Tempo Move Review (2024): The Tiniest Smart Home Gym Ever

When it comes to tech, there’s a natural progression: Something cool is invented, but it’s big and bulky. Over time, that cool thing gets smaller and smaller. Take cell phones and TVs as examples. Long gone are the days of boxy televisions and cell phones in briefcases.

Long gone, too, are the days of needing an entire garage to accommodate a home gym. Smart home gyms have entered the picture and have drastically reduced the amount of space required for a full-body workout setup. With devices like the MIRROR and Tonal, you’ll only be missing a few square feet of wall space. 

Tempo has taken things one step further with the bite-sized Tempo Move: Not only is this unit super small, it’s also far more affordable than its full-sized counterpart and other smart gym setups. In my Tempo Move review, I cover everything there is to know about the tiniest smart home gym ever (thus far). 

The Tempo Move, Tested

I’ve tested nearly all of the smart home gym systems available on the current market, as has Coop—and we’ve had some pretty awesome banter about it, like in our Tonal vs. Tempo debate. Together, Coop and I unboxed the Tempo Move and took it through a couple workouts to see how it stacks up to other smart home gyms. Currently, I have a Tempo Move in my own apartment and have been using if for a few weeks to test out how it performs and feels in a smaller space.

RELATED: Tonal review

Tempo Move

Tempo Move

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Product Highlights

• Affordable version of Tempo Studio
• Monthly subscription
• Enjoy access to thousands of HIIT, yoga, and strength classes
• Some weights are included

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Highly affordable
• AI-powered for form correction
• Comes with some weights
• Access to countless classes

Cons

• Requires iPhone XR or later
• Doesn't come with all the weights Tempo Studio does
• Requires a TV

Bottom Line

If a personal trainer met AI, the result would be the online training program known as Tempo Move.

A Quick Look at the Tempo Move

Tempo Move is the little sibling to Tempo Studio, which is one of my favorite smart workout mirrors. Because of my affinity for the Studio, I was over the moon to try out the Move. 

The Tempo Move utilizes the same technology as the Tempo Studio, but there’s one major difference: 

Instead of capturing your movement on a built-in camera and displaying it on a built-in 1080 HD touchscreen, the Move connects to your iPhone and uses your phone camera to capture movement, then displaying it on an HDMI-connected display screen. 

Before You Buy: 

• Make sure your space will allow you to place the Tempo Move close enough to reach your TV’s HDMI port. 
• Tempo Move requires a monthly membership to access workouts, so factor that cost ($39 per month) into your budget.

Tempo Move Specs

Is the Tempo Move Worth It?

As always, whether or not a product is worth it depends on your definition of “worth it.” I believe the Tempo Move will prove worthy of the cost for many at-home exercisers because of the convenience. 

If you already have an iPhone and a TV, and can shell out $500, you can get an unlimited lifetime of at-home personal training (plus the $39/month).

(Pssst: Get the best Tempo discount codes.)

Using the Tempo Move

Overall, I enjoyed using the Tempo Move—I knew I would going into this review. I love the Tempo Studio and the Move uses similar technology to create the same experience in a smaller package.   

Types of Workouts 

Tempo Move operates on the same membership platform as Tempo Studio, so all of the workouts are the same. Types of on-demand and live workout classes include: 

• Strength training
• Bodyweight resistance training
• High-intensity interval training (HIIT)
• Bootcamp 
• Low-impact exercise
• Core
• Cardio
• Yoga
• Boxing 
• Mobility
• Prenatal

For every home workout, an instructor leads you through a warm-up, workout, and cool-down while providing motivational cueing throughout. 

Personal Training

Tempo Move functions as a quasi-personal trainer just like the Tempo Studio does. 

It provides the same personal training features that Tempo Studio does, with the difference being how the movement is captured and displayed. With Tempo Move, your iPhone captures movement and sends information to the Tempo Core, a small device that communicates between your phone and the HDMI display. 

On-screen, you still get all the same perks: real-time feedback and technique corrections, as well as weight and rep tracking. 

The rep tracking is very dependable, as are the technique corrections, but I ran into some issues with weight tracking. When using the Move, it incorrectly estimated the weight I was using. This isn’t a huge deal, but can become a problem if you’re relying on the Tempo Move to log your weights so you can continue to progress.  

Body Composition Scanning and Personalized Programming

In the summer of 2023, Tempo released a whole suite of new features that, in my opinion, significantly increased the overall value proposition of this piece of equipment. With the new Tempo experience, all app users have the capability to engage in body composition scanning and integrate their Tempo app account with other wearables, apps, and devices they use.

