Not even Secretlabs Titan Evo has these: Ive never tested a gaming chair with features like this Boulies model and it beats key rivals on price, too

Date:
Sat, 12 Sep 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Description:
Boulies has a new version of its plush Master Rex gaming chair but is it an improvement over the old model?

FULL STORY ======================================================================Boulies Master Rex (2026): One-minute review The Boulies Master Rex (2026) follows up on the previous model with a few tweaks and some new additions, all in the name of improving comfort and versatility.

Just like its forebear, the 2026 version is a rather understated affair. The dark gray colorway of my review unit made it look all the more austere, although the lack of brash accents and branding help to impart a more professional veneer; this is a gaming chair that wouldnt look out of place in an office. The fabric finish of my review unit (theres also a PU variant) seemed durable yet was soft to the touch, lacking the scratchy feel of
cheaper examples and aligning more closely with the fabrics adorning the best gaming chairs . The stitching was very precise and strong, too. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here:

The head pillow feels less premium, with its relatively meagre padding and elastic strap in place of a magnetic attachment as seen on more upmarket chairs. However, it was fit for purpose and provided sufficient comfort and height adjustments. (Image credit: Future) Boulies Master Rex (2026) at BOULIES INC for 409.99 As for the seat, its firmer than the previous models, and the front edge has a more prominent lip, which can dig into the underside of your thighs uncomfortably. The seat height has a fairly decent range, although its not the largest.

The Master Rex offers plenty of other adjustments, though. The back rest reclines all the way to 165 degrees and theres also a rocking function, although this is quite stiff even on its loosest setting.

Theres built in lumbar support as well, which is adjustable for both height and prominence. However, the former lacks range, and didnt go as low as I wouldve liked. Whats more, the dials for both settings require far too many turns, making them a chore to use. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals
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For me, the standout feature of the Master Rex, though, is its 6D armrests. These provide all sorts of positions, thanks to their series of pivots and rotations. However, I struggled to find a benefit to their tilt function, and they still couldnt go low enough for my liking although admittedly this is a problem I have with many gaming chairs. Their padding is harder than on the previous models, too, and they can wobble around, although thankfully they remain stable during normal use.

The footrest is a far more basic affair that you simply pull out and flip.
The cushioning is sufficient, but it doesnt extend very far; I found that it supported my calves rather than my feet.

I managed to build the Master Rex without help. It was a relatively straightforward process, although attaching the tilt mechanism to the seat base was frustrating, since this heavy piece requires a very delicate placement to avoid moving the spacers out of place. The Master Rex is reasonably well priced considering its build quality, adjustments, and integrated footrest. Its seat may be a little too firm for some, and the clever armrests arent without issues, but all things considered it makes for
a compelling choice at this corner of the market. (Image credit: Future) Boulies Master Rex (2026) review: Price and availability $479.99 / 409.99 (about AU$670) Seen with significant discounts Good price given its quality and features The Master Rex costs $479.99 / 409.99 (about AU$670) and is available now. It comes in fabric and PU finishes, with black, grey, and
green colorways optionable.

For a gaming chair of this caliber, its well-priced. Better yet, weve seen it with a considerable discount already, which only sweetens the deal. But even at its base price, the Master Rex is considerably cheaper than the Razer
Iskur V2 NewGen , a chair that has less adjustments to its armrests and lacks an integrated footrest.

Its 6D armrests are also a selling point; not even Secretlabs Titan Evo has these, and the base model of that chair is still more expensive than the Master Rex. However, the Titan Evo is a stalwart in the gaming chair market and one of our favorites. It has a superior build quality to the Master Rex and more premium flourishes, such as the magnetic head pillow, but again
lacks an integrated footrest as standard. Boulies Master Rex (2026) review: Specs Swipe to scroll horizontally

Price

$479.99 / 409.99 (about AU$670)

Backrest dimensions

29.9 x 22 inches / 760 x 560mm

Max user weight

243lbs / 110kg

Max user height

5ft 11in / 180cm

Seat dimensions

18.9 x 20.9 inches / 48 x 53cm

Warranty

2 years Boulies Master Rex (2026) review: Design and aesthetics (Image
credit: Future) Muted looks Solid build quality Armrests can wobble The
Master Rex has a fairly smart and stoic appearance. Theres hardly any branding, save for a small Boulies logo on the back and on the head pillow, and the muted colorways only serve to further downplay its presence (the dark grey finish of my review unit was probably the most dour of the bunch). Some small suede patches provide a marginal amount of interest, but hardly add
much panache. Personally, though, Im glad it has a smarter and perhaps
broader appeal than the cliched adolescent gamer aesthetic.

