C4 Pre Workout Review Vs. MRI Black Powder: Which Product Is Better?

Cellucor C4 claims their original formula is America’s number 1 selling pre-workout.  If so, why is that, and how does MRI Black Powder compare to it?  In case you’re not already familiar with MRI and the Black Powder pre-workout you can read all them HERE.  In this C4 Pre Workout Review, you determine which supplement is best. To help decide which product will help you get the most out of your workouts below is a breakdown of each one comparing ingredients, cost, flavor, and more.

C4 Pre Workout Review vs MRI Black Powder: Supplement Fact Comparison

MRI BLACK POWDER SUPPLEMENT FACTS

mri black powder pre workout

CELLUCOR C4 ORIGINAL SUPPLEMENT FACTS

c4 pre workout review

In order to understand the value that pre-workout is providing it’s important to compare the key ingredients in a one scoop serving:

Carnosyn Beta-Alanine

It’s the ingredient that makes your body feel tingly all over but most importantly provides a buffer between muscle fatigue so that you can workout longer.

Cellucor C4 Original: 1.6 g

Mri Black Powder: 2.0 g

While I do like the buffer beta-alanine provides to muscle exhaustion I am one who can do without the tingling side effect that are produced in servings that begin to go above 2 grams.

Creatine

Creatine is found naturally in muscle cells. It’s useful because it provides your muscles with energy for heavy lifting and intense exercise.  Both supplements offer this, however, the amounts and variations of this ingredient are worth taking note of.

Cellucor C4 Original:

Creatine Nitrate: 1.0 g  This is a newer form of creatine that studies show have a higher absorption rate than Creatine Monohydrate.  Because it absorbs so much faster the serving size can be smaller.  Also, the nitrate converts nitric oxide which will help improve blood flow, or “pump”.  However, Creatine Monohydrate already absorbs at a rate of 98%, leaving only 2% of room for improvement.

The only major difference is that creatine monohydrate requires around 5g per dose and creatine nitrate requires around half, 2.5g per dose in order to provide the body with any significant results.

Along with the dosage of creatine nitrate, C4 includes another nitric oxide inducing ingredient, Arginine-AKG, even though the serving amount is a little skimpy.

I love pump products!  However, if I’m buying a supplement to increase blood flow and muscle pump, I want it to include the right ingredients.  MRI has a nitric oxide pump product called, NO2 Black.  You can read about it, HERE.

Mri Black Powder:

Creatine Monohydrate:  4.0 g
Creatine MagnaPOWER: 1.5 g
Betaine Anhydrous:  1.0 g

It’s amazing to me that MRI black powder basically provides a full serving size of creatine monohydrate included in their pre-workout. 4.0 grams in one serving is a generous amount for a pre-workout. Especially, when paired with the other ingredients in the muscle feed matrix, CarnoSyn, Creatine MagnaPOWER, and Betaine Anhydrous.

Caffeine Anhydrous

What is a pre-workout without caffeine? Caffeine can provide a jolt of energy, enhance alertness, and improve focus.

Cellucor C4 Original: 150 mg

Mri Black Powder: 100 mg

I prefer caffeine amounts to be low in my pre-workout.  I like that both of these are in comparison to other pre-workouts that overload with this ingredient.  Furthermore, the advantage of keeping the caffeine amounts low creates an opportunity for other quality stimulant ingredients.  Unfortunately, Cellucor chose to use a proprietary blend and only disclose the amount of caffeine in the “Explosive Energy Blend”.

Again, I think MRI takes the edge by including some other caffeine types like Dicaffeine Malate and Caffeine Citrate.  Not to mention, Black Powder includes an entire matrix of ingredients dedicated to Focus like L-Tyrosine.  It’s is a powerful ingredient and generous of MRI to provide 750 mg per serving within it’s focus matrix.  Also, this ingredient will help keep your mind and body locked on the workout and results you desire.

This is the end of the road for Cellucor C4 Original…  However, MRI Black Powder is just getting started.

More Key Ingredients In Black Powder Pre Workout:

L-Taurine: 1.0 g

Agmatine Sulfate: 0.5 g

These two ingredients work together to help improve stamina for longer, more intense training.

elevATP: 75 mg

This is another thoughtful ingredient apart of the black powder energy matrix. At 75 mg per serving, in coordination with the other caffeine ingredients, it rounds out to 225 mg per one scoop. In my opinion, this is a good amount of stimulants in a pre-workout. It’s enough to provide a good burst of energy but keep you from the crash and headaches.

Choline Bitartrate: 1.0 g 

AlphaSize: 150 mg

Dynamine: 156 mg

Theanine: 150 mg

In addition to L-Tyrosine these additional ingredients rapidly absorb to engage your mind by enhancing your focus.

C4 Pre Workout Review Vs MRI Black Powder Flavor Comparison

Black Powder comes in three flavors:  Cocoberry Boom (strawberry and coconut), Gun Powder (Fruit Punch), and Cherry Bomb (Cherry).

I have had the cocoberry boom and it’s delicious!  

C4 Original has a bunch of flavors like fruit punch, icy blue razz, watermelon, pink lemonade, and more.

C4’s flavors are typically on point and enjoyable to drink.

C4 Pre Workout Review Vs MRI BLack Powder Price Comparison

MRI Black Powder is $54.99 for 60 servings per container.

Black Powder price per serving: $0.92

Cellucor C4 Original is $29.99 for 30 servings per container.  They also have a 60 serving container, however the price increases to $49.99.

C4 Original price per serving $1.00 (30 serving container) and $0.83 per serving (60 serving container).

C4 Pre Workout Review vs MRI Black Powder:  Which One Is Better?

I prefer to always buy supplements that provide full disclosure of their ingredients and do not use proprietary blends.  Thankfully, MRI provides this.  Unfortunately, Cellucor does not in the energy blend aspect of their product.

MRI, in my opinion, opted to make a pure pre-workout, focusing on ingredients that provide duration, power, focus, and energy.  They’ve opted to leave out pump related ingredients in this formula but pack them in their popular product, NO2 Black.  You can read my review about it HERE.

In my opinion, C4 Orginal took the world by storm back in the day with great flavor and the jitters created by Beta-Alanine.  It’s a pretty basic pre-workout without much to stand on.  Although it does include some basic necessities, even choosing to provide a couple of pump promoting ingredients, however not enough to tip the scale toward being a true pump inducing pre-workout.

For me, MRI Black Powder is the clear winner in this pre-workout showdown.  

Click HERE To Buy MRI BLACK POWDER Now!

cellucor c4 pre workout review

I appreciate the thoughtfulness and quality of ingredients MRI chose to use in their new pre-workout.  The price is competitive, the flavors are great and most importantly it delivers on results.

MRI Black Powder BUY NOW

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