The verdict: G3 for value, G12 V2 for heavy cables, G15 for lighter options
The Force USA G3 V2 is the sensible starting point if you already own Olympic plates and want cables, a Smith bar and free-bar supports together. You save on the frame by accepting plate changes on the cable system. Buy the G12 V2 instead when heavy single-handle rows and pulls matter more than small load changes: its UK specification gives each 100 kg stack a 1:1 outlet. The UK G15 has larger 130 kg stacks, but its 2:1 setting delivers a nominal 65 kg per handle; at 4:1 that falls to 32.5 kg. A larger stack does not make it the heavier cable machine.
Our preference for a mixed-strength household is the G15's choice of ratios, provided the lighter settings will be used often enough to justify the price. For one lifter doing heavy cable work, the G12 V2 is the better-directed spend. Neither is a good purchase merely because it has more stations than a standalone trainer. If you do not want a Smith bar, compare REP's Arcadia Max; if you already have a compatible REP rack and want dedicated cable pulldown and row stations, compare Ares 2.0 rather than replacing the rack.
The main comparison below uses the UK F-G3-V2, F-G12-V2 and F-G15-1 listings. The US and Australian buying differences have their own section. A US G15 Pro test does not establish that every regional G15 has identical components.
Compare the cable outlet, not the combined stack weight
The G12 V2 is the strongest choice here for a demanding single cable. Example: someone whose intended one-arm cable exercise requires a nominal 75 kg outlet has enough listed capacity on the G12 V2, but not on one G15 cable at either ratio. That does not establish what weight the person should lift, and it is not a measured comparison with a commercial gym's stack.
The G15's advantage is the opposite end of the range. For the same movement of its selector stack, 4:1 produces half the nominal handle load of 2:1. That makes a given stack step smaller at the hand, at the cost of halving the ceiling. Do not treat a 4:1 setting as an extra-heavy mode. The G3 also uses 2:1, so plates loaded and resistance at the hand must be kept separate. Buying more discs is part of its cable budget, not just its Smith budget.
| Model | Loading and outlet ratio | Nominal resistance | Best reason to choose it |
|---|---|---|---|
| G3 V2 / F-G3-V2 | Plate-loaded; 2:1 | 100 kg loaded corresponds to 50 kg at an outlet | Reuse plates; lower initial machine cost |
| G12 V2 / F-G12-V2 | Two 100 kg selector stacks; 1:1 | Up to 100 kg per side by stated ratio | Higher single-outlet loading |
| G15 / F-G15-1 | Two 130 kg selector stacks; 2:1 or 4:1 | 65 kg per side at 2:1; 32.5 kg at 4:1 | Lighter effective settings from the same stacks |
What the G3 saves you, and what it makes you do
The UK G3 V2 lists 21 cable-slider positions and 2.5 m cable extension. It includes the pair of cable handles, long and short bars, rope, A-bar row handle, J-hooks, front safeties and landmine core trainer. The low-row footplate, lat seat and vertical leg-press plate are separate choices. The £340 G3 V2/G4 upgrade kit groups a lat seat and bar with the row footplate and close-grip triangle; buying the complete kit makes more sense than paying separately for overlapping pieces you will actually use.
Plate loading suits sessions where you leave a load in place for several sets. It is less attractive when two people alternate markedly different cable loads or when you move repeatedly between light raises and heavier pulls. Each change means moving actual plates rather than moving a selector pin. You must also leave access to the cable-loading sleeves; storing the machine tightly between cupboards defeats part of the price saving.
Choose the G3 as a permanent gym anchor, not portable furniture. Its included plate holders and attachment hooks reduce the need for another storage rack, but the plates still need a clear loading route. Skip the aluminium pulley upgrade at the outset unless you have a specific reason to buy it: it does not add selector stacks, another station or a higher cable ratio.
G12 V2 versus G15: two different reasons to pay for stacks
The G12 V2 gives you pin-selected cables while retaining plate-loaded Smith and free-bar work. Its UK box list includes the low-row footplate, knee stabilizer, leg-press footplate, dip handles, lat bar and dual-cable connector. Those inclusions matter when a cheaper machine needs several add-ons to perform your intended back and leg work.
The G15 includes its low-row footplate and lat-pulldown knee anchor, but the leg-press footplate belongs to the optional upgrade kit. Do not assume that the more expensive G15 includes everything supplied with the G12 V2. The G15 kit also adds jammer arms, a core trainer, cable handles, ankle strap, storage shelves and a TV mount. Buy it because of those pieces, not because the base machine looks incomplete without a television.
