INTRODUCTION

   It should really come as no surprise to anyone that i spend a large portion of each day sitting in front of my PCs, primarily either for testing products or typing reviews. On top of that i have a very old problem with my lower back which doesn't help things so using good office chairs is something I've done for at least as long as I've been doing reviews. Of course, by now gaming chairs have clearly surpassed office chairs in terms of popularity and since due to their looks they do tend to "fit" better in the office/lab (also because i have pets at home so a very expensive ergonomic chair is not really an option) i consider them to be a far more ideal choice for me. Tesoro has released numerous gaming chairs over the years with the Alphaeon S3 being their latest one.

   The Approach of Tesoro in the design and manufacturing its products is based on providing unparalleled quality, features, design, and pricing. Computer peripherals have become an integral element of both the gaming and overall computing experience. This has created a demand for peripherals that go beyond the norm and break with conventions of design and production. Our main products include keyboards, mice, and headsets. Matching premium parts and innovative engineering design, our products offer users a truly unique user experience without a single compromise. By breaking the pattern, breaking the rules, Tesoro is able bring innovation to new levels and offer game-changing products.

   The Alphaeon S3 (TS-F720) is currently available in 4 color combinations (black/yellow - black/red - black/pink - black/cyan) and comes packing numerous features such as PU (polyurethane) faux leather cover, cold foam padding (4 density configurations), steel frame for optimal durability, class-4 gaslift (supports up to 130Kg), 60mm PU caster wheels, 3D armrests (adjustable height, orientation and position), 5-star steel base, height adjustable seat (36cm-44cm), removable neck and back/lumbar pillows, forward seat extension (up to 5cm), backrest adjustment (up to 150 degrees) and tilt function up to 15 degrees. So, let's see what Tesoro has been up to lately and whether or not their Alphaeon S3 (TS-F720) is the right gaming chair for you.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

As it's typical for most gaming chairs out there the Alphaeon S3 arrived inside a large and plain cardboard box.

All parts of the chair are placed inside plastic bags and between sheets of foam.

First to get out of the box was the 80cm tall backrest followed by the 5-star steel base.

Next were the two support pillows and the seat which has both 3D armrests pre-mounted.

The butterfly mechanism was next along with the five 60mm PU caster wheels, class-4 gaslift, gaslift cover, assembly package, two plastic side covers and the installation instructions.

ASSEMBLY

Most assembly instructions say that you should start by attaching the backrest to the seat but i always like to start by attaching the caster wheels to the base as seen above.

60mm caster wheels may get the job done but 70-75mm ones look better.

Attaching the class-4 gaslift with its plastic cover onto the 5-star steel base comes next.

The seat of the Alphaeon S3 seems very durable (also as you can all see the PU faux leather cover covers the whole seat).

Mounting the butterfly mechanism requires 4 Allen screws in total (personally I'd rather Tesoro had used the Z-support mechanism instead).

4 Allen screws are also used to secure each of the 3D armrests.

Each side of the backrest has two round holes in the PU faux leather.

Two screws on each side are required to attach the backrest on the seat as seen above.

After that you also need to place the plastic side covers over each metal piece, secure them with a single screw and place the round plastic caps over the holes.

FINISHED LOOKS

It's no secret that black and red is one of my favourite color combinations so in my eyes at least the Alphaeon S3 looks great (the 80cm tall backrest also helps).

In terms of quality the PU faux leather looks and feels great, however there were a couple of stitching issues with my sample which i need to factor in my final score (still, if this happens with your chair i recommend reaching out to Tesoro).

The front extension is not something we see with gaming chairs, one of my cars does have it however and it has come in handy from time to time.

Tesoro has stitched the chair model at the front.

The height for the 3D armrests can be adjusted by roughly 7cm whereas the top can move forward, backwards and diagonally to suit your body type.

Moving at the rear of the chair we find the company name again stitched.

As expected, Tesoro also bundles removable neck and back/lumbar pillows with the Alphaeon S3.

Thanks to its backrest adjustment of up to 150 degrees and tilt function of up to 15 degrees you should be able to take a quick nap on the Alphaeon S3 if need be.

SCORE

Many of you recommended (including some manufacturers) that I place a chart pointing to the pros and cons of each gaming chair that finds its way to the lab. Now of course since there's really no way for me to "benchmark" gaming chairs i decided to rate them based on their size, comfort and quality after using each chair for at least one full week. Size and comfort usually go hand to hand (the larger the chair the more comfortable it usually is - that however also depends on the amount of padding and also the type and quality of the cover) while in terms of quality having tested dozens of models over the past years, i think i have a good idea about that as well. Of course, these scores are based on my personal opinion (always based on the samples i get – isolated/early sample issues are always possible) so do take them with a grain of salt.

CONCLUSION

   Due to both COVID-19 (shipping issues) and me hurting my right arm early last year I was in no shape to review gaming chairs (carrying/moving their boxes and then the chairs themselves was out of the question really) so it’s been over a year since any arrived in the lab. The Alphaeon S3 by Tesoro is the first of many to come in 2022 and it’s actually a very good gaming chair. Yes, I would like to see the Z-support mechanism instead of the usual butterfly one and there were a couple of stitching issues with my sample (Tesoro assures me this was an isolated issue) but everything else from the quality (thickness) of the faux PU leather and the density of the cold foam to its large size, 3D armrests and available colors the Alphaeon S3 delivers on them all.

   So, just how much does the Alphaeon S3 gaming chair by Tesoro cost? Well, at the time of this review it retails from 199Euros and up to 269Euros inside the EU (Amazon.de) depending on color so pretty much what I’d expect from such a gaming chair (especially with everything happening in the market right now). Overall I can’t say that the Alphaeon S3 brings anything new on the table compared to many other models that I’ve tested over the years (although the front extension is a nice touch) but it is a solid choice for people looking for a new gaming chair (as long as they can find it for a good price) and certainly deserves the Golden Award.

PROS

- Good Build Quality (PU Leather / Metal Frame)
- Design
- Comfort
- Large Size
- Features (Adjustable Height / 3D Adjustable Armrests / 5cm Front Extension / 15 Degrees Tilt Function / 150 Degrees Backrest Adjustment)
- Head & Lower Back Removable Pillows
- Available Colors (black/yellow - black/red - black/pink - black/cyan)

CONS

- Current Availability