We’re no strangers to massage guns, but the Opove M3 Pro massage gun unique features really caught our attention and stimulated our percussive therapy senses. It’s an impressive piece of tech that deserves a closer look, but it wasn’t all smooth sailing.

We found the M3 Pro massage gun to be a very solid device, but we did encounter some hiccups along the way. So buckle up and join us as we delve into the finer details of our experience with this intriguing massage gun!

Meet the Opove

Opove has been selling massage guns for the better part of the last 6 years as far as we know. Just like everyone else that’s not Theragun or Hyperice, they seem to take their cue for their products from these two industry giants.

Opove borrows from Hyperice and has, for the time they’ve been around, sought to borrow a leaf from the Hyperice design book. OK, maybe except of their Apex massage gun, which is truly an original design.

Their first product goes head-to-head against Hyperice’s first Hypervolt but at an affordable price – twice cheaper.

A few months ago, they came up with their own Hypervolt 2 Pro alternative – The Opove M3 Pro 2 massage gun.

What the new M3 Pro massage gun seeks to address is a punch-for-punch copy of the overpriced Hypervolt? You can just read on to find out.

Opove M3 Pro Massage Gun Review

Opove M3 Pro Specifications (Verified)

Our testing impressions:

• 12mm amplitude & ~40lbs of power
• 6 high-quality attachments
• Excellent for both beginners and experts
• Outstanding value for the price

Our review score:

4.6

Special limited-time offer: a whopping 35% off.

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First Impressions

First things first, and just as we like it, the M3 Pro massage comes with a nice two-zipper carrying case. Nothing says “we care” more than a good carrying case.

Inside, packaged nicely, are the gun itself, the attachments, the wall charger, and a side compartment with an Opove “thank you” envelope with the user manual inside.

The Device: Opove M3 Pro massage gun

From the first sight you can tell that they were definitely seeking to replicate the T-shaped Hypervolt Plus, if not the latest 2 Pro model. It’s black, same shape but a few notable omissions that tell you it’s not the Hypervolt.

For instance the round LED at the bottom of the handle is conspicuously missing. The new 2 Pro also has oval-shaped handle, this one has round.

Otherwise, this is a sturdy durable device made from good quality material – it’s not cheap plastic, it feels rubberized end-to-end, making it nice to touch.

The matte black color gives it a nice professional look. It also keeps the device clean, unlike the shiny fingerprint magnets we saw with Theragun Elite.

The controls are nothing fancy or innovative, but they are simple and intuitive. There is a uniqueness that we rarely see with other similar devices.

For instance, at the back it shows the battery level – blue, modern-looking vertical bars on the right side that seem to be emanating from the battery sign – and the speed gears on the left.

The Opove massage gun M3 Pro is easy to use due to its one-button operation. The only other is the on/off switch at the base of the handle – something we have seen in Hypervolt and similar guns.

On a back-panel, there is the main central button that you use to activate the device and set the desired speed gear.

The speed level indicators are clear to see, albeit the blue LEDs may feel too dark. Compared to the previous model, no digits are displayed (those used to take up a large part of the LCD – calculator-like font).

Here, everything feels somewhat modern, and the M3 Pro Opove looks quite slick for a T-shaped massage gun. We also like the device’s hidden vents, another small but nice touch.

Opove M3 Pro Attachments

The Opove M3 massage gun comes with 6 nicely varied Opove attachments. Here’s what we thought about them:

• Ball – This is used to work large muscle groups. It can be used for a general massage as well provided you don’t overdo it on bony areas. The one here is made of silicone rubber, which should make it last longer. We have seen too many of the attachments with a soft EVA foam wear out pretty fast, and we are glad Opove didn’t go the easy route here.
• Flat – This one is used on large muscle groups as well, but you shouldn’t pass it over bony areas to avoid injury. The one here is made from hard plastic which is common. It’s often our favorite attachment because of its ability to punch harder. 
• Fork/Spinal – Used to massage the area around the spine and the neck area. It can also be used over the Achilles or be used as a double-bullet head for trigger points. Here it’s made of hard plastic, but the tips are rubberized.
• Cone/Bullet – Used for pinpoint treatment. If you want a focus massage, this is the go-to applicator. It’s made of part hard and part rubberized plastic, which is perfect for what it’s meant to do.
• Wedge/Shovel – Hard-plastic attachment with rounded top, good for shoulders, muscles around the iliotibial band (IT-band).
• Cushion Head – It’s a hybrid of the ball and flat attachments. It’s used for large muscle groups or a delicate areas. It has the cushion added which means you can pass it over bony areas.

