INTRODUCTION

   Gaming chairs have remained pretty much the same ever since we first started testing/reviewing them several years ago (not much to change really) with one sole exception, design. So although the type of covers used (PU leather, PVC leather, real leather and fabric) haven't changed nor have the types of gas lifts (class-3/4) and swivel-tilt mechanisms (butterfly and Z) design is something that almost never stays the same. Sure the core design of most models is still the same (we are talking about chairs after all) but manufacturers tend to add new features/things all the time to make them even more appealing not only to gamers but consumers in general. With RGB gaming peripherals leading the market currently it's no surprise than some gaming chair manufacturers also released models featuring RGB illumination and after testing the quite intriguing Achilles P1L by GAMDIAS today with us we have the UC5 HEX (UC stands for UltraChair) by ThunderX3.

   ThunderX3 designs and creates gaming peripherals including gaming chairs and is a division of Aerocool Advanced Technologies Corporation based in Taipei. We aim to deliver new products for the gaming community that break new market standards and complement the eSports scene. Quality, design and technological excellence are the pillars sustaining our philosophy. Are you ready for the gaming revolution? Find out more at www.thunderx3.com

   ThunderX3 currently offers the UC5 HEX in three different colors (black/cyan, black/red and all black) and markets it as a large gaming chair (90cm tall, 60mm wide backrest and 52cm wide, 56.5cm long seat) designed for people who weigh up to 125Kg. The UC5 HEX also features PU leather cover, metal frame, high-density foam padding (unfortunately we don't know the exact numbers), class-4 gaslift supporting up to 150Kg (backrest and base included), 3D adjustable armrests (height, position), removable head and lumbar pillows, 65mm nylon caster wheels, backrest adjustment (up to 160 degrees), HEX multi-color module (7 colors) and the typical butterfly tilt (up to 18 degrees) and height adjustment mechanism used with most desk chairs.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

We received the UC5 HEX inside a regular cardboard box that just has the product name and specifications at the front and rear.

The company logo along with details of the package are printed on both sides.

The entire bundle is wrapped inside plastic bags and bubble wrap.

Inside the box you will find the backrest, both support pillows, 5-star aluminum base (somehow we forgot to take a picture of that), assembly set, user's manual, 5 caster wheels, class-4 gaslift with its plastic cover, butterfly tilt mechanism, two side plastic covers, HEX module and the seat with both 3D armrests attached.

ASSEMBLY

You may want to follow the instructions down to the letter and start from the seat but we always start by mounting the wheels onto the 5-star base as seen above.

65mm caster wheels may not be the largest we've seen to date but they are a lot better compared to 50mm ones.

After mounting the wheels we mount the class-4 gaslift with its plastic cover on the 5-star base.

Although the seat has a fabric cover at the base it's not hard to tell that it has 2 metal bars underneath along with a piece of wood.

Once again each 3D armrest is attached to the seat with no less than 4 Allen screws.

Mounting the butterfly mechanism onto the base requires a total of 4 Allen screws as seen above.

Mounting the backrest onto the seat requires using two Allen screws on each side.

After that you will need to place the plastic covers and the screw taps again as seen above.

With the upper body of the UC5 HEX Gaming Chair complete all that's left is to place it onto the class-4 gaslift.

FINISHED LOOKS

The UC5 HEX Gaming Chair may not feature the highest amount of padding but it looks great (although the black/cyan combination may not be for everyone).

The company logo is placed at the top of the backrest.

The PU leather used is of good quality and the same applies for the stitching and the carbon like parts.

The armrests can be raised for a total of 7cm.

Just like all 3D armrests the top can move forward, backwards and diagonally to improve your comfort.

Although the backrest doesn’t fall all the way (180 degrees) still it does fall up to around 160 degrees (combined with the 18 degrees of the tilt mechanism the result is roughly 180 degrees thus the stated number in the specifications sheet) allowing the user to get some rest if needed.

This is what the rear of the UC5 HEX looks like.

The company logo and name are both placed at the top of the backrest and as for the cut at the center of the chair well this is where the HEX module gets mounted.

Unfortunately the HEX module requires 4 AA batteries to work.

Once you mount the batteries and press the power button the HEX module will light up (the module doesn't have to be mounted to light up).

The HEX module has a total of 7 colors you can pick from or a cycling mode which goes through all the colors again and again (some of the colors are showcased above).

This is what the UC5 HEX looks like with both pillows attached (the lumbar pillow is extra-large).

Although the lumbar pillow has the company logo on it the neck pillow doesn't.

SCORE

Many of you recommended (including some manufacturers) that we place a chart pointing to the pros and cons of each gaming chair we test. Now of course since there's really no way for us to "benchmark" gaming chairs we decided to rate them based on their size, comfort and quality. Size and comfort usually go hand to hand (the larger the chair the more comfortable it usually is - also depends on the amount of padding) while in terms of quality having tested 24 models currently, we think we have a good idea about that as well. Of course these scores are based on our personal opinions regarding each chair so do take them with a grain of salt.

CONCLUSION

   ThunderX3 has released several interesting products since its introduction by Aerocool a few years back and although the UC5 HEX is far from excellent still it should register on the radar of many gamers all over the world. It’s build quality is good and very similar to that of the TGC40 and although the same quality applies for like 80% of the gaming chairs currently in the market we can’t leave out that we’ve reviewed and seen better ones. RGB illumination via the HEX module is also very limited so we don’t expect many consumers to consider getting the UC5 HEX by ThunderX3 because of that (an RGB LED strip mounted at the rear of the backrest – perhaps sync compatible – would look a lot better and would make a far better addition). Of course thanks to its design and large size the UC5 HEX is still a good choice for gamers looking to get a comfortable gaming chair that really stands out from the crowd.

   Right now the ThunderX3 UC5 HEX RGB Gaming Chair retails for just USD199.90 inside the USA (Newegg Promotion – 2 days left) and for around 270Euros inside the EU a price tag which lands it right in the middle of several similar models (perhaps not just as big or good looking however). The current promotion by Newegg is also a great deal so if you’re looking to get your hands on a gaming chair and you like how the UC5 HEX looks we suggest grabbing this opportunity. Overall the UC5 HEX may not be the holy grail of gaming chairs but thanks to its design, size and good build quality it deserved our Golden Award.

PROS

- Good Build Quality (PU Faux Leather / Steel Frame)
- Size / Comfort (Large Version)
- Design / Looks
- Features (RGB HEX Module / Adjustable Height / 3D Adjustable Armrests / 18 Degrees Tilt Function / 160 Degrees Backrest Adjustment)
- Removable Neck And Lumbar Pillows
- Current Price Tag (Newegg Promotion)

CONS

- Butterfly Mechanism (Not As Sturdy As The Z-Support Model)
- Limited RGB Illumination