that enabling continuous stress tracking (which can give you in-depth stress analysis and help you determine stress triggers and unhealthy habits to avoid) will impact battery life. In testing, this reduced the promised up to 21 days of battery life down to 13. Despite this, this is still the best battery life of any smartwatch on this list.

You can also use the Band 10 Pro to measure blood oxygen levels and blood pressure, as well as your menstrual cycle and log things like pain and moods, negating the need for a dedicated period tracking app. The Band 10 Pro notifies you when you’ve been stationary for too long, too, prompting you to stretch or walk around.

It will also tell you your sleep efficiency or quality by citing metrics like average heart rate, average sleep HRV (heart rate variation), and how long it took you to fall asleep. It will then assign you a Sleep Animal (we were assigned a koala, for example), and assign you a sleep schedule based on your animal. This is cute, but not as helpful as the sleep tracking offered by other smartwatches.

Overall, if you're looking for a stylish yet inexpensive Apple Watch dupe, the Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Pro is a great option. There are some add-ons that make it more expensive, but these aren't strictly necessary.

• Read our full Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Pro review

Best screenless smartwatch for women

The Fitbit Air is the latest offering from Fitbit, and it joins the likes of the Whoop band, the Helio strap, and the Polar Loop in a number of new, screenless fitness trackers, which are great if you want to just focus on your fitness goals with no other distractions. While it is less of a smartwatch and more of a fitness tracker, I felt it deserved a place on this list regardless, for being a distraction-free way to track your health and fitness.

At just $99, it offers excellent value for money, and while there is a subscription model for personalized AI-backed health and fitness insights and deeper dives into your holistic trends from Google Health Premium, it isn't necessary, as you can still access the Fitbit Air's core features without it via the Google Health app. Still, if you do want to access it, it's fairly inexpensive compared to other fitness subscriptions at $9.99 a month or $99 a year.

In terms of tracking, the Fitbit Air offers sleep tracking insights on par with the best fitness trackers and best smartwatches, and even has an app for tracking holistic trends, including resting heart rate, average calorie burn, step count, heart rate variability, menstrual cycles, and daily readiness. Its fitness tracking is reliable, too — we tried it out in a comparison test with the Garmin Forerunner 70, and found that Fitbit Air tracks your heart rate with similar reliability to the Garmin smartwatch.

On top of this, it's comfortable to wear, too. Overall, we found it to be smaller and lighter than alternatives from Whoop, Amazfit, and Polar, which is excellent news if you find these models to be a bit too clunky on the wrist.

It's not perfect, however — as with most other screenless wearables, there's no onboard GPS or altimeter, which means you can't track your location or elevation data without carrying a smartphone. Additionally, during testing, we discovered that its automatic workout tracking only kicks in after 15 minutes.

Plus, if you do want to input a workout manually on the Fitbit app to make sure it actually logs it, you'll likely find the amount of activities lacking as compared to that of the Apple Watch Series 11, for example.

Still, if you're looking for an attractive, screenless fitness tracker that won't break the bank, the Fitness Air is an excellent option.

• Read our full Fitbit Air review

Best smart ring for women

Ok, I know this isn't a smartwatch, but I'd be remiss to speak about female health tracking tech without mentioning the Oura Ring. The latest model (the Oura Ring 5) has been released, and we were definitely impressed by its performance in testing.

Oura is consistently one of the best when it comes to tracking your cycle — my Oura Ring 4 worked out that I was pregnant before I did. Plus, it's cleverly disguised as a piece of jewellery, meaning you don't have to worry about a clunky smartwatch ruining the vibes of your outfit.

Still, you may have thought the Oura Ring 4 was a little too bulky to be discreet. Oura has taken these critiques on board, and the Oura Ring 5 is 40% smaller than the Ring 4. It's just 2.28mm thick and weighs as little as 2 grams, depending on ring size.

However, the Oura Ring 5 has slightly fewer sizing options than the Ring 4 — sizes 6-13 versus Ring 4's 4-15. So, if you have smaller hands, you may find the Ring 5 simply doesn't fit.