Apart from the Opove attachments, we found the instructions pamphlet, which we thought was good because of the clear language used.

It has instructions on how to use the device, information about the massage applicators and general safety stuff.

Size, Weight, Ergonomics

Sometimes it’s not easy to tell what the right size is for a good percussion massager. But the Opove M3 massage gun feels just about the right size.

It’s not the most compact massage gun we’ve ever seen and the T-shape design doesn’t help its case either, but it’s not as bulky as some other T-shaped guns from Amazon. Since it rivals Hypervolt Plus and 2 Pro, we’ll say it’s slightly smaller in comparison (especially from the Plus model).

That said, it weighs 2.5lbs (with a ball attachment). This is near standard weight for most massage guns in its category, but we’ve seen lighter sports massagers. We often associate bulkiness with the type of battery a device has.

Ergonomically, the M3 Pro massage gun is okay. The 90-degree handle doesn’t help reduce the strain on the arm during a massage. In our experience, using a T-shaped massage gun over prolonged periods can be quite a challenge.

That’s why we’ve always advocated for angled handles (like the one in Ekrin B37, for example). The slight tweak goes a long way in making things smooth.

One thing we appreciate here, however, is that even though the ergonomics are not perfect, the handle diameter is accommodating even for people with small hands. Interestingly, even though the handle is round, it is not a perfect round shape – it is slightly oval.

The handle is also not as long as many other massage guns out there. It has a silicone rubber grip that makes it easier to hold and maneuver.

Performance

Here’s where we get to know whether this device has a case for being an excellent value for money.

Amplitude

Amplitude is the distance the massage gun head travels back and forth to give you the percussions. The amplitude determines how deep a muscle massager can hit. Too short and it’s probably not a percussion massager (vibrational therapy).

Most knock-offs tend to compromise their amplitude. But that’s not the case with this Opove massage gun.

We have been able to measure the amplitude and found it to be 12mm, 20% more than it had before.

What does it mean? Well, we often call this amplitude a sweet spot.

This is medium amplitude, per massage gun standards. The percussive therapy is effective, but at the same time, it doesn’t feel as aggressive as punchy, high-amplitude massage guns, think of Theraguns or the D6 Pro from Bob And Brad.

With 12mm stroke length, this Opove M3 is dining with more expensive devices like Recoverfun Plus, Ekrin B37, or Hypervolt 2 Pro – even though the latter has 14mm amplitude, the 2mm difference is negligible when there is not enough stall force. 

After confirming the 12mm stroke length, we just had one question: Is the Opove M3 Pro stall force sufficient to utilize the amplitude effectively?
We have seen devices like the Urikar AT1 with a 16mm amplitude fail miserably to justify the long amplitude with enough stall force.

Opove M3 Pro Stall Force

According to info graphics at Opove.com, the Opove M3 Pro massage gun impressively delivers 70lbs. of stall force.

If true, that would be higher than the mighty Bob and Brad D6 Pro and Theragun Pro Plus, so we knew we had to take it with a pinch of salt.

In reality, it is less. We put the Opove M3 Pro massage gun to the test and by comparison to our benchmark percussion massagers, we can confidently say the stall force of this thing is between 40 to 45lbs – which is good, if you’d ask us.

This is more than Hypervolt 2 Pro (estimated 30-35lbs), and likely more than 90% of massage guns that sell at Amazon. In fact, this is Theragun Elite range, or the more expensive brother, Opove Apex, if you will.

With 45lbs. stall force and a 12mm amplitude the M3 Pro massage gun is strong enough for athletes and demanding users. It can punch reasonably deep into even large muscles. 

The stall force is progressive, meaning you’ll only get maximum stall force when you hit the highest speed gear. This is good for those who may just want a soothing massage. You don’t need to press it hard against the body to get the job done.

But what about the intensity of this thing?

Percussion Range and Speeds

Well, here things haven’t been so hunky-dory for this Opove massage gun.

The Opove M3 Pro percussion massage gun can get reasonably intense, but for a massage gun with a 12mm amplitude, it doesn’t rev very quickly.

It has the percussion range of 1300 – 2600 hits per minute, a tad less actually (we confirmed this with our laser tachometer).

With 12mm amplitude, it should be more intensive, because, usually, the shorter the amplitude, the faster sports massagers tend to percuss.

We have seen massage guns with long amplitudes that are more intense than this Opove percussion massage gun, for instance, Bob And Brad D6 Pro (16mm) or Hypervolt 2 Pro (14mm).