I was also thankful for the quality of the materials. The fabric upholstery
is pleasingly soft, devoid of the nasty scratchiness of cheaper examples, and the stitching is also impressive, with its perfect alignment and durable
feel. On top of this, the metal wheel base is sturdy and a cut above the plastic units of less premium gaming chairs. I also appreciated the curved edges of its spokes, dampening the impact of knocks with your heels.

Conversely, the construction of the armrests are a little disappointing. They appear to be made from a low-grade plastic, and theres a fair amount of play to them, lacking the stability I wouldve expected. Thankfully, no wobbling occurs during normal use, but regardless it doesnt speak well of their
overall quality.

The head pillow also lacks the premium feel of those adorning more upmarket gaming chairs. It attaches via a basic elastic strap rather than
magnetically, and it doesnt have much padding inside, although its still fit for purpose and the outer material is soft if not velvety smooth. (Image credit: Future) Boulies Master Rex (2026) review: Comfort and adjustability Firm but comfortable seat Difficult lumbar adjustments Mixed 6D armrests The Master Rex is a comfortable chair to sit in. Its seat is sufficiently padded, although its noticeably firmer than the previous models, which might prove divisive. Theres also a more prominent lip to the front edge that rises upwards, something that can definitely be felt underneath your thighs. While this didnt cause me any issues, I can imagine others finding it
uncomfortable.

The seat height can be adjusted, although the range is somewhat
disappointing. I found the minimum height low enough for my needs (Ive sat in many gaming chairs that arent), but the maximum may not be high enough for taller users. Neither will the relatively short backrest; Boulies recommends the Master Rex for users who are 511 and under, and currently there are no larger variants. (Image credit: Future) As is standard on many gaming chairs, the Master Rex features a rocking mechanism. However, its stiffer than many others, even on its loosest setting, meaning it takes quite a bit of effort
to rock it backwards from an upright position. Naturally, this becomes easier as you recline the backrest, as your weight provides more leverage.

Speaking of which, the recline function itself is easy to use. The lever only requires a relatively light pull to release, and adjustments are quite
smooth. However, the notching can feel a little rough, which can make locking certain positions in place a little awkward. Also, the notches seem quite far apart, so you cant dial in a precise angle something that won't be ideal if youre particularly picky about your backrest position. It can recline all the way to 165 degrees, which is reasonably far and is the same angle the Secretlab Titan Evo can achieve.

The backrest itself is comfortable, thanks to its relatively thick padding. I appreciated the soft edges of the bolsters too, so theyre not uncomfortable
if you knock your elbows against them.

Given it saves the need for an additional cushion, I also welcomed the integrated lumbar support. This is adjustable via two dials either side of
the backrest: one for height and one for depth. I found them quite easy to reach and twist while seated, and they provide good feedback via their clicky notches. However, they require far too many turns to make meaningful adjustments, and whats more the height range is limited, with the bar failing to go low enough for my liking. (Image credit: Future) The 6D armrests are perhaps the centerpiece of the Master Rex. They can be rotated 360 degrees at two points, with one on top of the other. Since the mechanism for the lower point is offset, adjusting it alters not just the angle of the rests, but
also how far apart and far forward they are when used in combination with the upper point. This means they offer far more possible positions than 4D armrests.

Despite this impressive showing, theyre not perfect. I wouldn't ever use the tilt adjustment for angling the armrests upwards or downwards, given that it lacks increments; you only get a binary choice between flat and what seems like 45 degrees, or close to it.

Whats more, the armrests dont go low enough for my liking, although I concede this is an issue I have with many gaming chairs. And while theyre comfortable to lean on, they have less padding than those on the old Master Rex. Some of the various adjustments can also be unduly stiff, too.

