I've reviewed several Razer gaming chairs over the years and have come to appreciate their style, adjustability, and overall comfort. Now, Razer is introducing a new line of gaming chairs that leans heavily into styling.

Meet the new Soma Chroma, a mid-range gaming chair with a racing-style design and integrated RGB lighting customizable via Razer Chroma software. The chair can be powered via a USB-C cable or a portable power bank, and it connects to your PC via an integrated Bluetooth connection or a 2.4 GHz wireless USB dongle included in the box.

But is beauty more than skin deep? Let’s take a deep look at the Soma Chroma to see if there’s more to see other than its flashy design to make it a contender among the best gaming chairs.

Razer Soma Chroma Specifications

Assembling the Razer Soma Chroma

This is the fourth Razer gaming chair that I’ve reviewed, so I could pretty much put one together blindfolded. From the packaging to the tools/accessories included, not much has changed. Inside the box, you’ll find:

• Fabric gloves for assembly (glued to the inner flap)
• Backrest and seat base (left and right arms pre-attached)
• Metal, 5-arm base
• Casters 5x
• Gas lift, tilt mechanism
• Allen wrench, screws, and plastic covers for left/right side arms
• 2.4 GHz USB dongle (attached to assembly guide)

The chair arrived in a massive box, and the actual weight listed on the shipping label as 70 pounds. Upon opening the box, I was greeted by a familiar sight: a pair of black-and-green work gloves for assembling the chair. It’s a nice touch, but I always toss the gloves aside because I prefer to work with my bare hands for a relatively simple task like this.

A large green cardstock assembly guide sits atop the components, with a tiny box containing the 2.4 GHz wireless USB dongle attached to it.

The seat base, seatback, and 5-arm base were all wrapped in clear plastic bags to protect the metal and fabric on the components during shipping. The first step was to insert the castors into the 5-arm base, and then to insert the gas lift cylinder into the base.

The next step was to remove the four screws that are preinstalled from the factory from the bottom of the seat base with the included Allen wrench tool. Once removed, I attached the tilt mechanism, reinserted the same four screws, and placed it on the 5-arm base. The seatback has two screws on each side that must be removed before you attach it to the seat base.

Once the seatback was attached, I reinserted the four screws and slipped on the plastic cover to hide the screws and attachment mechanism. I'll note that on Razer Iskur chairs, the plastic cover is secured with a single screw on either side, and the screw is covered with a tiny plastic plug. The cover on the Soma Chroma simply slides and locks into place.

Once the chair is fully assembled, you’re not quite done yet. You still need to get power to the chair for the RGB lighting to work. The chair includes a relatively short USB-C cord that hangs out the back. Razer also supplied me with a 10-foot USB-C-to-USB-C extension cable, which I used to connect to my desktop PC. However, this setup is rather cumbersome and requires continually fighting the cable as you move around your workspace.

My solution was to plug the USB-C cable from the back of the chair into a portable power bank, and then tuck it into the zippered pouch at the bottom of the seatback. This worked well, and is clearly how the chair is intended to be used — however, it does not ship with a battery pack, nor does it ship with an extra-long cable (Razer sent that separately). So you'll need to invest in a battery pack or an extension cable to use the RGB on this chair.

Razer Soma Chroma Design

The Soma Chroma introduces an entirely new design language for Razer gaming chairs. Whereas the Iskur line has a more organic design, with softer curves and radiused edges, the Soma Chroma is more angular—especially on the seatback.

The seat back and the base have recessed channels, which I assume would help to improve airflow under your buttocks and around your back. It's an interesting design choice, though I imagine the recessed channels in the seat base will also quickly fill with dirt, dust, and food crumbs. The same design is mirrored on the back of the chair. While previous Iskur chairs have used the same material on both the front and back, the back of the Soma Chroma is constructed of hard plastic.

You'll find a zippered pouch at the back of the seat base, which runs the full width. It's large enough to accommodate a portable power bank, so you don't have to be tethered to a long extension cord to power the RGB lights.

Speaking of the RGB lights, they are controlled using Razer’s Synapse software. I installed the Synapse app on my desktop computer and then plugged in the 2.4 GHz wireless USB dongle (the chair also has integrated Bluetooth LE, if you prefer to go that route). The Soma Chroma then showed up in the app, allowing me to configure it.

There’s a brightness slider and an option to dim the lights after a period of inactivity on the right panel. In the right panel, there are options to change the default effects pattern. You can configure more advanced effects using the Chroma Studio. As you might expect, you can sync the RGBs with your games, although the effect is not evenly remotely noticeable unless you’re in a dark room.

During the daytime, you’re not going to notice the lights at all, and the only people who will notice are your coworkers on Google Meet/Zoom/Teams calls.

Although you can control the RGB effects in software, there are also physical controls at the top of the headrest.

Razer Soma Chroma Adjustments and Comfort

The Soma Chroma features dual-density cold-cured foam for the seat cushion. It did a good job of conforming to my buttocks, as it's specifically designed to relieve pressure points. There's good thigh support for my 5-foot-10-inch and 161-ish-pound frame.

What you gain in RGB goodness, you lose in adjustability. There's no adjustable lumbar support — what you see is what you get. Razer said that the lumbar curve is designed to encourage a neutral position and reduce fatigue after long-term use. That may be true in theory, but my lower back begged to differ after sitting in the chair for 6 hours straight in an upright and "ergonomically-correct" position. This was never an issue for me with the Iskur V2, with its 360-degree lumbar support — or even with the Iskur V2 X, which has no lumbar controls.

The backrest is adjustable from its default 90-degree upright position all the way back to 155 degrees. I spent the majority of my time either fully upright or slightly reclined at about 100 degrees. Anything more than 100 degrees just doesn't feel natural to me in any gaming chair.

The Soma Chroma features 2D armrests, which are adjustable for swivel and height. The armrests have an up/down travel of 4 inches and can swivel in or out by up to 25 degrees. They're densely padded and were a comfortable home for my elbows during extended sessions.

The chair has a height adjustment mechanism via a handle located on the right side of the seat base. I preferred to leave the seat at its maximum height of 20.1 inches.

Bottom Line

The Razer Soma Chroma is an interesting chair for gamers who are already fully entrenched in the Chroma ecosystem. The Soma Chroma has full access to Razer’s software suite, so you can sync all your devices to suit your gaming (or other media) needs. The chair also features built-in Bluetooth LE and includes a 2.4 GHz wireless USB dongle.

The RGB integration is also well-done, with support for portable power banks and a zippered pouch on the back to discreetly hide it. You can also use a USB-C extension cord to connect the Soma Chroma to your PC, but it is a nightmare for ergonomics. Of course, the chair ships with neither a portable battery pack or an extension cord, so you'll need to purchase these separately.

On the flip side, the Soma Chroma isn’t as adjustable as some of Razer’s other chairs, as it lacks 3D armrests and lumbar controls. I also found that I had some minor lower back pain when using the chair for hours in my preferred seating position. Of course, your mileage may vary, but I haven't experienced this with previous Razer chairs.

And the other matter to consider is the $499 price. If you don’t need RGB wizardry, the Razer Iskur V2 X is $200 cheaper and just as good on chair fundamentals.

To celebrate July 4, popular gaming chair and desk vendor Secretlab is hosting an Independence Sale with up to $129 off its most popular products. Known for its distinctive gaming aesthetic and bomb-proof build quality, these premium chairs fetch a high price, so discounts like these are rare and not to be sniffed at.

● Check out all of the deals at Secretlab

I've used Secretlab exclusively in my office for years and couldn't ask for better. I have used its Omega, Titan EVO, and new Atlas chair as well as all of its desks and there's very little not to like. Here are the best deals on Secretlab's gear this holiday weekend.

Secretlab July 4 Gaming Chair Deals

I've been using Secretlab chairs since 2019, and I have to say they're some of the most comfortable and durable chairs I've ever sat on. They're all really easy to build and put together, and they all exude a bombproof build quality.

Secretlab July 4 Gaming Desk Deals

Secretlab's gaming desks all come with a unique integrated control unit that you can use to set the height of the desk. The intervals are precise, and there are profiles so you can save a number of different adjustments. They also have a unique magnetic ecosystem; the desks are entirely magnetic, so you can use lots of different magnetic cable tidies, headphone mounts, and desk accessories, as sold by Secretlab. You can see some below.

Secretlab July 4 Accessories

Secretlab July 4 Skins Deals

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Also, you can join the Tom's Hardware deals Discord for up-to-the-minute hardware deals.

We've rounded up the best gaming chair deals, with a heavy emphasis on chairs we've actually tested and reviewed. The good news is that almost all the chairs on our list of best gaming chairs are frequently on some sort of discount — the bad news is that we still can't recommend a single ultimate, perfect, one-size-fits-all solution.

Luckily, gaming chairs range in price, size, style, aesthetic, and even adjustment and comfort level, so you should be able to find your new favorite seat — even if you're picky. We're checking deals around the clock to find the best options and keep this page up to date, but do be aware that many of these deals can be fleeting, so you'll need to act quickly if you see one you are interested in.

Prime Day Gaming Chair Deals: Quick Links

• Secretlab Sale: Up to $119 off chairs
• Boulies Sale: Up to $350 off
• Andaseat Sale: Up to $250 off
• Amazon: Up to $225 off

Hottest Gaming Chair Deals

Office Style Gaming Chair Deals

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Also, you can join the Tom's Hardware deals Discord for up-to-the-minute hardware deals.

The Thermaltake Argent E700 gaming chair is currently on sale at its lowest price ever, just one day before Amazon kicks off its Prime Day sale. You can pick up the Ocean Blue variant for around $620, which is less than half of its original MSRP of $1,299.99. However, you'll want to act fast, as stock is limited and this may be your best chance to get your hands on one of the most premium gaming chairs inspired by high-performance race car seats.

• Check out this deal on Amazon

According to Thermaltake, the chair offers the aesthetics of a racing bucket seat along with the functionality and comfort of a modern lounge or office chair. In fact, the Argent E700 is currently our pick for the best-looking gaming chair for 2026. Designed in collaboration with Studio F.A. Porsche, the Argent E700 comes with a hard-body plastic shell design with a reflective, glossy finish. It also features genuine leather upholstery along with polished aluminum components, including the integrated side handles that are used for tilting and elevating.

As you can read in our Thermaltake Argent E700 review, the chair also offers a 4D adjustable armrest system, adjustable seat height of 41 - 53cm, a backrest that can recline from 107 to 126 degrees, and an adjustable headrest allowing users to fine-tune their seating position. Under the leather, the company has packed high-density molded foam that provides even weight distribution and firm body support while maintaining a sedentary posture. Other notable features include a class-4 gas spring for maximized safety and reliability during height adjustments, and a grade 5-star aluminum alloy base with 7.5cm caster wheels, which are suitable for both soft and hard floors.

The Thermaltake Argent E700 is far from being a budget gaming chair, but at its current discounted price of $619.80, it is considerably easier to justify than its original price of $1,299.99. The combination of premium materials, unique racecar-inspired styling, and high-end construction makes it a worthy option for anyone looking to add a statement piece to their gaming setup or home office. In case you missed this particular deal, you can also have a look at the AndaSeat Kaiser 3, which is currently $20 off. Also, make sure to head to our Prime Day gaming chair deals list for all the latest offers.

Join the Tom's Hardware deals Discord for up-to-the-minute hardware deals.

Best Tech and PC deals | Best gaming PC deals | Best RAM combo deals | Best 3D printer deals | Best RAM deals | Best gaming laptop deals | Best monitor deals | Best Wi-Fi Router deals | Best GPU deals | Best SSD deals | Best hard drive HDD deals | Best CPU deals | Best gaming chair deals | Best PC building tool deals | Best PC peripherals deals | Best filament and resin deals | Best motherboard deals | Best CPU cooler deals | Best PC case deals | Best Dell and Alienware deals | Best USB charger deals | Best gaming and productivity laptop deals under $1,000 | Best laptop PC deals

Secretlab has become a household name in gaming chairs in recent years, thanks to the success of its popular Omega and Titan Evo chairs. It's also found success with a premium range of gaming desks and a great ecosystem of accessories. Now, in 2026, the company is back with a brand new chair, and it might just be the one you’ve been waiting for.

The SecretLab Atlas is the company’s first foray into a “task-focused” ergonomic chair. While it's not quite what you might describe as an “office" chair, it is a decidedly less imposing and more streamlined chair for the discerning gamer — with a stronger focus on sitting upright at your desk and getting things done, rather than kicking back at 165 degrees and spilling Doritos all over yourself.

The philosophy is simple: the chair is designed to promote both focus and relaxation by letting you move seamlessly between a state of upright productivity or a more relaxed posture for rest. While previous Secretlab offerings have offered only “fixed” postures controlled by an elaborate array of controls, the Atlas is a more trimmed-down and focused chair that rocks back and forth as you shift your weight. While it still has many of the same hallmark features that make Secretlab’s chairs stand out — magnetic pillow, striking design, adjustability, and customization — it’s a chair that will look far less out of place in the office or the boardroom. In other words, the Atlas should prove the ideal companion to someone who likes to sit up and get stuff done.

Assembly

The Secretlab Atlas is the third Secretlab chair I’ve had the pleasure of assembling over the last few years. It comes in the same hefty box you’d get a Titan Evo in, and the parts are arrayed with the same care I’ve come to expect from Secretlab. Everything is packed extremely well, with sturdy cardboard inserts to stop everything from moving around. The chair arrived free of blemishes and marks, and there are a couple of trademark Secretlab goodies to get you started.

Notably, you get Secretlab’s trusty screwdriver (a personal favorite of mine), and instructions clearly laid out on a giant piece of glossy card, rather than a crummy white booklet.

Assembly can be done solo, but Secretlab recommends that you do the task with someone else. From unboxing to completion, it took me and my wife less than 15 minutes to assemble, and there weren’t really any aspects of the assembly process that absolutely required two people. You simply pop the wheels into the wheel base, insert the hydraulic piston into the wheel base, screw the Unified Motion System (the bottom) to the seat base, and then stick those two bits together.

The armrests don’t come attached, which is new for Secretlab as far as I remember, but they simply slide into the seat base and are fastened in with two screws on either side. Finally, you screw the backrest to the wheelbase (with four screws), and voila!

Everything slotted into place with relative ease, with no misaligned screw holes or anything requiring force, jiggling, or cajoling. If you’re stuck, an included QR code guides you to a helpful assembly video. The 12 screws required are all identical, so there’s no faffing around trying to work out which is which, and there’s an included allen key for tightening up each one if you want a little extra torque over the screwdriver. It's not as seamless as task chairs that come fully assembled, such as the Steelcase Karman, but it's pretty quick as far as chair assemblies go.

Specs

Design and Construction

Our review unit was the Large variant of the Atlas — specifically, the ‘Plus’ model with NanoFoam Composite (more on that later). Total height measures 50.6 inches (128.5cm), and despite a seemingly more generous sitting space, this chair is decidedly less imposing than my outgoing Secretlab Titan Evo. The slender backrest looks much more subtle and elegant.

The wheels are PU-coated casters, and the wheelbase is made from reinforced nylon rather than the Titan Evo’s aluminum. As such, the finish there is a little less premium, but this saves a ton of weight, which helps with assembly and moving the chair around your space. The heaviest model is just 55 pounds (25kg), which is roughly one-third lighter than the 80-pound Titan Evo. The large chair is rated for users up to 265 pounds (120kg) and between 5' 10" - 6' 5" (178 - 195cm). Below that, the regular size Atlas will work for any height below 5' 10" (178cm) and a weight of less than 220 pounds (100kg).

Overall, the chair feels extremely sturdy, although there’s a touch more play in the armrests than I’d like. Secretlab’s chairs have always felt absolutely bombproof to sit in, and the Atlas is no different.

The sweeping leather back looks really excellent, and is one of the best new design elements of this chair. The overall look and feel of the Softweave fabric is brilliant, although you can opt for the pricier leather if you so wish. As mentioned, the chair is noticeably lighter than Secretlab’s Titan Evo, so moving the chair around the office is much easier with this new model. It’s also got a much slimmer profile, so it certainly feels like it takes up a lot less space.

Aesthetically, the Atlas is much more muted than Secretlab’s prior offerings, especially in the Dune+ color on display here. As such, it’s going to look much less out of place on the floor of an office should you wish to take one to work. Otherwise, the less outlandish design will make it much more suited to a more neutral office space. The five regular colors, Dune, Moon, Cookies and Cream, Black, and Classic Black, continue this theme, as do the three other colors for the plus range, Black, Pure White, and Pure Black. No special edition Warhammer colorways or limited edition carbon fibre Lamborghini to speak of here (yet).

While the back of the chair is leather, the main material is Secretlab’s SoftWeave Plus fabric, which is designed to keep you cool during those long gaming sessions. Testing during a heatwave, I can confirm that the chair remains comfortable to sit in, even in warmer temperatures. Some users might prefer the feel and the wipe-down convenience of the Leatherette models; however, the SoftWeave is not desperately hard to keep clean.

The chair is controlled by two distinct arms that sit underneath the chair. The left side controls the lock/unlock mechanism for the chair’s reclining position, as well as the position of the seat base. The right side lets you adjust the height of the chair as well as the tilt force required to make the chair recline. The controls feel a little stiff and take some getting used to, especially the tilt force, but they’re nifty once you get the hang of them. Even users with long arms will need to lean to reach the adjustments, but the visual indicators on both arms are a welcome inclusion and an enormous quality of life upgrade.

Comfort and Adjustments

At first sit, the Atlas feels extremely comfortable. We’re testing Secretlab’s special NanoFoam composite — cold-cure foam layered with microfoam for extra softness and support. The chair is extremely forgiving, but also provides great weight distribution and support right across the seat base. Similarly, the backrest has a nice curve to it that makes sitting back very pleasant. The magnetic headrest is a new design for this chair and certainly does the job. The magnets also feel considerably stronger than previous offerings, so there shouldn’t be any worries about the pillow falling off.

I had the privilege of visiting Secretlab’s headquarters in Singapore ahead of launch, where they revealed, amongst other things, that most users tend to set the lumbar support on their chairs to the same setting. As such, lumbar adjustment is out with the Atlas. That might sound daunting, but it feels like they’ve got the default setting spot on with this one. Naturally, because it can’t be adjusted, it won’t work for everyone, but my considerably shorter wife found it to be just as supportive as I did.

Armrest height is controlled with levers that lock the armrests into place at your chosen height. The swivel doesn’t lock, but is adjusted through a series of set positions by simply twisting it. This requires a decent amount of force, so there’s no danger of moving them accidentally. The armrests also move forward and backward. This is a much easier adjustment; as such, you might find yourself pushing them out of position if you bump up against your desk. I position them all the way back, so this isn’t an issue for me.

The default upright position of the chair is a 100-degree vertical tilt, which does take some getting used to. Crucially, the backrest doesn’t move independently and can’t be adjusted with the lever you normally find on Secretlab chairs. However, this unlocks the Atlas’ party piece. Take the chair from locked to unlocked, and the chair can be tilted at will using just your bodyweight. The back rest and the seat base move asynchronously, so as you go back, the tilt increases at a faster rate compared to the base, opening up the chair and inviting you to rest more easily.

The unlocked mode is what the Atlas is all about, and it is super-refreshing to have a gaming/task chair that can be reclined or rocked in at will. I use the tilt force at its highest setting, level four, which means the chair rocks partway back, but not all the way, under my own weight. Level 3 is great for even more recline, for instance, if you want to kick back and play some Xbox with a controller. If you want to sit upright for max focus, you’re best locking the chair in its most upright position, as even at the strongest level of tilt force, I found the chair couldn’t hold me upright when I leaned against the backrest.

The armrests are very spacious and comfortable, although I do miss the fourth dimension of adjustment that lets you move them closer together or further apart. Overall, the chair is really comfortable for sitting, even for long periods of time. A large part of that is Secretlab’s NanoFoam, which distributes weight well, but does cost a little more than the standard foam finish, so bear that in mind.

Ultimately, this is a chair for sitting upright in, so there’s not much leeway if you like to sit off to one side or at a funny angle. That being said, the seat base is definitely the most spacious of Secretlab’s offerings to date, so if you want a bit more flexibility in how you’re sitting, this is the Secretlab chair for you.

Bottom Line

Overall, the Atlas is a really well-built and sturdy chair that is extremely comfortable to sit in. It lacks some of the premium finish of Secretlab’s other offerings, and isn’t quite as adjustable as the more imposing Titan Evo. However, it is definitely Secretlab’s most comfortable chair to date, and the rocking mechanism makes it the most enjoyable to sit in over long periods of time.

The office chair is a workplace staple that has seen dramatic evolution and change over the past 50 years. Gone are the hard plastic back chairs with thin foam seat pads of yesteryear, and in their place are a slew of options available for order at our fingertips. We live in the golden age of chairs, so much so that we have entire lists dedicated to the topic, such as our Best Office Chairs of 2026, to help consumers choose the perfect fit for their body and needs.

With so many options available, when examining a new gaming chair, it has become a bit of a process to parse out standout features that help separate it from the many, many other chairs on the market. The Autonomous ErgoChair Pro is one such chair. It offers many of the key features I would want in a gaming or office chair: headrest, back tilt, lumbar support and sturdy construction, but comes up a bit short in the area of overall comfort — placing it in the category of good, but not great.

Priced at $449.99 (£386.39), the Autonomous ErgoChair Pro provides solid back and lumbar support and a breathable mesh backing. Of course, this same mesh makes the seat less than ideal for long periods of sitting, with the overall lack of padding potentially being a pain point for those who work and play all day at a desk. That said, its sturdy build quality, lightweight construction and aforementioned overall frame support do make it a decent gaming or office chair.

Assembly

The ErgoChair Pro arrived at my doorstep in a single, large box. Packaging was well placed, ensuring that no parts were loose and tumbling around during shipping. The parts were also well laid out within the box, making it easy to unpack — a seemingly easy task that I’ve noted can become very convoluted with a poor packing system. Thankfully, Autonomous was on point in this department and unboxing only took a couple of minutes.

Out of the box, the ErgoChair Pro follows a fairly straightforward assembly process. Unlike its more economic counterpart, the ErgoChair Core, the ErgoChair Pro is easy to assemble at every step. Gone is the complicated headrest mounting system, with Autonomous opting for a slide lock system. The rest of the assembly is fairly straightforward with each piece fitting together well, with no notable misalignments of bolt holes or manufacturing defects.

Instructions are straightforward, offering good diagrams and a simple step-by-step assembly process. There are a few spare bolts in the kit, representing one replacement bolt for each bolt size included. This is appreciated greatly as someone who has, on more than one occasion, misthreaded a bolt and sheared the end, making it unusable.

The whole assembly took about 35 minutes with the included hand tool and was easily accomplished alone. While the instructions are included in the box, Autonomous has also made them available as a downloadable PDF on their site, along with an instructional video that highlights all of the chair's functions. It's smart and well-designed.

Specs

Design and Construction

Comparable to the assembly process, the design of the Autonomous ErgoChair Pro follows a fairly standard ergonomic chair design. This iteration of the chair follows that of its predecessor, the EroChair 2, in design and construction. The chair frame is composed primarily of dense plastic. This, along with a German-engineered mesh material that wraps the back, seat and headrest, helps reduce the overall weight immensely. As such, the overall chair weight comes in at a mere 48.50 pounds(22.00 kg).

As someone who shuffles a lot of chairs, often moving them between floors without an elevator, I appreciate this design feature of the ErgoChair Pro. Likewise, it also glides quite nicely along both hard floors and carpets, with the double-walled wheels rolling effortlessly across multiple surfaces. The combination of the chair's lighter weight and smooth wheel roll is ideal for spaces where people move from desks regularly, such as a call support centre or shift work-oriented office spaces.

Once assembled, the chair measures 29 inches (73.66cm) wide by 29 inches (73.66cm) deep, and is 46 - 50 inches (116.84 - 127cm) tall. I appreciate the slightly narrow overall profile, as it does work well in smaller spaces. Despite dense plastic being used for much of the framing, the ErgoChair Pro does feel quite sturdy to sit on. I haven't noticed any unintended chair rocking in my testing. Additionally, the chair arms feel sturdy and handle leaning weight quite well. Rated for 300 pounds (136.08kg), the ErgoChair Pro is much more accommodating than its entry-level counterpart.

The seat-to-base ratio is another well-thought-through aspect of the ErgoChair Pro. Like the ErgoChair Core, the seat-to-base ratio is well implemented. As such, it is possible to sit on the very edge of the seat without fear of it tilting forward and resulting in you sitting on the ground, wondering what happened. While this might seem like a small detail, I’ve tested plenty of chairs that don’t consider this feature, and it can actually become a safety issue if not well-designed. Thankful Autonomous has done an excellent job with this aspect of the ErgoChair Pro’s design.

The ErgoChair Pro comes with a host of control handles and buttons to manage its various adjustable points. While the armrest vertical lock release is easily accessible, and the headrest height adjustment leverages an easy-to-use click step system, I find the seat tilt, height and slide levers more difficult to access than those of the ErgoChair Core. While the ErgoChair Core positioned the chair arms for easy access to the levers, the ErgoChair Pro’s arm positioning actually hinders access a bit. This forces the user to reach much further than needed on the other model.

Cleaning the chair is fairly easy as well, thanks to the aforementioned plastic framing and mesh materials. Thus far, wiping any dirt and grime off the chairs has been as simple as a quick swipe with a Lysol wipe. The ErgoChair Pro also handles bumps well, with no notable scratches present despite having to navigate the tight space here at the office. The hard plastic holds up well.

While I like the overall look of the chair, I’m surprised to see that it lacks the Polyurethane(PU) Leather accents of the ErgoChair Core. This was a standout feature on the entry-level model that adds a premium calibre to the chair, and it's missed here. Despite the missing PU Leather accents, the ErgoChair Pro offers a clean and sleek aesthetic with the two-tone Cool Grey color offering a nice departure from standard black.

Comfort and Adjustments

Like the ErgoChair Core, the Pro version is designed to accommodate people of small to medium build. If you find yourself in the 5-foot-5-inch to 6-foot-5-inch range, the length and width of the backrest work well. The height-adjustable headrest accommodates this wider height range well, a missing element that restricted the Core. The addition of tilt control on the headrest offers further customization here, also.

On the note of tilt control, the ErgoChair Pro offers the same step lock tilt control present in the Core and provides 22° of tilt control. One notable feature of this system, which is only present in the Pro version, is the inclusion of a tension thread that adjusts the tilt resistance. A handle located under the chair allows for increasing and decreasing tilt resistance. It's a welcome feature that allows users to dial in the experience.

The ErgoChair Pro also offers lumbar support with a tension adjustment lever located on the right side of the back of the chair. While it essentially acts as an on/off switch for the lumbar support, though in testing, I’ve not found it to add or subtract that much from the overall support system.

This, as it was with the ErgoChair Core, is a bit of a problem area for the ErgoChair Pro. While I appreciate a good lumbar system in an ergonomic chair, the one present here is extremely limited in its adjustability. This translates to the system being limited in its usability for taller people. It's not uncomfortable by any means; it simply is very restrictive in its effective use cases if you happen to find yourself outside of a specific height.

Shifting to the seat portion of the user experience, as a mesh chair seat design, it's a mixed bag of results. On the one hand, seat depth and height adjustments are present and, like the tilt resistance handle, are located under the right side of the seat. Both work well and offer a good range of adjustment, with the former providing a two-inch depth adjustment and the latter offering three-inch height adjustment.

With this being said, there are two areas of concern. First, despite being comfortable for a few hours of use, mesh chair seats are simply not as comfortable as padded seats over long-term testing. I’ve been using this seat exclusively for the past two weeks and find myself needing to get up and move around more frequently than with padded chairs here in the office. With this being said, the ErgoChair Pro does come in a foam pad seat variant and is the version I would recommend.

It is worth noting that I primarily sit in an office chair, either with my legs stretched out in front of me, with my legs crossed or with one leg tucked under me while I sit. With mesh chair bottoms, as is the case here, there is extra pressure that is applied under the back side of the thigh that, over time, becomes uncomfortable due to the seat frame and lack of padding. As for sitting with one leg tucked under, the same pressure issue is applied now to the side of the ankle and along the calf. It's by no means unbearable, but it’s not as comfortable as it would be on a padded chair.

The other potential concern is that the seat dimensions (referring to sittable surface area) are 19 inches (48.26cm), which will work for small to mid build people. However, if you have a larger body frame, the ErgoChair Pro isn’t going to be a good fit. At 5-foot-9-inches (175.26cm) and 210 pounds (95.25kg), the ErgoChair Pro fits my body type well. However, I’m close to the maximum frame size that would comfortably fit in this chair, in part due to the aforementioned seat dimensions, as well as the chair arm distance, which also measures 19 inches (48.26cm).

On the note of armrests, I do appreciate the hard height lock system that is part of the ErgoChair Pro’s design. A single button located on the front underside of the armrest allows for quick and secure adjustments of the armrest height. As for horizontal tilt and slide, while I appreciated the soft step locking on the Core version of the chair, the ErgoChair Pro variant lacks this system and thus has no real lock feature. While both slide and horizontal tilt were fairly stiff when first testing the chair, as time and use have progressed, they have both loosened up. While they will stay in place once set it's easier to accidentally move them than on the ErgoChair Core.

Essentially, your mileage will vary. If you are someone who likes to sit with both feet firmly planted on the floor and is in the above height range, the ErgoChair Pro should work well for everyday office use. Small and medium-framed people should find this to be a fairly comfortable chair. While not as comfortable as a few other chairs here in the office, I’ve used it for the past two weeks for 6-7 hours a day and on weekends without any major issues.

Bottom Line

The Autonomous ErgoChair Pro is a solid mid-tier office and gaming chair that offers a reasonable set of features and adjustable elements. While it won’t accommodate everyone, it should work well for a fairly wide range of people. It's well built, feels sturdy to use and is comfortable enough to get you through a work day. The lumber support is a bit lackluster, and the mesh seat has the potential to be a pain point for people who don’t naturally sit with two feet planted on the ground at all times.

Priced at $449.00 (£386.39), the ErgoChair Pro is in line with many other chairs in its price range, offering similar features. This might be the biggest challenge for Autonomous, though. It's good, but it's average, lacking any feature that helps it stand out from other chairs in its range. It's still a solid option for its price point, and if you are looking for a lightweight, adjustable office chair, the ErgoChair Pro fits the bill, though I do recommend picking up the foam bottom version. For those looking for a bit more ergonomic comfort, I suggest checking out the Libernovo Omni.

Secretlab dropped a Mandalorian Edition to its Titan Evo gaming chair lineup on Star Wars Day, giving the company's flagship seat a chrome leatherette finish designed to mimic Din Djarin's Beskar armor. The chair starts at $664 and is available now in the U.S. and Canada, arriving less than three weeks before The Mandalorian & Grogu hits theaters on May 22.

• Check out the The Mandalorian Titan Evo at Secret Lab

In this special edition gaming chair, Secretlab has swapped the standard leatherette colorways for a silver chrome finish meant to approximate the look of forged Beskar steel. Beyond the color palette, the chair incorporates several references to Din Djarin's kit: visual elements drawn from the character's helmet, chestplate, and vambraces are worked into the seat's detailing, and the Mudhorn signet is embossed on the side of the headrest. On the seat base, Secretlab stamped the Mandalorian creed "This is the Way" in Mando'a, the fictional language of Mandalore.

Beneath the themed exterior, this is the same Titan Evo 2022 that Secretlab has sold for the last four years, which still ranks among the best gaming chairs. The chair uses the company's cold-cure foam seat, four-way L-Adapt lumbar support system, 4D armrests, and a magnetic memory foam head pillow with cooling gel. The Regular size fits users between 5 feet 7 inches and 6 feet 2 inches tall and up to 220 pounds, while the XL accommodates those up to 6 feet 9 inches and 395 pounds.

Secretlab's full accessory carries over, including the Titan Evo NanoGen upgrades and the Secretlab Skins sleeve system. The company also backs the chair with a five-year extended warranty when buyers share a photo of their setup.

The $664 starting price matches other licensed Titan Evo editions, such as the existing Empire and Stormtrooper variants. Pricing increases with optional add-ons. Unfortunately, no UK pricing or availability has been announced at the time of writing, and the chair is only available to purchase via the U.S. site.

The Mandalorian Edition joins an established lineup of Star Wars products from Secretlab. The company already sells Empire and Stormtrooper colorways of the Titan Evo, Secretlab Skins in Boba Fett, Jedi, and Ahsoka designs, and a Magnus Pro sit-to-stand desk featuring blueprints of the Millennium Falcon and the second Death Star.

Disney's The Mandalorian & Grogu opens in theaters on May 22, the franchise's first theatrical release since 2019's The Rise of Skywalker. If you’re looking for more Star Wars-themed gear for your gaming setup, we’ve got a full roundup of peripherals, games, and collectibles available for May the 4th.

