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Saris introduced Saris H4. It’s an upgraded version of their H3 smart trainer. I’ve been using H3 and have already reviewed it. Unfortunately, I haven’t had a chance to test H4 yet because it was released just a few days ago.
So, in this article, I compare their features and will also try to help you decide if you should upgrade.
KEY TAKEAWAY
I don’t think you should upgrade if you already have a Saris H3 (or another mid to high-end smart trainer). The main difference between H3 and H4 is that H4 has higher resistance, accuracy, and gradient simulation and provides 12spd cassette support. You can buy Saris H3 or H4 or continue reading for more info.
Saris H3 vs. H4
The main difference between Saris H3 and H4 is that H4 offers higher resistance, gradient simulation, and higher accuracy. It also supports 12-speed cassettes.
Design-wise, H4 has yellow accents. All other features remained the same.
I summarized the technical specifications of both trainers in the following table.
| Feature | Saris H3 | Saris H4 |
|---|---|---|
| Resistance | 2000W | 2300W |
| Gradient simulation | 20% | 25% |
| Power accuracy | ±2% | ±1% |
| Noisiness | ~59dB | Probably the same |
| Auto calibration | No | No |
| Power required | ✅ | ✅ |
| Flywheel | 20Â lb (9Â kg) | 20Â lb (9Â kg) |
| Connectivity | Dual ANT+ FE-C and Bluetooth | Dual ANT+ FE-C and Bluetooth |
| 12-speed cassette support | No | Yes |
| Weight | 47 lb (21.3 kg) | 47 lb (21.3 kg) |
| Buy (USA) | Check Price Check Price (amazon.com) | Check Price |
As you can see from the table above, H4 offers 4 improvements:
- Higher resistance (from 2000W to 2300W)
- Higher accuracy (from ±2 to ±1%)
- Higher gradient simulation (from 20% to 25%)
- 12spd cassette support
I already reviewed the Saris H3, and it has one of the best (if not the best) ERG modes.
Unfortunately, it can’t auto-calibrate, and its accuracy is worse than other high-end smart trainers.
On the other hand, it has been heavily discounted recently, making it a hard-to-pass deal.
Also available at amazon.com
I couldn’t get my hands on H4 (yet). But Shane Miller (GPLama) did a great review of the Saris H4. Unfortunately, the H4 didn’t end as expected.
Summary
Based on the minor improvements of the H4 and the lower price of the H3, I think the H3 has become a much better deal than before.
It’s one of the best smart trainers on the market for ERG mode and structured workouts.
H4 got nice upgrades, but I feel that Saris introduced them just to match other high-end smart trainers.
I don’t think the specs bumps (like the higher resistance, gradient simulation, or accuracy) are worth upgrading if you already have H3.
Based on early reviews, it doesn’t seem that H4 provides the same (or better) experience than other high-end trainers like Wahoo KICKR v5 and v6, NEO 2T, etc.
Also available at amazon.com
Do you plan to upgrade, or will you look elsewhere? Let me know in the comments.
