Horizon 7.0 AT vs 7.4 AT vs 7.8 AT: What the Extra Money Buys (2026)
Disclosure: DanPicks may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. It does not change the price you pay or what I write. This is a research-based article: I compiled it from manufacturer specs, third-party measurements and public reviews, and I have not tested these products myself. How I review.
Short answer: for most runners the 7.4 AT is the one to compare against, because it is the cheapest of the three with a 22-inch-wide deck. Buy the 7.0 AT only if you are a lighter runner who is fine with a 20-inch deck and wants to save about $700. At current sale prices the 7.8 AT costs only $200 more than the 7.4 AT. That buys a higher user-weight limit, a color screen, an included chest strap and (per third-party research) a larger motor.
Prices below are Horizon’s own sale prices on November 2, 2026. Horizon runs sales often. Check the price on the day you buy.
The three models side by side
All specs are Horizon’s claims from its product pages, except the motor row.
| 7.0 AT | 7.4 AT | 7.8 AT | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sale price (Nov 2, 2026) | $1,099 | $1,799 | $1,999 |
| Listed regular price | $2,100 | $2,399 | $2,699 |
| Running deck | 20” × 60” | 22” × 60” | 22” × 60” |
| Max user weight | 325 lb | 350 lb | 375 lb |
| Treadmill weight | 277 lb | 318 lb | 330 lb |
| Speed | 0.5–12 mph | 0.5–12 mph | 0.5–12 mph |
| Incline | 0–15% | 0–15% | 0–15% |
| Display | 7.25” LCD + 4 LED windows | 8.25” LCD + 16-digit LED | 9.3” color TFT + 16-digit LED |
| Sprint 8 program | not listed | yes | yes |
| Heart-rate chest strap | not listed | not listed | included |
| Warranty: frame / motor | lifetime / lifetime | lifetime / lifetime | lifetime / lifetime |
| Warranty: parts / labor | 3 years / 1 year | 5 years / 2 years | 5 years / 2 years |
| Folded size (L × W × H) | 44” × 35” × 68” | 42” × 37” × 71” | 42” × 37” × 71” |
| Motor (third-party figure) | 3.0 HP | 3.5 HP | 4.0 CHP |
About the motor row. Horizon’s pages list only a “500 lb thrust incline motor” and do not give a drive-motor horsepower. The 3.0 / 3.5 / 4.0 figures come from Treadmill Review Guru and BarBend. BarBend says plainly that Horizon does not list the motor size officially. Treat these as reviewer research, not manufacturer specs.
What the money buys at each step
7.0 AT → 7.4 AT (+$700 at current prices)
- Deck 2 inches wider (22” vs 20”). Length is the same.
- User weight limit up from 325 to 350 lb.
- Parts warranty up from 3 to 5 years, labor from 1 to 2 years.
- Sprint 8 interval program.
- A larger motor, per Treadmill Review Guru (3.5 vs 3.0 HP).
7.4 AT → 7.8 AT (+$200 at current prices)
- User weight limit up from 350 to 375 lb.
- 9.3” color screen instead of an 8.25” LCD.
- Chest strap included.
- A larger motor, per Treadmill Review Guru and BarBend (4.0 vs 3.5).
- Same deck, same speed and incline range, same warranty. BarBend’s main con for the 7.8 AT is that it is “essentially the same tread as the 7.4 AT.”
The second step is small in price at today’s sale prices. At regular prices the gap is $300. Either way, the 7.4 AT and 7.8 AT share most of the machine.
What reviewers measured
I found very few measured numbers for these treadmills. Most published reviews give impressions, not measurements.
| What | Result | Model | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 → 12 mph | about 18 seconds | 7.0 AT | Treadmill Review Guru (in their studio) |
| 0 → 15% incline | 16 seconds | 7.0 AT | Treadmill Review Guru |
| To top speed | about 19–20 seconds | 7.8 AT | Treadmill Review Guru (19 s); BarBend tester (about 20 s) |
| Step-up height | 9.5” | 7.0 AT | Treadmill Review Guru |
| Noise | no decibel figure; described as “around the equivalent of a microwave or clothing dryer” | 7.0 AT | Treadmill Review Guru |
I did not find a published decibel reading, belt-speed accuracy test or deck-flex measurement for any of the three.
