Pros & Cons
-
- Built-in camera for Smart View
- Meaningful form guidance
- Fantastic Aero classes
- Excellent companion app
- 250-pound resistance limit
-
- Expensive and requires a monthly membership
- Same screen size as the previous generation
- Speakers can sound tinny at times
- Movement tracking from the side requires a phone
Tonal 2 Specs
| Dimensions | 50.9 by 21.5 by 5.25 inches |
| Display Size | 24 inches |
| Form Feeback | |
| Monthly Membership Fee | $59.95 |
| Recommended Floor Space | 7 by 7 feet |
| Supported Accessories | Smart Handles, Smart Bar, Rope, T-Lock Rope, Bench, Heart Rate, Monitors |
| Supported Weight (Base Model) | 250 pounds |
| Wall Mountable |
I've been using the Tonal, a wall-mounted smart strength training machine, since the early days of the COVID pandemic. The original version was nearly perfect in my eyes, so I wondered how Tonal would outdo itself for the second-generation model. At $4,295, the Tonal 2 costs $1,300 more than its predecessor at launch, and the monthly membership fee has increased from $49 to $59.95, but not all that much else has changed. The Tonal 2 features the same 23.8-inch display as the original, but ups the digital resistance weight limit to 250 pounds from 200. This is not a radical departure from the original by any means, but I love the Tonal 2-exclusive Aero (aerobic) classes, and the front-facing camera for Smart View is a nice touch. There's no better smart strength training experience on the market, so the Tonal 2 succeeds its predecessor as our Editors' Choice in the category.
Tonal 1 vs. Tonal 2: An Iterative Update
The original Tonal stayed on my wall for five years, and I can attest to its durability over time. The only maintenance it needed was an occasional battery change in the smart accessories, and it remained in perfect working order for the duration of my long-term testing. After upgrading to the Tonal 2, I could barely tell a difference at first—the two machines look nearly identical. The only aesthetic change is the addition of shiny chrome accents on the arms instead of gray ones on the original.
(Credit: Angela Moscaritolo)The cables on the Tonal 2 are 75% stronger than the original model, and the pins are twice as strong for improved durability, the company says. This also enables the biggest change for the Tonal 2, an increase in max resistance to 250 pounds (125 pounds per arm), up from 200 pounds total (100 pounds per arm) last generation. This will matter to people who lift heavy, but I never attempted to max out the machine even at the lower weight limit, so it's just a spec bump on paper to me.
The second-gen model also features an upgraded microprocessor with twice the output sampling rate of the original. This allows for more precise digital resistance control and enables the new Aero fitness classes that combine cardio and strength training. The other main upgrade for this generation is a built-in camera for the Smart View feature, which lets you see yourself on the screen as you work out and offers Coaching Cues to help you with your form.
(Credit: Angela Moscaritolo)Tonal has upgraded the speakers in the Tonal 2 with embedded EQ optimization, but I sometimes hear a slight tinny static sound from the speakers, and adjusting the machine's arms or the sound mix sliders in the volume settings menu does not seem to correct the problem. This is a disappointment, especially since I never experienced any such issues with the original. That said, it's only an occasional annoyance, and the audio from the Tonal 2 sounds good most of the time, so the problem isn't so bad that it prevents me from wanting to use the machine. Tonal has offered me a replacement machine; I will update this review when I receive it to note whether the problem is present on the second unit.
"A very small number of Tonal units have experienced an audio issue," a company spokesperson said in a statement to PCMag.com. "In those rare cases, Tonal has acted quickly to replace the affected units. Speaker-related issues are uncommon and handled through our standard RMA [Return Merchandise Authorization] process."
In addition to the new Aero workouts, the Tonal 2 supports the following modalities: barre, bootcamp, boxing, cardio, dance cardio, family fitness, golf fitness, high intensity, kickboxing, mat pilates, meditation, mobility, pre and postnatal, quick workouts, recovery strength, Theragun recovery, warmup, and yoga.
