I have tested a lot of home office chairs. Enough to know that price doesn’t always mean quality. So when I heard that the 3rd version of the ErgoTune Supreme was out, I had to see it for myself.
Selling for between $700-$850, it’s considerably cheaper than WFH chairs from elite brands like Herman Miller and Steelcase.
However, the Supreme is definitely more expensive than budget office chairs you can buy at Officeworks or Ikea.
The Supreme attempts to walk the tightrope between luxury and el cheapo options, offering a fully customisable ergonomic experience at a reasonable price. Let’s see how it fares.
Specifications.
➤ Load Capacity: 130kg
➤ Seat Pan Height Range: 47-60cm
➤ Max Recline Angle: 136 degrees
➤ Mechanism: Synchro-Tilt
➤ User Height Limits: 140-210 cm
➤ Tilt Lock: Yes
➤ Lumbar Support: Auto depth, manual height
➤ Base: Aluminium alloy
➤ Weight: 23.2 kg
➤ Warranty: 6/5 or 4/3 years
Today’s Best Deals.
The company was kind enough to send me two review units over the years, which you’ll see in the photos below. Why two?
Important!
I’ve used a Herman Miller Aeron, a Steelcase Leap and a Series 2 over the years, so I’m in a good position to compare the Supreme against more expensive counterparts.
I’ve also owned and reviewed a bunch of cheaper office chairs, like the Sihoo M57 and the Sidiz T50.
7 Things I Love About The ErgoTune Supreme.
I was expecting the Supreme to look and feel like another mass-consumer home office chair, but I was pleasantly surprised.
1. Fits Like A Tailored Suit.
Above: The ErgoTune Supreme looks modern and premium in a WFH setup.
If you’re like most people, your home office chair probably doesn’t fit you well. The top 5 complaints are:
- Seat pan is too low/high.
- Seat edge doesn’t offer enough thigh support.
- Lumbar support is nonexistent/unnatural.
- Armrests are in the wrong spot.
- The chair aggravates your lower back.
ErgoTune set out to solve all those issues by creating an office chair with the highest possible amount of personalisation options:
- Gas lift choices tailor the chair to petite (140-159cm), medium (160-179cm) and tall (180-210cm) bodies. This is one of the main improvements introduced in the V3. I’m tall (200cm) and find that office chairs make me sit comically low, so this is a very welcome feature.
- TriTune is jst a fancy way of saying the headrest adjusts for height, reach, and tilt. I’m not a fan of headrests. But if you binge on Netflix in your chair after hours, it will come in handy.
- Lumbar support offers 9 height settings and a tension adjustment. Some spines are more curved than others, and ATLAS, as the lumbar support is known, allows the Supreme V3 to fit just about everyone.
- Armrests adjust in 5 dimensions. Wait, what? This doesn’t mean the armrests enable time travel through black holes. It simply means they adjust for height (most important), reach and width. And they swivel on two pivot joints – one at the front and one at the rear.
- Seat depth adjustment is rare at this price point (it’s not even available on the ultra-expensive Aeron!) and allows you to dial in the right amount of under-knee support. Without this adjustment, you’re more likely to restrict blood flow to your legs.
This is a mind-boggling amount of adjustment options for a chair in this price range.
(Related: Steelcase Karman: Worst Office Chair For $2,000?)
2. Smooth Recline Motion.
Above: The ErgoTune Supreme V3 in Coral Red looks nice when paired with a black standing desk.
I’m famous for reclining and rocking back in my chair during meetings, which is why I kept my Aeron for so long.
You instantly feel overdue for a promotion to the C-suite and imagine a whisky glass and a cigar in each of your ergonomically supported hands.
- I’m happy to report that the ErgoTune Supreme V3 gives the Aeron a decent run for its money.
- Its synchro-tilt mechanism reclines the back faster than the seat angle, keeping you nicely supported throughout the recline – and without lifting your feet off the ground.
The Supreme’s frame is on the rigid side, but allows some flexion in the backrest to help you move throughout your workday.
The Aeron, with its bucket seat design, is even more rigid – and keeps you locked in more firmly.
Meanwhile, a lot of budget chairs are so flimsy and bendy that you feel like you swim around in them.
What is Synchro-Tilt?
A synchro-tilt mechanism stops your feet from lifting as you recline. It does this by lowering the backrest faster than the seat pan (typically at a 2:1 ratio). For this to work properly, the chair needs a waterfall front edge. Without it, the seat will dig into the backs of your thighs as you lean back.
