Sunny Health & Fitness Smart Magnetic Rower, Dual-Rail Home Rowing Machine

Why it's worth it

Sunny's dual-rail smart rower offers 16 resistance levels, a 45.7-inch slide rail and a 300-pound capacity in a frame that weighs about 41 pounds. The free SunnyFit app adds scenic routes and trainer-led sessions without a mandatory monthly fee.

This is the rower to buy if you want quiet and capable without a monthly bill. Sixteen magnetic levels move in smooth steps rather than abrupt jumps, and the SunnyFit app is free, with scenic routes, real-time metrics and trainer-led sessions. You get most of the connected experience without renting it. For a first rower, that removes the biggest reason people abandon this category.

The dual-track design is the meaningful upgrade over older single-rail budget rowers. Two rails keep the seat aligned so it doesn't wobble side to side under a hard leg drive, and owners describe the glide as smooth and quiet from the first pull. The 45.7-inch rail with a 40.9-inch max inseam gives taller users real leg extension, and the frame handles up to 300 pounds.

From our review of 7 magnetic resistance rowing machines, by Eleanor Vance, Health & Beauty Editor

What we like

• +This is the rower to buy if you want quiet and capable without a monthly bill
• +The dual-track design is the meaningful upgrade over older single-rail budget rowers
• +It weighs about 41 pounds, which is roughly a quarter of what the NordicTrack weighs
• +Comfort holds up better than the price suggests

What to know

• –Sixteen levels of fixed magnetic resistance will feel limited if you're already a strong rower
• –Some owners report design annoyances rather than failures — unclear pedal installation, small instruction diagrams, and hardware…
• –The LCD-plus-phone setup means you're propping a device somewhere to get the app experience