The EcoFlow Delta Pro 3 takes portable power to new heights. This isn't just a power station that can power your iPhone while camping; this is a power station that offers the ability to operate as a whole-home backup solution, power an RV, power an off-grid domicile, charge a Tesla, or even run an industrial popcorn machine for hours on end (more on this later).

Much like Anker Solix's F3800, I have written two pieces on the EcoFlow Delta Pro 3, the largest offering of the company's line-up. But this new model, the third-generation, boasts more capacity, faster charging, and improved expandability compared to the earlier Delta models, making it one of the most advanced consumer power stations available - and a phenomenal option for those who need high output and high capacity.

EcoFlow Delta Pro 3: Price and Availability

The base price of the Delta Pro 3 is $3,699, currently on sale for $3,199. Since its release, the cost has lowered. However, it is still a premium offering. EcoFlow is offering a handful of bundle options to expand the already impressive capabilities of its flagship power station. These include a solar panel bundle, a dual-fuel brilliant generator bundle, and an extra battery bundle that could expand the capacity to 48kWh.

EcoFlow Delta Pro 3: Unboxing & first impressions

One of the first things I noticed about the Delta Pro 3 was its compact size and incredible weight. I know batteries are heavy and regularly work with large power stations, but I was still shocked. For the power output that the Delta Pro 3 can produce, the size is not that overbearing. It does, however, weigh in at just over 113 pounds, so make sure that you either have help to move it around or that you're not going up and down stairs or loading it anywhere.

The build quality is what I would expect from a company like EcoFlow. It has an industrial-grade IP65-rated battery for dust and water resistance, too.

Another shocking thing about the design is it has a built-in telescoping handle. I expected wheels, mostly because I saw them in the picture before arrival but also because the unit is so heavy. I also noticed a carrying handle on the top, so I expected that to be it. However, once I got the unit, I saw a telescoping handle that comes out of the underside of the power station, allowing for even easier transportation without breaking your back to move the power station from place to place on the large back wheels.

EcoFlow Delta Pro 3: Design & build quality

This portable power station has a massive battery, so don't expect to take this thing hiking. However, it is crucial to note that EcoFlow has integrated some rugged wheels to get you to where you may need power the most. Outside the telescoping handle, the EcoFlow Delta Pro 3 has an industrial-grade plastic casing to help it withstand heavy use. And, while I don't think anyone would intentionally take this beast out in the rain, it is IP65-rated, making it resistant to dust and water and, therefore, suitable for indoor and outdoor use.

EcoFlow Delta Pro 3: In use

Portable power stations are something that I didn't realize how much I would use them until I had an abundance. They are so helpful not only as home backups as UPS but also as power in strange places you may not have power or even to offer a port you may not otherwise have.

I've had the EcoFlow Delta Pro 3 for many months and tested it in many scenarios. Some have been realistic and useful for the masses, and others have been highly specialized and unique to what I needed.

First, to discuss the common uses, this power station functions beautifully as a UPS and whole home backup solution. Granted, if you are trying to hook this up to run your entire house with the standard outlets, you'll need some additional pieces to wire it into your home. But, if you want to run a local dose of plugs that can be plugged into this power station, you are also in luck. This unit operates as a UPS with a 10ms switchover time, which ensures no interruptions for critical appliances or lamps, just the same.

What sets this power station apart is that it's powerful enough to output what a large generator would, but without fumes or gas. So, you can get 240v power anywhere without making room for venting a gas/diesel generator. I did this a couple of times for testing purposes to see what the capabilities are.

I was able to push the Delta Pro 3 to charge a Tesla (though, of course, not full capacity off just the internal battery, but it was able to add quite a bit of capacity to the battery while sipping off the 120v wall), I was able to run a giant industrial sized bounce house blower, and even a commercial sized popcorn machine on full power for several hours while also plugged into a 120v outlet.

This power station is phenomenal for off-grid power, running off of just the sun and some solar panels. It can be an excellent option for those trying to make a fully powered tiny home in a van or truck. It can be a fantastic option for high power on demand anywhere. It can also be an excellent option for job sites.