Here’s a rundown of the new features:

Data aggregation: The Tempo app now integrates with and can pull data from apps and devices you sync it with. This includes all of the major players, from Strava to Apple Health to Garmin. It collects data from your wearable, too, to gather a complete picture of your health and fitness.

Readiness scores: Because of the app’s new data integration capabilities, Tempo can provide you with a “daily readiness score,” which is a measure of how ready your body is to take on the day’s workout. It’s kind of like a stress score, helping you understand what type of workout is best for you on a given day. For instance, if your readiness score is very low one day, Tempo will recommend that you do a shorter or less intense workout. You, as the app user, can override these suggestions, but they can help you take it easy when you otherwise might want to ignore warning signs of overtraining. The flipside is also true: Tempo can tell you when your body is primed and ready to take on a tougher workout.

Body composition tracking: If you’re interested in knowing your body fat percentage, you can now get a body composition scan right from your phone. This allows you to see the percentage of lean mass and fat mass, as well as the circumferences of your bicep, waist, chest, quads, and calves. It’s not necessary to complete the body composition scan, but it does help Tempo create your program.

Personalized programming. Speaking of your program, the new Tempo experience prioritizes personalized fitness programming over pre-built programs and classes. The pre-existing programs and classes are still available (including live classes), but thanks to the new features, you can now receive a 100% customized program.

Heart rate tracking. If you wear a heart rate monitor during your workout, Tempo will use your heart rate data to set your rest intervals. Instead of telling you to rest, say, one minute between sets, it will tell you to rest until your heart rate reaches zone 1 or whatever target it has set for you. This makes workouts much more personalized to the individual.

Reps in Reserve and RPE: During a workout, you can now log your reps in reserve so that Tempo can calculate your RPE, or rate of perceived exertion. Logging reps in reserve is as easy as answering the question, “How many more reps could you have done?” Tempo will use your answer to inform future sets and workouts.

Focus modes and goals: In addition to all of the above metrics, Tempo uses your personal goals to create a program for you. One of the first things you’ll do is tell the app what muscle group you want to focus on and what your goal is, such as getting stronger or building more defined muscles.

One might think that all of these new features warrant an increase in the price of the app membership. But that’s not the case! For now, the Tempo monthly membership still costs the same $39 per month. I think that shows a real commitment to the customer and I commend Tempo for keeping the price the same.

Equipment

Tempo Move comes with limited fitness equipment: 

• Two 7.5-lb adjustable dumbbell handles
• Four weight collars 
• Four 1.25-lb weight plates
• Four 2.5-lb weight plates
• Four 5-lb weight plates

All of this fits neatly into the storage cabinet. 

You can always buy more equipment if this package doesn’t fulfill your needs: Tempo has a full range of gym equipment to use with the Move or Studio, including Olympic plates, 25-pound barbells, an adjustable kettlebell system, a folding weight bench, and folding squat rack. 

I do want to point out that as of this writing, Tempo Move does not support any Tempo equipment other than the dumbbell handles and change plates. What I mean by this is that the Tempo 3D Vision (aka rep-tracking technology) can’t pick up on the other items yet. Based on the Tempo website, it seems this is something the company is working on. 

Alternatively, you could use home gym equipment you already own, but the Tempo 3D Vision technology might not track your movement accurately. Tempo-branded equipment (Tempo calls them “smart weights”) is designed so that the time-of-flight sensors can easily pick up movement and track reps, form, and weight. 

I don’t want to discourage people from using equipment they already own, though, because the Tempo Move seemed to have some issues tracking even when using the plates that came with the device. During my workouts with the Move, the rep tracking and form feedback were great, but the device failed to accurately calculate the weight I was using. 

Another thing I want to point out: As much as I love the concept of Tempo, it’s not free of hassles. Loadable dumbbells become very cumbersome very quickly when you’re trying to complete a fast-paced workout but keep having to switch weight. 

Audio and Visual 

The audio and visual quality you experience when using the Tempo Move is entirely—as in 100%—dependent on your display screen. Unlike the Tempo Studio, which has a built-in 1080-pixel HD display and 60-watt stereo Bluetooth-enabled speakers, the Move relies on your external display. For most people, this will probably be the TV they already own, although any HDMI display connection will work.    

Footprint and Portability

Here’s where Tempo Move really shines. It’s compact, taking up less than two square feet of floor space and neatly housing dumbbells, weight plates, and collars inside. Obviously, if you buy more equipment to go with your Move, you’ll need more space. But as-is, the Tempo Move is the tiniest smart home gym on the market, so it’ll fit easily into your living room or any other space. 

The full Tempo Move dimensions are: 

• Length: 24 in
• Width: 18 in
• Depth: 18 in
• Weight: 40 lbs (without accessories and weight plates)

You do, however, still need a 6-foot-by-6-foot workout space for 3D Tempo Vision to capture your movement. 

