There comes a time when doing things easier and faster becomes your sole motivation and the driving force behind learning new things on your computer.

Whether that’s doing complex Photoshop edits in fewer clicks or mastering even the most obscure keyboard shortcuts, once you fall down that rabbit hole, it seems like you’ll never reach the bottom.

Like with most people, this started small for me. A keyboard shortcut here and a keyboard shortcut there, until I was outright remapping them to buttons on my mouse. Then I took things a step further and did so with a tiny controller from 8BitDo and even a foot pedal connected to my PC. However, there was an easier way: macropads.

Designed to work alongside your keyboard and mouse, macropads are fully customizable accessories where you can map whatever you want to each key. From simple things like copy and paste to full-on commands, the possibilities are truly endless. However, what if you only had a single, comically large key to work with?

Well, that’s exactly the position I found myself in when I decided to add Keychron’s Q0 Mini 8K Action Key to my desk setup. While a traditional macropad certainly would have been more useful, reaching over to slam this one down throughout my workday has been a whole lot more fun.

Not your typical Keychron keyboard

From a super budget-friendly wired board to a split ergonomic one, I’ve tried out a lot of Keychron’s keyboards over the past few years. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that the company makes some of the best mechanical keyboards you can get today without breaking the bank. Keychron’s Q0 Mini 8K Action Key may only have a single key switch, but unboxing it still gave me the familiar experience I’ve come to expect from the brand.

In the box, you get the Q0 Mini 8K Action Key itself along with a braided USB-C cable, and just in case you don’t have any free USB-C ports, you also get a USB-A adapter. For a device that could have easily been an April Fools' joke, everything feels a whole lot more premium than it has any right to be.

The first thing that stuck out to me about the Q0 — besides the fact that it’s massive at 3.65 x 3.25 x 3.25 inches — is its heft. This thing isn’t going anywhere on your desk thanks to its machined aluminum base. Even with its oversized keycap, the Q0 weighs nearly a pound on its own.

On the backside, there’s a single, recessed USB-C port and that’s all you get. While I would have loved for it to have Bluetooth or wireless 2.4 GHz connectivity, Keychron went overboard with its wired connection. A single key like this doesn’t need to be that fast, but the company went ahead and gave it a polling rate of 8,000 Hz anyway, which I consider overkill in the best possible way.

I have to admit, I didn’t read the instructions as I was just too excited to try out this single-key macropad for giants. But before I took it over to my desk and plugged it in, there was one more thing I wanted to try, and boy am I glad I did.

One key to rule them all

Unlike those cheap membrane keyboards you find in offices or libraries, one of my favorite things about mechanical keyboards is that they’re just as easy to clean as they are to customize. And that all comes down to the fact that with a bit of back and forth, their keycaps pop right off.

Now if the Q0’s keycap had been permanently attached to the switch underneath it, I wouldn’t have knocked Keychron for it in the slightest. Much to my surprise though, when I gave its double-shot PBT keycap — with a rocket ship emblazoned on top — a bit of a wiggle, it popped right off. Oh, and if you don’t like rockets, Keychron has the switch and keycap spec drawing on its site so you can make your own with one of the best 3D printers.

Not only did this let me see the inner workings of this extra-large 3 x 2.5-inch keycap, but I also got a closer look at the mechanical key switch underneath it. By working closely with Outemu, Keychron created a scaled-up version of a traditional key switch that’s actually 64 times larger. It has your standard MX-style cross stem and a south-facing LED for the RGB goodness often associated with mechanical keyboards.

I’ve been using a mechanical keyboard for over a decade now, but I wish there was something like this when I first got into the hobby. It’s one thing to see a diagram of how all the various types of mechanical key switches work and it’s another thing to hold an oversized one in your hands.

With my curiosity piqued, it was time to plug the Q0 in and see if a massive macropad was as fun to use as it was to hold in my hands. Spoiler alert: it definitely is.

Bottoming out never felt this good

Next to the mechanical keyboard on my desk, the Q0 looks almost absurd. It’s about the size of a coaster, and unlike the rest of the peripherals in my current desk setup, it’s the only wired one.

Still, being able to reach over and slam it down to pull off pretty much anything I can think of is absolutely worth it. And for the keen-eyed among you, yes, the keyboard I’m currently using — the Keychron Q11 Ultra — already has five programmable macro keys.

With the Q0 plugged into the Geekom A9 Max mini PC under my monitor, I pressed it and ... nothing happened. Yeah, I was a little surprised at first, too. I figured the Q0’s massive key would be mapped to Esc or Enter out of the box, but that wasn’t the case. This is a device for tinkerers and mechanical keyboard enthusiasts after all, which is why Keychron likely decided to ship it unmapped.

Just like with the rest of Keychron’s more recent keyboards and mice, complete customization is just a browser tab away. So I loaded up the Keychron Launcher in Chrome and the Q0 was instantly recognized. Normally in this browser-based launcher, you’re treated to a whole keyboard’s worth of keys you can tweak and customize to your liking. Here though, as you’d expect, there’s only one key to work with.

Sure, you could program it to Esc, Enter, or even the Windows key, but where’s the fun in that? Likewise, since it’s compatible with Mac (and Linux), you could have it work as a giant Command key too. However, I immediately went to the Special Keys option in the Keychron Launcher and saw what was available for each platform.

If I wanted to lose my work every time my 4-year-old came to my desk, I could have easily programmed the Q0 to shut down my computer, but I’m not a glutton for punishment. Alternatively, it would also work quite well as a massive mute/unmute button for video calls.

Remember what I said before about fewer clicks? Well, opening File Explorer on Windows is something I do quite often, and who wants to mouse down to their taskbar or open the Start Menu? After trying out a few different customizations with the Q0, I settled on having it open a new File Explorer window.

At the same time, you can take things even further by recording your own macros — think complex multi-key commands — and programming them to the Q0. I wanted to keep things simple though, so I’ve mainly stuck to File Explorer for now. Still, it’s great knowing that when I do think of a unique new use case or come up with a clever macro, reprogramming the Q0 is dead simple.

Besides remapping the Q0’s single key, you can also customize its RGB lighting in the Keychron Launcher. There are several colors and lighting effects to pick from, but I ended up going with something as close to turquoise as I could find to match my keyboard’s Esc and Enter accent keys.

During the time I’ve had the Q0 on my desk, slamming down its extra-large key has helped break up the monotonous parts of my day.

For instance, when I’m moving photos off my camera and need an extra File Explorer window to drag the keepers to, I just press it down and one appears instantly. Likewise, if one of my coworkers needs a file like a deal badge or even a Photoshop template I previously downloaded, the Q0 has made quickly pulling those up a lot more fun.

From micro to a macro macropad

Even though I had known about macropads for years, I actually built my first one. You see, back then, I had a lot more time on my hands and had previously built my own custom mechanical keyboard. This was back before hot-swappable switches were a thing, so I had to solder each switch individually. While that took a bit of work, I learned a lot going through the process.

When I saw a two-key macropad kit with a hot-swappable PCB pop up online, I figured it was worth trying out, even if I didn’t have a dedicated use case for it in mind at the time.

At first, I thought about taking the easy way out and mapping one key to copy and the other to paste. However, since I work with large blocks of text while writing and editing every day, I already had Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V mapped to my trusty trackball mouse. There was one thing my PC — or should I say my monitor’s built-in speakers — didn’t have at the time: a volume knob. So that’s what I used my tiny, two-key macropad for.

Besides their excellent build quality and value, one of my favorite things about Keychron’s keyboards is that many come with a built-in volume knob as standard. I’ve been using a keyboard with one such knob for the past few years, so my old macropad has gone to the box of decommissioned gadgets in my closet.

Going from two keys to one might seem like a downgrade at first. However, thanks to Keychron’s excellent launcher and everything I’ve learned in the years since, it’s been surprisingly useful having it on my desk.

Is it unnecessary though? Sure, but that defeats the purpose. A fun little — or should I say big — gadget like the Q0 was just what my desk setup was missing. Instead of being utilitarian like the rest of my accessories, it adds a touch of personal flair, while slamming it down brings a bit of fun my workspace was sorely lacking.

Now, I don’t know yet if the Q0 will remain a permanent fixture on my desk, but for now, I’ll gladly slam it down every time I’m looking for a local file.

More from Tom’s Guide

• I tested the Keychron Q1 Ultra 8K and this full-metal body mechanical keyboard is a game changer for my workflow
• I finally tried a vertical mouse and it was the ergonomic upgrade my desk setup was missing
• I tried this mechanical keyboard with a built-in pointing stick and it almost convinced me to ditch my mouse

I’ve been a gamer for as long as I can remember but when it came to my home office setup, I just couldn’t imagine using a gaming chair over an office chair.

While gaming chairs typically have racing bucket-style seats with a faux-leather finish, the best office chairs come in a wider variety of designs and styles. From task chairs without headrests to ergonomic ones with dedicated lumbar support and my favorite, full-mesh office chairs with plenty of airflow, there are plenty of options to choose from.

Back when I first set up my home office, I wanted it to look as professional as possible. This meant a clean setup with few distractions. That’s why I opted for one of the best standing desks and a nice ergonomic chair with a mesh backrest to go with it. Over the years, I’ve built countless desk setups while trying out dozens of different desks and chairs.

Still, I had yet to try a ‘true’ gaming chair, even if I did test out a few hybrid ones like the Herman Miller Vantum. That all changed recently when I reviewed the new Razer Iskur V2 NewGen gaming chair. Although I’ve always considered myself an office chair purist, Razer’s latest finally won me over. Well, mostly.

A gaming chair with an ergonomic twist

The Iskur V2 NewGen sits right at the top of Razer’s lineup as its flagship gaming chair, and for good reason. Alongside an upgraded EPU leather finish, this is the company’s most adjustable chair to date — and that’s exactly what drew me to it in the first place.

Compared to office chairs, gaming chairs often get a bad rap when it comes to their adjustability and fit. While many office chairs are engineered to conform to your spine’s natural curve and dynamically move with you as you shift throughout the day, a lot of gaming chairs feel rigid and stiff by comparison.

Although the original Iskur from 2020 suffered from these design flaws, Razer has since taken massive steps to completely overhaul its design and comfort. This started by completely reimagining the backrest and the adaptive lumbar support mechanism housed within it.

Instead of being static, the Iskur V2 NewGen’s lumbar support system now actively swivels and moves with you, while still allowing you to manually tweak it to your liking. A knob on the left side of the chair lets you move the mechanism up and down to align perfectly with the small of your back, while the knob on the right side allows you to control how far it extends out.

Not only is this a first for a gaming chair, it’s a feature you typically only find on premium office chairs — and even then, it’s not one I see all that often. What’s great about this updated system is that you can dial the lumbar support forward to keep your spine supported if you're leaning in close to your desk to focus. Then, when you want to sit back in a more relaxed position, you just turn the knob on the right to retract it so you can sit straight with plenty of lower back support.

Dead simple adjustments (and recline)

One thing I’ve noticed with some of the higher-end office chairs I’ve reviewed is that their manufacturers often make them overly complicated — especially when it comes to their adjustments. The Iskur V2 NewGen, on the other hand, keeps things simple with a hand-brake style lever to adjust the chair’s recline and a series of buttons for its armrests.

These 4D armrests can be moved up/down, forward/backward, closer/further away from you and angled inward or outward. There’s nothing worse than having your chair’s armrests move on their own after you’ve painstakingly adjusted them to your liking, which is why I really like how the buttons on either side keep these ones from moving.

You don’t get a built-in footrest like with the Hinomi X1 or the Hbada X7 I reviewed, nor is there a separate one like on the LiberNovo Omni, but I still really enjoyed leaning back in the Iskur V2 NewGen. With the lever in hand, you just lean back as far as you want and when you let it go, the chair’s backrest stays locked in place. When it’s time to get up, you just grab the lever again and sit up.

With a max recline of 152 degrees, the Iskur V2 NewGen is great for kicking back, but it’s not really the kind of chair you’d want to take a nap in, especially without a built-in footrest.

Super supportive but not quite mesh cool

Now don’t get me wrong, I found the Iskur V2 NewGen’s backrest to be incredibly supportive — which makes sense given it’s a lot thicker than the backrests on the office chairs I routinely test. And while the cooling tech embedded in its EPU leather did help somewhat, it just couldn’t beat the airflow you get with a mesh office chair.

While a mesh backrest may be good enough for some people, I actually prefer an all-mesh chair that has a mesh seat too like the high-back version of the Steelcase Karman pictured above. Since I live in Houston, Texas where it gets both hot and humid, I need as much airflow as possible year-round.

If you still prefer a gaming chair with a racing-style seat, there are things you can do to mitigate the extra heat that comes with a faux-leather finish. For instance, while testing the Iskur V2 NewGen, I had a tower fan pointed at me at all times. However, when I moved it into a smaller room with an overhead fan, that really did the trick.

Now after two months, would I daily drive a gaming chair? I still don’t think I would, given I live in a hotter climate. However, when the sun goes down and it finally gets cooler, kicking back in the Iskur V2 NewGen to play some games has been an absolute delight. It might not be the ideal work-from-home chair — at least for me — but it is an excellent chair to game in.

More from Tom's Guide

• I made one of the best gaming chairs even better by turning it into a recliner — here’s how
• I tested The Folding Gaming Chair and now I may never go back to the couch
• I just sat on my dream gaming chair, and now I’m fighting the urge to take a nap to tell you about the Cougar Arker

Just when I thought this flagship gaming chair couldn’t get any better, Razer has released its upgraded Iskur V2 NewGen. While the V2 had plenty of improvements, this new model features a comfier yet more supportive dual-density cold-cured foam cushion and upgraded EPU synthetic leather with built-in cooling tech.

I still remember trying out the Iskur V2 during my first trip to CES and walking away very impressed with its upgraded lumbar support system. The Iskur V2 NewGen isn’t a complete redesign as it retains what made that model one of the best gaming chairs. Instead, it’s more of a refinement designed to be more comfortable while feeling significantly more premium.

Although I typically spend my days (and my nights) sitting in one of the best office chairs, the Razer Iskur V2 NewGen has been a nice change of pace. From the instant I sat in it, I really liked its stiffer backrest and wide, comfy seat. Likewise, it was a breeze to put together and locking in the perfect fit comes easily too, thanks to the knobs on either side and the lever to control its recline. Still though, this is a high-end gaming chair with a $649 price tag and unfortunately, there isn’t a fabric option like with most of Razer’s other chairs.

My Razer Iskur V2 NewGen review will help you decide if this is the right gaming chair for you or if you’d be better off going with the cheaper yet less full-featured Iskur V2 X instead.

Razer Iskur V2 NewGen: Cheat Sheet

• What is it? A premium gaming chair with a strong focus on ergonomics and cooling.
• Who is it for? People who want a very adjustable seat with dedicated lumbar support which they can use for long stretches at a time comfortably that still looks like a gaming chair.
• What does it cost? The Razer Iskur V2 NewGen costs $649 regardless of which colorway you choose.
• What do we like? The adaptive lumbar support system, the wider backrest and seat base, the extra thick foam seat cushion and how easy it is to adjust using the built-in lever and knobs.
• What don’t we like? That the upgraded synthetic leather can still feel hot after extended periods and the higher price compared to other similarly-specced gaming chairs.

Razer Iskur V2 NewGen: Specs

Razer Iskur V2 NewGen: The ups

The Razer Iskur V2 NewGen offers exactly what you’d expect from a premium gaming chair in terms of design and comfort. However, it doesn’t skimp on ergonomics either with an adjustable lumbar support system that moves with your back as you shift in your chair while gaming or even working from home.

A color-coded build

The Razer Iskur V2 NewGen arrived in a single large brown box with everything packed neatly inside. While I wish it came as pre-assembled as the more expensive Herman Miller Vantum, it was surprisingly simple to put together.

With everything unpacked, I was left with the Iskur V2 NewGen’s backrest, frame, seat, casters and the rest of the parts needed to assemble it. One thing I really liked is that the armrests did come pre-attached, which is a nice touch given how tedious installing them yourself can be.

While other companies will often have you scan a QR code to view their assembly instructions online, Razer includes a large printout with key steps highlighted in the company’s signature Razer green. Speaking of which, you also get a pair of black gloves with that same accent color in the box so you don’t get any grease on your hands when installing the chair’s lift mechanism.

Building the Iskur V2 NewGen was a straightforward process using the included Allen wrench. I’d say the hardest part was connecting the seat to the backrest but honestly, this was quite easy to do compared to some of the office chairs I’ve built over the years.

With the Iskur V2 NewGen fully assembled, it was time to take it for a spin.

Wider all around

When looking at the Iskur V2 NewGen, it’s hard not to notice its curves. In fact, this gaming chair almost has an hourglass figure since it’s skinniest at the center where the seat meets the backrest and extends out in either direction.

This was intentional on Razer’s part as a big focus of this NewGen refresh is comfort. The chair is just under 16 inches at its skinniest point. However, the seat extends out to 20.9 inches at its edge while the backrest goes even wider at 21.3 inches. The extended seat allows you to sit cross-legged in this gaming chair while the extended backrest provides plenty of room for those with wider shoulders.

As someone on the smaller side at 5’4”, I still found this extra space to be quite nice to have. I had plenty of room as I shifted from side to side in the Iskur V2 NewGen’s seat and the same was true for my shoulders when my back leaned from left to right.

While I would have preferred a magnetic head cushion like on the Secretlab Titan Evo, I did find the included one made from sculpted memory foam to be quite comfortable even for long stretches. However, I did swap it for the Razer Clio when playing PS5 at my desk since I had a pair of Razer Nommo V2 Pro speakers connected to my gaming PC via USB-C and to my Switch 2 over Bluetooth.

Just the pull of a lever

One thing I really prefer with the Iskur V2 NewGen over some of the more over-designed office chairs I regularly test is the simplicity of its adjustments. Fine-tuning this chair for the perfect fit only takes a few minutes and the more complicated adjustments come with illustrations to further simplify the process.

There are adjustment knobs on the left and right side — but more on that later — and a lever that controls the chair’s recline. Everything is right there within reach and I never had to get out of the Iskur V2 NewGen to make adjustments.

The chair also comes with 4D armrests that you can move up or down, forward or backward, closer or farther away from you and angled inward or outward. Unlike some of the 4D or even 6D armrests I’ve tested on office chairs, I really like how the ones on the Iskur V2 NewGen stay firmly in place. One of my biggest gripes with Herman Miller’s Vantum gaming chair is that I’d need to readjust the pads of its armrests almost every time I sat down.

Given that a lot of office chairs require you to unlock a lever and then lean back whenever you want to recline, the larger, handbrake-style lever on the right side of the Iskur V2 NewGen was a welcome change for me. I’d just hold onto the lever and lean back to my preferred recline position with it in my hand.

Although I spent a lot of my time gaming upright while trying out the Iskur V2 NewGen, I did put its recline to the test while using the Razer Kishi Ultra and my Lenovo Legion Tab 3 for some remote gaming.

While an integrated footrest like on the Hbada X7 or even a standalone one like with the LiberNovo Omni would have been nice, it was still quite comfortable playing some PC games using the Steam Link app while laying almost completely flat in the Iskur V2 NewGen.

Lumbar that moves with you

Just like with the Iskur V2, the adaptive lumbar support is one of the standout features of this gaming chair. After using it as my daily driver for the past two months, it’s easy to see why.

Unlike a traditional lumbar support mechanism, this one is able to move with you as you shift from side to side in the Iskur V2 NewGen. For instance, you can feel it move if you look over to either side from your desk. However, I found it to be even more useful in fast-paced games where I tend to move around a bit more than I normally would while working.

While the lumbar support systems in some of the office chairs I reviewed are completely static — meaning they don't pivot or track your spine dynamically as you shift — Razer's system lets you fine-tune its position both vertically and horizontally.

A knob on the left side of the Iskur V2 NewGen allows you to move the lumbar support up and down so it can perfectly align with the small of your back. The knob on the right side is what really impressed me with the original Iskur V2 and this refreshed model.

When you turn this knob, the lumbar support mechanism either extends or retracts. As 1HP’s Dr. Matthew Hwu explained to me a few years ago at Razer’s CES booth, if you tend to lean forward while playing the best PC games at your desk, then you might want to extend the Iskur V2 NewGen’s lumbar support all the way forward. That way, you can sit in your preferred gaming position without hurting your back.

As for me, while I did play some Death Stranding 2 on PC while seated in the Iskur V2 NewGen, I actually spent the majority of my time testing the chair out while playing Star Fox on the Nintendo Switch 2 ahead of my review. During those epic interstellar dog fights with Star Wolf, I put the chair’s adaptive lumbar support to good use as I dodged incoming enemy laser fire.

Razer Iskur V2 NewGen: The downs

The Razer Iskur V2 NewGen certainly performs as a gaming chair but it isn’t without its downsides which include its higher price and how the upgraded cooling tech in its EPU leather just can’t match mesh.

Cooler but still not cool enough

Since I live in Houston, Texas, using a mesh office chair like the Steelcase Karman or the more affordable Branch Aire Chair really isn’t an option — it’s a must.

Given we’re at the start of what’s already looking to be a very hot and humid summer, I was initially a bit reluctant about testing the Iskur V2 NewGen. However, since I tried and really liked the standard Iskur V2, I figured I’d see how well this chair’s new cooling tech performed in a less than ideal situation.

To make this refreshed chair cooler, Razer switched to a new version of its EPU synthetic leather which has CoolTouch fibers embedded within it. On paper, this sounds like it should really make a difference but in my testing, even this high-tech new material fell a bit short for me.

When I was using the Iskur V2 NewGen out in my game room with just a tower fan — alongside central air — to keep me cool, I found that I got sweaty faster than I normally would with a mesh office chair. It got so bad that I moved my Govee Smart Tower Fan 2 Max from in front of our couch over to my desk at the back of the room. That made things slightly better.

In my final week or so testing the Iskur V2 NewGen, I brought it into my office which has a large overhead fan. Maybe it’s due to the room being much smaller but this certainly made a difference.

Now, if you’re using the Iskur V2 NewGen in a more temperate climate, I doubt you’ll run into the issues I did with it. However, if you’re in a warmer and muggier location like I am, I’d recommend the Razer Fujin Pro, which is designed more like a mesh office chair than a traditional gaming chair.

Upgrading at a premium

At $649, the Iskur V2 NewGen is certainly an investment. However, if you have a bad back or want a chair with a wider seat and backrest, it could definitely be worth it. While you might look a tad silly in video calls, I found the Iskur V2 NewGen just as comfortable to work in as it was to game in.

If you’re after a premium gaming chair but want to pick one up at a slightly lower price, the Secretlab Titan Evo starts at $549 and unlike the Iskur V2 NewGen, it’s available in both fabric and leather. Then again, if you like the design of this chair and don’t necessarily need adaptive lumbar support or 4D armrests, you could always opt for the less expensive Razer Iskur V2 X NewGen for $349.

While the Iskur V2 NewGen is on the expensive side, it is cheaper than the Herman Miller Vantum which costs nearly $1,000. On the other hand though, the Vantum won’t look out of place in a video call for work as from the front, it looks just like any other mesh office chair.

Razer Iskur V2 NewGen: Verdict

The Razer Iskur V2 NewGen is an excellent gaming chair with a one-of-a-kind adaptive lumbar support system that makes a major difference every time you sit in it. While its high-tech EPU synthetic leather left a bit to be desired for me personally, this new material is still a significant upgrade over past versions and under the right conditions, it can keep you cool while gaming for longer. Likewise, the Iskur V2 NewGen is incredibly easy to put together and to fine-tune its adjustments to your liking.

If you’re looking for a traditional, racing-style gaming chair but still want the ergonomic support you get from an office chair, you’d be hard-pressed to find this level of comfort and polish anywhere else. Still, you are paying a bit more for the privilege. However, if you game for long hours daily or plan to have the Iskur V2 NewGen serve double duty as your work-from-home chair, then it could certainly be worth it.

If you’re looking for the best budget office chair to get you through your work day, then you can stop your search because the Boulies EP200 has everything you could want. It’s highly adjustable, so it’s guaranteed to suit your posture, and has a breathable mesh back that flexes with your movements. The assembly is straightforward with easy-to-follow instructions, and the price tag also makes it a real crowd-pleaser.

Unfortunately, the upholstered seat isn’t as durable as I would like, showing signs of wear after just a few hours. That said, it wouldn’t stop me recommending this chair to anyone — and certainly doesn’t stop me from using it every day.

To find out more, you can read my full Boulies EP200 review.

Boulies EP200 review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A mesh desk chair with adjustable support
• What does it cost? $209 / £189
• What’s good? The mesh back design, the highly adjustable support, the easy assembly and the competitive price tag
• What’s not? The upholstery’s durability is disappointing

Boulies EP200 review: Specs

Boulies EP200 review: The ups

The Boulies EP200 has a competitive price point and offers a whole lot of adjustment to ensure your posture is as good as it can be while sitting at your desk all day. The mesh back design and adjustable lumbar support make this chair a winner for anyone with lower back strain.

Mesh back design

The back of the EP200 is made from a synthetic mesh, just like most of Boulies’ other chairs, including the EP460 ($299). I much prefer this design to the fabric back of a chair like the LiberNovo Omni ($1,099). Fabric becomes quite warm on hot days, whereas the mesh stays breathable.

There’s also not much flex with fully upholstered chairs like the Boulies OP300 ($289), but the mesh back of the EP200 has a lot of flex when you lean back. It feels like it molds to the contours of my body.

Adjustable lumbar support

The Boulies EP200 has adjustable lumbar support. There’s a twistable knob at the back of the chair, which you can turn to relieve the pressure on your lower back, and the mesh back of the chair means it’s easy for the chair to adjust to the shape.

I found this very effective, and I felt the relief almost immediately. The support isn’t as pronounced as you get with the Boulies EP500, but it was enough for me. You also get a lot more adjustment with the EP200 than with the EP500, which is only adjustable by a small amount.

Find your position

The lumbar support was the star of the show for me with the Boulies EP200, but the adjustment doesn’t stop there. It’s extremely customizable for your individual posture and helps to relieve any aches and pains you may experience while sitting at your desk all day.

Firstly, like with most chairs, the height is adjustable. Also, the armrests can swivel and change height, and the seat depth can move forward and backwards. There’s also an adjustable head and neck support, which I found very useful for maintaining an upright posture, although I have to have it on the lowest setting since I’m short (5’4”), and anyone shorter than this may find it redundant.

The chair can also recline to angles of 95º, 113º and 135º. This means you could use it to relax. Not something I personally needed as I just used the chair at the office during my working day.

Easy build process

The Boulies EP200 arrived packaged well, just like every other Boulies chair we’ve tested here at Tom’s Guide. However, the plastic cover for the aluminum base was cracked when it arrived. Luckily, with the purchase of the chair, you get a two-year warranty that covers damage like this. And I think the chair looks a lot more sleek without this cover anyway.

The chair needs to be fully assembled and comes with clear instructions. The package includes a hex key, but it’s quite long, so if you have a shorter key on hand, it’s easier to use that instead. Bolts are packaged separately and given letter codes, making the build simple.

The chair took me around 30 minutes to build, and although I found it more complicated than the Boulies OP300, the process was straightforward enough that most people won’t be troubled by it.

Decent price point

The Boulies EP200 is available to purchase from the Boulies online store for $209 / £189. Given the amount of adjustment and level of comfort you get from the chair, this is a very competitive price point.

For comparison, the Boulies OP180 costs $239 and is a very basic chair, so it doesn’t include the same levels of adjustment. The OP180 also doesn’t have a head and neck rest, which can make working in the chair for long hours a challenge.

You can get a similar chair style from the ProtoArc EC100 for $189, but it doesn’t have the adjustable lumbar you get with the EP200. The Boulies EP500 is an option that provides a more relaxed feel with a built-in foot rest, but that will set you back $389. The EP200 is sufficient for working at your desk all day long.

Boulies EP200 review: The downs

While the Boulies EP200 is very comfortable to sit on all day, the seat isn’t very durable, showing signs of wear, such as the fabric creasing, after just a couple of hours.

Creasing seat

The Boulies EP200 is a very comfortable chair, but after sitting on it for just a couple of hours, I noticed that the upholstery on the seat was pulling and creasing. This was disappointing to see, given that the chair was essentially fresh out of the box.

Granted, sometimes when sitting at my desk for hours, I shift positions — I even cross my legs at times — but this kind of change to the material isn’t something I experienced when testing the OP180. The creasing didn’t affect the functionality of the EP200 in any way, but aesthetically, I’d expect something more robust for the money — especially as office chairs are designed for daily use.

Boulies EP200 review: Verdict

The Boulies EP200 desk chair is one of the better options out there for someone who doesn’t want to spend too much money but still wants effective support for all-day use. The adjustable support meant I could customize the chair to suit my posture, and the breathable mesh back is flexible, so I was never uncomfortable. The assembly of the chair was easy, although it came with a broken piece. But since there’s a two-year warranty included with purchase, this isn’t a big issue if the same happens to you.

My only concern was that after just a few hours of use, there were signs of wear on the upholstered seat of the chair, which I did not expect to see. This was disappointing, but honestly, it wouldn’t stop me from recommending the chair. It’s incredibly comfortable and does the job for the average office worker at a reasonable price.

I’ve sat my big British butt down on quite a few Boulies chairs now. We get a lot of Boulies’ stuff in for review here at the Tom’s Guide U.K. testing lab, and I’ve built almost every single one that’s come through our doors.

Usually, my team loves Boulies chairs. They’re almost always comfortable, supportive and fairly affordable relative to their features. Humble heroes, you might say. I’ve used the Boulies EP460 for around 18 months in my home office and have no complaints yet.

But this one, the EP500, which I’ve been testing for around four months now, is a little more complicated. Ostensibly, it offers many of the typical Boulies boons: comfort, support, and surprisingly premium features for a reasonable price.

Unfortunately, undermining all that are some baffling design choices. Think arm rests that don’t adjust downwards (so when you recline, your arms stick bolt upright in the air like a zombie) and a lack of adjustable lumbar support.

So, is this one of the best office chairs around? Nah. But if you want to find out more, keep reading my full Boulies EP500 review.

Boulies EP500 review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A reasonably-priced full mesh office chair
• What does it cost? $389 / £349
• What's good? The price, the comfortable full mesh design, plus a recline function and footrest
• What's not? The arm rests pivot with the back, making recline uncomfortable, and the lumbar cushion lacks adjustment

Boulies EP500 review: Specs

Boulies EP500 review: The ups

Given its price, the Boulies EP500 has some seriously impressive features on paper: a mesh seat and backrest, lumbar support, recline and a foot rest. It’s comfortable, and not a bad looker, either.

Comfortable, supportive mesh design

The Boulies EP500 features a mesh backrest, seat, lumbar pad, head rest and foot rest. This is what sets it apart from the Boulies EP460, a chair I reviewed in late 2024 and since have continued using in my home office: the EP460 is mostly mesh, but its folding foot rest uses hard plastic, which is way less comfortable.

The full mesh design gives the EP500 a premium look, as it’s something we see on super expensive rivals like the Herman Miller Aeron. The primary benefit is comfort, though. My previous chair, the Autonomous ErgoChair Pro, only used a half mesh design with a conventional foam padded seat. Foam is great at first, but tends to flatten over time, causing discomfort.

The EP500’s mesh seat suspends your butt in mid air — it’s like being on a trampoline (or is it a Tramampoline?! Trombopoline?!) — providing plenty of natural, ergonomic support with no firm plastic base underneath to dig in and cause discomfort. The same is true for the back rest and other mesh components. The result is a highly supportive and comfortable chair, even during long working days.

I have a type of immuno-arthritis, which affects my back and joints. I’ve found the EP500 perfectly comfortable… mostly. I say “mostly” because there’s one thing kinda letting the show down, which is the lumbar support pad. More on that later.

Premium features, attractive price

One of the things we always love about Boulies chairs are the premium features they provide for reasonable prices. You can spend a lot of money to get things like full mesh, lumbar support, a head rest and a foot rest.

The EP500 provides all of those. There’s a flip out foot rest for full reclining comfort, and a head rest to keep your neck supported. There’s lumbar support and, as I mentioned above, full mesh.

Yet the price is extremely reasonable! Officially, the MSRP is $389 / £349. But Boulies keeps most of its stock virtually perma-reduced and you can pick the EP500 up as I write this for $309 / £289. I’m no fan of fake MSRPs/discounts as a sales tactic, but the fact remains that this is a very reasonably priced chair.

Well-packaged and straightforward(-ish) to build

Like all Boulies chairs I’ve built, the EP500 came very well packaged, with no damage to the box and plenty of padding inside. Nothing was missing from the box and there were clear instructions with all the components/bolts labelled.

It took me around 40 minutes to assemble the chair. That’s not as quick as the Boulies OP180, which took me just 10 minutes to construct. However, the EP500 is a much more complicated chair, so it makes sense for the build to take longer.

Despite taking some time, the assembly was very straightforward. The only difficult bit was lifting the heavy backrest into the base — I did this on my own, but it’s definitely more of a two-person job if you don't want to risk an injury. If you're in an office that'll probably be fine, but it could be an issue if building solo at home.

My only other issue was the hex key that Boulies supplied to build the chair. It’s unnecessarily long, making some of the harder-to-reach bolts virtually impossible to tighten as the key didn’t have space to rotate. I had to switch to a more compact hex key.

Boulies EP500 review: The downs

Unfortunately, Boulies has made some truly baffling design choices that undermine the EP500’s strengths. Who thought it was a good idea to link the arm rests to the reclining back? And why is there so little lumbar adjustment?

Stupid arm rests

While I love a recline function, I hate reclining on the EP500 — which is a shame given its high level of comfort, support and the mesh foot rest. It’d be the perfect place for a mid-work nap.

