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In a time when there are 18,000 different standing desk companies, and I’m getting a different standing desk sent to me every single week, it’s good to see that there are still some that stick to the basics and don’t upcharge for a brand name. Yes, I do think that in a capitalist economy we need some tried-and-true brand names, but it’s good to still see some that are trying to create cheaper alternatives of quality gear without trying to rip people off.
Simple seems to be trying to do exactly that. While it may not be the best standing desk I’ve tested in absolute terms, there’s a lot here I like. Considering the mid-range price (it costs $849), it feels like a high-quality product at a much cheaper price compared to some big-name brands out there.
Granted, yes, there are not as many features as some of the others, and there are reasons those other companies charge more. But Simple is the brand I would grab if I am looking for a more inexpensive option.
Simple Height Adjustable Desk: Price and availability
The Simple Height Adjustable Desk is available for $849 direct from Simple’s official website here. It comes in a range of styles, including the walnut and charcoal colorway I have for this review.
Shipping, according to Simple, will take around 5 business days or less, but mine arrived in about 2 days. They also offer 30-day returns and a 5-year warranty.
The benefit of buying a quality desk in this price range is that you have more of your budget to spend on other things. You can grab a nice chair or accessories, perhaps some higher-end upgrades for a new laptop, etc. Regardless of your reasoning, I lean more towards the buy-once-cry-once model.
Simple Height Adjustable Desk: Unboxing and First Impressions
Right off the bat, I was genuinely surprised by this desk. I’ve tested far more than my fair share of desks. I feel like I’m building a new one every single week from different brands, and I honestly had to check back a couple times to see what brand this one was because it felt like one of the higher-quality desks as I was building it. It had some of the same materials and almost felt like it used some of the same suppliers for some of its components.
The build process was sturdy and rugged, and though this is a relatively budget-friendly desk in this world and comes from a brand that even calls itself Simple, this is still a quality desk with quality materials. I can honestly say I was very impressed with the feel of this desk.
Beyond its looks, this desk also functions very well, just as some higher-end desks do. The steel legs are rigid, provide a smooth lifting experience, and still look sharp.
Additionally, something I have begun to pay much more attention to with these desks I’m testing is how simple the assembly process is. Unlike some desks that take forever to build, this one took only minutes and feels as rock-solid as any that take longer.
Simple Height Adjustable Desk: In use
Day-to-day, this desk operates wonderfully. I’ve put this desk through tests for around 180 days now, extending my normal review period a bit longer to see if the desk’s quality continues to hold up. After this amount of time, I can say that there have been zero issues with the desk. So far, it has held its own quite nicely.
It has kept its shape and gone up and down smoothly every single time. There are no excessive marks, damage, or wear and tear on the desk. I still enjoy using it in my fleet of desks every single day. My team and I have this in one of our accessory setups, and it has performed flawlessly in that role, even as we have built it out with some gear over time. I’ve shifted back to Simple. It looks great in both scenarios.
One thing that I’ve grown to love in some desk companies is accessories such as built-in or mounted power on the desk frame, so you don’t have to drill into the desk’s wood. I wish that Simple had something like that, but then again, beggars can’t be choosers at a price like this. You could just as easily grab your own power strip and mount it wherever you want.
Simple Height Adjustable Desk: Final verdict
Unless you two have an affinity or love for bougie standing desks, most people who need or want a standing desk don’t actually need the best of the best. They want a desk that works. They want a desk that will do the basic up-and-down. That’s really all they care about.
That’s you. You should strongly consider the Simple brand of standing desks, specifically this one. It does it all: up and down. It’s stable, it’s reliable, and it looks great. No matter how built out you have it, it’s made from quality materials at a fraction of the price of the big guys.
At the end of the day, all you really care about is having a desk that works too. You can get your work done, your gaming done, your reading done, or whatever else you choose to do at your desk.
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