Are you on the hunt for a decent-quality office or gaming chair, but don’t have a lot of money to spend?
Have you been underwhelmed by the chairs your search has turned up so far?
If so, we think you’re going to be pleasantly surprised by the chairs featured in our SONGMICS office chairs review.
About the SONGMICS Brand
Haven’t heard of SONGMICS before? We’d be surprised if you had. They’re a small, off-brand outfit that sells a variety of household products of Chinese manufacture, including a range of chairs that fall into three distinct categories:
Their office furniture is targeted at the value segment of the market, which means that it has limitations.
While you’ll find all the chairs in this company’s product line to be quite comfortable and surprisingly feature-rich, to keep their costs low, SONGMICS has had to make the standard trade off commonly found in budget-priced furniture: they trade popular features for low-cost materials and marginal production quality.
This is not new or surprising and is a limitation that people on a budget are quite accustomed to seeing. While the furniture looks nice and is wonderfully functional, it doesn’t tend to hold up well under the strain of heavy daily usage and tends to start showing its age very quickly.
The upshot is, of course, that it’s offered for a song, so even if it wears out more quickly than you’d like, it’s nothing to replace it in 2-3 years. Let’s face it; if you find yourself in need of a decent office chair right now, and you don’t have a lot of money to work with, its longevity isn’t usually a big concern.
On balance, we have found SONGMICS office furniture to be a cut above what you normally see in the value segment of the market. It’s not perfect, but we think you’ll be impressed.
In the sections that follow, we’ll introduce you to each of the chairs the company offers and tell you what they get right and what they don’t do so well. Before we get into particulars though, let’s start by taking a top-level view of all the chairs the company sells, then drill down a bit more deeply.
If that sounds good to you, let’s get right to it!
SONGMICS Brand Models and Variants
Before we start looking at individual models, let’s talk about the features that all the SONGMICS Office Chairs share in common.
Quality
We mentioned at the start that they’re made from lower-quality materials and that the production quality is also on the low side. Here, the real story though is the production quality. Granted, it’s not world-class and compared to the quality of well-known, well-established brands; it’s still a bit lacking.
Even so, the quality is better than you might expect and is reflected in the fact that all of the chairs SONGMICS sells come with a 30-month warranty, which is virtually unheard of in the value segment of the market.
Extras
Second, the company offers two extra casters with all its office chairs. That’s another perk you seldom see where low-cost chairs and is a big deal as the casters are one of the more common points of failure in low-end furniture. Having ready replacements on hand is huge and will significantly extend the life of the chair you buy.
Granted, this won’t do anything about the fact that the upholstery will start showing its age quickly, but you can mitigate that by only using it lightly or moderately.
Assembly Required
The final thing to say here is that if you purchase a chair from SONGMICS, it will arrive at your doorstep unassembled. These chairs are a bit on the heavy side, and you’d be well-served by having an assistant lend you a hand as you put your chair together.
If you’re doing it solo, expect the process to take about an hour. With help, it’ll probably take 30-45 minutes. There is some minor variance depending on which model you select, but the time frame mentioned above is an excellent rule of thumb.
Now, let’s take a look at the individual models!
SONGMICS Executive Office Chairs
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3.6
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3.6
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3.6
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$151.75
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N/A
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N/A
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4.5
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4.5
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4.5
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4.5
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4.5
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4.5
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4.5
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4.3
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4.3
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1.0
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1.0
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1.0
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This is a really awesome chair for the money, providing a comfortable sitting experience and a good look. The company even throws in some nice extras!
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Probably the best ergonomic design SONGMICS makes, plus it pulls double duty as a recliner. A fantastic option for those looking to emphasize ergonomic features.
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Very similar to the 71B model, except that this one doesn’t come with the hideaway Ottoman and trades the adjustable lumbar support pillow for an adjustable headrest.
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Anyone looking for a good budget Executive Office Chair
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A great ergonomic option for anyone on a budget. Note that if you’re more worried about your head and neck, then you want the 76B, rather than this one.
