Last updated: November 24th, 2025
At first glance, the Stando Pulse looks like every other premium standing desk in Australia. If you don’t look closely enough to see the Stando logo on the controller, you could easily mistake it for an UpDown Pro, a Desky Dual or a Stand Desk.
And I would forgive you – because visually, the Pulse is almost identical.
You get a robust-looking frame and a selection of melamine, bamboo and hardwood desktops.
But the Stando Pulse differs from them all in one important way.
(Related: UpDown Standing Desk Review: Why I Love It 4 Years Later).
Quick Verdict.
Above: The Stando Pulse with an Australian-made melamine desktop by Laminex, called “Elegant Oak”.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Concealed Power System. Stando’s power cable runs inside its leg, obliterating clutter. | 69cm Minimum Height. Most standing desks go as low as 60-64cm, making them better suited for shorter users. |
| Excellent Cable Tray. Wide, long and deep, with 8 power ports. | Pricey. The fancy cable management system commands a premium. |
| Click-Together Legs. Cuts down assembly time by about 30%. | No Trial. Unlike UpDown and Stand Desk, Stando does not offer a free return option. |
Who Should Buy The Stando Pulse?
The Pulse is a desk for people who have high expectations, are slightly OCD, time-poor, impatient and allergic to fuss.
I hate that even the tidiest WFH standing desk setups always have a power cable running up a desk’s leg.
The Pulse solves the issue once and for all by hiding the cable inside one of its legs.
Brilliant.
Only one other desk in Australia – the youth-oriented Secretlab Magnus Pro has this feature.
You also get Stando’s magnificent cable management channel, with its 8 external-facing power ports, as standard.
This is indispensable for people who regularly need quick access to their desk’s power plugs.
I’ve been reviewing Australia’s best standing desks for almost 5 years, so I’ve assembled dozens of these things.
And regardless of what manufacturers tell you, assembling a standing desk is never an effortless, pleasant experience.
But click-together legs remove one of the clunkiest steps of the process.
Personally, I wish Stando had leaned more fully into the “fast assembly” vibe by delivering the desktop preassembled and prewired (e.g., like the 9am Home Dora Pro).
That said, this move would also jack up the desk’s shipping cost.
Instead, Stando caters to people who are short on time (or patience) with the option to have the desk assembled by its delivery team on arrival.
Stando’s corporate clients will likely pay this without blinking, but something in the neighbourhood of $100 would be more appropriate for retail customers.
(Related: 9am Home Atom Pro Full Review: Good, Bad & Ugly).
Speaking of fees, all the extra fruit you get on Stando Pulse costs roughly $300. Expect to part with roughly $1400 for a model with a softwood or melamine 150x75cm desktop.
Is it worth it?
Depends on your priorities and personality.
Let me sum it up for you this way:
- If you have more time than money, the Pulse’s fancy cable management tech and snazzy click-together legs are an overkill. Get the standard Stando Arena instead.
- But if you have more money than time (but feel that you’ve outgrown the gamer vibe of the Secretlab Magnus Pro), the Stando Pulse is a no-brainer.
5 Things I Love About The Stando Pulse.
The Pulse is Stando’s premium model. There’s a lot to like.
1. Concealed Power Supply.
Above: Stando Pulse’s power cable plugs in at the bottom of its left leg.
Look around your home.
Can you find a single electrical appliance with a power cable that attaches at the top of the device?
Would you buy a kettle with a power cable that runs into the lid – rather than the base?
So why do most standing desk brands insist on doing the equivalent of this by running the power to the crossbeam – rather than the leg?
I get it – this creates engineering challenges. And it’s more expensive.
I’m writing this in October of 2025, a month when SpaceX is scheduled to launch three rockets into space.
Are you telling me that we, as a humanity, haven’t yet solved the problem of running power to a standing desk?
Important!
This might initially seem like a trivial point, but it’s not. A drool-worthy WFH setup isn’t possible with messy cables.
Above: Would you buy this kettle?
And pinning the cable behind the leg (or stuffing it inside a cable management spine) isn’t exactly neat.
I love the fact that Stando took a bold stance here, putting the power supply where it belongs – at the bottom of the leg.
