I bought the Merach R50 Pro with my own money and used it for around two months. I eventually sold it, but not because I was unhappy with it or because anything went wrong. I regularly buy and receive fitness equipment to review, and I needed the space for other machines.
During those two months, I used the R50 for both longer steady-state rows and high-intensity interval workouts. The steady sessions helped me test the seat comfort, rowing smoothness, and resistance consistency, while the harder intervals showed me how stable the frame felt when I increased my stroke rate and effort.
For context, I am 5’5″ and weigh 75 kg. I had no trouble achieving a full stroke, and the rower remained stable during my harder workouts. I also compared it with the Concept2 RowErg, Joroto MR60, and Pasyou PR70. Of the air rowers I tried around this price, the Merach R50 was my favorite.
It is not a direct replacement for the Concept2 in every area. I would still choose the Concept2 for competitive training and proven long-term durability. However, for beginners and intermediate rowers who want a smooth and realistic air-rowing experience without paying Concept2 prices, I think the R50 offers better value.
My opinion after two months was the same as it was after my first few workouts: it was worth every penny I paid for it. It handled my endurance rows and HIIT sessions well, felt stable, and was comfortable enough for the length of workouts I normally do.
Table of Contents
Merach R50 Pro vs. R50: Which Should You Buy?
I have used both the Merach NovaRow R50 Pro and the original R50, and the rowing experience is very similar. They use the same air-resistance system, 32-blade fan, long rail, adjustable damper, and heavy frame, so the Pro does not give you stronger resistance, more legroom, or a noticeably different stroke.
The main upgrade is the monitor. The original R50 has a small, non-backlit LCD that works well enough in a bright room but can be frustrating to read in poor lighting. The R50 Pro has a larger 5.3-inch blue-backlit screen, more detailed performance data, Bluetooth 5.0, and more than 20 offline workouts. It also shows average stroke rate, average watts, average heart rate, drag factor, and a stroke-rate waveform, and it can save workouts for later syncing with the app.
That makes the R50 Pro better for anyone who wants clearer data, structured workouts, or the option to row without opening an app every time. The standard R50 still makes sense for someone who mainly wants a smooth air rower, only needs basic metrics, and plans to use a phone or tablet for training.
If the price difference is around £50, I would choose the R50 Pro. The upgrade does not change how the machine rows, but the brighter monitor and extra workout features make it easier and more enjoyable to use. I would only choose the standard R50 if it were discounted enough to justify living with its weaker screen.
| Specification | Merach R50 Pro | Original Merach R50 |
|---|---|---|
| Resistance type | Pure air resistance | Pure air resistance |
| Resistance levels | 10 manually adjustable damper settings | 10 manually adjustable damper settings |
| Maximum advertised resistance | Up to approximately 50 kg | Up to approximately 50 kg |
| Damper adjustment | Manual lever beside the fan housing | Manual lever beside the fan housing |
| Fan | 32 fan blades | 32 fan blades |
| Flywheel weight | 3.5 kg | 3.5 kg |
| Frame material | Iron and aluminum | Iron and aluminum |
| Rail type | Single aluminum rail with a stainless-steel glide surface | Single aluminum rail with a stainless-steel glide surface |
| Total rail length | 136.5 cm | 136.5 cm |
| Usable internal rail space | 120 cm | 120 cm |
| Rail incline | Level, with no upward incline | Level, with no upward incline |
| Handle dimensions | 51 cm wide with an approximate 36 mm grip diameter | 51 cm wide with an approximate 36 mm grip diameter |
| Handle material | Plastic grip | Plastic grip |
| Pull mechanism | Nickel-plated steel chain | Nickel-plated steel chain |
| Seat dimensions | 34 cm wide × 28 cm long | 34 cm wide × 28 cm long |
| Seat material | Ergonomically shaped synthetic leather with upgraded cushioning | Ergonomically shaped synthetic leather |
