Secretlab has been a leader in the gaming chair industry for the better part of a decade now. Relying heavily on scientific research to provide premium seats, Secretlab’s reputation is backed by thousands of reviews and even a handful of proprietary patents.
On the other hand, Herman Miller has dominated the office chair space for decades, constantly being named one of the best office chair companies in the world. They also recently paired up with Logitech to enter a new foray and provide players with yet another high quality gaming chair option.
Both companies offer some of the best chairs on the market, but that doesn’t mean they’re equals. Everyone has their own preferences and each chair is purposefully designed. The PC chair that players will find themselves on will ultimately be determined through a number of factors, from ergonomics to economics.
Secretlab Gaming Chairs
Secretlab was founded in 2014 and launched its THRONE V1 gaming chair in May 2015. Now with nearly a decade's worth of gaming chair building experience, this company has spent years creating a gaming chair that fits the needs of just about everyone.
Secretlab TITAN Evo 2022 Series Gaming Chair
The Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 offers an entirely new level of individualized support and unsurpassed performance. Applying cutting-edge engineering using materials superior in quality, this is a gaming chair with the comfort and functionality most gamers need.
- Upholstery Material
- NEO™ Hybrid Leatherette or Secretlab SoftWeave™ Plus Fabric
- Chair Weight Capacity
- 220 lbs (regular size)
Style
Whether it's collaborating with the latest and greatest FPS games like Valorant and Overwatch 2, or outfitting their chairs with sleek color options, Secretlab seems to have found their mark as far as style goes. Unlike many gaming chairs, which tend to have oversized wings and super vibrant colors dynamically placed around the chair, Secretlab chairs rely on a somewhat minimalist design base.
The chair shape, for instance, is pretty subtle for a gaming chair and would look completely normal in an office setting, especially if the chair is black or gray. There are side wings, but they are far less prominent than some other gaming chairs, and they do serve an ergonomic purpose. Their upholstery options are likewise muted yet refined. The NEO™ Hybrid Leatherette is a newly designed polyurethane(PU) leather developed by Secretlab (to improve their slightly flawed NAPA leather option) that’s sleek, smooth, and 12x more durable than standard PU leather. Opposite this, Secretlab’s SoftWeave™ Plus Fabric is ultra-soft, and extremely breathable, having been developed using sports shoe technology as inspiration.
These upholstery options come in dozens of colors and special edition patterns, as Secretlab continues to partner with movies such as The Batman (2022) and games like the new Hogwarts Legacy. The chairs can even be changed on the fly with Secretlab’s chair skins, the fact of the matter is that Secretlab essentially has one type of chair. The chair shape is fairly standardized across size options and even the “classic” models that are slowly being phased out. Gamers who don’t like this type of gaming chair won’t find anything else to like about Secretlab chairs. However, with so many other style options and a standard chair that looks fantastic in almost any setting, the Titan Evo 2022 is a perfect gaming chair for plenty of players.
Comfort and Ergonomics
Rather than simply converting an office chair into a gaming chair, Secretlab designs its products with the gamer in mind. Ergonomics is one piece of the puzzle that Secretlab prides itself on solving. As their name suggests, their teams have completed thousands of hours of research and development to identify and reinforce key pressure points along the seat and back.
Using a specially developed cold-cured foam, these gaming chairs can support up to 395lbs for years, not only supporting healthy circulation and ergonomics, but also just being super comfy to sit on. Players won’t exactly sink into their Secretlab gaming chair, but the plush cushions feel great from the start and will eventually slightly mold to the user's unique body shape.
Secretlab also developed a patent-pending lumbar support system that flexes to individuals using a lattice-weave support panel. This means that as players sit up or down, adjust side to side, or even get up and down, the lumbar support will readjust with them, ensuring their back is properly supported.
But of course, ergonomics isn’t everything; there are creature comforts that don’t necessarily benefit gamers in any way, but that nonetheless need to be considered. Secretlab knocks it out of the park with their overall comfort too. Their upholstery options feel great and offer durability and breathability. The one downside to Secretlab chairs is that there isn’t really a mesh option (other than their partnership with the NeueChair), meaning that gamers who run hot probably won’t find a model cool enough for them.
