AndaSeat Kaiser 3 XL review: bursting at the seams with features - and value

Luxury, features, and a weirdly awesome price tag

The AndaSeat Kaiser 3 XL gaming chair in an office and gaming space on a wooden floor
(Image: © Future/Zak Storey)

TechRadar Verdict

We’ve reached peak gaming chair, and the AndaSeat Kaiser 3 XL might represent just about the utmost of what’s possible. It's sleek, and comfortable, with large bolsters, and plenty of support for even the heaviest of gaming sessions. Couple that with a reasonable price tag, and a number of different design options, and it’s an easy pick for any home office worker or PC gamer.

Pros

  • +

    Huge feature set

  • +

    Decently comfortable

  • +

    Adjustable lumbar support

Cons

  • -

    Logos and stitching are a bit lackluster

  • -

    Not as professional-looking as some

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Andaseat Kaiser 3 XL: Two-minute review

If you're looking for a great value, do-it-all chair, with all the bells and whistles of some of the bigger brand options (most notably Secretlab) then the AndaSeat Kaiser 3 XL is absolutely the chair for you.

At $500 / £500, the XL gets you an incredibly comfortable, plush, bucket-seat design, combining an impeccable feature set that includes 4D magnetic armrests, in-built adjustable dual-lumbar support, a magnetic pillow headrest, an impressive steel chassis, and some of the best castor wheels I’ve ever seen on a gaming chair. This thing is a monster of a gaming chair, that comes in seven different color combinations in the Premium PVC leather option alone. Swap to fabric mode and you get another two variants on top of that.

It’s still not the cheapest out there, and you are penalized going for the XL over the L (by $100 / £100 depending on your region), but it makes for a darn fine gaming chair, perhaps one of the best gaming chairs out there right now, regardless of your size.

The only downside is that some of the stitched-on logos look kind of pixelated, and its bucket-seat design is a bit antiquated these days as well. In fact, most chair manufacturers (such as the Razer Iskur line, and the Secretlab Titan series) have opted for a more mature look in recent years, one that fits in just as well in a professional office as it does in a gaming room.

Still, if you can look past all that, for the price, it’s hard to be too critical of the AndaSeat Kaiser 3 XL; should you pick one up, it’ll be all the gaming chair you need for many years to come.

AndaSeat Kaiser 3 XL: Price and availability

The AndaSeat Kaiser 3 XL gaming chair in an office and gaming space on a wooden floor

(Image credit: Future/Zak Storey)

Right now, you can pick up the AndaSeat Kaiser 3 XL from a number of major US retailers, including Amazon. It’s available in a variety of color schemes, including the black PVC leather option our review unit was finished in, along with mint green, maroon, and white as well (although the latter will typically cost you $50 extra). As standard it clocks in at just shy of $500.

You can also get a few more colorways when buying directly from AndaSeat, where there’s a wider variety of schemes to choose from. Additionally, if the XL isn’t for you, then you can opt for the slightly cheaper L variant instead, and save yourself $50 in the process (sorry tall people).

For the UK, Amazon and AndaSeat directly are still your best bet (with pricing starting from £500), and the same goes for Europe. In Australia, you can get it shipped from AndaSeat directly (priced in USD) and JB HiFi has the chair available at $750 AUD.

AndaSeat Kaiser 3 XL: Specs

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Row 0 - Cell 0 Row 0 - Cell 1
Max weight of user395lb / 180kg
Max height of user6’8” / 210cm
Recline angle90-165° Backrest recline
Warranty2-years
Lumbar support?Yes
MaterialPVC leather or linen fabric

AndaSeat Kaiser 3 XL: Design and features

The AndaSeat Kaiser 3 XL gaming chair in an office and gaming space on a wooden floor

(Image credit: Future/Zak Storey)

The AndaSeat Kaiser 3 XL follows a very similar design to some of its competition. You still get the five-pronged ergonomic base, some absolutely stunning roller casters (they’re super smooth to glide about on), a full-on bucket seat with comfortable bolsters that aren’t too aggressive, full reclining and locking backrest (pivoting from 90 to 165 degrees), magnetic, four-direction (4D) armrests, a magnetic headrest pillow, and of course the creme de la creme, built-in adjustable dual lumbar support.