But why? The arm rests. For some reason, Boulies’s design department attached them to the chair back, which means the two move in tandem. Now, Boulies claims the arms pivot “up and down,” but they don’t. They go from flat to up. There’s no downward movement possible.

The result is that, when you recline, the arm rests point upwards. It’s like you’re in a hospital bed with both arms plaster-casted and outstretched. Or you’re a zombie. Or you’re riding a chopper. It’s so stupid, and not at all comfortable.

It didn’t have to be this way, either. The Boulies EP460 has a similar recline function, but its arm rests are decoupled from the back and attached to the base instead. This means they stay flat (and you can lower them), letting you use the arm rests while reclined.

Intrusive lumbar support

I’m glad the EP500 has lumbar support — many chairs don’t. I’m no fan of the EP500’s lumbar cushion though. It’s very large, sticking too far into my back and making me arch my spine if I want my shoulders and neck to touch the back/head rest.

Again, the lumbar cushion is supposedly adjustable, but by such a small amount that it may as well not be. I hate to be constantly banging the EP460 drum, but the lumbar cushion on that chair offered better adjustment, proving way more comfortable.

Boulies EP500 review: Verdict

Alas: so close, yet so far. The Boulies EP500 ticked all the boxes on paper, with its full mesh design and other premium features. Oh, and the usual Boulies affordability, of course.

Unfortunately, the comfort it offers is undermined by a lack of adjustment in the lumbar cushion. The reclining function, meanwhile, is similarly subverted by the ridiculous arm rests, which have you lying arms-up like a Thriller backing dancer.

It’s not a terrible chair, but the EP500 nowhere near reaches its potential. Seriously, did nobody at Boulies sit on this thing?

I recently had surgery on a critical part of my body required for sitting. The recovery process required me to be on my backside for no more than two hours at a time, which meant I'd need to either stop working for long periods or get one of the best standing desks.

Space constraints made the standing desk option challenging, but it seemed preferable to missing a bunch more work. So I set out to find a small standing desk that would let me get work done without eating too much of my tiny office.

This led me to the Progressive Mini Ryzer Standing Desk, which has one of the smallest footprints and the lowest price point of any I could find. At $315, it won't break the bank , but it still has a single electric motor that makes bringing the desk up and down quick and easy, perfect when you're in a compromised physical state post-operation.

Progressive Mini Ryzer Standing Desk: Cheat Sheet

• What is it? The Progressive Mini Ryzer Standing Desk is a single-motor, compact standing desk designed to work in all kinds of spaces. It's affordable enough to serve as a secondary desk, but large enough to be the primary if needed.
• Who is it for? Anyone who needs an electric standing desk and doesn't have room for the bigger options on the market will benefit from the Progressive Mini Ryzer Standing Desk.
• What does it cost? The MSRP is $393, but you can typically order the Progressive Mini Ryzer Standing Desk from the company's website for $315.
• What do we like? I love that the setup process doesn't take too long and can be done with only one person (though the single leg is quite heavy). I'm a big fan of the desktop's multiple finishes, so it'll match any space, and I'm happy with how easy the controls are to use.
• What don’t we like? I wish it were available in a rectangular shape, as the depth makes this desk less than ideal for really small spaces. It fits in my office, but it's a little tighter than I'd like. I also feel the single leg makes the desk less stable, but the large floor stand counteracts that.

Progressive Mini Ryzer Standing Desk: Specs

Progressive Mini Ryzer Standing Desk: The ups

There's a lot to love about this desk, especially when you consider the relatively low price point. Electric standing desks typically come at a premium, so being able to get one in your home for a little more than $300 is great. And if you're not as space-concerned, the larger tabletop might be perfect for your needs.

Straightforward assembly

I hate building furniture, appliances and other similar things. I dread these sorts of tasks more than anything.

Which is why I didn't mind putting together the Progressive Mini Ryzer Standing Desk. It took almost no time and there were only a few short steps. I did it with no help, which is always nice, as I don't want to drag anyone else into the process unless absolutely necessary. The single leg does make it a little on the heavy side, but it was manageable.

Running the wires was a quick and painless process, too. The only part that took a little thought and effort was mounting the controller to the bottom of the desk, as there aren't pre-drilled holes. Instead, it's up to you to decide where to mount it.

Smart controls

In terms of controls, it has all the key functions you'd expect from an electric sit/stand desk. You can raise and lower the desk with the arrows, and set specific heights as presets so you can quickly return to them. There's nothing worse than dialing in the perfect height and then not remembering the exact number to reproduce it.

I have tested other sit/stand desks with wireless connectivity to control the desk from a smartphone or other device. I do find this to be a cool feature, but it also feels a little gimmicky. It also made those desks a lot more expensive, so I can't help but question how worthwhile smart features actually are in a desk.

It does have anti-collision technology, so if something (or someone) goes under the desk while it's lowering, it won't crush them. This feature is fairly common on sit/stand desks, but I tested it, and it worked as advertised.

Overall, between the four presets and the standard arrow controls, you get exactly what you need to use the desk without issue. Add in collision detection and the overall speed at which the desk goes up and down, and you have a well-rounded desk.

Lots of colors to choose from

One of the most underrated aspects of purchasing any piece of furniture is the color options. Sure, you can make a desk with good functionality, but you want it to match your space. That's especially true with a space-saving desk like this, as the kind of person who needs a small desk probably will need it to serve multiple functions and possibly even have it in their living room.

In this case, you can snag the desk in six different tabletop colors and two frame options. You can choose from warm white, bright beech, gray oak, dark cherry, roasted walnut and ebony oak for the table. The frame comes in white or black, and you can pair either color with any of the tabletops to best match your space.

Progressive Mini Ryzer Standing Desk: The downs

The Progressive Mini Ryzer Standing Desk isn't perfect and it has a couple small flaws, though none of them are severe enough for me to say you shouldn't get one, they're just things to be aware of.

Not the best shape for small spaces

My biggest gripe with the Progressive Mini Ryzer is the shape of the tabletop. It being a square means it sticks out a lot further than a rectangle with the same width, and a lot of the space at the back of the desk is out of reach anyway. It means you're giving up precious floor space for something that probably won't benefit your day-to-day work too much.

For me, I'd rather have it two feet deep to save that extra foot of floor space, and I have to assume the target market of a small desk would be in a similar situation.

Obviously, this is just a matter of preference and space. If you know you have enough room for the extra depth and think you could benefit from some more workspace, then this will be a non-issue for you.

Single leg doesn't feel as stable

Due to its square shape, Progressive is able to use a single leg to support the desk instead of two legs. It has a big, wide base on the bottom to keep it in place and stable, but I think I'd prefer two legs with a smaller ground footprint and a little extra stability.

Now, I never had a problem with the desk falling over or tipping, so it's really just a matter of perceived stability versus actual stability. I have no evidence to suggest the desk will tip over, I just feel like with kids running around and animals being animals, I'd feel safer with two legs.

Progressive Mini Ryzer Standing Desk: Verdict

Overall, I'm very happy with this sit/stand desk from Progressive. It has some design aspects I might change, but at the end of the day, it does two crucial things: takes up a relatively small amount of space and is affordable.

After having surgery that stopped me from sitting, it came in clutch to allow me to keep working, which is really all I can ask for.

If you're in the market for a budget-friendly sit/stand desk that doesn't skimp on quality and you have enough room for the square shape, I can wholeheartedly recommend the Progressive Mini Ryzer desk.

The Corsair Platform 4: Elevate Desk is unlike any standing desk I’ve tested before. Instead of just the desk itself, you get a complete desk setup in a box with a heavy-duty monitor arm and an extra-wide cable management tray included. However, adding Corsair’s optional multi-frame pegboard takes things a step further by adding convenient and modular storage for all of your controllers, keyboards and other accessories.

Unlike with other standing desks that I’ve used for weeks or months at a time, I spent almost an entire year testing out the Corsair Platform 4: Elevate Desk. During that time, it served me just as well for work as it did for gaming with plenty of desk space for either thanks to its deeper 30-inch top. However, unlike its six foot wide predecessor, this desk will be a better fit in most homes thanks to its 48-inch width.

Putting the Platform 4: Elevate Desk together was a straightforward process and the desk has held up very well with no noticeable scratches or wear and tear. Corsair also sent over its optional pegboard accessory which attaches to the back of the desk and that extra vertical storage space has been a game changer. However, it was slightly more difficult to assemble than the desk itself. Likewise, the Platform 4: Elevate Desk only has two height presets which is surprising given its higher price.

My Corsair Platform 4: Elevate Desk review will help you decide if this is the best gaming desk for your battlestation, as well as one of the best standing desks overall.

Corsair Platform 4: Elevate Desk: Cheat Sheet

• What is it? A dual-motor electric standing desk with a built-in monitor arm and cable management system.
• Who is it for? Gamers, streamers, and people who work from home that want a desk setup in a box.
• What does it cost? The Corsair Platform 4: Elevate Desk costs $999, but is frequently on sale for half its list price.
• What do we like? The T-Channel mounting system and the included monitor arm, the extra-wide cable management tray, the desk’s sturdy build quality, and its smaller size compared to Corsair’s Platform 6: Elevate Desk.
• What don’t we like? That there are only two programmable height presets and that the full package with the multi-frame pegboard costs more than most other standing desks for gamers.

Corsair Platform 4: Elevate Desk: Specs

Corsair Platform 4: Elevate Desk: The Ups

The Platform 4: Elevate Desk sets itself apart from other standing desks for gamers in a number of ways. However, what stood out to me most is just how well its massive cable management tray and premium monitor arm form a complete package so you don't have to waste time (and money) shopping for additional accessories.

Packed to perfection

The Platform 4: Elevate Desk arrived in a single yet considerably heavy box. While many standing desks come in two boxes with one for the desktop and one for the legs, Corsair managed to pack everything into one. However, you’ll likely need help bringing this one inside your home.

Speaking of packaging, I was thoroughly impressed by the care and attention to detail that went into how the various parts of the Platform 4 were placed into the box. Everything was laid out neatly and protected with plenty of foam packing material to keep it safe during transit.

With everything unpacked, I was left with the desktop itself, the desk’s legs, the T-Channel rail and monitor arm along with all of the other parts I needed to put the Platform 4 desk together. I also liked how the monitor arm was in a separate box so I didn't get its pieces mixed up with those for the rest of the desk.

Assembling the desk was a straightforward process thanks to clear instructions and the fact that it doesn’t come in a variety of different sizes. After attaching the frame to the desktop, I dropped the legs in and secured them using bolts and the included Allen key.

Then I attached the cable management tray at the back of the desk and plugged in the cables from the legs to the control box in the center of the desk’s frame. I’ve built dozens of desks over the years and honestly, this was one of the easiest ones to put together despite having a more complex design.

With the desk itself built, I flipped it over onto its feet and began putting together the T-Channel rail system. This sits along the back of the desktop and serves as the mounting point for the included monitor arm and Corsair’s optional multi-frame pegboard.

Desk setup in a box

With a starting price of $999 without the optional pegboard, the Platform 4 is certainly an investment. However, given that Corsair includes everything you need to work, game, and stream, it’s actually a strong value proposition. And if you pick up this standing desk at a steep discount during a sale, it's even better.

Instead of having to mess around with the clamps that the rest of the best monitor arms use to attach to your desk, Corsair does things a bit differently. The T-Channel rail system extends from one side of the desk to the other, and the Platform 4’s included monitor arm attaches directly to it. Not only does this prevent additional wear on the desktop itself, it also lets you quickly reposition your monitor arm.

Depending on your display and how you want to have your setup laid out, you can slide the monitor arm to the left or right. It’s worth noting that this desk is ideal for single-monitor setups, while the Platform 6 is better suited for dual-monitor setups because it’s wider and comes with a dual-monitor arm.

Regardless of which desk you choose, you also get an extra-wide, metal cable management tray with plenty of space for one of the best surge protectors and all of your power adapters. Many companies offer cable management trays as optional add-ons, which is why I’m glad Corsair went this route instead.

In fact, the cable management tray has so much room that I actually tucked one of the best mini PCs — the Geekom A6 — inside when I put together my first setup with the Platform 4. Given that the tray itself has holes and isn’t enclosed, I wasn’t worried about the computer overheating.

If a monitor arm and cable management tray weren’t enough, Corsair also includes built-in storage towards the back of the desk. When you lift the lid, you have access to a small but still sizable compartment where you can store dongles, cables and other accessories. It also has USB-A and USB-C ports on the left side, though you do have to plug them into your PC or a power adapter to charge your devices.

With the T-Channel rail system and monitor arm set up at the back of the Platform 4, it was time to add the optional accessory that really makes this desk shine.

Going vertical (with accessories)

Just like the Platform 4 itself, Corsair’s multiframe pegboard accessory is on the steep side at $299. However, it goes on sale quite frequently and you can often pick it up for half price. Even at full price, I’d say it’s definitely worth it for the extra storage space and the aesthetics.

As the name implies, this accessory is a modular system made of two pegboard panels that sit side-by-side in a large metal frame that attaches to the top of the T-Channel rail system. You can also buy Corsair’s multiframe pegboard on its own and use it with any desk since you get traditional clamps in the box as well.

I have to admit, putting the pegboard together was a bit harder than I thought it would be after building the Platform 4. Once it was built, I had some difficulty figuring out how to insert the included T-Nuts used to screw the shelves and other accessories into the rails on either side. After watching others do it online, I eventually got the hang of it.

Alongside the pegboard, you get two small shelves and one larger shelf. I installed the smaller shelves on either side and used them to house a pair of the best computer speakers. While I could have put the larger shelf on the side of the desk for some extra desktop space, I decided to install it on the top of the frame and upside down to give the desk a cockpit-style look.

Corsair gives you plenty of hooks too, which you can use to store controllers, keyboards, and basically any other accessory on the pegboard. Since I went with a dedicated console gaming setup with an Xbox Series X on one side and a PS5 Pro on the other, I hung their respective controllers and headsets on either side. Also, since the pegboard is made of metal and not plastic, you can use magnetic accessories like NZXT’s Puck cable management and headphone holder too.

If space is at a premium and you don’t want to risk damaging your desk by adding a third-party drawer or other storage accessories underneath, Corsair’s multiframe pegboard is the way to go.

A cockpit for your battlestation

With the pegboard installed behind the Platform 4 and the way I set it up, it really felt like my own personal gaming cockpit. While I did have to get creative with the placement of that mini PC, I was very impressed by just how much you can fit on this desk.

If you need more room, Corsair sells optional desk extensions and even more pegboard panels that you can install on the side of the desk for additional storage space. For those who plan on using this desk with one of the best gaming PCs, investing in a desk extension makes a lot of sense; for $40, you get an extra foot of desktop space, which is perfect for a larger desktop computer.

As I mentioned, I’ve used the Platform 4 as my main gaming desk for almost a year now. I set it up in my office at first and then moved it out to my game room for some extra space, and the Platform 4 worked well in both rooms. In addition to all black and light or dark Birch, it’s also available in white if you’d rather have the desk blend in with your home decor instead of standing out.

While I did use the Platform 4 for work here and there, the majority of my testing time was spent gaming. Whether I was playing Astro Bot on PS5 or Tears of the Kingdom on my Nintendo Switch, it’s a comfy and spacious desk to game at.

One other thing I really like is that alongside all of the other included accessories, Corsair also gives you some small plastic shelves that attach to either side of the desk. I found these really came in handy for storing my controllers and remotes when I wasn’t using them.

Overall, I’ve enjoyed practically every second with the Platform 4 despite a few difficulties when installing the optional pegboard. I also tried out the Secretlab Magnus Evo during this same time period, but between the two, I think I might stick with the Platform 4 long term given how useful all of the extras Corsair has thrown in have been.

Corsair Platform 4: Elevate Desk: The Downs

The Corsair Platform 4: Elevate is an excellent gaming desk through and through. However, it falls slightly short compared to other standing desks for one key reason that won’t be a deal breaker for most.

Up or down with no in-between

Regardless of whether you’re using an electric standing desk built for productivity like the Uplift V3 or one for gaming like the Secretlab Magnus Pro, there are buttons at the front used to adjust its height. Typically, alongside your up and down buttons, you also have a few dedicated memory preset buttons which you use to program your preferred sitting and standing heights.

In my time testing standing desks, I’ve seen as many as four of these height-preset buttons. Surprisingly, the Platform 4 only has two: one for standing and one for sitting. For most people, this will definitely be enough. However, I’ve found that having a third one like on Secretlab’s standing desks — or even a fourth like on Uplift and Vari’s — can be extremely useful.

For instance, when I’m working, I like to have the top of my monitor just slightly above eye level for the best ergonomics. When it’s time to game, I might drop it down slightly so I can lean back in one of the best gaming chairs or even one of the best office chairs. The same goes for when I’m standing while playing games; in that case, I usually have my display slightly higher since I hold my controller close instead of resting my arms on the desk like I do when typing.

I would have liked to see Corsair add a third or even a fourth memory preset button here, especially for the price. Speaking of the price…..

Looks can be deceiving

If you go to Corsair’s website and look at the Platform 4: Elevate, the video that autoplays shows the desk by itself without the company’s optional pegboard. However, with a desk like this, chances are you’ll see it on TikTok or YouTube first before you actually click the link.

In that case, you might be surprised to learn that the multiframe pegboard is an optional accessory. It’s always good to have options, but if you’re dead set on that pegboard — and the extra storage and specific look it provides — you might be disappointed to find it isn't included and requires an extra investment.

Speaking of the price, the Platform 4 is on the expensive side for a 48-inch, dual-motor electric standing desk. There are plenty of less expensive options from companies like FlexiSpot that can be had for under $500. Corsair does make up for the Platform 4’s high $999 list price by deeply discounting the desk during sales, though. In fact, I’ve seen it on sale for as low as $449 recently. While it was out of stock at that price, if you can catch it during a similar sale, it’s an absolute steal given the included accessories.

Corsair Platform 4: Elevate Desk: Verdict

The Corsair Platform 4: Elevate Desk goes beyond a traditional electric standing desk by including everything you need to get started gaming, streaming, or working from home right in the box. Sure, optional accessories like the multiframe pegboard certainly sweeten the deal, but even without them, you’re getting a well-built, dual-motor standing desk that you can always expand later on.

For instance, one thing I didn’t get to try out is using the Platform 4 with Elgato’s accessories. Since Corsair owns Elgato, all of its lights and other streaming gear are also compatible with this desk and the larger Platform 6. If you’ve already invested in that ecosystem, this desk becomes a no-brainer.

At $999, the Platform 4 is on the expensive side for a smaller standing desk. However, you get quite a lot of bang for your buck, and if you can find it on sale, even better. After using the Platform 4 for almost a year, I don’t think I’ll be getting rid of this desk anytime soon.

I've tried more times than I can count to make my home office a productive work place. It's changed over the years but even with a nice desk and quality chair, it's all too tempting for my space to get cluttered by kids' toys and my own over consumption of journals, books and latest Staples haul. I'm a nut for office supplies.

The problem isn’t knowing what to do, it’s actually sticking with it. As a big fan of author and speaker, James Clear, I've read his book Atomic Habits (twice) and subscribe to his newsletter. I have found his tips for productivity and sticking to good habits really helpful.

I was recently thinking about something James Clear calls the “Plateau of Latent Potential,” the idea that real progress is happening, even when you can’t see it yet, and asked ChatGPT to help me apply it to my own routine. By asking ChatGPT to build me a simple, “Atomic Habits”-style routine for my home office, I discovered a habit (focused on small changes) that have actually made a difference.

Here are three specific changes that quietly reshaped how I work. Most importantly, I’m still doing them.

Leaning on ChatGPT to set my own 'Atomic Habits'

I started by giving ChatGPT structure with the following prompt: "Act like James Clear, author of Atomic Habits. Design a simple home office routine based on small, repeatable habits. Focus on systems over goals, reduce anxiety and suggest changes that are easy to maintain long-term."

Within seconds, it came back with a routine that felt much different than anything I could have come up with alone. The trick is, I've read and explored James Clear's tips, but ChatGPT personalized the experience for me. Thanks to Memory mode enabled, it knows me well enough to do just that.

Here's what AI suggested and why it worked for me:

I stopped "starting work" and built a trigger instead

Because I work from home it's easy to go in and out of my office at any time of the day or night. I'm guilty of going on my computer on the weekends, stressing over a story and then realizing I should be enjoying a day off.

Because of this, ChatGPT suggested I attach work to a specific trigger. For me, it became turning on my ring light. Now, if I don't turn it on, I'm not "working." I could be researching or just scrolling, but this shift keeps me from working too much outside of work hours and when the light is on, the kids know not to bother me.

I redesigned my desk to remove clutter and obstacles

My neighbors across the street aren't that interesting. My tree-lined street is normal and frankly, boring. But when I'm stuck on an idea or start to daydream, suddenly their Amazon delivery or landscapers become fascinating. In other words, I'm easily distracted and ChatGPT knows that.

That's how it flipped this habit completely. Instead of removing small obstacles, it suggeted habits such as keeping only one notebook visible (I used to have three going at once), closing unused tabs hourly and taking small breaks to give myself permission to look out the window without feeling guilty for losing focus.

As James Clear would say, these small habits lead to big changes. None of this is groundbreaking, but together it has created a workspace where the default action is working.

I've stopped chasing perfection

Okay, this one is still a work-in-progress, but ChatGPT's advice has helped me calm down and track consistency instead of perfection. The AI framed it in classic James Clear terms: Focus on the system, not the outcome.

So, now, rather than mentally beat myself up when something doesn't go as well as planned, I ask myself about my continuous goal of following a routine built for productivity and focus. Did I stray from it? Did I do my best for the day? If the answer is yes, than the rest is out of my hands. Surprisingly, not chasing perfection has made me more productive. Because consistency compounds, even when it doesn’t feel like it’s working yet.

Why creating 'Atomic Habits' in this way helped

I've improved my productivity a lot this year. I used to think that "being productive" meant "doing it all," but by exploring proven ways to be more successful, I've noticed a huge shift in my happiness. My way was essentially punishing me for failing and asking myself to become a different person overnight.

This "hack" was all about exploring new habits, which has ultimately made things easier, remove steps (that didn't matter anyway) and repeat small actions daily. The small changes quiletly stack up over time.

As James Clear discusses in his book, the bad habits stack up, too. So by creating new, helpful habits in small steps, you're more likely to stick with them. This strategy has certainly worked for me.

The takeaway

Using ChatGPT like a productivity coach isn’t new. But with this prompt the AI didn't become a generic coach, it thought more like James Clear to help me make clear changes in a meaningful way. Because the AI is familiar with how I work, my busy life (three young kids is endlessly chaotic) and my goals.

Rather than attempting to make sweeping changes all at once, ChatGPT offered me a system based on proven strategies. And in my case, those systems are still working.

Are you a fan of James Clear? Just need help gaining focus? Give this prompt a try. Let me know in the comments what you think.

More from Tom’s Guide

• Why some AI tools are being banned by the US government — and what it means for you
• I used Naval Ravikant’s 'Leverage' rule with ChatGPT agents — and it cut my workload in half
• I used the 'Owl' prompt to make ChatGPT slow down — and it instantly gave me smarter answers

The Secretlab Magnus Evo is a dual-motor, electric standing desk that offers many of the "Pro" features of its predecessor at a more approachable price. Starting at $749 without accessories, it’s still a serious investment, but its sleek, less "gamer-focused" aesthetic allows it to work just as well in a professional home office as it does in a game room.

The most significant departure from the Secretlab Magnus Pro — which I consider one of the best gaming desks overall — is the desktop itself. Instead of an all-metal surface, the Evo features a two-tone top with a soft-touch, ultra-matte laminate finish. Additionally, while the Pro integrates a massive full-length cable tray into its frame, the Evo uses a smaller version that attaches to the underside. More importantly, the Evo retains a full-length metal edge at the back along with its metal legs and frame, which makes it compatible with Secretlab’s existing ecosystem of magnetic cable management accessories.

After using the Magnus Evo daily for the past six months, I’m impressed by how well it holds its own. You do lose the premium 3-stage legs and the ability to quickly transform the look of the entire desk with one of Secretlab’s magnetic MagPad desk mats, but the overall experience remains quite premium. However, there are a few downsides: the optional accessories add up quickly, and while that matte finish feels great, it is noticeably prone to micro-scratches.

My Secretlab Magnus Evo review will help you decide if this is the best standing desk for your setup, or if you’re better off with a simpler desk and putting that extra cash toward your gaming PC.

Secretlab Magnus Evo: Cheat Sheet

• What is it? An electric, sit/stand desk with a focus on cable management and magnetic accessories.
• Who is it for? It’s targeted at gamers but subdued enough to make it a good fit for anyone working from home that wants a high-tech standing desk.
• What does it cost? The Secretlab Magnus Evo costs $749 while the larger Secretlab Magnus Evo XL costs $849.
• What do we like? The simple and straightforward assembly process, the included cable management tray, the metal strip at the back of the desk for magnetic accessories and the integrated power supply column.
• What don’t we like? That its soft-touch ultra matte laminate finish is prone to scratches, how you’re limited to low-profile monitor arms and that the optional accessories can get expensive.

Secretlab Magnus Evo: Specs

Secretlab Magnus Evo: The ups

As the more affordable follow-up to its Pro predecessor, the Secretlab Magnus Evo manages to hold its own with a powerful yet quiet dual-motor system and strategic metal placement for the company’s full line of magnetic accessories. However, it’s the sleek, two-tone design and a more flexible, straightforward assembly process that really make this desk shine.

Pre-wired assembly

Much to my surprise, the Magnus Evo arrived in one large brown box. Normally, standing desks come in two — with a separate box for the legs and one for the desktop. Everything was extremely well-packaged with plenty of foam to protect all the pieces too. The reason everything fits in one box is due to the fact that Secretlab does a lot of the heavy lifting for you.

With everything unpacked, I was left with the center portion of the desktop, a pair of desk extensions, two legs and feet, and all of the hardware needed to put the Magnus Evo together.

After bolting the two extensions onto either side of the desktop, the rest of the build process was quite straightforward. This is because the Magnus Evo is largely pre-wired; the electrical control box is already mounted to the underside of the center panel. Since the motors are housed directly inside the leg columns, you don't have to worry about mounting them yourself. Instead, you simply plug the legs into the pre-installed control box and you're good to go.

One thing you do have to take into consideration is which side of the desk you want the integrated power supply column on. With the Magnus Pro, you only had one option: the left side of the desk. By giving you the choice between the left or the right leg for the power passthrough, the Magnus Evo is actually a lot more versatile.

From there, I installed the legs and attached their feet at the bottom using the included bolts and the specialized magnetic screwdriver. Of all the standing desks I’ve built, the Magnus Evo has been one of the easiest to assemble. In fact, I’d go as far to say that it’s as easy to put together as the Vari Electric Standing Desk which I consider the gold standard.

With the Magnus Evo built, all that was left was to flip it over and plug it in. Fortunately, Secretlab makes that even easier than with other electric standing desks.

Power where you need it

After setting up most standing desks, you usually end up with a messy power cable or a surge protector cord hanging down right from the middle of the frame. Secretlab solved this problem for good by integrating a power supply column directly into one of the legs of the Magnus Evo.

During assembly, you can choose to have this integrated power supply column on either the left or right side of the desk. Since I have a power outlet on the right side, I opted to use the right leg for this.

While the Magnus Pro’s recessed port looks a bit cleaner, the Magnus Evo uses a short, wired power inlet that makes positioning the cable slightly more versatile and helps keep costs down. Just be sure to keep any pets away from this cord; because since it’s hard-wired into the desk's internal electronics, you’d likely have to replace the entire leg if the inlet gets damaged.

Then, at the top of your preferred desk leg on the inside of the frame, you have a standard 3-prong power port. I plugged one of the best surge protectors into it and used one of Secretlab’s optional magnetic cable anchors to remove any slack and keep the cord neatly tucked away.

What I really like about Secretlab’s approach to powering the Magnus Evo — and everything plugged in at your desk for that matter — is that you don’t have to worry about your power strip’s cable getting caught or unplugged when moving the desk up and down. It’s a convenient little extra that helps justify the Magnus Evo’s higher price compared to other electric standing desks.

Not without my magnets

The Magnus Pro, with its all-metal desktop, was purpose-built for magnetic accessories, but Secretlab also managed to incorporate this functionality into the Magnus Evo. Instead of being made from soft-touch laminate, the entire rear edge of the desk is made from metal. This means you can use Secretlab’s magnetic cable anchors to hold your gaming PC’s cables in place at the back of the desk. This is also great if you want to have a permanent charging cable at your desk without it falling behind.

Given that the Magnus Evo also has metal legs and a metal frame, you can use magnetic accessories in both of these places, too. I particularly like Secretlab’s long metal cable sheaths for running an Ethernet cable from one of the best Wi-Fi 7 routers up from the floor and into the back of my PC.

At $55 for the standard cable management bundle or $74 for the extra-long version, these optional accessories aren’t cheap — but more on that later. Since you’re dealing with a metal rear edge, legs, and frame, you aren’t limited to Secretlab’s accessories. Anything with a strong enough magnet will do. For instance, I picked up these smaller magnetic cord holders online for just $15. They come in silver, so you may want to paint them to match the desk, but I used them on the backside of the Magnus Evo where they were completely out of sight.

Even if you don’t opt for Secretlab’s premium accessories, the included cable management tray also makes use of magnets. It bolts onto the back of the desk and uses a hinged design with magnets at the top, allowing you to quickly drop it open and securely snap it shut when plugging in a new device.

With the Magnus Evo built and plugged into the wall, it was finally time to set it up and start using it.

Sleek, solid and smooth

Despite being less expensive than its predecessor, the Magnus Evo immediately has a premium look to it thanks to its soft-touch matte laminate finish and two tone design. While I wish there were other color options besides black, knowing Secretlab, I can almost guarantee they’ll release a white version later on like they did with the Magnus Pro.

After assembling the Magnus Evo, I first tried it out with a more traditional single monitor setup with a small soundbar underneath my display. Then on the right, I powered everything using the Framework Desktop. As I had recently set up my first NAS, I spent a lot of time sitting at the Magnus Evo uploading old pictures and videos to it.

Whether sitting or standing, everything worked really well and felt very stable at either height. Although the Magnus Evo has just three programmable height preset buttons on the front, one thing I really like about its controls is that they’re built into the desk instead of attached underneath it. Likewise, the toggle on the far right lets you lock the desk’s controls but it also turns off the LED lights that show you the desk’s current height. This is great if you have small children like I do or just don’t want to have another LED display shining in your room at night.

From there, I moved the Magnus Evo over to the other side of my game room and put together a more complicated dual-monitor setup. I used Secretlab’s dual monitor arm to do so and to hide my PC, I used its under-desk PC mount. Now it’s designed for one of the best gaming PCs which are larger and bulkier. However, with a bit of jerry-rigging I managed to mount one of the best mini PCs — the vertically-oriented Atomman G7 Ti — there while using Secretlab’s magnetic headphone hanger to hold it in place. Unconventional I know but I really wanted to free up some much needed desk space while still having a dual-monitor setup.

Thanks to its powerful dual motors, the Magnus Evo is able to adjust from my preferred sitting to standing position in just over 10 seconds both ways. It’s also fairly quiet while doing so without the extra whirring you might hear from a single-motor electric standing desk. When coming down, it stayed between 45-47 dB on my sound meter which lines up with Secretlab’s under 50 db claim. However, when raising up, the Magnus Evo got as loud as 57 dB which is slightly over this. Still, adjusting this desk’s height isn’t going to be distracting for yourself or anyone else in the same room as you.

Even though I tested out the smaller, 60-inch wide, standard Magnus Evo, I still had plenty of room for my dual-monitor set up. I’ve used this desk setup for both work and play since the end of January and it’s been great. However, not being able to snap one of Secretlab’s MagPad desk mats on its desktop has led to some unforeseen consequences.

Secretlab Magnus Evo: The downs

The Secretlab Magnus Evo retains many of the best features of its predecessor at a more affordable price point. However, it’s not without its downsides, namely its more delicate desktop and the feeling of being locked into Secretlab’s premium ecosystem of accessories.

A desk mat isn’t optional

Though I’ve often used a desk mat in the past to protect the surface of my desk and to help reduce extra noise from typing on one of the best mechanical keyboards, I chose not to with the Magnus Evo. I did so for two reasons: I didn't want to cover the desk's beautiful finish, and I really liked how its soft-touch laminate felt under my forearms.

Unfortunately, when I moved the desk across my game room after a few weeks of use, I noticed small micro-scratches underneath where my keyboard had been. They aren't very noticeable from afar, but if you look closely, they stand out like a dead pixel on one of the best monitors. It's still very usable, but it is annoying when you’ve paid over $500 for a premium desk.

Secretlab’s MagPad desk mats are an elegant (if expensive) solution for the Magnus Pro, as they magnetically snap into place and cover the surface from end to end. However, because the center of the Magnus Evo's desktop isn't metal, they aren’t compatible. This means you’ll have to turn to a third-party desk mat if you want to keep the laminate surface looking pristine.

On a solid wood desk like the Oakywood Standing Desk Pro, you could simply buff or sand out surface-level imperfections. That isn't an option here. To its credit, the Magnus Evo’s laminate is very easy to wipe down, but it is far more susceptible to permanent wear than its more expensive, all-metal sibling.

Accessorizing at a premium

I’ve hinted at it throughout this review, but Secretlab’s ecosystem of first-party accessories isn’t cheap. For instance, the dual-monitor arm I’m using here costs $249, which is more than you’ll pay for most of the best monitor arms. The same holds true for its cable management accessories and under-desk PC mount.