Other than the lack of targeted temperature control, the Titan Evo 2022 is a chair designed to accommodate gamers and office workers alike with the ability to adjust the arm rests, the chair height, seat angle, and more. Their optional accessories further improve comfort by providing players with magnetic headrest pillows and swappable memory foam arm rests. Combined with the ability to adjust the ergonomic settings, such as the lumbar support and tension, gamers can easily personalize this chair to meet their own comfort level.
Value
While not necessarily the most entry-level price point on the market, gaming chairs from Secretlab can be surprisingly affordable. Considering that Secretlab uses patent-pending features and constantly tests their chairs to make improvements ahead of their competitors, it’s pretty impressive that a gamer could have one of their chairs for less than $600.
That being said, $600 is a lot of money! Is it really worth it? The short answer is yes. Secretlab’s price point is well within the typical range of quality gaming chairs, and they’re expected to last about 5 years. Secretlab themselves endorses this, offering a 3-year warranty as a standard while also allowing customers to extend the warranty to 5 years by simply registering the serial number.
In general, Secretlab is a great value for players looking to get a gaming chair that will support them until the next best Secretlab chair comes out. It won’t last a decade, but it will last a handful of years with minimal care and provide an outlet for repping favorite franchises or having a unique, executive-style chair in the office.
Secretlab Gaming Chair Pros and Cons
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Lots of styles to choose from | Limited chair shapes |
Exceptional ergonomics | No mesh options |
Very comfortable upholstery options | Somewhat expensive |
Durability backed by a warranty | |
Can support a wide variety of body types |
Herman Miller Gaming Chairs
Herman Miller is a furniture company that has been around for well over a century now, having been founded in 1905. They've really found their niche in the ergonomic office supply materials, and they're now diving into the gaming chair sector with Logitech.
Herman Miller Aeron Chair
The Aeron office chair is Herman Millers bestseller. One of the best ergonomic chairs on the market, the Aeron offers long-lasting comfort paired with a simple and sleek design.
- Material
- Mesh
- Maximum Load Weight
- 350lbs
Style
Not everyone is a fan of the "gamer" aesthetic that most gaming chairs have nowadays, and Herman Miller has the expertise to fill the gaps between ergonomic office chairs and gaming chairs designed to be used for much longer periods of time. Herman Miller’s modern and clean aesthetic leaves little to the imagination, but accomplishes a sleek look that integrates complex ergonomic support systems. Herman Miller has a wide selection of chairs available. There are many different styles, from tough, green polymer chairs with low backs to chairs with high backs with distinctive contouring and lilac upholstery. While there are quite a lot of models to choose from, and most gamers comparing Herman Miller to Secretlab will want to look specifically at their famous Aeron chair and the two chairs they’ve developed in partnership with Logitech: the Embody and the Vantum.
The Aeron mesh back chair is one of the most popular office chairs and has an unassuming design. It does come in a few different color options, but they’re all combinations of gray, black, and white. The Vantum gaming chair is another simple design and clearly one of Herman Miller’s budget options. The mesh back looks almost solid, while the padded seat continues the sleek shape. The only color to be found is the chair’s outer shell, which can be red, white, or black. Finally, the Embody gaming chair shows off Logitech’s voice among Herman Miller designers. The tall back looks great, the contoured back is stylish, and there are four color combinations to choose from. Unfortunately, the color options are still a bit lacking, with purple and green upholstery only being available with the white base for some reason. Blue is also an option, but only with the black base, and the upholstery isn’t blue at all.
All in all, Herman Miller chairs aren’t exactly stylish - they look exactly like what everyone imagines an office chair looks like.
Comfort and Ergonomics
Behind Herman Miller's boring facades lie tons of research and empirically tested support systems. No one does ergonomics quite like Herman Miller and this maintains its accuracy with most of their gaming chair options.
