Rowing Machine NerdSunny SF-RW5940 Magnetic Air Rower Review
Air + magnetic rower · ~$400
Sunny SF-RW5940 Magnetic Air Rower
A foldable budget rower pairing 16-level magnetic resistance with an air fan for a livelier pull, best for casual home use rather than serious training.
The Sunny SF-RW5940 sits in Sunny Health & Fitness's mid-budget range and tries to stand out by combining two resistance systems: a 16-level magnetic brake and an air fan that spins as you pull. The idea is to give a more responsive, water-like stroke than the magnetic-only rowers that dominate the sub-$500 category, while still letting you dial in a fixed resistance level. For shoppers cross-shopping cheaper Sunny models or entry-level air rowers, that dual setup is the main reason to consider it.
It is aimed squarely at home users who want low-impact, full-body cardio without committing to the price of a Concept2 or a connected machine. With a 300 lb weight capacity, a long 46-inch rail and an upright folding design, it covers the practical needs of casual and intermediate rowers. What it does not promise is the resistance ceiling, durability, or polished software that serious athletes expect, and the spec sheet reflects those trade-offs.
Specifications at a glance
| Resistance type | Dual: 16-level magnetic plus air (fan) resistance |
|---|---|
| Monitor | LCD: time, time/500m, SPM, distance, strokes, total strokes, calories, HR (optional), calendar, temperature, clock |
| App / connectivity | Device holder for tablet/phone; SunnyFit app (separate); 5.3kHz HR strap compatible. No Bluetooth on the console |
| Assembled dimensions | Approx. 90-94 L x 22-39 W x 21.5-39.4 H in (sources vary) |
| Folded dimensions | Approx. 22-50 L x 39 W x 60-61 H in (sources vary) |
| Machine weight | 81.6 lb (37 kg) |
| Max user weight | 300 lb |
| Seat / rail | 17 in seat height; 46 in slide-rail inseam |
| Folding | Yes - lift, tilt and roll for upright storage |
| Warranty | 3-year frame, 180-day parts/components |
Pros
- Dual air-plus-magnetic resistance with 16 levels gives a more dynamic, water-like pull than a magnetic-only budget rower
- Comfortable 17-inch seat and long 46-inch rail accommodate taller users up to roughly 6 feet 6 inches
- Folds upright and rolls away for storage in small spaces
- 300 lb user capacity and metal frame feel solid for the price
- Reasonable price point, typically under $500
Cons
- Top-end resistance is limited; stronger or experienced rowers may find it too easy
- Console lacks Bluetooth and a backlight, and app integration is basic
- Air fan adds noticeable noise, which may bother apartment users
- Short 180-day parts warranty
Best for: Beginner to intermediate home users who want a comfortable, foldable dual-resistance rower under $500 and don't need competition-grade resistance or connected features.
How the dual resistance actually feels
The headline selling point is that the SF-RW5940 pairs an air fan with 16 levels of magnetic braking, and the combination does deliver a livelier, more water-like catch than a magnetic-only rower at this price. The magnetic side sets a baseline drag while the fan adds a progressive bite that rewards a harder, faster pull, which makes the stroke feel more dynamic than the dead, flywheel-only sensation you get from the cheapest Sunny models.
The catch, and it is the defining limitation of this machine, is the ceiling. Even maxed out on level 16, owners who lift or who have rowed competitively consistently report that the top end is too easy to be a genuine strength workout. One former competitive rower praised it, but the more common refrain from strong users is that it tops out as a cardio tool rather than a resistance trainer. If you weigh a lot, pull hard, or expect the resistance to keep pace as you get fitter, you will outgrow this rower's high end faster than you would an air-only erg with effectively unlimited resistance.
The console is the weak link
The LCD is large and readable and tracks the usual metrics - time, 500m pace, stroke rate, distance, stroke count, calories, and heart rate with an optional chest strap - and the unit ships with preset programs and access to trainer videos. On paper that is a reasonable feature set for under $500.
In practice the monitor is where the budget shows. There is no Bluetooth and no backlight, so you cannot reliably pipe data to a serious training app and the screen is hard to read in dim rooms. A recurring owner complaint is that the display cannot show time, stroke rate, and 500m split together, forcing you to cycle through screens mid-row, which is genuinely annoying if you train to pace. Several owners also flag the bundled heart rate reading as inaccurate. Treat the console as a basic feedback gauge, not a training computer.
Noise, build and the long-term reliability picture
Because there is a real air fan inside, this is not a silent magnetic rower. At easy stroke rates it is tolerable, but push the pace and the fan gets audibly loud - loud enough that owners describe not being able to share a room with someone sleeping. For apartment dwellers rowing early or late, that matters, and it is the trade-off you accept for the more engaging pull.
The frame itself feels solid for the money, with a 300 lb capacity, a 17-inch seat, and a 46-inch rail that genuinely fits taller users up to around 6 feet 6 inches. Assembly is quick at roughly 15 minutes. The reliability flags are worth knowing: some owners report a clunking or clicking noise developing over months, traced to the internal resistance spring needing grease, and isolated reports of stripped hardware out of the box. None of these are dealbreakers, but they reinforce that this is a budget build that may need occasional attention rather than a buy-and-forget machine.