However, the Hypervolt is more than two times as expensive as the affordable M3 Pro (around $129 at the time of writing). At the same time, you can get the D6 Pro under $200 (with our discount code). It has a 16mm amplitude, which competes with the Theragun Pro, so in this context, Opove’s result is actually decent and good enough for intermediate-beginners to make the massage effective.

We also like that it can rev slowly, 1300 percussions per minute on first speed. Many devices with this kind of amplitude start only at 1800 or 2000 ppm, so here Opove stands out.

The slower percussion setup is great for warming up muscles before hitting the gym, running or a soothing massage session after a long day.

Opove M3 Pro Battery

In our testing, we found that the M3 Pro has a 2600mAh battery capacity. This is the standard battery capacity for devices that weigh approximately 2.5 pounds.

The battery proved to be strong enough, lasting 2.5-4 hours in our tests. Keep in mind that the battery will drain faster when more pressure and high intensity are used. But we still had some juice left in the device 10 days later when we used it sparingly (10-15 minutes sessions per day).

We also noticed the battery is not removable as we saw with the predecessor device. This, perhaps, and the lack of Bluetooth Connectivity makes it different from Hypervolt 2 Pro, their inspiration model.

Noise

While using the Opove M3, we were pleasantly surprised by its relatively quiet operation. In fact, based on our experiences with various percussion massagers on the market, this falls within the middle range of noise, especially considering its 12mm amplitude.

However, as a point of reference, the new Theragun Pro Plus and the other 6th Gen Theraguns are whisper-quiet! Please take a look at our video.

From our measurements, we determined that at the highest speed, it reaches 62dB, with a normal background noise at 30 dB. At the first speed, our noise meter displayed 46 dB – it is good!

We also noticed the sound is very smooth, unlike what you hear on the 5th Gen Theragun Pro or Mini 2nd Gen, which are rattling away (as mentioned above, the 6th Gen Theraguns are super quiet and have a smooth noise). We’ll also say it’s smoother than any Hypervolt.

This is impressive if you consider the amplitude, usually such devices tend to rattle so much. To be honest though, it doesn’t rev as high as some of the competitors, so it is also why it is perceived as a much quieter one. Nevertheless, Opove knows how to handle the noise business!

Also, the vibrations don’t transfer to the handle, which is a sign of quality motor insulation.

Who is it Best for Then?

The Opove M3 Pro massage gun is a pretty versatile device and will serve different people with different needs.

We found that due to the medium-long amplitude and sufficient stall force, the Opove M3 Pro was particularly beneficial for us during our high-intensity workouts, which suggests that it could be very effective for athletes and amateur bodybuilders.

It can be taken to the gym for a warm-up massage and also used after a workout. It’s also a great all-rounder massage gun that the whole family can enjoy using.

When we first started using massage guns, we were looking for a strong massage but were unsure where to start. From our experience, we believe the M3 Pro massage gun would be a great option for beginners in a similar situation.

Having used both the Opove M3 Pro and the Hypervolt 2 Pro, we found that although the M3 Pro has a shorter amplitude, it had better stall force, making it a great value for money device considering its performance – almost as good as its more expensive, high-amplitude brother, the Opove Apex.

In our experience, therapists and chiropractors will also like this Opove massage gun. The only drawback will be the lack of a removable battery, which would allow for continuous use.

Opove M3 Pro Price, Warranty, and Where to buy?

The M3 Pro goes for $129 for a limited time, a massive 35% vs. the regular price of $199. You can buy it here at opove.com.

We recommend buying the device from the Opove store because they are always stocked. You also get free and fast shipping.

The device comes with a 1-year warranty if you provide the receipt as proof of purchase. There is a 30-day money back guarantee in case you are not satisfied with the product.

We’ve bought from Opove’s store a few times already, and we never encountered any problems.

Best Opove M3 Pro Alternative – Ekrin 365

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So, why is the Ekrin 365 the best alternative to the Opove M3 Pro? What sets Ekrin Athletics apart from the competition is the Lifetime warranty offered with their sports massagers!

This builds credibility because their products are of high quality on the outside and, more importantly, on the inside, where the high-performing elements hide!

When it comes to ergonomics, Ekrin Athletics stands out among percussion massager brands. Its design surpasses even Opove massage guns, with an angled handle that’s easy to hold and not bulky at all.

Handling it feels more comfortable, even for those with smaller hands. This reduces tension on your wrist when using it. Plus, it’s lighter too—only 1.7 pounds, making it lighter than the M3 Pro massage gun. 

