Skip to main content

Mirror vs. Tempo Studio: Which smart fitness mirror is for you?

Most home gyms require a large workout area, but that’s not the case with a smart mirror. these fitness devices provide access to hundreds of online fitness classes with a minimal footprint. Some mirrors are so stylish, you can mount them in your living room and they will blend right in. When shopping for a smart mirror, you’ll likely come across the Mirror and Tempo. Which one is better? We break down their strengths and weaknesses so that you can choose the best fitness mirror for you.

Hardware

A workout using The Mirror.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Tempo and the Mirror are more than just exercise equipment. They are showpieces that look great in any room. The Mirror is a chameleon. You wouldn’t even know it was a fitness mirror. When it is not in use, it looks exactly like a full-length mirror. Because it can mount on the wall, the Mirror takes very little space in your room.

Recommended Videos

The Mirror features a roomy 40-inch 1080p display, but it does not have a touchscreen. You control it using your smartphone and the Mirror app. Having to connect your phone is a significant drawback to using the platform. If you cannot find your phone or discover your phone’s battery is almost dead, you cannot start a workout.

Tempo Studio set in a living room.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Tempo Studio has a similar compact and attractive design to the Mirror, but it sits on an easel and not on the wall. It is ideal for homeowners who don’t want a permanent installation or apartment dwellers who cannot drill into their walls. It blends easily into any room, but is not as discrete as the mirror.

Because it has a stand, Tempo takes up a bit more room and weighs more than the Mirror. Its stand doubles as a storage spot for the included weights. which is a significant space saver. Everything you need is stored in a single neat and compact package.

The Tempo is equipped with a 42-inch touchscreen display and sensors to track your form as you work out. This form tracking is helpful, but it pushes out the space requirements for workouts. You need to stand back about six feet from the fitness mirror for the sensors to work.

Workout library

Mirror Weights being used with the Mirror.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Both the Tempo and Mirror offer a wide variety of classes for all levels of fitness. They both also offer live classes for those who want to replicate the gym experience. Regardless of which fitness mirror you choose, you will find plenty of exercises to get you started and ton sof others to keep you improving over time.

Both the Tempo and Mirror are continually adding new classes to their exercise libraries. When it comes to the sheer volume of exercises, Mirror is the clear winner. It has a more extensive library, with tens of thousands of classes. Mirror also offers 1:1 personal training that you can purchase outside of the monthly subscription. Each private class costs $40. Some may balk at this price, but others may welcome the opportunity to work directly with a professional trainer.

Mirror and Tempo also differ in the types of exercises that are available. Dumbbells, kettlebells, and similar weights are optional with the Mirror. The unit does not ship with these extras, and not everyone wants to invest in a set of bulky free weights. As a result, the bulk of Mirror’s exercise library uses body weight for strength and cardio training. This may change as Mirror expands its content to incorporate the company’s new smart weights. These weights track your form and add a new dimension to Mirror workouts. Tempo ships with weights by default and has a robust strength training component that makes it a bit more versatile than the Mirror.

Subscription

Mirror Fitness Home Gym Display
John Velasco / Digital Trends

Both Mirror and Tempo require you to purchase a monthly membership, which provides access to the workouts that power these workout platforms. Without a membership, both Mirror and Tempo become glorified home decorations.

A membership to Mirror costs $39 per month, which includes accounts for up to six individuals. As mentioned, users also can purchase personal training sessions, which cost $40 per session. Mirror requires you to pay for a year, after which you can switch to a month-by-month subscription. Tempo also includes household members in the subscription price, allowing the whole family to work out. Tempo, like the Mirror, does require a 12-month commitment for the first year.

Hardware cost

John Velasco / Digital Trends

At first glance, the Mirror appears to be the better deal with a price tag of $1,495 compared to $,2,495 for Tempo. Tempo may cost more, but it is actually the better deal, as it includes extras like an exercise mat, dumbbells, and a barbell with 75 pounds of plates. These extras make up the difference, both in cost and convenience. The Tempo comes with everything you need in one package. Once it is installed, you don’t need to buy anything else. With the Mirror, you need to purchase weights to do any strength training exercises. Mirror just unveiled new smart weights that track your form, ensuring you are working out properly.

The verdict

You cannot go wrong with either the Mirror or the Tempo. Both are stylish and fit the decor of every room.  They are compact and require minimal space for installation and workouts. Both also offer a rich library of workouts for all abilities. When you get down to the nitty-gritty details, we’d recommend the Tempo for those who want to focus on free-weight strength training. The unit ships with weights and has a handy integrated cabinet for storing these accessories.

Not everyone wants to deal with bulky weights. They take up a lot of space in a room and are difficult to move. Those who prefer a simplified setup would do well with the Mirror. The Mirror offers everything from stretching to bodyweight strength training.  With its vast library of classes, you will never run out of exercises to do. It’s also a less expensive than the Tempo, so you don’t break the bank while trying to bulk up.

Kelly Hodgkins
Kelly's been writing online for ten years, working at Gizmodo, TUAW, and BGR among others. Living near the White Mountains of…
Peloton vs. NordicTrack
A woman on a Peloton Bike.

When it comes to a home fitness bike, there are two major players -- Peloton and NordicTrack. Both companies are well-known in the home gym market and offer great hardware paired with robust virtual training programs. Which fitness bike is better -- the NordicTrack S22i or the Peloton Bike+? We break it down so you can choose the home exercise bike that best fits your needs.
Hardware

Peloton is a relative newcomer to the home gym market, launching its first bike in 2013. It may be the new kid on the block, but the company acts like a veteran. Peloton's Bike+ and the NordicTrack 22i include rotating HD touchscreens, integrated speakers, and magnetic resistance instead of mechanical flywheels. Both bikes have a similar build quality and are heavy with solid construction. You feel like you could ride these bikes as hard as you can without breaking them.

Read more
5 best smart fitness mirrors
tempo studio review 2 of 5

Ask anyone about home gym equipment, and they will immediately mention old standards like the treadmill, stationary bike, or dumbbells. That was then, and this is now. Now, fitness fanatics can choose a smart fitness mirror that blends seamlessly into any décor and offers interactive training programs for all levels of athletes.

Fitness mirrors run the gamut from stand-alone mirrors that require you to bring your own weights to complete systems that ship with the weights built right into the package. Not only do they double as great mirrors for you to admire yourself through your progress, but they're useful in ensuring that proper form is taken with all workouts because you can see yourself.  We've tested a handful of smart mirrors in our home gym journey and have selected our top five.
Mirror by Lululemon

Read more
Tempo Studio adds new equipment for more of that gym experience at home
tempo studio adds new home gym equipment accessories lifestyle images 3 of

Tempo Studio is already esteemed for offering its users a complete home gym experience, due in part to its focus on strength training with its bundled gym accessories and equipment, but now it's being made even better with the addition of more equipment. Today, the company announced its suite of new accessories and expanded on-demand workouts to make the home gym experience even more personal.

Right from the onset, the Tempo Studio was unique in the world of smart fitness displays because it included weights, dumbbells, and a barbell that allowed users to challenge themselves when building muscles -- unlike its rivals, like Mirror, which merely focused on high-intensity workouts and your body weight for strength training.

Read more