How Does the New Peloton Bike+ Compare to the Original At-Home Bike?

With COVID-19 making in-person workouts more difficult and unsafe, people have had to adjust to at-home workouts. Many love the Peloton at-home bike, which includes great features like a moveable screen, a solid sound system, and workout classes (there are even Disney-themed ones).

On Sept. 9, the new and improved Peloton Bike+ dropped, and it has many great additional and improved features — and even better news, its release also means the original bike is now on sale. If you're interested in purchasing one of these bikes, here are some differences and notable features to consider before you hand over your credit card.

What Are the Key Features That Differ Between the 2 Peloton Bikes?

Peloton describes the original bike as "the original heart-pumping cardio experience" and the Peloton Bike+ as "the ultimate cardio + strength experience," so it's immediately clear that both bikes will offer an intense at-home workout. The Peloton Bike+ is slightly bigger than the original, with slightly higher performance, and it also has an in-built speaker system. Many of the major differences, however, are in the screen and sound. For example, the screen on the newer Peloton Bike + is about two inches larger than the original, and the random access memory is slightly larger, offering two more gigabytes. In addition, the Peloton Bike+ has three more megapixels in the camera, and the microphone is slightly more sophisticated.

The Peloton Bike+ is also unique in that the touch screen now rotates so you can more easily use the bike for off-bike workouts, and you only have to touch your Apple Watch once to sync it to the bike and keep track of your metrics and performance. Additionally, the resistance adjustments are touch-free. According to the company, the Peloton Bike+ is supposed to improve your indoor cycling class experience with its strength, yoga, stretching, and meditation classes. For further information, see here.

What Are the Key Features That Are Similar?

Most features between the two bikes are the same. Both have access to live classes, in-workout metrics, milestone achievements, and special event programming. In addition, both have a 12-month limited warranty, require the same amount of space in your home, are constructed the same, and have adjustable seating. See here for more information.

What's the Price Difference Between the 2 Bikes?

The Peloton Bike now starts at $1,895 (which is a significant drop from the original $2,245), which you can pay in monthly instalments of $49. The Peloton Bike+ now starts at $2,495, which you can pay in monthly instalments of $64.

What Kind of Reviews Has Each Bike Received?

On the Peloton website, the Peloton Bike received an average of 4.8 stars out of five. Many reviewers commented on how thankful they are that they bought the bike. Wirecutter, a product review website owned by The New York Times, also had positive reviews about the smoothness of the ride, variety of stats, instructors, and off-the-bike workouts. However, Wirecutter reviewers didn't like the high price of the bike and that it requires shoes specific to the Peloton bike and thought the functionality of the bike was limited without the expensive monthly membership. They also struggled with the classes, since you can't pause them and you won't get credit for the ride if the class timer doesn't start.

Reviews for the Peloton Bike+ are still pretty slim, since the bike only launched in September. That said, most of the reviews available currently do note that the Peloton Bike+ offers a slightly smoother ride and that, yes, the screen's ability to swivel — so you can utilise the Peloton bike for off-bike workouts — is a handy feature. As for whether it's worth the extra $600, that's really a personal choice. If the slight upgrades are worth the cost to you and you're someone who prefers to buy the newest version of the available tech, then go for it. If you're just looking for a reliable at-home bike to sweat it out on, then perhaps you'd be better off taking advantage of the original bike's price drop.