HomeMacityGames and Consoles Presented during the latest Razer CON live stream, the new Enki chair was certainly one of the most interesting innovations of the event: the model follows the Razer Iskur presented last year, albeit in a softer and more moderate, more inclined form. to the office of the previous one.
With hybrid work and lockdown, many users have organized themselves by dedicating a workstation even at home, and the market is responding with models suitable for use all day, every day, both for work and even for those who play.
Razer Enki is not Iskur 2.0
There is so much to say about the new Razer Enki, at least as much as the Razer Iskur presented a year ago and which has given a shake up to a sector, that of gaming chairs, which has long been greedy for news.
For Razer it made no sense to propose a duplicate of the first model, so it opted for a substantially different design, softer, but with the same love for detail and even more attention to comfort. A year of studies and tests can be seen, with a clear evolution in some details, but it remains a different project, even in the assembly.
The extreme flexibility of the chair can also be seen from the possibility of being inclined, here for fun, but sometimes it is also comfortable to rest for 5 minutes before returning to work, or to play
The assembly
A chair is not a hard disk, an iPhone or a computer, which can be opened and used in a few seconds, but a desk accessory that, due to its shape, weight and specificity, must necessarily be mounted upon arrival.
As for Razer Enki (which in the name recalls the Mesopotamian god of water) one year of study shows: Enki is very simple to assemble, in practice you open the huge box that arrives and follow the instructions on the back of the poster that appears at the opening (impossible not to see it).
Inside the box there are nylon gloves and a tool, as well as all the screws that are used to attach the three main pieces (backrest, seat and basic spider structure with wheels), as well as all the other secondary pieces (such as the hand rest or the neck pad).
The box, whose dimensions are not indifferent 
The gloves for the assembly: not really essential, but a nice idea 
The contents of the box, before starting the assembly The operation requires a cloth to support everything during the assembly phase (so as not to damage the pieces of the chair or the floor) and about twenty minutes. Thirty if it is the first time you assemble a piece of furniture, no more: the time is shortened if there are two of you.
Among other things, the various pieces are very light (24 kg in all, not much to be a gamer chair) and in total the chair is much more manageable and less heavy than the Iskur, while still having an absolutely comparable size, albeit the parts I'm slimmer.
Before you ask yourself the answer is no, the chair has no electrical parts and no lights: for many this detail was taken for granted, for us who love Razer's RGB Chroma effects (often found in mice, keyboards and even earphones) we had a little thought about it (but if you want something you can do it).
Technical features
Razer Enki is formally a gamer chair: it is for shape, for the tradition of the manufacturer and also because it works very well in that sense, but as can be seen from some photos, it is also a splendid office chair, beautiful to show off in a sophisticated design.
The chair has a maximum overall dimensions of 166 x 204 cm, it is made of synthetic leather and velvety fabric and designed to withstand the weight up to 136 kg (a margin certainly more European than Asian).
The base, made of aluminum with swivel wheels, is lighter and more manageable than Iskur itself: when we replaced the previous model with this new one at the desk, the greater lightness of the Razer Enki is evident.
Elegant and distinct, it has a different imprint than the classic gaming chairs 
The enveloping shape of the gaming chairs teaches us, and they work well in the office too 
On the back, you can see the logo RAZER but also the hook that holds the cushion As we have already said, the design is less aggressive and more for the office, even if in the model we tested, black with green stitching and logo, there is a strong character (alternatively there is the possibility of having it all black or, but here it is really special and personal, in the Quartz color, a sort of Bubble Gum pink). The brand is in relief, even if hidden by the cushion (included in the package) and also shown on the back, but replaced by the writing (a little attention is needed, otherwise it hides behind the ribbon that supports the cushion).
The lumbar support, flagship (and accessory still exclusive to Razer) is no longer mobile but is always present at the base of the back and accompanies the user to a fairly supported seat, supported in the upper part by the cushion. The latter is essential for the writer, so much so that perhaps it was legitimate to see it integrated and not as an auxiliary accessory, because it can be completely removed, but it would be a shame.
Razer Enki (right) here compared to its sister Razer Iskur: lighter and slimmer the former, more massive and aggressive the latter. The shape of the cushion also changes (with its hook). This aspect of the chair is certainly the most important, as it was for Iskur: since it is a computer chair, and not an armchair, the task is not to be super comfortable (for which the Razer Enki does not fail anyway. ) but to help a user in long work sessions or, even more difficult phase given the high level of stress, of play.
The back is grateful because, thanks to the thrust given by the fixed lumbar support, the curvature of the spine is reduced and over time, you feel less fatigued and it is easier, in the evening (or night) to get up from the chair without the classic pains of long sessions.
The result is also facilitated by the density of the cushions, whose hardness has been set at 60 for the seat and 75 for the backrest, and which are particularly pleasant especially in summer when with shorter and lighter clothes, the skin is in direct contact with the armchair, thanks to the velvet in the central part.
The result, as we will see shortly, is optimal, in some ways better than Iskur (which appears to be harder). Finally, the armrests can be oriented in every direction, which makes them perfectly adaptable to the user's needs, both vertically and at an angle to the desk.
