Human Touch ZeroG 5.0 vs 4.0 vs 2.0 Immersion Massage Chair Review 2024

Are you interested in owning a full-featured, top-quality massage chair, but worried that it might make your living room look like a prop storage of a science fiction movie?

If so, well, you’re not alone. One of the biggest things that keep people from getting a massage chair is the aesthetic factor. Who wants to have a big, unsightly chair like that in the living room? Most people don’t.

If that describes you, then you’re going to love this review, because Human Touch makes massage chairs that don’t look like massage chairs.

The ZeroG line consists of the 2.0, 4.0, and 5.0 models, and this article won’t simply be a Human Touch ZeroG 5.0 review but will take a close look at the ZeroG line.

As you can see, the different ZeroG models cater to slightly different segments of the mid-range market. But one must understand that aside from the differences mentioned above, the chairs are identical in every other respect. Thus, what holds true in the Human Touch ZeroG 2.0 review will also hold true in the Human Touch ZeroG 4.0 review, and so on.

Now, let’s look closely at each of these models.

Human Touch ZeroG 2.0 Immersion Seating Massage Chair

You may have heard this chair to be called as “Human Touch ZeroG 2.0 Immersion massage chair,” and may have left you wondering if the inclusion of the word “immersion” was just some sort of marketing gimmick. Well, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to know that it isn’t!

The term is actually a nod to the fact that the chair is ergonomically designed, meaning that you don’t just sit on the chair, but you will most likely fall back into it and the comfort it provides. You don’t have to turn on the massage function to feel better in this chair.

Just sitting in a proper ergonomic position has benefits, but of course, the chair does much more than that. So, let’s look at the features “under the hood” to see what makes the ZeroG 2.0 massage chair unique.

Human Touch ZeroG 2.0 Immersion Massage Chair Features

Track Design

All the chairs in the ZeroG line, including the 2.0 model, are built around an S-Track, which guides the rollers so that they follow the natural curvature of your spine. This ensures a top-notch massage every time, no matter what options you select from the remote.

Space Saving

It’s surprising that this feature doesn’t get mentioned more prominently in other reviews on ZeroG chairs, because relatively few chairs in this price range offer space-saving technology.

Most massage chairs require a minimum of 18” of clearance between the back of the chair and the wall to recline fully. The ZeroG line of chairs only requires about 5″ of space, which makes it perfect for home use, especially for people for whom space is at a premium.

Zero Gravity Seating Position

Inspired by NASA, this technology works wonders in any massage chair and acts to improve the quality of a massage.

By reclining to the point where your knees are slightly elevated above your heart, your body’s weight presses more firmly against the rollers, which allows for a more intense, more therapeutic massage.

While many chairs offer two different Zero-G seating positions, the ZeroG line massage chairs offer only one, but it is accessible via one-touch access from the remote control.

Massage Techniques & Massage Modes

The ZeroG 2.0 massage chair offers four different massage techniques, all available at the touch of a button. Plus, four auto-massage programs, with fifteen-minute run times.

All of the pre-programmed massages use different combinations of the four massage techniques to give you a different experience depending on what your needs and desires are.

Hide Away Ottoman

This is an important feature and one of the hallmarks of Human Touch’s design philosophy. Practically, one of the reasons why their chairs are so good looking and blend in with any home décor so seamlessly.

The single feature that makes a massage chair look one is its leg massage ports. It’s jarring, from an aesthetic perspective. It’s just not attractive on a chair, so Human Touch has taken pains to hide them from sight.

When not in use, by all outward appearances, your ZeroG massage chair is just another recliner. At the touch of a button, though, the ottoman can be rolled outward, revealing the leg ports. People who like the idea of a massage chair, but don’t want their living rooms to look like a chiropractor’s office would absolutely love this feature!

Foot And Calf Massage

This is a great feature, not often found in massage chairs in this price range, and is a welcome addition indeed, providing the bulk of the chair’s therapeutic benefits.

Where most chairs use foot rollers and airbags to deliver the massage in this area, Human Touch has gone in a very different direction, using a series of soft paddles that work their way over your calves and feet in a slow, looping figure-8 pattern.

People who have tried both types of calf massages say that Human Touch’s rendition of a calf massage is vastly superior, offering more therapeutic value and overall, simply feeling better in general.

Adjustable Rollers

While many chairs in this price range come with 3D Body Scanning Technology, the ZeroG line does not. Instead, the position of the rollers can be manually adjusted via the remote.

Some people find this hands-on approach quite to their liking, because as good as 3D Body Scanning technology is, sometimes it gets the location of your pressure points wrong. This solution is far simpler, and gives you fine-grained control, allowing you to get the rollers exactly where you want them so you can work on those troublesome tense spots.

Mostly, this comes down to personal preference. Some people like the convenience and automation provided by body scan tech, while others prefer the more hands-on approach. In both cases, the result is a massage that feels better because the rollers hit the areas that need more attention.

