Razer has unveiled the Soma Chroma, a gaming chair that trades conventional ergonomics for a ring of customizable RGB lighting, marking the publisher’s latest foray into the increasingly saturated furniture market. Positioned at a premium price point, the chair is designed to double as a statement piece for streamers and camera-ready setups, though critics have questioned whether its illumination justifies the cost. The release follows years of Razer flooding the peripherals space with light-up gear, from keyboards and mouse pads to microphones, and the Soma Chroma represents an attempt to bring that same aesthetic to the seat gamers spend countless hours in.
At its core, the Soma Chroma is a standard racing-style gaming chair finished in Razer’s signature black and green, but its defining feature is a set of RGB strips mounted at the very top, flanking the headrest. These strips are powered by a short USB-C cable requiring 20W of power delivery, which is why the manufacturer markets the chair as “wireless” despite the need for an external power source. The design has drawn comparisons to a Nordmann fir tree or a dangling air freshener, and the name itself is a nod to Aldous Huxley’s dystopian novel Brave New World, where the drug “soma” keeps citizens docile and content.
A Chair Built to Be Seen, Not Just Sat In
Perhaps the most striking aspect of the Soma Chroma is that its lighting is largely invisible to the person sitting in it. When occupied, the RGB strips are positioned above the occupant’s head, meaning the glow is primarily intended for onlookers viewing from roughly head level. This suggests the chair has been engineered with a specific audience in mind: the subset of gamers who stream or record themselves playing. As one reviewer put it, the design reads less like a tool for comfort and more like a prop for a livestream.
It feels fitting for Razer to have produced this chair, but it also feels like a product in search of an audience.
Review of the Razer Soma Chroma
The practical implications of this design choice are significant. The RGB strips number only two, and while they are colorful and customizable through the Razer Synapse app, their placement means they offer little benefit to the user themselves. Reviewers noted that the lighting would feel far more complete if it ran up the back, along the armrests, or into the grooves of the seat, but the minimal implementation leaves many questioning the value proposition.
Comfort and Adjustability Take a Back Seat
Where the Soma Chroma does not disappoint is in its build quality and overall comfort. The seat features channels that are presumably intended for airflow, though they are equally prone to accumulating crumbs and spilled snacks. The backrest reclines from 90° upright to a 155° angle, and the seat itself includes a butterfly tilt mechanism, while the armrests offer swivel and height adjustment. Larger readers will appreciate that the chair accommodates a frame of up to 200cm (6ft 6in) and a weight of up to 150kg (331lbs), though the integrated lumbar curve cannot be adjusted.
One notable omission is adjustable lumbar support, a feature that reviewers argue would have extended the chair’s usability well past the age of thirty. Instead, the lumbar curve is fixed, and the chair ships without a headrest, forcing buyers to source accessories separately.
The Plug-In Paradox
The chair’s “wireless” branding is arguably its most confusing attribute. Because the RGB strips draw power from a USB-C connection, the Soma Chroma cannot be plugged directly into a PC tower. Razer sells an extension lead for £20, but the recommended solution is a portable battery pack capable of 20W power delivery, which tucks neatly into a zip-up pouch on the back of the seat cushion. It may have seemed generous for a £500 chair to include a battery, but the omission reinforces the sense that the lighting is an afterthought rather than the centerpiece.
Assembling the chair is straightforward, involving inserting the gas cylinder, attaching the backrest to the base, and securing everything with the included tool before hiding the screw heads behind plastic covers. The packaging is bulky, but the protective bags help keep the chair intact during transit.
Looking Ahead
The Soma Chroma arrives as part of Razer’s broader push to unify its ecosystem under a single aesthetic, and for owners who already own a desk full of Razer peripherals, the chair will blend seamlessly into the setup. However, for the wider market, the combination of a high price, limited adjustability, and minimal RGB coverage has drawn skepticism. Reviewers concluded that for the same money, buyers could acquire a more comfortable and versatile chair without the lighting, leaving the Soma Chroma as a niche product aimed at those who prioritize appearance over substance.
Ultimately, the chair is comfortable, well-padded, and nicely made, but its defining feature is also its most debatable. As one reviewer wryly observed, “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go and plug in my chair” — a fitting final note for a product whose headline feature requires a power source to function at all.
Whether the Soma Chroma finds its audience remains to be seen. For now, it stands as a festive, if controversial, addition to Razer’s lineup — a chair that lights up, but only when you’re willing to keep it plugged in.
No comments