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The Nautilus U616 and U618 are similar in important areas but there are also subtle differences. Find out what the best option is for your personal situation.
Some of the main differences between the Nautilus U616 and U618 are that the Nautilus U618 has a slightly higher weight limit, a panel that can tilt, a gel seat, an included heart rate chest strap, and handlebar resistance control buttons.
On the other hand, the Nautilus U616 is lighter and a good amount more budget-friendly.
If you like to lean forward onto the handlebars while using an upright bike, you can consider investing more into the Nautilus U618 and its tilting panel and handlebar resistance control buttons.
The gel seat of the Nautilus U618 is a nice addition. However, if comfort is an issue, you should be able to find a separate gel seat for the Nautilus U616.
On top of that, many people will find the Nautilus U616 more than good enough for their training goals and preferences. You can save a good amount of money by choosing this model.
Differences Nautilus U616 vs Nautilus U618
The Nautilus U616 and U618 are similar in many important areas but there are also a few subtle differences. These could influence your decision one way or the other.
| Feature | Nautilus U616 | Nautilus U618 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight Limit | 300 Pounds (136 kg) | 325 Pounds (147 kg) |
| Screen Mobility | Static | Can Tilt |
| Seat Type | Padded Seat | Nautilus Gel Seat |
| Weight | 63 lbs (26.8 kg) | 83.1 lbs (37.7 kg) |
| Heart Rate Monitor | Contact & Telemetry Enabled (Heart Rate Chest Strap Not Included) | Contact & Telemetry Enabled (Heart Rate Chest Strap Included) |
| Dimensions | 41.8″ L x 21.6″ W x 57.6″ H | 38.5″ L x 24″ W x 58.3″ H |
| Handlebar Resistance Control | No | Yes |
| Bottle Holders | 1 Medium | 2 Large |
| Price Category* | $$ | $$$ |
| Check Current Price | Check Current Price |
*Price category at the time of writing
Common features Nautilus U616 and Nautilus U618
Before choosing either the Nautilus U616 or Nautilus U618, you may also want to know about their common features. These are often important for your workouts too.
| Feature | Nautilus U616 | Nautilus U618 |
|---|---|---|
| Resistance Levels | 25 Levels | 25 Levels |
| Resistance Type | Magnetic | Magnetic |
| Flywheel Weight | 16.9 Pounds (7.67 kg) | 16.9 Pounds (7.67 kg) |
| Handlebar Adjustment | “Tilts Slightly Forward Or Backwards” | “Tilts Slightly Forward Or Backwards” |
| Adjustable Seat | Height & Fore/Aft | Height & Fore/Aft |
| User Height Range | 60 to 77 Inches (153 cm to 195 cm) | 60 to 77 Inches (153 cm to 195 cm) |
| Pedals | Pedal Straps | Pedal Straps |
| Transport Wheels | Yes | Yes |
| Screen | Dual-Mode LCD Displays | Blue Backlit DualTrack™ Screens |
| Device Holder | Yes | Yes |
| Workout Programs | 29 Workout Programs | 29 Workout Programs |
| Bluetooth Connectivity | With Explore the World App | With Explore the World App |
| Speakers | Yes | Yes |
| Warranties* | 10 Years Frame Warranty, 3 Years Parts And Electronics Warranty, And 1 Year Labor Warranty | 10 Years Frame Warranty, 3 Years Parts And Electronics Warranty, And 1 Year Labor Warranty |
| Check Current Price | Check Current Price |
*Warranties can vary from seller to seller
Differences Nautilus U616 vs Nautilus U618 explained
Many people will be able to decide between the Nautilus U616 and U618 by taking a look at the table of differences and the prices.
That being said, you may also still be unsure about to what extent certain differences should influence the choice in your personal situation.
The more detailed explanations below can help you make a better decision.
Screen mobility
Cardio machines like upright bikes often come with a screen to display workout measurements. These can help you adjust your workouts and motivate you to keep going.
Both the Nautilus U616 and U618 have screens that display things like speed, distance, and resistance level. However, the screen mobility of these upright bikes is different.
More precisely, the screen of the Nautilus U616 is static whereas the screen of the Nautilus U618.
