Secretlab Titan Evo (2022) review

Secretlab has made a name for itself in the gaming chair industry, producing some of the most unique, high-quality chairs on the market – and that includes special edition chairs for The Witcher, Superman and many more.

The latest addition to the range is the all-new Secretlab Titan Evo, combining two of the company’s most popular brands into one.

But rather than simply being a branding exercise to simplify the range, the new Secretlab Titan Evo comes with new features and a refreshed design that make it one of the best around – even if it’s pricier than ever.

Setup

• Simple to set up
• All required tools come in the box
• Takes around 20-30 minutes

Setting up the Secretlab Titan Evo might look daunting – the box it arrives in is frankly massive, and there are a lot of parts, cardboard and tools within – but compared to other gaming chairs, it’s a breeze to set up.

The instructions come on a piece of cardboard literally the same size as the box, making it very easy to read from across the room as you’re on the floor screwing parts together, and all the tools you’ll need are supplied too.

Secretlab has taken the initiative of pre-installing fiddly parts, like the armrests, which help speed up the process, but it’s magnets that perfect the setup this time around.

As well as using screws to secure parts into place, magnets within cover plates and other accessories allow them to snap into place, making it both easier and faster to install while not needing to deal with small fiddly screws.

That also provides a cleaner overall look, with fewer visible screws than the Secretlab Titan from 2020.

Simply put, the Secretlab Titan Evo is one of the easiest gaming chairs to assemble, and it should take no longer than 20-30 minutes maximum. Just make sure you’ve got a large space to lay out all the various components!

Design & build

• New Pebble seatbase design is very comfortable
• SoftWeave Plus fabric is very breathable
• Solid construction throughout

The Secretlab Titan Evo blends the design of the company’s previous two popular chair lines – the Titan and the Omega – into one, simplifying the range and making it easier for consumers to choose which to go for. As we all know from endless scrolling on Netflix, more choice doesn’t always make things easier…

Of course, gaming chairs aren’t a one-size-fits-all affair, and that’s just as true with the Titan Evo. Instead, the chair is available in three sizes, S, R and XL, all with varying weight support and seat bases. It’s easiest to break them down here:

• S: 7in-wide seat base, recommended for people between 4’11” and 5’6” up to 90kg
• R: 5in-wide seat base, recommended for people between 5’7” and 6’2” up to 100kg
• XL: 3in-wide seat base, recommended for people between 5’11” and 6’9” up to 180kg

For reference, I’ve been provided with a Titan Evo R and I’ve found it to be accommodating for my 6’1” stature, both in terms of the wide seat base and tall back frame.

The Titan Evo doesn’t just represent the merger of two previous brands though; there are subtle upgrades on this year’s collection that make it a more comfortable chair than the
Secretlab Titan 2020 – my go-to chair and the top-rated chair in our selection of the
best gaming chairs (up until now, anyway!).

The most notable change, and one I noticed almost as soon as I sat down, is the new “pebble seat” design employed by the chair. It sports a smoother incline than previous chairs that Secretlab claims naturally guides your body to the middle of the chair, providing the most support possible.

It’s solid and comfortable without feeling too restrictive, as with aggressively angular bucket chair designs that force you to sit in one position.  

The backrest is similar to that of the previous-gen Titan, but that’s no bad thing; it’s wide, thoroughly cushioned and sports wings on either side that gently keep you in an upright position without forcing you into a position you’re uncomfortable in.

There are two finishes available, Neo Hybrid faux leather and SoftWeave Plus fabric, with Secretlab claiming that both are hardier and more durable than the material used in previous chairs.

The PU leather finish is allegedly 12x more durable than standard PU according to the company, while the SoftWeave chair is 3.5x more durable than its original SoftWeave fabric from 2018.

I’ve been provided with a SoftWeave finish on the Titan Evo, sporting grey speckles on a largely black body with subtle Secretlab branding on the front, sides and rear. It’s much more breathable than the faux leather Titan I was using previously, and it’ll make a big difference on hot summer days too.

The flip side is that the SoftWeave finish is a magnet for my kitty and his sharp claws (go away Alan, it’s not for you!) and it’s not as easy to clean as the PU leather alternative, which is essentially wipe-down friendly. It’s all down to personal choice; do you want something more breathable, or do you want something that’s easy to clean?

I’ve not yet spilt tea or another beverage on the SoftWeave-clad chair, but it’s only a matter of time, and I know it’ll be a pain to clear off…  

As with the rest of the Secretlab collection, the Titan Evo is built on a sturdy steel frame that feels solid, and that theme continues with the base. Made from aluminium in place of the cheaper plastic, the legs sport wide casters with firm rubberised wheels that roll effortlessly across carpet and hardwood flooring.

Features & comfort

• Secretlabs’ signature cold-cure memory foam is very comfortable
• Magnetic pillow and armrest cushioning are easy to swap out
• One of the comfiest chairs around

Beneath the material that clads the surface, you’ll find Secretlab’s signature cold-cure memory foam.

