Ergotron LX vs BenQ Ergo Arm vs AmazonBasics: Which Monitor Arm Should You Actually Buy?

Verdicts here are built from published testing, real owner reports and spec sheets, not our own hands-on use. See how we judge →

The homepage badge card already tells you where these three land: Ergotron LX and BenQ Ergo Arm both earn a Buy, the AmazonBasics arm gets a Skip. Here is the full head-to-head so you can see exactly why, not just the verdict.

The three at a glance

Ergotron LX vs BenQ Ergo Arm: the real choice

Both are a Buy, so this is the comparison that actually matters. The LX is the track record pick: gas spring, 75 degree tilt, 360 degree rotation, and years of Wirecutter coverage behind it. The BenQ Ergo Arm has one thing the LX does not: a reinforcement plate under the clamp that protects your desk from indentation, plus a wider capacity range (4.4 to 44 lbs versus the LX topping out at 22 lbs).

Buy the BenQ if your monitor is heavier than 22 lbs, or premium enough (5K, OLED, or similar) that the desk-protecting plate matters to you. Buy the LX if you want the arm with the longest public track record and do not need the extra weight ceiling.

Why the AmazonBasics arm is a Skip, not a budget pick

At ~$28 it looks like the obvious budget move next to a $150-220 arm, but owner reviews describe a simple, non-articulated pole design that feels shaky in use, and shipping-damage complaints show up often enough to be a pattern rather than bad luck. That is a real reliability problem, not just a features gap. If budget is the priority, our best-of guide covers the VIVO Single Mount instead, a genuinely different product at a similar price point.

The one-line verdict

Heavier or premium monitor: BenQ Ergo Arm. Standard monitor and you want the most-documented safe choice: Ergotron LX. Tight budget: skip AmazonBasics and get the VIVO instead. Not sure which weight class you are in? Start with our buying guide.