Pros & Cons
-
- Sturdy, comfortable design
- Above-average warranty
- Inexpensive
-
- Lacks a tilt mechanism
It’s easy to find a low-cost gaming chair, but more often than not, it won't be a good one. I've tested many sub-$300 chairs that were flimsy, uncomfortable, and/or annoyingly squeaky. AndaSeat’s new budget-friendly chair, the $249 Novis, manages to avoid those pitfalls and feels surprisingly nice to sit in due to its well-designed build. Despite lacking a tilt mechanism, the AndaSeat Novis is one of the best affordable chairs I've tested, unseating the Razer Enki X to earn our Editors' Choice award.
Design: Two Sizes, Two Materials, Two Colors
(Credit: Will Greenwald)The Novis is available in black faux leather or gray fabric versions, each in L ($249) or XL ($279) sizes. The L chair is recommended for people who stand between 5'1' and 6'3' and weigh between 77 and 198 pounds (with a maximum weight of 264 pounds). The XL chair is recommended for people standing between 5'5" and 6'11" and weighing 77 to 265 pounds (with a maximum of 330 pounds). AndaSeat sent me the gray fabric L model for review.
Assembly: The Usual Process
The assembly process is par for the course. You simply put the wheels and gas cylinder in the base, bolt the chair back to the seat, attach the armrests and mounting plate to the seat's bottom, and pop the chair's mounting plate onto the gas cylinder. It isn't particularly arduous, but there aren't any useful design niceties like plates or brackets to keep the seat and back aligned while you connect them. It took about 15 minutes to set up.
Adjustments: No Tilt Mechanism
As a bare-bones gaming chair, the Novis doesn't have many adjustments. With the L model I tested, I upped the seat from 17.5 to 21.5 inches (it's 18.1 to 22.1 inches with the XL model), extended the armrest height from 7.9 to 10.6 inches above the seat, and reclined the chair from 90 to 155 degrees. That's it. You can't shift the armrests forward, backward, left, or right, or tweak the chair’s lower back curve like you can with pricier chairs featuring 4D armrests and advanced lumbar mechanisms like the Secretlab Titan Evo or Razer Iskur V2. Note that those premium gaming chairs cost twice as much as the Novis.
(Credit: Will Greenwald)The biggest missing feature is an omission shared by Razer's entry-level Enki X: tilt. Although the chair back reclines with the pull of a lever, the seat doesn't tilt. It isn't a big deal if you're planning to spend all your time sitting upright with a mouse and keyboard. However, the omission is limiting if you want to just lean back with a gamepad. The reclining function locks the chair wherever you set it, so you can't relax and rock back like you can with more expensive seats.
Similar Products
Our Current Picks for The Best Gaming Chairs for 2026
Unsurprisingly, the Novis doesn't come with accessories like lumbar or head pillows. However, AndaSeat offers a memory foam lumbar cushion for an extra $39.
Feel: Solid and Comfortable
Despite the lack of frills, the Novis' construction is surprisingly good. The dense, cold-cure foam padding takes up the entire seat and back, without the hollows you find in many inexpensive gaming chairs. It’s a bit softer than most foam-padded gaming chairs I've tested, but not squishy or unsupportive. You won't sink into the Novis, but you should look elsewhere if you want a super-firm seat. The fabric upholstery is soft and sturdy. I can't speak to the faux leather version's texture or ruggedness, except for cat-friendliness; fabric chairs are always more resilient to cat claws than leatherette chairs, no matter how much money you spend.
(Credit: Will Greenwald)The wheelbase's construction changes depending on the chair size. The L version has a nylon base, while the XL version has an iron base. Metal bases are sturdier than nylon, though the base on the L model I tested is fairly strong; it didn't bend or crack during our test period.
Although it lacks a lumbar cushion or support mechanism, the Novis has a lumbar arch that feels very natural. In fact, the entire chair rested comfortably against my fairly large frame. The seat's sides and chair back arched gently enough so that I didn't feel squished during testing. The least comfortable aspect is simply due to its lack of tilt; I've gotten very accustomed to rocking back on my chairs.
Warranty: 3 to 5 Years
Out of the box, the Novis has an above-average three-year warranty. AndaSeat has a policy similar to Secretlab, where the warranty extends to five years for free if you share a picture of your chair on social media. It’s a minor, if slightly irritating, hoop to jump through, but it means one of the longest warranties you'll find on a gaming chair not made by Anthros or Herman Miller with their lengthy 12-year warranties.
Final Thoughts
AndaSeat Novis Gaming Chair
AndaSeat's excellent entry-level Novis is a comfortable and sturdy gaming chair priced well under $300.