Vertagear vs Secretlab: Which is the Best Gaming Chair Brand?
Vertagear is a premium gaming chair brand started in 2015 by a mixture of computer hardware veterans, furniture specialists, designers, and gamers.
When it comes to gaming chairs, Secretlab is definitely one of the top dogs. They offer some of the most premier and innovative gaming chair designs and are one of the most active companies in the eSports scene.
You’ve browsed around online and come across two gaming chair brands you really like, Secretlab and Vertagear. Since then, your search for a gaming chair has stalled since you’re feeling torn. Between Vertagear and Secretlab, which company makes the better gaming chair?
Although both Vertagear and Secretlab bring a lot to the table when it comes to their respective gaming chairs, in my personal testing, Secretlab is superior. Their chairs look better, are more comfortable, and are simply of better quality.
Of course, you’re free to make your own decisions, and in this guide, that’s exactly what I’ll strive to help you do. I’ll start first by discussing the respective histories and product lines of both Vertagear and Secretlab. Then I’ll compare the two brands in just about every way, from pricing to reputation, comfort, and build quality.
Let’s get started!
Vertagear Overview
Vertagear is a premium gaming chair brand started in 2015 by a mixture of computer hardware veterans, furniture specialists, designers, and gamers.
Beginning with Vertagear, theirs is a company founded in 2015 by a team of engineers and gamers. Who better to make gaming chairs, right? Founder Mike Ma believes that every great gaming chair should be high-quality, functional, comfortable, and have an appealing design.
The brand’s tagline is “ingenuity never ceases, and neither do we,” which is a quote attributed to Ma himself.
Vertagear produces office chairs that are divided into several product lines. Let’s take a closer look.
S Line
The Vertagear SL2000 is a solid entry into their line of racing style gaming chairs featuring excellent build quality and durability at an affordable price.
The S Line includes the SL2000, SL4000, and SL5000. Each gaming chair in the S Line retails for under $500 (the SL2000 chairs start at less than $300!).
With faux leather exteriors, lumbar support pillows, a neck pillow (both pillows are removable), a five-star base, rolling caster wheels, and basic armrests, these gaming chairs are great for entry-level shoppers. Each chair features colorful upholstery options.
The SL5000, which I’ll talk more about a little later, cranks up the quality a notch with plusher seating, higher-quality faux leather, upholstered segments, and advanced lumbar support.
P Line
The Vertagear PL4500 is one of the most comfortable gaming chairs out there with it's spacious seat, soft padding, and high quality PU Leather.
Vertagear’s P Line is home to PL1000, PL4500, and PL6000. These chairs are still reasonably priced at under $600, but the average price is more expensive than the gaming chairs in the S Line.
That’s due to features such as an industrial-grade metal five-star base, Dual Layer Hybrid Foam, anti-bacterial properties, and adjustments for better lumbar support.
The P Line chairs feature only some faux leather upholstery as well, giving them a more timeless look that might be appealing to a subset of gamers.
Triigger Line
If you're not into racing style gaming chairs and want an ergonomic gaming chair suited for long gaming and work sessions, check out this premium option from Vertagear.
The third series of gaming chairs from Vertagear is the Triigger line, which has the Triigger 275, the Triigger 350, and the Triigger 350 Special Edition.
Unlike the other gaming chairs that Vertagear produces, the Triigger line includes DuPont TPEE mesh backing and mesh on the curved seat. Breathability is important in gaming chairs, as you tend to get quite warm and even sweaty during intensive gaming sessions. Faux leather and polyester or cotton upholstery don’t really cut it.
That said, there are some calfskin leather components in a few chairs in the Triigger line, including the Triigger 275.
The head and neck support added to the Triigger 350 (including the Special Edition) allows you to play for even longer without painful disruptions. The range of adjustments in the Triigger series chairs is also great, as you can set the armrests, tilt tension, chair height, the degree of lumbar support, and the seat depth.
Secretlab Overview
When it comes to gaming chairs, Secretlab is definitely one of the top dogs. They offer some of the most premier and innovative gaming chair designs and are one of the most active companies in the eSports scene.
Now let’s switch gears and discuss Secretlab. Founded in 2014 by Alaric Choo and Ian Ang in Singapore (which is where their headquarters are located today), both founders have a history with esports, specifically StarCraft II.
At the time, they were a small startup company, but Secretlab has since grown in leaps and bounds to become one of the most renowned names in gaming chairs. Outside of chairs, the company also produces computer desks, but I’m going to focus on the chairs.
