When we first started testing gaming chairs, Secretlab established itself as one of the best brands in the business. Most conventional (tall-backed, with a pull-lever reclining function) gaming chairs are similar in design and function, but Secretlab’s chairs stood a step above the competition with their superior materials and build quality. That trend continues with the Titan EVO 2022, the company’s newest gaming chair that unifies the Titan and Omega lines. Like the Titan before it, the Titan EVO 2022 is our Editors’ Choice pick for conventional gaming chairs thanks to its excellent design and feel. If you want a big, sturdy, comfortable chair to park in front of your desk (or however your gaming setup is arranged), this is the one to pick.
One Chair, Six Choices
Instead of separating large and small chairs into two separate models with slightly different features, the Titan EVO 2022 line is a single series of identically equipped gaming chairs that are available in three sizes: S, R, and XL.
The S chair ($429 with Neo Hybrid leatherette, $449 with SoftWave Plus fabric) has a 17.7-inch seat width. It’s recommended for people between 4’11” and 5’6” in height who weigh up to 200 pounds (the maximum weight is 285 pounds). The R chair ($449 with leatherette, $469 with fabric) has a 18.5-inch seat width. It’s recommended for people between 5’7” and 6’2” in height who weigh up to 220 pounds (the maximum weight is 285 pounds). The XL chair ($499 with leatherette, $519 with fabric) has a 19.3-inch seat width. It’s recommended for people between 5’11” and 6’9” in height who up to 395 pounds (the maximum weight is 395 pounds). I tested the R version, and found it accommodating and comfortable for my fairly large frame that’s well past the recommended weight (but not at the maximum weight).
Easy Assembly
Putting together a gaming chair is always a minor nuisance, but Secretlab made it a bit easier than usual thanks to a few Titan EVO 2022 design tweaks. To start, the chair’s back has metal plates containing the screw holes that attach to the hinges on the chair’s bottom. This alone is a nice change from having holes buried under the chair’s upholstery as most gaming chairs do, since you don’t need to dig the bolt in and wiggle it around until it properly catches.
The chair’s right side features a metal hinge bracket that makes it even easier to align the holes and screw in the bolts. The plastic covers that go over those joints magnetically attach to the chair, so you don’t need tiny screws to keep the hinges looking neat and tidy.
The Power of Magnets
The magnets’ convenience doesn’t stop there. The included, felt-covered memory foam head pillow (that’s just as soft and comfortable as it’s been on SecretLab’s previous chairs) foregoes the usual elastic strap. Instead, it uses magnets to attach to the headrest. This makes the pillow slightly easier to adjust, so you don’t need to worry about an elastic strap sliding off the chair’s tapered top.
Magnets are also found in the Titan EVO’s CloudSwap armrests. While the arms themselves bolt to the chair’s bottom, the padded tops attach magnetically, and securely, to metal plates. This means you can easily replace the firm foam armrests that come with the chair if they get damaged. Secretlab’s chairs tend to hold up well over time, but after using one for a few years I’ve noticed the armrests start to wear and even tear. The ability to easily replace them is appealing. You can also swap out the foam armrests with optional, squishy-but-firm Technogel ones.
Plenty of Adjustments
Secretlab no longer includes a separate lumbar support cushion with its Titan chairs. Instead, the company favors built-in lumbar support via a dial that adjusts the chair’s firmness where it hits your lower back. The Titan EVO improves this support by including a second dial that adjusts the lumbar support’s height. The dial-based lumbar support is subtle compared to using a separate cushion (which is available as an optional purchase from Secretlab, for a hefty $59), but the additional customization is welcome.
Besides the adjustable lumbar support, the Titan EVO contains all of the usual tweaks you’d expect in a gaming chair. The armrests can be moved up, down, left, right, forward, and backward. The chair’s height can be changed with the twist of a lever and a shift of your weight. The chair’s back can be tilted forward or reclined far back by pulling another lever on the seat’s right side. And, finally, the entire chair can freely tilt back, or lock at a given angle.
The chair’s base is made of sturdy aluminum rather than plastic, and the wide casters feature firm, rubberized wheels that smoothly roll across carpet.
The Newest Materials
Secretlab incorporated subtle design upgrades into the Titan EVO 2022’s materials and ergonomics, in addition to the new functional features. The seat uses a new “pebble seat” design with a smoother incline than before that Secretlab says guides your body to the middle of the chair for the most support. I found myself sitting forward a bit from my usual position, and it was slightly more comfortable.
You have two upholstery choices, both of which are Secretlab’s newest versions of the materials. On the faux-leather side, the Titan EVO 2022 uses Secretlab’s NEO Hybrid material that the company says is 12 times more durable than regular PU leather. It’s smooth and sturdy, and based on the wear of previous Secretlab faux leather chairs we’ve tested, it probably holds up well. After nearly three years of using the Titan 2020 chair, I’ve only seen hints of scuffing along the seams of the faux leather, with no significant damage or peeling (except claw marks; like all faux leather chairs, it isn’t very cat-safe). We tested a NEO Hybrid chair.
Your other upholstery option is the SoftWeave Plus fabric that’s available for $210 more than a similarly size NEO Hybrid chair. Secretlab says it is 3.5 times stronger than its original SoftWeave fabric (tested in our Secretlab Omega review from 2018), but is softer and breathes more. We haven’t tested a SoftWeave Plus chair yet, but at the very least it might be more cat-friendly than NEO Hybrid faux leather. If you really want to go all out, there’s a NAPA leather version of the chair that starts at $899.
Both the seat and chair back use the same cold-cure foam Secretlab has been putting in its chairs for years. The material is firm without being too hard, and thoroughly fills the chair with no noticeable thin padding suspended over the frame; every surface you sit against is solid foam.
Unsurprisingly, the Titan EVO 2022 is a comfortable chair, like its predecessors. The material and design are both top notch, and I noticed no minor inconveniences like rough-rolling wheels, squeaky leather, or wiggly armrests. Every part of the chair is sturdy and well-made. My only complaint is with the magnetic headrest pillow. Its magnetic area is a bit small, so it’s relatively easy to nudge the pillow out of position. I eventually found a sweet spot for the pillow that was both comfortable and kept it in place.
Clever and Comfortable
With the Titan EVO 2022, Secretlab once again made an excellent gaming chair, and streamlined its product line in the process. The faux leather, R-sized Titan EVO we tested is sturdy, comfortable, and even slightly easier to assemble than most gaming chairs. Secretlab continues to stand out as making some of the best conventional gaming chairs, easily justifying the $429-to-$519 price (not counting the $899 NAPA leather version). The Secretlab Titan EVO 2022 earns our Editors’ Choice award for gaming chairs.
While it doesn’t quite match the Titan EVO’s build quality, particularly in foam density, AndaSeat’s T-Pro 2 comes close, and is a solid alternative to Secretlab’s chair. It’s slightly pricier, though. If you’d prefer a smaller, lighter, mesh-backed chair, the Respawn Specter is our favorite in that category. And if you really want to go all-out with your seating, the Herman Miller X Logitech G Embody offers some of the best ergonomics available in any chair, but it costs $1,500.
