Theragun Elite Review – Does It Live Up to Its Name?

Today in our hands-on Theragun Elite review, we’re going to find out whether Theragun’s second most powerful gun really lives up to its name.

The Elite is the second most powerful massage gun in the Theragun family after the Pro. When we tested their entry-level Prime, we were hoping that this one perhaps has better features. We were disappointed by Prime’s power to say the least.

So, is the Elite really that “elite”? Is it worth buying, or are its more affordable competition better? Let’s find out.

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Theragun Elite Review

Theragun Elite Specifications (Verified)

Feature	Theragun Elite Specs
Stall Force	40 lbs (verified, our estimation)
Stroke Length	16 mm (verified)
Speeds	5 (unlimited with Therabody app)
Percussion range	1750 – 2400 ppm (verified)
Weight	2.2 lbs (verified)
Dimensions	9.5” x 6.7” x 2.8” (24cm x 17cm x 7.4cm)
Attachments	5 included
Noise (decibel)	~60-67 dB (verified)
Battery Life	2 hours
Extra Features	OLED Screen Force meter Custom Routines Pre-set Bluetooth and Therabody app
Pros	Great stroke length Adequate stall force (to stroke length) Ergonomy
Cons	Still too loud So-so time on battery Fingerprint magnet High Price
Warranty	1 year
Current Price	Check here

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First Impressions and Build Quality

First things first and finally a Theragun with a carrying case. The bottom two in line only offer a so-called “soft pouch”.

Theragun Elite comes in a high quality textured case that looks sleek and feels really nice. Maybe we just might have something with this one. But let’s see what’s in the case first.

So the gun is smack in the middle of the case when you open it. We have seen many cases with shaped out compartments for other accessories that come with the gun.

But for the Elite, Theragun chose two pouches sewn into the sides of the case that hold the attachments, the dedicated charger, and we also found an Apple-style envelope.

Inside we found the brand story, a letter from the founder, a quick-start guide, a sticker, and warranty information.

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The Device

Again this is a true Theragun device in terms of its design. It’s the same triangular shape that they are well known for.

We think the multiple grips option is an excellent selling point. If you’ve read many of our reviews you might have noticed our distaste for the T-shaped guns like Hypervolt.

The Elite is an impressive device to behold. It’s not all matte black like its Prime sibling. It’s glossy piano-black to the sides and the arm, which makes it look stylish and elegant, although we opted for a glossy-white version, as shown on photos.

We talked of the Prime being a good gift, this one is a step higher in quality. It has a blue ring on its arm which identifies it as the Elite model.

Upon closer inspection, we found the other parts made of two types of plastic (including the handle); the inside feels like a slick smooth plastic while the outside is slightly rubberized plastic.

The Elite can be purchased in three color options with the others being black and Product (RED) – something we didn’t see with the cheaper Prime. It’s definitely an impressive massage gun.

The only thing we noticed is that the glossy parts are fingerprint magnets. Otherwise we loved it at first sight.

Another thing that puts this percussion massager in the Theragun elite group is the OLED display. The only other device with this feature is the Theragun Pro model. The screen, once turned on displays the speed gears, battery level, and force being applied.

The controls evolved as well:

• Press and hold the power button to turn it on and off.
• Press + and – to change speeds.
• Press < and > to cycle between custom preset routines saved on the device (we’ll expound on this later in our post).

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Attachments

The Elite comes with 5 attachments so definitely an improvement from the entry-level Prime.

A just a few thoughts on the attachments:

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In our personal experience, the attachments are good quality rubber that will last. We prefer rubber to foam which deteriorates in quality rather fast. We know of massage guns that like to keep the ball attachment softer than the others, but here the dampener is the softest.

The ball feels soft as well. The only one that seems a bit hard is the cone but that’s expected given its use on pinpoint areas. 

Our only concern, however, is we feel that Theragun would’ve done well adding a bit of variety. Having seen so many different devices, some of these attachments feel pretty much the same.

For instance, there isn’t much difference between the dampener and the ball attachment. We wouldn’t mind if they added say, a fork or flat head attachment. That would add a bit more choice.

We also feel the need to highlight Theragun’s mechanism for installing the attachments.

It’s still the simple push and pull, but it feels more solid compared to what we have seen from other brands. There are two metal ball bearings that click into the attachment making it more stable.

A lot of these other devices have plastic tips that with time could easily wear out.

Another great thing is that these attachments will fit on all 4^th and 5^th generation Theraguns.

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Size, Weight and Ergonomics

It’s almost unnoticeable but the Elite is slightly bigger than the Prime.

If you thought otherwise, we’ve got the measurements for you; 9.5” x 6.7” x 2.8” or 24cm x 17cm x 7.4cm. Even though it’s bigger, it’s just about the perfect size for what it is meant to do.

Big means heavy, right? Surprisingly, Elite weighed the same as the smaller Prime on our scale – 2.2lbs. This is standard weight for most massage guns in its category. Not too heavy, and just enough to feel like a serious device.

