A monitor stand is one of those accessories you don’t really think much of until you actually start using it. My neck and overall posture improves just by virtue of propping up my gaming monitor to better match my eye level, but you can do that with a riser (or even a stack of books). A more sophisticated option is a monitor stand that also doubles up as an input hub with easy-to-access USB ports and even an HDMI passthrough – you’ll also make some extra space by getting your monitor’s base off the desk. This isn’t a new thing, of course, but Razer put out its own spin on what’s tried-and-true.
The Razer Chroma Monitor Stand is certainly a fantastic one-of-those since it’s well-built, good-looking, and has some RGB lighting as a treat. But color me surprised – it’s expensive. I suppose it’s a theme across much of Razer’s catalogue as it has consistently put out quality products in recent years, you just have to be willing to pay the Razer premium.
Razer Chroma Monitor Stand – Design and Features
The Razer Chroma Monitor’s dimensions come in at 19.7 inches (500mm) wide, 3.1 inches (78.5mm) high, and 8.3 inches (210mm) deep, which is a decent size as you can plop most monitors on it without a problem. It’s also wide enough to store full-size keyboards and most laptops underneath, which helps create more desk space if need be. It has rounded edges which means you won’t exactly get the full width to put stuff on top of it, but that tiny loss is negligible.
But what’s really nice about Razer’s stand is that it covers a wide space with a minimal physical footprint – its strong aluminum construction holds up to 44 pounds (20kg). It sports a thin profile that’s about a quarter-inch thick across the entire frame, yet weighs 5.5 pounds (2.5kg) which makes it feel dense. There are also little rubber pads on the bottom to protect your desk against scratches.
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You’ll find the USB hub on the right side of the stand which includes two USB-A 3.2 ports and one USB-C port alongside the RGB control button. By default the RGB button cycles through seven different lighting patterns, but you can tinker with the effects to your liking with Razer’s Synapse or Chroma software.
On the back-right side of the stand is where both the USB-C power port and HDMI 2.0 passthrough are located. The packaged USB-C cable is quite short at just 3.3 inches (1.0m) and is just barely able to reach the USB-C port on my PC – if you have a spacious setup, I suggest having a longer Type-C to Type-C cable ready.
Razer Chroma Monitor Stand – Functionality and Value
Well, the Razer Chroma Monitor Stand does exactly what its name implies: it holds up a monitor admirably. I’m using an old 28-inch 4K Acer monitor that weighs about 12 pounds and despite its large circular base, I still have room to put a controller and some tiny figurines on top of the stand. Considering that I play a ton of games with a controller and like to rest my hands atop my desk mat, sliding my keyboard underneath the stand made it easy to create space.
The sleek and slim aluminum build is a beautiful and understated look, and the bright RGB light strip on the bottom creates a pleasing underglow that I actually really enjoy. There are 28 individual lighting zones and Chroma Studio lets you tinker with each one individually with various patterns, colors, or reactions. It’s a nice way to spice up your desk’s aesthetic without looking gaudy. Synapse and Chroma software suites are fairly streamlined nowadays so applying more sophisticated lighting effects is fairly simple, although customizing your own lighting pattern gets tricky since it’s sometimes hard to tell when certain options take effect.
You’ll get a lot of utility out of the stand if you primarily use a laptop, too. Propping a laptop up on the stand prevents hunching over the screen and gives you space to use a proper keyboard. The port expansion also goes a long way for connecting devices like mice, headsets, keyboards, or anything with a wireless receiver, or transferring data via USB. Having an extra HDMI helps make connecting an additional monitor easy as well – while my work laptop has an HDMI-out of its own, the Razer stand acts as a USB-C to HDMI converter without taking up another port. It’s especially helpful with something like a MacBook that only uses USB-C ports. It’s a neat feature, although it has limited, to no, use with desktop PCs.
Here’s the thing: the Razer Chroma Monitor Stand is $200. You have plenty of other choices for monitor stands with USB ports that are significantly cheaper. And at higher price ranges, you’ll easily find ones with better functionality like more USB ports, an SD card slot, an audio jack, an ethernet port, or even wireless charging for mobile devices atop the stand. I’m looking at several options like Anker’s 10-in-1 monitor stand or the multi-purpose 12-in-1 version that are decked out with those kinds of additional features, which makes them much more versatile. However, they just don’t look nearly as great as Razer’s stand with its thin profile and vivid RGB lighting. It’s not a bad prospect if you want to choose form over function, though.
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