Summary
The Flexispot E7 is a standing desk made with aesthetics, stability and smooth motion in mind. While standing desks aren’t typically the first choice for gamers, the higher price tag does come with a few tangible benefits. Needless to say, being able to stand for periods of time breaks up long gaming or working sessions. An adjustable height desk also makes it easy to find the perfect height for optimal gaming posture. Though standing desks in general offer a similar value proposition in relation to standard desks, we’re interested in comparing the E7 against other options within it’s class. In order to benchmark the E7 against a similar product, we also tested the popular IKEA Bekant, which comes at a similar price tag.
FlexiSpot Premium Standing Desk E7
The E7 standing desk is designed for stability at any height. Its thicker leg columns and column gap design allow the columns to move smoothly and seamlessly. The solid carbon steel base structure guarantees a durable and sturdy experience. The E7 standing desk has a weight capacity of 355 lbs.The E7 standing desk is expertly crafted for durability, aesthetics, and sustainability. The sleek and durable design is achieved by using an industry-leading laser-welding technique.
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Overall, we felt that the Flexispot E7 provided the better value. Firstly, there are far more options for dimensions. We opted for a table with less depth, making it more versatile and suited to smaller spaces without sacrificing on width. We found that the IKEA was unnecessarily deep, and there are no shallower options, while Flexispot offers both. The E7’s tabletop feels higher quality than the IKEA Bekant’s light top, though both are easily replaced. In fact, since the E7’s frame is adjustable in width, you’re able to use it very functionally with any desk top. Another benefit of the E7’s frame is that it is width adjustable, meaning that any size desk can be fitted. Theoretically, the frame could be used forever. However, the E7 is rated for 355lbs of weight while the Bekant is only rated for 220lbs. Finally, the E7 has the ability to save preset heights for quick adjustments, while the Bekant does not. The E7 definitely shows more stability compared to the Bekant. The difference is small below 39 inches height but increases dramatically in the standing position.
One downside of the E7 is the very slightly higher price tag. However, we found the desk on sale quite frequently at around $450.
Flexispot E7 Assembly
The E7 was extremely simple and fast to put together. The only difficulty was managing the weight of the desk, making it cumbersome to turn over. We found that laying a towel down beneath the top when assembling allowed us to easily turn it without needing to pick it up off the floor. One warning on the assembly instructions to avoid having to make a trip to the hardware store for some rubber washers - don’t throw out the black grommets that are already fixed onto the parts. These will act as cushions between the frame and the top in order to reduce vibrations, and they do work. We tested the desk with and without this part and the result was clear.
IKEA Bekant Assembly
The Bekant is fairly simple to assemble as well, though we personally find the IKEA instructions harder to follow, and the parts do feel flimsier. Both desks need an electric screwdriver to finish the process, which Flexispot does omit in their instruction booklet.
In terms of features, both desks are simple but the E7 provides a key advantage. The E7 controller allows you to save 4 preset heights (1, 2, sit and stand). There is also a USB port here, though this perplexed us but may come in handy for those who have lost their phone charging plug. The IKEA Bekant speaks IKEA’s language - simplicity: up and down. Both desks also have similar height adjustability functionality - between 22 inches and 48 inches. This will suit most heights, from 4'2" to 6'4". The desks move up and down at very similar speeds.
The criteria we found most crucial is desk stability. It is hard to notice a big difference between the two desks when sitting down at 33 inch desk height. Since the E7 is rated for a higher maximum load, we expect that the stability when fully decked out with a gaming setup will sooner be compromised on the Bekant. It would also imply a less smooth operation while adjusting the height when more weight is placed on the top. Indeed, when testing these differences with a simple gaming set up (no PC on the desk), a difference starts becoming noticeable above the 33-inch height mark. We did notice, at all heights, slightly less jiggle from keyboard typing on the E7. While less translateable to real-life loads, we also hung onto the edges of both tables and notices far more bend with the Bekant compared to the very solid E7 top.
We tested an E7 desk with a T-Frame, so we can’t speak to the stability of the C-Frame, though it’s nice to know that there is yet another customizability option that the Bekant doesn’t offer.
The aesthetics of the desks are subjective. Objectively, however, the Bekant is made with cheaper materials than the E7. The solid bamboo desktop and solid carbon steel feel much more premium than the hollow steel frame and chipboard or melamine top of the Bekant. We also find the unrounded edges and thick feet of the E7 more appealing.
Overall, the Flexispot E7 is one of the best picks for standing desks available. In fact, we’ve featured it in our roundup ofthe best gaming desksfor that very reason. If the price tag scares you, there are plenty of other Flexispot desks which offer a similar value to the E7 for the lower price. As gamers, stability at all heights is key to the comfort and performance of a standing desk.
