Herman Miller X Logitech G Embody Gaming Chair Review: Sitting on $1,500

The ergonomic, luxury option.

Herman Miller X
(Image: © Herman Miller)

Tom's Hardware Verdict

The Herman Miller X Logitech G Embody Gaming Chair is an expensive, ergonomic piece of furniture that offers comfort and support, along with a 12-year warranty that can help justify the price, if you can afford it.

Pros

  • +

    Extremely comfortable and adjustable

  • +

    No assembly required

  • +

    12-year warranty

  • +

    Sleek-but-subtle styling

Cons

  • -

    Very expensive

  • -

    Can't rotate armrests

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When you're designing your battlestation, you've obviously factored in for one of the best gaming PCs with all of the parts you chose, as well as monitors, peripherals and, if you didn't have one, a desk. Oh, and you'll need a chair. If you get a really cheap one, you may not be comfortable. For some streaming cred, you might go with a racing-style gaming chair. But now there's a luxury option.

Herman Miller, known for premium ergonomic office furniture, got into the... gaming game this year, with a $1,495 collaboration with Logitech G. The Herman Miller X Logitech G Embody Gaming Chair is the priciest gaming chair we've ever tested, and eschews much of the gamer styling that you often see, in favor of more subtle aesthetics -- indeed, it's practically identical to Herman Miller's Embody chair meant for offices.

There are a few twists for extra comfort for long gaming sessions. But ultimately, the Embody is a very expensive, very comfortable gaming chair. For many, the price will be the point that stops them in the tracks. But regardless, the Embody shows what the best gaming chair could -- and arguably should -- be: something focused on comfort and performance, rather than a gaming status symbol.

Design of the Herman Miller X Logitech G Embody Gaming Chair

The Herman Miller X Logitech G Embody Gaming Chair (which I’ll refer to as the Embody from here on out) looks like a chair I’ve seen before, but like no gaming chair I’ve ever seen before. Specifically, it doesn’t have the throne-style, racing seat aesthetic seen on gaming chairs used by streamers on Twitch or by many professional esports players. There’s no head pillow, lumbar pillows, no massive logos, and no black pleather.

No, the Embody looks like a very modern office chair. That’s because it is largely the same as an existing Herman Miller chair by the same name. There are a ton of similarities: The gaming chair has the same backrest that reduces in width as it hits the top, while the back has a spine and a series of supports that look like ribs.

It sits on a sturdy aluminum base with five wheels designed for either hard floors or carpets.

The chair doesn’t scream “gaming.” The more aggressive aesthetics are still quite subtle. There are some imprints in the foam on the seat and backrest that give the slight impression of something metal, like a tank tread or a Power Rangers Dragonzord. There’s a small Logitech G logo at the top of the backrest, but it’s the same color as the fabric. The back of the chair uses a flexible, dark cyan plastic, the same color as the adjustment buttons that you’ll find under the arm rests and on the lever to raise and lower the chair. When combined with the dark grays found everywhere else on the chair, it matches the colors you find on many of Logitech’s G-series gaming peripherals. There’s also a parachute tag on the back with the Logitech G and Herman Miller logos.

All of the materials feel premium. The majority of the frame is aluminum, though there is still some plastic, which keeps the chair light. The seat is covered in polyester that Herman Miller claims is tested for durability, seam strength, color retention and flame resistance. (I never thought about my chair catching fire before this.) I worry a bit about keeping it clean, if only because the fabric would be more difficult to wipe down than the pleather you feel on gaming chairs.

Perhaps the one place that could obviously be improved are the armrests. While I found the foam to be comfortable, for $1,495, leather armrests would have been appreciated, though they may have clashed with the rest of the chair.

Unlike many gaming chairs, the Embody comes assembled straight out of the box. All I had to do was open the (very sizable) packaging, tear off some protective plastic and adjust the chair to my liking.

Herman Miller X Logitech G Embody Gaming Chair Specifications

Swipe to scroll horizontally
UpholsteryPolyesterRow 0 - Cell 2
Total Height (with base) 42 - 45 inches / 106.68 - 114.3 cmRow 1 - Cell 2
Seat Pan Height (with base) 16 - 20.5 inches / 40.64 - 52.07 cmRow 2 - Cell 2
Seating Area Depth (total) 15 - 18 inches / 38.1 - 45.72 cmRow 3 - Cell 2
Seat to Armrest Distance6.5 - 11.5 inches / 16.5 - 29.21 cmRow 4 - Cell 2
Armrest Height11.2 - 14.4 inches / 28.5 - 36.5cmRow 5 - Cell 2
Maximum Weight300 pounds / 136 kgRow 6 - Cell 2
Warranty 12 yearsRow 7 - Cell 2

Comfort and Adjustments on the Herman Miller X Logitech G Embody Gaming Chair

Herman Miller X

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

Maybe it’s the cushioning, or maybe it’s the ergonomics. But either way, sitting down in the Embody feels really good. Frankly, it feels like sitting in a really nice office chair which, again, is effectively what it is. The seat is cushiony and welcoming, with multiple layers of support, a foam layer on top, and then polyester. The back is firm and taller than many office chairs. I’m 5’8”, and the top of the chair covered my shoulder blades.

