As the name suggests, the Secretlab Heavy Duty Monitor Arm is designed to provide sturdy support for your display of choice. With its robust build and adjustable features, it’s perfect for those who demand a reliable solution for keeping their monitor at eye level or out of the way when needed.

The product boasts some of the most straightforward and pleasingly concise names I’ve encountered during my reviews recently? Okay, technically it’s known simply as the Secretlab Magnus Monitor Arm – Heavy Duty Version – but let’s be real, everyone refers to it by a simpler name. This innovative monitor motion mechanism truly exceeds expectations, providing robust support for massive screens weighing up to 16 kilograms, justifying its strong reputation. While it may not be a budget-friendly option, it consistently meets its expectations.

While many top-tier gaming monitors come with built-in stands or are supported by lightweight monitor arms, screens larger than 32 inches often require specialized support that typical monitor arms cannot provide. For unbridled mobility without worrying about your valuable display screen’s safety, the Secretlab arm is an ideal choice for those seeking flexibility and protection in tandem.

Specs

Design

The Secretlab Heavy Responsibility Monitor Arm exhibits a conventional fuel lift-assisted design in terms of its primary function. The device features a foundation plate supporting one arm that oscillates, another arm that rotates around the initial axis while providing vertical movement, and a monitor mounting plate that can spin and pivot. With the two arms and mounting plate working together, you can effortlessly relocate your monitor in multiple directions – upwards and downwards, forward and back, sideways – and even pivot it into portrait mode for enhanced display versatility.

While this arm stands out from the crowd in several respects, it’s the two key departures that truly set it apart. The primary feature of this device is the inclusion of two large adjustment handles, allowing users to manipulate the screen without having to physically grasp their prized display. While designed for superior strength, this construction ensures a robust and durable framework that far surpasses lower-cost alternatives in terms of resilience.

While some monitor arms feature a design where the arm sections pivot within simple plastic-lined tracks, acting as a sliding surface, these particular models actually rely on precision-machined ball bearings to ensure smooth rotation and durability. Despite the substantial weight of massive display screens, the arm movements remain unhindered, enabling them to swing freely and efficiently.

The arms and mounting plates boast an exceptionally high level of craftsmanship, featuring robust metal construction throughout. Carefully handling the massive unit, weighing in at over 6 kilograms, is crucial due to its substantial size and unfettered movement courtesy of the bearing joints, which can cause it to flop ominously when fully assembled.

While the supplementary motion handles prove useful, they unfortunately don’t integrate seamlessly with larger screens due to being inaccessible from the front. With these removed, you’ll effortlessly eliminate the strain on your arm and create a more streamlined appearance for the setup.

The setup process is remarkably straightforward thanks to a two-part mounting system, where you first attach the plate to your monitor’s VESA mount and then simply lift the monitor onto the arm, allowing the dented sections on the backside of the plate to rest onto the bent hooks along the underside edge of the arm’s mounting plate. The slight twist of the lock secured the high cabinet, ensuring the monitor’s safety.

To accommodate varying display designs, Secretlab offers supplementary extension screws that enable users to securely fasten the mounting plate to areas where the VESA mount is recessed into the screen, as depicted in the accompanying image. These displays had an unexpected demand for additional shows, as the hooks on the arm where the mounting plate resides were prone to interfering with the VESA mount’s recessed edge, causing issues. After reviewing a dozen displays, we found that all but one were compatible with these extension screws.

Initially, the introduction of the product led to widespread confusion, as it took us an inordinate amount of time to discover the required extension screws; during this period, we futilely tried to accommodate the mount on a variety of unrelated displays without success. That’s on us for failing to thoroughly study the handbook from the outset, unfortunately. When fully assembled, this mounting system is remarkably robust and effortlessly simple to both install and remove.

This arm’s premium offering includes a cutting-edge cable administration system. While many similar monitor arms allow for cable storage, this one stands out by utilizing magnetic attachments that enable effortless and quick cable management, making it simple to switch between configurations.

To enhance stability, the monitor features effortless up-and-down movement, which can be fine-tuned using an Allen key socket located on the secondary arm – specifically, the fuel-carrying one – accompanied by a visual indicator showcasing the adjustability range.

Efficiency

As soon as the arm was arranged, I was completely won over by the flexibility to accommodate 34-inch ultrawide screens, surprisingly heavy 32-inch displays (reminiscent of the pictured Iiyama), and even 49-inch superwide displays sitting securely, while still maintaining a great deal of freedom of motion. After all, one of the key benefits of using a monitor arm is that it also provides valuable desk space.

While the bottom plate presented here exhibits remarkable durability, paired with an intuitive adjustment mechanism allowing for effortless tightening from above, its relatively compact footprint may raise concerns about load distribution and pressure on the arm/monitor setup. To ensure optimal performance, you should carefully attach this plate to a robust and stable desktop surface.

As expected, Secretlab’s Magnus Professional desk performed exceptionally well during our rigorous testing. Subsequently, we notably preferred the fact that the Heavy-Duty Arm aligns seamlessly between the lift-up cable management section at the rear of the Magnus Professional and the desktop in front. It aligns seamlessly over the magnetic desk pad on the desk without a hitch.

Worth

Right here’s the nasty bit. This monitor arm prices $349. While that may seem expensive, most high-quality options on Amazon typically cost around one-third the price of this item. While having experience with budget-friendly monitor arms, I can confirm that they often compromise on build quality to keep costs low. Therefore, if you’re seeking a reliable and durable option, the Secretlab’s monitor arm is a worthwhile investment.

Verdict

Getting past the sheer value of this monitor arm proves surprisingly effortless. For many enthusiastic gamers, the cost may outweigh that of their newly acquired monitor. Even if you’ve invested in a premium, high-performance gaming monitor, the Secretlab Heavy-Duty Monitor Arm offers an ingenious way to install and control your display. This product is exceptionally well-constructed, boasting a straightforward assembly process and intuitive operation. If budget constraints were lifted, unlocking desktop ergonomics would require liberating the desktop house, permitting unhindered monitor movement using the necessary adjustable arm, a luxury many of us can only dream of enjoying.

Options

VIVO Extremely Vast Monitor Arm

While online marketplaces like Amazon offer a wide variety of heavy-duty monitor arms from lesser-known brands, The VIVO Extremely Vast Monitor Arm offers impressive value for its modest price tag of just $109.99, allowing it to support screens weighing up to a substantial 44 pounds. Despite our lack of experience with this model, we cannot vouch for its build quality or user-friendliness.

Kensington Single-Monitor Arm with VESA Mount: Sleek and Versatile Desk Solution.

After examining the Kensington Single Monitor Arm with Vesa Mount personally, I found it to be a respectable product for its price point, offering solid quality at an affordable cost. This high-quality arm is easy to utilize and currently priced at $88. Notwithstanding its limitations, this cart is designed to handle a maximum load of approximately 19.8 pounds.