While browsing through my local Officeworks, I spotted an attractive, reasonably priced standing desk. It offered a compact (120 X 60 cm) desktop with a tray, front-mounted charging ports, and an 8-year warranty. All for $499. What’s not to like?
By the way, an almost identical standing desk also sells under the Flexispot Comhar brand name globally, and is also available in Australia. The main differences are:
- Different choice of desktop colours.
- Addition of a crossbar between the legs.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Attractive Looks. Modern design will elevate your home office. | Flimsy Frame. The standing desk sways and wobbles a lot, especially side-to-side. |
Built-In Height Control Panel. Adds to the desk’s modern, minimalist look. | Particle Board Desktop. Very much Ikea grade. |
Low Price. Almost half the price of premium standing desks like UpDown and Desky. | Single Motor. A dual-motor setup is expected at this price point. |
Disclaimer.
Unlike my other standing desk reviews, this one is based on observations I collected in the Officeworks shop. I did not purchase this desk. Instead, I spent about 30 minutes at Officeworks studying its features, raising and lowering it and doing my best to assess its usability.
Reasons To Buy The Officeworks Otto Newhaven Standing Desk.
While not without serious flaws (which I’ll discuss below), the desk does have redeeming features that we need to discuss.
1. Attractive Design.
Above: the tapered legs look nice, but the thickness of the sheet metal in the legs is a concern.
Let’s be honest – most standing desks look the same. You get two metal telescopic legs, a desktop and a controller.
The Officeworks Otto Newhaven follows the same well-worn recipe but breaks new ground with a front-mounted, integrated controller and a drawer built into the desktop.
Tapered legs are also a nice touch, adding to the desk’s soft, friendly appearance.
(Related: 17 Best Standing Desks In Australia).
2. Built-In Drawer.
Above: I placed a packet of A4 paper into the tray to help you see its dimensions.
I love this thing. Every standing desk I’ve owned had a drawer that hung to the side of the desktop like an afterthought.
And all of them – except the Dora Pro’s and UpDown Pro model – have been ugly.
The Officeworks Otto Newhaven desk solves the storage issue by building the storage drawer into the desk.
Usability definitely suffers, as the drawer is quite shallow and will struggle to accommodate anything more than a book, a couple of notepads and pens.
Expert Tip.
I suggest you avoid stuffing your desk drawer with junk, and only use it for items you use frequently. If you have a lot of stuff, get a 3-drawer pedestal (about $250-$300) and keep it by the side of your standing desk.
3. Front-Mounted Charging Ports.
Above: You get four height presets, two USBs and a digital height readout.
Most standing desk designs either lack USB charging ports or bolt them to the rear of the desktop using 3rd party accessories.
(Related: Steelcase Migration SE Pro Standing Desk Review).
Officeworks’ Otto Newhaven, meanwhile, allows you to charge your phone and accessories via two front-mounted ports: one USB-A and the other USB-C.
Nothing ruins the look of your minimalist desk setup faster than a couple of charging cables running across your desktop.
Reasons To Avoid The Officeworks Otto Newhaven Standing Desk.
As you may have suspected, despite its attractive design and fancy electronics, the Otto Newhaven has left me with a bad impression. Let’s discuss its major flaws.
1. Wobbly Legs.
Above: The desk wobbled even at this relatively modest height.
Sturdiness is the #1 priority for people who buy standing desks. Unfortunately, the Newhaven desk fails this test miserably.
Important!
The frame feels flimsy, with thin stamped sheet metal all around, resulting in noticeable wobble. Side-to-side movement is especially pronounced and is obvious even at moderate heights.
The chunky desktop exacerbates the issue by creating a high centre of gravity.
Yes, it’s true that all desks wobble a little bit due to tolerances built into their telescopic leg mechanisms, but the Newhaven is by far the wobbliest desk I’ve ever come across.
