Let's start our Infinity 8500 vs 8800 review with a quick comparison of the two models and the new 8500 X3:
Infinity 8500 | 
Infinity 8800 | 
Infinity 8500 | 
Infinity 8500 X3 |
No. of Airbags | 36 | 38 | 38 |
Roller Intensity Settings | ✘ | ✘ | 6 |
Music | USB/Jump Drive | USB/Jump Drive | Bluetooth |
Zero-G Seating | 2 | 2 | 2 |
3D Rollers | ✘ | ✘ | ✓ |
Stretch | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Twist | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Inversion | ✘ | ✓ | ✓ |
Optional App Control | ✘ | ✘ | ✓ |
Infinity 8500 vs 8800 Massage Chair |
|---|
Infinity 8800
RATING | |
|---|---|
No. of Airbags | 36 |
Roller Intensity Settings | ✘ |
Music | USB/Jump Drive |
More Specifications...
Infinity 8500 vs 8800 Massage Chair |
|---|
Infinity 8500
RATING | |
|---|---|
No. of Airbags | 38 |
Roller Intensity Settings | ✘ |
Music | USB/Jump Drive |
More Specifications...
Infinity 8500 vs 8800 Massage Chair |
|---|
Infinity 8500 X3
RATING | |
|---|---|
No. of Airbags | 38 |
Roller Intensity Settings | 6 |
Music | Bluetooth |
More Specifications...
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
Quad rollers are a good beginning because of how closely they mimic the feel of human hands. But unless those rollers are hitting the sore spots on your back, the massage they render is not going to be very satisfying.
That’s where Body Scan technology comes into play. By taking a scan of your back before a massage begins, all three models can make small-but-critical adjustments to the position of the rollers, allowing them to make contact with your pressure points precisely.
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
All three models offer an airbag-based calf massage, and a foot massage rendered via a combination of airbags and rollers at the bottom of the foot wells. Given that the 8800 has marginally fewer airbags than the 8500 and 8500 X3, the resulting calf and foot massage is very slightly inferior, but it’s not something that most people would notice.
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 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
In terms of comparing the Infinity IT 8500 vs 8800, this is the major point of differentiation. The 8500 has two more airbags, which is a small difference, but it means that the 8500 gives a slightly superior air massage.
The intensity of the air massage can be adjusted via buttons on the remote through five different levels, allowing for a high degree of customization.
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.
Massage Techniques & Auto Programs |
Infinity 8800 |
Infinity 8500 |
Infinity 8500 X3 |
Massage Techniques | Kneading | Kneading | Kneading |
Massage Programs | Recover Extend (This is the stretch feature) | Recover | Sports Refresh Working Relief |
Massage Techniques & Auto Programs |
|---|
Infinity 8800
RATING | |
|---|---|
Massage Techniques | Kneading |
Massage Programs | Recover Refresh Relax |
Massage Techniques & Auto Programs |
|---|
Infinity 8500
RATING | |
|---|---|
Massage Techniques | Kneading |
Massage Programs | Recover Refresh |
Massage Techniques & Auto Programs |
|---|
Infinity 8500 X3
RATING | |
|---|---|
Massage Techniques | Kneading |
Massage Programs | Sports Refresh |
As you can see, the models have more similarities than differences, with the key one being the fact that "Dual Action or Combination" is offered in the Infinity 8500, and 8500 X3 has more auto massage programs.
Infinity generally does a great job here, offering more massage combinations than other chairs in its price range. In the case of the 8500 and 8800, however, the absence of the ability to adjust massage roller intensity limits the total number of combinations.
The X3 model corrects for this, as we’ll cover later.
The other thing worth mentioning here is the presence of music sync on all three. While this isn’t a massage technique per se, some people enjoy it as it ties the rollers to the music function, allowing them to move to the beat.
Depending on what type of music you’re listening to, this can either result in a soothing, relaxing experience, or it can feel like the chair is trying to beat you to death!
A Few Words About the Remotes
All three of these chairs offer a wide range of features, and as such, there’s a definite learning curve involved.
Having said that, the remotes are well organized and all the buttons are logically placed, so you won’t have any trouble finding and activating the options you want. While it may take you a few days to truly master whichever model you select, you can be enjoying your first massage in a matter of minutes.
Upgraded Features of the Infinity 8500 X3
The X3 is more expensive than the other two models, but gives you some powerful enhancements. These are:
Roller Intensity Adjustments
This is arguably the single biggest improvement. Users can modify the intensity of the roller-based massage via six different intensity settings from the remote.
This is key if your intention is for the chair to be used by multiple members in your household, and those other members don’t suffer from chronic pain.
3D Massage Technology
The IT-8500X3 adds 3D massage technology, which allows the user to control how deep the rollers perform the massage. Through this new technology, different users can enjoy a more varied massage experience from getting a very light massage to a very powerful deep tissue massage.
Bluetooth Compatibility
This is a smaller change and more of a convenience feature that many users will appreciate.
Rather than utilizing a jump drive and a USB port, the X3 allows you to wirelessly connect your smartphone to the speakers in the headrest, so you no longer have to copy your favorite music – just listen right from your phone!
Optional App Control
The remote allows you to operate every feature of the chair, but the X3’s app provides a better, more efficient means of navigating the various options you have available.
It is by no means a requirement that you use the App, but the odds are good that you’ll find it to be superior.
Pros & Cons of the Infinity 8500 vs 8800
At the end of the day, what it comes down to is that the 8800 and the 8500 base model are excellent therapeutic chairs, but aren’t really suitable for use by anyone who doesn’t suffer from chronic pain, because the massage intensity is generally too strong for comfort.
People who live with back pain day in and day out need that kind of intense, deep tissue massage, but hobbyist users will most likely get up from the chair feeling beaten up.
The 8500 X3 addresses that issue by allowing for modification of the intensity settings, so if you intend for the chair to be used by multiple members in your household, and some of them don’t suffer from chronic back pain, you’re better off spending the extra money to get a “kinder, gentler” chair.
Where the 8800 and 8500 base model are concerned, the key difference is that the 8800 does not offer inversion therapy. The importance you place on that feature to be is going to play a pivotal role in your ultimate decision. Also remember that the 8800 does not offer an extension module in the Ottoman.
Conclusion of the Infinity IT 8500 vs 8800
As we said at the start, if your budget will permit it, the 8500 X3 is clearly the superior chair, but if price is an issue, then both of the others have attractive feature combinations that will serve you well. All three models offer a powerful array of therapeutic features that will help you feel better. As such, all three are highly recommended.
RELATED ARTICLES