NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells Review: The Quickest Adjustable Home Gym Dumbbells

The NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells are the quickest adjusting dumbbells we’ve ever tested or reviewed (and we’ve used a lot of them). There are many great options on the market with more products being created every day, but there’s no doubt that the NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells stand out as some of the best adjustable dumbbells out there. 

In this review, I’ll give you my honest thoughts on the overall value, ease of adjustment, and weight options for these adjustable dumbbells. I’ll also give you comparisons between the NÜOBELLs and the competition, so you can make the best buying decision.

Why You Should Trust Us

The NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells are far from being the first adjustable dumbbells to hit the market for home gym owners. We’ve been recommending adjustable dumbbells for years and even view them as some of the best home gym equipment you can buy. 

We’re tested close to a dozen adjustable dumbbells – including the Pepin Adjustable Dumbbells, MX Select Adjustable Dumbbells, and the Bowflex SelectTech 560, to name a few.  

What NÜOBELL has done is created an adjustable dumbbell that can change weight in a flash. It’s not perfect and there are certain things we’d change, but there is not a set of adjustable dumbbells that changes between weight increments faster than these.

Related: The NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells made our Best Fitness Gifts list!

A Quick Look at the NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells

Adjustable dumbbells are a great option for those who are limited on space. Instead of buying 16 sets of dumbbells for your garage gym, getting one set that does it all can be a smart (and surprisingly economical) decision. 

Coop’s Tips:

• Everyone says you shouldn’t drop your dumbbells, but seriously, don’t freaking drop these. 
• These adjustable dumbbells are great for partner workouts because of how easy it is to change the weight used. 

My Favorite Things: 

• Super quick adjustable weight 
• Traditional dumbbell shape
• Knurled handle is like that of a barbell
• Superior functional design 

My Callouts: 

• Uses lots of plastic
• Need to perfectly slide it into the stand, otherwise it will get stuck 
• Less structural integrity 

Are the NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells Worth It?

The NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells are a great option for many people, but some would be better off with something different. Check out who I think should pick these up: 

Great for:

• High volume sets or accessory movements 
• People who like the traditional style of a dumbbell 
• Those who want to quickly change their weights between sets
• Home gym owners that love a knurled handle 

Not recommended for:

• People who lift over 80 pounds
• People who drop their dumbbells 
• Those who are on a tight budget 

NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells Specs

Material:	Plastic and metal
Total Weight:	80 pounds
Brand:	SMRTFT
Warranty:	2 years
Color of Plates:	Black
Weight:	5-80 pounds
Sold in:	Pairs

Using the NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells

The NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells are one of the newest options for people looking to save space in their home gym while retaining the functionality of an entire set of dumbbells. These traditionally shaped iron dumbbells replace 1,360+ pounds of normal dumbbells, which allows you to save space and money when building your personal setup.

With an easy click-lock handle, you simply rotate until you see the desired weight on the indicator, then pull the weight out and do your dumbbell exercises. The pancake-style disks remind me of pro-style iron dumbbells that could be found in most commercial weightlifting gyms. 

Coming in both 50 and 80 pound options, this dumbbell by SMRTFT looks to challenge their adjustable competitors like Powerblock and IronMaster that have been on the market forever.

I have yet to see any other dumbbells that are as quick and easy to adjust as the NÜOBELLs. With a quick twist, changing the weights takes seconds at most and the easy-to-read dial makes it simple to know which weight you have switched to. Perfect for drop sets or working out with your significant other, these dumbbells may be the most “adjustable” dumbbells on the planet.

The more I think about it, the more I realize how silly a full set of dumbbells is in a home gym. Similar to some of the best adjustable kettlebells, whether you have a gym in your house or in your garage, adjustable dumbbells are simply a great option.

The thing I disliked the most about the NÜOBELL is that you need to be very precise upon replacing the dumbbell into the holder otherwise, it could get stuck. If you don’t exactly line up the ridges on top of the weight plates, the dumbbells will get stuck in the holder and you have to go back to the original weight to pull it out. This seems like no big deal but if you’re sweaty and out of breath, you don’t really want to stop and have to line up dumbbells and struggle to get them out if you make a mistake racking them.

