Are sub-$500 ellipticals worth buying?

Mixed consensus. Long-running threads on r/Fitness argue that genuinely durable ellipticals start above $1,000 and recommend buying a used commercial unit instead. However, garagegymreviews.com has given qualified positive coverage to budget options like the Niceday CT11 for light home use. The honest summary: budget ellipticals are fine for walking-pace cardio a few times a week, but reviewers repeatedly flag noise, wobble, and bearing issues under heavier daily use.