Today we are comparing two popular standing desks, The Uplift Desk v2 vs. Jarvis Desk. If you are in the search for a new adjustable height desk, there is a good chance you have seen at least one of these models. Each offers a large height adjustment range, heavy load capacity and solid fifteen year warranties on their frames. While they may look very similar, we were surprised to find out there were definite differences between them. So with that, let’s take a closer look at the review and where each is different.

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Full Disclaimer: We are an office furniture dealer and sell some of the sitting to standing desks we review. To learn more about the products we sell, our review process and why you can trust us, please visit: Why we’re different. Who is BTOD.com and The Breakroom Blog?

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Jarvis Desk vs. Uplift Desk v2

– OEM Manufacturer
– Pricing
– Assembly
– Specs / Features
– Stability
– Motors
– Gears
– Glides
– Return Policy and Warranty

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OEM Manufacturer

Both Jarvis and Uplift are currently being manufactured by JieCang Linear Motion Technologies. JieCang has been producing linear actuators for hospital furniture since early 2000. In 2011 they saw an opportunity to utilize their technology within desk frames to create an electric standing desk. Since then they have become the leading Chinese manufacturer of motorized standing desks.

Jarvis and Uplift v2 2025 Pricing

One of the first things we wanted to compare between these two was pricing and availability. What we found is that the pricing for the various configurations is actually similar. After tracking these products for multiple years, both brands have recently increased pricing. This is likely due to the tariffs imposed on Chinese made products.

The most affordable option would be the base only (frame only), which allows you to retrofit your own top. For those who would like to purchase a base and top together, there are quite a few options.

	Jarvis Desk by Fully	Uplift Desk v2
Expandable Base (no top)	n/a	$499.00
27″ or 30” x 60” Laminate	$1025.00	$759.00
27″ or 30” x 60” Bamboo	$1075.00	$829.00
27″ or 30” x 60” Powder Coated	n/a	$889.00
Lead Time	1-2 Business Days	1-2 Business Days
Where To Buy	Buy Jarvis on Herman Miller	Buy Uplift on Amazon

Assembly

Each desk requires about 30 to 90 minutes depending on your skill level. They both require a lot of screws and have a pain point attaching the upper frame to the column. The recessed nature of the frame made inserting the screws a bit cumbersome. Attaching the feet on the Jarvis desk was quicker, while the aluminum feet on the Uplift posed issues with inserting screws. We recommend using a longer allen wrench for assembly on the Uplift desk, without this fully tightening the feet was difficult. Also consider adding a gel like Loctite Threadlocker for a more consistent hold on the foot assembly.

Jarvis vs. Uplift Standard Specs/Features 

While the Jarvis and Uplift bases have similar specifications, they aren’t quite the same base. We were unsure why both brands listed two different weight capacities, when the OEM manufacturer shows the same capacity 1000N (224.808 lbs) for these bases. The adjustment range is slightly different because of the way each column mounts to the foot. Jarvis is set within the foot, allowing it to go lower, while Uplift is mounted on top of the foot which allows it to be slightly taller. Depending on your height, each base could provide a better fit.

Specs/Features	Jarvis Desk by Fully	Uplift Desk v2
Button Options	Standard up/down push button	Standard up/down push button
Lifting Capacity	350lbs	355lbs
Adjustment Range	23.125” to 48.75”	24.5” to 50”
Adjustment Speed	1.32” per second	1.33” per second
Soft Start – Stop	Yes	Yes
Auto-dark LED display	Yes	Yes
Leveling Glides	.25” adjustment	.375” adjustment
Expandable Frame	42.5” to 74” Wide	42.25” to 70” Wide
Anti-collision	Yes	Yes
Frame Material	Steel	Steel
Foot Material	Steel	Molded Aluminum

Stability of Each Desk

While both desks are utilizing the same JieCang technology, they are distinctly different with regards to stability. That lack of a traditional cross support between the legs meant that above 43.5” each desk had wobble issues. The front to back stability was also different from the orientation of the columns. Below are the WobbleMeter results.

WobbleMeter Testing Jarvis Desk vs Uplift Desk v2

If you would like to see the pictures and videos of us testing the Jarvis and Uplift on the WobbleMeter, please visit the page for each brand (Jarvis WobbleMeter and Uplift v2 WobbleMeter). Below is the deflection score range guide for the WobbleMeter. How these results impact your experience will depend on your sensitivity to wobble and rocking motions.

