Last updated: November 19th, 2025
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 4 Years Later).
Quick Verdict.
Above: The Omnidesk Ascent is a stunner. I liked the black MDF top a lot more than I expected.
Important!
Omnidesk has been experiencing stock shortages. All of their desks have been “sold out” since September. I’ve contacted them for clarification, and they reassured me that they’ll resolve the issue by mid-December. I’ll update you as soon as I know more.
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.
Important!
You get all the features you’d expect in a premium standing desk, such as four programmable height presets, mobile app, collision avoidance, dual motors and a cable management opening.
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.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Extra Large Desktop Size. You get an extra 2-3 cm in width and 1 cm in depth, depending on size, to create a more generous desktop area. | Price of Accessories. Start ticking the list of (admittedly seductive) options and your total price will skyrocket. |
| Curved Slimline Legs. A nice design touch that elevates the desk’s aesthetics without compromising stability. | May Not Fit Small Spaces. The super-sized desktops are great for large rooms, but may struggle to fit in small apartments. |
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.
6 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.
(Related: 9am Robin Pro Standing Desk Review).
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.
Did You Know?
You can view the Ascent standing desk at the company’s Melbourne showroom before buying it. Apart from Desky and UpDown, Omnidesk is the only Australian standing desk company that offers this option.
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.
Expert Tip.
You can also spec your Ascent with a cool motorised 3-socket power riser that allows wireless charging. But at $360, it’s outside my budget – because I didn’t buy enough Bitcoin earlier in the year 🙂
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:
| Height Range | 60-125cm |
| Motor Speed | 60mm/sec |
| Max Load | 130 kg |
| Frame Weight | 37.5 kg |
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
Cody says:
Hi,
Do you know 9am HOME standing desks?
I want to know how about their desk.
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Cody, I’ve never seen them before but I took a quick look for you and I’m 90% certain it’s another Jiecang desk. You can tell by the design of the feet and the lowest height (60cm). Desky, Omnidesk, Stand Desk are all pretty much the same.
Cody says:
Which one do you mean? Pesk or Robin series? I am interested in their Robin series, it looks unique and beautiful. I can’t find anyone like it in Desky.
Steven McConnell says:
I was talking about the Pesk Series. Robin series does look attractive and unusual, but I’m usually not a fan of tubular legs as they tend to be more prone to wobble. I can’t say whether this is the case in this instance, as I haven’t physically tested the desk myself. The 10 year warranty is reassuring, however. I wish they offered a risk-free trial to let you test out the legs!
Cody says:
Thank you very much, Steven; I will take your comments into consideration.
Erin says:
Do you know much about Kangadesks? There are Australian as well.
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Erin, its another Jiecang standing desk. Same as Desky, Omni, Stand Desk etc. The design of the feet and 60-125cm height range gives it away. The desk appears to currently be currently on sale for $299, which is an absolute steal and I’m wondering why they’re selling their stock at 1/3 of RRP. Regardless, even if they’re about to go bust, I’d still buy one at that price.
EDIT: Be careful. Fakespot showed these warnings while browsing their website: “Multiple eCommerce scam experiences detected, Poor customer service”
Suzy says:
Hi – given all the desks are so similar, is it possible to mix a desk from one brand with a drawer accessory from another? I don’t like the UpDown desk metal drawer (hangs very low so likely to impede leg space) but don’t mind the Desky one – can these be mixed and matched?
Thank you for the reviews! Super helpful.
Steven McConnell says:
Yes, it’s possible to play switcheroo. But you may want to consider that UpDown design is curved, so it will hurt less if you do jam your thighs into it. Desky’s meanwhile, is quite angular. Pro tip: you can also find a bunch of inexpensive slimline desk drawers on Amazon.
jason says:
I’ve spent far, far too much time agonising over which desk to get haha, definitely more than a week. Very happy that you’ve added the omni-desk to your catalogue. That was the one I was considering the most untill you came you with a review saying that it was more wobbly!
Anyways, do you have an opinion on the new updown desk KLIK Series? Its advertises to be significanlty ligher while having better (on paper) specs
Thanks!
Evelyn says:
Hi Steven, great blog post – thank you! I’m also wondering whether you have any opinion or insights on the new UpDown Desk KLIK series…they come at $100 more expensive (for the same size/table top) but seem to be ‘better’ according to the UpDown website.
Cheers!
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Evelyn, thanks! I will have a full review of the KLIK up around February 2025. It’s not necessarily a better standing desk – but it is lighter, less bulky and promises easier assembly.
Ben Clements says:
Hi. I’m interested to know more about whether I actually could fit the Desky cable management system in the Omnidesk? I’ve had a look at the omnidesks in person at the showroom and it looks like their cable management trays screw on (vs the clip in at the edges of the desk with the Desky tray). The desky system also has the power plugs that snap into place in the tray.
So I’m curious to know if you have you tried it, and if so how did you do it please? Or is your thinking that you’d just buy the power boards and plugs from Desky and rest them in the Omnidesk tray?
I’m stuck, because I prefer the Omnidesks but I really love the idea of a single power lead!
Thanks
Steven McConnell says:
I just had a new Omnidesk delivered to my house. Give me about two weeks to assemble it, test it out and report back.
Sunni says:
Thanks for your very helpful (and funny) review. I used the information to to buy a Desky standing desk in record time – no consumer agonising for weeks, as is my usual practice. It has a pneumatic up/down mechanism, so lets see how that goes.
Steven McConnell says:
Ha! You’re welcome, Sunni. Glad I helped you cut down on the agonising. The pneumatic mechanism is an interest choice – let me know what you think of it?
