NordicTrack X32i, X16 & X24: Incline Treadmill Review 2026

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If you landed here searching for the NordicTrack X32i, there’s something you need to know before you spend another minute researching it — NordicTrack has discontinued the X32i and replaced it with two newer, better machines. I’ll explain exactly what changed, why the replacements are actually an upgrade in several important ways, and which one makes sense for your training goals.

After 24 years of running and testing treadmills professionally, I’ve followed NordicTrack’s incline trainer lineup from the beginning. The X32i was genuinely impressive for its time — but the X16 and X24 that replaced it aren’t just cosmetic updates. They bring a 400 lb weight capacity (up from 300 lb), a lifetime motor warranty (the X32i had only 10 years), pivoting touchscreens, SpringFlex cushioning, and Netflix and Spotify streaming through iFit. In several measurable ways, the new machines are stronger.

This article covers all three machines honestly: what the X32i was, why it was discontinued, and which of its two replacements — the X16 or X24 — fits your training, budget, and space. I selected these based on incline capability, motor quality, iFit integration, warranty confidence, and real-world daily usability.

X32i vs X16 vs X24 — Quick Comparison (2026)

NordicTrack X32i — The Machine That Started It All (Now Discontinued)

The X32i was NordicTrack’s flagship incline trainer for several years, and it earned that status. A 40% incline range was — and still is — unmatched in the home treadmill category. The 32-inch fixed touchscreen was the largest display on any home treadmill when it launched. The 4.25 CHP motor handled steep incline training without straining. For serious incline runners and hikers who wanted a gym-quality machine at home, the X32i delivered.

But a few things held it back, and those weaknesses are exactly what NordicTrack addressed in the X16 and X24. The X32i’s 300 lb weight capacity was limiting for a machine at its price point. Its touchscreen was fixed — you couldn’t pivot it for off-treadmill workouts. It lacked SmartAdjust and ActivePulse, the adaptive training technologies now standard on its replacements. And its motor warranty was 10 years, not lifetime.

If you already own an X32i, it remains a capable machine — maintain it well, and it will serve you for years. But if you’re shopping now, the X32i is no longer available new from NordicTrack or authorised retailers. The X16 and X24 are the current options, and both are measurably better in the areas that matter most for long-term ownership.

What the X32i Did That Nothing Else Could

The 32-inch screen was genuinely unique — no other home treadmill before or since has matched it for sheer display size. If immersive iFit content on the largest possible screen was your priority, the X32i delivered an experience that the X16 and X24 cannot replicate at that scale. The X24’s 24-inch pivoting screen is excellent, but it is physically smaller. That is the one genuine trade-off between old and new.

The X32i also had a 65-inch belt versus the 60-inch belt on the X16 and X24. For very tall runners with a long stride — over 6’3″ or so — that 5-inch difference can be noticeable at top speed. In practice, most runners will find the 60-inch belt on the current models more than sufficient, but it is worth knowing.

1. NordicTrack X24 — Best for Serious Incline Runners Who Want Maximum Tech

Warranty: Lifetime Motor | 10-Year Frame | 2-Year Parts | 1-Year Labor

Key specs:

• Motor: 4.25 CHP
• Speed: 0–12 mph
• Incline / Decline: 40% / -6%
• Belt: 22″ × 60″
• Screen: Pivoting 24″ HD touchscreen
• Weight capacity: 400 lbs
• Cushioning: SpringFlex™
• iFit: SmartAdjust™, ActivePulse™, Netflix, Spotify, AI Coach

Buy from Johnson Fitness

The X24 is the most direct replacement for the X32i, and in most respects, it is the stronger machine. The 400 lb weight capacity alone is a significant upgrade — the X32i topped out at 300 lbs, which meant heavier users were always running the motor at or near its rated maximum. At 400 lbs, the X24 gives virtually every home user meaningful safety headroom and extends the working life of the motor considerably under daily use.

What Makes the X24 Different

The pivoting 24-inch touchscreen is genuinely useful in a way the X32i’s fixed 32-inch display was not. You can rotate it completely off the machine to follow strength, yoga, or stretching workouts led by iFit trainers — without having to strain sideways at a screen bolted to the treadmill frame. For anyone who uses iFit’s cross-training content as part of their programme, this changes how you actually use the machine day to day. The X32i was treadmill-only by design. The X24 is a full training station.

