Test tables are something of a subjective game. Much like office chairs, the tests are based on comfort, reliability, and ease of setup, rather than things you can test in electronics like power and battery usage. I've still rigorously tested them all and will continue to test them for longevity in the coming months.
I tested these benches by having three people try each one. Each of them used the desk for at least 16 hours and then gave me their impressions. The three men were 6 feet 1 inch tall; 5 feet, 8 inches high; and 5 feet, 4 inches tall respectively, to give me a good cross-section of the average user's height.
Upload time and package quality
Building benches can often be difficult and time consuming. For each desk, I timed how long it took to unpack and assemble, and noted whether or not the instructions were easy to follow. I followed the instructions as closely as possible so that each build was performed as if I had never built. I also thoroughly checked the packaging, to make sure that it was not damaged and that it was safe enough to carry the desk inside. Any damage was noted and pictures were sent to the manufacturers for review.
Structural integrity
Modern benches should be able to support a good amount of weight. If you're at a desk, you might just have a small laptop, but if you're using a gaming desk, there's probably two monitors and a huge gaming PC. For each desk, I checked the maximum load specification and tried to match it to the materials we actually use in our desks.
I used:
- Heavy duty tower for gaming PC
- Two 27 inch gaming monitors on a dual monitor arm
- MacBook Pro
- Two different keyboards and a variety of mice and trackpads
- Mine Oculus Quest 2
- My phone holder and USB hub
- Podcast microphone and headphones
Depending on the length and weight capacity of the desk, I mix and match these items and then check for any bowing of the top or inconsistencies in how the desk feels as I work.
It moves
This is a bit of a throwback to when my dad made furniture. Everything my father builds will be criticized by my mother, and if it doesn't pass, she'll say, “It's a bit greasy, isn't it, dear?” After I build each desk and load it up for normal use, I check it for there is sway. This means rocking it from side to side and back and forth to check that all the screws, bolts and fasteners are holding everything tight.