Upgrade pick
The Mavix M9 is the softest and most adjustable gaming chair we tested, and it’s particularly roomy for those who like to sit cross-legged.
Compared with our top pick, the Mavix M9 is cushier and more adjustable, and it has a premium look that can blend with almost any aesthetic. It isn’t as ergonomic as the Herman Miller Aeron, but with a headrest and full recline, this chair is better for those who switch between a mouse-and-keyboard setup and a controller. The seat is especially wide and deep, making it possible for you to sit cross-legged without hitting the armrests. But it’s expensive, and we can’t yet vouch for how durable or supportive it will remain over the years.
The M9 is more adjustable than any of our other picks. You can move the seat depth forward and back, and you can raise the height of the chair and the backrest independently. You can also adjust the angle of the headrest, as well as the armrest height, width, swivel, and depth. The chair can recline to 127 degrees, and it has a tilt-tension knob that allows you to rock freely. However, two of the levers underneath the seat aren’t clearly labeled, so you may have to watch Mavix’s instructional video to learn all of the functions.
It has the smoothest casters of any chair we tested. The M9 has rubberized FS Wheels, which glided like butter across hardwood floors; they were also less resistant on carpet than the wheels of any other chair we tested. They barely made a sound, and in all the times we pushed the chair around during testing, they never got stuck in place. All of our other picks use standard plastic casters, and several of our testers with above-average weights noted that they had difficulty sliding around in those chairs. Plus, the M9’s wheels should be easier on wood flooring than plastic wheels.
It comes with a 12-year warranty. Mavix covers all of the non-moving metal components of the chair frame for 12 years and any other parts and materials for five years. In comparison, Herman Miller covers all parts and repairs for 12 years, and our top pick comes with only a three-year warranty.
For an extra charge, you can get heating, cooling, and massage built into the lumbar support. Mavix sells a $130 attachment for the M9, called the Elemax, that adds a rechargeable heating and cooling pad into the lumbar support of the chair. It also has a massage function that we found weak, but the heating and cooling felt surprisingly nice — and Mavix sometimes offers sales that waive the price of the Elemax unit with the purchase of the chair.
How the M9 has held up
Flaws but not dealbreakers
We’re not sure how well the M9 will hold up over the years. A chair this expensive should be an investment, and after seven months of testing, it’s still sturdy and comfortable. But we’re not still sure whether the chair will remain supportive in the years to come, though we plan to continue testing it. Mavix will replace defective parts under warranty, but not if the damage is deemed normal wear and tear. If you’re hesitant to spend this much money on a chair that isn’t as tried-and-true, consider the Herman Miller Aeron or one of the other office chairs our staff has been testing for years.
The white color is a stain magnet and difficult to clean. The M9 is available in four color schemes — white, black, white with black, and black with blue — and the white hue is especially unforgiving. We wiped away dirt stains on the seat using warm water and soap as per Mavix’s instructions, but the white fabric still looked less vibrant than it did out of the box. We also tried removing a stain on a second unit using a gentle stain remover, but we were unsuccessful, and Mavix advises against stronger cleaning solutions.
During our first month of testing, the seat cushion developed noticeable creases. In just a few weeks, the M9’s seat developed an obvious checkerboard outline from the interior padding. I’ve sat in this chair every single day since November, and the seat itself still feels comfortable and supportive. While this issue appears to be only cosmetic so far, it does raise concerns about whether the cushion will remain supportive over the years.
