Love working out, but not the commute to the gym? Wish you could afford a personal trainer to come to your house every day, but that’s just not in your budget? The answer may be as simple as looking in a mirror… well, a smart mirror.

Smart mirrors feature technology that allows you to stream exercise classes and get feedback on your form. Some can even count your reps for you. While some mirrors hang on your wall, others come attached to furniture or double as storage for workout equipment.

Healthline tried the Tempo Studio and Nordictrack Vault — two of the most popular smart mirrors — to help you decide which device is right for your home gym.

While both are stylish, there was a clear winner. Keep reading to find out which smart mirror reigned supreme.

Tempo StudioNordicTrack Vault
PriceStarter: $2,495
Plus: $3,245
Pro: $3,995
Vault Standalone: $1,999
Vault Complete: $2,999
Delivery and assembly$250free
Size72 × 26 × 16 inches (182.9 × 66 × 40.6 cm)72.65 × 24.25 × 14 inches (184.3 × 61.6 × 35.56 cm)
Display42-inch (106.7-cm) touch screen32-inch (81-cm) touch screen
AccessoriesTempo Starter:
• workout mat
• set of 7.5-pound (3.4-kg) dumbbells
• 75 pounds (34.1 kg) of weight plates

Tempo Plus:
• Starter accessories
• 25-pound (11.3-kg) barbell
• heart rate monitor
• foam roller
• folding workout bench
• two 25-pound (11.3-kg) competition plates

Tempo Pro:
• Starter and Plus accessories
• folding squat rack
• kettlebell system
• two 45-pound (20.4-kg) competition plates
Vault Standalone: none

Vault Complete:
• exercise mat
• 2 yoga blocks
• 3 loop bands
• 3 resistance bands
• 20-pound (9.1-kg) and 30-pound (13.6-kg) kettlebells
• 5–30-pound (2.3–13.6-kg) dumbbells
• premium shelves
• hanging shelves
App subscription$39/month Tempo Fit family plan $39/month iFit family plan
Special Features• Bluetooth-enabled
• live form feedback and weight load recommendations
• rep tracking
• tailored training recommendations based on previous performance
• syncs with Bluetooth headphones
• purchase includes free 1-year iFit membership

Here’s a brief overview of each smart mirror.

NordicTrack Vault

NordicTrack Vault

The NordicTrack Vault prides itself on its sleek, modern appearance.

Unlike many other smart mirrors, the Vault is a standalone device with a large touchscreen mirror that glides open to reveal storage space for workout equipment.

The Vault is powered by iFit, allowing you to stream on-demand trainer-led workouts.

When purchasing the Vault, you can opt either for the standalone model or the Vault Complete, which includes accessories like dumbbells, kettlebells, and resistance bands.

Tempo Studio

Tempo Studio

The Tempo Studio is a workout armoire with a large touchscreen mirror in the front and storage space in the back.

It also includes a cabinet area below the mirror to stow away smaller exercise items like weight plates and dumbbells.

Using the Tempo Fit app, the Tempo offers live and on-demand trainer-led classes.

The device is also equipped with 3D sensors and a camera, which provide real-time form feedback and weight load recommendations during workouts.

The Tempo Studio is available in three packages — the Standard, Plus, and Pro — which vary in price and included accessories.

Now that you know the basics, let’s take a closer look at how the pricing and features compare.

Size and design

Both the Vault and Tempo take up a similar amount of space, though the Vault has a sleeker overall design.

That said, the diversity of storage options in the Tempo makes it stand out. We also loved that the Tempo could hold a folded squat rack.

Here are the dimensions of each product:

  • Vault: 72.65 inches tall × 24.25 inches wide × 14 inches deep (184.3 × 61.6 × 35.56 cm)
  • Tempo: 72 inches tall × 26 inches wide × 16 inches deep (182.9 × 66 × 40.6 cm)

Winner: Tie. While we loved the amount of equipment the Tempo could store, the Vault has a more stylish design.

Display screen and speakers

Both the Vault and Tempo offer beautiful touch screen displays, though the Tempo’s screen is 10 inches (25.4 cm) larger, measuring in at 42 inches (106.7 cm).

In addition to a larger screen, the Tempo offers a better sound experience, with 60-watt stereo speakers, compared with the Vault’s 3-inch (7.6-cm) digitally amplified speakers.

Winner: Tempo Studio

Classes

As with other NordicTrack machines, the Vault is powered by iFit, though it’s important to note that it doesn’t allow access to iFit’s full library of on-demand classes. You also can’t stream live classes using the Vault.

