"Hey, did you get an awesome gaming chair?" [Yes, I did. How much did it cost?" "All of it."

The recommended retail price of Thermaltake's latest gaming chair is undeniably ridiculous at $1,299 (£1,199, about A$2,000). But from the moment you sit down, you know that the Argent E700 is a serious premium product.

It was designed by Studio F.A. Porsche (yes, the same studio that designs Porsche-branded goods from buildings to bicycles to kettles). Another Marvel reference, the "Sanga Yellow" edition of the Argent E700 is clearly reminiscent of a certain telepathic professor's hovering throne.

The E700 comes in nine colors, all with the same black leather cushions and chrome base. We love the yellow review model, but also like the "fiery orange" and "ocean blue" versions. The coloring is also applied to the entire back of the chair and the back of the bucket-style seat, both of which are coated in hard plastic. The leather backrest is engraved with Thermaltake's minimalist logo.

The chair's main frame is entirely covered in metal, making it heavy but very sturdy. Unlike many gaming chairs, the Argent E700 comes almost completely assembled. Simply screw the chair's back and seat together, attach the casters, and place it on the base. It's not as soft and squishy as some of its competitors, but if you like a firm, supportive chair, it's sure to fit the bill.

There are no head or lumbar pillows to be found, and while there is a small cutout in the top of the chair, it would be inconvenient to attach a head cushion. Fortunately, the built-in headrest uses a different type of foam that is slightly crushed than the rest of the chair.

We did not find the bucket seat base to be particularly wide. It wraps tightly around the thighs, which may be uncomfortable for larger users (as a confirmed wide boy, I can attest to that). The chair can support up to 331 pounds, but the seat is only about 14 inches flat and then begins to curve from side to side. There is very little room for padding on the seat, so I am confident that it will maintain its shape over extended use.

The armrests move in four dimensions: horizontal, vertical, transverse, and rotational. Tapping the armrest with an elbow can cause the armrest to rotate or slide backward, which can be annoying.

The seat's height and reclining functions are linked to sturdy metal handles on either side of the seat. Many gaming chairs claim to be "racing-inspired," but I've never seen one that actually looks like a racing car like this. The backrest reclining hinges are very solid, but to lock the reclining angle into one of the four preset positions, one of the handles must be left extended, which is awkward because it protrudes from the chair's frame.

The back of the chair cannot be folded down significantly, so snoozing on this seat is not possible. The gas lift on the chair's post moves very smoothly and has enough range to allow users of any height to find a comfortable position. It rolled smoothly on thin carpet and hard flooring, and there was no rocking.

It is difficult to judge the durability of a gaming chair, but the Argent E700 is likely to last. The chair's plastic shell has a scratch-resistant "gloss UV" coating that also serves to reduce color wear. In addition, the delicate red stitching on the leather padding is pleasant to the touch and durable.

However, it will only extend so far. The original E700 in racing green was loaded in the back of a van in its finished state. It did not travel in particularly good looking condition.

Somewhat interestingly, after I started using the E700, I noticed that the headrest was adjustable. Although the mechanism is completely hidden behind a foam pad, it can actually slide up about 2 inches, making it a better fit for taller users. The leather throughout the chair is micro-perforated for breathability, which will come in handy during hot summer gaming sessions.

Ultimately, this is a really, really great gaming chair with only a few shortcomings, such as wiggly armrests and a somewhat annoying reclining handle, but nothing compared to the best gaming chairs (open in new tab) for greatness. Considering that the fabulous Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 (opens in new tab) costs only $449 (£379, about A$700), this price is a bit too high to fully recommend. However, if you have the funds to spare, the Thermaltake Argent E700 is definitely worth a look.