Let’s start with how great the performance features are. As we’ve mentioned, the 12mm length combined with a good stall force makes it perfect for a deep tissue massage—that’s really the main reason you’d want a massage gun in the first place!

The Ekrin 365 offers a 12mm amplitude and 40 lbs. of stall force, providing ample power to press the massage gun firmly against the body. You don’t have to spend more on a higher-end Theragun to enjoy a decent percussive therapy—this more affordable device can do the job just as well.

It really has a lot to offer! We recently named it our best massage gun under $150, and it’s easy to see why—there’s just so much to love about it.

The percussion range is 2000 – 3200 RPM, which differs from the Opove massage gun range of 1300 – 2600 RPM. With 12mm and a max 3200 RPM, you will have the capability of having a more intense muscle recovery therapy session. It is good to have these choices.

The Ekrin365 is easier to operate. It has a power switch at the bottom and a simple one-button operation at the top.

The Ekrin 365 is thoughtfully designed to be easy and convenient for everyone. You’ll find a power switch at the bottom, and a simple one-button control on top that makes using it a breeze. Just a tap to increase the speed, and the LED indicators will happily show you the current setting, making your experience smooth and straightforward.

At the top, a visual pressure sensor gently glows with a blue light, indicating it has reached the maximum rated pressure and completes the circle.

The battery life is quite impressive, lasting up to 5 hours on a single charge or even a full week with just two 15-minute sessions each day. Plus, it uses a handy USB-C cable instead of a dedicated charger, so you’ll find it easy to power up.

The package is thoughtfully put together with a handy carrying case, a manual, and four different attachments to suit your needs. Best of all, it comes with a lifetime warranty and ongoing customer support to ensure you’re always well taken care of.

Verdict:

If you’re on the lookout for an entry-level massage gun, both options cater to a similar audience.
However, the Ekrin 365 stands out by offering more features, same power, and a better warranty for your money!

Priced at $179.99, it’s a great deal that gets even better when you use our link—automatically dropping the price to just $143.99! That’s a fantastic 20% off at checkout. Happy shopping!

Learn More: Our in-depth Ekrin 365 massage gun review.

Opove M3 Pro vs Hypervolt 2 Pro

Opove has always been inspired by Hypervolt from the very first day, offering simplistic-looking devices for less. The new M3 Pro keeps the tradition by going after the new Hypervolt 2 Pro, and, to some extent its predecessor, Hypervolt Plus (still available at Amazon).

It only makes sense that the comparison be between these two. So here it goes:

Similarities:

• Same shape with a vertical handle, design, black colored body.
• 5 speeds in both devices.
• Ergonomics (Hypervolt’s handle is more oval-shaped than M3 Pro’s)
• Similarly efficient on power – will last for 2 – 3 hours when used normally;
• 1-year warranty.

Hypervolt 2 Pro advantages over M3 Pro.

• More amplitude, 14mm vs. 12mm in the Opove.
• 100 more max. percussions: 2700 vs 2600
• Bluetooth connectivity with a dedicated app.
• Pressure sensor with 3-level LED indicators.
• Detachable battery (higher capacity as well, 3800 vs 2600mAh).

Opove M3 Pro advantages over Hypervolt 2 Pro:

• More stall force; about 40-45 lbs (Hypervolt doesn’t disclose it but we estimated less, ~35lbs.)
• Tad lighter – 2.5 lbs vs. 2.6 lbs
• Much quieter – 46 to 62dB vs. 55 to 65 dB (Hypervolt’s sound is rougher, too)
• More attachments – 6 vs. 5.
• Carrying case included
• More than half the price of Hypervolt ($129 at opove.com vs $349 at time of writing)

Verdict

If you must have the Bluetooth connectivity and a dedicated app, or you want something to use on you patients as a therapist or chiropractor (removable battery and pressure level indicators), then Hypervolt 2 Pro will likely serve you better.

On the other hand, the M3 Pro is a great personal device. It’s a great gun with solid performance features and its own. It’s also significantly cheaper even though it comes from a trusted brand.

Review Conclusion

That concludes our hands-on Opove M3 Pro review. Based on our experience with all Opove massage guns to date, Opove has always been inspired by Hypervolt. This Opove massage gun competes with the Hypervolt Plus and the newer 2 Pro, doing so exceptionally well and at an affordable price.

Opove may not get points from us for being innovative with this massage gun, but they get more than a nod from us for a solid execution of a proven concept. In our testing, we didn’t particularly like the ergonomics, but we did appreciate how relatively quiet and intuitive it was.

It’s also the bang-for-your-buck device when considering the older M3 Pro. Nevertheles, we prefer more ergonomic massage guns, such as the Ekrin 365.

