JOOLA Inside 25 Review — Best Table Under $650

Last Updated on April 24, 2024 by Alex Horscroft

As the best-selling table tennis table on Amazon, it should come as no surprise that the JOOLA Inside 25 is pretty incredible.

It has all the features you need for a high-level table, and at an unbeatable price. In this JOOLA Inside 25 review, I’ll take a deep dive into what separates this model from the rest of the competition.

Table Top

★★★★★

Frame

★★★★★

Value

★★★★★

JOOLA Inside 25 Specifications

Dimensions: Full-size
Table top: 25mm
Indoor/outdoor: Indoor
Type: Two-piece
Leg levelers: Yes
Weight: 239lbs
Warranty: 1-year

Super 25mm Thick Playing Surface

Without a doubt, one of the strongest qualities going for the JOOLA Inside 25 is its 25mm thick playing surface. To put it into perspective, this is the same thickness as professionals use for their tables, so it’s really top-of-the-line!

There are only a select few tables around that are thicker at 30mm, but you likely won’t notice much of a difference between the two. On the other hand, 25mm thick tables are noticeably superior to the other common table thicknesses of 18mm and 15mm.

Put it this way, whenever I play at my local club, we are all fighting to use the 25mm thick tables. They are just so much more enjoyable to play on when you become skilled at the game.

Robust Frame

Given this JOOLA indoor ping pong table has a thick 25mm surface, the frame has to be thick enough to provide adequate support, which it is. Unfortunately, though, there does seem to be some conflicting information relating to certain aspects of the table.

To begin with, the apron size differs depending on where you look. On Amazon, it is clearly listed as 2”. However, on JOOLA’s official USA website it’s instead cited as 1.5”. While this is not a massive difference, it’s just a bit of a sloppy error.

It’s a similar story with the legs. Amazon states they are 2” whereas JOOLA’s website once again says they are 1.5”.

I also noticed the weight differs a bit as well. Amazon cites the Inside 25 as weighing 239lbs. However, JOOLA’s website instead claims 284lbs. That’s a pretty big difference for an already very heavy table.

My guess is that the heavier and thinner specs referenced by JOOLA’s website are for an older version of the table. However, I have no way of confirming this — it’s just a hunch. Fortunately, these discrepancies are not too big of an issue as even with a 1.5” apron and 1.5” legs the frame is plenty strong.

Compact Design With 4” Wheels

As a 2-piece model, the JOOLA Inside ping pong table is highly compact and straightforward to maneuver with its 4” wheels. You have two options when wheeling the table around. You can either separate the two table halves and wheel them around independently. This method gives you a lighter load.

Or my preferred option is to erect both halves of the table and slot them into one another. They nest together very compactly, and this means you can easily move both at the same time which means the table is quicker to put away.

Thanks to the nested design, the JOOLA Inside 25 measures just 62” x 22” x 67” when stored. Very few other tables will be able to beat this. You’ll likely have to go for an ultra-compact model like the Butterfly Compact 19 if you want something more condensed.

Another benefit of the design of the JOOLA Inside is the solo playback mode. This allows you to open up just one side of the table while leaving the other half locked upright. By placing the upright half next to the opposing side which is open, you can play by yourself when you don’t have anyone to practice with.

This is a neat little feature that is great for beginners. However, I should note that if you’re half decent you probably won’t use this feature at all as it doesn’t help you to improve all that much. You’re better off getting a table tennis robot if you find yourself often lacking a training buddy.

Quick Assembly

Like many home table tennis tables, the JOOLA Inside has a very short setup time. We are talking around 10-20 minutes. As such, you don’t have to faff around with building the table for hours like you would have to for some of the premium options.

The only step to building the table once it arrives is attaching the legs and you’re good to go. In total, you’ve got 8 bolts to attach — I’m sure you can handle that. Here’s the manual if you’re curious.

Once the table is all built it’s simply a matter of attaching the included net. Before I forget, that’s another quality of this table that’s great. The net isn’t some crappy model that they’ve included to increase profit margins. It’s a JOOLA-made net with height and tension adjustment — the kind used for competitive play.

