When we did our in-depth review of the InMovement DT2, it was hard to ignore all the similarities between the DT2 and the Varidesk ProPlus™ 36. They have a similar design, price and warranty. I began to ask myself what the major differences were and then realized that I should make a comparison so that people can easily find out how these two popular products differ from one another. This comparison will go over the similarities and differences between the ProPlus™ 36 and DT2, so that you know which product is the better choice for your situation.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
– Specs / Features / Pricing
– Return Policy
– Colors
– Delivery and Assembly
– Build Quality
– Footprint
– Desktop Mobility
– Making Adjustments
– Stability
– Ergonomics
– Task and Keyboard Space
– Wire Management
– Safety
– Bottom Line
Specs / Features
| ProPlus™ 36 | DT2 | |
| Manufacturer | Varidesk, LLC | Life Fitness |
| Country or Origin | China | China |
| Sits on top of desk | Yes | Yes |
| Lifting Mechanism | 2 Handle Spring Lift Assist | 2 Handle Spring Lift Assist |
| Keyboard & Monitor Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Lifting Capacity | 35 lbs. | 35 lbs. |
| Product Weight | 52 lbs. | 58 lbs. |
| Height Position Options | 11 | 10 |
| Overall at lowest height | 36”W x 29.75”D x 4.5”H | 41”W x 24.25”D x 5.75”H |
| Overall at highest height | 36”W x 41.75”D x 17.5”H | 41”W x 32”D x 19”H |
| Base Dimensions | 30”W x 24”D | 34.5”W x 24.25”D |
| Keyboard Tray Dimensions | 36”W x 14.25”D | 25.75”W x 10.5”D |
| Monitor Platform Dimensions | 36”W x 20”D | 41”W x 21”D |
| Max Keyboard Platform Height | 13.75”H | 13.5” |
| Max Monitor Platform Height | 17.75”H | 19”H |
| Min Keyboard Platform Height | .75”H | .5” |
| Min Monitor Platform Height | 4.75” | 5.75” |
| Warranty Period | 5 Years | 1 Year |
Price
| ProPlus™ 36 | DT2 | |
| Price | $395.00 | $399.00 |
| Shipping | Free | Free |
Return Policy
InMovement offers a 30 day return policy on the DT2. You are responsible for the return shipping charges and the item must be returned in the original packaging. There are no restocking fees.
Varidesk is still the industry leader when it comes to their return policy. You can return the ProPlus™ 36 for a full refund for up to a year. If you return the item within the first 30 days, then Varidesk will cover the return shipping costs. If you do not have the box for your ProPlus™ 36, let Varidesk know and they will send you a new one to complete the return.
Color Options
| Finish Options | |
| ProPlus™ 36 | Black, White, Darkwood, Butcher Block |
| DT2 | Darkwood, Light Wood or White |
Delivery & Assembly
Both products ship in one business day and then arrive via ground carrier within a few business days. The packaging on both items is very similar with foam protecting the entirety of the unit. Both boxes have handles to make it easier to move the boxes. The box for the InMovement DT2 is about 6” longer than the ProPlus™ 36. That made it just too long for me to reach my arms around it to carry it. Instead, I had to slide it across our carpeted floor. People with nicer floors will probably want to have a second person on hand to move the box.
| ProPlus™ 36 | DT2 | |
| Order Processing Time | Within 24 Hours | Within 24 Hours |
| Shipping Time | 1-5 Business Days | 1-5 Business Days |
| Shipping Method | UPS Ground | UPS Ground |
| Assembly Time | Ready out of box | Ready out of box |
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Build Quality
The adjustment system used on the ProPlus™ 36 and InMovement DT2 are the same. InMovement agreed to a licensing agreement with Varidesk to use Varidesk’s United States Patent No. 9,113,703. They both use a z lift base design with a motion that moves the platforms outward in an arcing motion when they are raised. The movement is assisted by springs and the locking mechanism is a basic pin lock system.
Both products feature a dual platform design for your monitor and keyboard. I would consider both products to be on the lower end of the quality spectrum. They are both made in China with lower end materials and a basic spring and pin lock adjustment system.
