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Humanscale Monitor Arm Review | A Sleek, Modern, and Compact Design

The Humanscale Monitor arm line is designed to match the speed and flexibility required in a modern ergonomic workstation.

Key Takeaways

  • Humanscale's ergonomic monitor arms enable instant personalization of the workspace for improved comfort, health, and productivity.
  • Users are encouraged to align the monitor at the correct height for them, which helps prevent eye and neck strain
  • When paired with M/Connect™ — Humanscale's revolutionary docking station — they are even more conducive to collaborative and hot-desking environments.
  • Humanscale monitor arms are ultra-sleek, exceptionally durable, and easy to adjust.

Humanscale: The Brand

Since its introduction, Humanscale Designer Studio has gained popularity because of its ergonomic products aimed to provide comfort to the users, thereby improving the comfort, health and productivity of the workspace.

Based in New York, the Humanscale Design Studio seems to follow the principle of “less is more.” Speaking of aesthetics and effortless functionality, its furniture edges over others in the market. Their products, which have received over 200 prestigious awards for their iconic innovations, are like statement pieces that exude elegance and modern minimalism, adding grace and elegance to your office space.

They also boast a heavy-duty construction that ensures a secure fit on your standing desk. They can also support a range of monitor weights and sizes.

So, should you consider Humanscale monitor arms the next time you look for a monitor arm? This article will look at the Humanscale M2.1 Monitor Arm line and why you should consider it.

Humanscale M2.1 Adjustable Monitor Arm

The Humanscale M2.1 Adjustable Monitor Arm is an excellent pick if you wish to enhance your comfort in your workspace. It's an improvement of the Humanscale M2 monitor arm, and it's compatible with any workstation.

Whether your office has a sit/ stand desk, the monitor arm gives you ultimate stability and helps enhance your comfort as you work. Therefore, you can work for longer hours and boost your productivity.

Additionally, the monitor arm is available in various colors, including white and silver with gray trim. You can choose the color that matches your monitor and other items on your desk.

Adjustable Monitor Arm

Humanscale M2.1 Monitor Arm Features and Specifications

The Humanscale M2.1 monitor arm line features and specifications are listed below:

  • It comes with a cable management system that ensures the power cable and other cable clutter are neatly concealed inside. The cable clutter free desk space makes your ergonomic workstation neat and organized
  • The cable management system also eliminates distractions from your workstation. You can concentrate more on your tasks
  • The monitor arm is highly adjustable and offers a range of dimensional movements allowing you to enjoy a comfortable workstation
  • The monitor arm also allows you to adjust the height with the metal spring technology, which enhances comfort tremendously. You can adjust the height to your eye level to enable you to work while sitting or standing
  • If you are working on a fixed height desk, the monitor arm enables you to adjust the monitor's height to a comfortable position. It enables you to reduce strain on your neck and back, enabling you to work for longer hours
  • Elevating the monitor from the desk also saves you a lot of valuable desk space. You can use the space to carry out other tasks or put other accessories that initially didn't have space
  • The Humanscale M2.1 monitor arm line is compatible with sit/stand workstations and traditional desks. Therefore, you don't have to undergo the expense of changing your desk when you buy the monitor arm
  • You'll also have an easy time with the monitor installation. It comes with a user manual with instructions on how to carry out the process.
  • The monitor arm also offers the versatility of installation options. You can use the clamp mount of the bolt-through mount option. The clamp mount method is an excellent choice if you want to mount a monitor without holes in your desk.
  • The compensator mechanism and self-lubrication precision bearings also make it easy to mount the monitor.
  • The Humanscale M2.1 monitor arm can support monitors of varying weight up to 15.5lbs. It's ideal for lighter monitors.
  • The high-quality body construction makes the monitor arm durable
  • It comes with quick-release joints that instantly snap together for a robust fit

Pros:

  • Easy installation process and a user guide to help in the process
  • Sturdy construction makes it durable
  • Ergonomic design offers a comfortable work position
  • Sleek and elegant design adds class and beauty to your workstation
  • Elevating the monitors leaves you with so much more room on your desk that you can use for other purposes

Cons:

  • It's not ideal for heavier monitors due to its weight capacity
  • It may not be the best choice if you have two monitors you want to use simultaneously
closeup of monitor arm

Special Features in the Humanscale Monitor Arms

Monitor arms from Humanscale Design Studio come with unique features that distinguish them from other monitor arms in the market. Some of the features include:

Counterbalance Indicator

The Humanscale monitor arms' counterbalance indicator feature makes it possible to balance your monitor weight before installation. The feature helps to minimize costly PC monitor set-ups.

Quick Release Joints

Humanscale's monitor arms also boast of the quick-release joints feature. The feature enables the various joints to snap together, quickly allowing for a secure fit. Thus, you'll enjoy an easy installation of your monitor arm.

Accessories

You may find more accessories coming with your Humanscale monitor arm than you may find from other brands.

For instance, the monitor arms come with a wire hanger that you can use to rest your headset.

Optional Bases

The optional bases are the other notable feature that you can get on the Humanscale monitor arms.

The M/Power and M/Connect 2 are alternatives to the edge mount, grommet-mount, and other power management modules.

M/FLEX FOR M2.1 M8.1 AND M10: Multi-Monitor Arm & Support

M/Flex for M2.1 M8.1 and M10 is Living Product Certified, meeting the most rigorous sustainable manufacturing criteria to date. This means that M/Flex for M2.1 M8.1 and M10 is climate, water and energy positive. With a mission to instantly create a healthier world, over 60% of Humanscale products are certified net positive.