I predict that in five years this feature will be standard on all but the cheapest desks.
But for now, Stando is leading the charge.
Expert Tip.
Stando’s power cable design has one drawback (see below), but it’s inconsequential for 90% of people.
2. Excellent Cable Management Tray.
Above: Pulse’s cavernous cable management channel runs the entire width of the desk.
Have you ever had to unplug a peripheral, only to realise it’s plugged into a powerboard inside your cable management channel?
Locating it means pulling out a spiderweb of cables, untying zip-ties. Then stuffing it all back in.
Or you have the opposite problem – you need to add a peripheral.
But your cable management tray is full. You have no physical space left. And even if you did, you have no power sockets available.
You won’t experience either of these issues with the Stando Pulse. The desk comes standard with a huge cable tray equipped with 8 external-facing power sockets.
Expert Tip.
Desky and UpDown offer similar cable trays, but Stando edges them out slightly with a smarter unlocking mechanism.
You unlock it in one swift motion by pulling on levers at either side of the tray.
Desky and UpDown, meanwhile, opt for dual-action screws that never go in smoothly – and need to be finessed into position.
3. Click-Together Assembly.
Above: Stando Pulse’s 3-section matt powder-coated legs click into position.
Click-together legs are becoming increasingly popular on Australian standing desks.
Instead of fiddling with an allen key to drive 4-8 screws into each leg, you align the leg with its slot and press a lever.
The leg locks into position.
But does it make a difference? Yes, but it’s a minor one.
As I wrote in my review of the UpDown KLIK, attaching the legs is one of the many time-consuming steps involved in assembling a standing desk. The others are:
- Unboxing and understanding all the parts (10 minutes).
- Wiring up the cables (15 minutes).
- Attaching the controllers and tray (15 minutes).
- Disposing of the cardboard and foam (10 minutes).
Do you care that your assembly time is now 50 minutes instead of 60?
4. Flat 10-Year Warranty.
Above: The programmable controller has four memory settings, which you can switch between at a speedy 36mm/sec.
Stando is one of few standing brands to offer both generous and simple warranty.
And while some brands complicate your life by segmenting the warranty (e.g., three years on controllers, five years on desktops and ten years on frame), Stando gives you a total peace of mind with flat coverage.
5. Excellent Stability.
Above: Buyers of Stando Pulse don’t need to worry.
Wobbling is the #1 concern for Australian standing desk consumers.
Thankfully, Stando excels in this department. It wobbles very little – and on par with other premium standing desks in Australia, like UpDown and Desky.
Yes, the Pulse will wobble a little – mainly side-to-side – if you extend it to its near maximum height, but this is normal behaviour.
Even the most expensive premium desks wobble slightly when pushed to their limits.
Did You Know?
Side-to-side wobble is far less problematic than back-to-front. The latter tends to be much more likely to throw your monitor on the floor.
Above: Stando’s height controller is smart and minimalist. Narrow form function means it’s less likely to jam against your chair.
3 Things I Dislike About The Stando Pulse.
Despite its strengths, the Stando Pulse has several quirks and downsides:
1. Not For Short People.
Above: The Elegant Oak melamine desktop looks great, considering it’s not real wood.
Remember that engineering limitation I mentioned above?
One downside of running power inside the desk’s leg is that the electronics don’t allow the telescopic sections to retract fully, leaving you with an unusually tall 69cm minimum height.
Important!
For comparison, Desky Dual and Omnidesk Ascent go as low as 60cm, while the Updown Pro lowers to a more modest 64cm.
Is this an issue?
Only if you’re short.
Stando openly admits that the Pulse is a desk for people who are taller than 175cm, but in my view, they’re being quite conservative.
You could get away with using one if you’re 165cm – especially if you have long limbs.
But if in doubt, I suggest you make an effort to see a Pulse in person before buying.
Did You Know?
Stando will let you view and try the desk in its warehouses. One is in Morningside, Brisbane and the other is in Westmeadows, Melbourne.
2. High-Ish Price Point.
Above: The 150x75cm desktop is the ideal size for most Australian homes. It’s deep enough to accommodate a monitor and still leave you with plenty of room for keyboard and peripherals.
The Pulse is loaded with fruit, and that comes at a price.
