REVIEW – In a sea of budget furniture options, it can be hard to find the goldilocks zone of quality at a price point that won’t break the bank. The small but mighty Workstream by Monoprice Computer Desk has some surprises built in, at an equally surprising price.
What is it?
The Workstream series is the office furniture/equipment lineup by Monoprice. Running the gamut from conference cameras to standing desks, Workstream has a wide selection of options to equip your workspace.
This review is of the Workstream by Monoprice Home Office Steel Frame Computer Desk with Solid-Core 4-foot Desktop and Accessory Attachments (product number 43564). That’s a lot of words, but it covers the bases of what this desk… brings to the table (I’ll see myself out).
In addition to the desk and frame, the package also includes a headset mount, cup holder, and cable management tray.
What’s in the box?
- Desk surface, frame, and accessories
- Assembly tools and hardware
- Instructions
Specifications
| Maximum Weight Capacity | 220 lbs. |
| Type | Computer desk with accessories |
| Desktop Dimensions | 47.2″ x 23.6″ |
| Height | 29.5″ |
| Accessories | Cup holder, headphones holder, cable tray, wire grommets |
| Frame Material | Powder coated steel frame |
| Desktop Material | Solid engineered wood core with melamine surface |
| Package Dimensions | 50.6″ x 27.0″ x 5.2″ |
| Package Weight | 39 lbs. |
Design and features
The Monoprice Workstream Computer Desk arrived well packaged, and quite easy to assemble. I was able to do the full assembly myself in about fifteen minutes. All of the frame assembly components, in addition to the headset and cup holder accessories, lined up perfectly to their designated attachment points. The cable management tray did not have pre-drilled pilots. At first, I thought this was in error, but in reviewing the install instructions the pilot holes aren’t noted in the diagram like the others. It wasn’t difficult to install by hand without the pilot holes, but it would have made the installation even easier.
The legs and braces feel very solid, and the feet on each leg are adjustable to ensure a level surface. The desk surface comes in at just under three-quarters of an inch thick and is made out of plywood (aka engineered wood core). Two grommets are found at the rear of the desk, one on each side. The corners of the desk are angled off, and the center of the desk is concave in the front.
As advertised by Monoprice, the footprint of the Workstream Computer Desk tracks towards the smaller side. I’ve paired the desk with a Dell 38″ curved ultrawide display which almost goes edge to edge. In this configuration I could fit a 15″ laptop and Nintendo Switch with a mouse and keyboard, but there would be no place to put a desktop tower. With a different monitor, a small to mid-size tower should fit fine, and the surface certainly could accommodate a console such as an Xbox or PS5.
The headset mount and cup holder are thoughtful additions. With a smaller surface to work with, having a dedicated place for these items helps ensure you can maximize the available real estate.
Cable management of the Monoprice Workstream Computer Desk is pretty good out of the box. The dual grommets coupled with the included cable tray provides a range of flexibility, with the tray comfortably holding a power strip. Some additional raceways in the legs would be a welcome addition to have the ability to fully hide cables down to the floor.
What I like
- Easy assembly
- Solid build with quality components
- Thoughtful accessories
What I’d change
- Built in cable raceway in the legs to offer additional cable management options
Final thoughts
Sometimes, you just need a small, solid desk. This budget option from the Workstream line at Monoprice is worth considering if you’re after a fixed-height desk with a small footprint.
Price: $119.99
Where to buy: Monoprice
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Monoprice.