With monitor arms in particular, it might be worth spending extra on one of Secretlab’s due to the Magnus Evo’s design. Since the cable management tray is right up against the back of the desk and you don’t have the option to position it elsewhere, if you’re clamping a monitor arm right at the center, it needs to be a low-profile one. If it isn’t, you’re going to have a much harder time turning the knob for its clamp. Depending on which third-party monitor arm you choose, this might not even be possible.

Although I used Secretlab’s dual monitor arm in this desk setup, I did manage to clamp a third-party accessory to the back of the Magnus Evo. Since I wanted my webcam in the center of the desk, I used a camera desk mount from SmallRig to put it between my two monitors. This took quite a bit of back and forth, given there’s not a lot of clearance between the desktop and the cable management tray, but I eventually got it to work.

Just like with one of the best iPhones, if you do pick up a Magnus Evo or even a Magnus Pro, prepare to set aside some extra cash for a few of Secretlab’s first-party accessories.

Secretlab Magnus Evo: Verdict

The Secretlab Magnus Evo is a sleek and impressive electric standing desk. Thanks to its more subdued design, it works just as well for your battlestation as it does for a dedicated work-from-home setup. The Magnus Evo is more affordable than its predecessor, yet Secretlab still managed to retain many of the best features of the Magnus Pro, like its integrated power supply column and support for magnetic accessories.

While I wish the Magnus Evo’s soft-touch laminate desktop was slightly more resilient, it does feel and look great. Likewise, since the cable management tray is a standalone unit rather than being integrated across the entire frame, you get a bit more freedom when it comes to using third-party accessories, which can be clamped more easily onto the left or right sides of the rear edge.

If you’re looking for a gaming desk that gives you the freedom to play while sitting or standing, the Magnus Evo is an excellent choice. It may not have the built-in storage of Corsair’s Platform 4 Elevate but it does have a more premium look and feel to it.

The Hbada X7 couldn’t be farther from your standard office chair. For starters, it features an almost all-mesh design with a floating wing-style lumbar support. Not to mention its pullout footrest and 6D armrests. On another office chair, these would be the standout features but with the X7, we’re just getting started as this is a smart ergonomic chair.

So what makes it smart? Well, that would be the automotive-grade chip housed within its lumbar support module. Then there’s the power management system housed in the base of the X7’s seat and a slide-out 5,200 mAh battery. All of this extra tech powers the chair’s AI lumbar-tracking but it can also warm you up, cool you down and even give you a massage to help alleviate back pain and fatigue so you can comfortably extend your workday — or a marathon gaming session — even longer.

I’ve been using the X7 as my daily driver for the past two months. Even with all these smart features disabled, it’s still an extremely supportive and comfortable chair with plenty of adjustment points to help you lock in the perfect fit. However, thanks to its on-board AI and sensors, you don’t have to make all these adjustments yourself. Instead, the X7 does the brunt of the work for you.

My Hbada X7 review will help you decide if this is the best office chair for you and whether or not all of these extras are really worth its steep asking price.

Hbada X7: Cheat Sheet

• What is it? A high-end, smart ergonomic office chair that features a motorized lumbar support system, built-in massage, and active seat ventilation.
• Who is it for? People who spend extended hours at their desk and those looking for therapeutic relief for chronic back pain or past injuries.
• What does it cost? The Hbada X7 has a list price of $1,509 but is frequently on sale for $1,299 or even $1,199.
• What do we like? The chair’s sturdy build quality, the premium materials used throughout, the active seat cooling and infrared heat, the pull-out footrest, how its lumbar support adjusts automatically, the built-in massager and how the remote control is stowed on the side.
• What don’t we like? The 75-pound weight and the extra bulk the chair’s smart features add, the more involved assembly process, the high list price and having to manage a battery or charging cable for its features to work.

Hbada X7: Specs

Hbada X7: The Ups

From its striking design to its automated adjustments, the Hbada X7 has plenty going for it. What surprised me most though wasn’t the flashy tech — it was just how comfortable the chair was to sit in during long, 8+ hour stretches. Still, there’s nothing quite like your chair giving you an unprompted massage right when you’ve hit a slump.

Space-age support

Just like with the Hinomi X1 I previously reviewed, the X7 looks like it was engineered rather than designed. From its mesh headrest and backrest to the pull-out footrest and highly adjustable armrests, all of these parts form a cohesive office chair that looks and feels high-tech even before you insert its massive battery.

The X7 is also designed to support your entire body as you shift throughout the day. If you turn to the left or right, its 16-inch extra-wide headrest is there to support the sides of your head, not just the back. Likewise, if you turn your torso, the cushioned "floating wings" on the outer edges of the lumbar support ensure that your sides remain supported.

Around back, the heavy-duty aluminum frame helps keep your spine aligned. Because it connects directly to the base of the seat, you get this same level of support even when reclining up to 140 degrees (more on that later).

The same holds true for its 6D armrests, which can be rotated 360 degrees or tilted upward to meet your elbows wherever they land. One thing I immediately noticed is that the X7's armrests stay firmly in place once adjusted. I can’t say the same for the Herman Miller Vantum gaming chair I reviewed, where I found myself constantly repositioning its arm pads.

Out of the box, you have a total of 22 different adjustment points to tweak. If that seems overwhelming, you don't actually have to master all of them — you can just reach for the remote and let the chair’s "brain" handle the heavy lifting.

No lumbar adjustments necessary

Although the X7 comes with a power cable, nobody wants to be tethered to a wall. Fortunately, Hbada now includes a rechargeable 5,200 mAh battery with the chair. It charges via USB-C and takes about as long as a modern smartphone to top off. Once it’s ready, you simply slide the battery into its housing on the right side of the seat.

With power established, it’s time to grab the built-in remote located on the left side of the chair. This isn't a wireless unit that you’ll misplace easily; it’s hard-wired to the X7 with a clever, retractable flat cable. The small OLED screen is crisp and easy to read, with intuitive icons for every function.

From here, you can toggle the seat fans, engage the infrared heating system, or start a bionic massage cycle. There is also a manual slider to move the lumbar support forward or back, but the real star is the "Auto" button in the top-left corner. This is what puts the chair into "set it and forget it" mode.

The X7 uses magnetic Hall Effect sensors — the same tech found in the best PC game controllers to prevent stick drift — to detect your exact sitting position. If you lean forward to focus on a task, the sensors recognize the shift and signal the motors to bring the lumbar support closer to meet you. Think of it as reactive ergonomics where the X7 shifts throughout your workday to catch you the moment your posture slips.

The backrest on the LiberNovo Omni adjusts in a similar way, using a smaller 2,200 mAh battery to power a motorized actuator. However, with that chair, you’re the one pressing the buttons. The X7 is the only chair I’ve tested that takes that responsibility off your plate entirely.

It’s been great using the X7 as my daily driver for work, but all work and no play makes for a much less versatile office chair.

For far more than work

Whether you want to take a quick break or cozy up in front of one of the best monitors to catch up on a show, the Hbada X7 makes it easy. Underneath the seat is a pull-out footrest that can be deployed or stowed in seconds. It’s integrated directly into the frame, similar to the one on the Hinomi X1, rather than being a separate, standalone piece like the LiberNovo Omni’s optional footrest.

While the X7’s smart adjustments help you stay productive, you can also toggle them off with a single button to focus purely on the chair’s spa-like modes. Personally, I found reclining in the X7 to be a great way to gather my thoughts or rest my eyes between meetings. It’s also incredibly comfortable for gaming sessions; I spent plenty of time with my feet up playing my Nintendo Switch 2, with the 8D dual-core massager enabled.

Speaking of the massage, the difference here is mechanical. While the LiberNovo Omni simply moves your spine up and down for something similar to an adjustment at a chiropractor, the X7’s rollers — which Hbada calls "bionic hands" — mimic a real kneading motion. I found it significantly more beneficial for loosening up my lower back than the optional Elemax unit on the X-Chair X3.

The X7 may be marketed for work, but it doubles as one of the best gaming chairs too. You get the structure needed for competitive play, but you can also cozy up with the infrared heat on when playing something more whimsical like Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream or Animal Crossing.

Hbada X7: The Downs

The Hbada X7 is an impressive feat of engineering and a whole new direction for ergonomic office chairs. However, it’s not without its downsides which include the more detailed assembly process which feels somewhat out of place at this higher price point.

Heavy lifting required

The Hbada X7 arrived in a single, massive 83-pound box. I almost wish it had shipped in two separate packages like the best standing desks; while I managed to bring it inside fairly easily at my one-story house, you’ll definitely want a second set of hands if you’re lugging this up multiple flights of stairs to an apartment or upstairs office.

Once unboxed, the X7 required significantly more legwork than I’d expect at this price point. The Steelcase Karman, which carries a similarly high price tag, arrives fully assembled. Even the slightly cheaper Herman Miller Vantum is a "drop-in" affair where you simply set the chair on the gas cylinder.

With the X7, I actually had to assemble the base myself — a task that's rare even among the best budget office chairs. While I suspect this was done to fit the chair into a single box, it felt out of place for a $1,500 product.

Since this is a smart chair, you also have to manage its "nervous system." A wire protruding from the back of the seat must be plugged into the backrest for the smart adjustments to function. There isn't much clearance to work with, and it felt tedious ensuring the two parts had a secure connection without pinching the cable.

With the build complete, you're left with a 75-pound behemoth. Since that 8D dual-core massager is housed in the lumbar support, much of that weight is concentrated at the back. Suffice it to say, you’re better off leaving the X7 in one spot rather than rolling it around your home like with the OdinLake Ergo Butterfly 753, which features a convenient handle on the rear.

Puzzled pricing

At its full price of $1,509, the X7 feels like a stretch. Paying over $1,000 for a premium office chair isn’t unheard of — I’ve personally tested several in this bracket — but the value proposition here is unique. With a chair like the Steelcase Karman High-Back, you’re paying for proprietary Intermix material that blends the breathability of mesh with the softness of fabric. With the X7, that premium is going toward its smarts.

Don’t get me wrong: the X7 is an incredibly supportive and comfortable chair that will make a world of difference for anyone who spends too long at a desk or struggles with back pain. However, you’re taking a gamble. Until you live with it, you won’t know if these smart extras will become essential to your workflow or something you try once and never touch again.

If you like the look and feel of the X7 but prefer a more analog experience, you might be better off with the Hbada E3 Ultra or the E3 Pro, both of which fall under $1,000 (the E3 Pro often dips below $500 on sale). Similarly, the Hinomi X1 offers a very similar aesthetic and manual functionality for less too.

The warranty is also a sticking point. While the X7 comes with a 5-year guarantee, that only covers load-bearing structures like the base, gas lift, and casters. The arms, backrest, and — most importantly — the electronic components are only covered for three years. Contrast that with the standard 12-year warranties from Herman Miller and Steelcase, and it’s enough to make you question the X7’s longevity.

As of now, I’ve used the X7 for 8+ hours a day for two months without a single issue. It's also worth noting that while the list price is $1,509, the chair has been consistently on sale for $1,299 on Hbada’s site since I received it. At that lower price, the "early adopter tax" is a bit easier to justify, but it's still a significant investment in a relatively new technology.

Hbada X7: Verdict

As it stands now, the Hbada X7 is in a class of its own. While there are other chairs with motorized lumbar adjustment and built-in massagers, this is the only one I’ve tested that handles all of those features for you autonomously. It’s been great to have the massage mode kick in automatically after sitting at my desk for too long. And while you do have to recharge its massive battery, I only had to do so a handful of times during the two months I used the X7 as my daily driver.

Even with the smart features disabled, the X7 is an excellent ergonomic chair. There are plenty of adjustment points to tailor the fit to your liking, and I really appreciate the versatility of the 6D armrests and the convenience of the integrated pull-out footrest.

At $1,299 on perpetual sale, the X7 is certainly still an investment. For that price, however, you’re getting a fully-equipped ergonomic chair that doubles as a legitimate recovery tool. It won’t be for everyone — recharging your furniture and letting AI take the reins of your posture feels a bit strange at first. But if you work long hours or are tired of dealing with persistent back pain, the X7 is a worthy, high-tech upgrade for your home office setup.

As someone who sits cross-legged roughly 80% of the time when I'm working from home, I've spent the last few years wishing that my current racing-style office chair was wider and more comfortable for this type of sitting. Not only is my current chair huge, bulky, and not even a little bit breathable, but its bucket-style seat can put pressure on my ankles when I sit this way.

Little did I know that 'Criss Cross' office chairs had become a thing over the past year, with these casual-style seats even turning into a viral sensation on TikTok. Honestly, it almost feels like I manifested them into existence!

As the name implies, these chairs are made for sitting cross-legged, featuring a wide, flat seat with a low back and (usually) no armrests. They also come in versions with or without wheels, which is great for those who prefer their chair to stay put when their feet aren’t firmly on the floor.

If lower back support is what you're after, you're probably better off looking elsewhere. You'll also find that the low back on these chairs means no headrest, so that's another thing you'll want to consider before trying out a Criss Cross option.

Thankfully, the barrier to entry for trying these trending chairs is quite low on these cross-legged models — unlike some office chairs which cost hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars, Criss Cross chairs can be purchased from under AU$100 on Amazon, and with free delivery for Prime members.

Here are the 9 models I’m considering, each with an average rating of 4 stars or higher from Amazon buyers. Prices range from as low as AU$88 to just over AU$200, making them all quite affordable.

I’d never recommend hiding your Wi-Fi router in a bookshelf, as that would likely lead to overheating and a weakened signal. But what about the rest of your networking gear? From network switches to smart home hubs and everything else that needs to be hardwired, that approach could certainly work. To see if it was possible, I decided to do it myself.

I’m in the early stages of hardwiring my home for Ethernet and I eventually want to install an in-wall networking cabinet. That way, all the cables can end up in one place. However, before I start cutting a large hole in my drywall and actually running cables from one side of my house to the other, I first wanted to move all of my networking gear and my Wi-Fi router to a more central location.

Up until now, my router was in our game room where our fiber internet connection comes into the house while all of my various switches and hubs were on a shelf in my office. To consolidate everything while putting my router higher up for a better signal, I decided to buy a tall bookshelf and make a few tweaks to it.

Here’s all the gear I used to do so and a few key home hacks that let me hide all the cables for a much cleaner look.

Just a few minor alterations

Instead of a standard Billy bookcase from IKEA, after a whole lot of research, I actually ended up getting a kitchen pantry cabinet for this project. While your standard bookshelf is certainly the cheapest way to pull off something like this, I chose the shelf I did specifically because it has doors on both the top and the bottom. That way, most of my gear will remain out of sight but I can quickly access it when I need to.

The only problem was that since this is a kitchen pantry cabinet and not an entertainment center, there weren’t any openings for running cables to my various devices. This is my cabinet after all, so I decided to modify it slightly to meet my needs. For less than $10, I picked up a four pack of desk grommets that came with the required hole saw drill attachment to make holes for them.

Although the sides and shelves are made from sturdy particle board, the back panel is made from thin laminate-faced fiberboard. I knew from experience that drilling through this stuff often leads to jagged splinters, and I wanted a professional finish. After consulting with Google Gemini, I followed its suggestion to use painter’s tape on both the front and back of the panel to hold the surface together while I drilled.

I was skeptical at first but after a bit of taping and drilling my first 2-inch hole, it worked like a charm. In total, I drilled four holes with one in each of the top compartments, one in the open middle section and one in the bottom compartment.

From there, it was just a matter of cleaning up the sawdust left from my drill and installing the grommets. Since the included hole saw drill bit was the perfect size for them, I just popped each grommet in one by one. This was my first time doing anything like this and though I still had a lot of work to do, I was already really impressed by how the first step of this project turned out.

With my holes drilled and my grommets installed, it was time to start putting everything in place and managing all of the various cables.

Raising my router (and my networking gear)

From the get go, I always planned to put my eero Max 7 mesh router on the top of the cabinet. Since there’s still a good two feet between the cabinet and the ceiling above it, my router has plenty of space for airflow. Likewise, I could use the back of the cabinet to hide the wires running down from it to the shelves holding my other networking gear and down to the ground where our fiber line comes in.

With my router installed up top, it was time to start getting everything ready for the cabinet’s upper and lower shelves. With several switches and hubs in the same compartment, I wanted a way to maximize the space there while also ensuring that these devices too got plenty of airflow.

To that end, I settled on a few monitor stands to do just that since I’m quite familiar with them from building my various desk setups. I got two sets of two stands: two with glass tops and two with metal tops with holes for — you guessed it — improved airflow.

Given that you want to keep anything metal as far away from your router as possible to avoid signal interference, I planned to use the glass stands in the top compartments and the metal ones in the bottom compartments. Though my router is on top of the cabinet, the hub for my Philips Hue smart lights sends out a wireless signal to the bulbs all around my home. By using a stand with a glass top, that signal can go out of the cabinet without being disrupted.

As you can see in the picture above, I used the stands to separate all of the devices instead of just stacking them on top of one another. I have one 2.5 Gigabit network switch in the middle and a gigabit one below it. My router is connected to the 2.5 Gigabit one first and then to the gigabit one but once I finish wiring my home for Ethernet, I’m going to put a 10 Gigabit switch inside my in-wall networking cabinet.

So far, everything is relatively cool in there, though I do open the doors from time to time to bring in some fresh air and for another reason which I’ll get to in a bit. With the top cabinet and all of my networking devices connected and powered on, it was time to move to the middle section of the cabinet.

Multi-charging and faster downloads

With so many tablets, phones and other devices around, I decided to dedicate the lower exposed shelf solely to charging. I had a multi-device charging station years ago when I lived in Korea, so I picked one up at a discount during Amazon’s Big Spring Sale event. The charging station I got is a 400W one with USB-C ports in the middle and USB-A ones on either side. The USB-C ports in the very center can deliver up to 100W of power while the USB-A ports on the sides deliver up to 20W.

When the cabinet doors are closed, the charging station is the only thing you can see. Since we often entertain in our game room, I figured this was an easy way to guide anyone whose phone was about to die to a charger without them having to ask if we had one.

Although you can only see a USB-C cable coming out of the smaller 1-inch grommet on the shelf above this one (I picked up a few more smaller ones for future projects), it’s not for charging. Instead, it’s actually a download station and I have to give credit to How to Geek’s Sydney Butler for the idea. You see, on the other end of that USB-C cable there’s actually a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet adapter tucked behind the cabinet and an Ethernet cable running up to the network switch above it.

Wi-Fi has certainly improved quite a lot over the years. However, sometimes you just need to download a lot of large files or a huge game really quickly and don’t want to wait. When that happens, I just walk over to my cabinet, plug in the device in question and start downloading over a faster hardwired connection instead of on Wi-Fi. So far, I’ve used it to quickly download a few Switch 2 games but it could also be really useful for uploading large files to my NAS on the end table next to it.

With my networking gear safely stowed away and my charging needs more than met, it was time for one last addition to my cabinet that turned it from a standard piece of furniture into a hidden home lab.

A PC to tie it all together

When I first finished building the cabinet, I stood in front of it and that’s when I realized that the upper open shelf was at the exact height that I have one of the best standing desks raised to when working while standing. I couldn’t let a coincidence like this go to waste, so I decided to put a PC in the cabinet.

Having a computer integrated into the cabinet makes it very easy to check on the status of my home network but it’s also handy when downloading files and adding them to my NAS. Since a computer in a bookshelf would look slightly out of place, I decided to put a portable monitor inside the cabinet at the top and one of the best mini PCs on a shelf down below. My keyboard and mini trackball mouse are out in the open in the photo above but when I’m not using the computer, I stow them away in front of my portable monitor.

In the bottom compartments of my cabinet, I have the ONT box that converts our fiber line into an Ethernet one and I used those metal shelves to create some extra space above the power strip I have plugged in on that shelf. While I initially planned on just putting one mini PC here, I ended up putting two. The one on the right is an old Minisforum machine I picked up a few years back for personal use while the one on the left is the Minix Elite EU715-AI I reviewed earlier this year.

Now I absolutely need to keep the cabinet doors open when using my Minisforum machine which I found out the hard way when it started to get hot after prolonged use. With the Minix one though, I can actually keep it running 24/7 behind closed doors without it overheating because it doesn’t have any moving parts and features a massive integrated heatsink.

I have a full-featured USB-C cable running up to the portable monitor above as well as a mini HDMI to HDMI one too. That way, I can have two devices connected at any given time. Having a computer here also makes a lot of sense as my UGreen NAS is located right next to the cabinet.

About that portable Blu-Ray drive under the shelf. I recently inherited crates and crates of old Blu-Rays and DVDs from my mother-in-law and plan on digitizing them before putting them on my NAS. Given I don’t want to disrupt my main desk when doing so, I figured ripping all of those movies right here in the cabinet would make the most sense.

I do have some extra space on the very bottom shelf and right now, I’m using that to store the extra metal monitor stand I didn’t end up using along with a separate keyboard with an integrated trackpad for my personal machine. I might think of something to add there later but for now, it’s a great place for extra storage.

Ready for my next big project

It took me longer than I’d like to admit, mainly due to finding the right cabinet for this project, but my hidden home lab is armed and fully operational. I’ve been checking the ambient temperatures behind those closed cabinet doors periodically and I’m happy to report that there’s no sign of overheating yet.

As for my office, I now have a whole lot more room for all of my various gadgets since all of my networking gear is out of that room and contained nicely within the cabinet. My Wi-Fi speeds are about the same with my main mesh router lifted up but I do like how it’s now in a place where my son or my dogs for that matter won’t be able to mess with it.

Next comes the even harder part, cutting out a large rectangular hole in the wall next to my hidden home lab to install that in-wall networking cabinet. Once that’s done and I’ve wired up a few outlets inside it to power that 10 Gigabit network switch, I can get started on the really fun part: crawling around my attic to run cables and putting even more holes in the wall.

While I’m still nervous about wiring my entire home for Ethernet, at least now I know that once I do, I’ll be able to run a single cable to my mesh router on top of my cabinet and know that everything from my switches and hubs to the mini PCs inside and my NAS next to it will be fully connected and ready to go.

More from Tom's Guide

• I turned an old monitor into a digital dashboard and it's a game changer
• I used this classic IKEA cart to build a rollable workstation for my laptop and it lets me work comfortably from anywhere
• I finally found the secret to perfectly straight braided cables — and it doesn't cost a thing

Whether you just built your first PC or put the finishing touches on what was supposed to be your endgame desk setup, there’s one thing you probably haven’t even considered: how to keep everything clean and organized.

Yes, that’s right. While many of us already have our next GPU or monitor upgrade planned out, we often completely overlook the day-to-day reality of living with our new PC or desk setup. Fortunately, I build desk setups for a living and know exactly what you need (and what you don’t) to keep your setup clean, tidy, and distraction-free.

From an electric duster to give your PC a thorough cleaning every three to six months to ensuring that you have as much usable desk space as possible, the accessories below have served me well for years now. I’ve included a few options for you to choose from, like wireless versus hardwired electric dusters and fixed monitor stands versus rotating monitor arms.

Whether you want to clean your PC the right way before dust can damage its components or you just want to give your desk setup a much-needed makeover to add some extra storage space, these are all products I personally recommend after using them for years.

More from Tom’s Guide

• I bought this electric duster and cleaning my gadgets has never been easier
• How to clean a desktop PC in 9 easy steps
• 15 ultimate home office upgrades — here's my complete future-proof workstation setup for power users

I have always been a bit of a "gremlin" who prefers working in the later hours of the day and into the night. Besides the neon glow from my Govee RGB desk strip lights and occasionally a lamp, I'm working in a dark room, staring at my ridiculously large and eye searingly bright Samsung 49" G9 Ultrawide monitor.

I had seen monitor light bars trending for the past few years, but I've always dismissed them as a fad. I mean, I already had lamps, and desk lighting that looked much cooler, why would I clip another light to the top of my screen?

After seeing the Quntis Curved RGB Monitor Light Bar go on sale and finally trying it out myself to see what all the fuss was about, I’m kicking myself for waiting this long. Turns out monitor light bars aren't just a gimmick, they’re the missing piece I didn’t know my desk setup needed.

No more eye strain

So here's what I quickly realized. Light placement is super important. Unlike a desk lamp that you might have off to one side of your desk which can create unwanted hot spots and glare on your monitor, a light bar shines light strictly downward onto your workspace, illuminating your desk and keyboard area without impacting your monitor experience.

Especially in the dimmer and cozier rooms I prefer to work in, eyes can have a hard time with the "contrast gap" between staring at a very bright monitor and the dark wall behind it.

Adding a light bar softens that transition making looking at a screen feel significantly less like staring into a flashlight. I noticed this instantly and my eyes felt much more relaxed and by the end of the night I wasn't as fatigued.

Built for the curve

If you’re rocking a massive display like my Samsung G9, standard straight light bars are going to look silly and honestly might do more harm than good.

So after a bit of research, I found this Quntis model which can extend up to 25.74" wide and is designed for 34-inch-plus curved 1000R/1800R screens. Its triple folding clip rests on top of my monitor without any adhesive needed and it uses two curved arms which bend allowing it to follow the arc of my monitor really well. In fact, it actually looks pretty well integrated rather than some random accessory.

It uses a wireless puck controller to toggle the downward facing "work" light (adjusting both brightness and color temperature) independently from the top-facing RGB bar which lets you adjust its color and lighting effects.

What would make this better?

While most of my new battery-powered gadgets are rechargeable, the puck controller still relies on AAA batteries. USB-C charging would have been nice to have here.

I do wish it had WiFi or smart-home integration too. Being able to sync it with Alexa or Google Home to turn it on or off along with the other smart lights in my studio would be the ultimate convenience.

Also the RGB light is a nice touch that adds a pop of color, but it honestly isn't as impactful as I would have liked. Since it shines more upward than backward, it can't really bounce its lighting against your wall to really see its effects.

At least for my set up, it's been something that looks cool when I'm appreciating my desk setup from a few feet away, but when I actually go to work at my desk, it's barely noticeable since its positioned above my eyeline. That said, the fact this is included at the same price point as non-RGB models made this more forgivable.

My new must have desk accessory

At roughly $60, this felt like a low-risk experiment that yielded a high-reward result. Since I spend so much time working in a dim room, this isn't just a "nice-to-have" accessory, it's been a big boost to productivity.

I may always be an editing gremlin but my setup has never felt or looked better to work at.

More from Tom's Guide

• 18 accessories I swear by for my desk setup: Content creation, productivity and gaming all in one place
• I spend all day editing videos and this $550 standing desk for gamers might be the best upgrade to my setup yet
• I ditched my iPhone and iPad for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 for 2 weeks — here’s what happened

After testing the WalkingPad Z1 for 9 months, I can confidently say it’s one of the best under-desk treadmills out there. Every time I work from home, and often if the weather is too bad to get out for a walk, I clock in at least an hour on the treadmill.

I’ve been consistently hitting my 10,000 steps a day goal, and have a lot more energy for it. When the afternoon slump hits at around 3 pm, I know I can unfold the treadmill and get my energy levels back up in no time.

Movement is the key to keeping your mind and body healthy, but why is this treadmill in particular the right choice for home office workers and people with busy schedules? Here’s everything you need to know.

Staying comfortable

An essential step of getting your steps in on a walking treadmill is wearing the right footwear. I recommend having a pair of comfortable trainers on hand that you can wear specifically for using the treadmill.

These shoes should be something comfortable, like the Skechers Max Cushioning Elite 2.0 that I like to use, and they should be kept clean.

By having a pair of shoes for this specific purpose, you won’t be bringing any dirt or debris from outside onto the belt, which can result in wear and tear and shorten the longevity of the treadmill. Looking after the equipment means you can rely on it for years to come.

Safely put away

Since the WalkingPad Z1 is a folding treadmill, it can be easily stored out of the way, so it’s not an eyesore in the house like a full-size treadmill. But being careful when taking it out and putting it away is essential to making sure all the components stay in the best condition.

It’s a great idea to store it in a location that doesn’t get much dust, like under the sofa or under your desk. These are also areas where you can easily access the treadmill.

When storing, I always unplug the power cord so it doesn’t get damaged or folded. This keeps everything working correctly and avoids any unnecessary stress on components.

Opt for a brushless motor

The WalkingPad Z1 has a brushless motor, which means there’s less opportunity for overheating or wear of the belt. With reduced mechanical wear, the under-desk treadmill motor will last significantly longer than a brush motor.

As an added benefit, brushless motors also mean that operation is a lot quieter. This is perfect for working from home, where you need focus.

To find out more about the under-desk treadmill, you can read this full WalkingPad Z1 review.

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• Adding a Hot Girl Walk to my working day with this foldable under-desk treadmill helped me hit my 10,000 steps with ease
• Your weekend binge list: 10 new shows and movies to stream on Netflix, HBO Max and more (March 20-22)
• I asked Google Maps to find the cheapest gas — this hidden feature nailed it

A huge part of remaining productive all day long is staying comfortable. If my back starts to ache from being hunched over my computer screen for too long, I start to get agitated and completely lose focus. That’s why having one of the best office chairs makes all the difference.

The Boulies OP180 has all of the makings of a great, understated office chair. It’s got great support, lots of adjustability, and is easy to build. But the chair has some competitively priced rivals that may make you think twice about buying such a basic chair.

If you want to find out if this is the cure to your productivity issues or back pain, keep reading this full Boulies OP180 review.

Boulies OP180 review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A basic office chair with great support
• Who is it for? Anyone who needs comfort and support at their desk 9-to-5
• How much does it cost? $239 / £169
• What do we like? All-day comfort with great back support and lots of adjustability. It’s quick to assemble and looks good too
• What don’t we like? That you aren’t getting dedicated lumbar support and that the chair doesn’t come with a headrest

Boulies OP180 review: Specs

Boulies OP180 review: The ups

The Boulies OP180 is a basic, functional chair that does exactly what you need it to do. It’s also quick and easy to build, making it a great option for bulk-buying to furnish a multi-person office.

All-day-long comfort

I didn’t realize quite how uncomfortable my work-issued office chair was until I sat down on the Boulies OP180. Thanks to the heaps of adjustments (more on that later) and the comfortable materials used in its construction, I had minimal back pain when working at my desk all day long.

The foam padding on the seat of the chair contours to ensure support, while the mesh back has just enough give and is almost bouncy. This means I can pretty comfortably move around and still feel supported, no matter where the most pressure is on my back.

The adjustable armrests are also great for ensuring I don't put too much strain on my wrists and forearms when I’m typing all day. They’re not hard plastic and have some flex and cushioning to them. I especially like that you’re able to angle these inward or outward depending on what you’re doing.

Another shout for all-day comfort is the Steelase Karman ($846). We rate it as one of the most comfortable chairs we’ve tested at Tom’s Guide, but it’s a lot more expensive. In a similar price range to the OP180 is the Boulies EP300, which offers a wider range of support, includes a headrest, and is only $50 more expensive at $289. And if you can stretch an extra $60 to $299, you could pick up the Boulies EP460, which is fully mesh and more supportive overall.

Heaps of adjustments

For what looks like a basic office chair, the Boulies OP180 offers plenty of adjustability. There are four levers on the underside of the seat — three on the right and one on the left — for making adjustments to the seat angle, seat height, backrest angle, and seat depth.

The seat depth can be adjusted from 1.5 to 1.6 inches using the lever on the left side, and this determines how much of your thighs are supported by the seat, so if you have longer legs, you’ll want to extend this. Most budget chairs lack this feature, so it’s great to see it here. The seat height can also be adjusted between 1.4 and 1.7 inches, so again, if you’re on the taller side of the 6’3” recommended maximum height, you’ll want to extend this.

You can also adjust the seat tilt between 2º and 10º. This isn’t something I’ve thought of doing before, but I often slouch down in my seat throughout the day (usually when the afternoon slump hits around 3 pm), and increasing the angle of the chair stops this from happening.

Angling the backrest of the chair can be really useful when doing tasks where you don’t necessarily need to have your hands on your keyboard, like in a video call. You can easily recline with the lever on the right side, between 79º and 103º. That’s 13º backwards and 11º forwards, which may not sound like much, but it can make all the difference for day-long comfort.

The height of the backrest is adjustable between 1.7 and 2.1 inches to fit the contour of your back. This was very easy for me to do as I just needed to lift the back of the chair from the bottom to increase the height, and push it down to lower it. No button pressing needed.

As I mentioned earlier, the adjustable arms are what make this chair so comfortable. The armrests are detachable if they get in your way, but I think they provide a good level of support and help to ensure my posture remains upright, so I left them on. They can have their height adjusted between 2.1 and 2.6 inches. The top of the armrests can also be angled depending on your typing position or what you’re doing in your chair, and can slide forward or backward depending on the length of your arms.

There’s clearly a lot of scope for adjustment here, but people on the taller side of the scale may want to try something that can better support their long limbs and go for something like the Oak Hollow Aloria ($849), as it offers even more adjustment. Or, the Boulies NUBI ($239) could be the right choice if you want a budget option, since it has a higher back.

Simple assembly

When we received the Boulies OP180, it was well-packaged, and nothing was damaged. The box includes bolts and a hex key, so you have all the tools you need for a quick setup. There are only six bolts required when building the chair, so the process is really simple.

You need to screw the bolts into place to hold the arms, which is a little finicky, but following that, everything else is super simple. It’s just a case of slotting the base legs, gas piston and the casters (or wheels) into place. Slotting all of this together takes a little bit of strength; the manual actually recommends that you stand on the legs to make sure they are as stable as possible.

No pins are holding the legs in place, so the mechanism relies on the chair’s weight to exert mass on them to hold them together by utilizing gravity. The backrest also slots onto the seat pretty easily.

