Elgato Embrace Review: convincing ergonomic office chair

Elgato? Aren’t you normally familiar with them from the streaming and audio solutions sector? Yes, that’s right. However, with the brand new Elgato Embrace, the manufacturer is venturing into a new area and launching an ergonomic office chair that not only stands out visually from classic gaming chairs, but also impresses in the test.

Technical data

Elgato Embrace Review: No office chair can be set up this quickly

I have been able to test around 7 different office or gaming chairs over the past few years. And of course it always starts with unboxing and assembly, which (depending on the model) can easily take several hours, often requires a second person to help and – let’s be honest – is just annoying in most cases.

The Elgato Embrace surprised me accordingly: no office chair is as quick and easy to assemble. At least none that I know of. Just four screws, around five minutes of work and you can take a seat on your new gaming chair. How ingenious is that?

But let’s start from the beginning: the components of the Embrace arrive safely packed in a bulky cardboard box. Once everything has been freed from its outer packaging, only five steps (!) separate you from your new seating comfort.

Insert the castors, position the gas pressure spring, place the seat on top, screw on the backrest and (optionally) attach the headrest. That’s it.

Incredibly simple, incredibly quick and easy to do on your own. Even though the seat, where the armrests, for example, are already pre-assembled at the factory, is quite bulky. It alone takes up around 20 kg of the 24.02 kg ergonomic office chair.

Design and workmanship: a simple eye-catcher

The design of the Elgato Embrace follows a clear philosophy: simple, minimalist and professional. The understated black and grey color scheme blends harmoniously into different working and living environments without standing out like a classic gaming chair.

The absence of eye-catching logos (with the exception of the headrest) or bright color accents underlines the elegant design, which is particularly attractive for streamers, creative professionals and office users who value an unobtrusive setup.

In terms of build quality, Elgato uses robust plastics in combination with aluminum elements, such as the base, which gives the chair a stable foundation. The surfaces are cleanly finished, with no visible gaps or uneven transitions. The joints are tight enough not to wobble under load, but at the same time are flexible.

Joints and connecting parts in particular have a certain finesse in their design. They allow precise movements and adjustments without offering too much leeway. Neither the armrests nor the headrest wobble – everything appears very robust and of high quality.

Pleasant: The breathable mesh backrest ensures a pleasant sitting climate, even during long sessions, and has a high-quality finish. The upholstery of the fabric seat is relatively firm, but is still completely convincing in terms of comfort. This is thanks to a dense layer of foam that yields pleasantly to pressure.

The edges are rounded towards the front (waterfall edge), which reduces the pressure on the thighs when sitting for long periods and thus promotes blood circulation. All controls such as seat height adjustment, backrest lock and armrest positions run precisely and without play.

Elgato Embrace in a practical test: comfort and features

I recently used the Sihoo Doro C300 in the office (our test), which was already very comfortable to sit on. However, I like the Elgato Embrace even better in terms of sitting comfort, and there are several reasons for this.

In the practical test, the Elgato Embrace shows its full ergonomic potential, which was specially developed for long periods of sitting for content creators, streamers, office users and creative professionals. It combines a wide range of precise adjustment options with sophisticated comfort features that support a healthy and low-fatigue posture.

The centerpiece is the breathable mesh backrest made of flexible mesh material. This prevents unpleasant sweating, even when sitting for hours under warmer studio lights or in intensive working conditions.

The backrest is deliberately kept flat, but offers comfortable support thanks to the flexible material. It is also designed to promote a natural, upright posture and relieve pressure on the back without restricting freedom of movement. However, I would have liked to be able to adjust the angle of the backrest – I would have preferred a slightly steeper position, but unfortunately this is not adjustable.

The backrest itself is equipped with a four-stage reclining mechanism: you can choose between an upright position and a gently reclined position and lock it in place. The backrest follows the body’s movements smoothly and scores points for its pleasant suspension and easily adjustable resistance. However, it is not possible to achieve a fully flat reclining position.

Particularly noteworthy is the individually adjustable lumbar support, which can be adjusted in both height and depth using a practical, high-quality rotary wheel. This provides very targeted support for the lower back and helps to effectively prevent poor posture or tension during long periods of sitting.

The lumbar support is a key element for ergonomic comfort and is more robust and of higher quality on the Embrace than on many of its competitors. However, the height adjustment mechanism is a little too stiff in my opinion.

Seat, 4D armrests and castors

The seat itself is made of high-quality, dimensionally stable foam with a so-called “waterfall edge” on the front edge. This rounded edge reduces pressure on the thighs, supports blood circulation and prevents the legs from “falling asleep” or feeling stiff during long periods of sitting. Despite the firm padding, the surface feels pleasantly soft, providing the ideal combination of comfort and stability.

Very cool: The seat depth can be adjusted mechanically. This allows the chair to be adapted to different leg lengths, which is essential for an ergonomically correct sitting posture.

The 4D armrests are another highlight. They can be adjusted in height, pushed forwards and backwards, turned in and out sideways and adjusted in width. This means they can be optimally adapted to body measurements, desk height and sitting position. This not only helps to prevent tension in the shoulder and neck area, but also supports healthy wrist and elbow positions at work or when gaming. However, the padding is a little thin and hard, but this didn’t bother me.

I have some criticism of the castors, which are quiet and work well on hard floors or carpets, but they get dirty very easily and are a little too stiff, especially on carpeted floors. However, if you like, you can simply replace them with suitable castors.

Elgato Embrace Review: Conclusion

The Elgato Embrace impresses in the test with an overall very good combination of quality, functionality and ease of use. Its structured scope of delivery and the simple, well thought-out assembly stand out particularly positively. The design and workmanship also leave a high-quality impression. The materials, joints and connections appear solid and precise.

In practice, the Embrace delivers almost everything it promises: flexible positioning, stable posture and operation with pleasantly dosed resistance. The individually adjustable lumbar support and the breathable mesh backrest in particular stand out as real comfort highlights.

Minor weaknesses such as the hard armrest padding and the seat edge that can be felt in extreme sitting positions hardly detract from the overall picture. For content creators, streamers or anyone who spends long hours at their desk, the Embrace offers an excellent overall package of comfort, ergonomics and design. If you want to avoid gaming clichés and are instead looking for a professional seating solution with many customization options, the Elgato Embrace is a highly recommended option.

PRO

• Simple structure
• Elegant design
• Excellent seating comfort
• Many comfort functions
• Good mesh fabric
• Airy backrest

CONTRA

• Castors a little stiff
• Not a completely straight sitting position
• No reclining function

Elgato Embrace

Assembly

Design & Workmanship

Features

Seating comfort

Value For Money

95/100

Simple structure, elegant design, excellent comfort: the Elgato Embrace is an outstanding ergonomic office chair.