Secretlab TITAN Evo gaming chair review — The Cadillac of gaming chairs

While I’ve used a few gaming chairs over the years, I’ve not experienced the “high-end” side. I did spend a decent amount on my current chair, but there’s a difference in ordering a Secretlab chair. Long known as a premiere brand for gamers, it’s finally time for GamingTrend to check out why they’re so renowned. After sitting in the current model of the TITAN Evo, I now feel the appeal.

Gaming Chairs | Secretlab TITAN Evo | Secretlab EU

Meet the Secretlab TITAN Evo gaming chair. Personalized ergonomics and world-leading comfort, all in one gaming chair.

Secretlab EUSecretlab EU

Right away, the premiere status of the TITAN Evo is obvious, even still in the box. It gushes top tier quality, and when opening the flaps you see the advertisement of the features that are inbound. I kid you not when I say the box is packed to perfection; I was initially concerned with the box taking some damage on the outside, but everything is snug inside. The team at Secretlab have this down to a science, with the contents packaged mostly how they need to come out, safe in the foam material hollowed out for them.

Equally impressive, this is the easiest gaming chair I’ve ever built. Not that I’ve assembled as many as some, but putting other chairs together is a much more strenuous exercise than a Secretlab. Everything you need is in the box, and in under forty minutes I was done. A lot of this is thanks to light assembly work with only eight screws (A fantastic screwdriver is included in the box), alongside one of the best posterboard instruction manuals I’ve ever seen. It’s clear as day and has a QR code for a video if you need that. The last time I put something like this together my fingers and back hurt from constant allen wrench use and having to contort myself around while building them. Here, it’s very light work for an extremely high-caliber chair.

After finishing up the assembly, you can see all the premium quality on display. The smooth Neo hybrid leatherette makeup of NAPA leather (yes, that’s full-grain unsplit real leather!) for the Stealth model I have is slick, exuding a posh flair that I don’t see matched often. There’s also a ton of customization available, if you’re willing to spend extra to theme your chair with your favorite TV shows, movies, or video games.

Everything feels made from sturdy, first-rate materials, from the pebble seat base to the plastic covers on the backrest brackets. The aluminum wheelbase is a step up from the usual plastic ones I’m used to, although the caster wheels are just bigger versions of what you normally see. While the size makes them roll nicely, these could be replaced with better. Secretlab does offer different styles of caster wheels if you want to change them out, like the rollerblade ones I often hear are the best option for carpet.

Deserved of its own paragraph (or two), the armrests are unbelievably dope. The 4D design means they aren’t connected to your chair’s back (also because of reclining ability). You can shift them forward and backward, side to side, up and down, or at an angle. Three of these functions are controlled via two easy to access buttons under the armrest, while moving them inwards or outwards requires your allen wrench, so they stay put where you want them.

What sets them apart is the CloudSwap tech Secretlab has come up with. These hot-swappable gaming chair armrest toppers are able to be changed instantaneously. This is done via neodymium magnets, which hold these toppers on – they aren’t budging at all. Even so, they’re easy to remove when you intend to swap them, and Secretlab has a variety of options for toppers. I like the PU-coated ones that come with the chair, but the PlushCell memory foam is probably my favorite, like bringing your couch arm to the gaming chair. The Technogel is intriguing though, somehow firm yet molding to your arms when resting.

Speaking of firm, Secretlab has their own ideas about how your chair should feel once you sit down. Their secret (probably developed in a lab) is a cold-cure foam mix that is a medium-firm balance to help properly distribute the stress of sitting (more on this in a moment). Completely different from other foam chairs, it almost seemed like I was sitting on brick when I first sat down. Let me be clear: this is not a bad thing. I’ve been used to normal foam chair cushions, where they give you the softest possible landing spot, but this isn’t as great for supporting your posture or your butt bones.