EcoFlow Delta Pro 3: Final verdict

The EcoFlow Delta Pro 3 is a game-changer for high-capacity portable power. With seamless smart home integration, massive battery capacity, and rapid charging options, it’s one of the best solutions for home backup, RV life, and professional off-grid power. Though heavy and pricey, its performance and versatility justify the investment for serious users needing a portable power solution.

The ProtoArc EC100 is an ergonomic office chair designed for all-day comfort without breaking the bank. I've had the opportunity to review the best chairs for years, and many of them are getting expensive. ProtoArc, while I didn't know them very well before this chair, has created a quality chair that is easy to set up, comfortable, and good-looking for the more palatable cost of just under $200.

ProtoArc's focus for the EC100 is lumbar support, breathability, and a great cushion, all in a budget chair far more accessible than some bigger-named companies we've reviewed in our round-up of the best office chairs.

ProtoArc EC100: Price and Availability

The ProtoArc EC100 has excellent build quality for a mere $189 and is sold on Amazon, ProtoArc's website, and a handful of other retailers. ProtoArc runs occasional discounts.

At the time of review, the red and black colorways were sold out, but the grey option is still available (as you'll see in the photos since I have the grey color).

Lastly, the EC100 comes with ProtoArc's fair but not amazing two-year warranty and a 30-day return policy.

ProtoArc EC100: Unboxing & first impressions

The ProtoArc EC100 was an effortless and straightforward assembly. It took around 20 minutes to complete, and the parts were clearly labeled.

Everything was neatly packed in the box, so nothing got damaged in transit, and every piece felt well-built, making me feel confident that this chair wouldn't just break right away.

My first impression of this chair was that it was a good mix between premium and budget. It has a sturdy base, quality parts, and a decent design. It fits the design language of other ergonomic office chairs I have tested. Further, after assembly, none of the pieces bolted together felt loose, which is another good sign of a quality design. The mesh back is lightweight and highly breathable, which I love, and the seat cushion is relatively thick and well-padded.

ProtoArc EC100: Design & build quality

One of the best things about the ProtoArc EC100 is that I can recommend it as a great option to most people. This is partly because of the budget-friendly price tag and partly because this chair is designed for individuals 5'3" - 6'5" with a weight range of 90lbs to 280lbs. That's a huge range I'm not sure I've seen before.

While in use, the sturdy and high-quality frame is sleek and provides the support needed. The EC100's mesh back is breathable, keeping users cool during the day and helping cut back on getting sweaty while cocooned into an old leather-style chair.

The cushion has a spring enhancement, providing better pressure distribution, according to ProtoArc. I like to see it as feeling like there is support to my support, providing a comfortable seat, but also feeling like I'm not going to sink into memory foam or a soft cushion -- it feels like I have something holding me up as well. ProtoArc also claims that this spring-enhanced seat cushion provides better pressure distribution, making you feel more comfortable for longer. Pairing this with another feature that ProtoArc boldly proclaims is the Ergonomic S-shaped backrest, which is supposed to help with spine alignment. Lastly, add those features to the 7-position armrest, and you get a highly customizable, ergonomically comfortable, built-for-all chair at a great price, too.

ProtoArc EC100: In use

My team and I have had this chair in our rotation since September 2024. Yes, that's been a while. However, this chair has worked its way around and into the perfect desk setup for this kind of chair. Since this chair is highly flexible, I wanted to pair it with an equally flexible desk since it is highly adaptable. So, I paired it with a desk that works as a hot desk right now, easily able to run any computer setup or even frequently running an iPad Air setup.

This chair is frequently used by individuals who are around 5'5" and are under 150lbs and those who are above 6 feet and are just over 200lbs. What's impressive about this chair is that it feels (or so I am told) just as comfortable to both ends of the spectrum. The lumbar support is firm but not too firm, the seat cushion is relaxed, and the armrests are nice and adjustable. However, one thing I have noticed is that the seat cushion is comfortable, but it is less breathable than if you have full-mesh chairs. If you run pretty warm during the day and want something to help keep you cool, this can do it for your back, but it may be too warm for your... lower half of your body...

