Thermaltake Level 20 BattleStation RGB Gaming Desk Review

1. Introducing Thermaltake BattleStation2. Specification and Build3. Closing Thoughts4. View All Pages

We are confident that Thermaltake built the Level 20 BattleStation RGB Gaming Desk for their own purposes as a way of showing off Thermaltake systems at shows such as Computex and CES. Thermaltake has a history of making huge cases and some of the modded systems they show are simply enormous, so when we ask the question ‘Who needs the ability to lift 150kg?’ the most likely answer is ‘Thermaltake themselves.’

Naturally the BattleStation requires RGB and needs to integrate with other Thermaltake hardware and in that sense the desk is a success, however the way the RGB connects to the controlling system is messy. We were unimpressed that the lighting control stopped working when we shut down the laptop that was used to run the iTake software.

It seems the most obvious idea that the desk lighting should continue to run in the current selected mode and that you want a Mute/Dark button to shut it off whenever you like. Instead the desk has controls for Up and Down plus four presets for saved heights. We really do not see the need for a specific button to reach your chosen setting as it doesn’t seem difficult to simply keep an eye on the LCD display as you adjust the height of the desk.

This is clear evidence to us that the built-in controls for the motorised rise/fall are part of the original desk while the RGB side of things has been added afterwards. At a certain level this is what we expected to see, however this is most unsatisfactory when you consider the price of the BattleStation which is massively expensive at £1,199. We simply cannot contemplate paying four figures for a piece of furniture with an MDF top, regardless of whether it has RGB lighting or not.

In the event the price was reduced to, say, £600 then we might be able to talk turkey. That is still a significant amount of money, however it is the right ballpark for a motorised rise/fall desk. No doubt Thermaltake will point out the colossal load bearing ability of the BattleStation and we would have to concede that point. You may well want to show off your heavy new custom PC in which case the BattleStation is very likely a good purchase. Most of us simply have no need for a desk that can carry so much weight and as a result we do not need to pay the price.

Buy the BattleStation for £1099.99 inc VAT HERE

Pros:

• The motor control can handle 150kg.
• Solid construction – BattleStation does not rattle or shake.
• Thermaltake iTake software does a good job with RGB.

Cons:

• BattleStation costs £1,199.
• RGB lighting requires a constant USB connection.
• This is a big, heavy piece of furniture.
• Assembly is laborious and the user guide could be improved.

KitGuru says: Thermaltake BattleStation is big and bold but also hugely expensive.

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