This is hands down one of the easiest chairs to build, and Boulies’ claim of being able to assemble the chair in five minutes holds some truth. Our reviews editor, Pete Wolinski, a seasoned chair builder, put the OP180 together in just 10 minutes — still one of the fastest and easiest-to-assemble chairs he’s ever built.

If you’re going to be bulk-buying these chairs for an office, the OP180 is a quick and simple option. It’s a much better choice than the Boulies EP460 ($299) if you’re looking for something straightforward and understandable, since the EP460 didn’t come with a manual when we tested it.

Non-intrusive

If I were to use one word to describe the Boulies OP1800, it would be nondescript. It’s an unassuming chair with no real identifiable features. It just goes about its day without looking garish and doesn’t stand out.

The chair is black, but the mesh back, being semi-transparent, adds some texture. Since this is one of the more basic models from Boulies, it’s not as much of a statement as the Boulies EP300 or the Boulies EP460, which have a much larger stature and headrests that you just can’t miss.

Where I sit in the office is a pretty tight squeeze between my desk and the wall, and the chair has no problems squeezing into this space. It’s basic and functional, so what’s not to love?

Boulies OP180 review: The downs

Unfortunately, in the U.S., the EP180 costs nearly the same as larger, bulkier models with more features like headrests.

Faces fierce competition

The Boulies OP180 is available for $239 at Amazon U.S. In the U.K., it is known as the EP180 and is available for £169 at Amazon. While the chair is comfortable and offers heaps of adjustments, paying this much for it is pretty off-putting when you see the competition in the same price range.

As I mentioned earlier, for an extra $50, you can pick up the Boulies EP300, which comes with better lumbar support, a more padded seat, and a headrest. The EP460 offers similar features for an extra $60 but has more space for extra comfort.

So why wouldn’t you splash out a little on enhanced comfort? And with a similar style to the EP460, the Shioo M56C is available for just $209 and offers dynamic lumbar support with a mesh back that provides similar flex to the OP180.

Boulies OP180 review: Verdict

The Boulies OP180 has made my work day so much better. It gives all-day comfort with great support to ensure I remain as productive as possible. The chair is impressively easy to build and comes well-packaged from the manufacturer, ensuring everything is in the best condition.

It offers a good level of adjustability across angles and heights, and the non-intrusive design means it fits in well with pretty much any setup. But that U.S. price tag is quite the doozy when you can get more bang for your buck with similarly priced models.

I’d say this is a great choice for U.K. shoppers, and for anyone looking to kit out an office with multiple chairs, but you could go for one of the competing models that are in the same price range and offer more dynamic support.

Craft lovers and DIY experts, get ready! Cricut has just announced its latest iteration of die-cutting machines, set to reinvigorate and simplify the crafting process.

For the uninformed, Cricut machines are precision-based cutting devices that you can use to create and customize almost anything your heart desires. As a hobbyist crafter, I have always yearned to be in the Cricut-crafting cult, and my dreams came true with my Cricut Maker 4 review last year.

However, there were a couple of factors I wasn't particularly keen on — including the sometimes buggy software and added costs for materials and tools on top of an already expensive machine. That said, Cricut has announced two new device bundles and a complete overhaul to its Design Space software — both of which I'm particularly pleased about.

Launching in the UK and US on February 27, and in AU on March 6, the Cricut Explore 5 and the Cricut Joy 2 mark the start of a new era for the brand, with sleeker, modern machine designs, a guided software experience, and all the tools and materials needed to get crafting straight out of the box.

As per Cricut's CEO, Ashish Arora, the brand's fanbase has asked for products that are easier to use and more affordable. "We listened and simplified the entire experience end-to-end. From the moment they open the box, everything required to be successful is included."

The Cricut Explore 5 enters as the newest mid-range machine, priced at $249 / £249.99 / AU$449. The machine can make precision cuts on over 100 materials, and is 30% more compact than the previous Explore 4 model, all while featuring the same dependable 12-inch cutting performance. Alongside the Explore 5 comes a bundle of select materials and tools, including vinyl, cardstock and a cutting mat, which can be used to create up to 65 projects immediately after opening.

The Cricut Joy 2, on the other hand, is priced at $139 / £129.99 / AU$249 and comes with a similar bundle that lets you create any of 35 projects within minutes of opening the box. The Joy 2 has a smaller footprint than its predecessors, the Cricut Joy and the Cricut Joy Xtra. That said, the Joy 2 packs a mighty punch, now with an upgraded cutting precision for over 75 materials.

The Joy 2 also comes with a new print-then-cut sensor for sticker making — optical sensor tech previously exclusive to the Maker and Explore models. This means you can print your sticker designs with Cricut-branded sticker paper and cut them to size with the smaller machine, instead of forking out for a larger model. (And no spoilers, but after having some hands-on time for my upcoming review, the Joy 2 is shaping up to be a good'un for everyday beginner-friendly crafting.)

Both machines sport new streamlined looks, with the Explore 5 available in a neutral taupe colorway and the Joy 2 available in an adorable two-toned blue colorway. In a slight redesign, the machines have lost their lids, which previous models had to support using a tablet on top of the device.

New and improved Design Space software

Despite having all the correct tools, materials and power adaptor, Cricut machines are all solely dependent on one factor — and that's the companion design software, Cricut Design Space.

The only caveat we've found in our reviews here at Tom's Guide — including my own Cricut Maker 4 review — is that Design Space isn't very user-friendly. That said, Cricut has integrated new features in a conscious effort to improve the software's accessibility.

Cricut has now introduced "Guided Flows", designed to understand what the user wants to make and provide step-by-step instructions from start to finish. Guided Flows show users only what's needed at each stage of the design process and help them understand exactly which materials and tools are required for their chosen project.

Alongside Guided Flows, Design Space's canvas can now preview projects and allow users to see their designs while creating them. Be it a T-shirt, mug, sticker or phone case, you now have the option of clicking on the sidebar preview, and watch it change as you edit or update your design — and IMO, it's pretty neat.

Cricut has also welcomed "Create AI" for paid Design Space subscribers, which allows them to generate custom single-layer AI designs. It might not be the most essential new tool, given the thousands of Cricut Community designs, but it does offer powerful customization for those niche projects you have in mind.

Personally, I'm ready to get stuck into my next big DIY — and these new Cricut machines might help me do just that.

More from Tom's Guide

• Cricut Joy review
• Cricut Joy Xtra review: this capable cutting machine is perfect for beginners
• Cricut Maker 4 review

When it comes to your office chair, the more adjustment points the better. From your standard seat height to the more advanced seat pan depth and adjustable lumbar support, an ergonomic office chair will let you configure everything down to the position of its armrests so you can lock in the right fit for your body type and workflow.

As someone who tests and reviews the best office chairs for a living, I can’t even count how many hours I’ve spent fiddling with knobs and levers as I move from chair to chair. While I’ve gotten used to adjusting all the different parts of an office chair, the novelty has definitely worn off. Fortunately, though, with the chair I’m currently testing, I haven’t had to adjust a thing besides the position of its headrest.

Just like the X-Chair X3 and the LiberNovo Omni I reviewed, Hbada’s new X7 office chair is a lot more high-tech than even the best budget office chairs. It also has a battery and plenty of moving parts, but the X7 does something I’ve never seen in a chair before: it automatically adjusts itself for you. That’s right, no more messing with knobs and levers for me (at least for now).

I’ve been using the world’s first AI-powered, smart lumbar-tracking chair for a few weeks now. While the Hbada X7’s all-mesh design and built-in footrest are great features, the real surprise is the smart adjustments — I didn't expect them to work this well, or be this useful.

High-powered ergonomics

After unboxing and putting the Hbada X7 together, I was so excited to try out its smart features that I didn’t even read the instructions. Instead, I plugged in the power adapter that came with a cable and a magnetic tip, assuming I was charging the battery.

As it turns out, that black power cable is actually for powering the chair directly, not charging it. Still, doing so did give me a chance to do my preliminary adjustments and testing, which involved trying out the X7’s built-in heating, cooling, and even a massager.

Although you can buy the Hbada X7 without a battery for slightly cheaper, if you want to use the smart features and all those extras without being tethered to the wall, I’d recommend spending slightly more for the battery. You're investing in a premium office chair that's specifically designed to help deal with back pain after all.

Compared to the much slimmer 2,200 mAh battery that comes with the LiberNovo Omni, the X7’s battery is absolutely massive at 5,200 mAh — with more than double the capacity. Like on the Omni, the X7’s battery slots in on the side of the chair. However, you first have to put this one into a custom plastic holster before you slide it in.

While you can use the USB-C port on the left side of the X7 underneath that magnetic power port to charge it, there’s also a USB-C port on the battery itself. Once I realized the error of my ways, I took the battery out and plugged it into one of the USB-C ports on my Uplift V3 standing desk. By the time I got out of my first meeting, the battery was fully charged and ready to go.

One thing that instantly sets the X7 apart from the Omni and X-Chair, with its optional Elemax heating, cooling, and massage add-ons, is the inclusion of a remote. With those others, their controls are on the chair itself. On the X7, there’s a handy silver remote with a black and white OLED screen on the bottom left side of the chair. It isn’t wireless; instead, it’s hardwired to the X7 via a retractable flat cable that zips back into place when you’re done.

On the remote itself, there are buttons to bring the chair’s lumbar support system closer or farther away from you as well as controls to enable and turn up the intensity of its heating, cooling, and massage features. My favorite, though, is the button in the top left corner because once you press it, you don’t have to worry about making any more adjustments to the chair.

Posture on autopilot

Even without its AI-powered smart features, the X7 is a very comfortable and highly adjustable ergonomic chair. One thing that really sets this and Hbada’s other office chairs apart is their 3-zone, floating wing-style lumbar support. What’s great about this approach is that even when you lean over to the side or shift throughout the day, your back is always supported.

Given that its AI lumbar-tracking is the star of the show, I turned it on immediately. Powered by an automotive-grade chip, the X7 uses magnetic Hall Effect sensors — like the ones found in many of the best PC game controllers — to detect your position and how you’re sitting in the chair. As you move, the X7 responds by bringing its lumbar support closer or farther from the small of your back. It’s essentially putting your posture on autopilot so you’re always supported without having to think about it.

If you’re worried about constantly having to recharge the battery, don’t be. The chair uses its built-in pressure sensors to know when you’ve gotten up; after 10 minutes of inactivity, it automatically shuts off its smart features to preserve power.

The X7 also has a built-in, 8D dual-core massager tucked into that lumbar mechanism. In the photo above, you can just make out the rollers doing their thing — which Hbada calls "bionic hands"— mimicking a real kneading motion. Like with the heating and cooling features, there are three levels of intensity depending on how deep a massage you want.

Since I work from home and spend a lot of time seated when I’m not testing the best standing desks, the X7 helped me keep going for longer than I normally would. One night while working late, I felt the massager kick on automatically — part of its 45-minute sedentary reminder — to give my lower back a bit of relief. Likewise, when my posture started to slip towards the end of the day, the X7 sensed the change and pushed the lumbar support forward to straighten me back out.

During those times when I wanted to take a much-needed break, like the Hinomi X1 chair I reviewed, the X7 has a pull-out footrest. Using the footrest while reclining all the way back to 140 degrees is quite comfortable on its own. However, when you do so with its heating and massage features enabled, you and your back get a nice pick-me-up.

One interesting thing about reclining in the X7 is that even when you do so, those magnetic Hall Effect sensors are still tracking the pressure in your lower back. This is done to ensure that there isn’t a gap between the lumbar support and the chair’s backrest so that your back remains straight and well supported.

More cockpit than chair

Now for the elephant in the room. The Hbada X7 is both a very hefty office chair at 75 pounds, as well as a very premium one with a list price of $1,500. Fortunately, you can shave $200 off its price right now, and while I wouldn’t recommend it, you could opt for the version without a battery included to bring the cost down even further.

Is $1,300 a lot for an office chair? For most people, the answer is undoubtedly yes. However, in the world of high-end, premium chairs, the X7 is actually slightly less than the Herman Miller Aeron or the Steelcase Karman High Back. Those are both excellent ergonomic chairs, but they’re not smart, nor do they have built-in heating, cooling, and massage features. They are a lot lighter, too, at 41 and 31 pounds respectively.

If you work from home and suffer from back pain, you could buy a mid-range office chair and an entry-level recliner with a built-in massager. However, then you’re looking at paying almost the same price for two chairs that take up a lot more space as opposed to one. If you spend 8+ hours a day in your office chair and don’t want to be bothered fiddling with knobs and levers, the X7 could be a great investment in your ergonomic health and your productivity.

I still have to put the X7 through its paces a bit more ahead of its full review, but for now, I’m sitting comfortably with good postur,e and I didn’t have to lift a finger to get this chair adjusted perfectly.

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Welcome to my 2026 desk setup for productivity and gaming. The goal was to create one space where I could edit videos, record high quality audio and unwind by playing games.

From my 49” ultra-wide monitor for ultimate productivity and Mac/Windows combo, my ergonomic office chair that massages my back, and all the accessories in between, everything here has improved my setup's workflow, comfort, and added a bit of personality too.

As someone who often works from home editing videos and photos and as an avid gamer, the right desk setup can make all the difference. Not only can I do my best work here but I can also kick back and play games comfortably at the end of the day.

Check out my full desk setup video above and if anything here stands out and gives you inspiration on how to improve your own setup, you can find it all linked below!

The Oakywood Standing Desk Pro isn’t your typical standing desk, thanks to its premium materials and excellent build quality. Instead of a cheap laminate desktop, you’re getting a handcrafted, all-wood desk paired with a sleek steel frame. After living with this desk for over a year, it might just be the best one I’ve tried yet.

Available in five finishes and six sizes, the Oakywood Standing Desk Pro is a masterclass in desk aesthetics. Since I first received it, Oakywood has released several optional add-ons — like an under-desk cable management tray and a desktop grommet — that further refine the experience.

Unfortunately, over the past year, this desk has jumped from an attainable splurge to a luxury investment. Still, if you’re looking for a workspace that’s built to last a lifetime and looks more like an heirloom than a piece of office equipment, the cost may be justified.

My Oakywood Standing Desk Pro review will help you decide if this is the best standing desk for you or if you’d be better off investing in something less expensive. That way, you can pick up one of the best office chairs to go along with your new desk instead.

Oakywood Standing Desk Pro: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A premium, hand-crafted electric standing desk available in several desktop sizes and finishes.
• Who is it for? Those who want to upgrade from an existing standing desk to something more long-term, or people who want a premium desk that don’t want to worry about upgrading later.
• What does it cost? The Oakywood Standing Desk Pro starts at $1,429 in the smallest configuration with an Oak veneer top, but can go as high as $3,000 with a Walnut top and all of the optional add-ons.
• What do we like? Its stable and robust build, how easy it is to put together, the LINAK frame and motors, and how you can control the desk via your phone.
• What don’t we like? The high price, which has risen significantly over the past year and that the cable management tray is sold as an optional add-on.

Oakywood Standing Desk Pro: Specs

Oakywood Standing Desk Pro: The ups

The Oakywood Standing Desk Pro immediately stands out from other desks I’ve reviewed thanks to its handcrafted, all-wood top and incredibly simple assembly. Complementing the wood are high-end touches like the premium LINAK frame and seamless Bluetooth height control, which solidify its status as a premium workspace.

Snapping into place

The Oakywood Standing Desk Pro arrived in two boxes, with the frame and legs in one and the desktop in the other. What surprised me most about the packaging is how Oakywood took the extra step to secure the oak desktop I picked out in a custom-built wooden crate instead of a standard cardboard box.

After removing a few screws to open the crate, I was left with the desktop itself, a pair of black legs and feet, the rest of the parts that make up its stainless steel frame, and a paddle-style controller like the one on the Branch Duo.

From there, I used a power drill and screws to attach the frame to the desktop. The process was remarkably quick, as Oakywood provides pre-drilled holes that align perfectly with the hardware.

Just like the Hexcal Elevate, Oakywood sources its frames and legs from LINAK, a company renowned for its industrial linear actuator systems. Instead of the typical 'bag of bolts' approach, LINAK uses a more intuitive method to secure the legs. Once the leg is inserted into the frame, you simply use your foot to press down on a plastic locking mechanism until it snaps into place. It felt sturdy immediately, and the legs on my desk haven’t budged an inch in over a year.

Although Oakywood’s cable management tray add-on wasn’t available back when I received this desk, the company does include a metal cover to protect the control box and to hide some of the wires coming from each leg. Since it’s an all-wood desk, I was easily able to add my own cable management tray, which is certainly a more cost-effective option since the official one isn’t included and costs over $100.

Hand-crafted elegance

With the Oakywood Standing Desk Pro fully assembled and flipped over, I had to stop and admire the desktop. Normally, I configure review units with the least expensive laminate options to keep things relatable. While laminate is easy to clean, it doesn't draw the eye like solid wood.

From the moment I touched the surface, I knew this was something else entirely. Instead of particle board wrapped in a thin veneer, it’s a substantial slab of real timber with the grain and heft to prove it. While my walnut desktop was sourced from the U.S., Oakywood's oak options are sourced from state-owned forests in Poland near the company's headquarters in the Polish Highlands.

The desktop features uniquely milled edges that curve inward, and even after a year of use, it still feels incredible to the touch. This is because Oakywood coats the wood in an eco oil-wax that preserves its natural pores rather than sealing them under a thick, plastic-like finish. If you want a workspace that inspires rather than feels like a sterile office cubicle, the premium for this wood is well worth it.

Just smart enough

At a time when standing desk companies are adding integrated touchscreens or trying to incorporate AI into their home office furniture, Oakywood takes a “less is more” approach to smartening up its desks. On the backside of the Oakywood Standing Desk Pro’s paddle-style controller, there’s a small button. When pressed, it starts the Bluetooth pairing process to connect with your phone.

To adjust your desk’s height and to set standing reminders throughout the day, you have to download the Desk Connect app for your iPhone or Android device. This isn’t an Oakywood app, though. Instead, it’s actually from LINAK — the same company that makes the frame. This allows you to control this desk as well as other desks with the same hardware.

To adjust your desk’s height and to set standing reminders throughout the day, you have to download the Desk Connect app for your iPhone or Android device. This isn’t an Oakywood app, though. Instead, it’s actually from LINAK — the same company that makes the frame. This allows you to control this desk as well as other desks with the same hardware.

A versatile year-long companion

Back when I first built the Oakywood Standing Desk Pro, I thought I’d review it and move on. However, other projects kept getting in the way, which is why I held off on sharing my thoughts for so long.

Over the past year, though, I’ve consistently returned to this desk whenever I needed a reliable foundation for a new story. I’ve used it to build everything from a distraction-free workspace to my first triple-monitor setup, and most recently, a dual-monitor rig to test out the MSI Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG.

The solid wood top makes modifications like adding custom cable hooks or under-desk mounts — as I did for my triple-monitor setup — an absolute breeze. While I normally use a desk mat in my setups, this was the first time I chose to forgo one entirely. I simply couldn’t get over the premium feel of the eco oil-waxed oak on my forearms while typing.

Oakywood Standing Desk Pro: The downs

The Oakywood Standing Desk Pro is an exceptional piece of furniture, but it isn’t without its trade-offs. Most of these stem from the inherent nature of living with real wood — which requires more care than a cheap laminate — and a significant price hike that has pushed this desk deep into the luxury category.

Real wood, real wear

With a cheap laminate desktop, all it takes is a quick wipe down with a wet cloth to have it looking and feeling like new. However, since the Oakywood Standing Desk Pro is made of real wood, things aren’t that simple.

Although its desktop is treated with eco oil-wax before it ships, you still have to maintain it like you would with other real wood furniture. Oakywood does sell an optional maintenance kit for $43, and the company recommends using it every 6-12 months to refresh the desk’s surface and to keep it from drying out. The kit doesn’t just come with more oil, though; it actually includes 150 and 240-grit sandpaper for smoothing out minor surface damage, and you also get a specialized cloth for applying the oil.

While I’m very careful with home office furniture and always use a coaster with my coffee, I have noticed a few small scratches across the desktop. Oakywood didn’t send over one of its maintenance kits with my review unit, but if they had, I’m sure I’d be able to buff out those scratches in no time.

From splurge to premium

When I first got the Oakywood Standing Desk Pro in March 2025, it had a starting price of $1,199 for the 120 x 60 cm (47.2 x 23.6 inch) configuration with an oak veneer top. In the year since, that base price has increased to $1,429. Meanwhile, the solid walnut configuration — the one I’ve lived with for the past year — now starts at $1,735 for the smallest size and can easily climb past $2,100 for a larger desktop.

As you might have guessed, a major driver behind this hike is the current tariff landscape. While a planned jump to 30% and 50% duties on certain wood products was recently delayed until January 1, 2027, a substantial 25% duty remains in effect throughout 2026 for many furniture imports. Additionally, there is a 10% duty specifically on the softwood timber and lumber often used in structural components. When you combine these higher import costs with the fact that this is a handmade desk from Poland, it’s clear why it has moved from a "splurge" to a true luxury investment.

If you love the aesthetic but want to save a bit of cash, the Standing Desk Pro Mini is a viable alternative, currently starting at $1,319. It’s still a hefty investment, but given the build quality, this is the kind of desk your grandchildren could still be using one day — provided you keep up with the maintenance.

Oakywood Standing Desk Pro: Verdict

The Oakywood Standing Desk Pro is everything you could want in a premium standing desk. It’s remarkably easy to assemble, incredibly sturdy, and features just enough smart technology through the LINAK app to be useful without being intrusive. While the lack of included accessories like a cable management tray remains a sting, the fact that Oakywood now offers pre-configured bundles (starting around $1,476) makes the initial purchase process much smoother. What was once a splurge has undeniably become a luxury investment, largely driven by global economic factors beyond the company’s control.

Now, would I recommend the Oakywood Standing Desk Pro to everyone? Absolutely not. This isn’t a starter desk. It’s an investment for those who have mastered their workflow and want a foundation that ages as well as they do. If you’re after a quality standing desk that feels more like a piece of heirloom furniture than a home office in a box, this could be your forever desk.

Whether you’re working from home or gaming, a lot goes into putting together the right desk setup for your needs. While the big items like your computer and desk often tend to be the ones you put the most thought and research into, sometimes, it’s the little ones that end up having the most impact in the long run.

Personally, I like to ensure I have the right desk — or better yet, one of the best standing desks — before I start thinking about my monitor and other accessories like my keyboard and mouse. Once that’s done, it’s time to pick out the right chair for your needs. Whether you want an all-mesh chair for better airflow or an ergonomic chair with excellent lumbar support, when it comes to the best office chairs, you have plenty of options to choose from.

Although I’ve used a footrest in the past, I never really thought too much about the benefits of using one. That was until I reviewed the LibreNovo Omni office chair. Although it doesn’t come with a footrest, you can get LibreNovo’s StepSync Footrest in a bundle with the chair. Once again, I initially thought this footrest was just another home office accessory. However, after using the LibreNovo Omni for the past few months, I can’t imagine sitting in this chair without it.

If you’ve ever considered getting a footrest for your own chair, or even if you’re a skeptic like I once was, here’s how I realized that this small accessory is actually a game-changer that can really make your workday much more comfortable.

Not your typical bundled accessory

The LibreNovo Omni is an impressive office chair in its own right, thanks to its sleek, space-age design and extremely comfy cushioning. What really sets it apart, though, is its adjustable lumbar depth.

Sure, other chairs have adjustable lumbar depth mechanisms that you can move closer or further away from the small of your back to lock in the perfect fit. However, the Omni’s is motorized, and with a press of a button on the inside of the left armrest, you can change its position on the fly.

Just like other office chairs, this one reclines, but the Omni takes things to the next level by allowing you to lean back a full 160 degrees. You’re not just reclining; you’re practically lying down.

With those same button controls, you can enable the OmniStretch feature. It uses the motorized actuator to slowly lift and lower your spine repeatedly for five minutes. It helps relieve tension and straightens things out in a way that's surprisingly similar to a trip to the chiropractor.

The bundled StepSync Footrest features similar padding to the chair itself, making it very comfortable for your legs while reclining or taking a break. You do have to line the footrest up with the chair before you lean back for the best results, but I really enjoyed using it.

If you’re considering the Omni, I’d recommend getting the bundle for the complete experience — though you can also purchase the StepSync on its own to use with any chair.

After the novelty of reclining that far back with my feet up, it was time to get to work. To ensure it was out of the way, I pushed the StepSync Footrest under my desk. What I wasn’t planning on, though, was that I would end up using it just as much while sitting upright as I did when sprawled back in the chair.

For so much more than reclining

As someone who’s on the shorter side (5’4”), I’ve found that with many office chairs, my feet can end up dangling rather than resting firmly on the floor. When this happens, the front edge of the seat presses into the underside of your thighs, which restricts blood flow and leads to that “pins and needles” sensation.

Likewise, without your feet anchored, your pelvis tends to roll backward, flattening the natural S-curve of your spine and forcing your lower back muscles to work overtime just to keep you upright.

For the best results, your feet should rest firmly on the floor with your knees slightly higher than your hips. If your chair won’t go low enough to achieve this, a footrest is the only way to bridge the gap. That’s exactly how I used the StepSync while sitting in the Omni.

While the top of the StepSync Footrest is padded for lounging, the bottom platform is flat and sturdy, designed for sitting upright. I’ve used it both with and without shoes, and the 10-degree tilt provides a surprisingly stable "anchor" for your feet.

Although other ergonomic chairs have helped my posture, pairing the Omni with the StepSync made it much harder to hunch over or perch at the edge of my seat. Instead, the small of my back stayed locked into the backrest. Also, because I wasn't dealing with restless legs, I was able to actually focus on my work.

It’s ironic: you’d think a premium, motorized chair like the LiberNovo Omni would provide the biggest shift in comfort on its own. And while it is an incredible chair, if your feet don't reach the floor, you won't realize half of those benefits.

By pairing it — or any office chair — with a footrest, you’re finally distributing your weight correctly and taking the unnecessary strain off your legs and back.

A great addition for any office chair

It’s easy to think that replacing your current office chair with a brand-new one will fix all of your posture problems, but that isn’t always the case. If you recently upgraded your chair within the last year or two, buying a new one might just be an expensive workaround. Instead, you’re often better off investing in accessories that make the furniture you already own work better for you.

I’m constantly brainstorming ways to improve my desk setups, but it wasn’t until I tested the LiberNovo Omni that the idea of using a footrest truly clicked. I had tried one before when I reviewed the X-Chair X2, but because I didn't view it as an "essential" accessory, I didn’t realize how beneficial it could be for my daily comfort.

If something doesn’t feel quite right at your desk, or if your feet often dangle as mine do, I highly recommend trying a footrest. You don’t even have to rush out and buy a fancy one; you can just use a sturdy box or a stack of old books first to see if you notice the benefits.

I’m still a bit surprised that a chair as high-tech and futuristic as the LiberNovo Omni is what finally made me a footrest convert. But I’m glad I had this realization now, rather than years down the road when the damage from sitting incorrectly would have been much harder to fix.

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After missing the Swedish home furnishing giant’s debut at CES 2026, I decided to pop over to my local IKEA for a quick trip. Although I mainly wanted a chance to see its new smart home devices in person, the home office enthusiast in me couldn’t help but find a few key accessories that could be the perfect upgrade for my workspace on a budget.

From a very affordable clip-on ring light to a sleek metal monitor stand and even a light-up tray with a built-in wireless charger, it’s easy to find home office accessories at IKEA that can actually elevate your workspace. The best part though, all combined, you’re looking at just over $100 to give your home office a much-needed makeover.

While I still prefer sitting in one of the best office chairs and working from one of the best standing desks, every home office still needs useful accessories to help you work more comfortably and it’s always good to add some extra light and a pop of color during these darker winter months. Here are the five accessories I found during my recent trip to IKEA and how I’d use them in my own home office.

1. RUNDHULT USB-C cable

It’s easy to end up with a mess of cables from all of the various devices and gadgets in your home office. The problem though — even with USB-C cables — is that you never know exactly what each one is capable of. With IKEA’s RUNDHULT USB-C to USB-C cable, not only are you getting a durable, braided cord, but you’re also getting up to 100W fast charging. Whether you’re plugging in your phone or one of the best laptops, your devices will be charged in no time at all. I also really like how its tri-colored yellow, blue and white pattern adds a nice pop of color to an otherwise boring home office.

2. STÄNKREGN ring light

There’s nothing worse than jumping on a video call in a dimly lit room when all of your co-workers have perfectly lit setups. That’s why I was intrigued by the STÄNKREGN ring light. It easily sits on top of your laptop’s screen and connects via USB-C, making it a great travel companion. You get a choice between four color temperatures (ranging from 2700K to 5000K) and three different light intensities. There’s a built-in touch dimmer, a small cutout so it won’t block your camera, and a soft cushion on its mount to ensure it won’t leave any marks on your laptop.

3. VÄSTMÄRKE wireless charger with lighting

Putting your phone away and emptying your pockets is a great way to stay focused when you first sit down at your desk. With the VÄSTMÄRKE, you can wirelessly charge your phone while adding a bit of mood lighting to your workspace too. It took me a second to figure out the controls, but you actually push down on the central puck used for charging to turn the light on and off. Thanks to its bowl-shaped design, you also have plenty of room to store flash drives, cables, or other small items you want to keep within reach.

4. ÖVNING footrest

Whether you want to prevent your feet from hanging or need extra support while typing, this ergonomic footrest is surprisingly versatile. Although the ÖVNING is technically part of IKEA’s children’s collection, it’s the perfect size for adults, too. It features an anti-slip surface to stay in place, and because it’s bound to get a bit dusty on the floor, the cover is easily removable and machine washable. Beyond your feet, you can even use it for extra back support if your office chair lacks dedicated lumbar cushioning.

5. LÅNESPELARE monitor stand

We already put plenty of extra stress on our necks looking down at our phones, so why do the same with your monitor? Although IKEA sells several monitor stands, what I like about the LÅNESPELARE is its clean, all-metal design. Adding this to your setup can help eliminate desk clutter since you can slide your keyboard, mouse, or even your laptop underneath it. I also really like the perforated top; the holes give it a unique look and provide enough airflow that you could safely place one of the best mini PCs on it right next to your monitor.

Worth the trip

Reading about the latest IKEA accessories online is one thing but if you live close enough like I do, I highly recommend going in person. That way, you can see and feel everything for yourself instead of ordering something online only to realize that it doesn’t quite match the rest of your home office decor.

For this particular trip, I did have a set goal in mind as I really want to try out IKEA’s new Matter-compatible, BILRESA smart buttons. However, as I wandered the show floor on my own, it gave me time to think about which home office accessories I’d pick up on a budget. If you like what I picked out, let me know in the comments below as I’d love an excuse to take another trip to IKEA, especially during the week when practically no one else is there.

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The Dell Premium Conferencing Soundbar SB725 is a great, budget-friendly solution for anyone looking to enhance their sound quality in a personal office. So, could it be one of the best computer speakers?

It offers excellent noise cancelation for clear calls on both ends and provides a clutter-free (as long as you’re a Dell monitor user) way to improve audio quality.

However, with limited connectivity options, it may not be for everyone, as it requires a particular setup and works better if you have magnetic fixtures under your monitor screen.

So, is this the conference calling soundbar for you? Keep reading my Dell Premium Conferencing Soundbar SB725 review to find out.

Dell Pro Premium Conferencing Soundbar SB725 review: Specs

Dell Pro Premium Conferencing Soundbar SB725 review: The Ups

The Dell Pro Premium Conferencing Soundbar SB725 has an understated design with accessible controls that make an office setup look instantly premium. The sound quality for calls is amazing, and the environmental noise cancelation is some of the best I’ve ever used.

Sleek design

The Dell conference soundbar has a very sleek design that is understated and will fit in with any office setup. The grey colour and mesh front make it look really put together, and the lighter grey buttons make the whole thing feel cohesive.

This device is better suited to someone looking for an audio solution for their personal or home office, as it would be disruptive to others working around you. This soundbar gets pretty loud, which is obviously great if you need to be having a conversation with someone on a call, but this is going to distract everyone around you and perhaps let them in on some private information.

The magnetic fixtures on top of the sound bar mean that if you have the right monitor (which I will get to later), you’re guaranteed a clutter-free setup.

Good sound for calls

The speaker has a 52mm speaker that reaches volumes of 90db. I tested out the Dell Pro Premium Conferencing Soundbar SB725 soundbar by calling my colleague, Erin. I was able to hear Erin’s voice far more clearly than when using my usual MacBook Air M2 speakers or when I use headphones or earbuds.

There was no feedback on the audio, and the soundbar uses Echo Cancelation to deliver an enhanced audio quality. I could tell that the soundbar was working to create a more palatable sound profile, and I was more comfortable taking calls for longer as there was never any tinny sound.

Peripheral management

You can download and use the Dell Display and Peripheral Manager. This helps with the overall management of the device and allows you to install firmware updates. You can also alter some sound settings, including bass boost, speech boost and treble boost. I used the speech boost, which further enhanced the voice on the other end of the call.

Environmental noise cancelation is great

The SB725’s microphone has great environmental noise cancelation capabilities, and my colleague Erin said it made my voice incredibly clear. The microphone has a pickup range of 2.3 meters, but even when I was working in the office with people around me, only my voice could be heard. That’s because of the AI noise-cancelling that works by detecting human voices and focuses on them. This works extremely well and I was able to communicate seamlessly with my colleague.

To really put this to the test, I played music from my phone at full volume and put it on my desk. Erin couldn’t hear it at all. This was really impressive, as I’ve never tested a microphone that was able to totally cancel out music at the highest listening volume.

It also completely canceled out the sound of me typing on my Keychron K8 Max mechanical keyboard.

