Corsair Platform:4 Desk Review

The Platform:4 is Corsair’s reimagining of a high-quality and sophisticated desk and workstation area, serving as a smaller alternative to their renowned, but expensive Platform:6. Much like it’s larger sibling, the Platform:4 comes in multiple variants each with extra accessories that may be worth picking up depending on the kind of setup you’re going for. Additionally, you have the option to choose between a sit-stand version, providing extra accessibility for a home office or gaming setup.

However, the primary concern we’ve got right out of the gate is the price. The Corsair Platform:4, with its adjustable black model, is priced at £999.99 in the UK and $899.99 in the US, which is a considerable amount more than the average FlexiSpot sit-stand desk, which typically costs around £500. This raises the question: What does the Platform:4 have to offer that you can’t get from a cheaper, but still very high-quality, adjustable desk? And that’s precisely what we’re testing and assessing in this review, to determine if the Platform:4 desk is truly worth picking up.

In this review, we’ve taken an in-depth look at the Platform:4, analysing its specs, design, assembly process, and features to see if the $899.99 MSRP is justifiable based on what’s being offered.

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Specification

At a glance, the Platform:4 has some solid specs. The desk surface measures 120cm long by 76cm wide, which is a solid size. You’ve easily got room here for a dual-monitor setup and space for a desk mat with no issues. Alternatively, the modular rail system that comes with the desk allows you to free yourself of any display stands by mounting them directly to the desk. The rail is also compatible with a vast array of different fixtures, so VESA mounting your monitors should be a straightforward process.

Although the Platform:4 is a fixed desk design by default, if you’ve spent the extra money for the adjustable version, you’ll find that the desk is very accommodating of different heights. At its maximum, the Platform:4 can be raised by 48 inches from its base height of 29 inches. This is easily done by pressing the buttons located on the right side, which are illuminated by LED indicators.

Underneath the desk surface is a small cubby which can store a power extension and all your cable mess. Corsair has also provided a small cutout towards the rear centre of the desk for cables to thread through, keeping them out of sight.

In terms of colour, the Platform:4 is available in three different materials, each with colour-matched legs to complement the aesthetic. The cheapest option is the Black Laminate, which looks fine but offers a more basic appearance. The version that Corsair sent us is the white legs with a Birch top, which gives it a much cleaner feel and look. The bonus is that if you have a white setup, this colour option caters to you. The last variant is a Birch top with a Dark Walnut finish, which gives it a deep brown and black look, for those looking for something a bit more sophisticated.

The main included accessory that you can leverage straight out of the box is the Modular Rail System. This spans the width of the desk and allows you to mount monitors, microphones and other items. It’s compatible with a massive range of mounts, offering plenty of versatility. Additional accessories, such as a pegboard mount, are available for purchase online but come at an extra cost.

As we discussed in the introduction, pricing is, in my opinion, one of the main caveats of this desk, which will be a significant consideration for a large number of prospective buyers. The $699.99 price tag for a non-adjustable desk seems high, considering you can purchase something similar from FlexiSpot for about $200 less. You can argue that the Platform:4 caters to those looking for versatility or a modular design, but I could say the same about some of the FlexiSpot options. It’s great that the Platform:4 is cheaper than the Platform:6, but I still feel there are similar desks in terms of look and feel that are more affordable than the Platform:4.

Corsair Platform:4 Design

Once the Platform:4 is assembled, it’s a great-looking desk, but that’s honestly what I’d expect for a £1099 price tag. The white adjustable legs complement the lighter-themed birch top quite well, making it a solid pickup for gamers and office workers with a white setup. In terms of feel and usage, the desk is significantly wider than it is deep, providing ample space for a large desk mat, desk ornaments, and, of course, peripherals.

I think the Platform:4 being only 76cm deep (or wide) is a bit of a limitation. A wider desk would provide more workstation space for someone, allowing certain users to work on tasks such as miniature painting or graphical design, both of which require a large surface to work on, which might be restrictive if you’ve monitors that aren’t VESA-mounted. However, I don’t feel this will be an ultimatum for most users.

Both the cubby and the modular rail mounting system feel sturdy once screwed in properly. The cubby is convenient because it’s easy to hide things away, keeping the overall look clean underneath and behind the desk. It’s especially handy for large power adapter strips as well.

The modular rail system allows you to install a variety of different accessories that clamp onto the rail. The desk comes with a monitor arm that supports up to 27 lbs. This means you’ll be limited in terms of size, because most displays larger than 34 inches are going to be pretty hefty and will likely cause the arm to sag. However, if you keep within this weight limit, being able to mount a monitor without any hassle is excellent, both in terms of convenience and the cleanliness it offers.

On the right side of the desk, you’ll find the adjustment controls used to raise and lower the desk legs. You’ve got two options when it comes to raising and lowering. You can use the up and down arrows to finely tune the adjustment based on your preferences. Alternatively, if you have a particular height in mind, there are two preset buttons labelled “1” and “2”, which will automatically shift to the desired height once saved.

Overall, the desk feels sturdy and strong. I like the lighter-themed design and the Birch top, and it’s great to see that it’s even an option in the first place. I think my only qualm with the design is that, considering the price, what’s on offer here seems quite basic. There’s nothing new or exciting here compared to the Platform:6, and while I understand that the marketing position is to offer a reduced set of features, this needs to come with a steeper price drop to make it a worthwhile purchase.

Corsair Platform:4 Assembly

Before you can enjoy your fresh new setup, the Platform:4 first needs to be assembled. Compared to assembling a gaming chair, building a desk can be quite lengthy and often complicated, especially when done by one person. We set up a time-lapse in the GeekaMedia office to record the desk being built. Overall, it took around 2 hours to assemble, with a few pauses in between.

The main criticism Zane had when building the desk was that the lack of a physical manual was somewhat disappointing. Corsair transitioned to online guides after their website underwent a facelift around 2023. I like the guides, but I can understand that some buyers may prefer A4 paper so that the instructions are immediately available.

The guide itself is incredibly detailed. All the parts are individually labelled, and as you progress through the steps, each part shows an accurate model of how it should be screwed in. The Platform:4 guide is almost reminiscent of a LEGO assembly booklet, with nice close-ups of specific steps that can be trickier to see. Corsair is simplifying the assembly process, which is evident from the guide’s level of detail.

Zane noted that the assembly itself was pretty simple. The desk provides all of the tools needed, of which you’re limited to a hex wrench and a hex-style Phillips head screwdriver. The only main point to note is that the desk is heavy. There are quite a few heavy parts, so it will be worth having an extra pair of hands to lift some of the heavier pieces and stand the desk up once it’s mostly assembled.

On the whole, I’m impressed with the effort Corsair has made to provide a seamless building experience with the Platform:4. This is something we strongly felt about with the Platform:6, so I’m glad this approach has continued through to this later addition.

Platform:4 Day-to-Day Use

After being assembled, James claimed the Platform:4 as his everyday desk in the office. He quickly set up his favourite OLED Alienware monitor and uses it as his main desk when he’s not filming videos in the studio.

James commented on the fact that the Platform:4 felt much sturdier than the Platform:6 when it came to the top. The Rubberwood top on the Platform:6 was much more susceptible to damage, whereas the Birch top on the Platform:4 is a much harder surface, unlikely to be damaged by minor dents and knocks.

Due to the length, placing down a large desk mat, mouse, and keyboard is incredibly simple, and there’s additional space for drinks, a microphone, a light stand, and other accessories. Furthermore, thanks to its sturdy design and firm feet, the desk wobbles minimally. Even during an intense gaming session, it would take a lot of movement to get the Platform:4 to shake.

Conclusion