Razer Soma Chroma gaming chair review
Razer’s Soma Chroma gaming chair features RGB lighting and ergonomic design but lacks adjustability and practical lighting utility for the £500 price.
The Razer Soma Chroma is a racing-style gaming chair with Razer’s signature black and green styling, including thin ‘building gauntlets’ for hand protection during assembly. Its RGB lighting strips, positioned at head height, are customisable via the Razer Synapse app and powered by a short USB-C cable, requiring an external power source like a portable battery pack. The chair arrives in a large box with protective plastic packaging, and assembly involves attaching casters, inserting a gas cylinder, and securing screws with an included tool. Plastic covers conceal screw heads once assembly is complete, though the seat’s channels may accumulate debris over time.
The Soma Chroma offers limited adjustability compared to other Razer chairs, with a backrest recline range of 90° to 155° and armrests featuring only swivel and height adjustments. The seat includes a butterfly tilt mechanism, but lumbar support is fixed, and the chair accommodates users up to 200cm tall and weighing up to 150kg. Despite its ‘wireless’ description, the chair relies on a 2.4GHz dongle or Bluetooth for lighting control, with no integrated battery included in the £500 package.
RGB functionality is minimal, with only two light strips at the top of the chair, and the lighting is best viewed externally rather than by the seated user. The chair integrates with Razer Synapse for lighting effects, including game-reactive modes, and fits with other Razer peripherals like light-up keyboards or mouse pads. However, the lack of additional RGB elements, such as integrated logo lighting or strips along the armrests, leaves the design feeling incomplete for a £500 product.
Assembly is straightforward but involves handling a large box and multiple plastic-wrapped components, with the chair’s hard plastic and fabric surfaces easy to clean. The seat’s channels may collect crumbs or debris, and the chair’s natural state in use is likely to become dirty quickly. While the Soma Chroma is comfortable for short sessions, its high price and limited adjustability make it a niche choice compared to non-RGB alternatives.