Affordable

The Dell SB725 soundbar is undeniably affordable. Conferencing soundbars can reach some pretty steep prices, and for under $90, this one offers big sound and excellent environmental noise cancelation.

It’s a lot cheaper than other soundbar solutions available, which often include an integrated camera. Other soundbars we have reviewed have a far higher price point, such as the Poly StudioP15 Personal Video Bar ($449) or the Insta 360 Connect ($1,999), but if you already have a webcam, the SB725 is a great addition to your conferencing experience.

Accessible controls

The controls on the Dell Pro Premium Conferencing Soundbar SB725 soundbar are very accessible and don’t need to be pressed hard to activate. There are also LED lights behind the controls to show the active buttons.

Specific buttons for answering Teams calls make it easy to use the speaker to streamline your workday if you spend your day jumping from call to call. The buttons also allow you to mute, end the call, and alter the volume with one press. When your microphone is muted, the LED light will remain on so you remember to turn it back on again.

I found the controls easy to use, and while I don’t use Teams at my job, I can appreciate the ease of having the buttons right at your fingertips.

Dell Pro Premium Conferencing Soundbar SB725 review: The Downs

The Dell Pro Premium Conferencing Soundbar SB725 isn’t for everyone. You won’t be able to get the clutter-free perks of this soundbar without a Dell monitor, and the short cord to hook it up to your computer makes connectivity difficult at times. It may be a great solution for calls, but not so much for everything else.

Best with a Dell monitor

The Dell Pro Premium Conferencing Soundbar SB725 attaches to the underside of some Dell monitors magnetically. Dell provides a list of the 40+ monitors that are compatible with the soundbar, so if you already have one of these, the soundbar would be a great addition to your setup.

My Dell P2419H flat panel monitor isn’t one of the compatible models, so I had to precariously balance it on top. It kept falling off whenever something bumped the desk, so I ended up setting it to the side of me.

The cord is only 5.91 inches long, which really isn’t much at all when you’re trying to juggle all of the wires on your desk, and it made it a little tricky to get the perfect angle when using the magnets to attach it to my display.

Good for calls, not much else

So the Dell Pro Premium Conferencing Soundbar SB725 is great for calls, which is its intended use, but it struggles in other areas. I decided to use it in the same way I’d use my regular laptop speakers, but I was left disappointed by the sound performance.

I watched some YouTube videos with dialogue, thinking it would sound similar to video calls, but the videos sounded super muffled. I also listened to some music through the soundbar, and it sounded pretty tinny. However, I could tell the soundbar was trying its best to isolate the voices of the singers. This soundbar is under $90, making it super budget, so this is to be expected.

Dell Pro Premium Conferencing Soundbar SB725 review: Verdict

The Dell Pro Premium Conferencing Soundbar SB725 is an affordable and effective choice for video conferencing. And if you have one of the compatible Dell monitors, the user experience is even better.

The soundbar is extremely affordable, featuring a sleek design that complements any setup beautifully. The controls are also accessible and easy to use for making calls and adjusting the volume. The speaker also has incredible environmental noise cancelation capabilities. It can even block the sound of loud music playing in front of my desk and still make my voice sound crystal clear to my colleague on the other end of the call.

It works best with the 40+ monitors that Dell recommends, with the magnetic fixtures, but you can still connect it to any computer — it may just look a little more cluttered. Especially as the short power cord limits where you can place it.

If you need something that can cope with music and streaming videos too, you may want to invest in some of the best computer speakers instead. But if you need something only for daily conference calls in a personal office, this soundbar is a great device for the job.

I have heard the phrase "sitting is the new smoking" more times than I can count, and as someone with a sedentary job, I can sometimes leave the office feeling a little bit lazy for having sat down all day. And when I’m sitting all day, in the afternoon, I start to feel pretty sluggish.

I tried just standing at my desk in the afternoon, but I just noticed that my posture was suffering. I heard that one of the best under-desk treadmills can enhance productivity and get you moving, so I tested the WalkingPad Z1 and everything changed. I’ve been hitting 10,000 steps every single day without leaving my laptop and avoiding the afternoon slump.

What is the afternoon slump?

The dreaded afternoon slump. We’ve all experienced it — you’re in the office, and as soon as it hits 3 pm, your brain switches off. Maybe you don’t get enough sleep the night before, and your circadian rhythm is out of whack, but it can’t be helped.

So when you start yawning into your computer screen, it’s your body’s way of telling you it needs something. It might be water or a small snack for a sugar boost. However, a surefire way to wake yourself up is to move around. For me, this usually entails a quick trip to the kitchen to make a cup of tea, but now I simply pull out the treadmill and get walking at my desk.

Increased endorphins

When we exercise, endorphins are released, and this feel-good hormone is responsible for reducing stress and boosting our mood. So it’s only natural that when you have a lot of this hormone in your body, you’re going to be at the top of your game.

After about 10 minutes of walking, I can already feel my energy levels rising and my mind starts to work again. I get into the rhythm of walking, and before I know it, I’ve finished all of my work and hit my 10,000 steps target for the day. The WalkingPad Z1 companion app counts my steps and distance so I know exactly how far I’ve gone.

Health benefits from your desk

When working a 9-to-5 job, by the time you factor in your commute to and from work, it can seem impossible to fit a gym session in. But with an under-desk treadmill, I can hit my goals without the gym, and it's a great way to integrate fitness into your lifestyle. Having an under-desk treadmill to hit cardio targets means you're prioritizing consistency, helping to build healthy habits.

Turning sedentary time into active time can make a huge difference to your overall health and well-being. It’s one of the best things I have implemented in my daily life in 2025, and I can’t wait to take this health habit with me into 2026.

More from Tom's Guide

• Adding a Hot Girl Walk to my working day with this foldable under-desk treadmill helped me hit my 10,000 steps with ease
• US bans foreign-made drones including those by DJI — here’s what it means for you
• I turned a hotel key card into a one-tap shortcut for ChatGPT — and now I use it every day

If you're working long hours, I cannot stress the importance of having a well-built, supportive chair. However, finding the best office chair is no easy tasks, and I should know — I've been testing office chairs for the past five years.

It goes beyond comfort, although this is an important factor. However, you also want an office chair with good ergonomic features, so you can maintain good posture, as well as something that provides good support. Mesh chairs help keep you cool by providing better airflow, while foam-cushioned office chairs provide improved support.

You'll also need a chair with plenty of adjustability, the right casters or wheels for carpet or hardwood, and one that’s easy to clean and care for. Based on over 5,000 hours of testing, the chair that fits this criteria the best is the Branch Verve Chair. It's adjustable, cooling, stylish, and incredibly comfortable.

However, there are many other options out there, and you might be looking for a chair for a specific use case. With this in mind, I've provided a list of the top ten office chairs for a range of different categories, from best budget to the best for taller people, to the best for gamers, and even the best smart chair for anyone looking for a high-tech seat.

The best office chairs you can buy today

The best office chair overall

The Branch Verve Chair is a stylish and comfortable office chair that will support you all day long. While I was impressed with the features, comfort, and price of the original Branch Ergonomic Chair, the Verve Chair takes things up a notch in several ways.

For starters, instead of a more traditional mesh backrest, it uses a 3D knit one that’s soft to the touch and feels like fabric but still gives you plenty of airflow. The Verve Chair also uses an adjustable padded lumbar support instead of a plastic one, and its armrests curve inward for a more distinct look.

I found the Branch Verve Chair to be quite comfortable to sit in for long stretches of time, thanks to its foam seat. However, its seat and backrest are both contoured, which also helped me maintain good posture while doing so.

It also offers a variety of adjustments, but not so many that you might be overwhelmed. Even though you can recline in it and decrease its tilt tension to make doing so easier, I preferred using it upright, as Branch’s optional headrest wasn’t available back when I reviewed it.

Another thing that really sets the Verve Chair apart from your typical office chair is that it’s available in seven different colors. Say you pick up this chair in mint, the entire chair, from its casters to its backrest, will come in this color. This can really help add a dash of color to your home office setup.

At just under $550, the Branch Verve is not necessarily a premium chair, but it isn't a budget pick, either. Overall, I'd say it is worth the investment, and with a 7-year warranty, you can be sure that you're covered should anything go awry.

The Branch Verve Chair is an excellent option for most people, with a weight limit of 275 pounds, but if you want all the bells and whistles like armrests that can turn all the way around, keep reading, as I also recommend some more full-featured chairs like the Herman Miller Aeron.

• Read our full Branch Verve Chair review

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Best budget office chair

If you want effective support for all-day use without breaking the bank, the Boulies EP200 desk chair is an excellent option.

It's highly adjustable with a flexible, breathable mesh back, which we found very comfortable during testing. This works well with the adjustable lumbar support to help you find the exact right positioning that works for you.

The level of customization doesn't stop here, though. The height is adjustable (standard for most chairs), but its armrests can also swivel and change height, as well as being able to move the seat depth forwards and backwards.

There’s also an adjustable head and neck support, which we found very useful for maintaining an upright posture in testing. However, you should note that if you're shorter than 5'4", you may find it redundant.

If you like to lean back in your office chair, you'll be pleased to know that the chair can also recline to angles of 95º, 113º and 135º.

Coming in at $209, the Boulies EP200 isn't the absolute cheapest chair on the market, but it is cheaper than the previous chair in this spot, the Boulies OP180, while having more features.

The main downside is that the seat of the chair is not very durable. In fact, after just a couple of hours of use, it was already showing signs of wear, like the fabric creasing.

While this wear was disappointing, I would still recommend this chair to anyone looking for a comfortable chair at a decent price point.

• Read our full Boulies EP200 review

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The best office chair for back pain

The LiberNovo Omni is an ergonomic office chair that I spent more time sitting in than I’d like to admit due to just how comfortable it is. In addition to being incredibly supportive and great for your back, its seat cushion is made from multi-layered foam with a soft front edge to reduce pressure on your legs.

Likewise, its seat, backrest, and headrest are all wrapped in a soft-feeling elastic fabric. After testing countless chairs over the years, I was immediately surprised by what LibreNovo has managed to achieve with the Omni as a newcomer.

While it may look like your standard office chair at first glance, spinning it around reveals its motorized lumbar support system and its dynamic Bionic FlexFit backrest, which is made up of eight flexible panels. Like the Intermix textile on the Steelcase Karman, it too is designed to move with your body as you shift in your chair throughout the day.

The reason I’ve decided to replace the Hbada X1 with the LiberNovo Omni as my top pick for back pain is not just because of how comfortable it is to sit in; it's the Omni's revolutionary recovery suite. When paired with the Omni’s optional footrest, you can lie back and let it reset your spine.

Next to the buttons to control its adjustable lumbar depth feature, there’s another button to activate what LiberNovo calls its OmniStretch feature. When engaged, it raises and lowers the chair’s lumbar support to help stretch out your back.

At just over $1,000 at full price (although we have seen this drop to around $850), the LiberNovo Omni is definitely a premium office chair. I was also slightly disappointed by its two-year warranty for its electrics, although the frame does come with a five-year warranty.

However, if you work long hours at your desk or spend a lot of time there gaming in the evenings and suffer from back pain, it’s definitely a worthwhile investment. The chair’s focus on dynamic movement and spinal decompression set it apart and really helped it shine, even among more expensive models from Herman Miller and Steelcase.

If you’re looking for an office chair that does things differently by almost perfectly combining comfort and ergonomics with a one-button fix for back pain, the LiberNovo Omni is absolutely worth considering.

• Read our full LiberNovo Omni review

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The best office chair for ergonomics

The Autonomous ErgoChair Pro is a highly adjustable ergonomic office chair with some great customization options at a mid-range price. It’s a great upgrade for those coming from a budget office chair that’s well-suited for both home and office use without being too expensive.

Normally when shopping for an office chair, you have to choose between a more supportive foam seat or an all-mesh design. What I really like about the ErgoChair Pro is that Autonomous offers both options.

We tested the version with a foam seat and a mesh backrest and headrest, but you can get this chair with a mesh seat instead. Doing so does cut down the color options from seven to just two, but this is a great option to have.

The ErgoChair Pro gives you a lot of adjustment points to lock in the perfect fit for you. You can change the position of its armrests, move its lumbar support up or down manually, as well as lock it in place, and there are five different levels of recline.

Our reviews editor Peter Wolinski tested this chair and found its mesh backrest and headrest to be very comfy, while its backrest and adjustable lumbar support did a great job supporting his back.

However, he would have liked to have more padding on its armrests and at the back of its seat. Peter also wouldn’t recommend this chair to taller people, as even at 5’11”, he found its adjustable height range to be somewhat limited.

The Autonomous ErgoChair Pro packs in plenty of features at its mid-range price of $499, and being able to choose between all-mesh or some mesh and a foam seat cushion is a customization option few chairs offer. However, it only has a two-year warranty, which is something to keep in mind.

Still, this office chair is a good fit for those who value ergonomics and having the right amount of adjustments to tailor it to their body shape and workflow

• Read our full Autonomous ErgoChair Pro review

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The best office chair for comfort

The Steelcase Karman is a premium office chair that’s not only extremely comfortable, but it’s also surprisingly lightweight at just 28-31 pounds, depending on which version you get. It’s one of my all-time favorites and a chair I keep coming back to again and again.

This all-mesh chair is built differently from the ground up, and what really sets it apart is Steelcase’s proprietary Intermix textile. It’s soft and supportive yet very flexible, and when you sit in the Karman, it feels like the chair wraps around you.

On top of this, it moves with your body and reacts to even the smallest movements thanks to its weight-activated mechanism. There are also different versions of Intermix, and some are closer to the traditional look and feel of mesh, while others feel more like fabric.

I tested the Karman a few years back, and no other chair has impressed me quite like this one. However, at the time, I was a bit disappointed it wasn’t available with a headrest.

Shortly after its release, though, Steelcase came out with the Karman High Back, which extends its backrest further up and adds a sculpted pillow at the very top to provide additional support to your shoulders and neck.

Both the original Karman and this new version are exceptionally comfortable, but if you want a bit more back support, you can also add an optional lumbar support bar to the back of the chair.

The Steelcase Karman is a one-of-a-kind office chair that, like the Aeron, carries a premium price. It can cost anywhere from $846 to $1,578, depending on how you configure it — the configuration of the Steelcase Karman we reviewed costs $1,257, for example. However, after trying out the two chairs, the Karman is far more comfortable in my opinion, and I still can’t get over how incredibly light it is. Plus, it comes with an impressive 12-year warranty, so you can rest easy knowing you're covered should you run into any problems with it.

The Karman is quite a bit different from the other office chairs I’ve reviewed over the years, but it’s definitely worth considering if you want a chair that’s as comfortable as it is supportive.

• Read our full Steelcase Karman review

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The best office chair for gaming

The Herman Miller x Logitech G Vantum Gaming Chair combines the support and ergonomics of an office chair with the comfort and style of a gaming chair.

Just like my previous top pick for best gaming chair, the Razer Fujin Pro, the Vantum Gaming Chair is also a hybrid chair designed to give you the best of both worlds. After using it myself for an entire year now, it’s easy to recommend for people who plan to use it for both play and work despite its higher price compared to the rest of the picks on my list of the best gaming chairs.

Unlike the Fujin Pro, the Vantum Gaming Chair features a breathable knit backrest and headrest with a fabric seat with a comfy foam cushion as opposed to a full mesh design. While some may prefer a full-mesh office chair, I like this approach as it keeps your back cool while providing excellent support to your lower body.

The Vantum Gaming Chair also breaks the mold with its two-tone design where the front of the chair including its headrest, backrest and seat cushion are all black but a secondary color is used for its frame and underside.

Since its initial release, Herman Miller has added a ton of new color options too like a light purple lilac and a darker midnight blue. This way you can easily have your chair match the accent color of your desk setup or even your gaming chair.

Besides its unique design, I really liked how easy the Vantum Gaming Chair was to put together as its backrests and armrests both came pre-installed. After unboxing it, I had the chair built and ready to go in less than 15 minutes.

While it's technically a gaming chair, Herman Miller and Logitech G have gone to great lengths to make it very ergonomic with loads of adjustment points. One thing that really surprised me about the Vantum Gaming Chair is that in addition to adjustable lumbar support, it also features a thoracic support mechanism just below the headrest that’s designed to take some of the load off your upper back and shoulders.

My only real gripe is that the armpads on top of its armrests tend to move a bit too easily and I found I had to readjust them quite frequently. Still, this is a lot easier and not nearly as distracting as when you have an office chair with 4D armrests that don’t lock in place either.

At $930 (though it frequently goes on sale), the Vantum Gaming Chair is definitely an investment compared to your typical gaming chair or even a mid-range office chair. However, for the price, you’re getting an excellent chair that can do double duty as both a gaming chair and an office chair. Plus, with a 12-year warranty, you should be covered against any issues should thye arise.

If you work from home and also play games at your desk in the evenings, or if you’re a full-time streamer or budding esports player, the Vantum Gaming Chair could be the perfect mix of comfort and support for you, too.

• Read our full Herman Miller Vantum Gaming Chair review

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The best office chair for home office

The Haworth Fern is a very comfortable ergonomic office chair for extended use with a unique design that helps it stand out from the crowd. From the moment I first saw it, I knew I had to try it out for myself and I’m happy to say it lived up to the hype.

Available in mesh, knit or even leather, the Fern gets its name from Haworth’s Wave Suspension system that uses flexible fronds which resemble the leaves of a fern. Not only does this help support your back but it helps evenly distribute your weight as you move to relieve pressure.

I tested the mesh version of the Fern along with the digital knit configuration, albeit in the Xbox version for those who want a gaming chair that more closely resembles an office chair, and I found it very comfortable to use in my own home office thanks to its padded foam seat and its numerous adjustment points that let me tailor it to my liking.

Its mesh back helped keep me cool, though I really liked how soft and comfy the digital knit backrest was on the other configuration I tested. The Fern is a premium chair on its own, but if you want a headrest or adjustable lumbar support, it’s going to cost you extra.

Speaking of cost, this is definitely a premium office chair, costing from $1,105 to $1,599, depending on which configuration you go for. Still, there is a 12-year warranty, so the premium price at least comes with decent peace of mind.

The Haworth Fern checked all of the boxes for me when it came to comfort and adjustability. Plus, it’s just a good-looking office chair all around. I have seen others complain online about back pain when using this chair, but that was far from my experience. The Fern is a versatile and comfortable office chair, but its higher price means it’s also a significant investment in your home office.

• Read our full Haworth Fern review

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The best office chair for tall users

The Oak Hollow Aloria is an ergonomic office chair with a mesh back to keep you cool and a genuine leather seat packed with high-density molded foam. However, my favorite part is the fact that you can choose between three cylinder heights, which makes this an ideal chair for tall users since your knees won’t be sticking up in the air when you sit down in it.

The Aloria is an expensive chair at $849 full price, but it’s often on sale for $100 less, and the combination of mesh and leather does give it a premium look. Another nice touch is that switching from the standard height cylinder to the short or tall one doesn’t cost extra. Besides that, though, there aren’t any other optional add-ons to worry about, and you also get a mesh headrest with this chair.

Additionally, while the upholstery of this chair has a decent five-year warranty, the mechanical parts have a lifetime warranty, which is impressively generous. So, a single investment could have you set for life, barring any upholstery issues.

In his review, Billy Givens called it a stylish chair with a “sleek black aesthetic accented with a chrome wheelbase and backrest frame.” If you’re looking for an office chair to give the rest of your work-from-home setup a touch of class, the Aloria is certainly worth considering. Billy also called the chair’s genuine cowhide leather very comfortable, but he also liked how it’s less resistant to wear and tear than the cheaper synthetic materials you’ll find on other office chairs.

The Aloria is a sleek office chair, and I was pleased to see that it’s also very adjustable. However, adjusting the height of the armrests did take some getting used to, as this is done via a button on the side as opposed to on the armrests themselves. They also click into place with a loud popping noise, which is less than ideal, but once you lock in the right height, you likely won’t have to adjust them that often after that.

If you’re looking for an executive-style, ergonomic office chair with all the bells and whistles, the Oak Hollow Aloria certainly fits the bill. It also offers the perfect combination of airflow and comfort by pairing a mesh backrest with a well-cushioned seat.

• Read our full Oak Hollow Aloria review

The best premium office chair

The Herman Miller Aeron is a premium ergonomic office chair that almost needs no introduction. It’s considered the best of the best by many since it was first launched back in 1994, and to this day, it remains a mainstay in the home offices and workspaces of those who can afford it.

The Aeron features an all-mesh design, loads of adjustment points, and if you order this chair directly through Herman Miller, you can customize it to your liking. One thing that surprised me about this chair after learning more about it is that it’s actually available in three different sizes, which makes it a great choice for both big and tall people as well as shorter ones.

The Aeron has a high starting price to begin with, at just under $800, but with upgrades to its arms, armrests, and backrest, you’re looking at a chair that costs thousands of dollars once you get it all tricked out. I spent some time with the Aeron myself back when I visited my local Herman Miller store, but our U.S. Editor-in-Chief, Mike Prospero, reviewed it.

He spent a few weeks trying it out and, not surprisingly, found it to be one of the most comfortable chairs he had ever sat in. Mike also really liked just how adjustable the Aeron was and found it easy to get its fit just right for him.

The Herman Miller Aeron is responsible for popularizing ergonomic chairs in the first place, and for good reason. It’s designed to help you maintain optimal posture so you can work comfortably and focus on the task at hand.

The Aeron is the ultimate home office investment, and if you’re thinking of upgrading to one, keep an eye out for sales as it does see the occasional discount from time to time.

• Read our full Herman Miller Aeron review

The best smart office chair

If you want the most high-tech home office possible, then a smart chair will fit right into your plans.

The Hbada X7 handles the ergonomic heavy lifting for you, with features including a legitimate bionic massage and AI-tracked lumbar support.

At $1,500 full-price, it might not be for you if you're looking for a budget office chair, but if you want a chair that reminds you when your posture slips to prevent back pain, then it's a worthy investment.

There are other chairs out there that offer motorized lumbar adjustment and built-in massagers, but so far, the Hbada X7 is the only office chair I've tested that handles all those features for you. During testing, I really enjoyed the massage mode kicking in after I'd been sitting at my desk for too long. You do need to recharge the quite frankly massive battery the chair comes with, although I didn't have to do this very often, even when I was using the Hbada X7 daily for two months.

If you did get tired of charging up the battery, the X7 is an excellent ergonomic chair, even with all the smart features disabled. It has a ton of adjustment points, so you can get it to fit you just right. While I was testing it, I found I really appreciated the convenience of the integrated pull-out footrest and the versatility of the 6D armrests. However, at its price point, the X7 is a little too pricey to be used without the smart features enabled.

I was also a little disappointed in the warranty length, especially as this is such a high-tech chair. A five-year warranty for the frame and a three-year warranty for the parts isn't terrible, but it's not great either — especially when some of the chairs on this list have warranties of up to 12 years. Additionally, at 75 pounds, it's a pretty hefty piece of kit — while you can just wheel it to where you want to go, it's still less easy to do so than other, lighter chairs on this list.

Still, if you do use it as intended, you're getting a fully-equipped ergonomic chair and a legitimate recovery tool all rolled into one. I will say, however, that it takes a little getting used to — letting AI adjust your posture definitely feels strange at first, and you may find you never get used to it.

However, if you have persistent back pain and/or work long hours, the X7 is definitely a worthy investment for your home office setup.

• Read our full Hbada X7 review

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Also tested

We test a lot of different office chairs at Tom's Guide, and while many are great in their own right, not all of them make our top picks. I also like to prioritize chairs that are easy to find online at major retailers or, better yet, in a store near you, so that you can test them out for yourself.

If none of the picks above have what you're after, check out these office chairs below, many of which offer unique features or cater to specific needs.

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Office chairs compared

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How to choose the best office chair for you

Finding the right office chair for your particular needs and budget can feel overwhelming with so many different options to choose from.

This is why you want to take several factors into consideration as you narrow down your search.

Price

Just like with the best standing desks and other home office furniture, office chairs range widely in price, from just over $100 up to $2,000 and beyond.

It’s also difficult to test out a variety of chairs before you find the right one, and returning a chair that doesn’t work for you can be quite a hassle.

This is why I often recommend that people pick up a starter chair first to see what works for them before dropping a lot of money on a more expensive, full-featured chair.

That way, you can figure out what you like before committing to a top-tier chair like the Aeron for years to come. If you are going to buy a premium chair, though, see if they have physical stores like Herman Miller or showrooms around the world like Steelcase does.

There are a few key factors that set budget chairs apart from premium ones. More expensive chairs feature higher-quality components and materials throughout, while cheaper ones may come with sticky, plasticky-feeling mesh to cut a few corners, for example. Likewise, the materials used in less expensive chairs are more likely to break down over time, whereas the materials in a more expensive chair can last for years if cared for properly.

Adjustability and extra features are another area where these two types of chairs differ. Premium chairs will have all the bells and whistles with all of the adjustment points you expect, along with some less common ones, like being able to tilt your seat forward for when you need to concentrate on a particular task. The same goes for extras like adjustable lumbar support, a headrest, and my favorite, rollerblade-style wheels.

Another thing that really sets premium chairs apart from their less expensive counterparts is their design. High-end chairs often try to make a statement and often look as good pushed in at a desk as they are comfortable to sit in.

Sure, you can get a no-frills chair for less, but oftentimes, an office chair with a unique design can tie your whole home office together, especially if you’re going for a particular look.

If you find a chair you really like that’s out of your price range, it’s worth looking around for one with a similar design and features at a lower price. Mid-range and budget office chair makers will often try to recreate the look and experience of a premium chair in their own designs.

At the same time, you can also take a look at the used market since companies often outfit an office with premium chairs and then end up getting rid of them in a few years or when downsizing.

When buying a more expensive office chair, keep in mind that you don’t want to go too far beyond your budget, as then you won’t have much left to furnish the rest of your home office or workspace.

Ergonomic needs

Ergonomics is important, as you don’t just want a comfortable chair — you want one that will keep your body supported throughout the day.

This will help you avoid succumbing to the aches and pains associated with using a poorly designed chair for hours on end.

At the bare minimum, I’d say you should try to find a chair with built-in lumbar support. This ergonomic feature helps keep your lower back supported while you sit and can also help you maintain good posture.

The whole reason you’re likely investing in a new office chair is to avoid being slumped over your desk, and a lumbar support mechanism will certainly help with this. There are three kinds of lumbar support mechanisms: fixed, adjustable, and dynamic.

A fixed lumbar support remains in place and can’t be moved, and depending on your height, it may not be ideal for you. Adjustable lumbar support mechanisms give you the option to move them up and down, and some even allow you to move their position forward or backward.

You get a lot of control with this type of lumbar support, but if you’d rather have your chair do the work for you, then consider dynamic lumbar support instead. They aren’t nearly as customizable, but a dynamic lumbar support mechanism will adjust automatically based on your movements and posture changes.

Ergonomics also comes into play with your chair’s seat. Foam seats provide more support and help relieve pressure in your lower body, while mesh ones give you more airflow at the cost of support.

If you find your legs cramping up or suffer from poor circulation, then you might want to pay a bit more for a seat with a waterfall edge. This type of edge puts less stress on your hamstrings as opposed to a seat with a hard edge, which can contribute to or make any back pain you’re experiencing worse.

While I personally enjoy having a chair with a headrest or a high back for extra support for my shoulders and neck, many ergonomic chairs like the Aeron don’t even come with this option, as headrests can lead to passive sitting and slouching, which is certainly bad for your posture.

However, these days, more and more ergonomic chairs come with headrests. It’s a matter of personal preference, but definitely something you want to consider when choosing the right chair for your needs.

Body type and size

When deciding between one chair and another, you want to take a look at a chair’s listing page to see what the recommended height and weight range are. While some chairs are tailored to big and tall users, others aren’t at all.

However, some chairs give you the option for a wider seat or a stronger base, usually at an extra cost. Though you might have to pay more initially, it’s better to get a chair tailored to your body type and size from the get-go.

Although big and tall users have the most options, those on the shorter side are also going to want to shop carefully when looking for a new office chair. Ideally, you want your feet to be able to rest firmly on the floor while sitting in your chair, and for some people — especially those below five feet tall — this can be almost impossible with some chairs.

I can’t stress this strongly enough: you absolutely want to take your weight, height, and body shape into consideration before you begin your search for a new office chair. That way, you won’t be disappointed when the chair you had your heart set on doesn’t work for you.

Work environment

When picking out an office chair, you also want to consider where you’ll be using it. A big, bulky chair might not be the best fit if you live in a high-rise apartment building, and a lightweight chair that isn’t as sturdy probably won’t work well in a high-traffic environment.

You also don’t want a chair that stands out too much in an office environment or one that doesn’t mesh well with the rest of your home office decor.

At the same time, you want to consider the surface you’ll be using a particular chair on. If your workspace is carpeted, then you’re going to want a chair with hard casters that roll easily on it.

If you have hardwood floors, then you’re going to want a chair with soft casters that can glide across the floor without damaging it. It’s also worth noting that some casters are quieter than others, which could be quite important if you’re using your chair in a shared workspace.

Extra features

Before you even begin putting together a short list for your next office chair, you want to take the time and write down a list of features that you absolutely want, along with a few that would be nice to have, to narrow down your search.

From a headrest to lumbar support to how far back you want to recline, you want to take all of these features into consideration when shopping for an office chair. Unlike with a desk, it’s almost impossible to add extra features to a lot of chairs after you buy them.

Sure, you might be able to add a headrest, and you can always easily swap your chair’s casters, but you won’t be able to add lumbar support or swap out a foam seat for a mesh one.

You also want to make sure the chair you’re considering has all of the adjustment points you want from the start, as not being able to reposition your chair’s lumbar support manually or being able to slide its seat forward or backward could end up being a deal breaker.

The best way to approach shopping for a new office chair is to think of it like buying a car. Be ready to move on to the next chair if it doesn’t have the particular features you want, and the same goes for if its price is too high.

Remember how I recommended getting a starter chair before? Doing so can help you narrow down the features you absolutely need and avoid paying extra for the ones you probably won’t end up using.

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Office chair terms to know before you buy

I know I’ve gone through a few of these terms throughout this guide but I figured I’d explain some of the most common ones here to make shopping for a new office chair easier for you.

Lumbar support

A lumbar support mechanism is an extra piece found in many ergonomic chairs that provides additional support to the lower part of your back, where your spine naturally curves inward.

Chairs with one built-in help your spine maintain its natural curve while reducing pressure on your back and promoting better posture overall. A lumbar support can be fixed, adjustable, or dynamic, and getting a chair with the one that works best for you is essential.

Waterfall edge

While the seats of some chairs have a hard front edge, others have a waterfall edge instead. This ergonomic feature helps improve comfort as well as circulation in your legs while also reducing pressure on the back of your thighs.

If you sit for long periods of time, getting a chair with a waterfall edge can be a huge upgrade, as you’ll be able to sit comfortably while maintaining proper posture. This can also help prevent back pain.

Tilt mechanism

A tilt mechanism is a feature that allows an office chair’s backrest and potentially even its seat to tilt backward. If you want a better overall experience while reclining in your chair, then you’re going to want to look for one with a synchro-tilt mechanism.

This enables a chair’s backrest and seat to tilt backward together while keeping your spine properly aligned. If you like to recline and stay in that position, then you should also look for a chair with a tilt lock so that you can lock it in place.

Mesh vs. upholstery

Office chairs are typically made from upholstery or mesh. Mesh provides better airflow and keeps you cool, while upholstered chairs tend to feel more comfortable and provide added warmth in colder environments.

There are also hybrid chairs that have a mesh backrest and an upholstered foam seat to give you the best of both worlds.

4D Armrests

Office chair armrests used to only go up and down, but more and more chairs now come with 4D armrests instead.

In addition to up and down, 4D armrests can be moved forward and backward for different arm lengths, from side to side depending on the width of your shoulders, and they can swivel, which is great when you want them out of the way.

One thing to keep in mind with 4D armrests, though, is that some move too easily. If this is something you’re concerned about, look for a chair with ones that lock in place.

Frequently asked questions

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How we test the best office chairs

In order to test the best office chairs to review them and see how well they stack up against one another, I spend a few weeks sitting in each one. During this time, I see how well each office chair supports my back, shoulders, neck, and arms, and I also determine their comfort level.

Besides comfort, I also take a close look at how easy each chair is to adjust and whether or not the changes I make to a chair's fit remain in place. Although I review many of the office chairs highlighted above from my home, I also have family and friends of different weights and heights test them out too.

This gives me a better idea of how well each chair will work with different body types, and I can gauge someone else’s reaction to sitting in them for the first time. For the chairs that other members of the team at Tom’s Guide review, they do something similar when working remotely, but if they’re in the office, other co-workers will come and try out each chair.

During our testing process, I also take note of each chair’s design, appearance, and how customizable it is. Likewise, I inspect its materials and parts and see how well they hold up over time.

Since few people build home office furniture as often as I do, I take a lot of notes while putting each chair together to see how easy or difficult it might be for someone with less experience to do so. I assemble every office chair on my own, but I point out in my reviews where having someone else to help during the assembly process can make things easier or faster.

Finally, I take into account the overall cost of a chair, the length and fine details of its warranty, and how it compares to competing chairs in the same price range. For more information on our testing process, check out our how we test page for Tom’s Guide.

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My dream is a desk where I can turn my chair and use more desk — your classic L-shaped affair. But I’ve seen how expensive corner desks can be, which is why I jumped at the opportunity to test (and fall in love with) the Tribesigns 67-inch option.

Why? Well, it offers all the space I need to spread my work out and compartmentalize tasks in my mind for $150…well, it’s $150 for everyone else in Tribesigns early Black Friday sale. But for you, use the code “tomsguide” and you can get it for just $128.

