Vertagear SL5000 vs PL6000: Which Chair is Better?

The brand is relatively new, having been established in 2015. The brand quickly became innovative, for example by patenting an effortless mounting system and developing gaming chairs with LEDs. Its R&D efforts have not gone unnoticed since.

Now let’s get started!

Vertagear SL5000 vs PL6000: technical specifications comparison

First of all, you can find the respective information of each chair in the table below:

	Vertagear SL5000	Vertagear PL6000
Weight	65 lbs	58.2 lbs
Adjustable height	Yes	Yes
Width of the seat	22.6”	N/A
Recommended height	Between 5’5” and 6’3”	Between 5’7” and 6’6”
Maximum load	264.5 lbs	372.5 lbs
Base	Metal, 5 wheels	Metal, 5 wheels
Armrests	4D	4D
Tilt	Up to 140°	Up to 140°
Piston	Class IV	Class IV
Lumbar cushion	✔️	✔️
Head cushion	✔️	✔️
Warranty	2 years	10 years (structure)
From	349.90 euros	449.00 euros

If you want more details about the respective models, please check out my review of the Vertagear SL5000 as well as my review of the Vertagear PL6000.

Vertagear SL5000 vs Vertagear PL6000: what do these gaming chairs have in common?

As you can see from the comparison chart, the two chairs share a number of similarities. I will go into detail on each point below.

Unpacking and assembly

• The packaging

It’s serious, with properly packaged and well-protected components, including fragile parts like armrests. The elements are not scattered; the screws, wheels and piston, for example, are in a separate box. See for yourself.

• The assembly

For the two gaming chairs, this is a step that I particularly liked. Surprising, isn’t it, when you know my love (irony) for assembly. However, Vertagear has really designed the process to be both quick and hassle-free.

There is real ingenuity in the design; take for example the assembly of the backrest and seat. This is often the most frustrating part of the assembly process, as the chair must be securely in place and the screws must fit into the threads. There’s none of that here, as Vertagear has thought of a “sliding” system where you simply slide the chair onto the metal support bar on the seat. It’s quick and easy.

You don’t need two people to assemble it; it takes about 20 to 25 minutes on your own.

In other words, I’m really pleased with this.

What are the features of the Vertagear SL5000 and PL6000?

• Tilt

The backrests of both Vertagear gaming chairs can be reclined up to 140°. On paper, it seems like it’s not much compared to the competition. In reality, it’s not very useful to push to the full reclining position (180°), unless you have a footrest. In this case, 140° is more than enough, and if you want to go a little further, you can always unlock the backrest (which I discuss below). The chair is perfectly stable, even when I push it to the maximum with tilt activated. The last positive: the rise is not abrupt and you don’t risk taking the backrest in your face (yes, it happened to me on other models).

• The recline

Both the Vertagear PL6000 and SL5000 gaming chairs have this feature that allows you to recline on your chair. The recline is very generous, which is quite rare among the many gaming chairs I’ve reviewed. Here, we’re closer to a Secretlab Titan and a Secretlab Titan Evo Series 2022. You can also lock the mechanism during use: for example, you can tilt backwards and lock the backrest. I really like this position in “chill” mode.

• 4D armrests

This is, I think, a weakness that both Vertagear gaming chairs share. Of course, the four settings are commendable: left and right rotation; side to side; up and down; forward and backward. For three of them, buttons must be pressed to release the mechanism and proceed with the adjustment. This is a good idea, as it avoids unwanted adjustments, for example if the chair is pulled by the armrest, or by a simple movement of the neck. It’s a pity, however, that there’s not a lock for the left/right rotation, especially as this is the setting most likely to come undone.

Moreover, while their plastic design is not unattractive, it is sometimes impractical. For example, the adjustment of the different positions lacks fluidity, and the indented systems for forward/backward are too rigid.

Finally, it’s a shame that there’s a lack of real padding, which can cause some comfort concerns; I’ll come back to this in more detail in the relevant section.

Are the Vertagear PL5000 and SL6000 high-end gaming chairs?

