Secretlab Magnus Evo standing desk review | Tech Radar

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Secretlab Magnus Evo standing desk review: Streamlined and refined but unmistakably Secretlab in spirit

The Secretlab Magnus Evo is a refined and simplified standing desk with a few nice features and none of the excess

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The Secretlab Magnus Evo is a fantastic representation of a standing desk that toes the line of simple and still worth the money, balancing features that add value and those that add noise. For me, the Magnus Evo is an ideal starter standing desk, as adept as both a simple laptop desk or a heavy-duty workstation - without the immense price-tag of a product like the higher-end Magnus Pro.

-Limited on accessories that will work with this system

Limited on accessories that will work with this system

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Secretlab is behind some of our top-rated office furniture for hybrid gaming and working in the home office.

So, I was keen to see how the company's Magnus Evo stacks up in comparison to the magisterial Magnus Pro. This is a more home office-focused desk that's a lot cheaper, but with a more simplified design and feature-set.

While it's unlikely to top the list of the best standing desks we've tested, it might be the ideal alternative to the Magnus Pro for gamers or professionals looking for a stealthy all-black set-up.

As ever with Secretlab products, it's widely available direct from the company in the US (here), the UK (here), and Australia (here). At the time of review, it's on sale for

Secretlab Magnus Evo: Unboxing and First Impressions

My first impression of this desk was one of relief and excitement, as I saw that, even though this is the entry-level or budget version of the Secretlab line-up, it still has an integrated power and height controller.

That’s a feature that is very 'Secretlab'. I was expecting it to skimp on some of these feature offerings due to price. But nope, here they are.

Speaking of the legs, I loved seeing just how tightly packed the Secretlab desk was. It shows that they care about not just packaging, but also using space well, which is showcased in their integrated controller as well, utilizing the desk thickness as a way to hide the module for controlling the height.

Unlike other desks, this one came in one box, as a cohesive system, not a set of legs and a hunk of desk like most companies.

Further, even with the addition of the extension pieces, this desk still feels sleek and high-end, making the price tag feel a bit more justified.

The last thing that stood out right away is the controller itself. You don’t often see a controller with colored lights, but the subtle color on the up and down buttons adds a refined pop that is very welcome.

The main standout features of the Secretlab desk lineup are the cable management tray and compartment, the built-in controller, and the in-leg power. Those are three pretty standout features that are just as prevalent in this cheaper model. Plus, thanks to the magnetic elements and the extra width, this desk has enough room for those who love accessories or having ample space on their desk.

The cable management tray is still one of the best on the market. While companies like Grovemade have moved their cable management to an entirely new system below, creating art in and of itself.

Secretlab has nearly perfected the “hiding in plain sight” style, turning the last few inches of the desk's depth into a flip-up with cable management below. Again, utilizing their space in ways that other companies do not, or have not figured out, just like their integrated controller.

It becomes even more functional when you add in the in-leg power element. Now, that power port that runs through the leg, another way of utilizing space better, outputs right at the edge of this drop zone, giving you a simple place to run all your cables.

This, plus the slit in the desk to still pull cables out, you need to turn chaos to calm, transitioning the messiest zone of most desks to the most feature-packed and functional.

Height Range: 28.3-46.2 inches Max Load: 265lbs Warranty: 5-year electronics

Day to day, the Magnus Evo is great. I’ve tried a handful of different setups, ranging from super simple to quite complex with this desk, and it’s handled them all.

It’s sleek enough to be able to look good without having to get dressed up but also is featured enough to not look lacking for a fully built out desk setup. It’s no secret that I not only have had, but actively have a lot of desks.

Some are simple, with just a laptop. Some have a monitor and a docking station, and some would take me hours to disassemble fully if needed simply because of how complex they are. The Secretlab Magnus Evo is the kind of desk that could be either, it could be a simple laptop desk or a complex workstation ready to take on the world.

The cable management tray in the back is just as good as I expected it to be, having used the previous variations of the Magnus Pro standing desk. Honestly, other than the solid desktop, there aren’t many differences.

This cable tray can fit those beefy power bricks that never seem to be in the right place, and are annoying to start with, it can also fit the excess cable length, a dock or accessory you need but don’t want to see, and so on, all with a single power out, running down the integrated power line through the leg and then out. No cables dangling. No spaghetti mess of cables on top of desk. Just clarity. Simple, clarity.

When I wanted to add a few monitors, I could add them with Secretlab's mounts, allowing the monitors to sit within the desk in a unique way, latching onto the inside of the crevasse that is created between the main part of the desk and the back part that can open up.

The Secretlab Magnus Evo is a fantastic option for those who want a modern feeling, feature-packed, standing workspace, but don’t want it to cost as much as those normally do.

I found the Magnus Evo to be a great option if you want to get into the sit-stand desk space without the full cost while only sparing a few elements of the “full” experience you'd find with the heavyweight Magnus Pro.

The only question you have to ask yourself is if those few changes are worth the cost.

For most, they probably aren’t. And that makes the Secretlab Magnus Evo even more intoxicatingly enticing — for it’s sleek look, feature set, organization and the pricetag.

For more office furniture essentials, see our guide to the best office chairs we've tested.

Former Tech Radar Pro B2B Hardware Editor, Collin has been in journalism for years, with experience in small and large markets, including Gearadical, Daily Beast, Future Net, and more.

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• News, deals, reviews, guides and more on the newest computing gadgets

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• Secretlab Magnus Evo standing desk review: Streamlined and refined but unmistakably Secretlab in spirit

• The Secretlab Magnus Evo is a refined and simplified standing desk with a few nice features and none of the excess