Do you need a standing desk, how about a smart standing desk? It seems like everything else in your home or office is “smart” so why not?
Everyone can agree that sitting 8 hours a day at a desk is not the best option for your health. Is standing 8 hours better? Many people say standing has a myriad of health benefits. I certainly agree with this too. However, there is a small, but growing group who say standing all day has some negatives as well.
We received the SmartDesk 2 by Autonomous for review.
I’m excited to share the solution, which offers the best of both worlds. The SmartDesk 2 by Autonomous offers a Sit-To-Stand Frame that provides you with sitting & standing options, along with incredible ease.
As a tech blogger, I have played around with some stand up desks, some are great, a lot of them need a little bit more attention to detail, and most are incredibly expensive. The SmartDesk 2 by Autonomous solves a number of these concerns. Here is my experience with this sit to stand desk and why we this it is the best standing desk option available.
Standing Desk or Sitting Desk – Why Choose Just One
I have seen other desks with the ability to switch between sitting and standing. These desks offer options, but are clunky and unstable as you manually make the change. The Autonomous SmartDesk 2 is self-adjusting thanks to its advanced Electric Motor System.
By simply pressing a button, you are able to quickly adjust from sitting to a stand up desk. Different units have different motors, but Autonomous’ base model offers 1 motor and supports 220 lbs. There is also a Business Edition, which offers a Dual Motor and support up to 300 lbs.
There are 2 things that I love the most about the motors for the SmartDesk 2. First, they are incredibly quiet. They were engineered with noise cancellation in mind, during movement, this standing desk has a sound level of only 39dB. The Autonomous SmartDesk 2 only offers a minimal purr as it moves up and down.
My second loved feature of the motor – we reviewed the Home, Single Motor version – is how smooth it is. As it rises to a stand up desk and lowers to a sitting desk, it is very smooth. My monitor has a minimal shake to it. I am using an iMac, which has about a 7” by 7” base and I feel it is very safe as the SmartDesk adjusts.
The Sit-To-Stand Frame by Autonomous is great. I have found that I start the day using it as a standing desk, and then around lunchtime I lower it down to a sitting desk and sit for an hour or so while I work at the computer.
Benefits
Standing desks allow you to gain some additional health benefits. It is often agreed that working at a stand up desk burns more calories. This is a simple one, you burn more calories standing than you do sitting. It may not be a huge amount, but over a longer period of time, this adds us and can make an impact. In addition to just standing still, you are more likely and more able to move around a bit more as you stand. Doing simple exercises or stretches are easier and more likely as you stand, burning even more categories.
Having the personal mindset of a salesman, this is my favorite benefit. Standing up creates more energy and blood flow. That leads to “Motion creates emotion” a quote every salesperson has heard, and I love it. Moving around gets you thinking and often leads to increased productivity.
A standing desk can also help with your posture and lower back pain. Sitting in a chair often leads to poor posture as you bend your back and slouch your shoulders looking at your monitor.
There are countless health benefits that go along with reducing your time sitting at a desk, and the Sit-To-Stand Frame by Autonomous helps with these.
Can You Stand For Too Long?
Standing desks are great, but can lead to tired legs and possibly some other health concerns. So the SmartDesk 2 by Autonomous offers an amazing solution. If your legs are sore or tired, simply lower the desk and have a seat!
Even though it is universally considered poor for your health to sit all day, there are benefits to have an option to sit down and take a break from standing. This standing desk offers the ability to rise and lower as you see fit. Best of all, it done with a simple push of a button.
What Makes A Desk Smart?
Everything else can be smart, so why not your desk? The stand up desk by Autonomous is truly one of a kind with its ability rise and lower with ease, but what really separates it from the competition is it’s tech. It sounds funny to talk about tech and a desk, but think about all the time you spend at your desk. Autonomous takes that time spent at your desk and amps it up, providing tech to make your desk time easier and better.
Adjusting your SmartDesk 2 is a breeze thanks to the control panel, which makes change easy. Simply raise or lower the desk with the buttons, or select a pre-programmed height with one of your 4 programmed heights. I used mine for sitting, standing for me, standing for the kids level, and I am still looking for a set height for my 4th button.
The SmartDesk also comes with some accessories to make it even smarter! We added the accessory kit, which includes a wireless charger option. If you have a smartphone or tablet that offers wireless charging, you can simply place your device on top of the charger (about a 2” circle) and it will start charging. This is awesome, I have a case that will let my iPhone wirelessly charge, but I know there are some Samsung devices that come with this feature, which is awesome and so convenient.
Check out some of our favorite smart home accessories here
If you don’t have a wireless charging device, have no fear, a 7 port USB charger is available. Simply attach it to the bottom of the desk and you can run your cords right at the front of your desk. I thought 7 is a very large number for this, but that is another reason why this standing desk is awesome, it gives you options.
The accessory kit also comes with a Bluetooth speaker for under the desk as well. The speaker is very cool for turning on some tunes or podcasts to listen to as you work, and super convenient.
As another option, Autonomous also offers an AI Box as well. The AI Box includes a Personal Assistant which will communicate and speak with you. This allows you to speak commands and hear the answers. With the AI package, you can control other Smart Home options in your home, like controlling the lights and temperature with Nest, Hue, Wemo and more. All you have to do is ask your new personal assistant! The AI Personal Assistant connects with the Smart Home Control which is included and gives you all of these option.
All of these features make the Autonomous SmartDesk 2 truly deserving of the “smart” label.
Cost
This sit to stand desk offers a ton of potential. One of the most incredible things is the cost of this SmartDesk. There are many standing desks that cost well over $1,000 dollars. The SmartDesk 2 starts at $299. Offering an incredible number of customizations. You get to choose your desk shape, platform color, Home or Business Edition, and accessories. Compare the price of your custom SmartDesk to the price of other standing only desks, and you will be impressed.
Since we love this product, we have an affiliate link that will also give you a $25 dollar credit towards your next Autonomous purchase, check it out here!
Assembly and Customization
Your SmartDesk 2 comes in a couple of boxes. It took me right about an hour to put it together. It is not difficult, but it does require your concentration. The best part about assembling it myself is you get to choose where you want all the features and options. You get to put the control wherever you want. Place the USB charger wherever you want, you have options and you are in control with the assembly of this sit to stand desk.
Whether you work at home or in an office, the SmartDesk 2 by Autonomous is something you have to look into. Improve your health and possibly your productivity, all with this beautiful looking desk.
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