Both models have an excellent build quality, and I’ll go into more detail below:

• The PU leatherette coating: it is very good with exemplary stitching and finishing. In my opinion, it is sure to last. It would have been nice, however, to use microperforated coating for greater breathability. The aesthetic effect would have been nice too! However, this is a minor inconvenience, so no big deal.

• The cushions: their design is good and they are well made. There is certainly a thread or two sticking out, but nothing dramatic.
• The 4D armrests: this is for me the main weakness. Indeed, they are mostly plastic, and while it is not unattractive, it’s not the most high-end material. In addition to some practicality concerns, it is also an indication of less durability compared to metal, for example.
• The base and the wheels: the base is made of metal, without dents, and the 5 wheels are silent, with a good slide on all types of floors.

• Class IV piston: it is stable, smooth and does not collapse during adjustments.

As you can see, these Vertagear gaming chairs are top-of-the-line.

Comfort and Ergonomics: better value for money with the Vertagear SL5000

As for the previous points, the chairs are very similar in terms of comfort. However, the lumbar cushion has better padding with the SL5000 and it also happens to be less expensive than the SL6000. In short, you kill two birds with one stone.

For the back, both Vertagear gaming chairs are ergonomic. At the base and in the center, the backrest is well padded and enveloping. The lumbar cushion is sufficiently padded, although I feel it is less so with the Vertagear PL6000. The lower back is well supported and even after an intensive gaming session, you won’t have any pain.

For the neck, the head cushion does the trick. I don’t actually recommend removing the head cushion, as the top of the backrest is poorly padded and quite stiff. The head cushion offers comfort adapted to the neck and spine, and it is rather soft. At the price these chairs are sold for, however, I would have liked memory foam padding, which allows you to enjoy personalized comfort based on your body type.

As for the seat, it offers good support. Maybe it’s a false impression, but I find the SL5000 firmer than the PL6000. In any case, it’s certainly very comfortable. You can’t sit cross-legged with the SL5000 and while it is theoretically possible with the PL6000, I find that the seat is not wide enough for this position to be comfortable.

The 4D armrests are not padded enough to be truly comfortable. As I said, this is the major drawback of these models. Of course, it can be argued that the multiple adjustments allow you to find an optimal position, which in fact makes the chair more comfortable. That’s true, but the surface is too stiff for the arms, in my opinion. A Secretlab Titan does a much better job of this.

Check out the main advantages and disadvantages of the two Vertagear gaming chairs in the table below.

	Vertagear SL5000	Vertagear PL6000
Seat	– Firm support	– Half-balanced, half-firm support
Backrest	– Comfortable – Enveloping	– Comfortable
Head cushion	– Good comfort	– Comfortable
Lumbar cushion	– Good comfort	– Lumbar support – Slight lack of padding
Armrests	– Not enough padding	– Not enough padding

Is the Vertagear PL6000 an XL version of the Vertagear SL5000?

Clearly, yes.

As you could see in the first section, these Vertagear gaming chairs share many similarities, starting with their features. This is also the case for their build quality, each one meeting high standards worthy of the top-of-the-line, except for the armrests, a more questionable point. They are, finally, both very comfortable chairs, even if I find the lumbar cushion of the Vertagear PL6000 a little less padded than that of the SL5000.

So what’s the difference between the two chairs? It’s quite simple: the Vertagear PL6000 is designed for taller and/or heavier people, while the Vertagear SL5000 is the standard model. With this in mind, the XL chair can support up to 372 lbs while the basic version has to “make do” with 264 lbs. It is also suitable for people up to 6’6”, while the other chair stops at 6’3”.

Verdict: Should you buy the Vertagear SL5000 or Vertagear PL6000?

In fact, the main criterion of choice will be your height and build: if you weigh more than 264 lbs and/or are taller than 6’3”, choose the Vertagear PL6000. If not, however, you can certainly choose the Vertagear SL5000.

These two models share many similarities, from their functionality to their build quality and their comfort. From then on, it is “simple” morphological criteria that will make the difference. If you are of “standard” build and size, then you have no interest in buying the more expensive PL6000 gamer chair.