The world's largest automaker has branched out into computer chairs with a limited edition model as part of The Crown Collection. Specifically, Toyota Boshoku, the car maker’s group dedicated to seating, interior components, filtration systems and so on, has produced the highly adjustable Crown Seat Desk Chair (PDF link) (machine translation). It is based on one of Toyota's most comfortable in-car designs – the Toyota Crown front power seat. Amusingly, the seatbelt buckle remains, but here it houses a USB-C charging port. Now the bad news… the chair appears to be a Japan exclusive, with a limited run of 70 units, and a price tag equivalent to US$3,500.

If you’ve ever wished your computer throne was as comfy as your car, you aren’t alone. The new Crown Seat sits atop a pretty long lineage. We note that Nissan collaborated with Itoki (which is working with Toyota here) several years ago to make Nissan GT‑R and Nissan Cube seats available to computer users. In Germany this idea also has some history, with office chairs inspired or derived by Porsche, BMW, Mercedes, and Recaro.

Back to this extremely comfy-looking Crown Seat, and the specs are very enticing. Powered adjustability, heating, ventilation, built-in battery, and USB-C – it has it all.

We’d also like to highlight the high-quality materials used in this chair’s construction, as you might expect. The specs suggest the chair is upholstered with automotive-grade leather over high-density cushioning and a reinforced frame. The purportedly smooth and quiet electric motors make all the necessary comfort adjustments. Meanwhile, the office chair base tech is supplied by the aforementioned Itoki.

Do you spend more time sat at your computer than behind the wheel? If so, it probably means you should have a better computer chair. It may be a bit tricky to get Toyota’s Crown Seat, given its limited run, price and location, but please check out some great alternatives among our Best Gaming Chairs 2026 tested picks.

With so many chairs on the market, from gaming chairs to office chairs, it can be difficult to decide which is the best fit for those long days spent propped up at your workspace. With so many features to consider, it's fair to say that picking a chair is no easy feat. Even within our own list of best gaming chairs, you’ll find a wide range of options to choose from.

If you're looking for an entry-level, cost-effective office chair to get through those long hours of work and play, the Autonomous ErgoChair Core aims to provide a comfortable solution. Originally released as the MyoChair in 2020, the ErgoChair Core has seen some impressive revisions over the years — with its latest iteration providing some solid features that work to improve overall comfort for long days of sitting.

Priced at $349, the Autonomous ErgoChair Core offers solid back and lumbar support, is lightweight, and has a decent, if slightly limited, range of adjustable components. While there is a lot to appreciate about Autonomous’s entry-level office chair in terms of comfort and structure, the limited adjustment ranges in the lumbar and headrest and the mesh bottom seat might be points of long-term discomfort for some.

Assembly

Assembling the ErgoChair Core was fairly straightforward. It arrived in a single, reinforced packaging box and was quite well wrapped and secured. Once unpacked, there were seven major components (not including individual wheels). Assembly was very easy, with one caveat that I will circle back to.

The instructions were clear, easy to follow, and the whole assembly took about 30 minutes. While the ErgoChair Core comes with a single Allan key for assembly, the screws and bolts are durable enough that you could use a power driver and bit, which I tested during assembly. There are a few spare bolts included in the packaging, as well.

Each piece fit together perfectly, which made threading screws and bolts a quick and simple affair — it was easy to assemble alone. I had the entire chair assembled, aside from the headrest, in about 20 minutes using a power driver. If you assemble it by hand, it will probably take closer to 40 minutes to complete.

While every other bolt and screw hole was easy to see and thread into, the headrest screw holes were tucked up under the backrest, which made it much more difficult to align. Simply put, there's no easy way to see what you are doing. Additionally, the screw holes are inset, which forces you to fumble around blindly — even using the Allan key with its longer extension, it took me around 10 minutes to fish around and find the final two screws.

This seemed like an odd choice considering how easy the rest of the chair was to assemble. Even the way the headrest was mounted to the backrest seemed at odds with the rest of the design — while every other piece slid seamlessly together, the positioning of the inset holes for the bolts was slightly out of alignment here.

Headrest aside, the ErgoChair Core was quite easy to assemble. All framing components feel sturdy and are constructed of rigid plastic, providing sturdy construction while keeping the overall weight of the chair down to 42 pounds (19.09kg).

Specs

Design and Construction

The ErgoChair Core chair provides a slim and compact form factor while still managing to feel sturdy when sat on. The ErgoChair Core is a good-looking piece of furniture, and is firmly planted in the "office chair" side when it comes to style. The mesh design with Polyurethane(PU) Leather accents works well to elevate the overall look of the chair, helping it feel more premium than the price point would suggest.

Fully assembled, the chair measures 50.80 inches (129.03cm) high, with a seat width of 20.5 inches (52.07cm). At its base, the ErgoChair Core measures 27.50 inches (69.85cm), providing a suitable seat-to-base ratio while still maintaining its slimmer form factor. For clarification, the suitability of the seat-to-base ratio is determined by whether the chair will fall forward if you apply your sitting weight to the front-most part of the seat. The ErgoChair Core handled this test well — never falling forward.

This chair is also quite light compared to other gaming chairs, which is a welcome change. While I appreciate the larger, more robust structure of many gaming chairs, the ErgoChair Core is much easier to navigate around an office and sits well in tighter spaces. This is especially appreciated in my office, as I'm often moving chairs between the two floors without an elevator.

The wheels are composed of dense plastic and each feels sturdy and durable, gliding exceptionally well on both hardwood and carpet floors. Composed of dense plastic, each wheel feels sturdy and durable. Due to its more compact and lightweight design, the ErgoChair Core is easy to move around the space and, if needed, to pick up and carry. This makes it ideal for cubical work spaces or more compact desk setups.

The mesh back and seat seem fairly easy to clean, though the real winner in that department is the PU leather pads. Located in the headrest, front part of the seat and armrests, the PU leather can easily be cleaned with a damp cloth, leaving no marks behind. The grey PU leather (also available in black) hasn’t had any issues with oil residue that would be left behind from hair products, either, which is nice for those who like to make use of such products.

The three seat controls located on the underside of the seat are positioned well, making it quite easy to reach without needing to lean over the side of the chair. They extend just far enough so as not to be hard to reach without extruding past the seat width, a smart design choice that further emphasizes the ErgoChair Core’s compact form factor. A key reason it's so easy to reach the controls is due to the armrest placement and slide capabilities. This allows for easy access to the underside of the chair, as you can essentially slide the armrests out of the way.

I do want to note that while this chair works well for my height and frame, I’m concerned for those over 6 feet or those who have a longer torso. There are a few design elements that, while working well for someone my size, won’t work well for taller and heavier-framed people. This might not be a great chair if you fall into one or both of those categories. The source of my concern is threefold.

The first issue is that while the lumber is quite comfortable, the height cannot be adjusted. It's locked into place. For those with a longer torso or even those who like the lumbar support a bit higher, there will be no way to accommodate that. As such, the positioning of the lumbar pad could be positioned poorly for your height.

The second issue is that while the headrest does tilt, there is no height adjustment functionality. At 5 feet 9 inches, this isn’t an issue for me. However, my colleague, who is 6 feet 1 inches, found the headrest to be oddly positioned for his head, even with the tilt fully extended. He was left with the headrest being too low for comfort, thus negating the purpose of the headrest.

Finally, with a maximum weight rating of 242.50 pounds (110kg), the ErgoChair Core won’t be able to accommodate heavier body frames. This is quite low, and most gaming chairs — even smaller ones, such as the Herman Miller x Logitech G Vantum, are rated for heavier (the Vantum is rated for 350lbs / 158.8kg). If, however, your height and frame fit within the aforementioned range, the ErgoChair Core does provide some great comfort.

Comfort and Adjustments

For long periods of sitting, I appreciated the ErgoChair Core's breathable back, which is surprisingly comfortable despite lacking traditional padding. The lumber pad is, for my frame, perfectly positioned and provides ample support for my lower back while having enough give that my upper back rests comfortably against the back of the chair. I am pleasantly surprised at just how comfortable the mesh back is, as this isn’t always the case with this style of chair.

The headrest is also perfectly positioned to support my head thanks to the built-in, selectable tilt feature. The PU leather padding is firm with just enough give that it doesn’t feel stiff against the back of my head. The armrest, likewise, provides enough positioning options with three points of adjustment, that it's easy to accommodate people around my size.

The seat, on the other hand, isn’t quite as comfortable as the rest of the chair. A common issue I find with mesh seats is that they often apply extra pressure to your legs near the front edge of the seat. This is most notable where your leg extends past the seat, before it bends at the knee.

It is worth noting that while I do sometimes sit with my legs extended out in front of me with my feet crossed, oftentimes I will sit on a chair with one leg under me. As a result, mesh seats, especially narrower ones, tend not to be the ideal seat for my sitting style. When sitting with both feet on the floor, though, I still find that with time, the pressure mentioned earlier does start to cause discomfort.

Autonomous has attempted to address the pressure issue by adding PU Leather padding to the problem area, and it is admittedly more comfortable than most mesh-bottom chairs I’ve tested. However, the core issue still exists. While I find I can sit and work longer in the ErgoChair Core than I would in most mesh-bottom chairs, after a few hours of continual use, I do need to get up and take a break.

With this noted, I do like many of the features included in Autonomous’s entry-level office chair. I especially appreciate the recline functionality. The act of reclining is smooth and effortless, requiring little applied force to activate. It also includes a multi-position tilt lock, allowing the user to dial the position into their preferred reclining position.

While the headrest lacks height adjustment, it has a fairly large tilt range. I find it quite well-padded and comfortable to use. The armrests, likewise, offer a good range of adjustment. As a three-adjustment system, I can comfortably position the height, tilt and slide, allowing for perfect positioning for my desk setup. While there is no hard lock for the tilt and slide, both provide incremental step adjustments which, once set, haven’t slipped out of place.

Overall, I appreciate what Autonomous has created in the ErgoChair Core. For everyday use, where I am up and down multiple times throughout the day, the ErgoChair Core is comfortable enough. The recline and headrest are perfectly positioned for my needs, and the compact, lightweight form factor works well in my small space.

Bottom Line

The ErgoChair Core is a decent entry-level office and gaming chair that provides a few above-average features for its price point. But these features are hampered by the mesh bottom seat that, while functional, can become uncomfortable after long periods of sitting. In addition, the locked lumbar will be problematic for taller people, while its 242.5lb / 110kg maximum weight further restricts its user base. For people who need a larger chair, I’d suggest something like the Cooler Master Hyprid 1, which is much better suited for all-day comfort.

The price point of $349.00 / £117.91 feels a bit steep, especially considering some of the issues. While it could be argued that some features, such as the solid build and design that works well in smaller spaces, justify the price point to some degree — as these are usually seen in more premium office chairs, such as the Herman Miller x Logitech G Vantum and the Steelcase Karman, the concerns stand.

Hbada chairs seem to have taken over my social media in recent months, with influencers trying out all of the models the brand has to offer. Well, we’ve got the flagship Hbada X7 Smart Ergonomic chair in for testing to see if AI truly can improve your posture and offer you a more comfortable sitting experience while you're working and/or gaming in the X7.

The Hbada X7 looks like it belongs on the set of a sci-fi television series with its blend of a solid aluminum frame, segmented back supports, and mesh cloth coverings. The chair is fully customizable to fit a good range of body types and heights, and it comes with a remote control for operating the battery-powered AI functionality that controls lumbar support, a massage function, a heat function, and even fan cooling in the seat of the chair for keeping your rear-end cool in hot weather.

With a listed price of $1,499.99 and a sale price of $1,234.99, the Hbada X7 is competing with the most premium chairs on our best gaming chairs list — chairs from established companies such as Steelcase and Herman Miller. The X7 is still cheaper than chairs like the Herman Miller Embody (which is currently $1,688 on sale). Also, to my surprise, I found that the Hbada X7 actually did seem to improve my posture while I was sitting at my desk — not from the AI lumbar support, however, but from eliminating my options for bad seating habits (I'll go into further detail on this later).

Assembly

Arriving in two separate boxes, the Hbada X7 chair came in a large and very heavy package, whilst a tiny little box shipped the battery separately. Opening the boxes revealed excellent packing and foam supports for the parts inside, and thank goodness, because the box had been absolutely battered in transit. After emptying the box of all of its contents, the separate parts of the chair were all in excellent condition and individually wrapped. There were no scuffs, scratches, or marks on any of the parts of the chair — exactly what you expect when ordering a premium product such as this.

The only parts of the chair that came pre-constructed were the seat, footrests, and the chair back segments, which were already attached to the extremely heavy (and reassuringly solid) aluminum frame. I would definitely recommend two people for putting the X7 together, especially when mounting the seat to the gas lift and wheels. After removing all the protective packaging from all the separate pieces, you’re left with just the assembly. All the bolts and an Allen key are packed on a card back, and a separate screwdriver is also included — everything you need to put the chair together. Overall, construction was simple, taking around 30-40 minutes to put together. The instructions were easy to follow, with the only fiddly bit being the threading of the power cable from the seat through to a port on the backrest after bolting the two together.

Specs

Design and Construction

Hbada’s X7 chair is somewhat similar in design to a few ergonomic chairs on the market, but only at first glance. The built-in footrest and back panel, made up of two pieces and a headrest, is nothing new — but what they have done, they’ve done very well. The armrests have a ridiculous amount of configurability, with 720° omni adjustable positions, a lumbar support area that has padded wings, and enough movement to allow you to move in the chair without the lumbar support feeling wobbly. It also has an efficient cable-controlled seat adjustment mechanism for raising/lowering the seat, adjusting the tilt of the chair, and moving the seat base backwards and forwards.

The seat is covered in a DuPont meshed fabric that allows you to stay cool and comfortable when sitting in the chair for long periods of time. Hidden behind the mesh and installed in the base of the seat and the lumbar support is one of the major selling points of the X7 — its electronic smart features. These features include fan-driven air cooling in the seat of the chair that blows air through the mesh cloth covering and an automatically adjusting lumbar support that uses an “AI” processor to calibrate pressure sensor readings on-the-fly to allow the lumbar support to constantly support your lower back, dual graphene heating pads with red light therapy, and finally, dual massaging disks.

This is a pretty heavy chair, coming in at around 83.78 lbs (38 kg), and it feels solid, too. There’s no loose fit, and no wobbles. The seat and gas lift support up to 330lbs (150kg) in weight, with ratcheted adjustability on the armrests, lumbar, backrest, and headrest. The seat width is 20.4 inches (52 cm), but it looks and feels narrower due to the shape. The armrests move up and down, tilt upwards (3 ratchet adjustments), swivel 360° at the first joint, and also swivel another 360° at the second joint (hence the 720°), with the tough foam rest moving backwards and forwards. This allows for far too many configurations and is both a blessing and a curse.

Powering the electrics of the chair is a chunky 5200mAh lithium-ion battery pack that slides into a drawer that’s part of the construction of the seat. Once inserted into the chair, you can charge the battery via an included charger and magnetic adapter. I had issues getting the battery to charge via the adapter, so I had to take the battery out and charge it via the USB-C port on the battery. Even though I couldn’t get the charger to work, the fact that it was a magnetic attachment made sense, as I forgot to unplug the charger from the chair the first time I tried charging it — if it wasn’t for the magnetic connection, I would have definitely damaged something.

Comfort and Adjustments

The Hbada X7 is a very comfortable chair if you sit in it correctly. The chair's maximum height was perfect for me as a six-footer — but for anyone taller than me, this chair could fall a little short. I had to have all the parts of the chair ratcheted to their maximum positions to feel comfortable. Once configured, however, I could sit in the chair for hours. The footrest feels a little flimsy when extended, but it was more than strong enough to hold the weight of my legs (although it did flex slightly). The padding on the footrest is nice and soft, and it supported my legs without discomfort.

You can adjust all the electronics of the X7 with a remote control that’s attached to a retractable power cable; the control then sits in a little moulded crevice and magnetically attaches to the chair. The remote control has a small screen and individual buttons to power on the controller, adjust the smart lumbar (on/off - manual adjustment), seat fans (low, medium, high vent, off), massage (low, medium, high, off), and heat (low, medium, high, off). You can also turn on or off a “sedentary” alarm that will automatically start massaging your back after you’ve been sitting in the chair for 45 minutes. The sedentary alarm feature caught me off guard the first time and made me jump when the chair just started randomly massaging my back. You can disable this feature if you don’t feel it is needed.

To get the AI lumbar support to work correctly for you, you must first configure the sensitivity. If you are a smaller, lighter chair user, you want it to be a little more sensitive so that it picks up your movement. If you have a bigger, heavier build, then you need to turn the sensitivity down, or the lumbar will move far too easily and offer you no support.

The massage and heat function of the lumbar support is the best part. The rotating massage disk, combined with the heat pads (113℉ - 129.2℉) and Infrared light therapy (86℉ - 100.4℉), really does work. I was super impressed at how much heat the chair put out and how good it felt. In the reclined position, this chair will put you to sleep in no time. It was great for alleviating some of that midday back stiffness.

Bottom Line

The Hbada X7 is a very comfortable gaming chair with some excellent features. My concerns are mainly for the life of the battery and how much a replacement would cost — as none of the best features of this chair would work without a working battery. Also, the battery drains very quickly if you use the massage and heat functions too often. I would generally drain this chair in a couple of days, and have to recharge the battery overnight. This also means you have to have a readily available plug socket for the chair (on top of needing a bunch for your PC, standing desk, and other power-consuming bits and pieces).

The automatic moving lumbar support takes some getting used to, and multiple configurations are required to find the correct sensitivity for your frame. If someone else comes along and messes with your chair, you'd better have taken note of which settings you had selected previously. There were also some minor niggles with clothing being adjusted when the lumbar moved: If I moved slightly and it started adjusting, it would often ride my t-shirt or jumper up. This was a little annoying until learning how to avoid it. My least favorite part of the X7 were its highly adjustable 720° armrests. I could spend a moment tweaking them to a certain position, only for them to easily move out of position with the slightest knock. There are almost too many movement possibilities, and the armrests just don’t provide a stable enough foundation.

I mentioned earlier that the Hbada X7 helped to improve my posture, and that is true. The AI lumbar support is great, but it was the shape of the seat that made the most difference. I have some bad seating habits, and I often either sit on my foot or sit cross-legged. You cannot do that in this chair — the seat isn’t wide enough, and it’s also too uncomfortable to do so, as the hard plastic rim of the seat digs in. So, if you sit normally and upright, this chair is heaven, but if you’re likely to slouch and lift your legs up, you probably aren’t going to find this chair to be a comfortable fit for you. But for long days sitting at your desk while working or gaming, the Hbada X7 is both comfortable and highly configurable. It’s certainly an expensive outlay from a not-so-well-known brand, but the X7 is certainly making a statement. At $1,234, it’s cheaper than premium gaming chairs like the $1,688 Herman Miller Embody, but it's pricier than the Libernovo Omni at $929 — which also offers a form of battery-powered adaptive lumbar support.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. A company releases a new gaming chair. It makes big promises about ergonomics and adjustability, targeted support and adjustments so that you can play your best — no matter how long the gaming session. And of course, the chair is dressed to impress, with eye-catching designs and premium materials.

But when you look a little closer, there’s deja vu? You’ve seen this chair before. The backrest is tall and has bolsters. It has 4D armrests — proudly proclaimed like this hasn’t been a standard feature on premium chairs for years now — and even the levers, knobs, and adjustments are curiously close to other brands selling gaming chairs.

That’s what we have with the Blacklyte Athena Pro. To its credit, it executes on these features surprisingly well. And to be fair, you could also say that, familiar or not, it checks all of the boxes of what you expect from a gaming chair priced around $600. While we tend to look for a bit more excitement from the best gaming chairs, the Athena Pro still manages to be a high quality chair that’s worth considering if you’re partial to its style and you want a soft seat straight out of the box.

Assembly

The Athena Pro comes in a large box weighing close to 70 lbs. Inside, the chair is completely unassembled but each part is well-positioned and securely packaged to make sure it arrives safely to your door. There’s a lot of styrofoam and cardboard to break down, so make sure you have a box cutter handy.

Like the design itself, the assembly process is identical to most other gaming chairs but is simple enough that most steps can be intuited. If it’s your first time assembling a chair, Blacklyte has included a step-by-step assembly guide printed on a sheet of over-sized cardboard. Simply prop it up somewhere you can easily reference and you’re good to go.

I was able to build the chair myself in about 15 minutes once everything was laid out. Unboxing included, you should plan on around a half-hour, even if you’ve built chairs in the past. Blacklyte includes a screwdriver and fasteners in the box (including one spare), so everything you need is in the box.

There are also a couple of newbie-friendly features present that simplify attaching the backrest. First, the screws are pre-threaded, so you don’t need to guess where they go. Both sides also have metal brackets that guide the backrest into place which saves you from having to fuss with getting the threads aligned. The plastic covers for both brackets attached with magnets and snapped right into place, no screws required.

Overall, the Athena Pro offers a beginner-friendly build experience that — for me, at least — was free of hiccups and rough edges that could lead to frustration.

Specs

Design and Construction

The Blacklyte Athena Pro doesn't break the mold when it comes to design, but it's well-constructed, stylish, and it feels like a premium product overall. I was sent the fabric version and I genuinely love the feel of it — even more so than Secretlab's SoftWeave. There isn't a stray thread to be found. The embroidery and presentation of the upholstery is top notch.

That same level of consideration applies across the board. The presentation is up there with the best gaming chairs we've covered. I was sent the black fabric version and I was surprised to find that it's actually dappled with gray, giving it a heathered black appearance that I find very appealing. There are velvety strips along the backrest and the seat, as well as a large center strip on the rear of the backrest that bears the company's branding. It looks very sleek and, just as importantly, it is nice to the touch.

The other material choice is equally well done. The recline lever and armrests feature mirrored chrome accents, and the cushions are firm enough to be robust, but offer enough softness that you can lean your elbow on them without making yourself sore.

The cold cure foam used in the cushions is decent. The chair uses dual-density foam, which means that a soft layer of foam is placed on top of a firmer bottom layer so that it's more comfortable out of the box while maintaining its durability. The seat cushion isn't as thick as some other chairs that I’ve tested but it's about equal with the Razer Iskur V2 NewGen that I’m also testing right now. Regardless, it hides the frame well and doesn’t feel too thin.

Both the seat and the backrest have bolsters to guide you toward the center. While it's not quite at the same level as an early DXRacer racing seat — where the bolsters were steep enough that they almost hugged you in place — these aren't purely aesthetic. Even as a smaller person, I felt them if I had to turn my body.

Inside the backrest is the Athena Pro's lumbar support system. Knobs on either side of the backrest control the height and depth of its lumbar arch. At 5'8", I wish it got just a little bit lower, but it still worked well enough that I could sit comfortably throughout the day.

There really isn't any upper back support to speak of outside of the magnetic neck pillow. That pillow is very nice, with a velour finish and a very soft memory foam that's exceptionally comfortable to lean back on. The range of its magnets reaches just far enough to make up for some of that support, but integrated support would have been better. Taller users may not have issues with the backrest like I did, though.

Moving down the chair, the wheelbase is made out of sturdy painted aluminum, so breakage shouldn't be an issue in normal use but chipped paint could be if you’re not careful. The casters really impressed me, though. Instead of being made from hard plastic, these are closer in softness to rollerblade wheels and are hardwood-floor safe. This type of caster is usually an optional paid upgrade, or something you need to pick up from a third-party.

Finally, we come to the gas piston. It's a Class 4 hydraulic, which allows Blacklyte to give this chair a 330-pound (150kg) weight limit. The issue is that its maximum height is only 20.1 inches, which is just about an inch shy of many gaming chairs and the majority of those I’ve personally tested over the last ten years. While this may not seem like a lot, it’s immediately noticeable and made me feel like I was sitting too low — even at max height. And taller users are likely to feel even lower than I did.

Comfort and Adjustments

The Athena Pro offers the standard range of adjustments for a premium gaming chair without breaking the mold or adopting ergonomic features from other markets. It’s ergonomic in the way that Razer, Corsair, Noblechairs, and countless others are. It is a big upgrade to the average Staples office chair, but you shouldn’t expect anything outside the box features here.

As I mentioned in the previous section, the hallmark feature is its adjustable lumbar support built into the backrest. Using the knobs on either side, you can move it up and down and adjust how pronounced the curve is so most people can dial in solid support for their anatomy. There’s enough padding on the internal lumbar plate so you can’t feel it and the implementation is overall very solid.

The backrest can also recline using its vehicle-like recline lever. You can lean back up to 155 degrees, which is on par with the Razer Iskur and Razer Enki, but is shy of Secretlab and Corsair’s offerings. It’s definitely enough to relax with your feet up, especially since you can lock it into a tilted position, but I wouldn’t plan on cat-napping in this one.

The chair accommodates different computer work styles, and gaming, well. Since the armrests are unlocked for four dimensions of movement, I was able to shift them to support everything from typing on a keyboard to holding a controller. The softness of the arm cushions and width of the seat make changing positions easy, including tucking a leg under or crossing both legs.

The height of the chair was just plain annoying to me. I prefer to sit higher up at my desk and that single inch difference left me adjusting my desk and looking into longer pistons. It’s entirely possible that this is a “me” problem, and won’t affect users who prefer a lower seat in the first place, but for me it was the equivalent to sitting in a kids’ seat.

Bottom Line

Short maximum height aside, my overall impression is positive. Blacklyte may not have reinvented the wheel with the Athena Pro, but it’s a high-quality, stylish, comfortable gaming chair with lots of style options in fabric or leatherette.

If you are on the taller side, there are better picks to keep you level with your desk, such as the AndaSeat XL Kaiser 3. For better ergonomics capable of supporting a full day of work and hours of evening gaming, both the Herman Miller x Logitech G Embody and the Herman Miller Vantum are worth considering for different budgets.

But if you’re looking for a racing-seat inspired gaming chair and you enjoy the appearance of the Athena Pro, it’s a solid option that seems made to last well into the future.

If you've been waiting for the right time to upgrade your gaming setup with a brand new desk or chair, the time is now. Secretlab has slashed its prices in a new Spring Sale, where you can save up to $129 on some of its products, with up to $100 extra on top taken off if you bulk-buy a new desk and chair together.

You'll need to be savvy with the discount codes to get the full bargains, however. Make sure to apply code SLEV-MINCSPR26 to get $50 off $849 with an eligible chair, SLEV-MINDSPR26 to get $70 off $1,599 with an eligible desk, or SLEV-MINSWSPR26 to get $100 off a $1,999 sale across the entire Secretlab range.

• Check all the Spring Sale deals at Secretlab

All of Secretlab's gear is focused on gamers, with striking aesthetics and heavy branding. Out of the lot, the Titan Evo is the company's flagship chair offering, and it's available in a few different sizes and a whole set of colors. The discounts across the entire range do vary, so make sure to take a close look at some of the more expensive models, along with the bundle deals, as you might gain a more significant saving.

These discounts are set to run until 31 March 2026 at 1AM PDT, although the company does reserve the right to cut it short if the sales run dry even sooner. You've got to be quick if you want one of these bargains, but you won't be disappointed, with one of our favorite chairs from our best gaming chair guide, the Secretlab Titan Evo, also on the sale list. The Secretlab Magnus Pro, the company's sturdy and spacious sit-stand desk with an integrated control panel, has dropped in price by $200, although those big-saving coupons can help you save even more money.

If you're ready to upgrade your comfort, here are some of the best deals you can score from Secretlab in its Spring Sale right now.

Secretlab Spring Sale Chair Deals

Secretlab Spring Sale Gaming Desk Deals

Secretlab Spring Sale Skins Deals

Secretlab Spring Sale Ergonomic Recliner Deals

Secretlab Lumbar Pillow Pro Deal

If you're looking for more savings, check out our Best PC Hardware deals for a range of products, or dive deeper into our specialized SSD and Storage Deals, Hard Drive Deals, Gaming Monitor Deals, Graphics Card Deals, Best Wi-Fi Routers, Best Motherboard, or CPU Deals pages.

It's that time of year again when the sales season kicks off with a bang. Amazon often sets the trends today with sales periods, whether we like it or not. The retail behemoth can command the timing and pricing of a multitude of products, and for us, that means deals and price cuts on our favourite PC tech items. It also includes all the associated peripherals and sundries we need for our hobbies. You can have a killer gaming PC build, but without a nice desk and chair, you're never going to be comfortable enough to use it for long periods of time. Today, we have a deal in Amazon's sale from the well-known brand Corsair, on their TC100 Relaxed Gaming Chair for only £149.99, a delightful 25% saving of £50 from the original £199.99 list price. This is a very good price for a budget gaming chair from a reputable brand.

• Grab this deal at Amazon

The Corsair TC100 Relaxed gaming chair looks like many other gaming chairs with its sporty racing seat-inspired design. The dark colour is a clean look, with no flashy coloured accents. The material in this model uses a soft fabric exterior to keep you cool and sitting comfortably for long gaming or work sessions. The TC100 Relaxed includes memory foam lumbar and neck pillows for added comfort. You can adjust the lumbar pillow for your best fit to maintain a healthy body posture.

The frame of the chair is of a steel construction, with the seat back of the chair able to recline between 90-160°, more than ample to take a quick break between games. A powerful hydraulic class 4 gas lift gives you a chair height range of 100mm. The seat is also nice and wide to allow for more comfort, especially for those of us who like to sit crossed-legged at the computer.

If you're looking for more savings, check out our Best Amazon UK Spring Deals Days tech sales 2026

I reviewed the Razer Iskur V2 gaming chair and its cheaper sibling — the Iskur V2 X — last year. Today, Razer is expanding the range with the Iskur V2 NewGen, which is just a minor update to the Iskur V, despite “NewGen” being tacked on to the end of the product’s name.

At first glance, there's not much of a difference between the Iskur V2 and the Iskur V2 NewGen. However, Razer says that the latter includes a second-generation EPU leather with so-called “CoolTouch” technology and a new inner foam design. Both upgrades should go a long way towards fixing one of the main issues I had with the original Iskur V2.

Razer Iskur V2 NewGen Specifications

Razer Iskur V2 NewGen Design

As I mentioned in the intro, the Iskur V2 NewGen looks nearly identical to its predecessor. But there are some slight differences if you look closely. The first is that the Iskur V2 NewGen has a carbon-fiber-style pattern on the EPU leather that runs along the outer edges of the seatback and seat base. Basically, this is the area between the two green stitching lines on the chairs. On the Iskur V2, the EPU has the same grain as the rest of the seating surfaces. It’s a minor change, and one that doesn’t really affect performance – it’s also something that you won’t notice while sitting in the chair.

Rubbing my hand over the seating surfaces, the materials felt identical to the touch, but there are unseen changes — according to Razer. The company says the Gen-2 EPU leather has higher thermal effusivity, which is a fancy way of saying it stays cooler to the touch during extended gaming sessions. Razer also says that its PU leather is 13x more durable than traditional PU leather. Additionally, there are so-called “CoolTouch” fibers embedded into the seating surfaces to help regulate temperatures. There are still no perforations in the seating surfaces.

Sadly, when I tested the Iskur V2, daytime temperatures were in the 90s, and I was wearing shorts daily. It was in these conditions that the seat base would stick to my legs, putting a damper on comfort. But now, in the middle of winter here in North Carolina, daytime temperatures are in the 30s, and I’m wearing pants inside the house to stay comfortable. So it’s not exactly the right environment to test how clammy my skin gets while sitting on the Iskur V2 NewGen.

Finally, Razer introduces dual-density cold-cured foam, which it says provides excellent comfort while maintaining a firm base to support proper posture. It also resists trapping heat from your body, which, in turn, improves cooling performance.

With that said, everything else is reminiscent of the Iskur V2. That means the trick lumbar pad, controlled by left and right dials while tracking your body movement, remains. You also get the same dual-density foam seat cushion, 4D armrests, height and recline controls, a heavy steel frame, and an aluminum alloy base with five PU casters. The same memory foam headrest pillow is also included and can be placed on top of the backrest.

The Iskur V2 NewGen is available in black, black with green stitching, light gray, or quartz (pink).

Assembling the Razer Iskur V2 NewGen

Like the Iskur V2 before it, the Iskur V2 NewGen arrived in a massive box that took some finagling to transport to my upstairs office. The large and awkward shape of the shipping box, combined with its 80-pound weight, was quite daunting. Once I had the box upstairs where I wanted it, my brain realized I could have just opened it downstairs and carried the pieces up one by one instead. However, a couple of minutes of frustration was worth it to me than running up and down the stairs like an errand boy to fetch components one by one.

