Omnidesk Ascent Review: Best Standing Desk Ever?

I have physically tested and reviewed most standing desks on the Australian market. Omnidesk’s latest flagship – the Ascent – has so far escaped my scrutiny. But this is all about to change.

The company sent me a new Ascent with a black MFD tabletop.

For transparency, they don’t expect a favourable review in exchange for the desk, nor do they get to see this review before I publish it.

I do get to keep the desk, but to be quite frank, I don’t exactly need another one – so this fact alone has very little influence on my opinions.

Let’s get stuck into it.

(Related: Updown Standing Desk Review: Why I Love It So Much).

Quick Verdict.

Above: The Omnidesk Ascent is a stunner. I liked the black MDF top a lot more than I expected.

As the “entry-level” desktop material option, I was worried that the MFD would look cheap, but I was wrong.

Combined with slimline curved legs, the desk is decidedly stylish and elegant.

The height controller is one of the best on the market today – big, modern and legible.

However, the multicolour backlight colours hint that the Ascent is aimed at the sub-40-year-old demographic, and people in the creative fields.

The 100-day trial is one of the most generous in Australia today – and a great hedge if you’re still on the fence.

If aesthetics and functionality are your top priorities — and you have $1,000-$1,500 to spend — the Ascent is a solid choice.

Who Should Buy The Omnidesk Ascent?

I can see the Ascent appealing to designers, photographers, Millennials, Gen Z, influencers, bloggers (if anyone still writes in the era of ChatGPT and gamers.

5 Things I Love About The Omnidesk Ascent.

The Ascent is Omnidesk’s new flagship model, replacing the Pro at the top of the lineup.

Six hardwood, two MDF and one bamboo desktop are on the menu. Gamers, meanwhile, get 3 ‘Radiance’ desktops, which are MDF cores with added dynamic strip edge lighting.

1. Supersized Desktops.

Above: Ascent’s 153x76cm desktop makes my 14″ MBP look like a toy.

The most common desktop sizes in Australia are 120cm, 150cm and 180 cm in width by 75cm in depth.

Omnidesk takes a more generous “honey, I blew up the desk” approach, extending Ascent’s sizes to 122cm, 153cm and 183cm in width and 76cm in depth.

It’s not much on paper (about a 3.5% increase in workspace area), but it does translate to a more substantial-looking desk in real life. This thing will easily swallow multiple desktop monitors and peripherals.

I’m also enjoying the thin form factor of the MDF desktop. It’s about 3-4mm thinner than the wooden desktops on my Desky Dual and UpDown Pro.

Combined with narrow leg columns, which I’ll talk about in a moment, it creates a very elegant, minimalistic-looking desk.

2. Slimline Legs.

Above: The curved slimline leg columns are the best-looking on the Australian market.

Let’s face it – most standing desks look almost the same. Ascent offers a cool exception with its slimline legs that feature a slight curve on each side.

I see the difference because I already have a Desky and an UpDown Pro in my home – and I like Omnidesk’s design a lot more.

While the others look chunky and almost industrial, the Ascent looks minimalistic, modern and elegant.

3. Smart Cable Management.

Above: The power management cutout is standard and includes a cover that keeps things tidy when unused.

You can run all your cables through Ascent’s cable cutout straight into the optional ($79) cable management tray underneath the desk.

The system is simple, tidy and effective.

4. Excellent Height Controller.

Above: The programmable controller has four memory settings, which you can switch between at a speedy 60mm/sec.

I love the new-generation Omnidesk controllers.

Big, logical buttons and a clear, large, modern-looking display are as good as controllers get these days.

The purple-to-turquoise colour gradient is catchy, but 40+ year-olds like me will prefer a more subtle, understated look. An option to switch to a uniform grey backlight would have been even better.

5. No Wobble Issues.

Above: Wobbling is the #1 concern of standing desk buyers. Ascent buyers don’t need to worry.

Wobbles are a result of poor tolerances between columns of standing legs.

Every standing desk will wobble a little – because the columns must have slight gaps to nest inside each other – but premium desks costing more than $1,000 should not wobble much at all.

Ascent’s Jiecang-sourced frames are known in the industry for excellent stability, and I’m not surprised that the desk passes the wobble test with flying colours.

Side-to-side stability is more noticeable, but it’s also the one you need to care less about, as your hands are far less likely to introduce lateral forces into your workspace.

6. Excellent 100-Day Trial.

Above: Omnidesk offers one of the best 100-day trials in the standing desk industry.

If you’re nervous about buying a $1,000+ desk, you can do so knowing you can return it at very little risk to you.

It will refund the cost of the desk but not the cost of the original shipping to your home.

3 Things I Hate About The Omnidesk Ascent.

Despite its strengths, the Ascent has several quirks and downsides:

1. Clunky User Manual.

Above: Any questions?

I’ve assembled a lot of standing desks in my lifetime. Some had atrocious manuals (looking at you, EverDesk), while others were outstanding (a nod to Desky).

Omnidesk’s is somewhere in the middle, leaning towards the bottom end.

Competitors (e.g., Stand Desk) have recently upped their user manual game with guided video walk-throughs. Omnidesk’s small and confusing Ikea-style booklet looks nasty in comparison.

2. High-Ish Price Point.

Above: The Ascent arrives at your doorstep in 3 pieces. A strong person will lift them easily, but those not used to lifting heavy loads will need an extra pair of hands.

Starting at around $1000 for the base Bamboo and increasing to over $1800 for hardwood options, the Ascent is definitely an investment.

It’s priced on par with other premium standing desks like UpDown Pro and Desky Dual.

While the pricing is sharp compared with competitors, it will be out of reach for people on a shoestring budget.

3. Supersized Desktops.

Above: the 153x76cm desktop is great for large spaces, but may overwhelm small home offices.

Every action has an opposite and equal reaction, right?

While I view the extra 2-3cm in width and one cm in depth as an advantage, I live in a reasonably spacious apartment, using the master bedroom as an office.

In fact, a couple of years ago, when I lived in a much smaller Bondi flat, I found the standard 150x75cm size overwhelming, and cut my desk down to 150x65cm.

Technical Specifications.

Key engineering facts:

Is the Omnidesk Ascent A Good Buy?

Is the Omnidesk Ascent worth splurging on? Yes.

If you’re tired of slouching over your kitchen table, it’s a significant upgrade.

The company markets it as a pinnacle of standing desks, and they’re almost correct.

It’s a very, very competent product.

Gorgeous to look at, well priced and covered by an excellent 10-year warranty with a 100-day trial, it gives the competitors a great run for their money.

I ranked it in equal second place, together with Stand Desk and Desky, in my “best standing desks” review.

Steven