Name: Schwinn 470
Brand: Schwinn

Quick Summary

The Schwinn 470 is an $999 elliptical trainer for low-impact exercise. Its performance essentials include moving handlebars; a 20” stride length; 26 resistance levels with digital controls; and a motorized incline with max setting of 10°. As for programming, the console supports four user profiles and can keep 29 preset workout programs. It’s also compatible with the RunSocial app for virtual outdoor exercise and other benefits. Get pros and cons from our full Schwinn 470 Elliptical review.

Specifications

Model	Schwinn 470
Rating Our custom rating considers all of the elliptical's features, specs, warranties, and 100's of user & expert reviews, to save you time!	77%
List Price Suggested retail price, typically higher than the price you'll pay with our recommended retailers.	$999
Best Price Since prices change daily, this link goes to our preferred retailer for the best price we've found.	$999
Resistance Resistance is what determines calories burned per stride. The more levels, the more precisely you can control the difficulty.	25 Levels
Resistance Type The type of resistance affects the performance of your elliptical. Magnetic and Eddy-Current are the most common types.	Eddy Current Braking
Stride Length Stride Length is important for comfort and smooth strides. A stride length of 18-21 inches is ideal for most heights (5'3 - 6'7).	20"
Pedals Elliptical pedals can be cushioned and adjustable for maximum comfort and minimum impact on joints for injury prevention.	Large cushioned footplates
Incline Some elliptical trainers can be set at an incline to increase difficulty and burn more calories.	Manually adjustable ramp
Flywheel The flywheel controls the smoothness and resistance of your workout. In general, the higher the better.	High inertia perimeter weighted flywheel
Programs Elliptical Programs allow you to complete a workout with changing speeds and inclines, without changing anything manually.	29
User Profiles For each profile the elliptical allows, you can create a custom user account with saved programs and goal settings.	4
Heart Rate Heart Rate programs allow you to track how many times your heart is beating per minute (bpm), and some control the workout for you.	Contact Grips Telemetry heart rate enabled
Display Elliptical Display refers to the screen you'll look at to monitor workouts. LED and LCD displays are similar to TV screens.	DualTrack™ 2 LCD screen system
Max. Weight Max User Weight is the amount of weight, in pounds (lbs), that it can safely support, which can represent durability.	300 lbs
Dimensions Dimensions are included to help you figure out if this elliptical will fit properly (Length x Width x Height and Height x Depth).	70.1" x 28.2"x 63.2"
Upper Body Most ellipticals have handles to hold while you're working out that provide an upper body workout.
Accessory Tray Some ellipticals include an accessory tray for holding items such as water bottles, wallets, keys, or MP3 players like iPods.
Speakers Ellipticals that include a sound system allow you to listen to your MP3 player/iPod through built-in speakers (without headphones).
Cooling Fans Cooling Fans are designed to help keep you cool during an intense workout on your elliptical.
Folding? Some ellipticals are designed to conserve space by folding up. This is a convenient option, but some features might be reduced.
Quick Controls Quick Controls allow you to select speed, incline and even workout programs with the touch of a button (usually on the handles).
Warranty The warranty is an important part of your investment. The longer the warranty, the longer you can get free/discounted repairs.	Frame: 10 years Parts: 2 years Electronics: 1 year Labor: 90 days

Our Rating

Rating: 77/100. The Schwinn 470 Elliptical ($999 plus delivery) is the more advanced option of two in a discount lineup. Schwinn introduced the original 470 Elliptical in 2013, and they updated the machine in 2017 by adding Bluetooth for data sharing. They left the main components unchanged.

At first glance the new Schwinn 470 seems like a bargain. Some of its features, such as Bluetooth data export and a 20” footpath, are normally limited to elliptical machines in a higher price bracket. Its resistance system is also above-average for a $999 trainer. Unfortunately the various parts don’t seem to harmonize well. Customer reviews indicate that serious problems aren’t too rare within six months of set-up… and Schwinn only covers labor costs for the first 90 days of ownership. For comparison most ellipticals we review have at least one-year labor warranties.

What’s a better option? The Sole E25, which our team gives a 91% review score, has essentially the same price ($999 on sale with free delivery)… but if you’re still interested in the new Schwinn 470, here are pros and cons to consider.

