Geek Review: Razer Enki Pro

Here’s the thing about tech products – brands love to launch the regular version, as well as a bloated Pro version. Phones, tablets, computers, appliances, and even cars have received the Pro treatment, and now you can add Razer’s ergonomic gaming chair to that long list.

This new Pro model is from their Razer Enki, which was originally released in October last year. With some improvements hidden here and revealed there, the EnkiPro is proof that Razer is serious about making a name for itself in the gaming chair market, while dominating the gaming industry across all product spectrums, from peripherals such as mice and headsets, to laptops and keyboards. .

At first glance, you can already tell that the Enki Pro is taller and wider than its predecessor, which makes it more suitable for people who love real estate. At the widest point, the seat of the Enki Pro measures approximately 55cm, while the Enki measures approximately 54cm. The widest part of the shoulder for the Enki Pro is around 55cm, while the Enki is only 50cm.

You might think “there’s only a few centimeters of difference”, but wait until you see how differently shaped the seats are. The Enki has a much more streamlined design that starts out thin then gets wider as it moves further away from your spine. The Enki Pro, however, has a wide, almost bucket-shaped seat in the shape of a rectangle. If you’ve been shopping around for a while, you’ll realize that wide bases with bucket seats are right now, and while the Enki Pro isn’t exactly what we consider a full bucket seat, it is a pretty good attempt when you compare it to previous chairs from Razer.

The seat of the Enki Pro is a constant shape and hugs your behind comfortably. If you are used to sitting cross-legged in your chair, the Enki Pro has enough space for you to do so, unlike the Enki. Therefore, despite the very small size difference, the extra few centimeters and the shape of the seat do impact the experience, especially for people with wider shoulders and/or larger bodies.

Unfortunately, the Enki Pro still has the same limitations as the Enki. The new chair can support a recommended weight of no more than 300 lbs and a recommended height of 166-204cm, so if you weigh more than the recommended weight, this chair may not be able to support you.

Aside from the seat, the top half of the chair still features the same design as the previous model. The backrest features Razer’s diamond pleated padding with a long line that runs down the middle of the chair and the same headrest design. The Enki Pro also features Razer’s snake logo on the headrest and the same green stitching on the sides of the chair to add pizzazz to the all-black chair. Just like the Enki, the Enki Pro also comes with built-in lumbar support.

Continuing on the topic of backrests, the Enki Pro also features responsive seat tilt so you can effortlessly recline in the seat up to 152 degrees of recline. The chair also features a weight-adjusted tilt mechanism that ensures you won’t fall backwards when leaning back. This mechanism keeps you in your preferred playing position. All of this is consistent with the Enki model released last year.

Similarly, the Enki Pro also features 4D armrests that provide fully personalized positioning. They can be raised and lowered, brought back towards your body, away and even twisted diagonally. This way, you can sit and position your arms however you like, whether you like your forearms resting on the rests or comfortably tucked behind your elbow. In any case, you will know what suits you best.

However, don’t let the similarities fool you. Despite the same design, the Enki Pro backrest and seat have been upholstered in Alcantara and premium durable leatherette. Alcantara is a soft suede-like microfiber that commonly replaces leather and vinyl in car seats. So you feel like you’re sitting in a car. The material is soft and flexible, so if we talk about comfort, the Enki Pro is far superior.

The thicker-textured outer edges of the chair are also now replaced with premium eco-sustainable leatherette, which is even more durable than the typical EPU on the market. If you need a quick refresher, the Enki is outfitted with eco-friendly dual-texture synthetic leather, so the Pro is just a premium version of it.

Although it tilts to the same angle, the Enki Pro comes with a new tilt dial versus a tilt lever as seen in Razer chairs (and frankly many other brands). The dial gives you more control with the angles and allows you to lean smoothly compared to a lever that clumsily and quite frequently violently tilts or tilts you. Using the dial is a bit of a learning curve though, but there’s no denying that it moves smoothly and gives you more control once you get the hang of it.

Another noticeable difference is that the Enki Pro comes with a magnetic memory foam head cushion. The memory foam head, also available with the Enki and Iskur models, conforms to the shape of your head and cradles your head when you lean on it. Our complaint with the previous model is that the pillow uses a dual elastic band system that wraps the pillow around the headrest, thus not giving much flexibility or wiggle room to users who are small and can need the pillow to be positioned lower. Well, the new head cushion is now magnetically attached to the chair.

Truth be told, all the pain points we had with the Enki are solved with the Enki Pro. With the added bonus and features that make the chair much more attractive and comfortable, such as the brand new Alcantara material, tilt dial and magnetic head cushion. Razer’s chairs are notorious for back support, which seeing as the Enki Pro works similarly to the Enki, is a feature the brand already has in the bag.

Overall, there’s no denying that the Enki Pro is superior to the very small batch of Razer chairs, but here’s the big shock…the Enki Pro costs S$1,499 (US$999). Yes, that’s a lot of dough. At S$1,499, that puts the Enki Pro at the higher end of the spectrum, not just for Razer chairs, but other gaming chairs on the market as well.

Although the chair is excellent, there are many other chairs that can provide a similar level of comfort (without the back support) for a much cheaper price. At this price, the Enki Pro is likely to appeal to fans of the brand, as well as the chair’s main star, the Alcantara upholstery. It offers an extremely high-end look and a much more comfortable seating experience than a regular leather or synthetic chair.

If the Razer Enki Pro is well within your means and budget, go for it. If you’re on a tighter budget but still want to experience the technology Razer has to offer, you can always check out the Razer Enki or the Razer Iskur.

---

Drop a Facebook comment below!