Both UK listings describe counterbalanced Smith bars as weightless. That is a manufacturer description of the starting mechanism, not a promise of zero friction or zero force at the hands. Selector stacks power the cable stations; plates still load the Smith bar. Paying for the G15 does not remove that plate-changing job. If avoiding Smith plate changes is the whole point of your upgrade, this family is answering the wrong question.
Which exercises come ready, and which need another purchase?
The most useful distinction is between a handle you already have and a station you still have to buy. All three cover adjustable cable work, but a supported seated pull, a guided-bar press and a free-bar press impose different accessory and bench requirements. A leg-press plate also does not create a seated leg-extension or leg-curl station.
For a buyer concentrating on cable flies, pressdowns, free-bar work and Smith pressing, the G3's smaller box list can be sufficient. For repeated pulldown and braced row work, price its back-training additions before comparing it with the G12 V2. For leg isolation, the separate G-series leg-extension/curl attachment is an additional purchase, not an included benefit of the headline station count.
| Exercise or station | G3 V2 | G12 V2 | G15 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two-handle cable flies / pressdowns | Handles and rope supplied; load plates | Handles and rope supplied; selector stacks | Handles and rope supplied; selector stacks |
| Braced low cable row | Row handle supplied; footplate extra | Low-row footplate supplied | Low-row footplate supplied |
| Pulldown with thigh restraint | Lat seat / back-training kit extra | Knee stabilizer supplied | Knee anchor supplied |
| Smith bench press | Add bench and plates | Add bench and plates | Add bench and plates |
| Free-bar squat / bench | J-hooks and front safeties supplied; add bar/plates/bench as needed | Same buying requirements | Same buying requirements |
| Vertical leg-press attachment | Optional plate | Plate supplied | Plate in optional upgrade kit |
| Leg extension / curl | Separate attachment | Separate attachment | Separate attachment |
Room fit: the half rack and the bench occupy more than the frame
The UK G3 V2 exterior is listed as 192 cm wide at the Smith bar, 154 cm deep and 220 cm high. The G12 V2 is 191 cm wide, 143 cm deep and 224 cm high. The G15 is 192 cm wide, 160 cm deep and 222 cm high. These are assembled dimensions, not complete exercise envelopes. The deeper G15 does not automatically provide more useful room for your particular bench than either alternative.
Plan three positions on the floor: the bench in its pressing position, the same bench parked clear of cable work, and the lifter in front of the uprights. Keep the plate-loading sides accessible in all three positions. Store spare handles on their hooks, not where the bench wheels or the lifter's feet need to pass. A wall immediately behind the frame may also complicate installation or servicing even when the assembled outline fits.
Free-bar work uses the front J-hooks and spotter arms. That is a half-rack arrangement, not lifting inside an enclosed four-upright power rack. The catches have to be positioned for the lift; their presence does not make any failed repetition safe. The G12 V2 manual also flags counterbalance insertion during assembly: the assembly route can need overhead space that the finished machine does not. Resolve that sequence before standing the frame under a low ceiling.
A squat-to-press-to-row changeover you can plan around
Begin with the bench parked outside the free-bar working area and the bar on the front J-hooks. Once free-bar work is finished, unload and store that bar before bringing the bench into the frame for Smith pressing. This avoids leaving an unused loaded free bar across the route you need for the next station. Set the Smith stops for the pressing position; the free-bar spotter arms are not the Smith stops.
After the Smith work, return the bar to its locked storage position and park the bench for the row setup. Clear any front attachments that obstruct the selected pulley position. Fit the row handle and footplate appropriate to the model. On the G3, load the cable sleeves; on the G12 V2 or G15, select the required stack load. Return the handle and let the mechanism come to rest before changing settings or attachments.
For a second user, record pulley height as well as load. A pin change alone does not reproduce the previous person's setup. Alternating between these stations is a more realistic household plan than assuming someone can squat while another person moves the shared bench and cables around them. This sequence describes the jobs to allow room for; it is not a timed workout or an instruction to fit an unapproved accessory.
UK equipment costs: an owner and a buyer starting from nothing
The listed base prices are £1,865 for the G3 V2, £3,995 for the G12 V2 and £4,895 for the G15. The G3 V2 and G12 V2 pages show in stock. The G15 page is a pre-sale with an approximate 28 December 2026 shipping date. That makes the G12 V2 the more practical selector-stack choice for a buyer who needs a machine sooner; do not order a G15 on the assumption that an Add to Cart button means immediate dispatch.
