Sunny Elite Smart SF-T723016 Treadmill Review (2025)

Sunny Health & Fitness usually specializes in the low-cost budget market, and for decades, they’ve been the best at it. I have always loved what they offer for the price point. But lately, in the past few years, I’ve reviewed many more mid-level treadmills from these guys. And The Sunny Elite Smart SF-T723016 Treadmill is another heavy-duty offering.

What first struck me about the Elite treadmill is that it’s a beast. It weighs 170lb, which is excellent. It’s a heavy, sturdy treadmill, and considering it still costs well under $1000, it’s truly impressive to get something this solid.

There is no HD screen or high-end tech like VR, but the high-quality build will sell this machine, not the tech.

The running belt is wide (20″), the same width as a gym machine, and at 53 ” in length, it’s a good-sized belt. People up to 6’1″ can use this treadmill for walking, jogging, and running. So far, I’m really impressed.

This is a treadmill I want to take a much closer look at, and today, we’ll dive deep into all its pros and drawbacks.

At the end of the review, I’ll also compare the Sunny Smart Elite to another best seller in the price bracket, the Schwinn 810 Treadmill, a treadmill that’s been around a long time and a fav of mine. It will be interesting to see how they match up.

Why Do We Like The Sunny Elite Smart SF-T723016 Treadmill?

What you’ll love most about this treadmill is how impressive it is for its price bracket. Once you unbox it and put it together, you realize it’s a proper treadmill. It’s heavy-duty, not some cheap-feeling machine. It’s solid.

It weighs well over 150lb, which is what you want. The heavier the treadmill, the more sturdy it is when running. Also, that extra weight is a telling sign the treadmill is made from high-quality parts.

Wide Cushioned Running Belt

And the running belt is a great size too. The belt size is really the most important feature you need to consider when buying any treadmill. The size of the belt will determine who can use the treadmill and for what. With the Sunny SF-T723016 you have a 20″ x 53″

A 20″ x 53″ running belt is not far off the size of the belts you find on treadmills in commercial gyms—a belt this size should allow most users to use this treadmill for walking, jogging, and running.

I’m 5’10”, and I’m fine running on a 53″ belt, but there are still a few inches to spare at the front and back. Still, I wouldn’t recommend anyone taller than 6’1″ running on a belt this length.

The 20″ width of this belt is impressive. You have enough room to not worry about stepping off the side of the belt when running, which can be a major issue with narrow running belts.

So, yes, overall, this treadmill scores top marks for build quality and belt size, which are the two main things you should consider when choosing a treadmill.

Click here to check price of Sunny Smart Elite on Amazon

Work The Glutes, Calves, and Hamstrings 12% Auto Incline

Another stand-out feature of this treadmill is its power-adjustable incline. It’s always good to see a 12% incline. To get the most out of incline running or hill running, you need something over 8%. So, this auto incline is perfect, you won’t need more than 12%.

An incline adds so much more to your workouts. You’ll double your calorie burn, and you’ll work and strengthen those hard-to-train muscles like your glutes, calves, and hamstrings. It’s an essential feature for a treadmill, one I certainly wouldn’t go without.

The Sunny Elite Treadmill has quick-access buttons on the side of the LCD and below for adjusting the incline. Which come in handy, it makes adjusting the incline level very easy, even when running.

Bluetooth Monitor, Access To SunnyFit App Easy To Use

My first thoughts on the monitor are that it’s basic, which means nothing overly complicated, and it is super easy to use. No one will have any trouble with this monitor.

It tracks all your essential workout stats, such as time, distance, speed, heart rate, and calories, and it includes a ton of built-in workout programs.

The quick-access buttons are its best feature, as they make adjusting speed and incline easy, even when running on the treadmill.

The app is pretty cool, having been updated a few months ago. It takes everything people liked from the previous version and adds over 1,000 workouts and 10,000+ scenic global routes. You won’t get bored of long cardio sessions on this treadmill. There’s more than enough to keep you challenged and coming back for more. Best of all, the SunnyFit app is still free.

Here’s a link to the app page if you’d like to check it out: SunnyFit App

And lastly, there are some cup holders that are quite deep for once, which is good; normally, treadmill cup holders are shallow, and my bottle always falls out of them.

Oh, and the monitor is compatible with Sunny’s Heart Rate Monitor HR200, which is a much more accurate way to measure your heart rate than the built-in handrail pulse sensors. A useful feature for those of you who love to train in your chosen heart rate zones.

Reduce Foot Strike Impact by 30%

Sunny has used their best anti-shock system for the running belt on the Elite Smart treadmill.

It’s a pretty good system that uses dual rubber shock absorbers and a multi-layered belt. It’s always nice to see a decent cushioning system on treadmills under $1000, as they are usually reserved for high-end machines.

This type of cushioning system should reduce the impact of each foot strike by around 30%. It’s much better for your joints than running on hard impact surfaces like roads.

The only downside is that the Sunny Elite cushioning system isn’t adjustable, which is to be expected in this price bracket. There are no hard, medium, or soft cushioning options, so if you’re used to running on roads, it may take some time to adjust to the cushioned belt.

3HP Motor – 300lb Weight Capacity

A 3HP isn’t anything special, theres just about enough power for running. What you need to remember here is that the 3HP is the peak performance of this treadmill motor its not its CHP (continuous Horsepower)

Heavy-duty commercial treadmills, like those used in gyms, are rated by their CHP. Low-cost and mid-level treadmills always show peak performance rather than CHP because peak performance sounds better and more powerful.

