Are you curious about the benefits of a standing desk but overwhelmed by all the options out there? Two of the most popular and well-regarded brands in the ergonomic office furniture space are Fully and Uplift. But how do you decide between the two?
Never fear, intrepid desk shopper – I‘m here to break down everything you need to know in this ultimate Fully vs Uplift desk review. By the end, you‘ll have all the information you need to choose the best standing desk for your workspace.
So, let‘s dive in and compare these two titans of the standing desk world!
The Importance of a Quality Standing Desk
Before we get into the nitty gritty of comparing Fully and Uplift, let‘s take a step back and consider – why bother with a standing desk at all? Is it really worth the investment?
In short, yes! A growing body of research shows that switching between sitting and standing throughout the workday can have major benefits for both physical health and mental acuity.
Prolonged sitting has been linked to a host of negative health outcomes, including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even certain types of cancer. In contrast, working at a standing desk (even if only for part of the day) can help:
- Burn more calories
- Improve posture and reduce back pain
- Increase energy and reduce fatigue
- Enhance focus and productivity
Plus, many people find that having the ability to change positions helps them stay more engaged and motivated throughout the day. With a quality standing desk, you can easily alternate between sitting and standing to find your ideal workflow.
Of course, not all standing desks are created equal. You want to choose a desk that is stable, durable, and highly adjustable to suit your body and space. The desk should have a powerful, smooth lifting mechanism and thoughtful ergonomic design.
Enter Fully and Uplift, two of the most trusted names in standing desks. Both brands offer a range of high-quality sit-stand desks with best-in-class features. But there are some key differences that are worth exploring.
Head-to-Head: Fully Jarvis Desk vs Uplift V2
First, let‘s compare the flagship electric standing desk models from each brand. In the Fully corner, we have the Jarvis, with its sleek and sustainable bamboo top. And fighting for Uplift, it‘s the feature-packed V2 desk in both standard and commercial versions.
Desk Specs and Performance
Both the Fully Jarvis and Uplift V2 desks offer an impressive height range to accommodate users of varying statures, from kids to tall adults:
- The Jarvis extends from 24.5" to 50" (with contoured top), suitable for people 5‘1" to 6‘6".
- The Uplift V2 adjusts from 25.5" to 51.1" (standard) or 22.6" to 48.7" (commercial), fitting users from 4‘11" to 6‘9".
In terms of lifting capacity, speed, and noise, the two desks are neck and neck. The Jarvis supports up to 350 lbs, with a 1.5"/second adjustment speed and under 50 dB noise level. Similarly, the Uplift V2 lifts up to 355 lbs at 1.57"/second (standard) or 1.38"/second (commercial), with self-reported noise levels of 45-50 dB.
Desktop Style and Durability
One of the standout features of the Fully Jarvis desk is its beautiful and eco-friendly bamboo desktop. The bamboo is sourced from sustainable forests, without any pesticides or fertilizers. It has a hard-wearing UV-cured finish to resist scratches and stains. Jarvis offers the bamboo top in two shapes – rectangular and contoured (with a curved back edge).
Uplift takes a different approach with the V2, offering an unrivaled selection of over 20 desktop styles in various materials (bamboo, rubberwood, powder-coated MDF, laminate, reclaimed wood, solid wood). The sheer number of size, shape, and finish options with Uplift is staggering. And their bamboo tops are also sustainably sourced and FSC certified.
Both brands use high-quality materials and precision manufacturing for their desk frames, with sturdy T-style legs and built-in cable management. The Uplift frame is slightly heavier-duty with three-stage legs vs two-stage on the Jarvis. But either desk is rock-solid and built to last.
Electronics and Controls
Another area where Uplift comes out ahead is in its electronic controls. The V2 desk has a proprietary control box with six-axis anti-collision technology that detects and reverses the desk if it bumps into objects. It also has a nifty gyroscope sensor that will re-level the desk after uneven loading.
The Uplift V2 handset has a crystal-clear display with an interactive height control wizard, four programmable memory presets, and a child lock button. It shows the exact desk height down to a tenth of an inch.
