NOTICE: This product has been discontinued by Varidesk.
Lightweight, portable desk options that allow you to stand anywhere are growing in popularity. People enjoy having the freedom to turn any solid surface into a work station. The Laptop 22™ is a new option from Varidesk that is meant to be taken on the go. I recently reviewed the Laptop 30™, which is also by Varidesk. I was impressed with the overall concept and it did just enough to be a decent product. The Laptop 22™ didn’t appear to have the same quality or functionality as the Laptop 30™ but it is the same price, so I was a bit skeptical about the product. Here is what I found.
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Varidesk Laptop 22™ Review Snapshot
Pros
- Great mobility
- 30 day money back guarantee
- Easy to store in closet or under desk
- No assembly
Cons
- Not ergonomic
- Very limited height options
- Poor stability
- Low build quality
- Short warranty
Laptop 22™ Manufacturer
The manufacturer of the Laptop 22™ is Varidesk, LLC. They are a Texas based company that originated out of Gemmy industries. Gemmy has been in business since the 80s and have had a wide range of products. Varidesk, LLC was started to provide an easy solution to get people standing while they work.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
– Country of Origin
– Specs / Features / Pricing
– Return Policy and Warranty
– Installation
– Build Quality
– Footprint
– Making Adjustments
– Stability
– Ergonomics
– Task and Keyboard Space
– Wire Management
– What I Like
– What I Don’t Like
– Bottom Line
Country of Origin
Made in China
Product Specifications
Weight Capacity: 15 lbs.
Weight: 10 lbs.
Overall at lowest height: 22”W x 17.75”D x .75”H
Overall at highest height: 22”W x 17.75”D x 15.75”H
Base Dimensions: 22”W x 17.75”D
Platform Dimensions: 22”W x 17.75”D
Max Platform Height: 15.75”H
Min Platform Height: .75”H
Product Features
Built-in handle for carrying
Canvas carrying bag included
3 standing height options
Single large platform
Sits on top of existing desk
Price – $175.00
Color Options
Black
See The Best Standing Desk Converters For 2019After months of testing 40+ adjustable desktops, the results are in! |
Return Policy
Varidesk’s return policy is unmatched by anyone in the industry. You can return the item for up to a full year. If it is after 30 days, you will be responsible for the return shipping charges. If it is before 30 days, Varidesk will pick up the shipping. You do not need to have the original packaging. If you no longer have your box, just let Varidesk know and they will ship you a new one.
Warranty
The Laptop 22™ comes with a one year warranty. There are no exclusions.
Shipping
The Laptop 22™ arrived via UPS Ground within one week of placing my order. The box was a flat rectangle that weighed about 15 pounds. The box was very easy to handle by myself.
Assembly
The Laptop 22™ did not require assembly. I simply unpackaged the item and it was ready to go.
Build Quality
The Laptop 22™ uses a build that I have only seen on this product. It is not going to be the same caliber of build quality as the majority of standing desk converters I have reviewed. There is almost no metal on the unit. There is a lot of plastic and polycarbonate.
When raising the unit, there are quite a few vertical supports. There are two plastic supports on each side and then one large one in the middle. These supports are attached with hinges to the underside of the work surface and the top of the base. These supports can expand and contract with the movement of the unit. These help to provide the unit with rigidity when it is at standing heights but these supports do not lock in place. There are four vertical, metal bars that hang from the underside of the work surface. The bottom of these bars can be placed into three different slots on the base. Each slot will produce a different standing height.
Footprint
The base and top on the Laptop 22™ are the same dimensions. You will need a space that is 22”W x 17.75”D to use this product. The movement pattern is straight up and down so the footprint remains the same at all heights.
Mobility
The Laptop 22™ weighs 10 lbs. and folds down to be as small as ¾” thick. It has a built-in handle that allows you to carry the unit like a briefcase. I took the unit back and forth from my home and office for three days to get the feel for what it would be like to take this product with me. It was easy to carry, took up very little space in my back seat and only took me a few seconds to set-up on my desk.
The Laptop 22™ will not have desktop mobility. The base of the unit has rubber stoppers to keep it held in place so you will not be able to slide the unit to a new location.
Adjusting the Laptop 22™
The adjustment process on the Laptop 22™ will need to be manually done. There is a cut-out underneath each side of the platform. You’ll need to use both hands to lift the platform up with these two hand cut-outs. When you lift the platform up, you will be able to see different slots on the top side of the base. You need to line up the four vertical bars with the corresponding slots to hold the platform in a standing position. There are three different standing heights to choose from. Raising the unit is very easy and the vertical bars naturally fall into the slots so raising the unit is not difficult. Just make sure the bottom of the vertical bars are firmly in place after making any adjustments.
Lowering the unit is bit trickier. You still use the same cut-outs for your hand placement but you need to reach under the worksurface and push the horizontal bars inward to get the 4 metal vertical bars to release form the slots. This will allow the unit to lower. This took me awhile to get used to but after several adjustments, it became easy.
Stability
Similar to the Laptop 30™, I used some modified ratings compared to the ones I typically use. Since this unit is meant for standing only and there is really no reason to use it sitting, I thought it only made sense to do the stability score based on standing height alone.
