ByGreg Szostak
Do not settle for anything less than High-Quality & Exceptional performance!
✅Lifetime warranty!
up to 25% off Ekrin⬇️@ Check Out
Your HSA/FSA expires on 31st Dec. All Ekrin massage guns are HSA/FSA eligible!
25% to 35%Discountis applied at checkout. For the best deals, click here →
Welcome to this hands-on Medcursor massage gun review.
This particular Medcursor massage gun has been gaining quite a bit of fame on Amazon. It’s a budget massage gun that costs under $100. We bought it and have had some fun with it for a few weeks now.
We’ve seen a few budget massage guns under $100 that have impressed us up to now. A case in point is the two Taotronics (TT-PCA003 and TT-PCA004) that we recently reviewed.
In this in-depth Medcursor massage gun review, we will share our thoughts about it and also answer whether you should settle for this muscle gun or top up $50 to $60 on a better massage gun.
Medcursor is a Chinese brand that sells on Amazon.
Their main focus is on sleeping and relaxation gear. We visited their store and found out that they sell sleep sound machines, heating pads, foot massagers, massage chair pads, and, of course, massage guns.
But is Medcursor a legit brand? After all, we’ve heard everything we need to hear about Chinese brands selling on Amazon.
But we have reason to trust Medcursor:
- First, they are not a new brand; they have been selling products on Amazon for many years.
- Second, this massage gun has over 9500 reviews!
- Thirdly, it looks like they were not affected by some of the Amazon bans that took out over 600 Chinese brands for incentivized review scam (more on this marketing tactic here).
Nevertheless… this muscle massager is always “out of stock”, or “currently unavailable”.
We don’t trust Amazon ratings today as we did in the past. The good thing, however, is that most massage guns on Amazon deliver what they promise. Most of them have at least a 4-star rating on Amazon.
But the devil is in the details, and we wanted to make sure this Medcursor is worth the money, or if there are better guns at this price range?
In our opinion, this is a loud toy that you may end up throwing away or not using because of its poor performance. Our expert recommendation is to save some additional money and get an entry-level massage gun with a lifetime warranty.
| Feature | Medcursor MG01 Specs |
|---|---|
| Stall Force | 16.5 lbs (our estimation) |
| Stroke Length | Verified: 10 mm Advertised: 11 mm |
| Percussion range | Verified: 1450 – 3050 RPM Advertised: 1200-3200 RPM |
| Speeds | 5 |
| Attachments | 6 included |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs |
| Noise (decibel) | Verified: 60 dB – 72 dB Advertised: 35 dB – 50 dB |
| Battery Life / Capacity | 2 – 3 h (4.5 h*) / 2000 mAh |
| Pros | Compact size Reasonable amplitude Low price |
| Cons | Low stall force High Noise/Rattling Cheap attachments No carrying case |
| Current Price | Check at Amazon |
We’ve seen a similar massage gun design before, so there’s no “WOW” effect when you first open the box.
It’s the same design as the Sportneer K1 or the Shogun Sports gun. It also looks a lot like the Youdgee H1 massage gun – although that muscle massage gun had a different control panel than the one here.
It’s a reasonably compact massage gun – it’s not too big, but it’s not a mini massage gun either.
It’s more or less the same size as the Taotronics TT-PCA004, which we recently praised for its near-perfect size. Although here the handle is a tiny bit shorter – about a quarter of an inch to be precise.
It’s also not a heavy massage gun, weighing just 1.52 pounds (690 grams) with the flat attachment mounted on.
We picked a Medcursor MG01 with a gray handle and a dark blue rubber stripe with controls. It also has a semi-perforated surface on the motor case. We’re not entirely sure whether it’s aluminum or another metal.
The materials used here are okay, but you don’t get the premium feel you’d get with a high-end massage gun. But we can forgive that because of the price. Also, the handle isn’t fully rubberized, which gives it a somewhat “plasticky” feel. Yet there are no visible screws, suggesting a solid device.
For about $70, we don’t feel the need to complain about the Medcursor MG01’s look and feel. However, we’ll just say that the Taotronics TT-PCA004 is better in terms of quality.
There is no carrying case here; which is a bummer, because the cheaper Taotronics had carrying cases.
Other items included with the device are;
The control buttons are located on the tiny rubber strip on the handle we just mentioned above – rather weird if you ask us.
Our first instinct was to click the Medcursor MG01’s logo on the glossy back panel to turn the device on, but it didn’t do anything.
