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Dec 31, 2023

AndaSeat Kaiser 3 Review

AndaSeat has produced excellent gaming chairs in the past, like the T-Pro 2, and its latest flagship model, the Kaiser 3, is a stellar addition to the lineup. It feels similar to the terrific

AndaSeat has produced excellent gaming chairs in the past, like the T-Pro 2, and its latest flagship model, the Kaiser 3, is a stellar addition to the lineup. It feels similar to the terrific Secretlab Titan EVO 2022 ($549), and even has several of that chair’s clever engineering tricks. And at $499 for the large model and $549 for the extra-large version, the Kaiser 3 is priced in line with similar high-end gaming chairs like the Titan EVO. Its armrests are a bit finicky, and its faux leather doesn’t feel quite as smooth and supple as Secretlab’s material, however. In addition, the Cooler Master Caliber X1C ($399) is comparable in quality and comfort for significantly less money, earning our Editors' Choice award. Still, the Kaiser 3 is a worthy alternative if you prefer its size or design.

The Kaiser 3 comes in large (L) and extra-large (XL) versions that cost $499 and $549, respectively, regardless of your choice of colors and materials. The chair is available in black or gray fabric upholstery, or with black, blue, brown, maroon, orange, pink, or white PVC leather upholstery.

The L version supports people between 4’11” and 5’11” in height, and up to 264 pounds. That's fairly average dimensions that could fall under medium or large in the gaming chair space. The XL version is designed for people between 5’11” and 6’11” in height, and up to 397 pounds. We tested the XL version in black PVC leather.

AndaSeat adds a convenient touch to the standard assembly process that we’d like to see become more common. You slide the Kaiser 3's wheels and gas cylinder into the base, bolt the tilt mechanism to the underside, and attach the chair back to the seat⁠—all common steps. Installing the chair back is usually the most annoying part of the assembly process, because aligning the seat struts with the screw holes is often an awkward experience. The right side of the Kaiser 3’s chair back has a metal plate with a bracket that aligns the strut with its screw holes, making things easier. You must align the left side of the seat (the case with nearly all gaming chairs), because the right strut is stationary thanks to the reclining lever. Still, the process is much easier than the assembly steps you'd experience with other gaming chairs.

AndaSeat takes a strong, specific design note from the Secretlab Titan EVO with its lumbar support. It’s built into the chair's back, with height and firmness adjustments available through a knob on each side of the chair. It’s more subtle than a separate cushion, but it can offer just enough of a bump against the small of your back to feel comfortable.

Besides the lumbar support, the Kaiser 3 has all of the standard adjustments you would find on a high-end gaming chair. The back can recline up to 165 degrees, and the entire chair can tilt back or lock in place. Of course, you can use the gas cylinder under the chair to adjust the height, like virtually every other gaming and office chair.

The armrests are 4D adjustable, and represent some of the Kaiser 3’s most interesting features (as well as an occasional nuisance). You can move them forward or backward, left or right, up or down, and rotate them left or right, so you can find the ideal position. There are also four magnets built into the supports that let you remove the foam rests and replace them with an upcoming desk surface that magnetically attaches to the chair. It’s a clever idea, but the stock rests don’t actually have magnets or metal on them. They attach to the mounts through their snug molding, and this has resulted in me accidentally popping off one when I get up or walk around it. It’s a minor annoyance, but the rests really should have a bit of steel to keep them securely attached to the magnets.

The Kaiser 3 comes with a fabric-covered memory foam head pillow, and it’s quite nice. It’s also magnetic, like the Razer Enki Pro and Secretlab Titan Pro head pillows, and sticks firmly to the top of the chair. The memory foam is soft and supportive, and the cloth is smooth and breathable.

I used the Kaiser 3 for a few weeks and was pleased with its comfort. The PVC leather is soft but sturdy, though its grain feels a bit rougher than the faux leather used by Cooler Master or Secret Lab offerings we've tested. The foam padding is dense and firm without feeling too hard, and the seat, back, and sides are thoroughly stuffed (the chair's back consists of just suspended PVC leather).

I have no complaints about the Kaiser 3's comfort and ergonomics. It’s as supportive and pleasant as the Secretlab Titan EVO, despite the faux leather feeling a bit lower quality. The lumber support kept my lower back from getting sore when I adjusted it, and the magnetic head pillow stayed in place while cradling my head.

While the PVC leather seems quite sturdy, you should consider the fabric chair instead if you have a cat. This is actually a good rule when shopping for any gaming chair, since the faux leather of every model I’ve tested in my home has suffered from the wrath of my cat Pixel. He hasn’t gashed or torn any part of the chair, but the back has pin pricks from his claws.

Besides Pixel’s claws, I didn’t notice any wear on the faux leather after several weeks of regularly using the seat. AndaSeat provides a two-year warranty for the chair, and extends it to five years for free if you share the fact that you have a chair on social media and write a review of it on Facebook.

The AndaSeat Kaiser 3 is a terrific gaming chair that's comfortable and supportive. It also has a fairly generous warranty (if you don’t mind sharing it on social media). The chair closely copies the Secretlab Titan EVO’s design, and that’s hardly a bad thing; at this point, it’s more or less the template for a good conventional gaming chair. The Kaiser 3's magnetic memory foam head pillow actually stays in place better than the Titan EVO’s, though its armrests tend to easily pop off. At $499, AndaSeat's chair in the large size costs less than the Titan EVO, but the Cooler Master Caliber X1C is even more affordable while offering a similar experience, earning our Editors' Choice. Still, the Kaiser 3 stands on its own, particularly if you need the additional support provided by the extra-large model.

The AndaSeat Kaiser 3 borrows design elements from top-notch rivals to create an excellent gaming chair that's comfortable and sturdy.

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