SmartAdjust is the other technology that separates the X24 from everything that came before it in NordicTrack’s lineup. The machine learns from your manual adjustments during workouts — if you consistently slow down at a particular incline, SmartAdjust recalibrates future sessions to match your actual fitness level rather than the trainer’s preset. Over weeks of use, the X24 essentially personalises itself to you without you doing anything deliberately. That is a meaningful step beyond the automatic trainer control the X32i offered.

ActivePulse takes the heart rate integration further than any previous NordicTrack machine. Using a compatible Bluetooth heart rate monitor (sold separately), it automatically adjusts speed and incline to keep you in your target training zone throughout the session. For anyone training for a marathon, long hike, or specific cardiovascular goal, this removes the constant manual adjustments that interrupt flow on a standard treadmill. It is the closest thing to having a coach monitoring your effort in real time from the console.

The iFit content library now includes Netflix and Spotify streaming alongside the 10,000-plus workout library. In practical terms this means if you have a long easy run or recovery walk scheduled, you are not locked into trainer-led content — you can watch whatever you want on the 24-inch screen while the machine handles basic tracking. This was a common complaint about the X32i era machines, and NordicTrack has addressed it directly.

One honest note on the screen size trade-off: the X24’s 24-inch pivoting display is smaller than the X32i’s fixed 32-inch screen. If you loved the cinema-like scale of the old display, the X24 will feel like a step down in that one regard. The pivoting capability more than compensates in functional terms, but it is a real difference worth acknowledging.

For serious runners using this machine daily at high inclines and speeds, the lifetime motor warranty is the single most important specification on this list. The X32i’s 10-year motor warranty was solid — but a lifetime warranty from NordicTrack signals a level of manufacturer confidence in the motor’s durability that justifies the investment for anyone planning to own this machine for the long term.

Best for: X32i owners looking to upgrade, serious incline runners wanting the largest screen and full iFit ecosystem, and heavier users who need the 400 lb capacity with confidence.

2. NordicTrack X16 — Best for Incline Training Without the Premium Price

Warranty: Lifetime Motor | 10-Year Frame | 2-Year Parts | 1-Year Labor

Key specs:

• Motor: 4.25 CHP
• Speed: 0–12 mph
• Incline / Decline: 40% / -6%
• Belt: 22″ × 60″
• Screen: Pivoting 16″ HD touchscreen
• Weight capacity: 400 lbs
• Cushioning: SpringFlex™
• iFit: SmartAdjust™, ActivePulse™, Netflix, Spotify, AI Coach

Buy from Johnson Fitness

The X16 and X24 are mechanically identical machines. Same motor, same incline range, same belt size, same weight capacity, same cushioning, same iFit feature set, same warranty. The only hardware difference is the screen — 16 inches versus 24 inches. If you can use both comfortably and the screen size genuinely does not matter to you, the X16 gives you every performance feature of the X24 for less.

What Makes the X16 Different

The X16’s pivoting 16-inch screen is a more practical size for many home gym setups than people initially expect. At typical running distances from the console — around 18 to 24 inches — a 16-inch HD screen is easy to read clearly. iFit trainer-led content, workout stats, and streaming services all display comfortably. The screen also pivots fully, so off-treadmill cross-training with iFit works the same as on the X24. The functional experience of iFit is identical on both machines.

Where the X16 earns its place independently — not just as a cheaper X24 — is its footprint. The X16 is marginally more compact than the X24, which matters if your home gym space is tightly planned. Neither machine folds, so the space it occupies is permanent. If you are working with a room that is close to the minimum required dimensions, the X16 gives you a small but real advantage without sacrificing any training capability.

The SpringFlex cushioning system on the X16 deserves more attention than most reviews give it. NordicTrack claims 27% more cushioning than the nearest competitor — and having tested both the old Reflex system on the X32i and SpringFlex on the newer machines, the difference underfoot is noticeable. At 40% incline, the force going through your knees and ankles is considerably higher than flat running. Better cushioning at extreme inclines is not a luxury feature — it is a joint protection mechanism that matters most exactly when you are pushing hardest.

The X16 replaces the X22i from NordicTrack’s previous lineup. If you were previously considering the X22i or the X32i but held off, the X16 gives you everything the X22i had, plus a 400 lb weight capacity, lifetime motor warranty, SpringFlex cushioning, SmartAdjust, ActivePulse, and streaming. It is a meaningfully stronger machine in every category that affects long-term ownership satisfaction.

For anyone training for a structured weight loss programme using incline walking as the primary method, the X16 is particularly well suited. High-incline walking at 3–4 mph burns significantly more calories than flat running at the same pace, with far less joint stress. The X16 handles this type of sustained, moderate-intensity incline walking exceptionally well — and the lifetime motor warranty means you are not risking the machine’s longevity by using it daily in this way.

