Three months ago, Corsair announced the TC80 gaming chair. At the time, I was pretty excited for it, because it (A) strips back the overly-gamefied stylings and (B) is, according to Corsair, “affordable.” Back then we didn’t have the price, but now we do.
It’s going to cost just $200/£170/€180, though this is “subject to change.” For context, that’s $50 cheaper than our current pick for the best budget gaming chair, the ThunderX3 Solo 360. Of course we don’t know how nice this Corsair will be to actually sit on yet, but the old Corsair TC100 Relaxed was our pick as best budget chair for a real long time, and it’s good to see a mainstream brand continuing to push for something so affordable compared to the $500–$600 ‘premium’ options we’ve become used to seeing.
Corsair explains all the different kinds of durability and stability testing the chair has gone through, which gives me some level of confidence in it. The tests include dropping 136 kg onto the seat, as well as applying lots of force to different parts of the chair, plenty of times.
Previously, Corsair had said, “they really do abuse these chairs to make sure they’re safe and long-lasting,” and that sounds about right, given these details.
To my eyes, at least, the chair looks pretty lush. The flat and wide base, combined with a not too racer-y back and headrest would make it look at home in an office. Its recline only has a range of 90 to 115 degrees, however, and the armrests don’t seem to be adjustable.
Still, you can’t ask for everything for just $200, which is honestly a fantastic price provided it’s not for some reason uncomfortable. Corsair is also offering two years of warranty, which provides a little security.
