DeskCycle Ellipse Review for Seniors
By SK Kutubuddin, Founder & Senior Care Researcher Updated October 29, 2026In this guide
The DeskCycle Ellipse is a seated under-desk elliptical with eight magnetic resistance settings reaching about 40 lb at the top, a steel frame and a removable display.
The DeskCycle Ellipse is the seated elliptical to buy when the Cubii is too easy. Both machines sit in front of a chair and move your feet in the same smooth oval glide. Where the Ellipse differs is the top end: eight magnetic settings that climb to about 40 lb of resistance, enough to raise your heart rate and work the thighs, not just keep the legs moving.
It is also the heavier, sturdier machine, at about 30 lb with a steel frame, which helps it stay planted on the floor but makes it harder to carry around. For most seniors who simply want to sit less still, the lighter Cubii JR1 is the easier choice. For someone who has outgrown the Cubii, or wants a proper seated workout from day one, the Ellipse is the step up.
If you were actually searching for the DeskCycle 2, that is a different product: a mini exercise bike with circular pedals. We compare the two below.
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DeskCycle Ellipse Under-Desk Elliptical Leg Exerciser
A fairly active older adult who wants a seated leg workout that can get genuinely hard, not just gentle movement, from a sturdy machine that stays put
- Much higher top resistance than gentle seated ellipticals, so it can be a real workout
- Same smooth oval motion as the Cubii, which many people find kind to the knees
- Heavy steel frame stays planted on the floor
- Eight settings, from very easy to hard
- Removable display you can keep on the desk or chair arm, where you can read it
- Used seated, so there is no balance risk
Type
Seated under-desk elliptical (oval glide)
Resistance
8 magnetic settings, up to about 40 lb
Size
About 23 × 18 × 10 in
Weight
About 30 lb
Frame
Steel and plastic
Display
Removable LCD (time, calories, RPM and more)
Power
None needed (display uses a battery)
Warranty
1 year (VIVO listing)
Maker
3D Innovations; also sold as DeskCycle by VIVO
What we like
- Much higher top resistance than gentle seated ellipticals, so it can be a real workout
- Same smooth oval motion as the Cubii, which many people find kind to the knees
- Heavy steel frame stays planted on the floor
- Eight settings, from very easy to hard
- Removable display you can keep on the desk or chair arm, where you can read it
- Used seated, so there is no balance risk
Worth noting
- About 30 lb, heavy to lift and carry between rooms
- More machine than most people need for gentle daily movement
- Needs knee clearance under a desk or table, like every under-desk elliptical
- Higher resistance settings can be too much for people with knee or hip problems
- No app or Bluetooth syncing
Buy it if…
- You find gentle under-desk machines too easy
- You want a seated workout that raises your heart rate
- You want a heavy, stable machine that does not creep across the floor
- You will leave it in one place rather than moving it around
Look elsewhere if…
- You want gentle movement while watching TV: the lighter Cubii JR1 is enough
- You want a circular pedal bike that fits under a low desk: look at the DeskCycle 2 in our exercise bike guide
- Nobody can lift about 30 lb to set it up or move it
- You want real cardio with back support: a recumbent exercise bike is better
What the DeskCycle Ellipse is
The DeskCycle Ellipse is a seated elliptical: a low machine that sits on the floor in front of your chair, with two long, wide foot pedals that glide in an oval path. You stay seated the whole time, so there is nothing to balance on.
It is made by 3D Innovations, the company behind the original DeskCycle pedal bike, and is also sold as “DeskCycle by VIVO.” It comes in black or white.
The key number is resistance. A magnetic mechanism gives eight settings, which VIVO lists as reaching a maximum of 39 lb. The Amazon listing rounds this to “up to 40 lb” and describes the range as “from very easy to really hard.” The lowest settings are gentle; the highest are a genuine leg workout.
How hard a workout can it give?
This is where the Ellipse earns its place. At the low settings it does the same job as any under-desk elliptical: it keeps your legs moving and breaks up long periods of sitting. At the higher settings, the thigh and hip muscles have to work properly, and your heart rate climbs.
That makes it a better fit than a gentle machine for an older adult who is reasonably fit, for example someone who walks daily and wants to add seated exercise on bad-weather days, or someone in later-stage rehab whose physiotherapist wants more load.
It is still seated exercise. It does nothing for balance and does not load the bones the way walking does. Keep up standing activity where you safely can.
Check with your doctor first if you have a heart condition, high blood pressure or recent joint surgery, and do not jump straight to the top settings. Start low for 10 to 15 minutes and build up.
Size, weight and fitting it under a desk
The Ellipse measures about 23 × 18 × 10 inches, close to the Cubii JR1, and weighs about 30 lb. The weight is the price of the steel frame: it stays planted on the floor, but carrying it upstairs is a two-person job for many seniors.
As with every under-desk elliptical, your knees rise at the top of each stroke. Test it at the desk or table you plan to use before you rely on it there. If your knees touch the underside, slide the machine further forward, lower your chair, or use it in front of an armchair instead.
Assembly is light: VIVO provides an assembly manual and videos. Use a sturdy chair that does not roll, and put a non-slip mat under the machine on smooth floors.
