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Anda Seat Phantom 3 Review: $300 Gaming Office Ergonomics
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After a week of testing, the Anda Seat Phantom 3 gaming chair has exceeded my expectations. It doesn’t actually have any mind-blowing features. Rather, it provides everything one would expect from a top-tier ergonomic desk chair. This Anda Seat Phantom 3 review sums up one of the best gaming office chairs for beginners on the market.
Anda Seat has long specialized in gaming chairs for office workers. The Phantom 3 continues that tradition. Priced at just $299.99, this is an affordable entry point for ergonomic beginners.
The Phantom 3 chair’s semi-firm 60 kg/m³ padding feels just right — firm enough for consistent support, but not too stiff. The lumbar pillow is easy to use and effective. It also supports good posture across various recline ranges.
These qualities make it the perfect starter model for office workers — and first-time ergonomic chair users of all types. Everyone new to the concept of lumbar-supported neutral sitting can ease into the habit intuitively with this chair.
Phantom 3 Gaming Chair Overview
Phantom 3 Chair Features
- Armrests: 1D (up and down)
- Tilt: 90-160° recline; standard seat tilt (rock or lock upright)
- Support: external headrest and XL lumbar pillow; 60 kg/m³ padding
- Warranty: 2 years; free extension to 5 years
Dimensions
- Seat: 20.47″ (W) x 19.6″ (D)
- Backrest: 21.6″ (W) x 33″ (D)
- Seat height: 17.9-21.85″
- Anda Seat size rating: maximum height 5’9″ and 200 lbs
- ChairsFX size rating: 5’6″ to 5’11”
Pros
- The thick 60 kg/m³ padding is very comfortable
- Ultra-tough yet supple PVC leatherette
- The lumbar pillow is effective and easy to use
- Supports good posture through various recline ranges
Cons
- Only has 1D arms
- Has a standard (not multifunction) seat tilt mechanism.
Phantom 3 Gaming Chair Review
The Phantom 3 a superb gaming office chair for first-time ergonomic chair users. These sections explain why:
- Chair sizing: for slim people of average height.
- Lumbar pillow usage: a small adjustment can make a massive difference.
- Recline angles: see how the Phantom 3 supports good posture through various ranges.
- Likes and dislikes: final impressions after one week of testing.
Phantom 3 Dimensions: For Average Sizes
The Phantom 3 is worth using — if it fits your body type. Anda Seat rates it for a maximum height of 5’9″ with a 200-pound weight capacity . Compare this with western male size averages:
- Average male height: in the U.S. and UK, the average male is 5’10” tall.(1)
- Average male weight: North America 177 lbs; Asia 126.9 lbs; global average 136 lbs.(2)
Based on U.S. figures, the Phantom 3 is suitable for slim guys of average height. I stand 5’9″ (177 cm) and weigh 165 pounds (75 kilos). That’s a healthy body-mass index (BMI) of 23.9.
There are about four fingers of space between the back of my knees and the seat lip (the ideal is 2 fingers of space). Given my fit, I suggest a size rating of 5’6″ to 5’11” for this chair. Those shorter may find the seat too deep; those taller may find the backrest too short. Revised specs:
- Seat: 20.47″ (W) x 19.6″ (D)
- Backrest: 21.6″ (W) x 33″ (D)
- Seat height: 17.9-21.85″
- Anda Seat size rating: maximum height 5’9″ and 200 lbs
- ChairsFX size rating: 5’6″ to 5’11”
How To Use The Lumbar Pillow
The Phantom 3 comes with an extra-large lumbar pillow filled with squishy (not firm) padding. It fits squarely in the center of the chair. As soon as you sit down, you’ll feel it wrapping comfortably around your lower back. This is a mistake.
Laying the lumbar pillow flush on top of the seat feels really comfortable — at first. After a while, you might start to feel tightness in your lower back. Zooming out reveals why.
The problem is relevant in all types of ergonomic chairs. That is, setting your lumbar support too low will curl your hips forward. That, in turn, will flatten your lower back curve and round your upper back.
This will negate the benefits of using an ergonomic chair. Instead of supporting a healthy lower back curve, setting your lumbar support too low will flatten it.
Learn more: Lumbar Support Biomechanics For Beginners
Phantom 3 Lumbar Pillow Best Practices
It doesn’t matter what type of adjustable lumbar support your chair has. In all cases, you should target support slightly above your beltline, with a depth of around 4 cm.
Applying these settings with a Phantom 3 lumbar pillow is easy. First, sit down in your chair and lean forward. Then reach behind you and raise the pillow a few inches higher than the seat. After that, lean back to hold the pillow in place.
Once the pillow is in place, readjust up or down until you find your sweet spot. Aim the support to hit slightly above your beltline . Once it hits, you’ll feel it.
Phantom 3 Recline Ranges
After you find your lumbar support sweet spot, you’re in for a treat. With a supported lumbar, the Phantom 3 supports good posture across various recline angles — with caveats.
Here at ChairsFX HQ, I’m paranoid about developing text neck syndrome. To avoid that, I’ve been using my Secretlab Titan with a steep 100°. That position ensures a 0° neck tilt while sitting.
So far, my Phantom 3 has supported 100° reclines as well as my Titan does. However, top esports docs have dismissed my sitting so straight as overkill.