(Credit: Ali Jaber)The machine's overall dimensions are the same at 50.9 by 21.5 by 5.25 inches (HWD), and it still must be mounted to a wall with studs. Tonal says the system works with most wood and metal studs positioned 16 to 24 inches apart. The company recommends at least 7 by 7 feet of floor space, 7 feet of unobstructed wall space, and a ceiling height of at least 7'10''.
The Tonal 2 features the same 23.8-inch, 1,920-by-1,080 touch screen as the original, which is a bit surprising to me. The screen is perfectly sufficient, but I figured Tonal would up the size for the second-gen model. I've tested several similar products with much bigger displays, including the Tempo Studio (42 inches) and the Forme Studio fitness mirror (43 inches), both of which are unavailable to purchase online at the time of this writing.
On that point, smart fitness machines in general have lost popularity since their boom at the height of the pandemic, and Tonal doesn't have many direct competitors at the moment. There's the Speediance Gym Monster 2 ($3,749), a freestanding smart strength training machine that allows for up to 220 pounds of resistance (110 pounds per arm) and features a 21.5-inch 1080p touch screen. Echelon makes a freestanding machine called the Strength Pro ($5,999.99), which we have not tested, with a 24-inch touch screen and up to 130 pounds of resistance per arm for a 260-pound max weight that just edges out the Tonal 2.
I thought the original Tonal was expensive when I reviewed it in 2020, but at $2,995, it was a bargain compared with the Tonal 2. On top of the $4,295 price for the machine itself, budget another $495 for the smart accessories bundle, including handles, a smart bar and control module, a new Dual-T lock rope required for Aero workouts, a bench, a workout mat, and a roller. All of these accessories are key to the Tonal experience, so the bundle is not an optional add-on, but a mandatory purchase if you want to be able to do all 280-plus supported moves on the machine. Smart handles and other accessories from the original Tonal also work on the Tonal 2.
The Tonal membership costs $59.95 per month and requires a 12-month commitment. It gives you access to all Tonal content and the ability to set up an unlimited number of accounts on the machine.
Between the machine itself, the accessories, and the membership, you're looking at $5,509.40 for the first year, which breaks down to $459 per month. That's a sizable investment in your health, and you can probably get a one-year gym membership or 10 sessions with a personal trainer for much less. That said, it's hard to overstate the convenience, versatility, and effectiveness of the Tonal, so if you have the money and the motivation, you'll be satisfied.
(Credit: Angela Moscaritolo)Installation and Setup: Getting Started With the Tonal 2
I have been testing the Tonal 2 for 10 weeks. The delivery and installation process could not have been easier. Two delivery people arrived within the specified time window, swapped out my first-gen unit for the Tonal 2 in a matter of 10 minutes, and hauled away the old machine. They gave me a new dual T-lock rope accessory, but left me with the same smart handles from my old machine to use with the new one.
I used the touch screen to connect the Tonal 2 to my Wi-Fi, then the machine installed a software update. I signed in using my account credentials from the original unit, and my progress and settings transferred over to the Tonal 2.
Next, the machine offered a tutorial on connecting the smart accessories and walked me through the Smart View setup. Finally, it offered a demo video on the new Aero workouts.
(Credit: Angela Moscaritolo)Everyone in your household who uses the machine should have their own account for proper weight suggestions and performance tracking. There's also a Guest mode for one-off use cases.
The Tonal mobile app (available for Android and iOS) is optional, but it lets you browse all workouts and play off-machine classes like yoga when you're traveling. The app also lets you track your workout stats, utilize your phone's front-facing camera for an additional Smart View angle, and more.
During testing, one of the arms of my Tonal 2 would not rotate, and at first I didn't know why, but I changed the two AAA batteries on that side, and that fixed it. I also had to swap out the two AA batteries in both of my smart handles and the single AAA in the bar controller. It's kind of annoying that the arms and the accessories all require batteries, and use both AA and AAA.