Here are the gaming chair series that Secretlab manufactures.
OMEGA Series
The OMEGA series is Secretlab's flagship gaming chair model. It features a simple and clean design, high-quality construction quality, and excellent comfort for hardcore gaming sessions.
The Secretlab Omega 2020 Series gaming chair comes in one of three materials that are available at different price points. The PRIME 2.0 PU leather keeps the chair affordable at about $500. The PU leather cleans easily and feels smooth, flexible, and soft. Secretlab mentions that they’ve tested their PRIME 2.0 leather for fast drying and spill resistance.
The SoftWeave fabric is a plush upholstery; an Omega with this fabric costs about $500 as well. Even if you use your chair every day (or close to it), the SoftWeave fabric should hold its shape. The textured, soft feel is appealing, and you can clean the upholstery with a fabric cleaner or a portable vacuum.
The NAPA leather ratchets up the price of an Omega Series chair to $1,000. This is the real deal though. You’ll love bragging to your friends about your real leather gaming chair.
You can also select from a huge number of Secretlab Signatures for accent colors and patterns as well as esports editions and limited editions.
Secretlab’s gaming chairs like the Omega include their Signature Memory Foam head and lumbar support pillow, both of which are removable. The seat of the Omega Series chair is made from Secretlab’s patent-pending cold-cured foam mix.
The armrests are 4D and feature concave padding for supreme comfort. The five-star aluminum base has extra-large PU casters, and there’s even an adjustable lumbar support knob.
Titan Series
The Secretlab Titan is a premium gaming chair that offers top-notch build quality, adjustability, comfort, various design options, and multiple size options.
Read our full Secretlab Titan Review
The 2020 Titan Series gives you the same three upholstery options at about the same price points. The Titan has less of an encompassing, winged back compared to the Omega but is still built for comfort.
Many of the features above are included with the Titan, including 165 degrees of comfortable recline. The multi-tilt mechanism is useful for setting your seat angle and then locking it exactly how you like it.
Titan Evo 2022 Series
The latest and greatest Secretlab gaming chair is the Titan Evo 2022 Series, which starts at $450. Besides SoftWeave fabric or NAPA leather, now you can select from SecretLab’s NEO Hybrid Leatherette.
The leatherette is better than even the PRIME 2.0 PU leather, as it has excellent liquid resistance. You can barely tell it apart from NAPA leather, as the NEO Hybrid Leatherette material is glossy and shiny like real leather.
The NEO Hybrid Leatherette is abrasion-resistant as well due to its 3D fiber-based structure for flexibility and strength.
The color selection found in other Secretlab chair is available for the Titan Evo 2022 Series, including Secretlab Signatures and special editions.
The chair comes in three sizes. The cold-cure foam is back, but now the seat base has been reshaped so it’s even more ergonomically friendly. A four-way lumbar support system known as L-ADAPT is included as well.
The L-ADAPT system has living hinges connected through a latticework to move as your spine does. The Titan Evo 2022 Series has also a multi-tilt mechanism, 165 degrees of recline, and 4D arms. The Memory Foam head pillow now has magnets so it doesn’t shift even as you do.
Vertagear vs Secretlab: What’s the Difference?
Vertagear is a premium gaming chair brand started in 2015 by a mixture of computer hardware veterans, furniture specialists, designers, and gamers.
When it comes to gaming chairs, Secretlab is definitely one of the top dogs. They offer some of the most premier and innovative gaming chair designs and are one of the most active companies in the eSports scene.
Now that you’ve been introduced to both Vertagear and Secretlab’s respective lines of gaming chairs, it’s time to put them head to head by first discussing their differences. Then, in the next section, I’ll directly compare Vertagear and Secretlab models!
Brand Reputation
A brand’s reputation is a game-changer, and that’s true outside of chairs as well. After all, if a brand is not very renowned among its consumer base, then those consumers will choose another company to give their hard-earned money to.
That said, there’s not a hardline difference between the reputation of Vertagear and Secretlab. The companies are about as old as one another, so it’s not like one has a long-standing legacy..
Secretlab is more of a household name in gaming chairs, so to speak. If you look at lists of the best gaming chairs for the year, you’re bound to see Secretlab mentioned at least once. In the case of GamesRadar, they included every Secretlab chair in their review.
