iMovR Lander Lite Standing Desk Review

Lander Desk – The Sequel

We are not alone in our opinion that the Lander is the finest standing desk made today. Several other publications like USAToday’s Reviewed.com and ThinkComputers ranked the Lander the best desk they’ve ever tested.

Among a long list of firsts, the Lander was the first and is still the only standing desk that arrives factory pre-assembled, coming together in just minutes after unboxing, with no tools required. All other standing desks (with the exception of this newer Lander Lite) can still be fairly described as “IKEA projects” in contrast.

A made-in-USA desk with extraordinary stability, strength, and technological prowess — such as its Bluetooth-enabled height control paddle with a smartphone app, advanced anti-collision detection, and iMovR’s signature Surf(x) 3D-laminated surfaces — the Lander took the market by storm and redefined the premium standing-desk category overnight.

That is all great, if you’ve got the coin and you’re looking for the very best of the best in a standing desk, but what about those who aren’t in a position to lay out upwards of a thousand dollars, yet still yearn for the technological and aesthetic sophistication, ease of assembly and American-made quality of the Lander Desk?

If the original Lander was the Tesla Model S, the new Lander Lite is everyman’s Tesla Model 3. It’s still cool, cutting edge technology, but at a much more affordable price point making it accessible to a broader audience.

In this review, we’ll first take a deep dive into the differences between the original Lander and the new Lite model, and see how the features, quality and overall value compare between the two.

Same Lander Desk DNA, Just ‘Lighter’

As the name implies, the Lander Lite shares all its technological roots with the original model, just to a lesser magnitude. Everything about the Lite is indeed lighter, including its lift capacity, desktop thickness, the center of gravity (lighter feet), and, of course, price tag. Let’s break it down:

The Underframe

The Lander Lite’s state-of-the-art, precision-engineered, Linak lifting columns are robotically manufactured in the same Kentucky factory as those on the Lander, but are powered to lift only 225 pounds instead of 360 pounds. That’s still plenty of brawn for the vast majority of users, who don’t have more than the usual complement of desktop computer equipment or a thick natural hickory desktop to elevate.

While the Lander only comes in a “dual-stage” (3-segment leg) configuration, the Lite also comes in a more budget-friendly “single-stage” (2-segment leg) version — for users who are of middling height and not concerned with the extreme minimum and maximum height reaches. The dual-stage legs will give you a reach of 24-50”, the single-stage legs shorten that range to 27.35-47.5” (top included), but cost $75 less.

The Lander Lite can be raised up an additional 6” with iMovR’s leg extension kit, particularly helpful for those users who might add an office treadmill in the future. Attaching these extensions to the dual-stage Lander Lite will endow it with an astounding 30-56″ height-adjustment range.

Most dual-motor standing desks utilize a controller box that sits under the desktop, to which the motors and user handset are connected. For cost savings, the Lander Lite has the controller integrated into the “master” leg, driving its own motor at the same time as one in the “slave” leg. If you  plan on converting your desk to a 3-legged L-desk at some point in the future, you’ll want to buy the original Lander desk instead.

Otherwise, the lifting columns used in the Lander Lite are just as impressively fast (1.6 inches-per-second) and just as impressively quiet as the heavier-duty original. While the frame brackets and crossbar are the same on both desks, the legs are positioned in a “T-leg” configuration on the Lander Lite, whereas the original desk is configured with a cantilevered “C-leg.” This makes sense given the overall “lightness” of the Lander Lite which uses feet that weigh a quarter of the original Lander’s and thus support less weight. As we discuss in detail in our primer on What Makes Some Standing Desks Shakier than Others?, the more weight you’re going to lift, the more you’re going to want a C-leg configuration to minimize side-loading on lifting columns since most users distribute equipment weight on the back half of their desktops (PCs, monitors, printers, etc.).

The final difference in the bases is the Lander is available in black, silver and white, while the Lander Lite, is only offered in black and silver save for large orders. Between the base options, desktop colors and desktop size options, the Lander Lite still comes in a mind-boggling 1,248 unique combinations that you can personalize to fit any office space. For bulk orders, iMovR does offer a near-infinite number of custom colors for both the bases and the tops, in case you want to have all your employees’ desks match the official company colors. They can even robotically etch your company’s logo into the desktops before lamination.

The Desktop Options

Like all iMovR Desks, the original Lander and the new Lander Lite are completely customizable with a vast array of size and color choices, then produced on-demand (“Dell style”) and shipped out within one week of order. The ergo-contoured, 3D laminated surfaces give the desk the look of natural hardwood and are hermetically sealed — even through the grommet holes — ensuring it will look great and perform great for years. Go ahead and spill your coffee into the grommet hole — unlike almost every other desktop you can buy, this won’t destroy the wood core of the top. The Lander Lite comes in the same 24 standard 3D-laminate colors as iMovR’s other desk and table products. (Worth noting that we’ve left one of iMovR’s 3D laminated tops outside our lab in Seattle’s winter rain and summer sun for three years, and it still hasn’t shown any signs of water damage, warping or discoloration!)

