Outfit your office to enhance productivity, comfort and even add some fun to your work day

By Jennifer Tzeses
Originally Published March 16, 2021

Once, the office desk was simply a slab—of wood or performance material—that maybe had wheels or a few drawers to optimize storage if you were lucky. Then came the standing desk and then the walking desk, whereby the user could simultaneously stride on a treadmill while doing work. It seemed genius at the time. But, like all things, it was only a matter of time before evolution took hold. Now, comes the newest iteration in workspaces that straddles the realm of surface meets smarts. Enter the smart desk, which, by the swipe of a phone or, simply by asking, these tech wonders adjust themselves and even let you know when you’ve been sitting too long. We can only guess what’s next, but in the meantime, here are a few of the most intelligent desks on the market.

RA NewHeights Elegante XT Electric Adjustable-Height Desk

Like a sleek sports car, this state-of-the-art sit-to-stand desk is European engineered with a gear and spindle drive system inside. It works over Bluetooth and pairs with the NewHeights Mobile app, so you can be the driver of your desk. Create voice commands that work with Siri and Google, for hands-free desk positioning, so all you have to do is say, “Hey Siri, stand up,” and your workstation will rise as if in cruise control. Program up to four different height positions, adjust the sensitivity—just in case something (human or furry) crawls underneath and it will stop positioning itself to avoid a collision—and receive notifications from the activity assistant to remind you to stand up or sit down. 

The RA NewHeights Elegante XT Electric Height Adjustable Desk is available for $1,408.

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Tableair Classic Height Adjustable Desk

Part tech, part techno effect this adjustable desk is built with app-enabled control so you can do everything from adjust the height, change the built-in LED lights on the desk, and even track your calories from all that sitting-to-standing activity. You can schedule sitting and standing times throughout the day, so you are guaranteed to change positions, and track your standing progress. There’s also a built-in sensing module. All you have to do is stretch out one arm and press the smart button with your other hand and it senses the distance to your hand and rises to match it. And there’s an integrated wireless charger to keep smart devices juiced up and ready to go at all times. The only thing it can’t do is finish your work for you, but who knows, that might be next. 

The TableAir Classic Height Adjustable Desk is available for £1,465 (approximately US$3,358).

VertDesk v3 Electric Sit Stand Desk With Voice Control

Need to switch positions throughout the day? No, problem, just ask and you shall receive. This voice-enabled desk 4.0 gives you the ability to pre-program multiple different desk heights using the VertDesk App without ever having to press a button. But the cool thing is you don't even have to be in the app to use the voice control feature. Just give your desk one of your pre-recorded commands and it will get moving. And, if you’re chained to your desk all day and want to be more active, the app has an Activity Assistant that can remind you, based on your specifications,so you can set the frequency of notifications  by sending reminders to your phone for when to sit or stand throughout the day. With a weight maximum lift capacity of 450 pounds, you can basically have several people sitting on your space and it won’t collapse. (But we still recommend people sit in chairs instead.)

The VertDesk v3 Electric Sit Stand Desk with voice control is available for $638.

Versadesk PowerLift Standing Desk

As they say, variety is the spice of life, and this multi-functional app-enabled model lets you program 32 different height settings and can rise 50 inches in just a matter of seconds. Should you have the need for multiple monitors or other heavy weight equipment, the workspace can hold up to three screens and 350 pounds. There’s built-in cable management so all those wires have a place to hide and, if you go with the gloss white surface color, it can become an interactive whiteboard surface that you can write on. Basically, you never need to leave. 

The Versadesk PowerLift Standing Desk is available for $799.