Corsair’s new “budget” gaming chair costs $199, and it speaks to a larger pricing problem in the desk chair market

Corsair has launched a new budget gaming chair, the Corsair TC80. I’m a big fan of any gaming chair maker that tries to make something affordable and accessible to the masses because if you’ve shopped around, you know that getting a good gaming seat can set you back a fortune. The new TC80 certainly has the design of a budget gaming chair – it has the look of the $100 thrones made by unknown brands at Best Buy, Amazon, and Walmart.

I’m actually all for that. A bigger name brand like Corsair launching an entry-level option could give people a lot more peace of mind when checking out, especially if they’re strapped for cash and need an easy fix. But the problem is that Corsair isn’t charging $100 for it; it’s charging $199.99 / £169.99. Based on testing this brand’s seats in the past, I know its build quality will probably be very good – the press release I have for the TC80 talks about how it’s been durability tested in more than 30 categories and held to really high standards.

No problems there, but the TC80 uses the same design language as those $100 chairs that have little to no features to their name. Case in point, the armrests are fixed onto the seat and backrest of the chair. There is a head cushion, but it’s a strapped one, and those are infamously poor at staying in the right position. The backrest cushion looks plenty comfy, so that’s a perk, but besides the basic swivel, 90 to 115 degrees of recline, height adjustment, and tilt you’d expect from a stock office chair, I’m wondering why someone would be drawn to this for $200.

To make matters worse, Corsair‘s competing with itself at this price range. The Corsair TC100 Relaxed has been a long-standing best budget option in the gaming chair realm, and although Corsair might claim it’s priced at $210 or more, I can tell you from covering it for around four years now that it’s more often priced at $199, or even lower.

That chair offers you a more similar set of features and perks to some of the chairs up at $500, which is why it’s a go-to entry-level recommendation from me. But it’s all relative. For that price, you get 2D armrests, a lumbar and head cushion, a more pro look, some colorway/upholstery options, and durability. I wouldn’t argue that $199 is a small amount of money to pay, but at least with the TC100, you know you’re getting some bang for your buck because it’s got some attributes.

Charging $200 for the TC80’s lack of features feels a little wild to me. I fully support entry-level hardware giving you a little less in the way of features and specs, but not when its price doesn’t meet you in the middle. I’d expect the TC80 to see discounts, which would make it more of a viable option for budget buyers, but when the TC100 Relaxed is priced so close to it, it’s going to have an uphill battle.