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The NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells are the quickest adjusting dumbbells we’ve ever tested or reviewed (and we’ve used a lot of them). There are many great options on the market with more products being created every day, but there’s no doubt that the NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells stand out as some of the best adjustable dumbbells out there.
In this review, I’ll give you my honest thoughts on the overall value, ease of adjustment, and weight options for these adjustable dumbbells. I’ll also give you comparisons between the NÜOBELLs and the competition, so you can make the best buying decision.
Quick Adjustable Dumbbells
NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells
Product Highlights
- All-in-one adjustable dumbbell
- Weight ranges from 5 to 80 lbs
- Easy to use
- Feels like a standard dumbbell
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Feels like a regular dumbbell in hand
- Easy quick-change adjustments
- Knurled handle
- Comes with a stand
Cons
- Can be tricky to get in the stand
- Unsure of structural integrity
- Pricey
Bottom Line
These are great for people who want an easily adjustable dumbbell pair that feels more like a traditional fixed dumbbell
Why You Should Trust Us
The NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells are far from being the first adjustable dumbbells to hit the market for home gym owners. We’ve been recommending adjustable dumbbells for years and even view them as some of the best home gym equipment you can buy.
We’re tested close to a dozen adjustable dumbbells – including the Pepin Adjustable Dumbbells, MX Select Adjustable Dumbbells, and the Bowflex SelectTech 560, to name a few.
What NÜOBELL has done is created an adjustable dumbbell that can change weight in a flash. It’s not perfect and there are certain things we’d change, but there is not a set of adjustable dumbbells that changes between weight increments faster than these.
Related: The NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells made our Best Fitness Gifts list!
A Quick Look at the NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells
Adjustable dumbbells are a great option for those who are limited on space. Instead of buying 16 sets of dumbbells for your garage gym, getting one set that does it all can be a smart (and surprisingly economical) decision.
Coop’s Tips Before You Buy:
- Everyone says you shouldn’t drop your dumbbells, but seriously, don’t freaking drop these.
- These adjustable dumbbells are great for partner workouts because of how easy it is to change the weight used.
Video Review
Are the NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells Worth It?
The NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells are a great option for people who want a traditional dumbbell with a quick adjustment mechanism, and anyone who appreciates a well-knurled handle. If you plan on lifting more than 80 pounds or drop your dumbbells frequently, these are not the dumbbells for you.
Great for:
- High volume sets or accessory movements
- People who like the traditional style of a dumbbell
- Those who want to quickly change their weights between sets
- Home gym owners that love a knurled handle
Not recommended for:
- People who lift over 80 pounds
- People who drop their dumbbells
- Those who are on a tight budget
NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells Specs
| Material: | Plastic and metal |
| Dimensions: | 17″ L x 7.5″ W x 7.5” H |
| Total Weight: | 80 pounds |
| Brand: | SMRTFT |
| Warranty: | 2 years |
| Color of Plates: | Black |
| Weight: | 5-80 pounds |
| Sold in: | Pairs |
Using the NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells
The NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells are one of the newest options for people looking to save space in their home gym while retaining the functionality of an entire set of dumbbells. These traditionally shaped iron dumbbells replace 1,360+ pounds of normal dumbbells, which allows you to save space and money when building your personal setup.
With an easy click-lock handle, you simply rotate until you see the desired weight on the indicator, then pull the weight out and do your dumbbell exercises. The pancake-style disks remind me of pro-style iron dumbbells that could be found in most commercial weightlifting gyms.
Coming in both 50 and 80-pound options, this dumbbell by SMRTFT looks to challenge their adjustable competitors like Powerblock and IronMaster that have been on the market forever.
I have yet to see any other dumbbells that are as quick and easy to adjust as the NÜOBELLs. With a quick twist, changing the weights takes seconds at most and the easy-to-read dial makes it simple to know which weight you have switched to. Perfect for drop sets or working out with your significant other, these dumbbells may be the most “adjustable” dumbbells on the planet.
The more I think about it, the more I realize how silly a full set of dumbbells is in a home gym. Similar to some of the best adjustable kettlebells, whether you have a gym in your house or in your garage, adjustable dumbbells are simply a great option.
The thing I disliked the most about the NÜOBELL is that you need to be very precise upon replacing the dumbbell into the holder otherwise, it could get stuck. If you don’t exactly line up the ridges on top of the weight plates, the dumbbells will get stuck in the holder and you have to go back to the original weight to pull it out. This seems like no big deal but if you’re sweaty and out of breath, you don’t really want to stop and have to line up dumbbells and struggle to get them out if you make a mistake racking them.
