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There are now countless gaming chairs on the market. Surprises are rarely found among the relatively uniform offerings. Ultimately, one idea stands out: the OSIM uThrone. It is a gaming chair with a built-in massage function. The seating furniture therefore offers real added value.
The Massage chair world presents the world's first gaming massage chair of its kind: the uThrone. The office chair has an integrated massage function with a real roller massage for the neck and back. In addition, immersive speakers are built into the headrests of the chair. The uThrone from the OSIM brand is sold by Massagesessel-Welt in Germany and will be available online from November 2023 and, for the first time, for testing in the Massagesessel-Welt shops and showrooms. Since September 2020, the founders Michael Roedeske and Manuela Radu have been running the massage chair world online and stationary. The company currently offers specialist advice in Stuttgart and Leverkusen as well as trial seats in Bad Säckingen, Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich.
It is well known that sitting for hours is not healthy. This can be a problem, especially for gaming fans, because leisurely gaming sessions usually take place on the couch in front of the console or on the games PC and therefore at the desk, mostly sitting. Even young people are at risk of developing back problems. The numbers speak for themselves: According to a survey by the Robert Koch Institute, almost 60 percent of Germans report back pain within the past six months; almost 45 percent have neck pain. A lack of exercise has unpleasant consequences early on; leisure activities between streaming and gaming prevent many minutes of fresh air or cause additional passivity.
Suitable for gaming: pain in the lower back area comes about. twice as common as upper back pain. The lumbar spine also suffers during extended gaming because the body usually collapses. It's really comfortable without any physical tension. To compensate for this, ergonomic office chairs and ultimately gaming chairs were invented. They not only look good, but also fulfill functions that are intended to support a healthy back. There are enough reasons to buy a gaming chair.
And the professionals are now demonstrating what's important when it comes to gaming: e-athletes not only train for hours in front of the screen, but also exercise enough, eat healthily and use gaming accessories, which include mice, keyboards and headphones with bling. Effects also include ergonomic gaming chairs. It is not uncommon for the chair manufacturers to even act as sponsors in the professional e-sports segment. The manufacturer OSIM from Singapore also maintains close contacts with the industry: with JJ Lin, for example, a singer-songwriter and founder of the e-sports team SMG (Still Moving under Gunfire).
With the uThrone, OSIM International, the full name of the manufacturer, has combined two worlds: gaming and wellness. The company has been around for over 40 years and has correspondingly extensive experience in the production of wellness technologies. OSIM won an innovation award at the CES 2022 trade fair with a massage chair. Gaming fans can now also enjoy seating options tailored to their needs from professionals.
OSIM uThrone: Sit like kings
There is no doubt that the OSIM uThrone belongs to the luxury class. The price of around 900 euros already indicates what this gaming chair wants to be: Not standard.
The first shock upon delivery: the package weighs around 33 kilograms and is one meter long. The product comes home via shipping company; So making an appointment is essential. Of course, as we all know, luxury starts with the packaging. It's not particularly pretty (a plain cardboard box), but it's all the more functional. Styrofoam on the sides protects the expensive goods from damage; Each component of the gaming chair is individually packaged, and separators are inserted in critical areas to prevent abrasion. And in fact not even the smallest screw had a scratch. Exemplary. You can't do it much better.
Features of OSIM uThrone:
Current: 100 to 240V
Power consumption: 60 watts
Seat extension height: 10 cm
Armrest extension height: 6,5 cm
Dimensions with inclined backrest: 68 x 65,5 x 121 cm
Dimensions with the backrest tilted: 138 x 65,5 x 98,5 cm
Net weight: 27,5 kilograms
Model Number: OS-8201
Other: Bluetooth speaker integrated
Massage functions:
Automatic: three programs
Manual: position selection, kneading or rolling & tapping
Massage timer: 15 minutes
The second shock: The thing wants to be assembled. Anyone who has ever bought a gaming chair already knows this. The chair is in individual parts in the cardboard box: backrest, seat, head and lumbar cushions, footrest and castors - all of this needs to be assembled. The enclosed instructions are helpful; they are in German and have detailed illustrations. The OSIM uThrone was assembled in just under 30 minutes. It's not complicated. And it doesn't require any great craftsmanship either. There are only six screws that need to be screwed in. Two steps later you can try sitting - and possibly even enjoy your first massage.
Massage: rolling, kneading, tapping
Incidentally, this causes the third shock – again in a positive sense. There is a lot of power behind the massage function. The rollers really knead your back and neck. There are three different auto programs for relaxing the muscles - each massage lasts 15 minutes - and it actually feels really soothing.
The rollers run from the lower back up to the neck area, covering all potential “weak points” of the gamer’s body. If you want, you can also adjust the massage settings manually, select the area to be kneaded or adjust the width of the rollers. They tap or circle over the muscles, loosening and relaxing. If you switch on the function for the very first time, you shouldn't be alarmed: in contrast to cheap massage mats, the rollers are not stingy with their power.