3. Attractive Design (For A Mid-Range Ergonomic Chair).
Above: Attention to detail elevates the overall look and feel of the Supreme. I like the metal-look logo accents and the straight-through design of the lumbar support tension adjustment mechanism.
Let’s face it. Most ergonomic chairs are ugly, bulky and likely to clash with your beautiful office decor.
But I won’t lie to you like most so-called “influencers” do. It’s not stunning to look at.
Important!
While it does a great job of hiding its many mechanisms and their associated bulk, it still looks like an ergonomic chair.
It’s not as gorgeous as, let’s say, the Herman Miller Cosm.
But that’s not a fair comparison, as the Cosm is 4X more expensive and has fewer adjustments to hide within its frame. The Doro, meanwhile, is
In case you don’t know, there are three colours available – red, blue and black.
This is a nice touch, as it adds a splash of contrast to your home office.
Expert Tip.
ErgoTune’s Coral Red colour sits at the intersection of orange and red hues. It will work well as a contrast piece in a home office with a monochromatic and very dark or light colour palette.
4. Risk-Free Returns.
One of the biggest problems with purchasing direct-to-consumer office furniture online, without seeing it in person, is the risk of being stuck with a chair you don’t like.
ErgoTune takes this problem off your hands by offering fuss-free returns.
Important!
They’ll arrange for the chair to be picked up at your home, but you will have to cover the cost of return shipping. Expect it to cost about $90 if you’re in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Canberra.
This option considerably de-risks your purchase.
5. Hybrid Mesh Feels Nice On The Skin.
Above: The DuraWeave mesh looks great and feels nice to the touch.
Mesh office chairs tend to polarise people. You’ll either love sitting on standard mesh or hate it.
I firmly belong in the former camp because I prefer:
- The feeling of being suspended in the air.
- The superior ventilation mesh offers (as someone with a high metabolism and living in a sub-tropical climate, I find non-mesh chairs too sweat-inducing).
- The look of mesh. Padded fabric chairs – even the premium options like the Steelcase Leap – look and feel very cheap. They always remind me of 1990s cubicles.
ErgoTune set out to create a hybrid mesh that gives you the best of both worlds by marrying the softness of fabric with the ventilation properties of classic polyethylene mesh.
Does it work? Yes, very well – with one caveat.
Many worry that the mesh will feel too firm, but I find it just right. It offers a very nice, suspended seating experience.
(Related: ErgoTune Vesby Office Chair Review).
But if you’ve never sat on mesh before, you may need to give your body a couple of weeks to get used to it.
Expert Tip.
If you’re apprehensive about buying your first mesh chair, don’t forget ErgoTune’s 21-day trial. It allows you to road-test not just the Supreme, but the concept of sitting on mesh chairs in general.
6. Assembly Is A Piece Of Cake.
Above: The assembly instructions are larger than a small child.
The Supreme V3 will arrive at your doorstep in a huge (77 x 64 x 37cm) cardboard box. You’ll need about 20 minutes to assemble it.
- The assembly instructions come on a giant wall-sized poster. Very irreverent touch, ErgoTune – nice one.
- All of the parts and bolts are clearly labelled. A lot of thought went into ensuring that your assembly experience is as painless as possible.
How does the packaging score on the sustainability front? Pretty good. Foam protects the base and the gas strut, but the rest of the packaging is made from 100% recyclable cardboard.
(Related: How To Choose An Office Chair).
7. Generous Warranty.
ErgoTune offers an impressive 4 and 3-year warranty coverage on the chair’s frame and mechanisms.
In a win-win deal, the company will extend it to 6 and 5 years if you share a photo or a video of yourself in your Supreme V3 on social media.
| Parts Covered | Standard Warranty | Extended Warranty |
| Skeletal frame, aluminium frame, wheelbase, frame. | 4 years | 6 years |
| Lumbar support, central mechanism hub, armrest mechanism, castors. | 3 years | 5 years |
This is an above-average warranty period for a mid-tier office chair.
It falls considerably short of 12-year warranties you get with Steelcase and Herman Miller, but then again – you’re not paying $1,500- $3,500 for your office chair, either.
Bottom line – you’ll get bored with the Supreme long before it starts falling apart.
3 Things I Dislike About The ErgoTune Supreme.
While the ErgoTune Supreme V3 is one of the best office chairs on the market, it’s not without flaws.
Here are the 3 main areas for improvement I’ve identified during my 3-year-long ownership period.