In contrast, the Fully Jarvis has a more basic two-button programmable handset without a display. A desk height display and expanded memory presets are available as add-ons.
So, while both are electric sit-stand desks with smooth and powerful dual motors, Uplift has invested more in making the V2 technologically advanced. The Jarvis is elegant and minimalist by design.
Customization and Accessories
This is one area where Uplift really shines. With the V2 desk, you can choose from hundreds of different configurations when you factor in the desktop style, frame type, keypad, power, wire management, casters, and other add-ons.
Want your Uplift desk in a space-saving 42" x 24" size with a whiteboard top, black V-frame, advanced comfort keypad, hammock, and casters? You got it! The possibilities are almost endless.
Fully takes a more curated approach, offering several thoughtfully designed versions of the Jarvis (Rectangle, Contour, L-Shape, etc.) with a smaller range of sizes and options. You can still choose your frame color and add a powered grommet or desk shelf. But overall, the Jarvis is more streamlined and simple.
Uplift also has a far wider selection of standing desk converters, monitor arms, anti-fatigue mats, and other ergonomic accessories to trick out your workspace. Fully offers a few choice add-ons as well, but Uplift is the clear winner if you want to build a fully personalized desk setup.
Beyond the Desk: Office Chairs and Lighting
While the electric standing desk is the star of the show, both Fully and Uplift aim to support your ergonomic workstyle with a full ecosystem of office furniture and accessories.
Ergonomic Chair Showdown
Let‘s face it, even with a snazzy standing desk, you‘re going to be sitting for a good portion of the day. A supportive, adjustable chair is key to preventing strain and maintaining proper posture.
In Fully‘s lineup, the crown jewel is the Capisco chair by famed Norwegian brand HÅG. This award-winning saddle chair was designed to encourage active, varied sitting positions throughout the day. You can sit forwards, backwards, sideways, or perch on the Capisco. It has a height-adjustable seat, back, and armrests (optional) to fit your body. Plus, it‘s stylish, durable (with a 10-year warranty), and made from 50% recycled material.
On Uplift‘s side, they offer the Pursuit ergonomic chair – an affordable rival to the Capisco. The Pursuit also has a highly adjustable saddle-style seat that allows you to sit in multiple postures. You can raise and tilt the seat, and the flexible backrest and armrests move with you. With breathable mesh fabric and a body-contoured design, the Pursuit is comfy for all-day use.
While the Capisco is the more iconic and eco-friendly chair, the Pursuit delivers similar ergonomic benefits at a lower price point. It really comes down to your budget and aesthetic preferences.
Work Brighter (and Smarter)
Any ergonomic desk setup is not complete without proper lighting. Fully and Uplift both offer sleek LED work lamps to reduce eye strain and complement your space.
The Fully Aleris LED desk lamp has a slim aluminum body and energy-efficient light panel that rotates 180 degrees. With the swipe of your finger, you can smoothly adjust the brightness (up to 540 lumens) and color temperature (from warm 2800K to cool 6500K). The premium metal finishes and clean lines give the Aleris a chic, modern look.
For a more budget-friendly option, the Uplift E3 LED desk lamp is a compact light with a feather-light touch dimmer. It has three color temperatures (3000K, 4500K and 6000K) and a max output of 540 lumens – same as the Aleris. The E3 head also rotates and swivels to focus the light where you need it. With its streamlined profile, the E3 is unobtrusive and blends into any environment.
Both the Aleris and E3 are quality desk lamps, ETL-certified for safety, and provide flicker-free, low-glare lighting to combat computer vision syndrome. Again, your choice depends on your design taste and price sensitivity.
Price and Value
Now for the important question – how much do Fully and Uplift desks cost, and are they worth it?
There‘s no getting around it, a well-made electric standing desk is going to be a significant investment. But when you consider that you‘ll be using this piece of furniture for hours every day, for years to come, it‘s worth getting a quality product that will support your health and productivity.
With that said, let‘s look at the numbers. For a 30" x 60" desk size, the Fully Jarvis (Rectangle) with a two-leg frame and basic keypad starts at $569 in black or white. The equivalent size Uplift V2 in black starts at $629 with the standard two-leg frame and basic keypad.