Durability and Construction

With some initial concern over the quality of the NÜOBELL’s, I was pleasantly surprised by the partial steel construction. Whereas many similar shaped adjustable dumbbells have mostly plastic designs, SMRTFT was able to construct these with the aesthetically pleasing stack of pancake plate designs. 

The mostly metal construction is nice, but hard plastic connecting pieces raise serious questions about long-term use. In activities where lots of weight is being moved at any speed, the hard plastic that connects the iron plates serves as a major weak point. It would not be unthinkable that these parts could crack if the dumbbells were dropped from normal heights. With so many important pieces being made from plastic, I would be very interested to see how they function a couple of years down the road.

The connecting pieces, locking mechanism, and weight selection device are all made with quite a bit of plastic. These don’t seem at risk of breaking, but it seems that over time, they could see wear that prevents them from functioning properly. 

In any high-traffic gym, you would engage the weight selecting mechanism in these dumbbells thousands of times over, which could lead to some issues with performance. This is a problem I see a lot in the Bowflex 552 and 1090 models. The plastic selector would often break after long-term use and you would be left with a non-adjustable dumbbell unless you knew how to disassemble and replace the broken parts.

Handle

A feature that I really like is the knurled handle that the company used for these dumbbells. Unlike many dumbbells that used contoured handles with rubber or foam grips, the NÜOBELLs use a barbell-type handle with a quality knurled finish. This handle makes these dumbbells really appealing to people who normally do barbell movements because you will get to train with something familiar. 

Aesthetics

With a really clean finish and some very aesthetically pleasing stands available on the website, these dumbbells could sit in your living room without sticking out like a sore thumb. The design that the company went with really keeps the feel of these dumbbells quite natural as you feel like you’re still using a traditional dumbbell. This is highly appealing for those who don’t want to deal with more square-shaped blocks like the Powerblock or Ironmaster models. 

NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells vs. Powerblock Dumbbells

The NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells vs Powerblock Dumbbells is an age-old story of challenger vs. champ. The Powerblock Dumbbells have been around since the early 1990s and have stood the test of time. I have an ancient pair that has held up to pretty much every movement and is still fully functional. You cannot go wrong with any kind of Powerblock.

An important difference–Powerblock dumbbells can be expanded up to 175 pounds, 2.5x heavier than the NÜOBELLs. This weight disparity allows Powerblocks to serve everyone while the NÜOBELLs will cater specifically towards the above-average joe.

The NÜOBELLs triumph in some areas. They have a much quicker selection method, (not to say that the Powerblocks are slow to change,) but the NÜOBELLs are especially quick to adjust. You turn, and boom, new weight. However, the Powerblocks have a plastic/metal (depending on model) pin system that can get out of place or stuck, making adjustments not as fast.

Last but not least, Powerblocks are significantly cheaper than the NÜOBELLs; you can get 0 to 90-pound Powerblocks for around $550 whereas 0 to 80 pound NÜOBELLs will run you $750. I think that the lower price point, more weight expansions available, and a better long-term build make the Powerblocks the favorite over the new NÜOBELL Adjustables. It will be interesting to see if SMRTFT makes any new expansion kits going forward.

NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells vs. Ironmaster Adjustable Dumbbells

The NÜOBELLs are very similar in build to another long-standing adjustable dumbbell, the Ironmaster Adjustable Dumbbells. With both utilizing a traditional shape and iron pancake plates, each of these dumbbells have an authentic feel.

However, with a time-tested screw system for adjustments, I just feel like the Ironmasters will be much more solid in the long run. With no plastic and no mechanical adjusting systems, there seem to be no weak points and I have never had an issue with them. I have yet to have an issue with my NÜOBELLs, but I feel like after a year or two they may no longer function as well.

