Secretlab MAGNUS Pro desk review - Hyper-engineered to perfection

Gaming peripherals are often brought into question for their validity in their chosen industry. Can a pair of headphones really make you feel as though enemies are creeping up behind you? Can a mouse really make you a better shot? And in a world of ergonomic desk chairs, is that tall leathery behemoth of a chair really that much better for your back when it comes to the long-term?

Wherever you stand on the debate about gaming furniture and the like, it’s easy to see that they’re making a lot of money, and as far as they go, it seems that Secretlab as a company has led the charge in helping gamers feel like true gamers with each new addition to their desk setup. And now, as it turns out, the desk itself is included.

Secretlab is straying further into the dominion of your setup with their new MAGNUS Pro desk, an all-in-one beast that intends to turn your setup into a sitting and standing powerhouse. And it does it immensely well. You’d hope so, to be fair.

Building the MAGNUS Pro

All it takes is attempting to drag the multiple boxes that contain the Secretlab MAGNUS Pro into your home to know how weighty the entire package feels, but unboxing the behemoth is an entirely different story. Every single element of this desk, from its screws up to the 1.5-meter long metal desktop feel truly premium even in construction, and with plenty of magnetic screwdriver options that come packaged in, Secretlab has truly made a great attempt to keep construction user-friendly.

A solo build took us about an hour with the hardest part being simply lifting the hefty thing, but once it was set up with its leather desk mat to boot, it was immediately clear that Secretlab was hoping for the MAGNUS Pro to stand as the be-all, end-all of desk setups.

It’s perhaps the sturdiest desk we’ve ever seen, with its build being made future-proof by its all-steel composition and wide legs helping to ensure that wobble stays to a minimum. It’s this wobble that stands as a test for desks that seamlessly transition from seated to standing use, but of the desks we’ve tried in the past, few resist natural shakes with typing quite like the MAGNUS Pro. It’s clear that the design of the desk isn’t just for show - it’s managed to create a strong base that makes the standing experience as simple as can be, especially as the screen and controls built right into the desktop itself prove to be easy to use.

How does the MAGNUS Pro fare?

The most fascinating part of the MAGNUS Pro is arguably the accessories that are advertised for it - it’s clear that Secretlab wants this to be the last desk you’ll ever invest in, with its own accessories designed to fit so snugly on this specific desk that you’d be silly to invest in anything else.

Its monitor arm is sleek and stylish, its headphone holder snaps instantly to whichever side of the desk you like, and the cable management solutions, both baked-in and purchased separately make the most of the metal makeup of the workspace, pinning your cables down to the desk itself and masking them along its legs with magnets.

Every solution offered to customers is incredibly carefully considered - which probably explains the hefty price tag that comes with the MAGNUS Pro. Secretlab wants you to stay in this ecosystem for as long as you’ll have the desk, and to their credit, there’s little you’ll need beyond what they offer to make for a perfect setup.

This, of course, comes with a price - and it's a hefty one. With the desk coming in at £729 for only the smallest size without bells or whistles, it's one hell of a bar to clear, but if you’re willing to sink the cost on a desk that’s likely to last for years, maybe even decades, then there’s little that can be done to dissuade you beyond the price tag.

The premium quality of each individual component, the silky desk mat and the seamless additions of accessories make the entire experience of the MAGNUS Pro unlike any other. I never thought it possible, but I sincerely care about my desk now. 

The Verdict

Even with the obvious caveat of the desk being its price tag, it’s hard to think of another desk that makes itself an experience like the MAGNUS Pro. Taking every complaint that any gamer has ever had about desks and fixing them with almost surprisingly simple innovations, Secretlab has come through with the smartest, sturdiest, most future-proof desk we’ve ever seen. 

The company’s bold steps into taking over your gaming setup have been immensely impressive, and now, it's made a great case for them being the name plastered on every corner of your home office. A desk with character and enough innovation to keep it viable for years to come, the MAGNUS Pro is the most hyper-engineered desk we’ve ever seen, and it’s easily one of the best, too.

5/5

Review unit supplied by Secretlab.