Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen edition review: A new squishy gaming chair option

The Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen Version is a brand new possibility within the firm’s Titan Evo 2022 vary, which will get you barely softer padding for the seat and again, and consists of the corporate’s softer PlushCell armrest tops. A brand new leatherette end can be included, which is a contact more durable than earlier than, permitting Secretlab to supply an all-white model of this chair that it claims gained’t yellow with age. The result’s a usually squishier, barely extra comfy gaming chair, although it’s not an evening and day distinction.

With the Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 already our decide for the most effective gaming chair general, it’s no shock the brand new NanoGen Version is equally spectacular. For this evaluation, we’ll focus on the variations this model of the chair makes in comparison with the usual chair, so in the event you’re in search of a fuller image of its general options, try our Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 evaluation.

Specs

Design and options

As talked about above, we’ll depart the complete rundown of the Titan Evo 2022’s options to our full evaluation of that chair. To shortly summarise, although, it provides a tilt operate, recline of as much as 165 levels, top adjustment, top and depth-adjustable lumbar assist, “4D” armrests, and a magnetically connected headrest cushion.

It’s a mix that at the beginning provides nice consolation and straightforward adjustability, in addition to a simple skill to tilt and recline into a extremely comfy nap-time place – a functionality bolstered by the implausible Secretlab Recliner Add-On. Likewise, the magnetic head cushion is a revelation and an enormous improve over the overwhelming majority of different gaming chairs. With the chair additionally out there in three totally different sizes, it matches a variety of sitter sizes too.

The Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen Version, then, is all however an identical to the usual chair, with simply 4 core modifications. These include it having new seat and again padding known as NanoFoam, a change to the titular new NanoGen fake leather-based end, the inclusion of the corporate’s softer PlushCell armrests, and further armrest top adjustment.

Crucially, these new upgrades are solely presently out there in two variations of the chair: an all-white and an all-black end. If you would like another colours, you’ll must go for the usual Titan Evo, although the armrest tops and headrest cushion could be swapped to different colours.

It’s good, then, that the all-white and all-black finishes look fairly slick. The Titan Evo 2022 isn’t essentially the most elegant chair ever – it’s no Fractal Refine or Herman Miller Aeron – however the clear uniform-color look will slot in simply with the 2 most typical general gaming setup coloration schemes. Nevertheless, notice that the PlushCell armrests and head cushion even have a barely mild grey coloration.

The brand new NanoGen leatherette end is a contact softer in really feel than the usual chair, however its essential profit is improved put on and discoloring resistance. The fabric consists of three layers, with a UV-resistant coating end that’s bonded to the primary leatherette layer, which is then set on prime of a woven base layer.

The brand new prime layer seems to be the primary distinction in comparison with the usual chair’s Neo Hybrid leatherette, with Secretlab claiming its new materials is 14x more durable than “customary” PU leather-based, whereas the Neo Hybrid leatherette is 12x more durable than PU leather-based.

We’ve solely had the chair for lower than a month, so it’s too early to actually inform how nicely or badly it would put on, however it has held up nicely to date. A few deliberate espresso and tea spills merely pooled on the floor of the leather-based and wiped away cleanly.

Consolation

Three of the Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen Version’s 4 essential upgrades are aimed toward bettering the general consolation of this chair out of the field, and by and huge they succeed, although the distinction is subtler than you would possibly anticipate.

Beginning with crucial change, the NanoFoam padding on the seat and again supplies a barely softer prime layer of froth, which provides you round half an inch (~1cm) of additional squish earlier than the stiffer foam layer extra firmly helps you. The additional squish is straight away noticeable, each when sitting on the chair and simply when squeezing the floor together with your fingers.

Nevertheless, whereas the preliminary really feel suggests the chair can be far more comfy, I didn’t notably discover the long-term profit to be all that important, in comparison with the usual chair. The truth is, these thick foam – moderately than mesh – chairs inherently aren’t that breathable and the leatherette end is much more susceptible to restrict breathability. As such, the additional diploma to which you sink into the froth made this chair really feel even hotter than the usual mannequin, requiring extra common moments of standing up for an airing. It’s a refined distinction, however it’s a small trade-off to the design.