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It’s a brand new device, we’ve had it for a few weeks, and we feel confident enough to tell you about it. It’s our first device in 2022 as well. As it is customary here, we’ll take a look at all this new device has to offer, find out if it’s worth a buy, and look at some alternatives.

Finally an Opove Original Gun

This is not the first time we’re looking at an Opove device. The company has been around for a good part of the last 3 years of massage guns, first with the Opove M3 Pro, then with the M3 Pro Max device.

We knew they could make decent massage guns. However, we also knew that they don’t particularly have their own unique approach to doing things.

What we mean here is that most of their massage guns have more or less copied what Hypervolt has been doing. We’d call them cheap Hypervolt alternatives. The first M3 Pro looked uncannily the same as the Hypervolt 1 while Opove M3 Pro MAX resembled the Hypervolt Plus. The only advantage is that their versions are cheaper.

Even so, we still like what Opove has done in the massage gun industry thus far. We were excited to hear about their new device and were looking forward to using it.

We were expecting another clone but were hopeful for more robust specs. Surprisingly though, when Opove offered us one to try out, it wasn’t what we’re used to seeing.

It was a completely different gun from any Hypervolt (or any others). A unique design, finally!

We instantly knew the Opove Apex review was going to be unique as well. Here’s what we think.

Apex or Apex Pro?

There seems to be confusion around the name Opove Apex Pro. As stated on the packaging, the device name includes the word “PRO,” yet it doesn’t appear anywhere on the device, in the manual, or at Opove’s website. We assume this is a mistake, so we’ll refer to the device as simply the Apex.

Also, the maximum rpm is stated as 3200 on the packaging, instead of 2700. More on that further down in this review.

Opove Apex Review

Our Testing Impressions

• 14.5mm amplitude & ~45 lbs of power
• 6 high-quality attachments
• Excellent ergonomics and grip
• Great value for the price

Our review score:

4.8

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Opove Apex Specification

What is Included?

• A carrying case – it’s rubberized and has two zippers.
• A smaller case inside the main case carries all the attachments – very convenient!
• There is also a wall charger and an instructional manual (only includes the basic points).

First Look

Sticking out like a sore thumb (or perhaps like a new thing), the design looks interesting. Maybe because it’s something new, or maybe because we haven’t seen a design like this before (PS. we have seen many unique designs).

But we should note that this one doesn’t look like any Hypervolt – for the first time. But what is that design, though? The top part (the body or motor housing) looks asymmetric; the left side features a big round cap with a shiny “APEX” logo, but on the right side, instead of a round cap, there’s a small window where you can peak the motor revving – a cool touch to the design.

The body is made of plastic, the kind of plastic that feels premium when you actually hold the device for the first time out of the box. The material also makes the device comfortable to hold and use.

Our unit is matte black with a bit of shine on it. The body is a fingerprint magnet so be prepared to use a cloth once in a while to wipe away the marks. It’s easy to do, you’ll see. However, you can also opt for other color options; silver or camo/green.

The handle is angled alright. If you read our massage gun reviews before then you know how we love angled handles. This one doesn’t look very different from what we’ve seen with Ekrin devices or Achedaway Pro. However, this one looks just a bit more tilted. We’ll talk about it shortly under ergonomics.

Overall

This device gives a very good first impression. It looks solid, and we’re sure we’ll have it for a long time. It feels somewhat premium. Maybe not as premium as the top guns like Theragun, but very robust.

Controls

Opove didn’t go overboard with the controls, even with the new design. We like that the controls are simple.

Here’s how they look:

• There are no LCD screens and no touch buttons, just one button to turn the power on or off. It’s located underneath the handle. Pretty much the same place as Hypervolt does. 
• But the activation button isn’t Hypervolt-like, it’s not even where you’d expect it to be. It’s on the ergonomic handle, right at the bottom (not at the base). If Opove moved it up next to the motor casing, it would feel like a trigger on a gun. But there’s something about the location of this button; you cannot accidentally touch it from there. Also, since it’s not located on the motor casing, you can press the device hard against the body (using two hands) without accidentally touching the activation button.  
• The activation button also changes speeds
• The only LEDs we saw are located next to the activation button. They indicate speed.

Size and Weight

The Apex is a full-sized gun; that much we can tell. But it’s not as bulky as those cheap clones you can often see on Amazon.

The Apex looks compact for a full-sized gun. It weighs 2.27 pounds with no attachment and 2.34 pounds with the flat head attached. We’d say that’s just about the standard weight for guns this size.

