Infinity 8500 vs 8800 Massage Chair Review 2023

Do you suffer from chronic pain? If so, finding the right massage chair can make all the difference between finding relief and continuing to suffer.

In our Infinity 8500 vs 8800 comparative review, we’ll step through every feature these models offer to help you find the perfect chair for you.

Note that we’ll actually be looking at three models because the 8500 has an “upgraded version” called the 8500 X3. In terms of raw capability, the X3 is the hands-down winner. So, if you’re looking for the most feature-rich chair money can buy, it’s no contest.

On the other hand, if you’re on a budget, one of the other two models might be a better fit. All of these models are designed with one thing in mind: maximum therapeutic value.

While you can definitely find more expensive massage chairs on the market, none do quite as good a job in terms of providing high-value pain relieving benefits.

Note that the chart above doesn’t highlight every single feature these chairs have to offer, but rather, covers the areas where there are compelling differences. We’ll get to those differences, but before we do, let’s take a quick look at the basics that all three have in common. 

Common Features of Infinity 8500, 8500 X3 and 8800

S-Track Design & Quad Rollers

All three models are built around an industry-standard S-Track, which allows their quad rollers to follow the natural curvature of your body’s spine, resulting in an excellent baseline massage. As you’ll see, in addition to this framework, all three also have a number of technologies built-in which enhance this greatly.

3D Body Scan

Moreover, if the technology happens to miss the mark, all three models also feature control buttons on the remote that allow you to manually adjust not only the roller positions but also the width of the massage field, guaranteeing a top-quality massage, every time you use the chair.

Zero-Gravity Seating

This is another fantastic addition that all three models have in common.

By reclining you into a position such that your knees are elevated slightly above your heart, it allows most of your body weight to press down and against the rollers, which in turn, allows the rollers to render a deeper and more penetrating massage.

It should be noted at this point in our comparison, Infinity 8800 vs 8500 that all three models we’re discussing here offer a deep tissue style massage, and the Zero-G seating only serves to make it even more intense, which provides greater therapeutic value for those who suffer from chronic back and neck pain.

Foot & Calf Massage

Lumbar Heat

Heat plus deep tissue massage offers amazing therapeutic benefits, which is another great feature shared across all the models we’re looking at.  If chronic pain is centered on your lower back, you’ll find yourself regularly using this feature.

The offered heat is binary: you either activate it or leave it off. There’s no option to precisely control the temperature.

Body Stretch

The body stretch function offered by these models is quite robust, and casual users may find it too intense for their liking, but it provides almost immediate relief for chronic pain sufferers because it takes the pressure off of compressed discs in your spine in the same way that a chiropractic adjustment does.

Twist

The twist feature is a milder, less intense method of achieving the same effect offered by body stretching. If you find the stretch too robust to use comfortably, then this is an excellent fallback position.

Note that the intensity of this feature can be adjusted via the remote through three levels and that even at maximum intensity, it’s still not as strong as the body stretch.

From a practical standpoint, what this means is that all three models give you a total of four different modes of spinal adjustment, allowing you to select the one that best suits your needs.

Unique Features of Infinity 8500 vs 8800

Inversion Therapy

This is the first major point of differentiation we come to in our comparison of Infinity 8500 vs 8800, because the 8500 has an inversion therapy feature, while the 8800 does not.

Inversion offers many of the same benefits that the body stretch and twist functions do, but in a manner that is lower impact, which is important if your pain is particularly severe.

It also improves circulation, especially the circulation of your lymphatic fluids, which can foster greater overall health.

Air Massage Mode

Extendable Ottoman

This is a small detail but it can be a deal-breaker for some users. The 8800 will only accommodate users up to 6’2” in height, while both the 8500 and the 8500 X3 will accommodate users up to 6’4”, thanks to the presence of an extension module in the Ottoman. Taller users will naturally gravitate to one of these two.

A Generous Number of Options (Some Limitations)

The best way to demonstrate the differences between the models is to show the various options each makes available.