Expectations vs reality

So let me be up front about what you actually get here. It’s a cheap desk, and you do feel that a bit on the wooden surface. The wood veneer starts to wear off around the edges slightly, but not to the point that it looks overtly less premium. The darkened shade used here does disguise the veneer nicely.

As for the setup itself, it’s a simple process, but make sure you follow the instructions. There are some awkward screw placements that you need to ensure you get just right — particularly at the joint between the main portion and the L part of the desk.

Multi-purpose versatility

This was critical for me. Because not only is this a place for me to get stuff done, but also for my sim racing too, which the room down the side of this desk and my multi-monitor mount is ideal for.

The shelf down the bottom side hides my PC tower perfectly, and the additional room allows for the clutter that comes with the job like additional laptops to test or my go-to notepad for keeping on top of tasks.

Surprisingly, given the thinness of the desktop and the frame itself, none of it bent or crumpled under the pressure of the clamps of my monitor mount or the power strip holder.

Work to be done

That’s not to say it’s perfect… I’m ashamed to show my cable management here, but as you can see, there isn’t really much built into the desk itself to tidy the chaos of wires that come from the monitors, the sim rig, the docking station and everything else.

And to be honest, that’s what you kind of expect with a cheap desk like this. It’s always going to be a “bring your own cable management” affair, but awkwardly the legs are too skinny for anything substantial. So I’ve already set up my Black Friday shopping list with a key desk leg cable management option.

Provided you can work around these downsides, though, a nicely-sized L-shaped desk for $160 is a steal!

More from Tom's Guide

• I’ve been using the LiberNovo Omni for two months and this futuristic office chair is the perfect mix of ergonomics and comfort
• I used this smart light strip to transform my living room — and it's been a game changer for my home
• Hyper’s new HyperSpace Trackpad Pro could finally bring a Magic Trackpad-like experience to Windows — here’s how

2025 has flown by and Black Friday sales are nearly here. By far the biggest sales event of the year, Black Friday is the perfect time to buy big-ticket items like one of the best TVs, a coffee machine or even home office essentials — which will be tax deductible for the 2025-26 financial year.

When it comes to office furniture, Steelcase is an established brand that makes some of the best office chairs you can buy. They don't usually come cheap, but the quality is undeniable — and now that the year's biggest sale season is upon us, the chair-maker has started dropping some early Black Friday deals — including an exclusive extra discount for Tom's Guide readers in Australia that can be used across the store.

To kick off its November proceedings, Steelcase is offering a flat, sitewide 25% off discount, but use the checkout code FUTURE2025 and you'll get an additional 3% off. That means Australian Tom's Guide readers get a total 28% off!

If you're spending hours at your desk for work, this is a great opportunity to invest in a high-quality seat. Opting for a well-designed ergonomic chair doesn't just impact your body, it can also improve your productivity. So go on, treat yourself or a loved one with a good WFH setup.

Need some guidance? We've highlighted four of our favourite Steelcase chairs and one noteworthy standing desk below — we've tested and reviewed several of the chairs ourselves here at Tom's Guide, with the Gesture and the Karman still circulating amongst colleagues in our Sydney office.

Steelcase is a Tom's Guide preferred partner (What does that mean?)

The best Steelcase office chair deals

The best Steelcase desk deals

How to choose a good office chair

If you're completely out of your depth when it comes to shopping office chairs this Black Friday, we have a full guide explaining how to choose the best office chair.

However, if you just need a quick breakdown of what features and specs to keep an eye out for before committing to a Black Friday deal, we've got you covered.

Design

There are two main options here — mid-back and high-back chairs. Mid-back models support the lower back up to the shoulders, and offer more freedom of movement, while high-back chairs offer complete spinal support including the neck and shoulders, with a greater restriction on movement.

The latter is often recommended for those sitting at a desk all day.

Material

Fabric or mesh are your two main options, and we often recommend mesh for Aussies, as it provides both firm support and breathability. Fabric, meanwhile, is good for soft, padded comfort — but it can potentially get a bit sweaty in warmer and more humid climates.

You'll also likely see some deals on office chairs that are faux leather (sometimes called PU leather or leatherette), but we'd favour fabric and mesh over it.

Lumbar support

Fixed lumbar support remains in a single, rigid position — basically a one-size-fits-most support that's great for those of average height. Adjustable lumbar support, as the name suggests, can be raised and lowered (or moved backward and forward) to better suit the shape of your back. This means it offers a suitable fit for a larger range of body types and shapes. Lastly, Dynamic lumbar support is the best pick, as it delivers continued support as you shift in your seat.

Ultra-cheap office chairs often have no lumbar support at all, and in our opinion are best avoided — which is why all Steelcase office chairs come with some type of lumbar support.

Armrests

Most office chair deals have 2D, 3D, or 4D armrests — this determines the number of directions the armrests can be angled (up, down, backward, forward, inward, outward).

Adjustments

Perhaps the most important feature to look for when aiming for a tailored fit alongside lumbar, a good office chair will also offer the ability to adjust the seat height and depth to ensure you're sitting correctly. Don't assume lockable recline and tilt are included — always check the specs. Also be sure to check that the headrest, if included, can be adjusted or angled for better neck support, too.

Below is a table to check what height your chair should reach depending on your height.

The Oak Hollow Aloria is a premium office chair with a mostly premium showing. It features high-quality materials that should hold up for years with no problems, and it offers plenty of customization and adjustability alongside a solid warranty. It's not perfect, but it does more right than wrong, making it worth consideration for your office setup.

In my Oak Hollow Aloria review, I’ll take you through everything it gets right, as well as the few things it gets wrong, so that you can make an informed decision about whether it's the best office chair for you.

Oak Hollow Aloria review: Specs

Oak Hollow Aloria review: Price and availability

The Oak Hollow Aloria can be purchased in multiple variants at different price points from the official Oak Hollow website.

Each version has a mesh backrest, so the only real difference between them is the type of material used on the seat cushion. The cowhide leather version I was sent costs $799 ($849 with headrest), but you can also select between mesh or fabric versions for $699 ($749 with headrest).

Oak Hollow Aloria review: Design and comfort

Strictly in terms of looks, the Oak Hallow Aloria is one of my favorite office chairs in recent memory. It's a stylish product sporting a sleek black aesthetic accented with a chrome wheelbase and backrest frame. It's the kind of chair you'd expect to see in an upscale attorney's office, but it slots in just fine in a home setup too.

The backrest mesh is bouncy and breathable, and it comes with adjustable lumbar support located around the back side. The lumbar cushion is very supportive, but it never feels as though it's going to puncture a kidney like the overly aggressive lumbar support of many similar office chairs. I'm also a fan of the backrest's shape, which is wider up top and thinner at the bottom to match the natural curves of the human body. It's both visually appealing and practical.

Meanwhile, the seat cushion comes covered with whatever material you choose during the buying process. While I can't speak to the mesh or fabric options, I'm a huge fan of the genuine cowhide leather on the Hollow Oak Aloria I was sent for review. It's not only very comfortable — thanks in part to the soft yet supportive cushion itself — but it's also more resistant to wear and tear than the cheaper synthetic materials used on most office chairs.

Beyond the three seat cushion materials you'll have to choose between, you'll also need to decide which size pneumatic cylinder height you'd like. This latter customization choice is important, as it defines the overall height that chair can reach, meaning especially short or tall folks will want to aim for the appropriately-named "short" or "tall" cylinders, respectively. If you're average height, the "standard" cylinder is likely to be fine. Regardless of which you pick, the weight limit remains the same at 300lbs.

Lastly, you'll need to determine whether you want the base chair or the version with a headrest, which is made of the same mesh as the backrest. The mesh is pulled pretty tight, so it's a bit hard for my tastes, but it's not necessarily uncomfortable once you find the right angle. I'd argue that it's a worthwhile add-on for an extra $50 considering that it'll run you double that if you decide to purchase it separately later.

Unfortunately, things don't fare too well when it comes to the Oak Hollow Aloria's 4D armrests. The overwhelming majority of chairs I've used in the last decade or so have levers just beneath the armrest pads that allow you to adjust the height with your fingers while you apply pressure from the top with your thumb. But this chair opts to place a round button about halfway down the side of the armrest instead, so you have to wrap your hand around the base and press in with your palm while pulling up or down. It works, but it feels janky and awkward.

This is made worse by the fact that there's no feedback to tell you where the individual height settings are during adjustment. As a result, you have to guess the height you want, let off the button, then sort of nudge the armrest pad up or down until it clicks into the closest notch with a terribly loud popping noise. It may be a minor irritation for folks who rarely adjust their armrests anyway, but it's an annoyance nonetheless.

Things begin to pick back up for the Oak Hollow Aloria when you take a glance at its warranty, though. The chair comes with a lifetime warranty on components and 5-year warranty on the seat cushion's leather and foam. I feel very confident in the long-term durability of the chair given its sturdy frame and high-quality materials, so seeing a good, long-term warranty is icing on the cake.

Oak Hollow Aloria review: What's adjustable

As expected, the seat mechanism underneath the Oak Hollow Aloria allows for various types of adjustments. You can slide the seat in and out to improve leg comfort, as well as move it up or down in traditional fashion. You can also change the tilt tension or lock the backrest.

The headrest can be adjusted up or down and pivoted to meet your head and neck's needs, while the 4D armrests can slide up or down and inward or outward — though, as I mentioned earlier, doing so is a noisy and inefficient affair.

The lumbar support mechanism on the back slides up or down on a rail of sorts. It's a bit tough to reach while sitting down, but the rail is reasonably long, so finding the right position for ideal ergonomics shouldn't pose a problem for most users.

Oak Hollow Aloria review: Assembly

I've received and assembled dozens of chairs throughout my career, and I've never received a box as poorly packaged as the one containing my Oak Hollow Aloria. Given the price point of this chair, I was shocked to open the box and find each piece of the chair haphazardly tossed inside with almost nothing protecting or securing them. A few stray pieces of bubble wrap and folded cardboard were carelessly tossed in random spots nowhere near potential friction points.

I've seen more organized shipping boxes for $50 chairs, and it was disappointing to see that my Oak Hollow Aloria's right armrest had some scuffs on it as a result of this negligence.

Despite all the disarray within the box, I was surprised to find the armrest scuffs were the only noticeable damage to the chair's parts. I got everything out and took stock, then got to building the chair. And I was happy to find that the assembly process was straightforward and effortless, which helped make up slightly for the horrible packing job.

I was able to get the Oak Hollow Aloria together in about 20 minutes. The instructions were clear and concise, and the included tools posed no problems. Additionally, I was delighted to find that the whole thing was lightweight enough to piece things together on my own, so I didn't need to request assistance from my wife despite nursing a partial rotator cuff tear. I probably should have — but the point is that the Oak Hollow Aloria should be a cinch for most folks to assemble solo. And also that I'm stubborn.

Oak Hollow Aloria review: Verdict

The Oak Hollow Aloria makes up for its handful of faults by being an attractive, comfortable, and versatile office chair. There's a lot to love here with its premium materials, wealth of adjustment options, easy assembly, and solid warranty. If you're in the market for a sleek office chair that will last for years to come, you could do much worse than the Oak Hollow Aloria. Just don't be afraid to speak up if your chair arrives with any damage from the slapdash shipping box packaging.

The LiberNovo Omni is a premium office chair that aims to combine ergonomics with comfort and surprisingly manages to do both, all with a futuristic design that’s sure to turn heads. Part office chair, part gaming chair, the Omni aims to do it all and the company behind this one-of-a-kind seat also wants to do the impossible by taking on the Herman Miller Aeron with its first product.

I’ve been using the LiberNovo Omni as my daily driver for two months now and despite this being a brand new design from a newcomer, I’m thoroughly impressed. From just how comfortable it is to sit in right out of the box with its cloud-like cushioning to the unique design of its Bionic FlexFit Backrest that instantly wrapped around the curve of my spine, there’s a whole lot to like about the Omni at first glance. However, the motorized system that allows you to adjust its lumbar depth or even stretch out your spine is the real icing on the cake. Still, its $1,099 premium price tag from a newcomer in the space means the Omni isn’t without its shortcomings.

My LiberNovo Omni review will help you decide if this is the best office chair for your workflow and your back or if it’s worth spending your hard-earned cash on a tested and proven chair from the biggest brands in the business instead.

LiberNovo Omni: Cheat Sheet

• What is it? A dynamic, highly adjustable ergonomic chair with a unique motorized backrest.
• Who is it for? People who spend long hours working in their office chair who want excellent ergonomics combined with ultimate comfort.
• What does it cost? The LiberNovo Omni costs $1,099 by itself or you can buy it together with a footrest in a bundle for $1,297.
• What do we like? The chair's highly engineered backrest, the motorized lumbar adjustment system, the built-in spinal stretch functionality, the deeply comfortable fabric-covered foam cushioning, and the straightforward assembly process.
• What don’t we like? The premium $1,000+ price, the 2-year limited warranty on electronics and how the footrest is an optional accessory.

LiberNovo Omni: Specs

LiberNovo Omni: The ups

The LiberNovo Omni is one of the rare office chairs that takes comfort as seriously as it does ergonomics. However, it’s the way all the parts from its Bionic FlexFit Backrest to its Dynamic Support System and its ErgoPulse Motor System work together as one that truly makes this chair shine.

Space-age ergonomics

At first glance, the LiberNovo Omni looks a lot like your standard office chair but it’s when you look closer that you start to see what makes it different. Unlike the other office chairs I’ve tested and reviewed, the Omni uses a stretchy elastic fabric wrapped over specialized foam for the headrest, backrest and seat. This immediately gives it a much more comfy look than some of the stiff designs you often see in other ergonomic chairs.

Spinning the Omni around though reveals why it just might be the chair to finally save your bad back and fix your posture. Its Bionic FlexFit Backrest is made up of eight flexible panels that are held together by 14 connection points with 16 pivot points that allow the backrest to flex and respond to your body’s movements. This design reminds me of the backrest in the Haworth Fern but with more flexibility overall.

Besides being extremely comfortable to sit in, the Omni’s seat cushion is also designed in such a way that it adjusts with your body as you shift positions throughout the day. While an all-mesh chair like the Branch Aire Chair will keep you cooler, the Omni follows in the footsteps of the Herman Miller Vantum, BodyBilt Classic 2500 Series and other, more ergonomic chairs that have a heavily cushioned seat to help relieve pressure in your hips and legs.

As this is a premium chair after all, you also get 4D armrests that can move forward or backward as well as to either side. One thing I really like about the Omni though is that it has synchronous armrests that move with the chair’s backrest as you recline, ensuring constant elbow support. The Omni has one last ergonomic trick up its sleeve, but given its unique motorized implementation, that feature deserves its own section.

Push-button lumbar support

Although you can’t raise or lower the position of the Omni’s lumbar support, you can do the next best thing in the most futuristic way possible. Between the chair’s frame and its backrest, there’s a small motorized linear actuator that’s attached to the backrest which allows you to bring the part where it meets the small of your back closer or farther away from you. This is ideal for ergonomics as your chair can perfectly align with your spine’s natural S-curve.

Known as adjustable lumbar depth, I first tried out this feature at CES a few years ago with the Razer Iskur V2 and was immediately impressed. This feature can also be found in other gaming chairs like the Secretlab Titan Evo.

The biggest difference with the Omni’s adjustable lumbar depth however is that you don’t have to manually turn a knob to dial in the perfect lumbar depth. Instead, you can fine-tune the position of the chair’s lumbar support using the buttons integrated into the side of the left armrest. If, like me, you often lean forward in your chair while focusing on a particular task, this feature is a game changer as your back is still fully supported even when you’re not sitting perfectly straight.

Normally, I’d be a bit apprehensive about a motorized office chair but the Omni is powered by a small rechargeable battery. It slips into a slot on the left underside of the chair and conveniently recharges via USB-C, unlike the optional Elemax cooling, heat & massage unit on the X-Chair X3 which uses a barrel-port style connector. The true peak of the Omni's engineering though isn't just about pushing a button to adjust lumbar depth; it’s reserved for when you lean all the way back.

Cloud-like comfort

From the way its stretchy elastic fabric wraps around my body and feels beneath my clothes to just how soft yet firm the multi-density seat cushion feels when I sit down, I really just can’t get enough of using this chair. Likewise, I really appreciate the synchronized headrest that moves with my head when I turn my neck which works well both when upright and when reclining.

Speaking of reclining, this is one area where the Omni has almost every other office chair I’ve tried yet beat. For instance, even though it comes with a pull-out footrest, the Hinomi X1 only lets you recline up to 135 degrees. The Omni on the other hand reclines all the way back to 160 degrees. Speaking of which, I decided to build a rollable reclining workstation out of an IKEA cart after testing the X1 but once I tried LiberNovo’s new chair, I ended up exclusively using the Omni with it to work on my laptop while lying almost horizontally.

A max recline of 160 degrees is almost unheard of but I appreciate how the Omni has a lever on the right underside that lets you switch between four different angles. Cleverly, the position of the lever mimics how far you can lean back in the chair. So when it’s vertical, the chair’s backrest is at 105 degrees in what LiberNovo calls Deep Focus mode. Then there’s the Solo Work, Soft Recline and Spine Flow modes at 120°, 135° and 160° respectively.

I found switching between the different recline modes really helped me switch from working during the day and gaming at night. However, I did use the fully reclined Spine Flow mode when I wanted to take a quick break during my workday. While you can activate the chair’s OmniStretch spinal massage by pressing a button on the left armrest and use it any of these modes, I found it worked best when fully reclined.

I also enjoyed using the optional massage functionality when testing the X-Chair X3 but LiberNovo’s OmniStretch is a completely different experience. It uses that same motor for the Omni’s adjustable lumbar depth to slowly lift your spine up and lower it down repeatedly for five minutes to relieve tension in your back and straighten things out in a similar way that a trip to a chiropractor would.

LiberNovo Omni: The downs

The LiberNovo Omni does quite a lot differently than the other office chairs I’ve reviewed and all of its different features manage to work together almost seamlessly. However, it’s not without its downsides which include its high starting price and the fact that I don’t know how well it will hold up over time given this is a brand new chair from a newcomer in the industry.

Starting at a premium

Even though LiberNovo is offering the Omni at a discounted sale price after its successful Kickstarter campaign, this is by no means a budget or mid-range office chair. And with a full price of $1,099 which will kick in once this pre-sale promotion ends, that puts the Omni right up there with the premium Steelcase Karman and almost within spitting distance of the Herman Miller Aeron. While I wouldn’t recommend the Omni or any of those models as a starter chair, they all do make for great upgrades for those who have been working from home for a while or spend a lot of time seated while either gaming or streaming.

You do get a lot of bang for your buck with the Omni but I do wish that higher $1,099 price included the optional footrest too. Not only does it match the look and feel of the chair but I found using it, both while seated upright and while reclining, really improved my experience with the Omni.

Ultimately, the question isn't just about whether the Omni is worth its premium price, but whether it can justify that price without a proven track record. This is a brand new chair from a newcomer afterall. While LiberNovo’s founder and CEO Alex Yan is new to the home office furniture space, he does have years of experience at both DJI and Narwal, during which time he struggled with chronic back pain and this eventually led to him starting his own company in order to come up with a solution for it.

Untested longevity

Although I really like the elastic fabric covering the Omni, it got me thinking about how well this novel material will hold up over time. It was then that I took a look at the chair’s warranty which gave me pause.

While some office chairs like Autonomous ErgoChair Ultra 2 come with a short two-year warranty, you usually get anywhere from a five to seven-year warranty with most mid-range chairs. Then when you move up to premium office chairs like those from Steelcase and Herman Miller, you’re looking at a much longer twelve-year warranty which makes sense given the higher price of those chairs.

Now with the Omni, you do get a five-year warranty for the chair’s frame which is good but not great. However, with the electronic components — like the battery, the actuator and the wiring used to connect everything — you only get a 2-year warranty. Given that the Omni’s adjustable lumbar depth and its OmniStretch feature (which are two of its biggest features) rely on these electronic components to function, you could end up with a chair that’s missing features several years down the line and this isn’t ideal.

Still, as I mentioned before, this is a brand new chair that hasn’t been tested long term yet, so we really don’t know how well these electronic components will hold up over time. My concern could be unwarranted or it could end up being a deal breaker but only time will tell.

LiberNovo Omni: Verdict

The LiberNovo Omni is a welcome addition in an already crowded space. It does things a bit differently and doesn’t just feel like yet another Herman Miller Aeron clone. I also really like how well it manages to combine comfort with ergonomics and get this right without sacrificing one for the other.

Even if you don’t often fully recline in your office chair, it’s great that with the Omni, you have the option to do so if you want. Likewise, the various recline angle settings and modes are well-thought out and easy to switch between. Well I wish you could raise or lower the position of the Omni’s lumbar support, the backrest provides enough support overall that I didn’t miss having this option. Being able to adjust the depth of the lumbar support by pressing a button made the chair feel very futuristic and you don’t often see this level of adjustability in a lot of other office chairs. If LiberNovo can back this technology with the long-term warranty offered by industry leaders, they will have a true winner.

Having tried the first chair from LiberNovo, I’m excited to see what the company does next. While the Omni’s $1,099 price tag is certainly a premium for a newcomer, its unique features and undeniable comfort prove that the gamble is well worth the payoff.

Finding a new chair can be a real pain, thanks to the wealth of options out there, so much so that I’ve been avoiding changing my old one for a while now. However, I recently had the chance to test out the Sihoo M56C Ergonomic Office Chair to see if it was the right fit for my needs.

The Sihoo M56C aims to offer dynamic lumbar support, alongside a soft, contoured seat, that helps to take off some of the daily pressure on your back. While it isn’t the cheapest office chair that you can buy, at $209 from Sihoo’s site, it gets the job done well for the price. The chair also comes with a 3-year warranty, as well as a 30-day free return period.

So, how is the chair overall? Personally, I think it’s great and it's a marked improvement over my current chair. The Sihoo is comfortable and more durable than you might expect — at least when it comes to being attacked by my cats. The focus on lower lumbar support is a real boon and the seat is impressively comfortable for the price.

My Sihoo M56C review will help you decide if this the best budget office chair for your needs or if it's worth spending a bit more on one of the best office chairs instead.

Sihoo M56C: Cheat Sheet

• What is it? An office chair designed with dedicated lumbar support.
• Who is it for? Ideal for anyone looking for a durable, comfortable desk chair.
• What does it cost? The Shihoo M56C costs $209 with no optional add-ons.
• What do we like? The Dynamic lumbar support and the comfortable cushion, as well as the mesh back
• What don’t we like? The lackluster assembly instructions and the lack of extra features to adjust the chair

Sihoo M56C: specs

Sihoo M56C: The Ups

The M56C has a lot to offer those looking for a chair that doesn’t dominate a room, but the real winner for me has been how it helps my back. The dynamic lumbar support and mesh backing offer a durable and comfortable chair for those looking for something that won't break the bank.

Support where you need it

One of the best parts of the Sihoo M56C is the dynamic lumbar support that sits on the chair's back. Initially, I found it a big hard to rest against, and was constantly aware of its presence, but that’s more due to my old chair's lack of a similar feature. The panel moves slightly with your back, meaning you feel the same pressure no matter where you move.

Meanwhile, the headrest's curve makes it comfortable to lean against, while also offering plenty of support. With that being said, it is a bit difficult to adjust as there's no levers or buttons, so once you find the perfect spot, you really don’t want to move it.

The seat is wide and comfortable

One of the biggest issues I tend to find with chairs is that the seat feels constricting, especially when you have armrests. However, the W-shaped seat cushion on the Sihoo M56C is wide enough that I never felt trapped.

On top of that, the cushion is also very comfortable, to the point that I could happily sit all day without any issue. Finally, you can also adjust the armrests' height, although I found them to be high enough at their lowest point that I never really needed to.

Cool and easy to clean mesh

The back of the Sihoo M56C is comprised of a mesh material that is both soft to lean against and comfortable. Not only that, mesh backs come with the advantage of being much cooler during hot weather, as the material allows for improved airflow. Mesh is also much easier to clean, which is great if you live in a house with pets (or eat at your desk when you have to.)

Sihoo M56C: The Downs

While the M56C certainly impressed me, there are a couple of issues that I had with the chair. Initially, the biggest problem came about when trying to assemble it, and even then, the chair doesn’t really offer many adjustments or fancy additions to help it stand out.

Not the simplest assembly

Nothing in this world is perfect, and the Sihoo M56C has some issues; the most noticeable comes about when you actually put the chair together. It isn’t the longest process, likely taking around 45 minutes to an hour.

However, the actual instructions aren’t the clearest, making it more of a chore than it really needs to be. For instance, there’s not always the clearest indication of which direction a piece should face, and it’s easy to cause some light damage in the initial stages.

A bare bones office chair

This is more personal, but the biggest issue with the M56C is that it doesn’t have much beyond the lumbar support. The chair struggles to really stand out on its own. If you’re looking for a real centerpiece design, then this might not be the chair for you.

The M56C also lacks any really cool features, nor does it have a wealth of different settings beyond adjusting the height of the chair and the armrests. I also found that the lever used to raise and lower the seat feels a bit flimsy.

Sihoo M56C: The Verdict

The Sihoo M56C manages everything it sets out to do: it’s comfortable and has some of the best lumbar support I’ve seen at this price. If you’re looking for a new chair, but don’t want to break the bank, then it’s ideal. However, if you want something a bit fancier or a chair that offers a wealth of different customization and adjustment options, then this might not be the one for you.

As much as the internet loves to hate "the big light," the truth is that sometimes, you just need functional overhead lighting. In my home though, the living room’s vaulted ceilings and lack of wiring make adding even a simple fixture a daunting task.

While I’ve used two floor lamps with smart light bulbs to add enough light that I’m not tripping over furniture since moving in a few years ago, this isn’t nearly bright enough for me to work comfortably at my desk setup in the living room. I thought all hope was lost until last year when I added a monitor light bar on top of my display. This provided more than enough light for my desk but left my wife’s desk on the other side of our fireplace still lacking proper lighting.

Although she was content using one of the best desk lamps to light her corner of the room, I knew there had to be a better way. It was then that I realized that the fake beam dividing our living room would be the perfect place to discretely install one of the best smart lights — a smart lightstrip — for some extra ambient light. However, there was still one big problem that I wasn’t exactly sure how to tackle. As we have an older home built in the 1970s, every single room in our house has popcorn ceilings and of course, so does the beam that runs across our living room. We eventually plan to remove them but I know that will be a very time consuming and tedious task.

Just when I was ready to nix my idea of installing a lightstrip on the backside of the beam, I came across Govee’s Strip Light with Skyline Kit ($119 @ Amazon) which would allow me to illuminate the entire room without having to worry about its adhesive backing not sticking to the popcorn ceiling.

The smart lightstrip, reinvented

Available in a smaller 13 foot or a larger almost 20 foot length, the Govee Strip Light with Skyline Kit comes with everything you need to get this unique smart lightstrip installed. In the box, you get the lightstrip itself, the large steel strip that you stick it onto, mounting bases and rotation bars for both ends and all the necessary hardware you’ll need to attach it to the wall.

You aren’t getting your standard, run-of-the-mill lightstrip either. Instead, this one features Govee’s RGBWWIC (Red, Green, Blue, Warm White, White, Independent Control) tech which offers improved color accuracy across the board and especially for white light which is perfect for my intended use case. The true star of the show, however, is the steel strip itself.

While most lightstrips are just attached to a surface — like under a kitchen cabinet or behind your TV — using their adhesive backing, this one can hang between any two walls in your home. The mounting bases hold the ends in place while the steel strip the lightstrip is attached to holds it firmly in place even as it’s suspended between two walls without sagging. The secret is the innovative mounting system, which uses rotation bars within the mounting bases. By twisting one of these bars once the unit is suspended, you apply the necessary tension to straighten the steel strip out completely, eliminating any potential sag.

Although the mounting brackets allow the rotation bars to turn, making tilted or angled installations possible, I opted for the easier horizontal, wall-to-wall installation on my living room beam. Even with a straight installation, this capability is the reason the Skyline Kit could bridge the gap across that wide space. However, I wouldn’t recommend that you try a tilted installation unless you have some DIY experience and absolutely need to do things that way.

With the Govee Strip Light with Skyline Kit unboxed and my install planned out, it was time to get to work on mounting it behind the beam in my living room.

Pulling off a covert installation

Whenever installing smart lights, you definitely want to test them first, which is why I laid the 19.7 foot light strip Govee sent over for this project out on my hallway floor. Since I only planned on using 13.5 feet, I cut the steel strip to make mounting it behind the beam more manageable, making sure to leave extra length. Govee's inclusion of a paper template made marking the preliminary mounting base holes easy and after a quick check for wall studs, I used a mix of the included wall anchors and direct stud attachment to secure the base.

Normally, the Strip Light with Skyline Kit is supposed to be installed about a foot away from a wall to bathe it in ambient light. For my purposes though, the lightstrip would be entirely tucked behind my beam to keep it out of sight while its light would shine over onto the vaulted ceiling behind it in my living room. This covert placement was key to solving my lighting issue without adding visible fixtures or extra wires in the ceiling.

Now for the fun part: the final assembly. After slowly peeling the backing off the lightstrip and sticking it to the steel strip (the guard rails kept it perfectly straight), I snapped the first rotation bar in place and inserted it into the mounting base. Then it was just a matter of installing the second mounting base on the opposite side of the beam. This is where the initial measurement gamble paid off.

The strip was a little too long, leaving slack that the rotation bar couldn't fully straighten out. I took the entire strip down, gave it one final precision cut and reattached it. This last step worked like a charm: I now had a lightstrip that spanned the length of the beam without any potential sag, completely bypassing the popcorn ceiling adhesion problem.

After admiring my perfectly straight, covert work for longer than I’d like to admit, it was time to power everything on, add the Light Strip with Skyline Kit to the Govee app, and see just how well this covert, single source of light could illuminate my entire living room at night.

Out of sight but with plenty of light

The true test of Govee’s Strip Light with Skyline Kit was whether it could solve my lighting problem without creating a messy install, and it passed with flying colors. Set to a warm, yellowish light (as shown above), the lightstrip now illuminates my living room’s vaulted ceiling. Critically, my placement was just right: when standing anywhere in the front of my living room, the lightstrip is completely invisible.

One thing that I was worried about based on my experience testing monitor light bars was glare. However, I’m happy to report that I haven’t seen any on my monitor, both while seated and standing. This is because just like with my other desk setups, I’m using one of the best standing desks out here in the living room.

The RGBWWIC tech inside the Strip Light with Skyline Kit immediately stood out during my initial testing. It produces a fantastic white light that is bright and clear, which is great for when I’m working. This light is also dimmable, which helps significantly at night, but its capabilities are almost endless. For example, I could split the strip color-wise and have cool white light on my side of the living room and warmer orange light on my wife’s side, though I haven't needed to yet.

Within the Govee app, you can stick to simple illumination or dive into 154 different preset scenes. Since the Skyline Kit is a newer product, you also get access to the company’s LuminBlend color management system. This is a proprietary system that uses a custom chip and an algorithm to mix colors in such a way that they are more vibrant and accurately incorporate white light. Likewise, you can also use Govee’s AI bot to create new color combos from text prompts or find ones that other users have made in the Share Space tab and instantly apply them to your own lights.

Getting the light up and running in the app was a breeze. Since I already have the Govee app installed, I just tapped the Plus button in the top right corner and the Strip Light with Skyline Kit was immediately visible. After giving it a name and installing a few updates, I was ready to go.

I’m not all work though, so in the evenings with my son and especially at parties and get-togethers, I like to have a bit of fun with the Govee Strip Light with Skyline Kit. For instance, at my mother-in-law’s birthday party last week, I set the lightstrip to her favorite color and we put up a photo backdrop on the front side of the beam. With Halloween coming up and the holidays just around the corner, I plan on using the various Festival scenes to really set the mood too.

Illuminating the unlightable

One of my favorite things about the best smart home devices — or in this case smart lights — is that they can often be used to solve a problem that once seemed impossible to fix. While my initial idea of just sticking a lightstrip on the back of the beam was a clever idea in its own right, the popcorn ceiling in my living room would have made this a less-than-ideal solution. Now with the Govee Strip Light with Skyline Kit though, I’ve managed to achieve the same result but as a long-term solution, not one that will require constant readjustments and fixes.

This new way of mounting a lightstrip in difficult spaces looks great on its own too. The white housing the lightstrip attaches to allows it to blend in with almost every wall, and if I wasn't trying to solve my own unique problem, I definitely would have installed it in my game room above our TV or someplace similar. The ambient light it casts could easily help set the mood for both game and movie nights. However, since I spend more time at my desk than in front of my TV, this light's functional value is immediately apparent right here in my living room work space.

In fact, I first installed the Govee Strip Light with Skyline Kit at the beginning of the month and I’ve been using it every day since, both during my normal work hours and for those late-night writing sessions. While it certainly stands out more in the evenings, the lightstrip does a fantastic job of illuminating my living room work setup during the day too. It’s also made a noticeable difference during video calls, as I now have perfect background illumination instead of having to open the blinds or turn on the lights in my son’s playroom just to not look dim on camera.

Whether you’re in a similar situation with a room that’s difficult to light or you just want to add some mood-setting ambience to your living room, the Govee Strip Light with Skyline Kit is a game changer for smart lightstrips.

Just be sure you plan out your install ahead of time and leave some extra length when first cutting the steel strip, just in case.

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I have a sedentary job which means I spend a majority of my workday sitting and typing away at my desk. To ensure I don’t develop any back problems, I absolutely need one of the best office chairs, and the Boulies OP300 is fit for purpose. I’ve been sitting in this chair for nearly a month now, and I love it.

