The Tacx NEO 3M sits in an awkward but interesting part of the smart-trainer market. Its £1,599.99 RRP is far above the price of trainers that already provide accurate power, reliable ERG mode and full Zwift compatibility, so being merely good at the basics is not enough. Garmin’s flagship has to justify its premium through ride feel, accuracy and features that cheaper direct-drive trainers cannot easily reproduce.
On those terms, the NEO 3M gets a lot right. Independent testing has found exceptionally accurate power measurement and excellent ERG performance, while the electromagnetic virtual flywheel can simulate road surfaces and even drive the cassette during virtual descents. Integrated fore-aft movement adds another layer of realism, although that motion system divides opinion once sprinting begins.
The value equation has also changed since launch. At the time of checking, Tredz had the Tacx NEO 3M for £1,129.99, £470 below Garmin’s current UK RRP. That is still a major purchase, but it makes the NEO 3M considerably easier to defend than it was when reviewers assessed it close to its original premium price.
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Tacx NEO 3M specifications
| Maximum power | 2,200 watts |
| Maximum simulated gradient | 25% |
| Claimed power accuracy | Within 1% |
| Weight | 23.6kg |
| Dimensions | 630 x 800mm, 595mm high |
| Folded dimensions | 695 x 355mm |
| Maximum torque | 88Nm |
| Maximum brake force | 260N |
| Flywheel | Virtual, variable inertia up to 125kg |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth and ANT+ |
| Motion | Integrated fore-aft motion plus lateral flex, lockable |
| Calibration | None required |
| Included cassette | Shimano/SRAM 11-speed |
| Maximum rider weight | 125kg |
Accuracy and ERG performance are the strongest reasons to buy it
Garmin claims power, speed and cadence measurement to within one per cent, without requiring a spin-down or other routine calibration. That is a demanding claim for any trainer, but independent testing gives the NEO 3M unusually strong support here. BikeRadar compared it with multiple reference power meters and found the data exceptionally close across steady riding, ERG intervals and sprint efforts.
That matters more than the headline 2,200W resistance ceiling for most riders. Very few people need to produce anything close to the trainer’s maximum output, while repeatable power data affects every structured session. If a 300W interval is actually 300W today and remains comparable next week, training decisions become much easier.
ERG mode is another area where the electromagnetic design works particularly well. Rather than relying on a conventional physical flywheel, the NEO uses 32 neodymium magnets to create variable virtual inertia. BikeRadar found changes in target power smooth and rapid without the harsh overshoot that can make some trainers unpleasant during short intervals.
The absence of calibration is useful too. It removes one more task from an indoor setup and means there is no need to warm the trainer and perform regular spin-downs simply to keep the numbers trustworthy.
The virtual flywheel gives the NEO its distinctive ride feel
The NEO family’s unusual feature is its motor-driven virtual flywheel. Garmin says it can vary simulated inertia according to speed and terrain, rather than relying on one physical flywheel mass. It can also reproduce vibrations associated with surfaces such as cobbles and gravel when the training platform supports them.
The motor can actively drive the drivetrain during virtual descents when the trainer is plugged into the mains. Instead of simply reducing resistance as the road tips down, the system can keep the cassette moving to mimic the sensation of carrying speed downhill. It is a small detail compared with power accuracy, but it contributes to the NEO feeling different from a conventional direct-drive trainer.
Garmin also allows basic resistance operation without mains power. The more advanced descent and road-surface effects require electricity, but unplugged operation can still be useful for warm-ups or situations where a socket is inconvenient.
Integrated movement improves comfort, but not every effort
The ‘3M’ part of the name refers to multidirectional movement. The trainer incorporates fore-aft motion into its base while retaining a degree of lateral movement at the bike. A matching front-wheel support moves with the rear unit, and the fore-aft mechanism can be locked if a rider prefers a more conventional fixed platform.
There is a good argument for movement during longer indoor sessions. A completely rigid bike forces the rider to absorb movements that would normally shift the bicycle beneath them outdoors. Allowing some controlled motion can make sustained riding feel less static and reduce the sensation of being fixed in one position.
It is not universally better, though. BikeRadar found the fore-aft movement awkward during hard sprinting because the trainer could move backwards under acceleration and then rebound forwards. That is an important qualification to Garmin’s realism claims. The motion is potentially valuable for long endurance and tempo work, but riders concentrating on maximal sprints may prefer to lock it.
Zwift virtual shifting and Race Mode improve the 2026 proposition
The NEO 3M launched with some conspicuous omissions for such an expensive trainer. Built-in Wi-Fi was absent, with Garmin instead offering its Smart Network Adapter for Wi-Fi or Ethernet connectivity, and early reviews criticised the lack of a high-speed race mode and virtual shifting.
