Gaming chairs used to be a niche product used only by Twitch streamers and other folks of that sort. Those days are long gone, and now just about every PC gamer has some form of gaming chair sitting in front of their desk.

One company that has been consistently making waves in the gaming chair space is AndaSeat. We previously reviewed the company's Fnatic Edition and Jungle Series chairs, and we liked both of them a great deal. Now, we're here to look at the larger AndaSeat Kaiser II.

We're all different sizes, and a smaller chair like the Jungle Series doesn't work for everyone. But with the Kaiser II, anyone can fit comfortably in the chair without feeling squished. If you're on the smaller side, though, you're going to want to skip this one, as you'll be swimming in the Kaiser II.

So that brings us the $500 question: is the AndaSeat Kaiser II the gaming chair to buy if you need a little extra room, or are there better options on the market?

Design

The AndaSeat Kaiser II is all about luxurious seating for anyone who needs a little extra room. It features that standard gaming chair design we all know and love. Essentially that means it looks like a racecar seat.

As far as the colors, the chair is available in two subdued options. There's a maroon and black model and an all-black model. Both colors feature white AndaSeat logos that don't overpower the chair while still reminding you who made it. You'll find a logo on the headrest, the head pillow, the lumbar cushion, and the back of the chair.

If you want a comfortable chair that won't immediately draw attention, this might be a good one to snag. AndaSeat has plenty of busier chairs if that's your thing, but I like the lowkey look offered by the Kaiser II.

All in all, it's a well-designed chair that looks good. AndaSeat did a great job of walking the line between a stylish chair and one that won't completely dominate a room.

Features

As this is one of AndaSeat's top-of-the-line chairs, it comes with every feature the company offers on its chairs. The company describes it as the "gold standard," and I can't say I disagree with that description in terms of the features offered.

For example, it comes with 4D armrests that provide a further degree of customization. Instead of just moving them up and down, you can rotate them and move them in and out and left and right. That means you can get the exact feel that you want for the way you sit.

The only issue with the armrests is how far apart they are. While you can bring them in a bit, if you're on the thin side, you won't be able to get comfortably get your arms out to them. The larger seat size won't really be a problem if you're smaller, as a little extra room never hurts anyone, but the armrests may be a dealbreaker for you.

Like most of these gaming chairs, the AndaSeat Kaiser II comes with bonded PVC leather (aka vinyl). This is more affordable than actual leather. It's also quite a bit more durable to prevent scratches and stains much better than real leather. And then there's the environmental benefit of not using leather, which is a nice bonus for some and a deal-breaker for others.

You can recline the chair by up to 160 degrees, and everywhere in between, so you can sit how you want at any given time. It can also be locked in place or set to rock, further adding to the customization AndaSeat offers here.

The wheels are massive, which helps them move smoothly. They're also extremely quiet, so you can roll the chair around without hearing any rattling noises. They're even coated in the same PVC leather that the chair's body uses, making it so it won't scratch your floors.

There's a removable lumbar pillow and headrest, so you can choose whether or not you prefer the feel of the chair with or without them. I like them personally, but I'm about as tall as you can get with the placement of the headrest pillow. It just barely sits on my neck, and if I were any taller (I'm 5 foot 11 inches), it would sit awkwardly on the shoulders. If you don't intend to use the headrest, then this won't be an issue.

I was a bit confused by the lumbar cushion. First, AndaSeat sent the small lumbar cushion, but they sent the larger, thinner one when I reached out to them. The pictures show the larger lumbar pillow, so I assume that's the one you're supposed to get and that the company just made a mistake when they packaged it with the smaller pillow the first time.

With all that said, I'm not too fond of the smaller lumbar pillow, and I really like the bigger one. I find the longer, wider, thinner design of the big pillow contours to the shape of my back more comfortably than the small one. If you decide to order one of these chairs (and you totally should), make sure you get the big lumbar pillow.

Setup Process

The setup process was pretty quick and painless for me. Perhaps that because I just reviewed the AndaSeat Jungle Series chair, and the process was more or less the same (though this one is a bit heavier).

Depending on your strength, you might want to bring a friend in to help you attach the back of the chair to the base. I managed to do it myself, but it is a little on the heavy side. You'll also need to put some decent force on the wheels to get them to lock into the base. I used my shoe to smack them in, but you can use anything that'll provide a decent amount of force (remember, the wheels are made of plastic, so don't go swinging a hammer at them).

If I had to estimate a time, I'd say it took me about 20 minutes from the moment my knife sliced the tape until I planted my butt in the assembled chair to start testing it out. As long as you're a little handy and capable of following decently descriptive directions, you should be able to put the chair together and get to gaming quickly enough.

Build Quality

The build quality is one of the biggest selling points for AndaSeat Kaiser II. Because it's a chair designed to support some extra size, it needs to be strong. It features a full steel framework and an aluminum base that feels plenty sturdy.

Obviously, it's hard to really make a call about the durability of the chair with only a couple of weeks to test it. It feels like it will last a very long time, but without spending months putting it through its paces, I can only go by the visual test and AndaSeat's durability claims.

Still, the chair is rated to fit 150KG (330.69 pounds) when in rocking mode and a staggering 200KG (440.92) when locked. For AndaSeat to list that kind of weight on the description for the chair shows that the company is extremely confident in how much the chair can handle.

Comfort

This chair is so comfortable, assuming you're large enough to fill it out. If you're really thin, you might find that your arms don't sit comfortably on the armrest. However, if you're over 200 pounds, you should fit rather nicely (I weigh about 250 pounds, and it fits me perfectly).

The chair is just the right level of firm to be supportive, but not so firm as to cause any pressure points. I was able to sit on it for hours and not feel even the least bit uncomfortable.

Since the chair is a bit wider, it was more than able to comfortably fit my butt and thighs, and I'm not even close to the chair's size limit. Even if you're quite a bit larger than me, you should have no problem with comfort in the Kaiser II.

As mentioned, I'm not in love with the placement of the headrest pillow, but I do like the softness and the way the material feels. I ended up getting used to the positioning, as I found the extra support to be worth the tradeoff. And I love the feel of the lumbar pillow. It's soft but supportive, and it's just a joy to place your back against.

There's really not enough praise I can throw at the comfort level of this chair. It just feels excellent in every way.

Should You Buy The AndaSeat Kaiser II Gaming Chair?

I can say without a shadow of a doubt that any gamer over 200 pounds should buy this chair. It's not cheap, but it has literally every feature you could want from a chair. I've had some video editing sessions where I sat in the Kaiser for 10 hours straight, and I never once felt a single ache or pain. It's just a fantastic chair, and I really don't have much negative to say about it.

The only thing that might give you pause is the subdued colors, but think about it: are you really going to want a chair with 15 different colors and 27 logos in five years? A nice lowkey chair will last a lifetime, no matter how much your tastes and style changes.