1. Coloured Mesh Can Stain Easily.
Above: My chair is almost back to showroom condition, but I’ll think twice before eating lunch behind my desk again.
The main downside of the fabric-infused DuraWeave mesh is its proclivity for attracting stains.
It almost disappeared after being hit with a few rounds of detergent, but the seat doesn’t look the same. The colour is a little uneven – especially when you look closely.
Expert Tip.
Think twice about choosing the pastel-coloured Coral Red and Acqua Blue options if you tend to eat at your desk.
2. Premium Armpads Would Be Nice.
Above: Arm pads swivel and adjust in every direction, and a premium option would be great.
The fancy 5D armrests produce very satisfying (and expensive-sounding) clicks while in transit, but I would love it if ErgoTune offered a premium pad option.
I’ve learned to live with it because it’s durable and generous in size, but softer leather would look and feel better.
I’d gladly pay $100 extra to have that as an option.
3. Headrest Doesn’t Lock Fully.
Above: Notice how the headrest locks off for height and reach, but rotates on an open ball joint for tilt.
The TriTune headrest adjusts in three dimensions but locks off only in two. Tilt relies on a friction joint to stop, but any decent amount of pressure on it will cause it to point down.
I find it necessary to reset the headrest at the beginning or the end of almost every sitting session.
Important!
I dislike office chair headrests and would prefer the option to remove mine altogether. Unfortunately, it’s not possible without leaving an unsightly mounting bracket in place.
How The ErgoTune Supreme V3 Scored.
The ErgoTune offers a lot for the price. You’ll find cheaper alternatives, but none offer the same level of quality or adjustability.
| Ergonomics | 5/5 |
| Comfort | 4/5 |
| Aesthetics | 4/5 |
| Build Quality | 4/5 |
| Ease Of Assembly | 5/5 |
| Price | 5/5 |
| Warranty | 5/5 |
| Return Policy | 4/5 |
| OVERALL | 4.5/5 |
Key Takeaways:
The ErgoTune Supreme is great, but the ErgoTune Joobie is better because it offers:
- Independent lumbar height control.
- 3 more colour choices.
- Sleeker and more efficient controls.
- Footrest option for $50.
Frequently Asked Questions About The ErgoTune Supreme V3.
I know that choosing an ergonomic office chair can be an endless rabbithole. Here are some questions you may be wrestling with.
What’s The Build Quality Like?
Very good. I’ve sat in more expensive chairs (e.g., Humanscale Liberty, which sells for about $1,200) that felt less premium than the Supreme.
This chair is a heavy sucker, and punches above its weight (ha!) in the build quality department.
That said, don’t expect miracles. This is a mid-market chair, aimed at young professionals and students.
If you earn over $150K and want to project a more adult vibe, get the Sihoo S300 instead. It’s $300 more – but the jump in build quality and aesthetics is significant.
What’s The Best Place To Buy One?
The Supreme chair is available to Australian customers only through the ErgoTune website. ErgoTune is a direct-to-consumer brand without a physical showroom.
What’s The Lumbar Support Like?
I like it, but I suspect that many will find it stiff and on the aggressive side.
People who experience back pain as a result of slouching will appreciate the extra level of discipline it introduces to their posture.
My Verdict On The ErgoTune Supreme.
The ErgoTune Supreme is still one of the best ergonomic chairs in the $700-800 price range. It nudges out direct competitors like the Ergohuman V2 because of its multiple sizing options and 21-day trial with kerbside pickup.
However, the recently released ErgoTune Joobie is the better pick. Same price, slightly better adjustability and aesthetics.
An alternative you could consider is a second-hand Steelcase Leap.
Premium options like the Herman Miller Cosm, Aeron and Embody are better again, but are well in the $2,500+ price range. The 3X – 5X price jump is hard to justify, unless you’re looking for a status symbol.
Steven
Cody says:
Hi,
Do you know 9am HOME standing desks?
I want to know how about their desk.
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Cody, I’ve never seen them before but I took a quick look for you and I’m 90% certain it’s another Jiecang desk. You can tell by the design of the feet and the lowest height (60cm). Desky, Omnidesk, Stand Desk are all pretty much the same.
Cody says:
Which one do you mean? Pesk or Robin series? I am interested in their Robin series, it looks unique and beautiful. I can’t find anyone like it in Desky.
Steven McConnell says:
I was talking about the Pesk Series. Robin series does look attractive and unusual, but I’m usually not a fan of tubular legs as they tend to be more prone to wobble. I can’t say whether this is the case in this instance, as I haven’t physically tested the desk myself. The 10 year warranty is reassuring, however. I wish they offered a risk-free trial to let you test out the legs!
