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These are the two most common adjustable dumbbell systems people compare before buying, and they solve the same problem in genuinely different ways — a rotating dial versus a stacked-block selector pin. We already reviewed the PowerBlock Elite EXP in depth; here’s how it stacks up against the Bowflex Results Series 552.
Side-by-side
| PowerBlock Elite EXP | Bowflex Results Series 552 | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight range (per hand) | 5–50 lb (Stage 1), expandable to 90 lb with add-on kits | 5–52.5 lb, fixed maximum |
| Adjustment mechanism | Selector pin through stacked blocks | Rotating dial |
| Adjustment speed | Fast, positive click | ~7 seconds per dumbbell, very fast |
| Footprint per dumbbell | Compact — stays roughly one-dumbbell-sized at any weight | 16.9" L x 8.3" W x 9" H — gets long at higher weights |
| Expandability | Yes — buy Stage 2/3 kits later to go heavier | No — 52.5 lb is the ceiling, period |
| Warranty | 5-year limited | 2-year limited |
Choose the PowerBlock if…
- You’re not sure how heavy you’ll eventually need to go and want the option to expand rather than rebuy
- You want the longer warranty and a construction built around repeated heavy use
- Storage space is tight and you want the head to stay compact regardless of weight setting
Choose the Bowflex if…
- You know 52.5 lb per hand is enough for your training and you don’t need to grow past it
- You want the fastest possible weight changes between sets — the dial system is extremely quick
- You want a known, widely-reviewed product at a lower upfront cost than a PowerBlock plus expansion kits
Our take
Buy the Bowflex if 52.5 lb is genuinely your ceiling — it’s simpler and there’s nothing to plan for later. Buy the PowerBlock if you’re earlier in your strength training and don’t want to guess your ceiling weight upfront, since the expansion kits let you scale the same pair of dumbbells as you get stronger instead of replacing the whole set.
Check PowerBlock Elite EXP price on Amazon →
Check Bowflex 552 price on Amazon →
Prices and stock on Amazon change frequently — the links above will always show the current price rather than what’s quoted here.