I’ve reviewed over 50 desks in the last few years, and I have a pretty good feel for what not only makes for the best standing desks, but also what the standards are, what is consistent across brands, and what makes some stand out compared to others.

What I'm saying is, it’s not often that a desk’s differences stand out as easily as the Marinamantra Flow. Most noticeable is that the Flow allows you to use it while sitting on the floor, at standard sitting height, and while standing up. I can't think of many, if any, other desks that offer that right now (most I test are sitting or standing-only).

The Flow has been getting nearly daily use in my workspace for three months. In that time, I’ve used it for late-night working sessions, testing monitors, testing laptops, writing, coding, responding to emails, handling virtual meetings, building forts for my kids underneath, giving my children rides up and down the world's tamest rollercoaster, and more.

This is one of those desks that you want to use, one that you enjoy using, and almost feels fun every time you go to get started.

Marinamantra Flow: Price and availability

The Marinamantra Flow is retailing for $1049 on the Marinamantra Flow website.

At the time of review, you can choose between a white or black frame, with a desktop size of 26 x 58in.

Marinamantra Flow: Unboxing and First Impressions

Again, I’ve done a good number of these now, but this desk was unique. The assembly wasn’t overly hard, but due to the unique design, the scissor legs, and the felt-covered undercarriage, this desk had a way of stamping itself on my memory.

The closest thing I can compare it to is the Lilipad standing desk. But where the Lillipad retracts so low is because it's designed to be stowed away after use, the primary reason the Flow reaches those low heights is to enable floor-sitting.

Unboxing and setting up was different than all the other desks I have set up, but not difficult. I just felt like, for the first time in a long time, like I was having to pay attention to the instructions rather than relying on past desk building experience.

Marinamantra sent all the proper tools, though I still used my Hoto electric screwdriver when I could just to help speed up the screwdriver process a little bit. The legs came connected together, so I simply had to get them connected in the proper location on the underside of the desk and then latch them in place.

Once I got everything attached, I added in the felt undercarriage and cabling, and then we were ready to flip over and get to work.

Marinamantra Flow: Design & Build Quality

The felt cable tray is shockingly good. At first, I thought it was clunky and perhaps a gimmick. But once I got everything put together, I realized it was very helpful for keeping the built-in desk cables tucked away, leaving only what I add visible. If desired, and if I wanted to build out a more complex desk here, I could tuck more cables in that felt liner, though I’d want to take it off to make sure that I am not getting cables stuck in the tracks.

Speaking of cables, one thing this does right is that it has power through the leg. I’ve started to see desks do this now. The first one I noticed doing it was the Secretlab Magnus Pro. Since then, I’ve seen a few more taking that approach, helping with cable management, not having a cable dangling down from the top of the desk at whatever height it may be, all the way down to either outlet height or the floor. This seemingly small element really helps declutter the workspace.

I also like that there are two outlets on the desktop that run through the same power line that goes out of the base, plus the power for actually raising and lowering the desk, of course. Marinamantra chose to have one of those available outlets in the back of the desk, in the built-in cable tray, which is excellent, and another in the front, making it super easy for the user to power whatever they need.

At first, I wanted another outlet on the back of the desk, but after getting everything set up, I realized I wouldn’t even use it for my setup, and if I did need it, it's easy enough to add an additional power strip.

Marinamantra Flow: In use

I’ve had this desk on the second floor of my home for the last three months. I’ve used it for at least 5 days a week during that time, sometimes for many hours at a time.

Since assembling it, I’ve raised and lowered the desk an obnoxious number of times, I’ve used both power ports, I’ve run my forearm on the control panel and accidentally changed the height, and I’ve even caught my kids playing under the desk, treating it as a fort. So far, stability is solid, height adjustments are smooth, though there are some clicking sounds from the legs when adjusting, and the desk itself has held up well.

I’m 6’2”, so for me, having a desk that can reach my preferred standing height is not always possible. But the Marinamantra Flow can get my preferred height and drop all the way down to a great seated or floor-sitting height without any problem. It’s probably due to the scissor-leg style instead of the standard leg, but that comes with trade-offs as well.

I love how smooth it moves up and down, and the incredible range, dropping so low and also so high, but as a taller individual, having the legs cross right where my knees means I have to contort my legs around the scissor legs if I’m pulled all the way into the desk. The only spot I can kick my legs out is in the dead center, so using anything to rest my legs on would not work with this desk, nor would kicking my legs out with a chair that has a leg rest.

Speaking of the legs, another thing that I noticed, perhaps because I previously used the Lilipad desk, is that the caps on the legs are mediocre. I can tell that this is a first-generation desk from Marinamantra. However, with that being said, it’s a spectacular attempt at a new desk style in almost every way,

Back to the legs, the power inlay through the legs makes a bigger difference than I originally thought. I expected it to be helpful, but not a game-changer. But for this style desk, which, for me, has stayed relatively minimal and straightforward, I haven’t needed anything more than what has been given.