As for Vertagear? They’re not topping any lists of best gaming chairs. That’s not to say they’re a bad brand; far from it. They’re just not as well-known, and that certainly does influence the average consumer’s purchasing decision.
Those who do know the Vertagear brand are usually quite complimentary. For instance, on Amazon, the S-Line Slim SL2000 gaming chair is very highly rated. Customers have called it a “great chair” and lauded how the SL2000 was “easy to set up.” Some reviewers have even said, “if I could give this chair six stars I would.”
It’s not just the SL2000 that’s a big hit; many of Vertagear’s gaming chairs have similarly high marks.
Secretlab chairs are equally as popular and get rave reviews as well. Since Secretlab’s chairs aren’t on Amazon, I only have the reviews on their website to go from.
Esports gamer Puppy, the Team Secret Captain, has said of the Titan Evo 2022’s Technogel armrests: “…the…armrests are simply amazing – they’re actually cool! …the gel armrests mold to your personal positioning to really give the perfect resting area.”
CNET.com wrote this of the Omega: “The OMEGA has been great in keeping my lower back pains away, even after hours of being seated while working on my reviews.”
Both Vertagear and Secretlab have received their fair share of awards as well. Vertagear has gotten accolades from XtremeHardware and bit-tech, among others.
Secretlab won awards from CNET (Best Gaming Chair), PC Gamer (Editor’s Pick), Tom’s Hardware (Editor’s Choice Award), Highsnobiety (Favorite Gaming Chair), and many others.
Number of Models Offered
If you want variety in your gaming chair models, Vertagear is the brand for you. The brand offers nine chairs between its three main series, which should give you more than enough variety to peruse.
As I talked about earlier, each of these chairs is available at different price points, but I’ll get to more about price a little later in this section.
At current, Secretlab has three gaming chair models to choose from: the 2020 Omega, the 2020 Titan, or the Titan Evo 2022.
Materials and Build Quality
Let’s start with the materials that Vertagear uses in its gaming chairs. In many of the models, the chairs are upholstered with PUC leather, which Vertagear says is like a combination of PU leather and PVC and is the best of both.
If not PUC leather, then some Triigger gaming chairs include calfskin leather. This premium leather is a fine grain with a great texture that feels rich to the touch.
The Triigger line has DuPont TPEE mesh for breathability. The elastomer mesh is designed for hours upon hours of use. Even in high temperatures, the DuPont mesh should not wear down.
The base of many Vertagear chairs is aluminum alloy for reduced weight. Some chairs, like in the P Series, include ultra-premium high-resilience or UPHR foam seats that resist deformities. It’s not quite memory foam, but Vertagear says it’s darn near close.
The build quality of Vertagear chairs is good, and in some chairs, even excellent. The more money you’re willing to spend on a Vertagear gaming chair, the higher the quality the chair will be.
Secretlab offers a variety of upholstery materials, from the PRIME 2.0 PU leather in the 2020 Series chairs to the EVO Hybrid Leatherette in the new Titan Evo 2022 chair. Both materials have the flex, softness, and look of real leather but without the hefty price tag.
Should you want the real deal, you can outfit your Secretlab gaming chair with NAPA leather. It will be luxurious and sure to look and feel great for a long time to come.
The third upholstery material is the SoftWeave fabric, which is soft and inviting. You have no mesh options though, so that means you don’t get as much breathability.
The armrests of Secretlab chairs feature a PU coating for keeping your elbows and forearms comfortable as you game for hours. The 4D arms are metal underneath for durability and support.
The Signature Memory Foam used in the headrest and backrest pillows has cooling technology and even magnets in the case of the Titan Evo 2022 chair. Secretlab’s own patent-pending cold-cure foam mix is different from the memory foam, as it’s firmer where needed.
The chairs use an ADC12 aluminum wheelbase with extra-large PU caster wheels.
Although it’s a tough competition, I have to say the build quality of the Secretlab gaming chairs is better. Considering that some Secretlab chairs are priced at about the same as a Vertagear chair (provided you skip the costly NAPA leather), the quality you get at a $500 price point is much better in the Secretlab than the Vertagear.
Comfort
When it comes to your comfort, both the Vertagear and the Secretlab chair prioritize it in different ways. Vertagear offers neck and lumbar support in the form of memory foam pillows as well as an adjustable backrest, but their ergonomics could go further.
Secretlab gaming chairs have lumbar support knobs for the 2020 models while the Titan Evo 2022 introduces the new L-ADAPT four-way lumbar support system.
