PowerBlock vs Bowflex: Current Models, Weight Settings and Ownership Costs

WorkoutHealthy is an authorized PowerBlock dealer and does not sell Bowflex. Bowflex details come from the manufacturer's published specifications and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recall notice, and we have not run hands-on tests for this comparison.

Direct answer: For most home gyms, the PowerBlock Elite EXP 90 is the better buy than a Bowflex Results Series 1090 or 90. It costs about the same, starts at 5 lb instead of 10 lb, offers 27 weight settings instead of 17, and carries a 5 year warranty on the handle and plates instead of 3 years on parts.

Bowflex still makes sense if you want a dial instead of a pin and your heaviest set fits under a fixed 52.5 or 90 lb ceiling. Before buying any used Bowflex 552 or 1090, check it against the June 2025 CPSC recall covered below.

PowerBlock vs Bowflex: The Quick Verdict

PowerBlock wins on weight settings, warranty length and expansion; Bowflex wins on a rounder, more traditional dumbbell shape and wide retail availability.

• Best overall value: PowerBlock Elite EXP 90. Similar money to a Bowflex Results Series 1090, with 10 more settings and a longer warranty on the core parts.
• Best if you will keep getting stronger: PowerBlock Pro 100 EXP. Start at a 40, 60 or 80 lb build and expand the same base unit later, up to 100 lb per hand.
• Best budget pair: PowerBlock Elite EXP 50 or a Bowflex Results Series 552 or 52, which land in a similar price band.
• Best if you strongly prefer a dial: Bowflex Results Series 1090 or 90, as long as 10 to 90 lb in 5 lb steps covers your training.
• Skip both if: your heaviest dumbbell set is already above 100 lb per hand. Look at the heavier options under Alternatives instead.

PowerBlock vs Bowflex: Key Differences at a Glance

The Bowflex price ranges above are WorkoutHealthy's own review of current listings from the manufacturer and an authorized dealer, since WorkoutHealthy does not sell Bowflex. The PowerBlock prices are WorkoutHealthy's own listed prices for those active items.

The PowerBlock Elite EXP 90 selects weight with a pin; Bowflex SelectTech dumbbells use a dial at each end of the handle.

Which Bowflex SelectTech Models Are Sold Now, and What the 2025 Recall Covers

Bowflex's current SelectTech dumbbell lineup centers on four Results Series pairs: the Results Series 52 and 552, which run 5 to 52.5 lb per hand, and the Results Series 90 and 1090, which run 10 to 90 lb per hand. The 52 and 90 have a traditional shape, while the 552 and 1090 have a curved shape with tapered plates.

On June 5, 2025, the CPSC announced recall 25-311 covering about 3,844,200 BowFlex 552 and 1090 adjustable dumbbells sold from 2004 through May 2025. The notice says the weight plates can dislodge from the handle during use, and it lists 337 reports to Nautilus, including 111 injuries such as concussions and broken toes.^[1]

The recalling firm named in the notice is Johnson Health Tech Trading, and the remedy is a voucher refund or a replacement. Recalled units are identified by serial number range, so check the notice before you use, sell or buy a used 552 or 1090.^[1]

How the PowerBlock Selector Pin and the Bowflex Dial Work

PowerBlock nests the weight plates around the handle. You move a magnetic pin to the rail you want, and two 2.5 lb micro weights stored in the handle add the in between settings.

Bowflex uses a dial at each end of the handle. You turn both dials to the same number while the dumbbell sits in its tray, and the handle picks up only the plates that number selects.

Both systems change weight without loose plates. The practical difference is shape: PowerBlock is a square block, while Bowflex looks more like a traditional dumbbell, which some lifters prefer for curls and presses.

PowerBlock vs Bowflex Weight Settings: Which Lands on the Weight You Need?

PowerBlock offers more settings in the range most people actually train in. That matters because a missing setting forces you to jump too far on presses and rows, or to stay at the same weight longer than you want.