| Seat height | 38 cm from the floor | 38 cm from the floor |
| Seat rollers | Polyurethane | Polyurethane |
| Footrest adjustment | Six length settings | Six length settings |
| Foot straps | Adjustable straps | Adjustable straps |
| Estimated shoe-size range | Approximately UK sizes 3–13, based on the footrest and strap range | Approximately UK sizes 3–13, based on the footrest and strap range |
| Distance between footrests | 9 cm | 9 cm |
| Display type | 5.3-inch blue-backlit LCD | 3.3-inch LCD without a backlight |
| Display visibility | Easy to read in bright and dim rooms | Readable in good lighting but difficult to see in a dark room |
| Basic monitor metrics | Time, distance, calories, strokes, SPM, watts, 500-meter pace, total strokes, and pulse | Time, distance, calories, strokes, SPM, watts, 500-meter pace, total strokes, and pulse |
| Additional monitor metrics | Average pulse, average SPM, average watts, drag factor, and SPM waveform | None |
| Built-in workouts | 20 offline workouts | None |
| Offline workout storage | Yes, with later app syncing | No offline monitor storage |
| Heart-rate monitoring | Supported; a compatible external heart rate monitor is required | Supported; a compatible external heart rate monitor is required |
| Monitor power | 2 AA batteries | 2 AA batteries |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 4.0 |
| Compatible apps | Merach app and Kinomap; compatibility with other apps can be limited | Merach app and Kinomap; compatibility with other apps can be limited |
| Workout syncing | Can store workout data offline and sync it with the Merach app | Workout tracking and storage depend more heavily on the connected app |
| Tablet holder | Included, with an adjustable viewing angle | Included, with an adjustable viewing angle |
| Maximum tablet size | Up to approximately 11 inches | Up to approximately 11 inches |
| Maximum user weight | Approximately 158 kg | Approximately 158 kg |
| Recommended user height | Approximately 119–210 cm | Approximately 119–210 cm |
| Dimensions in use | Approximately 242 × 61 × 102 cm | Approximately 242 × 61 × 102 cm |
| Stored dimensions | Approximately 138 × 72 × 83 cm with the rail separated | Approximately 138 × 72 × 83 cm with the rail separated |
| Machine weight | 33.3 kg net weight | 33.3 kg net weight |
| Packaged weight | Approximately 39 | Approximately 39 |
| Storage method | Tool-free rail separation and upright storage | Tool-free rail separation and upright storage |
| Recommended workout clearance | I recommend leaving approximately 1 meter of clear space around the rower where possible | I recommend leaving approximately 1 meter of clear space around the rower where possible |
| Standard warranty | 12 months, based on the documentation supplied with my unit | 12 months, based on the documentation supplied with my unit |
| Extended warranty | An additional 12 months after registration, providing up to 24 months in total | An additional 12 months after registration, providing up to 24 months in total |
Delivery, Assembly, Build Quality, and Warranty
The Merach R50 Pro arrived in a box weighing approximately 39 kg. The carton had a few scratches, but the rower itself was in perfect condition and well protected inside. Because of the weight, I would recommend getting help to move the box into your workout space, even though I assembled the machine by myself.
The rower arrives mostly preassembled, and I had it ready to use in around 30 minutes. All the required tools were included, the instructions were easy enough to follow, and none of the steps felt difficult or frustrating. Most of the work involved attaching the remaining larger parts and checking that everything was secure.
I would rate the R50 Pro’s build quality 9 out of 10 for a home rower in this price range. The iron and aluminum frame feels solid, the seat glides smoothly, and the chain action feels clean rather than rough or cheap. Stability was also excellent during both steady rows and harder intervals, with no side-to-side wobble when I increased my stroke rate. The finish looked neat and well assembled, with no visible damage, loose sections, or poorly fitted parts.
