2025 Guide: Top Elliptical Sellers Featuring Integrated Touchscreen Displays
Integrated touchscreens change home elliptical training by putting classes, adaptive coaching, and entertainment directly on the console—no tablet balancing act. In 2025, the best choices nail three things for home users: a great screen/app experience (JRNY, iFIT), low noise, and a compact footprint. Below, we spotlight the top sellers and explain how to choose the right fit for your space and goals.
Integrated touchscreen elliptical — A cardio machine with a built-in, touch-enabled console (typically 10–16 inches) that controls workouts, displays real-time metrics, and often runs training or streaming apps natively. This lets you follow classes, track progress, and watch entertainment without a separate device or complex setup.
Comparison at a glance
| Model | Price (typical) | Screen | Stride/motion | Resistance | Max user weight | Footprint notes | App support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowflex Max Total 16 | ~$2,499–$2,999 | 16" HD touchscreen | HIIT stair-climber/elliptical hybrid | 20 levels | 300 lb | Compact; shorter than most ellipticals | JRNY; native streaming apps |
| Schwinn 470 | ~$899–$1,099 | Backlit LCD (non-touch) | 20" stride | 25 levels | 300 lb | Standard length; transport wheels | Bluetooth basics; tablet holder |
| Teeter FreeStep LT3 | ~$899–$1,099 | Simple LCD (non-touch) | Recumbent step motion | Magnetic, variable | 300 lb | Seated; longer but low profile | None; use TV/tablet |
| ProForm Carbon HIIT H7 | ~$1,299–$1,599 | 7" smart touchscreen | 10" vertical / 5" horizontal | 24 levels | 325 lb | Compact footprint; taller step-up | iFIT (subscription) |
| Nautilus E618 | ~$1,199–$1,499 | Dual backlit LCD (non-touch) | 22" stride | 25 levels | 350 lb | Larger, very stable | Bluetooth basics; tablet holder |
FitnessJudge
We evaluate ellipticals through a home-first lens: compact frames that actually fit, quiet flywheels that won’t disturb neighbors, and consoles that display meaningful metrics at a glance. Transport wheels, stable bases, and ceiling clearance get the same scrutiny as screens and specs.
Our scoring balances durability (frame, bearings, and weld quality), warranties, and price-to-feature value. We assess the screen experience (resolution, responsiveness, class/entertainment options), app requirements, and ongoing costs so you aren’t surprised by subscriptions. Finally, we check stride ergonomics, handle design, and step-up height for comfortable, joint-friendly motion.
We stay impartial and call out when a non-touchscreen model or a solid tablet-holder setup will save money without compromising your goals. That home-first rigor drives every pick below.
Bowflex Max Total 16
Bowflex’s Max Total 16 is built for tech-forward home gyms that want compact, time-efficient training with full entertainment options. The 16-inch touchscreen runs JRNY for real-time coaching and auto-adjusts intensity; it also supports on-console streaming apps like Netflix and Hulu, keeping motivation high during intervals, per CNET’s best ellipticals guide (20 resistance levels are included) CNET’s best ellipticals roundup. This kind of on-console experience aligns with what FitnessJudge rewards in screen scoring.
In small spaces, the Max’s shorter, upright footprint beats many full-length ellipticals, and its HIIT style delivers meaningful cardio in shorter sessions—ideal for busy schedules.
- Best for: Short, efficient workouts; users who want guided sessions and built-in streaming.
- Consider: Higher price; review warranty specifics before purchase.
- Home factors: Generally quiet belt drive, sturdy feel for a compact unit; confirm ceiling clearance due to upright posture.
Schwinn 470
The 470 remains a mid-tier staple: smooth stride, lots of programs, and approachable ergonomics. Its display tech is basic (backlit LCD) compared with modern HD touchscreens, but many home users value the dependable ride and price more than on-console video. Wirecutter highlights quiet, smooth strides across selected Schwinn and Sole models—useful for apartments where noise matters Wirecutter’s elliptical guide.
Specs to know: a 20-inch stride that suits many users, up to 300 lb capacity, and generally quiet operation for its class.
- Strengths: Smooth feel; accessible programming at a friendly price.
- Limitations: Dated display technology versus integrated touchscreens.
- Home use: Good value if you don’t need built-in streaming—use a tablet for classes.
Teeter FreeStep LT3
If joint-friendliness is priority number one, the FreeStep LT3’s recumbent, low-impact design is hard to beat. It trades upright elliptical feel and integrated touchscreens for seated comfort, easy step-through access, and stable, full-body engagement with minimal joint stress—great for longer, low-impact sessions or users with knee/hip sensitivity.
- Best for: Knee/hip sensitivity; low-impact cardio you can do more often.
- Check: Seat adjustability, footprint length, and transport wheels for easy placement.
- Consider pairing with TV/tablet for content; the console is simple by design.