I have a simple, yet powerful setup. I have an Anker Prime Docking Station plugged into the power port on the back of the desk, with the dock sitting on the top left, plugged into that I have the power line that runs to my laptop, a USB-C desk lamp. I ran one to the right side where I plug in my iPad, hard drive, or iPhone, and that’s about it. I can plug in some other drives or accessories on the dock itself, but beyond that, I have intentionally kept it pretty clean and straightforward.

There's something about this desk that makes me want to keep it simple in the best way. The front power port has come in super handy for charging my chair (review coming soon), yes, you read that right, or for other miscellaneous things I need to charge or plug into power in this room.

Last but not least, I’ll talk a little bit about the control panel. It’s simple, it reminds me of Ergonofis, and it works pretty well. In fact, it may be a bit too sensitive. My wife bumped it a few times with her forearm while we wrapped presents on this desk, and it sprang into height-adjusting action.

Marinamantra Flow: Final verdict

The Flow is a fantastic first-generation standing desk from Marinamantra, and it gets the fundamentals right. It’s designed to be minimalist, though it could be built out for more if you wanted, and it’s got a few great features up its sleeve that other desk companies could learn from.

If you are looking for a desk that can drop down to the ground, and then back up to meet the height of even some of the tallest people around, it's worth checking out.

For more office furniture, check out our guide to the best office chairs we've tested.

At first glance, you could hardly call the Revon Elite by Dezctop the best standing desk I've reviewed. But don't let first impressions fool you.

Once you factor in the unique leg shape and the magnetic DivMag accessories, you get yourself a unique desk that holds its own. From there, the potential really starts to open up.

For instance, it could be uniquely positioned as a desk for co-working, giving the natural divide from one workspace to another with the DivMag accessory. It's well placed, fact, to help add a level of organization, order, and structure that I just don't see on many of today's standing desks.

Decztop Revon Elite: Price and availability

The Revon Elite ranges from $610 - 740 depending on the size and style you choose, available from the official Decztop website and Amazon.com.

There's a heavy focus on modularity here with the DivMag accessory kit. While the panels themselves are proprietary, the metal plates allow for any magnet to stick to it, so you don’t have to just buy their trays and cups, though Dezctop does have plenty of accessories available.

Decztop Revon Elite: Unboxing and First Impressions

The Revon Elite was a pretty simple install. It has two main boxes: one with the legs and basic accessories, and the other with the desktop itself. Each box has pretty good packaging, keeping things secure and safe in transit. Thankfully, I didn’t get any dents or scratches on my unit; it came in perfect condition. It was unique in the order of some of the leg and frame assembly, but not in a negative way, just interesting.

Another thing that I noticed right away is how easy it would be to swap out some parts to make for a more customized version if I wanted. The wooden plates in the legs are easily swappable if you want to make some custom combinations. Though, fun fact, I had to go digging to find these faceplates for the legs, as they were buried in the boxes since I wasn’t looking for them.

Overall, assembly took me about 45 minutes on my own. The process was about 70% similar to every other desk setup, with a few unique cases when attaching the frame to the desktop. But then again, unless you build desks regularly, this isn’t something anyone else would probably even notice as odd. There are easy-to-follow assembly instructions to help those who may not know how to build a desk.

There are some desks that, while building, I can tell feel a bit cheap. And of those who think cheaply, some are trying to be, and some are trying not to be, but either way, certain things are notable right away. With the Dezctop Revon Elite, I feel like these materials are more on par with standard furniture, not just a standing desk. Granted, this could be partly due to the leg shape and the pop in the paneling, but it could also just be the focus of the design.

The last thing I’ll mention in this section is the controller. I’ve seen controllers for a lot of desks, and this one is the most unique. It’s connected via a Network cable and has ports on either end, making it easy to move around and connect wherever needed. For me, I put it on the left side, tucked under the desktop, and on the leg frame.

After the pictures were taken, I also played around with having this controller above the desktop in a super unique setup that I have never been able to do with any other desk. This is only possible because the controller is not mounted but is simply magnetic, and there is a lot of metal in this desk setup. So you could, really easily, put this controller just about anywhere.

Decztop Revon Elite: Design & Build Quality

The unique frame engineering of the Revon Elite provides good front-to-back stability. And, although the leg design is quite prominent, the setup uses a simple C-shaped leg structure.

Another notable feature of this desk is, of course, the hybrid divider/cable management. They are definitely unique, but they can be incredibly useful depending on your use case. They can be used for the simple act of keeping your workspace clean in a bullpen or co-working space (queue flashbacks to that episode of The Office with Jim and Dwight fighting over having things spill over on each other’s desks).

Another way that this desk is helpful is if you just like the cable management below and then perhaps just like the look of the organization tools above, regardless of whether they split the space up or give you defined space, these magnetic panels above the desk can be used with magnetic drawers or hooks to keep an eye on things.