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A great ergonomic option for anyone on a budget. Note if you’re more worried about the lumbar region of your back, you want the 71B.
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32.3” x 25.6” x 15”
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33.5” x 26.2” x 14”
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29” x 26” x 17.1”
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43.6 pounds
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55.6 pounds
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42.9 pounds
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330 pounds
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330 pounds
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330 pounds
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90 to 110 degrees
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90 to 120 degrees
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90 to 135 degrees
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16.5”
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19.7”
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19.9”
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16.5” – 19.5”
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17.75” to 21.5”
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17.75” to 21.5”
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19.5”
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19.3”
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19.3”
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3.5
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3.6
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3.0
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N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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4.3
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4.5
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4.0
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4.3
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4.5
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4.0
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4.5
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4.3
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3.0
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1.0
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1.0
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1.0
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A good looking, well-priced basic ergonomic Executive Office Chair
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Second-best ergonomic chair in the SONGMICS lineup. This model is built on the same frame as the UOBG21B but sports a key ergonomic difference and a couple of other minor enhancements besides.
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SONGMICS’ least expensive Executive Office Chair. Features the racing-style seat found in their gaming chairs, and as such, doesn’t blend quite as seamlessly with most home décor schemes.
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Anyone looking for a good, no-frills ergonomic Executive office chair
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Anyone looking for a cheaper ergonomic Executive office chair, with an aesthetic that differs from the UOBG71B /UOBG76B. Anyone who wants something other than a black Executive Office Chair from SONGMICS.
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Anyone looking for a good, low-priced ergonomic Executive office chair.
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30.2” x 26.5” x 44.1” to 48.1”
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30.1” x 26.5” x 44.1” to 48.1”
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32.4” x 26.2” x 46.9” to 50.75”
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42 pounds
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42.5 pounds
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42.8 pounds
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330 pounds
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330 pounds
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330 pounds
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90 to 100 degrees
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90 to 110 degrees
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90 to 100 degrees
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19.5”
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21.25”
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21.9”
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17.75” to 21.5”
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17.75” to 21.5”
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17.75” to 21.5”
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20.5”
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21.1”
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20.5”
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*While aesthetics is a matter of taste, aesthetic flexibility is a measure of how easily a given design would fit into a wide range of home or office décor schemes.
**Brand Reliability is a measure of the strength and longevity of the brand, which by extension, is a measure of the level of support you can expect.
SONGMICS Executive Chairs In More Detail
UOBG94BK
Recommended For: Anyone who needs more space or height on their office chair.
Although SONGMICS doesn’t refer to this model in these terms, this is essentially their flagship model. It’s an almost shockingly good chair for the money.
Although the padding is conventional block foam, the cushion is more than 6” thick and supported by springs. Not only does this help the block foam retain its shape longer, but it gives the effect of sitting on a comfortable mattress, rather than a chair. We hadn’t expected to see such niceties in a chair at this price.
In addition to that, you’ll find a full range of ergonomic features, well-padded armrests, and a rocking/recline feature. To round things out, the arms flip up to make it easier to slide the chair under your desk when not in use, or for those occasions when you’d rather sit in an armless chair.
And as mentioned above, the company provides extra casters with your purchase, as these tend to be one of the more common points of failure in chairs offered at the lower end of the price spectrum.
The upholstery is bonded leather covered in polyurethane, making it waterproof (or at the very least, water resistant). Bonded leather is real leather, which is a plus, but it’s formed by fusing leather scraps together.
As such, it tends to lack the suppleness, strength, and durability of grain leather. Expect it to start showing its age quickly, despite the manufacturer’s claims of “high tensile strength.”
On the whole, though, we’re impressed with the SONGMICS Executive Chair. It offers superb value for the money, and as long as you don’t use it heavily on a daily basis, it will serve you well.
