Among the best standing desks, you'll notice the Uplift V2 has carved a place on our team as the best standing of them all. The easy-to-use standing desk comes with a wide array of customization options and is simple enough to move up and down without being disruptive. For the first time in over five years, Uplift has enhanced its frame with streamlined assembly, enhanced stability, upgraded cable management, and a design that brings the desks in alignment with current ANSI/BIFMA ergonomic and desk standards with the V3 Standing Desk that will suit 95% of users. We had to be one of the first to try it.
Over the course of a few weeks, I used the 60 x 30-inch version of the Uplift V3 standing desk, taking into account stability, noise and speed of adjustment, safety features, and overall design and functionality. Here's how the Uplift V3 made my hours at work all the better.
Uplift’s new V3 standing desk is highly customizable and has a sturdier frame, 355-pound weight capacity, improved cable management, and a streamlined install.
- Customizable with lots of styles and accessories
- Stable at tall heights and can support heavy loads
- FlexMount Cable Manager included
- Collision detection
- Compliant with ANSI/BIFMA standards for stability and ergonomics to suit 95% of population
- Large list of add-ons can feel overwhelming and get expensive
- May not be tall enough for those who are over 6’4”
Design
Customizations are at the heart of the design
Uplift is well known for offering every design customization you can think of for its standing desks. The V3 is no different. The most important thing you need to understand about designing your Uplift V3 is that while the base desk, a 42" x 30" laminate desktop, starts at $699, everything else, including premium desktops, larger sizes, or add-ons, is extra.
I tested a 60 x 30-inch dark bamboo Uplift V3 desk with white frame, caster wheels, and outfitted with various accessories like a Bluetooth adapter, cup holder, Advanced Comfort Flush keypad, 1 power with USB & 1 Storage grommet, a drawer, and more.
You start by choosing a desktop, with 30 surface options including bamboo, different types of wood, laminate, and whiteboard. The laminates are part of the base, while the others range from an additional $10 to $1,040. For instance, the Dark Bamboo material I chose cost an extra $140. The desks are available in 10 sizes ranging from 42 x 30 inches to 80 x 30 inches.
From there, you pick grommets (covers, powered, storage, etc) and the keypad, of which there are also several to choose from The basic presents just up and down functionality while the $29 Advanced Comfort Keypad, available flush or angled, is a no-brainer for four presets, anti-collision technology and an LED display that shows the desk's exact height. Depending on desk size, you'll also get two to five free accessories (like a foot hammock, desk mat, or cup holder). Casters, Bluetooth adapters, and wireless foot switches cost extra.
The enhanced frame places stability and ergonomics at the forefront
Now, let's talk about the frame, where we find the biggest changes. The Uplift V3 consolidates the V2 and V2-Commercial frames standing desk into a single version with a 26.1-inch height range of 22.6—48.7 inches, covering 95% of users and meets current ANSI/BIFMA G1-2013 ergonomic height standards. This design change suits users up to six-foot-four standing while the 22.6-inch minimum helps people who are five feet sit at an ergonomic height. Anyone shorter, the brand suggests adding a keyboard tray ot footrest.
The desk is also certified to ANSI/BIFMA X5.5-2021 Desk/Table Product standards for safety, durability, quality, and structural performance, exemplified by the structural improvements to the frame. These include a redesigned foot with dual-wall steel, silicone leveling guides, and reinforced motor housing to make the desk more stable front-to-back and side-to-side. Dual I-beam crossbar rails reduce wobble, and thread-locked screws prevent loosening. The 3-stage telescoping legs of the V3 raise up with the thickest legs at the base and extends with the thinner taper whereas the V2 was the opposite.
The frame is also offered in a C-frame or a T-frame which comes down to personal preference: The former maximizes legroom while the latter offers visual symmetry. I chose a C frame. You can choose from four colors for the frame: black, white, gray, or a brownish color called "Industrial."
Like the V2, the V3 has 48 connecting points around the frame for placing accessories without extra drilling. In fact, a lot of the add-ons have clamps that don't require screws either. The only accessory where you may need to use a drill is with the drawer, which I discuss below.
Cord storage keeps wires contained
Cable management is also improved. Every desk comes with the new FlexMount Cable Manager, a felt pouch that holds up to 10 pounds. of cables, chargers, and power bricks, mounted horizontally or vertically. I considered it a game changer; it was easy to install and allowed me to organize all my cords conveniently. Uplift also swapped plastic ties for reusable hook-and-loop wraps.
Some extras were less useful. Although I was provided the Ultimate Wire Management Kit, I didn't really like how it worked. In fact, the piece that helps to guide the wires into the cord organizer broke (it was made of plastic). I also didn't need the Modesty Panel as the base cable manager hid all of my wires. It's also not the most attractive panel as it's made of mesh and doesn't quite match the sleek style of the desk. My favorite accessory was the Zipped Cable Sleeve, as it gathered all of my cords together very easily.
Smart add-ons worth the money
Before checkout you can add on a plethora of accessories like a power strips, modesty panels, monitor stands or arm, CPU holder, drawers, keyboard trays, cable organizers, among others.
I went with the 1 Power with USB and 1 Storage Grommet packet. With it, I could plug my laptop and phone into the power grommet and store pens in the storage grommet. I also got a DuoMount Power Strip that I could clamp onto the desk wherever I liked. I didn't necessarily need the additional outlets on the DuoMount Power Strip, however, if you have an extensive workspace that requires a lot of technology or you are into gaming, I would absolutely advise ordering the strip.
