NordicTrack’s premium home gym push just got fresh competition from this smart rower

Merach NovaRow R50 Pro — (Image credit: Merach)

The connected home fitness space has become increasingly crowded over the last few years, but rowing machines still feel somewhat underserved compared to treadmills and exercise bikes.

Brands such as NordicTrack and Peloton have spent years turning cardio equipment into fully connected training hubs packed with guided workouts, performance tracking and subscription-driven ecosystems.

A quieter arms race

What makes the R50 Pro more interesting is that Merach is clearly targeting the growing group of home athletes who care about detailed performance analysis instead of just calorie counts.

The rower introduces a new 5.5-inch backlit LCD display with a redesigned vertical layout, alongside metrics such as watt output, average wattage, drag factor, stroke waveform data, and 500-metre split times.

That sort of information has traditionally been associated with commercial machines like Concept2's RowErg, so its appearance in a more affordable home setup feels notable.

The company has also addressed one of the more frustrating issues found on connected cardio equipment by placing the integrated iPad holder above the monitor, so workout data remains fully visible during sessions.

Folding away the problem

Space-saving design remains one of the biggest selling points in home fitness, especially as larger cardio machines increasingly compete for permanent floor space in smaller homes.

Merach says the R50 Pro can be folded and stored vertically after workouts, while the frame itself combines iron, aluminium and a stainless steel sliding rail for added durability.

The machine supports Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity and works with both the Merach app and Kinomap for guided training sessions and workout syncing.

Offline workout storage is also included, allowing users to sync their data later if they train without an active connection.

The NovaRow R50 Pro is available now for £880 at Merach UK. The machine is currently on special offer, selling for only £480. In the US, you can buy the rower on Amazon for $530.

Matt Kollat is a journalist and content creator for T3.com and T3 Magazine, where he works as Active Editor. His areas of expertise include wearables, drones, action cameras, fitness equipment, nutrition and outdoor gear. He joined T3 in 2019.

His work has also appeared on TechRadar and Fit&Well, and he has collaborated with creators such as Garage Gym Reviews. Matt has served as a judge for multiple industry awards, including the ESSNAwards. When he isn’t running, cycling or testing new kit, he’s usually roaming the countryside with a camera or experimenting with new audio and video gear.