From a tracking perspective, Oura helps you keep an eye on your recovery and sleep, but also the impact of the day's stress on your body. Its companion smartphone app makes it easy to see daily insights, long-term trends, and an overall picture of your health, as well as more in-depth, impressive analysis if you want to get under the hood with your health, as it were.

There is one major downside, however, and that's that on top of the $399 price tag ($50 more than the Oura Ring 4), the Oura Ring 5 also requires a monthly subscription of $5.99 to use the ring. This may be a step too far for some, especially considering how pricey the hardware is.

However, if you want a discreet fitness tracker that offers you a better understanding of your overall health, it's a great option.

Read our full Oura Ring 5 review

Also tested

How we test the best smartwatches for women

Whenever an attractive smartwatch for women is released, we fully charge it up, then strap it on our wrist for about a week or so to test out all the features.

We gauge how it feels on our wrist throughout our day-to-day, as well as how easy (or not) the interface is to navigate when we need to read notifications, set timers or change other settings.

Next, we look at its fitness features, such as heart rate readings, blood oxygen readings, step counts and, when applicable, GPS. How accurate are all these readings? Does the smartwatch offer female-specific features for menstrual cycle or pregnancy tracking?

Finally we consider battery life claims and compare it to our actual use. Some features like continuous GPS use, playing music or enabling an always-on display chew up juice faster than others. We understand that not all smartwatches last two weeks — we just want our experience to match up with the expectations set by the company.

How to choose the best smartwatch for women

Among the best smartwatches for women, you have a bounty of options to match your needs and style. That said, if you have an iPhone, you’ll probably appreciate the ecosystem experience of the Apple Watch 11.

The same goes for those with Samsung smartphones, your best choice is a Samsung-made Galaxy Watch, but if fitness tracking or working out is your priority, a Fitbit or Garmin wearable might be better for reaching your goals. Plus, both those companies offer diverse design options.

When picking any smartwatch, you’ll also want to get one that fits your wrist comfortably. Those with smaller wrists may find larger smartwatches bulky and cumbersome. All of the smartwatches above have 40mm or smaller size options, though the 38mm Garmin Lily is by far the most compact. The Amazfit Active 3 Premium is also a great choice, with a 1.3-inch screen.

Some of the best smartwatches for women look like high-tech fitness trackers, while others look like traditional timepieces, too. If you want something sporty, stick to sleek materials with fewer embellishments. If you want something you can wear on nicer occasions, look for bezels or other eye-catching accents.

It goes beyond comfort, although this is an important factor. However, you also want an office chair with good ergonomic features, so you can maintain good posture, as well as something that provides good support. Mesh chairs help keep you cool by providing better airflow, while foam-cushioned office chairs provide improved support.

You'll also need a chair with plenty of adjustability, the right casters or wheels for carpet or hardwood, and one that’s easy to clean and care for. Based on over 5,000 hours of testing, the chair that fits this criteria the best is the Branch Verve Chair. It's adjustable, cooling, stylish, and incredibly comfortable.

However, there are many other options out there, and you might be looking for a chair for a specific use case. With this in mind, I've provided a list of the top ten office chairs for a range of different categories, from best budget to the best for taller people, to the best for gamers, and even the best smart chair for anyone looking for a high-tech seat.

The best office chairs you can buy today

The best office chair overall

The Branch Verve Chair is a stylish and comfortable office chair that will support you all day long. While I was impressed with the features, comfort, and price of the original Branch Ergonomic Chair, the Verve Chair takes things up a notch in several ways.

For starters, instead of a more traditional mesh backrest, it uses a 3D knit one that’s soft to the touch and feels like fabric but still gives you plenty of airflow. The Verve Chair also uses an adjustable padded lumbar support instead of a plastic one, and its armrests curve inward for a more distinct look.

I found the Branch Verve Chair to be quite comfortable to sit in for long stretches of time, thanks to its foam seat. However, its seat and backrest are both contoured, which also helped me maintain good posture while doing so.

