Brand comparison
Tern vs Brompton
Tern scores 6.2 across 12 products; Brompton scores 5.1 across 4. They overlap in electric bikes. That is 100% of what Tern sells and 100% of what Brompton sells. Tern leads on motor, Brompton on weight.
All 12 Tern products
Tern
12 of 12 products scored · $2,999 – $7,999
Buy Now- Motor — 5.0 against 1.0
All 4 Brompton products
Brompton
4 of 4 products scored · $4,700 – $7,850
Buy Now- Weight — 9.5 against 6.0
Across everything we scored, Tern sits 1.11 ahead — led by motor.
Brand verdict
ahead · +1.11 (6.2 vs 5.1)
Pick Tern when
Motor matters most5.0vs1.0
Pick Brompton when
Weight matters most9.5vs6.0
Scored 30 October 2026 from published specs and owner reviews. We don't buy or test units. How we score
Most common complaints
Tern Orox R14 All-Terrain Electric Cargo Bike
Overall score 6.7- deep mud
- weight
Brompton Electric G Line 20-Inch Folding Electric Bike
Overall score 5.9- feel when assist cuts out
- connector came loose
- phone app
From owner reviews of each brand's top-scored product in Electric Bikes.
Usability Tern and Brompton, median scores 0 to 10
Median scores on a 0–10 scale.
MotorTern: 5 (higher)Brompton: 1
Tern top-scored: Orox R14 All-Terrain Electric Cargo Bike
- 85 Nm Bosch Performance Line CX mid-drive
Brompton top-scored: Electric G Line 20-Inch Folding Electric Bike
- 250 W rear hub, torque not published by Brompton (band)
- Torque: 30 Nm reported by BikeRadar and a retailer listing, not printed by Brompton, not scored
Ride HardwareTern: 6 (higher)Brompton: 2
Tern top-scored: Orox R14 All-Terrain Electric Cargo Bike
- 4-piston hydraulic discs, 203 mm rotors, rigid fork, torque sensor
Brompton top-scored: Electric G Line 20-Inch Folding Electric Bike
- hydraulic discs, torque sensor, puncture-resistant tires (four of seven)
- Rotors: 140 mm front and 160 mm rear
WeightTern: 6Brompton: 9.5 (higher)
Tern top-scored: Orox R14 All-Terrain Electric Cargo Bike
- 83.1 lb in size medium as listed by Tern
- Load: 463 lb gross on pavement, 397 lb off-road
Brompton top-scored: Electric G Line 20-Inch Folding Electric Bike
- 42.9 lb with the battery (34.6 lb without)
FeaturesTern: 5.5 (higher)Brompton: 4
Tern top-scored: Orox R14 All-Terrain Electric Cargo Bike
- removable battery, lights, colour display, GPS and alarm, rack and fenders
Brompton top-scored: Electric G Line 20-Inch Folding Electric Bike
- removable battery, lights, app-linked display, rack and fenders (four of eight)
- Sizes: small, medium and large at one price
Same score
BatteryTern: 2Brompton: 2
Tern top-scored: Orox R14 All-Terrain Electric Cargo Bike
- 800 Wh Bosch pack on the cargo ladder (Wh printed, V and Ah not)
- Option: dual-battery ready, 1,600 Wh with a second pack sold separately
- Range: 58-100 mi claimed on one pack
Brompton top-scored: Electric G Line 20-Inch Folding Electric Bike
- 345 Wh removable pack on the folding ladder
VerificationTern: 4Brompton: 4
Tern top-scored: Orox R14 All-Terrain Electric Cargo Bike
- Bosch ETL UL 2849 drive-system listing only; no record names the Orox R14 (27.5")
- Searched: Intertek Certipedia UL SGS TÜV SÜD CPSC Health Canada
- Record: Intertek ETL, ANSI/CAN/UL-2849 (Electrical Systems for eBikes), none: drive-system listing, does not name any Tern bike, ROBERT BOSCH LLC - Foothill Ranch, CA
Brompton top-scored: Electric G Line 20-Inch Folding Electric Bike
- UL 2849 claimed; only an ACT Lab sample test (50015.E10046) names it, no NRTL listing
- Searched: ACT Lab compliance directory (non-NRTL) Certipedia Intertek UL SGS TÜV SÜD CPSC Health Canada
- Record: ACT Lab compliance directory (non-NRTL), ANSI/CAN/UL 2849:2022 (sample test, e-Val certificate), Electric G Line - e-Motiq system; stock/model 'Electric G Line, Electric G Line - e-Motiq system', Brompton Bicycle
Warranty & SupportTern: 5Brompton: 5
Tern top-scored: Orox R14 All-Terrain Electric Cargo Bike
- two years from Bosch on battery and drive unit (Tern excludes Bosch parts)
- Frame: Tern frame, fork and handlepost five years, ten with Tern Care; other Tern parts one year
Brompton top-scored: Electric G Line 20-Inch Folding Electric Bike
- two years on the electrical parts, three after registration
- Frame: seven years with registration, not scored
Social score about Tern and Brompton
Independent sources pooled per brand. N of M = how many scored products carry the brand-level reading shown, out of all scored.
