A high quality video display arm is without doubt one of the best possible upgrades you’ll make to your own home place of work setup. Now not handiest do video display palms come up with much more choices to transport and place your show/s round your table, however in addition they unencumber area in your table floor, leaving it open for different use. Plus, they assist your setup glance sharp, too.
There is just one catch: the cost. Maximum video display palms value purchasing are with regards to $200, and heavy-duty palms are even pricier. It’s necessary to shop for the proper video display arm the primary time so that you’re left feeling like you were given your cash’s value. To that finish I put a number of fashionable video display palms via their paces. Under you’ll discover a checklist I’ve curated, highlighting the winners and people who stood out probably the most.
Additional studying: See our roundups of the best monitors and best home office monitors for show suggestions.
Ergotron LX – Perfect video display arm
The Ergotron LX is a strong, sensible video display arm that may care for maximum displays. It’s simple to arrange, simple to make use of, and (when bought in its white or polished aluminum colorway) horny.
Ergotron positions the LX as an entry-level video display arm, however the corporate’s definition of “access point” exceeds maximum competition. The arm is essentially produced from steel, with some plastic cladding, and will strengthen displays that weigh as much as 25 kilos. Ergotron recommends sticking to displays 34 inches huge or smaller. The video display arm is sponsored through a 10-year guaranty.
The arm has a wholesome vary of adjustment that incorporates 13 inches of raise, 75 levels of tilt, 360 levels of rotation, and 360 levels of pan (or swivel). Whilst now not as clean because the Herman Miller Flo, I used to be in a position to regulate the video display arm left, proper, ahead, and again with out status.
Setup is modest. The video display has an integrated clamp and grommet mount. Set up is most commonly treated with a bundled Allen wrench, although you’ll nonetheless want a Philips head screwdriver to glue your video display to the VESA mount. Most householders will be capable of set up smaller displays (24 to 27 inches) on my own, however assist is advisable for greater presentations.
Ergotron additionally avoids any critical flaws. I’ve a couple of nitpicks, positive. I feel the clamp may well be smaller. The white colorway doesn’t have a colour coordinated VESA mount. And the arm’s total design seems a little commercial. Nonetheless, this can be a bomb-proof mount, and it’s to be had below $200.
Herman Miller Flo – Perfect upscale video display arm
Need a video display arm that will get the process achieved and appears excellent doing it? The Herman Miller Flo is for you.
The Flo’s design units it except the pack. Herman Miller ditches the angular, commercial design of many competition for a clean, herbal glance. Whilst obviously designed for a company place of work, it additionally suits in with a house place of work setup, the place its pleasant, approachable glance is helping it mix in with its environment. The Flo is sponsored through a 12-year guaranty and gives 24/7 customer support.
It’s simple to arrange and use. The video display’s clamp works in a similar way to different video display palms I examined, but it surely’s extra delicate and calls for fewer screws (a grommet could also be to be had). The VESA mount could also be very good, offering a easy clip design that’s protected and will also be simply pre-mounted to a video display for easy set up. The best way this mount works comprises displays that experience a rather recessed mount place, which might motive issues for different video display palms.
The video display’s vary of adjustment isn’t a lot other from different high-end video display palms. It provides 13.3 inches of vertical adjustment, 80 levels of tilt, and 360 levels of swivel and rotation. That’s necessarily similar to the more economical Ergotron LX. The Flo’s operation is smoother, alternatively: I discovered I may regulate a video display’s peak with an insignificant nudge.
Strangely, the Flo has a indexed weight restrict of 20 kilos and recommends use with displays weighing a minimum of 7 kilos. Maximum displays have compatibility inside this vary, however some heavier fashions received’t be appropriate with the Flo.
Herman Miller lists the Flo at $295, which is so much to invite for a single-monitor arm. The Ergotron LX provides an identical options at a far cheaper price. On the other hand, the Flo is a smoother, extra interesting video display arm, and definitely worth the improve if you wish to have shape together with your serve as.
