Which of the following describes a benefit of using double-acting cylinders?

Double-acting cylinders are designed to provide force in both directions, which is their primary advantage. This means that they can extend and retract by using air pressure on both sides of the piston, allowing for a more efficient and powerful operation in applications where movement in both directions is required.

When considering the other options, it is important to note that while double-acting cylinders do offer certain efficiencies, they are generally not lighter than single-acting cylinders, might require more maintenance due to the complexity of having seals on both sides of the piston, and they do not inherently operate at lower pressures compared to single-acting cylinders. Therefore, the unique capability of double-acting cylinders to generate equal force in both directions stands out as their significant benefit.