It also offers a variety of adjustments, but not so many that you might be overwhelmed. Even though you can recline in it and decrease its tilt tension to make doing so easier, I preferred using it upright, as Branch’s optional headrest wasn’t available back when I reviewed it.

Another thing that really sets the Verve Chair apart from your typical office chair is that it’s available in seven different colors. Say you pick up this chair in mint, the entire chair, from its casters to its backrest, will come in this color. This can really help add a dash of color to your home office setup.

At just under $550, the Branch Verve is not necessarily a premium chair, but it isn't a budget pick, either. Overall, I'd say it is worth the investment, and with a 7-year warranty, you can be sure that you're covered should anything go awry.

The Branch Verve Chair is an excellent option for most people, with a weight limit of 275 pounds, but if you want all the bells and whistles like armrests that can turn all the way around, keep reading, as I also recommend some more full-featured chairs like the Herman Miller Aeron.

• Read our full Branch Verve Chair review

Best budget office chair

If you want effective support for all-day use without breaking the bank, the Boulies EP200 desk chair is an excellent option.

It's highly adjustable with a flexible, breathable mesh back, which we found very comfortable during testing. This works well with the adjustable lumbar support to help you find the exact right positioning that works for you.

The level of customization doesn't stop here, though. The height is adjustable (standard for most chairs), but its armrests can also swivel and change height, as well as being able to move the seat depth forwards and backwards.

There’s also an adjustable head and neck support, which we found very useful for maintaining an upright posture in testing. However, you should note that if you're shorter than 5'4", you may find it redundant.

If you like to lean back in your office chair, you'll be pleased to know that the chair can also recline to angles of 95º, 113º and 135º.

Coming in at $209, the Boulies EP200 isn't the absolute cheapest chair on the market, but it is cheaper than the previous chair in this spot, the Boulies OP180, while having more features.

The main downside is that the seat of the chair is not very durable. In fact, after just a couple of hours of use, it was already showing signs of wear, like the fabric creasing.

While this wear was disappointing, I would still recommend this chair to anyone looking for a comfortable chair at a decent price point.

• Read our full Boulies EP200 review

The best office chair for back pain

The LiberNovo Omni is an ergonomic office chair that I spent more time sitting in than I’d like to admit due to just how comfortable it is. In addition to being incredibly supportive and great for your back, its seat cushion is made from multi-layered foam with a soft front edge to reduce pressure on your legs.

Likewise, its seat, backrest, and headrest are all wrapped in a soft-feeling elastic fabric. After testing countless chairs over the years, I was immediately surprised by what LibreNovo has managed to achieve with the Omni as a newcomer.

While it may look like your standard office chair at first glance, spinning it around reveals its motorized lumbar support system and its dynamic Bionic FlexFit backrest, which is made up of eight flexible panels. Like the Intermix textile on the Steelcase Karman, it too is designed to move with your body as you shift in your chair throughout the day.

The reason I’ve decided to replace the Hbada X1 with the LiberNovo Omni as my top pick for back pain is not just because of how comfortable it is to sit in; it's the Omni's revolutionary recovery suite. When paired with the Omni’s optional footrest, you can lie back and let it reset your spine.

Next to the buttons to control its adjustable lumbar depth feature, there’s another button to activate what LiberNovo calls its OmniStretch feature. When engaged, it raises and lowers the chair’s lumbar support to help stretch out your back.

At just over $1,000 at full price (although we have seen this drop to around $850), the LiberNovo Omni is definitely a premium office chair. I was also slightly disappointed by its two-year warranty for its electrics, although the frame does come with a five-year warranty.

However, if you work long hours at your desk or spend a lot of time there gaming in the evenings and suffer from back pain, it’s definitely a worthwhile investment. The chair’s focus on dynamic movement and spinal decompression set it apart and really helped it shine, even among more expensive models from Herman Miller and Steelcase.

If you’re looking for an office chair that does things differently by almost perfectly combining comfort and ergonomics with a one-button fix for back pain, the LiberNovo Omni is absolutely worth considering.

• Read our full LiberNovo Omni review

The best office chair for ergonomics