The build quality on this desk feels pretty good, too. It’s not the highest-quality material, but it’s also not meant to be. Not everyone wants a slab of solid walnut for their desktop for many reasons, price being a very prominent one.

However, for those who care about the desk functionality and not having the mast premium solid wide plank, custom real wood panels, this is great. The quality is solid enough to last you a while, all without costing you both kidneys.

Decztop Revon Elite: In use

Day to day, this desk has functioned surprisingly well. I was even able to temporarily use this as a storage desk during the holidays, when I had guests staying in my studio space. It easily held heavy boxes on top and then lift them away with ease.

Afterwards, I was able to get this set up and use it as a desk in my workstation. It’s great for laptop use while you still want some space. I could also see building out a more robust setup. You’d probably want to go with a monitor arm rather than a desk shelf, and once you get that set up, you can use the metallic panels to organize the desk with cups, shelves, pen holders, and more. It's not the only desk to offer this sort of wide-ranging accessories (Vari and Secretlab also offer a range of connected peripherals), but it's certainly one of the strongest uses.

At 6’2” I have a hard time getting all of my desks to reach my ideal height, but the Dezctop Revon Elite met the height I needed without any problems, allowing me to work at my ideal height while standing and sitting. Plus, with the controller’s presets, I can easily jump between my set height and standing at the press of a button rather than having to press and hold a button.

I’m a big fan of cable management. I take great pride in clean setups, even though my desk setups usually have an absurd number of cables, especially the ones I can build out with tons of gear, ready to roll for whatever I may send their way. The Dezctop Revon Elite’s cable management solution actually worked for my desk styling.

While I may not build my most robust setups on here, it can easily handle the average desk and even some pretty robust setups. Depending on how you space out the sections, you can make a pretty sizable tray for cables, bricks, adapters, or other things you have that run your desk, but that you don’t necessarily want showcased on top.

I’ve used this desk in a few ways for testing. I’ve had it work as a single laptop desk for testing some laptops, I’ve thrown a monitor with the standard monitor base on here, I’ve run with a monitor on a monitor arm clamped to the side of the desk, I have had a clear desk and used this just for some unboxing and I’ve had this as a desk that I stored some boxes on for a week as well. So far, this desk has not shown any concerns, no issues, and it’s worked great in all of those scenarios.

Decztop Revon Elite: Final verdict

The Dezctop Revon Elite is a not as well known sleeper desk. It's great for those who want a modular setup, a simple setup, or even a desk that can be flexible over the years or through your days.

Sure, it's not the standard slab of walnut for those who are on the hunt for an aesthetically pleasing desk setup, but, it is a fantastic desk that changes the game a little bit. The modular sections are brilliant and flexible to what you want, where you want it. In fact, if you don't like the metallic panel, you can even take that off to give you just cable management below.

If you like to change up your desk a lot, if you want something that's a little different than every other desk, or if you really like vertical organization and magnets, then you should absolutely check this desk out. It's unique, it's got great potential to grow the ecosystem, and it's a quality desk for a great price.

For more office furniture essentials, see our guide to the best office chairs we've tested.

The Vari CoreChair has genuinely surprised me. I thought that this would be a flash-in-the-pan kind of chair for me, a gimmick that I loved for exactly a week and then forgot about entirely, and I almost did, but I see the potential.

In fact, if it weren’t for my bad knees combined with my tall frame, I think this would be the perfect chair for me during the workday. But a few things are keeping this chair in “good” status, not “great.” But each of them can be fixed with simple tweaks.

The CoreChair’s entire USP is its unstable connection between the seat and the post. It’s just loose enough to cause you to have to engage your core while sitting, which may be hit or miss for users, but for those who move while sitting already, perhaps bounce a leg or fidget, or feel the need to stand and pace around, this may be precisely what you need.

This won't be the best office chair for most people - it's certainly a niche product. But for me, as a pretty active individual, this chair, in concept, is precisely what I want. I can’t get the height to work for me, but again, that could be solved pretty easily.

Vari CoreChair: Price and availability

The CoreChair sells for $499 on the official Vari website. With that, you get free standard shipping in the contiguous US and a 3-year warranty, including complete product replacement under Vari’s policy.

It’s worth noting that this chair is currently only available in black, but I doubt the lack of color options would deter buyers.

Vari CoreChair: Unboxing and First Impressions

This was probably the easiest chair I have ever built, outside of the few I have received that are pre-built. It took about 3 minutes, two screws, and no worry at all.

Off the bat, I thought this was an odd chair; it had a very aggressive tailbone cushion, a super-low backrest as you'd expect from a task chair that's designed for focused work, not staying supported for long hours.

Saying that, after sitting on this for the first time, I was thoroughly impressed by how comfortable the cushion was and how premium everything felt, given its simplicity.

However, I was right in my first thought: this chair should be at stool height, not chair height, but more on that later.