The click-together legs and power management features add a ~$300-$350 premium over equivalent models.
- For example, you’ll pay $1,425 for a Pulse with a standard 1500x75cm desktop, delivered to your door.
- Meanwhile, an entry-level UpDown Pro with the same dimensions costs $1,134 and includes a basic cable tray.
- Stando’s equivalent bare-bones Arena, meanwhile, doesn’t have a cable tray, and comes in at $1,025.
Whether you splash the extra dough on the Pulse will depend on your relationship with time and money.
I can see the Pulse appealing to people for whom time is literally money. For example, freelancers, salespeople and business owners.
3. No 100-Day Trial.
Above: Stando Pulse looks smart and minimalist in a WFH setting. Especially when paired with a nice office chair (my Haworth Fern, in case you’re wondering) and peripherals.
Unfortunately, Stando decided not to offer a risk-free trial, for reasons I can understand.
It means UpDown and Stand Desk continue to lead the pack in the Australian market when it comes to offering 100-day risk-free trials.
Is a trial 100% necessary?
No.
Important!
As I’ve explained at length here, the top premium ($1,000 and above) desks in Australia are similar (because brands often share suppliers), and the standard of components is usually excellent.
Nonetheless, Reddit is full of people who spend months – often years – deliberating about the “best” standing desk to buy.
Their analysis paralysis is often caused by the fact that most standing desks in Australia are sold sight-unseen, via direct-to-consumer brands like Stando.
And for a lot of people, parting with $1,000-$1,500 on a product they’ve seen only online is a big deal.
For them, a 100-day risk-free trial serves as a mechanism to derisk their purchase.
Which is why I keep raising as an important “nice-to-have” feature.
Technical Specifications.
Key engineering facts:
| Height Range | 69-130cm |
| Motor Speed | 36mm/sec |
| Max Load | 150 kg |
| Frame Weight | 37.5 kg |
Is The Stando Pulse A Good Buy?
Is the Stando Pulse worth the money?
Yes, but it’s not a desk for everyone. It’s not for:
- Bargain-hunters who want a cheap, no-frills standing desk (if that’s you, get the Artiss).
- Young gamers who want a garish, loud statement piece (if that’s you, get the Secretlab Magnus Pro).
- People who dislike change and/or have no need for Pulse’s tech (if that’s you, get the base Desky Dual, UpDown Pro or Stando’s Arena).
Rather, it’s a desk aimed at an astute buyer who expects strong foundations and a healthy dose of innovation.
On the one hand, the Pulse embraces strong foundations that have proven to work time and time again in Australia.
On the other hand, it introduces tech that I haven’t seen in many desks.
Yes, it’s not cheap.
But people it’s aimed at won’t care.
And they’ll appreciate the peace of mind that comes with Pulse’s flat 10-year warranty.
Yes, I wish the company offered a 100-day trial, or at least an option for Sydneysiders to view the desk before buying it, but these are minor quibbles.
Steven
Cody says:
Hi,
Do you know 9am HOME standing desks?
I want to know how about their desk.
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Cody, I’ve never seen them before but I took a quick look for you and I’m 90% certain it’s another Jiecang desk. You can tell by the design of the feet and the lowest height (60cm). Desky, Omnidesk, Stand Desk are all pretty much the same.
Cody says:
Which one do you mean? Pesk or Robin series? I am interested in their Robin series, it looks unique and beautiful. I can’t find anyone like it in Desky.
Steven McConnell says:
I was talking about the Pesk Series. Robin series does look attractive and unusual, but I’m usually not a fan of tubular legs as they tend to be more prone to wobble. I can’t say whether this is the case in this instance, as I haven’t physically tested the desk myself. The 10 year warranty is reassuring, however. I wish they offered a risk-free trial to let you test out the legs!
Cody says:
Thank you very much, Steven; I will take your comments into consideration.
Erin says:
Do you know much about Kangadesks? There are Australian as well.
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Erin, its another Jiecang standing desk. Same as Desky, Omni, Stand Desk etc. The design of the feet and 60-125cm height range gives it away. The desk appears to currently be currently on sale for $299, which is an absolute steal and I’m wondering why they’re selling their stock at 1/3 of RRP. Regardless, even if they’re about to go bust, I’d still buy one at that price.
