There are many, many gaming chairs out in the market, but affordable ones aren’t very common. So when we were approached by TTRacing to review its Royale and Surge gaming chairs, their price tags piqued our interest.
However, retailing from RM799, these gaming chairs aren’t exactly affordable under normal circumstances, but they are on the lower end of the scale for gaming chairs. For their asking prices, these two gaming chairs are pretty commendable, though their lower than usual price tags do come with several downsides.
What Is It?
The TTRacing Royale.
The TTRacing Surge and Royale go for RM799 and RM999 respectively. Compared to various gaming chairs in the market now, these two do stand out when it comes to affordability; other gaming chairs retail anywhere between RM1,099 to a whopping RM1,799. Of course, we imagine there are good reasons why these chairs cost considerably more.
The TTRacing Surge.
Price tag aside, let’s focus on these two gaming chairs. The Royale is the bigger chair compared to the Surge, and beyond size and design, they’re not all that different from each other. Both chairs feature faux leather, 180-degree full recline, “4D adjustable” armrests – their height, angle, and position are fully adjustable – as well as lumbar and head pillows.
Is It Any Good?
Compared to your standard office chair, absolutely. The lumbar pillows on the Royale and Surge add much needed comfort to the lower back, and the head pillow is positioned just nice to support my neck. However, I find the Royale’s head pillow to be positioned much better, though it’s easily adjustable on the Surge for a comfortable fit.
In terms of comfort, the Royale definitely feels more…cushiony. The Surge, on the other hand, has a more stiff support. But make no mistake: these two chairs are still very comfortable. In fact, some of my colleagues prefer the Surge’s stiff support than the soft nature of the Royale. (I obviously disagree with them.)
I also love the fact that these chairs can be reclined up to 180 degrees: it’s pretty easy to find a comfortable recline angle when I need to get some rest after a long day at work. The head pillow gives pretty good support too if I decide to fully recline the chair.
Beyond functionality and comfort, both the Royale and Surge are sleek-looking gaming chairs. The white Royale we have here, for one, is my personal favourite. The Surge is a pretty mean-looking chair too; TTRacing mention that the Surge is designed to be more “beast-like” than the Royale.
The Bad Stuff. Tell Me.
Given their rather affordable price tags, there are certain aspects of the Surge and Royale that are not quite as refined. The most immediate downside with these chairs are their stability, or lack thereof. This is especially evident when I fully recline either chairs: I fear the chair would completely topple over, although this obviously didn’t happen.
Aside from that, the chairs’ faux leather can get pretty hot too, especially in a non-air conditioned room. Then again, this is really an inherent characteristic of faux leather, which are made from synthetic materials; real leather provides more breathability. However, using real leather will obviously drive up the retail prices of these gaming chairs.
There’s also one small issue with the Royale and Surge gaming chairs: their hydraulics are not very smooth. Increasing the height of these chairs is an easy task, but trying to lower them…isn’t quite as effortless. I actually needed to push down on the chairs to start lowering them. Not a huge issue, of course, but worth mentioning nonetheless.
Should I Buy It?
As someone who spends countless hours sitting down in front of a computer, it’s a resounding yes. Spending at least RM799 on a chair may be too much for certain consumers, but if you’re anything like us who spend the majority of our day on a chair, these chairs are worth looking into.
Deciding between the Surge and the slightly more costly Royale, on the other hand, is an entirely different question. I personally prefer the looks and soft nature of the Royale, but the Surge is still a comfortable chair. If you’re in the Klang Valley area, you can actually try out these chairs for yourself at Viewnet in Low Yat Plaza.
The TTRacing Royale and Surge are not exactly the best gaming chairs money can buy, but if you’re looking for one that won’t put too big a dent in your wallet, they are certainly worth considering. If you’d like to learn more about these gaming chairs – or order them – you can do so over at TTRacing’s official site.
Photography by Leon Lam.
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