Vari CoreChair: Design & Build Quality

After months of using this chair off and on, I still stand by the fact that this is one of the more comfortable cushions in a seat. It’s firm yet supportive, and breathable on even the hottest days. I also love that the spokes on the legs are wider, making it easier to rest my feet on.

The backrest section here is a tad confusing, and to be honest, I'm not sure why it exists. It feels unnecessary, like it should either be larger or be removed entirely. And, I actually mean that as a positive. The chair is strong enough on its own that reworking it into a stool might be better than using it as a chair.

If this were a stool, I could stretch out my legs a bit more, use the footrests on the spokes a bit more, and aid my balance while using it, too. The chair is so close to being great; I just wish there were a bit of a change.

Vari CoreChair: In use

I work out of a specific workspace three days a week, and this chair has been in that workspace for the entirety of my testing. I’ve used it for all-day sessions, upwards of 8 hours at a time. Throughout that time, I feel like I can now say that this chair doesn’t so much give me a core workout as it does a focused, engaged core.

For someone like me, who is very active and hyper-mobile, I feel like I am constantly tapping my feet or bouncing my leg. A chair like this that helps me stay engaged without feeling like I need to tap or fidget. I noticed that using this chair helped me lock into what I was working on, making hours feel like mere minutes.

After several weeks of using this chair, I do have a few notes I wish I could change. First off, I don’t think the lumbar portion is necessary, though I see why they added it. Secondly, it could be my height, but I wish that this chair were actually up to stool height. If it were a bit taller, I think I could use this for a few more days in a row, or even a few more hours at a time. Right now, after a few hours, I get a bit fidgety due to knee pain, but I love having the core activation.

I think, in its current form, the best use for this chair is somewhere between two- and four-hour working sessions where you need to write, focus, knock out a proposal, crush some emails, or something else you need hyper-fixation on. This chair could help you lock in and knock it out. For some, that is precisely what they need to do some of their best work.

However, if you have lower back pain or another ailment I'd recommending steering clear of this chair, as it won't provide the natural support most ergonomic chairs do and instead, force you to support yourself by adding a layer of instability. If you're suffering serious lower back pain, the Steelcase Leap remains the gold-standard in that department.

Vari CoreChair: Final verdict

The Vari CoreChair is a strong option for the right person and something others should steer clear of. It’s not the chair for everyone, but a niche option that could be a secret weapon for productivity.

As discussed, there are a few areas I'd like to adjust to make this an even better chair, but for now, I can see myself keeping this chair in rotation for those times I need to lock in. It’s a great rotation between sitting, standing at a standing desk, and sitting in the CoreChair, though I know that not everyone has the opportunity for such a working environment.

To keep things simple, if you experience lower back or knee pain, this will definitely not be the right chair for you. If you prefer passive sitting (where the chair does the work for you) over active sitting (where you control how you sit and what support you get), again, the CoreChair isn't going to tick those boxes.

But if you’re the kind of person who fidgets, is constantly moving, or has a bit of a hyperactive mentality, this chair may unlock productivity levels you never knew were possible.

For more office furniture essentials, visit our guide to the best standing desks we've tested.

The X-Chair X-Tech is a clean and professional ergonomic chair with a few tricks up its sleeve.

An executive-level seat from water-resistant mesh, vegan leather, it's built for medium- to larger-framed individuals, with a fairly deep seat and a 275 lb weight capacity. Overall I found it a highly functional, comfortable seat with dynamic lumbar support and mobile armrests as you'll typically find on the best office chairs at this price-point.

But if the chair's name - the X-Tech - didn't give it away, there's something more going on here. Where it diverges is that it features a heated, cooling, and massaging lumbar section.

X-Chair X-Tech: Price and availability

The X-Chair X-Tech has had its prices change a few times since I started testing it. As of January 2026, this chair is $1,568 (discounted from $1845) on the official X-Chair website.

Now, that's putting the chair into the same sort of price-tag territory as the Herman Miller Embody and Steelcase Leap (and then some). So the real question for buyers is, are the extra temperature control features worth the outlay?

Additional extras are good - it's available in a range of styles, colors, and configurations. For this review, I tested the Quicksilver Brisa / Black ATR ELEMAX Model, with FS 360 arms, and locking FS wheels.

What’s interesting is that the X-tech is a lot like another model I reviewed: the X-Chair X4. The X4 was a build-your-own kind of style, while this one comes fully loaded with everything you could want.. Now, I pretty much just specced the X4 model to about the same degree, but it’s still worth noting.

X-Chair X-Tech: Design & Build Quality

Right off the bat, this chair looks very similar to the X4. Which, of course, makes sense as they are near the same item once you've built out the X4 with all the optional extras.

This really is just a curated version of the X4 Leather, combining the material choices, colorways, and upgrades into a single package for executives. No decision fatigue, no assistant taking their best guess, no time wasted deciding on exactly what choose.

What I appreciate about the design is that it could fit in a home office, a boardroom, an executive suite, or an apartment corner. Anywhere you place it, the X-Tech will fit in with the surroundings, especially with the option to choose materials that match your desired look.