UOBG71B
Recommended for: A great ergonomic option for anyone on a budget. Note that if you’re more worried about your head and neck, then you want the 76B, rather than this one.
This chair, and its close cousin, the UOBG76B, which we’ll talk about just below, are, in our view, the two best ergonomic chairs that SONGMICS offers.
Not only are they well padded, but they’ve got adjustable lumbar supports, with this model featuring an extra lumbar support pillow, in addition to a hideaway ottoman, allowing it to pull double duty as a recliner.
This chair is a bit bigger than the flagship model and sits higher off the ground, so is a good fit for bigger, taller users.
Even better, where most of SONGMIC’s products utilize a low-quality nylon base that’s prone to breakage with heavy daily use, this one features a chrome-plated steel base, so is better able to stand the rigors of protracted use, as well as being better able to accommodate bigger, taller users.
Unfortunately, the upholstery quality in this chair is still standard PU, and as such, it won’t age well. Even so, for the money, this chair is honestly amazing.
The only thing that puzzles us when comparing this one to the UOBG76B is this: We would have put the headrest pillow on this model, since it’s a recliner, and put the lumbar support pillow on the UOBG76B.
It’s a small thing, and we don’t think it’ll wind up being a deal breaker for anyone but thought it to be worth mentioning.
While it’s not as well cushioned as the company’s flagship model, it still offers a delightful sitting experience. You won’t be disappointed!
UOBG76B
Recommended For: Users who need head/neck/shoulder support, including adjustable lumbar support pillow and adjustable headrest.
This model is functionally similar to the UOBG71B, but there are a few differences, including:
Everything else is the same, although we’d caution prospective buyers to stay well beneath the maximum recommended user weight of 330 pounds, given the weaker base, a warning that applies to most of the chairs the company makes.
UOBG21B
Recommended for: Anyone looking for a good, no-frills ergonomic Executive office chair
A solid, unassuming design that blends in well with most home décor schemes. While the other chairs we’ve talked about to this point have some “extra” feature that makes them stand out (extra pillows, hideaway ottomans, springs in the seat cushions, and the like), this one focuses only on the basics.
It’s well-padded and offers a full range of ergonomic support features, but it steers clear of anything “extra” in a bid to keep the price as low as possible.
We approve. It’s a great, no-frills model, so if you’re looking for a good chair that has the basics covered, this one will be of particular interest to you.
UOBG55BK
Recommended for: Anyone looking for a cheaper ergonomic executive office chair with an aesthetic that differs from the UOBG71B /UOBG76B. Anyone who wants something other than a black Executive Office Chair from SONGMICS.
These two chairs are the same except for their color. It’s the only SONGMICS Office Chair offered in either brown or black. So, if you’re looking for some other color besides black, then the BR variant of this model is going to grab your attention.
At first glance, you might think that these chairs are virtually identical to the UOBG21B. Although built on the same frame, these two models sport some crucial differences, which include:
Aside from those changes, however, they’re functionally the same chair as the UOBG21B and offer almost all the same overall dimensions.
The company claims that they’re “as comfortable as lying in bed,” and to SONGMIC’s credit, the S-shaped seat back is a bit more comfortable than the upright seatbacks found in most other office chairs.
That said, they lack the plush padding and spring supports that the flagship model has. So, in our view, they’re not quite that comfortable. They are delightfully well-padded, however, so even if you’ve got to spend a considerable amount of time in one of these, it will offer a comfortable sitting experience.
Again though, be aware that the low-quality upholstery isn’t going to stand up well to heavy daily use, which is the major limitation of all the projects SONGMICS offers.
Note: You may see the UOBG55BK listed as the UOBG51B. These are, in fact, the same chair. Apparently, the confusion stems from the fact that some vendors have pulled the brown variant’s model number and appended the “B” designator to the end of it.
UOBG62B
Recommended for: Anyone looking for a good, low-priced ergonomic executive office chair.