One of Logitech’s biggest contributions, per Herman Miller, is the idea of the addition of a cooling foam in the seat to keep you from heating up while playing games. I didn't feel warm while seated, but if you want maximum bodily airflow, something with mesh,-like Herman Miller's own Aeron, may be a better option.

What I enjoyed most about the chair, though, was its sheer number of adjustment options.

Of these, the feature that most affected how I sit was what the company calls BackFit. There is a knob on the back right of the chair, and it adjusts to the curve of your spine. More than anything else, I found this encouraged me to sit up straight while working and gaming. It’s a bit like the lumbar support knob on the Noblechairs Hero Gaming Chair, but in a way that conforms to your whole spine. This is also why Herman Miller claims you don’t need dedicated head support: When your spine is properly aligned, you’ll already be looking directly at the screen.

While this can’t correct decades of leaning over gaming laptops, it does encourage proper behavior, and it felt good to be sitting correctly.

With trigger-style buttons under the arm rests, you can raise and lower the arm height, but also pull the rests away or towards you to change the width. You can make the arms go almost as far down as the actual seat, should you prefer not to use them at all. What you can’t do, however, is change the angle of the arms. Those are what they are. In general, they worked for me, but on a chair of this expense, I would have liked the option. The seat depth is also adjustable, which I think is really neat. There are two handles near the front of the chair, which you can pull out to lengthen the seat and provide support to the bottom of your legs. If you want to shorten the seat (or just have shorter legs), you can pull them back in. However, I found that this often required a bit of force to get it back in.

On the back left of the chair, there is a tilt limiter with four steps. I preferred keeping it locked upright by leaving the limiter all the way up, but you can push it down easily if you prefer to lean back at an angle when you sit down. Anywhere in between lets you, as you might expect, limit what angle that is.

One thing to note is that the Embody seems made for people of an average body size. For those who need extra room, it may not be the best pick.

Warranty on the Herman Miller X Logitech G Embody Gaming Chair

Perhaps the place where the Embody’s price gets somewhat justified is the comfort of buying for the future. The chair comes with a lengthy 12-year warranty that includes “casters, pneumatic cylinders, tilts, and all moving mechanisms.”

Most of the chairs we’ve tested have warranties of two to three years, sometimes extendable to five years if you pay extra. But this epic warranty certainly provides some extra peace of mind when you’re spending this much on a chair.

Bottom Line

Herman Miller X

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

The Herman Miller X Logitech G Embody is the most comfortable gaming chair that I have ever sat in. That's owed to the fact that it is based around (and largely is) an office chair.

If you're looking for the aesthetics of a racing-style chair with the colors and logos to match, this isn't for you. But for me, I'd happily forgo that for ergonomics. I don't care if people can see the chair on a stream. The chair does look good, but no one else will ever know it.

The big thing that will turn people away from this chair is the price tag: $1,495 is not a small amount of money. For many, that's more than rent or a mortgage payment. But if you're spending all day working at home and then nights and weekends gaming, spread out over time, it may not be entirely crazy. The fact that the chair is covered by a lengthy 12-year warranty at the very least should mean you shouldn’t have to shell out for a new chair for more than a decade. How many lesser chairs would you buy over that time in place of the Embody, and how much would they cost?

I feel that what the Embody truly proves is that for many, the best gaming chair isn't necessarily a gaming chair. Spending as much as you can on a good office chair (even if it's $400 or less, like many gaming chairs are) is probably one of the best investments you can make for your comfort while both working and gaming. I say office chairs, because those tend to have more ergonomic features than many gaming chairs. I'll take comfort over status.

If you have $1,495 laying around for that purpose (and if you're that person, would you adopt me?), the Embody may be the right one for you. It didn't make me any better at video games, but I felt better and sat with better posture while I used it.

Andrew E. Freedman

Andrew E. Freedman is a senior editor at Tom's Hardware focusing on laptops, desktops and gaming. He also keeps up with the latest news. A lover of all things gaming and tech, his previous work has shown up in Tom's Guide, Laptop Mag, Kotaku, PCMag and Complex, among others. Follow him on Threads @FreedmanAE and Mastodon @FreedmanAE.mastodon.social.

  • Kridian
    $1,500!?Not in this economy!
    Reply
  • FoxVoxDK
    I seriously doubt the chair can support over 1,360 kg...
    Reply
  • Nemesia
    FoxVoxDK said:
    I seriously doubt the chair can support over 1,360 kg...

    Yeah. That "300 pounds / 1,360 kg"

    It's 136 kg. OP you added an extra 0 there ;p
    Reply
  • wr3zzz
    Half the value in Herman Miller chairs like Embody and Aeron are in their looks. You can get chairs as comfortable and as good in build quality for probably half the price but saying they aren't worth the $1500 is saying furniture don't need to look good and most adults would disagree with the second statement.

    BUT I also agree that the Logitech accent on the Embody definitely lowers its value. I could put a regular Embody anywhere and instantly it will class up the area. No way with this chair.
    Reply
  • Tanquen
    Nemesia said:
    You can't even rotate the armrests!

