AndaSeat Kaiser 3 Series Premium Gaming Chair Review: Unbelievable Value For Customizable Comfort
AndaSeat is well known in the consumer market for making exceptional gaming chairs at price points that suit a customer's budget. It can be difficult to justify spending the money on a chair, even if you spend a great deal of your day either playing video games or working in the office. Things get even murkier when one considers how flooded the market has become, with various companies touting their own chairs as the best of the best.
The AndaSeat chair provided to SVG for review was the Elegant Black model in Premium PVC Leather, and after spending a bit of time with the Kaiser 3, it's easy to see why this is the company's pride and joy. It's also a no-brainer to recommend this chair to anyone looking to invest in a new gaming throne. That being said, there are a few finer points that are worth considering before you plunk down the $499 for the Kaiser 3.
Some assembly required
Assembly is never the most fun part of any chair, but the Kaiser 3 was a more enjoyable experience than one might expect, especially upon first arrival. This is a heavy unit, shipped in a sizable box that was kind of tough to get through the door. Once opened, however, it was actually a relief to see how well AndaSeat packed this thing. Tons of foam kept each piece safe and sound during shipping and individual packages within the box ensured that each of the tools required for assembly (screws, hex key, etc.) were neatly separated from one another.
The assembly instructions are contained in a very nicely bound manual, but the instructions themselves were a bit of a mixed bag. Though pictures are included with each step of the process, some of the connections weren't totally clear. Lastly, the screws were difficult to thread into the slots where they were meant to go. Granted, aside from some missing words and typos in the manual, some of the slowness may be chalked up to a bit of user error. Aside from threading the screws and finagling a couple of the side panels, it was quite easy to snap everything else into place and get the chair all stood up.
These small assembly qualms don't feel quite so pressing when compared to the comfort that awaited.
Customization is key
The PVC leather model Kaiser 3 offers exceptional padding for long stretches of gaming. Unlike some other models on the market, the stitching on the seat is also nice and smooth, meaning you're not going to feel any irritation on your legs after sitting for a while, nor should shifting in your seat cause any undue discomfort.
The Kaiser 3 also offers a surprising degree of customization, thanks to a few noteworthy design elements. Armrests are magnetized to the chair, which allows them to be easily removed either for cleaning or to be swapped out with another magnetic accessory. They can also be adjusted so that your arms sit just how you want them (which is great if you're frequently using a gaming mouse and keyboard). Likewise, the detachable headrest will magnetize to any part of the back of the chair, allowing you to arrange it to your comfort level. Do you prefer having more support for your neck, rather than the back of your head? You can totally do it with the Kaiser 3. Even better, unzipping the headrest pillow reveals cooling gel packs inside. Not only is the headrest cushiony, but it also helps keep your head cool while wearing headsets or even a VR set-up. Whatever kind of gaming you're into, Kaiser 3 has your back (and your neck). Speaking of which...
Comfort that can't be beat
The chair's lumbar support is actually built into the lower back portion of the unit, and users can simply tweak the firmness for the upper and lower back to their specifications with knobs on the left and right-hand sides. If you've minor aches and pains from sitting in stiffer chairs, Kaiser 3 will provide a distinct new level of comfort. It's surprisingly easy to set the chair to your specifications and keep it there, which you can't quite do with a simple pillow. It's not visually all that apparent when the protruding lumbar support has been adjusted, but you'll certainly feel the difference where it counts — particularly when reclining.
And speaking of which, the chair can lean back a considerable amount. If you've been stuck with a stiff-backed chair for a while, the sudden rush of leaning back 165 degrees may be startling at first. Some may even find that the recliner has a bit too much give, but it's nice to have the wide range to play with during downtime.
The chair has a nice little rock to it as well, so if you're the fidgety sort, the Kaiser 3 is likely to keep you comfortable at just about any position. The height adjustor is also easy enough to use, giving users a decent 2.7-foot range to play with. The lumbar support knobs, reclining lever, and height adjustors also all blend nicely with the color scheme of the chair, making the whole piece look nice and sleek.
Conclusion: A must-buy chair
Ultimately, this is one of the finest gaming chairs on the market, particularly in the price range. It may not quite fit everyone's budget, but if you spend a lot of time sitting, it's easier to justify spending a little extra to take care of your body. AndaSeat has clearly been doing a great deal of research into common complaints about other chairs on the market, and have built a unit that should satisfy the needs of just about every user out there.
At the time of this writing, AndaSeat's Kaiser 3 Series Premium Gaming Chair is marked down a full $100 from regular price. If it's within your budget, you can't do much better than this chair for $399. The chair is covered by AndaSeat's two-year warranty right out of the box, but you can get that timeframe expanded to five years without much fuss. Simply submit your own review to AndaSeat's Warranty Extension program — your back will be very happy you did. Overall, the Kaiser 3 Series chair is an easy recommend.
A product sample was provided to SVG for this review. The AndaSeat Kaiser 3 Series Premium Gaming Chair is available now from AndaSeat's website.