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Black Friday deals have arrived, and they're hitting the best gaming chairs hard. I was skimming through all the offers on Friday when I noticed that two of my absolute favorite gaming chairs are both heavily discounted, and if I were buying today, I'd have a tough job choosing between them.
The Fractal Refine and the Corsair TC500 Luxe are two of the best gaming chairs money can buy right now, and as someone who has sat in both for months at a time, I think I can help you determine which one is right for you. As great and as versatile as they both are, I think these two Black Friday gaming chair deals cater to different needs and body shapes.
I'd actually recommend both the Fractal Refine and the Corsair TC500 Luxe at their full prices. Compared to rivals like the ones on offer in Black Friday Secretlab deals, both of these chairs actually present phenomenal value for money. You get a lot of the same adjustability and features as you would with a premium brand like Secretlab, but with a better level of cushioning, in my opinion.
You could be drawn to either chair because of their unique design. Neither looks immediately like a gaming seat in the traditional sense, even if it's clear that both of them are desk chairs. Fractal took a more minimalist, slender approach with the Refine that completely ignores the racing-style seat shape of most gaming chairs. Corsair's TC500 Luxe looks almost like an antique leather armchair you'd find in a very fancy library.
Straight off the bat, I'd recommend these chairs to different people thanks to their designs. I think the Fractal Refine lends itself to someone with a narrower build, or anyone who tends to sit upright in their chair. The Corsair option has a wider seatbase, and its armrests are farther apart (even at their narrowest setting), so I think that suits someone with a broader build, or those who like to switch positions and cross their legs frequently.
If you're buying a new chair due to back pain, and you want something that will help improve your posture, I'd opt for the Fractal Refine. It has, quite frankly, a sublime blend of ergonomics, adjustability, and comfort. It's got a thin layer of cushioning or a mesh back option, which allows for comfort, but its minimalist approach means it's really just supporting your spine into a healthy position. If you have a chair that's too plush, you can lose that posture support, but if it's too aggressive in keeping your spine aligned, you lose comfort. Fractal nailed that ratio for me, and the adjustable seat depth in particular is something I think lends itself to promoting good posture while also being able to shift your weight around from time to time.
Meanwhile, Corsair has an excellent level of cushioning that's springy and almost never left me with a numb tailbone. If you've tried a Secretlab chair and you think it was a little too firm, I think Corsair is the alternative you'll like. It still has ergonomics and adjustability - like with its integrated lumbar support, you can move around with scroll wheels. Its wider seat just means you can lounge in it a bit more and benefit from comfort in longer sessions, and it's clear to me that was a priority of this seat from a design standpoint.
Truth be told, both chairs are seeing fantastic discounts for Black Friday this year. I think these gaming thrones are good enough that no matter which you buy, you'll appreciate them, but hopefully, some of what I've said here has helped you determine which you might prefer in the long run.
- Fractal Refine: $399 at Amazon
- Corsair TC500 Luxe: $424 at Amazon
- AndaSeat Novis: $218 at Amazon
There are more discounts to be claimed. Check out the best Black Friday gaming PC deals, Black Friday Meta Quest deals, and Black Friday VR headset deals.
