Secretlab TITAN Evo NanoGen Chair Review: Pros, Cons & Verdict

This may come as a shock to you, but I’m NOT a 19-year-old moody teenager living in his parents’ basement. So when Secretlab contacted me to review their Titan Evo NanoGen gaming chair, I initially declined.

The gamer image isn’t exactly what I’m going for.

But then I took a closer look – and reconsidered.

Yes, the Titan Evo NanoGen is a gaming chair. But it’s a gaming chair wearing a tux.

Above: I like the Titan Evo’s sculpted lines. Classic Secretlab stuff.

Only available in minimalist black and white (no garish Pokémon colour schemes, thank God), it offers ultra-soft upholstery and a sculpted look that maybe – just maybe – could not look out of place in a home office of a married 45-year-old guy.

Moreover, I had the same hesitation when I reviewed Secretlab’s Magnus Pro standing desk – but walked away seriously impressed.

I decided to suspend my scepticism and find out.

Reasons To Buy The Secretlab TITAN Evo NanoGen Chair.

The NanoGen’s pure black (or white) leatherette material makes a statement. It’s certainly not a chair that’s designed to blend in.

Every single part of the chair is blacked (or whited) out.

I love the exposed stitching – it’s a nice nod to seats you see in expensive Porsches.

The leatherette, meanwhile, is ultra-soft and reminds me of an (expensive) aniline couch I bought many years ago. Yes, it’s fake leather, but visually it’s impossible to tell apart from the real thing (unless you’re some sort of leather expert, which I most certainly am not).

By the way, I glossed over the assembly, so let me come back to it. I’m glad to report that the chair is easy to throw together.

(Related: Secretlab Atlas: The Best New Office Chair In Australia?)

It’s a bit on the fiddly side – as expected from a direct-to-consumer mid-range chair – but the clear instructions make up for it.

Above: Skip the giant assembly manual. Use the booklet instead – you’ll make less mistakes and work faster.

I was relieved to find armrests pre-attached, as this is one of the clunkiest steps when assembling an office chair.

Speaking of armrests, if you read my chair reviews regularly, you’ll know that I’m a harsh marker. I hate almost all of them.

But the Titan Evo’s are not far behind. They adjust in 4D, and even though I wish they were closer to my body at the narrowest setting, it’s a small gripe.

NanoGen’s PlushCell armcaps (a $99 option on the standard Evo) are included standard – and are the real stars of the show.

Secretlab’s marketing gushes about their “pillow-like softness” and “unmatched comfort” – and thankfully, the product does live up to the hype.

Above: Exposed stitching is a nice touch that makes the chair look more expensive than it is.

The ultra-comfortable vibes continue to the backrest and the seat pan.

I’ve seen reviews where people complain about the firmness of the seat pan, but I disagree. It’s definitely on the firmer side, but it’s not a deal-breaker. NanoGen’s seat pan is roughly as firm as the one on my Steelcase Series 2.

If you remember anything from reading this review, let it be this – all expensive ergonomic chairs are firm.

I guarantee you that people who make the most noise about this “issue” have transitioned from cheap, plush office chairs – or cheap mainstream gaming chairs.

Above: Knee-tilt hinge is typical for a gaming chair, and works well. You get a deliciously smooth rocking motion.

They don’t realise that firmness is a good sign.

If the Titan was more plush, it’d be even more likely to trap heat (which is the issue I need to talk to you about) – and make you sweat “down under”.

The seat is unapologetically a bucket. As is the backrest. It doesn’t flex at all, so you’re locked – as you are in an Aeron.

But unlike the Aeron, the NanoGen Evo has soft side bolsters, so you are free to give yourself hip issues by sitting with one leg tucked under.

Above: The bucket seat and sculpted bolsters give you a nicely cossetted feeling.

The recline function of the Titan Evo NanoGen is brilliant.

Most mid-range office chairs use a synchro-tilt mechanism, but the Evo opted for a knee-tilt. The result is a wonderfully rocky motion that not only reclines – but sinks back and down.