Although I had plenty of room to put my water bottle on the desk, the cup holder was a surprise hit to keep from accidentally spilling or creating a ring mark on the wood. I also very much suggest adding a drawer to your order, too. It allows for more storage and organization than if you didn't have it. My only complaint is that I wish Uplift offered a longer, thinner drawer that I could place in the center of the desk — but that could compromise the ergonomics when sitting or putting your desk at the right height.
The V3 has a more streamlined assembly
The V3 ships in four boxes and assembles faster than the V2 thanks to fewer screws, pre-assembled crossbars, and pre-installed fasteners and control box. I appreciated how Uplift designed the assembly process to be easier and go quicker. For instance, V2 had 32 screws, but V3 only has 16, and I only needed the provided assembly tool. Instructions are clear, with a printed manual and a QR code linking to a 3D video. I assembled the desk on my own without any help in about an hour, but it would have gone much more quickly with a second person. The only tricky part was attaching the shelf, since there are no pre-drilled holes on the drawer — but that also lets you customize placement. I like that users have some choice as to where to place the shelf, cupholder, and keypad.
Once assembled, setup is simple. The keypad adjusts the desk manually with up and down buttons and lets you save up to four presets. I made one for sitting and one for standing. Families with kids can switch to "constant touch" or "double tap" modes to keep the desk from accidentally adjusting. The optional Bluetooth adapter connects to Uplift's app, which mirrors keypad functions and lets you adjust height from your phone and send reminders to stand, but I found myself using the keypad more often.
Day to day, the V3 is smooth, sturdy, and quiet.
Most days, I started out in a sitting position, and by the afternoon, I'd lift the desk to a standing height and balance on the Bamboo Motion X-board while I worked. The one-touch keypad made it easy to adjust the desk to my preferred sitting or standing height. Adjusting from the lowest to highest settings, a span of 25.6 inches takes 13 seconds or about 1.96 inches a second. The noise levels measured 46—56 dB — about the volume of a fridge hum. An anti-collision safety sensor prevents injuries or damage from happening by monitoring potential collisions with persons or items and lifts the desk out of harm's way. This worked well in my tests, stopping and reversing when the desk bumped into a chair.
Stability impressed me most. There was no movement or wobbling at tall heights when I leaned on it, typed, or stood on the balance board. Even with caster wheels. With a 355 pound weight capacity, it easily lifted my 175 pounds without too much strain. When sitting on the desk, it took 14.92 seconds for the desk to lift from the lowest to highest height and 13.9 seconds to go from the highest to lowest height.
I also like how the desk blends into my home while enhancing the functionality of my home office. The dark bamboo color with the white legs matched the style of my home well. In terms of size, the 60 x 30 inch was large without being too big. I don't usually have a lot of stuff on my workspace, but it was nice to spread out my books and planner on the desk and still have room to type. I could have gone for the smallest size, but if you have the space, go for the 60 x 30-inch desk.
Cons to consider
There aren't really any major cons when it comes to the desk itself. The Uplift V3 is a solid standing desk that's easy to assemble, simple to use, and looks attractive in every home. The only thing to note is that the Uplift V3 can get quite expensive. The add-ons and upgrades are numerous. This can also feel overwhelming with all the choices. Having a lot of options sounds great, but if you've never ordered a standing desk before, it can be difficult to know what you need or don't need. What makes this better is knowing that Uplift has a 30-day free trial period, which means if there is something you don't like, Uplift will accept a return within 30 days, and they'll even cover the return shipping costs. This applies to accessories, frames, and non-custom desktops.
Also, now that the V3's tallest height is 48.7 inches, about two inches shorter than the V2, people who are 6'6" or taller may struggle with the desk not reaching the right ergonomic height for their needs. Adding castors can help bring back that height, however. The desk's height range works for about 95% of people, and even more so now for short and petite people. Adding castors can help bring back that height, however.
What are your alternatives
The Uplift V3 will eventually replace the V2, but for now, stock is still available. The two desks have a lot of similarities in terms of materials, design, and stability. The most noticeable differences come down to the setup and the stability, where the V3 has less screws and peices to put together and design enhancements for stability. The standard V2 frame can raise up to 50.9 inches, which is great for tall users, but the 25.9 minimum may not be inclusive enough for shorter people. The V2 is priced $100 less than the V3.
For a more affordable but less customizable option, the Flexispot E7 Pro is a great alternative that also has a higher 440 pound lift capacity than the V3. The assembly is slightly more complicated than the V3, but the control panel has a built-in USB for charging. However, it comes with far less design options than the Uplift V3. Read our full review of the Flexispot E7 Pro.
If you don't have a large space, consider Branch's Duo Standing Desk, with a compact 36 x 24-inch size. It's sturdy at tall heights and has pre-drilled holes for easy set up. There is a decent number of add-ons and material options, but not as many as the Uplift V3. However, it has a shorter adjustment range, just 19.3 inches, and topping out at 47.3 inches to suit users comfortably up to six-foot-one. Read our full Branch Duo Standing Desk review.
The bottom line
Although the V2 is still a great standing desk, the Uplift V3 takes the customization options that buyers expect from Uplift with a more stable frame, a height adjustment that fits current ergonomic standards for 95% of the population, and new FlexMount Cable Manager. There really isn't any noticeable price difference between the two, so you might as well go with the Uplift V3, ensuring you have a more stable and durable standing desk. However, if you already own the V2, we're not sure there is a super compelling reason to upgrade unless you hadn't invested in cable management in the first place. These desks are built to last, with a 15-year warranty to back them up.