Their mesh chairs keep players cool, while their fabric upholstery is breathable and soft. Some chairs do offer foam padding on the seat and back, like the Embody gaming chair, but most of the comfort comes from the ergonomic design. Their scientific team designed support systems that target key areas known to cause issues for gamers. The skeletal backs of Herman Miller chairs are the first indication that despite being made of mesh, these chairs can really cradle a person in a way that supports their back and legs in a comfortable way.
To further help create a personalized comfort experience, there are quite a few adjustable options on each chair. For instance, the Embody and Vantum allow for changes to the armrest height, armrest width, and seat depth, along with more standard adjustable parts like seat height and a reclining back. While the back of the seat and seat height are similar to the TITAN Evo 2022 series, their armrest width and length adjustment are only on the Herman Miller models. With these adjustable parts, players can fine-tune their gaming chair as their weight fluctuates and their work-life balance shifts over the years.
Value
There’s no doubt that Herman Miller office chairs and gaming chairs are a cut above the rest, or at least most of the rest. Even if they were the absolute best, it’s hard to justify a price point that is frequently 3x higher than other gaming or office chair options.
One of the best ways to consider whether a higher price point is worthwhile is to consider the cost over time. A Herman Miller chair is built to last much longer than standard chairs; their warranty covers the chairs for an insanely long 12 years; meaning that even though their top chairs cost around $1800, gamers are essentially paying about $12 per month for the chair. However, there’s one more thing to think about regarding cost: do players really want to be sitting in the same chair for 12 years?
Chair technology continues to improve every year and there’s little doubt that within the next 5 years there will be a chair that blows Herman Miller’s current options out of the water. Most gaming chairs are designed for use over 3-5 years, which is perfect for staying on top of the latest and greatest ergonomic developments. Keeping this in mind, over the course of 5 years gamers would pay about $30 per month for a Herman Miller chair, which still isn’t too bad for an ultra-luxurious option.
In the end, the up-front cost of almost any Herman Miller chair is truly prohibitive to most gamers and not particularly alluring to anyone who wants to consistently be upgrading their setup or prefer to refresh their seat with a new one rather than settle into a standard. Those who would prefer to stick to the same chair might actually find these chairs to be an excellent choice, but at these price points, they could also buy three Secretlab chairs instead.
Herman Miller Gaming Chair Pros and Cons
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Great ergonomics | Prohibitively expensive; up to 4x the cost of other gaming chairs |
Mesh chairs are ideally cool | Good ergonomics dependent upon good posture |
Made with durable materials | Not many color options |
Looks more professional than other gaming chairs | |
Lots of chair shapes to choose from |
Secretlab vs. Herman Miller Verdict
Both Secretlab and Herman Miller have excellent PC chairs to choose from, but there are more than enough differences between them to determine which company has the best chairs for various individual needs.
Overall, Secretlab has the best gaming chairs and the best office chairs. They’re fairly affordable, take a scientific approach to ergonomics, and offer plenty of customization to suit any setting, office or gamer cave. On the other hand, Herman Miller is steadfast in their mission to cater to the elite; their high prices deliver high quality office chairs and even a few top-of-the-line gaming chairs, but they also demand commitment in order to earn their value. While a Herman Miller chair might look better in an office, Secretlab chairs tow the line between professional and playful in ways that fit into the carefully balanced lives of gaming office workers.
FAQ
Q: What is so special about Secretlab gaming chairs?
Secretlab has spent years testing its chair to accommodate all types of gamers, rather than finding the first manufacturer that sells a base model gaming chair and slaps a label on it. They combine comfort, ergonomics, and style to create a gaming chair that almost everyone can use.
Q: Is the Logitech Herman Miller Embody worth it?
If you have a home office, enjoy a clean aesthetic, and want the very best ergonomic support possible, then the Logitech x Herman Miller Embody is absolutely worth it. For lack of better terms, it would likely be the "last gaming chair you ever buy". The engineering and quality of the Embody is more than enough to justify the price point.