    No but seriously a 1500 dollars chair is just ridiculous. Buy an entire PC for that or buy a RTX 3090 or something.

    Yeah because paying $500, $800, $1200, $2500, $3,000 for $100 card with a $35 chip on it isn't a total slap in the f** face.
    Reply
  • alexlf
    This is marketing BS for $1500. Never!
    Reply
  • Tanquen said:
    Yeah because paying $500, $800, $1200, $2500, $3,000 for $100 card with a $35 chip on it isn't a total slap in the f** face.
    This made ma laugh because it’s TRUE. Also those chairs are a huge waste of money and they ruin your pants. Only people who love to waste money will buy this—and they are usually wealthy people so they don’t care— which makes them even more stupid—because you don’t stay wealthy by WASTING money

    I remember the retarded company I used to work for bought useless Aeron chairs for everyone and they went out of business because they wasted so much money on stupid stuff like that
    Reply
  • DavidBer
    Nemesia said:
    You can't even rotate the armrests!

    No but seriously a 1500 dollars chair is just ridiculous. Buy an entire PC for that or buy a RTX 3090 or something.

    People will spend money on a mouse that feels better in their hands. People will spend money on a keyboard that feels better to type on. People will spend money on a monitor that shows more pixels, faster and more accurate. Those are sensorial feelings that people put value in.

    I own two Herman Miller Embody chairs, an Aeron, and a Celle. Why do I own these? They are obscene in price, right? Not really. I used to go to Office Depot/Max/Staples and buy the $150 to $300 chair. I'd replace the chair every two to three years. Why? Because it would break. The chair became disposable. The Aeron chair that I own is nearly 20 years old. In those 20 years, I have spent $75 buying a part for it that was out of warranty. The Celle chair? That was sort of free. I had a chair that I purchased in 2005. I forget the model. I paid about $500 for it. In 2015, the back which slid up and down would no longer stay in the up position. I took it to the dealer. The dealer called the next day and said, "Come in and choose a new chair. It's free." Herman Miller decided it was cheaper/better to give me a new chair than it was to repair that old chair, and oh by the way, I could keep the old chair as well. So for $500, I got a chair that is covered until 2027 for anything wrong with it. 22 years of a chair for $500 is much less than the $300 every 2 to 3 years at Office Depot. That Aeron bought in 2000 for $600 has worked out to just a little more than $30 a year for that chair. You can't say the same about the Office Depot chairs.

    The other thing that you are missing is the amount of time that someone spends in that chair. I know that I spend nearly 8-12 hours per day in my chair. For that, I want comfort. For that, I am willing to pay to have something that fits me and doesn't cause me to look up the number for the chiropractor.

    So yes, I will continue to buy Herman Miller products until I die. I may not buy something every year or so, but when I am in need of some furniture, it is worth it.

    I do wish that the Logitech versions were out before I bought mine though!
    Reply
  • thepersonwithaface45
    Just get a secret lab chair, $300 for one of the best chairs on the market.
    Reply
  • Ellimist
    DavidBer said:
    People will spend money on a mouse that feels better in their hands. People will spend money on a keyboard that feels better to type on. People will spend money on a monitor that shows more pixels, faster and more accurate. Those are sensorial feelings that people put value in.

    I own two Herman Miller Embody chairs, an Aeron, and a Celle. Why do I own these? They are obscene in price, right? Not really. I used to go to Office Depot/Max/Staples and buy the $150 to $300 chair. I'd replace the chair every two to three years. Why? Because it would break. The chair became disposable. The Aeron chair that I own is nearly 20 years old. In those 20 years, I have spent $75 buying a part for it that was out of warranty. The Celle chair? That was sort of free. I had a chair that I purchased in 2005. I forget the model. I paid about $500 for it. In 2015, the back which slid up and down would no longer stay in the up position. I took it to the dealer. The dealer called the next day and said, "Come in and choose a new chair. It's free." Herman Miller decided it was cheaper/better to give me a new chair than it was to repair that old chair, and oh by the way, I could keep the old chair as well. So for $500, I got a chair that is covered until 2027 for anything wrong with it. 22 years of a chair for $500 is much less than the $300 every 2 to 3 years at Office Depot. That Aeron bought in 2000 for $600 has worked out to just a little more than $30 a year for that chair. You can't say the same about the Office Depot chairs.

    The other thing that you are missing is the amount of time that someone spends in that chair. I know that I spend nearly 8-12 hours per day in my chair. For that, I want comfort. For that, I am willing to pay to have something that fits me and doesn't cause me to look up the number for the chiropractor.

    So yes, I will continue to buy Herman Miller products until I die. I may not buy something every year or so, but when I am in need of some furniture, it is worth it.

    I do wish that the Logitech versions were out before I bought mine though!

    I also own an Embody. I also sit in my chair for long periods of time somewhere in the 8 - 12hr a day range. Ergonomics are very important for long term health and herman miller is accounting for that here. Those who like to go with secret lab etc really don't understand the true value of an ergonomic chair. There are cheaper options in the officer ergo space that provide similar results but as you say they don't last as long.
    Reply