The R50 Pro includes a 12-month standard warranty, with another 12 months available after product registration, bringing the total coverage to 24 months. That is reasonable for the price, although Concept2 still has the stronger reputation for long-term support and replacement parts. During my two months of use, I did not experience any mechanical faults or frame problems, but that is not long enough to make claims about performance over several years.
Air Resistance, Damper Settings, and Rowing Feel
The Merach R50 Pro uses pure air resistance with 10 damper settings, and the harder I pulled, the more resistance it gave back. I normally rowed at setting 10 because the lower settings let in too little air for the heavier feel I prefer. Beginners do not need to start there, though. I would begin around setting 3, focus on technique and pacing, and then increase the damper until the stroke feels challenging without becoming unnecessarily heavy.
Although Merach labels them as resistance levels, the damper mainly changes how much air reaches the flywheel. Your effort still has the biggest effect on resistance. During slower steady-state rows, the pull felt lighter and easier to sustain, while faster strokes during HIIT created noticeably more resistance. I mainly used the R50 Pro for endurance and intense cardio rather than strength training. Rowing will still work your legs, back, core, and arms, but I would not buy this machine as a replacement for proper resistance training.
The rowing action felt smooth from the catch through the drive and into the recovery. The handle returned cleanly without slack, jerking, or delayed recoil, which made it easy to settle into a consistent rhythm during longer sessions. It also responded quickly when I increased my stroke rate during intervals, so I never felt as though the resistance system was struggling to keep up. The main limitation is that the stroke-rate and pacing calibration can be slightly off, so I would use the monitor to follow general progress rather than treat every number as competition-level data.
Compared with the Joroto MR60 and Pasyou PR70, the R50 Pro gave me the closest approximation of the Concept2’s pure air-rowing feel. The Joroto is the better option if reducing fan noise matters more because its hybrid resistance system is quieter, while the Pasyou is the more budget-focused choice. For resistance feel, stability, and overall performance in this price range, I preferred the R50 Pro.
Noise varied with effort. At an easy pace, I measured roughly 60 dB, while hard HIIT sessions pushed it closer to 80 dB. It did not cause problems for my neighbors, but it could disturb someone sleeping or resting nearby. I normally used headphones, and when watching television without them, I had to raise the volume. Adding a rowing mat reduced some floor vibration, made the machine feel more planted, and helped protect the flooring.
Merach Rower Seat, Handle, Footrests, and Comfort
The R50 Pro has a 34 × 28 cm synthetic-leather seat positioned 38 cm from the floor. It is larger than the Concept2 seat, and I found it more comfortable during longer steady-state sessions. My longest continuous row was one hour, and I never felt the need to add a separate seat pad. The wider shape supported me well without feeling excessively soft, making the seat one of the few areas where I preferred the Merach over the Concept2.
The 51 cm handle has an approximate 36 mm grip diameter, so it feels substantial without being overly thick. Its shape felt similar to the Concept2 handle, and the smooth chain return kept the movement comfortable through longer sessions and harder intervals. I normally row with gloves and experienced no hand fatigue or blisters, although I cannot say how comfortable the grip would feel during a long bare-handed workout. I still prefer the straight wooden handles found on some older rowing machines, but I had no practical problems with the Merach handle.
Each footrest measures approximately 30 × 10 cm, with adjustable heel positions and thick Velcro straps. The straps stayed secure when I pulled hard during HIIT, and my feet never came loose. Based on the footplate size and strap range, they should accommodate approximately UK shoe sizes 3 to 13. I would prefer a simpler strap design like the Concept2’s, and the hard plastic around the heel was slightly less comfortable, but it never prevented me from completing a workout.
At 5’5″ and 75 kg, I had more than enough rail length for a full stroke without reaching the rear stop. I also had someone around 6 feet tall test it, and they could fully extend their legs without hitting the casing. Merach lists a user-height range of approximately 119 to 208 cm, although I did not test anyone near those extremes. The frame also supports up to 158 kg and remained stable when I increased my stroke rate, with no noticeable flex or side-to-side movement. Overall, the large seat, long rail, and secure foot straps make the R50 Pro comfortable for extended rowing as well as shorter, harder sessions.