Durability and Construction
With some initial concern over the quality of the NÜOBELL’s, I was pleasantly surprised by the partial steel construction. Whereas many similar shaped adjustable dumbbells have mostly plastic designs, SMRTFT was able to construct these with the aesthetically pleasing stack of pancake plate designs.
The mostly metal construction is nice, but hard plastic connecting pieces raise serious questions about long-term use. In activities where lots of weight is being moved at any speed, the hard plastic that connects the iron plates serves as a major weak point. It would not be unthinkable that these parts could crack if the dumbbells were dropped from normal heights. With so many important pieces being made from plastic, I would be very interested to see how they function a couple of years down the road.
The connecting pieces, locking mechanism, and weight selection device are all made with quite a bit of plastic. These don’t seem at risk of breaking, but it seems that over time, they could see wear that prevents them from functioning properly.
In any high-traffic gym, you would engage the weight selecting mechanism in these dumbbells thousands of times over, which could lead to some issues with performance. This is a problem I see a lot in the Bowflex 552 and 1090 models. The plastic selector would often break after long-term use and you would be left with a non-adjustable dumbbell unless you knew how to disassemble and replace the broken parts.
Handle
A feature that I really like is the knurled handle that the company used for these dumbbells. Unlike many dumbbells that used contoured handles with rubber or foam grips, the NÜOBELLs use a barbell-type handle with a quality knurled finish. This handle makes these dumbbells really appealing to people who normally do barbell movements because you will get to train with something familiar.
Aesthetics
With a really clean finish and some very aesthetically pleasing stands available on the website, these dumbbells could sit in your living room without sticking out like a sore thumb. The design that the company went with really keeps the feel of these dumbbells quite natural as you feel like you’re still using a traditional dumbbell. This is highly appealing for those who don’t want to deal with more square-shaped blocks like the Powerblock or Ironmaster models.
NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells vs. Powerblock Dumbbells
Powerblocks vs NUOBELL
PowerBlock Pro Series Adjustable Dumbbells
Product Highlights
- Easy to use
- Accounts for 28 pairs of dumbbells and 2,565 lbs of free weights
- Changes in 2.5-lb-increments from 5 to 50 lbs
- Cageless handle
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Easy to use
- Accounts for 28 pairs of dumbbells and 2,565 lbs of free weights
- Weight range 5 to 50 lbs
- Cageless handle
- Purchase add-ons for up to 70 or 90 lbs per hand
- Weight changes in 2.5-increments
Cons
- Cost upward of $500/pair
- Expansion packs cost extra
- Rubber grip on handle opposed to knurled steel
Bottom Line
PowerBlock is a name we know and trust in adjustable dumbbells. These are a fantastic option for people who want 50 to 90 lbs per hand for in adjustable dumbbells.
The NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells vs Powerblock Dumbbells is an age-old story of challenger vs. champ. The Powerblock Dumbbells have been around since the early 1990s and have stood the test of time. I have an ancient pair that has held up to pretty much every movement and is still fully functional. You cannot go wrong with any kind of Powerblock.
An important difference–Powerblock dumbbells can be expanded up to 175 pounds, 2.5x heavier than the NÜOBELLs. This weight disparity allows Powerblocks to serve everyone while the NÜOBELLs will cater specifically towards the above-average joe.
The NÜOBELLs triumph in some areas. They have a much quicker selection method, (not to say that the Powerblocks are slow to change,) but the NÜOBELLs are especially quick to adjust. You turn, and boom, new weight. However, the Powerblocks have a plastic/metal (depending on model) pin system that can get out of place or stuck, making adjustments not as fast.
Last but not least, Powerblocks are significantly cheaper than the NÜOBELLs; you can get 0 to 90-pound Powerblocks for around $550 whereas 0 to 80-pound NÜOBELLs will run you $750. I think that the lower price point, more weight expansions available, and a better long-term build make the Powerblocks the favorite over the new NÜOBELL adjustables. It will be interesting to see if SMRTFT makes any new expansion kits going forward.
