Theragun Elite vs. Hypervolt Review
When it comes to handheld massagers, Theragun and Hyperice are two of the leading brands in the category. You might be trying to figure out, which one is better? We can help you decide on which one is best for you, as we have performed comprehensive testing on both of these massage guns.
Both massagers are good in their own right and worthwhile purchases. However, they have their own pros and cons so I hope my review will go into enough detail to help you decide which one might be the best design for you.
Read on for my Theragun Elite vs. Hypervolt review. If you don’t have time to read it all, Click here to skip to the bottom and check out my review summary.
Theragun Elite Massager Review
All-New Bluetooth Capability
Along with the Theragun PRO, the Theragun Elite is the first handheld massager with Bluetooth. The built in bluetooth compatibility works with the Theragun app to allow you to not only track the pressure you apply, which is an amazing breakthrough, but you can also adjust your massager's speed using your smart phone.
In addition, there are also guided sessions for specific body areas, plus specific routines such as a nightly sleep preparation that is really useful for bedtime relaxation. Furthermore, the app allows you to track and store your session information.
The fact that the app stores the sessions length and frequency by data and time, means you now have access to your recovery data and analytics, helping you spot trends in your performance and recovery, to help you optimize your performance and use.
In addition, once you pair the Theragun Elite to your smart phone, you can also adjust the speed in any increment ranging from 1750-2400, via the app. So in reality, the speed level can be customized far beyond 5 speeds, even!
Power Rating
Firstly, if you didn't know, the Theragun Elite is the stepped down version of the PRO. For example, the Elite is advertised as only putting out 40lbs of force, compared to the 60lbs of force generated by its big brother Theragun PRO. However, when testing the Elite, you will discover that 40lbs of torque still provides a considerable amount of force, equal to the amount of force put out by the Hyperice Hypervolt.
Furthermore, although the Elite isn't as powerful as the top of the line Theragun PRO, it still produces 2,400 percussions per minute, so your muscles will get plenty of attention.
In addition, the Elite offers five speed variable options, in case you need to dial back the power. This is great in case you want to treat very sore areas with caution.
Most of all, we believe power is a key attribute of evaluating a massage gun's value, since if a massager isn't powerful enough for your sore muscles, you won't be completely satsified. By that definition, the Theragun Elite did pretty well with our testers, ultimate earning it an average rating of 8 when used at the top level 5 setting.
Accessory Options
The Theragun Elite includes a premium carrying case. While many other handheld massage guns require you to buy the case separately, Theragun doesn't skimp there.
In addition, the Theragun comes with one built-in lithium ion battery (more on that below in the Battery Power section), a standalone charger and five attachment heads. The attachment heads include a standard ball, a dampener, a wedge, a cone, and a thumb attachment. 
- Standard smaller round ball: This attachment felt great on my glutes and quads, and wasn't as intrusive as the cone or thumn tip.
- Cone and Thumb tips: These simulate a therapist's thumb. These tips allows you to get into the muscles deeper and really helped target some trigger points that needed treatment. These tips are good in doses -- they are painfully good!
- Dampener and wedge tip: These are great for treating thinner muscle areas and when testing on less developed people around the office. They are less intense than the other attachments, which is good when needed.
Battery Life
As mentioned, it comes with 1 built in battery with a 120 minute battery life. Due to its power, you only need to use it for 5-10 minutes each session, without really needing more, so the battery life won't be an issue for most users.
Most importantly, the Elite is fully rechargeable and comes with a AC charger for countless sessions.
If you’re convinced the Theragun is the right massager for you, the pricing information for the massager is below.
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Hypervolt Massager Review
Power Rating
First off, if you are familiar with the Hyperice brand, you are familiar with their "three speed" options on their popular Vyper 3.0 and Hypersphere models. Secondly, when using the Hypervolt, you notice right away that they use the same style of button this model. Finally, being that there are three speeds, we need to address the power for each level to give you an understanding of its power.
Firstly, the lowest speed is great for seniors and young kids without much muscle development, but it is a little too soft of pressure for developed bodies. I noticed that I would immediately want to switch to level 2, as did most of the athletes we tested it on. To be clear, where level 1 is like a light warmup or pat down, level 2 is more similar to a sports massage.
Level 3 is the highest level of power setting. While the Level 3 intensity might be overkill for the upper back, it is great for your quads, glutes and hamstrings. However, I noticed when giving treatment to others that I needed to press into the massage gun a lot more than I did with its competitors. To be clear, the Level 3 setting and the massage gun's overall design requires a little more manual pressure than some of the other options on the market.
Furthermore, while Level 3 worked great on areas with larger muscle development that would absorb the higher motion well, in contrast, the massage head motion would get a bit shaky in areas such as the upper back and traps. In fact, most of the other people I tested it on agreed with that and asked for us to lower the Hypervolt from Level 3 when treating their upper back.