The example below covers Smith and free-bar pressing plus a braced low row. The owner already has a compatible bench, Olympic bar and sufficient approved plates. The new buyer adds the separately listed F-SP3 adjustable bench at £295, BO20 Olympic 2.2 m bar at £175 and RP60 plate set at £295. Machine and assembly prices come from each model's page; the bench, bar and plates are priced separately. All three machines include storage for plates and accessories; no standalone storage rack has been added. The SP3 is rated for 200 kg including the user. Choose a higher-rated bench and reprice the example if your combined bodyweight and lifted load would exceed that limit.
The totals include the listed £495 onsite assembly option, but they are not all-in room-delivery quotes. The retailer distinguishes kerbside delivery from assembly after delivery and reserves extra charges for restricted access or additional handling. A 60 kg plate set is a starting equipment allowance, not enough to reach every machine's maximum. The G3 will also divide available plates between cable and Smith/free-bar work during changes. Buy more loading only when your exercises need it.
| Line item | G3 V2 | G12 V2 | G15 pre-sale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Machine | £1,865 | £3,995 | £4,895 |
| Low-row footplate | £119 extra | Included | Included |
| Onsite assembly option | £495 | £495 | £495 |
| Owner subtotal: bench/bar/plates already owned | £2,479 | £4,490 | £5,390 |
| New buyer: SP3 bench | £295 | £295 | £295 |
| New buyer: Olympic 2.2 m bar | £175 | £175 | £175 |
| New buyer: 60 kg plate set | £295 | £295 | £295 |
| New-buyer subtotal | £3,244 | £5,255 | £6,155 |
US and Australia: do not import the UK package unchanged
The US G3 page lists $1,999, 2:1 cables and a 35 lb Smith bar. Its exterior is listed as 78 inches wide, 60.5 inches deep and 87 inches high. Use those US specifications rather than assuming the UK centimetre figures describe the exact same unit. A counterbalanced G12 or G15 is a different starting-load proposition from that US G3 bar.
The US G15 page describes two 289 lb stacks and both ratios, but also labels the machine retail exclusive and temporarily out of stock. A local retailer's actual package is the relevant offer. The Australian Gym and Fitness G15 listing shows A$5,299; that is a local listing value, not the UK package translated into dollars. Neither price includes a demonstrated, complete basket delivered into your gym room.
Keep the purchase decision local: compare the exact supplied accessories and the seller handling parts. The UK G15's future shipping date is not an Australian restock estimate, and a US seller's included attachments or service terms do not travel with the family name.
The drawbacks worth taking seriously before spending more
The G3 asks you to trade convenience for cost. If constant cable plate changes are the reason you dislike your current gym, buying the cheaper machine preserves that irritation. The G12 V2 asks you to trade the G15's lighter effective settings for a heavier single outlet. The G15 asks you to pay more while accepting a lower nominal maximum at each cable and, in the inspected UK offer, a wait for stock.
There is also a limit to what a specification sheet tells you about the supplied accessories. In Garage Gym Reviews' US G15 Pro test, Coop Mitchell criticised the Smith bar's passive knurling and wanted better components and accessories for the price. That is a reason to inspect the exact local bar and handles before paying for the top model, not proof that the UK F-G15-1 or Australian machine has the same finish. The selectable ratios are a concrete benefit; a higher price alone is not evidence of a better grip or quieter pulley.
Skip the whole family if you want a room you can reclaim after each session. These machines consolidate equipment rather than make it disappear. Skip the G15 upgrade kit if shelves and a TV mount are doing most of the persuading. Spend on the base loading and stations you will actually use before adding another set of arms.
What to buy instead, and the final choice
Choose REP Arcadia Max when the job is a standalone dual-cable station and you do not need a Smith or free-bar rack. It is a genuine alternative to buying unused functions, not a cheaper all-in-one with identical coverage. Choose Ares 2.0 when you already have a supported REP PR-4000 or PR-5000 configuration and want to preserve that rack while adding cables, a pulldown and a row. An Ares attachment without the rack is not a competing complete-gym price.
Within Force USA, buy the G3 V2 for the lower-cost route with owned plates, the G12 V2 for the higher nominal single-cable ceiling and included back/leg-press hardware, or the G15 for repeated light-load work where ratio choice earns its price. If you cannot name the exercise that makes the dearer model useful, keep the cheaper one on the shortlist. The G12 V2 is our strongest cable-focused choice here; the G3 is our value choice for a plate owner; the G15 is the conditional household choice, not a universal winner.