The unit has noticeable side to side wobble and tilt. The unit doesn’t fully lock into place so you are always able to pull up on one of the sides and make it come loose. Leaning on the unit will do the same thing. Because the unit doesn’t lock and it doesn’t have consistent support system, you can tilt, twist and rock the unit in almost all directions. This caused low scores for wobble and general stability.
There is a positive to the stability and that is the bounce. The unit is stable while typing. The platform will bend slightly which makes the keyboard and monitor bounce a bit but it is minimal.
| Wobble (25%) | Bounce (25%) | General (50%) | Total Score |
| 30/100 | 85/100 | 35/100 | 46/100 |
Ergonomics
The Laptop 22™ is not going to be a good choice for those looking for the most ergonomic standing desk converter. Using a laptop on a single platform set-up will always produce a pronounced downward viewing angle. This can cause strain in your neck and shoulders. Another downside when it comes to ergonomics is that the Laptop 22™ only has three standing height options: 12”, 13.75” and 15.75”. Most people will not be in their ideal typing position due to the limited height options.
Task Space
The Laptop 22™ has a single rectangle shaped work surface. There is a small hole in the back of the work surface for the handle. This hole is 4.25”W x 1 3/8”D. There is enough space for your laptop and a few other small objects. When using the Laptop 22™ from home I had my computer, baby monitor, tape measure and smart phone on the platform. The items fit comfortably and the unit held the weight fine.
The work surface has nice rounded edges and the surface itself is durable. It feels softer than the plastic and phenolic trays I am used to seeing on lower priced standing desk converters. It is not abrasive or coarse but also not smooth. It feels nice to the touch but is not smooth enough to allow items to slide.
Wire Management
There is no wire management on the Laptop 22™ but it really isn’t necessary. Most of my usage was with no cords running from the unit since I was using a laptop with battery power. I had to charge it one time and I just ran the cord off the back of the unit and it was no problem.
Safety
The only safety concern I have is for your equipment on the unit. If someone bumps the unit or you accidentally lean on it, the unit can tip and the bars holding the top in place can come lose and make the top fall. This same risk exists when making adjustments. If you miss one support slot, then the top may tip which could cause something to fall off the desk. I would recommend keeping all drinks off the platform to be safe.
What do I like?
It is Portable
The Laptop 22™ is the most portable standing desk converter I have tested. The thin design, light weight and handle for carrying make this product easy to take with you. It takes up very little space in your car and would be easy to take on a bus or subway. I can see the Laptop 22™ being useful in coffee shops, libraries or any other application where you would want to stand for a short to moderate length of time. The low-profile design also allows for easy storage. People in apartments, dorms or even small offices will be able to store it away when it is not in use and the space required for storage is minimal.
30 Day Money Back Guarantee
Varidesk’s return policy puts you in a situation where you don’t really have anything to lose by trying the Laptop 22™. If you don’t like it, Varidesk will pick it up and you will get a full refund. This type of trial is not found on too many standing desk converters so it is a nice perk.
Fast Shipping & Ready Out of Box
The Laptop 22™ arrived in less than a week from ordering the product and it was on my desk and ready to use within two minutes of me starting to open the package. The Varidesk product line-up has some of the fastest turnaround times I have seen. From time of ordering to time standing, the Laptop 22™ is no exception.
What don’t I like?
Price
To me, the price on the Laptop 22™ seems a bit high for what you are getting. The build quality is on the lower end and there is limited functionality. There are products from Stand Steady, OriStand and Uncaged Ergonomics that serve the same purpose for less than $100.00. For the price of the Laptop 22™, you can get the Laptop 30™ or AirRise, which I feel are better products. You are paying a premium for the Varidesk brand, a built-in handle and canvas carrying case which may be worth it for some customers.
Lacks Ergonomics
Having a single surface product that is designed to be used with a laptop will not be able to provide an ergonomic experience. The Laptop 22™ is not a good product for prolonged periods of time. If you want something that is better suited for ergonomics then you will need to go with a z lift product like the VertDesk Converter or a post and base system like the Duke Vesa.
Limited Height Options.
The Laptop 22™ has a maximum standing height of 15.75” and a minimum standing height of 12”. With only three standing height options to choose from, there will be a limited amount of people that can use the Laptop 22™ comfortably. People taller than 6’3” and shorter than 5’8” will not be in a comfortable typing position.
Short Warranty
Varidesk offers one of the shortest warranty periods on the standing desk converter market at one year. While most converters are moving closer to five years of coverage, Varidesk stands firm with their original one year warranty.
Poor Stability
The Laptop 22™ has received one of the lowest stability scores I have given a standing desk converter. There is very little bounce when typing but the risk of the work surface tipping is a concern for me. The unit would be much more stable if it locked in place when standing. If you would like a similar product that offers much better stability, then I’d check out the Laptop 30™.
Bottom Line
The Laptop 22™ is a very niche product within the standing desk converter category. The low build quality, poor stability and limited adjustment range mean that the Laptop 22™ will receive a poor overall score through my testing. I also feel there is more value in competing products that are sold for a similar price. But, I do see the value in this product due to its portability. There are not many products that are as well designed for mobility as the Laptop 22™. I think this can be a nice option for people looking for a product that they can take with them to be used in a number of different locations. If you decide it isn’t a good choice for you, you can always return it for a full refund.