Recently, iMovR added the option of solid wood tops with 38 stunning species and stain combinations to their Lander Desk offering. It doesn’t get any finer in the standing desk arena than these new natural wood tops, precision hand-crafted in Michigan from regionally-grown sustainable forests in a seven-step process using environmentally responsible, honest materials.

We’re excited to see that the “lighter” real wood options on the Lander Lite are significantly more affordable than the full-thickness tops offered with the original, again making this premium option more affordable for people. These are categorically the highest-quality, most beautiful desktops we’ve seen yet from any standing-desk maker. Though, one draw back with the Lite is being unable to get the desktop with iMovR’s patented, built-in SteadyType Ergonomic Keyboard Tray as it requires the thicker Select top.

The significant differences between iMovR’s unique desktop offerings and the commodity HPL (high-pressure laminates) used by most other desk makers are something we’ve long written about, and well worth a scan for the discriminating buyer. For a deeper dive on how desktops for standing desks are made, check out our primers on The Ultimate Guide to Desk Top Materials for Standing Desks and Comparing All Real Wood Standing Desk Options.

As for desktop sizes, the Lander Lite can be found in lengths from 41″ up to a maximum length of 71″ in six inch increments, and 30” deep. iMovR offers their Jaxson Compact for those seeking a 24”-deep solution.

These 3D laminate and other high-quality desktops can also be purchased separately if you want to get your ideal parts for a DIY desk project or just want to upgrade your current desk’s surface. Take a look at all the best standalone desktops we have reviewed for all you need to know about different kinds of desk surfaces and materials.

The Height Control Paddle

The entire Lander line utilizes Linak gesture handsets, which are different from the button-style touchpads you’ll commonly find on standing desks. These handsets have iPhone-esque ease of use. Just tap the paddle up or down to get the desk to move in that direction. It’ll automatically stop at the next pre-programmed height preference.

Most anything you can do through the recessed buttons on the paddle, you can also do through the downloadable smartphone app. Though the handset on the Lite is a little smaller and has fewer hardware features than the one on the original Lander, most of them are still available to you if you use your smartphone to control your desk.

The Lander Lite offers two programmable height memory presets, just enough for storing your “sit” and “stand” heights. For desks that are going to be shared between multiple users, Lite encourages users to store their settings on the synchronized app. Thus, whenever they step up to the desk and sync up to it over Bluetooth, the desk will automatically re-acquire their personalized settings.

As with its Lander parent, the Lite offers the built-in health coach which reminds you to stand at intervals via push notifications to your smartphone. There are no readouts for desk height or coach signals on the Lite’s height paddle.

(A recent study showed users with a health-coach-equipped standing desk increased their standing time by 117 percent.)

Factory Pre-Assembly

The Lander is still the only desk that you can put together in three minutes with absolutely no tools. And the Lander Lite is the same with one exception: Because pre-assembling the feet to the legs requires a much larger box and therefore more embedded shipping costs, by passing on the cost savings, the Lander Lite leaves this assembly step for the customer to perform. Using the supplied Allen wrench it takes a few extra minutes to attach the feet to the legs, inserting a total of eight small bolts. It’s the only part of assembly that requires a tool.

Watch the assembly video below to see what the rest of the steps are like. The height adjustment paddle is factory installed, but you can always move it to the other side of your desk if you prefer given the pre-drilled holes (also has holes for optional Trackless Ergonomic Keyboard Tray.)

Like all iMovR desks, both the Lander and Lander Lite are made-to-order and ship out of Grand Rapids, Michigan within one week.

Part of the premium desk experience, is the extraordinary quality of packaging that iMovR uses to decrease the chance of damage in transit. There’s nothing more disappointing than waiting for your desk to arrive only to find it was busted en route, then doubling the time waiting for a replacement. iMovR ships most of their desks by freight, not parcel, to minimize this common problem when buying standing desks online.

ANSI/BIFMA Certified

Government and large enterprise customers often require ANSI/BIFMA X5.5-2014 Certification on any ergonomic desks that they buy, which is what keeps the “Grand Rapids Mafia” (Steelcase, Herman Miller, et al) in a lock on 40 percent of office furniture sold. iMovR is one of only two standing desk manufacturers that sell online, as opposed to going through contract-furniture dealers, that offer BIFMA-certified products, now that the Lander and Lander Lite desks have both earned their certifications.

The fancy term “contract furniture” just means that the product has been tested at an independent laboratory to the industry’s standard for durability, reliability, stability and safety. In other words, large enterprise buyers can be assured that their BIFMA certified furniture is built to last, not fall apart quickly like many desk products that are sold online. Learn more about this subject in our primer on What is ANSI/BIFMA and How Does it Relate to Standing Desks?

To see what goes into a typical ANSI/BIFMA X5.5 certification test take a look at the independent laboratory’s report on the Lander Lite desk.