The Razer Iskur V2 NewGen parts list includes:

• Backrest and seat base (left and right arms pre-attached)
• Headrest pillow
• Left and right armrest
• PU Casters 5x
• Gas lift, tilt mechanism
• Allen wrench, screws, plastic covers, and a pair of gloves

The seat base, backrest, and headrest pillow were wrapped in plastic to protect them during shipping, while the wheelbase was wrapped in thin, flexible foam. The other components (wheels, bolts, tools, plastic covers, gas lift, etc.) were tucked into a smaller box. Something that I’ve come to expect from Razer chairs is a pair of work gloves inside a plastic bag taped to the inner flap. Although I don’t need gloves for chair assembly, I appreciate that Razer takes the effort to include a pair for people who might prefer that luxury.

Given that I’ve previously assembled both the Iskur V2 and the Iskur V2 X, I blazed through the process in about five minutes without even looking at the Iskur V2 NewGen instructions. Razer includes a multitool for assembling the Iskur V2, and the whole process took no more than ten minutes. I first inserted the wheels into the aluminum-allow base, and then used my fist to bang them into place. Next, I inserted the gas lift, attached the bottom cushion to the seat base, and then attached the seatback using Allen screws. The assembly process was aided by an Allen tool that Razer included in the box. The final touches were to add plastic covers to hide the screws used to attach the seat back and attach the headrest pillow.

One thing I noticed after assembling the Iskur V2 NewGen was a strong chemical smell that still lingers. I didn’t experience this odor with the Iskur V2, so perhaps it's due to the new Gen-2 EPU. While the odor is not as strong now — 5 days after I first removed the chair from the box — I can still smell it when I sit in it.

Razer Iskur V2 NewGen Comfort and Adjustments

As I mentioned, the Iskur V2 NewGen builds on the firm foundation of the Iskur V2. That means the chair offers plenty of adjustability to conform to your body and posture. My favorite part of the chair is what Razer dubs the HyperFlex Lumbar Support System.

In practice, it features a 360-degree swivel that allows the back lumbar to move with you. If you move your body left, right, back, or forward, the lumbar support stays anchored to your back and moves with you. It feels great on my back, especially as I'm getting up there in age and sometimes have lower back aches.

To that point, you can use the right rotary dial to adjust the lumbar inward (turn the dial downward) or outward (turn the dial upward). You can also adjust the contact point up or down using the left dial. Using a delicate combination of these two controls, you should be able to find the optimal setting to comfort your weary bones.

Adding to the comfort factor is the dual-density cold-cure foam. Now, to be fair, the Iskur V2 was already an extremely comfortable chair with good ergonomics and great long-term comfort. After sitting my butt in both chairs and hopping between them frequently, I couldn’t detect a significant improvement with the Iskur V2 NewGen. Razer has only made minor tweaks here, with the primary impetus being to improve cooling performance.

Like the Iskur V2, the updated model supports a maximum 152-degree recline, which can be beneficial if you just want to lie back and game or enjoy a movie on your widescreen monitor. The extreme recline isn’t for me, but I can appreciate that it's probably beneficial for more daring gamers.

The chair supports height adjustment (floor-to-seat height ranges from 435 to 535 mm), which is controlled using the right stalk that juts out from the seat base. As is common in today's gaming chairs, the Iskur V2 features 4D armrests, which are highly adjustable. I found the perfect height and horizontal position to accommodate my arms while seated at my desk. The armrests can also pivot up to 25 degrees in or out, but I found they were most comfortable pointed straight ahead.

The 4D armrests can adjust up and down, in and out, and can pivot up to 25 degrees inward or outward.

Given that the chair's dimensions haven’t changed, I’m still not completely sold on the seat base, which, at 17.72 inches (45cm) is a tad shorter than I prefer. I'm 5’10” (with long legs), and this means I don’t have the thigh support that other chairs with longer seat bases provide — but my body has learned to adjust.

Bottom Line

Despite the “NewGen” in the name, the Razer Iskur V2 NewGen is a relatively minor update to an already good chair. The Iskur V2 NewGen has minor design changes and updates to materials (internal and external) that should help keep your body cooler during gaming sessions. This was one of my nitpicks with the prior model, so it’s good to see that it’s being addressed.

The main problem, however, is that it’s the middle of winter in my neck of the woods, so the ambient temperature is not hot enough to have issues with my legs sticking to the chair or my back sweating from the EPU surface materials on the chair. So, back-to-back testing between the Iskur V2 and Iskur V2 NewGen has not shown any real-world improvements to cooling performance… yet. However, we will revisit the chair when summer comes around to see whether the new materials have improved on this significantly.

That said, if you’re in the market for a new chair at the moment, the Iskur V2 NewGen is replacing the Iskur V2. It retails for the same price — $649 — so if you already have the Iskur V2, it’s probably not wise to spend another $649 for a minor materials upgrade. However, if you don’t already have a gaming chair or you're looking to upgrade from an older, worn-out one, the Iskur V2 NewGen should definitely be on your radar. Just be prepared for at least a week of an odd chemical odor once you take it out of the box.

Screw it, let’s build something sweet. That’s the ethos of the DXRacer Martian Pro — as much as a gaming chair can have one. The moment you lay eyes on the list of features, which includes a built-in massage function, a heated seat, a fan and ventilation system, and fully adjustable electronic lumbar support, you know what you’re in for: This is a gaming chair turned up to 11. It takes DXRacer’s flagship Martian range and pushes it further, adding in just about everything you can cram into a chair for a true halo product.

At $900 and packing features that firmly fall in the “nice to have” category, the Martian Pro was never destined for broad appeal. It’s more expensive than almost all of the chairs in our best gaming chair roundup — and usually by several hundred dollars. But that price is not egregious for what DXRacer is offering, especially considering the Martian Pro is built on the base of an already high-end chair. But this isn’t just a nice chair to plop your butt down in. It’s built for those few that truly want something special.

And it is special. It’s easy to gawk at a gaming chair with a heated seat and built-in massager, but even with my nose stuck up as far as it can go, I still used the features in the Martian Pro constantly. This isn’t a chair for everyone, and it’s not the first that comes to mind for a recommendation. But it’s built for those who have the cash to burn — and, for that crowd, it succeeds.

Assembly

If you’ve assembled one racing-style gaming chair, you’ve assembled them all. The Martian Pro comes in a massive box that measures 34.3 by 30.7 x 15 inches for the XL model and weighs 80.25 pounds. Gaming chairs are heavy, but the Martian Pro is heavier than most; it was a struggle getting it up the stairs not only due to the weight of the base, but also the electronics strung throughout the body.

Opening the box, DXRacer includes a large insert covering the contents that includes a parts list and some basic assembly instructions. On it, there’s a QR code that links to DXRacer’s support page, which includes short assembly instructions in video form, as well as basic warranty information. Even without the large insert, however, you can probably piece together how to put together the Martian Pro on your own.

In the box, DXRacer includes a screwdriver/allen key combo tool, which is all you need for assembly. The heavy bolts used to keep the back and base of the chair together are pre-threaded in the correct spot. That was the best part of assembling the Martian Pro: It doesn’t include a hardware bag, and all of the bolts and screws you need are already inserted where they’re supposed to go, which made the assembly much easier.

That said, assembly is required. It took me about 30 minutes to put the chair together, which is a far cry from something like the Herman Miller x Logitech G Vantum that comes (mostly) pre-assembled. Some of the extra time was devoted to connecting up the electronics. In addition to a battery pack that slots into the back of the chair, there is a series of six-pin connectors to hook up the controls available on each side of the chair. These connectors are numbered — 1 goes to 1, 2 to 2, and so on — so connecting everything up is simple. You need to deal with routing and managing some of the cables, however, which are cut to specific lengths to reduce bulk.

You can assemble the Martian Pro by yourself, at least up until you need to place the top of the chair on the base. Like similar racing-style chairs, the chair itself sits on top of the hydraulic cylinder, and you have to line up the chair with the cylinder and drop it down. I was able to get the chair together myself — but not before dropping it three times, and once on my foot. I recommend getting someone to help you and avoid the hassle, at least for the finishing touches of assembly.

Specs

Design and Construction

DXRacer offers several chairs in its Martian range, fit with multiple color options and even different upholstery (EPU leatherette or woven fabric). However, the Martian Pro only comes in one color with faux leather — the “Red Triangle” colorway. It’s a black chair with red accents, which, as you might have guessed, show up on various triangle patterns on the chair as well as on a central red strip that runs along the lumbar area.

It’s undeniably a gaming chair — if the color didn't tip you off, DXRacer’s heavy handed branding will. There are DXRacer logos on the front and back of the head rest, on the neck cushion, and on both sides of the shoulder rests, not to mention additional illuminated logos next to the controls, and Martian branding on the front of the chair.

It makes sense that DXRacer is only able to offer this one design. Unlike the standard Martian, the EPU leatherette upholstery is perforated on the back and base of the chair, presumably to prevent tears from the built-in back massage, and to provide ventilation for the heating and cooling system in the base. Even after running both dozens of times, the upholstery doesn’t feel worn out, which is a positive sign. However, I do suspect it will wear out faster than a standard Martian chair that doesn't have the massage, heater, and ventilation systems.

I rarely found myself needing the heat, even in the dead of winter with temperatures around me reaching below 0 degrees. The massage function, on the other hand, was something I used almost daily in my testing. It’s static, with the eight zones pressing on different parts of your back in a pre-set list of patterns, but it was still nice to lean back and get the feeling of sitting down on a busted massage recliner in a mall in the early aughts.

The chair itself is built from a steel frame, and although DXRacer says it can support up to 300 pounds, it recommends both the XL and L models for those under 275 pounds. The chair is sturdy, with resilience against slipping for both the height and recline adjustments. The armrests are a bit loose, as is common among this style of chair, but they don’t rotate on their own. The armrests are locked in place with just a bit of play.

With a load of electronics and a steel frame, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Martian Pro is heavy. The L option comes in just shy of 70 pounds (69.4 pounds), while the XL version is slightly heavier at 71.4 pounds. It’s a beefy chair. Part of the weight comes from the 5,000mAh battery that’s strapped onto the back of the chair, which allows you to use the electronic functions away from an outlet.

DXRacer claims the chair lasts up to 360 hours on a full charge. The included barrel charger has a light that shows you the status of the charge; green means the battery is full, and red means it’s still charging. Unfortunately, there’s no other way to check the charge, nor is there a quick release for using the chair while it’s charging. This led to several instances in which I went to sit down in the chair and use the controls, only to find that the battery was dead.

Thankfully, DXRacer makes some efforts to conserve battery life. There’s an automatic standby mode that the chair enters when you aren’t using the various functions that pull from the battery, along with a 10-minute timer on everything else. If you stand up and walk away and forget to turn off the heater, it’ll cut itself off after 10 minutes so you don’t chew through the battery, for example.

Comfort and Adjustments

The Martian Pro has the adjustments you’d expect out of a $900 gaming chair. There’s a good range of height adjustment at just over 3 inches, and I didn’t notice any slipping with the hydraulic base. You can lean the chair back at up to a 135-degree angle, which gets the back nearly parallel to the floor when combined with the reclining base. There are four adjustment points on the arm rests — up/down, left/right, forward/back, and internal/external rotation — and they lock into place. Even the rotation is locked, unlike the Razer Iskur V2, where enough pressure will rotate the armrests.

Height and armrest adjustments are manual, but all other aspects of the Martian Pro are handled electronically. The “4D Lumbar Support” consists of two supports that you can adjust with the directional buttons on the right side of the chair. It allows you to dial in the balance between upper and lower lumbar support in a way that’s more granular than the mechanical knobs you find on similar chairs.

Reclining is handled electronically, as well, which was frustrating. It takes a solid 10 seconds to go from upright to fully reclined, but more importantly, you can’t recline the chair if it doesn’t have a charge. You have more control over the exact angle of the recline rather than slotting into half a dozen pre-determined angles. But I would trade that for the ease of quickly reclining the chair without worrying about how charged the battery is.

One aspect I love about the Martian Pro is the base. With most chairs (and especially this style of racing chair), there are wings on the sides of the base that slant upward, and that’s the case for the Martian Pro. However, these wings have a very shallow slant. It’s enough to let you know where the edges of the chair are, but not so much that you feel like you’re crammed in the center.

Moreover, I’m someone who often sits in the chair with one or both legs crossed, and the wide base and shallow edge slants make sitting this way more comfortable. More aggressive slants, like the one you find on the Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen, push your legs up and make sitting cross-legged much less comfortable.

Unfortunately, the base also has an issue; that’s where the controls for the ventilation and seat warmer are. I accidentally turned them on three times (that I know of) in about a month of using the chair. DXRacer makes an effort to limit accidental activations: The buttons have a concave slope, and they use micro-switches, so you have to press them at a specific angle. In addition, you have to hold the button down for at least two seconds to turn on the warmer or vent. Still, the placement isn’t the best, and I’d like to see them moved to the side of the chair where the other controls are.

For those controls, you get the aforementioned directional buttons for adjusting lumbar support on the right, along with the massage button. You can hold down the message button for two seconds to turn it on or off, as well as press it to cycle through different massage presets. On the left, you just get the recline switch.

For someone who’s 5’10” and 180 pounds and is prone to crossing their legs while working, the Martian Pro was comfortable. I especially like the wide base and the magnetic headrest, the latter of which I was able to position perfectly on my neck. Larger folks might have issues, however. Despite having two models at different sizes, both versions of the Martian Pro top out at 275 pounds. That should accommodate many people, but I was hoping the XL version would scale higher along the lines of the Secret Lab Titan XL.

Bottom Line

The Martian Pro is a comfortable and well-built chair, but you don’t buy the Martian Pro just because it’s comfortable. At $900, it’s definitely priced on the higher end, especially for gaming chairs. Going for a standard Martian, which includes electronic lumbar support but lacks heat, cooling, and the massage function, will save you $200. And if you’re on a strict budget, something like the Razer Iskur V2 X nails the basics without any of the extras for under $300.

For what the Martian Pro offers, it’s not egregiously overpriced. $900 feels fair for what DXRacer is offering here, especially with the built-in massage function. I have some nitpicks, from the lack of charging status on the chair to the placement of the heat and cooling buttons — but they aren’t dealbreakers.

This is a niche chair; if you’re among the few interested in the Martian Pro with the budget to spare, you’ll come out a happy customer. For those on the fence, the extra bells and whistles are nice to have, but you can save a lot of money while still getting a quality chair with other options on the market.

Presidents' Day might not be awash with PC component deals, but it is the perfect time to score yourself a brand new gaming chair or perhaps even a new desk. Household name Secretlab is currently hosting its Presidents' Day sale, a weekend-long event where you can get up to $139 off some of its products, including up to $100 off its chairs.

• Check all the Presidents' Day deals at Secretlab

Secretlab graces our best gaming chair roundup thanks to its excellent comfort, aesthetics, and build quality across the range. Highlights of this sale include $100 off the TITAN Evo chair, as well as some of its older models, $139 off the Magnus Pro desk, and $40 off the smaller Magnus Metal Desk. You can also save on accessories and even Secretlab's Skins.

All of Secretlab's gear is engineered towards gaming, with striking aesthetics and heavy branding. Within the Presidents' Day sale, the Titan Evo is the company's mainstream chair offering, available in a few different sizes and a multitude of colors. Not every chair has the same discount, with some of the more expensive models having a more significant saving.

The Secretlab Magnus Pro is the company's party piece. A hefty sit-stand desk with an integrated control panel for managing height. It's a sturdy and very spacious offering, and also comes with accessory upgrade options, including some very premium monitor arms, an under-desk PC mount, and magnetic cable organization accessories.

Secretlab Presidents' Chair Deals

Secretlab Presidents' Day Gaming Desk Deals

Secretlab Presidents' Day Desk Accessory Deals

Secretlab Presidents' Day Skins Deals

Secretlab Presidents' Day Adjustable Legrest Deals

Secretlab Presidents' Day Ergonomic Recliner Deals

Secret Lab Lumbar Pillow Pro

Secretlab Presidents' Day Floor Mat Deals

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Lovers of high-quality chairs and games, assemble! If you're serious about your setup, you know that a powerful rig and a lightning-fast internet connection are only part of the equation. What about the unsung hero of your gaming station? We're talking about the humble, yet incredibly important, chair. Right now, you can snag one of Herman Miller's four fantastic gaming chairs, with a tasty 20% discount, thanks to their gaming sale on chairs and accessories.

• Grab this Emody deal at Herman Miller
• Grab this Vantum deal at Herman Miller
• Grab this Aeron deal at Herman Miller
• Grab this Sayl deal at Herman Miller

Let's face it, we can spend hours sitting at our desks, immersed either in work or in our favorite games and virtual worlds. Whether you're strategizing in an intense MOBA, exploring vast open worlds, or battling it out in a fast-paced FPS, comfort and support are paramount. A good gaming chair isn't just a luxury; it's an investment in your health and your performance. Good posture and back support can make a significant difference over time, and Herman Miller is renowned for producing some of the most comfortable ergonomic office chairs in the industry.

All of the chairs in Herman Miller's gaming range are subject to the 20% discount, and these include the Herman Miller Embody, Vantum, Aeron, and Sayl chairs. At Tom's Hardware, we've had the opportunity to test and review several of these Herman Miller chairs, with the Embody and Vantum occupying positions on our Best Gaming Chairs recommendations page. The Vantum wins out as the best gaming chair, and the Herman Miller Embody is our pick for the best gaming chair splurge if you have the money to spend on this luxurious seat.

It's awesome that there is a 20% sale on these Herman Miller chairs, but they are still a very expensive investment. If you have the spare finances and want something that is going to be comfortable and is going to last you a long time, then the outlay is worth it. There is, of course, a brand cost, but there's also a reason Herman Miller is on the tip of the tongue when it comes to comfortable office chairs.

If you're looking for more savings, check out our Best PC Hardware deals for a range of products, or dive deeper into our specialized SSD and Storage Deals, Hard Drive Deals, Gaming Monitor Deals, Graphics Card Deals, Gaming Chair, Best Wi-Fi Routers, Best Motherboard, or CPU Deals pages.

We're winding up 2025 as we hit the holiday season, where everyone comes together to celebrate. If you're looking for a gift for that gamer in the family or a friend who never leaves their PC, now's the chance to grab one of Secretlab's highly popular gaming chairs and save a chunk of cash. Running from now until January 2nd, you can pick up the very latest Secretlab products like the Titan Evo NanoGen at a discount. Just make sure to order by 16 Dec, at 11 am, to receive your order before Christmas. A whole host of chairs, standing desks, and accessories are also on sale, direct from Secretlabs, and include free shipping to most states.

• Check all the Christmas Holiday deals at Secretlab

Comfortable chairs like the Secretlab Titan Evo have often appeared on our list of the best gaming chairs, offering all-day comfort and support for PC users, whether for gaming, studying, or work. Treat your bum and your lower back to some padded support, and even pick a finish that incorporates your favorite brand or game.

We often spend hours sitting at the computer without moving enough. One solution amongst many is to switch to a standing desk, where you can easily change position from sitting to standing and get the blood flowing back into your legs; some people even place a treadmill underneath for added exercise benefits. In Secretlab's Christmas sale, you can get your hands on the latest sit-to-standing desks with the likes of the Secretlab Magnus Evo and Magnus Pro, and grab a little discount while you're at it.

Secretlab Christmas Gaming Chair Deals

Secretlab Christmas Sit-to-Stand Desk Deals

Secretlab Christmas Desk Accessory Deals

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Secretlab Christmas Adjustable Legrest Deals

Secretlab Christmas Ergonomic Recliner Deals

Secret Lab Christmas Lumbar Pillow Pro deals

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An investment in a new gaming chair or desk is one of the biggest improvements you can make to your setup. Luckily, thanks to Secretlab's UK Christmas sale, you don't have to break the bank to upgrade during this holiday season. The company has slashed its prices across its range of chairs, desks, recliners, and accessories.

Some of the company's biggest products are on sale right now, including the Secretlab Titan Evo and Secretlab Titan Evo Nanogen, as well as newer favourites like the Recliner add-on. With Secretlab producing some of the best gaming chairs that you can buy, these Christmas deals unlock a fantastic opportunity to upgrade your comfort and save some pennies while you're at it.

• Check out all of the Christmas deals at Secretlab UK

If you're going for that big upgrade, there are also further discounts of up to £120 on chairs and desks if you decide to splurge on a whole set of new Secretlab kit, depending on how much you spend. For instance, you can save an extra £40 if you spend over £690 if you purchase a chair, or an extra £120 sitewide if you spend over £1,799 in total.

These sale prices, along with these extra discounts, will stay live until 2nd January, or at least until the stock runs out, so you best be quick. You've got until 11am on 16th December to get your order in to guarantee delivery before Christmas, too.

Secretlab Christmas Gaming Chair Deals

Secretlab Christmas Desk Deals

Secretlab Christmas Desk Accessory Deals

Secretlab Christmas Skins Deals

Secretlab Christmas Ergonomic Recliner Deals

Secretlab Christmas Lumbar Pillow Deals

If you're looking for more savings, check out our Best PC Hardware deals for a range of products, or dive deeper into our specialized SSD and Storage Deals, Hard Drive Deals, Gaming Monitor Deals, Graphics Card Deals, gaming chair, or CPU Deals pages.

The best gaming chairs aren't necessarily purpose-built for gaming — in fact, most of our favorites are either dedicated task chairs or task-chair-influenced gaming chairs. After all, what makes more sense: a gaming chair designed for spending hours sitting at a desk, in front of a computer, or a gaming chair pulled from a pile of aftermarket racing seats and spruced up to look cool and gamer-y?

But, of course, even office-style gaming chairs are pretty pricey. So it's not surprising that a chair that claims to be on par with high-end task chairs like the Herman Miller x Logitech G Embody, but is priced at around half that, is making waves.

The LiberNovo Omni is not your typical chair. Not only is it (according to the company) the "world's first dynamic ergonomic chair," it's also a Kickstarter phenomenon. LiberNovo launched the Omni on Kickstarter in June 2025 with a $50,000 goal; the project has since raised over $9.5 million. It seems everyone is clamoring for a sub-$1,000 ergonomic office-style gaming chair (shocking, I know). The Kickstarter campaign is over, but the chair is now shipping — and you can still pick one up for around $800 (MSRP is listed at $1,099, but we suspect it will be permanently discounted) in black or light gray.

Assembly

The Omni comes in a large box and requires assembly. It's more complicated to assemble than the average gaming chair, thanks to the dynamic frame and motorized lumbar support, but you should be able to do it by yourself. LiberNovo estimates the Omni will take around 15 - 20 minutes to assemble, and says the process is "comparable to the 15 - 20 minutes required for the Herman Miller Aeron." However, I have a Herman Miller Aeron, and it came fully-assembled, so I'm not sure what this means.

The Omni wasn't too difficult to assemble, but it did take me longer than 15 - 20 minutes. None of the parts were heavy or unwieldy, but this chair had more steps than the average gaming chair. For example, I needed to secure the armrests to the seat so they would move dynamically with the chair — a step most gaming chairs don't require.

The Omni comes with a large, illustrated step-by-step instruction sheet. It's pretty straightforward — some of the illustrations were a little confusing, but any issues were easily cleared up with trial and error. In addition to the assembly guide, the Omni also comes with a separate user manual, as well as an initial setup manual that guides you through adjusting and calibrating the chair for the first time.

The chair came packed neatly in a box that was manageable in size. It came with an accessories box that included a hex screwdriver, hardware, and smaller parts and accessories — everything you need to assemble the chair.

The Omni was trickier to put together than most gaming chairs, but everything is well-engineered, and the parts slot together easily. The chair does feature motorized lumbar support, so you'll need to connect the seat base to the backrest with a short, built-in USB-C cable, but that's all the wiring there is.

Specs

Design

According to LiberNovo, the Omni is "the world's first dynamic ergonomic chair," which means it moves and adjusts in response to your body movement as you shift and fidget throughout the day. To achieve this, the Omni features a "Bionic FlexFit" backrest, which is made up of eight curved, linked panels that are designed to adapt to your spine in every position. The chair also has what LiberNovo calls a "Dynamic Support System," which basically connects the different parts of the chair so that the whole chair shifts and adjusts as you move. For example, if you recline in the Omni, the armrests and seat will also shift back with you. Arm rests that move when you recline might not seem revolutionary, but this is the first chair I've tested with this feature — and I found myself liking it a lot. Who knew I was missing arm support when I reclined in my other chairs?

I'm not sure I would agree with LiberNovo's classification of the Omni as the "world's first dynamic ergonomic chair," as there definitely are other chairs that are designed to move and adjust in response to your body movement. The Steelcase Karman, for example, is also a "dynamic ergonomic chair" that adjusts in response to your body movement. The way it moves is different — the Karman has a suspended frame that reacts to small body movements, while the Omni's "Dynamic Support System" connects the different parts of the chair so they move together. But the concept is similar. The Omni also has a sort of "suspended" frame, presumably to better account for small movements.

The Omni isn't a particularly large chair, but it does take up more space than you might expect. The "spine" of the chair, which holds the articulated backrest together, juts out about 8 inches past the actual backrest — it wasn't too much of a hassle, but I did find myself occasionally knocking things over with the stem of the headrest when I tried to turn around (while reclined) in my cramped home office.

The chair comes in two colorways: "midnight black" and "space gray." Our review unit came in midnight black, which has black fabric upholstery, a dark gray frame, and silver-painted accents. The space gray appears to be closer to white overall, with light gray upholstery and a white frame. It's an interesting-looking chair — especially with the spine and the articulated back — perhaps a bit futuristic, but I wouldn't say it's particularly attractive (or unattractive... my feelings on this chair's aesthetic are solidly neutral). It looks a little like the Herman Miller x Logitech G Vantum, but slimmer and curvier.

The Omni features a padded, fabric-covered seat with a multi-density foam cushion that's firmer in the back (for support) and softer in the front (to alleviate leg pressure). The cushion is comfortable and very soft — maybe a little too soft, as it's only about two inches thick. I'm not a particularly big person (I'm 5'7" and I weigh around 135 pounds / 61kg), and I can feel the base of the seat through the cushion. While this doesn't take away from the comfort now, it does make me wonder how long the cushion will last.

The articulated backrest is comprosed of 8 connected panels designed to move and flex with your body. The concept is similar to what we've seen on the Herman Miller Embody (albeit a simpler version). There's a layer of soft foam and fabric between you and the articulated panels — it's a thin layer, but longevity shouldn't be an issue as it doesn't bear weight (like the seat does). The brand name — LiberNovo — is printed (not stitched — it looks like debossed heat-transfer vinyl, or something similar) in small letters on the upper part of the backrest.

The Omni also has an adjustable headrest, with the same black fabric upholstery and soft foam padding as the rest of the chair. The headrest tilts and is height- and depth-adjustable.

Comfort & Adjustments

When it comes to adjustability, the Omni falls somewhere in between traditional office task chairs and gaming chairs. The Omni features a full 160-degree recline (many office chairs don't have a real recline at all), but it's weight-activated — unlike racing-style chairs, which are a lot like, well, car seats.

Most of the Omni's adjustment levers are located under the seat, on the right side: two paddle-like levers just under the seat, and a tilt-tension knob further down. The front lever controls seat height — lifting the paddle releases the gas lift, and the seat adjusts from between 17.32 inches (43.99cm) and 21.65 inches (54.99cm).

Right behind the seat height paddle is another silver lever, which locks in four positions — corresponding with the chair's four recline positions. The positions indicate the recline limit you'll hit when tilting backward — the first stops you at 105 degrees, the second at 120 degrees, the third at 135 degrees, and the fourth (and last) at 160 degrees.

A few inches under the levers, you'll find a tilt-tension knob, which you can use to adjust the amount of tension you feel in the backrest when you're lying back in the chair. Turning the knob clockwise increases the tension; counterclockwise decreases it. I, personally, like a lot of leeway to recline paired with high tilt-tension — so I can recline all the way back if I want to, but simply relaxing into the backrest won't immediately see me lying flat. The tilt tension knob works well enough, though I did need to turn it several times to noticeably increase (or decrease) the tension.

The Omni has 4D armrests that adjust four ways: height, width, depth, and angle. The armrests are roomy, measuring 11.02 inches (28cm) long by 3.94 inches (10cm) wide, and have densely padded polyurethane tops. On the outside of each armrest, there's a small silver lever that lets you adjust each armrest's height individually — from as low as 7 inches (17.78cm) to 10.25 inches (26.04cm) above the seat. To adjust depth, you simply move the tops — forward and backward movement is notched (17 notches). You can also rotate the tops about 45 degrees inward (they don't rotate outward). Width adjustment is made by either pulling the armrests in toward your body or pushing them out.

I didn't love this form of width adjustment, as I'm someone who frequently puts all my weight on my chair's armrests, usually to push myself toward something (or push myself out of the chair). What this means is that every time I push off of the armrests, they're pushed to their widest state (if they're not already there). Luckily, I prefer my armrests wide, but this would be very frustrating if I preferred a narrower position. Of course, most gaming chairs have armrests that are either at a fixed or semi-fixed width (you can adjust the width of the armrests on the Secretlab Titan Evo 2022, for example, but you need to unscrew bolts underneath the chair), so perhaps that's the price of convenience.

On the inside of the left arm rest is where you'll find the controls for the Omni's motorized lumbar support: two arrows for adjusting lumbar support manually and an OmniStretch massage button. The arrows are pretty straightforward — the forward arrow increases lumbar support while the backward arrow decreases it.

The lumbar support in the Omni is pretty good — the chair's articulated backrest makes it feel more customized — but it only adjusts horizontally, not vertically. If it's placed in the right spot for your lumbar region, great; if not... oh well. Height is pretty important when it comes to lumbar support (that's why low-tech lumbar solutions, such as the lumbar support on the Steelcase Karman High Back, prioritize height-adjustability). I would have preferred to see more flexibility instead of a motor, which seems gimmicky at best and a liability at worst.

The motor is powered by a 12v 2200mAh rechargeable battery pack, which slots into the chair on the left side, under the seat. LiberNovo says the battery pack will last around 30 days under normal circumstances, which is pretty good — the pack pulls out easily and has a USB-C port for recharging (though the chair doesn't come with a USB-C cable — just saying). The motor powers the lumbar support and also allows for the "OmniStretch massage," which is a five-minute spinal massage that stretches your back by, well, increasing and decreasing the lumbar support. (It does feel pretty good, I won't lie.)

The lumbar support and spinal massage worked very well in my testing, although I did occasionally find myself accidentally pressing the buttons with my elbow — when I was pushing myself off of my armrests. So that's my fault, but longevity is a concern. After all, a motor is something that can fail — pretty easily, especially if it's powering a weight-activated spinal massage. And it seems like the company knows that, as the warranty on electronics is 2 years versus the chair's 5. It seems like there's no way to adjust the lumbar support without the motor, so it's possible you'll end up with a very rigid chair in two years' time.

LiberNovo also offers an optional "StepSync Footrest," which can be purchased bundled with the chair or separately for $79. The footrest comes in a flat box and requires assembly, which takes just a few minutes. It has two parts: a slanted plastic footrest for when you're sitting at your desk normally, and a padded, upholstered footrest for when you're fully reclined in the Omni. The footrest is a nice extra option — it comes with risers for people with shorter legs, and the top rest aligns your feet with your body in case you ever do want to take a nap in your chair — but I'm not sure I'd pay $79 (MSRP $198) for it.

Bottom Line

The LiberNovo Omni is an interesting chair — it does what it sets out to do: deliver an extremely comfortable, ergonomic experience on par with high-end task chairs, but for quite a bit less. The retail price on the Omni is listed at $1,099 ($1,297 with footrest), but it was priced at around $700 on Kickstarter and has been on "sale" since launch — it's currently priced at $803 ($867 with footrest) for Black Friday. That's definitely quite a bit cheaper than our favorite task/office gaming chairs — the $1500 Herman Miller x Logitech G Embody and the $1200~ Steelcase Karman, though the latter starts at $846 (for a very basic model), and is priced more on par with task-style gaming chairs, such as the Herman Miller x Logitech G Vantum.

Don't get me wrong, I've loved my experience with the Omni so far. But it's hard to know if I'm still going to love this chair in a few months or years — and chairs aren't supposed to be something you refresh every year and a half. LiberNovo is a brand-new company that's riding off a wild Kickstarter high, and that might not be a good thing. The chair has a 5-year warranty — which isn't that long to begin with — and we're not even sure if this company will make it to the 5-year mark. (Plus, the electronics only have a 2-year warranty.) There are a lot of things that could go wrong with this chair, and it's hard to make a recommendation without spending at least a few more months sitting in it. Similar chairs, like the Vantum, are cheaper (the Vantum is currently on sale for $697.50) and are backed by a reputable company and a 12-year warranty.

An investment in a new gaming chair or desk is one of the biggest improvements you can make to your setup, and thanks to Secretlab's Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, you don't have to break the bank to do so. Secretlab's holiday savings are now in full swing with huge price cuts on its chairs, desks, recliners, and accessories that could help you save you up to £200. Prices are slashed from 12th November to 5th December, or at least until the stock runs out, so you best be quick.