Another thing we noticed compared to other chairs is that while many can choose where to click into place at a few options while reclining back, this chair can only sit up, lay back, or have tension in between, with no other locking positions. Most of the time, this is fine, and we don't notice, but in the few times one of us has wanted to lock it back, it's a bummer that we only have two options.

ProtoArc EC100: Final verdict

The ProtoArc EC100 is a budget-friendly ergonomic chair designed to fit a wide range of heights and weights while staying comfortable and adjustable. While it's not perfect, it's a fantastic option for those who need a chair for a hot-desk situation, want a chair for their home office, or if you are simply in the market for a chair and don't want to break the bank.

For more office essentials, we've tested the best standing desks you can get right now.

Unlike the other Copilot Pro tools, Copilot for Excel is labelled prominently as “beta”. But even in this qualified state, it has the promise of being a game-changer for anyone who needs to work with data but doesn’t want to become an expert in writing formulas, working out the best way to pivot data or spotting trends in large data sets.

Copilot for Excel exists in the toolbar, but sometimes it’s greyed out. That’s because it only works on . xlsx or .xlsm files saved in OneDrive or SharePoint. When the button is green, hitting it allows you to write natural language instructions to create formulas, analyze data or highlight cells according to whatever criteria you want. If you’ve ever struggled with creating a complex formula (or even a simple one), you’re going to love it.

The first thing to note is that Copilot only works within tables; if your data is unstructured, it won’t let you do anything with it. This probably isn’t a big deal for most people (every serious Excel user I have known has lived or died by tables), but it’s a limitation that may affect some users of large and disparate data sets.

If your data is in a table, though, Copilot is miraculous. You can ask simple queries, such as how much you spent between two dates, or what categories you spend the most on. It’s also great at creating graphs: just type, “make a pie chart showing expenditure based on month”. And you can manipulate existing data, say by asking it to use conditional formatting to highlight specific ranges of numbers, something that’s easy to get wrong for people who aren’t Excel experts.

You can also use Copilot to look for outliers in the data and highlight them, which helps if you’re trying to clean up a dataset or are finding results just aren’t what you think they should be. If you’re using a big dataset, that’s a wonderful time saver. It’s nothing that you can’t do with Excel’s existing tools – but for users who don’t live in Excel, it would involve quite a bit of searching online to know where to start.

Where the real power kicks in is when you ask it to make formulas for you. I created a simple table of expenditure for a small business, tracking spending across a range of categories. But I also wanted to have a column indicating the running total of my expenditure. This isn’t an easy formula to make if you don’t know much about Excel because it involves a SUMIF function that’s based on the row’s date, comparing it to others in the table.

I asked Copilot to “add formula columns to summarize total expenditure so far in this date sequence”, and within seconds it had created a formula and added it to the end of the table.

This kind of formula creation is going to save users of Excel hours, and if you regularly work with data but wouldn’t call yourself an expert, it’s probably worth the money on its own. Even on occasions where I wanted to do something that I knew how to do, I found myself using Copilot instead because it created better results than the various hacks, shortcuts and cheats that I have learned over the years.

We also ranked the best customer relationship management software for small businesses.

Long before the arrival of Copilot, Microsoft Teams became my go-to app that was always active on my desktop. It’s the central tool I use to stay updated about my organization’s activities and it’s where I plan my daily tasks, share content, have meetings and plan long-term goals. Now Microsoft has added Copilot, it has become even more indispensable.

This is most obvious in meetings. The responsibility of capturing important meeting details typically rests on a single person, a task that’s rarely enviable and often challenging. Even with transcription features enabled in Teams, sifting through conversations to find pertinent information was daunting. This is an area where Copilot excels, making it easy to summarize the discussion and draw up action points.

