Secretlab Magnus Pro review: standing strong

I’ve had a handful of desks in my time, however none of them fairly evaluate to the Secretlab Magnus Professional sit-stand gaming desk. Representing the subsequent technology of Secretlab’s Magnus line of gaming desks, the Magnus Professional turns every thing as much as 11, from the construct high quality to all the extra options that you just didn’t know you wanted till you’ve used them. As our Secretlab Magnus Professional evaluate will clarify, I don’t assume I might ever return to every other desk.

Over the previous few years, Secretlab has been main the way in which within the gaming setup house, with a number of revolutionary chairs, desks, and quite a few nice equipment, however the Magnus Professional is its magnum opus. After months of hands-on testing, we’ve put it among the many greatest gaming desks round. The most effective gaming PC setups have by no means appeared this good or labored so seamlessly, although it’s price digging into whether or not it’s the proper desk for you.

The Secretlab Magnus Professional is little doubt aimed toward players with its smooth design and a separate RGB lighting pack, and the ample cable administration options being certainly one of its important promoting factors. In my expertise, the Magnus Professional achieves its objective of being the perfect gaming desk, nevertheless it’s far more than that. Its seamless sit-stand performance and oodles of purchasable equipment make it good for absolutely anything you’d need a desk for, together with gaming, working, and content material creation.

Specs

Secretlab Magnus Professional specs:

Setup

From the second you even set eyes on the (huge) packages in your doorstep, you may inform that the Magnus Professional means enterprise. Despite the fact that I already knew how weighty the Magnus Professional could be, I used to be astonished by simply how hefty these packages have been. Opening them up, each element was neatly packaged in its slot, securely padded with foam.

From right here, I used to be pleasantly stunned with how straightforward the Magnus Professional was to assemble. My earlier standing desk, the IKEA Trotten, whereas undoubtedly a extra funds possibility, was a ache to assemble. Not solely have been there a number of parts, however you needed to assemble most of it from scratch, and attempting to line every thing up and match it neatly collectively was a problem.

Alternatively, the Magnus Professional largely simply requires you to connect the legs to the desktop, with the mandatory screws usually already in place, after which connect the cable administration tray. With how feature-complete the Magnus Professional is, I used to be anticipating it to be even worse than the IKEA Trotten. The one challenge I encountered when assembling the Magnus Professional was its weight. Once more, I knew it was heavy, nevertheless it was laborious to maneuver the desk throughout meeting alone. It’s doable, however I’d suggest having an additional pair of arms which, to be honest, was advised within the handbook.

Talking of the handbook, the directions have been additionally a lot clearer than many of the earlier desks I’ve owned and clearly said which device you could use for the job (all of that are included). That is important because the Magnus Professional is essentially the most technically complicated desk I’ve ever owned too, with powered risers, a full-length cable tray, and the world’s first fully-integrated energy provide column.

When you’ve had a foul expertise with constructing desks up to now, otherwise you’re apprehensive about such an costly product being broken earlier than it’s even reached but, fret not. Secretlab takes this very severely and has labored laborious to easy out all of the tough edges to get you and your new desk up and operating as quickly as doable. All in all, it took me round an hour to assemble, together with unpacking, repositioning the desk throughout sure levels of development, and powering it up.

Design

As for the design of the Secretlab Magnus Professional itself, I used to be equally impressed. The wonderful presentation of the field isn’t any trick; that is, in my opinion, essentially the most premium gaming desk available on the market.

From the hefty ft and legs as much as the tabletop, nearly every thing within the Magnus Professional is steel (we’ll come again to this in relation to equipment) and it feels extremely sturdy. This steel development will not be solely the supply of the numerous weight of the desk but in addition backs up a lot of the excessive price ticket. You received’t discover any chipboard or low cost plastic right here. The one plastic to be discovered, not less than externally, is the strong adjustable cable administration tray cowl and the interface to regulate the peak.

This sturdy design and weight comes full circle if you start to regulate the peak. Utilizing the remarkably easy motorized legs and the easy management panel, you may modify the peak of the desk with a press of a button. In contrast to different sit-stand desks, particularly my earlier IKEA Trotten, it’s not unusual for desks to wobble and judder, significantly when elevating the desktop. Clearly, with costly tools on prime like an Xbox Collection X or PS5 console, a TV/monitor, and presumably even a PC or laptop computer, precarious wobbling is the very last thing you need. Fortunately, peak adjustment is swift but easy whether or not you’re going up or down, and because of the built-in motors, you don’t want a clunky hand crank both.