• Check all the Black Friday Deals at Secretlab

Some of the company's biggest products are on sale right now, including the Secretlab Titan Evo and Secretlab Titan Evo Nanogen, as well as newer favourites like the Recliner add-on. With Secretlab producing some of the best gaming chairs that you can buy, these Black Friday deals are the perfect chance to upgrade your comfort and save some pennies while you're at it.

Secretlab Black Friday Gaming Chair Deals

Secretlab Black Friday Sit-to-Stand Desk Deals

Secretlab Black Friday Desk Accessory Deals

Secretlab Black Friday Skins Deals

Secretlab Black Friday Ergonomic Recliner Deals

Secretlab Black Friday Lumbar Pillow Deals

If you're looking for more savings, check out our Best PC Hardware deals for a range of products, or dive deeper into our specialized SSD and Storage Deals, Hard Drive Deals, Gaming Monitor Deals, Graphics Card Deals, gaming chair, or CPU Deals pages.

If you've already got a nice setup going with a solid PC and peripherals, the next step in the upgrade path is your furniture essentials. A good table and chair can change how you interact with your computer, making it more pleasant to work (or game) on it for longer periods. What you sit on, in particular, is imperative to your health too, since it dictates your posture. To ensure your spine's longevity in style, we've scoured the web for a killer deal — Secretlab's Titan Evo Warhammer 40K Ultramarines Edition is on sale for just $594 right now, offering a decent $70 discount from its list price.

• Check out this deal at Secretlab

Now, almost $600 is certainly not "cheap" for a butt-rester, but the Titan Evo is Secretlab's best-selling, premium gaming chair. It usually retails for $580 itself, but with the discount, you can get the Warhammer 40K special edition for almost that price. Secretlab spares no expense decking this bad boy out, upholstered with blue leatherette all around with gold accent stitching running along the sides, mirroring Ultramarine armor. There's a big Ultima chapter sigil on the back and a Macraggian Aquila at the front, both embroidered so you can never stop repping the faction. There are even more details scattered throughout, like a purity seal accessory that's a skull; the takeaway is that this is not just a surface-level collab —it's unabashed nerd territory.

As for the chair itself, it's made out of metal and has memory foam everywhere. There are over 50,000 reviews on Secretlab's site alone, averaging out to 4.9/5 stars. We recommend it in our own best gaming chair roundup, praising it for its generous recline, comfy armrests and headrest, and spacious seat. The regular-size version on sale can support up to 285 pounds and extends to 6 feet 2 inches to accommodate most people. The seat is plenty wide at 18.5 inches, and the backrest measures around 33.5 inches. You get all the features you need, like lumbar support, adjustable armrest, tilt — all backed up by a 3-year warranty.

If you're looking for more savings, check out our Best PC Hardware deals for a range of products, or dive deeper into our specialized SSD and Storage Deals, Hard Drive Deals, Gaming Monitor Deals, Graphics Card Deals, or CPU Deals pages.

If you like the design of the Razer Iskur V2, but don't want to shell out over $600 for a new gaming chair, you're in luck. The company also offers the Iskur V2 X, which has much of the same style as its more expensive sibling — but with a sub-$300 price tag.

The Iskur V2 X sacrifices many of the extras that make the Iskur V2 so special, but its more accessible price point makes it a good fit for those who prioritize value when searching for the best gaming chairs.

Razer Iskur V2 X Specifications

Assembling the Razer Iskur V2

Like the Iskur V2, the Iskur V2 X review unit arrived in a massive black box weighing 41 pounds. With that said, I managed to carry the cumbersome box, intact, up to the second floor of my house and to my office (my back be damned). With the back opened, I found the following parts carefully protected and arranged in the box:

• Fabric gloves for assembly (glued to the inner flap)
• Backrest and seat base (left and right arms pre-attached)
• Metal, 5-arm base
• Casters 5x
• Gas lift, tilt mechanism
• Allen wrench, screws, and plastic covers for left/right side arms

Each primary component for the chair was wrapped in a clear plastic bag to protect the metal finish or fabric during shipping. The assembly instructions are printed on the back of a large piece of green cardstock. The instructions are easy to understand with pictograms to guide you through the building process. I started by affixing the castors to the base, and then banging each into place on the floor (which startled my Mini Schnauzer puppy). The next step was to insert the gas lift cylinder into the base.

I then had to remove four screws from the seat base, using the included Allen wrench tool, attach the tilt mechanism, and then reinsert the previously removed screws. I then slipped the seatback onto the seat base using the metal guides and screwed each side with two screws. The final steps were to attach the plastic covers (to hide the attachment points for the seatback to the seat base). There are also two small round covers to conceal the single screw that secures the larger plastic covers in place.

Razer Iskur V2 X Design

The design of the Iskur V2 X closely resembles that of the Iskur V2. There is significant bolstering on the chair's backrest and seat base, which helps to envelop your posterior and back. My review unit featured a light grey fabric with black contrast stitching (also available in black). It's a more subdued look than the Iskur V2 that I reviewed earlier this year, which was finished in black with green contrast stitching.

The cloth seating surfaces of the chair were pleasing to the touch and comfortable during extended use. One of my niggles with the Iskur V2 was that I found the synthetic leather to be uncomfortable, sticking to my skin in warmer temperatures or when my body temperature increased from prolonged gaming sessions. The cloth on the Iskur V2 breathes better, and I had no issues with the chair sticking to my legs or making my back sweat.

If there's a downside to fabric, it's that it can become a magnet for odors and stains — gaming chairs finished in synthetic leather are easier to clean. With a fabric chair, you'll need to be a little more careful about where you place your greasy hands if you're grabbing for potato chips, Cheetos, or any other kind of food that you may partake in while gaming (or just doing your usual daily workload).

Since this is the cost-optimized version of the Iskur V2, several features have been omitted to deliver a chair that's less than half the Iskur V2's MSRP. The comfy and removable memory foam pillow isn't included (although you can purchase one separately from Razer). You also don't get the two knobs to adjust the back lumbar support. One other change comes with the armrests: the Iskur V2 features 4D armrests, while the Iskur V2X has 2D armrests (adjustable for height and rotatable inward/outward).

One thing that hasn't changed is the ability to adjust the backrest from 90 degrees to a lounge-friendly 152 degrees. While I can recline and use the chair at a 152-degree angle, my anxiety won't allow me to maintain that position for more than 10 or 15 seconds at a time (I have the illogical fear that I'm going to topple backwards and crack my cranium).

Razer Iskur V2 X Comfort and Adjustments

Razer tackles comfort head-on by using a high-density foam for the cushion. That's just a fancy way of saying that the cushion is relatively thick, it molds to your buttocks, and helps to relieve pressure points. During my time testing the chair, my bottom was well-supported, and I didn't experience any fatigue or pain after using it for hours.

Unlike the Iskur V2, the Iskur V2 X doesn't have the adjustable lumbar support for the backrest. On the Iskur V2, you can move the lumbar support that swivels 360 degrees and can move up/down, or in/out. As a result, you might have a hard time finding (or may never find) the optimal "sweet spot" with the chair. It wasn't a problem for me, as my 5-foot-10-inch and 161-pound frame had no trouble adjusting to the backrest, which was set at an angle of about 100 to 110 degrees using the handle on the right side of the seat base. As I mentioned earlier, the chair has a maximum recline of 152 degrees, which is something I was reluctant to test for longer than a few minutes.

You also lose the 4D armrests of the Iskur V2, with the Iskur V2 X featuring 2D armrests instead. You can adjust each armrest independently for height and swivel inwards or outwards. I adjusted the height of the armrests to accommodate my seating position comfortably, but I left them in their original position — pointing straight ahead. (I've never really felt the need to swivel my armrests inward or outward, but to each their own.)

The seat features a height adjustment mechanism, accessible via a handle located on the right side of the seat base. My most comfortable position was to have the seat raised to its maximum setting.

The five castors aren’t PU-coated, like the ones on the Iskur V2, but I still had no trouble effortlessly gliding across the laminate wood flooring in my office.

Bottom Line

The Razer Iskur V2 X is a no-frills gaming chair that I still find to be comfortable to use daily. For gaming to more mundane tasks — such as typing up this review or entering data in Microsoft Excel — I rolled around my office and swiveled from left to right with ease, and even thrust my back into the seat like a maniac when I lost a race in Forza Horizon 5.

You do miss out on several features from the Iskur V2, including the memory foam headrest, 4D armrests, and 6D lumbar support. But if those aren’t features that tickle your fancy for a gaming chair, you can save well over $300 by opting for the Iskur V2 X. The Iskur V2 has an MSRP of $649 versus just $299 for the Iskur V2 X, which makes the latter a prime score for bargain shoppers. However, if you want a bit more adjustability to fit the specific needs of your body, you may also want to consider the Bouiles Master Chair, which offers more adjustability and costs just $70 more than the Iskur V2 X.

The Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen may sound like the title of a badly-translated 1990s Saturday morning manga, but in reality it is the updated version of the flagship Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 that we reviewed back in 2021.

The $799 Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen sports a hybrid leatherette that feels soft to the touch, but that the company claims has enhanced UV and stain resistance. Under the leatherette there is a nanofoam composite — essentially multiple layers of foam designed to provide support and comfort.

The Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen comes in two sizes. Regular, for persons between 5'7" and 6'2" (170 - 188cm) weighing less than 220lbs (100kg), and XL for those between 5'11" and 6'9" (180 - 206cm) and between 175 and 395lbs (79 - 179kg). Both sizes come in your choice of either pure white or pure black NanoGen leatherette.

Is the next generation Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen better than what came before it? Take a seat and let's find out.

Assembly

After recently moving house, I have been assembling a lot of furniture. My HOTO Electric screwdriver has been in constant use! All of this practice prepared me well to assemble the Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen Edition.

The box the chair came in was extremely large, measuring 28.3 x 33.5 x 15 inches (72 x 85 x 38cm), and weighing 78 pounds (35.5kg) — it was challenging to move. The delivery person even offered to help me, but pride took over and I said I was okay — and I was (barely). Let's just say the box has a two-person lift icon for a reason!

The assembly guide states that two people should assemble the chair, but you can do it with one person. I assembled the chair in 37 minutes using the provided tools — but there were a few sweaty moments.

Inside the box is a glorious amount of exceptionally dense packing foam (which I will be reusing), a manual, a quick reference card, and a pack of leather wipes. The manual was exceptionally clear to follow, and the quick reference card helped me fully understand the unboxing process. The chair comes with all the tools you'll need to assemble it, including a T-handle with an embedded magnet to hold the bit, and two bits: an M8 hex driver and a Pozi screwdriver. (You can use other ¼ inch bits with the handle, but shorter bits will need an extension piece or they'll get lost in the handle.) The handle will prove useful around the house and office when I need a little more torque. This included tool was the only tool I used to assemble this chair — unlike when I assembled my previous Boulies Master chair, which required my Wera hex drivers to attach the base of the chair to a frame. The SecretLab Titan Evo NanoGen already had this section connected to its chair base, which made for an easier assembly process.

While building the chair, one area where I hit an issue was when I needed to slide the backrest onto the base. My unit had come with the guiding rails slightly out of line, meaning that I could not push the back onto the seat without moving them. One of the rails is freely moved, while the other is kept under tension via a huge coiled spring. The manual advises that you should not release this rail without the chair back on — but I needed to.

I opened the plastic cover, and slowly released the retaining safety screw (the orange plastic piece in the image) and, with my hands well clear of any moving parts, pressed the release. The loudest metallic “CLACK” sound reverberated around my home, causing my wife to shout, asking if I was ok — I was, and so were my hands. The sound was the rail moving forward at very high speed, and if my hand had been in the way, I would have ended up in the ER with half a chair attached to me. Don’t do that, dear reader — I had to, but you shouldn’t. In the unlikely event that this happens to you, contact the customer service team and do not do what I did!

Other than that minor hiccup, assembly was smooth and I soon had the chair upright and ready for testing.

Specifications

Design and Construction

I asked for the all-white version of this chair for two reasons: First, it looks nice in my room, and second, it is much easier to photograph. But pure white furniture dulls and loses its clarity over time. UV rays from sunlight and stains will quickly turn bright white into an off-white. Secretlab, however, claims that this chair will stay bright white — even in a sunny room. Without subjecting it to an all-day session in a tanning salon and/or throwing a jar of turmeric over it, I have to take those claims with a pinch of salt. The leatherette material is easier to clean than fabric, and the included wipes will certainly be on standby, as I am clumsy (and have a love for raspberry jam (jelly) on toast).

The Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen Edition looks every bit like a stereotypical gaming chair. Secretlab claims that the seat has been made softer, but it is still firmer than my Boulies chair — which pulls double duty as a gaming and office chair. But Secretlab’s chair really pushes the gaming aesthetic with hard edges and large logos.

Once built, I had to set the chair up to get the best sitting experience. This meant that I needed to tweak the settings, and this is where I had to pull out the manual.

To adjust the chair there are a series of dials, paddles, and catches. Starting from the top to bottom, while seated: On my left is the lumbar height adjustment dial, and on the right the lumbar curvature dial. Together, these dials are used to move the chair's lumbar support up and down the chair back, tweaking the curvature to match my back. After a short while tweaking the dials, I found a setting that supported my back and stopped any sciatica ache. Under the dials are the rails that guide the seat back onto the base — these are covered with a magnetic cover, which is a really nice touch that adds to the chair's overall quality and finish.

Next, we have the arm rests. They can move up and down, slide further into my side, slide further away, and move forwards and backwards. They can also twist diagonally to support my forearms. The included Secretlab PU foam armrest tops are nice, if a little cheap-feeling. They are magnetically held to the chair arms, and can be replaced with memory foam or cooling gel tops instead — for an extra cost, of course.

On the right side, at seat level, there is a lever which controls the backrest recline position. If you pull this lever without putting weight on the backrest, it will fly forward; otherwise it works like a typical backrest that reclines as you lean back on it. When you've found your position, return the lever to its original position and the back locks into place. The lever feels like I am pulling an ejector seat.

Underneath the seat are levers for chair height and tilt lock. The chair height lever uses your weight to move the seat down. Remove the weight and the chair will rise and you can tweak the height to your preference with a little patience. Tilt lock is used to alter the tilt angle of the seat. Moving the seat angle backward will place a little more pressure on your butt, moving it forward, and there will be more pressure on your legs. When you are comfy, lock it off and you won’t have to worry about falling over when you sit down. The final dial is for tilt tension, and twisting this will make the seat’s tilt mechanism feel stronger or weaker as you find a comfortable position.

The base of the chair is made from power coated steel and it has certainly got some weight to it. The base didn't creak or flex when loaded up with my 205 pounds (93kg) of weight, plus the weight of the seat. In the two weeks that I have been sitting on this chair, the base has remained scratch free, but the white does show every little speck of dust. Luckily, it's easy to wipe clean, with no seams to snag on as you wipe away dirt and grime. The included casters work on carpet, but I much prefer the aftermarket “rollerblade” casters that I purchased for my Boulies chair. On hard floors, the Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen Edition rolls around like a figure skater at the Winter Olympics, but on carpet it is difficult to move around without removing my weight from the chair.

Comfort and Adjustments

Is the Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen Edition comfortable for a person of my size? Yes, but this is a gaming chair and not an office chair. What do I mean by this? The chair’s seat is much firmer than my previous Boulies chair, which was clearly made to be an office chair, first, and a gaming chair, second. Secretlab claims that the seat base has been “deliberately sculpted" to be medium-firm. It's all about "optimizing pressure distribution,” with firmness being used to counter pressure placed on your “sit bones.” Some areas — notably, under the knees — are softer to provide support, but where my butt touches the seat, the seat pad is firmer and this makes long-term sitting not as comfortable as I would’ve liked.

The seat is supportive and I am not in pain, but a little more comfort for my butt would’ve been appreciated. Is it because of my weight or height? At just under 205 pounds (93kg), I am 15 pounds under the maximum weight for the Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen. My height of 5'7" (172cm) is at the lowest end of the supported height.

I asked my wife to take a seat in the chair and tweak it to her own preferences. She is of a similar height to myself, but weighs about one-third of what I do. She found the chair comfortable and supportive in general, but agreed that it was a little too firm for long term sitting.

The magnetic head rest is genius. My old Boulies chair used an elastic band to keep the headrest attached, and made the chair look cheaper, overall. Finding a comfortable spot for the head rest took a little time — I didn’t want my head pushed too far forward, nor did I want the pillow to bury itself into the back of my neck. But I got there in the end: turns out, all I needed to do was adjust the pillow while wearing a hoodie.

The leatherette material is comfortable, and I don’t see it becoming too sticky or clammy during the end of a remarkably hot British summer. Warmer climates may be different, however. The softness of the material feels nice to the touch, and the underlying firmness of the upholstery amplifies the luxurious feeling.

Bottom Line

Secretlab's Titan Evo NanoGen Edition is a great gaming chair that can be tuned to meet the needs of the user. The seat pad is a little too firm for me, but I can appreciate that Secretlab is trying to provide both comfort and support in one package.

If you want a gaming chair, then the Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen Edition should be a consideration. But if you want an office chair, I still recommend my old chair — the Boulies Master. The Titan Evo NanoGen Edition's leatherette finish is a subtle luxury, and the claims of UV and stain protection will need to be put to a long-term test — I'll update this review once I've had this chair for longer.

Herman Miller chairs have a reputation for comfort and luxury, but they are also known for having quite a high price tag. Herman Miller manufactures some of the most ergonomic office chairs in the business and has even branched out into the world of gaming with impressive results. If you want to treat your bottom and back to some comfort while playing your favourite games, then good news, Herman Miller's Vantum Gaming Chair is currently reduced to £765, shaving £192 off the list price.

Herman Miller is sporting a 20% sale off its entire range of gaming furniture, including this Vantum gaming chair deal and price reductions on other chair models and desks. The Vantum Gaming Chair is one of our favorite gaming chairs. We had the opportunity to review the Herman Miller x Logitech G Vantum, and it didn't disappoint.

We noted how amazing it felt to sit in, its lightweight design, and how it arrived almost fully assembled, saving you any difficulty in constructing the chair. The negatives of the Vantum at the time of review were the high price, as Herman Miller chairs are traditionally expensive. We still awarded the Vantum chair an Editor's Choice award and gave it 4 out of 5 stars

The Vantum chair was originally designed in partnership with Logitech and used to be named the Logitech G Vantum gaming chair, but has since been renamed on the Herman Miller website. So, if you're looking for a gaming chair but prefer the comfort and ergonomics of an office-type chair, then the Herman Miller Vantum is a great choice if you're willing to part with the money. With this 20% discount, the chair is much more affordable, but it's still an expensive treat for your bottom.

Check Amazon for all gaming chair deals.

The market is wide open when it comes to gaming chairs. You could splurge on something like the bucket-style Thermaltake Argent E700 or the task-chair-turned-gaming-chair Herman Miller X Logitech G Embody, or go with a budget-minded option like the Boulies Master. Razer's Iskur V2 sits somewhere in between, with a $649 price tag. That's still a tall ask for a gaming chair, but it's money well spent for something that your rear end will sit on for hours at a time.

The Iskur V2 makes a good first impression with its racing chair-inspired design, green accents, and a wide array of adjustments. From the lockable 4D armrests to the multi-way lumbar adjustment to the removable headrest pillow, the Iskur V2 has a lot going for it among the best gaming chairs.

Razer Iskur V2 Specifications

Razer Iskur V2 Design

If you’re familiar with Razer’s computing products and accessories, the aesthetic of the Iskur V2 should come as no surprise. Our review unit was finished in black "ePU" synthetic leather with green accent stitching. The stitching is most prominent along the backrest bolsters and seat base bolsters, and there's also a green Razer logo on the seatback. If the green accents are a bit too "ornate" for you, Razer also offers the Iskur V2 in black or gray without contrast stitching.

The chair has a familiar gaming/racing style, which I find appealing. I'm a car nut at heart, and the Iskur reminds me of racing bolsters that you might find in 1990s JDM sports cars. Even with the green accents, the Iskur wouldn't look out of place in an office setting. This would be especially true for the solid black and gray versions.

Synthetic leather is a more eco-friendly alternative to leather, and it looks as though it should have good wear characteristics for extended gaming sessions. One downside I noticed is that there are no perforations/ventilation for the seat, so my legs stuck to the bottom cushion when wearing shorts. It's starting to creep into the high 80s and low 90s in North Carolina, and the heat combined with my adrenaline pumping from gaming sessions isn't a good combination. I don't have any such ventilation problems with my personal gaming chair, which has a taut, mesh fabric on the seat base and backrest.

With that said, the synthetic leather makes it easy to clean up in case you have a food or drink accident on the chair. This is bound to happen for gamers at some point, and the Iskur V2 can be quickly wiped down with a wet cloth. Dealing with drinks and food mishaps with fabric is often more of a hassle; just trying removing barbeque sauce (and the smell) from a gaming chair with fabric surfaces.

Razer includes a headrest pillow with the Iskur V2 – which also has a green Razer logo -- but it doesn’t solidly attach to the seatback. Instead, there’s an adjustable loop that fastens with a plastic quick-release buckle that allows for a friction fit. Depending on how you adjust the strap, you can raise or lower its position on the seatback. Although I attached the headrest pillow, I didn’t end up using it daily. It would be nice if there was a more semi-permanent attachment point for the headrest pillow, because I could see it slipping out of your preferred position if you are inclined to use it frequently.

All the knobs, levers, and buttons on the Iskur V2 have a high-quality feel. I especially liked the knurled adjustment knobs on either side of the chair. The right knob moves the lumbar support in or out, while the left knob adjusts the lumbar support up or down.

Once fully assembled, the Iskur V2 is sturdy and creek-free. I’ve previously encountered gaming chairs that are very “talkative” when reclining or leaning on the armrests. The Iskur V2, on the other hand, is tight as a drum, letting out nary a peep even when going to full recline. The only noises that emanate from the chair are the satisfying clicks from turning the lumbar dials or adjusting the armrests.

Assembling the Razer Iskur V2

The Iskur V2 arrived on my porch in a massive box that weighed over 80 pounds. I managed to "walk" it into the house by flipping it end over end, then scratched my head as to how I would manage to transport the box upstairs by myself (my stairs leading to the second floor also have a 90-degree turn, making the ascent even more tricky). Given how cumbersome (35 x 28 x 15 inches) and heavy the box was, I opted to open it up and carry the large components upstairs, piece by piece.

The Razer Iskur V2 parts list includes:

• Backrest and seat base (left and right arms pre-attached)
• Headrest pillow
• Left and right armrest
• Casters 5x
• Gas lift, tilt mechanism
• Allen wrench, screws, and plastic covers

When I opened the box, I was surprised to see a pair of work gloves in a bag taped to the inner flap, which is a nice touch from Razer. The bottom cushion, seatback, and head cushion were wrapped in plastic to protect them during shipping. The other major components, like the base, were wrapped in flexible foam, with foam inserts interspersed for added protection.

Razer included a multitool to assemble the Iskur V2, and the whole process took no longer than ten minutes. I first had to affix the wheels to the heavy metal base, then insert the gas lift. The next step was to remove four screws from the seat base with the included Allen wrench tool, then attach the metal base for the seat and reinsert the four screws. Next, you'll need to affix the entire seat base to the gas lift, then fasten the seatback to the backrest with four Allen screws. The next step is to install a plastic cover plate on either side of the chair and a small round plastic plug to hide the screw that holds the cover plates.

The final step was to strap the head pillow to the seatback.

Razer Iskur V2 Comfort and Adjustments

The Iskur V2 comes with a bevy of adjustments to fit a wide range of body types. For starters, Razer goes all-in on comfort by using dual-density foam cushions for the seat base and the backrest. I must say, my butt felt immediately at home as soon as I sunk down into the chair.

One feature I only used once is the ability for the chair to recline back to a maximum of 152 degrees. That's not quite the 180-degree maximum recline of the Cooler Master Caliber X2, but it was extreme enough to leave me feeling a bit unsettled. Even though I know that the chair can support my weight at full recline, I couldn't quite shake the feeling that I might embarrassingly topple completely backward and spark an unforced injury on my middle-aged body. So, I was one-and-done with the 152-degree recline.

The chair supports height adjustment (floor-to-seat height ranges from 435 to 535 mm), which is controlled using the right stalk that juts out from the seat base. As is common in today's gaming chairs, the Iskur V2 features 4D armrests, which are highly adjustable. I found the perfect height and horizontal position to accommodate my arms while seated at my desk. The armrests can also pivot up to 25 degrees in or out, but I found them most comfortable pointed straight ahead.

The lumbar is fully adjustable and marks one of the most significant changes from the first-generation Iskur. The previous chair featured a lumbar pad that was only adjustable for depth, while the Iskur V2's is adjustable in three planes. It can be adjusted horizontally, vertically, or in what's called a "cross-plane path." This means the entire lumbar pad can swivel left or right. The left and right movement is beneficial for people with unorthodox sitting styles (i.e., me — I like to sit with my legs crossed in the chair), or for people constantly looking at extreme right or left viewpoints with multi-monitor setups or the best ultrawide gaming monitors. The swivel ensures the lumbar follows your body movements, maintaining pressure points for maximum comfort.

Razer says the Iskur V2 can comfortably support people weighing up to 300 pounds. I weigh roughly half of that maximum, and could easily find a comfortable seating position after about 10 minutes of tinkering with the controls. Whether I sat with my feet on the floor or with my legs crossed, my comfort levels were high. The adjustable lumbar was also much appreciated, as my primary monitor for work is a 49-inch ultrawide. I sit at the mid-point of the monitor and spend a lot of time moving my viewpoint from left to right during the day as I multitask throughout the day across macOS and Windows machines via my monitor’s built-in KVM switch.

My primary complaint about the chair relates to seat space/depth. Although Razer says that it has improved the amount of seat space compared to the original Iskur, I still felt that it was a little lacking in thigh support — even though I’m not overly tall at 5’ 10”. My “daily driver” gaming chair has a seat depth of 500mm compared to the Iskur V2's 450mm, and this was immediately noticeable when sitting with my feet on the floor.

The Iskur V2 includes a removable headrest pillow, but I don’t typically rest my head all the way back on the seatback when I'm gaming or performing everyday work tasks. So, while I attached the headrest pillow when I first set up the chair, my head only touched it once, when I tested the 152-degree recline.

Bottom Line

The Razer Iskur V2 is an excellent gaming chair, offering plenty of adjustability, somewhat restrained styling, and high-quality construction. The 4D armrests should allow even the most discerning gamers to find a comfortable position, and the highly adjustable lumbar support should do wonders to keep your back from screaming out in pain after an hours-long gaming session (although you may be screaming into your headphones for another reason).

However, the Iskur V2 isn’t perfect. The pleather seating surfaces caused my back and legs to sweat after gaming for a few hours. In addition, the relatively short seat cushion resulted in less-than-ideal thigh support.

There’s also the issue of price. The Iskur V2 retails for $649, although Amazon currently offers the chair for under $620. That’s a lot of change for a gaming chair, but the trick lumbar adjustments might be worth it for people with back problems and/or who have an unorthodox way of sitting in their gaming chairs. The chair is also well-built and looks good sitting in your gaming lair. However, if the price is too high for you, consider something like the Cooler Master Caliber X2, which has a street price of under $300.

I say it constantly, and I'll say it again: the best gaming chair isn't necessarily a gaming chair. In fact, the best gaming chair usually isn't a gaming chair, because while gaming chairs have been around ever since aftermarket auto fitters were trying to find an audience for their leftover racing seats, gaming is actually nothing like racing. Your gaming mouse and keyboard might be zipping around (or trying to) with an ultra-speedy, ultra-low-latency 8,000 Hz polling rate, but you aren't. Instead of looking at racing-style gaming chairs, look at tried-and-true boring, office-friendly task chairs.

Except task chairs these days are far from boring, as the Steelcase Karman High Back in color-shifting Blue-Red Intermix Shift mesh fabric, proves. The Karman High Back is a refined, lightweight task chair with a flexible, weight-activated frame for perfect, customized full-body support — all the way up to your head and neck. It's the high-backed version of the Steelcase Karman, which we tried and loved, and comes with a built-in headrest and neck cushion for extra back, shoulder, and neck support you might not even realize you need.

But first things first: it's not cheap, as most task chairs aren't. It starts at $1,072 for an all-black armless chair with no additional lumbar support, and goes up to $1,695 for a color-shifting chair with 4-way adjustable arms, extra lumbar support, hubless wheels for hard floors, and carbon neutral certification.

While this is certainly a lot compared to the average gaming chair — which usually comes in at under $600, it's actually a pretty good price for a fancy task chair. My primary chair is the Herman Miller Aeron, which starts at $1,275 for the base model and goes up to $2,340 for a model with fully-adjustable arms, adjustable PostureFit lumbar support, and polished aluminum accents. That's not to say the Karman High Back isn't still pretty expensive — it is — but as the extra lumbar support and 4-way adjustable arms feel somewhat unnecessary, the configuration I'd recommend comes to about $1,262, which is a pretty good price for a high-end task chair.

Assembly of the Karman High Back

The Karman High Back ships fully assembled.

Design of the Karman High Back

The Karman High Back is the high-back version of the Steelcase Karman. It's an all-mesh task chair with a flexible, lightweight frame and a five-wheel aluminum base. It has, as you might expect from the name, a higher back with adjustable (but non-detachable) neck support.

Like the Karman, the Karman High Back has a mixed frame — the main frame is aluminum, but the frame that holds the mesh is made of a softer, flexible material that's designed to move with your body and help eliminate the pressure points that are common in all-mesh chairs.

The frame is "weight-activated," and is designed to respond to the little movements you make while sitting — the chair adjusts with you to provide as much support as possible. It also has a hybrid seat, which consists of mesh suspended over cushioning for the best of both worlds (when it comes to comfort — perhaps the worst of both worlds when it comes to cleaning).

The chair comes in Steelcase's "Intermix" mesh fabric in several color options: black, "baltic" (blue), "merlot" (burgundy), and "peacock" (light teal) all come in both translucent mesh and opaque mesh-fabric options, while "seagull" (beige white) and "bronze" come in only the opaque mesh-fabric option. You can also opt for the pricier-but-prettier Intermix Shift fabric, which is a multi-colored translucent mesh that color-shifts with the light and comes in Red-Blue Intermix or Blue-Gold Intermix. Our review unit came in Red-Blue Intermix fabric, with a "merle" and obsidian frame.

The main frame of our review model is a semi-shiny black painted aluminum, while the softer, flexible secondary frame material is... basically a dark gray. The mesh is a distinct blue and red weave that looks like a cool-toned purple from afar and shifts to red depending on the angle of the chair.

The mesh is semi-translucent, and feels much softer than the average mesh you'll find on task chairs — even high-end task chairs such as my ride-or-die Herman Miller Aeron. The mesh on the Aeron is distinctly plasticky — though it's not uncomfortable, thanks to the smooth, tight weave, but the Intermix mesh feels much closer to fabric. The Intermix Shift fabric is not quite as soft as the opaque Intermix fabric we saw on our review unit of the regular Karman, but it's still very soft. It's nothing like the mesh on the Fractal Refine chair, which was so scratchy I could feel through my clothing.

The Karman High Back in this colorway is certainly a striking, unique-looking chair — I think you'd be hard pressed to find anything like it, in either the gaming chair or the task chair market. It has a tall, sculpted back frame that curves in slightly at the top for neck support, and its light, curvy frame makes it seem much smaller than most gaming chairs (also, it is much smaller than most gaming chairs).

While the standard racing-style gaming chair normally weighs as much as a small adult — even the hybrid gaming- and task-chair Fractal Refine still weighed a whopping 78.7 pounds (35.7kg) — the Karman High Back weighs a mere 31 pounds (14.06kg).

The chair sits on a five-point aluminum wheelbase with the same semi-shiny black finish as the rest of the frame. Our review unit came with 2.5-inch plastic wheels for carpet — the cheapest option available. Other options include wheels designed for hard floors (+$23), hubless wheels for carpet (+$90), and hubless wheels for hard floors (+$114).

Specs

Comfort and Adjustments of the Karman High Back

The Karman High Back is designed to adjust to your body — it responds directly to your weight, and moves with you to provide support no matter how you sit. Because it's supposed to adjust in real-time as you sit, there aren't a lot of manual adjustments to be made. While many gaming chairs, including the popular Secretlab Titan Evo 2022, can practically flatten into a bed, you won't find that kind of excessive recline on a task chair — and definitely not on the Karman High Back.

In fact, this chair only has one multi-function adjustment knob/paddle, located under the seat on the right side. This adjustment knob/paddle is how you'll adjust both height and the strength of the chair's weight-activated tilt/recline — and that's it, because those are all the adjustments you can make to this chair, for the most part. Adjusting the height is straight forward: lift the paddle to activate the gas lift, and raise/lower the seat (if you've ever used a chair before, this works exactly the same as every other chair you've ever used). The Karman High Back has a floor-to-seat height of between 15.81 inches (40.16cm) and 20.44 inches (51.92cm).

