When you think of Alienware, you likely imagine high-end gaming PCs and laptops. The brand, which operates as a subsidiary of Dell, has been a mainstay in the gaming computer landscape for decades, after all. However, this popular company has a bit more up its sleeve with the Alienware S5800, a rock-solid gaming chair that is worth a look for those seeking a mid-range seat with a lot of comfort and style.
Alienware S5800 – Design and Features
Many gaming chairs aim to embody the term with vibrant accents and "gamey" vibes, while others opt for sleeker design philosophies to fit seamlessly into a variety of environments. The Alienware S5800 falls somewhere in the middle of this spectrum by embracing the gamer aesthetic without pushing things so far that the chair would look too out of place in an office setting.
This balance is largely achieved by sticking to a two-tone design, with attractive black leather wrapping the outside and white PUC leather accents along the inner sides of the backrest and outer rim of the seat pan. It's striking yet restrained. And after seeing the Alienware S5800 at my workstation each day for a while now, I've really fallen in love with how the chair blends into my setup.
The Alienware S5800's inner seat and backrest material, which features a neat honeycomb-like stitching, is also a standout – and not just for its cool looks. Its velvety texture is immensely satisfying to the touch and facilitates smooth movement when repositioning. Though it's prone to picking up pet hair very easily, as I learned the hard way with a very snuggly cat, it's nevertheless one of the most pleasant materials I've felt on a gaming chair in some time.
Elsewhere, the Alienware S5800 offers much of what you'd expect in a mid-range seat, as well as one unexpected treat. There's a removable headrest pillow that attaches via a strap, ample reclining capabilities, and 4D armrests that can be adjusted to nail your preferred height and angle. But instead of adjustable lumbar support, you get the adaptability of the ContourMax Lumbar system, which shifts automatically to grant continuous support based on your sitting position – and it's rad. More on that below.
Alienware S5800 – Comfort and Lumbar Support
The Alienware S5800 looks great, but I'm pleased to say it also brings a level of comfort I didn't anticipate in this price range. The waterfall seat is very supportive and satisfyingly ergonomic, subtly sloping at a downward angle to reduce fatigue and blood flow issues in your legs. Plus, the aforementioned velvety material has stayed breathable and cozy even during my longer sitting periods, where leathers and some other fabrics would often get too hot.
I was particularly impressed with the Alienware S5800’s ContourMax Lumbar system, which uses a layer of memory foam with four Thermoplastic Elastomer (a stretchy, rubber-like material) modules behind it that shift according to your sitting position and back shape. With 64 individual branches working to make it all happen, it quickly becomes one of those things you have to experience to truly appreciate.
I may not fully understand the deeper ins and outs of how this ergonomic-focused technology works, but I've been feeling it subtly adjusting with every minuscule movement I've made, and my back has been thanking me for it. Regardless of the angle I've sat in over the past few weeks, the lumbar cushion has met me right where I'm at and kept me supported, ultimately improving my overall posture in the process. Having used and reviewed quite a few higher-priced premium chairs with similar automatic adjustment systems, I feel confident I'd still choose the Alienware S5800's lumbar support over any of them. It's frankly delightful.
This majestic lumbar magic is nearly enough to make the Alienware S5800 my new daily driver, but sadly, there are a few hiccups that have me questioning if I could make the switch full-time. Most notably, the bog-standard 4D armrests lack much in the way of cushion, which has resulted in a bit of discomfort for my elbows during my recent extended sessions of Forza Horizon 6. Additionally, the chair only comes in a single size with a recommended height of 6', so as someone pushing 6'3", I've found that the headrest pillow has ended up feeling more like a neckrest. I'd love to see an XL version of the chair that could better accommodate taller folks like me. Granted, this shouldn't be a problem for those who fall within the average height range.
Alienware S5800 – Assembly
My Alienware S5800 arrived in a well-packed box with adequate protection inside to avoid any unnecessary movement of parts, and the unboxing experience was a breeze. The instructions are simple and easy to understand, and the assembly itself is very straightforward, which is largely thanks to a couple of much-appreciated design choices.
For starters, the chair arrives with the armrests pre-attached to the seat pan, removing one of the more tedious aspects of building many chairs. But what I loved even more about assembling the Alienware S5800 is the chair's unique backrest attachment process.
Unlike most chairs, which require you to align brackets and hold the chair at awkward angles while screwing in the backrest, the Alienware S5800 uses sleeves built into the sides of the backrest that allow you to comfortably slide the brackets into place with ease. This not only holds the backrest in place while you screw it in (a particularly big help when assembling the chair solo), but also gives the sides of the chair a cleaner, more uniform look that you rarely see on other gaming chairs due to the bulky plastic covers often used to hide the brackets.
