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Bowflex SelectTech 552 vs PowerBlock Pro 50 Adjustable Dumbbells
Quick verdict
Winner on Gym Score: PowerBlock Pro 50 Adjustable Dumbbells (81)
Same weight class, different mechanisms. The PowerBlock Pro 50 runs 5 to 50 lb per hand in 2.5 and 5 lb steps, adjusted with a magnetic selector pin; its compact block shape keeps the weight centered on the handle and there's no dial to fail. The Bowflex 552 runs 5 to 52.5 lb and is more familiar — the dial spin is iconic and faster between sets — but its long plates sit farther from the handle and the dial-and-housing design is more fragile. The PowerBlock costs roughly three times as much; neither expands beyond its top weight.
Choose the Bowflex 552 if your working weights stay under 50 lb per dumbbell, you prefer the dial mechanism, and you want the lower price.
Read the full review →Choose the PowerBlock Pro 50 if you want a compact, balanced block that holds up to hard use, prefer a pin selector with no dial to wear out, and 50 lb per hand covers your training.
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 whose dumbbell work tops out around 50 lb per hand
- · Compact home gyms where dumbbell rack footprint is the main constraint
- · Buyers who want to change weight without a base stand (PowerBlock says the Pro 50 needs none)
Spec-by-spec
| Spec | Bowflex SelectTech 552 | PowerBlock Pro 50 Adjustable Dumbbells |
|---|---|---|
| Weight Range | 5-52.5 lb | 5-50 lb per hand (not expandable) |
| Increments | 2.5 lb | 2.5 and 5 lb |
| Mechanism | Dial selector | Magnetic selector pin |
| Sold as | Single dumbbell on Amazon | — |
| Warranty | — | 5-year limited, residential use only |
Bowflex SelectTech 552
$199.99checked Sep 24, 2026PowerBlock Pro 50 Adjustable Dumbbells
$549.00 per pairchecked Sep 19, 2026Bowflex 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
- −Amazon listing is a single dumbbell — a pair means buying two
PowerBlock Pro 50 Adjustable Dumbbells
- +Weight
- +Ease Of Use
- +Sturdiness
- +Adjustability
- −Not expandable past 50 lb per hand
Before you buy: where each one falls short
Bowflex SelectTech 552
- ·You drop weights regularly (drop damage voids warranty)
- ·You need over 52.5 lb per hand for rows or shrugs
- ·You want fast 2-second swaps between sets during conditioning circuits
- ·You have wide hands that find the 1.5 inch handle uncomfortable
- ·Handle diameter of 1.5 inch and 8 inch handle length feels chunky compared to a 32mm fixed dumbbell, particularly for women or smaller-handed lifters
- ·Plastic shroud rattles when racking and can crack on the corner if the dumbbell tips off the cradle
- ·Dial occasionally lands between weight notches and won't engage until rotated past and back
Model note: Relaunched as the BowFlex Results Series SelectTech 552 after Bowflex moved to Johnson Health Tech. Re-pointed 2026-09-23 from B0G6Z84TQM, whose bare /dp/ URL now lands on this listing, B0G1V685WC, Style '552 Single': one dumbbell, 5 to 52.5 lb, ships from and sold by Amazon.com (Firecrawl --country US, 2026-09-24T02:14Z). Same product and variant family, so this is a re-point, not a re-pick.
PowerBlock Pro 50 Adjustable Dumbbells
- ·You need more than 50 lb per hand now or later — the Pro 50 cannot be expanded (PowerBlock points to the Pro 100 EXP)
- ·You hate the square nested-cage profile and want round dumbbells
- ·You do a lot of bicep curls (the cage clips the forearm at full extension)
- ·You want the fastest possible weight changes (pin-based is slower than dial)
- ·The square nested-cage profile clips the forearm during bicep curls at full extension and during chest flys at the bottom of the stretch
- ·Pin-based adjustment is meaningfully slower than the dial systems on Bowflex or the twist-and-lift on NUOBELL, especially when changing weight mid-superset
- ·Aesthetic is industrial; the dumbbells look like they belong in a high school weight room, not a curated home gym
The real tradeoff
Shape philosophy is the divergence. PowerBlock's nested-block design keeps the weight compact and centered on the handle — better balance under load, but visually it's not 'pretty.' The Bowflex looks more like a traditional dumbbell, but the brick-shaped plates sit far from the handle axis, which feels heavier at the wrist as the weight goes up. Neither has an upgrade path: the Pro 50 is a non-expandable model, and the 552 tops out at 52.5 lb. If you expect to outgrow 50 lb, look at an expandable or heavier set instead.
Skip both if you want a compact dumbbell that feels like a real dumbbell or you'll outgrow 50 lb. NÜOBELL 80 lb Adjustable has the closest profile to a fixed gym dumbbell and goes to 80 lb.
Buyer questions
Can the PowerBlock Pro 50 be expanded later?
No. PowerBlock describes the Pro 50 as a non-expandable model that can't go past 50 lb per hand. PowerBlock's expandable line is the separate Pro EXP series, which takes stage kits. If you think you'll outgrow 50 lb, decide that before you buy.
Why does the PowerBlock outscore the Bowflex?
PowerBlock's owner feedback emphasizes durability and feel — a compact block with no plastic dial housing to crack. The Bowflex scores well on convenience and fine increments but loses points on housing fragility and bulky handles at heavier weights.
Which is faster to adjust between sets?
Bowflex — one turn of the two dials. PowerBlock means moving two pins, which is slightly slower. For high-volume superset work the gap is noticeable, but neither is as quick as NÜOBELL's twist handle.
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