Solid and practical, I trust this monitor arm to support my $1,300 gaming monitor and free up desk space

Like most humans, I assume, I am cursed by the confines of the laws of physics, and as such my desk is not infinite in size. Limited by a finite surface, how could I not lament the valuable real estate stolen by my monitor's stand?

I'm being dramatic, but like many, my solution to this problem was a monitor arm, which frees up desk space and allows more range and adjustability for your monitor. My first choice was the HUANUO HNSS7, a single monitor arm with a gas-powered spring and a sturdy construction. It's on the pricier side for a single monitor mount, but the trade-off is improved reliability and flexibility.

There are more refined or capable options, but this monitor arm has already served me well. I trust it to hold a $1,300 OLED gaming monitor, after all, a task I'd hardly trust to any cheap monitor arm I could pull off Amazon. In the weeks since I've set up this monitor arm, my 32-inch monitor has been perfectly balanced.

HUANUO HNSS7 review: Pricing and specifications

My monitor is now much more flexible thanks to this mount. (Image credit: Windows Central | Zachary Boddy)

Pricing highlights

The HUANUO HNSS7 Single Monitor Arm retails for $99.99, but is usually available for $89.99. That price gets you the gas-powered monitor arm with the VESA-standard mount, a USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1 extender cable, and both C-clamp and grommet mounts.

The HNSS7 Single Monitor Arm isn't exactly what I'd describe as "premium," but it's certainly not the most affordable arm mount (even in HUANUO's own product lineup).

This is a sturdier monitor arm with a gas-powered spring and a greater range of monitor support and flexibility and the cheapest monitor arms you'll find, and in its category feels well-priced.

With support for monitors (including ultrawide) displays up to 35-inches and 26.4lbs, the HNSS7 is well-equipped to support the monitors that most people use. I'm reviewing the ASUS ROG Swift OLED (PG32UCDM), which is 32-inches and weighs 13.3lbs — well below the maximum. You're not going to strap a TV to this monitor arm, but the support is good, and you have a solid range of flexibility with adjusting tilt, swivel, rotation, and height.

In the box, you'll find the HUANUO Single Monitor Arm Mount (HNSS7) with a USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1 to USB Type-A extender cable (for the USB port in the base of the monitor arm), a C-clamp mount and grommet mount, and the mounting plate that supports two VESA mount standards.

HUANUO HNSS7 review: The good

It's a rather industrial design, but it's practical and reliable. (Image credit: Windows Central | Zachary Boddy)

The pros highlights

This monitor arm boasts great overall build quality, feeling like it'll withstand years of use. There's also a good deal of flexibility with this arm, both in which monitors it supports and how much you can adjust it. I appreciate including an optional USB port in the base, too, especially for people who may prefer to keep their monitor high up.

The most important aspect of any monitor arm is how well it supports your monitor, and in that case, the HUANUO HNSS7 has been exemplary. The gas-powered spring inside the upper half of the monitor arm can be easily manually adjusted for a wide range of monitor sizes and weights, and in the weeks since I set up my monitor it has remained perfectly balanced.

There's a good degree of height, swivel, tilt, and rotation adjustability, and once I set my preferences the monitor arm hasn't shifted even a single millimeter. That adjustability also gives you a lot of flexibility in how you set up your desk, and as long as you pay attention to the various ways you can move the monitor arm you won't have to move your desk or other parts of your setup at all. The HNSS7 supports two VESA mounting standards, too, so most monitors within the weight limit will work without fuss.

Balance and adjustability aside, this monitor arm feels very durable in its construction, and the C-clamp mount I used for my desk feels perfectly stable and secure even with the crossbar supporting my desk surface. For those who want a more permanent fixture, there's also a grommet mount included in the box.

I appreciate that the HNSS7 monitor arm includes an optional USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1 port in its base, with a cable that runs up the monitor arm to your monitor's data ports. This way, no matter how you have your monitor positioned, you'll have at least one of its USB hub ports in easy reach. Overall, the HNSS7 nails all the fundamentals for a monitor arm once it's set up.

HUANUO HNSS7 review: The bad

I wish the cable management solution was better — the included cable track inside the arm is essentially useless. (Image credit: Windows Central | Zachary Boddy)

The cons highlights

Initially setting up and finetuning this monitor arm can be frustrating at first. This also isn't the most elegant or attractive monitor arm, which may make a difference if you value your setup's aesthetics.

Monitor arms aren't terribly complex accessories for your office or gaming setup, so I didn't have a lot of positive things to say about the HUANUO HNSS7.

Fortunately, I have even less negative. This monitor arm can be finicky and frustrating when you're first setting it up and fine-tuning it to your monitor, especially with HUANUO's less-than-stellar English language translations and some of the more awkward parts of its design.

That awkwardness extends to how the monitor arm looks, too. In general, the HNSS7 doesn't feel very refined, even if its fundamentals are outstanding. It's a very reliable and practical monitor arm, but it's not going to be the missing piece for your custom, highly themed setup. There are more elegant solutions if you're willing to pay a little more.

HUANUO HNSS7 review: Final thoughts

I particularly enjoy the swivel and height adjustability. (Image credit: Windows Central | Zachary Boddy)

You should buy this if ...

✅You want a more adjustable, gas-powered monitor arm

The cheapest monitor arms and mounts offer limited adjustability, while the HNSS7 and other more premium options rely on gas-powered internal springs to give you dynamic, balanced adjustability across a wide range of motion. The HNSS7 definitely accomplishes this.

✅You want a monitor arm with diverse mounting options

The HNSS7 monitor arm includes two ways to mount it to your desk in the box and supports the two most common VESA monitor mounting standards, giving you plenty of options to both set it up and install your monitor. The mount works well with monitors that don't include its own VESA mounting plate, too.

You should not buy this if ...

❌You want more than simple practicality

The HUANUO HNSS7 embodies "function over form" with a highly practical design that offers convenience without luxury. This is far from the most affordable monitor arm, but it is among the more capable. If you also want it to look great among your other premium products, though, you'll probably need to spend more.

What I sought was to reclaim the precious desk space under my monitor to make room for new additions like the BlueAnt Soundblade soundbar, and also to give me more control over my monitor's positioning.

The HUANUO Single Monitor Arm Mount (HNSS7) fulfilled that role diligently and without complaint. The installation process may have been mildly exasperating and the HNSS7 may not quite aesthetically fit in with the rest of my accessories and peripherals, but I'll trust this monitor arm with any monitor that may cross my desk.

It's practical and possesses the perfect mixture of features and capabilities considering its pricing within the market, and while form-motivated buyers may want to spend more and feature-adverse savers may want to spend less, this gas-powered monitor arm strikes a solid middle ground. The HUANUO HNSS7 monitor arm can be had for $89.99-99.99 at Amazon, depending on the current pricing, and earns a simple recommendation from Windows Central.