No matter the console you use or the games you play, everyone still looks for that one fantastic feature; the ideal Gaming workspace: gaming Desk and chair. For gaming desks, the Secretlab Magnus Pro is hands down one of the best on the market right now.

I've spent considerable time with it, and I'll tell you all about it in the detailed review below. But before I dive deep to show you what the fuss is all about, here is a brief rundown highlighting the desk's main features, pros, and the few areas where it falls short.

Secretlab Magnus Pro: A Quick Overview

First and foremost, the sit-stand desk has a unique design with an ingenious power strip housed within the desk leg. Now, I'm not a heavy gamer, but the single-power solution caters to both the desk's motorised functions and all my gaming equipment with no issues whatsoever. Combined with its integrated control panel and magnetic cable management, the desk offers an organised and clutter-free environment for an immersive game experience that is truly refreshing.

When making an online purchase, Secretlab Magnus Pro offers two variants, a large (150 x 70 cm) and an extra-large desk (177 x 80 cm), labeled as the Secretlab Magnus Pro XL. I have the large variant, and one of the first things you'll notice before even opening the desk is its weight. The large variant weighs about 57 kg, while the Pro XL weighs around 68 kg. But both desks give you a maximum distributed load capacity of 120 kg, which is plenty for most setups.

Beyond its primary functions, the desk offers ambient lighting (a collaboration with Nanoleaf), subtly enhancing the overall gaming ambience. But what genuinely elevates the Magnus Pro is its sit-to-stand capability. Recognising our evolving workspace demands, where work and leisure often intertwine, this feature offers both ergonomic comfort and a touch of health-conscious design.

But every product has room for improvement. The Magnus Pro, despite its impressive offerings, had some challenges. First, the actual usable depth of the desk differs from the advertised dimensions, which can potentially affect less spacious setups—I didn't have a problem with this. Moreover, if you're a streamer, finding mounting equipment can be cumbersome due to the back panel design. Finally, while the desk offers commendable features, its pricing, especially when adding optional extras, can be quite an investment.

While the short review above is great for those who want to make up their minds quickly, I highly recommend reading my detailed review for each of its features to make a more informed decision.

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Secretlab Magnus Pro: An In-Depth Review

In this section, I’ve shared my detailed take on each of the sit-stand gaming desk's features and how it might impact your gameplay. Let’s see if the Magnus Pro is where your gaming rig should call home:

Best Bits of the Magnus Pro

Here is what I liked about this gaming desk:

Thoughtful Design

Transitioning from its predecessor, the updated two-leg structure feels far more streamlined than the older MAGNUS's four legs. This change improves the aesthetic appeal and enhances the desk's practicality—to be honest, I haven't seen a sit-stand desk with a four-leg structure in a long while; they almost feel outdated.

The real game-changer, though, pun intended, is the singular power cable for both the desk's motorised legs and your gaming arsenal, thanks to an innovative power strip in the desk leg. Likewise, you’ll never have to worry about kicking loose cords behind the desk thanks to the company's magnetic cable management sheath and the 'one cable powers all' technology. I’ll talk more about it later.

The desk also includes safety features like anti-collision detection. In the midst of adjusting heights, I've had the peace of mind of knowing my furry mate, gaming chair, or wandering kids wouldn't accidentally find themselves in a desk mishap. There's also the PC mount, a seamless solution for suspending the PC beneath, which resonates with sturdiness. Even with regular desk adjustments, my PC remained unmoved, standing firm in its spot.

Intuitive Controls

Another feature distinguishing the Secretlab Magnus Pro and Pro XL from most of the other height-adjustable and sit-to-stand desks is its super-intuitive and easy-to-use control panel. Secretlab integrated the touch-controls into the edge of the desk, complete with a display, manual adjustments, three presets, and an on/off button, as opposed to a separate box hanging off the bottom.

