Head-to-head · Best Ergonomic Laptop Stands

Rain Design mStand Laptop Stand vs Twelve South Curve for MacBooks and Laptops

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Twelve South Curve for MacBooks and Laptops comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.6 vs 4.5). Twelve South Curve for MacBooks and Laptops is best for: MacBook users seeking a raised, ergonomic screen height. Read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #3 in Best Ergonomic Laptop Stands

Rain Design mStand Laptop Stand

4.5

3 sourcesall derived$40as of Oct 17

The Rain Design mStand is a fixed, one-piece aluminium laptop stand that lifts the screen to about 6 in off the desk and has a cable slot at the back. TechGearLab named it the best overall laptop stand in its group test, praising its solid build, rubber grips and cable management, and found it relatively stable for typing given its design. WIRED called it rock-solid and one of the most stable stands its writer has tried, while Tools and Toys reported the rubber pads were still intact after two years of use. It suits people who keep a laptop at one desk with an external keyboard; anyone who needs to change the height or pack a stand into a bag should look at an adjustable, folding model instead.

Strengths

— Machined from a single solid piece of forged aluminium, with no joints or moving parts
— Wide 7.5 x 10 in base makes it one of the steadier stands WIRED has tried
— Rear slot routes charging and display cables out of sight

Watch-outs

— Fixed height and angle: there is no way to adjust it
— Does not fold, so it is a poor choice for carrying between workplaces
— Works best with a separate keyboard and mouse or trackpad

$40 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Ergonomic Laptop Stands

Twelve South Curve for MacBooks and Laptops

4.6

2 sourcesall derived$59.95as of Oct 11

The Twelve South Curve is an aluminium arc that lifts a MacBook to a higher viewing angle, which is the whole point of it: the screen comes up toward eye level and the neck stops bending down to meet it. Podfeet rated it well, giving it an A+ for ergonomics. The constraint is fit — it is built for 10- to 16-inch laptops, and it is a stand rather than a docking solution. Desk-bound Mac users building an ergonomic setup are the buyers.

Strengths

— Elevates MacBook to optimal viewing angle for reduced neck strain; Podfeet found it put the screen exactly at eye level
— Sturdy aluminum construction with premium feel, and Podfeet found it not very bouncy
— Compatible with 10- to 16-inch laptops, including MacBooks

Watch-outs

— May not fit all laptop cases or accessories

$59.95 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

Rain Design mStand Laptop Stand

The mStand is a fixed, one-piece aluminium riser, whereas the Roost V3 is a folding stand designed to be carried for travel. TechGearLab measured the mStand at 10 1/4 x 10 x 6 in in use and found the Roost it tested slightly more wobbly for typing. Buyers who need adjustable height or a stand that packs into a bag will find the Roost V3 or BESIGN LS03 a closer fit.

Twelve South Curve for MacBooks and Laptops

The Twelve South Curve for MacBooks and Laptops is a fixed one-piece aluminum stand, like the BESIGN LS03 Aluminum Laptop Stand, and at 1.2 lb it weighs about the same. It fits 10- to 16-inch laptops where the BESIGN is rated to 15.6 inches, and it costs considerably more. It has no height adjustment, where the Roost V3 Laptop Stand has seven levels and the JOYEKY Laptop Stand for Desk adjusts in height and angle.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Rain Design mStand Laptop Stand	Twelve South Curve for MacBooks and Laptops
Material	Solid forged aluminium	Aluminum
In-Use Dimensions	10.25 x 10 x 6 in	—
Base Footprint	7.5 x 10 in	—
Adjustable	No	—
Foldable	No	—
Cable Management	Rear cable slot	—
Colour	Silver	—
Compatible Devices	MacBooks, laptops	—
Color	—	Silver
Weight	—	1.2 lb
Laptop Compatibility	—	10-16 inch laptops
Adjustment Type	—	None (fixed one-piece stand)

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