Secretlab TITAN 2020 Series Gaming Chair Review

Secretlab unquestionably is one of the more popular gaming chair brands, but with so many other options to choose from it can be overwhelmingly difficult to determine which is right for you.

What does this review have to do with Linux you ask? Absolutely nothing. However, as both a professional and hobbyist I spend a lot of time seated in front of a computer, thought I'd share my experience with the Secretlab TITAN 2020 Series Gaming Chair and perhaps aid your purchasing decision.

Like many individuals, I've been working remotely as a result of COVID-19 precautions and have found myself seated more often. This review is based on four months of consistent 12+ hours of daily use.

Assembly

Let's start off by acknowledging how mindful Secretlab is of proper packaging. Clearly a lot of thought has gone into delivering the product undamaged and simplifying the assembly process.

The chair arrives in a heavy duty corrugated box. Each part is individually wrapped in thick plastic and segregated by a polyethylene foam to prevent any abrasion during transit.

As expected some assembly is required. The large illustrated instructions will guide you though assemblage and usage of the chair step-by-step.

Included is a small set of hand tools consisting of a magnetic multi-bit driver, reversible philips + hex screw bit and long allen key.

While piecing everything together you'll really get a sense for the quality of materials and sturdiness of the Secretlab TITAN 2020 Series Gaming Chair.

Hardware

Working our way from the bottom upward, I'm going to touch on some of the more notable hardware.

First, the five extra-large casters (wheels) are PU rubber coated and glide with no resistance. Perfect for hallway racing in an office environment if you're into such competitive sport.

The gloss black wheelbase is constructed from aluminum alloy with reinforced ribs and gussets for strength while reducing weight. This also comes with an added benefit of being immune to corrosion and rust.

Offering height adjustment range of 9cm (3.5 inch) and 360 degree swivel, the class 4 hydraulic piston is considered best in class in terms of consistency (99.9%), stability, and safety.

Underside of the seat features a multi-functional tilt mechanism that allows the backrest to recline or lock/unlock, a tilt tension adjustment knob for rocking and chair height lever for vertical adjustment.

Functionality is pretty straight forward but all adjustment levers are also clearly stamped with a direction indicator.

Armrests are covered in PU padding and feature a new metal internal mechanism for greater durability. Multi-positioning allows for left, right, angled left, angled right, forwards, backwards, up, down, adjust each armrest.

I've tenancy to lean on an armrest while using it to leverage my body weight as I proceed to stand-up. These armrests have proven to be steady during this movement, thus encouraging the bad habit of mine, thanks Secretlab.  

While adjusting my Secretlab TITAN 2020 Series Gaming Chair I discovered an odd misalignment issue. The left armrest rubs against the left side bolster while the backrest is in an upright position, requiring the armrest to be fully extended outward for clearance. This wasn't necessarily a problem for me as having the armrest fully extended was my comfort preference, but most certainly rubbing will cause unavoidable wear and tear on the left side bolster if not adjusted.

Not too sure if this is a known design flaw, but it doesn't appear to be an assembly issue or affect the right side.

With a seatbase of 20 inches (52cm) on the TITAN Series is level and spacious enough to allow cross-legged sitting if you're into that sort of thing. Comprised of a cold-cure foam mix, seating is firm yet comfortable.

SecretLab doesn't believe in the mantra of one-size-fits-all. Instead, offers three different sized chairs to accommodate different body types. I choose to go with the TITAN 2020 Series, direct purchase pricing was $459.99 USD with free shipping in USA & Canada.

Ultimately this is a decision you will need to make based on personal preference, I'd suggest referring to their online guide for a list of features and specific measurements before purchase as they do differ between models. In the case of this TITAN 2020 Series model, it's recommended for a large body type with a full-length backrest measuring 33 inches (84cm).

Towards the back-right side is a handle for the tilt mechanism, this allows positioning of an upward 90 degree angle to a nearly full recline of 160 degrees.  While reclined, the chair feels surprisingly stable and balanced — no fear of tipping over backward.

Exclusive to the TITAN Series is adjustable lumbar support integrated into the backrest.

Included with the TITAN Series is a head pillow with an adjustable strap. Filled with dense memory foam and cooling gel coating the pillow is extremely plush, perfect for a quick snooze or lengthy computing session.

You may choose from a wide variety of colours, special editions, SoftWeave fabric and real NAPA leather fabric options. Personally I found the PRIME 2.0 PU leather Ash Grey with Black accents to be the most aesthetically appealing. Also the best colour combination to subdue the large embroidered Secretlab logos and branding.

Upholstery covering this Secretlab TITAN 2020 Series Gaming Chair is a new and improved PRIME 2.0 PU leather. According Secretlab, PRIME 2.0 is four times more durable than regular PU leather, over-performing in sweat, humidity and abrasion tests by TÜV SÜD and Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research. PRIME 2.0 PU is soft to the touch and doesn't have any weird chemical smell often associated with faux leather.

Regardless of which TITAN Series colour or fabric you choose they all have the same features & ergonomic design.

Comfort & use

As I've mentioned previously, this review is based on four months of consistent 12+ hours of daily use. I'd also like to disclose that I have mild sciatica which causes discomfort when sitting for prolonged periods of time, your results may vary.

During the assembly process I was little concerned with the overall firmness of the seat cushion and admittedly second guessed my purchasing decision. That quickly dissipated an hour into my first session. The faults of my previous brand name office chair quickly became apparent. Improvement was quite noticeable within the first week, overall I felt less fatigue and strain.

First and fore most, the Secretlab TITAN 2020 Series Gaming Chair is ergonomically sound when it comes to posture and positioning. Seating is firm, yet comfortable during extended periods. Side bolsters on the backrest are supportive but not restricting. All adjustments are easily accessible and there are no odd noises or creaking when changing positions or moving the chair.

Polyurethane leather (artificial leather) isn't breathable so naturally you can expect a little sweat where skin meets the PU, especially during those summer months. After four months of daily use there isn't any visible wear and tear on the product, though inevitable, at this point in time I do not doubt longevity.

While we're on the topic of longevity. I should mention the standard warranty period of 3 years may be extended to 5 years by registering your product online. However, Secretlab requires you to take a photo of your new chair, then shamelessly post it on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Reddit, YouTube or Twitch with hashtag #Secretlab. This obviously will be an issue for anyone that doesn't use these platforms, but to make matters worse, the registration form only accepts links from those six sources, thus submissions such as this review are ineligible.

Secretlab should just make the 5 year warranty standard #ShamelessSecretlab.