Best for: Budget-conscious buyers who want every performance feature of the X24 and do not need the larger screen, home gym users with tighter space constraints, and incline walkers using the machine daily for weight loss or hiking training.

NordicTrack X16 vs X24 — Side by Side

Because the NordicTrack X16 vs X24 question is the one most buyers end up stuck on, here is the clearest way to think about it.

As the table makes clear, the performance difference between the X16 and X24 is exactly zero. Every training metric — incline range, motor power, speed, belt size, weight capacity, cushioning, adaptive technology, and warranty — is identical. The only thing you are paying more for with the X24 is 8 extra inches of screen diagonal.

That does not make the X24 a bad choice. A larger screen genuinely affects how engaging longer sessions feel, particularly if you use iFit’s outdoor trail content or follow trainer-led classes where seeing the instructor clearly matters. If you regularly do 45-minute to 60-minute sessions and watch content throughout, the X24’s screen makes those sessions noticeably more immersive.

But if your sessions are more focused — intervals, incline training blocks, or running with headphones — the 16-inch screen on the X16 does everything you need it to do. Stats are visible, iFit workouts load and play without issue, and the pivoting function works identically. You are not giving up any training capability whatsoever.

The X16 also replaces the previous X22i from NordicTrack’s lineup, while the X24 replaces the X32i. If you were considering either of those older machines, their direct current successor is the one that matches your original budget tier.

X16 vs X24 — Which One Should You Actually Buy?

Because the X16 and X24 are mechanically the same machine, this decision comes down to three things: screen size preference, budget, and how you use iFit.

Choose the X16 if: you primarily run or walk with iFit workouts, playing, but you are focused on the training itself, not the screen. If you tend to zone into a run rather than watch content, the 16-inch screen is perfectly adequate. Also, choose the X16 if your budget is a priority — you get zero performance compromise for the savings.

Choose the X24 if: you watch a lot of iFit content, use the off-treadmill workout feature regularly, or find yourself on the machine for longer sessions where screen quality and size genuinely affect your motivation to keep going. If you used to enjoy the X32i’s large display, the X24 is the closest replacement.

Do not choose the X32i second-hand unless you can verify its service history and accept that parts availability will decline over time now that it is discontinued. The 300 lb weight capacity and 10-year motor warranty are also genuine limitations compared to both current models.

If you train for hiking or trail running, either machine is exceptional. The 40% incline replicates terrain grades you would never encounter on a standard treadmill, and the iFit outdoor content filmed on real trails and mountain routes makes this type of training genuinely engaging. Both machines handle it identically.

If multiple people in your household will use the machine: the 400 lb capacity on both current models gives confidence across a wide range of user weights. iFit supports multiple profiles, so each user can have their own training history and personalised SmartAdjust settings.

What 40% Incline Actually Feels Like — And Why It Changes Everything

Most treadmills max out at 12–15% incline. That is steep enough to feel challenging, but 40% is a different category entirely. At 40%, you are replicating a serious mountain grade — the kind of terrain you encounter on technical trail runs or alpine hiking routes. Your glutes, hamstrings, and calves engage completely differently than on flat or moderate incline running. Your heart rate climbs rapidly even at a walking pace.

In practical terms, most people use the 40% incline in short intervals — 2 to 5 minutes — rather than sustained sessions. At that grade, even experienced runners find 10 minutes demanding. The value of having access to 40% is not that you use it constantly, but that it gives you a training ceiling that most treadmills cannot provide. You never run out of challenge.

The -6% decline is equally useful and equally underappreciated. Downhill running strengthens the quadriceps through eccentric loading — the same mechanism that makes downhill running valuable for trail race preparation. It is also a useful active recovery tool — walking at -3% to -5% keeps the legs moving without the cardiovascular demand of flat or uphill training. Most treadmills offer no decline at all. Having -6% available changes what you can do with a single machine considerably.

The Real Cost of Owning an Incline Treadmill — iFit Explained Honestly

Both the X16 and X24 work without an iFit membership — you can run manually, set your own speed and incline, and track basic stats. But the machines are designed around iFit, and without it you lose SmartAdjust, ActivePulse, the workout library, streaming, AI Coach, and Google Maps routes. In practice, using a £3,500 incline trainer without iFit is like buying a high-end smartphone and not connecting it to the internet.

iFit Pro currently costs $39 per month. That works out to $468 per year on top of the machine cost — a figure worth factoring into your total ownership budget before you buy. The family membership covers up to five profiles across multiple machines, which makes it better value for households with more than one user or more than one iFit-compatible machine.