Cody says:
Thank you very much, Steven; I will take your comments into consideration.
Erin says:
Do you know much about Kangadesks? There are Australian as well.
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Erin, its another Jiecang standing desk. Same as Desky, Omni, Stand Desk etc. The design of the feet and 60-125cm height range gives it away. The desk appears to currently be currently on sale for $299, which is an absolute steal and I’m wondering why they’re selling their stock at 1/3 of RRP. Regardless, even if they’re about to go bust, I’d still buy one at that price.
EDIT: Be careful. Fakespot showed these warnings while browsing their website: “Multiple eCommerce scam experiences detected, Poor customer service”
Suzy says:
Hi – given all the desks are so similar, is it possible to mix a desk from one brand with a drawer accessory from another? I don’t like the UpDown desk metal drawer (hangs very low so likely to impede leg space) but don’t mind the Desky one – can these be mixed and matched?
Thank you for the reviews! Super helpful.
Steven McConnell says:
Yes, it’s possible to play switcheroo. But you may want to consider that UpDown design is curved, so it will hurt less if you do jam your thighs into it. Desky’s meanwhile, is quite angular. Pro tip: you can also find a bunch of inexpensive slimline desk drawers on Amazon.
jason says:
I’ve spent far, far too much time agonising over which desk to get haha, definitely more than a week. Very happy that you’ve added the omni-desk to your catalogue. That was the one I was considering the most untill you came you with a review saying that it was more wobbly!
Anyways, do you have an opinion on the new updown desk KLIK Series? Its advertises to be significanlty ligher while having better (on paper) specs
Thanks!
Evelyn says:
Hi Steven, great blog post – thank you! I’m also wondering whether you have any opinion or insights on the new UpDown Desk KLIK series…they come at $100 more expensive (for the same size/table top) but seem to be ‘better’ according to the UpDown website.
Cheers!
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Evelyn, thanks! I will have a full review of the KLIK up around February 2025. It’s not necessarily a better standing desk – but it is lighter, less bulky and promises easier assembly.
Ben Clements says:
Hi. I’m interested to know more about whether I actually could fit the Desky cable management system in the Omnidesk? I’ve had a look at the omnidesks in person at the showroom and it looks like their cable management trays screw on (vs the clip in at the edges of the desk with the Desky tray). The desky system also has the power plugs that snap into place in the tray.
So I’m curious to know if you have you tried it, and if so how did you do it please? Or is your thinking that you’d just buy the power boards and plugs from Desky and rest them in the Omnidesk tray?
I’m stuck, because I prefer the Omnidesks but I really love the idea of a single power lead!
Thanks
Steven McConnell says:
I just had a new Omnidesk delivered to my house. Give me about two weeks to assemble it, test it out and report back.
Sunni says:
Thanks for your very helpful (and funny) review. I used the information to to buy a Desky standing desk in record time – no consumer agonising for weeks, as is my usual practice. It has a pneumatic up/down mechanism, so lets see how that goes.
Steven McConnell says:
Ha! You’re welcome, Sunni. Glad I helped you cut down on the agonising. The pneumatic mechanism is an interest choice – let me know what you think of it?
Amber says:
Hi Steven,
Really great and insightful review. It was refreshing to see something that wasn’t filled with ChatGPT affiliate link garbage!
I’m curious about your opinion on L-shaped standing desks? I know that Desky, UpDown and a few other retailers offer these types of desks and I would assume they are more strong and stable, but I’m not an expert and I can also imagine the opposite being true due to the irregular shape. I’ve been looking at these types of desks because I think their shape suits my space the best. Do you have any knowledge on this or do you only have experience with regular rectangular shaped desks?
Steven McConnell says:
Thanks, Amber. Did you know that I have a L-shaped standing desk review? Search for “arielle best corner standing desks” and you’ll find it.
Melissa says:
Hi Steven great article thank you!
I’ve spent way to much time on this, and I’m now leaning towards the Artiss thanks to your review.
I’m wondering if you have any insight into ergonomic chairs for the home office also?
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Melissa, thanks! The Artiss is a great budget pick. I’ve written numerous ergonomic chair reviews – Google “arielle best ergonomic office chairs” to find them 🙂
tania says:
hey are there any other manual desks apart from the ikea ones you don’t recommend, that you would recommend? I prefer the idea of not needing electricity to move between stand up and sit down but maybe that doesn’t really exist?
