In a head-to-head competition, Infinity Iyashi vs Riage, which is better? Which one would win?

We get those questions a lot from people who are looking for a top-quality massage chair that’s loaded with powerful therapeutic benefits.

While it’s true that all massage chairs have at least some therapeutic value, certain models are more tightly focused on people who suffer from chronic pain, while others are more geared toward hobbyists or casual users.

Infinity has a reputation for designing and building chairs designed to help ease your pain, and both of these models will probably be on your shortlist if you’re looking for relief.

We’re going to go line by line, feature by feature, and compare everything these two models have to offer. As we do, we’re going to keep a running point total and declare a winner at the end.

Of course, we realize that some readers may value certain features more highly than others, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself disagreeing in places with our assessments. This comparison is meant to serve as a guide to help you make an informed decision about which of these two excellent models would be best for you.

About Infinity Riage Model

Note that the Riage comes in two models: the base, and the X3, which is a significant upgrade priced within two hundred dollars of the Iyashi. So for this comparison, we’ll look at the X3 variant, to make it closer.

The base model of the Riage will save you some money, but won’t fare as well in a head-to-head competition, thus our decision.

Infinity Iyashi vs Riage Feature Comparison

Hybrid L/S Track & Quad Rollers

Infinity Iyashi: ★★ | Infinity Riage X3: ★★★

Both models are built around cutting-edge technology, utilizing a hybrid L/S track that allows the chairs’ quad rollers to travel under the seat to give your glutes and the backs of your thighs a massage, in addition to your back.

Regarding implementation, the Riage X3 has a secret weapon, in the form of its 4D technology.

This amounts to extension arms on the massage rollers that enable them to extend an additional 3” away from the massage track. The Riage X3 scores the first point in the matchup!

3D Body Scanning Tech

Infinity Iyashi: ★★ | Infinity Riage X3: ★★

Both chairs also have a two-layered approach to optimizing your massage experience. Before your massage begins, they take a scan of your back and automatically adjust the positions of the rollers to make sure they’re hitting your pressure points.

Infinity Iyashi vs Riage Riage Body - Chair Institute

Sometimes, though, the tech doesn’t get it right, and when that happens, both chairs also offer buttons on their respective remotes that allow you to manually adjust both the rollers and the width of the massage field.

This combined approach gives you a bulletproof solution that guarantees a world-class massage with either of these models. This one is a tie, so no points awarded for either model.

Zero-Gravity Seating

Infinity Iyashi: ★★ | Infinity Riage X3: ★★

This is a great feature that enhances the overall quality of your massage by reclining you to a position such that your knees are elevated slightly above your heart. This presses most of your body’s weight down and against the rollers, which results in a deeper and more penetrating massage.

Once again, the Riage X3 comes out on top, since it offers two seating positions, while the Iyashi only offers one.

Infinity Iyashi vs Riage Riage Zero Gravity - Chair Institute

Comparing Massage Options

Infinity Iyashi: ★★ | Infinity Riage X3: ★★

On the surface of it, this is the most complex portion of the Infinity Riage vs Iyashi comparison, but on closer inspection, there aren’t as many differences as there first seem.

Infinity Iyashi Massage Styles
  • Kneading
  • Tapping
  • Knocking
  • Tapping & Knocking
  • Rhythm (Music Sync)
  • Shiatsu
Infinity Riage Massage Styles
  • Rubbing
  • Tapping
  • Knocking
  • Kneading
  • Music Sync
  • Shiatsu

So both have six, and there’s a lot of overlap. Mostly, this comes down to personal preference.

When it comes to pre-programmed massages:

Massage Programs in Infinity Iyashi
  • Extend (Stretch Feature)
  • Recovery
  • Refresh
  • Relax
  • Upper Body Auto
  • Lower Body Auto
Massage Programs in Infinity Riage
  • Extension (Body Stretch function)
  • Working Relief
  • Sports Refresh
  • Rest and Sleep
  • Neck and Shoulder
  • Waist and Spine

Again, they have a tremendous amount of similarities. But here, the Iyashi comes out on top, because it offers six different speed and intensity options, while the Riage X3 only offers a single speed and five intensity adjustment settings.

In terms of overall massage combinations, the Iyashi is our clear winner.

Air Massage Mode

Infinity Iyashi: ★★ | Infinity Riage X3: ★★

Both chairs come equipped with 38 Second Generation airbags, and both allow you to selectively activate airbags by body region.

Infinity Iyashi vs Riage Iyashi Air Massage - Chair Institute

The Riage breaks those regions down into more groups, offering a total of 7, while the Iyashi only offers five, but this is not a large enough difference to be telling.

What is telling, however, is the fact that the Iyashi offers six levels of air massage intensity adjustment, while the Riage X3 only offers five, so we have to give this one to the Iyashi.

Zone & Partial Massage Modes

Infinity Iyashi: ★★ | Infinity Riage X3: ★★

Both chairs offer both of these features, and they are implemented in the same way.

Zone massage interrupts whatever program you’re running and focuses the rollers on an area six inches in diameter from wherever they were when you pressed the button.

Partial massage mode works the same way, but the area of impact is roughly a third of your back, rather than just six inches.

This one is also a tie.