Who Should Buy NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells
- Those who aren’t concerned with budget
- Anyone who wants an adjustable dumbbell that feels like a standard dumbbell
- People who don’t plan on lifting more than 80 lbs
Who Should Buy Powerblock Dumbbells
- Lifters who want to add more weight to their adjustable dumbbells
- Those who don’t mind a dumbbell with a different shape
- Anyone looking to save money
NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells vs. Ironmaster Adjustable Dumbbells
Ironmasters vs. NUOBELL
Ironmaster Quick-Lock Adjustable Dumbbells
Product Highlights
- Quickly adjustable in under 15 seconds
- Adjustable from 5 to 75 lbs
- Patented quick-lock design
- Includes a stand
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Shaped like a traditional dumbbell
- Quick-Lock system makes weights are easy and quick to change
- Lock does hold tight
- Comes with a stand
- Change weights in 2.5-lb increments
- Weight range 5 to 75 lbs
- Knurled handles
- Compact design
- Flat ends make for ease in resting weights on legs
- Fits a number of accessories like fat grip adapters and kettlebell handles
- Plates marked in kgs and lbs
Cons
- Not quite as easy to change as other options
- Priced just under $900
- Cast iron plates could crack if dropped
- Not designed for movements like snatches
Bottom Line
The Ironmaster Quick-Lock Adjustable Dumbbells are some of the best adjustable dumbbells available. I personally prefer Powerblocks due to how quickly the weight can adjust, however, there are many who prefer Ironmasters and for good reasons. They're the most similar adjustable dumbbell to traditional fixed dumbbells, they have a wide weight increment range, and they're priced very affordably. If you own a home gym and want a set of dumbbells that doesn't take up a ton of space, Ironmasters are a great option.
The NÜOBELLs are very similar in build to another long-standing adjustable dumbbell, the Ironmaster Adjustable Dumbbells. With both utilizing a traditional shape and iron pancake plates, each of these dumbbells has an authentic feel.
However, with a time-tested screw system for adjustments, I just feel like the Ironmasters will be much more solid in the long run. With no plastic and no mechanical adjusting systems, there seem to be no weak points and I have never had an issue with them. I have yet to have an issue with my NÜOBELLs, but I feel like after a year or two they may no longer function as well.
The Ironmasters, like the Powerblocks, readily go above a weight of 100 pounds with a cheap expansion kit. This makes them more appealing for all because once again, not everyone will be fine using 0 to 80-pound dumbbells for all exercises. Also, like the Powerblocks, you get more weight per dollar, as the IronMasters are only $699 and come with a high-quality stand that makes them easier to access. A similar stand from SMRTFT would be an additional $200 on top of the $750 for dumbbells.
Unsurprisingly, the NÜOBELLs are superior in ease of adjustability. The Ironmasters are not easy to adjust since you have to unscrew them and then stack the plates you want to use. Compared to the NÜOBELLs’ quick turn and lock, this takes ages.
Overall, I would have to favor the Ironmasters as they are highly durable and more affordable than the NÜOBELLs. Their expansion kits also make them more functional for a wider group of people.
Who Should Buy NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells
- Those who want an adjustable dumbbell that feels like a standard one
- Lifters who frequently change dumbbell weights mid-workout
Who Should Buy Ironmaster Adjustable Dumbbells
- Lifters who want a heavier adjustable dumbbell
- People who don’t plan on changing the weight much during workouts
NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells vs. Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells
Bowflex SelectTech
Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells
Product Highlights
- Replace 15 sets of weights
- Weights adjust from 5 to 52 lbs
- Extremely affordable at $329/pair
- Weight adjustments in 2.5-lb increments
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Replace 15 sets of weights
- Weights adjust from 5 to 52 lbs
- Extremely affordable at $329/pair
- Weight adjustments in 2.5-lb increments
- One of the fastest changing dumbbells on the market
- Come with a stand
Cons
- Max weight is 52.5 pounds
- Wide footprint remains the same at any weight
- Not meant to be dropped
Bottom Line
If you want affordable adjustable dumbbells, the Bowflex pair are a great option. Although they don't get very heavy, they are a great option for beginners and those who do not need more than 52.5 lbs per hand.
The Bowflex Adjustable Dumbbells have been some of the most affordable dumbbells on the market for a long time. With two options, the 552 and 1090, these Bowflex Dumbbells are used and loved by many. However, the biggest problems we see on the NÜOBELLs are also the same issues with the Bowflex variants.
The Bowflex dumbbells have a long history of cracking at weak points if slammed or adjusted incorrectly. But for around $350 for the 552 and around $700 for the 1090s, the Bowflexes are the cheapest options on the market. For a bit more, I feel like the NÜOBELLs are an upgraded version of the Bowflex dumbbells. With a cylindrical knurled handle as opposed to the shaped rubber grip on the Bowflex, I believe the NÜOBELLs feel way more traditional than the Bowflex option.
