1.2 HP motor · 8.1 mph (13 km/h) top speed · 10% motorised incline · 121 x 43 cm deck · 130 kg max user · folds upright to 146 cm · 57 dB · 62 kg · no app or Bluetooth · rated for 5 hours a week
The Domyos T520B is Decathlon’s entry treadmill, and it carries a best-seller badge and a glowing 4.7-star rating from 930 owners. Those two things are why it sells so well. On the specification, though, it is the weakest machine in the range, and here is the part that catches most shoppers out: at £549.99 it actually costs more than the better Run 500. It scores 3.6 out of 5 on RunRank, the lowest of the five Domyos models, and we want to be straight with you about why.
None of that makes it a bad treadmill. It is a solidly built, no-nonsense walking and light-jogging machine, and the high owner rating reflects that people who buy it for that purpose are happy. But its appeal rests on the badge and the rating, not the spec sheet, and for the same money or less there is a stronger option in the same range.
Who the T520B is for
A good fit if you
- Want a dead-simple machine with no apps to set up
- Will mostly walk or jog at a gentle pace
- Are reassured by its best-seller status and 4.7 rating
- Have no interest in Bluetooth, audio or connected training
Look elsewhere if you
- Care about value, since the Run 500 costs less and does more
- Want to follow along with Kinomap or Zwift
- Run faster than 8.1 mph or want a longer deck
- Expect speakers, USB or any console extras
If you genuinely just want the simplest possible Decathlon treadmill and the rating gives you confidence, the T520B will not disappoint you. For almost everyone else, read the Run 500 review before you buy, because it is the comparison that changes most people’s minds.
Domyos T520B specifications
| Price | £549.99 (no current sale) |
|---|---|
| Top speed | 8.1 mph (13 km/h) |
| Motor | 1.2 HP (895 W) |
| Incline | 10%, motorised |
| Running deck | 121 x 43 cm |
| Max user weight | 130 kg |
| Treadmill weight | 62 kg |
| Folded size | L98 x W73 x H146 cm (in use L163 x W73 x H138 cm) |
| Console | Backlit LCD, 10 programmes (5 health + 5 calorie), tablet holder |
| Connectivity | None. Hand-Pulse grip sensors only. No app, Bluetooth, audio or USB |
| Noise | 57 dB at 10 km/h |
| Frame | Steel |
| Usage rating | Home use, up to 5 hours/week |
| Warranty | 2 yrs parts & labour, 5 yrs frame, 10 yrs spares |
| Owner rating | 4.7 / 5 from 930 reviews |
| RunRank | 3.6 / 5 |
Key features
A genuinely simple machine
The T520B keeps things basic on purpose. A backlit LCD, 10 programmes split between health and calorie goals, a tablet holder and Hand-Pulse grip sensors are the extent of it. For someone who finds connected treadmills fiddly and just wants to step on and walk, that simplicity is the appeal, and it is reflected in the high owner rating.
10% incline and a steel frame
It does keep the 10% motorised incline and the 130 kg user weight on a steel frame, which is why its Build Quality pillar holds up even as the rest of its scores fall away. The incline is a real plus at the entry level and stops it feeling like a flat walking-only machine.
No connectivity at all
This is the big gap. There is no Bluetooth, no ANT+, no app support, no audio and no USB. If you want to run with Kinomap or Zwift, follow guided sessions or charge a phone, the T520B cannot do any of it. Every other model in the range can.
The shortest deck and lowest top speed
At 121 x 43 cm the deck is the shortest and narrowest here, and the 8.1 mph (13 km/h) top speed is the lowest. That is fine for walking and gentle jogging, but it limits faster running and a long, comfortable stride. The 5 hours-a-week duty rating keeps it firmly in occasional-use territory.
How it compares to the rest of the range
T520B vs Run 500 (the one that matters)
This is the comparison to make before buying. The Run 500 is cheaper at £499.99 against the T520B’s £549.99, faster (10 mph versus 8.1 mph), has a longer 130 x 45 cm deck, adds full Bluetooth, ANT+ and app support, and arrives assembled. The only area the T520B leads is its owner rating and best-seller badge. On every meaningful spec, you get more by spending less, which is exactly why the Run 500 is our best-overall pick and the T520B sits bottom of our table.
T520B vs Compact Run 100
If your priority is a simple machine that stores easily, the Compact Run 100 is also worth a look at £499.99. It drops the incline but folds nearly flat to 14 cm, weighs just 41 kg and adds app connectivity the T520B lacks. The T520B’s advantage over it is the incline; otherwise the Compact Run 100 is the more flexible buy.
The verdict
The T520B is a well-made, simple treadmill that its owners clearly like, and the 4.7 rating is real. But our job is to point you to the best buy, and at £549.99 it is hard to recommend when the faster, better-connected Run 500 costs £50 less. Buy the T520B only if you specifically want the simplest possible machine and the badge reassures you. For almost everyone else, the Run 500 is the smarter spend.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Domyos T520B a good treadmill?
For simple walking and light jogging, yes, and its 4.7 owner rating reflects that. The catch is value: it costs more than the Run 500 while offering less, so it is hard to recommend over its stablemate unless you want the most basic option.
Why is the T520B more expensive than the Run 500?
Mostly down to where each sits in Decathlon’s pricing rather than capability. The Run 500 frequently sells at £499.99 while the T520B holds at £549.99, even though the Run 500 is the more capable machine. It is the main reason we steer buyers toward the Run 500.
Does the T520B have Bluetooth or app support?
No. It has no Bluetooth, ANT+, app connectivity, audio or USB. It uses Hand-Pulse grip sensors for heart rate and nothing more. If you want Kinomap or Zwift, look at the Run 500 or Compact Run 100.
How fast does the T520B go?
Up to 8.1 mph (13 km/h), the lowest top speed in the Domyos range. It suits walking and gentle jogging rather than faster running.
Should I buy the T520B or the Run 500?
For most people, the Run 500. It is cheaper, faster, has a longer deck and adds app connectivity. Choose the T520B only if you want the simplest machine possible and value its best-seller rating.
Disclosure: HomeTreadmill.co.uk may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend treadmills we would be happy to use ourselves, and our RunRank scores are not influenced by commercial relationships.