Storage and who the footprint suits
The SF-RW5940 folds upright and rolls away on transport wheels, and at 82 lbs it is movable but not featherweight. The long 46-inch rail that makes it comfortable for tall rowers also means it needs real floor space when deployed, so the fold-and-store design is doing important work for anyone in a small home or shared room.
This is a sensible pick for someone who wants a full-size rowing stroke but cannot leave a 7-foot machine out permanently. Just be realistic that wrestling an 82 lb folded rower in and out of a closet several times a week gets old, so it works best when you have a semi-permanent spot and only occasionally tuck it away.
Sunny SF-RW5940 versus the Concept2 RowErg
The obvious step-up alternative is the Concept2 RowErg, and the comparison is stark once budget is set aside. The RowErg costs roughly double, around $990, but it is the machine serious rowers actually buy: air resistance with no practical ceiling, a PM5 monitor with Bluetooth and ANT+ that connects to every training app, a 500 lb capacity, legendary durability, and the best resale value in home fitness. It is also loud, and it does not fold the way the Sunny does.
The honest framing is that these serve different buyers. If you want a tool you can grow into for years, race on, and resell for most of what you paid, the Concept2 is worth saving for and the Sunny will frustrate you. If your budget is firmly under $500 and you want casual cardio with a livelier pull than a cheap magnetic rower, the SF-RW5940 makes sense. Against quieter connected rowers like the Echelon Row, the Sunny is louder and far less app-driven, but it has no subscription tying you in - a meaningful saving over time.
Our take
Buy the SF-RW5940 if you are a casual or beginner rower on a tight budget who wants a more engaging, water-like stroke than a basic magnetic rower, fits a smaller home, and values having no subscription. For light-to-moderate cardio, taller users, and folks up to 300 lb, it does the core job competently and the dual resistance is a genuine step up in feel for the price.
Skip it if you lift, row hard, or have any competitive background - the resistance ceiling will leave you wanting within months. Skip it too if you train to pace and rely on app connectivity, since the no-Bluetooth, no-backlight console and split-screen metric juggling will grate. And if you live in an apartment with thin walls or shared sleeping space, the fan noise at speed is a real consideration. At 3.1 out of 5 this is a competent budget machine that knows its lane; the people who are disappointed are the ones who expected it to be more than that.
Our verdict
The Sunny SF-RW5940 is a competent budget rower that does exactly one thing well: it gives casual home users a livelier, more water-like pull than a cheap magnetic-only machine, in a package that folds away and undercuts $500. For beginners, lighter cardio sessions, and taller rowers who want a full-size stroke without committing the floor space, it earns its keep - and with no subscription, there is no ongoing cost.
But its limits are real and predictable. The resistance ceiling will disappoint anyone strong or experienced, the air fan is genuinely loud at speed, and the no-Bluetooth, no-backlight console with its juggled metrics feels every bit its price. Buy it as an entry-level cardio tool with clear eyes; if you want something to grow into, race on, and keep for a decade, save for a Concept2 RowErg instead. At 3.1 out of 5, it is a fair value for the right buyer and a frustration for the wrong one.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the resistance strong enough for a real workout?
- For casual cardio, yes - the 16 magnetic levels plus the air fan give a solid heart-rate session. But strong, heavier, or experienced rowers consistently report that even level 16 is too easy for a genuine strength workout. If you outpull budget machines, this one's ceiling will frustrate you.
- Is the SF-RW5940 quiet enough for an apartment?
- Only at easy stroke rates. Because it has a real air fan, it gets noticeably loud when you push the pace - some owners say too loud to share a room with someone sleeping. If silence matters, a pure magnetic rower is the better apartment choice.
- Does it connect to fitness apps or Bluetooth?
- No. The console has no Bluetooth and no backlight, so it cannot reliably stream data to training apps. It tracks standard metrics on-screen and includes preset programs and trainer videos, but treat it as a basic gauge, not a connected training computer.
- Will it fit a tall user?
- Yes. The 46-inch rail comfortably accommodates users up to roughly 6 feet 6 inches, and the 17-inch seat height and 300 lb capacity suit most adults. The long rail does require real floor space when the machine is unfolded.
- How does it compare to the Concept2 RowErg?
- The Concept2 costs about double but is the serious-rower standard: unlimited resistance, a Bluetooth and ANT+ PM5 monitor, 500 lb capacity, and excellent durability and resale. The Sunny wins on price, folding storage, and a livelier pull than cheap magnetic rowers, but you will outgrow it far sooner.
References
- Magnetic Air Resistance Rowing Machine SF-RW5940 - Sunny Health & Fitness
- Sunny SF-RW5940 Rowing Machine Review - Rowing Machine Guide
- Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Air Rower - SF-RW5940 - Staples
Jordan Lockwood (BSc, CPT)
Certified personal trainer (CPT), sports-science graduate, and lifelong rower. Jordan writes and reviews every guide on Rowing Machine Nerd.