Geek Review: ASUS ROG Chariot X Core Gaming Chair

It makes powerful gaming machines that players spend hours on with the latest hit games and with this in mind, Republic of Gamers (ROG) has diversified and gone into making the other thing gamers spend hours on while playing games – a comfortable chair. 

Though it is best known for high-performing gaming laptops, there are merits that come with diversification that still offer the core experience, which was why the company debuted the ROG Chariot RGB gaming chair in 2020 to serve as an optional accompaniment to work and play sessions, now with glorious RGB lighting. 

Four years on, the ROG Chariot X Core (S$529) returns with an upgraded mix of comfort and functionality but this time, it eschews the RGB option for a more unassuming low-key look, available in black, grey, or white, marking a departure from its previous black-only iteration. 

Despite the lack of RGB, it’s easy to mistake the old for the new as both chairs looks almost identical from head to toe, with hardly any distinction between its general design language. Even the material used – PU leatherette – for its body remains the same, as the chair has been built to be more breathable and durable. 

Much of the upgrade here has gone into the ergonomics. While visually similar, the leatherette feels more premium and firmer than the Chariot, and doesn’t ‘sink in’ as easily when pressure is applied. The material is also cooler, which goes extremely well with the hotter climate, and is less likely to retain heat for extended periods. That said, the material isn’t spill-proof, and any liquids will be absorbed by the PU leatherette, so you might want to keep your beverages at a safer distance.

With the same dimensions of 70cm by 1.375m, the chair can fit a person up to 136kg. It retains the stable base of its predecessor, providing comfort that is wide enough to accommodate a variety of sitting positions, from cross-legged, having one leg up, and more. Retaining the same aluminium alloy base and Chassis 4 Explosion-Proof gas lift keeps the frame of the chair sturdy and durable for extended use in an office or home setting.

Unfortunately, the Chariot X Core’s adjustable headrest has a minimum height requirement, which goes from 165 to 195 cm, so shorter individuals would find it hard to lean back and get comfortable because of the headrest’s awkward placement and angle.

If you like a tighter grip, the Chariot X Core’s armrests don’t swivel around easily, offering more stability for precision. Whether you accidentally knock against them or fiddle with your chair, it’ll take intentional effort for the 4D armrests to move. It can make the chair feel more restrictive for individuals who like more freedom, but the armrests tilt out wide enough for those who want clearance.  

There’s definitely a more stable feel to the chair’s armrests compared to its predecessor, and the buttons used to adjust its height or width are more easily accessible. For those concerned about cleaning, note that the gap between the base of the chair and the armrests are narrower, so removing crumbs or dust might take some effort. 

The chair’s tilt mechanism has a lock/unlock feature which is very reactive, though it can feel as if you’re about to fall off the chair if you make too sudden a movement. As with standard gaming chairs, the mechanism can be bolted in place, and in this mode, tilting the chair is impossible. Reclining the ROG Chariot X Core is easy and convenient – you just need to lean back into the chair and pull the lever, and it’s almost instant with an up to 155-degree recline, perfect for a quick power nap in between a long gaming session. The thing is, the chair itself is about a relatively light 25 kg so moving the lever up and down, along with the lack of weight of the chair in this instance, requires more effort and you’ll have to fully grab the lever to be able to adjust it, which feels clunky and inconvenient.

The chair comes with a detachable memory foam lumbar pillow that also doubles as a pillow for adequate back support, and its looks, with a leatherette casing, blends in well enough with the chair that you’ll barely notice it’s there. The addition of memory foam provides better support that reduces the pressure on your spine, and feels more ergonomic than the ROG Chariot. 

One thing that made the original Chariot stand out amongst the gaming chair crowd is that it offers storage space for your accessories and headphones the rear but alas, the new version has that storage reduced to just a cybertext strap supporting up to 2kg. Unless you have a pretty heavy keyboard, you’ll barely notice the change. 

The chair reclines to 155 degrees, which is not as flat as compared to the 165 degrees offered by the Secretlab Titan Evo Lite. In terms of comfort and stability, the Chariot’s base offers greater solidity, and feels less likely to tip over if you were to abruptly lean back, as compared to the ROG Chariot. Ergonomics wise, it still can’t beat the customizability of the Razer Iskur V2’s adjustable lumbar plate, though the Chariot X Core’s detachable lumbar cushion gives it points for convenience. 

Small flaws aside, the ROG Chariot X Core is still a welcome upgrade, and offers an affordable option for gamers who want to make a long-term investment in a gaming chair that’s streamlined for performance.

The ROG Chariot X Core is available for purchase online (Grey / White / Black) and in retail stores from June 2024 onwards.