Schwinn 470 Elliptical Review

Priced at $899 (plus delivery), the Schwinn 470 is a relatively cheap elliptical cross trainer. Yet despite the price, the machine offers many qualities that you might expect from a more expensive elliptical. Stride length is the standard 20 inches, power incline is provided to sculpt lean muscle, the console can store up to four user profiles, and Bluetooth is on board for wireless heart rate monitoring and data export. Resistance on the Schwinn 470 elliptical is also quite respectable for the price (though it falls short of club-quality smoothness). Overall this home elliptical is popular for combining low price with good ergonomics and impressive workout variety.

The workout selection includes free and paid programs. Built into the Schwinn 470 console are no less than 29 exercise programs (!). These programs automate the resistance and incline to help you train more efficiently. Most exciting are optional RunSocial workouts for exercising in virtual reality. The RunSocial mobile app (Android and iOS) lets you watch your avatar move along real-life trails captured in high definition video. RunSocial also shows avatars of other exercisers along your route, including their usernames and hometowns. Coordinate with friends for virtual vacations on trail lengths that range from 5K to a marathon.

Unfortunately there isn’t much of a warranty package with this machine, suggesting that it isn’t very durable and will break down often enough to make up for any savings that come with the sale price.

 Our Favorite Features

• Four user profiles
• Moving handlebars for total-body toning
• 20-inch elliptical stride
• Power incline to 10 percent
• 20-pound flywheel
• 25 resistance levels
• Smooth magnetic braking
• 29 customizable workout programs, including 9 with heart rate control
• RunSocial compatible
• Compatible with wireless heart rate chest straps
• Bluetooth for sharing workout data with fitness tracking apps

Our Least Favorite Features

• Short warranty on labor (90 days)
• Maintenance sometimes required within six months
• For heavyweight users, pedaling isn’t particularly smooth

The Bottom Line

The Schwinn 470 Elliptical has plenty of impressive selling points. Special features include power incline, wireless heart rate monitoring, Bluetooth for data export, RunSocial compatibility, and more. When the machine works as intended, it feels like an elliptical in the next price bracket. However, the 470 isn’t especially durable. If you choose this model, you might be shopping for a replacement elliptical within a year.