You can also use the adjustment knob to tune the chair's tilt-recline strength and limiter: turning the knob lets you switch between four steps. The first step locks the chair in an upright position, while the second step allows for some recline but stops you about halfway. The third position allows for full, "unlimited" recline (the chair "reclines" around 22 degrees, at most) but has a 20% tension boost, and the fourth and final step allows for full recline with no tension boost. This is similar to how other task chairs, such as the Herman Miller Aeron and the Herman Miller x Logitech G Vantum work — no recline, just a tension-limited tilt-recline that sort of lets you rock back. While it's not going to be as good for lying flat and taking a nap (like you can do in the Cooler Master Caliber X2), you probably shouldn't be taking a nap in your chair, anyway.

Even without much in the way of manual adjustments, I found the Karman High Back to be very comfortable. I was a little worried about the headrest, which curves inward and features a permanently-attached neck "cushion" — I'm not a big fan of headrests to begin with, and the way the chair curves makes me think of an airplane seat (even if the Karman High Back is mesh and therefore much more flexible). The back rises 32.63 inches (82.89cm) from the seat, and the headrest is pretty unavoidable as you'll need to lean back in the chair to tilt-recline.

The attached neck cushion can be raised or lowered to fit against your neck, but it can't be removed. I'm not a big fan of neck cushions, so the Karman High Back took a little getting used to — luckily, the headrest is fairly flexible, like the rest of the chair, so this didn't take as long as I thought it would.

While I'm still not sure I'd personally opt for a headrest with a neck cushion if given the choice, the neck cushion is pretty well-implemented as far as neck cushions go — it's subtle and blends well with the chair, unlike memory foam neck pillows you'll find strapped around the top of chairs like the Andaseat Kaiser 3. I would still like the option of removing it — because what if you happen to have a particularly short torso and it hits right where your head is? — but I suppose that if that does happen, it's not so bulky as to be an actual problem.

Speaking of torso height and size in general, the Karman High Back is able to support up to 350 pounds (158.76kg) and Steelcase doesn't list a height range. However, I will point out that the Karman High Back's seat depth is not adjustable, and it's fairly shallow — 16.3 inches (41.4cm).

Of course, because the seat leans and flexes with your movement, this is not the same as if a rigid, straight-backed chair had such a shallow seat depth — but it's still fairly shallow, and if you have longer legs, you should probably try the chair before you make any big purchases.

What is nice about the chair is that as long as you don't have particularly long legs, it fits a variety of people fairly comfortably. I'm 5'7" and my husband is 5'11", so we're not vastly different heights, but we both found the chair to be very comfortable without needing to make any adjustments when switching (and we usually need to do some adjusting). The only minor issue I had with comfort was when I wanted to sit cross-legged — the Karman's relatively shallow seat depth and width (the seat's point-of-contact width is about 19.25 inches) meant I did feel the frame digging slightly into my thighs.

The chair's "soft, flexible frame" is designed to stop the frame from digging into your thighs when you're sitting in the chair normally, but I suppose they didn't consider people like me, who like to sit in chairs in totally unnatural ways (which is... understandable). However, when I tried to sit in this chair cross-legged, I was reminded of just how small the seat actually is, and that does seem like it will limit users more than weight will (I can't imagine a 350-pound person would be very comfortable in this chair, even if it had no issues supporting them.

Our review model came with 4-way adjustable arms, but you can also save money with height-adjustable only arms ($44 less) or with no arms ($278 less). The Karman High Back's arms have rounded, lightly padded tops with a matte, soft-touch finish that feels a little... well, cheap, considering the care and attention paid to the rest of the chair. They don't feel like they're going to fall apart or anything, they're just not what I would expect on a $1,000+ chair (I'm not sure what I'd expect, however — just something more... premium). They're fixed to the base of the chair and can be adjusted to be wider, if necessary.

There's a small button under each arm rest that allows you to move it up and down — from a minimum floor-to-armrest height of TKTK to a maximum of TKTK. Aside from height, adjusting the chair's arm rests involves pushing the padded tops around — you can move them forward/back, right/left, and angle them diagonally, and they don't click or snap into place so you can sort of just move them to whatever position you want. They also don't lock into place, however — it takes a little pressure to move them, so they're not clacking all over the place like the trigger-happy arm rests on the Thermaltake Argent E700, but I like to be able to lean on my arm rests. The 4-way movement of these arm rests doesn't seem to add much in the way of comfort or convenience, so I would probably stick with the height-only adjustable arm rests for the Karman.

Our review model also came with optional adjustable lumbar support, which is a little less impressive considering the whole chair is supposed to be designed to move seamlessly with your body and offer it real-time support. The extra lumbar support is basically just a piece of curved plastic that clips to the back of the chair.

You can slide it up and down to adjust it, or you can clip and unclip it — it's not built into the chair, and, as such, feels like a bit of an afterthought. The chair's tightly-woven mesh and flexible, ever-moving frame does a decent job of offering back, shoulder, and neck support — while I didn't dislike the extra lumbar support, I wasn't particularly impressed by it, either. But I also didn't feel any pain in my lower back while using the chair, so it seems like it did the job about as well as I could have expected.

My only concern, of course, is that mesh chairs can definitely stretch with use, meaning it's possible you will need that lumbar support add-on once you've had this chair for a few years. Of course, since it just clips on, that means you can always add it on later when (if) you need to.

Bottom Line

The Karman High Back is a nice alternative to its shorter sibling, the Karman, for those who are looking for head and neck support, but I don't think it's really going to add anything if you're not already looking for a headrest. I didn't find the Karman High Back to be any more comfortable than the Karman — and, in fact, I found it to be less comfortable for a little while as I got used to the neck cushion and headrest in general — but my husband, who loves headrests, definitely appreciated the higher back.

The Karman High Back has several features that can't be adjusted or avoided — the neck cushion can't be removed, the seat depth can't be adjusted, and the tilt-recline in the chair itself only has four steps — so I'd recommend taking a look at it in person before you take any expensive plunges. While I love lightweight, all-mesh task chairs, many people (understandably) do not.

This chair's hybrid mesh-and-cushion seat should make it more appealing to those who dislike all-mesh chairs, however — the cushion adds a nice amount of support and comfort without taking away the resilience and breathability you get with mesh (though, again, it seems like it could be difficult to clean), which is especially nice to see on a chair that's only weighs 31 pounds.

Of course, the Herman Miller x Logitech G Vantum offers a very similar premise — it has a cushioned seat and a mesh backrest — and is a little more affordable, starting at $895 (though it frequently goes on sale). It also comes with Herman Miller's excellent PostureFit lumbar support, and comes in several different colors — however, the Steelcase Karman High Back definitely implements the neck rest better. Also, the Karman High Back just looks better, overall, and it feels sturdier and better-built.

Today's deal features one of the most iconic gaming chair brands, Secretlab, which happens to be running Presidents' Day deals to coincide with the national holiday. So if you're considering upgrading or replacing your PC chair with one of the best gaming chairs, this deal might be a great option for saving some money.

You can buy directly from Secretlab, where their Titan Evo Stealth Gaming Chair is reduced to $519 from the original $549 list price. The Presidents' Day deals also cover other chairs and desks in the Secretlab lineup, so have a little browse if you feel our highlighted deal isn't the right color scheme for you. Also, if you subscribe to Secretlab's mailing list, you can receive a $20 discount on Secretlab accessories on your first purchase.

Secretlab's Titan Evo series of chairs have been out since 2022 and we had the opportunity to review the Secretlab Titan Evo then. We noted then that the Titan Evo was a luxurious spacious seat with highly adjustable lumbar support and armrests, with comfortable armrests and neck pillows included.

Secretlab's Titan Evo gaming chair is designed and built for gamers and PC users who spend a long time sitting at their computer. A sculpted pebble seat base padded with cold-cure foam offers comfort for your rump, and Secretlab's L-ADAPT lumbar support system helps support your lower back and spine.

Other features of the chair include 4D Armrests with magnetic hot-swappable armrest toppers for either heat relief or pillowy support. A magnetic memory foam head pillow that you can simply snap on and adjust for individual comfort. Plus, a reinforced aluminum wheelbase with extra-large polyurethane casters that should hopefully be quieter and cause less wear on your flooring.

Secretlab's Titan Evo chairs also come with a 5-year extended warranty, which offers some peace of mind for an expensive purchase such as this.

In recent years, Razer has moved away from showcasing traditional gaming peripherals at CES, and has instead focused on lifestyle accessories such as chairs, desks, and lights. The trend continued this year at CES 2025, where the gaming company announced a handful of Chroma-infused desktop accessories, including a sleek aluminum desktop monitor stand, standalone vertical lightbars, and "Project Arielle," a concept gaming chair with integrated cooling and heating systems.

The $200 Razer Monitor Stand Chroma (yes, that's what it's called) is a sleek, minimalist desktop monitor riser made of anodized aluminum and has a matte black finish. It's actually pretty understated, as far as Razer designs go (though it does fit kind of nicely with Razer's monitor design), with the only real branding being Razer's text logo, which is modestly stamped along the top front edge, and the signature Razer green peeking out of the USB ports. Oh, and, well, it also has a downward-pointing Chroma lightstrip along the front, because you probably don't have enough Chroma-infused lighting in your gaming setup yet.

The stand measures 19.7 inches (502.41mm) long by 8.27 inches (210.06mm) wide. Razer didn't list the height, but it looks like it's at least high enough to comfortably slip a full-size Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro under. The stand features anti-slip rubber feet on the bottom and supports monitors (and/or other items) weighing up to 44 pounds (20kg).

The stand has a built-in USB-C powered connectivity hub on the right side, with four ports — 2x USB 3.2 Type A, 1x USB 3.2 Type C, and 1x HDMI 2.0 — enough to connect a "suite" of monitors (according to Razer). I don't know about a "suite," but at least a couple — and that's probably one too many, given that this is a single monitor stand. The USB ports are located along the right side of the stand, while the HDMI port faces the back. Next to the USB ports there's a Chroma RGB button, which is set up to cycle through lighting effects (but can be remapped to any thing).

And... that's it. Pretty minimalist — maybe a little too minimalist for the $200 asking price. You can grab any number of similarly-equipped (albeit less-sleek) monitor stands for half that price (or less).

Razer debuted its Aether lighting line two years ago at RazerCon 2023, and apparently this is still a thing. Last year we saw a dual-sided, Chroma-infused Aether monitor light bar at last year's CES, and this year the brand is introducing more lightbars — but they're not for your monitor, they're vertical, and they're not dual-sided though they do offer "dual lighting flexibility," which is to say that they rotate.

The Aether Standing Light Bars come in a pair, with 30 RGB LEDs in each vertical light... stick. They are, of course, part of Razer's Chroma system and can be customized and controlled in a variety of ways, including through Razer's Gamer Room app as well as through other smart home devices supported by Matter. The lightbars are designed to go on either side of your screen — they're connected to each other and are powered by one USB-C power cable. They can be rotated in their base stands to face toward you (for immersive lighting) or away from you (for ambiance).

Finally, it wouldn't be Razer at CES without a code-named concept project that makes you wonder, "is that something I would even want?"

This year, it's Project Arielle, which is — according to Razer — the world's first mesh gaming chair with integrated heating and cooling. Project Arielle is a mesh gaming chair (built on the framework of Razer's existing Fujin Pro gaming chair) with an integrated bladeless fan system for three speeds of "personalized, on-demand cooling." According to Razer, this fan system combined with the chair's "airflow" (read: it's a mesh chair) can reduce the perceived temperature by between two and five degrees Celsius in dry environments.

But wait, there's more! For those on the opposite side of the thermal spectrum, the chair also features an "advanced built-in heating system" with PTC heaters that deliver up to 30 degrees Celsius of warm air. As far as convenience goes, the chair features a touch panel on the right side of the seat for temperature and fan speed control, as well as a quick-release cable so you don't end up rolling too far from the plug and bringing your entire system down by accident. And since you have to plug it in anyway, it looks like it might have lighting, too... probably Chroma-infused.

We haven't gotten around to Razer's booth just yet, but it seems like the cooling/heating system may be built into the chair's frame — or, at least, around it, which would make it a more intriguing concept than other chairs we've seen with built-in heating and cooling systems. And we have seen other chairs over the years with built-in heating and cooling systems, though Razer might be able to hold onto its highly-specific claim of being the "world's first" because other chairs haven't had both heating and cooling, or haven't been mesh, or haven't technically had it built-in.

In 2017, Thermaltake's X Comfort AIR featured four high-pressure fans in its base that shot air through perforated faux-leather (like a cooled seat in a car). The X Comfort Air was sold as a gaming chair, but it wasn't mesh. A few years ago we took a look at X-Chair's Elemax, an add-on unit for its task chairs that adds cooling, heating, and massage to the lower back area. Many of X-Chair's task chairs are mesh but are not technically gaming chairs, and as the Elemax is an add-on, it's not technically integrated into the chair. However, in 2023, Cougar showed off its mesh (well, mesh-backed) NxSys Aero gaming chair, which has a 200mm aRGB cooling fan integrated into the backrest... but it doesn't have heating.

Touche, Razer.

We plan on heading over to Razer's suite to see this chair in person later this week, so we'll update with some thoughts once we get a hands-on.

The Razer Monitor Stand Chroma and the Aether Standing Light Bars are available to pre-order now — the monitor stand will retail for $199.99, while the light bars will cost $119.99/pair. Project Arielle is a concept and has no pricing or release date.

Fractal Design is a PC hardware company best known for its cases — including our favorite mid-century modern wood case, the Fractal Design North. But this year the company has decided to branch out into furniture with its first-ever gaming chair, the Fractal Refine. 

The Refine is surprisingly comfortable and... refined... for a gaming chair — though perhaps this shouldn't be too surprising, given Fractal's roots in Scandinavian aesthetics. The chair comes in both fabric and mesh versions and is still vaguely shaped like a gaming chair, but without all the aggressive racing / bucket-seat styling. It features 4D armrests, adjustable lumbar support, a removable headrest, and a tilt feature rather than "true" recline. It costs $549 for both the fabric and mesh versions (there's also an Alcantara fabric version that comes in at $899), and comes with a 5-year warranty on mechanical parts and a 3-year warranty on soft parts (upholstery, headrest, armrest pads, lumbar support pad). 

We're big fans of gaming chairs that take inspiration from the office/task chair side, and the Refine definitely blurs the line.

Assembly of the Fractal Refine

The Refine requires some assembly, though it comes in a box that's big enough to make you wonder why they didn't just ship it fully assembled. The chair is well-packed, and the box contains all the accessories, parts, and tools needed for assembly, as well as an instruction booklet/user guide.

Assembling the Refine is pretty straightforward — it took me less than a half-hour to assemble by myself. The instructions are illustrated and walk you through the steps: attaching the casters and gas lift to the wheel base, placing the seat on top of the gas lift, and attaching the armrests and backrest to the seat with the included mounting screws.

The armrests attach with three screws and the mounting points allow for about an inch of width adjustment. The backrest attaches with four screws, two of which are pre-mounted and designed to slide easily into the seat bracket (you'll need to tighten these once it's in place).

The final piece is the memory foam neck pillow, which snaps into two notches on the Refine's headrest. The headrest moves vertically and can be removed by pressing the button on the top of the chair. 

While the Refine is not a particularly lightweight chair — it weighs 78.7 pounds (35.7kg) fully assembled, which puts it in the same weight range as heavier racing-style gaming chairs, such as the Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 (76.1lbs / 34.5kg, regular) and the Thermaltake Argent E700 (68lbs / 30.8kg) — none of the individual parts were too large or unwieldy for me, working alone. This is probably because the backrest is primarily mesh (or fabric), not foam — the backrests of both the Titan Evo 2022 and the Agent E700 are quite a bit heavier and can be tricky to attach (especially without scratching the Argent E700's polycarbonate shell) by yourself. You'll need a little space to unpack and assemble the Refine, but the chair is heavy enough that you'll probably want to assemble it close to its final destination (I didn't, and ended up having to haul an 80-pound chair across my apartment).

Specifications

Design of the Fractal Refine 

The Refine is a high-back fabric-and-mesh gaming chair with a vaguely racing-inspired silhouette. It comes in a couple of different upholstery options: "mesh" and "fabric," both of which come in light and dark variations and cost $549, as well as a dark Alcantara fabric option, which costs $899. We took a look at the mesh version of the Refine in the light colorway for this review.

The Refine sort of mixes the racing-style gaming chair aesthetic with mesh task chair ergonomics, and I don't hate it. It looks a lot better than Cooler Master's Hybrid 1, which features a similar hybrid gaming/task chair concept, but does not (in my opinion) execute it well. While the Hybrid 1 just sort of jammed a mesh backrest into a still very aggressively-styled racing frame, the Refine is a little more, well, refined. It still has a racing silhouette, with a backrest that flares out at shoulders, but it doesn't have anywhere near as much bucket-style bolstering as the Hybrid 1 (or other racing style chairs). 

The mesh version of the chair has what is essentially an all-mesh design, with a mesh seat and a mesh backrest surrounded by a foam-bolstered fabric-covered frame. The fabric and Alcantara versions have a similar backrest (just with lightly padded fabric stretched over the frame instead of mesh) but have cold-cured foam seats. The light colorway is a light tan-gray, and while the combination of mesh and fabric-covered frame isn't exactly my favorite aesthetic, it's a pretty clean look and doesn't scream "gamer" at all. The wheel base, armrests, and the mounting points where the backrests and armrests attach to the seat base are all aluminum, while the rest of the frame is plastic with a 20 - 30% glass fiber fill. 

The Refine is a fairly sturdy chair (it certainly weighs a lot), but Fractal's recommended weight limit is 276 pounds (125kg), which is on the lower side. For reference, the Vantum's weight limit is 350 pounds (159kg), and the Vantum is smaller and lighter than the Refine. Fractal also recommends a height range of around 5'5" - 6'7" (1.65 - 2m). I'm 5'7" and 130 pounds, and I do think this is a little too much chair for someone much smaller than me — the seat height was a tiny bit higher than I preferred, even at its lowest setting, and I couldn't get the tilt tension to go as low as I would have liked, so someone shorter and lighter than me would likely have some issues. I'm not sure why the upper weight limit is as low as it is — it's a pretty heavy chair with a sturdy frame — but I suspect it has something to do with the integrity of the mesh.

Speaking of, the mesh on this chair is... not great. I love mesh chairs — my primary chair is the Herman Miller Aeron — but the mesh on the Refine is not as tightly woven as the mesh on the Aeron or on the Steelcase Karman, and it has a plasticky, scratchy feel to it. This is definitely an issue if you're wearing shorts, and it's still a little uncomfortable even if you're not — I could feel the scratchiness of the mesh through leggings and sweatpants. 

Scratchy mesh aside, I was surprised by how comfortable I found the Refine once I locked it into a slightly reclined tilt position. I'm usually eager to get back to my Aeron when I'm testing chairs, but I ended up sticking with the Refine for much longer than I thought I would — because it was comfortable enough that I had no issues, and because it was so heavy that I didn't want to move it (my office has a pretty narrow entryway, so some lifting is required to switch out chairs).

Comfort and Adjustments of the Fractal Refine

The Refine has one rotary lever (under the seat, on the right side) and three adjustment levers built into the seat base (two on the right, one on the left). The rotary lever controls the chair's tilt tension — rotating it forward increases tension, while rotating it backward decreases it. The lever is easy to reach and even pulls out for better access, but it didn't seem to do much in my testing. It's not notched, like the tension knob on the Herman Miller x Logitech G Vantum, so you'll need to play around with it a bit to find the right tilt tension for you.

Unfortunately, I couldn't find the right tilt tension — I like a pretty loose tilt in my task chairs, and the Refine felt stiff and upright no matter how much I turned the knob backward. I thought this would be a dealbreaker, as the Refine has a very upright, forward-leaning tilt in its default state (similar to the "active, forward-leaning alignment" on the Vantum). With the tall headrest, I almost felt trapped at the front of the chair. However, I was able to lock the chair in a slight recline, and I found that to be not just tolerable, but fairly comfortable.

The two levers built into the right side of the chair's seat base control height and seat depth. The front lever controls height and works as expected — pulling it raises and lowers the seat via the gas lift. The minimum floor-to-seat height on this chair is 18.66 inches (474mm). This felt slightly too high once you add in the thickness of the seat, but didn't cause any issues for me as the arm rests still lowered enough to go under my desk. The back lever controls seat depth, which can be adjusted from 16.73 inches (425mm) to 18.9 inches (480mm). While that's not a big difference, and might still be a little too shallow for some, it's nice to see any seat depth adjustment at all.

The lever built into the left side of the chair allows you to lock the chair's tilt angle. You pull the lever out to lock the current tilt position and push it back in to unlock the tilt. The chair tilts back 130 degrees under load (meaning you'll need to be sitting in it — it's not a "true" recline), and can be locked in position — upright to 130 degrees (there are 13 lockable steps). While I never quite got the tilt tension to be as loose as I wanted, I found that locking the chair in a slight recline made it much more comfortable for me.

The Refine also has a very nice built-in adjustable lumbar support system that presses through the backrest to provide plenty of lower-back support. The lumbar support can be adjusted up and down by manually sliding it in its frame. It also has a wheel that lets you adjust how much it presses into your back — turning the wheel counterclockwise makes it less prominent (turning it all the way to the left takes the pressure off completely) and turning it clockwise makes it more prominent. The lumbar support doesn't contour and mold to your back the way the support on the Vantum does, but it looks and feels like it belongs to a much pricier chair than the $549 Refine.

Like many gaming chairs, the Refine has 4D armrests: you can adjust the height, width, depth, and angle. Each armrest has three adjustment levers/buttons: a lever on the outside lets you adjust height, a button on the inside lets you adjust width, and a button on the inside near the front lets you adjust angle. There's no button or lever for adjusting depth; the armrest slides back and forth with a little pressure. The Refine's armrests need a little pressure to move — they're not clacking around every time you bump them, like the armrests on the Argent E700 — but it is annoying to not be able to lock them in place. 

The armrests can be adjusted from a height of 6.3 inches (160mm) to 10.63 inches (270mm) above the seat, which is a wide enough range that they should be able to fit under most desks (at their lowest, they're just under 25 inches / 635mm) off the floor). They have lightly padded polyurethane tops with chamfered edges.

The headrest on the Refine is nicely implemented — it clicks into place and can be raised, lowered, or removed completely. It's moderately dense — made of fabric-covered memory foam — and designed to cushion your neck. It's not too different from what you'll find on chairs such as the Noblechairs Legend or the Secretlab Titan Evo 2022, but the attachment is more elegant than elastic straps and magnets. I did find it to be a little too high for me, even at its lowest point (but I also just don't really like headrests). 

While I didn't have any glaring comfort issues with the Refine in my weeks of testing it, my husband did — though he liked the chair a lot when he first sat in it. My husband is taller than me (just under 6'), and weighs quite a bit more (around 180lbs), but he's still well within the recommended height/weight range set by Fractal for this chair. His primary issues were ones that did seem related to him being larger than me: the mesh, scratchiness, didn't give him enough support and seemed like it could sag over time. And leaning back in the chair caused the backrest to creak and sometimes caused the lumbar support to slip out of place.

Bottom Line

The Fractal Refine is a solid offering for the PC part maker's first foray into furniture. The chair retains the hallmarks of a "gaming chair" — a vaguely racing-style silhouette and myriad adjustments, including 4D armrests and a removable headrest — while adding a lot of premium touches typically found on task chairs, such as nicely-implemented adjustable lumbar support and "synchro-tilt" instead of carseat-style recline. 

At $549 for the fabric and mesh versions, the Refine is priced lower than similar task chair-inspired gaming chairs, such as the $895 Herman Miller x Logitech G Vantum and the $899 Asus Destrier. But perhaps there's a reason for this — while I found the Refine to be comfortable, it did seem like it was built for someone slightly larger than me (the seat height and headrest were slightly too high at their lowest settings, and the tilt tension didn't seem to go low enough for me to easily lean back). But my husband, who is larger than me, felt like the chair was built for someone smaller than him, which means the chair is perhaps ideal for someone who is between 5'7" and 6' and weighs more than 130 pounds but less than 180 pounds — that’s a pretty narrow range.

If you haven't heard of Herman Miller chairs, then you've probably been sitting under a rock or even on a rock for lord-knows-how long. Herman Miller makes some of the comfiest and most ergonomic office chairs in the business and has even branched out into the world of gaming with impressive results. This Black Friday sales event has seen massive discounts on a load of our favorite tech products - check our Best Black Friday 2024 Deals page - and this deal sees a serious discount of 25% on our top pick for the Best Gaming Chair.

If you fancy taking a look at this deal then head to Herman Miller's website where you can find the Herman Miller Vantum Gaming Chair for $671, reduced by $223 from the original $895 price tag. This chair was originally designed in partnership with Logitech and used to be named the Logitech G Vantum gaming chair, but has since been renamed on the Herman Miller website.

As I mentioned, the Vantum Gaming Chair is one of our favorite gaming chairs. We had the opportunity to review the Herman Miller x Logitech G Vantum and it didn't disappoint. We noted how amazing it felt to sit in, its lightweight design, and how it arrived almost fully assembled - saving you any difficulty in constructing the chair. Negatives at the time were mainly the price, as Herman Miller chairs are traditionally expensive. We awarded the Vantum chair an Editor's choice award and gave it 4 out of 5 stars in our review.

If you're looking for a "gamer" chair, but prefer the comfort and ergonomics of an office-type chair then this Herman Miller/Logitech mixup is a great choice if you're willing to part with the money. With this 25% Black Friday discount the chair is much more affordable, but it's still an expensive treat for your bottom.

A good gaming chair does more than just add personality to your battle station — it provides support for your back, hips, and shoulders (and, well, your entire body). Your body is much harder to replace than your PC, and it's likely you'll be sitting in your gaming chair for hours every day while you work and play — so it's worth taking the time to find the best gaming chair for you.

On that note, let me point out that the best gaming chair isn't necessarily one that's marketed as a gaming chair. Hear me out: Many gaming chairs emulate the aggressive, bucket-style design associated with luxury sports cars, but sitting in front of your computer is very different from... well, driving a sports car (or any car). Don't just blindly go for something because it's labeled a gaming chair. You're looking for a chair that's ergonomically designed for sitting at a desk for hours on end, which means you should probably be looking at task or office chairs — or, at least, task- or office-style gaming chairs.

We've been testing gaming chairs for years, and while there's no one-size-fits-all perfect gaming chair... these are the ones we're still sitting in today.

Quick List

Best Gaming Chairs 2026

Best Gaming Chair Overall

The majority of gaming chairs take their inspiration from car seats — specifically, bucket-style luxury sport seats, which are primarily designed to hold your body in place inside a fast-moving vehicle. If you’re looking for a gaming chair that’s primarily designed to support your body when it’s not inside a moving vehicle — and is instead parked in front of a PC — it really makes more sense to look at companies that make office chairs.

The Herman Miller x Logitech G Vantum is an original collaboration from luxury office furniture maker Herman Miller and Logitech’s gaming division (Logitech G). It features an “active, forward-leaning alignment,” as well as adjustable lumbar support, passively-adaptive thoracic support, and a suspension backrest for breathability. It originally launched with a price of $995, which is more expensive than the average gaming chair, but not nearly as expensive as Herman Miller's regular line of high-end task chairs.

The Vantum is an excellent gaming chair, especially for PC gamers. It feels sturdy and well-built, despite weighing less than 40 pounds. It borrows its PostureFit lumbar support from the Aeron (which might be the most iconic office chair of all time). It’s perfect for those who are looking for an ergonomic task chair, but it’s not necessarily the best choice if you’re looking for a typical gaming chair: it doesn’t really recline (and it certainly doesn’t recline flat, like many gaming chairs), and it only comes in one size.

The Vantum is currently on sale for 20% off and now comes in a variety of colors, including navy blue, lilac, orange, and turquoise, along with the original black, red, and white.

Read: Herman Miller x Logitech G Vantum Review

Best Budget Gaming Chair

Not everyone needs a highly-adjustable gaming chair. If you can live with 2D armrests and static lumbar support, Razer's Iskur V2 X is a pretty good deal: it's comfortable and well-built, and it retails for $300 — less than half of its fancier counterpart, the Razer Iskur V2.

The Iskur V2 X has a similar profile to the Iskur V2: reminiscent of a racing-style gaming chair, but sleeker and without the aggressively bucket-style seat. It features fabric upholstery (available in black or gray with contrast stitching and Razer's triple-headed snake logo on the headrest), which isn't necessarily a step down from the Iskur V2's synthetic leather upholstery. Our reviewer found that the fabric of the Iskur V2 X gaming chair was much more breathable than faux leather, which made the Iskur V2 X more comfortable for long gaming sessions — especially in hotter weather. (The fabric is a little harder to clean, but it's worth the trade-off.)

The Iskur V2 X gaming chair is priced lower than the Iskur V2 because it's significantly less adjustable. The Iskur V2 X has 2D arm rests (versus the Iskur V2's 4D arm rests), which are height-adjustable and can be rotated inward/outward. It doesn't have adjustable lumbar support, but it does have a lightly curved backrest, which our reviewer found to be very comfortable. The backrest normally sits at a comfortable angle of between 100 and 110 degrees, but does feature full 152-degree recline — this is a gaming chair you can take a nap in, if you're so inclined.

The Iskur V2 X is pretty basic compared to other gaming chairs on the market, but maybe you don't need (or want) all the highly-detailed adjustments that come in pricier chairs — most people aren't constantly adjusting their arm rests or lumbar support unless they're not the only one sitting in the chair. The Iskur V2 X is an excellent budget option — it's comfortable, sturdy, and it costs less than $300.

Read: Razer Iskur V2 X Review

Best Customizable Gaming Chair

In 2021, Secretlab discontinued two of its gaming chairs — including one of our longtime favorites, the Secretlab Omega — in favor of the multi-size option Secretlab Titan Evo 2022. The Titan Evo 2022 comes in three sizes (small, regular, and XL) to fit gamers ranging in height from 4’11” to 6’9” and weighing up to 395 pounds. The Titan Evo 2022 comes in either leatherette or fabric upholstery, and can be purchased in a range of colors and styles — including special editions from eSports, video games, movies, and TV shows.

The Titan Evo 2022 gaming chair offers a complete range of adjustments, including a backrest that can sit from 85 to 165 degrees and a 4-way knob-adjustable lumbar support system. Its faux-leather topped armrests move up, down, forward, and backward, and also turn diagonally inward and outward. You can also adjust the arm's width relative to the seat, though this adjustment requires a screwdriver.

With an assortment of upholstery types and colors and multiple size options, the Titan Evo 2022 is a great gaming chair for a range of body types. The multitude of adjustments means you can sit in this chair however you want — or even lie completely flat.

Read: Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 Review

Best Ergonomic Gaming Chair

The LiberNovo Omni is not your typical gaming chair. The company calls it the "world's first dynamic ergonomic chair," and while we're not sure it actually is the world's first dynamic ergonomic chair, we can't deny that it's a very, very comfortable chair. The chair features a padded, fabric-covered seat with a multi-density foam cushion that's firmer in the back (for support) and softer in the front (to alleviate leg pressure). It also has an articulated backrest made up of 8 connected panels, which are designed to move and flex with your body — it's a similar concept to what we've seen on the Herman Miller Embody (albeit, not as complex). The chair also has what LiberNovo calls a "dynamic support system" that connects different parts of the chair so they move together — for example, the arm rests move backward when you recline.

Speaking of which, while the Omni is more of an office/task chair than it is a traditional gaming chair, it does fully recline (though it's a weight-activated recline) 160 degrees. For comfort, the chair has 4D arm rests, and adjustable headrest, four recline positions (105 - 160 degrees), a tilt tension knob, and motorized lumbar support. The lumbar support is comfortable enough, though we're a little concerned about the longevity of the motor — the chair has a 5-year-warranty overall, but only a 2-year-warranty on electronics. The motor also powers the chair's "OmniStretch massage," a 5-minute spinal massage that stretches your back by increasing/decreasing the lumbar support.

The chair also comes with an optional footrest, which has two parts: a slanted plastic step for when you're sitting at your desk normally, and a padded, upholstered footrest for when you're using the Omni's full recline. It's a nice accessory that probably shouldn't cost extra, but even with the footrest included this chair is still cheaper than your typical high-end task chair. All-in-all, this is one of the most comfortable gaming chairs we've tested — we're not so sure how well it will hold up, as LiberNovo is a fairly new company and this is its first product, but for now it's the best ergonomic gaming chair we've tried.