Ergotron HX – Perfect heavy-duty video display arm
It’s herbal, given the one slight distinction in title, to suppose the Ergotron HX is simply an uprated model of the Ergotron LX. That’s now not the case. That is a wholly other video display arm which pairs its larger capability with advanced construct high quality and a extra skilled glance.
First, let’s communicate weight. The Ergotron HX is rated to carry displays that weigh as much as 42 kilos and display sizes as much as 49 inches. That’s an awfully excessive weight restrict—I haven’t reviewed a unmarried video display in 2023 that exceeds it. I hooked up each a 32-inch widescreen and 38-inch ultrawide video display, which weighed kind of 15 and 20 kilos, respectively, and the HX simply treated each.
The usage of plastic is minimum and reserved for small parts of cladding that seem used just for cable routing. The arm’s transferring portions come with greater, sturdier mechanisms, and felt extraordinarily clean in my use. Ergotron backs the arm with a 10-year guaranty.
The displays vary of adjustment is a little restricted in comparison to the LX. It provides 11.5 inches of peak, 75 levels of tilt, 180 levels of swivel, and 360 levels of rotation. On the other hand, a rather extra restricted peak adjustment is standard on this class because of the dimensions of displays those stands are anticipated to hold.
The video display arm’s spectacular design additionally supplies a extra tough glance. This can be a con for some, alternatively, because the arm can appear a little…a lot in a house place of work setup. It’s a pricey arm, as smartly. Be expecting to pay about $350.
The Ergotron HX is an evident selection if you wish to mount an ultrawide, super-ultrawide, or massive layout widescreen video display in your table.
Workstream through Monoprice – Perfect finances video display arm
The Workstream through Monoprice unmarried video display arm is a no-frills answer that delivers elementary video display arm options at an exceptionally low value.
The video display arm has an all-metal development that during many ways feels sturdier than the Ergotron LX, because the Workstream doesn’t come with as a lot plastic cladding. It’s now not fully a win, although, because the plastic that exists feels frail (and I even broke a small, although unnoticeable, bit whilst adjusting the video display).
It supplies a excellent vary of adjustment, with 13.2 inches of peak and 90 levels of tilt, swivel, and rotation. The arm’s peak and tilt adjustment are similar to others in this checklist, however it may’t swivel in a complete circle, which might turn out demanding in the event you continuously transfer a video display arm to proportion your display with colleagues.
The Workstream’s narrow finances is felt in its tricky setup and stiff operation. Customers will want to set up a number of screws for a clamp or gromet mount. Extra screws might want to be adjusted as soon as the arm is in position, as its default rigidity proved insufficient for supporting a 32-inch video display.
Monoprice lists the video display as in a position to supporting 20 kilos, however I felt the 32-inch video display (which weighed 15 kilos) was once pushing the Workstream to its limits. Monoprice additionally skimps at the guaranty, providing only one 12 months of protection.
Those flaws are simply excused through the Workstream’s $60 price ticket. It’s obviously much less succesful, much less horny, and tougher to make use of than Ergotron’s LX, but it surely provides a excellent vary of adjustment and sturdy development for not up to part the cost. It’s a really perfect selection for customers on a decent finances, in addition to those that plan to put in a small, mild 24-inch or 27-inch video display.
Ergotron LX Twin Track Arm – Perfect twin video display arm
Two displays are at all times higher than one, and the similar is going for video display palms. It’s no marvel, then, that Ergotron’s LX Aspect-by-Aspect ranks as our best possible twin video display arm. The Ergotron LX Aspect-by-Aspect pairs two LX video display palms in combination on one mount. The glance, really feel, and specs of each and every arm are with regards to its standalone sibling.
Track measurement is one exception: Whilst the usual LX is rated for displays as much as 34 inches, the Aspect-by-Aspect’s arm is handiest rated for displays as much as 27 inches. The video display palms aren’t lengthy sufficient to suit two 32-inch or 34-inch displays side-by-side. Vertical preparations also are supported, although provided that one of the most two displays is small (not up to 23 inches diagonal).