This model is a bit of an oddity in the Executive Office Chair portion of the SONGMICs lineup. First, it trades the traditional office-style seat for a racing seat of the kind the company uses in their gaming chairs.
Second, unlike most of the other chairs that SONGMICs offers, this one only has one spare caster included with your purchase, rather than two.
The former may be a deal breaker for some, in that the racing-style seat won’t mesh as well or blend as seamlessly with most home décor schemes, while the second is a minor point that shouldn’t give anyone pause.
In any case, the chair is generously padded, rocks slightly, and offers flip-up arms that make it easier for it to fit under your desk when not in use, or if you feel like using a chair with no armrests.
Like the other chairs the company offers, it sports a full range of ergonomic design features that make it unexpectedly comfortable and helps you maintain better posture while you’re sitting at your desk.
SONGMICS Office Chairs
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3.1
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3.4
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N/A
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$127.16
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4.5
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4.5
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4.0
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4.3
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2.8
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4.0
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1.0
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1.0
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An odd-looking chair, but more comfortable than you might expect, with excellent, adjustable/adaptive ergonomic features.
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A much more conventionally-styled chair than the UOBN89BK, this model is a good mix of mesh and cloth upholstery, providing excellent ergonomic support and surprising comfort.
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Anyone on a budget, who needs an exceptional ergonomic chair.
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Anyone on a budget, who needs a good ergonomic chair.
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25.9” x 26.5” x 49.1” to 51.9”
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25.25” x 21.5” x 46.1” to 49.75”
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42.7 pounds
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33 pounds
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330 pounds
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330 pounds
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90 to 120 degrees (three lockable settings)
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90 to 110 degrees
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20.9”
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20.1”
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17.5” to 20.9”
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17.75” to 21.5”
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19.5”
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19.5”
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SONGMICS Office Chairs In More Detail
If for whatever reason, you don’t want or need an Executive office chair, SONGMICS makes a pair of low-priced office chairs that are well worth considering. We’ll cover both in this section.
UOBN89BK
Recommended For: Anyone on a budget who needs an exceptional ergonomic chair.
This is an all mesh chair, but despite its lack of padding, it is surprisingly comfortable, thanks to an excellent set of features, including adaptive lumbar support.
Unlike most other ergonomic office chairs, this model’s lumbar support region is independently designed and adjusts based on the amount of weight pressing against it to provide excellent support.
It also sports an articulated headrest that allows you to adjust the angle for optimal comfort and height-adjustable armrests that can be locked into any of seven distinct height positions ranging from 23.9” to 27.5” high.
Like most of the other chairs in the SONGMICS lineup, the chair sports a nylon base, so prospective buyers are advised to stay well under the company’s advertised 330-pound maximum supported weight limit. Unlike most of the Executive chairs, this one only comes with one spare caster, but that’s a small sacrifice to help keep the price down.
It may look a little funny, but this chair is all business, and much more comfortable (and breathable, courtesy of the mesh seat and seat back) than you might expect!
UOBN86B
Recommended for: Anyone on a budget, who needs a good ergonomic chair.
This model sacrifices some in terms of the quality of its ergonomic features to provide more conventional styling that will more easily fit into most home décor schemes.
Make no mistake, the ergonomic features on display in this model, including the S-shaped seatback design are excellent, but they’re not as strong or as well-implemented as the ergonomic features offered in the UOBN89BK.
This model offers a cunning blend of mesh and padded mesh upholstery, which provides added comfort in the headrest. The arms of this model flip up, allowing for easier under-desk storage when the chair’s not in use, or for those who want a chair without armrests.
Also note that the base of this model is steel, making it sturdier and more durable overall. Given that the mesh upholstery is more durable than the company’s standard PU, this is the most rugged, durable and long-lasting of all the chairs that SONGMICS makes.
It comes with one spare caster to serve as a replacement.