In the Quartz version the look is clearly pink quota 
In the Black version the seams and the color of the logo disappear 
The version we tested, black with seams and logos Verdi
The session
Once the seat is ready and tried out, you realize that Razer Enki does not have the aggressiveness in the design that Iskur had, which remains on sale precisely because it is a different product.
The shape is less aggressive, the fabrics are more comfortable, the wider seat (54 centimeters instead of 52, as we suggested in our review) is also more suitable for those with a sturdy build and above all it does not hinder those who love a lot. occasionally cross-legged.
The choice of the mix between the smooth leather fabric for the outside and the soft and velvety one for the inside, plus a vertical belt that probably increases sustainability, is very nice and like it, but it is precisely this that offers a more point of view classic to the chair.
The lumbar support, fixed here, is essential in the long days of work and play. At the end of the day the back thanks The look, at least in the black and green model we tested, is captivating and with character, especially for the green stitching on black leather on the sides, but it is however mitigated by the soft material in the seat and back, and lacks the Iskur writings. .
The seat is soft and also the free movement is well balanced, almost better than the Iskur (probably because it weighs less) and the possibility of tilting the backrest almost completely (152 °) is something that, when tired, you like very much ( even just for a few minutes before returning to work.
beginning seems secondary, but which is appreciated with the passage of time: despite the appearance of the materials is refined, there is no lack of robustness, great news for a product whose life is several years The neck pillow is larger and different in shape, and offers two distinct positions, based on the user's build. Thanks to the two holes in the upper part, it is possible to hook it so that it does not take off, although in fact it is a pity that its presence covers the Razer logo. However, the cushion is not necessary and the chair can also be used without it.
The lumbar support makes itself felt, and constantly constrains the seat by pushing the back to stand straighter: at the beginning it is often checked to understand what is strange, but after a couple of days the back learns and thanks, because as mentioned above, after many hours sitting to work, play or stay in a video call, the difference with a chair that does not offer this support can be felt.
The cushion, with a cooling gel inside, is a fantastic accessory: even for this alone it is worth spending more on Enki and leaving the model alone Enki X The armrests with 4D movement are lighter and softer than the Iskur, and according to the writer it also rises a little more (but the shape is a little different, so it could be an impression) and with a less aggressive design, even if it maintains the same mix of leather and metal.
The strength of the seat inclination, when in free mode (so that it is possible to “dangle” back and forth) is very good, the best of all the chairs I have tried so far. Basically the balance between the chair's inertia, weight and freedom of movement offers a feeling of lightness and solidity at the same time, and is pleasant, as well as a great way to move your legs a little during long sessions in front of the screen. .
Finally, we really appreciated the sign indicating that the chair is made of fireproof materials and that it is designed to withstand even the barbarity of less attentive users, who perhaps do not pay attention to where the ash falls between one cigarette and the next.
Razer Enki, a balanced choice
We do not know what the idea behind the Razer Enki project was, but we venture that there was the desire to offer a product not only for those who love to play, but also for users who want a single chair for everything, even for working. .
The beauty of Enki lies in its moderately aggressive look, that right mix between a product of character and an elegant one, a bit like when Daniel Craig plays James Bond with an evening dress: it is always 007, so we expect that if things are bad he pulls out his muscles and a gun, but in the meantime he knows how to express class and magnetism in the room, without being aggressive.
The two materials chosen: smooth synthetic leather for the edges, velvety for the part in the center, with a central reinforcement to avoid unstitching and weak points. The writer admits that, having to choose a model to use at home, he would probably opt for the Iskur, for the more aggressive gamer aspect, which here instead is much more subdued, but having to put the chair in an office he would probably have no doubts, Razer Enki is the choice me gliore.
There is a price difference, not even that great, probably due to the lack of adjustable lumbar support (here instead fixed), but otherwise, while offering substantially different looks and choice of materials, the two chairs are absolutely comparable.
If for Iskur we had said “good the first”, emphasizing Razer's extraordinary ability to offer a very good product at its debut in the sector, we can underline how this product shouts something like “excellent the second”, a phrase that does not exist but which would convey the idea of how the brand's commitment in the sector is strong and continuous, and that despite being young, it is already a driving force in the design and care of materials.
Some details make the difference: the Razer logo is embossed, made of different material.
Pro
• Excellent design • Elegant and with character even for the office • The wide seat offers great freedom • The choice of the mix of fabrics convinces
Cons
• The look is less aggressive than the Iskur
Razer Enki: prices and availability
• € 449.00 Enki • € 329.00 Enki X
Razer Enki is currently available in the normal version, which we tested (in three different colors), in the more accessible Razer Enki X version (with 2D armrests and without the cushion) and, starting from January, in the Razer Enki Pro version, with different materials, starting from Alcantara instead of velvety leather.
Razer Enki is available from the manufacturer's website, or you can find it more conveniently also from this Amazon page. The Razer Iskur model remains in the catalog, also available on Amazon, which offers different and more distinctly game-oriented features.