The current specification is better. Garmin has subsequently added Race Mode and Zwift virtual shifting support, addressing two of the complaints attached to the trainer around launch. That is important when reading older reviews because the software feature set they assessed is no longer identical to the product available in 2026.
Virtual shifting is particularly useful for households with multiple bikes or riders using different drivetrain standards, although compatibility still needs checking against the exact Zwift hardware setup. For riders building a wider indoor setup, our guide to the best tablets for Zwift and indoor cycling covers the display side of the equation, while the guide to virtual cycling racing explains how platforms including Zwift, MyWhoosh and Rouvy work.
Bike compatibility needs more attention than it should
Garmin supplies the NEO 3M with an 11-speed Shimano/SRAM cassette and support for common 130/135mm quick-release and 142/148 x 12mm thru-axle standards. Other freehub options are available, and the trainer can accommodate a broad range of drivetrains with the appropriate hardware.
The problem is physical clearance. BikeRadar found that a Shimano Ultegra Di2 rear derailleur could contact the trainer’s casing in the smallest sprocket. That is not a minor cosmetic issue on a trainer costing four figures, and buyers with modern electronic road groupsets should check Garmin’s compatibility guidance carefully before ordering.
The supplied 11-speed cassette is also an odd default for a flagship product in 2026. It remains useful for a large installed base of bikes, but many current performance road groupsets use 12 speeds. At this price it would be preferable either to have a cassette choice or a more drivetrain-neutral package.
Size and storage are genuine considerations
The NEO 3M weighs 23.6kg and occupies 630 x 800mm when ready to ride. Its legs fold to reduce the width for storage and Garmin incorporates a handle, but this is not a trainer most people will want to carry between rooms before every session.
That mass helps create a planted platform during hard riding, yet it makes the NEO better suited to a permanent or semi-permanent indoor training area. Riders who need to turn a living room into a training space and put everything away afterwards can buy lighter, simpler trainers that are much easier to manage.
A permanent setup also benefits from the usual indoor-training basics. Sweat, heat and repeated stationary sessions are hard on both rider and bicycle, so the site’s turbo trainer tips are relevant regardless of how sophisticated the resistance unit is.
Tacx NEO 3M versus cheaper smart trainers
The NEO 3M’s biggest problem is not performance. It is that the basic smart-trainer experience has become much cheaper. Accurate direct-drive trainers now offer app-controlled resistance, structured ERG workouts and virtual riding at prices far below Garmin’s RRP.
Paying extra for the NEO therefore needs to be about the details: calibration-free accuracy, excellent ERG behaviour, the virtual flywheel, powered descents, road-surface simulation and integrated movement. A rider who does not value those features will gain little from spending four figures simply to produce resistance indoors.
The current discount changes the calculation. At £1,129.99 from Tredz when checked, the gap to other premium trainers is considerably narrower than at the £1,599.99 RRP. It remains expensive, but the distinctive features no longer carry quite such an extreme premium.
Who should buy the Tacx NEO 3M?
The strongest case is for a rider who spends several hours a week training indoors and values power accuracy and ERG quality above almost everything else. It also makes sense for riders who dislike the completely fixed feel of conventional trainers and want integrated movement without adding a separate rocker plate.
Indoor racers benefit from the updated Race Mode and virtual-shifting support, although the optional network adapter remains relevant for anyone who wants a wired or Wi-Fi connection rather than Bluetooth or ANT+. Riders using structured training plans can make particularly good use of the NEO’s fast, controlled response to target-power changes.
Casual winter riders should spend less. So should anyone who needs to move the trainer frequently or who simply wants dependable Zwift resistance without the extra simulation features. The NEO 3M’s engineering is impressive, but its premium only makes sense when those refinements will actually be used.
Tacx NEO 3M verdict
The Tacx NEO 3M is easier to recommend in 2026 than it was around launch. Its core strengths have always been convincing: excellent measured accuracy, very strong ERG behaviour, a distinctive virtual flywheel and integrated movement. Software updates adding Race Mode and Zwift virtual shifting have also dealt with two weaknesses highlighted in early assessments.
There are still compromises that should not exist on a trainer this expensive. Rear-derailleur clearance needs careful checking, the supplied 11-speed cassette will not suit every modern bike, built-in Wi-Fi is absent and the fore-aft movement can be counterproductive during maximal sprinting. The 23.6kg chassis also assumes the trainer can mostly stay where it is.
What changes the recommendation is the gap between list price and the current market price. At £1,599.99, the NEO 3M has to compete with far cheaper trainers that cover most riders’ actual needs. At the £1,129.99 Tredz price available when this review was updated, the premium buys enough genuinely different hardware and ride characteristics to make the decision more interesting.
For riders who want one of the most accurate and technically unusual direct-drive trainers available, and who will use it often enough to appreciate those differences, the NEO 3M remains a compelling high-end option. For everyone else, the smart-trainer market now offers too much competent competition for Garmin’s flagship to be the default choice.
