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Head-to-head · Best Ellipticals Under $1000

Horizon EX-59 vs Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E3912 Magnetic Elliptical

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E3912 Magnetic Elliptical comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.1 vs 4.0). Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E3912 Magnetic Elliptical is best for: Beginners and shorter users who want a stable, simple elliptical well under the $1,000 cap. Read the strengths below before deciding.

Horizon EX-59
Ranked #4 in Best Ellipticals Under $1000
Horizon EX-59
1 source$999as of Oct 10

The Horizon EX-59 is the stability-first budget pick, named Garage Gym Reviews' top budget elliptical and a BarBend favorite for beginners. At around $699 it trades features for a locked-down, stable feel that reviewers say beats pricier machines on steadiness. The trade-offs are real: no incline, just 10 resistance levels, a shorter 18 in stride, and only 5 basic programs. It suits beginners who value a solid, simple machine.

Strengths
  • — Garage Gym Reviews' top budget elliptical pick, with a locked-down, stable feel
  • — Bluetooth speakers and app compatibility
  • — 18 in stride with 10 resistance levels, simple and beginner-friendly
Watch-outs
  • — No incline at all
  • — Only 10 resistance levels and 5 basic programs
  • — 18 in stride is shorter than the Sole E25's 20 in
$999 · Buy at 360fitnesssuperstore.comFull review →
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E3912 Magnetic Elliptical
Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Ellipticals Under $1000
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E3912 Magnetic Elliptical
1 source$699.99as of Oct 16

Sunny Health & Fitness's SF-E3912 is a basic rear-drive magnetic elliptical with 16 resistance levels, 24 built-in programs and a 330-pound capacity. Garage Gym Reviews rated it 4.1 of 5 as a beginner-friendly budget machine that stays smooth and does not shake, and BarBend named it the best rear-drive elliptical overall, scoring its durability 5 of 5. Both flag the short 15.5-inch stride for taller users, and Garage Gym Reviews calls the warranty below industry standard.

Strengths
  • — Smooth and stable: Garage Gym Reviews felt no shaking moving forwards, backwards or adding resistance, and BarBend's tester reported the same
  • — BarBend scored durability 5 of 5
  • — 24 built-in programs and 16 resistance levels, simple to start from the console, per Garage Gym Reviews
Watch-outs
  • — Short 15.5-inch stride that both outlets say does not suit taller users
  • — Warranty (3 years frame, 180 days other parts) is below the industry standard, per Garage Gym Reviews
  • — Assembly instructions are unclear; BarBend's tester took about 1.5 hours alone and scored assembly 3.8 of 5
$699.99 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

How they stack up

Horizon EX-59

Simpler than the iFIT-equipped ProForm Carbon EL and lighter-spec than the heavy-duty Sole E25.

Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E3912 Magnetic Elliptical

Its 15.5-inch stride is shorter than the Horizon EX-59 (18 in), the ProForm Carbon EL (19 in, adjustable) and the Sole E25 (20 in). Like the EX-59 it has no incline. Its 330-pound capacity is above the ProForm (275 lb), the Horizon (300 lb), and below the Sole E25 (350 lb). It has 24 built-in programs and no interactive classes, where the ProForm uses iFIT.

Specs side-by-side

SpecHorizon EX-59Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E3912 Magnetic Elliptical
Stride Length18 in15.5 in
Resistance10 levels (magnetic)16 levels (magnetic)
InclineNoneNone
Flywheel14.3 lb—
Weight Capacity300 lb330 lb
Programs5 presets24 built-in
Machine Weight~145 lb104.8 lb
WarrantyLifetime frame, 1-year parts/labor3-year structural frame, 180 days other parts and components
Model—SF-E3912
Drive—Rear drive
Dimensions—55 L x 23 W x 64.5 H in
← See the full ranking of best ellipticals under $1000