I also find it useful with conferencing, especially long meetings that drag on, when your attention can wander. If I briefly zone out, or I need to head off for any reason, Copilot can offer summaries at any juncture. If you arrive late, or simply don’t get to the meeting at all, being able to ask Copilot for a summary of the meeting with the key action points and follow-up tasks is a huge boon. As is its ability to revisit discussions and extract insights.

This isn’t just theory. Over the past six months I’ve asked Copilot to pinpoint staff disagreements, outline specific risks discussed, verify project timelines and summarize crucial decisions with pros and cons. Using Copilot for these kinds of enquiries saves time by reducing the need to consult busy colleagues, delivering on two fundamental promises of AI: it streamlines communication and enhances my efficiency.

Copilot packs in several other useful features, too. Managers may love (a little too much, perhaps) its ability to analyze participation in meetings by generating metrics showing the percentage of words spoken by each colleague, shedding light on both the most and least active participants. And one standout feature in Teams Premium, not available in the standard version, is the intelligent meeting recap. It parallels Copilot’s meeting notes and holds the information for 30 days. The “follow meeting” function in Teams Premium allows users to capture meetings, pose questions to Copilot post-event, and even analyze the sentiment, although this yields mixed results and is a little creepy.

Copilot in Teams can also save you time. It adeptly transforms meeting notes into Office 365 documents and drafts emails from discussions. And it uses Microsoft Graph to efficiently link and track communications across documents, meetings and chats on specific subjects. This is great if your memory isn’t too good, so this is my favorite feature. As Microsoft states, however, “Copilot is an assistant, not a replacement for human oversight”. It’s crucial that you review Copilot’s output, particularly when it pertains to significant decisions, to ensure accuracy and relevance. So while Copilot boosts efficiency, there is a risk that users may become too dependent on the tool, which could lead to a decline in critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

Finally, in organizations where cybersecurity is paramount, outputs generated by Copilot don’t automatically carry over the security classifications of the original files. This poses a significant risk when dealing with sensitive information. Consequently, it becomes the responsibility of the employee to meticulously review the AI-generated content to confirm that the data is correctly classified and evaluated for potential risks.

To misquote a certain masked superhero, with great AI power comes great responsibility to check its results.

We've listed the best Microsoft Teams alternatives.

SABnzbd is a free and open-source NZB downloader that simplifies downloading from Usenet with an intuitive, browser-based interface. It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, NAS devices, and even Docker containers, making it widely accessible and easy to integrate into various setups.

Built on Python, SABnzbd prioritizes flexibility and ease of use, offering a range of automation features and a web-based interface that works across multiple platforms. However, it is not as lightweight as NZBGet, which is written in C++ and optimized for minimal system resource usage. While SABnzbd may consume more CPU and memory, it compensates with an extensive feature set and broad compatibility.

With helpful automation tools like RSS filtering, custom scripts, and integration with popular NZB indexing services, SABnzbd is a favorite among Usenet users. It automatically handles unpacking, repairing, and organizing files, making Usenet transfers easy.

To access Usenet newsgroups with SABnzbd, you’ll need a Usenet subscription. Check out our best Usenet provider guide for our top recommendations.

SABnzbd: Features

• Cross-platform compatibility: Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, NAS devices, and Docker, making it easy to install on virtually any system.
• Web-based interface: Manage and monitor downloads from any browser.
• Automation-friendly: Supports RSS feeds, API access, and integration with automation tools like Sonarr and Radarr.
• Smart download management: Handles NZB queueing, prioritization, and automatic retries for failed downloads.
• Automatic unpacking and repair: Uses built-in PAR2 verification and unpacks files automatically to save time.
• Multi-server support: Allows users to configure multiple Usenet servers for improved reliability and speed.
• Extensive plugin support: Works with third-party scripts and add-ons to enhance functionality.
• Supports over 18 languages: SABnzbd's web interface is available in more than 18 languages.

SABnzbd: Performance

SABnzbd is a well-optimized downloader capable of handling high-speed Usenet connections with ease. However, due to its Python-based architecture, it consumes more system resources than lightweight alternatives like NZBGet. In contrast, NZBGet’s C++ foundation allows it to run with minimal CPU and memory usage, making it a better option for lower-powered devices.