The display and the calorie question
The LCD is removable, so you can put it on the desk or the arm of your chair instead of squinting at the floor. The Amazon listing describes six functions, including revolutions, RPM, time and calories.
Treat the calorie figure as a rough guide only. Calories on any seated exerciser are an estimate based on speed and resistance, not a measurement of your body. The useful numbers for most seniors are time and resistance level, because they show you are doing a little more each week.
There is no app or Bluetooth syncing. If you want stats in an app, the Cubii JR1+ and JR2+ offer that.
DeskCycle Ellipse vs Cubii JR1
These are the two seated ellipticals most people choose between, and they are closer than the prices suggest. Both use an oval glide, both sit in front of a chair, both have eight resistance settings, and both need no plug.
- Resistance: the Ellipse reaches about 40 lb at the top setting, more than the Cubii. Choose it if the Cubii’s top level would feel easy to you.
- Weight: the Ellipse is about 30 lb, the Cubii JR1 about 25–27 lb. Neither is light.
- Size: almost identical footprints, about 23 inches long.
- Extras: the Ellipse has a removable display; Cubii offers Bluetooth versions (JR1+ and JR2+).
Our take: for gentle daily movement, the Cubii JR1 is the simpler buy. For a harder seated workout, the DeskCycle Ellipse.
| DeskCycle Ellipse | Cubii JR1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Motion | Oval glide | Oval glide |
| Resistance | 8 settings, up to ~40 lb | 8 settings |
| Weight | ~30 lb | ~25–27 lb |
| Size | 23 × 18 × 10 in | 23 × 17.5 × 10 in |
| Display | Removable LCD | Built-in LCD |
| Bluetooth | No | No (JR1+ adds it) |
| Best for | Fitter users wanting a real workout | Gentle daily movement |
DeskCycle Ellipse vs DeskCycle 2
The names cause confusion. The DeskCycle 2 is a mini exercise bike: your feet push pedals round in a circle, like a bicycle. The Ellipse moves your feet in an oval glide, like a standing elliptical.
The DeskCycle 2 is designed to fit under lower desks, with a reported minimum desk height of about 27 inches. The Ellipse’s gliding motion keeps the feet flatter and many people find it smoother on the knees.
Which to choose: if knee comfort and smoothness matter most, the Ellipse. If you prefer a cycling motion or have a low desk, the DeskCycle 2, which we cover in our exercise bike guide.
What DeskCycle says
The following are DeskCycle’s own marketing claims from the product listing, not our independent findings. Details can change over time — check the current Amazon listing for the latest.
- VIVO lists the DeskCycle Ellipse with 8 magnetic resistance settings and a maximum resistance of 39 lb; the Amazon listing describes resistance as up to 40 lb, “from very easy to really hard.”
- The product measures about 23 × 18 × 10 inches; the Amazon listing gives a weight of 30.2 lb and names 3D Innovations as the manufacturer.
- VIVO describes the machine as low-profile and soundless, with extra-wide pedals, a removable LCD display and a steel and plastic build.
- VIVO lists a 1-year warranty and a 30-day return policy.
How it compares to other seated exercisers
The DeskCycle Ellipse is the premium pick among seated ellipticals: the most resistance and the sturdiest frame. Most seniors after gentle movement will be happier with something lighter.
- Cubii JR1 — the same oval glide in a lighter, simpler machine. Our top seated elliptical for gentle daily movement.
- DeskCycle 2 pedal exerciser — the same maker’s mini exercise bike, with circular pedals and a design that fits lower desks.
- Recumbent exercise bike — a full exercise bike with a back-supported seat, for real cardio sessions rather than under-desk use.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, for fairly active older adults who want a seated workout that can get hard. It is used sitting down, so there is no balance risk, and the oval glide is smooth. For gentle movement only, a lighter machine such as the Cubii JR1 is usually enough.
Eight magnetic settings. VIVO lists the maximum as 39 lb, and the Amazon listing describes it as up to 40 lb, from very easy to really hard.
About 30 lb (the Amazon listing gives 30.2 lb). It is heavy for its size because of the steel frame, which helps it stay in place on the floor.
For gentle daily movement, the Cubii JR1, which is lighter and simpler. For a harder seated workout, the DeskCycle Ellipse, which reaches about 40 lb of resistance. Their size and oval motion are very similar.
The DeskCycle 2 is a mini exercise bike with circular pedals, designed to fit under lower desks. The Ellipse is a seated elliptical with an oval gliding motion that many people find smoother on the knees.
VIVO describes it as low-profile and soundless, because resistance is magnetic rather than friction-based. You can use it while watching TV or on the phone.
Treat it as a rough estimate. Calories on any seated exerciser are calculated from speed and resistance, not measured from your body. Time and resistance level are better ways to track progress.
Many people with knee problems find an oval glide more comfortable than circular pedalling. Keep to the low settings, and check with your doctor or physiotherapist, especially after knee surgery, before using the higher resistance levels.
DeskCycle Ellipse Under-Desk Elliptical Leg Exerciser
Best for: A fairly active older adult who wants a seated leg workout that can get genuinely hard, not just gentle movement, from a sturdy machine that stays put
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