• PowerBlock Elite EXP 90: 5, 7.5 and 10 lb with the empty handle and micro weights, then three settings per rail from 15 to 90 lb (15, 17.5, 20, then 25, 27.5, 30, and so on). Settings like 22.5 or 32.5 lb do not exist.
• PowerBlock Pro 100 EXP: 29 settings at the full build, with the same pattern as the Elite EXP from 15 lb up: groups of three settings 2.5 lb apart, with 5 lb between groups. The 40, 60 and 80 lb builds stop at their top weight with 11, 17 and 23 settings.
• Bowflex Results Series 1090 or 90: 17 settings, every 5 lb from 10 to 90 lb.
• Bowflex Results Series 552 or 52: 15 settings, every 2.5 lb from 5 to 25 lb, then every 5 lb to 50 lb, then 52.5 lb.

The 10 lb starting weight on the Bowflex 1090 and 90 also matters for lateral raises, rear delt work and rehab style light sets. If you need 5 or 7.5 lb, the PowerBlock covers it in the same pair.

Which Has the Better Dumbbell Warranty?

PowerBlock's home dumbbell warranty is longer on the parts that cost the most. It covers the handle assembly and weight plates for 5 years, and the selector pin and micro weights for 1 year, for residential use.

Bowflex lists a 2 year parts warranty on the Results Series 552 and 52, and 3 years on the Results Series 1090 and 90. That is shorter than PowerBlock's coverage on the handle and plates of either model.

Read the PowerBlock exclusions before you buy. The warranty requires registration within 30 days and does not cover dropping, outdoor storage, or damage from moisture or dirt getting into the unit.

WorkoutHealthy Analysis: Cost per Weight Setting and per Warranty Year

Sticker price alone hides two things: how many usable settings you get and how long the core parts are covered. We divided each price range by the setting count and by the years of core warranty coverage.

The formulas are price divided by the number of settings, and price divided by years of warranty on the handle and plates (PowerBlock) or parts (Bowflex). The inputs are the price ranges and published specifications in this article, and the results exclude shipping, tax, stands and any extended plan.

The Elite EXP 90 has the lowest cost per warranty year of the four and beats the Bowflex 1090 and 90 on cost per setting even when Bowflex is at the low end of its sale range. The Bowflex 552 and 52 are cheaper per setting, but most of those settings sit below 25 lb and the pair stops at 52.5 lb.

If you only ever need light to moderate weights, the cheaper pair can be the right call. If your presses or rows will pass 50 lb, the Elite EXP 90 is the better value in this group.

Which Is More Expandable Over Time?

PowerBlock is the only one of the two with an upgrade path. The Pro 100 EXP uses one base unit with Stage 2, 3 and 4 expansion kits from PowerBlock, which take it to 60, 80 and then 100 lb per hand.

WorkoutHealthy lists the Pro 100 EXP as complete 40, 60, 80 and 100 lb builds, so pick the build you need now if you are buying from us. The Elite EXP 90 is already the full Elite EXP build, and PowerBlock states that Elite EXP and Elite USA kits are not interchangeable.

Bowflex SelectTech pairs are sold at a fixed maximum. A Results Series 552 stays at 52.5 lb, and moving up means buying a different pair.

The Pro 100 EXP also accepts PowerBlock's Pro Series attachments, including the Pro Series Barbell and the Pro Series Kettlebell Handle. Those attachments do not fit the Elite line, which uses a different stack.

Who Should Choose PowerBlock, and Who Should Choose Bowflex?

Choose PowerBlock if:

• You want 2.5 lb jumps in your main working range, not only below 25 lb.
• You need a 5 or 7.5 lb setting and a heavy setting in the same pair.
• You expect to pass 50 lb per hand and want an expansion path instead of a second purchase.
• You want 5 years of coverage on the handle and plates.

Choose Bowflex if:

• You have handled both and clearly prefer the rounder dial dumbbell for curls and presses.
• Your heaviest set fits under 52.5 lb, or under 90 lb in 5 lb steps, and you will not expand later.
• You want to try the dumbbell in a store before buying.

PowerBlock: Pros and Cons

• Pro: 27 settings on the Elite EXP 90 and up to 29 on the Pro 100 EXP, starting at 5 lb.
• Pro: 5 year residential warranty on the handle assembly and plates.
• Pro: The Pro 100 EXP expands by stage and accepts barbell and kettlebell attachments.
• Con: The square block shape takes some getting used to, and the Pro 100 EXP measures about 19.2 in long at the full 100 lb build.
• Con: Not every 2.5 lb setting exists; there is no 22.5, 32.5 or 42.5 lb.

