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Bowflex SelectTech 552 vs NÜOBELL 80 lb Adjustable
Quick verdict
Winner on Gym Score: NÜOBELL 80 lb Adjustable (80)
If you can spend the money, the NÜOBELL 80 lb is the better dumbbell — it feels like a real dumbbell (compact, all-metal, twist-and-lift adjustment in one second) and goes 30 lb heavier per dumbbell. The Bowflex SelectTech 552 is the legacy default — 5 to 52.5 lb in 2.5 lb increments, 20+ years of refinement, and typically half the price of NÜOBELL. The deciding factor: do you want maximum weight ceiling (NÜOBELL) or the most refined sub-$400 system (Bowflex)?
Choose the Bowflex 552 if your top working weight is under 50 lb per dumbbell, you want 2.5 lb increments for precise progression, and saving $300+ matters.
Read the full review →Choose the NÜOBELL 80 lb if you'll work above 50 lb per dumbbell (squats, rows, deadlifts), want a compact dumbbell that doesn't feel like a brick under load, and value 1-second adjustment over 2.5 lb increments.
Read the full review →
- · Apartment lifters who can't fit a rack of fixed dumbbells
- · Intermediate lifters working in the 10 to 50 lb dumbbell range
- · Hybrid home gyms that need one tool covering curls through goblet squats
- · Lifters who want adjustable dumbbells that feel like fixed bells in the hand
- · Strength athletes working up to 80 lb per hand on rows, presses, and goblet squats
- · Aesthetic-conscious home gyms where build quality is part of the room
Spec-by-spec
| Spec | Bowflex SelectTech 552 | NÜOBELL 80 lb Adjustable |
|---|---|---|
| Weight Range | 5-52.5 lb | 5-80 lb |
| Increments | 2.5 lb | 5 lb |
| Mechanism | Dial selector | Twist-and-lift |
Bowflex SelectTech 552
- +5-52.5 lb in 2.5 lb increments
- +2-year warranty
- +Proven 20+ year track record
- +Global aftermarket
- −Handle diameter feels bulky
- −Drop damage voids warranty
- −Plastic shell looks cheap
NÜOBELL 80 lb Adjustable
- +Feels like real dumbbells
- +All-metal construction
- +1-second adjustment
- +Compact profile
- −Pricier than Bowflex
- −Only 80 lb max (2x40)
- −Stand sold separately
The real tradeoff
Handle ergonomics are the silent difference. The Bowflex 552 has a noticeably bulky handle and the brick-shaped weight plates sit far from the centerline — at 50 lb, your wrists feel the off-center weight, especially on flyes and overhead press. The NÜOBELL's design keeps the weight closer to the handle axis, so heavier loads feel more like a fixed dumbbell. The other tradeoff: 5 lb increments on NÜOBELL vs 2.5 lb on Bowflex. For pressing progression, the 2.5 lb steps matter; for rows and squats, the 5 lb gap doesn't.
Skip both if you'll work above 80 lb per dumbbell or want unlimited expansion. The PowerBlock Elite USA 50 at /product/powerblock-elite-usa-50 expands to 90 lb per dumbbell with add-on kits.
Buyer questions
Will the Bowflex 552 survive being dropped?
No — the housing is plastic and the dial mechanism is sensitive to impact. Dropping voids the warranty and typically breaks the dial. For users who'll bail on bench presses or drop dumbbells after a set, the NÜOBELL's all-metal construction is more forgiving.
How fast is the NÜOBELL adjustment vs Bowflex?
NÜOBELL: about 1 second (twist the handle, lift the bell, weight changes). Bowflex: about 3-5 seconds (rotate two dials, lift, weight changes). The difference adds up in superset work where you adjust multiple times per set.
Do either include a stand?
Bowflex includes a basic floor cradle in most kits. NÜOBELL's stand is sold separately — typically $150-200 — which closes some of the price gap. Factor the stand into your decision.