This patent-pending system can move out, in, down, or up so that no matter how you like to move your back and body throughout the day, the living hinges in the lattice will flex as your spine does.
This is a much more advanced ergonomic support feature that’s on par with what you’d see in a much costlier Herman Miller office chair (which gamers with a big budget flock to).
Adjustability
It’s a more even match in the adjustability department. Both gaming chair brands use Class 4 lifts, although for Secretlab, it’s a hydraulic lift compared to Vertagear’s gas lift. You can tilt your chair, lock its recline, set the seat height, and shift the armrests.
Secretlab chairs give you 165 degrees of recline, and that’s unchanged no matter which of their gaming chairs you select. As for Vertagear’s gaming chairs, you can usually only tilt to about 140 degrees, and sometimes it’s less than that.
The armrests are another bone I have to pick with Vertagear. Secretlab gaming chairs have always offered 4D armrests, which are something that many gamers have come to expect. A set of 4D armrests can move in, out, up, down, and pivot at angles so they’re out of the way or adjusted just as you like them.
Some Vertagear gaming chairs have 4D arms, but the lowest-cost ones have only 2D armrests. That’s not going to work for many gamers.
Aesthetics
Aesthetics are a personal choice. Some people might like the racing-inspired, color-blocked faux leather upholstery of some of Vertagear’s less expensive chairs. Others might find it gaudy.
Secretlab’s base chairs without any of the custom skins are timeless, but Vertagear has chairs that look like Secretlab’s as well. Plus, as you’ll recall, you have many custom skinning options for your Secretlab gaming chair, some that are much more appealing than others.
Price
Here’s something you might find surprising: Vertagear and Secretlab gaming chairs are not priced all that differently from one another. Even the Titan Evo 2022 chair starts at $500 if you forego the NAPA leather.
That said, for the real leather, you’ll pay twice that at $1,000+. At that point, now you’re getting into costly Herman Miller chair territory.
Vertagear vs Secretlab Models Compared
As I said I would, I now want to put both Vertagear and Secretlab office chairs to the test by doing some direct comparisons between models.
Vertagear SL2000 vs Secretlab OMEGA
The Vertagear SL2000 is a solid entry into their line of racing style gaming chairs featuring excellent build quality and durability at an affordable price.
The OMEGA series is Secretlab's flagship gaming chair model. It features a simple and clean design, high-quality construction quality, and excellent comfort for hardcore gaming sessions.
To start, let’s pit the Vertagear SL2000 against the Secretlab Omega 2020 edition.
The SL2000 is a $350 gaming chair available in a rainbow of colors as well as several gaming skins. Its PUC upholstery gives the SL2000 the look and feel of real leather but on the cheap. Beneath that upholstery is UPHR high-density foam.
The steel base of the chair, when combined with the five-star aluminum alloy base, makes the SL2000 very sturdy. Its Class 4 gas lifts allow you to adjust the chair such as tilting (and tilt locking), setting the backrest angle (limited to 140 degrees), and raising or lowering the seat height.
Neck and lumbar support pillows, both of which are removable, are suitable lumbar support on a budget. The arms are 2D and the casters are Penta RS1 PU casters for carpet and hardware alike.
The Secretlab Omega is available with SoftWeave fabric, NAPA leather, or PRIME 2.0 PU leather. The chair costs $500 for the SoftWeave fabric or PU leather and $999 for the NAPA leather.
The cold-cure foam mix benefits your posture and provides support but is never stiff. The metal 4D armrests are padded with PU material and are concave in shape to provide further support.
Speaking of foam, the dual Signature Memory Foam pillows support your body, including your lower back and neck. The head pillow even has cooling gel.
You can lean back into the lengthy backrest and utilize 165 degrees of recline. The lumbar support knob on the side of the chair lets you set the backrest tension until it matches your comfort levels.
The multi-tilt mechanism is another handy feature, and with Class 4 hydraulics, all adjustments are whisper-quiet and very smooth.
The Omega’s ADC12 aluminum wheelbase features gussets and ribbing for additional reinforcement. Extra-large caster wheels are gentle and roll easily.
Vertagear SL5000 vs Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 Series
The Vertagear SL5000 is one of the best value gaming chairs on the market. For the price, it's a tough one to beat.
The Secretlab Titan is a premium gaming chair that offers top-notch build quality, adjustability, comfort, various design options, and multiple size options.