Safety

Opening and closing the table is safe as the Inside 25mm uses JOOLA’s dual-lock system. Previously, I believe the Inside 25 used a single lock as the other Inside models do.

Both of these locks are located on the underside of the middle sections of the table. I would have preferred that JOOLA use one lock and one lever like many other tables provide (this allows you to tilt the table open slightly after opening the first lock to prevent the lock from closing again). However, it is not much of an issue.

You might just find it a little awkward to open both locks while holding the top of the table to prevent it from falling. You kind of need three arms to simultaneously open both locks while holding the top of the table. It is for this reason, I’d recommend getting your training partner to help with opening the table.

Unbeatable Price Tag

Finally, we come to price, and that’s where the JOOLA Inside 25 simply won’t be beaten. It’s a value monster.

The Inside 25 doesn’t have any extra gimmicks like fancy bat and ball holders or sophisticated one-handed opening technology. Rather, it focuses on the essentials and gets them right, allowing the table to be sold at a very low price.

As it stands, the JOOLA Inside 25 is the reliably cheapest 25mm table on the market.

The only other table that comes close, funnily enough, is another table by JOOLA — the Rally TL 700. In fact, as it stands, the Rally TL 700 is a little cheaper. However, this is only down to a temporary sale.

The prices of these two tables tend to fluctuate quite a bit, the Rally TL 700 especially. But looking at the average price, the Inside 25mm is usually around $80 cheaper. But by all means, if you’re ready to buy, I recommend checking. Both tables are near-identical so I would purchase whichever is cheapest and pocket the difference.

About JOOLA

JOOLA is a giant of the table tennis world, and not just when it comes to table tennis tables. They also produce exceptional rubbers, blades, and other equipment.

Having produced their first table tennis table way back in 1952 they have mountains of experience and have sponsored numerous Olympics events. Not too long ago in 2020, they redesigned their logo to represent their core values. These are the three i’s: inclusion, innovation, and inspiration.

A Look at the Other JOOLA Inside Tables

If you’ve done any research for the JOOLA Inside you likely already know that it comes in several different versions: you can pick it up with either a 13mm, 15mm, 18mm, or 25mm surface. The important thing to note is that the design of the table is the same for all versions, it’s just each successive model has upgrades such as a thicker play surface and undercarriage.

The question is… which is the right one for you?

Here is how I would answer that question.

If you’re a pauper and dying to play table tennis, go for the JOOLA Inside 13.

If you’re a very casual player with little skill or buying for your family, the JOOLA Inside 15 is a good choice.

If you’re a fairly keen player looking for the minimum recommended table the JOOLA Inside 18 is the one you want.

If you have a larger budget and want the best table tennis experience, the JOOLA Inside 25 is the table you should purchase.

For clarity’s sake, I’ve produced a table below highlighting some of the main differences between the JOOLA Inside range. Hopefully, it helps you out.

	Play Surface Thickness	Apron	Legs	Net	Weight
JOOLA Inside 13	13mm	20 x 10mm	25 x 25mm	Low-quality net	119lbs
JOOLA Inside 15	15mm	30 x 20mm	30 x 30mm	High-quality net	130lbs
JOOLA Inside 18	18mm	40 x 20mm	40 x 40mm	High-quality net	209lbs
JOOLA Inside 25	25mm	50 x 20mm	50 x 40mm	Top quality net	239lbs

Closing Thoughts

The JOOLA Inside 25 is an incredible table at an incredible price. While it’s always nice to play on higher-end models with more physical appeal, I for one, just can’t get past how damn expensive they are, and I’m sure you can’t too, hence how you ended up here.

Whether you’re an advanced player looking for a quality table, or even someone who is just getting started on their journey and want’s a future-proof model, the JOOLA Inside 25mm is a table that will not disappoint.

Similarly, if you’re really tight on funds, the likes of the JOOLA Inside 15mm table tennis table is a good choice. And if you’re an advanced player who wants the cheapest model possible, the JOOLA Inside 18 is a solid option.

Interested in checking out another high-quality JOOLA table tennis table? Read my review of the JOOLA Tour 2500.