Verdict
All guidesResearchOpen dataMethodologyAboutContact
Head-to-head · Best Ellipticals Under $1000

Sole E25 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.

Verdict is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page are affiliate links — if you click through and buy, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Our ratings are sourced from independent publications, not sponsors.
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.

Sole E25
Ranked #3 in Best Ellipticals Under $1000
Sole E25
2 sources

The Sole E25 is the most solidly built elliptical you can get near $1000, provided you buy it on its frequent ~$899 sale rather than the $1,199 list price. Garage Gym Reviews scores it 4/5, and reviewers praise the heavy, stable frame, 20 in stride, and 20 levels of resistance and incline. Flashy tech is not its thing. Durability and a 350 lb capacity make it the value pick for serious low-impact cardio.

Strengths
  • — Heaviest and most stable build in the class at around 212 lb
  • — Full 20 in stride length suits taller users
  • — 20 levels each of magnetic resistance and power incline
Watch-outs
  • — Basic tech; no large touchscreen, just an LCD and Bluetooth
  • — Heavy and bulky to assemble and move
  • — Front-drive design with a modest 20 lb flywheel
Buy at dickssportinggoods.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

Sole E25

It skips the iFIT touchscreen tech of the ProForm Carbon EL and the lighter footprint of the Horizon EX-59 in favor of a heavier, more durable frame.

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

SpecSole E25Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E3912 Magnetic Elliptical
Stride Length20 in15.5 in
Resistance20 levels (magnetic)16 levels (magnetic)
Incline20 levels (power)None
Flywheel20 lb—
Weight Capacity350 lb330 lb
Programs10 (incl. HIIT, Hill, Fat Burn)24 built-in
Machine Weight~212 lb104.8 lb
WarrantyLifetime frame, 3-year parts, 1-year 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