Having the right monitor stand can make a big ergonomic difference. The Razer Monitor Stand Chroma delivers a slick such solution with a nice USB hub, but its high price and compact dimensions limit its overall appeal.

Price and Availability

The Razer Monitor Stand Chroma is available from Amazon or direct from Razer for $200. In the box is the aluminum stand, USB-C to USB-C cable, and paperwork.

Design: Slim, Sleek, and Maybe a Bit Small

The Razer Monitor Stand Chroma features an aluminum body that’s smooth and cool to the touch. Although it can be a fingerprint magnet, it’s a beautiful, premium, and sturdy design that justifies at least some of the stand’s relatively high cost. Anti-slip rubber feet give it some grip.

Even with a generous weight capacity of 44 lbs, at only 19.7-inches long and 8.27-inches wide, you’re going to struggle with fitting larger monitors, especially those with wider stands. For instance, the INNOCN Ultrawide 40-Inch 40C1R monitor is well under the weight limit at 35.5 lbs, but its stand base has a depth of 9.5-inches, causing some of it to hang over the stand’s platform.

While many smaller monitors will fit just fine, it’s still important to measure, as the type of stands modern displays come with vary greatly, from flat bases to flared legs. Of course, you don’t have to use the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma strictly as a monitor stand, especially because it has other uses thanks to the built-in USB-C hub.

Since I recently upgraded to an INNOCN 49Q1R 49-Inch OLED Curved Gaming Monitor, there was zero chance of it fitting on the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma. Instead, I placed the stand between the monitor and my Alienware Aurora R15 GD desktop computer, creating a platform where I could situate my Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, three soft juggling balls, a light-up solar system crystal ball, and two gaming mice. Underneath I have various cables, a USB power hub, and the Razer Kraken V4 Pro OLED control hub, although for more traditional under-monitor usage it’s a good place to store a keyboard. In the way I have my stand setup, I have the remappable Chroma button and three USB ports facing out and within easy reach.

Ports: Three’s Company

Razer says the Monitor Stand Chroma has a four-port USB-C hub, which is technically true, but a bit misleading. On the stand’s right side is the remappable Chroma button, two USB 3.2 Type A ports, and one USB 3.2 Type C port. On the rear right is a full-size HDMI 2.0 port and a USB Type C connector that’s meant to connect to one of your computer’s available USB-C ports.

Unfortunately, the included USB-C to USB-C is short at around 39-inches, so if you don’t replace it yourself with something longer, you’ll need to ensure that the stand is relatively close to your computer. To make use of the stand’s HDMI 2.0 output, your computer’s USB-C port will need to support video output, which in this case maxes out at 3,840 x 2,160p 60HZ. For full functionality of the hub, Razer recommends a USB Type C host that supports 15W rather than the 7.5W of some such connections.

While you get about 2.4-inches of space under the stand’s platform, the side and rear ports are in a small enclosure, so you lose about 0.5-inches of height in that area. Since this enclosure is only just over 4-inches wide, you don’t lose that much under-shelf space, but it’s still something to note. While I would have liked the rear ports to be flush with the back of the stand rather than inset, it’s understandable that Razer preferred that the side ports be more centered for aesthetics and reach.

Software: Only for Windows

As is the standard with Razer products, you’ll need Razer Synapse, which is only for Windows 10 or 11 computers, to control the Monitor Stand Chroma’s side button and RGB lighting. Because there’s not much functionality with the stand, the available options in Razer Synapse are more limited compared to some of their other products.

The down-firing RGB light strip near the front of the stand can have its brightness adjusted and various effects applied, similar to other Razer products. These options include a single static color, various color cycles, and other effects like responding to audio.

More interesting, at least to me, is the Remappable Chroma Button, which is referred to as the Multi Function Button in Razer Synapse. By default, it cycles through the various chroma effects, but can also be set to toggle the lighting on or off, mimic keyboard or mouse functions, run macros, launch programs, and more.

To me, it’s a shame that Razer only included one such programmable button on the Monitor Stand Chroma, because it really is a useful feature. As it is, it can be hard to choose just one function to execute when there are so many possibilities, but I’m glad I at least got one.

Performance: Great USB Hub, Mediocre Brightness

Not all USB hubs are created equal, so it wouldn’t be out of the ordinary if the one included in the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma was not quite up to the task. Fortunately, Razer is known for their performance-oriented gaming gear, so it’s no surprise, then, that the USB hub in the stand is also an excellent performer.

There were no noticeable performance hits using the ports on the hub when connected to a rear USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port on my desktop computer. For instance, using EaseUS DiskMark to evaluate a Lexar D40E 256GB USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type C flash drive on my desktop’s front USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, I measured a sequential read speed of 33.74 MB/s and sequential write speed of 22.96 MB/s with a 244.783 and 360.005 ms delay, respectively. Using the USB-C port on the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma, I measured a sequential read speed of 34.26 MB/s and sequential write speed of 23.80 MB/s with a 241.467 and 345.802 ms delay, respectively.

I’ve found some of Razer’s RGB lighting solutions to have relatively high power draws and be picky about power sources, so it’s not a shocker that, since there’s no separate power source for the stand, it’s a bit dim, even at 100% brightness. It’s certainly not a deal-breaker and should be thought of as more of a bias light than something that might dramatically enhance a gaming experience, for instance, but I was at least hoping for the option to go brighter than it does.

Even with the lackluster brightness of the lighting, I’m still happy to have the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma. You just kind of forget that it’s there, which is a good thing, and when I do need it, like to press the Remappable Chroma Button to launch a program or to quickly use one of the three available USB ports, it performs flawlessly.

Should You Buy the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma?

The Razer Monitor Stand Chroma does exactly what it says it does and does it well. It’s an attractive, solid stand that also functions as a USB hub and accent lighting. Of course, even putting the high price aside, it’s not perfect, as its relatively small size is limiting, the included USB-C to USB-C cable is short, and the brightness of the lighting is limited.

If you make sure your monitor’s stand fits within the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma’s dimensions and don’t mind spending a bit lavishly on your work or play space, this is definitely a step up from the usual plastic display platforms. It’s just a shame that Razer couldn’t have done just a bit more for the price.