However, we’ve noticed a trend where brands are significantly reducing the overall weight of their guns. A good example is the new Ekrin 365 and the new Hypervolts. Overall we can’t complain about the weight. It’s nothing we haven’t experienced before.

Ergonomics – Apex Special Handle

What about the ergonomics of this thing? We spend a lot of time talking about massage guns and how different brands choose to make their handles. We love tilted handles, but we enjoy it even more when the handle weight is well balanced.

This is where this new Opove APEX device excels. Even though it weighs more than 2 pounds, you will hardly feel it. It’s super comfy to hold and very easy to maneuver when you are massaging with it.

The handle is aggressively angled (we’re guessing this is a special kind of angling, perhaps better than what Ekrin or Achedaway Pro has) at 45 degrees. That means you will not strain your wrist when you are using it.

The aggressive angling also does something else that we haven’t seen with any other device. When you hold it at the top, the motor casing naturally sits between your thumb and index finger. You can hold it loosely and still be able to apply pressure when massaging with it. 

Holding it in hand is natural for the average person. The handle diameter isn’t too big. We like the rubber stripe on the handle – it’s superbly done. It runs from the top of the handle all the way to the bottom.

Our Take

We like how Opove designed the Apex. It’s finally something we can call unique – Opove-unique.

The size is okay, the body proportions are great, and they superbly designed the ergonomics to make this device worth your consideration.

Attachments

This device comes with 6 attachments. That’s nothing new since we have seen many brands include as many as 9.

The setup here is pretty standard with many familiar heads. There’s just something about the selection, which we’ll talk about shortly, but here’s what you can expect from the attachments:

• The standard ball – Is made of very dense foam with just a little give to it.
• The flat head – We love what Opove did with this one. It has a large contact area for massaging big muscle groups. You can use it on your quads, glutes, or any other part of the body when you want an aggressive massage.
• The bullet head – This one looks more like a cone attachment (similar to what we saw with Theragun). It’s a good attachment for massaging tense calves after running. Athletes will love it.
• The half-ball attachment – It’s the softest of the bunch. It’s the equivalent of the cushion head that we have seen with many massage guns. It’s good for massaging delicate areas like the arms and neck.
• The shovel/wedge attachment – It’s made of hard plastic (unlike Theragun’s). It’s a good substitute for the flat attachment (it has a small contact area). 
• The fork attachment – This one should do the same job as any other fork attachment, but it looks slightly different. The two prongs look rather thick, and the gap between them is really small. We actually don’t believe it can effectively massage the spine area (never use it directly on your spine). We hope Opove can work on improving this one.

Another thing we noticed with the attachments is they’re all branded with the company’s name. Opove may be trying to get their brand to the customers. We still think it’s a nice touch. Apart from the fork attachment (which needs some work done on it), we like the attachments on this device.

Performance

So far, we’ve seen what you can expect to see when you open the box. Let’s now see if this thing can do what it’s meant to.

Has Opove made any steps to make a competitive device that can outperform some of the top guns?

Amplitude

Sometimes called the stroke length, it’s how far the massage gun head moves back and forth. It determines how deep a massage you can get.

We were interested to see how this revolutionary Opove gadget will perform here. As we’ve said, they adopted everything Hypervolt did for their gadgets. 

For this device, Opove opted for a higher amplitude with this device. There aren’t many such devices on the market today. There’s only Theraguns, Achedaway Pro, and the Hypervolt 2 Pro.

Opove made a bold statement with this one. The real statement is that this is a 14.5mm amplitude device. However, they felt the need to put that on the device as well – just to be clear. The statement is printed next to where the attachments are mounted. It says, “14.5mm amplitude to get deep into your tissues.”

Of course, we had to make sure it is what they say it is with our precise digital caliper. And, yes, this is a high amplitude device. We’re glad they didn’t overstate the amplitude like some brands do to try to get you to buy their product.

Even so, what does this mean?

It means that the APEX’s hits go deeper into the muscle tissue. You can feel that almost instantly. It’s not a vibrational feeling. While most so-called massage guns give you the whirrrr! feeling, this one has the thud! thud! hits. It almost feels like you are using a Theragun Pro or Achedaway Pro.

If you’re looking for a device that has that penetrative power, Apex will do it for you. Even if you are heavily built, this device can get through those big muscles. It’s even better with the improved ergonomics – you can easily aim the device.

If you prefer a subtle massage without the aggressive hits, then you can try devices with 10-12mm amplitude. They feel more vibrational and won’t punch so much when you are using them. But high amplitude is not the only thing that matters in performance, you need enough stall force as well.