For example, Dr. Elliot Smithson of 1HP says that sitting with a 100° recline + 0° neck is good for resetting one’s posture. But to sit that way for long periods, you need strong back muscles.
Instead, he advises (as do many esports docs) that frequent movement can yield similar benefits.
Most People Prefer Deeper Reclines
Even though the Phantom 3 supports steep 100° reclined positions, most people don’t sit that way. Cornell University’s ergonomic guidelines endorse deeper reclines with two benchmarks:
- Lumbar, thoracic, and cervical muscle activity decreases with a backrest incline to 110°.
- Lumbar disc pressure and back muscle activity are lowest with a supported recline angle of 110° – 130°.
Beyond these physical comfort factors are psychological ones. For example, studies were conducted on aircraft passenger seats with and without headrest. Without headrests, users sat with their heads balanced naturally above their shoulders.
However, most passengers preferred seats with headrests. Then, they would sit with tilted necks that distort postural integrity. Over the long-term, that yields muscle strain and exhaustion. But in the short term, it’s super comfortable.
In a similar fashion, some people may prefer using their gaming chair with more casual, deep-reclined positions.
The Phantom 3 allows this with very good support across various recline ranges. The trick: don’t sit statically locked in one angle for too long.
Movement Overrides Sloppy Postures
If you want to sit with deeper reclines in a Phantom 3, use this ‘hack’ to mitigate muscle strain. Simply move your body by toggling your recline angle every few minutes.
Frequent movement will boost circulation while switching up engaged back muscles. Key benefits:
- Sit however you like: some people prefer sitting upright; others prefer using deeper reclines. The Phantom 3 ensures good postures across all possibilities.
- Move frequently: popping your recline angle every few minutes will keep your body moving. That boosts circulation while engaging different back muscles. Doing so in a Phantom 3 is fun, easy, and consistently supportive.
Related: Benefits of Toggling Backrest Reclines To Move Your Body
Likes And Dislikes
In previous sections, I’ve praised the Phantom 3’s lumbar and overall posture support. A few other highlights also deserve mention.
The first is the Phantom 3’s thick 60 kg/m³ padding – a slightly softer take on Secretlab’s firm 65 kg/m³ version. It provides good stability — but with enough squishiness to feel luxurious.
The second is the Phantom 3’s PVC leather. PVC is thicker than PU leather and almost indestructible (short of slicing it with an Exacto knife). In my tropical testing climate, the breathability has been superb — no heat buildup or clamminess over long sitting sessions.
You can feel the toughness of this stuff. It doesn’t need any babying or special care. It’s stain resistant, decently breathable, and easy to keep clean with a damp rag.
Pros
- The thick 60 kg/m³ padding is very comfortable
- Ultra-tough yet supple PVC leatherette
- The lumbar pillow is effective and easy to use
- Supports good posture through various recline ranges
Cons
- Only has 1D arms
- Has a standard (not multifunction) seat tilt mechanism.
Over a week of testing, I’ve found no downsides beyond the basic specs (1D arms and a standard tilt lock). The 1D arms provide good enough physical support, but I find them psychologically depressing.
They don’t compare with the flashy Anda Seat Kaiser 3 armrests (4D adjustable with removable magnetic caps). Every time I touch my cheap Phantom 3 arms, I remember its price. Luckily, you don’t need flashy luxury extras on a $299 gaming chair!
Bottom line: for under $300, the Phantom 3 serves up consistent, easy-to-use support for average-sized men. Given its ChairsFX-tested performance (and 5-year warranty), it offers excellent value for money.
Phantom 3 Vs Other Anda Seat Chairs
In 2023, Anda Seat offers three featured gaming chairs. The Phantom 3 is the cheapest, with the most basic features. The Kaiser 3 is the most expensive. I’ve got both here at ChairsFX HQ.
The Frontier XL Series is Anda Seat’s latest offering. I recently had that model tested by a 6’2″ associate. To learn how the three compare, see this Anda Seat Gaming Chair 2023 Collection Review.
Conclusion: Superb Gaming Office Chair
The Anda Seat Phantom 3 is one of the best gaming office chairs on the market for ergonomic beginners. Several things make it so:
- Affordable: one of the best gaming chairs you’ll find priced under $300.
- Easy to use: lifting the lumbar pillow a few inches higher than the seat is all you need for effective support.
- Rugged: the PVC leather gives this chair a tough, rugged feel. Instead of babying it, feel free to play rough.
After a week of full-time testing (50+ hours), I love two aspects the most. First, the indestructible feel of the PVC is very reassuring. This chair feels like a tank coated in dragon scales. It’s nice having rugged furniture that needn’t be fussed over.
Second, I really enjoy the consistent posture support through different recline ranges. That makes it tempting to pop the recline every time I need a refresher. A small angle change is all it takes to boost circulation and engage different back muscles.
Bottom line: if you’ve never used a gaming chair before, the Phantom 3 is a great starter pick. Guys of average height (5’6″ to 5’11”) and weight (a BMI under 30) will find this chair rugged, comfortable, and easy to use. Highly recommended.
Comparison review: Best Anda Seat Gaming Chairs Of 2023 Compared
Footnotes
- World Population Review. ‘Average Height by Country 2023’. https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/average-height-by-country, (accessed 27 August, 2023).
- Stephen Gill. ‘Is there an average weight for men?’. Updated April 17, 2023, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320917, (accessed 27 August, 2023).