How to Choose Between the Original Lander and the new Lander Lite

If you’ve got the money and you just want the very best, there’s no question the Lander is the king of the active office workstations. It’s got more power, weight and stability for larger loads and larger-sized desks, including L-shaped desks. The original Lander is still the go-to model for treadmill desks where the enhanced stability, larger desk sizes (for sit-stand-walk side-by-side workstations) and the option of built-in SteadyType® makes it a no-brainer. Prices start $250 higher than the Lander Lite.

On the other hand, if you want the sexy technology, exceptional made-in-USA quality and reliability, ease of installation and 15-year warranty, but are on a tighter budget, the Lander Lite does well. iMovR expects it to be far more popular than its flagship original Lander desk. Prices start at $799 for the smallest Lander Lite desk. For more information on warranties, be sure to read our primer on How to Compare Warranties on Standing Desks.

Both the Lander and Lander Lite are now ANSI/BIFMA certified to the X5.5-2014 standard. The Lander Lite is also compliant with ANSI/BIFMA G1 Ergonomic Recommendations, which as we explain in our ANSI/BIFMA Primer is soon to be replaced.

This table sums up the differences between the two:

How the Lander Lite Compares to iMovR’s Jaxson Line

The Lander Lite fits neatly in between iMovR’s more budget-oriented Jaxson Desk and the original Lander desk. Whereas the Lander Lite is 100% made in the USA, the Jaxson features a European-made lifting base. While the Jaxson features the world’s first brushless motor design, which is theoretically more reliable than any conventional brushed motor linear actuator, the robotically-manufactured, all-American Linak componentry of the Lander series is still the best in the world, bar none, and is significantly quieter. While the Jaxson competes very keenly against Chinese-made standing desks, the Lander Lite fits in the premium/luxury tier along with the Lander and its many variants.

The rapid assembly of the Lander Lite is a super simple affair (about 8 minutes, after unpacking the box), not requiring breaking out the toolbox, whereas assembling the Jaxson requires an electric screwdriver to get the job done (in about 13 minutes). Both quality as “quick install standing desks.”

While the Lander Lite is available in both 3D-laminate and solid wood, the Jaxson is only available in 3D-laminate. And that makes sense given its more budget-friendly positioning. That said, the Jaxson line offer both “thin” (0.75″) and “select” (1.125″) thicknesses in its 3D-laminate options, whereas the Lander Lite only comes in the thinner profile (to stand apart from the more traditional-looking “select” Lander tops).

It should also be noted that the Lander Lite is iMovR’s platform for their Baltic line of designer desks, including the Captain’s Desk and Ensign’s Desk.

How the Lander Lite Compares to other non-iMovR Standing Desks

To really dig into this question we refer you to our complete roundup of Electric Standing Desk Reviews. There’s clearly a clumping of budget-sensitive standing desks in the $400-$700, within which iMovR’s Energize desk is the only product that isn’t made in China. And of course there’s a bevy of overpriced standing desks from the contract furniture giants like Steelcase and Herman Miller that are a bit yesteryear in technology.

When it comes to premium standing desks that you can actually buy online there are only a few, and you’ll find them listed in our roundup of Top American-Made Standing Desk Reviews. The Humanscale Float Table and UpDesk Commercial Grade desks are in this tier but just not very popular anymore.

This mid-tier territory between Asian-made commodity desks and contract furniture has really been the segment of the market that has been dominated by iMovR for the past few years. Candidly, it’s hard to compare sub-$700 standing desks made in China to any of the iMovR models without considering the differences between American-made and Asian-import standing desks.

One thing that makes it hard to compare the Lander and Lander Lite to other desks, is every other brand requires significant installation effort, usually contracted out which delays the date employees can actually start working at their new stand-up desks. With iMovR’s business model, that’s usually two-three weeks from order, including custom quoting, production, delivery and installation, as compared to the typical 16-24 week cycle with contract furniture.

Bottom Line

The new Lander Lite fills a gaping hole in the market today. It offers premium, American-made quality and advanced technology at a price slightly higher than the Chinese-sourced standing desk you’ll most commonly find online.

For that reason, we believe the Lander Lite to become even more popular than the original Lander desk. It offers home office buyers a broad array of size and color selections and ease-of-installation for an affordable price. With ANSI/BIFMA X5.5 certification the consumer can rest assured that the product is built to contract furniture industry standards for performance, durability and reliability.

See how all the Lander variations stack up against other Quick-Install Standing Desks.

Configure and price a Lander Lite with 3D-Laminated Top or Lander Lite with Solid Wood Top at iMovR.com.

Completing Your Ergonomic Workstation

Acquiring the best standing desk for your decor, budget and performance requirements is step one. Making it a true ergonomic workstation involves adding the appropriate accessories you’ll need to keep your body in a correct posture, and have a neat and tidy set-up. Check out our comprehensive guides to monitor arms, keyboard trays, anti-fatigue mats, ergonomic seats, cable management kits, power management modules, foot rests and under-desk treadmills for both expert advice and lab-tested product reviews of options in each of these categories.

If you like the idea of designer ergonomic furniture like this in your office, check out our collection of reviews for specially made standing desks from professional furniture designers.

Frequently Bought Together With
Standing Desks