Read: LiberNovo Omni Review

Best Budget Ergonomic Gaming Chair

Cooler Master’s Hybrid 1 gaming chair is so-named because it blends the bucket-style gaming chair with a task chair: it has a wide, foam seat and racing-style wings, but features a breathable, mesh back with adjustable lumbar support. It also costs around half the price of the Herman Miller x Logitech G Vantum.

The Hybrid 1 isn’t the most attractive gaming chair on the market — the leatherette/mesh combo in particular makes for a somewhat disjointed aesthetic. But it’s highly-adjustable and it feels sturdier than the Vantum, with a wide, dense, foam-filled seat and an aluminum base. It also reclines to 180 degrees — that’s right, completely flat — for those who are looking for a gaming chair they can take a nap in.

The Hybrid 1 offers the extra heft and adjustability of racing-style gaming chairs with the lumbar support and breathability of a task chair. If you’re looking for a gaming chair that will offer ergonomic support for both work and play, the Hybrid 1 is one of the more affordable options on the market.

Read: Cooler Master Hybrid 1 Review

Best Office Task Chair

The Steelcase Karman starts at $846 for an armless version, which is already pricier than most of the chairs on this list, and goes as high as $1,596 with all the bells and whistles. The ready-to-ship version has a more modest range of $1,129 - $1,336, but there's no question that this chair is a splurge. And, like many of the pricier gaming chairs out there, it's not even branded as a gaming chair — it's a task chair, but, at the end of the day, sitting in front of a computer is sitting in front of a computer, whether you're working or gaming. And while the Karman might not come decked out in the colors of your favorite Overwatch 2 heroes, it does make a fantastic gaming (or just sitting) chair for anyone spending hours at a desk.

The Karman is a mostly-mesh gaming chair with a slim, lightweight frame and a unique weight-activated design that moves with your body. It features a "patented hybrid seat," consisting of mesh resting atop a padded cushion, which offers slightly more support than you might find in an all-mesh gaming chair. The Karman's frame is softer and flexible than most mesh chair frames, but it's still prominent enough to be felt under the mesh if you're pressed up against it. The chair has only one adjustment knob — a combination height paddle and "comfort dial" for adjusting the chair's recline, which is also weight-activated and has four steps. It doesn't really recline like racing-style chairs, but rather has a weight-activated tilt similar to what you'll find in the Herman Miller x Logitech G Vantum.

The Karman is a very comfortable gaming chair for task-use and gaming alike, and it comes in several colorways — including a unique dual-tone option — and features Steelcase's proprietary "Intermix" mesh, which feels a bit more fabric-like than the plasticky mesh of other mesh chairs. The only real downside to this chair is its limitations — it only comes in one size. The chair has a weight limit of 350 pounds (158.7kg) and is designed for people who are between 5'2" and 6'4", but it has a somewhat shallow seat depth of 16.3 inches (41.4cm), so people with longer legs may want to stay away.

This gaming chair is also somewhat limited in its adjustability, as it relies primarily on its weight-activated movement design to adjust to each user, and it's not going to be nearly as versatile as a racing-style chair that you can recline 90 degrees and take a nap in. But if you're looking for a gaming chair that's designed for sitting at a desk, in front of a computer, for hours at a time, you can't really go wrong with picking a dedicated task chair as your gaming chair. Yes, the Karman is a splurge, but your back will thank you.

Read: Steelcase Karman Review

Best Gaming Chair Splurge

There’s no question that the Herman Miller x Logitech G Embody is a splurge: At $1,495, it’s one of the most expensive gaming chairs we’ve ever tested. And if you’re wondering if it’s really that different from Herman Miller’s high-end task chair with the same name... it’s not. Sitting in the Embody feels like sitting in a “really nice office chair,” because, well, that’s what it is.

Herman Miller has made some gamer-friendly adjustments to really make this into a gaming chair, such as adding cooling foam in the seat to keep you from heating up while playing games (though if seat-heat is really a problem, you may want to go with a mesh chair such as the Asus ROG Destrier). The Embody features Herman Miller’s BackFit spinal support, height- and width-adjustable armrests, seat depth adjustment, and a tilt limiter, but it doesn’t recline the way many racing-style gaming chairs do.

If you’re looking for a gaming chair you can take a nap in, this is probably not the gaming chair for you. But if you’re looking for a gaming chair that will support your back and feel great while you’re gaming (and not napping), the Embody is worth its $1,495 price tag.

Read: Herman Miller x Logitech G Embody Review

Best Looking Gaming Chair

A lot of gaming chairs look very similar (if not basically identical), but not Thermaltake’s Argent E700. Designed by Studio F. A. Porsche, the Argent E700 gaming chair features real leather upholstery with contrast stitching and a shiny, curvy ABS shell that comes in nine colors, including the striking ‘ocean blue’ we reviewed. If you’re looking for a statement piece, this is it. Not only is the Argent E700 beautiful, its glossy shell is highly reflective — guaranteed to distract the eye from any extra clutter on your desk.

This gaming chair looks fantastic, but looks aren’t everything. The Argent E700 is definitely less adjustable than many of its competitors (to be fair, gaming chairs often go a little over the top when it comes to adjustments — I don’t necessarily think you need a chair that reclines to a lying-flat position). It reclines, but only locks at four positions: 107, 113, 119, and 126 degrees. It has a headrest that slides vertically, and 4d armrests that don’t lock in position — and so end up moving around and clacking pretty often. It doesn’t have built-in lumbar support, though not many do (many come with pillow, which can be bought separately). This gaming chair also has relatively firm padding, and a seat that, while not overly narrow, has rigid measurements.

The Argent E700’s $1300 retail price is very steep, even for the high end of the gaming chair market. But while gaming chairs like the Herman Miller X Logitech G Embody Gaming Chair are zeroed in on ergonomics, the Argent E700 really is mostly about looks — and it looks amazing.

More: Thermaltake Argent E700 Review

Best Temperature-Controlled Gaming Chair

DXRacer's Martian Pro Red Triangle is sort of the ultimate gaming chair: classic racing style with black and red upholstery, tons of adjustments you probably won't even use, and built-in heating and cooling. It's solidly-built (perhaps too solidly built — it weighs over 70 pounds) and comfortable; it looks like your typical gaming chair but it doesn't have quite as much of a bucket seat so it's more comfortable for long gaming sessions.

And this chair is all about comfort. It features "4D lumbar support," which consists of two supports that can be adjusted in four directions, as well as 4D arm rests. It reclines to 135 degrees — not quite flat, but flat enough to take a nap. And, of course, it also has a built-in heating and cooling system. It's not going to replace your heater (or air conditioner), as both systems have a 10-minute limit, but it should be enough to warm you up quickly in the winter and prevent you from getting overly sweaty in the summer. And if you don't have any issues with temperature regulation, it's also got a built-in massage feature. So if you're looking for a chair that will keep you warm, cool, and limber, this is it.

You will need to charge it, of course: it has a battery pack that lasts up to 360 hours on a full charge (according to DXRacer), but this depends on how often you use the motor. Our reviewer had some minor issues with the way the electronics are implemented — the recline is also motorized, which means you'll use the motor more than you might think (and is also frustrating if you just want to quickly recline). There's also no way to check the chair's current battery charge, but you probably have your desk near an outlet anyway.

All these fancy features don't come cheap; the DXRacer Martian Pro costs $900, which makes it one of the priciest chairs on this list. But if you get hot easily in regular gaming chairs, this is definitely worth a look.

More: DXRacer Martian Pro Red Triangle Review

Best Mesh Gaming Chair

The Asus ROG Destrier doesn’t look like the typical racing-style gaming chair, nor does it look like an office or task chair. Featuring a “cyborg-inspired” aesthetic, the Destrier is an aggressively-styled all-black gaming chair with a mesh seat, mesh backrest, and adjustable lumbar support. It also has a headrest and an optional “acoustic panel,” designed to block distracting noise and keep you in the zone while gaming.

The Destrier’s backrest doesn’t lie flat, but it does recline to 135 degrees, with four lockable steps (at 90, 105, 120, and 135). It has 3D armrests that can rotate 360 degrees and are height-adjustable, but they don’t lock in place — our reviewer found it was too easy to dislodge them by leaning against them, resulting in frustrating clacking and movement. This gaming chair also features tilt, tension, and depth adjustments.

The Destrier definitely has a unique look, and it’s not for everyone — but our reviewer loved it. The acoustic panel is a little gimmicky, but this gaming chair’s mesh suspension and lumbar support system are perfect for long, heated gaming sessions.

Read: Asus ROG Destrier Review

Best Gaming Chair for Big and Tall

The AndaSeat Kaiser 3 gaming chair comes in two sizes: large and XL. The large model fits people up to 6’2'' and under 260 pounds, while the XL model can accommodate people up to 6’9” and 395 pounds. We tested the XL version in black leatherette — the gaming chair also comes in maroon, white, pink, teal, orange, and brown leatherette, or in black or gray linen upholstery.

The XL Kaiser 3 has a firm, padded seat that’s 20.8 inches wide and 22.4 inches deep, and features a four-way adjustable internal lumbar support system and a backrest that can lie almost completely flat (165 degrees), as well as 3D magnetic armrests. It’s highly-adjustable (the large version can accommodate people as short as 4’11”) and comes with a magnetic neck pillow made of memory foam covered in a layer of cooling gel.

If you’re looking for something just a little bigger, the AndaSeat T-Pro 2 is another excellent big-and-tall gaming chair that accommodates frames up to 6’10.7” and 441 pounds (up to 330.7 pounds if you want to be able to lean back), but stock fluctuates.

Read: AndaSeat XL Kaiser 3 Review

Other Gaming Chairs We Tested

Autonomous ErgoChair Core

The ErgoChair Core is a nice-looking, cost-effective entry level office chair with decent back and lumbar support and a limited range of adjustable components. It's lightweight and fairly easy to assemble (though the headrest gave our reviewer some trouble), and it costs just $349 — not bad for a slim, mesh, professional-looking chair.

Our reviewer found that while the back, headrest, and armrests were comfortable, the seat wasn't quite up to par — it has the same issue that many all-mesh chairs have with seating comfort, which is too much pressure on your legs near the front edge (where the mesh meets the frame). While Autonomous has attempted to address this issue by adding PU leather padding to the problem area, the issue persists. The lumbar support, while comfortable, is not height-adjustable and neither is the headrest, and this may cause issues if you're taller (our 5'9" reviewer found it to be fine, but his 6'1" colleague did not). The chair also has a fairly limited weight range, with a maximum weight rating of just 242.5 pounds (110kg), which is much lower than that of most gaming chairs.

If you're on the smaller side in general, this chair might work for you, but it's cheaper for a reason (or, well, several).

Read: Autonomous ErgoChair Core Review

Hbada X7

The Hbada X7 is a futuristic-looking chair with a solid aluminum frame, segmented back supports, mesh upholstery, a built-in footrest, and 720-degree "Omni" adjustable arm rests. But the unique selling point is the built-in electronics — it features AI-controlled adaptive lumbar support, as well as a massage function, a heating function, and fan cooling in the seat. The lumbar support is designed to move as you move in the chair — theoretically, this means you should get good lumbar support even if you're slouching or leaning in your chair. This needs to be calibrated per user, of course, but once it's set up it should just work.

The issue with this is that it's battery-powered. There are other chairs that are designed to move with you as you move in them, such as the SteelCase Harman and the Libernovo Omni. The Harman has no electronics at all (it has a floating frame that moves as you shift your weight), and the Omni has electronics, but only for its manual lumbar adjustment (and massage feature). The lumbar support doesn't move with you in the Omni, but the frame does — similar to how the Harman is set up. The X7, however, uses its battery for its massage/heating/cooling features and also for its adaptive lumbar support — so the battery drains pretty quickly. Our reviewer found using all of the features meant the battery drained in a couple of days, and most people probably don't want to charge their chair every other day. The Hbada X7 also has a pretty premium asking price (currently, $1,227 at Amazon with coupon).

Read: Hbada X7 Review

Blacklyte Athena Pro

The Blacklyte Athena Pro isn't a particularly unique gaming chair. In fact, it's a pretty stereotypical racing-style gaming chair, with a bolstered seat, a high backrest, 4D armrests, and a ton of adjustments that you may or may not actually need. It has the same overall design as chairs from SecretLab, Noblechairs, AndaSeat, Razer, and any other company that makes a "traditional" gaming chair. But, while it's not particularly unique or exciting, it still a well-made chair.

If you like the look of typical racing-style gaming chairs, the Athena Pro won't disappoint — we reviewed the fabric version, and our reviewer liked the upholstery even more than SecretLab's SoftWeave. It features built-in lumbar support (adjustable with knobs on the sides), a magnetic neck pillow, and a 155-degree recline. Our reviewer found its maximum floor-to-seat height (20.1 inches) to be a little too low — most chairs, such as the Razer Iskur V2 NewGen, have a maximum height of 21 - 22 inches. But if you prefer to sit lower at your desk and you're looking for a racing-style gaming chair, the Athena Pro is worth a look.

Read: Blacklyte Athena Pro Review

Razer Iskur V2 NewGen

Razer's Iskur V2 gets an upholstery update in the Iskur V2 NewGen — which is now the only version of the V2 being sold (the budget-friendly V2 X is still on sale, however). The V2 NewGen is almost identical to the Iskur V2, but it features new build materials: EPU leather with "CoolTouch" technology and a new inner foam design. This update is designed to make the chair cooler to sit in for long periods of time. Since one of our main complaints about the original V2 was the stickiness of the EPU during the hot summer months, we had to check this out.

Unfortunately, the fabric and foam update is the primary difference between the V2 NewGen and the original V2, and since it's currently not summer in North Carolina, our reviewer couldn't say exactly how much cooler (or not) the new upholstery was. We'll be sure to revisit how the chair performs when temperatures rise, but until then know that the Iskur V2 NewGen is almost exactly the same as its predecessor. It's not worth upgrading if you've already got an Iskur V2, but if you don't and you were considering the Iskur V2 as a contender for your next gaming chair, the V2 NewGen might address one of our main issues with the original V2.

Read: Iskur V2 NewGen Review

Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen

Secretlab gave its Titan Evo 2022 a small update with the Titan Evo NanoGen — a premium version of its flagship gaming chair featuring fancy new materials. Specifically, the Evo NanoGen edition features a hybrid leatherette, which the company claims is 14x more durable than regular PU leather, with a "lustrous," UV-resistant finish. The new gaming chair also features Secretlab's new foam composite ("NanoFoam") padding, which is softer and more supportive than the foam in the Titan Evo 2022.

We took a look at the Titan Evo NanoGen in white (it also comes in black), and while the our reviewer felt the leatherette was soft, comfortable, and luxurious-feeling, we can't speak to its durability just yet. Our reviewer did find this gaming chair's seat padding to be too firm for comfortable long-term sitting, however. The Titan Evo NanoGen is still a solid gaming chair — well-built, with all the adjustability off the Titan Evo 2022, but we can't unilaterally say it's a better option than the original gaming chair, especially if you want to customize it. It's also pricier, starting at $799 (versus the original gaming chair's $579).

Read: Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen Review

Fractal Refine

Fractal's first foray into the gaming furniture space is with a gaming chair that's an interesting mix of the moto-style gaming chair with a more traditional task chair — though it's not quite either. It comes in mesh and fabric versions and features 4D armrests, adjustable lumbar support, a removable headrest, and a tilt feature rather than a "true" recline. It has a racing-inspired silhouette but without any of the aggressive racing style, and it's surprisingly comfortable — though we did find the mesh to be a little too scratchy — once you make a few adjustments.

The Refine is a pretty solid gaming chair contender considering it's the company's first, but it's not quite as refined as the other mesh task gaming chairs we love (notably, the Steelcase Karman and the Herman Miller Aeron). While it's less than half the price of a premium task gaming chair (unless you get the $899 Alcantara version), at $549 it's still priced at a premium for racing-style gaming chairs, and there's a lot of competition in that space.

Read: Fractal Refine Review

Noblechairs Legend

The Legend is a well-built gaming chair — solidly constructed with premium materials and quality stitching, and it's comfortable out of the box. It's a racing-style gaming chair, but it has a more subdued look, coming in solid, dark colors with simple metallic accents. It looks and feels pretty premium, but it didn't sound premium — the ratchet system for reclining the chair was noisy, and the plastic cover over the gas lift also rattled about whenever we moved across the floor. Our reviewer felt this gaming chair was perfect for someone who was between 5'11" and 6'2" — which was great for him as he landed right in that range, but is pretty limiting overall for a gaming chair.

Read: Noblechairs Legend Review

Frequently Asked Questions

How We Test Gaming Chairs

For many people, gaming chairs are as much about aesthetic as they are about comfort, adjustability, and longevity. Our gaming chair testing begins with the delivery — we take a look at how big and heavy the box is, and how well-packed the chair is. If the chair comes unassembled, we look for sturdy packing materials, individually-wrapped and padded elements, and easy-to-spot instructions, tools, and hardware. (If the chair comes fully assembled, we mostly just look for easy-to-recycle packaging.)

We then assemble the gaming chair using the (hopefully) included instructions and tools. We track how long it takes to assemble the chair, how easy or difficult it is to assemble alone, and how moveable it is once it's assembled. We also take note of how easy it is to disassemble it, should the need arise.

We then spend as much time as possible sitting in each gaming chair for work, gaming, and everything else. We take note of how adjustable each gaming chair is and how those adjustments affect our personal comfort, and we also try to have friends and family members sit in each chair for a while to determine how well it can be adapted to different body shapes and sizes. All adjustments are not created equal, of course; while many gaming chairs do have the option of reclining 180 degrees (flat), this isn't really a common gaming chair scenario and therefore does not impact the final score significantly (it's more of a fun bonus, if anything).

We consider how well the gaming chair fits into our space, taking note of things like armrest height, wheelbase width, and overall aesthetic. We test the upholstery and materials used for both comfort and cleaning/upkeep, and we take into account other upholstery options that can be ordered.

We don't usually get to spent nearly as much time testing each gaming chair as we'd like, so our testing continues even after we post the review. We try to check in a year or two after the review has posted to update our readers on whether anything has changed.

Shopping Tips for Finding the Best Gaming Chair in 2026

✅ Height and weight specs: Many gaming chairs come in multiple sizes to suit a range of heights and weights, so make sure you check both the lower and higher ends of the scale — especially if there's a chance more than one person might use the chair.

✅ Back support: Gaming chairs without enough backrest height and width to support your shoulders and lumbar region via a dedicated mechanism or pillow may leave you with soreness after a long day.

✅ Seat width: Some gaming chairs provide measurements for the whole seat, which may be smaller than the measurement for the actual sittable area. Make sure the seat’s point of contact is wide enough for your hips — and how you like to sit.

✅ Adjustability: Height adjustment is pretty standard, but you may also want to recline (or tilt forward), move the armrests in multiple directions, or have the ability to rock. Recline may not seem as important for mouse-and-keyboard gamers, but if you plan to use a game controller you may find that you prefer a less active position.

✅ Aesthetic: There are a lot of gaming chairs that look like racecar bucket seats, use faux leather, and come in a variety of colors and themes. Faux leather won't last as long, but real leather is pricier. Mesh or fabric is more breathable, but can be harder to clean. If you want something that looks more subdued, consider non-gamer-oriented office-style gaming chairs.

✅ Overall size: If you're pairing your gaming chair with a specific desk, make sure the chair's height and armrests will fit under the desk, so you can push it in when you're not using it. If you have a smaller space, it's also a good idea to make sure your gaming chair's wheelbase will be able to fit through any narrow passages.

Savings on the Best Gaming Chairs

Whether you're shopping for one of the best gaming chairs on our list above or a similar model, you may find savings by checking out our lists of Razer promo codes, Newegg promo codes or Best Buy promo codes.

What if your gaming battlestation looked like it could literally be taken into battle? Cluvens dares to answer this burning question with its newest Gatling Battlestation zero-gravity chair, available now for preorder at $4,199. With support for up to three monitors and an impressive array of tank treads, the Gatling seeks to be a beast both in terms of aesthetics and productivity. 

Cluvens has made a name for itself in the zero-gravity chair market — a market it fully owns unless you count Cooler Master's Orb X — with products like its Scorpion chair, seen on many a YouTube tech review channel. Cluvens' zero-gravity chairs are so-called for their reclining function, which rotates the monitors and peripherals along with the chair. This allows for an "ergonomically optimized" office or gaming experience, with Cluvens claiming that reclining in its workstations can help relieve lower back pain, herniated discs, sciatica, and neck pain. 

For $800 more than the Scorpion, the Gatling chair offers some improvements over its little brother. Its tank treads are not motorized but are free-spinning, allowing the chair to be wheeled around a space when needed. The full-reclining aspect of the chair, its flagship feature, also has more pointed customizability than the Scorpion model, with the monitor arm — outfittable with one to three monitors — able to be lifted or lowered independently of the chair's reclining. With its 2024 model, Gatling also specifically upgrades the foam and seat cushions of the chair from its prior releases to continually improve the comfort for well-heeled consumers.

The Gatling battlestation has a footprint of 140 cm x 88 cm, which lengthens to up to 160 cm when the chair is fully reclined. The Gatling typically sits at 150 cm tall, or 5 ft, though its monitor lift arm can be raised to 230 cm. The monitor distance can also be adjusted, from 55 to 95 cm away from the seat. Weight is yet unknown, though it's surely heavy based on its steel construction. 

If you are considering purchasing a Cluvens Gatling Battlestation, be warned that the $4,199 price tag is only for the chair. Your purchase will not include any monitors (and of course you'd buy three for this throne), nor a PC to power them. But with graphics cards finally returning to more reasonable prices, now may be the best time in a long while to splurge on a pricey gaming setup. You could also save on your computer expenses by getting a cheaper PC and using the Gatling as an office desk, a recommended use case of Cluvens' marketing. If you feel the modding itch, feel free to throw Nerf darts in the Gatling guns and motors on the treads to become the ultimate HR violation. 

Watch this space to see if any of our editors feel the itch to climb aboard the Gatling — maybe you'll find it in our tested list of the best gaming chairs one day soon. If you're looking to maximize screen real estate with just one monitor for a rig like this, Gigabyte's ultrawide 49-inch Aorus OLED gaming monitor just dropped to its lowest-ever price.

The best gaming chair is not necessarily a gaming chair — an aggressive, racing-style gaming chair may make you feel like you're sitting in the driver's seat of a luxury supercar, but it gets old pretty quickly when you're actually sitting in front of your PC for hours at a time. The best chair for sitting in front of your PC is usually — surprise, surprise — a chair designed for exactly that. 

In other words: a task chair. 

Like Steelcase's lightweight, all-mesh Karman, which comes in a variety of colorways and customizations and features an ultra-comfortable weight-activated design that moves with your body and adjusts support in real-time. The Karman is an ergonomically-designed task chair that makes sitting at your desk for hours feel fantastic (whether you're gaming, working, or doing something else), but it doesn't come cheap — even the cheapest variation is still pricier than most standard racing-style gaming chairs. The Karman starts at $846 for an armless version; our review unit as configured will set you back $1,247, and the priciest configuration — which includes additional lumbar support and carbon neutral certification — is $1,598.

Assembling the Karman

The Karman ships fully assembled.

Design of the Karman

The Karman is an all-mesh task chair with a flexible, lightweight frame and an aluminum base. It’s made with SteelCase’s proprietary “Intermix” mesh (excuse me — “beyond mesh”) fabric, which comes in translucent, opaque, and color-shifting options. The upholstery colorways include black, dark blue (“Baltic”), dark red (“Merlot”), seafoam green (“Peacock”), light gray/cream (“Seagull”), and dark brown (“Bronze”), as well as a dual-tone red-blue (“Red-Blue”). Our review unit came in the opaque “Seagull” color, which is softer and more fabric-like than most chair mesh, and had a cream and light gray frame and a matte gold (called “matte brass”) base.

The Karman is very much a task chair, especially in this colorway. It’s smaller and lighter than racing-style gaming chairs, but is similar in size and weight to the Herman Miller x Logitech G Vantum. The Karman is 44.25 inches (112.4cm) tall (maximum height, base to top of backrest), which is the same height as the Vantum (not including headrest). At its widest point, the backrest measures just under 17.5 inches (44.5cm) wide, but at shoulder level it’s closer to 15 inches (38cm).

This shouldn't present an issue for most people, however, because it's not a racing-style chair with wings that curve forward. My shoulders are about 15.5 inches wide, and the Karman's backrest fit me perfectly; my husband's shoulders are larger (about 21.5 inches wide), and he also had no issue with the Karman's shoulder support.

The Karman's slim, lightweight frame and its range of color and upholstery options make it more attractive than most all-mesh task chairs, which tend to be more utilitarian in both style and color (see: the Herman Miller Aeron — my all-time favorite chair and my daily driver when I'm not chair-testing, but it's not exactly beautiful, nor does it fit with most people's home decor).

The Karman has a two-part back frame that, combined with the chair's Intermix mesh, is designed to move with your body weight and offer responsive, "personalized" back and spine support. It does a good job of supporting your back and shoulders and the fabric was taut enough for my lumbar region, but if you think you might need more than just mesh, the company offers a sliding lumbar support add-on for an extra $57.

The Karman has a "patented hybrid seat," which is a combination of suspension mesh and padding — the mesh rests on top of a padded cushion. This offers more support throughout the seat than you'll find in an all-mesh chair, such as the Asus ROG Destrier, while still giving you the breathability and durability of a mesh seat. The chair's frame is made of a lightweight, slightly-flexible plastic that Steelcase says is designed to eliminate the hard edges and uncomfortable pressure points often found in all-mesh chairs. 

Well. While the frame is definitely softer and more flexible than the frames of other all-mesh chairs I've used — namely, my ride-or-die Aeron — it doesn't completely eliminate the pressure you'll feel if you're pressed up against the edges. The seat's point-of-contact area measures 20 inches (50.8cm) wide by 16.3 inches (41.4cm) deep, but the actual edge-to-edge mesh width is 19.4 inches (49.28cm) and the edge-to-edge mesh depth is about 16.8 inches (42.67cm). I like to sit in chairs with my legs crossed, and while the Karman's width wasn't an issue for me, I did feel the frame against the front of my legs when I sat like this. 

Interestingly, I don't have this same issue with the Aeron (Size B), which has a similar seat depth of 16.75 inches (42.55cm) and a slightly larger edge-to-edge mesh depth measurement of 17.25 inches (43.82cm). This is because the Karman's frame can be felt more prominently under the mesh (specifically, the front part of the frame — I didn't have any issues with the sides). Anyway, this was a very minor issue that was only particularly noticeable to me because I happen to normally sit cross-legged in a very similarly-designed chair, and even then I still found the Karman to be very comfortable.

Speaking of the Aeron, the Karman's hybrid seat does raise the question of how difficult it will be to clean. While mesh chairs are generally pretty easy to clean, the Aeron does collect a lot of dust under the seat, and it seems like the Karman would have this same issue — only the padded part of the chair doesn't seem to be very accessible. Not that you should need to access it (cleaning notwithstanding), though — the chair comes with a solid 12-year warranty on both parts and labor.

The Karman sits on a sturdy, five-point aluminum wheelbase painted to match the frame and upholstery. Our review unit came with 2.5-inch plastic wheels for carpet, which is the cheapest option on the Karman — you can also choose wheels for hard floors ($22), hubless wheels for carpet ($86), or hubless wheels for hard floors ($110).

Specs

Comfort and Adjustments

The Karman is “weight-activated,” with a flexible frame that responds to your weight and movement/posture, adjusting support as needed. It’s very comfortable, and you can see the chair's automatic support adjustment happen in real time if you watch different-sized people sit down — the frame definitely seems to move with the person.

The chair has a maximum weight limit of 350 pounds (159kg) and is designed for people who are between 5'2" and 6'4". Both my husband and I are different sizes but solidly within this range (he's 5'11"/190lbs; I'm 5'7"/130lbs), and we both found this chair to be very comfortable without needing to make any manual adjustments.

That's good, perhaps, because the Karman has only one adjustment knob — a combination height paddle and "comfort dial" for adjusting the chair's recline. The knob is located under the seat on the right side of the chair and is relatively easy to reach — though I had to stretch a little to raise and lower the seat. Adjusting the chair's height is pretty straightforward: lift the paddle up to activate the gas lift mechanism, and let your weight (or lack thereof) do the rest. The chair's floor-to-seat height ranges from 15.63 inches (39.7cm) to 20 inches (50.8cm).

The "comfort dial" lets you adjust the chair's recline. The recline is weight-activated, similar to the recline on the Vantum, and has four steps. The first step locks the back in an upright position, while the second step allows you to recline slightly (with a mid-stop). The third step allows for full weight-activated recline with a 20% tension boost, and the fourth step allows for full weight-activated recline and no boost.

I didn't love the first step (I'm not sure who does like being locked in an upright position) or the second step, because I found the mid-stop to be too jarring. Note that "full weight-activated recline" isn't the same as a full 180-degree recline like you'll find on some gaming chairs (such as the Cooler Master Caliber X2 or the Corsair TC200) — the Karman reclines to a maximum of about 22 degrees. My preferred setting for this chair is the third step, though the 20% tension boost isn't all that different from the fourth step (weight-activated only, no boost) and could probably stand to be a little stronger.

The four-step comfort dial might seem pretty limited — and it is — but it's more accommodating than it sounds thanks to the chair's weight-activated frame movement. Still, on a $1000+ chair it would be nice to see separate dials for recline and tension (like on the Vantum). The Karman doesn't offer seat depth adjustment, which isn't something I normally need or look for in a chair, but it also only comes in one size. The chair's one-size was able to accommodate my husband and I perfectly, but neither of us are at the edge of the chair's height or weight parameters. If you're close to 5'2" or 6'4", double-check that the chair's 16.3-inch seat depth will work for you.

The Karman has fixed-width "4D" armrests, with slightly-padded tops that move forward/back, left/right, and pivot diagonally. Under each armrest is a button that lets you move the armrests up and down — from a minimum floor-to-armrest height of 23 inches (58.42cm) to 32 inches (81.28cm). The armrests are fixed to the chair's base and cannot be manually positioned closer to (or further from) the seat (a feature found on many racing-style chairs, such as the Secretlab Titan Evo 2022). They don't lock into position (except for height), but they're not as trigger-happy as the 4D armrests you'll find on many gaming chairs — they move easily with a slight push, but they don't fly around whenever you accidentally graze them with your elbow.

The Karman's armrests are a little lackluster compared to the rest of the chair, but I've never found myself particularly impressed with any chair's armrests in terms of pure visual appeal and comfort — I'm mostly interested in how easily they can be moved out of the way for various purposes. These armrests can't be moved completely out of the way as they're fixed width and the minimum height level is still fairly high (about 7.5 inches / 19.05cm from the seat), but you can get the chair without armrests (-$226). And if you want armrests but you don't need them to move in all directions, you can get the chair with height-adjustable-only arm rests (-$44).

Bottom Line

Steelcase's Karman is an excellent task chair that's very comfortable and well-built (not to mention, impressively lightweight), and is stylish enough to fit into any gaming space or home office. I'll admit I'm a little biased, but the Karman is definitely one of the best picks in its category — even if you don't share my particular affinity for lightweight all-mesh task chairs. Its weight-activated frame is impressively engineered, and this is a very good option if you're looking for a chair that will be shared by multiple people.

If you're the kind of person who likes to fine-tune their seating with myriad adjustments, however, the Karman's adjustment options are (intentionally) limited. Don't get me wrong, the Karman's weight-activated adjustability is very good, and it may be perfect for you — but if you know you're picky, it's worth checking out this chair in person before dropping $1000+, because there's not much you can do if the chair doesn't work for you as-is. And if you're looking for a similarly-designed task chair with a slightly more gaming vibe, the Herman Miller x Logitech G Vantum is lightweight, extremely comfortable, and features a similar tilt/recline system and a mesh back, and is cheaper at $795.

Gaming companies are leaning in pretty hard when it comes to racing/flight simulator games at CES 2024 — we saw several companies with dedicated controllers (wheels, pedals, flight sticks, etc.) and racing/flight sim cockpits for those so dedicated to immersion that they need a full setup. 

Cooler Master showed off its Dyn X cockpit, which features a heavy-duty steel frame and a fiberglass racing seat that can be adjusted to fit 14 different driving positions for different racing styles (including Formula, GT, NASCAR, and Trophy Truck). The Dyn X is just the frame, but it has pre-drilled mounting points for a racing wheel/flight controller and pedals, as well as for a shifter mount and a monitor mount.

It's also compatible with Cooler Master's Dyn X Motion System, which lets you mount the Dyn X frame to a motorized rig — which costs an additional several thousand dollars. Cooler Master says the Dyn X Motion System is compatible with "most actuators on the market," including Sigma Integrale, D-BOX, and Qubic System. Pricing isn't final, but Cooler Master said the Dyn X alone will cost "around a couple thousand" when it launches.