Bowflex: Pros and Cons

• Pro: A more traditional dumbbell shape, especially on the Results Series 52 and 90.
• Pro: Storage trays come with the pair, so no separate stand is needed to adjust.
• Con: The 1090 and 90 start at 10 lb and move only in 5 lb steps.
• Con: Shorter warranty, 2 or 3 years on parts, and no way to add capacity later.
• Con: Older 552 and 1090 pairs on the used market may fall under the 2025 recall.

Setup and Ownership Considerations

• Do not drop either one: PowerBlock's warranty excludes damage from dropping, and selector parts are what get damaged. Set the dumbbells down at the end of every set.
• Storage: Bowflex includes trays that the dial needs to adjust. PowerBlock works on the floor, and the PowerMax Stand, sized for PowerBlock sets up to 90 lb per hand, holds an Elite EXP 90 off the floor, typically $175 to $225.
• Keep it dry: PowerBlock does not warrant units stored outdoors or exposed to moisture, so a damp garage or shed is a poor home for either brand.
• Check engagement every time: Make sure the pin is fully seated or both dials match before you lift.
• Recall check: If you already own a Bowflex 552 or 1090, compare the serial number to the CPSC notice.^[1]

Alternatives to Consider Before You Buy

• PowerBlock vs Ironmaster. If your heaviest sets will pass 100 lb per hand, compare a plate loaded Ironmaster set with PowerBlock's heavier commercial models.
• PowerBlock vs Nuobell. If you want a round dumbbell feel without a dial, Nuobell uses a twist handle.
• Adjustable vs fixed dumbbells. If only a few weights matter to you, a short run of fixed pairs can cost less.
• Best adjustable dumbbells. Our wider ranking of adjustable sets by price per pound and warranty.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are PowerBlock dumbbells better than Bowflex?

For most buyers, yes. The PowerBlock Elite EXP 90 costs about the same as a Bowflex Results Series 1090 or 90 but adds 10 more settings, starts at 5 lb, and carries a longer warranty on the handle and plates.

Bowflex is the better pick only if you strongly prefer its dial and rounder shape.

Were Bowflex SelectTech dumbbells recalled?

Yes. In June 2025 the CPSC announced a recall of about 3.8 million BowFlex 552 and 1090 adjustable dumbbells sold from 2004 through May 2025, because the plates can dislodge during use.

Check your serial number against the CPSC notice before using or buying one.

What is the Bowflex dumbbell warranty?

Bowflex lists 2 years on parts for the Results Series 552 and 52 and 3 years on parts for the Results Series 1090 and 90. PowerBlock covers its home dumbbell handle and plates for 5 years and the pin and micro weights for 1 year.

Can you add weight to Bowflex dumbbells later?

No. Bowflex SelectTech pairs are sold at a fixed maximum of 52.5 or 90 lb per hand. The PowerBlock Pro 100 EXP can be expanded by stage up to 100 lb per hand.

Which is better for a small apartment?

Both store in roughly the footprint of one dumbbell pair. The Bowflex needs its trays to adjust, while PowerBlock adjusts on the floor or on an optional stand.

Final Verdict: Buy PowerBlock for Settings and Warranty, Choose Bowflex Only for the Dial Feel

In the PowerBlock vs Bowflex decision, buy the PowerBlock Elite EXP 90 if you want the most settings and the longest core warranty for the money, or the Pro 100 EXP if you want to start smaller and expand later.

Choose a Bowflex Results Series pair only if you clearly prefer the dial and your training fits its fixed range. Whichever you choose, skip any used 552 or 1090 until you have checked it against the CPSC recall.

References and Data Sources

1. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. "Johnson Health Tech Trading Recalls BowFlex Adjustable Dumbbells Due to Impact Hazard; Including 3.7 Million Sold by Nautilus Inc." Recall 25-311, June 5, 2025. View the CPSC recall notice. Accessed October 3, 2026.