EDIT: Be careful. Fakespot showed these warnings while browsing their website: “Multiple eCommerce scam experiences detected, Poor customer service”
Suzy says:
Hi – given all the desks are so similar, is it possible to mix a desk from one brand with a drawer accessory from another? I don’t like the UpDown desk metal drawer (hangs very low so likely to impede leg space) but don’t mind the Desky one – can these be mixed and matched?
Thank you for the reviews! Super helpful.
Steven McConnell says:
Yes, it’s possible to play switcheroo. But you may want to consider that UpDown design is curved, so it will hurt less if you do jam your thighs into it. Desky’s meanwhile, is quite angular. Pro tip: you can also find a bunch of inexpensive slimline desk drawers on Amazon.
jason says:
I’ve spent far, far too much time agonising over which desk to get haha, definitely more than a week. Very happy that you’ve added the omni-desk to your catalogue. That was the one I was considering the most untill you came you with a review saying that it was more wobbly!
Anyways, do you have an opinion on the new updown desk KLIK Series? Its advertises to be significanlty ligher while having better (on paper) specs
Thanks!
Evelyn says:
Hi Steven, great blog post – thank you! I’m also wondering whether you have any opinion or insights on the new UpDown Desk KLIK series…they come at $100 more expensive (for the same size/table top) but seem to be ‘better’ according to the UpDown website.
Cheers!
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Evelyn, thanks! I will have a full review of the KLIK up around February 2025. It’s not necessarily a better standing desk – but it is lighter, less bulky and promises easier assembly.
Ben Clements says:
Hi. I’m interested to know more about whether I actually could fit the Desky cable management system in the Omnidesk? I’ve had a look at the omnidesks in person at the showroom and it looks like their cable management trays screw on (vs the clip in at the edges of the desk with the Desky tray). The desky system also has the power plugs that snap into place in the tray.
So I’m curious to know if you have you tried it, and if so how did you do it please? Or is your thinking that you’d just buy the power boards and plugs from Desky and rest them in the Omnidesk tray?
I’m stuck, because I prefer the Omnidesks but I really love the idea of a single power lead!
Thanks
Steven McConnell says:
I just had a new Omnidesk delivered to my house. Give me about two weeks to assemble it, test it out and report back.
Sunni says:
Thanks for your very helpful (and funny) review. I used the information to to buy a Desky standing desk in record time – no consumer agonising for weeks, as is my usual practice. It has a pneumatic up/down mechanism, so lets see how that goes.
Steven McConnell says:
Ha! You’re welcome, Sunni. Glad I helped you cut down on the agonising. The pneumatic mechanism is an interest choice – let me know what you think of it?
Amber says:
Hi Steven,
Really great and insightful review. It was refreshing to see something that wasn’t filled with ChatGPT affiliate link garbage!
I’m curious about your opinion on L-shaped standing desks? I know that Desky, UpDown and a few other retailers offer these types of desks and I would assume they are more strong and stable, but I’m not an expert and I can also imagine the opposite being true due to the irregular shape. I’ve been looking at these types of desks because I think their shape suits my space the best. Do you have any knowledge on this or do you only have experience with regular rectangular shaped desks?
Steven McConnell says:
Thanks, Amber. Did you know that I have a L-shaped standing desk review? Search for “arielle best corner standing desks” and you’ll find it.
Melissa says:
Hi Steven great article thank you!
I’ve spent way to much time on this, and I’m now leaning towards the Artiss thanks to your review.
I’m wondering if you have any insight into ergonomic chairs for the home office also?
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Melissa, thanks! The Artiss is a great budget pick. I’ve written numerous ergonomic chair reviews – Google “arielle best ergonomic office chairs” to find them 🙂
tania says:
hey are there any other manual desks apart from the ikea ones you don’t recommend, that you would recommend? I prefer the idea of not needing electricity to move between stand up and sit down but maybe that doesn’t really exist?
Steven McConnell says:
Hey Tania, all of the premium brands (UpDown, Desky, etc) offer a manual crank model. Definitely the way to go if you want to avoid electronics. But TBH I suggest you reconsider. Electronics are very reliable these days – and hand-cranking your standing desk is more annoying than you’d expect.
