We tested the $1,500 mirror that streams exercise classes into your home and saw how it could upend the fitness world
- Mirror, a New York-based startup, launched its $1,500 interactive mirror in 2018. The machine streams live and on-demand workout classes into your home. Classes cost $39 per month.
- Customers connect to the Mirror using a Bluetooth heart rate monitor or via an Apple Watch.
- We put it to the test. Here’s what it’s like to use.
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Home fitness has taken off in the past two years as new startups offer more innovative and convenient ways to work out.
Peloton, one of the biggest names in the space, is paving the way. After gaining a cult following with its workout bike, it launched its second home fitness machine — the treadmill — in 2018. And more recently, New York-based startup Mirror has been getting in on the action.
In September 2018, it launched its LCD mirror that allows customers to stream live and on-demand fitness classes from their home. It looks just like a standard mirror and is operated using an app.
In October, Mirror announced that it had raised an additional $34 million, bringing its total funding to $74.8 million. Hedge fund Point72, Lululemon, and Karlie Kloss were among the investors in its most recent round.
We tested out the machine in November 2018. Here’s what it is like to use:
Courtesy of Mirror
Courtesy of Mirror
Business Insider/Mary Hanbury
The mirror can also be connected to an Apple Watch.
Business Insider/Mary Hanbury
There are over 70 live classes added to the app each week including cardio, boxing, strength training, yoga, barre, Pilates, boxing, HIIT, and more. The levels range from beginner to expert.
Business Insider/Mary Hanbury
Business Insider/Mary Hanbury
Business Insider/Mary Hanbury
You can increase or decrease the instructor volume and background music on the app. You can also link the app to your Spotify playlist to listen to your own music while you work out.
Courtesy of Mirror
If you have noted that you have a leg injury, for example, the machine will suggest a less intense version when it comes to exercising this part of the body.
This level of personalization is what distinguishes the machine from other home workouts, Brynn Putnam, founder and CEO of the company, told Business Insider.
Getty Images
“Studio classes are great for high-quality, hands-on training but are often draining on time and budget,” she said in a news release when the product launched in 2018.
She continued: “We’re creating a personalized experience with the best trainers and classes around the world, so anyone can enjoy the benefits of a workout, whenever and wherever they want.”
Courtesy of Mirror
Customers have to buy a 12-month subscription to these classes, which cost $39 per month.
Customers who want a truly personalized experience can opt for personal-training sessions using the mirror’s built-in camera and microphone. Each session costs $40.
Business Insider/Mary Hanbury
To keep the user engaged throughout the workout, messages pop up on the screen to encourage you to work harder.
If you’re live-streaming a class, the instructor might also give you a shout-out.
Business Insider/Mary Hanbury
Courtesy of Mirror
The biggest bonus of the screen is that it takes up no room space. While you’ll need to carve out an area to actually do the exercises in, when you’re not using it, it won’t encroach at all.
For those who don’t have the time or can’t make it to a group class, this is about as good as it gets. It’s easy to use, and the wide breadth of classes means you can have it all from your very own living room.
Cost is a big factor here, however. While the price comes in below some of its competitors such as Peloton and Flywheel, whose home fitness bikes cost $2,245 and $1,699 (without a screen), respectively, it is still a pricey purchase.
You can also choose to pay for the mirror in monthly installments over a 12-, 24-, and 36-month period with no interest.
Getty Images
Putnam has big plans for Mirror that extend beyond fitness to other types of content including therapy and meditation. Eventually, she sees the tech as a way for users to shop and chat with friends.
“We believe it will become the third screen in your life,” she said.