It’s not new – it’s the same material that Secretlab has been using for years – but it’s arguably its secret sauce. The memory foam is firm without being too hard, slowly moulding to the shape of your body as you sit, and it’s thick, with no noticeably thin padding anywhere on the seat base or backrest.

The impressive hinge on the backrest allows the chair to lay back almost completely flat while maintaining its centre of gravity, meaning you shouldn’t fall backwards and end up on the floor – it hasn’t happened to me yet, at the very least.

The height of the chair is also adjustable, with the simple twist of a lever underneath the chair, and the same can be said for the tilt. You can either tilt it freely or lock it at a given angle, depending on your preference.

As you might expect, the 4D armrests can move up, down, left, right, forwards and backwards to find the optimal position. The button embedded into the armrests is metal, an upgrade from the plastic used in earlier chairs, adding to the overall premium feel.

Remember those magnetic elements mentioned earlier? The new CloudSwap armrest padding also snaps into place on top of the armrests using magnets.

That might not sound like much, but the armrests are the one area where you’ll likely see wear and tear over time – my old Titan armrests began cracking after around 2.5/3 years. While you’d previously not be able to do much about it, you can now simply order replacement padding that’ll snap into place, further extending the longevity of the chair.

You’ll also find magnets in the soft cold-touch memory foam pillow, allowing the pillow to snap into place at the top of the backrest without the need for a strap. Considering my old Secretlab head pillow strap stretched over time until it wouldn’t stay in place, this is a welcome change. It also allows you to adjust the angle of the pillow, something not possible with a traditional strap.

I do wish the magnetic area on the backrest was a little larger though, giving me more freedom to place the pillow where it feels most comfortable. A more powerful connection would be appreciated too, with the pillow occasionally moving and even falling off completely when knocked.   

The Titan’s built-in lumbar support is back with the Secretlab Titan Evo, negating the need for the (often counterintuitive) back support pillow provided with alternative chairs like the
AndaSeat Dark Demon.

Secretlab’s option is much more intuitive, with a dial on the side of the chair that allows you to adjust the firmness to your liking, with a second (new) dial that also allows you to adjust the support’s height. It’s easily the best lumbar support system I’ve used in a gaming chair and is hands-down one of its strongest selling points. I’ll never use a standard lumbar pillow again!

Secretlab PlushCell memory foam armrests

• Plush memory foam armrests
• Incredible comfort
• Sold separately

Though sold separately, the optional Secretlab PlushCell memory foam armrests are very much an integral part of the overall Titan Evo experience – for those that can afford the $79/£65 accessories, anyway.

The armrests are crafted from the same durable and high-density foam used in other elements of the chair, matching that luxurious feel while offering firm support. To top it off, the premium armrests are clad in the same durable velour as the Evo’s pillow, offering a phenomenally soft feel as you rest your forearms while still being somewhat breathable.

Lewis Painter / Foundry

For me, the PlushCell memory foam armrests make all the difference as I tend to rest my forearms on the rests as I type, adding an additional splash of comfort in an already premium chair, though it’s arguably not quite as important if you tend to only rest your elbows – the standard arm rests will fare just as good, if not better.

The best part is that they’re super easy to swap out too, utilising the Titan Evo’s built-in magnet system to snap into place within seconds.

There are questions about long-term durability, lacking the protection that the standard pleather armrests provide, but after a few months of use, they’re still as firm and shapely as the day I installed them.

It’s a shame they’re not a part of the standard Titan Evo package, but if you want the full premium experience, the PlushCell armrests are fully recommended.

Price & availability

While Secretlab gaming chairs have always been premium – with the materials and features on offer, it’s not surprising – but the price of the Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 comes in at around £77/$150 more expensive than its predecessor, starting at £444/$549 with the leatherette finish and £464/$569 for the SoftWeave finish.

There’s also an additional cost for an XL seat, starting at £534/$619.

Though it doesn’t stop the Titan Evo from being a tempting gaming chair, the high price means cheaper chairs like the £234.95
Nitro Concepts S300 look all the more tempting.

If you are tempted by the premium gaming chair, you can buy the Secretlab Titan Evo from the Secretlab website in the
UK,
US and other territories worldwide.

Verdict

Secretlab continues its line of excellent gaming chairs with the Secretlab Titan Evo (2022), offering a sturdy, comfortable and more intuitive – both in assembly use – gaming chair than its predecessor.

The new pebble seat design is extremely comfortable, even when coming from other Secretlab chairs, and the new two-part lumbar support system is industry-leading in most respects. The use of magnets is also unique to Secretlab’s latest chair, found dotted across the body to make attaching and detaching various parts easy.

Throw in generally great build quality, with no rattling/wobbling parts, high-quality SoftWeave material and a solid base to sit on and you’ve got one of the best gaming chairs on the market in 2022, even with a not-insignificant price hike compared to its predecessor.