Outside of the smith machine creating greater tension for aiding in building muscle, the smith machine has a lot of pros to it. Another reason I love using it is for hip thrusts.
The smith machine can also promote good form. If you struggle with barbell squats, you can rotate in the smith machine to help build some strength.
The weight on the smith machine is also automatically stable due to the barbell being secured to 2 metal poles.
Another movement that is great to try is a split squat or a reverse lunge on the smith machine.
It can be a perfect piece of equipment for beginners or advanced lifters – it just depends on how you use it and for what movements.