A retractable footrest is also featured on the Master Rex. This operates smoothly and easily enough, requiring a gentle tug to slide it out. It doesnt extend that far, though, with the result that it provided more of a rest for my calves than my feet. Still, theres enough padding to use it comfortably
for long periods. Boulies Master Rex (2026) review: Assembly (Image credit: Future) Reasonably easy to assemble solo Frustrating tilt mechanism
attachment Light backrest Assembling the Master Rex was a relatively easy process, even by myself. The instructions are clear and the various parts are well labelled. Most of the various bolts and screws were easy to affix using the included tools, too.

However, attaching the tilt mechanism block to the seat base frame is needlessly difficult. Not only is the block very heavy, but the four plastic gaskets you have to place in between it and the frame are prone to moving out of place with the merest touch.

This means its all but inevitable theyll fail to align with the bolt holes once you place the block on top of them and thus require some slender
fingers to realign them while holding the block (did I mention how heavy it is?) overhead. Oh, and youll have to pray the gaskets dont move out of place so much that they fall off the frame altogether and into the tangle of
webbing below. This process is as fiddly as it sounds, and not one Ive encountered when assembling chairs from other brands. Its a frankly baffling design choice from Boulies.

Thankfully, installing the backrest is much easier, given how light it is. It still requires some effort to push it down far enough to align the bolt holes with the brackets, but this isnt too difficult in my experience. Should I buy the Boulies Master Rex (2026)? Buy it if

You want plenty of armrest adjustments With its 6D armrests, the Master Rex offers plenty of scope for getting a comfortable position, although I do wish they went lower.

You want a footrest Not every gaming chair comes with an integrated
footrest, but the Master Rex does, and it's sufficiently supportive, if a little short. Don't buy it if

Youre tall The recommended maximum height for the Master Rex is 511, which
is quite low compared to many other gaming chairs. Theres only one model size as well at least for now.

You want an unfussy assembly The Master Rex is mostly easy to put together, but attaching the tilt mechanism will test your patience. Boulies Master Rex (2026) review: Also consider Swipe to scroll horizontally Row 0 - Cell 0

Boulies Master Rex (2026)

Razer Iskur V2 NewGen

Secretlab Titan Evo

Price

$479.99 / 409.99 (about AU$670)

$649.99 / 649.99 / AU$999.95

From $529 / 469 / AU$799

Dimensions

29.9 x 22 inches / 760 x 560mm

33.5 x 21.3 inches / 850 x 540mm

35 x 22 inches / 890mm x 560mm

Max user weight

243lbs / 110kg

299lbs / 136kg

396lbs / 180kg

Max user height

5ft 11in / 180cm

6ft 6in / 200cm

6ft 9in / 205cm

Seat width

20.9 inches / 530mm

15.7 inches / 400mm

22.8 inches / 580mm

Warranty

2 years

5 years

5 years

Razer Iskur V2 NewGen Razer is one of the biggest names in gaming hardware, known for its quality and feature-rich products. Its Iskur V2 NewGen gaming chair is very much in the same vein, with its multitude of adjustments allowing for various sitting styles and cooling material designed to keep users fresh. However, when we reviewed it, we werent so keen on its awkwardly shaped neck pillow, or its high price. Read our full Razer Iskur V2 NewGen review .

Secretlab Titan Evo The benchmark for gaming chairs, Secretlabs Titan Evo
has been around for a while yet it remains hard to beat, thanks to its all-round quality. Its well made, comfortable, and provides good adjustments. It also commands a higher price than the Master Rex, and lacks some of its features, but its still a solid choice for many gamers. Read our full Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen Edition review . How I tested the Boulies Master Rex (2026) (Image credit: Future) Tested for several days Used for gaming and other tasks Plentiful gaming and reviewing experience I tested the Boulies Master Rex (2026) for several days, during which time I used it for gaming
and working, as well as general browsing and relaxing. I made sure to try out all of its various adjustments, and assembled it myself following the
included instructions and using the included tools.

Ive been PC gaming for over a decade, and have used a variety of chairs
during that time, from office and productivity-focused offerings to those designed for gaming. Ive also reviewed a variety of them across a range of brands, and have also reviewed the previous generation of the Master Rex.
Read more about how we test First reviewed: August 2026. Boulies Master Rex (2026): Price Comparison 409.99 View No price information Check Amazon We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices powered by



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