Theragun G3 vs Elite

In this Theragun G3 vs Elite review, we will compare Therabody’s mid-level massage gun of the third generation with its successor from the fourth generation.

While not much seems to have changed from the outside, the product engineers at the Los Angeles, California-based company made several updates to the new version. But do those changes make the Theragun Elite the best choice for your needs, or should you opt for the Theragun G3 instead?

This side-by-side comparison will help you find out.

Theragun G3

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Theragun Elite

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Comparison: Theragun G3 vs Elite

Amplitude

With an amplitude of 16 mm, the Theragun G3 and Elite both provide a percussive, deep-tissue treatment rather than the more vibrational, surface-level type of massage experience offered by most competing devices on the market.

Force

While the Theragun G3 is equipped with an industrial-grade Japanese motor, the Theragun Elite received an upgraded brushless motor. Both can deal with up to 40 lbs of pressure before they reach their respective limits and begin to stall.

Frequency & Speed Levels

Starting at 1,750 percussions per minute (ppm) and reaching up to 2,400 ppm on the higher end, the Theragun G3 and Elite share a frequency range. However, the newer model offers a more customizable experience with five speed settings instead of two:

• Level 1: 1,750 ppm
• Level 2: 1,900 ppm
• Level 3: 2,100 ppm
• Level 4: 2,200 ppm
• Level 5: 2,400 ppm

Connectivity

Unlike the Theragun G3, the three models of Theragun’s fourth generation can be connected to your smartphone via Bluetooth. Among other things, this allows you to have an app control your massager for you, making it easy to follow the professionally developed recovery routines.

Battery

One of the most significant differences between the third and the fourth generation of Therabody massage guns is their battery life. The Theragun Elite now lasts for up to 2 hours of treatments on a single charge, twice as long as the Theragun G3.

Noise

Another area of improvement is the noise level. While the Theragun G3 operates at up to 70 decibel (dB), its newer competitor, despite having an identical stall force and maximum frequency, generates a maximum of 65 dB of noise when running at full speed.

Attachments & Accessories

With five interchangeable head attachment compared to four, the Theragun Elite offers you a bit more possibilities to personalize the massage experience to your exact needs and the muscle group you are about to target next:

• Dampener: Used mostly for tender or bony areas. Perfect for overall use
• Standard Ball: Perfect for overall use on large and small muscle groups
• Thumb: Used mostly for trigger points and the lower back
• Cone: Used mostly for pinpoint muscle treatment, including the hands and feet
• Wedge (only Elite): Perfect for shoulder blades and IT bands

Both ship with a travel case for convenient storage and safe transport.

Weight & Dimensions

In the final round of this Theragun G3 vs Elite comparison, we will have a quick look at the weight and dimensions of the two devices. Weighing in at 2.2 lbs, the newer version became significantly lighter and now also takes up less space in your gym bag.

Conclusion: Theragun G3 vs Elite

At first glance, it is relatively hard to spot a difference between the Theragun G3 and its successor from the fourth generation. In fact, even when it came to two important buying criteria as amplitude and stall force, the older model was able to keep up.

Looking closer, however, it becomes clear that with the Theragun Elite, you get a more quiet device with the same performance as the G3, but now with much better customization thanks to more speed settings and attachments, as well as a significantly improved battery life.

Theragun G3

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Theragun Elite

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Find out how the Theragun G3 performs against Hyperice’s competing device from their first generation in our comparison Theragun G3 vs Hypervolt.