BrainGain SmartBells Pro vs PowerBlock: Which Wins in 2026?

Spec Comparison

Price per Kilogram, Shown as Maths

Price per kilogram divides the pair price by the total weight the pair holds, which is twice the maximum per hand. BrainGain sells in euros and PowerBlock sells in pounds, so I have kept each figure in its own currency. A pound buys more than a euro, so BrainGain's lower euro number is an even wider real gap.

The BrainGain 40 kg holds 80 kg of weight for €469. The PowerBlock Pro 100 EXP holds 36 kg at its base price of £489, and only reaches 45 kg per hand at the Stage 4 price of £1,079. BrainGain gives more kilograms for your money at every tier.

Shape: Block Cage Against a Round Dumbbell

PowerBlock builds a square block. Your hand sits inside a U-shaped handle, with the selected plates hanging around it in a cage. BrainGain keeps the round shape of a normal dumbbell, with plates stacked either side of a straight knurled handle.

On presses the difference is clear. A round SmartBell lets your wrist rotate through the rep and sits in line with your forearm at the top. The PowerBlock cage holds your hand in a fixed position, and the tall block can brush the forearm as you press to lockout.

On rows the block is fine, since you pull from a neutral grip and the compact shape clears your side. On curls the round dumbbell rotates with your wrist through supination, while the PowerBlock cage keeps the load square and some lifters feel it catch the forearm at the top. If you have trained with normal dumbbells, the SmartBells feel like the weights you already know.

Progression: Settings and Increment Size

The SmartBells 24 kg gives 15 settings from 2.5 kg to 24 kg. The SmartBells 40 kg gives 17 settings from 5 kg to 40 kg. You buy the range in one box and change weight with one twist.

PowerBlock counts more small steps at the bottom, helped by two 1 kg adder weights inside the handle, and the Sport and Elite replace 16 pairs each at stage one. The catch is the ceiling. The Sport and Elite stop at 22.5 kg per hand until you buy Add-on Kit 2 for 31 kg and Kit 3 for 41 kg. The Pro 100 EXP starts at 18 kg per hand and needs Stages 2, 3 and 4 to reach 45 kg, which lifts the price to £1,079.

The BrainGain 40 kg pair costs €469 and gives 17 settings up to 40 kg, while the PowerBlock Elite 90 EXP costs £364.99 and gives 16 settings up to 22.5 kg at stage one. To match the BrainGain top weight, a PowerBlock buyer pays for expansion stages on top.

Who Should Buy PowerBlock Instead

PowerBlock suits some buyers better, and I would point them to it.

Buy PowerBlock if the longest written warranty matters most. The Sport and Elite carry a 10-year home-use warranty, against 3 years on the SmartBells.

Buy PowerBlock if you count every centimetre of shelf. The Elite block measures about 25 cm long and the Sport about 30 cm, where the SmartBells 24 kg is 43 cm and the 40 kg is 47.5 cm.

Buy PowerBlock if you want the finest micro-steps at light weights, or if you already like the block feel from a commercial gym. The adder weights let you drop a 10 kg dumbbell to 9 or 8 kg in seconds.

The Verdict

BrainGain SmartBells win this comparison for most home lifters. They cost less per kilogram, at €5.19 for the 24 kg and €5.86 for the 40 kg, against £8.11 to £13.58 for the PowerBlock sets. They reach a real ceiling in one purchase, with 40 kg per hand for €469. They keep the round shape and knurled handle that press, row and curl like the dumbbells you already use.

My pick is the BrainGain SmartBells 40 kg at €469 for lifters who want the full range, or the SmartBells 24 kg at €249 to start. Choose PowerBlock only if the 10-year warranty or the shorter block outweighs the higher price per kilogram and the block feel.

Frequently Asked Questions