It’s extremely comfortable with a great level of adjustability. It has a discreet design that helps it fit into any office space too. The best part? It’s competitively priced, and it’s great value for money. However, its lumbar support isn’t adjustable and the backrest height adjustment is finicky.

For the complete breakdown, read my full Boulies OP300 review.

Boulies OP300 review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A budget ergonomic chair with plenty of adjustment
• Who is it for? Office workers who want a comfortable chair but don’t want to break the bank
• How much does it cost? The Boulies OP300 is available for $289 / £249
• What do we like? It’s easy to assemble, very comfortable to sit in, and it’s competitively priced
• What don’t we like? The fixed lumbar support and awkward height adjustment

Boulies OP300 review: Specs

Boulies OP300 review: The ups

The Boulies OP300 is a fantastic budget ergonomic chair that’s highly adjustable and comfortable for long periods of time.

Competitively priced

If you want a comfortable office chair but don’t want to spend lots of money on it, I can’t recommend the Boulies OP300 enough. It retails for $289 at Boulies U.S. / £249 at Amazon U.K., making it a great budget option. It’s slightly more expensive than the ProtoArc EC100 ($189) which we rank as one of the best budget office chairs, and priced similarly to the Boulies EP460 ($299). It’s also cheaper than the Branch Aire Chair ($499) but this chair is made entirely of mesh.

While the OP300 isn’t made entirely of mesh like the EP460 and Branch’s offering, it’s still extremely comfortable with plenty of room for adjustment, which I’ll get into next.

Quick and easy assembly

The Boulies OP300 comes well-packaged with all its components individually and securely wrapped, alongside an allen key and a bunch of different-sized screws. You get an assembly manual which lays out the components at the start so you can double-check everything is in the box.

As for the assembly, it’s easy and quick. I timed myself once I’d unboxed everything, and it took me just under 20 minutes to put the OP300 together. I found the instruction manual easy to follow, and all the screws slotted and screwed in effortlessly. The easy assembly is something we praised the EP460 for too, so it’s nice to see Boulies has kept that up with the OP300.

Highly adjustable and comfortable

The Boulies OP300 is highly adjustable so you can tailor it to suit your needs and comfort level. There are a total of four levers: three on the right-hand side and one on the left-hand side. The one on the left lets you move the seat forwards and backwards. You can also adjust the seat’s height, the backrest’s incline and lock the backrest’s free-moving incline via the levers on the right. All four are easy to reach and push/pull.

The OP300’s backrest has five adjustable height settings. As someone who’s just over 5’6”, I found the OP300’s backrest at its lowest level adequate for my height. My head sat comfortably against the curved headrest. My editor, who is 5’11”, also sat in the chair and found the headrest a good height. I’d say this chair will be comfortable for those up to 6’3” and that’s recommended by Boulies too.

The maximum weight the OP300 can handle is 265lbs / 120kg. The backrest has an incline of 85°-113° and I found all these positions comfortable. It was also nice to recline it entirely and have a little power nap at lunch — that’s how comfortable I felt!

Made of padded mesh, the OP300’s headrest is height-adjustable so you can tailor it to your needs. To adjust the height, all you need to do is push the button located on the headrest’s stem and move it up or down. You can’t adjust the tilt angle, though, so you’ll need to get the Boulies EP460 instead if you want that.

The high level of adjustability extends to the OP300’s armrests too, which have three rotation settings, six height levels and seven forward/backward positions. I appreciated being able to adjust the armrests’ height according to my desk or according to my arms’ angle of comfort.

On top of it all, the OP300’s backrest is made of airy and padded mesh and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed sitting on it. Boulies’ OP series is designed for professional settings and gaming, and for those who use the chairs for over eight hours a day — as I do when I’m at the office. I can attest to the fact that I haven’t felt any discomfort or fatigue after a full work day — and I’ve been using the chair for nearly a month (at the time of writing).

Discreet design

When Boulies reached out to me about testing the OP300, the brand described it as a gaming chair. I wouldn’t say it screams “gamer” per se, as it is available in all-black only, and looks like a regular office chair. In fact, it looks exactly like the image your mind conjures up when hearing “office chair.”

That said, yes, the OP300 fits right into any work environment, as it doesn’t look out of place amongst the other chairs in our testing lab.

Boulies OP300 review: The downs

The Boulies OP300 isn’t perfect as the lumbar support is fixed and adjusting the backrest’s height is a little awkward.

Fixed lumbar support

While many aspects of the Boulies OP300 are adjustable, its lumbar support is, alas, fixed. Lumbar support, as the name suggests, supports the lumbar region of the spine (towards the tailbone). On some chairs, like the Boulies EP460, you can adjust the lumbar support to suit the curvature of your back, but not on the OP300.

I didn’t find the fixed lumbar support uncomfortable or anything, but it would have been nice to have been able to adjust it. If you want your lower back to be adequately supported, especially if you suffer from back problems, I’d recommend the EP460 instead as its lumbar cushion can be adjusted to suit upright sitting, forward sitting and reclined positions.

The Branch Ergonomic Chair also has adjustable lumbar support but its height can’t be adjusted, making the EP460 the better choice.

Awkward height adjustment

Looks like easy assembly isn’t the only thing the Boulies OP300 has in common with the Boulies EP460, as adjusting both the chairs’ heights is finicky and a little annoying. You see, to adjust the height, you must pull up the backrest and wait for it to lightly click to lock into one of three height settings. Pull it up too far and it resets back to the bottom.

Frustratingly, the manual doesn’t mention this so, at first, I assumed the chair was broken. But after some trial and error, I figured it out. If you experience the same thing, you’ll have to work it out for yourself, use my review as reference, or reach out to Boulies customer support.

We had the same issue and confusion when reviewing the EP460. At the time, Tom’s Guide senior editor Pete Wolinski reached out to Boulies’ representative to confirm whether an explanation of the mechanism would be added to the user manual. Boulies’ representative stated it would be, but clearly this still hasn’t happened.

Boulies OP300 review: Verdict

As ergonomic chairs go, the Boulies OP300 is a fantastic one. Firstly, it’s priced very well, making it a great budget chair. With a high level of adjustability, the OP300 is an extremely comfortable chair to sit in for hours — and it’s designed to be sat in for eight-hour work days.

The OP300 does have a limitation though, and that is the fact that its lumbar support is fixed and can’t be adjusted like on the Boulies EP460. Also, the OP300’s backrest’s height is a bit awkward to adjust.

Despite these drawbacks, the OP300 is still good value for money. It looks low-key, it’s comfortable, and it’s highly adjustable. After a month of use, I’ve already noticed an improvement in my posture!

If you’re a power user that demands the absolute best, a basic desk, chair and computer certainly won’t cut it. Instead, you want a home office setup that’s powerful and perfectly blends cutting-edge technology with stunning, futuristic design.

This is where I come in. As a home office expert who tests and builds high-end setups for a living, I’ve carefully curated this collection to showcase how you can take your desk setup to the next level. Whether it’s peak creative or even gaming performance, this collection does it all and then some.

The connected command center is the definitive solution for power users who aren’t constrained by their budget. Every piece is a flagship product, from the highly customizable desk and extremely adjustable chair to the massive OLED super ultrawide monitor and a high-speed, Wi-Fi 7 router. This collection is tailored to those who want the latest tech and need all the power they can get to deliver a truly unrivaled home office experience.

Working for long hours at your desk shouldn’t leave you with fatigue, strain, or neck pain. Instead, you should be able to perform your best without any physical discomfort, no matter how long you’re at your desk each day. As such, you need a home office setup that works as hard as you do to achieve all-day focus while preventing injuries.

To achieve this, you need a carefully crafted home office built with true ergonomics in mind. However, there are plenty of products that are merely marketed as "ergonomic" but aren't good for your health or your productivity. That's where I come in. As an expert who rigorously tests high-performance gear, I've spent years cutting through the noise so you don't have to suffer from buyer's remorse.

The Ergonomic Powerhouse is a meticulously curated collection built around the idea of promoting peak performance with your health and well-being at the center. From a highly customizable chair and a pressure-relieving desk to a laptop and PC built for multi-monitor setups, every piece is designed to eliminate unnecessary strain and empower you to comfortably do your best work, all day long.

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Desk Vari Ergo Electric Standing Desk $699

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Wi-Fi 7 router ASUS RT-BE96U $449.99

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Laptop Pick Dell XPS 15 $2099

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Desktop Pick Geekom A6 $449.99

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Monitor Dell 27 Plus 4K USB-C Monitor (S2725QC) $319.99

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Docking Station Pluggable UD-MSTH2 $149.95

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I have a sedentary job, and that essentially means that I sit at a desk for up to eight hours a day. Sedentary jobs can have a detrimental impact on your physical health, and can lead to back pain, according to a study conducted by the National Library of Medicine. I'm closer to 30 than I am to 25 and for the past few months, I've been working on nurturing both my physical and mental health, but I can't avoid sitting at a desk and, you know, doing my job.

So what's the solution? One of the best office chairs, of course. I haven't been happy with my work-sanctioned chair as I haven't found it very comfortable or beneficial to my posture. For the past month, though, I've been using (and testing) the Boulies OP300 ergonomic chair — and boy, I won't be going back to my work-sanctioned one anytime soon.

As ergonomic chairs go, the OP300 is up there with some of the best budget office chairs. It's extremely comfortable and provides plenty of support for your back and arms, and it comes with loads of adjustment as well to help you lock in the perfect fit. While not without its faults — it is, after all, a budget chair — I've been thoroughly pleased with the OP300, and hopefully, this article will convince you to get an ergonomic chair too.

I could sleep in this chair

I think it says a lot about a chair if I say I can sleep in it — so you can picture just how comfortable I find the Boulies OP300. Since I've been using this chair, I've been wondering how I went so long without it. Its backrest is made of airy and padded mesh, designed for those who sit in chairs for over eight hours a day. My back has felt well-supported by the backrest, and it's been a joy to sit in the OP300.

The OP300's seat is also made of padded mesh and it doesn't feel slippery at all. All the time I've spent sitting in the chair, I've never felt myself sliding down unintentionally. I've felt no fatigue or discomfort after a full work day, which is fantastic, and something I struggled with when I was using my work-sanctioned chair.

Improvements I've noticed

This one time, I referred to my posture as that of a croissant, at which my partner burst out laughing — but I wasn't joking! Sometimes, I slouch quite a bit which we all know is a bad thing. I've been trying to rectify that when I stand and I think I've made great strides, but I used to do it while sitting to. Used to. You know what fixed it? Sitting in the Boulies OP300 for a month.

A week into sitting in the OP300, I noticed that I was sitting upright with my spine straightened. This is all thanks to two things: a) my determination, and b) the chair's adjustable backrest recline. It's adjustable between 85° and 113° but I kept it locked into place at approximately 90° which I found to be perfect for my back. Not only did it keep my spine straight, it also kept me from sliding into it. And when I did want to slide into it, I used the lever to "unlock" the recline. Super convenient.

Another thing I noticed (which I hadn't thought of before) while testing the OP300 was the angle of my arms. The OP300's armrests have three rotation settings, six height levels and seven forward/backward positions. Depending on my comfort level, I could adjust the armrests to help my shoulders relax which, in turn, kept me from slouching or hunching. It helped distribute the weight of my arms equally too, and encouraged them to sit at a 90° angle.

Anything I'd change?

As I mentioned up top, the Boulies OP300 isn't without its flaws. While there's a high level of adjustability, one thing is fixed, and that's the lumbar support. Lumbar support, well, supports the inward curve of your lower back to improve posture and reduce strain. While the OP300 is very comfortable as it is, I would have liked the ability to adjust the backrest's lumbar support according to my needs — like you can on the Boulies EP460.

Another thing I'd add to the OP300 to take it from a "great chair" to a "perfect chair" is a footrest just so I can kick back and relax. Of course, that would drive the chair's price up and as a budget chair, it isn't possible to add one while keeping costs low.

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There are few home brands more iconic than IKEA, and of all IKEA's many products, the Billy bookcase might be the most loved. It's a storage staple that almost all of us have owned in our own homes before, and its classic design is ideal for stowing away everything from books to toys. So it's no wonder that IKEA continues to improve its Billy line, and the latest addition to the collection is a real winner.

This new Billy bookcase with foldable table retails for $170, which is significantly more expensive than the regular $79 bookcase, but it's also got a much more complex design. It's fitted with a tabletop surface that you can pull out and use as a desk, while the lower shelves act as legs to support it. It's also fitted with wheels to allow you to smoothly extend and retract the table surface for easy access.

So many uses

The new Billy bookcase comes with a foldable table that rolls in and out of place for easy storage between uses, and I can think of so many advantages of a desk-bookshelf hybrid such as this. The first thing that comes to mind is a craft station. As someone who loves to sew, paint and puzzle, I often take over my kitchen table with my latest hobby, but being able to pull out an additional surface from my bookshelf is a much smarter option. Plus, I can simply roll it back into place when I'm done.

This bookshelf would also work well for those who occasionally need to work from home, but don't want to invest in one of the best desks as a permanent addition to their space.

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Setting up your first home office can feel like an overwhelming task. The sheer number of desks, chairs and devices to pick from can easily make anyone second-guess every decision. Unfortunately, this can lead to costly mistakes and buyer’s remorse or worse, a setup that’s just not comfortable you’re now stuck with.

This is where I come in. As a home office expert that reviews the best office chairs, the best standing desks and constantly builds new desk setups for a living, I know where you can save without sacrificing the essentials while still keeping things simple and comfortable.

The value workspace is the answer to your biggest question: What do I actually need? I’ve carefully hand-picked every selection in this collection to ensure you get a home office setup for long-term usability without going over budget. This collection has all of the essentials, from a reliable Wi-Fi router and a customizable desk to a choice between a desktop or laptop setup, so you can stop overthinking everything and start working comfortably right away.

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Rotuer Eero Pro 7 $699

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Laptop Acer Aspire Go 15 $499.99

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Monitor light bar Quntis ScreenLinear Pro $42.99

The Uplift V3 is a dual-motor, electric standing desk with rock-solid stability that you can customize to your heart’s content. Instead of reinventing the wheel, it builds on what worked with the Uplift V2 by adding a redesigned and stronger frame, switching to a simplified assembly process and it also comes with a new cable management tray that’s wider and more flexible.

Back when I reviewed the Uplift V2 several years ago, I was pleasantly surprised by all of the different options I could pick from when configuring my desk. In the time since, Uplift has added several new desktop sizes, frame colors, keypad styles and more to the mix. While this sheer number of options could be overwhelming for first-time buyers, I really like that you’re not stuck with just one desktop size and only a few colorways.

I’ve been using the Uplift V3 for both work and gaming for the past month and I’m even more impressed with it than I was with the previous model given how much easier it was to put together. But does it do enough to make it one the best standing desks, and is the streamlined assembly and refined experience worth spending an extra $100 over the V2?

Uplift V3 Standing Desk: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A dual-motor electric standing desk that’s highly customizable.
• Who is it for? Anyone looking for an extremely stable, highly customizable, and future-proof standing desk system.
• What does it cost? The Uplift V3 starts at $699 but can get quite expensive with a wider frame, a premium desktop and lots of accessories.
• What do we like? The simplified assembly process, the wide variety of configuration options, its extremely stable frame and how the included cable management tray is now wider and more flexible.
• What don’t we like? The sheer number of options when configuring your desk could be overwhelming for first-time buyers and the optional customizations can get expensive.

Uplift V3 Standing Desk: Specs

Uplift V3 Standing Desk: The ups

The Uplift V3 is a masterclass in refinement that improves on the V2 in several meaningful ways. It's easier and simpler to assemble, delivers rock-solid stability, and remains one of the most customizable desks thanks to a fully-fledged ecosystem of optional accessories. Best of all, it now includes a redesigned cable management tray that is wider and more versatile.

Almost effortless assembly

When I reviewed the Uplift V2, I found its assembly more complicated than the highly pre-assembled Vari Electric Standing Desk. This time, however, Uplift has completely overhauled the V3's build process to make it significantly more streamlined.

Uplift ships the V3 with the frame and control box pre-assembled now, so I only had to unpack three boxes with the desktop, legs, and feet in each. Likewise, many of the bolts are also pre-inserted, which cuts down on time spent fumbling with hardware.

Building the Uplift V3 took me considerably less time than with the V2 or even with Uplift’s Collegiate Series desk I tried out recently. Overall, I had the desk unboxed and built in less than 30 minutes. As far as I’m concerned, Vari still holds the top spot for plug-and-play assembly but now with the V3, Uplift is right up there alongside it.

Making cable management universal

One of the things I’ve always given Uplift Desk credit for is that it’s one of the only companies that includes a cable management tray in the box for free, not as a separate add-on. While the old plastic tray was a bit flimsy, it was functional. The good news is the V3 delivers a massive step up in quality.

Now with the Uplift V3, you’re getting a seriously improved cable management tray in the box that’s not only wider but also flexible. The new FlexMount Cable Manager attaches to two brackets on the backside of the desk with pre-drilled holes to make installation even easier.

This design offers exceptional flexibility. With five mounting hole positions and four height positions, you can easily set the tray closer to the desk's edge or further back. This adjustability is key, allowing you to easily accommodate one of the best monitor arms while still leaving plenty of room for one of the best surge protectors and even several bulky power bricks too.

Considering third-party trays typically cost around $30 and some first-party options run as high as $60, Uplift's decision to continue including one offers a lot of value. The fact that the company completely redesigned its cable management tray to make it much more adjustable is just the icing on the cake.

A smoother, more stable upgrade

To test the Uplift V3, I put together a hybrid work/gaming desk setup with one of the best gaming monitors, the Framework Desktop, and several key accessories. Even with the smallest, 42-inch desktop, I still had plenty of desk space, and the setup never felt cramped. The wider cable management tray helped maximize the workspace beneath the desk, keeping the surface clear and clutter free.

Compared to the Uplift V2 I reviewed four years ago, the V3 delivers a familiar yet noticeably more refined experience. While the previous model was already great, this new one feels smoother in operation and more stable, even at its tallest height.

The adjustable height of the new FlexMount Cable Manager gave me more than enough space to easily mount a monitor stand on the back of the desk, and I found it to be as comfortable to work from standing up as it was to do so while seated in one of the best office chairs.

Given that the desktop options for the V3 are the same as the V2, the frame improvements are the big seller here. For my build, I used the Advanced Comfort Flush Keypad, which features a soft-touch rubber finish and four programmable height buttons.

During operation, the V3’s dual motors hit a peak noise level of 54 dB. While this is slightly louder than the remarkably quiet Hinomi S1 Standing Desk I recently reviewed (at 47 dB), the V3 is by no means loud enough to be distracting. I also liked that the V3 didn’t kick into gear when adjusting its height like some other standing desks. Instead, it just started moving and came to a calculated stop at my preset standing height.

Not just a desk but an ecosystem

Having configured, built, and tested the Uplift V2, one of the company’s Collegiate Series desks, and now the V3, I’ve really come to appreciate the ecosystem of accessories Uplift has created. This isn't a one-and-done standing desk purchase; it's a platform you can continually upgrade and customize over time.

This long-term approach is key. You can do the initial configuration and build, then come back for more accessories as your budget or needs change. For instance, as storage is always hard to come by, you can add Uplift’s Desk Drawer.

Or, if you downsize from a desktop to one of the best laptops, you could add the Slim Under Desk Shelf to keep your laptop out of the way while connected to a monitor or docking station. The possibilities are truly endless and this makes the V3 one of the most customizable standing desks I’ve tried yet.

One part of the ecosystem that impressed me this time around were the various power grommets available. While the standard desk includes simple covers, upgrading to the power grommets made a huge difference for me.

I tested two versions: a flush grommet with AC outlets and USB ports, and a pop-up model with even more ports and outlets. Not only are these great for charging your USB-powered devices, but they eliminate the need to run power cords under your desk for accessories like a desk lamp or printer.

I really appreciate this flexibility. Uplift ensures you're not stuck with your initial configuration like you are when choosing the trim level for a car. You can always add accessories like these power grommets later as your workflow changes which makes the V3 a more compelling long-term investment.

Uplift V3 Standing Desk: The downs

The Uplift V3 is a fantastic standing desk, but even with its refinements, it faces a couple of significant criticisms. The sheer volume of customization options can make configuring your desk feel slightly overwhelming, and while the V3 provides exceptional stability and quality, that quality comes with a price tag that quickly climbs when adding accessories.

Almost too many choices

Uplift’s focus on customization can be a double-edged sword. For instance, when you start configuring the V3 on its website, you have to scroll down past 30 different desktop styles before picking your frame and keypad. While people upgrading from a budget option like the Fezibo Electric Standing Desk will appreciate this depth, for those prone to second-guessing, the sheer number of choices can be overwhelming.

To Uplift’s credit, the company does its best to make these choices easier for you. It’s the only standing desk maker I know of that sends out desktop samples ($9 to $22 depending on the wood), and its Desktop Lookbook makes visualizing your final desk much easier.

I even used one of the desktop samples to build Uplift’s headphone stand which is now one of my favorite home office accessories. Still, I wish Uplift offered pre-configured bundles of its most popular standing desks (maybe at a slight discount) to make things easier.

Another thing worth pointing out is that depending on how you customize the V3, the price can get quite expensive real fast. Upgrading to the largest desktop size immediately adds a few hundred dollars, and even smaller additions — like a more premium keypad or those nifty power grommets — can quickly add up and push the final cost far above the desk’s base price.

Uplift V3 Standing Desk: Verdict

The Uplift V3 is exactly what you want to see in the follow-up to an already great desk. Instead of starting over, the company took what worked with the V2 and focused on refinement. From the streamlined and simpler assembly process to the wider and more adjustable included cable management tray, the V3 is easy to recommend over its predecessor, making it a great option for first-time buyers and more experienced users alike.

While the sheer number of desktop styles and configuration options can be slightly overwhelming, this customization depth is ultimately a benefit. Yes, configuring the desk with a high-end desktop and upgraded components can get expensive, but the V3's value lies in its ecosystem. You have the option to start with the base model first and upgrade it later on piece by piece, turning it into a truly long-term investment.

If you're looking for a smooth, stable, and highly customizable standing desk you can use reliably for years to come, look no further than the Uplift V3. Its ability to grow and change with your setup makes it a true long-term investment and easily earns it a place among the best standing desks.

Finding the space and the budget in your home or apartment for a dedicated home office with a full desk setup can certainly be difficult. While I’m lucky enough that I have the room, many other people are left hunched over their kitchen tables working from one of the best laptops. But after a bit of DIY and plenty of research, I’ve found a better and more affordable solution that will work for anyone, regardless of their space or budget limitations.

Before I started reviewing standing desks, I had a chance to check out a few rolling desks, and to this day, my wife still uses one of them in her classroom. What I love about rolling desks is that you’re not just limited to working in one place. Instead, you can bring your workstation with you.

What if I told you there was a way to combine this feature with the ability to recline while you work? And to top it all off, you can build this same setup yourself using an inexpensive rolling cart from IKEA and one of the best monitor arms. After stumbling upon a video online where I saw someone design and build a rollable workstation this way, I knew I had to try it out for myself.

After a week of tinkering and using my new rollable workstation, it just might be my favorite (and the most comfortable) way to use my laptop yet. Here’s how I put it together, all the products I used and why you too might want to consider building your own, whether you're short on space or just want to recline all the way back in your chair while getting some work done.

Repurposing an IKEA classic

Before I go into the build itself, I want to give credit where credit’s due. One day while scrolling through YouTube Shorts, I came across a video from Tools. Electro. DIY (T.E.D) where he shows off his original rollable workstation and walks viewers through the products he used for the project.

Even though I hadn’t seen his content before, I was immediately impressed with the idea.To that end, I picked up an IKEA RÅSKOG utility cart ($40, IKEA) just like the one T.E.D used in his project to build my own.

Even if you have a hard time putting other IKEA furniture together, the Raskog is very easy to assemble and doing so only took me about 10 minutes. While the included casters or wheels are more than good enough for what you’re supposed to use this utility cart for, I swapped them out for a pair of Uplift Desk’s Soft Roll Desk Casters ($79, Uplift Desk) I had on hand from back when I tried out a desk from the company’s new Collegiate Collection.

In the picture above, you can see how these heavy-duty casters differ from the ones IKEA includes with the Raskog. Not only are they twice as wide, they’re also a lot softer and, unlike the cart’s stock casters, all four of them can be locked in place. Since I’m going to be using this cart with a monitor arm and a laptop (and possibly even one of the best monitors), I figured having extra support at its base makes a lot of sense.

Speaking of the monitor arm, I picked up the exact same model that T.E.D used in his rollable workstation video for a few reasons. I like that the Viozon Monitor and Laptop Mount ($88, Amazon) comes with a laptop tray included and that it has a longer pole than the other monitor arms I have on hand. Its arms aren’t spring-loaded nor do they have a gas cylinder for on the fly height adjustments but you do get plenty of flexibility in regard to how high or low you want to install them on its pole.

The Viozon monitor arm was also very easy to assemble. With it all put together, it was time for the hardest part of this project: drilling a hole through the top shelf of the Raskog cart.

Drilling through wood or other softer materials is easy enough with my power drill but for this project, I picked up a bi-metal hole saw kit online ($30, Amazon). I thought drilling a circular hole large enough for the monitor arm’s pole would be more difficult but once I got started, it was also fairly easy to do.

If you plan on building your own rollable workstation with an IKEA cart, just take your time and go slowly. You also want the hole as close to the edge of the cart’s shelves as possible as that’s where you’ll be installing the monitor arm’s base.

Rollable, adjustable and expandable

With the hole drilled in the top shelf of the Raskog cart, it was time to put all the pieces in their place. The monitor arm clamps onto the second shelf with its pole extending through the hole in the top shelf. I then have one of the arms in the middle of the two shelves with the laptop mount attached.

Whether you have the arm for your laptop in this position or above the top shelf will depend on both your height and whether you’re planning to recline while using it.

The hole in the top shelf is crucial because it allows the pole to extend up while also holding it securely in place. Alternatively, you could just clamp a monitor arm onto the top shelf, but I wanted to recreate the build I saw in that video before making my own modifications.

To give the monitor arm’s base something to clamp onto, I used a few desk samples I had left over from back when I tested Uplift’s headphone stand. Given that you probably won’t have something like this, you can use either scrap wood or some books stacked on top of each other (the heavier the better) to achieve the same thing.

To power my laptop while also weighing the cart down to prevent it from falling over, I used my Jackery Explorer 300 portable power station as it also has two AC outlets in case I want to add a monitor to my rollable workstation or even one of the best mini PCs later on. Weights, bricks, cinderblocks or anything else you have around the house that’s heavy will do the job too. Basically, you want something heavy on the bottom shelf to keep the cart from tipping over once you put your laptop on the monitor arm.

Although this Viozon monitor arm isn’t as versatile as some of the others I’ve tried in the past, I like how you can rotate the laptop mount and easily reposition it. This came in handy for me as I could have the cart on either the left or right side of my chair without having to take the monitor arm down and then reinstall it.

Another thing I really like about this design is that you have plenty of extra space for storage and the option to add to it further later on. For instance, I noticed with the Viozon monitor arm that I didn’t quite have enough room between its two arms to have a larger 27-inch monitor up top and use the laptop mount as a keyboard tray. Given that I have a few more of those wood blocks on hand, I might add a second monitor arm to the top shelf for this very purpose.

With my rollable workstation complete, it was time to put it to the test and see if it really did make a difference when working on my laptop and if I actually could recline in my chair while using it.

Inclined to recline

Seeing someone use a rollable workstation like this one in a video is one thing but trying it out for yourself, especially after all that planning and building it, is another. From the get go, I couldn’t believe how stable it was and I liked how switching out the Raskog’s stock casters for better ones made it so easy to roll around my house. Then when I found where I wanted to work, I just locked the casters and my rollable workstation stayed firmly in place like a rock.

As I mainly work from my desktop at home, I have a smaller, 13-inch ThinkPad that I use while traveling or for those times when I need to get out of the house and work from a coffee shop. At just over 2.5 pounds, it’s very light and my rollable workstation had no trouble supporting its weight once attached to the monitor arm. To power it, I ran a USB-C cable up from the bottom of the cart and secured it on the underside of the arm as it has clips for cable management on its underside.

In addition to standing desks, I also test and review the best office chairs. I recently reviewed the Hinomi X1 and this was the first office chair I’ve tried with a pull-out footrest. In fact, leaning back in it with my feet up at my desk was what inspired me to build my own rollable workstation in the first place after I came across that video.

Working in the Hinomi X1 with my feet up at my new rollable workstation was quite comfortable and I can easily see myself spending hours at a time doing so. However, with a maximum recline angle of 135 degrees, I could only lay back so far. Fortunately, I have another chair in for review right now that can go even farther back.

The LibreNovo Omni is an even more impressive chair in several key ways. I’m saving those for my full review but for this project, the most important feature is its incredible 160-degree recline.

While it doesn’t have a pull-out footrest, you can get this chair with an optional one like I did for my review. Compared to the pull-out footrest on the X1, the Omni’s is even more comfortable as like the chair itself, it features a soft-touch fabric cushion you can really feel your legs sinking into.

Unlike my first attempt, I did spend hours leaning all the way back working in the Omni from my laptop with it installed on the rollable workstation. The monitor arm’s laptop tray can be tilted vertically, and I found this to be perfect for using my laptop while fully reclined. My ThinkPad helped here too since its screen doesn’t stop at a certain angle and you can actually extend it completely flat.

If you don’t have room for a desk at home, chances are you don’t have an office chair either. No need to worry though, as I soon found that my rollable workstation works just as well without one.

No office chair, no problem

In the evenings as I work from my desk, my wife works on her laptop from the couch with one of those lap desks and I know a lot of other people do, too. While convenient, lap desks aren’t ergonomic and over time, they can put a lot of unnecessary strain on your neck and shoulders. Fortunately, working on my new rollable workstation is just as good on the couch as it is from an office chair.

I just had to unlock its casters, roll it over to the couch and I was good to go. With my portable power station on the bottom shelf, I didn’t have to worry about charging my laptop and could just keep working.

I know my 13-inch ThinkPad is on the smaller side, so I swapped it out with one of the best Chromebooks with a larger 16-inch screen that weighs 3.75 pounds for my next test. The monitor arm held it firmly in place, and the included laptop tray’s retractable grips extended far enough out to hold it without any issues either.

With my couch test out of the way, it was time to take my rollable workstation to the holy grail for laptop users: my bed. I unlocked its casters once again and rolled it over to my bedroom where it was just as useful and convenient as it was in my living room.

Remember earlier when I said you may need to move the monitor arm up to the top shelf depending on your height? Well, my bed is a bit higher up than my couch or office chair, so I had to do just that. This is where that monitor arm having two separate arms came in handy. I just installed the second one on the very top of the monitor arm’s pole, detached and then reattached the laptop tray and I was good to go.

Using a more complex monitor arm with on-the-fly height adjustment might be a better choice if you plan to use your own rollable workstation in bed, as that way, you can lie down flat and use your laptop that way. Still, I found that I could sit comfortably in my bed at a bit of an angle and use my laptop with this one perfectly fine.

Overall, my new rollable workstation proved to be just as useful next to my couch as it was next to my bed and I’d still recommend building your own even if you don’t have an office chair.

Surprisingly simple but incredibly versatile

If you’ve ever gone down the DIY rabbit hole on YouTube — maybe you want to build a custom desk with an IKEA kitchen countertop or add some inexpensive shelves that look like built-in ones using IKEA’s Billy bookcases — then you know how easy those videos can make much more difficult projects look. Well, after building my own version of T.E.D’s rollable workstation, this DIY project was as simple to complete as the original video made it seem.

Along the way, I got to put some spare parts and other gadgets around my house to good use, but what I really like about this project is that you don’t have to follow the original design to a T. Instead, you can mix, match and experiment to create something that really works for you.

In total, everything cost me $238, but if I had just used the Raskog’s stock casters or borrowed those hole saw attachments for my drill from a friend or family member, I could have gotten the cost down to just $128 — not bad for a workstation that lets you roll around your house and work while lying down.

I plan to keep using my new rollable workstation like I have it set up now but I also want to experiment with it a bit more to see if I can add a monitor up top and use the monitor arm’s laptop mount as a keyboard tray. I got really close the first time I tried, and with a bit more trial and error, I’m sure I can easily find a solution that works for me.

So what do you think? Do you prefer working on the couch or at the kitchen table or is building a rollable workstation like this one your next big project? Let me know in the comments below and if you have any questions on my build or suggestions on how I can improve it further, I’m all ears.

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From the computer and monitor to the keyboard, mouse and other accessories, a lot of thought goes into putting together the perfect desk setup. But just like with a Windows license after a new PC build, there’s one crucial finishing touch a lot of people (myself included) tend to forget: lighting.

There are many ways to light your desk setup from having one of the best desk lamps off to the side to my previous personal favorite, attaching a lightstrip to the back of your monitor.

Adding one of the best smart lights to the back of my monitor was a real game changer for me, as I liked how biased lighting made what was on my screen more immersive while also reducing eye strain.

Given that I build desk setups for a living as part of my work reviewing the best standing desks, I’m constantly switching between monitors and accessories. As such, I can’t always take the time and effort needed to carefully install a lightstrip on the back of every monitor. I had come to terms with having a less brightly lit desk setup than I would have preferred until I bought a monitor light bar on a whim last year.

The great thing about monitor light bars is that they just light your workspace and not an entire room, which really comes in handy for night owls like myself. Whether I’m writing a story late in the evening like this one or finding a few moments to play some games before bed, a good monitor light bar has become a fixture in all of my desk setups.

