Last updated: March 17th, 2026
Deciding on a gaming chair versus an ergonomic chair is not easy. Ergonomic chairs tend to feature contoured, understated designs, high levels of adjustability and shallow recline ranges, while gaming chairs offer full-height bucket seats with loud aesthetics and deep recline functionality.
- Ergonomic chairs are optimised for productivity.
- Gaming chairs are optimised for comfort.
But there are plenty of exceptions to this rule. I went down the rabbit hole to figure out the truth and share it with you.
(Related: 10 Best Ergonomic Office Chairs Tested).
What Makes A Gaming Chair Better?
Above: A typical gaming chair. Note the racing car style bucket, bright colours (how could you miss?) and a high back with a fixed headrest.
You’ll spot a gaming chair from a mile away. Inspired by racing car seat designs, it will always look like something a uni student removed from their Toyota Supra:
- Bucket Seat Design. Inspired by racing car seats, this aesthetic looks cool (to some) but offers zero ergonomic benefits.
- Winged Backrest. Another purely aesthetic feature, and is not ergonomically beneficial. You won’t be pulling multiple Gs through corners.
- High Backrest. Gaming chairs with low to medium-height backrests are rare. Most have tall backrests that allow you to lean back into them.
- Lumbar and Neck Support Cushions. Gaming chairs will always have at least one, if not both. They provide extra support for your lower back and neck whilst gaming. Allegedly.
- Fixed Headrest. Most gaming chairs will have a fixed headrest that can’t be adjusted.
- Loud Colours. Gaming chairs are designed to be visually striking. You’ll see a lot of black and intense colours, such as reds, blues, and greens.
- High Level Of Recline. Gaming chairs have a higher level of recline than regular office chairs, with some going back to 180 degrees to create something that resembles a bed.
(Related: Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen Chair Full Review).
Most Popular Gaming Chairs In Australia:
- Secretlab Titan Evo. The only gaming chair that doesn’t look like it belongs to a 15-year-old teenager, the Titan comes in three sizes and offers a surprising amount of ergonomic support.
- Herman Miller Vantum. The company’s first attempt at creating a gaming chair, it promises to offer the best ergonomics in this category.
What Makes An Ergonomic Chair Better?
Above: Budget office chairs have poor ergonomics. Here, the waterfall front edge and height-adjustable armrests are a welcome sight. But the non-adjustable lumbar support and a centre-tilt mechanism are a minus.
A good ergonomic office chair adapts to your biomechanics to put your body in an optimal position.
While the official definition of “ergonomic chair” is blurry (even OSHA, BIFMA and the Human Factors & Ergonomics Handbook disagree), I believe it needs to satisfy the following minimum criteria:
- Minimal Aesthetics. The pursuit of function over form. The chair is designed to blend into the environment, rather than draw attention to itself. That said, some high-end ergonomic chairs, like the Herman Miller Cosm, are an exception to this rule.
- Adjustable Seat Depth. This is one of the most important aspects of an ergonomic chair, and one that is often overlooked. A good ergonomic chair will have a seat pan that can be moved forward or backward to allow your thighs to be parallel to the ground, which reduces pressure on your knees.
- Mesh Or Fabric Construction. Most ergonomic chairs are built from taut mesh weave on the seat pan and backrest. Some, like the legendary Steelcase Leap, feature fabric construction – but they are increasingly rare.
- Adjustable Lumbar Support And Adjustable Armrests. These ergonomic features help prevent lower back issues by encouraging you to sit with a neutral spine, not slouching and keeping your shoulders relaxed (how to adjust your lumbar support).
Did You Know?
The perfect ergonomic posture encourages a 0-degree neck tilt. In other words, your eyes look directly ahead. In contrast, gaming chairs encourage a slightly tilted neck.
Most Popular Ergonomic Chairs In Australia:
- Ergotune Supreme. The winner of my “Best Ergonomic Chair In Australia” award, the Ergotune Supreme offers outstanding ergonomic features for the price.
- Sihoo M57. An ergonomic office chair that provides adjustability without blowing the budget, the Sihoo is the quiet achiever in this group.
- Steelcase Leap. People who own Leap ergonomic chairs are like people who own classic Jaguars. They’re a different bunch who nod to one another and appreciate subtleties that other people don’t.
- Herman Miller Cosm. The most beautiful ergonomic office chair on the market today, the Cosm offers a multitude of ergonomic adjustments and a stunning design.
- Herman Miller Aeron. One of the most iconic ergonomic office chairs, the Aeron – now in its Remastered form – is as striking as it is durable.
(Related: Best Shops To Buy An Office Chair In Sydney and Melbourne).
Gaming Chairs vs Ergonomic Chairs: What’s The Difference?
Gaming chairs tend to be cheaper, louder and softer.
| Gaming Chair | Office Chair | |
|---|---|---|
| Aesthetic / Design | Flashy | Understated |
| Comfort Level | High | Mild |
| Ergonomic Features | High | Extreme |
| Price | Under $1000 | $100-$3000 |
Let’s take a closer look at each of the factors.
1. Aesthetic / Design.
Gaming chairs tend to be more flashy and attention-grabbing (imagine a head-turning Ferrari), while ergonomic chairs are designed to blend in with the rest of the room.
2. Comfort Levels.
Gaming chairs are designed for comfort, with plush moulded foam and thick layers of silky PU leather (how to choose the best leather office chair).
3. Ergonomics / Adjustability.
Ergonomic chairs are typically more adjustable than gaming chairs. That said, gaming chairs aren’t far behind, with some examples offering solid ergonomic chops.
In fact, at the lower end of the gaming chair vs ergonomic chair spectrum, the former outperforms the latter in ergonomic capability. Even the cheapest gaming chairs include
- Lumbar support pillows
- Highly adjustable armrests, and
- Decent amount of backrest adjustment.
4. Price.
Gamers are not known for their large incomes (sorry, guys – you know it’s true), so manufacturers keep prices reasonably low, with most gaming chairs priced at less than $1,000.
Expert Tip.
A typical gaming chair costs between $500 – $800, while ergonomic chair prices can be as low as $300 and as high as $3,000.
(Related: 5 Most Expensive Office Chairs).
Gaming Chair vs Ergonomic Chair: Which Is Best?
The gaming chair vs ergonomic chair debate is endless. But I’m not here to fuel the debate – I’m here to give you the best option.
You may not be surprised, then, when I say that:
- Gaming chairs are best for gamers. Designed for lounging and relaxing for long hours, they’ll help you escape the realities of your life and promote full immersion into your game.
- Ergonomic chairs are best for WFH professionals. Instead of cossetting you to sleep, they’ll keep you upright, supported and focused, improving your productivity along the way.
Of late, it’s been interesting to see that the lines between the two types of chairs have begun to blur.
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