The ergonomics are perfect just as we’re used to experience with all Theraguns. The multiple grip options are a thing of excellence. That means you can use the device without feeling the strain on your wrists.

You don’t get a rotating arm like what’s on the Pro model but we don’t feel it’s very necessary to have it here.

Part of the handle is rubberized. After using it extensively for a couple of weeks, we would’ve loved the inside of the handle to have a bit of rubber as well just to make things a little firmer.

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Performance

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Amplitude

Amplitude or sometimes called stroke length, is how far the head travels back and forth to give you the percussions. It determines how deep into the muscle the massage gets.

One thing we were particularly impressed with during our testing of the Elite was the stroke length. It is, and has for a long time been a key selling point for Theragun.

The Elite has 16mm amplitude. Actually, apart from the Theragun Mini (12mm) all the other devices have the 16mm Theragun standard amplitude.

Recently, however, many more brands have started equipping their devices with 16mm amplitudes. 16mm means the Elite can give a great punch if accompanied by enough stall force.

Does the Elite have enough stall force though?

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Stall Force

The stall force, or sometimes called “no-stall force” is the amount of pressure needed to stall the motor of a given percussion massager. Usually this happens when you press the gun against the skin. 

Here’s where the Elite actually makes a case for its name compared to its lower brother, Theragun Prime. If you’ve read our Theragun Prime review then you know we were a bit disappointed with the stall force on Prime and were hoping for something better with the Elite.

Fortunately sometimes wishes can be granted. From our tests, we found that the Elite’s stall force lands around 40lbs, a satisfying force for a handheld massager. This, if not for anything else, is a tolerable improvement from what the Prime gave us. It’s a meagre 10lbs. more but we’ll take it.

With 40lbs. you can still have a deep enough massage if you want to (especially with the impressive 16mm amplitude). The massage gun will probably still stall easily, especially if you are working on large muscle groups like the glutes, but you’ll still have fun massaging other areas.

We still feel for its price, the Elite should accommodate at least 50lbs. of power, but 40lbs. does some good justice to the impressive stroke length. 

However, you might want to know that the 40lbs. stall force is progressive. In other words, the gun will stall with much less pressure at lower speeds. The only time it gets slightly tough to stall is when it’s revving at the highest speed.

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Percussions and Speed Levels

We measured the same percussion range as all the full-sized Theraguns, which is 1750-2400ppm. We believe that 2400 maximum percussions per minute is still enough for a nice, intensive percussive therapy massage.

To be fair, even though sometimes more percussions are needed, if a device has a long amplitude (16mm for the Elite here), then you probably won’t need the intense vibrations.

However, Achedaway Pro, a serious rival to the high-end Theraguns boasts both a long amplitude (16mm) and high percussions (2800rpm) which makes it a serious contender.

We also gave the Elite a spin on each of the five built-in speeds that you can cycle through. We like that the lowest speed starts way back at 1750rpm. With this you can easily get an accurate massage by starting low before you gradually increase the intensity.

We used the laser tachometer to measure the actual percussions per minute. The speed calibration proved to be as follows:

• 1750 – lowest
• 1900 – second 
• 2100 – third 
• 2200 – fourth 
• 2400 – fifth/highest

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New Features Added

Our Theragun Elite review wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the new features it comes with. Apart from the addition of the OLED screen, there are two new features that we didn’t see on the Prime device.

The first one allows you to save custom routines on your device. You can save up to 3 different routines. For each of these routines you can have different speeds, time, and the amount of pressure used.

We have tried this feature when testing the device, and we think it’s really awesome that now you get to keep your favorite settings from the previous massages and quickly access them when you need them.

The second feature that we didn’t see with the Theragun Prime is the in-built force meter. On the OLED screen you can see a bar graph appear that shows you the amount of pressure applied on the gun.

It’s a really cool feature to have, but in our opinion it’s perhaps only useful if you were using the gun on another person. Otherwise we don’t believe it’s a must-have feature if you just need the device for yourself.

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Noise

This is where things get a bit tacky with most Theragun devices. Theragun have touted these fourth generation devices as being the quietest yet. That’s a relief if the third generation devices are anything to go by. Those were power drills that were way too uncomfortable to use.

The Elite is noticeably quieter than the Prime which we looked at before, and the sound it makes is much “smoother”. So this is a good news.

The bad news, however, is that we tested the decibels and we were, to be honest, disappointed. The Elite revs with 60-67dB.

“That’s not really that loud”, you might say. Yes, it may not be, but when you see a Theragun ad. saying “ultra-quiet smart percussive therapy device with advanced sound insulation”, you can’t help but feel duped when you hear something different. For $399 we still feel the device could’ve been a little quieter.

The thing is, back in 2019 you would be excused for having a few more decibels on your product. But since then brands have been working hard to come up with hushed down devices.

