Therabody revamped their line of products in 2020 and in May of the same year, they released updated Theraguns and introduced a new one, the Theragun Mini, with the Theragun PRO being the highest end of their massagers.
This comparison between the PRO and the MINI might not be fair as both massagers are in two different categories, but I thought it would be fun to put them side by side and see where they are lacking and where they excel. So, I put together their specifications in the table below:
AMPLITUDE
Both massagers deliver percussive therapy. The first difference that stands out beside the shape and size of the devices is the amplitude (distance that the head travels in and out) of each. The higher the amplitude, the deeper the massage. This means that the MINI does not go as deep as the PRO does.
STALL FORCE
On top of not going deep enough, the MINI also cannot sustain a strong enough pressure on the area to treat. Indeed, a force above 20lbs would make the motor stop. The PRO, on the other hand, goes 60% deeper (advertised on the Therabody website), reaching those deep tissues really well.
BATTERY
Both the PRO and MINI have a battery that lasts 150 minutes (2.5 hours) per charge. The PRO takes the lead over the MINI in this category as well as it comes with not just removable battery, but also two of them. This is a big plus because you have the opportunity to never run on battery when you need a massage. All you have to make sure is that both batteries are always charged so that you could switch when needed.
Removable battery is also a big plus in the event that the battery becomes damaged. With the PRO, you just don’t have an extra battery but also you can obtain more. With the MINI, when the battery is damaged the massager is done for, and you will need a replacement of the entire unit.
NOISE
Both the PRO and the MINI are built with a motor that uses QuietForce Technology™. The PRO being a bigger model does have a bigger and more powerful motor, which means that it is also louder than the MINI. Both models are definitely quieter than the previous generations Theraguns. It is also to note that each device does get louder with the speed level, which means that the higher the speed lever, the louder each device would get.
PORTABILITY
The MINI is very easy to take with you anywhere because of how small and compact it is. Plus, everything that it comes with (charger and ball head attachment) can be squeezed in the pouch with the massager. This is not the case for the PRO.
The PRO comes with a fancy case, indeed, but not all that it comes with can be squeeze in. Plus, that would also make the case heavier than it already is with the massager and 2 batteries inside.
The PRO is also heavier than many other massage guns at 2.8lbs. You could take it with you on-the go if you would like, but you would have to sacrifice on what to leave behind.
UNIQUE FEATURES
When Therabody released the new massagers in May 2020, they also released the Therabody app, which has routines to follow while using the massager. However, the MINI does not have Bluetooth® capability or ay smart features. The app is still useful in this case with easy-to-follow routines.
The PRO does come with smart features including the Bluetooth® connectivity. Within the app, you can use the preset treatments on yourself or you can enter your own. Though the PRO has 5 set speeds, the Therabody app lets you adjust the speed to anything between 1750 and 2400 percussions per minutes.
Another advantage that the PRO has that the MINI does not is the ability to rotate the arm. Indeed, the PRO’s arm can be set to 4 different positions, making it target every muscle from virtually any angle.
Last but not least, the PRO also has the ability to be charged wirelessly.
PRICE
Therabody is an excellent brand that puts emphasis on the quality of their products. So, you can be sure that when you buy a product from them you will not be disappointed. They thought of everything from the presentation and packaging to the product itself. With this being said, their prices in general are on the higher end.
At 199USD, the MINI is definitely the cheapest Theragun on the market, at least at this time. And if you want a Theragun just for the sake of owning a massager with that name, then the MINI would be for you. This does not mean that the MINI is to be discarded besides that. It does provide good massages whether at home or on-the-go. However, if you are a high performing athlete, then the MINI is not for you, as it would not deliver you the deeper massage that you need for proper recovery. The PRO would do that, and it also comes with a price tag of 599USD.
You can buy the Theragun PRO here, and the Theragun MINI here.
THOUGHTS
Both the Theragun PRO and MINI have good features. Again, they are in different class categories, but they complement each other.
The PRO is suited for everybody whether you lead a sedentary life or are an athlete. It comes well packaged and well loaded. The smart features and the rotating arm are the icing on the cake. However, 599USD is overpriced. On the other hand, with the kind of budget that Therabody have, they can afford to position themselves are leaders in the massage gun industry and therefore price their products as high or low as they want.
Unlike the PRO, the MINI is not for everybody. It is for you if you are a beginner with massage guns, or massages in general, if you lead a sedentary lifestyle or exercise somehow to keep healthy. Because of the 20lbs stall force, the MINI is definitely not for high performing athletes, as it would not deliver the deep massages that they need for proper recovery.
One may think that Theraguns are overpriced in general compared to the other massagers on the market. While that is true to some extent, it is also true that the Theraguns deliver percussive therapy, while most of other massagers offer more of a vibrational therapy. The difference between the two is that in percussive massage you have a higher amplitude with lower hits per minute while in vibrational massage it’s the other way around: lower amplitude with higher hits per minute.
Both Theragun PRO and MINI are great percussive massagers, and they can be own together to complement each other. The MINI is definitely a good companion to its biggest brother the PRO and they complement each other very well.
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