Simple Remote

If you’ve seen massage chair remotes before, you know how complex they can be. The ZeroG remote, by contrast, is a study of simplicity. You can tell that a lot of thought went into the placement of the various options, making everything easy to find and intuitive.

Even if you’ve never used a massage chair before, you can be reclined back in the Zero-G position and enjoy a custom massage in a matter of minutes.

Pros & Cons of the Human Touch Zerog 2.0 Massage Chair

There’s no doubt about it. The Human Touch ZeroG 2.0 massage chair delivers a great, basic massage. However, it offers limited therapeutic value and is only for people who suffer from chronic leg and foot pain. 

And when it comes to limitations, there are several things the 2.0 chair doesn’t, and can’t do. Right off the bat, the ZeroG 2.0 has no therapeutic heat function, no MP3 player support, and no air massage mode.

Moreover, the timer setting cannot be customized. You only get a fifteen-minute massage across the board. While many other massage chairs allow timer adjustments of five-minute intervals, generally up to a maximum of thirty minutes, with the ZeroG line, that is, in all 3 models, the timer setting is an unchanging constant. Though not a deal breaker for most people, it is worth noting.

The two biggest drawbacks of the ZeroG 2.0, though, are that: there’s no way to adjust the massage intensity or the speed of the rollers, and there’s no leg extension module on the ottoman. If you’re more than 6’ tall, you’re not going to get an optimal massage from this chair, and the calf massage (which is this model’s strongest point, aesthetics notwithstanding) will be of limited value to you.

All that to say, the Human Touch ZeroG 2.0 massage chair is an excellent hobbyist chair, ideal for someone who wants a great, basic massage, but lacking in many of the more advanced features that make it useful for taller users or people with more serious therapeutic needs.

Human Touch ZeroG 4.0 Immersion Seating Massage Chair

The Human Touch ZeroG 4.0 immersion seating massage chair builds on and improves a few key areas of the basic ZeroG design. We’ll cover the key differences between this chair and the 2.0 version just below.

Human Touch ZeroG 4.0 Immersion Massage Chair Features

Massage Techniques & Massage Programs

The ZeroG 4.0 massage chair offers the same massage techniques and auto-massage programs featured in the ZeroG 2.0.

3D Roller Technology

This is the first big change in the ZeroG 4.0 version, which has a noticeable impact on the overall quality of the massage delivered by the chair.

By incorporating advanced 3D roller technology into the design, the rollers can offer a deeper, more therapeutic massage. Though it’s still not considered a deep tissue massage, it is more intense and satisfying, and strong enough to offer real therapeutic benefit to those who suffer from chronic back pain.

Roller Intensity Adjustment

This is a sensible and important addition, considering the inclusion of 3D Roller Technology in the ZeroG 4.0, which allows for a deeper and more penetrating massage. By adding this feature, users can set the intensity of the rollers to three levels and get a massage according to their liking, whether light and relaxing, or deeper, more intense and therapeutic. 

Note that even in its most intense setting, the chair does not provide a true, deep-tissue massage. However, many casual users have reported that when set to maximum intensity, the massage was just a bit too much for them.

That’s probably a good thing because it means that the massage can be strong enough to provide real therapeutic benefit to those who need it. This turns the chair from something a hobbyist would mostly like, into something that people who suffer from chronic pain can get true benefit from.

BodyMap Pro

Note that none of the chairs in the ZeroG lineup utilizes 3D body scanning technology, catering more specifically to the segment of the market that prefers a hands-on approach and fine-grained control than what automatic scanning technology offers.

The ZeroG 4.0 builds on the manual roller adjustments featured in the 2.0 version of the chair and includes a new section on the remote that shows an image of the human torso, divided into zones, wherein each zone has a corresponding massage button.

At the press of a button, the rollers will spring into action and begin massaging the selected zone. Combine this with the ability to adjust the roller position precisely, and you get to focus on your most troublesome pain spots, and let the chair work its magic on them.

Adjustable Ottoman

The ZeroG 4.0 makes one very important change to the hide-away ottoman: enabling users to adjust the position of the paddles responsible for rendering the calf massage to hit just the right spot.

Even so, the ZeroG 4.0 still does not provide a leg extension feature, which means that it carries the same limitation that its 2.0 version had: the ottoman is only long enough for users less than six feet tall.

Air Seat Massage

This new feature ties with the BodyMap PRO as the most significant upgrade between the ZeroG 2.0 and ZeroG 4.0 models.

While the air massage only applies to the seating area, and thus only affects the hips and thighs, it is another welcome addition that adds substantial therapeutic benefit. Anyone suffering from chronic leg pain will see real benefits from the use of this chair.