Even the $270 Artiss standing desk (my pick for the best cheap standing desk) is considerably more sturdy.
2. Single Motor.
Above: a single motor is not a deal-breaker, but I expect to see dual motors at the $500 price point.
Again, comparing it to the Artiss, the budget $270 Artiss model has a solo motor, but its premium $380 variant has dual motors.
Remember that maximum load weight capacity is a useful proxy measure for the desk’s endurance and longevity.
Even if you don’t exceed the maximum weight rating, the motor will have to work much harder to lift the weight than dual motors on a desk rated at 150kg.
How The Officeworks Otto Newhaven Desk Stacks Up.
Compared to other standing desks on the Australian market, the Officeworks Otto Newhaven is a mediocre product.
Price | 2/5 |
Build Quality | 2/5 |
Aesthetics | 4/5 |
Cable Management | 3.5/5 |
Ease of Assembly | 4/5 |
Extra Features | 4/5 |
Warranty & Returns | 4/5 |
OVERALL | 3.4 |
Technical Specifications:
- Desktop size: 120 X 60cm
- Warranty: 8 years.
- Metal finish: powder coating.
- Minimum height: 72cm.
- Maximum height: 122cm.
- Maximum load: 50 kg.
My Verdict On The Officeworks Otto Newhaven Standing Desk.
The Officeworks Otto Newhaven (aka Flexispot Comhar) standing desk is the queen of mediocrity. The $499 price point is hard to justify when the desk wobbles as much as it does and can only lift 50kg with its single motor.
Its particle board desktop surface is typical Ikea-grade stuff. It is reasonably OK to the touch, but nothing exciting.
Meanwhile, the desk’s compact 120X60 desktop size makes it most suitable for apartment buildings and small home offices. Don’t expect the desk to accommodate two people, or a lot of equipment.
Steven
Sam says:
Hi.
I am considering buying an electric standing desk. I have a large 44 inch monitor and am concerned about monitor wobble. Which desk and setup do you recommend?
Sam
Steven McConnell says:
44″ is huge – and side-to-side wobble is your biggest enemy. But most premium standing desks in Australia have minimal wobble. Search for “best standing desks in Australia – Arielle” in Google to find my comprehensive review of all standing desks – it will help you make the right decision.
Steven McConnell says:
You can buy either an UpDown Pro, KLIK, or any of the Desky or Omnidesk models – and you’ll be very happy.
Kyle says:
Hi Steven,
Great articles so far (I have read this one, the Magnus Pro, and the top desks of 2025), all in my quest to choose the best WFH desk.
When it comes to the UpDown KLIK vs Pro, would you say one is more stable than the other? Also, in terms of the frame/leg finish (black), do they both appear to have a similar look and finish?
These seem to be the main deciding point for me as I will be opting for the integrated cable management and hardwood option with either desk. The controller and speed of the desk does not bother me much at all.
Cheers,
Kyle
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Kyle, that’s what I also deliberated about for a long time. I was worried that the KLIK would wobble more. TBH they’re the same. Like all premium desks, both wobble a bit when extended near max height and loaded with a lot of equipment.
The leg look is very different, however. The Pro is much more chunky. Shape of the leg is almost square, while the KLIK’s is a more delicate rectangle. If you have a smaller space, the KLIK may be the better choice, as it will look less dominating.
Kyle says:
In terms of stability, how does the KLIK and Pro compare? Are you able to determine which is more stable/solid? I am not really concerned about the controller or speed of the motor but definitely want the most stable of the two. I was under the impression that the Pro is more stable due the “bulkier” frame but it’s hard to tell if it’s any better than the KLIK.
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Kyle, that was my #1 question when comparing these two standing desks. I was also originally under the impression that the Pro would be more stable, but my testing revealed that both are about the same.
CK says:
Great review(s) – I’m almost 40 (and no PC gaming) but just bought this desk. Would’ve liked the Steelcase Migration SE Pro but am priced out!