I received’t dig too deep into the well being advantages of a standing desk however being able to take a seat or stand with the Magnus Professional makes a huge impact on the general expertise. Gaming or working for lengthy intervals can take its toll, and standing up affords a extra wholesome possibility. Nonetheless, generally you simply need to relax and chill out. I discovered myself steadily adjusting between sitting and standing and the Magnus Professional accommodated all of it with no trouble.

Likewise, having the ability to modify the peak with such precision shouldn’t be understated. Once I’m working with my mouse and keyboard, I like to take a seat with my desk barely raised. Alternatively, if I’m taking part in a recreation with a mouse and keyboard then I’ll decrease it barely. Equally, I can transfer the desktop up when utilizing a controller to have my arms on my lap below the desk comfortably. Most significantly, you have got full management to get it within the precise place for you, and with the flexibility to save lots of peak profiles, it’s extremely straightforward to save lots of a setup for no matter you utilize your desk for to change to on the press of a button.

In terms of the design of the desktop itself, it’s actually smooth. In contrast to most gaming desks, the Magnus Professional doesn’t scream ‘gamer’ as many desks on this area of interest usually do, with RGB lights (although there may be an RGB accent equipment), coloured accents, and extra. No, as an alternative the Magnus Professional is fairly understated. Its ft and legs are straight whereas elements of the desktop, just like the cable administration tray and lid, are subtly angled. Total, this makes it a gorgeous desk whether or not you’re gaming, working, or the rest.

Sadly, it solely is available in black. Nonetheless, that doesn’t imply there’s no room for shade, as you should buy magnetic desk mats (extra on this later) that add a novel design to the desktop. When constructing your desk bundle on the official web site, the Signature Stealth (pink) and Signature Black choices may be included at no additional value, although there’s even a Batman-themed one.

Efficiency and value

In motion, the Secretlab Magnus Professional is simply pretty much as good because it seems to be. The touch-screen management panel to regulate the peak is smooth and responsive, making changes as straightforward and precise as doable. You possibly can even pre-program three customized heights to regulate to on the push of a button. It’s extremely highly effective but exceptionally easy. Given it’s a touch-screen, it’s doable to by chance press a button and modify the peak when you’re not cautious. Fortunately, there’s an influence button to assist keep away from this.

As for the desktop itself, it’s not fairly as huge because it first appears. The general desk is kind of as deep as earlier desks I’ve owned, however the Magnus Professional encompasses a helpful cable administration tray, keep in mind? Which means that a reasonably substantial space on the again of the desk isn’t usable because of the hole. Even when you have been to put your monitor or TV right here, for instance, which wouldn’t fall into the hole, you’d then be overlaying the lid.

Whereas this tray is extremely helpful, as we’ll go into extra element quickly, it does make the desk really feel smaller because the usable house is lowered. This makes the various space-saving equipment, reminiscent of monitor arms and desk risers, a really helpful however costly addition to maintain the desktop clear. With that stated, even with out the equipment I had loads of house for a monitor, laptop computer, a console, and numerous peripherals, together with keyboard and mouse. When you’ve got twin screens or a extra elaborate setup, then the house occupied by the cable administration tray lid will little doubt turn into extra of an issue, although there’s a bigger model of the desk that does assist scale back these points.

As for the cable administration tray, though its space-hogging nature could be a little awkward at occasions, I discovered it to be a worthwhile trade-off. With the ability to merely route the ample cables of my setup neatly right into a tray not solely made my setup look a lot better, nevertheless it additionally made it much less faff. With the tray having a devoted energy outlet, which I used for an extension cable, I used to be in a position to plug in my monitor, laptop computer, Xbox, and PlayStation throughout the tray.

In contrast to my earlier hand-cranked desk, I not have to maneuver the extension cable round every time I modify the peak of the desk to keep away from tugging on the cables. Likewise, each ends of the tray have a spot that makes it easy to feed a cable in or out of the tray with out cluttering the desktop, which I make nice use of with the facility and show cables for my laptop computer because it’s not a everlasting a part of my setup. It’s exceptional how well-implemented this characteristic is and, even when you don’t have a very cable-happy setup, you’ll little doubt nonetheless discover it a helpful addition.

This chic cable administration resolution is barely the beginning, nevertheless. Whereas the tray will seemingly be sufficient for most individuals, the varied equipment you will get make the Magnus Professional actually shine. Keep in mind after we stated that the largely all-metal development had much more advantages than construct high quality? Nicely, it’s additionally magnetic. Secretlab has designed numerous equipment that seamlessly pair with the Magnus Professional via magnets. Frankly, it’s good.

We love the headphone hook which merely sticks anyplace on the desk because of the magnet performance, letting me freely modify it to the place that most accurately fits me. Likewise, the on-desk cable anchors – small, pink magnetized blocks – are wonderful for pinning cables down on the desk and bundling them collectively. I’ve used this extensively for the varied peripherals crucial for my laptop computer. You should buy a separate Magnetic Cable Administration Bundle that features three cable anchors, ten fastening straps, and two cable sheaths, which we extremely suggest for these of you with cable-cluttered setups.