Of course, that price only includes the frame and the seat. Everything else — controllers, monitor mount, monitors, motion system and actuators, and, of course, PC, you'll need to purchase or provide yourself. According to Cooler Master, the full setup we saw at CES cost upwards of $25,000. 

Thermaltake's take is more affordable — but, again, this is just the frame and chair. The GR500 racing simulator cockpit is smaller and lighter than the Dyn X, with an aluminum and steel frame and a fiberglass bucket seat that moves backwards, forwards, and reclines. It's not as adjustable as the Dyn X, but it does have an adjustable pedal mount and pre-drilled mounting points for your racing wheel/flight stick, shifter, and pedals. It doesn't have mounting points for a monitor mount; instead, Thermaltake is selling a Triple Racing Monitor Stand separately. 

Like the Dyn X, the GR500's pricing isn't final, but Thermaltake said it would likely cost around $799 — which is still pretty expensive, but not too much more than some of the higher-end racing wheels and flight sticks we've seen. Again, that's only for the frame and the chair. All accessories, screens, and PCs are sold separately. 

It's kind of difficult for me to imagine a world in which anyone has room for a full-size racing simulator cockpit at home, but I live in Los Angeles. My colleagues who live in places like Kansas and Colorado assured me they have plenty of room for something like this in their basements. Naturally, I've taken this to mean they're volunteering to review the Dyn X and GR500 when they launch later this year. 

While so many gaming chair makers go all out to provide an ‘immersive gaming experience’ by incorporating RGB lighting, haptics or even cooling fans into their designs, the Cooler Master Caliber X2 dials back on all those bells and whistles and focuses more on the basics of what gaming chairs should offer — comfort and style. Personally, I prefer the Caliber X2’s understated-stated design to all the flashy, more expensive futuristic thrones (like the Orb X) or bucket-style gaming chairs (like the Thermaltake Argent e700) that are on the market today. Don’t get me wrong, those chairs are cool and pretty fancy, but would require a bigger space and an equally fancy setup that I don’t own or have the budget for. With a $399 price point during the time of its release and an additional $50 discount on Amazon (as of this writing), the Cooler Master Caliber X2 could easily rival the Boulies Master as the best budget option in our list of Best Gaming Chairs.

Cooler Master’s Caliber X2 is well-built, with a high back, a cool two-tone design in premium PU leather, and a comfortable wide seat — all the familiar trademarks of the racing-style gaming chairs we are accustomed to, without falling so far into the gaming aesthetic that it would look out of place in a professional office setting. This versatility makes it an easy addition to most gaming or office setups. If the gray and purple accents don’t go with your current setup, there’s also a solid black option for an even broader appeal.

Cooler Master Caliber X2 Specifications

Cooler Master Caliber X2 Design

The Cooler Master Caliber X2 comes in two colorways, one with an all-black exterior and another, like the review sample we received, with gray accents on the ‘wings’ and two gray stripes starting from the backrest that goes all the way down to the seat. The gray accent is repeated on the headrest and on the back pillow, with a pop of purple stitching throughout to complete the look. I am not a big fan of most racing-style gaming chairs because they often look clunky and loud, but the Caliber X2 appeals to my aesthetic because of its sleek, professional look and it easily blends into my current setup without too much effort. In fact, I have been using it for my everyday work and my kids take turns using it for playing games when I am done. 

One design feature that I found quite clever are the clasps for the back pillow, which were conveniently hidden in the back seat. These clasps allow you to move the pillow to wherever is most comfortable, without showing ugly straps — like the ones on the Cooler Master R1S, which remind me of seat belts.

Although they're a pretty common feature in gaming chairs these days, I loved the chair's 4D armrests. They offer so many adjustable positions which I found very useful since multiple people in our house make use of this chair. Personally, I tend to push the arm rests inwards and swing both towards the center which is the most comfortable setting for me while I work. The kids like to push them forward when gaming, or back when just watching streams on YouTube. I just wish that it had a mechanism to lock settings in place as I have slipped several times and must constantly remind myself not to lean on the arm rests too much. Luckily, this has not happened during any meetings where I am on video. (That would be really embarrassing. 😊)

The Caliber X2 has an impressive 180 degree recline capability which is not something all gaming chairs offer. Though I was unsure of how useful this feature would be, my youngest has found it relaxing to recline when streaming endless videos of her favorite YouTubers. You will need space to do this, however, so it’s not a feature you can take advantage of if you are working with a smaller setup.

Cooler Master uses breathable PU leather material for the X2, which adds to the overall premium look of the chair. But what I really liked about it was that it was easy enough to clean and maintain. Food and beverage accidents do happen — especially in my home — so easy cleanup is a big plus.

With a solid aluminum base and bigger (75mm) casters, the chair felt very sturdy and stable as I sat on it. It also slides smoothly on hardwood or on rugs and is also easier to clean. (Don’t judge me, I like things clean.)

Probably the only design feature that really didn’t work for me with the X2 was the headrest, which was too thick and pushed my head forward in a very uncomfortable position. It was also positioned in a place where it blocked the hole in the backrest where air is supposed to go through. Unlike the lumbar pillow, the headrest is not adjustable. It just sits in one place with a thick black (kinda ugly) garter strap that almost covers the Cooler Master Logo at the back of the chair (which also kinda cheapens the look IMHO).

Cooler Master Caliber X2 Assembly

The Cooler Master Caliber X2 arrived tightly packed in a single box that contained all the various chair parts individually wrapped with an easy-to-follow instruction manual. After a quick inspection to check if there were any missing or damaged parts, we were ready to proceed. This might be something that goes without saying, but there’s nothing more frustrating than finding out you need a part when you are already in mid-build, and you have to set the project on hold, or painstakingly put everything back in the box and wait.

Caliber X2 part list includes:

• Backrest and Seat base
• Headrest and lumbar pillow
• Left and right arm rest
• Five-wheel aluminum base
• Casters 5x
• Gas lift, tilt mechanism and covers
• Allen wrench, screws and washers

You could probably put together the X2 gaming chair by yourself, but I needed some help in a couple of areas that required a bit of heavy lifting: the first was with moving the box from the front door to the office, and the second was when I needed to attach the top half (the backrest and seat base) to the bottom half (the gas lift and aluminum base). It was tricky to align those parts by myself, so having an extra pair of hands helped expedite the process. The rest of the steps can easily be done by a single person and what’s neat is that all you need to assemble this chair is a single tool — an Allen wrench — which is conveniently included in the box. There are also a few spare screws that you can keep and set aside for future use. Cooler Master includes an installation video for anyone who needs extra help or visual instructions. It took me about 45 minutes to assemble the chair (in between taking pictures of the building process), which wasn’t bad at all.

Cooler Master Caliber X2 Comfort and Adjustments

When it comes to comfort and customizing, the Cooler Master Caliber X2 has a lot to offer: from 180 degree recline to 4D armrests and breathable PU leather. But one of the best features for me was the adjustable lumbar support pillow because it hugged my lower back just right and allowed me to work for hours without feeling any aches or pain. Second to that would be the 4D armrests as I was able to adjust them to the perfect height and angle, and then pull the chair close to my desk and comfortably type on my keyboard without straining my arms.

Adjusting the height of the seat was easy enough, although to be honest I didn’t quite fit the minimum height and weight recommendations for the Caliber X2 — my legs didn’t touch the floor even at the lowest setting. But I found ways to make the X2 work for me, like adding a footrest underneath my desk. The seat base was also wide enough for me to be able to fold both my legs up on the seat and happily get my work done or play the occasional Roblox or Minecraft with my youngest. 😊

Apart from the thick headrest, the only other issues I encountered were the lack of a forward tilt feature and difficulty using the rocking feature — which didn’t work for me at all, no matter how many times I tried to adjust the tilt mechanism located just below the seat base. This was a shame as I tend to lean forward toward my screen when I work and being able to easily rock and having a forward tilt feature would have helped relieve tension from my upper back.

As someone slightly under the recommended height and weight requirements, I still found the X2 fairly comfortable to use, and could work an entire day sitting in it without feeling any lower back pain. So smaller people don’t need to shy away from using the X2, but I do wish that there was a smaller version available so that I could fully take advantage of all the comfort features the chair had to offer. There aren't many chairs designed for smaller people in the gaming chair category, however — while Secretlab's Titan Evo comes in small, regular, and XL sizes, the small size is designed for people under 5'6" and 200 pounds, which is still pretty broad.

Bottom Line

The Caliber X2 leaves out the bells and whistles in favor of focusing on what you need for a good gaming chair (or any chair for that matter) — comfort and flexibility. It’s not perfect, and we mentioned our wish list of improvements above, but once you factor in the sub-$300 price tag it becomes a much more compelling prospect.

We have been testing the X2 for an extensive period now and have found it to be capable and comfortable as a task or gaming chair. It offers a lot of adjustment options and ergonomic features to help you get through the workday or lengthy streaming/gaming sessions. Cooler Master also uses premium materials like ultra-soft memory foam and breathable PU leather to bump up the X2’s comfort level.

Again, the only real downer for me was the headrest, which I had no use for. Even at the lowest configuration, it was still too high to provide any support or comfort for my head. But overall, the X2 seems built to last and is roomy, comfortable, and easy to adjust. It's not the flashiest or even the prettiest of gaming chairs, but it gets the job done. That, combined with its affordability makes this chair an ideal choice for anyone looking for a capable gaming chair on a budget.

If you're like me, you love the thrill and excitement of sim racing, but you don't have the time, money, and space to invest in a full-blown racing seat. Logitech has apparently solved this issue with its new foldable Playseat Challenge X racing chair that gives you the experience of a sim racing cockpit with none of the drawbacks.

Logitech's new seat is all about flexibility and, to some extent, affordability. The seat is reportedly extremely lightweight (11.6 kg) and folds in half when you're not using it. That allows you to use all of your precious room/office space that would be permanently taken up by a traditional racing cockpit. On top of this, the seat can also be folded in half with a wheel and pedals connected, improving the Playseat's flexibility even more.

The seat itself is made out of a breathable ActFit material that's designed for comfort and keeps you cool during long racing sessions. There are six different height adjustments as well, depending on how tall or how laid back you want your seat to be. Keeping the chair together are X-adapt hinges that are built out of flow-forged aluminum, accompanied by a carbon steel frame and reinforced plastic connecting parts. As a result, the chair is also easy to assemble, with no tools required to put it together (beyond the typical Allen screws and Allen key that most furniture kits come with).

The Challenge X Playseat of course supports Logitech's trio of current racing wheels, pedals, and shifters. But as far as we can tell, there's nothing stopping you from equipping non-Logitech racing products on the chair. The Challenge X Playseat does not feature any compatibility sheets pertaining to racing wheels on Logitech's website.

Arguably the biggest drawback of the Challenge X Playseat is its price, which comes in at $299.00. In the world of sim racing, $299 isn't bad when a full-blown chassis and seat typically cost $600 or more (like Logitech's own Playseat Trophy Logitech G Edition). But it's still a high price, especially for more casual racers who won't be replacing their main office/gaming chair with Logitech's racing chair. It's also $70 more expensive than Playseat's own Challenge Black ActiFit variant, which looks nearly identical to the Challenge X that Logitech partnered with Playseat to make.

Still, Logitech's new racing product is its cheapest racing chair to date, and it appears to offer a level of mobility and flexibility that very few racing setups can replicate.

Cougar has taken the wraps off several new gaming chairs at Computex 2023. Probably the most interesting new piece of gaming furniture it revealed is dubbed the Cougar NxSys Aero, which integrates a 200mm aRGB cooling fan. Before we go on, it is important to make it clear the NxSys Aero cooling is directed at your back, so those with hot derrières should perhaps look elsewhere for relief.

In the northern hemisphere, it is indeed starting to heat up, so devices that cool the user start to become as appealing as those that keep the PC cool. Moreover, according to Cougar, chair cooling will help the user remain "comfortable and focused for hours on end."

As well as the 200mm aRGB fan section in the back of the chair, dubbed 'Cold Fusion', Cougar has implemented some complementary technologies to keep your back cool and comfortable during the hottest PC gaming sessions. It claims that its 'Air Bender' system uses hollow spaces in the elastomeric mesh, as well as a ventilated back cover to provide adaptive cushioning. 

At Computex, Managing Editor Matt Safford had a chance to sit in the chair and he said that it felt very comfortable and was just what he needed after three days running around trade shows. 

Cougar told him that the chair will cost $399 but come without a battery. Users will have to bring their own USB power banks and connect them. Cougar reps told us that it would get around 50 hours from a fully-charged, 10,000 mAh battery.

Cougar's NxSys Aero chair also features a built-in lighting and fan controller. This is a good choice for those that prefer the immediacy and simplicity of an application-less device. Specifically, Cougar says users can adjust both the fan speed and aRGB lighting intensity via handy built-in controls.

Last but not least, Cougar supplies what it describes as a physiotherapy-grade lumbar pillow with the NxSys Aero. An adjustable magnetic neck cushion is also provided with the chair, for all around ergonomics.

At the time of writing we don't have Cougar NxSys Aero chair pricing and availability information. Please stay tuned for release info and more.

This isn't the first chair with a built-in fan that we have seen. Last August we reviewed the $999 Mavix M9. Fans aren't standard with this chair though, you have to pay an extra $130 for an attachment that slots into the lumbar support to add heating, cooling fans, and a vibrating massager.

Currently, Cougar has no gaming chairs placed in any of our Best Gaming Chairs 2023 categories. Perhaps the aRGB fan cooled NxSys Aero has what it takes to make the grade, but we will have to wait until we get a review sample to judge it.

Other Cougar products at Computex you might want to check out include its Hotrod and Armor EVO chairs (pictured above), and the Panzer 800 full-tower PC case.

There are a lot of potential pitfalls in building a smoothly running PC, but who knew that monitors and computer chairs could fall prey to compatibility issues? German programmer Felix Häcker recently pinpointed the source of his system's intermittent monitor blanking as his IKEA Markus computer chair (h/t Future Zone). Content with his deductive reasoning, Häcker was mildly surprised to find that the IKEA Markus has been previously highlighted as a problematic ESD (Electro Static Discharge) source.

When a monitor intermittently blanks, there are plenty of possible culprits a PC enthusiast or DIYer might ponder over. A natural first few steps could be to check the monitor to computer graphics card cabling, power cabling, then to consider software and drivers.

Häcker tenaciously pursued the issue and eventually confidently pinpointed the root cause of the monitor blanking problem as his chair. The first clue to the chair being an issue was that the screen blacking only occurred when he "sat down or stood up, although the chair didn't even touch the table."

Using a different chair, no screen blanking problems occurred. Switching back to the IKEA Markus, the problem returned. With the chair brand/type firmly in the spotlight, Häcker quickly Googled the ComputerBase thread we linked above.

Investigations reveal that the Markus chair causes strong ESDs in some environments. It could be the fabric material, the gas suspension mechanism/materials, or a combination of these factors. However, with the root cause identified, at least there is now a solution available for Häcker and others. The answer is to ground the chair however is most practical to your workspace. That might mean connecting a part of the chair to an earth/ground source (plug, metal radiator, TV antenna, etc), whatever is most convenient. 

As well as causing intermittent monitor blanking, a quick search revealed that some users have previously blamed the "ESD Monster" Markus chair for wiping their HDD, or causing a Radeon RX 6800 XT to stutter.

The IKEA Markus remains a current shipping "top seller" product available in-store and online. In the US it retails for $289.99, but there are no warnings about ESDs on the product pages.

The $399 Boulies Master chair looks more “functional” than “fun,” but don’t be deceived by its lack of gamer aesthetic. This is a chair that can game and work in equal comfort. We don’t need extreme angles and bright colors to show our gaming prowess or skills with a spreadsheet.

On the face of it, the Boulies Master is more a work from home purchase, in this (post?) covid era where many of us need an office in our homes. The Boulies Master design language is a hybrid of office and gaming chair (heavy on the office), offering a scalloped seat and multiple adjustments to fine-tune posture and comfort. My question is: Can this sub $400 chair provide comfort and support for the gamer and the worker? To find out, the company shipped me a review unit and I assembled it in my new home office, a place where I write, game and make for 12 hours a day.

Specs

Assembly

Overall, assembly took just 50 minutes with the help of the simple assembly guide. There were illustrated steps and detailed instructions for each step. So why did it take so long to build? Well, it was more user error than design. First, my new office is a box room. It has a lovely south-facing window and I have plenty of space, but it was not designed for chair-assembly gymnastics.

Secondly, I lost a dark-colored spacer on my dark-colored carpet, under a dark desk. Everything that I needed came in the rather large box, a box that had adequate protection (which is good given it arrived with a chunk gouged in one side of it). Happily, the parts arrived safely, with only a squished box containing the main tilt mechanism showing any signs of mishandling. The upholstered seat and backrest were wrapped in plastic and had no marks or scuffs.

Back to assembly and the choice of M8 machine screws is a good compromise between heavy-duty fixings and tool use. The M8-sized machine screws are used throughout the build and have enough meat on them to feel strong. It also means that I didn’t have to hunt for a bunch of hex wrenches. That said, the included tools are adequate, but being a tool snob I elected to bust out a set of Wera hex wrenches and screwdrivers. At the end of the assembly process, I had a few spare parts left over, intentionally. These parts – an M8 machine screw and two spacers – will come in handy should a repair be needed down the line. Or they will if I don’t drop them behind something dark between now and then.

Design and Construction

I chose the ash gray water-repellent fabric option for two reasons. One, it matches my office decor, and two I prefer fabric over polyurethane synthetic leather because it feels warmer and more comfortable. Overall, the steel frame construction is great. This feels like a solid piece of furniture, unlike some chairs that I have purchased previously. The armrests are solid, with a little play but no annoying squeaks or rattles. The fabric covering the seat and backrest is well-stitched and supportive. The fabric claims to be water repellent, and as yet I haven’t managed to spill any liquids on the chair. The claimed hydrophobic effect will reduce over time, though. How long it lasts depends on how often it’s used.

The seat is a little firmer than I would’ve liked, but in the week that I have been testing, it has not bothered me too much. The aluminum five-star foot base is sturdy and robust. It hasn’t scratched any of my other furniture, nor has it been scratched. The five PU casters roll well on carpet and an IKEA floor protector. They do look a little cheap compared to the rest of the chair, though. All of the materials used are easy to clean with a damp cloth. No chemicals are required. The dark accents on the backrest and seat will be magnets for dust, so a light wipe-down every once in a while should keep them looking good. Pet owners take note, though: The fabric will grab every stray piece of fur.

The chair can support a person between 165 and 190 cm (5 feet, 5 inches to 6 feet, 2 inches) in height and up to 135 kg (298 pounds). I’m 177 cm (5 feet 10 inches ) tall and 114 kg (251 pounds), so I am near the top end of the specification. I can say that I have never felt uneasy on the chair. Some chairs can feel a little fragile, as if the massive weight of a human being is balanced on a pin head. This is not the case with the Boulies Master. The chair weighs in at around 24 kg (just under 53 pounds) and the all-steel frame and aluminum base are the largest part of the mass. This makes for a solid chair.

Adjusting the chair to meet my needs is possible via a plethora of handles and knobs. Sitting down in the chair, I can reach to the right and find a handle to raise and lower the seat. Take your weight off the chair and lift the handle to raise the seat. Sit down and the seat lowers. On the right side of the backrest is a lumbar support knob. Dial this up and it pushes support into the small of my back. This is useful, as I have sciatica from an ill-judged sofa move in 2006.

Also on the right side is a handle to unlock the backrest, letting me lean back and relax. Moving to my left, another handle is used to lock / unlock the tilt mechanism. I can use this to gently alter the seat angle, giving me the option to move my center of gravity for better comfort. The armrests can be raised and lowered by pressing a paddle under the cushioned rest. The same armrests can also be rotated inward and outward to provide better support. Another button on the inside of each armrest will bring the rests in about two Inches, offering the wide space that I need for my body, yet remaing narrow enough to rest my elbows on them. During the build process, you can set the maximum width of the armrests by sliding the M8 machine screws along a rail.

Comfort and Adjustments

So, is the Boulies Master comfortable? In a word, yes. Sure the seat is a little firm, but my back has not been in pain. The many adjustments possible mean that I can align myself to my monitor and keep my head straight on, supported by the included neck pillow. I don’t ache anywhere near as much as I did when sitting in my old chair all day. I generally sit straight on to my screen, with the armrests level to the top of the desk, and a slight tilt back to shift my center of gravity. The chair coped well with my mass. The only adjustment not provided by the chair is a foot rest that I prefer to keep me from leaning toward the screen.

The armrests are firm, with a slight bit of give, but they aren’t there to cradle your elbows. They’re more of a solid platform to keep you working in comfort. I chose to extend the armrests to the maximum width as I like a little space between my body and the rests (unlike my last transatlantic flight). While there wouldn’t be space for me to sit cross-legged or tuck a leg under me (not that I can achieve such gymnastics), a smaller person would have the space. My wife also tested the chair and found that she had to lower the height, reduce the lumbar support and bring the arms in a little to achieve the best comfort. She was also happy with the color as it complemented the office decor.

Bottom Line

For $274 (£290 is the UK price) this is a great chair. Arguably the most important aspect of an office / gaming chair is, do you want to sit in it? And after assembling and testing it, I was drawn back to the Boulies Master, never feeling truly uncomfortable even after several hours of sitting. Sure, I had a few hours of tinkering on day one, but other than that the chair supported my frame and I never felt like I was balancing on a the head of a pin.

The neck support is welcome, but wearing a hoodie did force me to sit unnaturally forward. So I either stop wearing hoodies or remove the neck support. The backrest is also comfortable. The seat isn’t hard to tweak to meet my needs and I can glide around my office with ease. When I consider that my previous chair was £200 from Amazon, spending the £90 extra makes a big difference. The Boulies Master is a reliable workhorse. It gets the job done and provides support and comfort. It doesn’t scream “GAMER,” but I would happily play my Steam library sitting in this chair. In fact, I think I will.

The Asus Rog Destrier is the latest in the company's line of gaming chairs aimed at enthusiasts. Previous entries from Asus included the ROG Chariot Core and ROG Chariot RGB. 

Although Asus doesn’t have a long established pedigree in gaming chairs, the Destrier is a valiant effort thanks to a combination of high-quality materials used and a high degree or configurability. With a price tag of $899, the Destrier doesn’t come cheap, but is that price of entry enough to keep it off our best gaming chair list? Read on to see how the Destrier stacks up and if should earn a spot in front of your desk and 4K gaming monitor.

Assembling the Asus ROG Destrier

My Asus ROG Destrier review sample arrived in a massive box weighing over 70 pounds. Inside the box, all the major components were either wrapped in plastic, foam, bubble wrap, or cardboard (or some combination) to ensure that all were well-protected during shipment. The various protective materials did their job, as everything arrived in factory new condition.

Asus includes a large, double-sided Assembly/Function guide with the Destrier, which makes putting the chair together a relatively simple process. I wasn’t rushing by any means, but I put the chair together in about 25 minutes, following the step-by-step instructions with detailed drawings and text to guide me along.

I only had one misstep in Step 5, which involved installing the armrests with six screws and six washers. I forgot to install the washers because the instructions didn’t explicitly mention them. But to Asus’ credit, the accompanying image did show the washers attached. I didn’t realize my mistake until I tightened all the bolts and moved to the next step. However, it didn’t take much to undo my blunder and finish the build process.

My only other issue during the build came when attaching the acoustic panel. It required a significant amount of force to clamp it to the seat base, and I feared I would rip the fabric. However, after some careful massaging, the acoustic panel snapped into place, and I secured it with the final two screws.

It’s also nice that Asus provides a bag of spare parts (one of each type screw and washer) just in case you lose one.

Specs

Design and Construction

Although probably not to everyone’s tastes, I like the look of the Destrier. Asus says that it has the “futuristic aesthetic of a cyborg,” and that’s easily identifiable by its angular design. It’s a sleek chair with an aluminum frame and five-wheel base. The frame, wheel base, and attachment for the 3D armrests are finished in a shimmering grey paint. The rest of the hard pieces are finished in matte black plastic.

The tops of the armrests feature one-piece molded polyurethane foam padding. A high-tension mesh suspension system is used for the seat cushion and backrest. The headrest and acoustic panel are black plastic and covered in padded fabric. Asus breaks up the grey and black color scheme with a red ROG logo on the headrest and red/white stitching on the adjustment straps for the tilt/depth/height controls.

The chair weighs 54.34 pounds (24.65 kg) fully assembled and supports up to 330 pounds (150 kg). I am 5’10” and weigh around 165 pounds; the Destrier fits me well at maximum seat height.

Comfort and Adjustments

This Destrier is equipped with plenty of adjustments that you would expect from a chair in this price range. For example, the backrest is adjustable from 90 to 135 degrees, with four lockable steps within that range (90, 105, 120, and 135 degrees). There are also 3D armrests that can rotate 360 degrees and adjust in height (14cm of adjustment available).

In the highest setting, Asus says that the Destrier is suitable for mobile gaming, as your elbows are placed higher. The armrests can move fore and aft, stopping along five idents. However, that high degree of adjustability comes with a few downsides. First of all, the armrests don’t feel very stable, with the vertical posts wiggling around freely in their metal bases. There is also a lot of play in the height adjustment mechanism that allows the armrests to rotate 360 degrees.

However, the biggest offense with the armrests is how easily they move forward and aft. Sometimes, leaning forward with my elbows firmly resting on the armrests was enough to dislodge them and move to the next ident. This frequently happened with a clackety-clack sound and had me wishing there was a way to lock the horizontal position of the armrests.

On the right side of the seat cushion sprouts a strap for adjusting the chair's height via its Class-4 gas strut. Pull the strap up, and you’re able to position the cushion higher or lower. There’s also a bar sticking out with a knob for adjusting seat tension. This controls how easy it is to recline the backrest, although there are no numbers to indicate the tension level. Instead, “+” and “-“ indicators show if you’re increasing or decreasing the tension.

On the left side of the seat cushion are two additional straps for depth and tilt adjustments. Lean back in the chair and pull the tilt strap up to lock it into one of four positions. To return the chair to its default 90-degree position, pull the strap down and lean all the way back, after which it will spring back into place. To adjust the seat cushion depth, pull up on the depth strap and move the cushion forward or back.

The seat has no padding, as it uses a comfortable fabric mesh suspension system. I’m used to moderately plush office chairs, so getting used to the firmer feel with the Destrier took some time. The seat is 22.44 inches wide and 19.68 inches deep (570mm x 500mm), with plenty of room for me to wiggle around. More importantly, there is sufficient room for me to sit with my legs crossed in the chair. While it’s not the most ergonomic seating position, I find it comfortable (at least in short spurts), and my Mini Schnauzer loves to curl up and sleep in my lap when I sit this way.

Asus includes adjustable lumbar support on the Destrier, which is controlled using two knobs. The soft fabric-covered lumbar support can be adjusted for height (7cm of movement) to align against your back properly. It can also move fore and aft (2cm) to decrease or increase pressure/support.

Similar customization is available for the headrest, which supports a depth range of up to 6cm and is adjustable for height up to 12cm.

Behind the headrest sits an optional acoustic panel, which is supposed to help block distracting sounds coming from the sides of your chair. While wearing noise-canceling headphones, I didn't notice much difference with the panel on or off, but your mileage may vary.

For my comfort, I left the seat base depth to its default position and the seat height to the maximum level. I also set the armrest height to the third setting and left the recline at 90 degrees. With these settings, I was able to sit in front of my desk during the workday and game a bit after hours without fatigue. I even tried Asus' suggestion to recline the seat and place the armrests in the highest position to game with a smartphone. To my surprise, it worked quite well ergonomically while playing Grand Theft Auto V on my phone using Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Bottom Line

The Asus ROG Destrier is a great chair, with plenty of available adjustments to fit your body. The materials used throughout the chair are high quality, with a mixture of plastic, polyurethane foam, mesh, padded cloth, and aluminum. I particularly liked the adjustable lumbar support to aid my aging back, and the extending headrest proved to be comfortable for long workdays.

On the other hand, the included acoustic panel seemed like it was there more for style than actually providing a noticeable difference in noise reduction. And I wish the armrests weren't so rattly and loose in their locked positions. But perhaps the biggest detraction is the price; at $899, the Destrier is hundreds of dollars more expensive than alternatives like the Razer Iskur and Herman Miller x Logitech G Vantum.

However, I can’t argue with the comfort of the Destrier; the chair pampered my butt and back. In addition, the chair just looks so damn cool without being garish. Picking a gaming chair is a personal decision, much more so than a more analytical purchase like the best graphics card for gaming or the best CPU for gaming. But if you can get past the price and some niggling issues, the Asus ROG Destrier would make an excellent addition to any gamer’s hardware arsenal.

Like a lot of gaming chairs on the market these days, the Legend from Noblechairs is designed to look like something that wouldn’t look out of place in a race car — and this is the trajectory that Noblechairs has taken since its inception. The big difference between a Noblechairs seat and other cheaper racing-style gaming chairs is that Noblechairs’ chairs actually do look and feel premium enough to truly belong in a car, and like they could easily find a place on a list of the best gaming chairs. 

I’ve tried a lot of different chairs, and one of the questions that always comes up is “Why don’t you just get an office chair, aren’t they better and more comfortable?” This is a very subjective question —  office chairs come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and quality, and a lot depends on the ergonomics of the chair, how well you can tweak the chair for personal comfort, and, of course, how it looks.

The Noblechairs Legend isn’t ostentatious, design-wise, and is still able to fit in an office environment without “gamifying” the area or looking out of place. The reverse is also true: the Legend looks perfectly at home in a gaming setup.

The Legend is the amalgamation of a lineage of previous Noblechair designs, which include the Epic, Icon, and Hero series — all of which have donated some design aspects to the Legend’s final form. The Legend uses comfortable foam cushioning and has built-in lumbar support, 4D armrests, and two tilt mechanics for plenty of customization.

Retailing for around $689 (£459 in the UK), the Legend is a premium-priced gaming chair, and the materials used and finish of the product reflect the more expensive nature of this product. It’s nowhere near as expensive as some gaming chairs, such as the $1,695 Herman Miller x Logitech G Embody gaming chair, but it’s on the pricier side compared to similar racing-style chairs, such as the $519 Secretlab Titan Evo 2022.

Assembly

The Legend comes shipped in one large box and the chair is quite heavy, so it’s definitely best to get a little help moving it to where you’re going to construct the chair. Opening the packaging you can see that the individual parts of the chair have been very well protected and encased in a mix of foam and cardboard, keeping everything secure.

One armrest of the chair comes already attached to the base of the chair, and this — along with the instruction manual — gives you a good visual guide on how to attach the other arm. Constructing the Legend was relatively simple and it only took me around 30 - 40 minutes to assemble the chair myself. I had problems with just one fiddly screw not threading properly when fixing the back to the seat, as well as a small jump-scare when I removed the holding screw from the ratchet mechanism for the reclining handle. There is a visible warning in the instruction manual regarding the reclining handle, but the force with which it springs back is very high — it can definitely injure you if you’re not careful.

The instruction manual is very good, with detailed, crystal-clear instructions as well as easy-to-follow visual guides. Noblechairs provides all tools needed for assembly in a little accessories box, although I used my own little ratchet set instead of the provided Allen keys. Once the seat is fully built you can choose to add the two included memory foam cushions if you want to use them.

Specs

Design and Construction

I love the design of the Legend and you can certainly see the heritage of Noblechairs’ previous generations in the chair’s design aesthetic. The overall look of the Legend is fairly subdued: the majority of available colors are one solid color, and accents on the chair are limited to a few metallic buttons and the reclining handle to the eyehole on the seat-back. The only other differences between variations of the Legend are the choice of material used and some stitching patterns.

I like the look of this chair in my office — it’s plain black and doesn’t look garish, and the stitching and shape of the chair are superb. It’s also very comfortable for me, at 6’, to sit in.

The Noblechairs Legend comes in a choice of three material types (fabric, PU, or a hybrid PU) and five colors (black, white, gray, black/white/red, and brown/java). 

The overall construction of the Legend feels solid. The class-4 gas lift works well and supports my weight, and the chair reclines easily — although the handle ratchet system feels a little rough and is noisy. The chair moves around well on the provided wheels, however, one issue I had using the chair on a hard floor was the way it sounded — the aluminum wheelbase combined with the plastic cover for the gas mount produced some horrible tinny acoustics. I solved this by gluing some felt to the bottom of the plastic cover, which dampened the effect drastically.

The Legend weighs 66.1 lbs (30kg) fully assembled, and, at the maximum seat height of 22.8 inches, I feel this seat is the perfect size for someone of 5’11” to 6’2” in height. (Of course, everyone's body ratios are different so take this with a pinch of salt.) The seat and gas lift supports up to 330lbs (150kg), and the seat is reasonably wide at 20.5 inches (52cm), so there’s plenty of room and support for larger body sizes.