It’s a one-button operation sports massager, but the button isn’t marked on the rubber strip. It’s probably because this is a budget massage gun. They’re not always the best ones, so it is worth it to explore the best value massage guns.
The LEDs are also located along that strip. It may take a minute to get the hang of how to operate it, but once you figure it out, it becomes easy.
To start this handheld percussion massage gun, you have to long-press the power button. Short presses will change the speed. The 5 LEDs indicate the speed gears. The lightning icon indicates the battery charge status.
You get 6 attachments with the Medcursor MG01 – not bad for the price of this muscle massager. However, the attachments aren’t so cozy – there is no soft attachment in the collection, just hard ones. We found that a bit odd because most brands add some sort of cushioned head for tender areas.
The only one that comes close to soft is the Ball Head which is made of EVA foam with a slight give to it. Even so, it feels pretty hard on the skin.
The other attachments are all hard plastic but look a bit cheap – you get what you pay for (and here is why)!
Expect the following apart from the ball attachment;
Overall, we believe it’s awesomely generous that Medcursor chose to include 6 attachments for a percussion massage gun this cheap. However, the quality of the attachments is wanting – it’s so-so at best. You get 2 flat Medcursor attachments that are supposed to do different things, but they feel pretty similar.
We prefer the attachment set for the Taotronics. Those weren’t perfect, but they were better, and there was a cushioned head.
There is no WOW effect here either. It’s the same generic T-shape we have seen before from other small massage guns. But we won’t complain because it’s not heavy, and may not strain the arm so much.
But we have beef with the handle design. There’s nothing wrong with the length; we think, for some people, it’s just enough. The circumference is also not very thick – most folks will hold it comfortably.
But where’s the rubber to make the grip firm? There’s the tiny strip with the button, and the LEDs, and that’s it! Everything else is plastic. Compared to the Taotronics in the same price range, the Taotronics had better handles.
We also don’t like where the button is placed. Accidental pressing will be a problem when using, especially the speed; it won’t be easy, but it’s possible.
Overall, we feel they should’ve added rubber throughout the handle, from top to bottom, to make the grip a bit more comfortable.
Otherwise, there’s too much plastic that may prove difficult to use for longer. Certainly, the Taotronics massage gun did it better.
So what’s the performance like with the Medcursor MG01?
Amplitude, or Stroke Length, is how far the head travels during percussions.
The advertised stroke length here is 11mm – that’s pretty decent if it was true, but is it? Our measurements revealed that it was 10mm. That’s still pretty good for a small cheap massage gun.
It’s actually longer than the Taotronics TT-PCA004 which has a 9mm stroke length. 10mm is vibrational at best, but not the worst you will ever get. With decent stall force, this massage pistol can do well.
Medcursor says it’s 16.5lbs. We did our own tests, and it’s pretty close to that figure.
It’s nothing impressive if you’ve used massage guns with more than 50lbs. of stall force, but if you are starting with massage guns, it may be good enough; still pretty low for muscly individuals.
You could use it for a relaxation massage, where you don’t need to apply much pressure. That said, it stalls very easily at speed 1, but the higher you go, the harder it is to stall it.
The advertised speed range is 1200-3200 RPM– a very nice and wide range for an affordable massage gun.
However, we checked ourselves with a laser tachometer and got 1450 to about 3050 RPM. That’s a slight discrepancy, but still a good range of vibrations per minute. This device will let you start slowly and gradually get more intense, but it doesn’t have the guts to be a Medcursor massage gun deep tissue, as advertised.
We also love the 5-speed option. Since it only has one button for everything, more would mess things up.
Unfortunately, this is quite a noisy massage gun. They claim it ranges from 35dB to 50dB, which would be pretty quiet and pretty awesome, too.
However, we measured it, and it is 60dB to 72dB – that’s close to deafening territory for a massage gun. It’s also pretty odd that it has a small amplitude and yet still revs quite loudly. A higher noise level might be expected from high-amplitude massage guns, but not from a device with an amplitude of 10mm or less.
The price shouldn’t be the excuse here, because we have tested cheap massage guns, such as the TT-PCA003 or the TT-PCA004, that operate much quieter. Even Bob and Brad’s T2 and C2 have a similar amplitude and are pretty quiet.
But the worst bit about the noise is the rattling. It rattles a lot around the tip – where the attachments mount. Every Medcursor attachment mounted seems to make it rattle. This is what makes the sound unpleasant. We wonder if it rattles this much now, how much more it will do in about a year.
