Corsair TC500 Luxe gaming chair review

Corsair’s answer to the Secretlab Titan Evo, the Corsair TC500 Luxe, is the most annoying product I’ve tested in a long time. And not because he is bad – quite the opposite. No, it’s annoying because it could have been close to perfect if Corsair had done one basic thing differently.

If it was a bad chair, I wouldn’t find it so annoying because then I might just write the chair off as unacceptable. But the TC500 Luxe has a lot to offer, from its understated design to its ergonomic adjustability. But there is one thing to hate and that is the placement of the armrests.

Yes, I said armrest placementand not just “armrests”. The supports themselves are pleasant to the touch and can be adjusted in almost every way. In every respect, that is, except perhaps the most critical one: distance from the chair.

Now listen, I’m not exaggerating. I’m a large boy, and even I feel a little reluctant to slide my arms across the open cavern on either side of the seat and place them on the otherwise pretty armrests. If I were thinner, maybe it wouldn’t bother me at all. It’s not like Corsair didn’t also think about adjusting the width of the armrests. They can be adjusted by loosening the screws underneath, but the closest location isn’t close enough.

Like I said, the most annoying thing is that it can be easily fixed. You would just need to drill the adjustable slots on the underside of the armrests a little wider so that you can move them closer to the base of the chair. Nothing stands in the way, other than an odd design choice.

After searching the internet to see if anyone else was bothered by this as much as I was, I discovered that it was. For example, one Reddit user he even said they drilled fresh holes in the armrests to make them closer. And hey, if you’re a DIYer, this may be for you, but it shouldn’t be required for a $500 product.

In my case, I ended up tilting the armrests inward a few degrees so that at least their front was closer to the base of the seat.

Despite this annoying quirk, in every way this gaming chair justifies its premium price. Especially if you’re like me and prefer understated office designs to flashy “Look mom, I’m a gamer!” these. The TC500 Luxe would really suit any above-average office setup. Of course, it still has that racing bucket seat style – it’s just more subtle.

I noticed how premium this thing looked and felt from the moment I unboxed it to put it together. I should add that it was quite a silky process. The chair already had its armrests installed, and the entire process only required a little screwing. Having someone to lend a hand definitely made it easier to install the seat on the base and the backrest on the seat, but I don’t think it would be too tough for one person. Just remember that it is quite ponderous – again, this is a noticeably premium chair.

Apart from the weight, the surprising lack of creaks and groans, and the subtle aesthetic, another factor that makes this a premium product is the material. Because yes, the TC500 Luxe is an all-fabric chair, and the material is, honestly, some of the best I’ve seen in a chair, save for the ultra-breathable fabrics and meshes found in high-end office chairs. The fabric that the TC500 Luxe uses is quite breathable and very comfortable.

I started using this chair after spending the last few years with the Steelcase Leap V2, a simply great premium ergonomic office chair. Naturally, my expectations for comfort were quite high, as were my suspicions about racing-style chairs. So, with no tiny amount of confirmation, I can say that I find the Corsair TC500 Luxe incredibly comfortable to sit in.

Not at first, of course, but after a few weeks of utilize, the TC500 Luxe felt great and still does. For starters, the edges of the seat were digging into my legs a bit, which can only be a problem for other wide guys who spread out like there’s no tomorrow. After a few days – I guess after the corners had softened slightly or my body had adjusted naturally – it wasn’t a problem at all. After that and adjusting things to my liking it was perfect.

At first I was a little surprised at how firm the seat was, but it actually hovers at a pretty sweet spot on the plumpness scale. After the initial break-in period, I didn’t feel any pain at all, even after sitting for long periods of time. It also has a very wide seat base (59 cm), so at least some of you should be able to sit cross-legged on it if that’s your preferred way.

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By the way, the customizations should cover everything you might want. It does almost everything my ergonomically minded Leap V2 does with surprising proficiency. We’re talking about lumbar support that can be adjusted inward, outward, up and down, as well as adjustable seat height, tilt tension, tilt lock, recline adjustment, and armrest adjustment that includes a full 180-degree rotation.

On this last point – says Korsarz“If the armrests are rotated 180 degrees, they will angle upwards, making it more comfortable to hold your phone, Steam Deck, or other mobile gaming device in the right place.” I don’t buy it myself – I find the armrests too far back when rotated – but the more adjustments possible, the better.

One adjustment in particular that I found surprisingly useful is the ability to lock the tilt. For ergonomic reasons, I usually keep the seat upright, and if I want to lean back, I just lean back. But I found the option to lock it in a slight tilt to be great for relaxing while playing with a controller.

Another thing that surprised me is the neck pillow. I had never dealt with them before because I thought they were ergonomically unnecessary. But now I don’t care if it’s unnecessary. Once it’s in the right place, it feels comfortable and that’s it. This TC500 Luxe in particular is also great because it’s magnetic so it’s very uncomplicated to carry around.

The only downside to the neck pillow is that it comes in black, which is great if you order a black chair, but not so great if you order white like I did. Sorry, I should have said “frost”, the other two options were “shade” or “sherwood”.

The frost color is actually a bit off-color, so keep that in mind if you’re looking for something to match other furniture. All the colors look great judging by the reference photos, and I’m very pleased with how the frosty material of my TC500 looks in person. This certainly doesn’t detract from the subtle, high-end aesthetic the chair strives for.

One word of warning though: if, like me, you decide to go frosty, be prepared to tidy it regularly, even with a lint roller. Dust, wool and other contaminants that can stick to it over time can become clearly perceptible on light-colored fabric.

In summary, as you may have noticed, I rate the TC500 Luxe very highly. It looks premium, feels premium, is incredibly adjustable and damn comfortable to sit on, even for long periods of time. I expected to feel more uncomfortable on it compared to my time on the Leap V2, but the transition was surprisingly silky, and I even loved some things the TC500 Luxe has that the Leap doesn’t, like the neck pillow.

But this only makes the armrest problem that much more annoying. Why oh why couldn’t Corsair just drill the armrest adjustment holes an inch closer to the base of the seat? This one problem prevents the TC500 Luxe from reaching the greatness it almost does.

How critical this issue is to you, only you can judge. If you’re not a very wide person, ask yourself: is having armrests that are comfortable to utilize and don’t require you to spread your wings like a chicken critical to you? If so, I would look elsewhere. However, if you can cope with folding the armrests and spreading the arms slightly, or simply not using the rests, the TC500 Luxe is well worth the premium price.