For relatively small individuals, relatively tall individuals, and people who like to lean forward onto the handlebars this can be a nice benefit.
The tiltable screen makes it just a bit more comfortable and convenient to look at the workout measurements or the smart device in the holder.
How important this difference is to you depends on things like your height, riding style, and how much you want to look at the screen and device holder. In any case, the Nautilus U618 has the advantage.
Winner: Nautilus U618
Seat type
At first sight, it is easy to not notice this next difference but it does change your experience a small amount. The Nautilus U616 and U618 come with slightly different seats.
More specifically, the Nautilus U616 has a padded seat. On the other side, the Nautilus U618 has a gel seat (which should be more comfortable).
Something to note is that you could get a separate seat gel padding for the Nautilus U616. However, it is not as easy to find the exact ideal measurements compared to for example recumbent bikes which have bigger seats.
This difference will likely not be the deciding factor on its own. However, if you consider how many hours you will use your upright bike, some extra comfort is definitely a good thing.
Winner: Nautilus U618
Weight
The weight of an exercise bike is a relatively straightforward detail but you may be unsure about how this changes the experience of your cardio machine.
Since upright bikes are relatively light, the main thing their weights influence is how easy it is to move the machine around.
The 63 lbs (26.8 kg) of the Nautilus U616 will be easier to move than the 83.1 lbs (37.7 kg) of the Nautilus U618.
If you just plan to put your upright bike somewhere and leave it there, this difference is not that important.
However, if you want to move your machine out of the way in between exercise bike sessions so you can use the workout room for other purposes, this can be a nice benefit of the Nautilus U616.
Especially if you are not that strong.
Winner: Nautilus U616
Handlebar resistance control
Both the Nautilus U616 and U618 have 25 resistance levels. These allow you to work out at intensities that suit your training programs, preferences, and fitness level.
The main way to switch between these different levels is using the buttons on the panel below the screens.
However, the Nautilus U618 also adds another way to adjust this workout detail. This upright bike has resistance adjustment buttons at the end of the handlebars.
People who will just hold the front part of the handlebars will not find these buttons convenient.
However, if you like to lean forward onto the handlebars, the extra buttons of the Nautilus U618 will allow you to stay in position while adjusting the resistance. This will make workouts just a bit more convenient.
Winner: Nautilus U618
Price
Besides in terms of weight, most people will prefer the features of the Nautilus U618 over the ones of the Nautilus U616. One thing to keep in mind is that these features do come at a different price.
Exactly how much of an investment each stationary bike requires depends on where you get them and can change over time.
That being said, at the time of writing, the Nautilus U616 is a good amount more budget-friendly than the Nautilus U618.
Winner: Nautilus U616
User reviews
When comparing the Nautilus U616 and U618, the feature and price differences should give a good idea about what option the best is for your situation because these upright bikes are from the same brand.
Even so, there are cases where customer reviews reveal unexpected downsides or trends in quality issues. In the case of the Nautilus U616 and U618, customer reviews are very similar.
A lot of the negative customer reviews are about the screen and Bluetooth technology. These are relatively basic and the Bluetooth basically only connects to the Explore The World App.
In the case of the Nautilus U616, there are some mentions about the seat being a bit uncomfortable.
Besides these things, both the Nautilus U616 and U618 have some exceptional cases of faulty parts and wear and tear.
That being said, if you know you should not expect too much from the technology, customer reviews about the upright bike workouts themselves are relatively positive for both the Nautilus U616 and U618.
Is the Nautilus U616 or Nautilus U618 right for you?
In short, the Nautilus U618 has a slightly higher weight limit, a panel that can tilt, a gel seat, an included heart rate chest strap, and handlebar resistance control buttons.
On the flip side, the Nautilus U616 has a lower weight and a price that is a good amount more budget-friendly.
People who like leaning forward on the handlebars while using their upright bike can consider investing more into the Nautilus U618 for its tilting panel and handlebar resistance control buttons.
The gel seat of the Nautilus U618 that should be more comfortable is a nice addition. However, you should be able to find a separate gel seat for the Nautilus U616 if comfort is an issue.
Additionally, many people will find the Nautilus U616 more than good enough for their training goals and preferences. Choosing this option can save them a good amount of money.
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