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The ProForm Carbon CX and Peloton have advantages and disadvantages. Find the best option for your personal situation and preferences.
Some of the main differences between ProForm Carbon CX and the Peloton Bike are that the Peloton Bike has a higher weight limit, a bigger built-in screen, more resistance levels, and a premium membership that is slightly better received by users.
On the other side, the ProForm Carbon CX has a device holder which allows you to watch entertainment on your own device during your workouts, can connect to smart devices through IFIT, and is a lot more budget-friendly.
Something to note is that you need your own smart device with the ProForm Carbon CX if you want to use IFIT. Additionally, customers tend to be happier with the Peloton Bike.
If you are not interested in premium workout apps and/or want to watch entertainment during your cycling workouts, the ProForm Carbon CX is likely the best choice for you.
If you do want to use premium workout apps you need to decide how much the higher quality of the Peloton Bike and its bigger built-in screen are worth to you.
The ProForm Carbon CX is still a solid exercise bike that generally offers good workouts.
Most important differences ProForm Carbon CX vs Peloton
The ProForm Carbon CX and Peloton Bike are different in a lot of ways. This influences what indoor cycling bike is the best choice for what people and what situations.
At the same time, not all differences are equally important. Below you can find the differences that are most likely to play a role in your decision.
| Feature | ProForm Carbon CX | Peloton Bike |
|---|---|---|
| Weight Limit | 250 Pounds (113 kg) | 297 Pounds (134.7 kg) |
| Screen | LCD Display With Speed, Time, Distance, And Calories | 21.5” HD Touchscreen With Speakers |
| Device Holder | Yes | No |
| Screen Entertainment Options | Through Your Own Device | Only Peloton Membership |
| Resistance Levels | 16 Levels With IFIT Auto-Adjust | 100 Levels |
| Workout Programs | 30-Day iFIT Family Membership Included | 3 Pre-Recorded Classes, Just Ride, And Paid Membership Subscription |
| Warranties* | 10 Years Frame Warranty, 1 Year Parts And Labor Warranty | 5 Years Frame Warranty, 12 Months Most Original Components Limited Warranty |
| Price Category** | $$ | $$$$ + App Subscription |
| Check Current Price | Check Current Price |
*Warranties can vary from seller to seller
**Price category at the time of writing
Other features ProForm Carbon CX and Peloton
Before deciding what stationary bike is the right one for you, you may also want to see the smaller differences and common features of the ProForm Carbon CX and Peloton Bike.
| Feature | ProForm Carbon CX | Peloton Bike |
|---|---|---|
| Resistance Type | Magnetic | Magnetic With Mechanical Adjustment |
| Flywheel Weight | 27.9 Pounds (12.7 kg) | Not Mentioned |
| Dimensions | 52.5″ L x 22″ W x 51″ H | 59″ L x 23″ W x 53″ H |
| Handlebar Style | Elevated Bullhorn | Elevated Bullhorn |
| Handlebar Adjustment | Height | Height |
| Seat/Saddle Style | Competition | Competition |
| Seat Adjustment | Height & Fore/Aft | Height & Fore/Aft |
| User Height Range | “Engineered To Adjust To Fit Most User Heights” | 59 to 76 Inches (149.9 cm to 193 cm) |
| Adjustability Device Holder Or Screen | None | Tilts To Suit Different Heights |
| Bluetooth Connectivity | Yes Through IFIT | Yes For Audio |
| Heart Rate Monitor | Not Mentioned | Display On Monitor With Your Own Bluetooth Measuring Device |
| Weight | 125 lbs (56.7 kg) Box Weight | 135 lbs (61.2 kg) |
| Pedals | Toe Cage Pedals | Delta-Compatible |
| Transport Wheels | Yes | Yes |
| Dumbbells | Two 3-Pound (1.4 kg) Dumbbells Included | Depends On The Package You Choose |
| Bottle Holder | 1 Medium | 2 Large |
| Check Current Price | Check Current Price |
Differences ProForm Carbon CX vs Peloton explained
Individuals who are more familiar with indoor cycling bikes and know what they want in them could be able to make a decision between the ProForm Carbon CX and Peloton Bike with the table of differences and a look at the prices.
At the same time, you may still be unsure about why certain differences matter and to what extent they should influence your choice. You can find some of the most important and confusing ones explained in more detail below.