Again, the gold standard for a smooth, rocky recline is the venerable Aeron – and the Evo gives it a great run for its money.

I haven’t noticed any noticeable creaks or wobbles, and the chair feels like it’s been forged from premium materials.

Forums say that creaks can develop over time – especially in the lumbar – but I can’t speak to that (I’ve only had the chair for two weeks before writing the review).

Reasons To Avoid The Secretlab TITAN Evo NanoGen Chair.

Coming in at just over a grand, the Titan Evo NanoGen chair isn’t cheap. And I don’t love that I have to pay $100 extra for an XL.

You also get a good range of accessories, but the costs stack up quickly.

Above: The headrest pillow attaches using magnets, and is surprisingly useful.

A memory foam footrest is $109, while the recliner add-on will set you back around $300. Your total cost can start nudging $2,000 if you’re not careful.

That’s why it’s disappointing that the chair is backed by a 3-year warranty as standard (it can be extended to 5 years if you boast about your purchase online).

You’ll need to pay for return shipping, which – because the Evo is a heavy and bulky beast – will cost you a kidney (budget at least $200 around Sydney and Melbourne metro areas).

And because the chair comes with an ungodly amount of packaging, I guarantee you won’t keep it for 49 days anyway. Unless you live on a farm.

But these are trivial matters.

I have high metabolism, so I tend to sweat a lot – and a solid bucket chair made from synthetic leather is the perfect recipe for overheating my backside.

I must emphasise that you may not have the same issue. Especially if you live closer to Melbourne or run aircon all day.

The second issue is the lumbar.

It’s adequate for making sure your back isn’t 100% flat, but it doesn’t support the S-curve of your spine in the same way as “proper” ergonomic office chairs do.

If you have a wonky back, you should look elsewhere.

Above: The metal tabs that unlock armrest height adjustment are outstanding. They feel cool to the touch – and remind me of steering wheel paddles on expensive sports cars.

Finally, I wish Secretlab was more consistent with the build quality of its controls. The two paddles underneath the chair (controlling height and tilt lock) are on the flimsy side.

Like the lumbar, they’re perfectly adequate, but lack that precise tactile feeling you get on the (cheaper) ErgoTune Joobie, for example.

But surprisingly, the metal tabs that unlock armrest height and pivot adjustments are wonderfully tactile. Yet the armrest width adjustment is flimsy.

And the tilt tension knob is located in the worst possible spot – under the seat pan. I also wish it was easier to turn and offered more tension.

How The Secretlab TITAN Evo NanoGen Chair Stacks Up.

A standard Titan Evo is almost as good and is $200-$300 cheaper, but I think the visual appeal of the NanoGen makes the extra cost worthwhile.

My Final Verdict On The Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen Chair.

Secretlab’s marketing is outstanding.

You’re bombarded with trademarked terms that make you feel like the chair is packed with exotic technology.

CloudSwap.

PlushCell.

NanoGen. NanoFoam. SoftWeave.

EpicFury. Whoops, no – that was from a different article I’m writing.

Let me translate all the marketing jargon for you.

The Titan Evo NanoGen is a stylish gaming chair with dialled-back aesthetic, outstanding armrests and gorgeous faux leatherette upholstery that feels like real Nappa leather.

I haven’t tried the standard Titan, so I can’t make a direct comparison, but as someone who doesn’t mind paying for nicer things, I wouldn’t regret spending the extra few hundred dollars.

I can see the Titan appealing to big and tall guys. If you feel that every ‘regular’ ergonomic chair feels like a children’s toy that you spill out of, the Titan will feel right.

It’s less a chair and more a throne.

The monochromatic colour palette and sumptuous hand-feel of NanoGen fabric elevate it from gamer-chic to a chair that’s suitable for a ‘grown-up’.

Just make sure you have enough space around your desk to accommodate it. It’s a beast of a chair that can easily overwhelm a tiny space.

Steven