Feel and appear is differently very similar to the usual Ergotron LX, and that’s why the twin video display arm additionally earns a advice. The twin-monitor arm supplies the similar successful stability of construct high quality, adjustability, and clean operation, and it’s sponsored through the similar 10-year guaranty. Pricing is a little upper at $330, which is a slight financial savings in comparison to shopping for two LX palms personally.
Workstream through Monoprice Twin Track Arm – Perfect finances twin video display arm
The similar common sense that applies to our favourite twin video display arm additionally to the finances fashion, giving Monoprice’s Workstream Twin Track Arm a transparent trail to victory.
If truth be told, the twin arm’s pricing is much more spectacular. The Workstream Twin Track is 4 occasions more economical than the Ergotron LX Aspect-by-Aspect. I’m a little stunned through the standard Monoprice can be offering at a $100 value level. Ergotron’s choice is extra horny and more straightforward to make use of, however is it 4 occasions higher? That’s a tricky name.
The Workstream’s downsides are similar to same old fashion. Construct high quality is spectacular for the cost, however the arm is hard to arrange and now not as clean in operation. I’m additionally in doubt the arm is in a position to dealing with two 20-pound displays, as its spec sheets declare. Thankfully, 27-inch displays (the biggest this arm can care for side-by-side) most often weigh not up to 10 kilos, so weight capability shouldn’t be a topic.
What to search for in a video display arm
Buying a video display arm is a little other from buying maximum house place of work equipment. A video display arm, not like a video display, is a hefty, sturdy piece of apparatus that by no means in reality is going out of date. It will have to additionally strengthen the precise purposes you wish to have out of the field, since upgrades and customization have a tendency to be restricted.
Adjustability and vary of movement
The variability of adjustability and movement a video display arm can be offering is a vital however regularly lost sight of function. A video display arm will have to regulate for peak, tilt, swivel, and pivot—and it will have to achieve this with out gear.
The entire video display palms we suggest meet this same old, however some variations stay. Just a few video display palms supply 360 levels of swivel, which means the neck of the video display arm will also be turned around to any place. That’s to hand in case your table is in the course of your room since you’ll use the video display from quite a lot of positions.
Maximum reasonably priced video display palms ditch adjustability and stick to easy rigidity mechanisms which can be secured through a screw. It’s reasonably priced however fixes the video display’s place in position as soon as it’s adjusted. We advise warding off mounts that use this technique.
Ease of set up and adjustment
Not one of the video display palms examined have been tricky to put in, however the distinction between finances and top class fashions was once transparent. Funds fashions require extra screws to put in, and the default rigidity of the arm’s adjustment mechanism is much less prone to be appropriate out-of-the-box.
The benefit of adjustment varies very much, too. The entire video display palms we surveyed require an Allen wrench to regulate rigidity (which is vital if the arm turns out too stiff or unfastened), however some have been a lot more tricky than others. The Herman Miller Flo felt clean and easy, whilst the Workstream through Monoprice required critical torque.
Cable control
Correct cable control is necessary in the event you worth a blank, clutter-free table.
That is one side of design that didn’t reinforce with pricing. The Herman Miller Flo’s cable control was once elementary, whilst the Workstream through Monoprice concealed cables smartly. This did include a trade-off, although, because the Flo’s appeared least prone to motive cables to bind whilst transferring the video display.
Whilst cable control comes in handy, not one of the video display palms I examined can care for the entire supplement of cables that may well be hooked up to a high-end USB-C video display (just like the Dell U3223QE). That is a facet of video display arm design that producers may reinforce.
Most supported measurement and weight
It’s necessary to shop for a video display arm that may care for the video display you personal.
This received’t be a significant worry in the event you personal a 24-inch or 27-inch video display, as maximum such displays weigh 10 kilos or much less. With that mentioned, it’s sensible to double-check the video display’s weight prior to purchasing a video display arm. Take note the video display’s weight can exclude its stand. Higher 32-inch, 34-inch, and 49-inch displays are tougher to care for and might require an improve to a “heavy responsibility” video display arm.
Track measurement limits will have to be revered as smartly. It may well be imaginable to glue a 40-inch video display to an arm intended for a 32-inch video display. The 40-inch video display can even come inside the arm’s weight restrict. A bigger video display will distribute weight in a different way, alternatively, which might motive an arm’s rigidity mechanism to fail.