I felt the materials had a quality look and feel (as you'd expect for the price), and the two-tone design language of the X-Tech creates a modern aesthetic.

Assembly was easy enough, the frame feels robust and well-built, not just patting myself on the back for assembly, but the joins, the bolts, and everything feel sturdy, like you’d expect from an expensive chair.

All in all, assembly took about 25 minutes solo, which is about average for most chairs, and it's straightforward enough that nothing required second pair of hands.

X-Chair X-Tech: In use

This chair has been in my fleet for a little over 90 days at the time of writing this. It's been used by myself, my team, and my extended family members over the recent holidays.

We all agree that this chair is spectacular; the only debate was who this chair was really for. Some executives at mid-sized or smaller organizations may not want to incur this kind of cost for a chair. Still, those at larger firms will probably go with even more expensive office chairs simply for the brand recognition.

My kids, on the other hand, think that this chair is for the boss, plain and simple. Or just any old guy, according to my brilliant 4-year-old daughter — hurtful, as I sit back in this chair writing out these sentences after a day of playing this New Year's Day, enjoying the massaging and heat function.

And that brings me to the real selling point of this chair.

Not only do the heating and massaging functions work well, but so does the cooling function. I’m someone who runs hot 99% of the time, so having a chair that can cool me down while working is great, especially in the summer months. And also ideal for those who work in an office where the climate is controlled by someone who thinks they should be able to feel like they are in the sun while at work.

I’ve sat in this chair for meetings, for several-hour lock-in sessions, and for all-nighter writing sessions. I’ve been in the zone, leaning forward, kicked back and relaxed, enjoying the massaging function, and I even pulled this chair up during the holidays for an extra seat, and had to fight my uncle with severe back pain to get it back.

This chair has been through it, and it still functions and looks just as good as it did on day one. No matter the position or person, the chair seems to adjust to what is needed, not locking you into what it wants, but adjusting to what you need.

For those really long working sessions, taking a few minutes to kick back and turn on the massager is a welcome treat.

My only real problem here is that I do wish that the controls for this were a bit easier to access. I memorized the button locations pretty quickly, but it’s not the easiest to get set up the first several times until you can learn them.

X-Chair X-Tech: Final verdict

While this may not be the biggest of names of chairs, and it may not be the massive leatherback executive chair we see in cheesy movies, the X-tech ticks a lot of boxes. It's comfortable and attractively design - the only issue being the button placement, which is easier to overcome after a few uses.

If you are a business professional who wants an excellent chair for their home office space, their cubicle, corner office, or conference room, and you have some coin to spend on something that will treat you right, the X-Chair X-Tech is absolutely worth considering, especially if you desire a heated, cooled, and massaging lumbar.

For more office furniture, check out our round-up of the best standing desks we've ever tried.

The Eureka Ergonomic Ark EL Executive is just one example of the California-based brand's many items of home office furniture, and it's a striking beast indeed. Sitting (or should we say, standing) near the top of Eureka's desk food chain, it's the third-most expensive single-level standing desk—behind the Ark X and the monumental Zen Pro.

It's undeniably a statement piece, although despite its dominating stature, I feel like it would suit almost any formal environment. That said, compared to some rivals that appear in our rundown of the best standing desks, the Ark EL comes with a hefty price tag that may put off those looking to deck out the home office on a budget.

Eureka Ergonomic Arl EL Executive: Specs

The Ark EL's sticker price is $1,299—it's certainly not the cheapest standing desk around. However, Eureka Ergonomic runs one of those perpetual sales, so you're likely to be able to grab it for less than a $1,000 most of the time. It's currently available direct from Eureka Ergonomic by clicking here.

With a generous maximum height of 48 inches, the Ark EL will be able to accommodate all but the tallest of beanpoles. At a modest 5'10", I find 39 inches perfect for my standing sessions. Those up to 6'8" should be perfectly comfortable.

The 220lb capacity should be more than enough for all your home office needs—that's the equivalent of one prime Mike Tyson sat daintily on your Ark EL Executive. However, some rivals outdo it here. For example, our top choice of standing desk, the FlexiSpot E7, can take up to 355lb—one Iron Mike, plus a Floyd Mayweather thrown in for good luck.

Elsewhere, connectivity is good, but in 2025, I'd prefer a couple more USB C ports. That said, many standing desks omit these completely, so having a wireless charger and a few ports is a big green checkmark in my book.

Eureka Ergonomic Ark EL Executive: Shipping & unboxing

The Ark EL ships in two very large, very heavy boxes, one of which is more than six feet long—so I recommend making room beforehand, and avoiding the need to shift the boxes around too much once they've been set down. The largest contains the weighty desktop and drawers, while the smaller (in comparison only) box contains the leg mechanisms.

If you're handling the delivery yourself and need to move the boxes a considerable distance, I'd recommend opening them up and moving the desk piece by piece to its final destination. Thankfully, my burly housemate was on hand to share the load, so we moved each box whole to the home office for construction.