Despite this, SABnzbd’s robust feature set, built-in queue management, parallel connections, and post-processing capabilities offer an efficient experience. Users with fast Usenet providers will benefit from SABnzbd’s ability to fully utilize their bandwidth.

SABnzbd: Installation and setup

Installing SABnzbd is simple, with dedicated installers for Windows and macOS. Docker, Snap, Flatpak, Ubuntu, Debian, and FreeBSD users can also deploy it easily using images and guides, which can be found on the SABnzbd downloads page.

Once installed, the initial setup is guided through a wizard that helps users configure their Usenet server settings, download preferences, and automation features.

Adding Your Usenet Server Settings:

To start downloading, you need to add your Usenet provider’s server details:

1. Open SABnzbd’s web interface in your browser.

2. Click on Servers

3. Enter your Usenet provider’s details, including:

• Server address
• Port number (typically 563 for SSL, 119 for non-SSL)
• Username and password for your Usenet account
• Connection limit
• Click ‘Save Changes’

4. Click ‘Test Server’ to ensure connectivity.

5. Save Settings: Once the connection is successful, click “Save Changes’ to store your server settings.

SABnzbd: Pricing

SABnzbd is free and open-source, with no fees or premium upgrades. You can download the latest version directly from its official website or the SABnzbd GitHub page.

SABnzbd: Support

The SABnzbd website offers comprehensive guides on installation and configuration, along with detailed step-by-step instructions and FAQs to help users optimize their setup. There is also an active community forum where users can ask questions, share tips and ideas, and receive support from both experienced users and developers.

SABnzbd: Final verdict

SABnzbd is an excellent choice for both beginners and advanced users, thanks to its user-friendly web interface and deep automation capabilities. While it may require more system resources than some alternatives, namely NZBGet, seamless integration with popular Usenet tools and hands-free downloading features make it a reliable NZB downloader.

With plenty of office, ergonomic and gaming chairs on the market, FlexiSpot gives it a go with the oddly named BS12B-Pro, let see what makes it stand out from the rest of the crowd.

Having used this chair for over two weeks now after using an old 11-year-old Ikea Markus office chair here are my thoughts on the FlexiSpot’s take and how it compares to the best office chairs we've reviewed here at TechRadar Pro.

The chair arrived in a large plain cardboard box which was a bit beaten up by the courier, the outside informing you what it was, model and colour with the “FlexiSpot” branding and motto in blue, at least some color.

FlexiSpot BS12B-Pro: Assembly

Opening up the box, everything appeared to have been either haphazardly thrown in the box or the courier gave it a bit of a tumble around. Not much was securing anything in place like you would find on a monitor for example being in case in foam. It appears that FlexiSpot knew that this was the case as each component of the chair had its own plastic or cardboard wrap or foam added in places likely to be pointy.

Removing everything and laying it out flat allows you to see how it all goes together; I noted that the seat and backrest are made of a mesh like fabric to enhance breathability where it’s needed the most.

The wheels are notably plastic castor wheels which were freely spinning, both the wheel and spindle. They appeared sturdy enough for the chair but I do wonder about their longevity and how they fair on my laminate flooring.

Inspecting the part that will take nearly all the combined weight of the chair and the seat, which is the spider-like legs, I saw that they were made from plastic. Coming from an Ikea Markus Chair which for £100 less has a steel base that provides both better strength, material quality and feel as well as weighing the chair down so that it should be hard to tip over.

Putting it together was rather quick and easy. FlexiSpot provides some Allen keys and a small spanner to get the job done if you have absolutely no tools whatsoever, but with proper tools I had this chair up and assembled in about 15 to 20 minutes. One good thing I noticed was that the screws used to assemble the chair all had a blue coloured thread glue already applied to prevent the screws from backing out, a nice touch.