And the power consumption? At 60 watts it is pleasantly low. Given the ever-increasing energy prices, this factor is relevant, but there is no waste of electricity with the OSIM uThrone given the great added value of the massage function.
Two of the gimmicks of the luxurious gaming chair are particularly cool: two Bluetooth speakers are built into the head area, which can be used to play music, for example. This may seem surprising at first glance given a gaming chair, as the PC is switched on anyway. Not always: If you just let yourself knead comfortably, you can use songs or audio books - or relaxing sounds - even without a computer. Or even with that Nintendo Switch, because this also worked without any problems in the OSIM uThrone test. When the connection is successful, you will hear a short “ping” and then the sound will start. Pretty clever!
The second gimmick is the idea behind the control panel for the massage functions. This is hidden under the right armrest and can be opened using a sliding mechanism. This protects the buttons and at the same time means that the pushers are always within reach. In any case, it's a much better solution than a remote control - you misplace it and sitting on an armchair there would hardly be any sensible reason to control it from a distance anyway.
And flaws? These also exist, but they are almost negligible. On the one hand, the cable for powering the massage function is a bit short; one meter more would have been nice. On the other hand, you won't want to roll the chair any further away from your desk, so the length of the cable will only be a nuisance if your home socket is inconveniently located in the wall. An extension can of course help if necessary. The plug in the OSIM uThrone can also be easily removed, so that you could only supply the chair with energy when you want to use the massage. Not a real flaw, but the adjustable armrests take some getting used to in those situations where you sit down and lean up to hold onto the chair. You tend to move the backrests - but that's ultimately not a problem. Once you've internalized this after a few days, it won't happen anymore.
uThrone: Gaming chair, obviously
Now the armchair and massage obviously sound like wellness - the uThrone from OSIM can still be clearly identified as a gaming accessory. Fortunately, despite the features, the model looks no different from gaming chairs as we know them. The armchair is modern but simple. It is available in three colors: black, black/orange, black/pink and black/purple.
However, looks alone are not enough for an ergonomic gaming chair. However, the uThrone also impresses when it comes to comfort. The controls for adjusting the chair are typically located on the right side, easily accessible. The height can be adjusted using a compressed air piston; the backrest can be tilted into a lying position - up to 145 degrees. This makes it really comfortable, especially in conjunction with the massage function. The sliding headrest and lumbar cushion can be removed.
The workmanship is worthy of a luxury gaming chair. With a seat foam density of 50 kilograms per cubic meter, you sit softly but don't sink into the chair. Even after hours of gaming (or working!), the OSIM uThrone remains comfortable. In the end, that's exactly what matters: you sit comfortably, your back is comfortably supported. You have to get involved with this first, because you sometimes tend to always lean forward - into an unhealthy position.
When working at a desk – or when using a mouse and keyboard – it is important to adjust the armrests. And the manufacturer doesn't make any mistakes with this detail either: the armrests can be adjusted forwards or backwards and in height. They click into place audibly and securely when adjusted. Nice detail: the armrests are slightly curved inwards (concave), which ensures comfort and prevents slipping. The backrests also have a harder rubber padding, which provides strength and support for the elbows, but without causing uncomfortable pressure.
Infobox
Manufacturer: OSIM
Producer Page: OSIM International
Price: around 900 euros
Model: Gaming chair with massage
Sales: online retail, specialist retailers (Massagesesselwelt.de)
Shipping: Packed, for self-assembly
Instructions: German, illustrated
Assembly: around 30 minutes
Conclusion
The OSIM uThrone gaming chair with massage function is pure luxury. This is noticeable in the price of the chair, but especially in the quality: the upholstery with a synthetic leather surface is durable, easy to clean and offers the perfect balance of comfort and hardness. The back is kept in an ergonomic position even when sitting for long periods of time, especially in the lumbar area. The back is usually particularly sensitive here, so gaming fans benefit from the additional support cushion. Both the headrest and lumbar pillow are also softer memory foam.
In any case, the OSIM uThrone impresses in the test primarily because of the material. It is unmistakable that the manufacturer has many years of experience in wellness chairs. The armchair is suitable for a body height between 160 and 185 centimeters and a weight of up to around 110 kilograms. Even without a massage function, the gaming chair would be one that you would happily sink into during longer sessions at your desk - if you consider the massage rollers to be a central feature, the OSIM uThrone is currently unrivaled.
The massage function is powerful but has a relaxing effect. Studies have shown that around 15 minutes of massage every day can help reduce stress. If you've tested the gaming chair for a few days, you can certainly understand this: after a long day at work or an exciting raid in World of Warcraft or a few annoying multiplayer matches in Call of Duty or Rainbow Six Siege, a short massage is extremely refreshing. At first you are actually surprised at how valuable the function ultimately is in everyday use.
Despite the solid workmanship and additional features, the gaming chair does not stand out unpleasantly at the desk. In short: If you want to sit comfortably while gaming, appreciate a massage as added value and are also prepared to spend a little more money for quality, you can use it without hesitation.