RELATED: Read our high amplitude massage gun guide for more details.

Stall Force

Stall force determines how hard you can push a device against your body without stalling it. Sometimes you need to push a device hard against the body to get a deeper massage. If a device easily stalls, then you cannot get that deeper massage. High stall force is needed to go deeper.

Here again, we wondered if Opove had taken the Hypervolt route and not addressed the stall force. In our Hypervolt 2 Pro review, we talked about how even though the amplitude was great, there wasn’t enough stall force to fully utilize it. The device easily stalled.

But that is not the case with this new Opove device. They did their homework and made sure this device wouldn’t be easy to stall. The advertised stall force is 50lbs. We were thinking, wow! To be honest, it’s hard to understand why brands feel the need to overstate the stall force for their devices. You can easily tell the difference if you have been using massage guns long enough.

In this case, by comparison with our benchmark devices, we can say that the Apex can withstand up to about 45lbs. of pressure at the highest speed. However, that’s not to say it’s a bad thing. There are only 3 speeds on this thing. That means, even at lower speeds, the stall force is still high. 

We also like how smooth the motor feels – one of the best we’ve seen so far. With other devices, when too much pressure is exerted, the device completely stops and has to be reactivated again.

Here, the device only slows down when you exert too much pressure and continues to rev when the pressure is eased. This is cool since you don’t have to press buttons to restart it. It also means the components used to make the motor are top-quality.

Does that mean it’s the strongest device we’ve ever seen? We’d say no. We still believe Theragun Pro, Achedaway Pro, Ekrin B37, and B37S are stronger.

However, it seems Opove has found a sweet spot for this new device’s performance.

• It performs just well enough, even for professional athletes. 
• Taking the high amplitude into account, we can actually consider this gun as one of the strongest massage guns.
• For its price point, it’s definitely one of the strongest guns out there.
• For comparison’s sake, we’d say it has a better stall force than Theragun Elite and Hypervolt 2 Pro. 

TIP Feeling lost with all the terms here? Check out our glossary page.

Percussions and Speeds

The advertised percussions per minute is 2700RPM. Pretty standard for a device of this caliber – nothing really surprising.

The only surprising bit perhaps, is the fact that there are only 3 speeds. We have seen that before, but we wouldn’t call it typical. Most devices in this category have at least 5 speeds – we like that setup more just because you have more options.

Either way, we were able to verify (with our laser tachometer) that it’s actually not 2700 but 2300 revolutions, or percussions, per minute.

Does the 400 rpm difference matter here? Not really, if you consider that the top-shelf Theragun Pro revs up to 2400 – so very comparable.

Another thing, Opove doesn’t list the full percussion range anywhere, but we’ve made some tests and here are the results:

• Speed 1: 1800 rpm
• Speed 2: 2050 rpm
• Speed 3: 2300 rpm

After using the device for about a month, we can say we’re starting to get used to the setup. Interestingly though, the 2^nd and 3^rd speeds feel pretty similar, in our opinion.

Just a summary of what we think about percussions and speeds;

• Max RPM in mid and upper 2000s is expected for a device with a high amplitude because sometimes, the higher the amplitude, the lower the number of percussions per minute. Theraguns only rev up to 2400RPM because of the long 16mm amplitude. 
• Opove Apex advertises 2700RPM but it is closer to about 2300. That is still enough, but less than more expensive competitors – Achedaway Pro (2800RPM with 16mm amplitude) or Hypervolt 2 Pro (2700 with 14mm).
• We think 2300RPM is still well enough for this kind of device because the intensity comes from the deep punches and not high-frequency vibrations like the smaller devices (lower amplitude). 

That said, if you’re looking for a maximum intensity (high amplitude + high percussions) then you can check out Achedaway Pro – listed below as one of the alternatives. It will cost more, though.

NOTE: Don’t bother about the information on the packaging that says 3200RPM. Opove probably made a mistake.

Noise

One thing you should know when it comes to noise is that devices with high amplitude tend to be noisier than those with a lower amplitude. That’s because of the rattling around the area where the attachment is mounted. Powerful motors also tend to be noisy.

However, over the last year or so, brands have worked on this. Devices are better insulated, and the motors are quieter. Opove didn’t miss out on the positive direction.

Given the longer stroke length, the APEX is better hushed than we thought it would be. Expect around 60 dB on the highest gear and low 50s dB on the first gear.

Even so, the sound is smoother than what you get with devices like Theragun. It’s still not the quietest massage gun around – Achedaway Pro still ranks higher even with 1.5mm more in amplitude.

