Schwinn 430 vs 470 (2022): What’s The Difference Between These Elliptical Machines?

Elliptical machines are excellent low impact fitness equipment for beginners, advanced athletes and pretty much anyone that wants to get in shape. With an elliptical machine, you can have an effective cardio workout without putting too much pressure on your joints, allowing you to stay injury free.

Schwinn is one of the leaders when it comes to quality elliptical machines and the Schwinn 430 and 470 are two of their most highly rated ellipticals in the market. They come with features such as dual LCD screens, heavy flywheels, magnetic resistance and more. The two are similar in many ways, but the more advanced Schwinn 470 comes with additional features such as a motorized ramp, backlit LCD screens and more resistance levels. So which one of these two ellipticals should you buy? Below is our comparison of the two.

Schwinn 430 vs 470 Comparison Chart

Design

The Schwinn 430 and 470 are similar in many ways when it comes to their design, but the latter has a backlit LCD and a motorized ramp.

Design-wise, the two elliptical machines are similar. Their physical dimensions are the same and they have the same max weight capacity of 300 lbs. They have dual handlebars (fixed and moveable) and their foot pedals are cushioned for comfort.

Both the Schwinn 430 and 470 come with dual LCD screens for monitoring speed, distance, time, pulse and calories burned. For monitoring your calories burned, the machines allow you to input your height, age and weight for a more accurate and personalized experience. The only difference between the screens is that the ones on the 470 are backlit, so they are easier to read.

The Schwinn 430 and 470 both have incline options that max out at 10-degrees. On the Schwinn 430, adjusting the incline settings is done manually. Meanwhile, the Schwinn 470 has a motorized ramp that is easier to adjust. The two machines have the same 20-inch stride that mimics our natural way of walking and running. You can stay in proper posture while using them, allowing you to stay injury free.

Other features worth mentioning are their built-in speakers, tablet holder, water bottle holder and their built-in fan. If you use the tablet holder, the bigger screen is blocked, but you can still see your stats on the smaller screen above. The built-in speakers are decent and the built-in fan is adjustable.

Features

The Schwinn 470 has more preset programs than the Schwinn 430 and it also comes with a wireless heart rate strap and Bluetooth connectivity.

As a starter machine, the Schwinn 430 comes with a lot of useful features. It offers 22 preset workout programs for both beginner and advanced users. It also has 20 levels of resistance, which is more than enough for a lot of people. As mentioned above, it has a manually adjustable incline setting for a more intense workout. The fixed handlebars come with a heart rate sensor for monitoring your heart rate.

The Schwinn 470, on the other hand, is a more advanced machine that has even more features. For starters, it has more resistance levels than the 430 (25 vs 20), and it also has 29 preset workout programs, seven more than the 430. It has a motorized ramp that’s more convenient and easier to adjust than the manual mechanism on the 430. An added feature that’s only available with the Schwinn 470 is its wireless heart monitoring chest strap. With this accessory, you don’t need to hold the fixed handlebars to view your heart rate. Another exclusive feature of the 470 is that it comes with Bluetooth connectivity.

Performance

The Schwinn 430 has 20 resistance levels while the Schwinn 470 has 25.

For the most part, the two machines perform similarly. However, the Schwinn 470 does offer more resistance levels, so you can have a more intense workout with it. The Schwinn 470 is more well-suited for more advanced users.

They have the same 20-inch stride with Precision Path technology that simulates a natural walking and running motion that lessens that impact on your joints. In addition to that, the foot pedals are properly cushioned, resulting in a comfortable and low impact workout.

The biggest difference between the two, aside from their resistance levels, is their incline mechanism. With the Schwinn 430, you’ll need to step off the machine if you want to adjust the incline level, which halts your momentum. On the Schwinn 470, you can adjust the incline angles without stopping and this can lead to a more satisfactory workout.

Verdict

For beginners, the Schwinn 430 is more than enough, however, for advanced athletes, the Schwinn 470 is the better choice.

The more affordable Schwinn 430 is easier to recommend than the Schwinn 470 due to the discrepancy in their prices. The Schwinn 430 is more than capable of giving you a satisfying workout with its 20 resistance levels and it comes with many useful features as well. The only downside to this elliptical machine is that its incline setting can only be adjusted manually, but that’s a fair compromise if you consider the hundreds of dollars that you’ll save with this model. The Schwinn 470 is geared more towards advanced users and it’s definitely the better overall elliptical machine. However, it may be too expensive for a lot of people that just want to get fit and lose weight.

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