SONGMICS Gaming Chairs
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3.1
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3.1
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N/A
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N/A
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4.3
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4.3
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4.3
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4.3
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2.8
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2.8
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1.0
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1.0
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SONGMICS flagship gaming chair. Full features and surprisingly comfortable
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SONGMICS’ original gaming chair. Full featured and comfortable.
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Serious gamers looking for a good value.
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Optimized for shorter users. If you’re a serious gamer, and shorter than 5’8” or so, this is a great option. Light to moderate use recommended.
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34” x 25.4” x 48.8” to 52”
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33.8” x 25.3” x 48.8” to 52”
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55 pounds
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53.6 pounds
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330 pounds
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330 pounds
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90 to 150 degrees
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90 to 150 degrees
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14.1”
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14.2”
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16.9” to 20.1”
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13.8” to 16.9”
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19.25”
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19.25”
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SONGMICS Gaming Chairs In More Detail
Finally, the company offers an impressive selection of gaming chairs. All of the gaming chairs feature sporty racing-style seats, in addition to a full range of ergonomic features. We’ll take a closer look at this part of the company’s product line in this section of our SONGMICS Office Chair review.
URCG12W
Recommended for: Serious gamers looking for a good value.
Although it’s not marketed as such, this is, for all practical purposes, the flagship of SONGMICS’ gaming chairs. The company pulled out all the stops here, offering a fancy black and white bucket seat (racing-style) that’s generously padded with height adjustable arms, an enormous tilt range, and an extra headrest and lumbar support pillow.
It’s an excellent chair, but in our view, it’s got some limitations. Our main issues with the model are these:
Even with these limitations, if you’re well under the chair’s maximum supported weight of 330 pounds, if you can fit into the narrow seat, and as long as you’re gentle with the chair or don’t engage in too many all-night gaming sessions, this is a good choice.
URCG001
This is the company’s original gaming chair. It’s functionally similar to the flagship model but is geared more toward shorter gamers. If you’re taller than 5’8” this chair’s height is going to be problematic for you.
As with the flagship model, note the incredibly narrow seat, too. That, combined with the low seat height (even at max adjustment) may make it the wrong choice for many prospective buyers.
That said, if you fit into it, you’ll find it to be delightfully comfortable, although it has the design flaw that the flagship model does. It reclines to an impressive 150-degree angle, and yet, doesn’t come with a hideaway Ottoman, which is a bit of a disappointment.
On the other hand, the armrests are flip up, height adjustable and rotating, allowing you to position them exactly how you want them, which is a nice touch for power gamers. Like SONGMICS’ flagship model, this one features both a lumbar support pillow and an extra headrest pillow (removable) for added comfort and support.
Comes in sporty red/black.
URCG25RD
This model is the “big and tall” version of the URCG001.
Where the original gaming chair was optimized for gamers under 5’8” tall and thin enough to fit into the narrow seat, this one is bigger, and well-suited to a wider range of the gaming public, with a seat nearly 16” wide and a height adjustment range much better suited to taller gamers.
It sports all the same features, including extra headrest and lumbar support pillows, massive 150-degree recline angle, fully articulated flip up armrests, and the sporty red and black color scheme.
URCG16GY
In our opinion, this is the best gaming chair that the company makes. It sports a steel base, rather than nylon, making it better able to stand up to the rigors of power gaming sessions.
It retains the extra support pillows both for the headrest and the lumbar region, and the fully articulated armrests, although these aren’t as comfortable as we’d like to have seen.
The padding is generous. Unlike the other models in this part of the lineup, the upholstery is a breathable mesh fabric, which will stand up better to heavy daily use than the PU upholstery the other models feature.
That, plus the fact that it’s offered in a more subdued color scheme (black and grey) means that it will more easily mesh with a wider range of home décor styles makes this one hard to beat. Best of all, it’s one of the cheapest gaming chairs the company makes!
URCG27BW
A tri-color black/grey/white design that’s sturdier and more durable than most of the other models, with its steel base. Curiously, despite sporting a stronger base, the maximum weight recommendation for this chair is just 265 pounds, where the other say they’ll support up to 330 pounds.
