If you’re looking to try a sit-stand desk without investing in a full electric tabletop, look no further; the Yo-Yo Desk 90 is a fantastic split-level desk converter that will get you started on your quest to increase your time spent standing.
With this clever, 15-height standing desk converter, any desk can be transformed into a standing desk, provided it’s sturdy and large enough to house it. Luckily, it comes in three sizes; the Yo-Yo desk converter 80, 90 and 120, with the numbers correlating to the width of the surface. For this review, I tested the Yo-Yo Desk 90.
So, how does the Yo-Yo desk stand up against some of the best standing desk converters and even the best standing desks? We put it to the test.
Yo-Yo Desk 90 desk converter: Specs
Made from engineered wood with aluminium, the Yo-Yo Desk 90 desk converter is a robust unit of a standing desk converter, available in both black and white colorways.
In itself, it weighs 20kg, but it can support up to 15kg, meaning your laptop, monitor and a few other peripherals can safely stand upon its 89cm x 59cm top surface and 89cm x 32cm keyboard tray. The main worktop lifts from 15cm to 35cm high, and the keyboard from 0 – 35cm, offering a good range of height for most people – though if you’re on the taller side (and if you also want to use a standing mat) it will be a little on the low side.
For what it is and for its build quality, I’m pretty happy with the price of the Yo-Yo desk 90 desk converter. At £329.95 (£199.95 / £379.95 in its smaller and larger configurations, respectively), it’s a darn sight cheaper than a full standing desk, but of course you lose some of the height potential and electronic features. There are regular discounts, too, so watch out for those to save a little extra.
With its smooth-action gas spring, the Yo-Yo Desk 90 offers 15 adjustable heights, and allows you to swiftly and safely switch from sitting to standing in seconds using easy-press levers on each side.
Yo-Yo Desk 90 desk converter: Shipping & unboxing
Arriving in just one box, the Yo-Yo Desk 90 is impressively easy to set up – though you’ll need two people to lift its 20kg frame out of its packaging and onto a desk. Inside, you’ll find the main frame and the unattached keyboard tray, two keyboard tray brackets, eight screws and a Philips Screwdriver.
Yo-Yo Desk 90 desk converter: Assembly
Once unboxed, it’s as simple as attaching the side cap to the connecting arm, using the provided screwdriver to affix the keyboard tray brackets to the tray and then hang the tray brackets on the rotating bracket holders before tightening everything up.
Yo-Yo advertises that this takes only five minutes, and I’m sure that’s true if you know exactly what you’re doing, perhaps having installed a Yo-Yo Desk before – but for me, it took about 10 minutes.
Yo-Yo Desk 90 desk converter: First impressions
When I first saw the fully built Yo-Yo Desk 90 on my workstation, I was pretty happy with the results. Sure, it’s not exactly a looker, but it does offer plenty of real estate and impressively smooth motion. It takes a little while to get used to the controls, for some reason – it feels almost as though you really want to crank the levers, but the gas canisters do their job well of smoothly and effortlessly switching between the tabletop and standing configuration.
Yo-Yo Desk 90 desk converter: Design
The Yo-Yo Desk 90 is a split-level sit-to-stand desk, meaning it offers a keyboard and mouse tray as well as a higher surface for your monitor and any other peripherals – it supports clamp-mounted monitor arms, too – meaning you’ll have no trouble filling its 89cm x 59cm top surface and 89cm x 32cm keyboard tray.
While its overall look is very functional, it’s well thought-through; the extra depth squeezed into the keyboard tray where the frame cuts into the way the unit compresses in such a way that the keyboard doesn’t need to be repositioned every time.
There are a few drawbacks to note. A big one for me is that, especially with these mechanical controls, I’d have liked to see a cable port in the rear of the worktop to keep cables tidy and clear of the mechanisms. I also found the keyboard tray regularly falls off, becoming unhinged from its hooks as the day goes on. It’s not the end of the world if you’re only placing your keyboard and mouse on there, but I wouldn’t load it up with anything that can be spilled or broken too easily just in case.
Yo-Yo Desk 90 desk converter: Performance
The Yo-Yo Desk 90 desk converter is wonderfully easy to adjust, smoothly transitioning between its 15 height settings with minimal effort – though you’ll need to keep an eye out for loose cables that might get caught during use. It’s whisper-quiet, too, meaning it won’t disturb your colleagues.
It does wobble ever so slightly, but I could say that for many a desk I’ve worked on over the years, and of course that also comes down to the surface it’s standing upon.
Yo-Yo Desk 90 desk converter: Accessories
While Yo-Yo doesn’t offer any accessories that can be integrated into the desk, there are a number of add-ons available, from office chairs to monitor arms and other peripherals.
For more office furniture accessories, we reviewed the best standing desk mats.
Yo-Yo Desk 90 desk converter: Final verdict
If you already have a tabletop you like, or don’t want to invest in a full standing desk setup, the Yo-Yo Desk 90 desk converter is a fantastic option that will meet most people’s needs.
Granted, it’s a bulky alternative, and if you really value the feng shui of your deskspace you might find it a little too makeshift for your needs, but its range of heights, sturdy frame and smooth adjustment system work effectively. It’s a shame about the keyboard tray, and that this issue seems to be problematic for a fair few customers, but if you don’t mind the mild inconvenience of re-hooking it once or twice a day, it’s not the end of the world.
Overall, it’s a great product, and it’s a mainstay for many offices for a reason.
For more workspace essentials, we reviewed the best office chairs.
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josephine.watson@futurenet.com (Josephine Watson)
