Secretlab’s new line of gaming chairs, the TITAN Evo 2022, is very clearly a one-up over the last generation and the efforts of the Singaporean brand are genuinely visible. From an improved seat base to a strapless design, there’s a fair bit to love and, naturally, dislike about the chair.
So, without further ado, let’s take a look at what sort of improvements and changes Secretlab has made to the chair.
WHAT IS IT?
For the uninitiated and at the risk of repeating myself, the TITAN Evo 2022 is the latest entry in Secretlab’s long line of gaming chairs. What sets this particular chair apart from its predecessor is that this year is that it is the only model on offer by its parent company; instead of releasing either a TITAN or OMEGA model, the company made the decision to take best of both SKUs and combine them into one, single model.
The end result is a chair with a bigger and much wider seat base, a sturdier backrest, and a redesigned integrated lumbar support system that has not one, but two wheels that allow for more dynamic adjustments, for your spine. On another note, I can’t talk about the TITAN Evo 2022 without mentioning the new magnet system that is in place, specifically for the headrest pillow and armrests.
With regards to the headrest, the pillow is now held in place with “very strong magnets”, allowing for less restrictive positioning of the pillow. As for the CloudSwap armrests: unlike its predecessors, the top of the armrests are detachable and also held in place by those same strong magnets. The idea behind this design, Secretlab explains, is that it plans on releasing armrests with different textures and materials, allowing for yet another layer of customisation.
Lastly, the chair is available in three sizes – Small, Regular, and XL – and can also be upholstered with the brand’s new and improved NEO Hybrid Leatherette, SoftWeave Plus fabric, or Napa Leather.
IS IT ANY GOOD?
One of the first, if not the most important, sensations you’ll take notice of is just how comfortable its new Pebble seat base really is. It retains the use of Secretlab’s own cold-cure foam material as the cushion but this time round, it’s a lot bigger and wider, thus eliminating any and all possibility of what I describe as “rump spillover”. More importantly, it is still just as comfortable as my previous TITAN 2020 chair. Unlike its predecessor, though, I can actually sit cross-legged on the TITAN Evo 2022; I’m a heavyset person, weighing in above the 100kg mark and the fact that I can actually cross my legs, without the armrests digging into my thighs or knees shows just how much Secretlab has pondered the chair’s space between our mid-riffs and legs, all in the name of comfort and preferred sitting habits.
Then there’s its 4-way L-ADAPT Lumbar system. Back with the last TITAN, lumbar support was limited to just helping your lower back and keep it in a neutral position by allowing you to adjust the protrusion level. With this new system, you can now also adjust its height, which is especially great if you’re someone with a longer upper body or just want to improve your overall sitting posture.
Moving on, Secretlab’s newfound discovery of magnets has certainly been put to good use, especially in the headrest department. The company’s choice to move away from expandable straps to hold the head pillow in place is, for lack of a better word, liberating; I immensely appreciate the fact that I can slide the pillow up and down the length of the headrest, without having to wonder if the straps will hinder its range of motion.
THE BAD STUFF. TELL ME.
One design aspect that Secretlab may have gotten ahead of itself is, in my honest opinion, the interchangeable CloudSwap armrest. At the time of this publication, the accessory is only available in PU leather material. Secretlab has promised that it will be releasing more of these armrests made with different materials – personally, I’m waiting for the ones made with the SoftWeave Plus fabric to match the chair – but as it stands, they’re still pending.
Another minor design flaw of the TITAN Evo 2022 is actually the headrest magnet and head pillow, specifically when I’m returning the chair back from a tilted reclining position. Due to the lack of straps, the pillow has a habit of getting knocked off from the headrest if I bring up the chair from said reclining position too fast.
Of course, one of the biggest drawbacks to the TITAN Evo 2022 is that it is expensive. Pricing for the chair starts at around RM1757 for a Small with Secretlab’s NEO Hybrid Leatherette material. The unit currently in my lab – An “XL” with the SoftWeave Plus fabric – costs RM2141, making it almost as pricey as an Omnidesk.
SHOULD I BUY IT?
Given the ongoing Work From Home (WFH) status that the majority of us find ourselves mired in, there really isn’t a better time to pamper your posterior and back with a gaming chair like the TITAN Evo 2022. Yes, owning one of the chairs will cost you top dollar, and yes: there are cheaper, more affordable alternatives on the market. However, I can assure you, the level of comfort provided by this chair is worth every red sen.
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