MOVI Standing Desk Converter Review

In this MOVI Desk Converter review, I share my first-hand experience using it during my consulting days. It is an incredibly unique standing desk that has its advantages and limitations. Here is what I found out.

What We Liked:

• The large flat working surface – This is the biggest differentiator from other desk converters. Not only is it electronically powered instead of having to do manual adjustments, but the MOVI Pro also consists of one flat piece of bamboo that maximises the available desk space. There are no tiers or keyboard drawers that are typical of cheaper converters.
• Its simple and innovative design – The MOVI Pro looks nothing like the typical desk converter with its streamlined design, aesthetically pleasing materials and compact footprint.
• The Dual Monitor Arm – Increasing its appeal and flexibility, the dual monitor arm clips onto the rear of the desk and allows you to use a double monitor setup to get the ideal standing desk monitor height.

What We Didn’t Like:

• Limited desktop materials to choose from – Although the natural and eco-friendly bamboo tops are reliable and look great, there are no other options to choose from. Hardwood materials would understandably be too heavy, however, MDF materials could be introduced to make the pricepoint more favourable.
• The motor is slightly noisy – A bit of a semantic but the motor emits a noticeable hum when the desk is being raised or lowered.

What Is MOVI?

MOVI is a local Australian company that produces some of the best desk converters on the Australian market. Rather than release a multitude of desks and accessories, the small business has placed a focus on developing two desk converters, the Lite and Pro Standing Desk.

MOVI saw a gap in the desk converter market which was full of products that were bulky, inefficient in their space, unappealing to the eye, and not catered towards taller people. After three years of design and development, the result is aesthetically pleasing and streamlined converters with large workspaces that can be raised to a maximum height of 45cm.

The MOVI Pro Standing Desk is distinguishable from other converters by its slim design, its patented electronic lift control system, and connectivity with multiple devices through its USB ports. The other key advantage is the ability to use the MOVI dual monitor arm to fasten two computer screens, a feature that is almost unheard of amongst desk converters.

My Thoughts On The MOVI Pro Standing Desk Converter

The simple and minimalist design of the MOVI Pro makes it one of the more attractive alternatives to a standard standing desk. here are some of the key reasons why this is the case.

Eco-friendly bamboo desktop

Innovation is a clear point of emphasis for the team at MOVI. Instead of using cheaper materials such as veneered or painted MDF, they have opted for natural and renewable bamboo for its appearance, durability, and step forward to sustainability. No harsh chemicals are used in the manufacturing process as the bamboo tabletop is finished with a water-based coating to protect it from scratches and stains.

The dual monitor arm

There are very few desk converters on the Australian market that have the ability to hold two computer screens. The MOVI Dual Monitor Arm (competitively priced at $139) allows you to secure two monitors up to 30 inches each to the rear of the MOVI standing desk.

With the use of double monitors becoming more common in the workplace, the MOVI Pro has certainly increased its market offering. Similar to most other monitor arms, you can rotate your screens from landscape to portrait if that’s your personal preference.

Electric movements powered with the push of a button

The MOVI Pro is unique in its flush-mounted control panel that allows you to change the elevation of the tabletop with the press of a button. The only downside is that the panel is slightly raised from the surface which may prove annoying for some. Nevertheless, the user experience is profound and there is the ability to save your ideal working height. The electric motor is capable of lifting 15kg across 24 possible height selections.

Of course, the MOVI Pro comes with two USB ports so you can conveniently charge your mobile device while working.

Pricing

Priced at $799, the MOVI Pro standing desk certainly feels like it is a bit expensive for what it is. Although my old workplace procured several of these desk converters, to say I was surprised would be an understatement. After doing some research for this review, it can be said that the MOVI Pro is the same price as its competitors.

However, the market is flooded with lower-quality converters that simply don’t have the build quality or features that the MOVI standing desk offers. You can easily find cheaper converters in the $200 to $500 range but almost all a cumbersome, bulky, and made from black plastic. They come with spring-loaded mechanisms that need to be manually operated. After using the MOVI Pro for several months, I can honestly say I wouldn’t want to use a cheaper model if I was to buy one for the home office.

For comparison purposes, the Standesk Memory Sit-stand Workstation is equally priced at $798. Although I prefer the natural and streamlined look of the MOVI Pro, it has to be said that the Standesk possesses similar features and functionality. With this in mind, the MOVI Pro is competitively priced for a high-quality desk converter.

Design & Aesthetics

The design and aesthetics are where the MOVI Pro Standing Desk really shines. In my opinion, this is one of the better-looking converter workstations you can get your hands on due to its spacious work area and minimalist design. If you like me and prefer a zen and clutter-free area, then the MOVI Pro is way ahead of those big and bulky converters that only come in black. So much so, that when the MOVI Pro is not in use and flat against your table, you might hardly know it’s there.

Perfect for right-handed people, the electronic control system is located on the left-hand side of the desk. With the built-in sleep mode, you also don’t need to worry about the standing desks’ power consumption.