My smart handles require a 2mm hex key (included) to open, but the process is pretty straightforward. Newer smart handles should be even easier since you don't need a hex key.
Similar Products
Our Current Picks for The Best Home Gym Equipment for 2026
Smart View: Tonal 2 Films You and Offers Form Corrections
Tonal first introduced Smart View in its app in 2022, but with the newer machine, Smart View is easier to use because it's built in and doesn't require your phone like on the original.
The Tonal 2's camera has a 120-degree field of view to capture your body head-to-toe. When Smart View is enabled, you'll see a live stream from the camera in a small window on the lower-left side of the workout screen, enabling you to monitor your form from the front like a small mirror. Tonal uses machine learning technology to assess your form during each strength training movement, based on the live camera feed and data from the machine's cables. If it notices you're doing something wrong, it will issue a Coaching Cue (aka a correction) via the speaker and a message on the display in real time.
(Credit: Angela Moscaritolo)To enhance the built-in Smart View experience on the Tonal 2, you can optionally set up your phone on one side of your body and tap a button in the app to send live video from your handset's front-facing camera to the machine. I have a bookshelf to the left of my Tonal and a windowsill to the right, so I prop up my phone in either of those spots when using Smart View through the app. Connecting your phone for Smart View is super easy—just tap the camera button in the lower-right corner of the app, and it will search for your Tonal via Bluetooth. In testing, the machine always paired with my phone immediately.
When Smart View is enabled in the app, a border around your phone screen is green when your body is correctly positioned in the frame, or red when you're out of view. On the Tonal 2 display, you can toggle between the front view from the machine's camera and the side view from your phone's camera.
The original Tonal also has a camera, but it has never had a use as far as I know, and remains disabled. You can still use Smart View through the app with the original Tonal, but you'll miss out on the front angle. I actually find the side view enabled through the app more useful for form checks and corrections, so the lack of a frontal view on the original Tonal isn't a huge limitation to me. That said, using Smart View through the app is battery-intensive. My phone battery drained 16% in a 30-minute workout with Smart View enabled.
Unless you can readjust your phone angle between sets, Smart View will miss you from the side for certain moves where you have to step away from the machine. Additionally, Smart View is unavailable for certain activities, including yoga, so you won't get a coaching cue if your Warrior 2 is out of alignment, for instance. It is also disabled for warmup, cooldown, and rest periods, as well as partner workouts, meditation, Theragun (massage gun) sessions, and guest user workouts.
Despite the limitations, Smart View is a helpful feature for monitoring your strength training form, both in real time and after workouts. With Smart View enabled, Tonal records you while you perform each move, then sends the videos to the app where you can review them, along with any corrections it has issued, and save the clips you want to keep to your phone.
During one workout, Tonal issued three corrections for my racked squat, saying to keep my chest up. I didn't think I was doing the move wrong, but the cues encouraged me to pay close attention to my form. After the workout, I reviewed the footage, and Tonal was right: I was rounding my back a little on those reps. Additionally, for barbell deadlift, it noticed I was standing a bit too far back and cued me to stand closer to the Tonal's arms, enabling me to fix my stance in real time. On one rep of the racked offset split squat with rotation, it cued me on to squat further down and rotate more, which helped me to stay focused in the moment. I knew I didn't perform that rep to my full range of motion, and it caught me and held me accountable.
The Workout Experience: Aero, Strength Training, and Yoga on the Tonal 2
I have used the Tonal 2 about one to three times a week over the past 10 weeks, mostly sticking with my favorite modalities on the platform: strength training and yoga. I have also done many of the new Tonal 2-exclusive Aero workouts, utilizing the new dual T-lock rope accessory, and absolutely love this new modality.