What reviewers said
- 7.0 AT. Treadmill Review Guru used it in their studio and scored it 68/100. Pros: quiet, responsive motor, supportive cushioning, lifetime frame and motor warranty. Cons: some app connections are less smooth than they would like, and it “may not hold up to 10+ miles per day.”
- 7.4 AT. Run to the Finish used it for walking, running and programmed workouts. The reviewer found it stable (“no wiggle” at higher speeds) and quiet, but noted a “small lag” when intervals change speed and a deck that “looks thin” and may flex more for heavier runners. Treadmill Review Guru’s 7.4 AT review was written without the machine in their studio; they based it on the 7.8 AT, which they describe as the same frame.
- 7.8 AT. BarBend says it has limited experience with the 7.8 AT and leans on its testing of the near-identical 7.4 AT. Its tester found the built-in fan weak. Treadmill Review Guru scored the 7.8 AT 79/100 against 68 for the 7.4 AT.
Pros and cons
Pros (all three)
- Lifetime frame and motor warranty (Horizon).
- Up to 12 mph and 15% incline on every model.
- Bluetooth FTMS for apps such as Peloton and Zwift, and Strava linking (Horizon).
- Hydraulic folding.
Cons
- Heavy: 277–330 lb. Plan where it goes before delivery.
- None of the three lists a touchscreen. For classes you use your own phone or tablet.
- Horizon does not publish motor horsepower.
- The 7.0 AT’s 20-inch deck is narrower than the other two. Wider runners and anyone who drifts sideways at speed may prefer 22 inches.
Who each one fits
7.0 AT fits runners under the 325 lb limit who run moderate weekly mileage, want lifetime motor coverage, and want to keep the cost near $1,100.
7.4 AT fits most home runners who want the wider deck and longer parts and labor coverage, and do not care about a color screen.
7.8 AT fits heavier users (up to 375 lb) and anyone who would pay $200 more for the color screen and chest strap.
None of them fits you if you want a built-in touchscreen, or a treadmill you can move around easily.
Before you buy: two checks from the spec sheets
- Electrical outlet. The 7.0 AT spec sheet says it needs a 120 V, 60 Hz outlet and is not compatible with GFCI outlets. Check the outlet you plan to use. I did not see the same line on the 7.4 AT and 7.8 AT pages, so ask Horizon before you order.
- Watch connectivity. Horizon’s spec sheets list Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch connectivity as “Yes” for the 7.0 AT and “No” for the 7.4 AT and 7.8 AT. That is unusual for the cheaper model, so confirm with Horizon if it matters to you.
What I could not verify
- Motor horsepower. Not listed by Horizon. The figures above are reviewer research.
- Price. Horizon’s pages show sale and regular prices in a layout that is easy to misread. One review lists the 7.4 AT at $1,599 on sale (Run to the Finish). The price on the day you buy is what counts.
- Durability over years. I found no review that reports multi-year use.
- The 7.8 AT in long use. Neither Treadmill Review Guru nor BarBend reports extended use of the 7.8 AT itself.
I have not used any of these treadmills myself. If I do, I will update this article and label it Hands-on.
Related: Home treadmills under $1,000, if your budget stops below the 7.0 AT.
Sources
- Horizon Fitness: treadmill lineup and prices (read November 2, 2026)
- Horizon Fitness: 7.0 AT product page and spec sheet (read November 2, 2026)
- Horizon Fitness: 7.4 AT product page and spec sheet (read November 2, 2026)
- Horizon Fitness: 7.8 AT product page and spec sheet (read November 2, 2026)
- Treadmill Review Guru: Horizon 7.0 AT review (in-studio, updated Nov 2024)
- Treadmill Review Guru: Horizon 7.4 AT review (not in studio; July 2024)
- BarBend: Horizon 7.8 AT treadmill review
- Run to the Finish: Horizon 7.4 AT treadmill review (updated Aug 2025)