The one-part I found a bit fiddly to put together was the head rest, this was a bit difficult as the space for your fingers is very narrow

FlexiSpot BS12B-Pro: In use

The main seat of the chair is almost a 50 x 50cm square (51 cm wide by 49cm back to front) pad contoured at the corners and edges with a front curve for under thigh comfort. The seats minimum height is 46cm and at max is about 54cm. The seat can be moved forwards and back about 4cm of movement depending on how much or little under thigh support you want or need to have. Lastly the seat can be tilted from a flat 90 degrees to a backwards 135-degrees, there is no forward tilt which is a miss as some people do prefer seating slightly forwards.

Adjustments are all done by the use of three buttons or mini levers on the front right-side of the chair. Made of metal for the premium feel, they are a nice touch, rather than having to reach under the chair for a lever to make adjustments. Furthermore, I feel like they can be used blindly, no need for me to look at them. Nonetheless the symbols are quite self-explanatory from left to right, back and forth seat, tilt lock and seat height up and down. Tucked underneath is the tension adjustment but this is something seldom adjusted.

The seat itself is covered in a mesh like fabric to allow breathability and prevent a sweaty backside, it is stretched tight over the frame of the seat to give it that “bounce” but it does mean that the edges of the seat are sharp corners on the sides and back, the front however does a have a small foam insert for under thigh support. Long term use will see if this fabric can hold up to daily use.

I expected more of the lumbar support; the fabric of the chair is so tight that fully leaning back I don’t even touch the lumbar support most of the time. It is also limited to 3 different heights and 0 front to back options.

The armrests appear to be the standard shaped, plastic structure with firm foam tops, they can be adjusted using the lever under the arm rest from 16cm high (from top of seat to top of arm rest) to 23.5cm high. They can be rotated 1 click in and out from the straight and about 9cm of forwards and backwards movement, the rotation, forwards and backwards movement cannot be locked into place so bumping into the chair may move the arm rests.

The headrest is where I was a bit disappointed by this chair a bit when comparing it to an Ikea Markus chair. The Markus headrest height was comfortable for me (at 6’1”) so that my head rested on a cushioned part at the top of the chair. The BS12B-Pro doesn’t have this, instead it feels like the headrest, at its maximum height setting, is jamming into my neck or shoulders giving my actual head no support. Any lower setting and it's now jamming into my shoulder blades. I suppose this chair would work well if you were 5’8” or 5’10” tall.

FlexiSpot BS12B-Pro: Final verdict

In the end the headrest being so low forces me to sit in a slouched position (i.e. not ergonomic), or if I sit in a proper position, my head has nowhere to rest. Right now, sitting bolt upright in the chair gives my lower and upper back support, but the headrest is below my lower neck. The headrest has no other tilt or rotation adjustments that can be made.

As for the price, at the time of writing this review the FlexiSpot BS12B-Pro is shown available for £399.99 but seems to be suspiciously on sale permanently for £249.99 which leads me to believe that this is the actual cost of the chair, £249.99 is the actual cost. Also I noted that save for the box and manual, nowhere on the chair is any FlexiSpot branding.

For more workspace essentials, we tested the best standing desks for the home and office.

SMBs that are worried about file-sharing security and privacy can rest easy with Tresorit. A great feature of this cloud service is its zero-knowledge policy, which delivers end-to-end AES-256 encryption, and the company never stores keys or passwords, so only account holders and users have access to their data.

Tresorit is good value, and it’s commendable that its prices haven’t increased for over four years, with the Business Plus plan on review holding steady at £12.83 per user per month when billed yearly. This is a good choice for SMBs: it takes all the features of the Standard plan and doubles cloud storage per user to 2TB, trebles the maximum single file size to 15GB and offers a 100 file-version history.

Along with file sharing, syncing, user and group management, and Outlook, Outlook 365 and Gmail integration, it enables custom portal branding and access audit logs. A choice of 12 global data center locations is also available for businesses concerned about data residency jurisdiction.

Deployment is swift. You use the Tresorit Admin Center to email invitations to your users and, when they click on the message link, they can create an account and choose a password. You don’t need to worry about users forgetting it as the Advanced Control feature includes password reset services.