Currently, the Vault offers 158 classes, including:

  • barre
  • yoga
  • strength training
  • Pilates
  • sculpt and tone
  • stretching
  • boot camp

The Tempo Studio requires a Tempo Fit membership, which provides access to live and on-demand workouts.

While the app offers high intensity interval training (HIIT), mobility, yoga, and cardio boxing classes, the majority of content is geared toward strength training.

Winner: Tie. Thanks to its large variety of classes, iFit is the best choice if you want to vary your workout each day. However, the Tempo Fit app is a better option if your primary focus is strength training.

Additional training features

With the help of its 3D sensors, the Tempo offers form corrections and even keeps track of your reps. It also recommends how much weight you should lift based on your fitness goals, previous performance, and form.

In contrast, the Vault isn’t equipped with the same level of technology. Instead, it simply has a reflective surface, which allows you to keep an eye on your form during class.

Winner: Tempo Studio

Additional accessories

The Tempo Mirror includes competition-grade weightlifting equipment, including weight plates, dumbbells, and weight collars.

Here are the accessories included with each Tempo Studio package:

  • Tempo Starter:
    • workout mat
    • set of 7.5-pound (3.4-kg) dumbbells
    • 75 pounds (34.1 kg) of weight plates
  • Tempo Plus:
    • all of the accessories in the Starter package
    • 25-pound (11.3-kg) barbell
    • heart rate monitor
    • foam roller
    • folding workout bench
    • two 25-pound (11.3-kg) competition plates
  • Tempo Pro:
    • all of the accessories in the Starter and Plus packages
    • folding squat rack
    • kettlebell system
    • two 45-pound (20.4-kg) competition plates

On the other hand, the Vault Standalone only comes with the Vault.

For workout accessories, you can upgrade to the Vault Complete, which includes:

  • 20-pound (9.1-kg) and 30-pound (13.6-kg) kettlebells
  • 5–30-pound (2.3–13.6-kg) dumbbells
  • 3 loop bands
  • 3 resistance bands
  • 2 yoga blocks
  • exercise mat

Winner: Tempo Studio

Price

The Vault starts at $1,999 and includes shipping and assembly. If you’re interested in additional workout equipment, the Vault Complete currently retails for $2,999.

Here are the costs for the Tempo Studio packages:

  • Tempo Starter: $2,495
  • Tempo Plus: $3,245
  • Tempo Pro: $3,995

Regardless of which package you choose, Tempo charges an additional $250 fee for shipping and assembly.

Both companies offer special financing for qualified customers.

Another cost to keep in mind with either smart mirror is the recurring monthly app subscription.

Here are the current membership prices:

  • iFit family plan: $39 per month or $396 per year
  • iFit individual plan: $180 per year
  • Tempo Fit family plan: $39 per month

Keep in mind the Vault also comes with a free 1-year iFit family membership.

Winner: NordicTrack Vault

Warranty and return policy

The Tempo Studio Home Gym comes with a 3-year limited warranty. There’s also a 30-day return window.

In comparison, the Vault has a more extensive warranty:

  • 10-year frame
  • 2-year parts
  • 1-year labor

Like the Tempo Studio, the Vault offers a 30-day return policy, though there’s a $250 return shipping fee and a restocking fee, which is 10% of the purchase price.

Winner: The NordicTrack Vault, though if you’re worried about needing to return your device, the Tempo Studio has a better return policy.

The NordicTrack Vault and Tempo Studio are sleek smart mirrors offering storage space for exercise equipment and large touchscreen displays for streaming trainer-led exercise classes.

However, after trying both mirrors, the Tempo Studio comes out on top for offering the best overall value.

Specifically, the Tempo’s live-form feedback and personalized weight recommendations make it a truly unique home gym solution. What’s more, the Tempo also offers more storage space, a greater number of strength training accessories, and better sound quality.

Plus, Tempo Fit provides access to live classes — a feature not offered on the Vault.

That said, the NordicTrack Vault is cheaper and may be a better option if you already own strength training equipment.

Furthermore, if you already own an iFit-powered machine, the Vault will save you money, as you won’t have to purchase an additional fitness program membership.

The NordicTrack Vault and Tempo Studio are two of the most popular smart mirrors on the market.

While both allow you to enjoy trainer-led workouts from the comfort of home, we found that the Tempo Studio provides an overall better value thanks to its cutting-edge technology and number of included strength training accessories.

However, there’s no denying that the Vault is a more stylish device that’s ideal for people who already have an iFit subscription or own weightlifting equipment.

Whichever mirror you end up purchasing, don’t forget to talk with a healthcare professional before making any changes to your exercise routine.