If you’d like to learn more about using the WobbleMeter visit: what is the WobbleMeter?.

WobbleMeter Score Range Guide

0-20 = Excellent Stability

Almost all of the desks tested at sitting height will score between 0-20. This is our baseline for excellent stability since most standing desks provide excellent stability at their lowest heights. Users in this range will not notice motion.

21-30 = Very Good to Good Stability

Between 20-30, most users will not notice the small amount of motion in this range.

31-40 = Good to Fair Stability

Between 31-40, some users may begin to notice the amount of motion in this range. This is especially true the closer the score is to 40.

41-50 = Fair to Bad Stability

Between 41-50, most users will notice the amount of motion in this range. This is especially true the closer the score is to 50.

51-60+ = Very Bad Stability 

Between 51-60+ all users will notice the amount of motion in this range. This is especially true for scores that are above 60.

WobbleMeter Results for the Jarvis Desk Frame

Overall Wobble (Side to Side) Deflection Scores

Overall Rocking (Front to Back) Deflection Scores

WobbleMeter Results for Uplift v2 Frame

Overall Wobble (Side to Side) Deflection Scores

Overall Rocking (Front to Back) Deflection Scores

 

Frame Colors

Both Jarvis and Uplift come with four standard frame finishes. Currently each is available in black, silver, Metallic (alloy) and white.

Desk Top Options

If you decide to get the entire desk with top, Jarvis and Uplift should have something to meet your requirements. Jarvis currently has a better selection of Greenguard laminate tops with 12 wood grain print and solid color options available. Each brand has a variety of bamboo and hardwood, and Uplift also comes with reclaimed wood options.

	Jarvis Desk by Fully	Uplift Desk v2
Laminate	Greenguard Laminate tops come in rectangle shapes, with seven color options, in up to six different sizes.	Greenguard Laminate tops come in rectangle shapes, three colors and four sizes.
Bamboo	Available in both rectangle and contour shapes. Each shape has one color option.  Rectangle shapes are available in seven sizes; the contour is available in three.	Available in both rectangle and contour shapes. Each shape has one color option. Rectangle shapes are available in nine sizes; the contour is available in three.
Powder Coated	Available in both rectangle and contour shapes. Each has three color options: black, grey and white. Rectangle shapes are available in up to five sizes; the contour is available in three sizes.	Available in both rectangle and contour shapes. Each has two color options: white and black. Rectangle shapes available in seven sizes; the contour is available in four sizes.
Hardwood	Available in rectangle shapes only. There are five color options and four sizes for each color.	Available in rectangles and custom shapes per request. Rectangle option available in sixteen color options and ten size options.
Reclaimed Wood	Not Available	Available in rectangles with one color option and ten sizes.

Optional Upgrades

Programmable Button	$35	$34
Power Grommet	$39 single / $69 pair	$39 single / $69 pair
Locking Casters	$29/set	$29/set
Wire Management Kit	$39 (no power strip available)	Up to $69 with power strip

Motor, Gear and Glide Comparisons

Looking closer at components that are housed within the columns of each of the desk frames. These components include the motors, gears and glide systems. Each plays an important role in how the desk makes height adjustments and how long it will function properly. Below is an update to the Uplift Desk vs the Jarvis Desk comparison.

Motor Comparisons

The motors on the Jarvis Desk and the Uplift Desk at one time were exact matches. Based on my experience looking inside various versions of the JieCang columns (Uplift, Jarvis, GeekDesk and EvoDesk), it appears this was the standard motor for the JieCang frames. On 11/27/17, Jarvis made a change to their frames and included an upgraded motor. This change internalized the large gear and worm drive. It also introduced a bearing system, which was an upgrade over the original sleeve bearing. The Uplift Desk v2 has not made this change.

The Jarvis Desk and The Uplift Desk motors are currently manufactured, for JieCang, by a Chinese company called Shenzhen Weizhen Motor Co., LTD. According to Shenzhen’s website, they have been producing micro motor systems for close to 20 years. Looking at the motor, they do appear to be well built. In my opinion, the Uplift v2 motor has a couple of shortcomings that would be nice to see addressed. The first is small, with the connection of the wires to the small external board. It appears to be attached with silicone caulk on the outside of the motor. This connection is okay, but could be internalized like the Jarvis motors or use actual connectors like the Bosch motors on the IKEA Bekant.

