Pros
- Big 22" HD swivel touchscreen — among the largest here, and it pivots for off-rower floor workouts
- Dual magnetic-and-air resistance with iFit SmartAdjust that auto-controls resistance mid-class
- Huge iFit library (10,000+ classes — rowing, strength, yoga, HIIT) offers more cross-training than Hydrow or Peloton
- Undercuts Hydrow and Peloton Row on price, especially on NordicTrack’s frequent sales
Cons
- Near-total iFit lock-in — the machine can’t start a workout without an active subscription
- Documented NordicTrack/iFit reliability and support issues — a software update once bricked thousands of consoles (class-action settled), and customer service draws frequent complaints
- Lowest weight capacity here (250 lb), and it doesn’t fold or store vertically
- Full retail price (~$2,299) is inflated — you essentially have to buy it on sale for the value to hold
Specifications
- Resistance
- Dual: 26-level silent magnetic + air damper
- Screen
- 22" HD touchscreen, 360° swivel for off-rower workouts
- Content
- iFit SmartAdjust auto-resistance; 10,000+ trainer-led classes (~$39/mo)
- Weight capacity
- 250 lb (lowest in this group)
- Storage
- Does not fold; needs a permanent ~7' × 2' footprint
- Drive
- Inertia-enhanced flywheel, belt drive (smooth, quiet)
- Machine weight
- 163 lb
- Warranty
- 10-yr frame / 2-yr parts / 1-yr labor
Performance
On hardware-per-dollar the RW900 delivers. The dual system pairs 26 levels of quiet magnetic resistance with an air damper for a smooth, dynamic stroke, the belt drive is quiet, and iFit’s SmartAdjust automatically changes resistance to match a trainer-led class, which keeps workouts engaging. The 22" swivel screen is genuinely big and rotates for off-rower strength and yoga, and the iFit catalog is broader than Hydrow’s or Peloton’s rowing-first libraries. The performance limits are the 250 lb capacity (the lowest here) and the fact that, like its rivals, none of this works without paying for the subscription.
Build Quality
The frame is solid for the money, but build-and-reliability is where the RW900 earns caution. NordicTrack/iFit has a documented track record that we weight heavily: a 2022–2023 software update bricked touchscreen consoles across thousands of machines (settled via class action), and customer-service complaints about long waits, backordered parts, and inconsistent warranty handling are widespread. Because the rower is console-dependent, a screen failure renders the whole machine unusable — a real risk given that history. The 10-year frame warranty is generous, but the parts (2-year) and labor (1-year) coverage, plus the support record, are the parts to scrutinize.
Value Assessment
Value is the RW900’s reason to exist, with an asterisk. Caught on sale around $1,799 it gives you a bigger screen and a broader content library than a Hydrow Wave or Peloton Row for less money — a real bargain on paper. But the value rests on two things going right: buying it on sale (the ~$2,299 list is not the real price), and the iFit subscription (~$39/month) plus the brand’s support holding up over years. Factor in the reliability history and the subscription, and it’s a strong screen-and-content deal rather than a safe long-term bet. For the most lasting value, the no-subscription Concept2 is the smarter buy.
Who Should Buy It
Value-conscious buyers who want a big-screen, trainer-led rowing experience and the broadest cross-training library for less than a Hydrow or Peloton — who will use iFit, can buy on sale, are under 250 lb, and accept the brand’s mixed reliability record.
Who Should Skip It
Anyone wary of iFit lock-in or NordicTrack’s support history (the Concept2 avoids both), buyers over 250 lb, those who need to fold the machine away, and shoppers who want the most polished class experience (Peloton or Hydrow).
Final Recommendation
The NordicTrack RW900 is our Best Value Interactive pick: the most screen and content per dollar among connected rowers, especially on sale. But it’s fully iFit-dependent and carries NordicTrack’s documented reliability and support baggage, so buy it on a discount and with eyes open. If you want a connected rower you can trust long-term — or none of the subscription at all — the Concept2 is the safer pick.