The switch functions to avoid accidental adjustments when moving around in your setup and turn off the controller's illumination, which is super nifty. I should add that three height presets fall a little short of the four I was accustomed to with the UpDown Pro Desk. The only thing is, it's not a dedicated gaming desk, so you'll miss the gaming ambience of the Magnus Pro.

Nifty Cable Management

Let’s talk more about the cable management of this desk - which, in my opinion, is very outstanding. I have very few gaming devices in addition to my gaming PC, so all my cords fit neatly in the compartment underneath the desk with space to spare.

There's also an extension cable that can be plugged in to receive power to the cable management compartment after the desk's own power input, which is located at the base of one of the legs and neatly conceals the connection between the desk and the main power outlet.

This is really helpful and a genius way to guarantee that all wires are kept in their designated locations and aren't left hanging around the store.

Ambient Lighting

Secretlab's MAGRGB light strip, which was developed in collaboration with Nanoleaf, is exquisitely diffused and fits precisely beneath the back lip of the Magnus Pro. For hardcore gamers, I cannot stress enough the immersiveness of the ambient lighting, especially if you combine it with other RGB gaming chairs or PCs in your workspace.

I had to download the Nanoleaf app to explore the feature. But once downloaded, connecting the strip to your phone is simple. It also comes with an in-line remote that you can put on the edge of your desk.

Flexibility in Function

At first, the sit-to-stand feature had me asking, "What's the point?" Since most people enjoy or play games while seated. Yet, following 2020, with the remote work trend showing no signs of slowing down, it's clear our desks have taken on a dual role – for both work and entertainment.

With Secretlab's sit-stand gaming desk, you're no longer just glued to your screen while seated. The desk can easily adjust to a standing height, even allowing for a stroll if you fancy. Imagine teaming it with an under-desk treadmill – you're on to a winner, and I'm not just playing around.

That said, only team up your sit-stand gaming desk with an under-desk treadmill if you're using it for light work or gaming. Combining the two at either extreme could lead to injuries if you're not fully focused.

Room for Improvement

The Magnus Pro, while brilliantly ergonomic, does throw in a few curveballs that potential buyers should be aware of, most of which I mentioned in the quick overview:

The Real Deal on Depth

Secretlab has marketed the Magnus Pro to have a depth of about 70 cm, but what most people get confused about is that this includes the access door in the back, which you need to leave empty to manage the cables. So, the true depth of this desk comes to about 58 cm, which is still decent space but can get crowded quickly. And when you take the price you're paying into consideration, you want the freedom of choosing any desktop setup known to man.

Mounting Hurdles

Similar to its forerunner, there are some complexities when it comes to mounting specific equipment, such as monitors or indispensable ring lights. This is primarily due to the back panel, which, while thoughtfully designed for efficient cable management, inadvertently complicates the mounting process.

While you might be tempted to mount your gear below the panel, it's not as straightforward as it seems. Securing the mount tight is a challenging task, again courtesy of the back panel. Considering a side mount? Well, it's not much simpler, given the cable channels you'd have to work around.

However, in their defense, Secretlab offers a potential solution with their specialised monitor mounts. A considerate gesture? Absolutely. But it does mean loosening your purse strings a bit more. This is something you should consider if you're a streamer. Moreso, if the desk serves as the very heart of your streaming ecosystem.

Mount and Light Strip Sync-Up

A tiny wrinkle in Secretlab's MAGRGB light strip setup is the slight misalignment with some of Secretlab's newer monitor mounts. Specifically, when using these mounts, the strip doesn't adhere as snugly as one might hope. While it's a minor detail, it's one worth noting for those who are particular about their setups. I didn't notice this with my gaming desk, but I came across grievances from a few users across some of my gamer communities.

The Pricey Proposition

The Magnus Pro's cost will also prove to be a significant barrier for many. The pricing of the heigh-adjustable gaming ranges from $1,059 for the smaller model to $1,229 for the bigger one at the time of this review. And that's just for the desk; if you want to invest in extras like monitor mounts, your final cost would be significantly more.