When I finally broke into the boxes, the quality of packaging was truly impressive. Both were a box within a box, and although the swathes of polystyrene won't win any awards from being green, they certainly protected the contents on their travels.

Bear in mind that no standing desk is an easy affair to haul. They're invariably far heavier than regular desks, and often come in multiple packages. Overall, the unboxing experience was excellent, and I wouldn't change a thing about how it the Ark EL was packed (except, perhaps, using some greener packing materials).

Eureka Ergonomic Ark EL Executive: Assembly

If you've been scarred by impenetrable flat-pack instructions before, don't fret—Eureka Ergonomic provides a very clear, step-by-step manual on how to assemble the Ark EL. Each piece is labeled within the booklet, but more usefully, all the fixings come packaged in a single large blister pack.

This both helps keep everything tidy when you're assembling the desk, and also leaves no confusion over which bolt is an "A" and which is a "B," despite their similarities.

You're provided with a couple of Allen keys as well as a double-ended screwdriver. However, I must confess I broke out my trusty DeWalt impact driver to save some time. If you do the same, it's critical not to over-tighten anything. Don't hammer away at the bolts—hand-tight is plenty.

Assembly took me a couple of hours. However, I've built a lot of flat-packed furniture in my time, so I'd recommend budgeting around four hours from opening to completion. I found it quite a sprawling build, too, so make sure you've got enough room to work.

In all honesty, I had very few, if any issues during the build. Probably the most challenging part was sliding the weighty legs over the lifting mechanisms while the desk was upside-down. However, even this wasn't too difficult, and I managed the whole build solo without any assistance.

Eureka Ergonomic Ark EL Executive: First impressions

When I finally completed the desk, I stood back and marvelled at its stately presence. Its bold design and chunky legs give the Ark EL Executive a reassuring plantedness, and in no way does it appear flimsy.

Despite "only" being PU paper, the finish is convincing, and the pattern is unique all over. There are no noticeable "copy and paste" sections of grain that repeat and give away its artificialness.

However, when I first got up close and started using the during one of my work-from-home days, I noticed the whole finish had a sort of roughness to it—rougher than you'd expect any real wood to be finished.

To remedy this, I took a cleaning spray and a microfibre cloth, and really went to town scrubbing the surface of the desk. After a good few minutes, I was much happier with the texture—although I'd prefer not to have to break out the elbow grease to improve the finish of a $1,000+ desk myself.

That said, the finish wasn't damaged by my scrubbing, which I was worried might be the case.

Overall, it immediately improved the feel of my home office, and if you're looking for a statement desk, it's one to consider.

Eureka Ergonomic Ark EL Executive: Design & build quality

The Ark EL Executive desk only comes in "Natural Oak," which is a little disappointing. While it's a great finish, I can imagine many people might prefer a darker walnut-style color, or even plain white or black.

The size and shape of the desk provides ample legroom, and plenty of possibility to move side to side—perhaps between multiple displays and devices. The buttons are also very pleasant, with a gloss black finish and white text that illuminates when the desk is woken up.

I haven't noticed any wear on the buttons in my short time using the Ark EL, but over the years I'm sure they'd see a little scratching. Admittedly, though, they're much prettier than the matte black physical buttons found on lower-end standing desks.

Their positioning is sensible, but I have noticed my elbow activating them once in a while when I drift over to the right of the desk. Thankfully, the lock button does what it says on the tin—a 5-second long press locks and unlocks the controls to avoid any inadvertent movements.

The wireless charger and ports are nestled in the right-rear corner of the desk, and this is the perfect place for them. They're in reach, but far enough away that they won't interfere with your day-to-day.

Finally, having drawers is a massive bonus, because many standing desks omit these. Admittedly, they're quite small to accommodate all the electrics that sit behind them, but at 22 x 12 inches, the middle drawer is capacious enough for more home-office essentials.

Overall, the Ark EL feels supremely sturdy—as it should, considering its weight—and gives the impression it'll last for long time.

Eureka Ergonomic Ark EL Executive: In use

Spending a day sat at the Ark EL working is a pleasant experience. In the couple of weeks I've been using it for, I've found it to accommodate all my trinkets and tech nicely. I'm very much prone to clutter, so having good square-footage is a must—and the Ark EL delivers.

I've moved the desk a couple of times due to moving into a new apartment, and it really is a beast. It needs at least two people to lift it fully assembled, and if you're heading up any stairs, I'd recommend part disassembly.

A slight concern I have is over how "sharp" the edges of the desk are. While there's a pleasing 45-degree angle around the bottom edge of the desktop, the upper edge is pretty much a right angle. When I first saw this, I worried that it'd dig into my forearms, but thankfully this hasn't proved to be the case so far. I'm sure it would take a ding quite prominently too, but I've been careful enough not have experienced that.

