Beurer MG 180 vs MG 185

The Beurer MG 185 is the successor to the Beurer MG 180. A successor should of course be better than the older version. But unfortunately, that is not always the case. Whether this applies to the massage guns from Beurer, I want to tell you on this page. I will also tell you the similarities and differences between the MG 185 and MG 180, having tested both devices myself.

 

Comparison – Beurer MG 180 vs MG 185

 

Scope of Delivery and Attachments

I have already listed the scope of delivery of both massage guns in the comparison table above. Therefore, I will not list them again here.

When looking at the table, you will notice that the scope of delivery of the Beurer MG 180 and MG 185 is very similar. Specifically, there are only two differences:

1. The MG 185 includes a carrying case for transport (e.g., to the gym), which is not the case with the MG 180.
2. The Beurer MG 180 comes with another attachment, the large ball attachment. Whether you need this in addition to the standard ball attachment is questionable, however.

All in all, both sets of delivery could convince me. The included attachments are suitable for massaging all muscles. So I can’t criticize anything here. Possibly, attachments made of metal would still be useful. However, these are only needed for the application of massage oil and gel.

Functionality

The Beurer MG 180 has four different power levels. These reach a shock frequency of up to 3,200 shocks per minute. This is typical for most massage guns.

What is not typical, however, is the fact that nowhere is it described what the shock frequency of each stage is. Likewise, I could neither find out what shock length the massage gun has. This is a pity and gives me deductions in the category.

The Beurer MG 185 looks much better here in terms of data. The massage gun has nine power levels with the following impact frequencies:

These levels are very well coordinated with each other. Thus, the first stages still feel very light and pleasant, while you can feel the intensity of the higher stages deep in the muscle. This feeling could also be achieved despite the fact that the impact depth is only 10 mm.

With the Beurer MG 180, however, the first level already felt a bit too intense. Otherwise, the massage feels good, and you notice clear differences between the individual stages.

This category still goes to the MG 185.

Usability

The operation is virtually identical for both massage guns. First, you have to turn on the power supply by moving the switch on the bottom.

The motor is then switched on via a button (MG 180) or touch (MG 185) on the upper side. Once the motor is switched on, the individual stages are switched through via the button/touch. This is very easy and can be learned without instructions.

Furthermore, the Beurer MG 185 has a second button. This can be used to start the pre-installed massage programs when the motor is switched on.

Handling

In terms of handling, I looked at the weight and handle of the massage guns.

The weight of the Beurer MG 180 is 2.28 lbs (1,034 g) without attachment and 2.34 lbs (1,062 g) with the middle ball attachment. The Beurer MG 185, on the other hand, weighs 1.87 lbs (846 g) without the attachment and about 1.91 lbs (868 g) with the ball attachment. This makes the MG 185 significantly lighter than the MG 180, which tends to be one of the heavier massage guns on the market. This is especially noticeable during somewhat longer massages.

The handle of the MG 185 is also much narrower, which makes it easier to grip and hold. This is also noticeable during the massage. It also doesn’t help that the handle of the MG 180 is coated with rubber, which is supposed to prevent slipping.

This category clearly goes to the Beurer MG 185!

Power Supply

Both the Beurer MG 180 and the Beurer MG 185 have integrated batteries for the power supply. The MG 180 has a capacity of 2,500 mAh, and the MG 185 has a capacity of 2,400 mAh. Thus, these values are very similar. The same applies to the battery life, which is about 3 to 4 hours on average for both devices. This is a typical value for massage guns.

Charging the battery also works the same for both massagers. To do this, simply plug the included charger into the massage gun and connect it to a power outlet. The battery is thus fully charged within a few hours.

Besides the similarities, however, there are also differences here. These concern the display of the current battery status. The Beurer MG 180 has 5 LEDs for this, which display the battery status as follows:

In the case of the Beurer MG 185, the battery status is again displayed via 3 LEDs with the following levels:

Thus, the display is much more accurate in the older model. This is helpful for estimating when the battery needs to be recharged the next time.

The MG 180 and MG 185 do share one weakness: The battery in both massage guns is unfortunately not replaceable. If it is defective, the entire device has to be replaced.

Noise

I determined the volume of both massage guns from a distance of 40 cm with a sound level meter. I obtained the following values for the MG 180:

I measured the following volume for the MG 185:

Thus, both devices are in a good range in this category. However, a closer look reveals that the Beurer MG 185 performs much better here. It is much quieter at the lower levels and does not reach such a high volume as the MG 180, making it much more relaxed to use and also possible in quieter environments without any problems.

 

Material and Quality

Both massage guns from Beurer are made of plastic. Nevertheless, they look very sturdy and of high quality. The workmanship of both devices also contributes to this. I could not detect any unclean edges or defects at any point.

The same goes for the smell. The two massage guns simply smell “new”. Only the Beurer MG 185 smelled a bit like rubber at the beginning, which is probably due to the attachments made of this material.

 

Price

I paid 154.67 € for the Beurer MG 180. When I made this comparison, the price was $119.99 at the cheapest online provider. For the Beurer MG 185, on the other hand, I paid €127.99. At the time of the comparison, it even cost only $110 at various online stores.

Overall, the MG 185 is, therefore, quite a bit cheaper than the MG 180. At the same time, it performed better in my test. Therefore, I would clearly prefer the MG 185 in terms of the price-performance ratio.

 

Conclusion – Beurer MG 180 vs MG 185

The newer version of a product is usually supposed to score with improvements over the previous one. This is not always successful. In the case of the Beurer MG 180 and MG 185, however, it has succeeded. The only advantage of the “old” MG 180 is a better display of the battery status. On the other hand, the following points speak in favor of the MG 185:

1. The Beurer MG 185 has a whole 9 power levels, which cover a very good spectrum of shock frequencies. The MG 180 only has 4 levels; unfortunately, you can’t find any information on their specific intensity.
2. The Beurer MG 185 has a narrower handle and a lighter weight than the MG 180, which is reflected in much better handling.
3. In terms of volume, the MG 185 performs much better. Overall, it is on average about 5 dB quieter than the MG 180, which can be clearly perceived.
4. Included with the MG 185 is a carrying case that allows you to comfortably take it with you to sports or on trips. The MG 180 does not come with a carrying case.

In addition to the aforementioned advantages, the Beurer MG 185 also has a lower price than the Beurer MG 180, so I would choose this model over the MG 180 any day!