The second part that I would have liked to have seen changed on the Uplift Desk v2 is internalizing the worm drive. Because this portion is fully exposed, there is potential to pull contaminants like dust and dirt into the drive and even motor encasement. Both could potentially reduce the efficiency of the motor and/or shorten its lifespan.

Gear Comparisons

Unlike the motors, the gears on the Jarvis and Uplift are not exact matches. While they are similar, the design of the columns is likely the cause for their differences. The Jarvis Desk uses a traditional column that’s big on the bottom and small on top. The Uplift Desk is the opposite, using a column that’s big on top and small on the bottom.

While the gears are not exactly the same, they share a lot of the same qualities. Unfortunately, many of these qualities are not necessarily good. Each of the desks gears themselves don’t appear to be bad quality. However, they each include a lot of plastic components that are likely weak points in their design. We have recently completed cycled testing on the JieCang column and will be able to further comment on how these parts have held up.

One of the first things you notice when looking at the images of the gears is the amount of lubricant used. When compared to other products in the mid-range, these are some of the most over lubricated gears I have seen. Even the ultra cheap Autonomous desk has a better gear system than what is found inside the JieCang columns. The amount of grease found on the JieCang doesn’t necessarily mean it will impact the life cycle of your desk. However, over lubrication does hold the potential to reduce the efficiency of the gears. I would have liked to have seen a better system here and if possible better quality control with the lubrication process.

Glide Comparisons

The glide systems found on both Jarvis and the Uplift Desk are exact matches. The technology of their glide systems is a knock off of the high-end DL5 column from Linak. This is something that I recently discovered when pulling apart the UpDesk elements series. While the Jarvis and Uplift desk are utilizing columns that have copied this technology, they have fallen well short of the high-end option from Linak.

One of the first things I noticed when cycling all JieCang columns is the amount of white lubricant that starts to build up on the legs. Over time this continues to build and does not provide a very nice experience. After opening the Jarvis and Uplift columns, it was obvious why this was an ongoing issue. Each of the columns was significantly over lubricated. While the Jarvis desk appeared to have more lubrication, the Uplift Desk was far from being perfect.

I am not 100% certain why these desks have so much lubrication on the glides. My experience leads me to believe it is because cheaper plastic glides are used. This type of plastic requires additional lubricant to slide smoothly and hold up for the life cycle of the product. We know through testing our own VertDesk v3 21,375 times, less lubricant is required when better plastics are used. This was only reconfirmed when looking at the Linak DL5 column. They use similar plastics as the VertDesk v3 and have minimal amounts of lubricant within the columns.

One of the biggest concerns I have with the Jiecang columns are the inconsistencies I see with the application of this lubricant. On the Jarvis desk, there were huge globs everywhere. On the Uplift Desk, there were similar amounts on portions of the glide, but I also found completely dry spots as well. If the lubricant is required to keep the glides functioning properly, then lack of lubricant could actually be a big issue down the road.

Weight Capacity Testing

Return Policies

Jarvis frames and standard in stock tops can be returned without restocking fees. The customer is responsible for the return shipping costs.

Uplift offers a 30 day money back with free returns. Special exclusions for certain tops.

Warranty

15 year warranty on Jarvis Frame (components, mechanical parts, motors and electrical components. Desktops have a five year warranty.

15 year warranty for Uplift Frame and Surface.

Bottom Line

After extensive testing with each product, we have come to a unanimous decision that these two desks are very similar. Each desk offers plenty of adjustment range, but for users that are shorter, the Jarvis could provide more flexibility. Both Jarvis and Uplift come standard with 15 year warranties on their frames. The big difference would be on the length of time for their surfaces. If you’re picky about desk wobble, these two models might not be the best fit. Without the use of traditional cross support, each desk exhibited movement when extended above 43.5”. For more detailed information on each desk, please visit our in-depth Jarvis Desk review or the Uplift Desk v2 review.

More Standing Desk Resources

• VertDesk v3 vs. Uplift Standing Desk
• The 4 Best Electric Standing Desks Under $800
• Top 6 Reasons Why Standing Desks Wobble
• Evodesk Vs Uplift Desk: The JieCang Standing Desk Comparison
• Autonomous SmartDesk 2 Vs Uplift Desk: Which Is Better?
• Uplift Desk VS VARIDESK ProDesk 60 Electric: Which Is Better?