These two products have very different aesthetics. Varidesk has more of a minimalist design compared to the InMovement DT2. The base, arms and screws are all matching flat black and the only contrasting color on the unit is if you select a custom color.
The InMovement DT2 is much more eye catching with its oversized silver base that full encases the entire unit when it is lowered. But, it is much bigger and more imposing than the ProPlus™ 36.
Footprint
Both products’ bases can fit on a surface that is 24”D. The ProPlus™ 36’s base only needs a space that is 30”W but the DT2’s base is about 5” wider than the ProPlus™ 36. The desk surface will need to be a bit bigger for the DT2. The platforms on both units are larger than the base so you will need to make sure there are not walls or objects in the way of your desk.
At sitting height, the ProPlus™ 36 requires about 30”D x 36”W of space. When raising the unit to full standing height, the ProPlus™ 36’s outward adjustment pattern will require 41.75”D x 36”W of total space.
At sitting height, the InMovement DT2 takes up 24.25”D x 41”W of space. When moving to standing height, the unit requires 32”D x 41”W. The DT2 still pushes you from your desk, but not nearly as far as the ProPlus™ 36.
Desktop Mobility
Both units are meant to be placed on your desk and left there. They both have stoppers on the base to keep them firmly in place on your desk, so neither one of them has any desktop mobility. The DT2 is larger and heavier but they are both over 50 lbs. Neither product is easy to move on and off your desk or from location to location. The ProPlus™ 36 is still small enough to reach across comfortably when carrying, but the DT2 is just wide enough to make the size awkward to move for one person.
Making Adjustments
Both of these products have a single adjustment, which controls the overall height of both platforms. They both have two handles found on the undersides of the monitor platform. Pressing both handles and holding them will disengage the pin locking system and you will be able to move the unit up or down.
The springs assist with the movement on both products making the adjustment process very easy. Once you’ve reached the correct height on either unit, you can release the handles and the unit will be locked in its new position.
The DT2 has 10 different height options to choose from while the ProPlus™ 36 has 11 options. During testing, the ProPlus™ 36 made noticeable squeaking and clunking sounds while making adjustments, whereas the InMovement DT2 was very quiet through all stages of adjustment.
Stability
Neither one of these products did well during my stability testing. They are both among the lowest scores I have given out to date. They feature inconsistent locking systems that do not always hold in place. When the locking systems are functioning properly, they still have considerable vertical bounce. While they use the same design concept and ended up with almost identical total scores, their problems with stability are actually quite different beyond the locking systems used.
The DT2 struggles across the board. It is not very stable when sitting or standing and it has glaring weaknesses with the lack of rigidity within the metal support arms. The platforms on the DT2 have a lot of wobble, shake and bounce. The keyboard platform, also, doesn’t lay flat on your desk when in the sitting position. These factors make it an unstable product all around.
The ProPlus™ 36 has some good aspects when looking at its stability. When sitting, it is a rock. It is at standing height that we see the ProPlus™ 36 start to struggle. At standing height, it has a large amount of keyboard bounce and monitor shake. The ProPlus™ 36 also has the potential to tip forward when you lean on the keyboard tray at standing height, which is not a concern I had with the DT2.
| Product | Sitting Wobble (10%) | Standing Wobble (15%) | Sitting Bounce (10%) | Standing Bounce (15%) | Sitting Shake (10%) | Standing Shake (15%) | General (25%) | Total Score |
| DT2 | 90/100 | 60/100 | 75/100 | 60/100 | 85/100 | 60/100 | 40/100 | 62/100 |
| ProPlus™ 36 | 100/100 | 80/100 | 100/100 | 40/100 | 90/100 | 45/100 | 40/100 | 64/100 |
Ergonomics
Both of these products feature a separate keyboard tray and monitor platform that remain at the same distance from each other when making height adjustments. This means that neither product is dual ergonomic. They also both raise your normal typing position when sitting, with the ProPlus™ 36 raising your posture slightly higher than the tray on the InMovement DT2. Their overall height adjustment ranges are similar. The viewing distance on both units is well within the recommended ergonomic range of 20”-40”.
