By Jacob Chambers, Founder & Lead Reviewer · Updated 3 July 2026
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The NÜOBELL 2-32kg is the adjustable dumbbell that keeps topping expert best-of lists, and it is aimed squarely at people who want the convenience of an adjustable without the plasticky, over-long feel that puts many lifters off. One pair replaces 16 pairs of fixed dumbbells, adjusts from 2kg to 32kg with a quick twist of the handle, and is built almost entirely from metal so it looks and feels close to a proper gym dumbbell. The headline verdict is that these are the best adjustable dumbbells most home lifters can buy, provided you can stomach the premium price.
What you are paying for is the mechanism and the build. You leave the dumbbell in its cradle, twist the handle to your chosen weight and lift out only the plates you need, which takes a couple of seconds and feels reassuringly solid. The compact, all-metal design is shorter than most rivals, so it handles more like a fixed dumbbell during presses and curls. The trade-off is cost, and the usual adjustable-dumbbell rule that you cannot drop them.
How we review
This review is based on extensive research of verified owner reviews, hands-on testing from trusted expert outlets and NÜOBELL's published specifications. We have not run our own multi-year endurance test of this exact unit, so we have been careful to report only consistent, repeated findings, both the praise and the complaints, rather than one-off opinions.
The NÜOBELL 2-32kg makes most sense for the committed home lifter who is short on space but does not want to compromise on feel. If you train regularly, value fast weight changes for supersets and drop sets, and want kit that will still be going strong in ten years, these are built for you. Free weights like dumbbells are a proven way to build strength and muscle, and a systematic review found free-weight and machine training produce similar gains in size and strength (free weights versus machines review), so a good pair of dumbbells can be the backbone of a home setup. If your budget is tighter, our best adjustable dumbbells UK guide covers cheaper systems that still do the core job.
This is where the NÜOBELL earns its price. The body is almost all metal, with a knurled steel handle and steel-clad plates, so it feels dense and premium rather than the hollow plastic of cheaper systems. The plates lock together tightly with no rattle as you lift, which is a common complaint on rival adjustables, and the compact length means the weight sits close to your hand for a balanced feel during presses, rows and curls.
The twist-handle mechanism is the star. You seat the dumbbell in its cradle, rotate the handle to the number you want, and lift out only those plates. It is quick, intuitive and satisfying, and there is no dial to knock or pin to lose. The cradle itself is sturdy, though it does need a spot on the floor or a sturdy weight bench nearby, since you must return the dumbbell to it to change weight.
| Weight range | 2 kg to 32 kg per dumbbell |
|---|---|
| Increments | 2 kg steps |
| Settings | 16 per dumbbell |
| Replaces | 16 pairs of fixed dumbbells |
| Adjustment | Twist the handle in the cradle |
| Build | Predominantly metal, knurled steel handle |
| Sold as | Pair or single |
| Heavier option | Version available up to approx 36 kg |
In use, the NÜOBELL feels closer to a rack of fixed dumbbells than any dial-based adjustable. The compact shape means the plates do not clash with your forearms on curls or dig into your chest on flat presses, which is a real annoyance with longer adjustables. The 2kg jumps are ideal for progressing on smaller lifts like lateral raises and curls, where a bigger 4kg or 5kg step would be too much at once.
For training that involves fast weight changes, the twist mechanism shines. Drop sets, supersets and quickly swapping between exercises are genuinely quick, because you are not spinning collars or lining up dials. The honest limits are the ones common to all adjustables: you cannot drop them, so explosive work where you would normally let the weight go is out, and you have to bring them back to the cradle to change, which is a moment's pause between exercises rather than a grab-and-go.
The 32kg per hand ceiling suits the large majority of home lifters for the pressing, rowing and accessory work dumbbells are best at. Very strong trainees doing heavy dumbbell bench or rows may eventually want the heavier version that reaches around 36kg, or a barbell for the biggest lifts. For most people, 32kg is plenty of headroom for years.
There is no getting around it: the NÜOBELL is a premium-priced product. It costs meaningfully more than dial-based systems like the popular Bowflex SelectTech, and far more than a basic spinlock set. What you are buying is the mechanism, the all-metal durability and the fixed-dumbbell feel, which cheaper systems simply do not match together. For a lifter who trains often and wants a buy-it-once piece of kit that saves a wall of dumbbells, it is money well spent. For an occasional trainer, the extra over a cheaper adjustable is harder to justify.
If you want to weigh it against the alternatives, see our best adjustable dumbbells UK guide, our Bowflex SelectTech 552 review and our Mirafit adjustable dumbbells review. To put a new pair to work, our goblet squat and home gym guides are good starting points.
If you want a premium adjustable dumbbell that looks and feels like a fixed one, adjusts in a fast twist and lasts for years, they are worth it. They cost more than most adjustable dumbbells, but the all-metal build, seamless handle and quick 2kg jumps justify the price for serious home lifters. If your budget is tight, cheaper adjustable dumbbells do the core job for less.
You leave the dumbbell in its cradle and twist the handle to the weight you want, then lift it out. Only the plates you have selected come with it, and the rest stay behind in the tray. The whole change takes a couple of seconds, which is far quicker than fiddling with spinlock collars or the dials on some rival systems.
Each dumbbell adjusts from 2kg up to 32kg in 2kg steps, giving 16 weight settings per hand. That single pair replaces 16 pairs of fixed dumbbells, which is a huge space saver. There is also a heavier version that goes up to around 36kg if you need more at the top end.
No. Like almost all adjustable dumbbells, they must not be dropped or slammed, because the selection mechanism and plates can be damaged. You also need to return them to the cradle to change the weight, so they suit controlled training rather than throwing weights down between sets. If you want something you can drop, fixed dumbbells are the safer choice.
They are aimed slightly differently. NÜOBELLs use a twist-handle mechanism and an all-metal, compact design that looks and feels close to a traditional dumbbell, and many people prefer the shape and durability. Bowflex SelectTech dumbbells use a dial system, are usually cheaper and are very popular, but they are longer and more plastic. NÜOBELLs are the premium choice, Bowflex the value one.
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