What’s the secret to a good night’s sleep? For gamers, it’s often the right chair. The Secretlab Titan Evo, in its NanoGen edition, offers a unique blend of comfort and support that’s sure to please even the most discerning gamer. With its sleek design, adjustable features, and generous cushioning, this chair is the perfect addition to any gaming setup.

Within the Titan Evo 2022 range, a brand-new option is available from the company, offering marginally softer cushioning for both the seat and back, accompanied by the firm’s PlushCell armrest tops designed to provide extra comfort. A brand-new leatherette end can be included, offering a significant improvement in durability compared to previous iterations, enabling Secretlab to introduce an all-white version of the chair that purportedly resists yellowing over time. The result is a typically squishy, slightly less tight gaming chair, with no discernible difference between day and night use.

With the Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 already crowned as the ultimate gaming chair, it’s little surprise that the new NanoGen version is just as impressive. In this assessment, we’ll concentrate on the distinct features offered by this chair compared to standard models, providing readers with a comprehensive understanding of its unique qualities.

Specs

Design and options

We’ll leave a detailed breakdown of the Titan Evo 2022’s features for our comprehensive review of this chair. While providing a concise overview is the goal, this text still conveys its multifaceted features with clarity: It pivots up to 165 degrees, boasts adjustable headrest, 4D armrests, and depth-adjustable lumbar support for optimal comfort.

The Secretlab chair initially offers soothing comfort and intuitive adjustability, further enhanced by its effortless tilting and reclining capabilities that effortlessly guide you into a cozy sleeping position – a feature significantly augmented by the innovative Secretlab Recliner Add-On. The magnetic headrest cushion is a game-changer, offering a substantial improvement over most other gaming chairs. The chair comes in three distinct sizes, ensuring a comfortable fit for a wide range of users.

The Secretlab Titan Evo Nano Gen version offers similar performance to the standard chair, with four essential adjustments. The seats feature innovative NanoFoam cushioning and a revamped NanoGen faux-leather upholstery, complemented by the company’s signature PlushCell armrests, which now boast adjustable tops for enhanced comfort.

Currently, the innovative upgrades are available exclusively in a limited palette of two monochromatic options: a sleek all-white finish and a dramatic all-black variant. To accommodate every other colour preferences, consider opting for the standard Titan Evo, with possible swaps of armrest tops and headrest cushions to alternative hues.

The all-white and all-black finishes exhibit a sleek appearance, which is undoubtedly appealing. While the Titan Evo 2022 may not boast a sleek, avant-garde design like the Fractal Refine or Herman Miller Aeron, its clean, uniform color scheme ensures seamless integration into most typical gaming setups’ dominant hues. Despite this, it is essential to note that the PlushCell armrests and headrest exhibit a subtle yet gentle grey hue.

While the new NanoGen leatherette end feels significantly softer to the touch than traditional chairs, its primary advantage lies in enhanced wear and tear resistance, as well as colour discoloration resistance. The fabric’s tri-layer construction features a UV-resistant coating at its outermost edge, securely bonded to the primary leatherette layer, which sits atop a woven base layer.

The standout feature of the brand-new high-layer design appears to be the primary distinction compared to a typical chair’s Neo Hybrid leatherette, with Secretlab asserting its novel material is an astonishing 14 times more resilient than conventional polyurethane (PU) leather, whereas the Neo Hybrid leatherette boasts a still-impressive 12-fold increase in durability over PU leather.

Although we’ve only had the chair for less than a month, it’s premature to assess its performance; however, it has thus far demonstrated satisfactory durability. The occasional espresso and tea drips were easily absorbed by the richly textured leather, leaving behind no lasting marks as they were effortlessly wiped clean.

Consolation

The three primary enhancements in the Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen Version focus on elevating the overall comfort experience outside the office, and to a significant extent, they achieve their objective, with the difference being more nuanced than initially expected.

With a significant boost in comfort, the NanoFoam padding on the seat seamlessly transitions to a plush, high-density foam layer, providing approximately 0.5 inches (1 cm) of additional cushioning and support before yielding to the firmer base layer. Notably, the added firmness becomes immediately apparent, whether seated in the chair or simply pressing fingers onto a flat surface.