How we take a look at video display palms
Each and every video display arm we suggest was once in my view examined first-hand at a PC Global contributor’s house or the PC Global place of work. We read about the standard, ease of set up, and vary of adjustment of each and every arm to ensure it meets the producer’s claims. The displays we use to check palms can range over the years, however typically come with a minimum of one 27-inch and one 32-inch widescreen video display. Track palms rated for “heavy responsibility” use have been examined with a minimum of one video display that weighs 20 kilos or extra.
FAQ
Is a video display arm value it?
Whether or not a video display arm is value the cost is subjective, however we consider our advisable video display palms are value making the funding. A video display arm is more straightforward to make use of than a stand, lets in a much wider vary of adjustment, and helps to keep your table transparent of muddle. They’re additionally sturdy—there’s a superb opportunity you’ll substitute a video display prior to the video display arm.
Are video display palms appropriate with my video display?
Just about all displays, and just about all video display palms, use the VESA mounting same old. The 100x100mm bolt development is through a ways the commonest, although 75x75mm is now and again used as a substitute. The entire video display palms we suggest strengthen each bolt patterns.
Now not positive that your video display helps VESA? Test the rear of the video display. The VESA mount will also be discovered within the middle of the video display, and the bolt development will also be verified with a ruler or tape measure. That is most likely underneath the neck of your video display’s stand when you have one hooked up.
It’s imaginable to mount a video display that lacks a VESA mount, however you’ll want to acquire a VESA adapter. It’s a big, X-shaped tool that clamps to the rear of the video display.
Are video display palms appropriate with my table?
Maximum video display palms be offering two mounting choices: clamp and gromet.
A clamp mount is the commonest for house place of work use. A U-shaped clamp suits over an fringe of your table. A screw mechanism is used to protected it. Maximum clamps are adjusted through hand and have compatibility a variety of desks. It’s necessary to double-check a video display arm’s specs in case your table is greater than an inch thick, as some clamp mounts are too small to paintings with a thick table floor. The clamp additionally calls for an edge that’s freed from obstructions on each the highest and backside of the table.
Grommet mounts insert into the round cut-outs discovered on many desks constructed and bought for company workplaces. A grommet mount could also be a type of clamp, however measurement of the mechanism is other, and the mount attaches the video display to the internal of the table as an alternative of an external edge.
Just about all video display palms send with a clamp and grommet mount, however grommet mounts are much less commonplace. It’s sensible to double-check {that a} grommet mount is supported if that’s how you intend to mount the video display arm.
Will a video display arm injury my table?
It’s imaginable {that a} video display arm’s clamp mount, if used, will motive minor injury for your table. It’ll scratch the table’s floor when fastened or got rid of, and over-torquing the clamp would possibly motive a dent on some softer desks, similar to the ones which use a veneer over particleboard. A pitcher table too can turn out tough—seek advice from the table’s producer to verify it’s secure to make use of a video display arm.
Do video display palms wobble?
A high quality video display arm will tame minimum video display wobble, although some would possibly come via if the arm is fastened to a skinny, mild table. You should definitely mount the video display arm to a protected floor and regulate the arm’s rigidity to a degree appropriate for the video display you’ve fastened.
Will have to I purchase a $25 video display arm on Amazon?
A video display arm’s price ticket can intimidate finances customers. Maximum finances displays promote for $200 or much less. Spending every other $150 to $300 for a video display arm can appear arduous to justify.
Nonetheless, we inspire customers to steer clear of reasonable video display palms discovered on Amazon and different shops. The least pricey video display palms lack a dynamic rigidity mechanism, like a gasoline piston or spring. A couple of palms within the $35 to $50 vary use a gasoline piston, but it surely’s regularly a wimpy instance slightly enough for containing a 27-inch video display.
Affordable video display palms additionally lean extra closely on plastic. That’s now not essentially an issue out-of-the-box, however plastic has a tendency to develop into brittle over the years, which might cut back the lifespan of a video display arm.
