Secretlab is a relatively new comer to the gaming chair market. Its most premium product, the Omega Stealth, just reached our shores this month and we’ve had the opportunity to try it out. To be honest, we rarely get to play around with expensive furniture and this was a whole lot of fun.
What Is It?
The Secretlab Omega Stealth is a high end gaming chair. It resembles the love child of a bucket seat and an expensive office chair. Interestingly, while many gaming chairs lean towards the bucket seat design, the Omega Stealth feels more like office furniture. This is not necessarily a bad thing, considering that the intended audience are more likely to be stuck indoors than in a fast moving vehicle.
At the moment, the Omega Stealth only comes in black leather, giving it a slightly classier look; instead of the garish neon colours that have become the sign of a gaming product. The red stitching highlights the curves of the chair, and provides a neat contrast against the black background. It was rather clever of Secretlab to use the stitching to break up the monotony of all that black leather; although the company has also provided some texture along the sides of the backrest. The texture doesn’t actually do anything, but it is rather visually pleasing.
The arm rests resemble something off an office chair, with the thick plastic standing atop a steel post. The rests themselves can be adjusted in three directions, and lock into place with a series of tabs and buttons. Interestingly, the arms cannot be angled diagonally; this looks more like a result of the oval shape of the post more than anything else. The top of the arm rests contain a soft plastic and isn’t quite as solid as it looks. Which is a nice touch.
Frankly, the office chair comparison makes the Omega Stealth a little more interesting. It isn’t just a gaming chair for people who want a seat to play games for long hours in, but also a potential option for a regular office chair. At least for those who can afford something like this.
Is It Any Good?
As far as I am concerned, it is rather brilliant. The design of the backrest accommodates users that are just as likely to be leaning forward as they are sitting in a reclining position. Sitting in the Omega Stealth has done wonders for my back and makes it easier to sit in front of a computer all day. It provides excellent lower back support which is great in preventing me from hunching over a keyboard. The only problem is fighting off sleep in the office while comfortably encased in the Omega.
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The best part of the Omega Stealth is the tilt available on the backrest. It is capable of about 80-degrees of motion, allowing the user to lean back into an excellent reclining position. Combined with the two velour pillows for lumbar and head support, this becomes an excellent napping chair; or it would if there was more space behind me.
Spending some time with the Omega Stealth has changed my perspective on gaming chairs. Forget about gaming, this is the kind of chair that I would want to have anywhere. I have come to believe that these are the sorts of things that would be better in an office setting. The price isn’t too far off from the price of premium executive chairs, and honestly this has a more comfortable design. Although, good luck convincing your boss to buy one of these for everyone in the office.
The Bad Stuff. Tell Me.
The biggest problem with the Omega Stealth is the price tag. At US$349 (which is about RM1,500), it hurts the wallet a little more than most gamers would be willing to endure. There are a lot of things that a gamer would rather spend that kind of money on; like more games or upgrading a gaming rig. Don’t get me wrong, there will be no buyer’s remorse should anyone pull the trigger. The problem is getting to the point of actually buying this chair.
Aside from the price tag, there was a tiny problem with interpreting the instructions. Mainly because our review unit wasn’t shipped with instructions in the first place. Secretlab hosts the manual on its site, but it would have been nice to have a physical copy on hand. It might have been done to keep costs down and maybe help the environment a little, meaning that this is a minor nitpick at best.
The lack of diagonal movement on the armrests could also be an issue for some. I personally didn’t even notice it was missing until someone pointed it out. That being said, it is impossible to ignore once you know the function is missing.
Should I Buy It?
Yes, especially if you have the spare cash and value your posture. Proper ergonomics is important while putting together a proper gaming station, and really shouldn’t only apply to PC gaming. Those setting up home offices might also look into something like this, especially if they intend to spend long hours at the desk.
On the other hand, the price is listed in US dollars and the exchange rate doesn’t do us Malaysians any favours. While the price tag is reasonable, and even mildly affordable, in Secretlab’s home country of Singapore, the choice of currency translates into something that costs as much as competing products here in Malaysia. Secretlab’s goal is to produce affordable gaming chairs, and with any luck the company will be able to sort out some better logistics to reduce the price. Or we could wait until the economy recovers, because three months ago these chairs would be a steal to buy.