One of the attractive things about the MOVI Pro is its portability. Its relatively lightweight and ease of installation make it an ideal desk converter to move around. This makes it particularly good for workplaces where hot desks are a theme.

Pricing

Priced at $799, the MOVI Pro standing desk certainly feels like it is a bit expensive for what it is. Although my old workplace procured several of these desk converters, to say I was surprised would be an understatement. After doing some research for this review, it can be said that the MOVI Pro is more expensive than its competitors.

However, the market is flooded with lower-quality converters that simply don’t have the build quality or features that the MOVI standing desk offers. You can easily find cheaper converters in the $200 to $500 range but almost all a cumbersome, bulky, and made from black plastic. They come with spring-loaded mechanisms that need to be manually operated. After using the MOVI Pro for several months, I can honestly say I wouldn’t want to use a cheaper model if I was to buy one for the home office.

For comparison purposes, the Standesk Memory Sit-stand Workstation is equally priced at $798. Although I prefer the natural and streamlined look of the MOVI Pro, it has to be said that the Standesk possesses similar features and functionality. With this in mind, the MOVI Pro is competitively priced for a high-quality desk converter.

Ease of Installation & Set Up

Like most desk converters, the MOVI Pro standing desk comes assembled in the packaging. The only thing you need to do is remove it from the box, place it on your fixed-height desk and plug the cord into the powerpoint. Bearing in mind its dimensions and weight of 15kg, be sure to handle it carefully and appropriately – or get a second person to help.

We had white laminate fixed-height desks which had sufficient space to fit the footprint of the legs. You will need to ensure that your own table has a flat surface that measures at least 51cm deep and 106cm wide. Give yourself some room to spare on each side.

The power cord fits into the top left-hand corner of the desk. If your fixed-height desk has a cable grommet, then you could run the power cord through it and towards the power point near the floor. This is important since the cord needs room to move when lowering and raising the desk, rather than attempting to loosely fix it somewhere.

Build Quality

When I first saw the MOVI Pro standing desks being distributed around the office, I was sceptical of the strength of the desk surface and legs. Other desk converters are typically big and bulky items that take up a lot of real estate on a table. They aren’t the most attractive things to look at either.

However, the unique design of the legs of the MOVI Pro and how they operate when elevating your workspace is deceptively strong. I stand 180cm tall and found the MOVI Pro to be strong and stable at its highest elevation point. Leaning against it or resting my arms on it when working did not result in it moving due to its rubber feet.

The standing desk converter has a load capacity of 15kg. This is on the lower side for a desk converter but it still can hold two monitor screens on the MOVI Dual Monitor Arm. But don’t get too excited since you are limited to screens that are 30 inches or less. The arm simply clips onto the rear of the desk and you can even rotate your monitors from landscape to portrait.

For a slimly designed desk converter, I was quite impressed with its strength and smooth movements. You can tell a lot of care has gone into ensuring that the quality of the product is high.

Performance & Functionality

I ended up using the MOVI standing desk at work for 7 months. During that time of heavy use, here are my thoughts on how it performed and enhanced my working space.

Controlling the MOVI Pro was a lot like using a normal electric standing desk. To change the elevation of the bamboo working surface, I would hold down the relevant button on the flush-mounted digital controller. There is a memory preset function where you can save your ideal standing desk height.

MOVI have acoustically insulated the high-speed motor to reduce the amount of noise when it’s in operation. Over the 15 to 20 seconds that it took to change from sitting or standing, I noticed a low buzz coming from the desk. In an open office environment where there is always ambient noise, this didn’t bother me or my colleagues too much.

Bamboo is a fairly common surface for standing desks. The MOVI Pro is only available in bamboo but this didn’t worry me since I do appreciate the natural appearance of bamboo and other types of wood grains. I noticed that the surface did not scratch due to the eco-based water coating that protects it. Coffee stains did not persist after spillage as long as I promptly cleaned them using a standard household cleaner and microfibre cloth.

Warranty & Returns

The MOVI Pro standing desk comes with a 2-year warranty, which is about par for a desk converter in the Australian market. Currently, MOVI does not offer a trial period on any of its products.

Unfortunately, if you change your mind after purchasing it then you will be unable to return it on that basis. Returns are only possible for faulty products.

Customer Reviews

Based on 108 Google reviews, MOVI has an excellent overall rating of 4.8/5.0. Most customers expressed their appreciation for the well-executed simplicity of its design and functionality. Whilst the vast majority of comments were positive, almost all of the negative comments related to the noise emitted when the motor is in operation. This was a common theme and certainly reflects my own thoughts as well.

There are no customer reviews on the popular feedback website ProductReview.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts On The MOVI Pro Converter

I was instantly impressed by the look and design of the MOVI Pro, then later impressed by how it operated compared to other sit-stand desks. The large and flat work surface the natural bamboo offers is a nice touch along with the flush-mounted digital controller where two USB ports are located. Priced at $799, the MOVI Pro is a great standing desk converter to improve your working quality of life. It offers value-for-money without breaking the bank, however, you need to be aware of the differences between a desk converter and a standing desk before you purchase one.