The Ironmasters, like the Powerblocks, readily go above a weight of 100 pounds with a cheap expansion kit. This makes them more appealing for all because once again, not everyone will be fine using 0 to 80-pound dumbbells for all exercises. Also, like the Powerblocks, you get more weight per dollar, as the IronMasters are only $699 and come with a high-quality stand that makes them easier to access. A similar stand from SMRTFT would be an additional $200 on top of the $750 for dumbbells.

Unsurprisingly, the NÜOBELLs are superior in ease of adjustability. The Ironmasters are not easy to adjust since you have to unscrew them and then stack the plates you want to use. Compared to the NÜOBELLs quick turn and lock, this takes ages.

Overall, I would have to favor the Ironmasters as they are highly durable and more affordable than the NÜOBELLs. Their expansion kits also make them more functional for a wider group of people.

NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells vs. BowFlex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells

The Bowflex Adjustable Dumbbells have been some of the most affordable dumbbells on the market for a long time. With two options, the 552 and 1090, these Bowflex Dumbbells are used and loved by many. However, the biggest problems we see on the NÜOBELLs are also the same issues with the Bowflex variants.

The Bowflex dumbbells have a long history of cracking at weak points if slammed or adjusted incorrectly. But for around $350 for the 552 and around $700 for the 1090s, the Bowflexes are the cheapest options on the market. For a bit more, I feel like the NÜOBELLs are an upgraded version of the Bowflex dumbbells. With a cylindrical knurled handle as opposed to the shaped rubber grip on the Bowflex, I believe the NÜOBELLs feel way more traditional than the Bowflex option.

I would recommend the NÜOBELLs over the Bowflex 1090 model as they are similar in price and the NÜOBELLs give you a much smoother and more aesthetically pleasing setup. However, if you are not really in need of heavier weights, I would say the Bowflex 552 are your best bet as the 50 pound variant from NÜOBELLs costs quite a bit more than the 552’s from Bowflex, which at the same weight, give you way more for your buck.

Customer Experience 

The warranty on the NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells is fairly average at two years. You can purchase additional years of protection at checkout for either $29 (extra year) or $69 (three years). 

If you have questions about your purchase, customer service is very accessible. There is a live chat option in the bottom left hand corner of the website. If you prefer, you can also use the provided email form (they’ll respond within a day) or call 323-859-6968 during regular business hours. 

If you’re not loving your purchase, you have 30 days to return it in the original condition for a refund. It is worth noting that you will be responsible for paying return shipping if you choose to send your dumbbells back. 

Ordering the NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells

When ordering these adjustable dumbbells, you’ll get complimentary free shipping within the United States. I received my set within about a week, which is apparently pretty standard based on what it says on the website. 

These dumbbells are not cheap. At almost $750, these may be out of some people’s budgets. However, they do offer financing options through Affirm for three, six, or 12 months. If you choose the three-month option for example, you’ll pay $248.33 per month with 0% APR. Keep in mind you will be subject to interest for choosing the six- or 12-month options. 

Customer Reviews

On the SMRTFT website, the NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells have a whopping 5 stars out of 5 possible, although I would take a company’s rating on their site with a grain of salt when it’s perfect. What is impressive, however, is that the dumbbells have almost 450 reviews. Customers seem to love that they feel like traditional dumbbells, the knurling is high quality, and it’s super easy to change the weight.

On the negative side, people aren’t thrilled about the plastic portable cradle that the weights go in as it seems less than durable over time. 

The Home Gym Community on Facebook also has lots of opinions on the NÜOBELLs. The sentiments generally echo what I’ve already said; they change weight super quickly but some people are curious to see how long they end up lasting since there is a decent amount of plastic. 

Final Verdict of Our NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells Review

In the grand scheme of things, the NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells have a lot going for them. I’m a huge fan of how quickly you’re able to change the weights you’re using, along with the traditional dumbbell shape complete with awesome knurling (swoon). However, I am interested to see how well these hold up over time due to the amount of plastic used. I will say, after nearly a year of use, I haven’t had any issues yet.

NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells Rating

FAQs About the NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells