Flexispot EF1 Review: The Budget Standing Desk That's Actually Good Enough
The EF1 is the E7's cheaper, single-motor sibling. For a 120cm box-room setup at under £150, we found it holds up better than expected.
Who this review is for
You want a standing desk. You’re not spending £400 on one. You’ve read our Flexispot E7 review, and the price stopped you in your tracks.
The EF1 is what you buy instead. It’s the cheaper sibling in the same lineup, same company, same app of warranty policies. Single motor instead of dual, 2-stage frame instead of 3-stage, thinner desktop. Still electric, still memory presets, still fits a box room.
What you lose versus the E7
The E7 has two motors (one per leg) driving a 3-stage frame. That’s what gives it the rock-solid stability at full height. The EF1 has one motor that drives both legs via a cross-shaft, and the frame only has two stages of telescoping. Practically, that means:
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The EF1 has more wobble at standing height. We measured 6mm to 8mm of deflection at 115cm with a single 27 inch monitor, versus 3mm on the E7 at the same height. Noticeable if you type hard, invisible if you type normally.
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The EF1 doesn’t go as low. Lowest height is 73cm versus the E7’s 60cm. If you’re shorter than about 5’4”, this matters for seated use.
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Weight capacity is 50kg versus the E7’s 125kg. Plenty for a monitor, a laptop, and a keyboard. Tight if you’re running a full workstation PC tower on the desk with dual monitors and a monitor arm.
What you keep
Everything else that actually matters.
The memory panel on the right-hand side has three height presets plus an up/down rocker and a digital height readout. Anti-collision sensor works (we tested by leaving a coffee cup under the desk during a descent; it stopped within about 3cm of contact). Motor noise is under 50dB, which is quieter than our kettle.
The 120x60cm desktop is a matte-finish chipboard panel. It’s not the premium bamboo or solid wood you’ll find on a £500 desk, but it’s flat, scratch-resistant, and looks fine. Over three months it’s picked up no visible wear.
Fit for a small room
120cm x 60cm is the Goldilocks size for UK flats. It fits against the short wall of a standard 2.4m x 2.7m bedroom with clearance for a chair and a bedside unit either side. The cable tray under the desk (not included, buy separately) sits between the legs and doesn’t interfere with your knees.
The frame extends slightly past the desktop edge, about 2cm on each side, which matters if you’re fitting it into an alcove. Measure twice.
Assembly
Two boxes: frame and desktop. Combined weight around 35kg. Frame is pre-assembled in larger sections than you might expect: the leg telescopes come assembled, the cross-brace is one piece, and you bolt the top spreaders to the underside of the desktop using pre-drilled holes.
Full assembly solo took us 65 minutes with a screwdriver. Could be faster with two people. The Allen keys are supplied, a Philips screwdriver is not. Have one to hand.
Three months in
No mechanical issues. Motor still moves smoothly, height preset accuracy is still within 1mm of set point, and no creaking has developed in the frame. The screws holding the motor cross-bridge to the legs need a quarter-turn tighten after the first month; worth checking regardless of which desk you buy.
Battery backup during power cuts: none. The desk just stops where it is. Not a problem in practice, but worth knowing if you’re in a flat with dodgy wiring.
How it compares
Against the Flexispot E7 (£319), the E7 is the better desk. Stabler, lower minimum height, higher weight capacity. It’s also roughly three times the money. If your budget stretches, the E7 is worth it. If it doesn’t, the EF1 gives you the essentials for a fraction of the price.
Against the VASAGLE Electric Standing Desk (£159 frame only), the VASAGLE frames are cheaper but the motor is louder, the controller is less responsive, and the warranty is 1 year versus Flexispot’s 5. You get what you pay for.
Against the IKEA BEKANT Sit/Stand (£440), the BEKANT is better made but twice the price. If you can walk into an IKEA store and sit at one, you’ll understand why it costs more. If you can’t justify that, the EF1 wins on value.