Mirror Mirror

We tested the $1,500 mirror that streams exercise classes into your home and saw how it could upend the fitness world

mirror workout
Mirror’s interactive home gym. 
Courtesy of MIRROR

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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:

At first glance, Mirror looks like any other mirror you might have at home.

The Mirror

Courtesy of Mirror

But don’t be fooled — while this machine also functions as a mirror, it has an LCD screen from which to screen live and on-demand fitness classes.

mirror workout
You can either mount the Mirror to your wall or attach it to the carbon steel stand that it comes with. 
Courtesy of MIRROR

The workout process begins on the app, where new customers are asked to enter their key health details — weight and height — along with their fitness goals and details of any injuries.

Mirror

Courtesy of Mirror

The user connects to the machine using a Bluetooth heart rate monitor. Worn around the waist, this tracks your heart rate throughout the workout, as well as how many calories you have burned.

The Mirror

Business Insider/Mary Hanbury

The mirror can also be connected to an Apple Watch.

Kitted out in the heart rate monitor, we decided to test out one of its shorter cardio workouts.

The Mirror

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.

This 15-minute class combines a mix of 26 different exercises beginning with a short warmup.

The Mirror

Business Insider/Mary Hanbury

Our first impressions are good. The instructor is clear, and the quality of the built-in sound system is solid, making it easy to follow.

The Mirror

Business Insider/Mary Hanbury

Everything is controlled through the app, so there’s no need to touch the mirror and risk grubbing it up.

The Mirror

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.

As it’s also reflective, you are able to see exactly what you are doing.

Mirror

Courtesy of Mirror

A couple of minutes into the workout, a smaller image of the instructor doing an alternative exercise pops up on the screen. Kailee Combs, vice president of fitness content at Mirror, told us that these are personalized to each user.

Mirror
The machine we used was set to Comb’s personal preferences. 
Business Insider/Mary Hanbury

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.

Putnam, once a professional dancer for the New York City Ballet, came up with the idea for the machine after she had a child and found herself too busy to get to the gym.

Brynn Putman

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.”

“But we didn’t want to sacrifice quality for convenience,” she told Business Insider. Instructors hail from top New York gyms and fitness centers including Equinox, Nike, and Physique 57.

Mirror

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.

One of the best features is the heart rate monitor. This allows you to see exactly how close you are to achieving the target heart rate for the exercise.

Mirror

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.

At the end of the workout, we were asked to take a selfie and rate both the class and instructor.

The Mirror

Business Insider/Mary Hanbury

Our verdict:

Mirrror

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.

 

 

The Mirror could also end up offering more benefits to its users beyond fitness.

Brynn Putman

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.