Steven McConnell says:
Hey Tania, all of the premium brands (UpDown, Desky, etc) offer a manual crank model. Definitely the way to go if you want to avoid electronics. But TBH I suggest you reconsider. Electronics are very reliable these days – and hand-cranking your standing desk is more annoying than you’d expect.
Adam says:
Hi, do you know much about the UpDown Klik vs Pro system?
Steven McConnell says:
The company has shipped their new Klik standing desk to me yesterday. Stay tuned!
Scott Long says:
You mention in your review of the Up Down Pro that you would get the cable holes and grommets done, but it looks like your (very pretty) Messmate desk doesn’t have them. Is your recommendation a hindsight reflection, or did you choose not to spoil the look of the desk with the grommets? Without the grommets can you can still run the cables behind the desk and into the cable management tray? Cheers!
Steven McConnell says:
Scott, I said in the review that grommets and holes are a great idea, not that I have them. They’re less important if your standing desk faces a wall. But if you have an open-plan style home office like mine, they’ll make your workspace look much cleaner. PS You can still run cables into the tray without the holes and grommets – the cables will simply run behind the desk.
Isaac Jenkinson says:
Hello,
Have you had a chance to try the new UpDown Lyft model? Curious about its stability vs the pro.
Steven McConnell says:
Isaac,
Not yet. On first glance, it looks like a budget alternative to the “big brothers”. It’s probably pretty good (UpDown has a reputation to maintain), but I’m of the opinion that buying cheap means you pay more in the long term. I’d save up another few hundred bucks and get the Pro. You can often get a melamine or bamboo-topped model on sale for around $900.
David says:
This is a great site and will help me decide on which desk to buy. Have you heard any good/bad reviews about the Blacklyte Atlas Lite or Ergo-Rise II from BDO furniture?
Steven McConnell says:
David, thanks for the kind words. Never heard of the Atlas Lite until you mentioned it. Looks like a decent gaming desk that borrows heavily from Secretlab Magnus – but why not just buy a real Magnus instead?
As for the Ergo-Rise – looks like a decent desk, but its height controller is outdated. The best standing desk brands have upgraded to OLED controllers.
Ben says:
Thank you for writing this review Steven; really helpful to break through the BS.
By any chance have you used or hold an opinion on Vertilift desks?
Steven McConnell says:
You’re welcome. God, I haven’t even heard of them – but thanks for the heads-up. There are too many standing desks on the Australian market. Obviously I haven’t used these in person, but I’m almost certain they’re yet another Jiecang variant (i.e., frames are identical to Desky). You can tell by the identical max and min heights, as well as the design of the foot.
Eloise says:
Hey Steven, I was recommended the Alwyn or Octavia (Living Fusion) 140cm sit and stand desks from Temple and Webster which don’t even get a mention in your review. Would you bother with any of their brands ? (I may have dodged a bullet by finding your review!)
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Louise, I haven’t had first-hand experience with the T&W standing desk (must add one to my list!).
However, I had a look through the specs for you.
It doesn’t look too bad, actually – considering the price. If you can’t stretch your budget to ~$950 for an entry-level UpDown or Desky, this could be a good option.
Jordan says:
Hi Steven, Thanks for the review! I am starting out with a home office set up and need a new chair and sit stand desk. I’m a student but I prefer to buy things I know will last, but I don’t have too much experience with sit stand desks. I initially thought to buy the Artiss but have considered buying the Acacia UpDown Pro+ so I know it lasts and I don’t have to buy another desk in a couple of years. Is it worth the price jump for me? Thanks!
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Jordan, the Artiss and the UpDown desks sell at two very different price points. If you have the budget, I suggest you stretch to the UpDown standing desk – you won’t regret it.
jason says:
I know you’ve disqualified the flexispot e7 pro so the e7 max plus would probably also be disqualified, but a quad motor 4 column desk frame at a prices competitive with UpDown desk is incredibly tempting. Plus 15 year warrenty (if the company lasts that long)
Have you had a chance to take a look? Its like half the price of the desky quad!
Steven McConnell says:
Hey Jason, great observation. I haven’t included quad standing desks here because they’ve traditionally attracted a niche consumer – someone who needs to place a tonne of gear on the desktop and doesn’t mind paying 2X the usual price. But Flexispot’s sharp pricing on their quad desk certainly changes things. I haven’t seen one in the wild yet – but the specs look promising.
Steven