Today we will be comparing the Fully Jarvis laminated standing desk and the Flex series from Apexdesk.
Though these two desks have quite a different price range, we can still pit them against one another as they both use China-made motors. It’s not from the same manufacturer though. Fully has a Jiecang motor while the Apexdesk has a TA NIkoda motor.
Specifically, we will be comparing the laminate desk from Fully and the Flex Series from Apexdesk.
Fully Jarvis (55”x 31”) vs Apexdesk Flex Series (59.5”x29.1”)
So let’s put these babies head to head.
Solid construction
Yes, as the heading suggests, the construction of both brands is indeed solid. Let’s start with the Flex Series. As with all Apexdesk models, this is made of solid and durable steel construction. The frame, legs, and base of the desk have a good foundation. We reckon there won’t be any issues with the longevity of the legs. This is also the strongest feature of the Flexi desk.
The robust frames were able to hold the maximum weight capacity of the desk without any problems. There isn’t any flexing of the legs as compared to the Vortex series of the brand.
The Fully, on the other hand, is durable and solid. The leg frames do not bend or flex too. But as much as we love how durable the frames feel, we had encountered some issues with the columns. The was excessive grease coming out of the columns after the first scale. And as the desk continues to transition, more and more grease seeps out of it.
We also encountered the same icky situation with the Uplift standing desk. And the common denominator of both desks is the Jiecang motor.
While it doesn’t seem to affect the performance of the desk, it can spell trouble for your clothes if you accidentally bumped into the greasy columns. And of course, it makes up for a very messy desk.
That’s why the Flex Series will have a better chance at this category.
Stability, height adjustment range, and weight capacity
Stability is one of the more important aspects of a standing desk. And this is also indirectly related to the height adjustment range and the weight capacity of the desk.
The laminate desk from Fully has a height adjustment range of 22.25” to 48.75”. This seems to be a pretty wide range that can have more scope of users. And the desk also has a weight capacity of 350 lbs, so that’s gearing towards a more heavy-duty standing desk.
We didn’t encounter any issues with the capacity of the desk to bear the maximum load. It can carry the advertised max load of 350 lbs. But the problem is related to the stability of the desk. At above 40 inches, there is already a significant wobble from left to right. And as the desk goes higher, it becomes more pronounced.
Now, although the desk can carry the 350 lb load, if you will increase the height of the desk to 40 inches and above, and have a fully loaded table, there will be more shaking.
As for the transition speed, as we have mentioned earlier, it’s rather fast at 1.5 inches per second. Once you have maximized the load capacity of the deks, it decreases to 1.25 inches per second. So it’s still fast. And nobody will really notice the slight decrease in speed unless you measure it.
But the main problem is stability. Several reasons could have resulted in the shaking of the desk after the 40-inch mark. We first thought that it was the motor since it’s made in China. Could be but it’s not fully to be blamed for it.
The Uplift desk also has the same Jiecang motor and it is more stable than Fully. Though it’s not the most stable, the wobbling isn’t that annoying compared to what we have experienced with the Fully laminated desk.
So doing a bit of comparison between the construction of Fully and Uplift, Uplift has a wedge system that adds stability to the desk. And this is what has been missing with all Fully Jarvis standing desks.
How about for the Flex series? The height adjustment range of this desk is 24.6 “ to 50.4”. So it can go two inches more compared to the Fully laminated desk. The transition speed is also the same at 1.5 inches per second. Though the weight capacity of the Flex series is lower than that of Fully. Flex standing desk has a 225 lbs weight limit. So Jarvis can accommodate a more hefty setup of multiple monitors than this particular Apexdesk.
The Flex series also shows the same stability issues. It starts to show a significant wobble left to right once it approaches the max height of 50 inches.
That’s why we’re recommending both desks for users with average height. Even if the desk can go high enough for taller people, they will not find it comfortable.
But since Fully has a higher weight capacity, this desk takes the cake away for this category
Apexdesk vs Fully – Other features
Adjustable width of the desk
Both desks have an adjustable width of frames. So should you decide to purchase only a tabletop, it gives you more liberty to choose the size and shape of the desk that you want.
Control panel
The Apexdesk control panel features 6 buttons, an up and down arrow, 4 memory presets, the memory button, and it also has an LCD for the current height setting. The control panel is also mounted in the same place whereas you see on other standing desks. But we didn’t like how the control panel looked. It seems kind of flimsy and plasticky, almost like a toy.
The Fully, on the other hand, has a control panel that features 4 memory presets, an LCD screen, and an up and down arrow. And oh, it also has 6 buttons with the addition of the memory button to set your preferred height. We love the sleek and sophisticated look of the control panel. It’s flat and minimalist. It doesn’t look like a toy or boxy like that of the Apexdesk.
But the downside is, you have to purchase it as an add-on. The basic desk will just include an up and down arrow button. But it looks the same as the programmable control panel, sleek and sophisticated.
Overall of the showdown
So we’re going to wrap it up here:
- Fully Jarvis has an anti-collision feature. The desk automatically stops when it comes into contact with something or someone. And the Flex series lacks this safety feature. So if you have kids, Jarvis will give you more peace of mind. But if you’re keen on buying an Apexdesk but need this feature, you can find it in the Vortex series.
- Both desks don’t have any cable management tray, you need to purchase them separately.
- Fully offers more options for customization in their website.
- For the desktop surface, both the Flex and the Fully have appealing tabletop. But if you’re asking which desk is more appealing, it’s Jarvis no doubt.
- Price-wise, the Fully Jarvis is more expensive.
- The warranty of the desk is another important factor to consider. Apexdesk only offers a 2 years warranty on the motor parts. And since there are also wobbling issues, the 2-year warranty is quite scary to risk. The Jarvis, on the other hand, offers a 7-year warranty on the electronic parts. So you have pretty much a good and longer coverage in case the motor failed.
The Flex series is no doubt more affordable than the Fully Jarvis. But the warranty period is something that is a real turnoff. You can be saving money upfront but what about the cost for repair if the motor failed after the 2 years?
It already has wobbling issues, to begin with. And it has a China-made motor. So reliability is not one of its strengths. Thus, Javis is a safer and better option.
But, then again, since the Flex series is more affordable, it can be a viable option.