Despite initial impressions suggesting the chair would be significantly more comfortable, I found that the long-term benefits were not substantially greater than those of a standard chair. While seemingly sturdy, these thick foam chairs actually suffer from poor airflow, as their moderate density can impede ventilation. Furthermore, the leatherette finish exacerbates this issue by further restricting breathability. Given the sweltering heat, the extra diploma rendering the mannequin excessively warm, necessitated frequent pauses to allow for a brief respite from the discomfort. While it’s a nuanced distinction, it’s still a minor concession to the overall aesthetic.

Despite some reservations, I would still choose the marginally softer foam as a price-competitive option. I don’t see the value in paying a significant premium for this or recommending it as a substantial long-term investment improvement. This feature is more of a pleasant bonus rather than a critical component.

The addition of PlushCell armrests significantly enhanced daily comfort. Given the natural lack of padding in the elbow and forearm regions, the supplementary softness provided by the PlushCell foam was a pleasant surprise. As an admitted fidgeter, I find solace in being able to adjust my seated position or give my back a gentle stretch while leaning into the reassuringly padded armrests.

Despite its softness, the plush material does not necessarily offer practical applications in all situations. While initially appearing robust, this material’s lack of spill resistance, tendency to cling to clothing and skin, and potential to interfere with mouse control due to frequent arm contact may raise concerns about its practicality. While a traditional design for the armrest’s conclusion is often desirable, its success hinges on the incorporation of softer foam material.

What’s missing from the ultimate comfort experience of the NanoGen Version is the subtle yet crucial refinement of adjustable armrest tops. Will they fall below and climb higher than before, increasing by as much as 8-13 inches (20-33 cm) from the armrest-high floor level at the seat’s central high point. This compares to Sept. 30-37 cm for the standard chair?

While the peak-to-height adjustment can be a striking feature, it’s somewhat disappointing when the maximum setting is not practical for everyday use, as it doesn’t provide enough clearance to easily slide armrests out of the way underneath the desk. After a long gaming session, I prefer to adjust my Herman Miller Aeron chair to its optimal configuration, allowing me to sit as close to my desk as possible.

Worth

The Secretlab Omega 2020 with NanoGen version comes at a premium price. While traditional models of this chair typically retail at $549 for standard sizes and $599 for XL dimensions, the premium NanoGen Version commands a higher price point: $799 for small and common sizes and $849 for XL models. Priced among the highest in the gaming chair market are these models. Some of the additional value is consumed by the PlushCell armrests, which, at $79, offer an upgrade from the standard chair, albeit.

Alternate options

Secretlab Titan Evo 2022

Ditch the premium NanoGen version and opt for the standard model instead, ensuring you still receive a remarkably comfortable chair offering the same level of adjustability and customization features. The flooring material is also available in a broader range of finishes, with the distinctive patterns commanding a premium price. At an unbeatable price of $250, this exceptional model offers an incredible value.

 

Fractal Refine

If you’re seeking a gaming chair offering slightly enhanced lumbar support and plush cushioning compared to the standard Titan Evo 2022, consider the Fractal Refine as a viable option. The material or mesh seat options boast a remarkably snug fit, complemented by thoughtful lumbar support and ergonomic seat contouring. While the Titan Evo outperforms it in versatility due to a more successful recline function, the raw sitting comfort of this chair still stands out, making it an excellent choice for those who aren’t extremely large or small; however, its availability is limited to a single dimension, with the seat base size being adjustable.

Verdict

The Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen’s skeletal structure is truly impressive, effectively consolidating all the desirable features of the Titan Evo 2022 while adding an extra layer of plush comfort. While the extra layer of cushioning may provide a welcome comfort boost for some users, who have found the standard seat padding slightly too firm, my own tests revealed that this softer feature doesn’t necessarily translate to a significant difference in overall day-long sitting ease.

While the more resilient material provides a subtle yet welcome upgrade, the real game-changer is the adjustable armrest feature that offers a tangible improvement in comfort and usability. While the soft, plush PlushCell armrest tops provide a comfortable fit, they do run quite tight, but it’s still possible to enhance your typical Titan Evo experience with them.

If the NanoGen version is worth the extra $100 for its softer padding, it’s likely that some customers will be swayed by the subtle yet appealing upgrade. Despite this, the premium offering proves to be a vexing value proposition, given its significant price increase of $250 over a standard chair.

To complete your gaming space setup, explore our comprehensive review of the Secretlab Magnus Professional, which stands out as our top pick for the best gaming desk on the market today.