Razer Iskur V2 review: "The lumbar support is far superior to anything else I've ever sat in"

We're often willing to shell out truckloads of money on PC gaming equipment, but chairs like the Razer Iskur V2? For some reason, our knee-jerk response is to wince upon hearing the price and say "I'm sorry, how much?" 

Dear reader, I beg you: look after your spine. Your future self – one that doesn't bounce back from aches and pains in quite the same way – will thank you. No, the Razer Iskur V2 isn't a miracle worker like some of the best gaming chairs. But oh lordy, does it make a good effort. That swanky lumbar support made a huge difference for me personally, and I'm not finishing a day of work with an aching back after settling my tush onto this thing.

Following on from the very popular Razer Iskur and Iskur X, the new V2 is an updated model designed for ergonomic support first and foremost. Razer now has a mesh option called the Fujin, as well as its Enki seat which looks to provide comfort above all. For $649.99 / £599 though, the Iskur V2 might just offer the best features for the money.

Design & features

One of the biggest selling points for the Iskur V2 is its adjustable lumbar support. This is, and I can't stress this enough, a godsend. Essentially, the idea is that it can swivel in place and respond to your position at any given moment – no need to reach back and adjust the cushion on most other gaming seats, in other words. Its depth and height are also adjustable, so at this point, the Iskur's just showing off. 

This may sound like flowery marketing gumph designed to dazzle, but considering how we're all built differently, being able to set it specifically to your requirements (and easily change for whoever's in it) will be appealing for anyone who struggles to get comfy in a gaming chair… or that shares a home office. 

Otherwise, it has the same kind of perks we've come to expect from other premium gaming chairs like the Secretlab Titan Evo or the Boulies Ninja Pro – 4D armrests, tilt, 152° recline, plenty of levers to adjust pretty much everything, fancy wheels, a more advanced EPU-grade synthetic leather upholstery that promises to be more wear-resistant (or dense yarn if you go for the fabric option), and a heavy metal base. 

In terms of how it looks, the Razer Iskur V2 is surprisingly restrained for a gaming chair. On the one hand, there is no way to pretend this is a 'normal' office seat – the standard version comes with bright green trim, carbon fiber-style flourishes, and that massive Razer logo. On the other, it is a lot more tasteful than most of its competitors (those race-car holes that look a bit out of place are thankfully absent), and if you want to do without the signature Razer green elements, it's also available in all black.

The Iskur V2 feels very premium; everything from the nobs to the levers is made of the most top-quality components (or at least, it feels that way). The quilted synthetic leather seat looks sleek too.

The only downside? It lacks the detachable magnetic headrest of some other Razer chairs, which is a shame. Luckily, there is a clip-on memory foam headrest that does the trick. This minor drawback is undoubtedly a cost-saving measure though, and realistically, it doesn't make much of a difference.

Performance

I don't always get on with chairs long-term. Although my old Secretlab was fabulous to begin with, its seat was a little stiff for my tastes so made me sore after a day of work. I could never get the lumbar to support me properly either, which may have had something to do with me choosing the wrong size. Similarly, an Andaseat model I used was really, really comfy but was massively unwieldy as a result. 

By contrast, I've been quite taken with the Iskur V2 so far. 

I'm not saying it's the best solution out there, or better than anything else. But immediately, the lumbar support is far superior to anything else I've ever sat in – including other Razer chairs like the Razer Iskur X I use while I'm in the 12DOVE office. 

The addition of adjustable lumbar seems like a no-brainer because nobody's the same so a one-size-fits-all approach is ludicrous. If I'm spending three figures on a chair, I also expect more than a glorified cushion that I could have taken from the sofa. 

It does the job brilliantly, too; I don't end a session of gaming or work with those tell-tale aches in my back, and I only realized how much good it'd been doing me when I fiddled with the settings and got it wrong. My spine immediately complained.

This alone takes the V2 from being a decent chair to a bloody good one.

Elsewhere, the seat isn't too hard nor too soft – it sits in the Goldilocks zone of 'just right.' I'm a big fan of those fancy 4D armrests too because they really help you personalize your seat, and maintain comfort in different sitting positions. And those wheels are excellent? Perfect. You'll glide over different surfaces with ease.

As for assembling the thing, you won't struggle. Or at least, you shouldn't. I found it really straightforward to construct and put it all together solo in between 20 and 30 minutes. The tools provided in a fancy case certainly helped, if not with construction then with the sense of luxury you get for buying from a premium brand.

Should you buy the Razer Iskur V2?

If you struggle to find a good fit for your back with gaming chairs, or simply want a solution that'll help your poor, knackered spine out, this is one of the better options short of grabbing one of the best standing desks. I'm not saying it's a cure-all, but so far, I've been impressed.

How we tested the Razer Iskur V2

As you'd expect from a gaming chair review, I tested it by parking my butt on the Razer Iskur V2 for extended amounts of time. I made sure I had a good mess around with all of its many adjustable settings to see if they actually did the job advertised, and I used it in various different circumstances: a day of work writing articles like this one, gaming, or running tabletop RPGs digitally for my pals. I also assembled the Iskur V2 solo and didn't run into any roadblocks.

You can swot up on how we test gaming chairs in our full hardware policy.

For more gaming furniture, check out the best console gaming chairs, the best pink gaming chairs, and the best gaming desks.