While offering 3 speeds is definitely unique, I feel most users will end up sticking to one speed that they like anyway (for me it was Level 2). For the average user, it will probably be a case of having too many options, especially since you have to cycle sequentially up from 1 to 3 without being able to switch back down quickly. Consequentially, I feel one speed is plenty for handheld massage guns, because you can always adjust pressure manually. With that being said, I believe that one of the downsides of the Hypervolt was that it required me to apply more manual pressure than other massage guns we tested.
I personally rated the Hypervolt a 8 on power. For one, I noticed I had to apply considerably more pressure than when using some of its competitor's guns. This device is better for people with less muscle development who don't need as much power. For example, I found it ideal for warming up with its lighter massage effect. However, it won't provide a deep tissue massage as well as the other guns do.
Accessory Options
Unfortunately the Hypervolt does not include a carrying case, and if you need one, it can cost you up to $90 on the aftermarket. This is a drawback compared to its competitors, which typically include that with the massager itself.
However, the Hypervolt does include four attachment heads, whereas some of its its competitors charge around $20 per attachment after the first one, so that is a $60 savings. The Hypervolt includes a flat attachment, a round attachment, a bullet (triggerpoint) attachment, and a fork shaped attachment.
- Flat tip: This is great for the chest, quads, and calves. It is probably the most all around attachment, since it can also be used on the back for example.
- Ball (round) tip: This attachment is more for the surface muscles with thinner development, such as the forearms or the front of shoulders.
- Pointed Bullet tip: Simulates a therapist's thumb. This tip allows you to get deeper than the round ball attachment and the flat tip. This is great for tight traps or treating sore quads.
- Fork tip: Simulates a therapist using two fingers to kneads along muscles. It is great for attacking the tight muscles around the spine, while also avoiding the spine.
Battery Life
The 3 hour battery life is great for those planning to use this in a team setting, or if you simply don't like having to recharge your device as often. They currently do not carry backup batteries, but with the long battery life, that shouldn't be an issue.
Hyperice recommends that you charge the battery while plugged into the top module, but I noticed that you can charge it without it being connect to the top part of the device.
If you’re convinced the Hyperice Hypervolt is the right massager for you, the pricing information for the massager is below.
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Theragun Elite vs. Hypervolt Side-by-Side Comparison
Your body type and overall preferences will determine which massager you perceive as the better valye. The following side-by-side Theragun Elite vs. Hypervolt comparison will help you to understand the differences there are in the specs and features of each massage gun.
| Category | Theragun Elite | Hypervolt |
| Power | 8 out of 10; 40 lbs torque; 5-Speed Options + Fully Customizeable via app | 8 out of 10; 3-Speed Options |
| Versatility | Ergonomic grip, Bluetooth Compatibility + App, Wireless Charging | Three speed options (lowest setting is lower than Elite's lowest) |
| Accessories | Carrying case included + 5 attachments | Case costs extra, but includes 4 attachments as well |
| Self-Use | Can reach ~90% of spots easily | Can reach ~80% of spots easily |
| Brand | Theragun specializes in Handheld Massagers and these are the one type of item in their catalog; The original handheld massager in its class | Hyperice is not focused on just handheld massagers, first massager launched in 2017 |
| Price | Check Price on the Theragun Elite | Check Price on the Hypervolt |
What’s the right massager for you? Theragun Elite or Hypervolt?
So the big question, is Theragun or Hypervolt the right massage gun for you?
After thorough tests on both of these massagers the winner for me is the Theragun Elite. Overall, I feel that the Theragun Elite is the better massager. I would recommend the Theragun Elite massage gun to anyone who falls into the following categories:
- You need a deeper massage – the Elite creates 16mm extension into your muscles, creating a deep tissue massage from the percussive impact, whereas the Hyperice model only does 10mm, surface-level vibration.
- Now with Bluetooth and Wireless Charging – the Elite is loaded with tech as it is one of the first and currently one of the only handheld massagers with Bluetooth compatibility and is ready for wireless charging.
- More speed options – whereas the Hypervolt only has 3 speeds, the Elite has 5 built in plus once you connect to your smart phone, you can also adjust the speed in any increment ranging from 1750-2400, via the app.
- You want a more ergonomic grip – the pistol grip design allows you to hold the Theragun Elite longer without fatigue, and the handle is thinner than the Hypervolt so your hand is more comfy.
- You want a nice looking case – the Theragun Elite includes a carrying case, which makes it very convenient when you need to take your massage gun on the go.
Click here to order your Theragun Elite from us with fast, free shipping, free returns and a 30-day money back guarantee, or checkout the Theragun Elite on Amazon.
In general, I would recommend the Theragun Elite massager to most people. With that being said, there are some situations in which the Hypervolt might be a better option for you:
- You want the option to lower intensity – if you are a smaller built person or do not like strong massages, the Hypervolt might be the better option because the lowest setting is slightly softer than the Elite.
Click here for more info on the Hyperice Hypervolt massager, or checkout the Hypervolt on Amazon.
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Author Bio Gideon is the Director of Purchasing at Recreation of LA and the head honcho around here. A Los Angeles native, Gideon spent several years working in purchasing, merchandising and content management for ecommerce companies. In his free time Gideon likes playing basketball, lifting weights, and searching for the best beaches in LA.