Pros & Cons of the Human Touch ZeroG 4.0 Immersion Seating

The Human Touch ZeroG 4.0 immersion seating massage chair is a significant upgrade from the 2.0 version, with a focus on better functionality. Thus, presenting more benefits to people who suffer from chronic leg pain. 

In as much as the ZeroG 2.0 is considered a hobbyist chair, the ZeroG 4.0’s larger feature set offers much more than simple relaxation. Having said that, ZeroG 4.0 still has a few limitations.

While the ZeroG 4.0 massage chair does offer an air massage mode, it is limited to just one small region of the body, while there are chairs of similar price that offer a much more comprehensive air compression massage.

The ZeroG 4.0 also lacks MP3 support and built-in speakers, but this is an understandable omission as it would disrupt the aesthetics of the chair. Most people don’t find this a huge issue anyway, as it is easy enough to put on some earbuds and use a smartphone while having a massage.

The two biggest shortcomings of the ZeroG 4.0, however, are the lack of leg extension feature for the ottoman to cater to taller users, and the absence of lumbar heat. The absence of the latter is a true surprise, given the other additions to the chair are focused on providing more therapeutic benefit than its predecessor.

Human Touch ZeroG 5.0 Immersion Seating Massage Chair

Finally, we’ll take a closer look at the latest offering in the ZeroG product line in this section, our Human Touch ZeroG 5.0 review. The HT Zero G 5.0 model is more of an evolution than a revolution in the continuation of the lineup but offers a few extremely important features that users are sure to love.

Human Touch ZeroG 5.0 Massage Chair Features

More Massage Techniques

Whereas the earlier models in the ZeroG lineup only offered four massage techniques, the Human Touch ZeroG 5.0 massage chair offers six. Similarly, these techniques are applied in different combinations to deliver the same auto massage programs available in both the 2.0 and 4.0.

Having more options is always a good thing, and the inclusion of additional massage techniques is a boost to the overall massage experience rendered by the ZeroG 5.0.

Additional Ottoman Adjustment Options

As noted earlier, the 2.0 model provided no ottoman adjustments at all. Then the 4.0 introduced paddle adjustments for the first time, allowing the user to shift the positioning of the paddles to hit specific pain spots. The 5.0 builds on this further by including a leg extension function allowing the chair to accommodate users up to 6’3” in height.

This upgrade is significant as it addresses one of the key weaknesses of ZeroG’s earlier models, making the 5.0 model much more appealing to a broader segment of the market.

Lumbar Heat

Even greater than the addition of more massage techniques, the real stand-out feature of the ZeroG 5.0 is the inclusion of lumbar heat.

Human Touch handles lumbar heat function a bit differently than its competitors. Where most heated massage chairs rely on simple heating elements, similar to heating pads, positioned in the lumbar region, Human Touch uses twin columns of heated air, which provides a deeper, more penetrating heat and greater overall therapeutic benefit.

Pros & Cons of the Human Touch ZeroG 5.0 Massage Chair

The Human Touch ZeroG 5.0 immersion seating massage chair is a true masterpiece. Not only does it look great but it’s clear that the designers took pains to address what were seen as major shortcomings of its earlier models, ZeroG 4.0 and ZeroG 2.0.

Truly, there are still some things that the chair doesn’t and can’t do – most notably the limited air massage function and the lack of MP3 support, but these are easy for most people to overlook.

Given everything that the ZeroG 5.0 gets right, and how seamlessly it blends into almost any home décor, it’s hard to find serious fault with the latest ZeroG offering.

Human Touch ZeroG 5.0 Review Conclusion

As you can see from our Human Touch ZeroG 5.0 review, the ZeroG lineup has come a long way since the first chair, the ZeroG 2.0, was introduced.

The product line began as a basic, hobbyist-level massage chair that offered a solid, no-frills massage experience. With the release of the ZeroG 5.0, it has become a truly therapeutic massage chair that maintains the striking aesthetic that Human Touch is known for.

While it’s true that the latest ZeroG offering still has some inadequacies, such as limited air massage mode and lack of MP3 player support, these are generally easy to overlook that the ZeroG 5.0 can still be considered an outstanding massage chair by any definition.

What’s the best and most striking about the ZeroG 5.0 is the fact that it appeals to such a broad share of the market, making it a great choice for hobbyists and chronic pain sufferers alike.

While hobbyists can enjoy a great massage in a chair that does not stick out like a sore thumb or take up an inordinate amount of space, people with chronic back, leg, and foot pain can get a tremendous amount of therapeutic value from it.

---

Official Manufacturer Support

REFERENCES & RESOURCES

• Human Touch Massage Chairs, Official Brand Website.
• Human Touch Award-Winning Massage Chairs, ADEX Awards.
• Human Touch Introduces New CirQlation Elite Foot & Calf Massager, Massage Magazine.
• 9 Benefits of Regular Remedial Massage, Sage Institute of Massage.
• The Many Benefits of Foot Massage, Massage Magazine.