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.
Full review
A single block of aluminium that stays put
TechGearLab describes the mStand as anodised aluminium made from a single, solid piece of forged metal, and in its stability tests found it relatively stable for typing considering that it lifts the whole laptop off the desk; the Roost Laptop Stand it tested alongside was only slightly more wobbly. WIRED reached a similar view, calling the mStand rock-solid and pointing to its wide 7.5 x 10 in base as the reason it is one of the most stable stands the reviewer has used. Tools and Toys adds that the weight of the aluminium keeps it stationary, so it is not pushed around the desk in daily use.
Cable slot, rubber pads and room underneath
The design is deliberately simple. TechGearLab notes a 2 in circular slot at the back for routing cables and rubberised pads that stop the laptop sliding around, and says the space underneath is a handy place to stash loose desk items. WIRED uses that gap to tuck away a keyboard and mouse when they are not needed. Tools and Toys found the cable holder kept its desk far tidier, said a raindrop-shaped cut-out in the platform combines with the raised padding to let the laptop cool, and reported that the thick rubber pads had not peeled away after two years of use with a MacBook Pro.
One height, one angle, no folding
The trade-off for that rigidity is that nothing moves. Tools and Toys points out that the fixed angle and height are the only position available, because the stand is a single piece of aluminium with no means of adjustment, and that it is best paired with an external keyboard and mouse or trackpad, although the reviewer did find comfortable positions without them. TechGearLab lists the lack of adjustment as its only reason to avoid the stand and warns that, because it cannot fold down to a smaller size, it is not the right pick for anyone who travels with a laptop or wants to tune the height.
Simple design for a fixed desk
TechGearLab considered the mStand's price on the higher side for a stand of this style, yet still made it its top pick for people who want a sturdy, sleek laptop stand without extra features. WIRED prefers Rain Design's stands to Twelve South's, describing them as slightly less expensive with a wider choice of styles and colours, and expects them to outlast the laptop sitting on them. For a desk set-up with a separate keyboard, where the stand will never be moved or adjusted, its reviews find it does the basic job well.
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
- +Rubber pads hold the laptop in place and were still stuck down after two years
- +Open space underneath stores a keyboard and mouse when they are not in use
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
How it compares
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.
Rating sources
Our 4.5 score is the average of these published ratings. Ratings marked * were derived from the reviewer’s written analysis or video transcript — the publisher didn’t print an explicit numeric score, so we inferred one from their own words. Click through to verify. More about methodology.