So spec-for-spec, Fully comes in slightly less expensive than Uplift. However, Uplift often runs bigger discounts and promotions. At the time of this writing, Uplift was offering $230 off the V2 desk, bringing the price down to $399 for the base model.
The difference in price is more pronounced as you add upgrades – a larger size, sleeker desktop material, more advanced keypad, etc. Fully‘s most premium Jarvis setup (78" x 30" Designer Ply top) is about $1,400, while a similar spec Uplift V2 Commercial (80" x 30" Solid Wood top) is over $2,000 after discounts.
Of course, these prices are still a fraction of what you‘d pay for a comparable desk from a traditional office furniture company. And both Fully and Uplift offer free shipping in the continental US, 30-day free returns, and lengthy warranties (7-year for Jarvis and 10-year for Uplift V2) – making them a pretty safe bet.
Ultimately, both brands deliver excellent value for the quality. Fully has the edge if you want a simple, elegant desk for less, while Uplift is worth the premium if you want the most feature-rich desk and don‘t mind paying for it.
Customer Experience
To round out this comparison, let‘s look at what actual customers have to say about Fully and Uplift.
Fully gets rave reviews for its customer service and easy assembly process. Many Jarvis desk buyers report that the desk exceeded expectations in terms of stability, smooth height adjustment, and overall fit and finish. Customers love the look and durability of the bamboo top.
The Fully brand has a distinct design-forward, eco-conscious, wellness-oriented vibe that resonates with many shoppers. Negative reviews tend to mention inconsistent shipping times or rare quality control issues (misaligned holes, scratches). But Fully seems to be very responsive in quickly resolving any problems.
Uplift also generally has happy customers who appreciate the solid construction, customization options, and ergo-friendly features of the V2 desk. Many reviewers favorably compare Uplift to the other big players in the standing desk market (Fully, Autonomous, IKEA).
The main complaints about Uplift relate to the amount of time it takes to assemble the desk and the potential for damaged parts. However, Uplift offers an in-home assembly service as well as a 5-year warranty on electronics to address these concerns.
Uplift is seen as more of a pragmatic, function-over-form brand. But they still have a loyal following among people who value personalization, power, and high-tech controls.
Both companies seem to genuinely care about customer satisfaction and have overwhelmingly positive user feedback. Just based on the numbers, Uplift has a lot more verified buyer reviews online – but that could be due to its longevity (Uplift has been around since 2002, while Fully launched in 2015).
The Verdict
So, where does this leave us? Both Fully and Uplift offer top-notch standing desks with more similarities than differences. You really can‘t go wrong with either brand in terms of ergonomics, reliability, and overall value.
Fully is more design-centric, with an emphasis on simplicity, sustainability, and accessible pricing. If you want a basic but beautiful standing desk that‘s a breeze to set up, Fully is a solid choice (pun intended). The Jarvis‘ sturdy bamboo desktop is a major selling point.
Uplift is all about customization and power-user features. With a dizzying array of options, Uplift can deliver the most tailored desk for any space or purpose. The Uplift V2 also has some handy high-tech touches, like the collision detection and advanced keypad. If you‘re particular about your desk and don‘t mind spending more to get exactly what you want, Uplift is worth a look.
Personally, I slightly prefer the Fully Jarvis desk for its sleek, cohesive design and cheaper price tag. The no-frills keypad keeps me focused on my work instead of fiddling with settings. And I appreciate Fully‘s commitment to eco-friendly materials and ethical manufacturing.
But if I worked from home full-time or needed a larger work surface, I‘d be tempted by an upgraded Uplift V2 Commercial desk, decked out with all the bells and whistles. I‘d use Uplift‘s online desk builder tool to see my custom creation come to life.
Luckily, you don‘t have to decide right now. Both Fully and Uplift let you customize and preview your perfect desk online. And with 30-day free returns, you have some wiggle room if you change your mind.
Whichever way you go, investing in a quality standing desk from Fully or Uplift is a big step towards a healthier, happier, and more productive workday. Your back (and brain) will thank you!