Adam says:
Hi, do you know much about the UpDown Klik vs Pro system?
Steven McConnell says:
The company has shipped their new Klik standing desk to me yesterday. Stay tuned!
Scott Long says:
You mention in your review of the Up Down Pro that you would get the cable holes and grommets done, but it looks like your (very pretty) Messmate desk doesn’t have them. Is your recommendation a hindsight reflection, or did you choose not to spoil the look of the desk with the grommets? Without the grommets can you can still run the cables behind the desk and into the cable management tray? Cheers!
Steven McConnell says:
Scott, I said in the review that grommets and holes are a great idea, not that I have them. They’re less important if your standing desk faces a wall. But if you have an open-plan style home office like mine, they’ll make your workspace look much cleaner. PS You can still run cables into the tray without the holes and grommets – the cables will simply run behind the desk.
Isaac Jenkinson says:
Hello,
Have you had a chance to try the new UpDown Lyft model? Curious about its stability vs the pro.
Steven McConnell says:
Isaac,
Not yet. On first glance, it looks like a budget alternative to the “big brothers”. It’s probably pretty good (UpDown has a reputation to maintain), but I’m of the opinion that buying cheap means you pay more in the long term. I’d save up another few hundred bucks and get the Pro. You can often get a melamine or bamboo-topped model on sale for around $900.
David says:
This is a great site and will help me decide on which desk to buy. Have you heard any good/bad reviews about the Blacklyte Atlas Lite or Ergo-Rise II from BDO furniture?
Steven McConnell says:
David, thanks for the kind words. Never heard of the Atlas Lite until you mentioned it. Looks like a decent gaming desk that borrows heavily from Secretlab Magnus – but why not just buy a real Magnus instead?
As for the Ergo-Rise – looks like a decent desk, but its height controller is outdated. The best standing desk brands have upgraded to OLED controllers.
Ben says:
Thank you for writing this review Steven; really helpful to break through the BS.
By any chance have you used or hold an opinion on Vertilift desks?
Steven McConnell says:
You’re welcome. God, I haven’t even heard of them – but thanks for the heads-up. There are too many standing desks on the Australian market. Obviously I haven’t used these in person, but I’m almost certain they’re yet another Jiecang variant (i.e., frames are identical to Desky). You can tell by the identical max and min heights, as well as the design of the foot.
Eloise says:
Hey Steven, I was recommended the Alwyn or Octavia (Living Fusion) 140cm sit and stand desks from Temple and Webster which don’t even get a mention in your review. Would you bother with any of their brands ? (I may have dodged a bullet by finding your review!)
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Louise, I haven’t had first-hand experience with the T&W standing desk (must add one to my list!).
However, I had a look through the specs for you.
It doesn’t look too bad, actually – considering the price. If you can’t stretch your budget to ~$950 for an entry-level UpDown or Desky, this could be a good option.
Jordan says:
Hi Steven, Thanks for the review! I am starting out with a home office set up and need a new chair and sit stand desk. I’m a student but I prefer to buy things I know will last, but I don’t have too much experience with sit stand desks. I initially thought to buy the Artiss but have considered buying the Acacia UpDown Pro+ so I know it lasts and I don’t have to buy another desk in a couple of years. Is it worth the price jump for me? Thanks!
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Jordan, the Artiss and the UpDown desks sell at two very different price points. If you have the budget, I suggest you stretch to the UpDown standing desk – you won’t regret it.
jason says:
I know you’ve disqualified the flexispot e7 pro so the e7 max plus would probably also be disqualified, but a quad motor 4 column desk frame at a prices competitive with UpDown desk is incredibly tempting. Plus 15 year warrenty (if the company lasts that long)
Have you had a chance to take a look? Its like half the price of the desky quad!
Steven McConnell says:
Hey Jason, great observation. I haven’t included quad standing desks here because they’ve traditionally attracted a niche consumer – someone who needs to place a tonne of gear on the desktop and doesn’t mind paying 2X the usual price. But Flexispot’s sharp pricing on their quad desk certainly changes things. I haven’t seen one in the wild yet – but the specs look promising.
Steven