As touched on earlier, Secretlab has additionally designed a intelligent magnetic desk mat, and we extremely suggest you choose one up alongside the desk. The usual steel prime is sturdy, although it’s not precisely comfy. Having a leather-based desk mat that covers the entire floor of the desk is excellent, including a comfortable layer of padding in addition to a smooth new look.

Because it’s magnetic, it’s straightforward to connect and take off if you could, and even to swap out for an additional design. As a phrase of warning, make sure that to learn the directions earlier than attempting to place the desk mat on, because it’s straightforward to have bumps (like utilizing a sticker) when you’re not placing it on appropriately, although you may at all times take it off and take a look at once more.

Maybe my favourite accent, nevertheless, is the Secretlab Magnus Professional monitor arm. Coming in a single or dual-arm setup, this accent is dear, to say the least, although it’s the most effective monitor arms I’ve used and it continues the very good cable administration theme of the desk. Hooked up between the again of the desk and the cable tray lid, its smooth design suits with the desk and is superb for saving house in your desk, particularly as every arm options room for routing cables.

As talked about, the usable desktop house isn’t fairly as huge as you’d count on, so the monitor arm helps to alleviate this challenge whereas additionally letting you modify your monitor to the proper place for you. What struck me most is simply how easy this arm is. You possibly can simply transfer your monitor to get the proper place with out wrestling with the arm, although it’s sturdy sufficient to not fall, drop, or sag as different monitor arms do.

Paired with this, the brand new laptop computer mount attachment is equally very good. Attaching to the monitor arm simply as a monitor would, this stand enables you to simply place your laptop computer. Since I’m usually gaming or working with my laptop computer as a second display, this mount has been a lifesaver as I can increase my laptop computer and transfer it into in any other case unattainable positions.

Whereas the Secretlab Magnus Professional desk is superb as commonplace, these equipment kick it up a notch, with many profiting from the ingenious magnetized nature of the desk. Given the impression these equipment can have in your setup, as the twin monitor arm and laptop computer mount did for me, it’s a disgrace that they’re as costly as they’re. Fortunately, as a result of these being further equipment that aren’t bundled with the desk as some opponents do, the equipment can at all times be bought later down the road. With how seamless the magnetic ecosystem is and the way straightforward to put in equipment just like the monitor arms are, it’s no trouble. Consider it extra as an funding, as selecting up the desk and its equipment will shortly see the worth spiral.

In consequence, the Magnus Professional and its XL variant are nigh unmatched in relation to premium sit-to-stand gaming desks, with distinctive flexibility, high quality, and room to decorate. When you’re available in the market for a brand new desk and might afford to splash out, I’d level you in the direction of the Magnus Professional. Nonetheless, it’s laborious to suggest it to a large viewers merely due to the worth and the way impactful the equipment are. Is it well worth the value? Sure, it’s a exceptional bundle. However that doesn’t clear up the difficulty, sadly.

Value & availability

The Secretlab Magnus Professional is available in two sizes, commonplace, and XL, with costs starting at $799 (£729) and $949 (£829) respectively on the official Secretlab web site. From right here, you will get the Signature sequence MagPad desk mat bundle without cost, with the opposite variations costing full value. Then, you should buy further equipment, reminiscent of numerous cable administration bundles, monitor arms and PC mounts, MagRGB sensible lighting, and extra.

Must you purchase it?

• Sure: you’re available in the market for a top-of-the-range sit-stand desk for gaming, working, or content material creation
• No: you need an affordable desk or one with out all of the bells and whistles

On the finish of the day, the deciding issue would be the massive price ticket that comes with the Secretlab Magnus Professional, significantly when you’re eyeing up some equipment. It’s undoubtedly a high-quality product that justifies a excessive value, reminiscent of with an nearly absolutely steel development, premium supplies, and invaluable options, however not everyone seems to be prepared to fork out for such a product regardless of how good it’s. Nonetheless, when you can afford to splash out on a premium desk, the Magnus Professional is made with players and creators in thoughts and in addition makes for a stellar streaming setup or workstation.

Options

If the Secretlab Magnus Professional isn’t for you:

Some nice options to the Secretlab Magnus Professional embody the Cooler Grasp GD160 ARGB, a equally flashy motorized sit-to-stand desk, and the FlexiSpot E8, a extra elegant sit-to-stand desk. Each are extra inexpensive choices than the Magnus Professional and are equally prime quality from respected producers, although neither fairly beat out Secretlab’s providing, largely as a result of chic cable administration and room to decorate.