Tom's Guide Verdict
The Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen combines everything that already worked in the original Titan Evo with one of the most comfortable seats on any gaming chair available, skyrocketing it to the top of the list of easy-to-recommend seating options.
Pros
- +
Excellent build quality
- +
Impressive 4D lumbar support
- +
Most comfy seat cushion around
- +
Comes with PlushCell armrest tops
Cons
- -
Minimalist colorways may be polarizing
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At a glance, it'd be reasonable to shrug off the Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen as just a slightly improved version of the popular (and cheaper) standard Titan Evo, which has long stood as one of the most popular gaming chairs on the market. But having spent some time with this iteration of the chair, I'm happy to say that this improved version is considerably better overall — at least for those willing to stomach its premium cost.
My Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen review will help you decide if this updated version of one of the best gaming chairs around is worth the investment, or if you'd be better off just going with a cheaper model.
Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen review: Price and availability
The Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen is available on the Secretlab website. It'll run you $799 for the regular-sized model or $849 for the XL. The chair comes in two basic colorways: Pure Black and Pure White. In both cases, the chair and all of its hardware are one solid color.
It's worth noting that the standard Titan Evo is considerably cheaper, has more color options available, and can be purchased in PU leather, fabric, and NAPA leather materials. As such, if you're on a budget, we'd recommend just sticking with that base model. However, if you can afford the premium asking price of the Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen, you likely won't be disappointed with its meaningful upgrades.
Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen review: Design and comfort
The Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen is a feature-packed and comfortable chair — and we'll get to all that — but subjectively, I'm mixed on its visual styling. Pure White and Pure Black both live up to their name by whiting or blacking out absolutely everything (minus Pure White's light gray headrest pillow and armrest cushions). And admittedly, the lack of color accents is a bit jarring to me — but I suspect they'll be extraordinarily popular in a day and age where minimalism is so desirable.
Colors aside, I'm very impressed with what's on offer here. Secretlab claims that the NanoGen hybrid leatherette is 14x more durable than its normal PU leather. I can't verify those numbers, obviously, but I can say that the material feels incredibly premium and appears to be every bit as durable as you'd expect at this price point. It also sports stain and UV resistance, meaning cleaning is a breeze and some sun shouldn't give you any fading or cracking issues.
The company states they've integrated ultra-dense nanofibers into the surface and base layers to achieve what they're calling a "buttery-soft feel", and that's probably the best way to describe how the NanoGen hybrid leatherette feels to the touch. There's a smoothness to it that, in terms of sensory input, blurs the line between leather and cloth. It's utterly delightful and a significant step up over standard PU leather you normally find on other gaming chairs, including the standard Titan Evo.
In terms of comfort, the seat cushion features Secretlab's new NanoFoam Composite. While the press release they sent me went into a whole lot of details regarding the science of how it was made and how it works, I'd like to believe that the average consumer just wants to know if it's comfy. Well, the answer this time around is unequivocally yes — it's probably the most comfortable seat on the market today.
This seat cushion is borderline magical in how it contours to my body while remaining more supportive than any chair I can remember sitting in, and I've spent multiple hours in a single position without a hint of discomfort.
The fact that Secretlab combined this with the same wonderfully cozy magnetic headrest that came with the original Titan Evo makes me jealous that I have some sensory issues that leave me with a strong preference for fabric chairs. If not for that, I'd likely make the Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen my daily driver without question for its seat foam alone.
It's also awesome to see that the Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen comes equipped with the company's PlushCell memory foam armrest tops by default, as these are an optional $79 add-on for the standard Titan Evo. They're exceptionally comfortable and supportive, and the soft-touch velour material (think velvet) is a treat to touch. Thanks to the CloudSwap technology, you can swap these out with standard armrest tops from Secretlab if you prefer, but I can't imagine why most folks would when the PlushCell versions are so lovely.
Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen review: What’s adjustable
The Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen comes with the same ergonomic high marks of the original Titan Evo. This includes the L-ADAPT Lumbar Support System, which lets you use the knobs on either side of the backrest for killer 4D lumbar support that's just shy of being the best you can get. With so much control, adjusting on the fly is a simple affair, and you'll be hard-pressed not to find a setting that works for you.
Elsewhere, the 4D armrests do what 4D armrests do — they adjust in and out or up and down to meet your personal needs. In the case of the Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen, you're getting a 50% increase in height adjustment range, too, meaning you have more options than ever for reaching the ideal spot for your needs.
As expected on any modern chair, you can also adjust the seat up or down to accommodate users of most heights. And you can recline up to 165 degrees, which verges on being flat. The chair's incredibly sturdy frame offers unmatched stability, meaning you don't have to worry about feeling unsafe while you're chilling out. Kick back and relax, friend.
Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen review: Assembly
My Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen showed up with Secretlab's normal top-tier packaging. Everything was neatly wrapped and expertly placed in the box to ensure the chair was shipped to me safely and securely, and the included instructions and tools couldn't be any more straightforward.
Like the standard Titan Evo, this new version is a breeze to put together, too. Once again, the addition of a bracket on the side of the seat pan helps you slide in and secure the backrest easily. The armrests also come pre-assembled to take one step off your to-do list right out of the gate.
The average person should be able to assemble the Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen in about 25-30 minutes solo. With a bit of help from a friend, things may even go by faster. And considering lifting certain larger pieces can be a bit unwieldy on any gaming chair, it's never a bad idea to bring someone along on this adventure anyway.
Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen review: Verdict
The Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen is one of those rare expensive chairs that make a damn good case for its price point. As long as you're happy with its minimalist aesthetic, this new version of an old favorite checks every box near-perfectly for what makes a good gaming chair, making it hard not to recommend it to anyone willing to break out their wallet for a premium seat.
