Gaming chairs are a dime a dozen these days, and there’s no shortage of choices regardless of your budget. AndaSeat’s T-Compact falls towards the center of the pricing spectrum – listed for $399.99 – and at first glance doesn’t do much to separate itself from the competition.
However, if you’re able to look past its run-of-the-mill design, the T-Compact offers one of the most comfortable seats in the sub-$500 price range. It’s not perfect, but this premium chair works hard to stand among the gaming elite – and its efforts are largely successful.
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AndaSeat T-Compact Full Specifications
- Material: Linen Fabric
- Base: Aluminum
- Framework: AD S+
- Foam: AD Mold Foam
- Tilt Angle: 160 Degrees
- Armrest: 4-Directional Adjustments
- Weight: 29.5kg
- Maximum Load Static: 170kg
- Maximum Load Dynamic: 120kg
- Maximum Height: 200cm
- Warranty: Five years
Derivative Design Choices
The first thing I noticed after assembling the T-Compact (which took about 20 minutes) is its incredibly familiar design. In fact, if you remove the AndaSeat branding and throw it in a lineup of three other gaming chairs, I guarantee you’ll have a hard time figuring out which one it is. When it comes to design cues, AndaSeat followed the “gaming chair playbook” down to every last letter.
Aggressive angles, a race car-esque footprint, removable lumbar support and headrest, and swooping side cushions that curve slightly around the side of your body are all here – and they’re also present on just about every other gaming chair on the market.
But how a chair looks is only half the battle. So long as it’s comfortable and reliable, it’s hard to knock standard design choices. And, to Anda Seat’s credit, the T-Compact makes for an excellent throne while both gaming and working.
Looks Can Be Deceiving
While the AndaSeat T-Compact looks like a standard gaming chair, I found it to be slightly more comfortable than several others in the same price range. That’s largely due to the Re-Dense Molded Foam seat, which prevented the seat from becoming squishy over time and provided continuous support throughout my testing. Supportive yet soft, the performance offered by T-Compact is leagues above other gaming chairs in the same class.
Its impressive recline range of 160 degrees was also a nice touch, as even chairs with larger price tags don’t offer as much flexibility. I didn’t find much use for it – I don’t often fall asleep at my desk – but offering the functionality will likely be a huge selling point for some customers.
Anda Seat’s biggest issues are the removable headrest and lumbar support. The team was wise to make them removable, as I found them to be a bit stiff and uncomfortable for my liking. They also had a tendency to shift throughout my gaming sessions, and too often I’d find myself reaching back to reposition them. After a very short time, I decided to go without them.
Verdict
If you can look past its uninspired design and underwhelming lumbar and headrest supports, there’s a lot to like about the Anda Seat T-Compact. Its Re-Dense cushion is arguably one of the best in its class, there are dozens of adjustment options available, it reclines to a staggering 160 degrees, and it’s built on a reliable steel and aluminum frame that should last you for years. Anyone looking for a comfortable gaming chair under $500 should give the T-Compact a moment of their time.
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An AndaSeat T-Compact was provided to TheGamer for this review.