My review unit came in black-colored high-tech German PU material, which looks and feels amazing. It’s not sticky on the skin when wearing shorts, and I haven’t left any shoe marks on it from sitting on one leg or cross-legged. It’s easy to clean with just a quick wipe, and it dries quickly. The seat and back cushioning is a shaped cold-foam that’s firm but comfortable, and has so far kept its shape perfectly.

The Legend features the usual adjustments you’ll find in gaming chairs of this type, including adjustable 4D armrests, height and tilt levers (including tilt-tensioner) under the seat, a reclining handle on the right of the seat, and lumbar support knob also on the right side of the seat back.

Comfort and Adjustments

I found the Legend to be a comfortable chair, and, thanks to its ergonomics and adjustability, one I was able to operate in a few different ways for lasting comfort over long periods of use. With the back fully upright, the natural seated position feels very upright and promotes great posture. I especially liked this position for working on my PC, and I really noticed how I wasn’t aching from slouching or slowly curling my spine after hours of typing. 

The built-in lumbar support also helped with posture and was perfectly placed for my height — but it only adjusts forward and backward, so if you’re shorter the lumbar support might not be at the right height for your build. The lumbar is controlled by twisting a knob on the right side of the chair’s back.

Headrest support is included in the shape of the seat back and isn’t really usable unless you’re reclining, as the headrest is tilted slightly forward to help promote good sitting posture. 

The Legend also comes with two memory foam cushions that can be attached for additional lumbar/back and neck support. They’re plush and fix to the chair easily, but it’s a personal preference whether you like them — I personally did not find them comfortable and disliked the look of the elastic straps on the seat. But if you’re unable to use the lumbar support, at least the cushions are included as an alternate option. 

The Legend’s gas-lift works the same as you’ll find on any premium gaming or office chair, as does the tilt function. The reclining handle on the side of the chair works like a mechanical car seat — pulling up the handle releases the spring-loaded ratchet mechanism so the weight of the user can recline the seat back, while sitting up and lifting the handle lets the seat back return to an upright position.

I recruited my young son, who is 5’6”, to sit in the Legend and confirm that the lumbar support was too high for him to use, and that the headrest really pushed his head forward if sat right back into the chair — and he found it fairly uncomfortable. When fully reclined his head rested on the plastic-lined shoulder vent, and this was also uncomfortable. (“I way prefer my current chair over this posh looking one,” he told me.) He did, however, like the armrests — but it seemed like he liked them more for the fidget quality rather than ergonomics.

The 4D armrests offer a great deal of customization: you can move them up/down/left/right/forward/back, and even swivel them inward and outward. The amount of mobility almost seemed unnecessary at first, but, after trying to sit cross-legged and not fitting my knees in, I was able to rotate the arms outwards and then comfortably get my knees in. 

My only issue with these armrests was the placement of some of the buttons and differences in manufacturing quality: the forward button was flush on the left arm but jutted out slightly on the right arm. Also, the button that controls the side motion of the armrests is placed in the middle of the armrest and pokes out a little too far, in my opinion. With the arms set to the innermost setting I constantly ended up hitting this button, causing the arms to move to the widest position, which I found very annoying.

Bottom Line

The Legend is a nice chair, and it fits me and people of a similar height perfectly. It’s made of high-quality materials, with excellent stitching, and is superbly comfortable. I love the styling of the Legend — how it doesn’t go overboard with garish colors and patterns but instead looks subdued and classy. And having sat in the Legend for many hours with my butt singing its praises, I can attest to the quality of the cold-foam cushioning.

However, there are too many annoying niggles for this to be a truly great chair. Despite its range of customizations and adjustments, the Legend doesn’t really work for a wide range of heights, and I would definitely not recommend this chair for anyone 5’6” or shorter, especially if you’re looking to use the lumbar support and headrest while leaning back in the chair. It’s also disappointing to see that build quality issues with the armrests and noisy acoustics from the reclining handle and the gas-lift cover and aluminum wheelbase made it through to the final product. Shorter, lighter users looking for lumbar support might have better luck with a non-racing chair, such as the Herman Miller X Logitech G Vantum.

Cooler Master’s Hybrid 1 is a gaming chair for both work and play, with outstanding adjustability and support for keyboard warriors. This is a chair designed to adjust to your sitting style, whether you need to sit forward to type, lean back to game or relax cross-legged while chilling out to video. 

Some gaming chairs are designed with style before comfort, hoping that you’ll only game for a few hours after work. This is not that chair. It’s a bit bland in the fashion department, with plain black upholstery and a bolted on head rest. But that’s also its strength. This chair is here to do the work and will look professional in an office while blending quietly in the background for Zoom calls. 

Priced at $449 at the time of this review, the Hybrid 1 is a great chair for gamers of various sizes who spend a lot of time at their computer. Designed to compete with the best gaming chairs in terms of comfort, it has a steel frame, aluminum base and super wide foam filled seat that can handle body types up to 330 pounds and 6’3” tall. It’s extremely adjustable, allowing smaller humans to mold the chair to fit their needs. 

Specifications: Cooler Master Hybrid 1

Assembly of the Cooler Master Hybrid 1

The Cooler Master Hybrid 1 gaming/office chair arrives in a 69 pound box with a slim manual and a hex key.

Chair assembly is fairly straightforward: Snap the wheels onto their sockets and mount the piston onto the wheelbase, then slip four bolts onto the backrest to hold it all together. The headrest is already attached for you.

Design of the Cooler Master Hybrid 1

The Cooler Master Hybrid 1 computer chair is built for both office use and gaming, with a combination of deluxe ergonomic features in a low-key design. It only comes in black, with a simple accent of purple stitching and a simplified Cool Master logo. It’s perfect for the PC gamer who doesn’t want their home office to look like a Twitch stream.

The back is constructed of breathable “MuscleFlex” mesh to keep you cool, while the seat is filled with ventilated high-density foam. The elastic mesh has a bit of give, so it can flex to your contours.

The chair has a steel frame and aluminum base and is rated for people up to 330 pounds. The smooth PU leatherette has an easy to clean surface.

Comfort and Adjustments of the Cooler Master Hybrid 1

The Hybrid 1 comes in one size, but it is extremely adjustable, allowing it to be used by people of various heights. For example, the lumbar support moves in four directions so you can place it exactly where you need it as well as how much you need it. I found this to be extremely thoughtful as many chairs are only designed for one body type.

The armrests move up and down, forward and back, and pivot. The one thing I didn’t like was the armrest’s back and forth motion didn’t lock in place and had a tendency to move when I got up from the chair.

The Hybrid 1’s headrest looked like it was swiped from a car. Rather than a foam pillow tied on with elastic, the chair has a firm, bolted-on headrest. Its curved shape can be slid up or down to suit your height. I found this to be delightfully different from other chairs I’ve tested with pillows that flop out of place.

The seat is wide and mostly flat, so instead of trying to cup your tuchus, it allows you wiggle room. Let’s face it, some of us have a bodacious backside and this chair acknowledges that. This is also one of the few chairs I can comfortably sit cross-legged in, which is great since my feet don’t touch the floor. Yes. I’m short. 

The chair can rock, or you can lock it into one stable position. It also reclines to a nearly flat 180 degrees if you need to catch a nap at your desk.

Bottom Line

The Cooler Master Hybrid 1 is a professional chair for grown up gamers who also use their computer for mundane work tasks. Its ergonomic features and breathable upholstery are designed to get you through the work day then come back for play. The sturdy frame, flexible design and ample seat can accommodate people of various sizes and body types, from petite to linebacker. 

The Hybrid 1 retails for $449, which is a solid investment in your home office/gaming den. Its extremely adjustable elements eliminate confusion over which size chair you should get – this one will fit. 

I really wanted to love this chair. It’s absolutely gorgeous, with two-tone upholstery that combines buttery soft microfiber and rich faux leather. The arm rests have tons of adjustability, while the seat rocks and the back fully reclines. It even has an optional RGB lighting kit that streamers would seriously enjoy.

However, the one thing it doesn’t have is adjustable lumbar support. Instead, its ContourMax lumbar is rather aggressive, and though it’s meant to adapt to “each individual’s shape and movement” it hits my frame too low. Obviously, I’m just one person, so I had a couple other members of the family check out the chair. A 6’3” XL person agreed the lumbar support was too much, while a 5’10” slender teen thought it was quite cozy.

Priced at $419 at the time of this review, the SL5800 is part of Vertagear’s line of chairs for “small” gamers, meaning folks under 250 pounds. The SL5800 can accommodate fairly tall people up to 6 feet. A handy chair selection tool on their website can help you find a chair that fits your shape.

The chair comes in six colors and has an aluminum alloy base with a steel frame and an array of foamy supports under the upholstery to keep you comfortable while sitting.

Specifications: Vertagear SL5800

Assembly of the Vertagear SL5800

The Vertagear SL5800 gaming chair arrives in a 70 pound box with a slim manual, a hex key, and — a curious addition — a pet hair removal tool.

Chair assembly is fairly straightforward: Snap the wheels onto their sockets and mount the piston onto the wheelbase, then slip four bolts onto the backrest to hold it all together. The neck pillow sticks in place with an elastic band.

Design of the Vertagear SL5800

The Vertagear SL5800 gaming chair has a deluxe design with microfiber upholstery accented with soft faux leather. The chair comes in six color combinations to suit your mood or decor: Midnight Blue, Carbon Black, Black/White, Midnight Green, Midnight Purple, and Burgundy Red.

The SL5800 is designed for ergonomic comfort. Tucked inside the backrest is “ContourMax Lumbar” support, which — while sadly not adjustable — is flexible with four points of contact. The seat cushion has “VertaAir,” which seems to be vertical columns of stout foam tubing that cradles your sit bones while providing air flow.

The upholstery is a breathable microfiber with “coffee ground nanotechnology” to naturally control odor. There’s even silver-coated embroidery thread to neutralize bacterial growth. The downside of the microfiber is that it clings to hair, which is why it comes with a pet hair removal tool.

The chair has a sturdy steel frame with a 10-year warranty and an aluminum alloy base for the wheels. The foam cushioning is made of ultra-premium high-resilience foam.

Though it was not part of my review model, I should mention that Vertagear sells optional RGB LED lighting upgrades to add lights to the holes in the backrest and under the base. These lighting upgrades are separate, and each costs an extra $299 ($229 at time of review).

The neck pillow is made of memory foam and held in place with an elastic strap.

Comfort and Adjustments of the Vertagear SL5800

The Vertagear SL5800 has a comfy seat base with dense foam padding that provides solid support. Everything is soft and smooth to the touch, without any scratchy surfaces to bother those who like gaming in shorts.

The chair has many points of adjustment, with silver-black buttons and black levers that work well with the chair’s overall design. A lever on the side of the seat allows you to recline from 80° vertical to 160°.

A hefty knob on the bottom of the seat adjusts the tilt tension to control how much the chair will rock based on your weight, and a lever on the bottom of the chair locks the tilt mechanism to your desired angle, or lets you rock freely. Another lever controls the chair’s height.

A discrete button on each arm rest allows you to move it up and down, side to side, and pivot for the perfect position. The non-adjustable lumbar support on this model is quite firm.

Bottom Line

The Vertagear SL5800 is an incredibly comfortable chair for gamers who are tall and slender. But while it’s very adjustable overall, I couldn’t quite get it to work for my shorter torso. Vertagear offers a wide range of chairs, but those of us who share our home computer stations with family members of various sizes may not want to buy a chair that only works for one body type. If you’re tall, skinny, and you don’t have to share your computer, the SL5800 might work for you.

The SL5800 retails for $499, but is currently on sale for $419. This chair would look great in both a home office or a gaming den, though preferably one without any heavily-shedding pets. Vertagear has put a lot of work into the chair’s ergonomics with firm lumbar support and memory foam cushions to cradle your spine through long gaming sessions, it just doesn’t work for everyone.

Cooler Master just announced the Orb X — an immersive, dome-shaped multi-purpose station for gaming, entertainment, and work (I suppose). With its vaguely orb-shaped, futuristic aesthetic, and Cooler Master's hexagonal logo emblazoned on the front, the Orb X looks like something that would be very difficult to fit into any actual home, so it's probably not designed with individual consumers in mind. That's probably why there's no price — you can sign up for the waitlist on CMODX, which is Cooler Master's website for its "high-end experience" tech, including its haptic-infused Synk X chair. 

The Orb X is a fully-contained gaming-entertainment-work-station, with a reclining chair, an extra-large desk, and support for either one 34-inch monitor or up to three 27-inch monitors. It also has built-in 2.1 surround sound speakers, as well as ARGB LED lighting strips lining the edges and around the base. The lighting has eight built-in lighting modes, can be synced to music, and is compatible with Cooler Master's MasterPlus+ software. 

I had a chance to take a look at the Orb X about a month ago, at a small gaming cafe in Arcadia, CA, where Cooler Master had it on display. It's absolutely as ridiculous as it sounds, but it's also pretty immersive without being too claustrophobia-inducing. 

Getting into the Orb X is extremely easy, as the desk glides to the side and the top part raises (controlled via remote) to allow you to slip in without banging your head on a 34-inch monitor. The desk then glides back into place (it doesn't lock, which is both understandable from a safety point of view and a bit frustrating for anyone who likes to lean on their desk) and the top lowers into place. 

The Orb X is, naturally, enormous: it has a footprint of about 71 inches (180 cm) wide by 74 inches (188 cm) long, is just over 82 inches (209c m) tall, and weighs around 757 pounds (343.5 kg). 

It's also built like a tank — or, more specifically, like something that is designed for public use and not to be put in an individual's home. Cooler Master boasts about the Orb X's "customized comfort" thanks to an "ergonomic recliner" with an adjustable leg rest, headrest, and lumbar support, but it feels more like a moderately-reclined lounger in some of the fancier airports I've been in (it's fine, but it's no Google Nap pod). 

The Orb X doesn't come with a system or screens. It does come with most of its wiring built in, however, so you can easily hook up your own system (it even has a compartment for storing your PC in the back, though it doesn't seem like it'll be big enough for most mid-size towers). There's a USB hub next to the right arm rest with three USB-A 3.1 Gen 1 ports, two USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 ports, and a headset jack. On the left side, there's a control panel for controlling the chair's speaker system, and on both sides there's plenty of storage for accessories... or books, or snacks, or whatever. 

The Orb X isn't the first ridiculous gaming throne we've seen. In 2018, Acer showed off its Predator Thronos, which also supports up to three 27-inch monitors and has a slightly more aggressive vibe. Meanwhile, MWE Lab's Emperor XT is more productivity-focused (I guess), and also supports the triple-monitor setup. My issue, of course, is that I have three 27-inch monitors and an extra-wide 34-inch monitor, so the Orb X really isn't enough screens for me. 

The Orb X waitlist is available now, but there's no word on price or when it will ship. It will come in both black and white colorways. 

If your favorite Prime comes from Optimus, not Amazon, AndaSeat has a chair made for you. The AndaSeat Transformers Edition allows you to show your love for the cartoon robots, but much like the car / living machine hybrids, this chair is more than meets the eye. 

Priced at $399 – and currently on sale for $359 – this is an ergonomically designed chair on par with many of the best gaming chairs and great for both gaming and work-related computing. It comes in three bold Transformer themed designs printed and stitched on premium faux leather. There are two removable pillows – foam for the lumbar region and a gel for behind the neck.

The chairs come in three colorful designs: bright yellow Bumblebee; black, red and blue Optimus Prime; or black, gray and purple Megatron. The chairs are otherwise identically made from premium PVC leather with the Transformer of your choice printed on the seat back and an Autobot insignia embroidered on the rear of the chair.

They only come in a “large” size, which AndaSeat lists as appropriate for people under 5’9” and supports up to 200 pounds while rocking. As a short 5’2” human I found the seat to be wonderfully adaptable to my tiny legs with a seat wide enough to sit in cross legged. I turned the chair over to my 6’3” and somewhat over 200 pound testing assistant and he reported that he fit quite well. 

Specifications: AndaSeat Transformers Edition

Assembly of the AndaSeat Transformers Edition

The AndaSeat Transformers Edition gaming chair arrives in a 61.5 pound box with a hefty manual and a single hex key – the only tool you need to assemble it.  

Chair assembly is fairly straightforward. Snap the wheels onto their sockets and mount the piston onto the wheelbase. Screws on the backrest are pre-installed so you know where they belong. Remove them, and slide the backrest onto the seat’s brackets. Now put the screws back. A magnetic cover quickly hides the screws when you’re finished.

For safety reasons, the recline function is locked down with a bright red screw and a dire warning to only remove it after the upper portion of the chair is assembled. Once the safety screw is removed, the hole is replaced with a snap-on cover.

Next, tip the chair face down. Attach the levers to the tilt mechanism and place the mechanism on the bottom of the chair with four screws. Slide the wheelbase into the mechanism and carefully return the chair to its upright position. 

The neck pillow sticks in place with concealed magnets, and the lumbar pillow is unattached and therefore optional.

Design of the AndaSeat Transformers Edition

The AndaSeat Transformers Edition gaming chair is based on the Phantom 3 series, the most reasonably priced AndaSeat offering. There’s a price to pay for ultimate fandom – about $110 more – at least until the current Black Friday sale ends on Nov. 30, 2022.

The Transformers Edition chair is a typical gaming seat that serves well as a multipurpose desk chair. It’s probably a bit too flashy for most office settings, but if you live or die by the mighty AllSpark, it’s perfect.

There’s only one size and one material – large and leatherette. But you can choose between three of the most popular Transformers to rest your bumper: Bumblebee, Optimus Prime or Megatron. Each is brightly screen printed onto the backrest, with the Transformer’s insignia stitched into the backside of the chair. Megatron fans might be slightly annoyed that the Decepticon symbol wasn’t used for his chair.

I reviewed the Optimus Prime chair, as that’s my son’s favorite Transformer. I’m a bit more of a Bumblebee fan myself, but the bright yellow leatherette hurts my eyeballs. Not that it makes a difference – once you’re settled in the chair, you don’t notice the color.

The DuraXtra leatherette is a good choice for this chair, as it’s stain resistant and easy to clean with a damp microfiber cloth and soapy water. The upholstery wraps completely around the chair, including the back — there’s very little exposed plastic.

The chair is embroidered with AndaSeat on the headrest. The name of your favorite Transformer is embroidered on the front edge of the seat.

The magnetic pillow is the same ingenious design used on the deluxe AndaSeat Kaiser 3. It has a layer of cool gel and a layer of memory foam on top of a rubber pad embedded with four super strong magnets. The magnets hold the pillow securely to steel rails in the headrest that keep the pillow centered while allowing it room to move up and down. If you choose to not use the pillow, the rails have enough padding that you won’t notice them.

Comfort and Adjustments on the AndaSeat Transformers Edition

The AndaSeat Transformers Edition has an ergonomic seat base and dense foam padding to provide solid support. Everything is smooth to the touch without any scratchy surfaces if you game in your shorts.  

The chair is quite adjustable, with black on black buttons and levers that blend into the chair’s overall design. A lever on the side of the seat allows you to recline. You can recline to any point, from 90° vertical to a nearly flat 160°.

A hefty knob on the bottom of the seat adjusts the tilt tension to control how much the chair will rock based on your weight. A large lever on the bottom of the chair locks the tilt mechanism to your desired angle, or lets you rock freely. Another lever controls the chair height.

A discrete button on each arm rest allows you to move it up and down for the perfect height. There’s no adjustable internal lumbar support on this model, instead you get a foam pillow embroidered with your Transformer’s head.

Bottom Line

This chair is obviously catering to the Transformers’ fan base, but it’s not all gimmicks and hype. Underneath the graphics is a solid gaming chair with an ergonomic steel frame, supportive foam and a smooth PVC leather surface. If your computer desk needs a pop of color, this chair will serve you well for years of enjoyable gaming sessions. 

It’s also a great computer chair for tackling homework or working in your home office. Simply sit the chair more upright for serious keyboarding, or lounge it back for casual play. The lumbar pillow offers extra support if you need it, though I ended up sticking mine on the couch. The neck pillow, on the other hand, is really great since the magnet allows you to put it exactly where you need it.

At $399, it’s more expensive than your typical office chair, but this is more of a statement piece proclaiming your fandom. We spend a lot of time at our computers – we should enjoy the experience. Besides, this chair has better quality and construction than something cheap you could pick up at the big box store. If you’re looking for something a little less Transforer-themed, consider the a more mainstream design like that of the AndaSeat Jungle or Secretlabs Omega.

The UK arm of McDonald's is giving away a gaming chair to celebrate its new "game-changing" chicken burger, the McCrispy. And we're not sure if we're lovin' it.

The giveaway was announced on McDonald's UK's Facebook page with a video showcasing the yellow and black racing-style design, as well as garish/gimmicky additions such as a fry holder, a "hot box to keep your McCrispy warm during game-play" a stain proof treatment (which this will need if you're eating greasy food while sitting in it) and slots for two of your favorite dips.

It's unclear what partners McDonald's UK worked with to create a chair fit for Mayor McCheese. McDonald's UK and its public relations firm for the contest didn't respond to requests for comments about the McCrispy gaming chair in time for publication. We'll update if we hear back.

People in England, Scotland and Wales can enter on the McDonald's Facebook page with the announcement video. Entries will close on November 13 at 11:59 p.m. GMT.

The chair appears to be the only one given away, though The Gamer suggests three more exist and were given to influencers. The terms and conditions for the contest lists just a single grand prize for the chair, while two runner-ups will receive a McCrispy Neon Light. So if you win, make sure the Hamburglar doesn't run away with it; you won't get another one. The terms state that "there is no cash alternative to the prize," suggesting that it is, indeed, priceless.

We have lots of questions. Does the chair needs to be plugged in to keep the sandwich warmer operating? And why would anyone pick anything other than ketchup to dip their fries in? As long as the chair works better than McDonald's ice cream machines here in the U.S., it should be fine.

But this is far from the first time we've seen a fast-food restaurant get involved in the gaming space. KFC and Cooler Master made the KFConsole, a PC based on the Intel NUC compute element which was delayed and then never released back in 2020. A Wendy's-themed Super Smash Bros. level went semi-viral back in 2019 and, well, we're all better off forgetting Burger King's attempt at making games like Sneak King on the Xbox 360.

Heck, this arguably isn't even the weirdest gaming chair out there. That honor still goes to Gigabyte's inflatable recliner.

A winner will be selected within seven days of the end of the entry period. We imagine that whatever the winner eats in this chair will be a happy meal, indeed.

The Herman Miller x Logitech G Vantum gaming chair is the second collaboration between the two brands, but it’s the first original collaboration. The Herman Miller x Logitech G Embody gaming chair was just a (slightly) modified version of Herman Miller’s existing Embody chair.

The Vantum, on the other hand, sports a brand-new ergonomic design built “specifically for gamers,” with gamer-oriented features driven by “extensive research, design expertise, and a unique understanding of gaming performance.”

Its features include an “active, forward-leaning alignment,” with adjustable lumbar support, passively-adaptive thoracic support, and an adjustable headrest. The Vantum’s suspension backrest provides “lasting, breathable comfort” for “marathon” gaming sessions, and the chair’s three-way adjustable armrests feature chamfered edges to “support controller play.” The chair comes in three gamer-friendly colorways: black, black/white, and black/red. 

The Vantum is available now for $995. That makes it more affordable than the $1,495 Embody gaming chair, but still quite a bit pricier than many of the best gaming chairs we’ve tested. The Vantum’s premium price brings with it some luxury office furniture perks, such as Herman Miller’s excellent 12-year warranty, which covers all parts and labor. Most gaming chairs carry 2-3 year warranties, which are often limited to things like manufacturer defects and/or non-moving parts. 

Assembling the Vantum

Most Herman Miller chairs come fully assembled. The Vantum is an exception — it requires some very minor assembly. Our review model shipped in three pieces: base, body, and headrest. Assembling the chair took less than five minutes and required no tools. It consisted of simply placing the chair’s body on the base and inserting the headrest.

Design of the Vantum

When I first saw pictures of the Vantum, I wasn’t terribly impressed. I thought it looked clunky, generic, and a little disjointed — the chair’s bold, spine-like frame disrupted by a headrest that seemed hastily tossed-on as an afterthought. But this is — apparently — a chair that needs to be seen to be appreciated.

The Vantum features a glass-filled nylon frame in black, white, or red (our review model came in black). All colorways have black upholstery, black armrests, and a black five-wheel base, with red-accented adjustment knobs. Both the chair’s seat cushion and its headrest are padded with polyurethane foam and covered in 100% post-consumer recycled polyester fabric. The chair has a polyester mesh suspension backrest with adjustable lumbar support and adaptive thoracic support.

The Vantum looks much better in person than it does in any of Herman Miller’s or Logitech’s marketing images. It looks boxy and generic in press images, but it’s sleek and streamlined in person, with refined, angled edges and a curvy, sculpted nylon frame. It’s also smaller and more lightweight than I initially estimated — the chair weighs just 36.8lbs (16.7kg) fully assembled.

I still don’t love the way the chair looks, but at least it doesn’t seem like it will dominate or overwhelm your space — unlike racing-style chairs, which are large, heavy, and very aesthetically aggressive.

The Vantum comes in one size — there’s no recommended height range, but the chair has a maximum weight capacity of 350lbs (158.8kg). I’m 5’7” (171cm) and I weigh around 130lbs (58kg); most chairs fit me pretty well, including the Vantum. My husband, who is 5’11” (180cm) and around 200lbs (90kg), also liked the Vantum — however, he’s a big fan of shallow seating and the “active, forward-leaning alignment” the Vantum promotes. 

If you prefer normal-depth seating, you’ll want to double-check the Vantum’s measurements before buying, because it has an adjustable seat depth that maxes out at 17.5 inches. That’s quite shallow, especially if you’re not completely sold on the chair’s forward-leaning positioning.

Specs

Comfort and Adjustments of the Vantum

The Vantum features an “active, forward-leaning alignment,” which the company says is “ideal for fast reaction time and increased focus.” The chair’s default position doesn’t just have you sitting upright, it tips you slightly forward. This is a position many people adopt when they’re performing focused tasks at a desk, but it’s not for everyone — and it can’t be turned “off,” like it can in other Herman Miller chairs (e.g. the Aeron). 

If you do want to relax in the Vantum, you can adjust the chair’s tilt and tension to be able to lean back. The Vantum’s recline is limited — from 98.1 to 117.1 degrees, with a recline range of 19 degrees — which is pretty normal for a task chair. This is not the type of chair that you can recline flat and take a nap in — if this is an important factor for you, you should be looking at one of the racing-style gaming chairs (or perhaps seek the nearest couch).

Two large knobs under the seat adjust tilt and tension. Both knobs have numbers to indicate level, which is useful when you’re getting to know the chair. The knob on the left side adjusts tilt, or how far you can tilt the chair backward. The tilt adjustment has six steps: one locks the chair in an upright position (no tilt), while six allows you to tilt back to the max (of 117.1 degrees).

The knob on the right side adjusts tension, or how easy it is to tilt the chair backward. The tension adjustment has seven steps, and works the opposite way: seven has the most tension, while one has the least. Adjusting tilt to level one and tension to level seven gives you a rigid, upright chair; adjusting tilt to level six and tension to level one gives you a flexible, easy-to-recline chair.

The Vantum’s seat is thickly padded with polyurethane foam and covered in black polyester fabric. It’s comfortable and plush-feeling right out of the box — unlike many gaming chairs, which have hard, densely-padded seats. The seat is approximately 20 inches (50.8cm) wide, with 22 inches (55.9cm) of space between the chair’s fixed armrests. I’m the kind of person who likes to sit very un-ergonomically with my legs crossed, so I’m a big fan of the Vantum’s wide seat base.

A paddle under the right side of the seat raises and lowers the seat from 18 - 22 inches (45.7 - 55.9cm). The seat’s depth can also be adjusted, from 14.5 - 17.5 inches (36.8 - 44.5cm), using a lever on the bottom right side. As noted earlier, the depth here is shallow compared to many other gaming chairs, so take this into consideration, particularly if you have long legs that could use the support of a deeper seat.

The Vantum sports a suspension backrest with adjustable lumbar support and “passively adaptive” thoracic support. The backrest measures 24 inches (61cm) tall (not including the headrest) and is 17 inches (43.2cm) wide at the shoulder. The chair features Herman Miller’s patented PostureFit sacral-lumbar support technology, also seen (as an upgrade) on the brand’s iconic Aeron chair.

Two red-accented knobs at the back of the chair adjust the Vantum’s lumbar support: turning the knobs forward (toward the chair) adds pressure/support, while turning the knobs back (away from the chair) decreases pressure/support. Unlike the Aeron’s lumbar support, the Vantum’s lumbar support is not height-adjustable.

The Vantum also has thoracic support at the top of the backrest — a flexible, two-piece design similar to the chair’s lumbar support. This is designed to support your upper back, neck, and head when you’re in a relaxed or “reclined” position, though the chair doesn’t really recline the way most gaming chairs do. The thoracic support is “passively adaptive,” which is to say it’s not manually adjustable like the lumbar support is. However, it can be easily removed (it just slides out) if you don’t like the way it feels.

For even more head/neck support, the Vantum also features an adjustable, padded headrest. I don’t love the way the headrest looks, but it feels great. It features both height- and tilt-adjustments. Height can be a little tricky to adjust because it has multiple locking steps that are surprisingly rigid, but tilt adjustment happens pretty naturally when you lean back. The headrest is also curved perfectly to sit at the nape of your neck, if you’d rather use it as a neckrest.

The Vantum has flexible, padded, polyurethane armrests that are height adjustable and move forward, backward, and side to side. A small button on the outer side of each armrest lets you adjust height, which ranges from 24 inches (61cm) at the lowest to 31.5 inches (80.6cm) at the highest, including seat height. The armrests easily slide forward/backward/left/right; they don’t lock in place, but moving them requires a small amount of pressure — unlike many 4D armrests that click and clack everywhere the moment you bump them.

Bottom Line

The Herman Miller x Logitech G Vantum gaming chair is an excellent gaming chair — and, if you’re coming from the world of wing-backed, racing-style bucket seat gaming chairs, it might be a minor revelation. The Vantum is incredibly comfortable, thanks to all the ergonomic features it borrows from classic Herman Miller designs: PostureFit lumbar support (and PostureFit-inspired thoracic support), tilt/tension recline, and the active, forward-leaning alignment. It’s not the most attractive chair I’ve seen, but — after seeing it in person — it’s also not the most unattractive chair I’ve seen. 

The Vantum is the perfect gaming chair, and it’s decently adjustable, but I’m not sure it will fit a wide range of gamers. Alone, the Vantum feels pretty sturdy and well-built. Next to a “regular” Herman Miller chair, however — such as my all-time favorite, the Aeron — the Vantum feels noticeably cheaper. The Vantum may have a maximum weight limit of up to 350lbs, but I can’t imagine anyone approaching that weight feeling comfortably secure in this chair, even if it technically holds them.

The Vantum is an incredibly comfortable Herman Miller chair — a little stripped down, but with a price to (sort of) match. If you’re on the taller or heavier side, however, you may want to stick with something a little more robust, such as the AndaSeat Kaiser 3 XL.

Cooler Master, maker of some of our favorite components and peripherals, has announced a gaming chair with an MSRP of $1299 that contains more electronics than is usual in soft furnishings. Seemingly some sort of giant, posterior-supporting subwoofer, the Synk X chair converts “sound waves into vibrations” to provide “real time tactile experiences” according to the announcement text.

The haptic seat looks like any other office or gaming chair, apart from a rather bulkier than usual seating area, partly for the two-stage retractable leg-rest, but also to house further tactile experiences. There's also a control panel, replete with vibration level and headphone volume controls, plus battery status lights, built into the side of the frame behind the armrest where it can be reached but not easily seen.

There's an aux-in socket there too, allowing the chair to be connected to wired audio equipment rather than just by Bluetooth, or what appears to be the 5.8G system used by wireless guitar hookups. The range of inputs does mean the chair is cross-platform, so if you’re in the habit of sitting in front of the TV or listening to music while in your gaming chair, rather than just reclining at your RGB-equipped gaming desk, it will wobble you as effectively there as it will while playing Call Of Duty or Stardew Valley.

The battery status lights bring another potential problem to the fore: this is a chair that needs to be charged. Cooler Master claims a battery life of eight hours of continuous use, which drops to four if you’re using the “intense bass effects.” And why wouldn't you if you've paid for an expensive chair designed to do this? The chair then takes six hours to charge, during which time you'll need to wheel it over to the nearest power outlet on its five roller-tipped legs.

Cooler Master says the chair is capable of vibrating a 300lb (135kg) person at an angle of 135 degrees. Its steel and wood frame is covered in high-density memory foam, and it is available in black and gray breathable fabrics, rather than chintz or a tasteful taffeta. The Synk X does not yet have a firm (or soft) release date, but you can sign up for release notifications on the product page.