Screen
One of the first differences between the ProForm Carbon CX and Peloton Bike that stands out is the screen they come with.
The ProForm Carbon CX comes with a rather basic LCD Display that shows measurements like speed, time, distance, and an estimation of calories burned.
The Peloton Bike comes with a 21.5” HD touchscreen with speakers.
It is clear that the Peloton Bike wins in terms of the built-in screen. One thing you do want to keep in mind is that the ProForm Carbon CX has a device holder and can connect to smart devices through IFIT.
That means you can connect the ProForm Carbon CX to a tablet or smart TV to cycle with a higher-quality screen. This likely won’t be of the same quality as the Peloton Bike screen but it does compensate to some extent.
You also want to keep in mind that the Peloton Bike screen is made to only work with their premium membership. If you want to watch entertainment during your exercise bike workouts, the Peloton is likely not for you.
Winner: Peloton Bike in terms of quality built-in screen
Winner: ProForm Carbon CX if you want to watch entertainment during workouts
Workout programs
The number of available workout programs with the ProForm Carbon CX and Peloton Bike is another important area to explain in detail.
First of all, the ProForm Carbon CX comes with a free 30-day IFIT Family Membership trial. The Peloton Bike has a 30-day home trial but this means you get started with the premium membership right away.
Keep in mind that you do need your own smart device to be able to use this IFIT Membership with the ProForm Carbon CX.
Both premium apps are libraries of indoor cycling classes, scenic rides, and workout classes for other forms of exercise. Peloton does tend to do better in terms of the live workout classes they have available.
However, two important things to note are that the Peloton Bike screen only works with their premium membership and that there is no device holder.
On the other hand, while they don’t implement the automatic resistance adjustment feature and measurement tracking, you can follow other workout apps and workouts from places like Youtube on your smart device while using the ProForm Carbon CX.
Do keep in mind that the resistance adjustment buttons will be below your smart device. This is not that convenient.
Winner: Peloton Bike if you plan to get the premium app
Winner: ProForm Carbon CX if you want more flexibility and more budget-friendly workout programs
Price
The ProForm Carbon CX and Peloton Bike each have their own upsides and downsides. Something that can also influence your decision is how much each stationary bike costs.
Exactly how much they differ depends on where and when you get them. That being said, at the time of writing, the ProForm Carbon CX is a lot more budget-friendly than the Peloton Bike.
Something you want to keep in mind is that while the ProForm Carbon CX does work without a smart device, you do need one of these to make use of the IFIT Membership Trial.
Additionally, to make full use of the Peloton Bike, you likely want to get the premium membership. This requires an extra investment over time.
Winner: ProForm Carbon CX
User reviews
The feature and price differences are a good way to get an idea about whether the ProForm Carbon CX or Peloton Bike is the right choice for you.
Even so, sometimes customer reviews uncover unexpected downsides or trends in quality control issues. In the case of the ProForm Carbon CX vs the Peloton Bike, customers are clearly happier about the Peloton Bike.
The Peloton Bike is not perfect. There are some exceptional cases with faulty parts and people don’t like the subscription app costs. However, customers do tend to be very positive overall.
Customers of the ProForm Carbon CX are still relatively happy too but there are definitely more suboptimal experiences.
These include some faulty parts and fast wear and tear. Some people also find the bike a bit uncomfortable and find it annoying that the resistance adjustment buttons are located below the smart device.
The ProForm Carbon CX generally still does its job but if you want to avoid any quality issues and you don’t mind paying more for this, the Peloton Bike could be the better choice.
Is the ProForm Carbon CX or the Peloton Bike right for you?
In short, the Peloton Bike has a higher weight limit, a bigger built-in screen, more resistance levels, and a premium membership that customers seem to enjoy just a bit more.
The ProForm Carbon CX has a device holder which allows you to watch entertainment during your workouts, can connect to smart devices through IFIT, and is a lot more budget-friendly.
Keep in mind that you need your own smart device to use the IFIT Membership with your ProForm Carbon CX.
For individuals who are not interested in premium workout apps and/or want to watch entertainment during their workouts, the ProForm Carbon CX is generally the better choice.
People who do want to use premium workout apps need to decide how much the higher quality and big built-in screen of the Peloton Bike are worth to them.
Customers tend to be happier about the Peloton Bike but it does require an extra investment. At the same time, the ProForm Carbon CX can still offer solid exercise bike workouts.
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