Pros:

Home-friendly machine size
25 resistance settings
20” elliptical path length
Smooth striding
Power incline to 10 percent
Moving handlebars
User-friendly LCD
Four user profiles
29-item program menu
Bluetooth data export
Compatible with RunSocial
Contact pulse sensors
Heart rate controlled workouts
Mobile device shelf and charging port
Sound system for MP3 player
Multi-speed cooling fan
Water bottle holder

Cons:

Pedals, rollers, handlebars and other parts are prone to breaking according to customer reviews
Pedals don’t have adjustable angle, which would help make this front drive elliptical a bit more ergonomic
No wireless heart rate receiver
Short labor warranty

Introduction

Shopping for ellipticals, people notice the Schwinn 470 for its low price. It sells for just $999 including Schwinn’s standard delivery service. For comparison the best-value home ellipticals on our site tend to cost $1,499 and up. What does the 470 offer? Below are details about its programming, components and warranty.

Workout Programs

The new Schwinn 470 console arrives with a good mix of preset workouts, plus it lets four users save their own elliptical workout routines. Exercise data are shown on a large DualTrack blue backlit LCD window system with two windows for feedback display.

The 29 program options include:

Quick-start (manual mode)
Four user-defined programs
Three fitness tests (beginner, advanced and recovery)
12 profile programs
Nine heart rate control programs

The Schwinn 470 also features Explore the World App and is also compatible with other popular fitness programs such as UA, MyFitnessPal, GoogleFit, Apple Health, and MapMyRun/Ride.

Schwinn 470 Features

For upper-body exercise the Schwinn 470 has moving handlebars. These are slightly curved to give you flexibility for hand placement. For comparison most cheap ellipticals have completely straight handlebars, and better ellipticals tend to have advanced multi-grip bars with more cushioning.

The elliptical footpath is 20 inches long. That’s an industry standard, but it’s an uncommon quality of discount ellipticals.

Resistance is magnetic with digital control using and Eddy Current system so as to provide smooth and quiet rides. You get 25 choices from a 20-pound flywheel. More expensive elliptical machines seem to have hardier flywheel systems, but this system does support smooth striding and a wide range of ability levels.

The 470 has power-adjustable incline. You can choose from six settings with a maximum of 10 percent slope. We like how incline training helps you burn calories more quickly, and also helps you target different muscles as you stride.

This elliptical’s heart rate control programs work with contact pulse readers. Heart rate control workout programs are rare on discount ellipticals. However, most fitness machines with heart rate control programs are compatible with wireless chest straps (not just contact pulse readers) for better accuracy and convenience. Although Bluetooth-enabled, this machine does not sync with other devices.

For supporting multimedia during exercise, the 470 Elliptical console has a mobile device shelf, a sound system and a USB charging port. Other extras are the three-speed fan and a bottle holder.

This machine needs to be plugged in to work; the console can’t run off batteries. An adaptor cord is included. Buyers should know that the machine itself weighs 164 pounds and is quite heavy relative to other trainers. Transport wheels are affixed to the unit to assist with movement.

Frequently Asked Questions

How heavy is the Schwinn 470 Elliptical?

The machine weighs 164 pounds.

What apps work with the Schwinn 470 Elliptical?

In addition to Explore the World, UA, MyFitnessPal, GoogleFit, Apple Health, and MapMyRunRide.

Is it hard to assemble the Schwinn 470 Elliptical? How long does this usually take?

No the unit is relatively easy to assemble and should take an hour with assitance.

Does the Schwinn 470 Elliptical require frequent maintenance?

Yes, and in addition to an instruction manual there are videos online to assist with this.

What heart rate monitors work the Schwinn 470 Elliptical?

The uncoded heart rate strap from Polar Electro and uncoded Polar compatibles.

What is the user height range of the the Schwinn 470 Elliptical?

The machine works for users between 4’6″ and 6’6″.

What is the minimum ceiling height of the Schwinn 470 Elliptical?

The rule of thumb is 26 inches plus the user’s height.

Warranty & Guarantee

The newest Schwinn ellipticals are sold factory-direct with the following buyer protections:

– Frame: 10 years

– Parts: 2 years

– Electronics: 1 year

– Labor: 90 days

Conclusion

The Schwinn 470 looks like a bargain at first, but it isn’t nearly as durable as machines in the next price category. It also fares poorly compared with the Sole E25 and other top-rated ellipticals in its price class. Before choosing a Schwinn elliptical, see our chart of the five best elliptical machines under $1,000.

Other Schwinn Ellipticals

Schwinn 430

Schwinn 470 Review

Rating: 77%