Smart Stop

With the smart stop feature, you can customize the rotation of the monitor arm to protect the wall behind your monitors from damage. It also ensures your monitors don't get to a co-worker's monitor's back.

Compensator Mechanism and Self-Lubricating Precision Bearings

The Humanscale Design Studio arms boast high-quality, ultimate stability, and durable metal springs that make it easy to adjust the height to a comfortable position, making it a secure and robust fit for any workstation.

Enhanced comfort reduces strain on the neck and spine column, which helps avoid other health issues and boosts your productivity.

Rubber Channels

The rubber channels feature it possible to hide your cable clutter, resulting in a neat and organized workspace.

Weight Capacity

These monitor arms can support monitors up to 5 – 15.5 lbs. Among all the monitor arms offered by Humanscale, M2.1 is by far the lightest. Unlike M8.1 and M10, it is built with less weight capacity. However, this isn’t much of an issue because most offices have lightweight monitors for work. 

Humanscale monitor arm

Is a Humanscale Monitor Arm Worth it?

If you want to improve the aesthetics of your workstation, this monitor arm is a perfect pick. The monitor arm will instantly create you a comfortable environment, allowing you to work for extended periods enhancing your productivity.

So, why is a monitor arm essential?

Here are some of the reasons you may require a monitor arm:

  • A Humanscale monitor is versatile. It allows you to elevate your monitor to your eye level, allowing you to work while sitting or standing.
  • Besides adjusting the height, they also allow you to switch between portrait and landscape modes. The feature enables you to multitask
  • The M2.1 M8.1 and M10 Humanscale monitor arms also come with a feature that makes your desks free from cable clutter. The feature helps you to eliminate desktop cables, resulting in a neat and organized ergonomic workstation.
  • You can use the free space to keep other stuff, such as your coffee cup or pictures of your family.
  • Looking down on your monitor in a fixed position can cause strain on your neck, back, and eyes. A Humanscale monitor arm allows you to adjust the height and angle of your monitor to achieve a healthy posture.
  • With a healthy posture, you shouldn't have to look up or down on your monitor, helping you to avoid shoulder and back pains.
  • Most monitor arms from Humanscale, like M2.1 M8.1 and M10, come with a sleek and elegant design. Therefore, a monitor arm from Humanscale design studio adds some class and beauty to your ergonomic workstation.
  • The monitor arms also offer an easy installation. You can easily mount it on your desk using the clamp mount or bolt through options. They also come with instructions to help simplify the installation process.
  • M2.1 M8.1 and M10 are available in various colors so you can choose your favorite and the one that matches other stuff on your desk.

Are Dual Monitor Arms Worth it?

If you want to upgrade your monitor arm game, a dual monitor arm is an excellent alternative.

two monitors mount

A dual monitor arm is a worthy investment due to various reasons, including:

  • If you have two monitors in your workstation, you can have challenges setting them up on your desk. A dual monitor arm helps you to set up the monitor with much ease.
  • Most dual monitor arms are VESA compatible. The VESA plates on most modern monitors will help you fix the monitors on the monitor arms, making them secure.
  • Dual monitors allow you to adjust the height to your most optimal ergonomic position. Therefore, you can access your monitors while sitting or standing, enhancing your comfort, health and productivity.
  • Dual monitor arms are also space-efficient. Instead of the monitor sitting on the desk, the monitor arm allows you to elevate it and leave you with lots of valuable space on your desk.
  • A dual monitor stand or a triple monitor stand makes it easy to multitask. You can put the monitors side by side for enhanced comparison
  • You can also set the monitors in portrait or landscape modes to help you multitask

Conclusion

Humanscale monitor arms are popular due to their versatility, flexibility, and ergonomic design. They also offer unique features that you may not get in other brands that enhance the monitor arms' effortless functionality. If you are looking for a monitor arm, the Humanscale M2.1 monitor arm is a perfect pick. It's an improvement from its previous model, and it offers enhanced functionality and style. 

FAQs

1. Are monitor arms better than stands?

In general, a monitor stand is usually a good choice if you have plenty of desk space and you don't need to move the monitor around often, or if you work more with a laptop. If desk space is limited, or if you often share the screen with colleagues to discuss work, a monitor arm is obviously a better option.

2. Do monitor arms damage your desk?

If you have a very thin desktop, say 10 mm or less, a monitor arm may not be suitable. Check the weight distribution when the monitor is mounted. Again, if the desktop isn't sturdy enough, you risk damage. Most commercial grade office furniture desktops of 24 mm thickness will be fine.

3. Can monitor arms fall?

If you exceed the weight limit for the arm, there is a good chance you will notice your monitors slowly drop. If they are held up by a gas cylinder, exceeding the weight limit could also damage the cylinder, shortening the lifespace of the arm.

4. Can all monitors be mounted on a monitor arm?

The simple answer is generally yes, most monitors can be mounted on a monitor arm. Monitors come with the standard VESA hole pattern of 75 x 75 mm or 100 x 100 mm on the back of the monitor for attaching to a monitor arm.

About Dusan Stanar

I'm the founder of VSS Monitoring. I have been both writing and working in technology in a number of roles for dozens of years and wanted to bring my experience online to make it publicly available. Visit https://www.vssmonitoring.com/about-us/ to read more about myself and the rest of the team.

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