GTRacing is one of the OG cheap gaming chair brands. Since 2013, its Pro Series has reigned as one of the most consistently popular cheap gaming chairs. In 2020, the GTRacing Ace S1 debuted as a luxury upgrade to the Pro Series. That model had firmer padding, a memory foam lumbar pillow, and 4D arms. This GTRacing Ace S1 review covers the 2023 iteration. It’s the same as the original, with 2D arms instead of 4D ones.
The GTRacing Pro Series is the longtime flagship of the GTRacing chair collection. It has 2D armrests, adjustable support pillows, mid-grade foam, and a rock-bottom price.
The GTRacing Ace S1 enhances that baseline build with a few luxury extras. The first is firmer padding than the Pro Series chair’s squishier mix.
Firmer padding delivers superior postural stability. Over the long term, that yields greater comfort by reducing musculoskeletal stress.
Side-by-side, other differences become apparent. The Ace S1 has smaller dimensions and sharper seat side bolsters. Its loose memory foam lumbar pillow also differs from the Pro Series version on straps.
So is the Ace S1 worth paying a bit extra for? This review assesses its pros and cons.
The GTRacing Pro Series is also available on Amazon for $119.99.
GTRacing Ace S1 Gaming Chair Review
The GTRacing Pro Series is one of the OG cheap gaming chairs. Since 2013, it’s been favored for its comfortable support, ease of use, and rugged, tank-like build.
The Ace S1 is an upgraded ‘luxury’ version of that classic. This section compares its specifications against the Pro Series.
Ace S1 Vs pro Series Chair Features
Our tests for both chairs used a model standing 5’8″ (172 cm) and weighing 155 pounds. She had never used a gaming chair before.
But with basic instructions, she easily achieved solid neutral postures in both chairs. Each uses the same trio of components to support neutral postures, with mild variations.
Notably, our model reported the Ace S1’s firmer padding ‘not as comfortable’ as the Pro Series. She also found the Ace chair’s sharp seat bolsters more confining than the milder Pro Series edges.
Ace S1 vs Pro Series Functionality
Ace S1 Chair Sizing
The Ace S1’s seat depth is 1.3″ less than the Pro Series. Even so, its seat lip comes right to the edge of our 5’8″ model’s knees.
In contrast, despite its deeper seat, the Pro Series seat leaves a good gap between its lip and the back of her knees. That’s because the fat Pro Series pillow pushes her body further away from the backrest.
In comparison, the Ace S1 memory foam pillow compresses more. That sank our model’s hips deeper into the seat. As a result, there’s a smaller gap between the seat edge and the back of her knees.
Ace S1 Vs Pro Series Dimensions
Our 5’8″ 155-pound model found a comfortable fit in the Pro Series and a snug one in the Ace S1. Anyone shorter than 5’8″ will find the seat too deep for their legs.
Also, people heavier than 155-pounds will find the bladed seat edges a very tight squeeze.
| Spec | Ace S1 | Pro Series |
| Armrests | 2D | 2D |
| Recline | 90-160° | 90-160° |
| Foam density | 55 kg/m³ (firmer) | 50 kg/m³ (semi-squishy) |
| Lumbar pillow | Strapless memory foam pillow | Pillow on straps with standard PU foam |
| Seat size | 22″ (W) x 21.5″ (D) | 21.3″ (W) x 22.8″ (D) |
| Seat height | 18.11″ to 22.44″ | 16.92″ to 20.86″ |
| Backrest | 21.25″ (W) x 32.67″ (D) | 20.8″ (W) x 32.2″ (D) |
| GTRacing size rating | 5’3″ to 5’11”; 330 pounds | 4’9″ to 5’9″; 330 pounds |
| ChairsFX size rating | 5’8″ to 5’9″; 150 pounds | 5’6″ to 5’9″; 200 pounds |
| Amazon price | $149.99 | $119.99 |
Bottom line: despite GTRacing’s optimistic size ratings, our tests show the Ace S1 suitable for a very narrow band of users. Only those sized 5’8″ to 5’9″ (172-175) will find a good fit in this chair.
Smaller sizes will find that an overly-deep seat curls their hips and flattens their lower back. After long periods sitting this way, chronic pain is likely. Meanwhile, thicker or taller sizes will feel squashed.
Gaming Chair Sizing Guide: For S, M, & XL Sizes
Ace S1 Vs Pro Series Dimensions
Here’s how the Ace S1 compares to two legit gaming chairs for short people:
| Small | Titan EVO small | AKRacing California | Ace S1 |
| Seat | 17.7″ (W) x 18.9″ (D) | 21″ (W) x 17.7″ (D) | 22″ (outer seat width) x 21.5″ (D) |
| Backrest | 20″ (W) x 32.3″ (H) | 21″(W) x 27.7″ (H) | 21.25″ (W) x 32.67″ (H) |
| Seat height | 17.7″ to 20.5″ | 13.75″ to 17.25″ | 18″ to 22.4″ |
| Size rating | 4’11” to 5’6″; 285 pounds | 4’9″ to 5’6″; 330 pounds | |
| Price | $549 from Secretlab | $380.04 on Amazon | $149.99 on Amazon |
The obvious problem is the Ace chair’s excessive seat depth. People shorter than 5’9″ will find the seat lip hits the back of their knees. Another is its bladed seat edges. People thicker than 150 pounds may suffer a circulation-stifling fit that’s way too tight!
Ace S1 Chair Style Options
At present, there are only two models available for sale:
5-year warranty?
Out of the box, Ace chairs come with a 1-year warranty. On Amazon, GTRacing promotes Ace chairs as having an optional 5-year warranty extension.
However, on the GTRacing website, they only offer an extension from 1-2 years by following these steps:
- Post a photo of your chair on social media (FB, Twitch, Reddit, Youtube, Twitter).
- Email a screenshot of your post to support ‘at’ gtracing.com. That qualifies you for a warranty extension.
Is this ‘extension’ legit? I get the feeling it’s a marketing ploy to sell more chairs than actual added value. I wouldn’t count on it as a buying incentive.
Where To Buy Ace S1 Gaming Chairs
- GTRacing sells Ace S1 chairs on Amazon for $149.99.
- Ace S1 chairs are also available on the GTRacing website for $189.99.
GTRacing Ace S1 Chair Conclusion
The Ace S1 is — in some ways — a nice upgrade over the GTRacing Pro Series. Its firmer padding delivers more consistent long-term support. The memory foam lumbar pillow adds more comfortable support than the Pro Series one.
On the flip side, the Ace S1 chair’s dimensions limit its appeal. For one thing, its sharp bladed edges provide a narrow fit that’s ideal for short bodies. However, based on our tests, the seat is too deep for sizes shorter than 5’8″.
Therefore, this chair is a good pick only for sizes 5’8″ to 5’9″ weighing less than 150 pounds. If you fall outside of that range, don’t worry. You can use the Ace chair as a functional cheap gaming chair template:
Then, use our model as a sizing reference, plus the Ace chair’s seat dimensions. Using those, you can browse other cheap gaming chairs to find a good fit.
Related: Best GTRacing Gaming Chairs In 2023
