The Fractal Refine is the first bucket-style gaming chair to consider ergonomics and the look of a true gamer, and at just $549 it has a price point that makes it capable of edging out the likes of the Secretlab Titan series for older gamers. I’ve been using it for about 10 days, so let’s see what I’ve learned so far.
Most of the gaming chairs I brought in for review looked better than they were. The Refine is the first gaming chair that surprised me here.
Here’s my initial verdict, then some important details, before we get into the full breakdown.
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Build Quality
Pulling the base from the packaging, I was very impressed with its overall design. When it was on the chair, the small angles created by that designer were leveling it up. From the build quality on the base to what appears to be perfect plastic molding, I couldn’t believe the price tag was only $549.
Even the hubless casters on this seat impressed me, well, until I actually had to use them. They look amazing, but they don’t roll very well on hard floors and barely on carpet. However, the decision to use Donati in making this machine was also a wise decision. We’ll definitely talk more about the adjustment features of this machine, but overall Donati does a great job of creating quality mechanisms that will be used in many chairs on the market today.
Throughout the chair, the stitching was straight. Everything felt complete and well built. Also, how is this possible for $549 in 2024?
Quick BTOD plug: finding seats at that $500 to $600 price point can be difficult. BTOD’s refurbished Steelcase Leap and Amia chairs are a solid choice at that price point, and we include a 12-year warranty and free returns on our chairs as well.
Mechanism And Recline
Back to Refina. As mentioned in the build quality section, the way Donati Fractal ended up deciding on was a tough decision. It includes all the major functions of an ergonomic chair. The integrated buttons on the seat give a nice sleek look, but they always work like the knobs and buttons found on other products.
I really like that synchro tilt with 11 different locking positions. There are so many lockers, it’s actually hard to get the count right. The synchro tilt does a great job of moving the seat and backrest in a 2:1 ratio, preventing that sliding feeling you get with other modes.
Similar to the tilt lock, the seat slide and height adjustment features are located on the seat pan. The tilt tension is located on the knob below these buttons, and that is used to increase or decrease the amount of effort required to lean back in the chair. Overall, the playback function on the Refine is smooth, incredibly deep, and sounds really good.
Backrest and Lumbar
The backrest on the Refine is very long and straight. This gives you the vibes of a classic bucket-style gaming chair, with those side bolsters that go all the way up the backrest. Although they are soft, they can cause problems if you have a wide frame. I don’t have a wide frame, so there were no problems with it hitting my shoulders.
But look behind the backrest. There is a widely adjustable lumbar support system here. This has a tight range of height and depth. The seat we took has a raised fabric backrest, which I don’t think allows for the opposite amount of lower support, but you have to wonder what the mesh could be.
The width in the lumbar is low enough when it reaches your sacral area and high enough to hit you in that middle and lower part. This is not aggressive, but if you lean far enough back in the chair with the right posture, you can feel it. The material on the lumbar support is nice and squishy too.
Headrest
If you’ve been waiting for another gaming chair with a comfortable headrest, this might be Refine’s strongest suit. Adding memory foam to the headrest gives it a really responsive and comfortable feel for both your neck and head. It also has a wide range to fit many users of different heights. It includes a button to remove the headrest completely, which is very nice, and this I think has the potential to be S-tier headrest material.
Overall the backrest, too, is very straight up and down. It usually feels firm without a raised back, and unless you really push into it, there isn’t a ton of bottom support. I think the overall mesh would be better, but without trying it I can’t be sure.
Not sure if Fractal Refine is your top choice? Download our office chair cheat sheet to help you make the right chair choice.
Armrests
Like the Secretlab Titan series, the four-way adjustable arms on the Refine require buttons to make most of the adjustments, the only adjustment that moves freely is the depth adjustment. To be honest, it would be better if it also had a push button here, because I think it moves very freely. Height adjustment, pivot adjustment, and width adjustment features all require those buttons to make adjustments. It can feel awkward and awkward, but it’s the only way to prevent unnecessary movement in the pads themselves. Overall here, there is a lot of scope for all the changes, which is good.
The pads themselves sit this way between good and great. They use the old school sock system. This means that there is a pad inside the skin that covers it. Leather makes the arm pads last even longer, but makes them feel a little squishy. They are beautiful, just beautiful. Overall, the build though the arms themselves feel well built and solid.
Seat Comfort
Seat comfort is an area that often seems to suffer in gaming chairs. For example, if the Secretalab Titan does not have a firm seat, the chair would be much better overall. The same seems to be true for Refine. It sounds like, based on a lot of things like the arms and the price point, they’re definitely trying to compete head-to-head with Secretlab, but the problem is you don’t want to compete with a hard chair.
Like I said, the seat pad is very firm. I mean, you can literally see and feel how strong it is when I hit it. I have been sitting in this chair for ten days trying to see if it will soften, but so far it is exactly the same. This personally, to me, sounds like one of the biggest misses of the chair in general.
And while the side bolsters aren’t overly annoying, if you have a wide frame they probably will be, and because of the way they’re set up, sitting with one or two legs crossed won’t be comfortable at all.
The Bottom Line
Ten days in, I’m really happy with Fractal Refine. The price of $549, the variety of adjustments, and that killer headrest make it a legitimate alternative to the Secretlab Titan, which is not something I say about most gaming chairs. The build quality beats the price, the Donati synchro tilt sits well, and the adjustable lumbar is a real step up from the cushion-on-a-strap approach that most gaming chairs take.
The flat backrest, small side bolsters, and firm seat leave some room for improvement, and that firm seat pad is the only thing I’d like Fractal to fix. If you’re looking for a gaming chair that looks clean, adjusts like an office chair, and can challenge the Titan for $549, the Refine is on your short list. Just sit in it first if a hard chair isn’t your thing.