Construction and Durability

The Tempo Move cabinet is made of the same high-tensile aluminum that the Tempo Studio A-frame cabinet is constructed of, so I have faith it’ll hold up for a long time. 

However, I have some concerns about the fabric front flap with magnetic closure. With repeated and frequent use, I could see the fabric fraying or pilling over time. I don’t think this is a dealbreaker, but it is something to be aware of. 

The equipment that comes with the Tempo Move is the same type that comes with the Studio. You’ll get nice urethane-coated change plates and steel dumbbell handles with a Cerakote finish. 

Tempo fitness equipment might not hold up in a non-climate-controlled environment like equipment from other brands, but it’s not meant to be used outside, so it should prove durable for its intended use. 

Tempo Move. vs. Tempo Studio 

Tempo Move and Tempo Studio have the same function: They provide aspects of personal training for people who want to work out at home. The live classes and on-demand classes are the same across the two products. Both require a monthly subscription, but you can’t use the same membership for both devices. I’m not sure when or if Tempo will change this. 

Anyway, the main differences lie in the size of the units and that Tempo Studio is an all-in-one unit, while Tempo Move requires use of an iPhone and a TV or other HDMI-connected screen. There’s one other important callout I want to make: Tempo Move is only available (for now) to people who own Apple phones—specifically the XS/XR or higher. 

Read my full Tempo Studio review for more details on the Studio. 

Customer Experience 

Tempo has a robust support section of the website, so you may not even need to contact customer support if your question is answered there. If you do need personal support, Tempo’s team is pretty quick. You can call or chat for 24/7 service, or you can email for a response within 24 hours. 

The warranty on the Tempo Move includes one year of coverage for workmanship and defects on the Core computer component as well as the cabinet. The equipment and accessories are covered by a three-year limited warranty. 

Unboxing and Assembling the Tempo Move

Coop and I unboxed the Tempo Move together and it was pretty uneventful—just your typical box-opening experience. Everything inside was intact and there were no scuffs or other marks on equipment. Tempo does a great job of packaging their products to ensure they arrive untouched.  

There’s not much to assemble: The cabinet is already put together, and all you have to do is remove some protective plastic film and styrofoam. Then, you can load the weight plates and such into the cabinet. Use the provided phone docking station and HDMI cable to connect your Move to your display device. 

We did run into some technical issues with setup, though. Coop and I both have Tempo memberships, but neither would work on the Tempo Move. When we hooked everything up, the app was only showing us in-app workouts, rather than the full library. We got in touch with Tempo support and found out that a login created with a Tempo Studio will not work with a Tempo Move. 

So, if for some reason you find yourself with both products, you will need to pay for two memberships. I personally think Tempo should do away with this model and allow people to log in on a Studio and a Move with the same login. 

Customer Reviews

Tempo generally has glowing customer reviews. Because the Move is a newer product (released in late 2021), there aren’t a ton of customer reviews on it yet. 

Of the few I’ve seen, they’re all positive, praising the size and convenience of the product. Other in-depth Tempo Move reviews I’ve read online generally posit the Move as a good choice for people looking to buy an entry-level smart home gym. 

Final Verdict of Our Tempo Move Review

The Tempo Move is a fantastic smart home gym system for people who are short on space and/or don’t want to spend four figures on a setup. 

• Tempo Move retails for about $500, which by far makes it the least expensive smart home gym trainer system available.
• You need an iPhone XS/XR or higher, as well as a TV or other HDMI display.
• It’s easily the best smart home fitness system for people with very limited space or a tight budget. 

Full Rating

Tempo Move

The Tempo Move is a bite-sized smart home gym that can fit in any space. It provides all of the same personal training functions, such as rep tracking, technique corrections, and weight calculation, as its big sibling Tempo Studio--but it costs a quarter of the price.

Product Currency: $

Product Price: 495

Product In-Stock: InStock

Editor's Rating:
4.3

Tempo Move FAQs

I answer some common questions about Tempo here: 

Amanda Capritto, CPT, CES, CNC, CF-L1, CSNC

Amanda is a content writer and journalist with extensive experience in the health, fitness, lifestyle, and nutrition niches. Before joining Garage Gym Reviews, she worked as an independent writer for various brands and outlets.Her work has appeared in national and global digital publications, including Health.com and Shape.com (Meredith Corporation), CNET (Red Ventures, formerly ViacomCBS), LIVESTRONG (Leaf Group), Verywell Fit and The Balance (DotDash), SlickDeals (Goldman Sachs/Hearst), Health Journal, and more.Now, Amanda brings her expertise in fitness to the GGR team by testing equipment and writing authentic, honest reviews on everything you might need to stock your home gym.

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