SecretLabs MAGNUS Pro White Edition Review

There are many core components that make a gaming setup feel perfect. You have the comfy seat you spend your time lounging in, your gaming system that will work tirelessly to showcase your games at the highest frame rate possible, and you have all the oddities and knick-knacks that give the setup a bit of personality.

However, at the heart of this setup is your desk, the glue that holds everything together.

Naturally, you want something that looks slick, is sturdy and able to hold the weight of all your items, and has that extra ‘Wow’ factor that’ll make your gaming experience that little bit more comfortable each time you gear up for a long session.

Well, with that in mind, we had the pleasure of trying out the new SecretLabs Magnus Pro Pure White edition, and we intend to give you the scoop on whether this desk is worth adding to your setup, and why it just might be the best desk on the market.

Delivery And Packaging

I’ll go ahead and preface this now by saying that this section is going to be just about the only time I’ll say anything negative about this product. But that being said, I had my foibles with this aspect of the Magnus Pro experience.

Firstly, while delivery by a third-party courier was relatively smooth when they arrived with the product, it must be noted that the order was initially delayed, and only through prompting Secretlabs directly was I able to get them to contact this courier to correct the delivery issue.

I understand that only so much can be done when putting your trust in a third party, but I would rather give any potential buyers the full picture here, and that is that there may be slight hiccups along the way, but none that SecretLabs can’t smooth over.

Then as for the packaging, when the product arrived, I have to say, I had rather mixed feelings.

On the positive side, you can guarantee that your SecretLabs product will be safe and sound in transit, as a wide variety of precautions, safety measures, and immense amounts of padding have been added to each delivery to ensure your product never comes with so much as a scratch.

But, that being said, the amount of packaging you receive is bewildering. It would be overplaying it to call myself an environmentalist, but even I could see that perhaps this was a superfluous amount of packaging for the amount of items you actually receive.

But even taking the environmental hazards out of the equation, it causes an issue for you if you have no easy means of disposing of or recycling your packaging, as there is enough here to practically fill an entire room of your home. Especially if you purchase a few extras.

At the end of the day, it means your product is in tip-top shape when it gets to you, and if that peace of mind matters to you, you likely won’t complain. But I do feel this is something SecretLabs could look into.

The Assembly Process

We move on to the assembly process, which, like all SecretLabs products, has been streamlined to make this experience as painless as possible.

Firstly, it has to be commended that the parts come as pre-built as possible. By this, I mean you have the main desk, the electronically powered legs, and some minor screws, parts, and components to complete the build.

There’s very little need to mess around with fidgety things, because SecretLabs has made it all so simple.

The Electronic legs slip into place with ease, the screws and fixings are easy to work with thanks to the toolkit provided by SecretLabs as standard, meaning there is no need to go and purchase tools for the job.

Plus, thanks to the cable management tray built into the desk, you can set things up as you go allowing you to hop into a game as soon as you are done fastening screws and whatnot.

The only criticism that I would throw Secretlab’s way is that, although they suggest that two people put this desk together, my simple question would be, what if you don’t have another person to help you out?

I personally put the desk together solo, and while it wasn’t easy, it was doable. However, I could easily see how others could have struggled.

But all things considered, the assembly process for something as complex as a mechanical desk was surprisingly smooth and rarely cumbersome.

So, if you’ve been on the fence about changing desks because you just don’t want the inevitable stress of building a replacement, this just might be the desk for you.

Overall Aesthetics

We can all pretend that we purchase a desk purely for its durability, functionality, and cool features. But I’ll say it so you don’t have to admit it, looks do matter.

So it will come as a huge relief to anyone considering a Pure White Magnus Pro, that this desk absolutely looks the part.

I was skeptical that a bright desk wouldn’t look a little too gaudy in my humble setup, but the sleek, modern look and bright design is stunning.

There isn’t a detail that has been overlooked in the Magnus Pro’s grand design. The desk has a beautiful angular frame with plenty of custom options to make it your own, such as a Headphone Rack, monitor arms, risers, and much more.

You can’t help but be impressed by how everything comes together to offer an inch-perfect design that leaves nothing to chance. With the extras feeling like an extension of the desk rather than additional items jury-rigged to fit.

Take the riser, for example, and how it seamlessly slots into the cable management without impeding the lid’s closing. It’s expert craftsmanship and a joy to look at every time you sit down at your gaming haven.

The Sit-To-Stand Features

While this desk would still be a phenomenal piece of kit even without the mechanical additions, it has to be said that the Sit-To-Stand Features really send this desk into the stratosphere in terms of versatility and customisation.

As someone who sits way too long at their desk for extended periods, the option to lift the desk up to waist height and work in a standing position is a wonderful option.

It can also allow for the use of certain fitness additions, like walking pads, for example, if you are keen to get work done but still get your steps in.

The setup for this hydraulic system couldn’t be easier. All you need to do is plug it into a power source, take a quick moment to calibrate, and just like that, you have a desk that you can raise and lower on a whim to suit whatever you might be using it for.

Plus, thanks to expert craftsmanship and meticulous quality checks, you can rest assured that your desk will rise and lower without issue for up to 20,000 cycles. Meaning that no matter how often you like to switch things up, you don’t need to worry about wear and tear or maintenance for a very long time.

The only small criticism I have regarding the hydraulic features is that it would have been incredible to have a desk that could rise and lower with next to no noise, especially as I live with my spouse, who is promptly in bed by 9 p.m.

Unfortunately, while relatively quiet, it’s still too loud to mess about with in the wee hours of the night. But this is a small hang-up, and aside from this, these features are a triumph.

Pricing

Lastly, we need to discuss pricing, as this is usually the biggest hurdle to overcome when purchasing a Secretlab product. The simple fact of the matter here is that you’re purchasing a premium product, and that means you’ll need to pay premium prices.

Here are the prices you’ll pay for the MAGNUS Pro and its XL sister product at the time of writing:

The downside to this is that it will mean that this will be out of the price range of gamers on a budget, but the good news is that, if you do find the funds and spring for a MAGNUS Pro, you get what you pay for.

Never have I been dissatisfied with the build quality, the durability, or the functionality of a Secretlabs product, of which I own several, and that’s because these products are rigorously tested, the technology is researched thoroughly, and the products themselves are built to last.

So, while it is going to leave a big dent in your savings, if you value your gaming setup, and want to avoid the false economy that comes with buying cheap desks, chairs and more. Secretlabs may be a way to make a pricy initial investment that saves you cash in the long run.

Closing Comments – Score 9/10

All in all, the SecretLabs Magnus Pro is everything that you could ask for and more, setting the benchmark for what a gaming desk can and should be. The seamless and slick design, the accessible and infinitely useful hydraulic features, and the wealth of aesthetically pleasing custom fittings and extras all culminate in a desk that is perfect for just about any gaming setup. I will concede that the packaging was a bit much, and with regards to the white design, it really is more suited to daytime use as this really brings out the best of this bright and modern design. But even still, this is a desk suited for anyone that wants a perfect blend of comfort, durability and functionality.