The one difference is that the space between the keyboard tray and monitor platform is larger on the DT2 than the ProPlus™ 36. This puts the monitor quite a bit higher in the seated position as compared to the ProPlus™ 36. This may produce an upward viewing angle for some people, which is not recommended for an ergonomic position. While this increases the monitor when seated, it provides a taller height when standing, which allows it to accommodate an ergonomic viewing angle for people that are 1”-2” taller.
Task Space
The task space on these two products is going to be where they vary the most. The ProPlus™ 36 features a rectangle shaped monitor platform with a very large cut-out in the front portion of the platform. The platform is large enough to fit dual 24” monitors. The cut-out in the front is in place to allow for people to easily use a laptop on the keyboard tray. Because this cut-out removes so much space, there is little room leftover to use for tasking. You can fit a couple smaller objects but large things will not fit comfortably.
The InMovement DT2 features a rectangle shaped platform that is 5” wider than the ProPlus™ 36. InMovement decided to forgo the laptop utility and instead opted for a full work surface with no cut-out in the front. The InMovement DT2 has a massive work surface that can fit dual 27” monitors as well as numerous other objects.
Keyboard Tray
Another big difference between the DT2 and ProPlus™ 36 is the keyboard tray design. The ProPlus™ 36 features a very large tray that has a curved front edge. The curved edge is in place to make it easier to bend down and make height adjustments. The curve does make the keyboard and mouse placement a bit awkward though. The curve does not allow you to line up your keyboard and mouse. Instead your mouse will be a bit behind the keyboard, which creates an awkward working position. The large size of the keyboard tray on the ProPlus™ 36 allows for oversized keyboard and mice.
The DT2 features a smaller keyboard tray than the ProPlus™ 36. It is rectangular shaped and can be slid in or out on drawer slides. It is not quite large enough to use an oversized keyboard comfortably but the standard rectangular shape means that you will have a normal typing position. One thing to note with the keyboard tray on the DT2 is that it does not lock into the out position. This creates movement in and out when typing on the DT2.
Wire Management
Both products lack built-in wire management systems and come with adhesive backed clips that can be attached to the unit where you see fit. Both units keep cords safe as long as they are run straight off the back.
Safety
These two products both utilize the same z lift base design, which produces numerous pinch points. You will want to be aware of these pinch point and avoid them while making adjustments. Also, be aware of objects and other people in the area of the pinch points to avoid damage or injury.
One concern that I have with the ProPlus™ 36, that I do not have with the DT2, is the risk for the unit to tip off the front of your desk when in the standing position. Since the ProPlus™ 36 moves out so much further than the DT2 at standing height, there is the potential for the ProPlus™ 36 to tip forward when weight is placed on the keyboard tray. Simply leaning on the tray may cause the unit to tip forward.
Bottom Line
The Varidesk ProPlus™ 36 and InMovement DT2 are extremely similar. From the z lift base design, to the dual fixed platforms, to the 13” adjustment range, the products have a lot in common. They are also priced within $4 of each other. The major differences are going to be the monitor platform, keyboard tray and the look of each product.
The monitor platform on the DT2 will allow for dual 27” monitors and also provides a massive amount of task space. The ProPlus™ 36 will accommodate dual 24” monitors and is more suited for laptop use on the keyboard tray than providing task space. The keyboard tray on the ProPlus™ 36 has an awkward curved edge but it is large enough to fit oversized keyboards and mice. The DT2 keyboard tray is a standard rectangle shape but it is too small for oversized keyboards and also slides uncontrollably while typing.
The final factor that will sway your decision is the look of each product. Some people will prefer the more imposing DT2 with its thick, silver colored base walls and adjustment arms. Others will prefer the smaller ProPlus™ 36 base and more minimalist support arms. I hope this comparison has helped to highlight the main differences between the InMovement DT2 and Varidesk ProPlus™ 36 so that you know which product is best for you.