To mention just a few devices that are quieter but also come with great features: Ekrin B37S, Achedaway Pro or the new Hypervolt 2 Pro.

The recently-released Theragun Pro G5 is quieter than the Elite as well, so in our opinion, this indicates Theragun folks are aware of the issue and will likely address the noise in a future iteration of the Elite (just like they did with the Pro).

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Battery

The Elite model still doesn’t give you the option of a replaceable battery. On a single charge, you can get up to 2 hours of continuous massage.

However, based on our testing, you may not get all that time if you stay too long on the maximum speed or use too much pressure. Our experience using massage guns tells us you probably won’t need 2 hours of continuous massage. Unless you are using it to massage more than one person.

However, the competition has better battery power. For example, Ekrin devices lasted 4-8 hours with a single charge when we tested them (and keep in mind that Ekrin B37S still weighs the same as Theragun Elite).

What about charging?

Theragun Elite comes with a wall charger, which interestingly enough is not as compact as the one that comes with the Prime. This one is bigger. It has the option for an additional adapter for other countries.

While we haven’t found an evidence of USB-C charging on this device, Elite is a wireless charger-enabled device (unlike the Prime).

And just as a note, we noticed the device doesn’t work when plugged in. We test this with every device and the result has always been the same (most don’t work when plugged in).

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Theragun App

We don’t say this with many other devices, but Theragun have a dedicated app that works with your device (iOS or Android). They call it the Therabody app, and it’s the best thing yet.

The app connects with the device via Bluetooth. Sometimes it works better if your device has an updated firmware.

The first thing you notice with the app are the many different routines that are available to you. If you have never used a massage gun, here’s a chance to become a pro without much hassle.

The app tells you what to do and how to do it. It even recommends what grip is best for the part you are massaging. You’ll notice that your device behaves differently with each part of the body you massage. For instance, you’ll notice the intensity increasing or decreasing as you hit different muscle groups.

You can also easily customize the intensity within the app. There’s a slider that you can slide either to the left or to the right to reduce or increase the intensity respectively.

You can also know how much pressure to use on a certain area of the body. There’s a bar-like interface that tells you how much pressure you’re applying.

There’s even a calibration within the bar that indicates just the right amount of pressure needed.

One thing you can do with the Elite within the app that isn’t available with the Theragun Prime, is being able to save up to 3 of your favorite routines.

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Who is Theragun Elite For?

Having spent ample time experimenting with the Theragun Elite, we’ve found it to be the most adaptable member of the Theragun family.

From our perspective, it’s arguably the best Theragun after the latest Pro, assuming cost isn’t a decisive factor.

Whether your goal is to unwind tight muscles after a long day or to prime your muscles before an intensive workout, the Elite has consistently proven to be a reliable choice during our testing sessions. Its capacity for deep, intensive massage makes it a standout recommendation for advanced users who demand more from their massage tools.

If you’re looking for something to relax your muscles or something to warm up the muscles before a workout, then here’s your best bet. We can also recommend the Elite for advanced users because this device is capable of a deep intensive massage. It may not have the power to reach deep into dense well developed muscles, but it’s the better option compared to Theragun Prime. It’s the mid-range massage gun if you love Theragun. It’s the safest bet.

We also recently recommended the Elite for runners. If you are a pro athlete, a bodybuilder, or you simply want something much more powerful, we recommend going for the top dollar Pro model.

Otherwise, you can still get something even better with the options we have recommended below.

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Is Theragun Elite Worth It?

So let’s see, what does Theragun Elite have that makes it special?

For starters the Elite will cost you $399. A hefty price perhaps that could get you a better gun but from a different brand. It’s $100 more than the Prime.

You’ll only get a 1-year warranty in case something goes wrong with the device. This is disappointing because we know of brands that will offer you a lifetime or at least a 2-year warranty. 

But maybe it’s worth it if you absolutely have to get a Theragun device. In this case the Elite is more expensive than the Prime but has a better stall force. The extra 10lbs. will give you a better deep percussive massage. However, we still hold that there are better alternatives that will cost even less.

With $399 you can get a massage gun that’s more powerful and still keep some change. The only thing that other brands may not have is the dedicated app, which we must agree is an awesome feature to have especially if you want to learn how to use a massage gun effectively.

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Best Alternatives to Theragun Elite

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Review Conclusion

As we conclude our firsthand review of the Theragun Elite, we can say from our personal use that the Elite is a powerful device. Based on our experience, we’d classify it as more midrange than a beginner Theragun device.

It’s better than the entry-level Theragun Prime with more power and additional features. It may not be as powerful as the top of the shelf Pro model, but it can offer a fairly deep percussive massage.

However, based on our extensive experience testing massage guns, we’ve come across better alternatives thatcost even less. We suggest you consider the features that are most important to you in a massage gun.

For more insight, you might find our other post, which is based on our firsthand experience with the best Theragun alternatives, worth reading.

Lastly, you can always ask us a question and either Luke or Greg will come back to you with a more personalized advice.

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