While I started with a budget model and then tried out a few midrange ones, it wasn’t until BenQ reached out to me about trying its ScreenBar Halo that I saw how much of a difference a more high-tech one could make in my desk setup. Now though, the company has released the follow-up to its pro-level monitor light bar with a unique feature that makes me feel like I’m living in the future every time I approach my desk.

Here are my initial thoughts on the BenQ ScreenBar Halo 2 and how one major upgrade makes it the ultimate monitor light bar for any desk setup.

Now with a mount and motion detection

Compared to the original ScreenBar Halo, you get a few more goodies in the box this time around. For starters, it now comes with an AC adapter to ensure it always gets the right wattage. While a seemingly small addition, this one is actually really important. While both the original and the new ScreenBar Halo 2 will work with any USB port, they won’t function properly with insufficient wattage.

At the same time, what was once an optional accessory now comes standard in the box, as BenQ includes a webcam mounting kit that attaches to the top of the ScreenBar Halo 2.

Given that this and most other monitor light bars are designed to be used with a desktop and a monitor instead of a laptop, chances are, you’re likely using one of the best webcams for video calls. While you could have your webcam off to the side with one of these accessories on top of your monitor, you won’t be centered in the frame which is important if you’re taking work-related video calls at your desk.

Besides the AC adapter and the webcam mounting kit, you also get a wireless puck to control the ScreenBar Halo 2’s brightness and color temperature. It’s a big upgrade over the original wireless controller which used three AAA batteries, as it now has a rechargeable battery with USB-C around back for charging.

In order to accommodate both flat and curved displays simultaneously, BenQ has redesigned the ScreenBar Halo 2’s clamp. Previously, you needed an adapter to use the original with one of the best curved monitors but it does come in the box.

The biggest upgrade is visible directly under the light bar in the picture above — that’s the new built-in ultrasonic motion sensor, but more on that later.

Having tested both, I can easily recommend this newer model over the original. Not only are you getting more features and accessories in the box, the rear light on the Halo 2 is now wider and brighte,r and the front light has been upgraded too from a max of 800 lux to 1,000 lux. Plus, that front light also illuminates a wider and deeper portion of your desk.

Likewise, although the original ScreenBar Halo was on the expensive side at $179, I like how BenQ hasn’t raised the price with the ScreenBar Halo 2 even though there are a number of improvements and upgrades all around.

So what was it like to use the upgraded version of the first monitor light bar ever? Impressive to say the least, especially now that it knows exactly when I’m at my desk.

Automatically lit or dialed in

To test out BenQ’s new ScreenBar Halo 2, I mounted it on top of my ultrawide monitor, and as I’m currently using the Hexcal Elevate as my main desk for work, I also installed a Lenovo webcam on top.

This desk is located in a corner of my game room where there isn’t a window close by, so even during the day, I really appreciate the extra light. However, it’s even better at night as I can have just my desk lit while I’m working without having to light up the whole room.

The extra brightness and the wider illumination are immediately noticeable when comparing the Halo 2 to BenQ’s original pro-level light bar. However, there’s one feature that I still can’t get over, and that’s the built-in motion sensor.

Normally with a monitor light bar, I just leave it on while I’m working even when I step away from my desk. On the Halo 2 with motion detection enabled, it turns off when I leave and springs right back to life as I approach my desk.

I know I could set up something similar with a smart lightstrip and a separate motion sensor like I did with the Govee lightbulb in my pantry but I like how I get this same functionality in a single device. Likewise, I don’t have to worry about messing around with an app, and the Halo 2 still turns on and off automatically even when my Wi-Fi goes down.

Getting motion detection set up on the Halo 2 is a breeze too. You just tap on the icon that looks like a person to the left of the BenQ logo on its wireless controller, and you’re good to go.

Another neat feature that you’ll find on the original Halo and the Halo 2 is real-time auto dimming which can be enabled with a tap on the button underneath the motion detection one. This switches the light bar’s brightness to 500 lux, which is the recommended brightness for working to reduce eye strain during extended use.

Unlike some of the other wireless controllers I’ve tried on previous monitor light bars, BenQ’s has a much more high-tech feel to it. Alongside the current brightness percentage of the back light and light bar, you can also see the current color temperature in Kelvin. A lower number here is for warmer, more yellowish light, a mid-range number is for neutral white light and a higher number is for cooler, bluer white light. To switch between various light temperatures, you just tap on the thermometer icon and turn the wireless controller’s dial left or right.

Overall, I’m very impressed with the BenQ ScreenBar Halo 2 so far, but I’d have to say the new motion detection feature is my favorite. If you’ve ever tried one of the best monitors with a built-in motion sensor that turns on the display as you approach it, this monitor light bar works in a similar way. However, having your desk instantly become illuminated when it’s time to get some work done has really motivated me, especially now that I have the Halo 2 set up at a desk in a darker room.

Light your desk like a pro

Now would I recommend the new BenQ ScreenBar Halo 2 to everyone? Not necessarily. Just like with the best office chairs, I’d suggest trying out a cheaper monitor light bar first, especially if you’ve never used one before.

At $179, the Halo 2 is the most expensive monitor light bar you can buy. For those that like its design but don’t necessarily need motion detection, you can still get the original ScreenBar Halo, too. In fact, it often goes on sale for $30 less than the newer model.

If you want to give your work from home setup the ultimate upgrade and have the budget for it, then I’d easily recommend the Halo 2 over similar offerings from Quntis, Xiaomi, and so on. The fact that BenQ has taken into consideration both flat and curved displays and how most people use a webcam with their desk setups is really useful, too. This way, you won’t have to jerry-rig a solution on your own or have your webcam off to the side of your display with your camera off centered.

Now if you’re trying to add some extra light to your battle station where you play games instead of work, you won’t find any RGB lighting or effects here. For that, the Razer Aether Monitor Light Bar and Asus’ ROG Aura Monitor Light Bar are the best options; they can sync up with one of the best gaming PCs. Likewise, if you’re on a tighter budget and want a splash of RGB lighting on the wall behind your desk, the Quntis RGB Pro+ is a great, more affordable option.

At the end of the day though, figuring out whether a monitor light bar works for your setup is the most important thing. And after trying a cheap one for myself and then testing out both the BenQ ScreenBar Halo and the upgraded Halo 2, paying more does make a big difference.

From how you can dial in the perfect color temperature or set it to auto dim or even turn on when you approach your desk, the Halo 2 is a fantastic monitor light bar, and after using it, I’m already excited to see what upgrades BenQ brings to the inevitable Halo 3.

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The Hinomi S1 is a dual-motor, electric standing desk that, despite its mid-range price, has a more premium look and feel thanks to the desktop’s rounded edges and its round, three-stage legs. While there isn’t an optional first-party cable management tray you can purchase separately as an add-on, the back of the desktop does have a recessed cutout that makes running cables up from underneath the desk easier.

Starting at $549 for the smallest desktop, what really surprised me the most about the S1 is how upgrading to Hinomi’s extra-large desktop only costs an additional $150. Likewise, opting for a natural wood grain desktop and a different colored frame and legs doesn’t change the price at all.

I’ve been using the Hinomi S1 for almost six months now and it’s been a fantastic standing desk that has held up over time. Besides the lack of a cable management tray, my only real gripe is that due to its rounded legs, the desk’s feet can rotate out of alignment, particularly if you move it back and forth from the wall as many times as I have. This is because I’ve used the S1 for a number of different desk setups and need to pull it out to do so.

My Hinomi S1 review will help you decide if this is the best standing desk for your home office or if it’s worth spending a bit more for a desk that you can upgrade later with optional accessories.

Hinomi S1 Standing Desk: Cheat Sheet

• What is it? A dual-motor electric standing desk available in several different color combinations and size options.
• Who is it for? Those looking for an electric standing desk at a mid-range price that doesn’t skimp on features or build quality.
• What does it cost? The Hinomi S1 starts at $549 and goes up to $699, depending on which desktop size option you choose.
• What do we like? The desktop’s rounded edges and cable management cutout at the back, the rounded three-stage legs, that it comes with four height presets, its whisper-quiet motors and how opting for a larger-sized desk or different color combinations doesn’t raise the price significantly.
• What don’t we like? That Hinomi doesn’t offer a first-party cable management tray and how the rounded legs can come out of alignment if the desk is frequently moved.

Hinomi S1 Standing Desk: Specs

Hinomi S1 Standing Desk: The ups

Even though this is Hinomi’s first electric standing desk, the S1 gets quite a lot right, from how easy it is to put together to the rounded desktop and legs. However, the most impressive feature is its whisper-quiet, dual-motor design.

A simple and straightforward build

The S1 standing desk Hinomi sent over for review arrived in two boxes, with the desktop in the larger one and its frame, legs and feet in the smaller one. All of the parts were well-packaged and nothing was damaged during shipping.

Once unboxed, I was left with a 47-inch wide desktop, a metal frame, a pair of legs and feet, as well as a control box for underneath the desk and a keypad for adjusting the desk’s height and storing four height presets.

Building the S1 started with inserting the legs into the frame, and from there, I extended its inner rails to match the width of my desktop. The underside of the desktop came with pre-drilled holes, and everything was quite easy to put together using the included bolts and Allen wrench.

The whole assembly process was very quick and easy. In fact, it reminded me of putting together the Vari Electric Standing Desk, which, even after all these years, is still my top pick due to just how simple it is to build. That Hinomi was able to get this close to Vari’s assembly process is equally impressive to how quiet the S1 is in operation, but more on that later.

Curves in all the right places

Just like with a sports car or an iconic landmark like the Sydney Opera House, curves add a touch of elegance, and they really help give the Hinomi S1 a more premium look from the start. All four corners of its desktop are curved, as is the groove at the rear for either running cables or using one of the best monitor arms to have your display slightly closer to the edge of your desk.

At the same time, while my review unit features a less expensive laminate desktop, it doesn’t feel cheap at all. Instead, it has a nice texture to it, and running my hand across the desk feels more like it’s made of stone than wood with laminate on top.

The rounded, three-stage legs are another big plus with the Hinomi S1. With the desk lowered down, you barely see the separate parts, and the legs look just as good when it’s raised up. A lot of less expensive and even some premium standing desks feature square or rectangular legs, so the fact that Hinomi went with rounded ones really ties together well with the desktop’s rounded edges. Its legs remind me of the ones on the Branch Four Leg Standing Desk, which exudes elegance with its more table-like design.

Whisper-quiet movement

I have to admit, I was already quite impressed with the S1 after putting it together. However, it wasn’t until I plugged everything in and started testing its dual motors that I was really blown away.

One thing that can make or break using a standing desk, in my opinion, is how loud it gets while moving up and down. The whole reason you spend extra on this kind of desk in the first place is so that you have the option to sit or stand and to switch between these two positions throughout the day. A loud desk can distract others around you, and if it’s really noisy, chances are you’ll likely leave your desk at its current height. This is one of the main reasons I recommend slightly more expensive dual-motor desks over single-motor ones.

The Hinomi S1 reached a peak of 47 decibels (dB) while moving up and down during my testing. To put this in perspective, the Vari Curve Electric Desk hit 53 dB, and the Secretlab Magnus Pro was at 50 dB during these same tests. Meanwhile, the quietest standing desk I’ve tested yet was the Autonomous SmartDesk 5 Pro at just 30 dB. If noise bothers you, the S1 is a great option, especially if you plan on using this desk in a shared office or home office environment.

Hinomi S1 Standing Desk: The downs

For a first attempt, the Hinomi S1 is an excellent standing desk, but it’s not without a few minor downsides. Namely, Hinomi doesn’t include a cable management tray or sell one separately as an add-on, and its feet did rotate slightly out of alignment after being moved repeatedly over a long period of time.

Bring your own cable management

As far as the S1 itself is concerned, Hinomi does make it quite easy to keep the cables running to the desk’s control box out of sight. This is because there’s a metal cable cover in the box that you install over the desk’s frame once everything is plugged in. I did have to use a few adhesive cable ties to keep the cord from the keypad flush against the underside of the desk, though.

While most home office furniture makers besides Uplift Desk don’t include a cable management tray in the box, many offer their own first-party ones as optional add-ons. Unfortunately, Hinomi doesn’t. I’m a strong advocate for using a cable management tray with electric standing desks. That way, you can put one of the best surge protectors inside it and plug all of your devices in at the back of your desk so you don’t have to worry about cords getting snagged or unplugged as your desk moves up and down.

Since the Hinomi S1’s desktop is made of wood, it wasn’t too difficult to install a spare one I had from back when I reviewed the four-legged FlexiSpot E7 Plus. If you don’t have one already, you can pick up a good cable management tray online for around $30, and some even come in two-packs if you need extra room for bulky power adapters.

I’d love to see Hinomi include or offer its own cable management tray as an add-on for the S1, but given that it’s very easy to drill a few holes and install one yourself, this is by no means a deal breaker.

Rotating out of alignment

In all likelihood, you probably won’t even run into this issue at all, but it is something I noticed after using the Hinomi S1 for a variety of desk setups over the course of several months.

I like to set up desks on either side of the fireplace in my living room, as there’s just enough space for two 47-inch wide ones at a time. To switch out monitors, game consoles or one of the best mini PCs as I’m putting together a new desk setup, I often pull my desk out to make getting everything set up and all of my cables managed easier.

The other day, I noticed that the feet on the Hinomi S1 were no longer straight and had started to curve in either direction. I chalked this up to the desk’s rounded instead of square legs, since the feet can move slightly, given the shape of the S1’s legs. Again, by no means is this a major issue with this particular desk. Instead, it’s something I noticed that I felt worth pointing out for those who rearrange their desk setup as often as I do.

Hinomi S1 Standing Desk: Verdict

The Hinomi S1 is an impressive standing desk and an excellent debut by a company known for specializing in the best office chairs, like the Hinomi X1 I tried out alongside it. The desk is very easy to put together, and I really like how, although there are several desktop size and color options for its frame and legs, going with a larger desk doesn’t carry a premium price.

The curved desktop with its cutout at the back and its rounded, three-stage legs gives the S1 a much more premium look and feel despite its mid-range price, too. While I wish Hinomi included a cable management tray or sold an optional one, this is the kind of minor gripe that can be easily fixed. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time spent using and testing this desk and can’t wait to see how Hinomi intends to improve upon its already excellent design with its next standing desk.

True to its namesake, the Branch Aire Chair is a lightweight, all-mesh office chair with a minimalist design that’s simple to assemble and easy to move between rooms. Unlike more expensive all-mesh office chairs, this one is available for under $500 and packs in all the features you’d expect from a more premium ergonomic chair.

The Branch Aire Chair comes in light or dark grey as well as olive green, and instead of being available as an optional add-on, you get a headrest included in the box, too. While I wish it had a dedicated lumbar support mechanism (even if it was available separately), Branch’s unique zoned mesh provides plenty of support by distributing your weight evenly throughout its seat and backrest.

This is especially true when combined with the chair’s weight-balanced mechanism. Likewise, this is a task chair after all, and not the kind of seat you can lean all the way back in and lounge with your feet up. Still, after using it on and off for the past five months, it’s a great option for getting work done comfortably, as its breathable mesh helps keep you cool.

My Branch Aire Chair review will help you decide if this is one of the best office chairs and well-suited for your particular needs, or if it’s worth spending extra for a more feature-packed chair with dedicated lumbar support.

Branch Aire Chair: Cheat Sheet

• What is it? An all-mesh, ergonomic task chair designed for a full day of use at work.
• Who is it for? People who want a full-mesh office chair at a more affordable price without any unnecessary extras.
• What does it cost? The Branch Aire Chair costs $499 and there aren’t any optional add-ons.
• What do we like? Its lightweight design, how its zoned mesh prevents sagging over time, the weight-balanced mechanism that responds to your body’s micro-movements, the included headrest, how quick and easy it is to build and how its 3D armrests stay in place.
• What don’t we like? That there isn’t a lumbar support mechanism or an optional one available, the limited recline angle and how its more narrow and shallow seat makes this chair less than ideal for bigger and taller users.

Branch Aire Chair: Specs

Branch Aire Chair: The ups

There’s quite a lot to like about the Branch Aire Chair, from its clean and lightweight design to its supportive mesh. However, it’s the way in which Branch’s zoned mesh works together with the chair’s adaptive tilt mechanism that impressed me the most.

A fast and easy build

The Aire Chair that Branch sent over for review arrived in one large, well-packed box. Unlike more premium chairs, such as the $1,099 Steelcase Karman, you do need to assemble it, but that’s expected at this price. What surprised me, though, was just how easy (and fast) it was to put together.

The backrest and the seat of the Branch Aire Chair are a single unit, which meant I only had to install the chair’s armrests and headrest before dropping it onto the gas cylinder in the center of the frame after inserting its casters (wheels). Connecting a backrest and seat is usually the hardest part of assembling an office chair, so I appreciated Branch doing the heavy lifting for me.

In total, it took me a little under 10 minutes to put the Aire Chair together, even as I stopped to take pictures throughout the process.

Light, airy and ergonomic

At just 34 pounds, the Branch Aire Chair is exceptionally lightweight. In fact, it’s only three pounds heavier than the high-back version of the Steelcase Karman, which is quite impressive given that high-end chair costs twice as much or more. Its lightweight design also makes it easy to move, and while testing it, I used the chair at several of the best standing desks throughout my home.

Since I live in a warmer climate, I really appreciated the all-mesh design of the Aire Chair. It kept me cool while working, and its mesh has a sturdier feel than some of the mesh chairs I’ve reviewed, like the Sihoo Doro C300. Also, in the same vein as the Karman, its zoned mesh is designed to adapt and respond to your body’s micro-movements, but more on that later.

In terms of ergonomics, if you’re looking for an affordable office chair to keep you sitting upright with good posture, the Aire Chair fits the bill. There isn’t a dedicated lumbar support mechanism like on the Branch Verve Chair, but its backrest has a curve that naturally aligns with the small of your back.

You also get 3D armrests that are easy to adjust, and unlike the 4D armrests on some other chairs, they stay firmly in place. In another nice touch, its armrest pads have a waterfall edge that prevents extra strain on your elbows and wrists.

Everything about adjusting this chair is intuitive and straightforward. You won’t have to break out the assembly instructions or watch videos online to get the right fit.

Zoned mesh meets adaptive tilt

Given that some mesh chairs can feel stiff or sag after extended use, Branch decided to do things differently with its first all-mesh office chair. Instead of having all of the Aire’s mesh be exactly the same, it has different levels of tension depending on where it is in the chair. For instance, the seat’s mesh is firmer and more taut, while the backrest’s mesh is softer and more flexible.

This gives you a best of both worlds approach where the seat is durable and very supportive, and the backrest has more give to it so that it can conform to your body and relieve pressure points to help reduce muscle fatigue throughout your workday. In my experience, this works well and really makes the Aire Chair feel like a budget-friendly version of the Steelcase Karman.

In the same way that the Karman responds to your body’s micro-movements, so too does the Aire, but through a combination of these mesh zones and its weight-balanced mechanism. Like Steelcase’s less traditional mesh chair, this approach won’t be for everyone, and this is especially true for those who need extra support, particularly in the lumbar region of their back. Still, it’s clear that a lot of thought and testing went into creating an all-mesh chair that will work for most people.

Branch Aire Chair: The downs

Although the Branch Aire Chair has served me well after using it for five months, it’s not without its downsides, which include the lack of a traditional lumbar support mechanism and the fact that, unlike other mesh chairs, this one was designed solely for work.

Lacking lumbar

The Aire Chair lacks a dedicated lumbar support mechanism, a common feature in many ergonomic chairs. In fact, other chairs from Branch, including the original Branch Ergonomic Chair, the Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro and the Branch Verve Chair, all have one. While I understand this choice was likely made to maintain the Aire’s minimalist design, Steelcase has shown with the Karman that a lumbar support add-on is possible without compromising a chair's aesthetic.

When I first reviewed the Karman, I opted against the optional adjustable lumbar support add-on and later regretted it. When I later tried the high-back version of that chair, I did install it. Even though it's just a simple plastic-backed cushion, it made a world of difference.

I'd love to see Branch implement something similar. Given that its Verve Chair launched without a headrest option that was added later, it's possible a lumbar support add-on for the Aire could be released one day. Fingers crossed.

Not a lounger

Given that they’re often priced higher than your standard office chair with a foam seat, all-mesh chairs are often perceived as being more comfortable. At the end of a long day, there’s nothing more comfortable than reclining all the way back and maybe even putting your feet up like you can with the pull-out footrest on the Hinomi X1 I recently reviewed.

Remember when I said the Branch Aire Chair was designed specifically with work in mind? Well, while you can certainly lean back in it, you won’t be doing any actual lounging as it has a recline angle of just 12 degrees.

This is more than enough to lean back and look over your work like I’ve been doing in between paragraphs while writing this review. However, the Aire isn’t the kind of chair you can take a nap in, like the X1 or even the X-Chair X3. Instead, this is a great office chair that will keep you sitting upright and focused on the task at hand. If lounging is an extra you’re interested in, you’d be better off looking elsewhere.

Branch Aire Chair: Verdict

The Branch Aire Chair is an excellent all-mesh office chair, especially at this price. Although it does lack a dedicated lumbar support mechanism, features like its zone mesh and weight-activated mechanism definitely give it a more premium feel. At the same time, its sleek design and the included headrest make it easy to recommend for any home office.

At $499 or even $449 when on sale, you’re getting quite a lot of bang for your buck with this chair. However, if you absolutely need a dedicated lumbar support mechanism but like the look and design of the Aire, I’d take a look at some of Branch’s other chairs first, specifically the Ergonomic Chair Pro or, if you have a bit more to spend, the Verve Chair.

The Herman Miller x Logitech G Vantum Gaming Chair is a premium chair that eschews the racing-style designs of other gaming chairs for a more office chair-like design and ergonomics. In that sense, it gives you the best of both worlds: comfort for long play sessions and ergonomic support for long work sessions.

I’ve been using the Vantum Gaming Chair for almost a full year now, first as a gaming chair while playing on PC, Xbox and PS5 and then as an office chair while working, and it hasn’t let me down yet. As someone who prefers office chairs to gaming chairs, I love this hybrid approach where you get the stylish look of a gaming chair with the comfort and support of an office chair, and the Vantum Gaming Chair perfectly encapsulates it.

At a starting price of $930 (though it frequently goes on sale), this uniquely designed chair is certainly a splurge for your battlestation compared to gaming chairs from Secretlab or even Razer. But compared to the Aeron, Embody or other Herman Miller chairs, it’s a steal. If you’re a full-time streamer or plan to use it while working from home in addition to gaming, it could be the perfect investment for both your health and your desk setup.

My Vantum Gaming Chair review will help you decide if this is the best gaming chair or even the best office chair for your needs, or if you’d be better off with a more affordable option that isn’t doing double duty as both.

Vantum Gaming Chair: Cheat Sheet

• What is it? An ergonomic gaming chair with the DNA of an office chair.
• Who is it for? Marathon gamers and those working from home who want a versatile and supportive chair.
• What does it cost? The Vantum Gaming Chair costs $930, but frequently goes on sale. Plus, there aren’t any add-ons that cost extra.
• What do we like? Its two-tone design and wide variety of vibrant colors, excellent ergonomics, comfy seat cushion, and that you’re getting a Herman Miller chair at a more accessible price point.
• What don’t we like? The armrests move a bit in between play or work sessions and need to be readjusted, and that gaming chair is priced more like a premium ergonomic office chair.

Vantum Gaming Chair: Specs

Vantum Gaming Chair: The ups

From its simple assembly to its design, adjustability and ergonomics, the Vantum Gaming Chair has quite a lot going for it. Ultimately, it’s the chair’s hybrid nature that impressed me the most.

Plug and play

With the Vantum Gaming Chair, some assembly is necessary, but the work you have to do is minuscule compared to some of the mid-range chairs I’ve built and reviewed in the past, like the Sihoo Doro-C300 or even higher-end ones like the X-Chair X3. Unlike more premium options like the Herman Miller Aeron or the Steelcase Karman, which come fully pre-assembled, the Vantum Gaming Chair requires a little bit of work on your end.

A huge reason for this is that, unlike with other office and gaming chairs, the Vantum's backrest and armrests come pre-assembled, which made my job a whole lot easier. The Vantum Gaming Chair arrived in a single large box that wasn’t too difficult to bring inside since the chair itself weighs just 37 pounds. One thing I really liked about the unboxing experience is that all of the assembly instructions are printed on one of the box’s inner flaps and are incredibly simple to follow.

With everything unboxed, all I had to do was drop the almost fully assembled chair onto the gas cylinder in the middle of its aluminum base. After that, I dropped the Vantum Gaming Chair’s headrest into place, and it was ready to go.

Two-tone teamwork

The Vantum Gaming Chair is the first original design to come out of Herman Miller and Logitech G’s partnership, which started back in 2020. At first, the two companies created enhanced versions of Herman Miller’s most popular chairs, but with a focus on gaming with the Aeron Gaming Chair and the Embody Gaming Chair, which were released at the same time. Then, a few years later, Herman Miller and Logitech G created their first chair for gamers from the ground up with the Vantum.

Although it’s available in all-black with some red accents on the chair’s adjustment knobs, the Vantum Gaming Chair comes in several different color variations, too. All of these feature a two-tone design where the chair’s headrest, backrest, and seat cushion are black, and the secondary color is used for its frame and underside.

I’ve always been partial to black and red, so I went with that colorway when picking out my review unit. Besides its excellent ergonomics and comfort (more on that later), I really like how the multi-colored versions of the Vantum Gaming Chair have a serious office chair-style look when viewed from the front, but are more playful and better suited to a gaming desk setup when viewed from the back. This is the kind of gaming chair you could easily sit in during video calls and look professional, while still showcasing your favorite color when it’s pushed into your desk.

Thoracic support, not just lumbar

Whether I’m sitting at a desk playing games or working, the one thing I look for in both office and gaming chairs is a dedicated lumbar support system. The Vantum Gaming Chair really excels in this area, but it takes things a step further with its thoracic support system underneath its headrest.

While the two lumbar pads above its seat cushion support the lower part of your back where your spine naturally curves, the two thoracic pads support your upper back and shoulders. By combining the two, the Vantum Gaming Chair encourages proper posture throughout your whole back, which is something people take for granted while gaming, just like they do when sitting in an office chair.

The Vantum Gaming Chair also breaks tradition compared to Herman Miller’s office chairs, as it features a headrest. With the Aeron, Embody and the rest of the company’s more premium office chairs, you won’t find one (though there are 3rd party ones available), since with an ergonomic chair, you don't technically need one, as they’re designed to keep you sitting upright with good posture.

As the Vantum is a gaming chair, Herman Miller and Logitech G decided to add a headrest. Besides being very comfortable when leaning back in this chair, I like how, at its lowest position, the bottom of the headrest lines up perfectly with the back of my neck. This was really a game-changer for me when it came to sitting upright with good posture, and while using the Vantum for almost a year, I haven’t found myself slouching at all.

Built for more than playing games

As I mentioned before, I spent the first half of my time with the Vantum playing games at my dedicated gaming desk before moving it into my home office, where I’ve been using it for work. It’s been an excellent chair for both work and play, and I could easily recommend it for either.

When playing serious games like shooters, I really liked how easy it was to sit upright and be engaged right up against my desk. When playing more laid-back titles, though, I enjoyed leaning back and taking everything in. This is all made possible by the Vantum’s dual recline knobs on the underside of the chair, which allow you to fine-tune the tilt tension and set a specific recline limit.

This level of adjustability is a consistent theme with the Vantum. In addition to the recline controls, you can adjust the seat height, seat depth, and the lumbar support system using dedicated levers and knobs. You can also raise, lower, rotate, and widen the armrests, and even raise or lower the headrest by lifting it.

Even though the Vantum is marketed as a gaming chair, in my experience, I found it to be just as adjustable, if not more so, than many of the office chairs I’ve tested. Just like the assembly process, locking in the perfect fit for your next play or work session is straightforward.

Vantum Gaming Chair: The downs

The Vantum Gaming Chair is a fantastic option for both work and play, but it’s not without flaws. My main gripes are with the armrests, which move a bit too easily for my liking, and a price that’s more in line with a high-end office chair than your typical gaming chair.

Re-adjust before takeoff

Unlike some other office and gaming chairs I’ve reviewed, the Vantum Gaming Chair doesn’t sport fancy 4D armrests, which I actually prefer. Those armrests, while highly adjustable, tend to move on their own, and you constantly need to readjust their position. Instead, the Vantum Gaming Chair has much simpler but also stable armrests that go up and down, as well as closer or farther away from you.

While I really like this more streamlined approach, I actually encountered the same issue I often have with 4D armrests with the Vantum Gaming Chair’s armpads. You see, they can also be moved forward, backward, or in and out. During my time testing this chair, I noticed that I would often come back to my desk to find the armpads had shifted in a particular direction, and then I’d have to readjust them before diving into a game or getting back to work.

It’s a small gripe, though, and an easy enough one to fix. However, just like with chairs that have 4D armrests, such as the Hinomi X1 I recently reviewed, I wish there were a way to lock the Vantum Gaming Chair’s armpads in place so that they didn’t move around quite as much.

Priced for your office, not your battlestation

With a price tag that’s very close to $1,000 after taxes, the Vantum Gaming Chair is definitely an investment and certainly a chair I’d have a hard time recommending to someone who just built a gaming PC or started working from home. Instead, I see it as a great upgrade option for those who know what they want and like in an office or gaming chair.

In a home office environment where someone will be seated 8+ hours per day, the Vantum is easy to recommend, even though it’s technically a gaming chair. However, if gaming is your sole reason for considering this chair, it becomes slightly harder to recommend at this price, especially if you’re only spending a few hours each night sitting in it while playing games. Now, if you’re a streamer or a budding esports gamer who clocks a lot more hours in-game each week, then that’s a different story.

Regardless of whether you choose the Vantum or another gaming chair from Herman Miller and Logitech G’s collaboration, I highly recommend visiting a retail store and trying it out for yourself. I actually went to my local Herman Miller store and tried every chair there before deciding to call in the Vantum for review. If possible, I’d recommend you do the same.

Vantum Gaming Chair: Verdict

The Vantum Gaming Chair is an amazing office chair and an excellent gaming chair too. Thanks to its hybrid design, it’s able to do both well, and although it does look quite sleek with its two-tone color scheme, you’re not paying a high price for looks alone. Instead, this is an ergonomic chair that’s been carefully crafted to support your entire back as well as your lower body for long stretches at a time.

Although I wish it were slightly cheaper, you’re getting quite a lot of bang for your buck with the Vantum Gaming Chair, and with its 12-year warranty, you’ll be able to use it reliably for years to come. There aren’t any extra add-ons or accessories to worry about at checkout, and you can put this chair together in less than 15 minutes entirely on your own, thanks to its simple assembly process.

After using the Vantum Gaming Chair for almost an entire year, it’s one of my favorite chairs yet and the perfect upgrade for those who want the sleek look and comfort of a gaming chair with the support and ergonomics of a well-made office chair.

There’s something to be said about having pride in your college or university, but I never quite understood how important where you went to school could be until I met my wife. While I attended a state school in New York, she had big plans for her college career after finding out that she got accepted to the University of Texas at Austin as a first-generation college student.

Now, though, my wife works as a high school algebra teacher, where she inspires students with similar backgrounds to get accepted into their dream schools. To help her remember how far she’s come while living up to UT Austin’s motto that “What Starts Here Changes The World”, I decided to completely redo her home workspace with a little help from Uplift Desk.

Given that I test the best standing desks for a living, there’s no shortage of desks around my house. However, once I’m finished reviewing a desk and need to make space for the next one, I either load it up in my wife’s car or personally deliver it to her school. As a former teacher myself, I know just how difficult it can be for teachers whose schools don’t have big enough budgets to begin with, let alone enough for quality desks and office chairs. That’s why I make it a point to rehome the desks I review with teachers who will put them to good use in their classrooms.

My wife typically starts each school year with a new desk, but this time around, I wanted to put together something special for her that she could use while grading papers at home, though I know this desk, too, will eventually find its way into her classroom. Given the impact UT Austin has had on her life and career, I jumped at the chance when Uplift Desk reached out about testing one of the desks from its new Collegiate Collection, which includes a number of designs based around National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) schools.

Once I saw the UT one, I knew my wife would absolutely love it. Here’s what it was like putting it together, customizing it specifically for her, and why both freshmen and alumni alike might want to consider showing off their own school pride with one of Uplift Desk’s new university desks.

Rebuilding one of my favorite desks

The University of Texas desk that Uplift sent over arrived in three boxes: one for the desktop, one for the legs, and one for the desk’s frame and feet. While this UT desktop is part of the company’s new Collegiate Collection, the desk itself is actually the Uplift V2. This was one of the first desks I built and reviewed, so I was right at home when it came to putting everything together. In fact, the Uplift V2 is one of my all-time favorite standing desks due to the sheer number of customization options to pick from when configuring it.

With Uplift Desk’s new university-themed standing desks, you can pick from two color options for each of them. For instance, my wife’s new UT desk is also available in black with an orange Longhorn. The same goes for the other desks in the Collegiate Collection like the Penn State one that comes in navy blue or white or the University of Southern California one that comes in cardinal red or black.

Once you’ve selected your colorway, you then pick from 10 different desktop size options starting at 42 x 30 inches all the way up to a massive 80 x 24 inch desk. In our shared office, my wife has her desk on the left, and I swap between review models on the right. So I went with the 48 x 30-inch size for her desk since there's a 50-inch gap between the wall and the fireplace. If you’re thinking about upgrading to a standing desk yourself, make sure that you get one that isn’t too big for your space, as you need extra room for clearance so that nothing gets in its way as it moves up and down.