NordicTrack RW900 Rower
The NordicTrack RW900 rowing machine is the brand's flagship connected rower, built around a 24-inch touchscreen that pivots for off-rower workouts and 26 digitally controlled magnetic resistance levels. It is a smart machine first and a rower second: the alloy-steel frame and Silent Magnetic Resistance system handle the mechanical side, while an iFIT Pro Membership unlocks the touchscreen's coaching library, automatic resistance adjustment, and AI coaching. Below is what this exact listing states about the RW900, what it can and cannot do without a subscription, and how it compares to its own lighter sibling and two other connected rowers in our catalog.
- 26 magnetic resistance levels that SmartAdjust can shift automatically mid-workout based on your training history, with iFIT Pro active
- 24-inch pivoting touchscreen is the largest in NordicTrack's rowing lineup, and it rotates for off-rower strength, HIIT, and yoga classes
- The rower itself runs on all 26 resistance levels with a working console (distance, speed) even without any subscription
- 10-year frame warranty backs an alloy-steel build multiple owners describe as heavy and sturdy
- USB-C charging port and a foldable frame make long sessions and storage more practical
Here's how the RW900 stacks up against the other connected and flagship rowers in our catalog: Beats its own RW700 sibling on screen size and build weight, though the RW700 costs less to buy and move, Loses to the Hydrow Origin on weight capacity, 300 lb against 375 lb, while matching it on the connected-screen concept, Loses to the Concept2 RowErg on subscription cost and rating volume; the Concept2 needs no monthly fee at all and carries a much larger review history.
Which rider are you?
From this page to your first ride
Read the full nordictrack rw900 rowing machine breakdown
Specs sourced from this exact listing, including what changes with and without an iFIT Pro subscription.
Check today's price
One click to Amazon. We check the listing regularly and note it here if anything changes.
Plan for real assembly time
Budget 60 to 90 minutes with a second person on hand for the heavier steps, based on owner reports for this exact machine.
Why the RW900 wins its class
The largest screen in NordicTrack's rowing lineup
The 24-inch pivoting touchscreen beats the RW700's 10-inch display and rotates for off-rower strength, HIIT, and yoga sessions, so the machine does double duty as a compact home-gym screen.
Resistance that adjusts itself mid-workout
SmartAdjust reads your training history and shifts the RW900's 26 magnetic resistance levels in real time, a feature the base console cannot replicate without an active iFIT Pro membership.
What owners keep saying
The quotes below come from two independent hands-on reviews, Garage Gym Reviews and BarBend, both of which tested the RW900 directly rather than relying on the Amazon listing. Testers from both outlets flagged the same rough edges: oversized foot cradles, a 250 lb weight capacity that feels tight for a machine this size, a slick handlebar, and resistance levels that are hard to tell apart even across all 26. That is two outlets' worth of hands-on testing, not a large consensus, so weigh it alongside this listing's own small early sample of 7 Amazon ratings.
The foot cradles are very oversized, which, to me, feels odd.
comfortAlthough the product weighs more than 100 pounds, it only has a user weight capacity of 250 pounds.
fitWhile the RW900 has 26 levels of magnetic resistance, we were a bit disappointed that we couldn't tell much of a difference across the levels.
valueUnlike the older model, this rower does not fold in the middle to make it shorter, and it cannot be stored vertically.
fitThe biggest screen in NordicTrack's connected rowing line, with a resistance system that adjusts itself when you pair it with iFIT Pro.
Shop on Amazon →The honest cons
- iFIT Pro Membership is a real ongoing cost at $39 a month, and it gates the touchscreen's class library, SmartAdjust, AI Coach, and app syncing entirely
- One owner needed roughly 90 minutes to assemble it and specifically recommended a second person for several steps
- At 145.2 lb, this is a heavy machine to move; more than one reviewer mentioned needing two or three people to reposition it
- The rating comes from a small early sample, just 7 Amazon ratings at review time, worth weighing before you lean on the 4.6 average
RW900 vs RW700 vs Hydrow Origin vs Concept2 RowErg
Here's how this nordictrack rw900 rowing machine stacks up against its own sibling and two other connected and non-connected rowers in our catalog, pulled from each product's own listing data.