The list is quite extensive. Combine that with a plush PVC leather fabric, and some seriously impressive cushioning, and the Kaiser 3 XL is easily one of the most comfortable gaming chairs you can get right now.

If you take a Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 XL and put it side-by-side with the Kaiser 3 XL, the feature set is darn near identical. They look alike aside from some slight tweaks to the sizing and the backrest is different, and AndaSeat does have a more aggressive, traditional bucket shape. But the bolster stitching, the logo placement, the armrests, and the little plate on each arm are all practically the same. 

The AndaSeat Kaiser 3 XL gaming chair in an office and gaming space on a wooden floor

(Image credit: Future/Zak Storey)

That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it feels like you’re paying for a slightly different bucket, castor wheels, base and materials, and a few dimension tweaks, rather than anything majorly different between the two brands. That different bucket and base does lead to some dimension differences. 

The seat base on the Kaiser 3 XL is slightly wider, the bolsters on the Kaiser around the waist area are slightly narrower and slightly broader in the shoulder department, and it’s a slightly lower chair as well (we’re literally talking half an inch in some cases). And it also doesn’t rise quite so high as the Titan Evo does, or the Noblechairs Hero, but that’s really it.

However, the Kaiser 3 XL has one big advantage and that’s the price. The 3 XL is nearly $100 / £100 cheaper than the Secretlab Titan Evo XL, which is a huge price drop by comparison, particularly as you‘re getting practically the exact same feature set.

AndaSeat Kaiser 3 XL: Performance

A user's thumb pressing into the armrest of an AndaSeat Kaiser 3 XL gaming chair

(Image credit: Future/Zak Storey)

But how does the AndaSeat Kaiser 3 XL perform? Well, let me preface with the fact I’m a 5-foot-8.5-inch human (174 cm), the Kaiser 3 XL is suggested for folk 5’11" and above, and I can wholeheartedly say, that is absolutely not true. That’s not to say it's too small for the larger person either; some of my 6-foot-plus colleagues had a blast using it too.

The only awkwardness about being such a short human, by comparison, is how heavy this thing is, and moving the packing box around. AndaSeat has gone above and beyond on the design of the Kaiser 3 XL and there are some seriously premium materials. Whether that’s the PVC leather, the seriously impressive internal bracing, or the awesome amount of steel in the overall construction it’s made this thing an absolute solid unit. Not once have I had any comfort issues at all, even over longer eight-hour days, sat at home working away or in long gaming sessions.

Construction is an absolute breeze, and AndaSeat includes a fairly impressive manual with it too. Everything is packed in the box well, and there are a few nice touches in the accessory box. Building it and working around the tilt arm is a little nerve-wracking, particularly as it comes with a security screw and a strap around the base unit, but otherwise, if you’ve built one gaming chair, you’ll know what you’re doing with the Kaiser 3 XL.

The AndaSeat Kaiser 3 XL gaming chair in an office and gaming space on a wooden floor

(Image credit: Future/Zak Storey)

A lot of the branding and logos are a little disappointing as many of them are stitched rather than embossed making it look somewhat like you’re staring at a 360p screen in some places, and the magnetic covers that go over the screws securing the base to the backrest are somewhat weak.

The showpiece, the integrated lumbar support, however, is impeccable. There are two dials located on either side of the chair back, and you simply twist them to adjust the support to your liking. It’s very much a fire-and-forget thing. You set it up once, and then you’re good to go for the foreseeable future.

For those cross-legged sitters out there, the Kaiser 3 XL supports that too, and the base bolsters aren’t quite as aggressive as something like Corsair’s T3 Race. Admittedly it’s not quite as smooth and squishy as the Secretlab’s Titan Evo is, but it’s certainly a close second, especially given that it’s $100 / £100 cheaper.