Nonetheless, on steadiness I’d nonetheless decide the marginally softer foam have been it the same-price or barely dearer possibility. It’s simply that I personally wouldn’t essentially pay a big premium for it or suggest it as a large long-term consolation improve. It’s extra of a nice-to-have characteristic than an important one.

As for the PlushCell armrests, these extra usually introduced a significant day-to-day enchancment. With elbows and forearm bones having fairly such little pure padding, the additional squish of the softer PlushCell foam was actually welcome. I’m a little bit of a fidgeter, and can usually modify my sitting place or give my again a stretch whereas pushing in opposition to the armrests, and the additional padding is a real consolation improve.

That mentioned, the plush material end isn’t essentially the most helpful materials in some methods. For a begin, it’s not as spill and grot resistant, plus it grips your clothes and pores and skin much more, so it may well interrupt your mouse purpose in case your arm brushes in opposition to it usually. A model of the usual clean armrest end, however with the softer foam, can be an actual winner.

The ultimate piece of the NanoGen Version puzzle is the additional top adjustment for the armrests. They’ll drop decrease and rise increased than earlier than, growing from an armrest prime floor top (from the central prime floor of the seat) of 8-13 inches (20-33cm). This compares to Sep 11.5 inches (22-29cm) for the usual chair.

The peak vary change is an attention-grabbing one, because the actually excessive most top isn’t actually helpful for any objective, and the decrease minimal top nonetheless isn’t sufficient to utterly drop the armrests out the best way under your desk. I desire the latter setup on my Herman Miller Aeron chair once I’m gaming, so I can get as shut as doable to my desk.

Value

Secretlab is charging fairly a premium for this new NanoGen Version chair. Whereas the usual model of the chair prices $549 for the small and common sizes, and $599 for the XL dimension, the NanoGen Version worth is $799 for small and common chairs and $849 for the XL mannequin. That makes them among the many costliest gaming chairs round. A few of that additional value is taken up by the PlushCell armrests, that are a $79 improve anyway for the traditional chair, although.

Options

Secretlab Titan Evo 2022

Skip the premium NanoGen Version and go for the usual model of the chair, and you continue to get a broadly very comfy chair that has basically all the identical adjustability and improve choices. It’s additionally out there in a wider vary of finishes, though the unique patterns do value extra. For a $250 saving, although, the usual model is a implausible alternative.

Fractal Refine

In the event you’re in search of a gaming chair that has inherently barely higher core consolation and softer padding than the usual Titan Evo 2022, the Fractal Refine is a good alternative. Its material or mesh seat choices are very comfy, with nice lumbar assist and seat contouring. It’s not as versatile because the Titan Evo, with a much less succesful recline operate, however its uncooked sitting consolation is superb, in the event you’re not too massive or small a sitter – it’s solely out there in a single dimension, though the seat base size is adjustable.

Verdict

The bones of the Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen Version are implausible, with it taking every thing that’s nice in regards to the Titan Evo 2022 and including just a bit additional squishy consolation. The softer additional layer of seat padding may very well be simply what some consumers have been desperately wanting, having discovered the usual chair’s padding a bit too agency. Nevertheless, in my testing, I didn’t discover the softer padding made an enormous distinction in all-day-sitting consolation.

In the meantime, the more durable material is nice sufficient, however it solely makes a refined distinction, and the additional armrest top adjustment is a distinct segment add-on. The included, softer, PlushCell armrest tops, although, are very comfy, though you may improve the usual Titan Evo with these armrests too.

All informed, if the NanoGen Version worth added simply an additional $100 for the softer padding, we may see some consumers being gained over by the additional little bit of softness. Nevertheless, it’s a tricky promote as an entire bundle that prices $250 greater than the usual chair.

To finish your gaming room setup, learn our Secretlab Magnus Professional evaluation, which is presently additionally our decide for the most effective gaming desk you should buy.