Blacklyte Kraken review

Our VerdictThe Blacklyte Kraken is far too expensive for a gaming chair that’s uncomfortable, with dubious quality. If you’re the right height and shape, it might work for you, but there are far better options out there for the same money.

Our Verdict

The Blacklyte Kraken is far too expensive for a gaming chair that’s uncomfortable, with dubious quality. If you’re the right height and shape, it might work for you, but there are far better options out there for the same money.

ForDense memory foam seatWide cushionMagnetic head pillowAgainstToo short for tall peopleLumbar support is unpleasantQuestionable build quality

ForDense memory foam seatWide cushionMagnetic head pillow

AgainstToo short for tall peopleLumbar support is unpleasantQuestionable build quality

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Recent updatesUpdate 11 December 2024:This review has been update to correct the location of Blacklyte, which is a Canada-based firm, not a China-based one, as originally stated.

Recent updates

Update 11 December 2024:This review has been update to correct the location of Blacklyte, which is a Canada-based firm, not a China-based one, as originally stated.

At first glance, the Kraken gives off a distinctTitan Evovibe but it’s different enough to not be a direct clone. There is clear evidence of some strong influences in the design but the main reason why I’m using Secretlab as a reference is the Kraken’s price. Blacklyte wants$519for its chair, which also just so happens to be the same amount of money as a Titan Evo if one buys it directly from Secretlab.

There’s only one size of Kraken available, recommended for people between 165 and 195 cm (66 - 75 inches) in height, and under 150 kg (330 lbs) in weight. I’m 184 cm and 70 kg (read: tall and thin) and I have to say that its dimensions don’t fit particularly well for my build.

It’s not because the Kraken isn’t spacious—the seat base is quite wide and filled with dense memory foam and covered with some nice PU leather (aka leatherette). The problem is that it’s quite short and there’s quite a large gap between the edge of the base and my knees. Tilting the chair back doesn’t help, due to the large ‘panel’ that fills much of the seat back.

Blacklyte Kraken specs(Image credit: Future)Sizes:R (165 - 190 cm, <150 kg)Fabric:PU leatherRecline:up to 168°Warranty:lifetime for frame, 2 - 3 years for seat, back, and accessoriesArmrests:4D adjustmentPrice:$519|£449|€442

Blacklyte Kraken specs

(Image credit: Future)Sizes:R (165 - 190 cm, <150 kg)Fabric:PU leatherRecline:up to 168°Warranty:lifetime for frame, 2 - 3 years for seat, back, and accessoriesArmrests:4D adjustmentPrice:$519|£449|€442

(Image credit: Future)

A photo of the Blacklyte Kraken gaming chair

Sizes:R (165 - 190 cm, <150 kg)Fabric:PU leatherRecline:up to 168°Warranty:lifetime for frame, 2 - 3 years for seat, back, and accessoriesArmrests:4D adjustmentPrice:$519|£449|€442

This is the Kraken’s lumbar support and it’s basically a spring-loaded section that moves forward with the pull of a small lever. Blacklyte claims that it “perfectly match[es] the natural shape of your lower back” but it absolutely doesn’t with mine—all it does is push me further along the base, leaving my legs with even less support than it already does. A small pillow stuffed down my back does a far better job.

Speaking of pillows, the Kraken comes with one for your head/neck that magnetically attaches to the headrest and it’s really quite nice. I’d prefer it to be larger than it is, though, because even with the seat back fully upright, it doesn’t quite reach my head or neck enough.

(Image credit: Future)

A photo of the Blacklyte Kraken gaming chair

The armrests are four-way adjustable (three-axis movement and rotation) but it’s a rather clunky affair, with quite a lot of play in the fixtures. In fact, there’s a lot of play in the whole chair and loosening the tilt mechanism, to allow one to rock back further, induces some rather worrying-sounding clunks.

(Image credit: Future)

A photo of the Blacklyte Kraken gaming chair

It might just be the specific sample I was sent, but the build quality was poor. The chair’s height adjustment mechanism stopped working within a week and from the very start, the two levers controlling it had such a degree of slop to their fitting, I thought I’d broken them during assembly. The mechanism to adjust the lumbar support is also starting to fail, with the cable sticking in its sheath.

Buy if…✅ You don’t want to conform with the crowd:Should the thought of being seen with a Secretlab or Corsair gaming chair put you off, Blacklyte is at least a name that should make you stand out.

Buy if…

✅ You don’t want to conform with the crowd:Should the thought of being seen with a Secretlab or Corsair gaming chair put you off, Blacklyte is at least a name that should make you stand out.

Don’t buy if…❌ You want a quality chair for a reasonable price:The Blacklyte Kraken costs double what it should do, given the relative lack of features and quality control.

Don’t buy if…

❌ You want a quality chair for a reasonable price:The Blacklyte Kraken costs double what it should do, given the relative lack of features and quality control.

I was disappointed to see that the Kraken is shipped with a lot of packaging material that’s non-recyclable. Some of that can’t be avoided, given how far the chair needs to travel in distribution, but in this day and age, having every component wrapped up in some kind of soft plastic isn’t environmentally friendly.

But I could forgive all of this if the Blacklyte Kraken was comfortable to use for lengthy periods. In my case, that means spending a day at a desk working and then a few hours in the night gaming.

Unfortunately, it’s not and I have to say it’s one of the least comfortable gaming chairs I’ve ever used. Now, a good part of that is because it just doesn’t suit my body’s dimensions and shape, but I’ve asked a few people to try it out and none of them found it nice to use.

(Image credit: Future)

A photo of the Blacklyte Kraken gaming chair

As with all gaming chairs with a thick memory foam base, it takes a while for it to bed in, and my scant weight is probably delaying that process. But the unpleasant lumbar support, short seat base length, and overly high armrests all contribute to the general lack of comfort.

Now, if the Kraken only cost $250, like theCorsair TC100 Relaxeddoes, then I’d happily forgive its failings. But what’s acceptable at a few hundred dollars is absolutely not at $500, even accounting for my atypical body dimensions. You might fit the Blacklyte Kraken better than I did, nor suffer any of the quality control issues, but are you willing to take the risk? For this kind of money, I suspect the answer is no.

The Verdict41Read our review policyBlacklyte KrakenThe Blacklyte Kraken is far too expensive for a gaming chair that’s uncomfortable, with dubious quality. If you’re the right height and shape, it might work for you, but there are far better options out there for the same money.

The Verdict

41Read our review policyBlacklyte KrakenThe Blacklyte Kraken is far too expensive for a gaming chair that’s uncomfortable, with dubious quality. If you’re the right height and shape, it might work for you, but there are far better options out there for the same money.

41Read our review policy

Blacklyte KrakenThe Blacklyte Kraken is far too expensive for a gaming chair that’s uncomfortable, with dubious quality. If you’re the right height and shape, it might work for you, but there are far better options out there for the same money.

Blacklyte Kraken

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Our Verdict#

Our Verdict