This one has been optimized for users between 5’6” and 6’2” tall. Like the other gaming chairs we’ve talked about so far, offers both an extra lumbar support pillow and an extra headrest pillow for added support and comfort.
Note that this chair doesn’t recline as far back as some of the company’s more expensive models (max angle here is 135 degrees, versus 150 in the other models we’ve mentioned to this point). Again, there is no hideaway Ottoman here, which in our view, weakens the overall design.
Pros & Cons of the SONGMICS Office Executive Desk Chairs
While each model has pros and cons based on the specific features and capabilities they bring to the table, broadly speaking, here’s what you’ll like and dislike about the line:
The Good
The Bad
As with most value-priced furniture, cost is the significant factor here, and given that, we think the pros far outweigh the cons where this line of furniture is concerned.
SONGMICS Office Chairs Review – Final Thoughts
Overall, SONGMICS Office Chairs are at least a half-step above what you’d expect from budget-priced office furniture. For the money, these are consistently good chairs that outperform their similarly-priced peers in the market.
We regard their gaming chairs as the weak link in the SONGMICS line. They’re quite good but tend to be geared toward smaller, thinner gamers, with fairly narrow seat widths across the board.
Curiously, although their gaming chairs offer impressive recline angles unless you rig up your own makeshift ottoman, you won’t get as much out of that feature as you could. Even so, they’re good quality, IF you can fit into them.
In our view, SONGMICS is the standard that other value-priced furniture has to match or beat. We highly recommend them but caution prospective buyers to pay close attention to the measurements and specific features of each model to be sure the chair you get does everything you want and expect it to do.
To help simplify your search, if you know you want a SONGMICS chair, but aren’t sure which model is right for you, here are our recommendations:
- The UOBG94BK – is the model you’re looking for if you want the best that SONGMICS has to offer, including an unparalleled sitting experience for a chair in its price range.
- The UOBG71B – offers the strongest set of ergonomic features in the Executive office chair portion of the company’s lineup and pulls double duty as a recliner.
- Get the UOBG76B if you want to keep the ergonomic excellence, but don’t care about the recline function.
- The UOBG21B – is the company’s no-frills Executive model, and the chair you want if you’re looking for a basic feature set.
- You can save a bit of money if you don’t mind the racing-style seat, by getting the UOBG62B.
- The UOBG55BK/UOBG51BR – model duo is the second strongest ergonomic design in the Executive portion of the company’s lineup, and the only model you can get in some color besides black.
- UOBN89BK – Strange looking, but the best ergonomic design the company offers, period. It’s not for everyone, but if your primary goal is to get a chair that will give you the best posture-boost, this is the one you want.
- UOBN86B – Conventional styling and a basic feature set. If money’s tight and you can live without an Executive chair, this is the model you want.
- The URCG12W – This is the model you want if you’re looking for all the bells and whistles the company has to offer in this category. Note the narrow seat, however!
- The URCG001 – Optimized for users shorter than 5’8”. Features highly adjustable, flip up armrests.
- If you’re taller, but like the 001’s feature set, then the model you want is the URCG25RD.
- The URCG27BW – is the best power gaming chair, and the most able to stand up to heavy use (steel base) – though be warned, the upholstery is still PU, and as such, will start to show its age much more quickly than you’d like. In our view, this is the best gaming chair the company makes.
- The URCG16GY is a half-step down, being a little less feature-rich than the others, but still sturdy and capable.
Just be sure to check each model’s dimensions and other stats to make sure the model you’re most interested in will be a good fit for you!
REFERENCES & RESOURCES
- Songmics, Official Brand Website.
- The Ergonomics of a Chair Explained, Chair Office.
- The Ergonomic Seating Guide Handbook, Haworth.
- 8 Common Office Chair Mistakes to Avoid, HuffPost.
- How to Adjust your Office Chair to get the Correct Sitting Posture, BackCentre.