Secretlab has reviewed plenty of scientific data in perfecting their seat. In Professor Stuart M. McGill’s The Science Of Stress: How To Reduce Back Pain While Sitting, much is addressed in terms of how long you can sit, what makes a good chair, and so on. The biggest issue for chairs is that simply being soft isn’t the best option, just like something being too firm is a bad thing. There’s a fine line a gaming chair should walk in supporting your back, bottom, legs and more. Brought up in said document is the TITAN Evo, and how its more firm nature along with other amenities leads to the avoidance of stress of your spine, pelvis, buttocks, and legs.

High praise to be sure, but it’s not always something the user considers when buying a chair or even grabbing a cushion for a chair. There are so many different gaming chairs out there that have the same kind of cushion; Secretlab’s design is unique to them. They’re looking to improve their customers' experience, not to copy/paste for extra cash.

In my prolonged gaming sessions, I can be seated for upwards of four to five hours when playing Call of Duty, with an occasional bathroom break or getting up for a snack. I’ve noticed how different it is to be sitting on a Secretlab chair. There has been some adjustment for certain, including a bit of soreness from my body not being used to how firm the chair is. However, some of the stress that was hurting my body, causing me to wake up with aches and pains after a long night in other gaming chairs, has begun to dissipate. It reminds me of those posture correction braces; you’ll often experience some discomfort as your body gets back to normal. 

I often discuss detail in headphones as being more important than volume, and here it seems to follow a similar pattern. Just because it seems nice at the moment doesn’t mean it’s the best for you. Even with all of the firmness, this is an extremely comfortable chair. I’m sure as time continues, I’ll wear in the chair more as well, leading to even more comfortability.

I’d argue my back has taken more time to get used to the chair than my bottom. I’m used to a half-moon lumbar cushion behind me, and I’ll probably end up picking up one of Secretlab’s eventually. That said, the 4-way L-ADAPT lumbar support inside the chair is really good. You can maneuver its shape – in how far it protrudes towards your back – along with moving it up or down to fit you. This is all personal preference, but it’s made my adjustment period to the chair without a lumbar pillow easier.

A wonderful extra that comes along with the chair is a headrest cushion. This isn’t any normal pillow either, as it’s been magnetized to stick right on top. Fortunately, the design team figured not everyone would sit as high as others, and made sure the zone for this functionality allows you to move it downwards a touch. As a shorter dude, I’m appreciative of that.

One of my favorite features of the TITAN Evo is the ability to recline. I know it’s a standard feature on quite a few gaming chairs now, but I’m impressed with how comfortable the TITAN Evo is when reclining. I’d even argue it’s more comfortable. With a recent game I’m playing (Rosewater) being a point and click one I can operate with only my mouse, knowing I can play a less intensive game sitting back is a nice touch. Also a nice touch, the available recliner leg rest add-on that snaps on in minutes.

Moving into the hydraulics of the chair, I can’t say I have any qualms. It works, and works quickly. There isn’t a ton of height added via the function – a couple of inches at most – but the piston holds strong without any give. Similarly, the tilt lock is also secure. It’s another function I’m not as familiar with, but gives you the ability to sit at the angle you prefer in your chair. No fuss, no muss.

Some may fuss about the pricing, but I’d point out what you’re getting for that cost. Just like how we at GamingTrend consider NVIDIA’s founders edition GPUs incredible despite the price, we recognize Secretlab’s first-class gaming chair in the same light. Yes, it’s pricey, but also a luxury. It’s worth what you’ll pay for it. Thankfully, Secretlab is so confident in their TITAN Evo they include a three-year base limited warranty (wear and tear excluded) that’s extendable up to five years. Given the team goes as far as to NFC chip their chairs for authenticity (similar to a Rolex watch), a Secretlab TITAN Evo is an extravagant product backed up by its maker.

Bonus paragraph: SKINs. Secretlab is also bringing out special themed sleeves for their chairs. While GamingTrend hasn’t received one yet to check out (we’re waiting on the cool looking Cyberpunk 2077 and Boba Fett SKINs), the video of adding one to your chair looks as simple as anything. Beyond this, they have a great variety of choices for designs, it adds a bit of extra softness, and they’re machine washable. It’s a great way to refresh your chair with your favorite (or favorite-of-the-week) fandom.