Andaseat Kaiser 3 XL: Should you buy it?

Buy it if...

You want a feature-rich gaming chair
The AndaSeat Kaiser 3 XL has all the mod cons you’d want from a premium gaming chair. Including magnetic headrest pillow, 4-direction armrests, some awesome caster rollers, and integrated lumbar support are all present. Combine that with an extensive array of fabric options and you’re onto a winner here.

You’re looking to maximize your value for money
If you’re after an impressive value proposition, the AndaSeat Kaiser 3 XL ticks that box too. With an incredibly similar feature set to something like the Secretlab's Titan Evo, at $100 / £100 cheaper it makes it a tantalizing option if you can’t stretch beyond the $500 / £500 mark.

Don't buy it if...

You want something unique
There’s not a whole lot here to differentiate it from the competition. Yes, it has all the mod-cons, but aside from slight dimension tweaks, there’s very little that makes it stand out from the crowd.

You’re looking for a classy design
The Kaiser 3 XL, is still very much a 'gaming' chair, and the heavy bucket design, and seatbelt cutouts definitely give off that vibe. If you’re after something a little less 'I’m a gamer, bro', you might want to look elsewhere.

Also consider...

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Row 0 - Cell 0 AndaSeat Kaiser 3 XLSecretlab Titan Evo 2022 XLRazer Iskur XL
Max weight of user395lb / 180kg395lb / 180kg395lb / 180kg
Max height of user6’8” / 203cm6'9" / 205cm6’10" / 208cm
Recline angle90-165° Backrest recline85-165° Backrest recline139° Backrest recline
Warranty2-year5-year3-year
Lumbar support?Yes (adjustable)Yes (adjustable)Yes (adjustable)
MaterialPVC leather or linen fabricNeo Hybrid Leatherette / Softweave Fabric / NAPA LeatherPVC leather
Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 XL

Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 XL
The Titan Evo range from Secretlab is one of the best in the business and its 2022 range is excellent. It offers a similar package to the Kaiser 3 XL but will give you a better finish and build quality that many folks value and don't mind paying extra for.

Here's our full Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 review

Razer Iskur XL

Razer Iskur XL
The XL variant of the Razer Iskur will cater for the bigger player just as much as the Kaiser 3 XL but it will offer perhaps a more 'fulsome' lumbar system - an entire panel of the chair's back can be moved into the perfect position.

Here's our full Razer Iskur review

How we tested the AndaSeat Kaiser 3 XL

I spent more than a week with the AndaSeat Kaiser 3 XL putting it through its paces. I’m 5’8.5”, and weigh in at around 156lbs (75kgs) or so. I built and assembled the chair at home, before testing it in all manner of sitting positions. I used it in video calls and spent countless hours gaming, and writing in it as well. I tried different lumbar positions, with and without headrests, and also different heights and armrest orientations too, to really get to grips with how it felt. I documented that entire process, taking notes throughout my time using the chair.

I also got a number of my close colleagues and friends, all of whom are different shapes and sizes, to sit in it, and provide me with their feedback on how they felt the chair was, before collating that information and using it in my review.

Zak Storey
Freelance contributor

Zak is one of TechRadar's multi-faceted freelance tech journalists. He's written for an absolute plethora of tech publications over the years and has worked for Techradar on and off since 2015. Most famously, Zak led Maximum PC as its Editor-in-Chief from 2020 through to the end of 2021, having worked his way up from Staff Writer. Zak currently writes for Maximum PC, TechRadar, PCGamesN, and Trusted Reviews. He also had a stint working as Corsair's Public Relations Specialist in the UK, which has given him a particularly good insight into the inner workings of larger companies in the industry. He left in 2023, coming back to journalism once more. When he's not building PCs, reviewing hardware, or gaming, you can often find Zak working at his local coffee shop as First Barista, or out in the Wye Valley shooting American Flat Bows.