Flexispot E7L L-shaped adjustable standing desk review

On May 2, 2024By Vaseline

Desktop space is a common request from gamers who work and game in one place, but when you’re working with limited space or an awkward corner, expansion isn’t always easy. That’s where an L-shaped desk comes in, like this Flexispot E7L Pro, which I found easy enough to set up and cram into a corner for a major upgrade.

The Flexispot E7L Pro is a motorized sit/stand desk, with three motorized legs that can support up to 150 kg, including whatever desktop you screw into it. That’s the thing: you can buy a desktop from Flexispot for $90/£200, or you can bring your own desktop to mount on the three-legged frame, which costs $550/£370. For this reason, the exact size of the desk is variable, but the frame is made for this, which will become clear during construction.

With the standard Flexispot desktop, this review piece is 180 cm long, with the shorter part of the ‘L’ measuring 120 cm. The entire desktop is 60 cm deep. All told, there’s enough room for a couple of monitors (with their own stands), keyboard, mouse, a laptop, drink, plant, and assorted soldering supplies that I’ll probably need to put away.

The building process of the E7L was relatively simple. It comes in three large boxes, including the Flexispot desktop, which is optional. Each box contains a lot of cardboard for recycling and only a small amount of spongy synthetic packaging, which is good to see.

E7L specifications

Flexispot E7L desk setup in an office. — (Image credit: Future)

Type: Adjustable sit/stand, motorized
Number of engines: 3
Desktop size: 180 x 120 cm (60 cm deep)
Maximum load: 150 kg (including desktop weight)
Adjustment height range: 63.5 – 128.5 cm
Price: $640/£570 (including desktop)

Once unpacked, the next step is to assemble the frame. This requires each of the three legs to be placed into the metal frame that runs underneath the desktop and screwed together tightly. An Allen wrench is included, but having your own will make you look more like a professional. I enlisted my partner’s help to hold the pieces and get it together, and while I’d say you might struggle to build this solo, it’s better to have someone help you if you can.

After the legs come the feet (I’m still talking about the desk here) and then some supports for the desktop. That’s most of the frame together, a process that probably took about 15 minutes, although it won’t feel solid until the desktop is plugged in, so we’ll move on from that.

The Flexispot desktop is made of laminate chipboard, but feels high-quality. It comes in two separate parts, both identical planks measuring 120 x 60 cm. With this laid out on the floor, it was simple enough to flip the frame onto the desk and position it correctly on the board. A bit surprising was the lack of screw holes for this particular desk, although it appears the desktops are not designed for a specific desk. Some of the accessories I’ll screw into the desktop later will have pre-screwed holes to align them, but for the main desktop it’s up to me and my electric screwdriver.

Flexispot E7L desk setup in an office.

(Image credit: Future)

There’s a lot of wiggle room built into the E7L’s adjustable frame, and the process isn’t actually that intimidating. Make sure the two desktop pieces are aligned, then extend the frame to fit within 8 inches of the desktop edge. If you loosen a few bolts in the metal frame, it slides in and out with ease, making minor adjustments to the desk’s length quite easy. A few minor adjustments later and you’re ready to drive the included screws through the holes, starting from the outside and moving inward.

Please note that you will need to take into account the angle your L-shaped desk will need to fit in while it is upside down. You can adjust the alignment of this desk to fit your space, but it does take some thought when putting it together.

Admittedly, this is still the clumsiest and most challenging part of the build, and can be trickier if you build the desk alone. I also wouldn’t want to do without an electric screwdriver, which many households will have access to, but some won’t. If you want a simpler desk, there are those without this kind of DIY aspect.

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However, this DIY assembled desktop appeals to me. It’s completely reasonable to remove this desktop, should it become damaged or ruined by spicy ramen broth (it is white, after all), and replace it with wood of your choice. You may be able to save some money from the start with your own desktop, if you can find something suitable for less than the price of Flexispot’s which costs $90/£200. Even an old kitchen top.

However, choosing your own desktop will affect the overall weight this desk can support. A heavy piece of wood will sink under the maximum weight, and a very thin piece of wood or composite can weaken the maximum supported weight as a whole. Just something to consider.

Now that the desk is mostly assembled, that is not the case rather still stable. The desktop comes with two metal plates that I mounted over the gap between the two desktop pieces to strengthen it. Which it did significantly. Now that all of that is in place, the final job is connecting everything up.

Flexispot E7L desk setup in an office.

(Image credit: Future)

Inside the box are cables not so different from a PCIe power cable, running from the power supply and controller (mounted into the metal frame with a few screws) and to each of the desk’s legs and handy control panel. If you’ve ever built your own PC, this is much easier than any power supply, and you don’t even have to worry about cable management. Simply connect all the cables into the appropriate holes and cover the cables with one of the two metal covers.

The control pad is one of the bits with pre-drilled holes in the desktop, so aligning it with the edge is no problem at all.

Just don’t forget to connect the power cable from the external socket before covering the controller unit. But who would make such a mistake, right?

All you have to do is turn the desk over – easier said than done. The desk weighs quite a bit, and the L-shape does not make life any easier. Although without wear, fractures or broken limbs, my partner and I managed to get him onto his feet and gently rock him into place. Once everything was in place, I attached the cable tray (£40 extra in the UK, but included with the US model), which hangs from the back of the desk and can be mounted in different places to get as close to the desk as possible to be. electrical outlets in your home.

Flexispot E7L desk setup in an office.

(Image credit: Future)

Buy as…

✅ You have a difficult corner to work and play in: If you want to make better use of a tight corner space for your gaming PC or home office, the slim but roomy E7L desk is a good choice.

✅ You want to fit your own desktop: The included desktop is the E7L’s weakest point, but don’t worry: you can always ditch it for a desktop of your choice. And this ease of installation means you can easily replace the desktop if you ever need to.

Don’t buy if…

❌ If you don’t have an electric screwdriver: If you need a plug-and-play desk without any tools, look elsewhere. An electric screwdriver is virtually a requirement with the E7L. I wouldn’t want to screw the desktop to the frame without one.

And hey, it worked the first time. The touchscreen buttons offer presets for sitting, standing and a few customizable additional profiles, and there’s responsive up and down controls. The desk is adjustable from 63.5 to 128.5 cm, which is sufficient reach even for a 1.80 meter man like me. You could be a lot taller and still have enough freedom of movement for a comfortable and ergonomic standing position. A child lock is a useful addition, as someone with curious cats, and there’s even a Type-A USB port built into the side. The agency claims it won’t crush anything beneath it if it encounters any resistance.

The E7L offers much more usable space than the two desks I had previously installed in this room. It is quite comfortable to also use the entire desktop at 60 cm wide. The space on the left side of the desk (the short part of the ‘L’) allows for much less clutter on the main table. action zone in front of the gaming monitors (what I call the area where my mouse and keyboard go).

All in all, there’s a lot of flexibility in the Flexispot, which lives up to the name, and the final desk feels sturdy. Considering it’s much cheaper than high-end gaming desks like the Secretlab Magnus Pro or Corsair Platform:6, I like what the Flexispot offers for the money. It’s suitable for most home offices, even if it doesn’t feel as premium as the Secretlab, and it makes the Corsair’s quality feel a little lacking in comparison, given its high cost. While it’s more expensive than some true budget choices (our pick for the best budget gaming desk is the E1 from Flexispot) for a motorized L-shaped desk it seems completely reasonable given the quality on offer.