Our Verdict
80%
The tilt system could be better, but the TC200 nails the single most important aspect of an office or gaming chair: it’s comfortable.
We were impressed by the modest styling and wonderfully soft plush fabric of the first Corsair gaming chair we reviewed, the T3 Rush. However, it was quite basic, with a hard, narrow seat cushion and aggressively high sides. It made for a slightly more authentic racing seat feel than some chairs, but it wasn’t that comfortable or suited to large sitters. The Corsair TC200 is an altogether more generous chair, with a wider seat and back, more padding and a few extra features.
At Custom PC, we’ve been reviewing the latest PC hardware since 2003, and we’ve been testing chairs for over a decade. For more information on our gaming chair test process, see our How we test page.
Available in light grey or black, the TC200 has a muted, simplistic styling, but it doesn’t quite have the same sleekness of the Corsair T3 Rush. It’s available in either leatherette or plush fabric finishes. The former gives you a wipe-clean surface but some areas are perforated (to help the breathability of the fabric for long gaming sessions), so spills can still leak into the seat padding.
For extra features, you get larger-diameter castors than the T3 Rush, and they include an anti-roll mechanism, so the wheels only spin when there’s weight on the seat. This makes sense for accessibility and safety but is a little less fun than free-rolling castors. Moreover, even when weight is applied, the wheels don’t roll all that smoothly.
Other extras include 4D armrests, which provide the option to slide the armrest in all axes (XYZ) and twist it about the Y axis. The surface of the armrests is a little softer than some gaming chairs we’ve tried but still firmer than we’d ideally like.
Meanwhile, the proportions of the chair give more room for wider sitters than the T3 Rush, with a wider seat and back, and the raised wings around the seat base and back sit much lower relative to the seat padding, so they’re less likely to dig into you. It’s still not quite at the level of roominess offered by the noblechairs Hero, which has a wider seat – you’re still largely contained by the side wings, but it is a big improvement over the T3 Rush.
The real revelation with this chair, though, is the comfort level of the seat base and back. Both offer among the most comfortable and supportive padding we’ve yet encountered on a gaming chair – rivaled only by the AK Racing Masters Series Premium. The seat padding is relatively soft and drops off slightly at the front, so it doesn’t dig into your legs – some gaming chairs have a slightly raised front edge (again, like a racing seat), which is terrible for long-term comfort.
Most surprising of all, though, the back padding actually offers good lumbar support. Nearly all gaming chairs we’ve tested so far offer almost completely flat backs, relying on additional cushions to (usually poorly) provide this function. Here, though, you get a genuinely supportive curve in the seat back. A very satisfyingly squishy headrest cushion is provided for looping over the chair’s headrest too.
Less impressive is this chair’s tilt mechanism. While the gas lift provides plenty of height adjustment, and the back can fold fully flat, the recline hinges from the back and requires the front of the chair to rise, as opposed to mechanisms that hinge from the front with the chair dropping down at the back.
The latter systems mean you can simply lean back into a recline (once the recline is unlocked), whereas the Corsair needs you to either tilt the seat back quite a long way to counterbalance your bodyweight, or rest your feet on an object and essentially push yourself backward. You can get a relaxed recline but it’s a bit of a faff.
Corsair TC200 pros and cons
Pros
- Good seat padding
- Solid build quality
- Comfortable
Cons
- Basic tilt system
- Stiff castors
- The armrests aren’t soft enough
Corsair TC200 price
The TC200 is a mid-price gaming chair, with its larger size and leatherette finish making it pricier than entry-level options.
Price: $400 (£350).
Corsair TC200 review conclusion
Corsair’s latest gaming chair is a big improvement on the T3 Rush. Its seat and back padding are much more comfortable, offering better support for your back and more cushioning for your backside. The uprated armrests are good too, and it’s a smart-looking chair.
The basic tilt system is disappointing, but that’s also partly why this chair costs $400 rather than the $500 demanded by more premium gaming chairs. If that’s not a deal breaker for you, then this is a surprisingly comfy gaming chair for the money.