MERACH · Magnetic Rower Review
MERACH Upgraded Magnetic Rowing Machine Review
The MERACH upgraded magnetic rower is the one to choose if you are taller or want more resistance, with a longer 130cm rail and a stronger 40kg peak than the standard model.
MERACH Upgraded Magnetic Rowing Machine
Extended-rail magnetic rower
Price shown on Amazon
The verdict
This is the step up from MERACH’s standard magnetic rower, and the upgrades are the ones that matter. A 130cm extended rail suits taller users, up to around 1.95m, giving a fuller range of motion, and the magnetic flywheel offers a stronger 40kg peak resistance against the standard model’s 30kg, so it holds up better for firmer efforts.
It keeps the 16 quiet resistance levels, app connectivity and fold-away design, adds a large display, water bottle holder and adjustable device holder, and carries a two-year warranty. At around £200 on Amazon it is still cheap, and the small premium over the standard model buys genuinely useful extra reach and resistance.
Strengths
- Extended 130cm rail suits taller users
- Stronger 40kg peak magnetic resistance
- 16 quiet resistance levels
- 158kg user weight limit
- Large display, water bottle and device holders
- Two-year warranty, 90% pre-assembled, folds away
Watch-outs
- Budget-brand build and Amazon-based support
- Still a manual, non-connected resistance dial
- No built-in workout programmes
- Basic on-board metrics without the app
The row
The upgraded model’s two headline changes are reach and resistance. The 130cm extended rail lets taller rowers, up to around 1.95m, stretch out fully at the catch, which the shorter budget rowers cramp, and the magnetic flywheel steps up to a 40kg peak, giving stronger rowers more to work against. Sixteen quiet levels cover everything from gentle recovery rows to firmer strength sessions.
Ergonomic touches, an improved handle and an adjustable rail angle, help you hold good form and avoid knocking your knees or elbows, and the whole thing stays near-silent thanks to the magnetic system.
Extras and the Amazon caveat
Beyond the row, the upgrades continue. A large display shows your metrics, there is a water bottle holder and an adjustable device holder for a phone or tablet, and Bluetooth connects to the MERACH app for guided sessions. It arrives 90% pre-assembled, folds or stores vertically, and unusually for a budget machine carries a two-year warranty.
It is still an Amazon-sold, budget-brand machine, so support runs through Amazon and the seller rather than a specialist retailer, but the two-year cover is more reassuring than most at this price.
Who it is for
Buy the MERACH upgraded magnetic rower if you are taller, want more resistance than an entry rower offers, or simply want the better-specified MERACH for a small premium. If you are shorter and want the lowest price, the standard dual-rail MERACH saves a little, and if you want a specialist brand, the JTX Freedom Air is the alternative.
Specifications
| Resistance | Magnetic, 16 levels, 40kg peak |
|---|---|
| Rail | 130cm extended, heights ~1.50m to 1.95m |
| Console | Large LCD display |
| Extras | Water bottle holder, adjustable device holder |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, MERACH app |
| Max user weight | 158kg |
| Assembly | 90% pre-assembled |
| Storage | Folds or stores vertically |
| Warranty | 2 years |
FitRank breakdown
Performance 3.7
A stronger 40kg peak and a longer 130cm rail make it the better MERACH magnetic for taller and stronger rowers.
Build quality 3.6
A sound budget frame with an extended rail and, reassuringly, a two-year warranty, if still a budget-brand build.
Value 4.0
Strong. Extra reach, resistance and a two-year warranty for around £200 make the small premium over the standard model worthwhile.
Features 3.5
A large display, water bottle and device holders and app connectivity, short only of built-in programmes and a connected dial.
Frequently asked questions
Is the MERACH upgraded magnetic rower worth it over the standard one?
Is the MERACH upgraded rower suitable for tall users?
Is the MERACH upgraded magnetic rower quiet?
What warranty does the MERACH upgraded rower have?
Related rowing machines
Compare it against the field in our best home rowing machines guide, or narrow it down in our best folding rowing machines guide. You might also consider the Echelon Row-7s, Echelon Row Smart Folding and Viavito Sumi.
Chris writes the home fitness reviews across our sites, including our sister site HomeTreadmill.co.uk. He compares every machine against its rivals on UK pricing and specs, and scores each one with FitRank.
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