SmartDesk 2 Home Review

With technology ever expanding and the need to work in front of a computer for hours becoming more and more the norm, height-adjustable desks and sit-stand desks are coming into their own. Autonomous is one of the many companies that have tried their hand at these innovations, and they now have their newest model for the home office, the SmartDesk 2 Home.

From Autonomous Smart Office line, the SmartDesk 2 Home is a simple and streamlined height-adjustable desk. Built on an SPCC steel frame, this desk measures at 53 inches wide and 29 inches deep for the classic top model, 70.5 inches wide and 30 inches deep for the extra large top. Both tops are only 1 inch thick and are available in natural bamboo or a high-quality MDF wood in a variety of colours: black, white, walnut, and white oak. The extra large top is only available in black, white, and walnut.

The steel frame comes in white, black, or grey and uses a dual-motor system controlled by a push button panel and is capable of lifting up to 300 pounds between the height of 28 inches to 48 inches in 2.3 inches per second. There are also four memory preset buttons that you can use to pre-program your desired heights. Putting the SmartDesk together is easy as well; Autonomous says that the assembly is easy and should only take 15 to 30 minutes.

Autonomous has another height-adjustable desk, the SmartDesk 2 Business, the SmartDesk 2 Home's predecessor. The two models are very similar; size options are the same, the frame uses the same dual-motor system, and they both have ease of assembly. The main differences between the Home and Business is the range of height and the warranty. The Business desk can be set as low as 26 inches and as high as 52 inches, a 6 inch difference from the Home. Also, the Business steel frame has a 7 year warranty while the Home steel frame has a 5 year warranty; both model's table tops come with a 1 year warranty.

The SmartDesk has issues with stability when lifted to their higher settings and the single-motor design struggled to lift the weight of the desk with equipment on it as well.  Some of the common complaints we've seen from reviewers are:

  1. Stability Issues Above 37”
  2. TiMotion Electronics - control box and motor can be noisy and buggy at times
  3. Low-Quality Gear Components
  4. Slow Adjustment Speed

Overall if a budget standing desk is what you're seeking, spend the extra $50 for the better supported business / office version as it seems to be a more reliable product.

Anila Schneider is a deal news and tech editor with passwird.com and a Canadian blogger charting her path to financial independence at bcwildfire.com