Important update:
As of early 2022, the Throne chair has been completely discontinued. Keep on reading our review if you're searching for a second-hand one. If you want a new Secretlab chair, we fully recommend the Titan 2020 Series. It's cheaper now due to the new Evo 2022 being out. We also have a full Titan review or Titan Evo 2022 review for you.
Secretlab has kind of revolutionized the industry when it comes to gaming chairs, and the many chairs you see everywhere are a testament to their design success.
They made the effort to revitalize one of their first original releases: the Throne. The Secret Lab Chair Throne series is an updated version of one of the first gaming chairs they ever sold.
Heads up:
We don't think there's a 'weak' chair from the brand's lineup. The UGC team have all used them, with me personally digging Titan more than Omega due to my height (I'm taller):
Anyways, back to the Throne series.
As one of the first models put into full production, the original was ergonomically designed, made with high-quality materials and to rigid standards with comfort and function in mind.
This new model continues that trend of delivering a refined chair with the bells and whistles that will pass even the most discriminating gamer’s quality inspection. Let’s take a closer looker to see if there really was an improvement.
Four noticeable improvements
The latest iteration keeps all the original elements intact but improves features and functions. As one would expect, the quality remains and there’s also a lot of new stuff to go around as well.
The Secretlab Throne series chair has undergone changes in the ergonomics department. First, the racing seat design has received a more comfortable surface covering and a few quality of life adjustments.
Second, the armrests included with this Secretlab 2020 Throne are completely adjustable to your preferences, as they move in several different directions. You can configure them to meet your specific comfort and support needs.
Third, the velour pillows included with this chair are now extremely durable and very soft. They are almost as soft and comfortable as actual pillows that you’d use in a bed, just not as big.
Finally, the durability and longevity of this chair have been increased thanks to an upgraded class 4 hydraulics piston system and a strong framework used in the chair. You don’t have to worry about quality defects at all.
Quick pros & cons
Pros
- Has two free lumbar and head pillows included in the packaging to help promote proper spine alignment and relieve stress from pressure points.
- The tilting mechanism in the base of the chair is multi-functional. It allows for a wide array of different chair movements - much more flexible than many competitors.
- The base is made from sturdy aluminum, and the 6cm polyurethane casters are rock solid.
- Has a much appreciated two-year warranty included with the purchase. If anything goes wrong with your Secretlab Throne, you won’t have to worry about repair costs.
- The polyurethane coated armrests are slightly concave. Thus, they conform to your arms so that your elbows, wrists, and hands will be comfortable when placed for longer periods.
- Has a hydraulic piston which can be adjusted to different height positions. This meets the preferences for a good many users, though taller people would still prefer the Titan.
Cons
- This iteration of the Secretlab Throne is a little hard to put together, so you’ll have to set aside about an hour to get this chair up and running.
- In no way is this exclusive to this particular model, though. As a whole, Secretlab gaming chairs are on slightly more complicated to assemble. Patience wins the race, though.
Secretlab Throne Series 2020 Chair:
Base features
Soft seating surfaces: The upholstery of the Secretlab Throne series 2020 gaming chair was given a complete facelift and an upgrade. According to their website their new PU leather is hand-picked and considered prime quality. Extremely soft to the touch, the leather is water and stain resistant and very durable.
Comfortable recline: The updated Throne seatback reclines all the way back and locks into place so you can even take a nap if you want. The entire chair can be tilted back and locked into any position. You can customize seating comfort for relaxing, watching TV or playing games.
Lush padding: Secret Lab Chair Thrones are widely known for their comfort, but the Throne series gaming chair takes it a step further. They’ve increased the padding levels over their previous versions. It’s more comfortable to the touch and feels very soft when seated.
One of the major upgrades that Secretlab gave to the new edition is to make it softer by using 'cold cured foam'. This new material helps distribute weight more evenly across the seat bottom when someone sits down.
Practically, this promotes even weight distribution, minimizes pressure points, and enables you to game much longer without discomfort or pain.
Soft armrests that are adjustable: The armrests of the Secretlab Throne 2020 are coated with a soft PU material which makes them gentle on your forearms.
They won’t break down after extended use as a lot of armrests do. Something new for this chair is the 4D tech instilled in the armrests.
They are sold as four-dimensional because they move in four ways; up/down, left/right, forward/backward, tilt left/right. This enables the person seated to customize their forearm position for more comfort which translates to long hours of gaming, working or relaxing. Reduced fatigue levels is a direct result of this pretty neat armrest design.
Extra durable base: The Throne series recliner’s base is made of aluminum. This makes it lightweight, corrosion resistant, and very sturdy. The base sits on top of a strong hydraulic gas piston that enables the seat to go up and down. At the heart of it all, though, are the sturdy aluminum chair legs and five smooth rolling wheel casters that are safe for every floor type.
Post-purchase advice
After you buy this chair and it arrives, you want to make sure you have about 45 minutes to an hour set aside to put it together. As we said, it’s not the easiest chair to assemble.
Thankfully, the instructions for included for the Throne 2020 Recliner are crystal clear. It was the same with the Omega one of our team got:
Note: The above instructions are for the Omega we've used at UGC. The Throne support is quite similar.
Aside from that, there's nothing too complicated regarding caring for your Throne chair post-purchase. Make sure you clean it from time to time, and remember to stand up and do some light exercises from time to time. No chair will fix bad posture and lack of body movement - both are healthy and contribute to better gaming sessions!
Conclusion
The Secret Lab Throne series gaming chair is a smaller design than some of the other chairs they’ve made.
But how does this chair hold up overall? Does this chair stand up to the other Throne series iterations and the rest of the product line? How does it stack up to other gaming chairs on the market?
Well, the answer is: pretty good. In fact, we rate this chair a solid 9 out of 10 based upon our experience.
This chair rolls smoothly, it’s extremely comfortable, it doesn’t make any noise, and it’s made with solid construction.
For its price range, it's a fantastic option for most gamers of small to medium height. If you're on the taller side, consider taking a look at the Titan or the new Evo 2022. You can also check out our list of the most comfortable gaming chairs.
- AndaSeat Kaiser 3 Review: A Welcome Surprise! - September 13, 2023
- Secretlab Professional Footrest Review: Expensive, But Ultra Solid - March 9, 2023
- Sofa Sack Bean Bag Chair Review - September 10, 2022