Opting for the larger model and decking it out fully sees costs ballooning to roughly $1,500. Sure, it's not mandatory for a neat setup, but these extras undeniably elevate the entire look.

Secretlab Magnus Pro: Rating and Rank

I compared the Secretlab Magnus Pro desk with the height-adjustable desks I used in the past. Here's how it performed:

A Look at the Competition

Considering a switch or just weighing your options? Let me walk you through a list of some top-tier rivals to the Magnus Pro that you might want to have a look at:

1. Zen Pro Sit Stand Gaming Desk | Expert 2.0

The Expert 2.0 gaming desk is quite the competition to the Magnus Pro. It is electrically height-adjustable and ergonomic, with an ergonomic edge that puts your gaming screens and accessories closer to you, memory presets, and a cable management channel that helps you transition between standing and sitting more quickly.

To complete your office and gaming environment, ZenSpace Desk offers a large selection of accessories during the purchasing process. You can choose between a 47-inch, 60-inch, or 70-inch surface, a single or dual monitor arm, and a four or eight-port power plug. Depending on your preferences, ZenSpace Desk also enables additional customisation of the gaming desk before purchase.

The height-adjustable gaming desk also has a 140 kg weight limit, which is 20 kg more than what you get with the Magnus Pro. And thanks to the kid lock feature, the desk is kept solid and in place.

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2. SEVEN WARRIOR Gaming Desk

This 60-inch marvel from Seven Warriors spells quality. Featuring a waterproof carbon fibre finish, maintaining this desk is a breeze. Backed by steel, it confidently holds up to 150 kg of your gaming treasures. The gaming desk also has two grommets for wire management and a fully covered mouse pad desktop that provides outstanding convenience.

A USB gaming handle rack, a cup holder, a fully covered mouse pad, installation tools, a handbook, and the gaming desk itself are all included in the Seven Warrior gaming desk package. Four charging connections are built inside the USB gaming handle rack so that you may recharge additional accessories. A double headphone hook on the gaming desk is also available to hold your gaming headphones.

You can use the gaming desk for activities other than gaming, just like with the other desks on this list. It doesn't have a lot of colour and fits in well with a workspace or home office. However, it falls short on two fronts. First, it's not height-adjustable. Secondly, at full capacity, the gaming desk has a tiny wobble, but it is barely noticeable.

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3. Desky Alpha Dual Sit-to-Stand Desk

Another fierce contender is the Desky Alpha. Similar to Magnus Pro, it is a height-adjustable desk for gaming setups. It offers four preset height levels, spanning from 60 to 125 cm. Additionally, the desk has a surface area of 70 inches that can support up to three monitors simultaneously.

Between the two, Desky offers a higher weight holding limit, up to 140 kg, which is 20 kg more than what Magnus Pro offers. Likewise, Desky has a lifting speed of 3.6 cm/s, which is the industry average for height-adjustable desks. Other sit-stand desks, like Stand Desk Pro (not a gaming desk) at 8 cm/s, trade weight capacity for a higher lifting speed.

And for the more conservative, 47-inch and 59-inch versions are available. The Desky Alpha Dual Sit-to-Stand Desk also has room for extra hardware and cable management channels on the legs. It is easy to assemble and supports a wide variety of desktops.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about the Secret Labs Magnus Pro gaming desk.

Is the Secret Labs Magnus Pro Worth It?

The Magnus Pro showcases Secretlab's attention to detail with its innovative cable management, ambient lighting, and the flexibility to switch between sitting and standing. However, it's not without its quirks. The actual usable desk depth might leave some wanting more, and if you're keen on mounting equipment, prepare for a challenge.

While it does lean on the pricier side, it’s about weighing the premium features against your gaming and workspace needs. At the end of the day, it's about whether the Magnus Pro aligns with your gaming aspirations. Final verdict? If you're looking for a game-changer, this premium desk might just elevate your setup to the next level.