Amber says:
Hi Steven,
Really great and insightful review. It was refreshing to see something that wasn’t filled with ChatGPT affiliate link garbage!
I’m curious about your opinion on L-shaped standing desks? I know that Desky, UpDown and a few other retailers offer these types of desks and I would assume they are more strong and stable, but I’m not an expert and I can also imagine the opposite being true due to the irregular shape. I’ve been looking at these types of desks because I think their shape suits my space the best. Do you have any knowledge on this or do you only have experience with regular rectangular shaped desks?
Steven McConnell says:
Thanks, Amber. Did you know that I have a L-shaped standing desk review? Search for “arielle best corner standing desks” and you’ll find it.
Melissa says:
Hi Steven great article thank you!
I’ve spent way to much time on this, and I’m now leaning towards the Artiss thanks to your review.
I’m wondering if you have any insight into ergonomic chairs for the home office also?
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Melissa, thanks! The Artiss is a great budget pick. I’ve written numerous ergonomic chair reviews – Google “arielle best ergonomic office chairs” to find them 🙂
tania says:
hey are there any other manual desks apart from the ikea ones you don’t recommend, that you would recommend? I prefer the idea of not needing electricity to move between stand up and sit down but maybe that doesn’t really exist?
Steven McConnell says:
Hey Tania, all of the premium brands (UpDown, Desky, etc) offer a manual crank model. Definitely the way to go if you want to avoid electronics. But TBH I suggest you reconsider. Electronics are very reliable these days – and hand-cranking your standing desk is more annoying than you’d expect.
Adam says:
Hi, do you know much about the UpDown Klik vs Pro system?
Steven McConnell says:
The company has shipped their new Klik standing desk to me yesterday. Stay tuned!
Scott Long says:
You mention in your review of the Up Down Pro that you would get the cable holes and grommets done, but it looks like your (very pretty) Messmate desk doesn’t have them. Is your recommendation a hindsight reflection, or did you choose not to spoil the look of the desk with the grommets? Without the grommets can you can still run the cables behind the desk and into the cable management tray? Cheers!
Steven McConnell says:
Scott, I said in the review that grommets and holes are a great idea, not that I have them. They’re less important if your standing desk faces a wall. But if you have an open-plan style home office like mine, they’ll make your workspace look much cleaner. PS You can still run cables into the tray without the holes and grommets – the cables will simply run behind the desk.
Isaac Jenkinson says:
Hello,
Have you had a chance to try the new UpDown Lyft model? Curious about its stability vs the pro.
Steven McConnell says:
Isaac,
Not yet. On first glance, it looks like a budget alternative to the “big brothers”. It’s probably pretty good (UpDown has a reputation to maintain), but I’m of the opinion that buying cheap means you pay more in the long term. I’d save up another few hundred bucks and get the Pro. You can often get a melamine or bamboo-topped model on sale for around $900.
David says:
This is a great site and will help me decide on which desk to buy. Have you heard any good/bad reviews about the Blacklyte Atlas Lite or Ergo-Rise II from BDO furniture?
Steven McConnell says:
David, thanks for the kind words. Never heard of the Atlas Lite until you mentioned it. Looks like a decent gaming desk that borrows heavily from Secretlab Magnus – but why not just buy a real Magnus instead?
As for the Ergo-Rise – looks like a decent desk, but its height controller is outdated. The best standing desk brands have upgraded to OLED controllers.
Ben says:
Thank you for writing this review Steven; really helpful to break through the BS.
By any chance have you used or hold an opinion on Vertilift desks?
Steven McConnell says:
You’re welcome. God, I haven’t even heard of them – but thanks for the heads-up. There are too many standing desks on the Australian market. Obviously I haven’t used these in person, but I’m almost certain they’re yet another Jiecang variant (i.e., frames are identical to Desky). You can tell by the identical max and min heights, as well as the design of the foot.
Eloise says:
Hey Steven, I was recommended the Alwyn or Octavia (Living Fusion) 140cm sit and stand desks from Temple and Webster which don’t even get a mention in your review. Would you bother with any of their brands ? (I may have dodged a bullet by finding your review!)
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Louise, I haven’t had first-hand experience with the T&W standing desk (must add one to my list!).
However, I had a look through the specs for you.
It doesn’t look too bad, actually – considering the price. If you can’t stretch your budget to ~$950 for an entry-level UpDown or Desky, this could be a good option.
Jordan says:
Hi Steven, Thanks for the review! I am starting out with a home office set up and need a new chair and sit stand desk. I’m a student but I prefer to buy things I know will last, but I don’t have too much experience with sit stand desks. I initially thought to buy the Artiss but have considered buying the Acacia UpDown Pro+ so I know it lasts and I don’t have to buy another desk in a couple of years. Is it worth the price jump for me? Thanks!
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Jordan, the Artiss and the UpDown desks sell at two very different price points. If you have the budget, I suggest you stretch to the UpDown standing desk – you won’t regret it.
jason says:
I know you’ve disqualified the flexispot e7 pro so the e7 max plus would probably also be disqualified, but a quad motor 4 column desk frame at a prices competitive with UpDown desk is incredibly tempting. Plus 15 year warrenty (if the company lasts that long)
Have you had a chance to take a look? Its like half the price of the desky quad!
Steven McConnell says:
Hey Jason, great observation. I haven’t included quad standing desks here because they’ve traditionally attracted a niche consumer – someone who needs to place a tonne of gear on the desktop and doesn’t mind paying 2X the usual price. But Flexispot’s sharp pricing on their quad desk certainly changes things. I haven’t seen one in the wild yet – but the specs look promising.
Steven