Body Stretch and Waist Twist

Infinity Iyashi: ★★ | Infinity Riage X3: ★★

Again, both chairs offer these features. The body stretch is quite robust and provides immediate pain relief by taking pressure off compressed discs in your spine in the same way that a chiropractic adjustment does.

Infinity Iyashi vs Riage Iyashi Body Stretch_1 - Chair Institute

Some people who suffer from acute, chronic pain may find this feature too intense, and if that’s the case, the Twist function is an excellent fallback. It’s much milder than the stretch but offers the same basic benefits.

We rate this as another tie.

Calf & Foot Massage

Infinity Iyashi: ★★ | Infinity Riage X3: ★★

The Riage X3 comes out on top with this feature, because while both offer a combination of airbags and foot rollers, the X3 uses quad rollers for the soles of the feet, whereas the Iyashi utilizes dual rollers, giving the X3 a slight edge.

Lumbar Heat

Infinity Iyashi: ★★ | Infinity Riage X3: ★★

This feature is identical in both models. The offered heat is binary, either on or off, with no option for precise temperature control. We rate this one a tie.​

Music Support

Infinity Iyashi: ★★ | Infinity Riage X3: ★★

While both models offer music support, the Riage X3’s implementation is slightly superior because it offers Bluetooth support, whereas the Iyashi offers a USB port that allows you to download your favorite music to a jump drive. Bluetooth support is simply the more convenient of the two. Advantage, Riage.

Infinity Iyashi vs Riage Riage Blutetooth - Chair Institute

Adjustable Timer

Infinity Iyashi: ★★ | Infinity Riage X3: ★★

All massage options on both chairs default to a twenty-minute duration and can be adjusted via the remote to either ten or thirty minutes, at your preference.

While this isn’t a perfect implementation, it’s better than not having any ability to make time adjustments at all, and we rate this as a tie.

Chromother​apy

Infinity Iyashi: ★★ | Infinity Riage X3: ★★

This is something the Iyashi has, that the Riage simply lacks. It’s not a major feature but is worth mentioning, and fans of it claim that it helps them relax, and thus, enhances the overall experience.

Infinity Iyashi vs Riage Chromotherapy Riage - Chair Institute

Extendable Ottoman

Infinity Iyashi: ★★ | Infinity Riage X3: ★★

The Iyashi accommodates users up to 6’5” in height, while the Riage only accommodates users up to 6’2” because it lacks an extension module for the Ottoman. Advantage Iyashi.

Rocking Feature

Infinity Iyashi: ★★ | Infinity Riage X3: ★★

This is a small feature, on par with Chromotherapy, mentioned above. In this case, the Riage has it, and the Iyashi does not. During certain massage routines, the chair will gently rock you, which is soothing and relaxing. Point for the Riage.

Optional App Control & Ease of Use

Infinity Iyashi: ★★ | Infinity Riage X3: ★★

While both models offer an optional app control, the Iyashi is the easier of the two to use and master. The Riage is quite good, and you won’t have any trouble learning how to navigate to any feature you want to make use of, it’s just that the Iyashi has a better overall design.

Infinity Iyashi vs Riage App Control - Chair Institute

Space-Saving Technology

Infinity Iyashi: ★★ | Infinity Riage X3: ★★

The last feature really matters to people who are limited on space, because it dramatically reduces the clearance you need between the back of the chair and the wall you set it near.

In the case of the Riage, you need at least 18”. With the Iyashi, you only need about 4”.

If you have plenty of room, then obviously this won’t make much of a difference, but we have to award this point to the Iyashi.

Infinity Riage vs Iyashi Conclusion

Infinity Iyashi vs Infinity Riage

Infinity Iyashi vs Riage Iyashi - Chair Institute Infinity Iyashi Infinity Iyashi vs Riage Riage Black - Chair Institute

 Infinity Riage

Hybrid L/S Track & Quad Rollers

★★

★★★

3D Body Scanning Tech

★★

★★

Zero-Gravity Seating

★★

★★★

Comparing Massage Options

★★★★

★★

Air Massage Mode

★★★★

★★★

Zone & Partial Massage Modes

★★

★★

Body Stretch and Waist Twist

★★

★★

Calf & Foot Massage

★★

★★★

Lumbar Heat

★★

★★

Music Support

★★★

★★★★

Adjustable Timer

★★

★★

Chromotherapy

★★★

★★

Extendable Ottoman

★★★★ 

★★

Rocking Feature

★★★

★★★★

Optional App Control & Ease of Use

★★★

★★

Space Saving Technology

★★★★ 

★★

And that brings us to the end. In the final analysis of Infinity Riage vs Iyashi, while it was a very close battle, the Iyashi takes it by a single point.

Again, we can’t stress enough that your answers might be different than ours, because you may place a greater emphasis and importance on one particular feature, and may not care either way about some other. But weighing them all equally as we have done, we give a slight edge to the Iyashi.

While both models offer a full menu of high-value therapeutic features, they do have a few important differences at the margins. So at the end of the day, it comes down to what your specific needs and preferences are.

In either case, we recommend both models without reservation. They’ll simply make you feel better.


Official Manufacturer Support

REFERENCES & RESOURCES