Roost Laptop Stand vs Nexstand — Laptop Stands Comparison & Review
It’s been a few years now since Roost become popular as an ergonomic laptop stand. The product is especially favored among those who work remotely or travel often.
Thanks to its small size, low weight, and accurate dimensions to comfortably fit most laptops, Roost Laptop Stand — which debuted in 2013 as an American project on Kickstarter — very quickly gained recognition among digital nomads. Soon afterward, equivalent products to Roost began to appear on the market, and currently, the most competitive solution is a Chinese product called Nexstand.
Roost and Nexstand on the Road
I’ve had the opportunity to use both products and to test them in various working conditions, especially when on the road. Regardless of which stand you choose, I really hope you leave the idea of working on your laptop without any additional tool that supports your posture behind. These products are simple to use and benefit your health in numerous ways.
Comparing Roost and Nexstand
SIZE
Both Roost Laptop Stand and Nexstand are small in size. Also, they are both portable, which makes it easy to commute with them (to the office, café, or while traveling). Also, you don’t need a large table or desk to work comfortably — no matter which model you choose. And, they don’t take up much space when folded or unfolded. Although Nexstand is bigger, and it is a bit more massive compared to Roost, I personally don’t consider this difference to be significant. However, if you care about having the smallest possible laptop stand, in both folded and ready to work positions, then Roost definitely meets these needs.
ROOST:
Size (folded): 3.3 x 3 x 33 cm | 1.3 x 1.3 x 13 in
NEXSTAND:
Size (folded): 3.81 x 3.81 x 35.6 cm | 1.5 x 1.5 x 14 in
WEIGHT
As with size, both laptop stands don’t weigh much, however, Nexstand (~8 oz) is a little bit heavier than Roost (~6 oz). Their light weight is one of the main reasons why both stands attract people who look for compact tools while on the road. Both Roost and Nexstand are almost unnoticed in the bag or backpack. In addition, both have an aesthetic and functional cover. Regardless of whether I’m commuting from home to a coffee shop, going to a coworking space, or flying from one place to another, both laptop stands easily fit into my bag or hand-luggage.
HEIGHT
When it comes to height, Nexstand definitely wins, as it is not only taller than Roost but also has a greater number of height adjustment rings. For me personally, this functionality doesn’t matter much because I use Nexstand at the same height I use Roost at. However, if you care about the greater number of the height levels, then Nexstand would be the best choice.
STABILITY
Above all, it’s worth saying that both brands allow you to work super comfortably. No matter where you work on your laptop, using the Roost or Nexstand stand allows you to maintain the same posture as when working with an external screen. In both cases, your posture is much more ergonomic, and the solutions are stable enough to hold the laptop in one position in neutral conditions without moving the stand.
On the other hand, I’d say Roost Laptop Stand is much more stable than Nexstand when we’re actually testing out this function. By grabbing the laptop stand and tilting it to the left and right sides, it turns out that Roost grips the laptop regardless of the angle of inclination. Nexstand is a little bit less stable, and sometimes, the laptop does slide off the stand. Just remember that I specifically tested the stands by tilting them, which no one normally does when working. This means it is likely that you can comfortably use either solution without experiencing any stability problems.
MATERIAL AND QUALITY
For me, the material used for making the product is one of the biggest features that distinguishes the laptop stands from each other. The creators of Roost definitely win here, offering better quality materials, rubberized handles, and a slim design. All this affects the quality and comfort of use — in the first impression, in touch, and during stability tests. Nexstand is made of plastic-like materials, and you can tell the quality when feeling, using, and looking at the stand.
PRICE
Roost:
+/- 80USD — click to check current prices on Amazon
Nexstand:
+/- 35USD — click to check current listings on Amazon
Roost vs. Nexstand — summary
For me, both Roost Laptop Stand and Nexstand are great solutions to help you when working on a laptop as well as for people who are traveling or working at home. If you are looking for portable, cost-effective, and satisfying solutions for an ergonomic workstation setup, then consider one or both of these products. They both guarantee comfortability when working on a laptop and supports upright, healthy posture. This is the most important function to consider, as no matter which laptop stand you choose, the same goal is achieved. Thinking about proper, long-term sitting posture, I’m happy using both brands.
At the same time, Nexstand is a little bit worst in terms of quality but offers more possibilities of height adjustments, and it is also more affordable.
Working with two solutions on a regular basis I don’t really bother which one I use. Both Roost and Nexstand allow to maintain a correct sitting posture at the desk and simply feel better when working at home and in any other place without access to a large, external screen. Maintaining a proper posture is crucial when working sporadically or daily on the laptop and allows you to protect your back, neck and well-being in general. It’s definitely worth to have it within reach regardless of the brand you choose.
See Roost Laptop Stand and Nexstand on Amazon
