Corsair TC500 Luxe Gaming Chair Review

The Corsair TC500 Luxe gaming chair offers a plush design with premium breathable fabric built to feel great in any setting. It provides a range of customisable features such as 4D armrests, adjustable lumbar support for different body shapes and heights, and a reclining backrest, allowing gamers to find the perfect resting position. We’ve tested and analysed the TC500 Luxe chair to see if Corsair’s claims are accurate and whether it’s a worthwhile pickup for a gaming setup.

While we haven’t reviewed any Corsair gaming chairs before, the TC60 FABRIC has been a mainstay in the GeekaWhat office for quite some time and is recognised as hardy and highly comfortable. Alternatively, the Boulies chairs we reviewed in May 2024 may be tough competition for the TC500 Luxe based on their highly competitive pricing. Gaming chairs are generally a significant investment, so we’re curious how the TC500 Luxe compares to the rest of the market, especially as this is a pricier option.

In this review, we’ll examine the specs, design, assembly, comfort, and features of the TC500 Luxe gaming chair to gauge its value proposition compared to other chairs we’ve examined.

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Specification

Specs-wise, I was surprised that the TC500 Luxe is similar to the Boulies Master Max 2024. Regarding the fabric, the TC500 Luxe has one option: breathable upholstery. The entire chair is clad in this fabric, so it won’t get hot over prolonged usage. It would be nice to see a leather option, especially as this would blend well with an office setup, but we imagine this would be priced considerably higher than the breathable fabric.

The TC500 Luxe is available in three colours: standard black, which Corsair calls ‘Shadow’, Frost (white), and Sherwood (green). We won’t discuss the colours too much here, but seeing some choices is nice. The typical black colour looks good, but the two alternative colours provide options for those with a specifically-themed setup.

This chair accommodates a wide range of body types and shapes. It can support a maximum height of 188cm, 6ft 2in, and a maximum supported weight of 120kg or 264 lbs. Compared to the Boulies Master Max, the TC500 Luxe is geared towards average height (5ft 8in upwards), while the Master Max was built for taller people up to 6ft 5in.

Five caster wheels on the bottom of the TC500 Luxe provide plenty of manoeuvrability. These sturdy caster wheels will last for a while over prolonged usage. Corsair also offers a two-year warranty as standard with the TC500 Luxe, which is a nice touch if the chair is subject to heavy usage.

Regarding pricing, the Corsair TC500 Luxe currently sits at $499.99 in the US and £499.99 in the UK. This is a reasonably large amount of money to spend on a gaming chair, especially when brands like Boulies undercut this considerably. The TC500 Luxe needs to bring some solid competition to the table if this price is to be justified.

Corsair TC500 Luxe Design

The first thing I noticed when gauging the design of the TC500 Luxe is that this chair is not white. It’s described as ‘Frost’ on the Corsair website, which made me think this chair would be as white as snow. In truth, it isn’t. This chair is more off-white, bordering on yellow in certain places, and I must admit, this was a poor design choice.

I could understand releasing a chair with a bright white design, as it would work well with a white setup. However, the TC500 Luxe chair is closer to yellow than white. I would have preferred the black or green version because they look much more sophisticated.

Moving away from the misleading colour names, I don’t mind the overall aesthetic of this chair. The diamond pattern on the upholstery looks nice. It adds extra texture and depth to the chair instead of being smooth. The seat is also clad in the same upholstery and design.

The backrest and chair seat are slightly contoured to accommodate different body shapes and sizes. The rounded edges feel great, minimising any sharp corners while promoting good posture.

The seat is quite large compared to other gaming chairs. Again, this means the TC500 Luxe offers more support for a wide range of body shapes. This gaming chair also fits many seating positions, as no raised edges block your legs.

Two 4D armrests sit on the sides of the TC500 Luxe chair. The lever on the outside of the arm allows you to raise and lower the armrests easily. You can also push forwards and backwards and rotate them to provide rest for your elbows or forearms.

I think the armrests need a redesign. There’s no lever or button to push to readjust the angle or positioning. For this reason, the armrests would shift when I leaned too far to the left or right. There must be more tolerance when someone is leaning on them or a button to lock them in place.

The lever on the right side of the chair can be used to adjust the recline angle. It requires some force to move, which is good because we don’t want to change the angle accidentally.

The recline can be shifted from 90 degrees upright to 160 degrees when reclining. While I can’t imagine most gamers will want to lean this far back, it’s good to see plenty of adjustability options.