The battery’s a 2000mAh capacity – a bit less juice compared to peer massage guns, many of which tend to be 2500mAh or more.
But it’s probably not a bad thing, given it’s a budget massage gun. Plus, more juiced batteries tend to add weight.
The battery will do about 2-3 hours of continuous use before you may need to charge it again. If you use the device at higher speeds and apply more pressure, the battery will drain faster.
BE AWARE
Our massage gun Medcursor, came with a USB-C charger. However, according to the brand itself, older versions have a M,edcursor massage gun charger instead. So be careful when you are buying. They say they ship randomly, which means there is a chance you may get an older version of the massager that doesn’t charge via USB-C. We like USB charging because it means convenience.
There is a battery charger indicator (the little lightning icon) that lights up when the massage gun is charging. Here’s what the different colors mean:
There’s also an auto-shutoff feature that activates after 10 minutes of use. We would’ve preferred 20 minutes, but it’s a budget massage gun, so it probably heats up faster.
Anyone looking for an entry-level massage gun, beginners, and those who want a simple device to use at home. But it feels and performs like a noisy toy. A much better massage gun would be the Ekrin 365, which comes with a lifetime warranty!
Also, if your budget is tight and you are looking for your first massage gun, it is better to save some money for a good-value massage gun. The Ekrin 365 is better for relaxing muscles, treating soreness, massaging your back and shoulders, and warming up your muscles before you engage in some physical activity like running.
As the Medcursor performs like a toy, it won’t be the right massage gun for demanding users who are looking for more power and a deeper percussive massage you’d get with a high-amplitude gun. The amplitude in Medcursor isn’t long enough, and there isn’t much power to hit deep into the muscle tissue.
This will also not be a good Theragun alternative – the amplitude and stall force are far from those of Theabody Theragun recovery tools.
You will only get a 1-year warranty, which is pretty much what we’ve come to expect from a budget Amazon massage gun.
If you want a longer warranty (lifetime actually), you can check out Ekrin Athletics massage guns.
The Medcursor is low in price. You can get it for about $70 if you apply the coupon given on Amazon.
Also check out the alternative below. It is even cheaper and has some good specs to go with the low price.
It has a very similar concept to almost the same size and weight. The design is also pretty similar.
However, you will miss about 1mm with the amplitude here (9mm instead of 10mm), which isn’t such a big difference, to be honest.
When it comes to the overall value, however, this Taotronics is better in many ways.
For starters, it’s made with better materials and has better attachments. It also feels good to hold because of the rubber on the handle.
There’s more stall force than the 16lbs. you get with the Medcursor (mid 20s lbs.). That means you can press it harder against the skin and get a more thorough massage.
It’s also quieter in comparison. Our measurements gave us 43.1dB to 58.1dB – keep in mind that the TT-PCA004 has 20 speeds.
The attachments provided are 6, just like the Medcursor. The difference here is that you get a cushioned one for delicate areas. There is also a carrying case.
You can get it for $69.99 or apply the OTT25 coupon that takes 25% off.
That means you are getting a similar device with better materials and accessories at a much lower price.
So here’s what we can say after this Medcursor massage gun review: it’s below an okay entry-level massage gun for beginners, nor for personal use at home.
If you want a first-time massage gun and have a tight budget, it is better to save a little more and buy a reliable one with a lifetime warranty.
However, there are still cheap massage guns that cost less with an inferior performance than the Ekrin, like the one we just mentioned above, the Taotronics TT-PCA004, when available, it’s better equipped than the Medcursor.
You decide!
Summary
An entry level device that may interest beginners and those on a tight budget. It features a nice amplitude and some stall force but fails to deliver with inferior quality materials. It’s also less equipped and noisier compared to better alternatives.
Here's a quick rundown of all the tweaks and edits we've made to this article to keep it accurate and up-to-date!
Current version.
February 14, 2024 Minor text changes reflecting the current market state and device availability. Internal and external linking corrections for better and more relevant navigation. (Author: Greg)
Published on:
•
Written by:
Greg Szostak
Disclaimers
The views and opinions expressed on this website are those of the authors. Any content provided by our bloggers or authors is of their opinion and is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything.
All product names, logos, and brands are the property of their respective owners. All company, product, and service names used on this website are for identification purposes only. Use of these names, logos, and brands does not imply endorsement.
Our policy is to make every effort to respect the copyrights of outside parties. If you believe your copyright has been misused, please provide us with a message stating your position, and we will endeavor to correct any misuse immediately.
Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links. If you click on the link and purchase the item, we may receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more here.