Read our full Secretlab Titan Review
Next, there’s the Vertagear SL5000, which is a plusher option in the S Series. This gaming chair too is coated in PUC synthetic faux leather with HygennX upholstery. HygennX is a breathable material that controls both bacteria and odors.
Many of the best Vertagear features are included in the SL5000, among them UPHR foam, a steel frame with an aluminum alloy base, Penta R1 casters, and Class 4 gas lifts. You can tilt the backrest to 140 degrees and enjoy 4D armrests.
Lumbar and neck support pillows are filled with memory foam to pad your body as you sit. You can also set the height of the seat and the tilt angle, locking it in place when you want.
The Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 Series is a powerhouse of a gaming chair. As I talked about earlier, you can now select EVO Hybrid Leatherette, which exceeds even Secretlab’s PRIME 2.0 faux leather.
The SoftWeave fabric is SoftWeave Plus, so it too is new and improved for looks, enjoyment, comfort, and durability. NAPA leather is also an option, and of course, you can customize your chair’s look to your heart’s content through skins.
The Titan Evo is available in three sizes. Small is for users under 200 pounds who are shorter than five feet, six inches. The regular size supports users around 220 pounds who are up to six feet, two inches. Then there’s the XL for users up to 395 pounds and six feet, nine inches.
The cold-cure foam (still patent-pending) in the Titan Evo 2022 provides medium-level firmness that’s not hard on your body but isn’t too soft and pliable either. A pebble seat is curved and flared in just the right places to give you plenty of seating room and support for your lower half.
The L-ADAPT four-way lumbar support system is the real star of the show, with that realistic hinged latticework offering exceptional support that no pillows can match. That said, you do get a Signature Memory Foam head pillow with magnets and cooling gel.
Secretlab even improved the Class 4 hydraulics for easier reclining in the Titan Evo 2022 (up to 165 degrees). A suspension system built into the chair makes it easy to set the tilt tension and the chair angle.
The metal 4D arms are back, but this time, they include the CloudSwap system for replacing your armrests whenever the need or interest arises.
The Titan Evo 2022 chair still has an ADC12 aluminum wheelbase, but this time with even more reinforcements for structure and weight balance. XL caster wheels are included too.
Vertagear PL6000 vs Secretlab Titan
If you're a big and tall individual, then the Vertagear PL6000 is the way to go. It features and sturdy and durable construction with a weight capacity of 440 lbs
The Secretlab Titan is a premium gaming chair that offers top-notch build quality, adjustability, comfort, various design options, and multiple size options.
Read our full Secretlab Titan Review
The last comparison is the Vertagear PL6000 and the Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 Series.
Like the new and improved Titan, the PL6000 is wider, although it only comes in one size. For smaller gamers, the PL6000 might be too big.
Its metal frame can support users up to 440 pounds, so it does beat the Titan Evo 2022 in that area. The UPHR foam is comparable to Secretlab’s cold-cure foam but not quite as good.
The Penta RS1 casters of the PL6000 are still a great feature, but its PUC upholstery feels lacking when Secretlab makes leather alternatives that are closer and closer to the real thing.
The PL6000 doesn’t have a lumbar support feature that’s comparable to the L-ADAPT system, instead offering lumbar and neck pillows and an adjustable backrest.
Vertagear vs Secretlab: Which Is Better?
When it comes to gaming chairs, Secretlab is definitely one of the top dogs. They offer some of the most premier and innovative gaming chair designs and are one of the most active companies in the eSports scene.
Okay, it’s decision-making time. What will it be, Vertagear or Secretlab?
As I hope I’ve proven throughout this guide, both gaming chair brands have their merits. You can’t necessarily choose wrong between these two companies, so you shouldn’t stress too hard about your decision.
I personally prefer Secretlab. The build quality of their gaming chairs started out excellent and only continues to improve as the years go by. The Titan Evo 2022 Series is one of the best chairs on the market for its price range, and that includes office chairs and gaming chairs alike.
If you’re on a tight budget, Vertagear works. I’d also recommend their chairs for younger gamers who don’t need a lot of ergonomics. For those who plan on gaming for hours, especially if you plan to stream on camera and you want a legit chair for your audience to see, Secretlab is the chair for you.
Conclusion
The choice between Vertagear and Secretlab gaming chairs is a hard one, but I hope this guide helps make it a little easier. I want to stress that above all, both these brands are fantastic, even if one is a little better than the other. As I said before, you can’t choose wrong. Good luck!