The Best Starter Gaming Chairs

On the spec sheet, it reclines to 135°. A retractable footrest adds a place to rest between matches. The backrest reclines from 90 to 135 degrees, and a two-motor lumbar pillow provides massage.

The LED strips can be dimmed or switched off from the remote. Its metal legs replace a plastic base, which adds stability. Its speakers pair with a phone or PC over Bluetooth.

On recline angle it ties with the N-GEN at 135°. Leave room behind the desk: the budget speaker chair's footrest needs clear floor space when extended and reclined. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the Sweetcrispy was closest. What it gives up: recline angle of 135°, behind the Homall faux leather (155°); by contrast, the Homall faux leather reclines to 155°.

Lumbar support is included. It is rated for 275 lbs on a chrome-plated metal base, and the PU leather back has cut-outs for airflow. The flip-up arms let it slide fully under a desk when you're done.

At about 30 pounds it is light enough to move between rooms, and the tilt tension runs from 90 to 122 degrees. Assembly takes around 17 minutes with the included tools. Flip-up (92°) armrests is unique to it among these picks, while the Yaheetech pink-white uses linkage armrests.

The Sweetcrispy's arms flip up, so it can roll closer under a desk with a low front edge. Its price falls between the budget speaker chair and the N-GEN, based on our last check.

The back reclines from 90 to 135 degrees and a lumbar cushion is included. Neck and lumbar cushions support the spine, and the footrest pulls out for leg support. On recline angle it ties with the budget speaker chair at 135°.

Like the Yaheetech pink-white, it has linkage armrests, while the Sweetcrispy uses flip-up (92°) armrests. You also get a 90 to 135 degree recline. Leave room behind the desk: the N-GEN's footrest needs clear floor space when extended and reclined.

It was priced above the Sweetcrispy and below the Yaheetech pink-white at the time of writing. It gives ground on recline angle, where the Homall faux leather reclines to 155°.

It reclines from 90 to 135 degrees with a 19 to 22.6 inch seat height, and linkage armrests move with the backrest. A massage lumbar pillow and retractable footrest come included. Like the N-GEN, it has linkage armrests, while the Sweetcrispy uses flip-up (92°) armrests.

No other pick in this guide offers a massage pillow lumbar support; compare the N-GEN, which has a cushion lumbar support. It also offers ventilated faux leather. Leave room behind the desk: the Yaheetech pink-white's footrest needs clear floor space when extended and reclined.

The Yaheetech pink-white's lumbar support is a strap-on pillow, so position it by hand rather than with a dial. When we checked, only the N-GEN and cheaper picks cost less, and the Homall faux leather cost more.

The headrest pillow is removable. High-density foam keeps its shape over long sessions, and a 1.8mm steel frame sits on a Class 3 gas lift. On recline angle it leads this guide at 155°, ahead of the budget speaker chair (135°).

You get a pillow lumbar support here, which sets it apart from the Yaheetech pink-white and its a massage pillow lumbar support. It also comes with a 90 to 155 degree recline. The Homall faux leather's lumbar support is a strap-on pillow, so position it by hand rather than with a dial. It was the highest-priced of the 5 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the Yaheetech pink-white and the rest.