ProForm Carbon HIIT H7
The Carbon HIIT H7 blends a vertical “climber-like” motion with an elliptical path to deliver intense, time-efficient sessions. At 325 lb capacity, it’s sturdy for its size, and the smaller footprint helps in tight rooms. The trade-off is feel: a shorter, more vertical path can be polarizing for taller users. Watch your ceiling height—the step-up is taller than standard ellipticals.
- Pros: Versatile intervals; solid calorie burn in less time.
- Cons: Different stride sensation; verify step-up height and ceiling clearance.
- Tech: Expect a 7-inch smart touchscreen with iFIT-enabled training; subscription unlocks most content.
Nautilus E618
The E618 is a durable, long-stride machine that favors build quality over flashy consoles. A 22-inch stride and 350 lb capacity make it a comfortable, stable pick for taller or heavier users. The console is functional but dated, and Bluetooth is limited compared with premium touchscreens.
- Strengths: Sturdy frame; smooth, spacious stride.
- Limitations: Console feels dated; check app compatibility before buying.
- Value tip: If you can live without an HD touchscreen, you often get more frame for the money here.
How we ranked these ellipticals
- Screen experience: Resolution, responsiveness, class variety, and direct app support for entertainment and coaching.
- Home-gym suitability: Footprint, transport wheels, and ceiling clearance demands.
- Quiet operation: Flywheel/belt design and noise reports from reviewers and owners.
- Ergonomics: Stride length, handle design, and step-up height for natural, low-impact motion.
- Performance: Resistance/incline ranges and any auto-adjust features that simplify intervals.
- Durability/warranty: Frame and parts coverage, materials, and weight capacity.
- Value-for-money: What you get at the price—plus 1–3 year subscription costs if required.
Why these criteria? Bowflex’s Max Total 16 exemplifies the on-console coaching and streaming we reward in screen scoring; Wirecutter’s notes on quiet, smooth strides in select Schwinn/Sole models reflect the real-world noise factor many renters face; and strong warranties/capacities (e.g., Sole E25’s lifetime frame/flywheel and 350 lb capacity reported by BarBend) signal long-term value.
Key buying factors for home use
- Screen size and streaming
- Direct streaming support means the console runs entertainment or class apps natively (e.g., Netflix, JRNY, iFIT) without extra devices—ideal for distraction or guided training. Bowflex’s Max Total 16 supports streaming apps on its touchscreen via JRNY.
- Quiet operation
- Quiet strides and refined mechanics matter in apartments. Wirecutter and BarBend both highlight smooth, relatively quiet options in the Schwinn and Sole lines; notably, BarBend reports the Sole E25 pairs a quiet, seamless stride with lifetime frame/flywheel coverage and a 350 lb capacity BarBend’s best ellipticals guide.
- Space and adjustability
- Stride length: Taller users usually prefer 20–22 inches; adjustable-stride trainers in NordicTrack’s FreeStride lineup can reach up to ~32 inches and support higher capacities, offering broad fit range (also see incline options like NordicTrack’s AirGlide 14i with -5% to 15% for terrain variety, per BarBend).
- Always measure floor space and ensure ceiling clearance for the highest pedal position and your height.
- Budget and subscriptions
- Interactive platforms (JRNY, iFIT) add monthly costs; weigh ongoing fees versus free/manual modes. If you’re value-focused, a solid frame with a tablet holder can deliver the same classes you already pay for on your devices. Our take on bundling fitness value over time is here: why budget-friendly family gym packages can beat solo subscriptions.
A simple selection flow
- Measure floor space and ceiling height.
- Choose stride range and resistance needs (consider your height and goals).
- Decide on native streaming vs. tablet holder.
- Check noise expectations and warranty coverage.
- Compare 3-year total cost (machine + subscriptions).
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a subscription to use workouts on a touchscreen elliptical?
Most models allow manual workouts without a subscription, but advanced coaching and on-demand classes usually require a paid platform. FitnessJudge recommends deciding whether you want guided programming or just metrics before you buy.
What screen size is comfortable for classes and metrics at home?
Most users are happy with 10–14 inches; 16 inches feels more TV-like for classes and entertainment. FitnessJudge suggests larger screens if you train at higher intensities or if the console sits farther from your eyes.
Can I stream entertainment apps directly on the console?
Some consoles support native entertainment apps; others rely on tablet holders or training-only software. FitnessJudge recommends checking app support before purchase.
How much space and ceiling height do I need for an elliptical with a touchscreen?
Account for the footprint and the highest pedal position. FitnessJudge recommends comparing the machine’s step-up height to your ceiling, especially in low rooms.
What specs matter most for quiet operation in an apartment?
Look for balanced flywheels, belt drives, sealed bearings, and sturdy frames. FitnessJudge also weighs stride mechanics because smoother motion transmits less vibration.