So, while the CHP of commercial treadmills designed for running would be 3CHP or even 4CHP with a peak of 7 or 8HP, the actual CHP of a 3HP motor like the one fitted to the Sunny Elite treadmill would be more like 1.5CHP.

So, in the general power scale of treadmill motors, the Sunny Elite motor is not very powerful. It is not a heavy-duty treadmill motor. 

It’s a good idea to stay well under the maximum weight capacity of this treadmill. A motor that peaks at 3HP will not last long, with a 300lb user running on the treadmill every day.

A more realistic weight for a 3HP motor would be around 250lb for running and slightly more for walking or light jogging.

Soft Drop Folding System

It’s so important when buying a heavy-duty treadmill to have a decent folding system for the running deck.

The running deck is heavy, so you don’t want some below-par folding system. Thankfully, Sunny has used the soft drop system. It’s a fav of mine because it uses hydraulics.

The hydraulics do all the heavy lifting for you. To unfold the running deck, simply give the hydraulics a little kick, and the running deck will unfold in front of you. Folding the deck is just as easy. You can do it with one hand, thanks to this excellent folding system.

Do I need a Treadmill Mat?

Many people buy a treadmill mat for lightweight treadmills because they tend to move around a little when in use, and a mat helps prevent this. However, the Sunny Smart Elite is a heavy machine, and its weight keeps it firmly planted to the floor, so you shouldn’t need a treadmill mat to aid stability.

Another reason you might want to get hold of a treadmill mat is to protect your polished floors from scratches.

Lastly, treadmill mats help soak up the vibrations from workout sessions. Especially useful if you live in an apartment and want to keep the neighbors happy.

Customer Reviews

People seem to really like this treadmill. Many have stated that they like how sturdy it feels. One guy said he was shocked, but in a good way, at how heavy-duty it is. Others say they are impressed with the construction at such an affordable price. Many users love the wide running belt.

The only issue people have mentioned is moving the treadmill into place. It’s a heavy machine, so it’s difficult to move it by yourself. Some users recommend having a second person to help with assembly.

Overall, this treadmill receives positive reviews from its users, with an average rating of 4.3/5 (1744 ratings), which is great. And it deserves it. I’d happily give it 4.5 out of 5, it’s that good.

Assembly – Give Yourself an Hour or So

Assembling the SF-T723016 isn’t difficult. All the complicated stuff has already been assembled for you, 85% of this treadmill is already assembled when it arrives on your doorstep.

It takes an hour or so because it’s heavy and awkward to unbox and put in place. I recommend a second person to help, as it will make assembly much easier.

The only assembly you need to do is attach the two uprights and then attach the monitor to them. That’s about it. It shouldn’t take longer than an hour.

Another thing to remember is to lubricate the treadmill belt. Most treadmills are lubricated at the factory, but to be on the safe side, I always lubricate the belt before first use. You never know if they forgot or missed it. (lubricate every 3 months after that for medium use)

Also, you’ll need to center the treadmill belt if it isn’t centered and tighten the running belt if it’s loose with a allen key, and it takes a couple of minutes.

Alternative

Schwinn 810 Treadmill

Schwinn are one of the top companies making treadmills right now. They’ve been around for decades, since the 1970s, and they produce high-quality fitness gear.

The 810 treadmill is one of my favorite treadmills under $1000. It’s been updated a few times over the years, and it continues to be popular. What is great about this treadmill is that it has stood the test of time. People are still praising the 810 years after purchasing it, which is rare for a mid-level treadmill. This proves that it’s a well-made, durable treadmill from Schwinn.

Just like the Sunny Health Elite, the 810 is a heavy-duty machine. It weighs 155lb and feels solid. But it’s not just the build quality you’ll like about the Schwinn 810. The running belt is impressive, too.

The 810 boasts a 20″ x 55″ running belt, which is excellent for a treadmill costing under $1000. The deck cushioning system is also impressive, you can really feel it working on this machine.

Like the Sunny Elite, it has an auto-adjustable incline, with easy-access buttons under the LCD screen and a second pair of control buttons built into the handrail to adjust the incline and speed levels.

The only thing that lets the Schwinn treadmill down somewhat is its lack of power, with just a 2HP motor. It’s okay for walking and jogging, but not enough for running. It’s a shame. I was hoping that in the recent update, Schwinn might have addressed this issue, but they haven’t.

Overall, it is an impressive machine. The build quality as always from Schwinn is high, the features are impressive, especially the running belt size, just would be nice to see a little more power from this treadmill.

To Sum Up

Sunny Health and Fitness are making some really impressive mid-level treadmills lately, and the Sunny Smart Elite Treadmill is right at the top of the pile. The heavy duty build really impresses with this one. It is sturdy. So many users have mentioned the solid build of this treadmill.

When spending under $1k, build quality is most important. Go for build quality first, then the tech. You won’t get HD screens and a high-end build in this price bracket. Sunny has done well with this treadmill. They put all the money into the build and the essential features and left the monitor until last.

Yes, it’s a basic monitor, but you can’t expect a high-end build and high-end monitor for $800. It just doesn’t happen. At least with the Sunny, you have a durable, heavy-duty treadmill, even if the monitor lacks a little.

Still, the monitor isn’t too basic. It tracks all your workout stats, has some built-in workout programs, and has Bluetooth and free access to an app packed full of workouts and global routes.

Overall, I feel the Sunny Health Smart Elite SF-T721630 is an excellent treadmill for the price point, a good choice for anyone who takes their cardio seriously.