Overall, this device doesn’t make much noise, and the sound it makes isn’t rough. Opove took it upon themselves to make a high-quality device. It also doesn’t make any excessive rattling sounds. There are vibrations transferred to the hand, but minor – nothing anyone can’t handle.

Battery

The battery is a 2500mAh capacity which is pretty standard for a device like this. We didn’t have any issues when using it. In fact, we have been using it for almost a month and have only had to charge it once. Up to 3 weeks of daily use.

Unfortunately, it’s not a USB-C charger that we like. It’s a wall charger. It is rather bulky, almost similar to a laptop charger. Surprisingly though, it’s not as heavy as you’d imagine, given the size. But that shouldn’t be a huge issue if you consider that you only need to charge it once every 2-3 weeks.

The battery indicator is located underneath the handle next to the power switch.

You can monitor the charge from there with LEDs:

• 3 blue LEDs
• The LEDs flash when the battery is nearly empty.

Price and Where to Buy

The Opove Apex retails for $199, which we think is a very good price point for what the device offers. Even better, currently if you buy directly from opove.com, you can enjoy a special introductory price – only $159. At $159, we think it is a steal.

Besides, we think it’s always recommended to buy directly from the manufacturer’s website and keep direct contact.

You can also buy it from Amazon. Just keep in mind that most reviews and comments belong to the now unavailable Opove M3 and not this new device. It looks like they swapped the product into an existing Amazon listing.

You get a 1-year warranty which we believe is quite low given how high-quality this device feels. Rivals like Achedaway Pro offer at least 2 years of cover or more. However, they cost more – it’s probably a trade-off.

Apex Best Alternatives

Ekrin B37

We’ve loved this device and how it still offers strong competition to new devices on the market.

Compared to APEX, it has the same angled handle – different approaches but achieves the same thing. The angle on the B37 isn’t as tilted as the one on APEX. 

In terms of performance, the Ekrin B37 edges the APEX slightly in a stall force. Instead of just about 40lbs, the B37 has 50lbs.

However, the B37 has a 12mm amplitude compared to APEX’s 14.5mm.

The percussions per minute also vary. Instead of 2700RPM, the B37 has 3200RPM. You get more vibrations because of the lower amplitude.

The B37 has a 5-speed setup, and you can see why – there are more percussions to accommodate them. It’s perhaps just a matter of preference than anything else. None has an advantage over the other.

The quality of both devices is top-notch – premium feel for both.

If you want to buy the B37, you will have to part with $183.99 after applying the MGA20 coupon (gives you a 20% discount). Buy Ekrin B37 here. Ekrin offers a lifetime warranty.

MORE READ Check out more in our hands-on Ekrin B37 review.

Achedaway Pro

Achedaway Pro offers a stronger alternative to the Opove APEX – it’s like a big brother to this model for those with a higher budget.

With Achedaway Pro, you have a lot more room in terms of performance.

For amplitude, instead of 14.5mm (still respectable), you get 16mm of deeper punches. It also has more stall force. Like Theragun Pro, you can expect between 55-60lbs. of stall force. 

But Achedaway Pro is bulkier and bigger than the Opove APEX, and weighs 2.3lbs or 2.8lbs with the flat attachment mounted on. It’s probably best suited for athletes and bodybuilders.

It has a wider percussion range than the Apex, and the maximum percussions per minute are almost 2800RPM, about 500 more than the Apex. It has a 5-speed setup to balance that wider percussion range.

With Achedaway Pro, you get 4 attachments (two are aluminum-coated). It also comes with a removable battery and a better warranty of up to 2 years.

For the price, you will have to pay $239 after applying the MGA60 coupon that gives you a $60 discount. It’s slightly more expensive ($80 more) than the APEX but also more robust. Buy it right here.

MORE READ Learn more in our in-depth Achedaway Pro review.

Review Conclusion

Before we end our Opove APEX review, we’ll just mention a few things here.

• This is a very decent device and we love it – we’re fans now. It has quality even though it has a simple build.
• Opove still remains the affordable alternative even though this is a high amplitude gun.
• Collectively, this gun is strong enough to serve pro athletes – it can definitely go deep tissue.
• It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles like pressure sensors, OLEDs, Bluetooth, or dynamic modes, but it still offers decent performance that can rival top guns out there.
• The ergonomics are what make this device a winner.

Lastly, if you like our Opove Apex review and decide to get this gun, please consider using this affiliate link. It will cost you nothing extra, but we may earn a small commission from Opove which we can use to buy more devices and do more reviews like this one. Thanks!

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