Autonomous SmartDesk 5

It ranks #4 (B tier) on our consolidated gaming desks board, drawn from 3 independent outlets.

Anyone who wants motorised height adjustment without paying for a premium frame. PC Gamer named it the best budget motorised desk for its reliable lift and solid build, and it sits in B tier at rank 4 on our Gaming Desks board with a large surface and an integrated power hub. If the frame matters more than the motor, the Secretlab Magnus Pro XL in S tier is the benchmark. If you want a motorised L-shaped desk, the Corsair Platform 4 in A tier is the board's pick.

Yes in practice, because its motorised lift takes it from sitting to standing height, which is why PC Gamer judged it as a motorised desk. It appears on our Gaming Desks board because reviewers rank it as a gaming desk with a large surface and an integrated power hub. Our Standing Desks board covers desks bought for the lift first, so check there as well if standing through the working day is your main need.

Yes, a large surface area is one of the pros reviewers list, and the integrated power hub means the PC, monitors and chargers share one cable to the wall. Two 27 inch monitors need roughly 120 cm of width, which a desk of this class covers. Put the PC tower on the floor or on a mount rather than the surface, because weight on a motorised desk should stay within the maker's rating.

Both sit in B tier on our board and both are motorised. The Autonomous SmartDesk 5 is the budget pick, with a large surface and an integrated power hub. The Uplift V3 is praised for stability, smooth operation and a durable build, so it is the one to buy if you will raise and lower the desk many times a day and want it to feel solid at standing height.

Run the desk through its full range every few weeks so the columns stay evenly lubricated, keep the load within the rating with heavy items over the legs, and leave slack in the cables so nothing pulls tight at full height. If the two legs drift out of level, follow the reset routine in the manual before assuming a fault. Keep the controller away from drinks, because the control box is the part most often replaced on any motorised desk.