Once users have downloaded the desktop app, it will create a personal “Tresor” – Tresorit’s name for a secure, encrypted folder. You can have an unlimited number of Tresors up to your storage limit, and the app also creates a quick-access Windows Explorer drive mapping or a macOS Finder favorites folder.

Users can share their Tresors with selected team members by choosing them from the desktop app contact list and setting manage, edit or view-only permissions. Two types of Tresors are supported: the entire contents of classic folders can be shared, while next-gen folders allow specific sub-folders within them to be shared.

Tresorit has brought next-gen features in line with classic folders as you can now create and email links to share their files and sub-folders. You can also use encrypted links to place files requested from external partners, including those without a Tresorit account, in next-gen folders.

Integration with third-party apps has also seen improvements. Tresorit now works directly with Microsoft Teams, and we used our Teams Admin console to decide which users could install the Tresorit add-in on their Teams desktop app. Once logged in, they were able to access and share selected Tresors with other Teams users, upload or download files and create file requests, all from their Teams app.

Users can access the optional eSign digital signature service from both the Teams and Tresorit apps. Costing £45 per month for 100 signatures, you create an eSign request, select a PDF file and email it. Tresorit users can digitally sign the document with one click, while external users confirm their email address, enter the six-digit verification code provided and then sign the document.

Security features are extensive, with Admin Center policies controlling everything users are allowed to do. You can decide what types of devices they can access their account from, stop users from permanently deleting content, block their browsers from storing login details, use IP filtering to limit access from specific locations, enable single sign-on (SSO) and enforce two-factor authentication (2FA).

Tresorit doesn’t offer the same levels of integration with third-party apps as many rivals, but it rises to the top with its strict zero-knowledge encryption policy. Excellent value and ease of use make it a great choice for SMBs with cloud file-sharing security at the top of their agenda.

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Working away at a standing desk in the office was once thought to be an odd practice, but standing desks are now believed to offer some health benefits, helping us to be less sedentary at our desk and reduce strain on our backs when working.

With current work from home practices still going strong (despite employers asking staff to return back to the office), more and more people are looking to outfit their personal work space or home offices with the best standing desks.

This is where FlexiSpot has come through with a range of standing desks with different desktop finishes, capable of lifting 100kg for the budget friendly E1 to 180kg for the flagship E9 and accessories to boot.

Today we are reviewing their flagship FlexiSpot E9B-UK which comes with a 140cm x 80cm white laminate desktop.

The desk was delivered in two packages with the FlexiSpot branding displayed proudly and model numbers. The desktop box was a little battered by the courier which left me somewhat worried about it knowing that laminate tops can be chipped or cracked if mal-handled. Point two note that the Standing Desk Frame box was very heavy and ideally you need two people for this job though I managed by myself.

FlexiSpot E9B-UK: Assembly

Starting with the Standing Desk Frame box and opening that I was greeted by ample packaging with all items wrapped or in soft closed cell foam. Lifting foam out revealed the two standing desk legs which were the main culprit of the heft. All other bits and bobs were in the small boxes you see tucked in between. Removing the second layer of foam brought me to the Standing Desk Frame which is the part that holds the legs and desktop all together, it is inside that where we find the control box, the brains of the desk effectively. Along with some rubberised, height adjustable feet pads.

Taking everything out of packaging and boxes shows all the components of the desk, which gives you an idea of how it’s put together. FlexiSpot provides two little hex keys to assemble the desk, whilst these are a welcome for those with no tools, I on the other hand was armed with a combi drill and an assortment of bits.

Assembling the desk was quick and easy, starting with screwing the desktop supports to the frame then the legs followed by the feet all upside down before (and make sure you have the space) opening the desktop box. The legs are what make this desk, they are made of a solid steel construction with a column front to back thickness of 95.6mm.

On opening the desktop box, I was pleased to find that the desktop and fully intact with no damage to it. It appears that FlexiSpot knows how couriers sometimes treat boxes, especially one as heavy as this. I noted that FlexiSpot had placed hard plastic corner protectors. We have opted for the 140cm x 80cm desktop.