My honest assessment after testing iFit extensively: the automatic trainer control and adaptive features are genuinely useful and add real training value. The outdoor content is immersive and keeps longer sessions engaging. The AI Coach feature is a useful accountability tool for people who struggle with consistency. Whether $468 a year is worth it depends entirely on how much you actually use those features — but if you are spending this much on a treadmill, the membership cost should not be the deciding factor.

Space Planning — What You Need Before Delivery Day

Neither the X16 nor the X24 folds. Whatever space you allocate to them is permanent. That is worth planning carefully before you order, because these are large, heavy machines that cannot easily be repositioned once assembled.

For the X16, plan a minimum room footprint of approximately 9 feet long by 6 feet wide for safe use — the machine itself plus the safety clearance behind the belt for dismounting. The X24 requires slightly more width. Ceiling height matters too at 40% incline: the rear of the belt rises significantly, and you need enough overhead clearance to stand upright at maximum incline without risk. A ceiling height of at least 10 feet is recommended for comfortable use at the steepest settings.

Both machines are delivered unassembled by default. NordicTrack offers White Glove delivery and assembly as a paid option — for machines this size and weight, it is worth considering seriously if you do not have help available. These are not machines you casually move upstairs or reposition on your own after assembly.

Buying Guide — What Actually Matters When Choosing a High-Incline Treadmill

Incline range: The 40% / -6% range on both machines is the highest available on any home treadmill. If incline training is your primary goal — whether for weight loss, hiking preparation, or low-impact cardio — this range gives you training options that no other home machine can match. Lower-priced treadmills with 12–15% incline are adequate for casual use but create a ceiling on your progression relatively quickly.

Weight capacity: Both the X16 and X24 are rated at 400 lbs. As I always tell people: always choose a machine rated at least 20–30 lbs above your actual body weight. That margin protects the motor, extends the machine’s working life, and ensures the frame operates within safe tolerances during daily use. At 400 lbs, both machines accommodate virtually every user with meaningful headroom.

Motor warranty: A lifetime motor warranty means the manufacturer is confident enough in their motor to cover it indefinitely. That is a meaningful signal when you are spending this much on a machine. The X32i’s 10-year motor warranty was good — but lifetime is categorically stronger, especially for users who train daily at high inclines where the motor works harder than on flat running.

Cushioning system: SpringFlex on the current models provides measurably better impact absorption than the Reflex system it replaced. At high inclines, the force loading on your joints is significantly higher than flat running. Better cushioning protects your knees and ankles and allows longer training sessions without the fatigue and soreness that harder decks accumulate over time.

Screen size and functionality: For this category of machine, screen quality affects training consistency more than most people expect. A screen you enjoy using keeps you on the machine longer and coming back more regularly. The X24’s 24-inch pivoting display is the more versatile choice; the X16’s 16-inch screen is perfectly functional for most users and saves a meaningful amount on the purchase price.

iFit ecosystem: Both machines are built around iFit. SmartAdjust and ActivePulse are the headline features — adaptive workouts that learn from your training and keep you in the right training zone automatically. If you have no interest in using iFit at all, a standard treadmill at a lower price point is a more rational purchase. If you will use iFit regularly, these features add genuine training value that basic treadmill programming cannot replicate.

Non-folding design: Unlike most home treadmills, the X16 and X24 do not fold. This is a deliberate engineering choice — the rigid frame construction that enables the 40% incline range requires a fixed deck. Accept this trade-off before purchasing, and plan your space accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Maintenance — What to Expect in the First Year

Both the X16 and X24 arrive unassembled and require professional or experienced assembly. Plan two to three hours for setup, or budget for NordicTrack’s White Glove assembly service if you prefer not to do it yourself.

In the first 30 days, focus on running the machine at moderate inclines — up to 20% — while the belt and deck settle and the motor runs in. Most users notice the belt loosens slightly after the first few weeks of use, which is normal. Refer to the owner’s manual for the correct tension adjustment procedure rather than guessing.

After the first month, the muscles engaged in incline treadmill training adapt considerably, and most users can begin using steeper grades progressively. Do not rush to 40% in week one — build incline exposure gradually over the first four to six weeks to allow your lower body to adapt to the eccentric loading that high-incline walking and running place on the knees and ankles.

Long-term, the lifetime motor warranty means you are protected on the most expensive component to replace. Keep records of your belt lubrication schedule and any service visits — NordicTrack customer service will ask for this information if a warranty claim is ever needed.

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