| RW900 | RW700 | Hydrow Origin | Concept2 RowErg | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resistance | 26 digital levels, magnetic | 26 digital levels, magnetic | Magnetic drag, adjustable | Air, damper-adjusted |
| Screen | 24 in pivoting touchscreen | 10 in tilting touchscreen | 22 in touchscreen | No screen, PM5 monitor only |
| Subscription | iFIT Pro, $39/mo, gates most connected features | iFIT Pro, $39/mo, gates most connected features | Hydrow membership, $50/mo after 30-day trial | None required |
| Weight capacity | 300 lb | 300 lb | 375 lb | 500 lb (per listing) |
| Our take | Biggest screen and sturdiest build in the NordicTrack line | Same ecosystem, lighter and cheaper to move | Larger screen ecosystem, pricier subscription | No screen, no subscription, highest-rated of the four |
| Spec | NordicTrack RW900 Rower |
|---|---|
| Resistance | 26 digital levels, Silent Magnetic Resistance |
| Weight capacity | 300 lb (Amazon user guide field) |
| Screen | 24-inch pivoting HD touchscreen with streaming |
| Subscription | iFIT Pro Membership required for full content, stated at $39/month |
| Frame | Alloy steel, foldable for storage |
| Dimensions | 80.1 in D x 21.8 in W x 52.7 in H |
| Unit weight | 145.2 lb |
| Console metrics (no subscription needed) | Distance, speed |
| Pedals | Oversized, pivoting, adjustable nylon foot straps |
| Connectivity | iFIT app sync to Strava, Garmin Connect, Apple Health (Pro required); USB-C charging port |
| Warranty | 10-year frame, 2-year parts, 1-year labor and repairs |
FAQ
Does the NordicTrack RW900 rowing machine work without an iFIT subscription?
Yes, mechanically. The rower runs on all 26 magnetic resistance levels and the console still tracks distance and speed with no subscription active. What you lose without iFIT Pro is the touchscreen's class library, SmartAdjust's automatic resistance changes, AI Coach, and syncing to apps like Strava or Garmin Connect. More than one owner described the workout programs as limited without an active membership, so plan for the $39/month cost if the connected features are why you're buying this machine.
How heavy is the RW900, and can one person move it?
The unit weighs 145.2 lb, and several reviewers specifically recommended two or three people for repositioning it, especially right out of the box. It does fold for storage once assembled, which helps day to day, but the initial setup and any major repositioning is easier with help.
What's the real difference between the RW900 and RW700?
Both share the same 26 magnetic resistance levels, 300 lb weight capacity, and iFIT Pro gating at $39 a month. The RW900 steps up with a larger 24-inch pivoting touchscreen versus the RW700's 10-inch tilting screen, and it's a heavier, larger machine at 145.2 lb against the RW700's 107.7 lb. The RW700 adds its own touchscreen resistance shortcuts. Neither model works fully without the subscription for the connected content.
How long does assembly actually take?
One reviewer reported about 90 minutes with breaks, estimating 60 minutes done straight through with a second person helping on the steps that require steadying or flipping the frame. Another described the process as manageable but time consuming, closer to a couple of hours with help. Budget more time than a quick weeknight project.
Is the 4.6-star rating reliable for this listing?
Treat it as an early signal rather than a settled verdict. This listing carried 7 total ratings and 6 written reviews at the time we researched this page, a small sample compared to established rowers in our catalog. The written reviews are consistently positive on build quality and the touchscreen, so the early signal is a good one, but it hasn't accumulated the volume that would make it a fully confident number yet.
What does the console track without a subscription?
This listing's own spec data lists distance and speed as the console's measured metrics, independent of the iFIT-gated features. Beyond those two numbers, the bulk of the on-screen coaching, streaming, and AI features require an active iFIT Pro membership to function.
The verdict
The short version: the NordicTrack RW900 rowing machine is a heavy, well-built connected rower with the biggest screen in the NordicTrack rowing line and a resistance system that adjusts itself mid-workout when paired with iFIT Pro. Owners rate it 4.6 out of 5, though that average comes from a small early sample of 7 ratings, worth knowing before you weight it too heavily. The rower itself works fully on all 26 resistance levels without any subscription. The touchscreen's class library, SmartAdjust auto-resistance, and AI Coach all sit behind iFIT Pro at $39 a month, and more than one owner said flatly that the machine feels limited without it.
Buy it if you want the largest screen and heaviest, sturdiest build in NordicTrack's connected rowing lineup and you're comfortable paying for iFIT Pro long-term. Skip it if a monthly fee on top of the machine is a dealbreaker, or if you want a lighter, easier-to-move connected rower, in which case its own RW700 sibling is worth a look.
If it’s close but wrong
NordicTrack RW900 Rower