Aero is short for aerobic, and Tonal's Aero fitness modality combines rhythmic cardio with resistance training. As a practitioner and teacher of sculpt yoga, which combines yoga, strength training, and conditioning, Aero feels very in my wheelhouse. Both modalities basically kill two birds with one stone, because you get muscle engagement and cardiovascular conditioning (though sculpt goes even further, incorporating stretching as well).
(Credit: Angela Moscaritolo)My first Aero class started with a traditional strength block alternating three sets of goblet squat to bench and standing face pull, and two sets of incline plank to shoulder tap. The second block included two Aero moves for body conditioning, the Aero lunge and Aero mini pull, performed back to back, with short breaks between the sets, which I appreciated. The trainer explained how to install the T-lock rope and clearly demonstrated the Aero moves.
The best comparison I can make for the Aero mini pulldown is a downward slam throw with a medicine ball. They're basically the same move, but it's way better on the Tonal 2 because you can do it faster since you don't need to pick anything up.
The Aero lunge is based on a reverse lunge, but feels different because you simultaneously pull the rope down with both hands, aiming for tricep extension at the end of the rep. The trainer noted that the aero version of this move is easier and more forgiving on the knees than traditional reverse lunges because the rope helps pull you up. I didn't feel any pain in my knees whatsoever when performing the move, whereas they sometimes get cranky during traditional lunges. I was only pulling around five pounds, whereas I often do traditional lunges with more. That weight felt appropriate; any higher might have put me at risk of hurting my back due to the quick, repetitive nature of Aero. During Aero moves, the weight dynamically changes throughout the rep, slightly lowering at the most challenging points to help you optimize your range of motion.
Both moves felt really satisfying to do, and I found the workout much more fun than bodyweight-based HIIT. Moreover, the moves worked as intended: After a round of the aero mini pull, I looked down at my Apple Watch, and my heart rate was at 168bpm.
For Aero and traditional strength moves, the machine tracks your power output for each rep and graphs it on the screen in real time. The power measurements always seem accurate based on my performance; when I start to fatigue, my output decreases as expected. Seeing this information on the screen is very motivating, and it helps me assess my performance in the moment and work to maintain consistent power throughout a set.
(Credit: Ali Jaber)During resistance moves on Tonal, weight changes never feel jerky. Even when lifting at my max, I have always felt safe (which has not always been the case with competing products). The machine can spot you in the moment if needed: Once, it sensed I was reaching muscle failure during barbell bicep curls, and it lowered the weight mid-rep, which really helped and allowed me to finish the set.
I appreciate the wide range of exercises you can do on the machine, especially ones like kneeling pull-down for your latissimus dorsi (lats), a move that is not possible with free weights. The weight suggestions always feel appropriate, and you can easily adjust them if needed. In my review of the original Tonal, I noted that it occasionally missed reps that went unaccounted for; I have not experienced that problem on the Tonal 2.
(Credit: Angela Moscaritolo)Tonal's classes and trainers are among the best I've encountered in the smart fitness market. From Aero to strength to yoga, the classes are all well-structured and expertly led. I really enjoy the yoga classes with Shelby Hicks, who has a deep understanding of anatomy and often weaves this information into her instruction. When cueing yoga postures, she often mentions similar movements in strength training, which I find very helpful as someone who regularly does both. She also sometimes incorporates pilates moves into yoga flows for added fun and core engagement. After returning home from a hiking trip in Zion National Park, I found her post-travel lymphatic drainage yoga class very effective. Overall, the yoga classes on the platform are fantastic for alternating with your strength training workouts.
(Credit: PCMag/Tonal)After workouts on the Tonal 2, it gives you the option to snap a selfie using the machine's camera. On your selfie, it overlays workout details like the class title, date, duration, instructor's name, and volume lifted if it was a strength session, and sends the image to the Tonal app, where you can optionally save it to your phone. It's a small feature, but one that I find really engaging. The post-workout selfies are perfect for sharing on social media to celebrate your fitness gains as you level up on the Tonal 2.