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Forbes Review: Hexcal Studio Is The Ultimate Power And Lighting System For Office Desks
Mark Sparrow
Date: Jun 21, 2024 (updated Jun 25, 2024)
Original Post: Hexcal Studio Is The Ultimate Power And Lighting System For Office Desks (forbes.com)
Support your monitors and computer on this deluxe desk organizer from Hexcal. The Studio has eight
This week I’ve been spending some time with the Hexcal Studio, not such much a technical gadget as a piece of deluxe office furniture that just happens to incorporate one of the best cable-management and power systems ever produced. It also includes an advanced lighting system, USB ports and a heavy-duty stand that can support a couple of large displays.
The Hexcal Studio doesn’t come cheap but this is the kind of product aimed at senior executives and their assistants. If the editor of Vogue wanted a desk organizer, this is probably what they would choose. The product oozes high quality and has been well thought out by its team of designers.
Hexcal is based in Albany, NY, and the team behind the Studio comprises scientists, engineers, architects and artists from prestigious institutions such as Oxford, UPenn and Imperial College, as well as industry giants like Google, Boeing and Deloitte. It’s a pedigree outfit and the company is seeking to revolutionize the way we think about how we work at our desks. Workspaces are a hot topic now that more of us are working from home.
The Hexcal Studio is an incredibly stylish desk riser with built-in and adjustable LED lighting,
This Studio is made with top-grade materials. It’s ideal for someone who needs a slew of technology on their desk but who doesn’t want a spaghetti jumble of power and data cables that can make a stylish office look like a regional generating station. The Hexcal Studio consists of a long and deep plank-sized trestle table with an inner compartment where cables and power supplies can be safely stowed away.
The Hexcal Studio sits on stylish stainless-steel legs which come in short and medium lengths. The two sets of legs can be joined to increase the height of the riser. There are even optional extra legs to raise the height even further. The Studio is imposing and measures 47.3 inches long, which is around 120cm. I took one look at it and thought: “I’m going to need a bigger desk!” The width and depth of the Studio measure 8.7 inches.
The top cover of the Hexcal Studio is removable and can be locked in place with two clever magnetic latches. Inside is a compartment where you can neatly coil all your power cables and store the power bricks for displays, printers and other peripherals. I reviewed the UK version of the Hexcal Studio, which has standard UK power sockets, but there are also versions for North American, EU, and Australian outlets, which all take their power from a master cable that plugs into a mains power supply.
Inside the Hexcal Studio there is a compartment for storing power supplies, cables and hubs.
The power supply can power up to 14 items with a total current of 15A, which is enough to run most of the items you need like computer, displays, printer, hubs and other gadgets. It also has USB charging ports and a wireless charging pad.
The eight power distribution sockets sit neatly at the back of the Studio and the cables and power supplies can then be routed through one of the most well-designed cable management systems I’ve ever seen. As well as supplying power to all the outlets, the mains cable also powers two USB charging ports and that large Qi wireless charging mat on the left side. The mat can be used for topping up wireless earbuds and smartphones. Finally, the power input is also used for the advanced integrated desk lighting system that’s built into the Hexcal Studio.
An LED strip light runs the full length of the Hexcal Studio and there’s a control panel of buttons for adjusting the settings on the underside of the Studio. The LED is in three segments: left, center and right. The segments can be controlled separately and there are controls for intensity and temperature. Settings can be saved and favorited for recall later. There are also controls for resetting the entire power distribution system which can shut off the power to all the devices. This makes things so much easier when you are shutting everything down at the end of the day.
The Hexcal Studio's built-in LED strip lighting can be controlled with levels for brightness and
On the left side of the Hexcal Studio, there is a USB-C charging port with up to 9V and 3A output. There is also a second power port but using a legacy USB-A connector. Finally, two USB-A hub ports that can carry data back to your host computer via ports inside the Hexcal Studio’s internal compartment.
The Studio is rated to support a weight up to 45kg which is more than enough even for a couple of 32-inch monitors. As mentioned, the Hexcal Studio is as much a piece of furniture as it is a technology product. You’re paying for premium materials and a stylish design that will give any office an edge in situations where looks matter. No one wants to walk into a design studio or architect’s office and see messy cables everywhere and little thought is paid to how the work environment works.
Incidentally, if the price of the Hexcal Studio puts you off or is too big for your desk, then consider the Anker 675 USB-C Docking Station as an alternative. It offers some of what the Hexcal Studio has but in a smaller form. However, there is no lighting and neither do you get superb cable management. However, it’s a much cheaper alternative but still well made.
The extenders for the Hexcal Studio's legs are stored in the internal compartment so they won't get
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