Storage, Moving, Maintenance, and Space Requirements
At 242 cm long when in use, the R50 Pro needs a dedicated workout area. I would leave roughly 1 meter of clear space around it where possible, especially behind the rail and beside the handle path. It is not the best choice for a very small room if you plan to leave it assembled all the time.
The frame separates into two sections for storage, and this does not affect the stability or quality of the rower during workouts. I did not split it after every session, but I tried the process several times and found it straightforward. No tools or second person were required, and separating the rail reduced the floor space to less than half of what the fully assembled machine occupies.
You can also stand the R50 Pro upright in one piece, similar to a Concept2, but I did not find it stable enough to recommend leaving it that way unsecured. Unless you can safely fasten or support it against a wall, I would use the split-frame storage method instead, particularly in a home with children or pets.
The built-in transport wheels rolled smoothly on both hard flooring and carpet. I moved the rower several times to clean underneath it and had no difficulty controlling the weight. Moving, separating, and reconnecting the machine were all manageable by myself, although the full 33.3 kg rower is still substantial enough that you need to lift and steer it carefully.
Maintenance is fairly simple. The air-resistance system does not require routine lubrication, but I wiped the frame and aluminum rail with a damp cloth to remove sweat and dust. Keeping the rail clean and dry helped the seat rollers continue gliding smoothly, and I would inspect them if any unusual scraping or clicking develops. The monitor runs on two AA batteries, which need replacing when the display starts to dim. I also kept the included tools near the rower and checked the bolts every couple of months, particularly after periods of harder HIIT use.
Monitor, Workout Programs, and Data Accuracy
The 5.3-inch blue-backlit monitor is one of the main reasons I would choose the R50 Pro over the original R50. I found the standard model’s smaller, non-backlit screen difficult to read unless the room was well lit, while the Pro display stayed clear during early-morning and evening workouts. It shows time, distance, calories, strokes, stroke rate, watts, 500-meter pace, pulse, average stroke rate, average watts, average heart rate, and drag factor.
The monitor includes more than 20 training options for aerobic rowing, harder anaerobic sessions, and other structured workouts. I liked having those programs available without opening an app, but the interface was not particularly intuitive. Setting custom intervals took more effort than it should, and the large animated fan graphic occupies screen space that would have been better used for larger workout numbers.
At a similar effort, the displayed 500-meter pace was generally close to what I have seen on Concept2 rowers at the gym. However, the stroke-rate and pace readings could be slightly inconsistent, so I used them to compare my own workouts rather than as competition-level data. The Pro’s drag-factor reading also responded more realistically to airflow changes than the original R50, although I did not compare it with calibrated testing equipment.
The Concept2 PM5 is still far better for serious training. I found it easier to navigate, simpler for creating intervals, and more useful for reviewing detailed workout data. It also connects directly to my Garmin watch in Indoor Rowing mode, which the R50 Pro did not. The Merach monitor is perfectly usable for home cardio and a major improvement over the original R50, but it is not a substitute for the PM5.
Bluetooth, Merach App, QZ, Peloton, and Tablet Holder
The R50 Pro connected to my phone through Bluetooth without much trouble, but the software experience felt less polished than the rower itself. The Merach app recorded basic workout data and included guided videos and virtual sessions, but I found the interface basic and the workout selection limited. It also lacks a proper custom interval builder, and I could not always display my data in the format I wanted, particularly 500-meter pace.
The app needed to remain open while I rowed if I wanted it to record the workout reliably. I could not complete a session using only the monitor and then transfer it to the app afterward. The rower also did not connect directly to my Garmin watch, so I used a third-party phone app as a bridge. It worked, but it was less convenient than the direct Garmin connection available with the Concept2 PM5.