There are already pre drilled holes on the underside of the desktop which line up to the screw holes of the standing desk frame and control panel. It is simply a matter of placing the frame on the desktop, locating the holes, screwing it together before flipping the entire desk over so that the desk is the right way up.

FlexiSpot E9B-UK: Operation

Once completed, the desk will be at its lowest setting, too low for my liking. Checking the control panel, we have the usual “up” and “down” buttons. Next to them is the “M” button which has two uses, lightly pressing on it will allow you to set a memory setting, pressing and holding it will lock the desk height preventing accident height adjustment.

Between the cluster of buttons is the height display. The cluster of buttons to the right are memorised heights of “1” and “2” as well as a memorised “standing” and “sitting” heights. These are adjusted by setting the height first, say 114, pressing the “M” button then the “standing” button. Thereafter every time you press the “Standing” button, the desk will raise itself to 114.

Lastly, at the end of the control panel is a USB-A port for charging various items, I don’t have any equipment to test the wattage of the port, but trying to charge the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 Yoga laptop didn’t work, which requires at least 65W. Plugging my Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra in showed it as fast charging, this leads me to believe that it is capable of 25W. It would have been nicer to see a USB-C port as that’s becoming the standard with at least 100W output, a missed opportunity.

About the display, the numbers do actually mean height. At say 110, it means that the bottom of the desktop will be 110cm from the floor. The numbers tick up in centimetre with anything under 100 shown as 99.9cm, anything about 100 shown as whole centimetres. Minimum height is 68.5 and max height is 128cms.

Playing around with the desk on initial setup I was presented with an “E01” error, on reading the manual, it appears that this desk doesn’t like to be adjusted too often and it appears I “overworked” it. This despite the desk being empty. Switching off the desk at the mains and then switching it back on after a few minutes solved the issue, I haven’t seen the error since then for over two weeks of use.

FlexiSpot E9B-UK: In use

After assembly, I loaded the desk with a very light load of a laptop, monitor and a few other bits and bobs. The desk performed flawlessly, silently, swiftly and most importantly, smoothly too. And it should do too as this desk has brushless motors which have better longevity, speed and weight capacity when compared to their brushed brethren.

Confidence gained, I loaded the desk with my main set up, whilst I knew that the desk would have no issue in lifting my 25Kg+ desktop PC, I decided not to place it on the desk for the sake of cable management. It did however have to lift and lower the Innocn 49Q1S monitor which we reviewed a few months back, this weighs in at a not heavy but bulky 12Kg as well as a few accessories.

I set my sitting height at 74cm and standing height at 114cm, I found desk had no issue lifting the entire setup as shown with little to no wobble from the monitor. I have noted that the desk also has a collision detection system where if any part of the desk encounters resistance whilst going in either direction, the desk will stop and back off a few centimetres.

On to cable management. The cables for the desk such those that connect the legs and control panel to the central box in the frame are a little too long so had to be tucked away. Thankfully, FlexiSpot provides a little magnetic cover that hides those cables. For my desktop PCs cables I used a cable sleeve for the cables and then from there used lots of sticky cable tacks to hold them against the underside of the desktop neatly.

FlexiSpot E9B-UK: Price and availability

Lastly, the cost at time of writing the frame of the E9B-UK alone costs £499.99, our combination to white laminate desktop at 140 x 80cm brings this to £629.98. the most expensive combination coming in at £749.98 for a 180 x 80cm desktop made from Bamboo. And, that’s before we add any accessories such as a cable management tray, power plugs or drawers. If that’s too costly, then FlexiSpot also sells the E1 desk, with the same desktop colour finish and size it retails for £239.98 but with a lower load capacity and missing some features.

FlexiSpot E9B-UK: Final verdict

So, what’s the verdict of the FlexiSpot E9B-UK standing desk? Overall, a well-made, sturdy, smooth and hefty desk with a heavy load capacity. There's not much to dislike about this desk if you’re in the market for a standing desk then this should definitely be on your shortlist.

For more workplace essentials, we reviewed the best office chairs.