I would recommend the NÜOBELLs over the Bowflex 1090 model as they are similar in price and the NÜOBELLs give you a much smoother and more aesthetically pleasing setup. However, if you are not really in need of heavier weights, I would say the Bowflex 552 is your best bet as the 50-pound variant from NÜOBELLs costs quite a bit more than the 552s from Bowflex, which at the same weight, gives you way more for your buck.
Who Should Buy NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells
- People who prefer knurling on their dumbbell handles
- Those who want to lift more than 50 lbs
Who Should Buy Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells
- Anyone on a budget
- People who don’t plan on lifting more than 52 lbs
- Beginners
Customer Experience
The warranty on the NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells is fairly average at two years. You can purchase additional years of protection at checkout for either $29 (extra year) or $69 (three years).
If you have questions about your purchase, customer service is very accessible. There is a live chat option in the bottom left hand corner of the website. If you prefer, you can also use the provided email form (they’ll respond within a day) or call 323-859-6968 during regular business hours.
If you’re not loving your purchase, you have 30 days to return it in the original condition for a refund. It is worth noting that you will be responsible for paying return shipping if you choose to send your dumbbells back.
Ordering the NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells
When ordering these adjustable dumbbells, you’ll get complimentary free shipping within the United States. I received my set within about a week, which is apparently pretty standard based on what it says on the website.
These dumbbells are not cheap. At almost $750, these may be out of some people’s budgets. However, they do offer financing options through Affirm for three, six, or 12 months. If you choose the three-month option for example, you’ll pay $248.33 per month with 0% APR. Keep in mind you will be subject to interest for choosing the six- or 12-month options.
Customer Reviews
On the SMRTFT website, the NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells have a whopping 5 stars out of 5 possible, although I would take a company’s rating on their site with a grain of salt when it’s perfect. What is impressive, however, is that the dumbbells have almost 450 reviews. Customers seem to love that they feel like traditional dumbbells, the knurling is high quality, and it’s super easy to change the weight.
On the negative side, people aren’t thrilled about the plastic portable cradle that the weights go in as it seems less than durable over time.
The Home Gym Community on Facebook also has lots of opinions on the NÜOBELLs. The sentiments generally echo what I’ve already said; they change weight super quickly but some people are curious to see how long they end up lasting since there is a decent amount of plastic.
Final Verdict of Our NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells Review
In the grand scheme of things, the NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells have a lot going for them. I’m a huge fan of how quickly you’re able to change the weights you’re using, along with the traditional dumbbell shape complete with awesome knurling (swoon). However, I am interested to see how well these hold up over time due to the amount of plastic used. I will say, after nearly a year of use, I haven’t had any issues yet.
NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells Rating
NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells
The NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells are the quickest adjusting dumbbells we’ve ever tested or reviewed (and we’ve used a lot of them).
Product Brand: SMRTFT
Product Currency: $
Product Price: 745
Product In-Stock: InStock
4.18
FAQs About the NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells
What are NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells?
SMRTFT designed Nüobell Adjustable Dumbbells to be the smartest and most functional dumbbells in the industry. These adjustable dumbbells range from 5-80 lbs. and provide greater strength and longevity due to their machine steel weight plates.
How do NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells work?
With a quick twist, Nüobell Adjustable Dumbbells allow you to change your weight. The weight you’ve selected is indicated on a straightforward dial. Your weights are kept in a compact carrier cradle for easier adjustments and mobility.
Are adjustable dumbbells any good?
In the long run, owning an adjustable dumbbell set is less costly, which makes it a solid option for anyone looking for a great home workout. Adjustable dumbbells are much more space efficient than traditional free weights, so if you’re tight on space, this is your best bet.
Can you drop NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells?
No. The NÜOBELL adjustable dumbbells are not designed to be thrown or flung on the ground like a traditional cast iron dumbbell. After you finish the last few reps of a challenging weight set, you might be tempted to drop the weights. Don’t – you’ll probably end up breaking them.
What is a good weight range on a pair of dumbbells for a beginner?
It depends – getting adjustable dumbbells that go up by 5-10 pound increments might be a smart way to go. This way, as you progress and get stronger, you’ll be able to use different weights without having to run and buy new dumbbells all the time. Try to pick up adjustable dumbbells that will meet you where you are right now, but also allow you to progress.
Are NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells durable?
Not really. NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells have a plastic shell, so if you drop them they’re prone to breaking.
Further reading
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