I also tested the R50 Pro with QZ and the Peloton app. I ran Peloton on an iPad and QZ on a iPhone, with QZ bridging the rower data to the Peloton class. Pairing everything took some patience, and I had to enable the Virtual Rower option in QZ, but once connected, I could follow Peloton on-demand rowing classes with the Merach. I found this two-device setup more dependable than trying to run everything on one phone, especially when also using a Bluetooth heart-rate strap.
The adjustable tablet holder remained stable during my workouts and made it easy to follow classes, watch YouTube, or play a movie while rowing. I also looked into the SmartRow handle power meter for air rowers, which cost close to £200 when I checked. That is a substantial extra expense, but it may appeal to someone who likes the R50 Pro’s mechanics and wants more dependable power data than its built-in monitor provides.
Merach R50 Pro Pros and Cons
These are the strengths and weaknesses that mattered most during my two months of testing.
Pros
- Smooth air resistance that responds naturally when I pull harder
- Stable frame with no noticeable wobble during HIIT
- Larger, more comfortable seat than the Concept2
- Long rail with enough room for me and a 6-foot tester
- Bright backlit screen that is much easier to read than the original R50 display
- Secure foot straps that stayed tight during hard intervals
- Straightforward 30-minute assembly with all tools included
- Rail separates without tools when I need to save floor space
Cons
- Monitor menus are awkward compared with the Concept2 PM5
- Stroke-rate and pace readings can be slightly inconsistent
- Merach app feels basic and lacks a proper interval builder
- No direct Garmin connection without using a workaround
- Hard plastic footrests caused some heel discomfort
- Takes up 242 cm of floor space when assembled
- Upright storage did not feel secure unless supported
- Fan noise reached close to 80 dB during hard intervals
Comparable Alternatives to the Merach R50 Pro
Concept2 RowErg
Buy the Concept2 RowErg if accurate training data, easy interval programming, Garmin connectivity, and proven long-term durability matter more than the purchase price. Its PM5 monitor is in a different class from the Merach display.
The Merach has the more comfortable seat in my experience and costs considerably less when both are bought new. However, if I found a used Concept2 in good condition for around the same price as the R50 Pro, I would take the Concept2.
Pasyou PR70
The Pasyou PR70 is the more sensible option if your budget does not stretch to the Merach. It still gives you a responsive air-resistance workout, but it feels more like a budget home rower and less like the Concept2 machines I have used at the gym.
I would buy the Pasyou for occasional home cardio and lower upfront cost. For frequent endurance rows, HIIT, and a more solid overall feel, I think the R50 Pro is worth paying extra for.
Final Verdict: Should You Buy the Merach R50 Pro?
After using the Merach NovaRow R50 Pro for two months, I think it is a good buy at £600 or less. It gave me the smooth air-resistance feel I wanted, stayed stable during HIIT, and remained comfortable during steady rows lasting up to an hour. I would buy it again, and I only sold mine because I needed the space to test other fitness equipment.
Its main weaknesses are the monitor and software. The Pro screen is much better than the dark display on the original R50, but the menus are still awkward, the app feels basic, and the pace and stroke-rate readings are not always consistent enough for serious performance analysis. None of that stopped me from enjoying the rower, but it matters if your training depends heavily on precise splits and detailed workout data.
I think the R50 Pro is best for beginner and intermediate home rowers who want a sturdy air rower without spending more than £1,000. Competitive rowers should still buy the Concept2 for its PM5 monitor, more dependable data, easier interval setup, direct Garmin connectivity, and established durability. Anyone exercising near sleeping family members or in a noise-sensitive apartment may be happier with a magnetic or hybrid rower.
For me, the R50 Pro gets the most important part right: the actual rowing experience. It is not a cheaper Concept2 with a different badge, but below £600, it comes closer than the other similarly priced air rowers I tested.