The TC500 Luxe also comes with a head pillow, which provides extra comfort for some taller prospective buyers. This magnetises to the chair, which is unique. I prefer this over the elastic straps approach that most chair manufacturers take.

Corsair doesn’t provide much information about the gas lift or chair base, but it feels sturdy and robust. The chair also has a steel inner frame, indicating it is reasonably durable.

Overall, I think the TC500 Luxe, for the most part, has a decent design. From a glance, it looks durable and comfortable and accommodates plenty of body shapes. However, the more significant caveat of the aesthetic is that the white version of this chair does not look good. We recommend looking at the black and green versions, as the white TC500 Luxe is not a white chair.

Corsair TC500 Luxe Assembly

Fortunately, the assembly process for the TC500 Luxe is pretty straightforward. Corsair has eliminated any paper manuals, which is good for the environment. Instead, you must follow a QR code that links to a guide on Corsair’s website. I’m a big fan of this. There are plenty of images, a dedicated video, and clear instructions on how everything goes together.

At a glance, this chair comes together similarly to the Boulies chairs. You install the wheels first, attach the piston to the base, and then attach the seat mechanism to the bottom of the chair. The chair also has pre-installed armrests, which means you only have to adjust them. The seat is then placed on the chair, the backrest is screwed in, and the chair is fully assembled.

This took us about half an hour to do. Even if you’re not a veteran at building gaming chairs, I imagine it would take an hour at the maximum. Having some of the parts pre-installed saves time, and the components screw together easily with a hex wrench. Overall, the assembly and installation process was simple and required minimal effort.

Corsair TC500 Luxe Comfort

Unfortunately, the TC500 Luxe falls flat in terms of comfort. As mentioned in the design, the specs make it look well-built and fairly comfortable. But after sitting in it for a few days, this just isn’t the case.

The main issue with the TC500 Luxe is that it isn’t great for prolonged sitting. Both the seat and the backrest weren’t well cushioned, which meant I constantly had to readjust to find a suitable position.

The TC500 Luxe’s upholstery and cushioning are much firmer in person. While this promotes good posture, mainly because the backrest is pretty firm, it just isn’t comfortable sitting on for more than an hour. For a $500 chair, this is quite disappointing, as for this much money, you would expect a chair like this to offer a decent level of comfort.

When reclined, the TC500 Luxe felt slightly better to sit on. Again, using the recline lever requires a fair bit of force, but it’s much easier to adjust it to the correct setting once you’re sitting on the chair.

One feature Corsair advertises is the adjustable lumbar support, which can be customised with the dials on the back. The left dial shifts the lumbar up and down while the right moves it in and out. I played around with the lumbar for a few hours and couldn’t find the sweet spot. I think this primarily comes down to the fact that the chair isn’t very comfortable from the outset, so jamming a bar into your back won’t help.

I think Corsair has prioritised posture over comfortability, which means the TC500 Luxe isn’t the best chair for those looking to relax. I like that the lumbar and recline can be customised. Still, this chair would benefit from more cushioning on the back and seat, contributing to a much more pleasant sitting experience.

Features We Like

Plenty of Customisable Settings

Despite not being the most comfortable chair we’ve tested, the TC500 Luxe has plenty of customisable features that make it more pleasant to sit on. It has four-way lumbar support, 4D armrests, a reclining backrest, and a gas lift that allows the chair to be raised and lowered.

Easy to Assemble

Thanks to the easy-to-follow guide on Corsair’s website and the straightforward installation process, the TC500 Luxe is incredibly simple to put together. This is one of the easiest chairs we’ve assembled, and the handy online guide provides a range of solid visual aids, further easing the hassle of building a gaming chair.

Features We Don’t Like

Odd Colour Choice

One of the most significant weaknesses of the Corsair TC500 Luxe is its odd choice of colour. The white version of the TC500 Luxe, quite plainly, is not white. It’s an off-white mix that borders on being a mixture of brown and yellow that will struggle to blend in with any setup. The colour of this chair is off-putting, and we recommend looking at the black or green versions, as their designs are considerably better.

Weak Armrests

During my time with the TC500 Luxe, the armrests would constantly move if I leaned on them too hard. This wasn’t very pleasant, as I kept having to readjust them. The armrests would benefit from having a button or lever that locks them in place when the button isn’t pushed down.

Conclusion