When using the desk as intended—raising and lowering every day for a variation in working position—I've found it works seamlessly. Rather than use the Up and Down buttons, I've found setting the H1 and H2 memory buttons to my preferred heights very useful. When changing the desk's height manually, I found myself forgetting my optimum setting, leading to inconsistent heights between sessions.

Eureka Ergonomic Ark EL Executive: Final verdict

As the centerpiece to my new home office, the Eureka Ergonomic Ark EL Executive is eye-catching and—most importantly—very functional. Although it's extremely heavy, once it's in place it's the perfect item to build the room around.

The addition of built-in drawers, a wireless charger, and integrated USB ports edges it above cheaper rivals in terms of day-to-day usefulness, and in general, it feels very well-built.

Of course, the price will put some people off, and there admittedly very good desks—some of which have better specs—available for less.

However, if you're looking for a statement piece for your work environment that's a pleasure to use day-in, day-out, the Ark EL Executive is an excellent choice.

For more workspace furniture, we've tested the best office chairs you can get right now.

The MSI Pro MP165 E6 is a budget portable monitor that fits the bill if you need a simple display to extend or add to your current setup.

I found it slim and lightweight, and a good way to get a bit more screen real estate without breaking the bank. The USB-C connection means you can hook it up to plenty of other devices, from laptops to games consoles.

While the specs aren't dazzling, the price certainly catches the eye, making it one of the best portable monitors for business travel.

MSI Pro MP165 E6: Price and availability

The MSI Pro MP165 E6 is an affordable portable display, retailing for $95 at Amazon.com and £90 at Amazon.co.uk.

I'm also seeing it available from other retailers, too, for around the same price. There aren't many sub-$100 portable monitors worth your money, but this is one of them.

MSI Pro MP165 E6: Unboxing and First Impressions

The MSI Pro MP165 E6 shows off its lightweight frame right out of the box. Something was missing when I was opening everything up because the entire package was so light. The packaging was minimal, with only a USB-C and HDMI cable and a protective sleeve in the box —no frills, just the basics. I appreciate that MSI chose a sleeve rather than a case/folio. It comes off easily, allowing me to plug in the monitor and set it up semi-permanently without needing to store the cover.

I have tested many portable monitors and found a wide range in quality, usability, and functionality. The MSI Pro MP165 E6 sits beautifully in the budget category, offering good value for a great price. It ticks most of the boxes in terms of functionality without knocking it out of the park in quality, but that is where the budget-friendly nature comes into play. But, more on that later.

MSI Pro MP165 E6: Design & Build Quality

Picture the top half of a budget laptop, no keyboard, just the display. Now you've pictured the MSI Pro MP165 E6. It's a simple display, with simple inputs: no battery, no heft, no fuss.

MSI did choose to add some innovative features, even for a budget item, such as VESA mounting screws, a stand, and 90-degree cables in the box. These are all really little, simple things that go the extra mile.

Even though this panel could be used for an abundance of different use cases, MSI positioned the ports at the bottom edge of the display, making them super accessible, while still allowing you to tuck cables away if and when necessary.

MSI Pro MP165 E6: In use

Given this display's nature, I have many uses for it in the professional world. I've used this in my IT professional world as a display for some desktops I was working on, so I could keep them in my tech area without needing to remote in or connect a larger display. I have also used this display to set up an Apple TV and to check a camera's output.

The monitor was used quite a bit on a VESA-mountable stand for a camera playback feature, and then moved to a custom upright piano casing. This monitor still lives in that upright piano casing, serving as a display for a Mac mini plugged in and running all the tracks for a Music Director rig. This display was great for that, as it's quickly deployable, lightweight, only needs a USB-C port, and offers standard 1080p resolution, making it larger than 4K and easier to see.

For those who are not in the niche music industry, this panel is great to throw in your backpack and take with you to board meetings to display content to those across the table from you, for productive work in a co-working space or coffee shop, or even for photographers who need a reference display to make sure their camera shot is lined up.

The USB-C connectivity makes this display super accessible to most devices made in the last few years, and if that doesn't work, there is always an HDMI too. In my testing, I found no issues between macOS and Windows, nor did I encounter any problems with Chromebooks, Apple TVs, or Nintendo Switches.

While this is a fantastic display for the price, it is in no way a tremendous display panel. It's standard 1080p, it's got mediocre brightness, and the speakers that should have just been skipped.

But, if you are looking for something to get you into portable monitors, or if you want a backup, or if you just need a basic panel to display some information, and you don't care if it's the best quality, you should check out this display, but for those who need something a bit higher-tier, check out my guide to the best portable monitors.

MSI Pro MP165 E6: Final verdict

The MSI Pro MP165 is a solid choice if you're looking to get into the world of portable monitors and don't have any specs in mind. It's a great entry point into this world, and it won't hurt the budget too badly, coming in under $100.

If you're in the market for a portable monitor, I'd recommend starting out with this one and see how you like having that second screen before you go off and spend absurd amounts of money on the more expensive ones.