- RedditTern: 7 (higher)Brompton: 6
YouTubeTern: 7 (higher)Brompton: 6
Tern
Read the full summary
- ElectricBikeReview.com, which takes manufacturer testing fees, has video-reviewed several Tern cargo bikes and called the GSD S10 Gen 3 the best cargo e-bike it had tested (Dec 2025)
Brand rollup across scored products. 10 of 12 scored products carry this reading.
Brompton
Read the full summary
- Ebike Escape (affiliate discount links in the description, stated) called the earlier front-hub Electric C Line the best compact folding e-bike it had ridden (Dec 2024)
Brand rollup across scored products. 3 of 4 scored products carry this reading.
- GoogleTern: 8 (higher)Brompton: 7.5
Not enough data for either brand
- AmazonTern: not scoredBrompton: not scored
- Tern: not scoredBrompton: not scored
The scores above are our reading of the evidence below. This is the evidence.
Safety listings are recorded per product from the certifier's own directory, by model, not from the maker's wording. Most of the listings in this category can be checked in TÜV Rheinland's Certipedia.
Warranty terms
Tern
12 of 12
Brompton
4 of 4
Best Tern vs best Brompton, category by category
The three best-scoring products each brand sells in every category they both compete in, ranked by overall score.
Electric Bikes
See all Electric Bikes products
12th of 316 in E-Bikes
Strengths
- Rohloff hub and belt need little upkeep
- Large battery with room for a second
- Powerful four-piston brakes
- GPS tracking and alarm built in
Drawbacks
- Very heavy to lift
- Rigid fork passes bumps through
- Struggles on muddy trails
- Long frame is hard to store
75th of 316 in E-Bikes
Strengths
- Hydraulic discs stop with confidence
- Rides like a full-size bike
- Integrated lights rack and fenders fitted
- Wide tires handle gravel and potholes
Drawbacks
- Heavy to carry up stairs
- Bulky when folded next to 16-inch models
- Small battery for longer rides
- Wiring can snag when folding
17th of 316 in E-Bikes
Strengths
- GPS tracking and alarm built in
- Colour display that locks the bike
- Bright headlight and brake light
- Higher top speed for commuting
Drawbacks
- Older frame with a lower load rating
- Small rear brake rotor
- Heavy to carry up stairs
- No throttle for loaded starts
197th of 316 in E-Bikes
Strengths
- Folds small for trains and tight closets
- Battery lifts out to charge indoors
- Rack and fenders come fitted
- Smooth natural pedal assist
Drawbacks
- Rim brakes instead of discs
- Assist tops out below the usual US class speed
- Narrow tires feel harsh on broken pavement
- Expensive for a small battery
27th of 316 in E-Bikes
Strengths
- Strong motor for hills and loads
- Automatic shifting works well
- Higher top speed for longer commutes
- Light for a cargo bike
Drawbacks
- Front brake felt spongy in one test
- Slow on steep climbs in a timed test
- No GPS tracking on this trim
- Chain drive needs more upkeep than a belt
224th of 316 in E-Bikes
Strengths
- Light to lift for a folding e-bike
- Smooth natural pedal assist
- Folds small and rolls on its rack
- Battery lifts out to charge indoors
Drawbacks
- Rim brakes instead of discs
- Expensive next to the steel model
- Assist tops out below the usual US class speed
- Heavy to pedal with the power off
Tern vs Brompton: the numbers
Tern vs Brompton: common questions
Is Tern or Brompton better?
Tern 6.2 from 12 scored products; Brompton 5.1 from 4.
What is the biggest difference between Tern and Brompton?
Motor: Tern medians 5.0, Brompton medians 1.0 (Tern by 4.0).
Which is better for ride hardware, Tern or Brompton?
Tern on ride hardware — Tern 6.0, Brompton 2.0.
Which is better for weight, Tern or Brompton?
Brompton on weight — Tern 6.0, Brompton 9.5.
Which Tern and Brompton electric bikes should I buy?
Tern: Tern Orox R14 All-Terrain Electric Cargo Bike. Brompton: Brompton Electric G Line 20-Inch Folding Electric Bike.
How does Stuff VS Things score Tern and Brompton?
Our own product medians: 12 Tern and 4 Brompton. A criterion is compared only where both brands clear the floor.
Other comparisons
Scores calculated 30 October 2026 · Products excluded where fewer than two independent sources cover them · · How we score