For more options for your workspace set-up, we've tested the best business monitors.

The UPerfect UColor O Lite is a 13.3-inch 4K OLED portable monitor with one cable power and display, a few ports for those who may need them, and the ability to be slightly modified to make a massive difference.

I’ve reviewed plenty of the best portable monitors. I have one or two tucked away in just about every single one of my workspaces. And after testing out this particular model, it's earned a place on my tech cart where I run Systems and IT.

This display is spectacular for those niche workspaces - it's touted by UPerfect as a portable monitor for MacBooks thanks to the high resolutions and and 109% DCI-P3 color coverage. And I get that.

I will say, a 13-inch screen may not be the best for your primary display at your workstation, as it’s the same size as most smaller laptops out there, but for secondary screens or those unique spots, I found the UColor O Lite fits the bill beautifully.

UPerfect UColor O Lite: Price and availability

This monitor is usually sold for around $330 / £247 direct from UPerfect - although at the time of review, it's discounted to $280 / £209. It comes with the basic cables you need, and a little folio case that doubles as a kickstand. So, a neat all-in-package.

UPerfect UColor O Lite: Unboxing and First Impressions

Right out of the gate, this monitor shows off its thinness and portability. It’s lightweight on purpose. Its best use case is a single USB-C to your device. Simple, easy. But there is the flexibility to run a full-size HDMI to a display, or to plug in another USB-C device in a pinch.

I paired this monitor with the Rolling Square Edge Pro - although I suspect any strong mag-lock will be suitable. This little magnetic hinge has made this monitor 10x more valuable in my arsenal. Since it’s so lightweight, these magnetic brackets can hold the portable display on the side of a standard display, hanging from a door frame, mount on the side of a metal cart, mount to the side of a laptop if you want to, or just free-stand at any angle you desire. It unlocks a whole new tier of usability.

UPerfect UColor O Lite: Design & Build Quality

Like all good portable monitors, this one is thin and light. It feels like an iPad when you hold it, without Apple's premium build. However, it still feels like it’s a quality display.

Then, you turn it on and realize it’s actually a pretty solid display after all, putting out a good amount of brightness, brilliant colors and 4K resolution, all in a tiny little package. I test a lot of monitors, and I fully expected it to be average across the board. This panel proved me wrong.

It has enough ports to do what it needs to do, it crammed in a full-size, all-grown-up, standard HDMI, and it still managed to stay as small as it is. This is the panel that once you start looking, you’ll be able to find a dozen little ways you could use it.

UPerfect UColor O Lite: In use

I've been running the UColor O Lite typically plugged into a Mac mini that I use as a server. This gives me quick access to pop in, control from my phone, and see what I am doing on a bigger screen, or to use a mouse and keyboard.

When not in use, it is mounted on the cart using the previously mentioned magnets. I can pop it off with one tug and use it with my MacBook, another Mac mini, whatever laptop I am testing at the time, or with any number of other devices I may need to test and fix. When I need a little more screen real estate for a big project at my desk, I have a mounting plate on my Dell monitor, so I pop this display over there and immediately add another display to my setup. For quick meetings where I need to showcase something, I can bring this display for whoever is in the meeting.

When I am testing a Mac mini for issues, I can plug right in; the same goes for old laptops, old servers, and Apple TVs. My creative team can even pull this display if needed as a camera output for a photo shoot, or I could use it for digital signage in a pinch. It’s the perfect little display to have on hand for so many things if you’re in that kind of work.

So, it's had a pretty thorough work-out for a portable monitor. I’ve used this display for over 100 days, and I have had absolutely zero issues with it. No qualms, no disappointments. For those who need a little display for anything, this is it.

During this 100+ day stretch, I’ve pushed this display with Mac, Windows, iPads, Cameras, Servers, AppleTV, Switch, iPhone, a PlayStation, an XBOX, and a Nex Playground system. I even used this display for a quick test to make sure that my Eufy POE NVR camera system I was installing for a client was working before tucking the brain away.

In short, if you are the kind of person who does a lot, works in tech, may use a portable display, or just have a lot of gadgets around you or in your life, then you should check out this portable monitor. Don’t just think of it as a portable monitor; think of it as a 13-inch Swiss Army Knife that can do just about anything you may need it to do.

For those who are working out of a backpack, have a lot of portable meetings, work from a coffee shop or maybe just not a dedicated office, this can add to the power of an office in a backpack

UPerfect UColor O Lite: Final verdict

The UColor O Lite 13-inch display is a spectacular little device that can truly do just about anything you may need a display output for. It’s got a great panel, a beautiful OLED, with a wide color coverage and a high resolution (even if you don't really need 4K on a screen this small).

Beyond the great display, I really liked the hyper-portability. It's thin, light, and perfect for business travel or carrying around the office - which is how I use it. And yes, the screen may be too small for some users, but there are plenty of 15- and 16-inch portable displays out there. At the 13-inch mark, this is one of the best.

For more options, we've tested the best business monitors.