Vertagear PL4800 review: Let there be light
An illuminating experience
Share this article...
WePC is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices subject to change. Learn more
Here at WePC, we don’t often get excited about gaming chairs anymore. we’ve seen the 4-D armrests, we’ve seen a million crap neck cushions and more perfunctory lumbar support solutions than we can count.
However, Vertagear managed to tempt us with the PL4800 as you can optionally buy an RGB upgrade kit which can be customized with your very own logo.
Knowing full well that this alone will be enough for the streamers out there, we felt it part of our civic duty that we find out of the chair is actually good, or just an opportunity for more lighting. So, let’s do that.
Vertagear PL4800 specs
Vertagear PL4800 gaming chair
Max load
163kg/360lbs
Recommended height
175cm-198cm/5’9″-6’6″
Height adjustability
1355mm-1430mm/53.3″-56.2″
- Soft padding
- Large tilt/recline range
- Smooth casters
- Lumbar support bulge is quite agressive
- Upholstery feels slightly cheap
Max load
163kg/360lbs
Recommended height
175cm-198cm/5’9″-6’6″
Height adjustability
1355mm-1430mm/53.3″-56.2″
Armrests
4D
Seat width
545mm/21.5″
Material
Steel, PUC leather, aluminum
Assembly
Luckily, it seems that gaming chair companies have settled on a very standard assembly process, which means the chairs are only getting easier to build.
However, if it’s still a bit tricky, Vertagear includes a manual translated into many languages with step-by-step instructions in addition to well-illustrated diagrams. They’ve also included a lint roller, which is particularly generous for those with animals.
A friend is still recommended for assembly, however, as this is one of the larger gaming chairs we’ve tested, some of the pieces, specifically the backrest, are a bit unwieldy.
One thing to me mention here is the bolts and corresponding threads. We recommend being very careful here are it’s ridiculously easy to strip the threads, which won’t prevent you from putting the chair together but will make for a hellish experience if you decide to disassemble it.
Comfort
The Vertagear PL4800 scores well here mostly, with satisfyingly plush padding on the seat base and backrest. Both are also quite wide, making for plenty of space to shuffle about to find a comfortable seat.
Additionally, the base doesn’t feature high-angle bolsters, so those of you with a penchant for sitting cross-legged are well provided for here.
The armrests are also surprisingly comfy, with a nice level of for lack of a better word, squishiness, managing to rival those found on the Secretlab Titan EVO 2022 Series.
The included neck cushion is also nice and soft though, the embroidered ‘VERTAGEAR’ logo seems to have discolored very quickly. This could be a side effect of our characteristically greasy gamer hair, however.
Ergonomics
The Vertagear PL4800 has decent ergonomics too. The included neck cushion uses a traditional strap, so it’s very adjustable, though it might migrate up and down over time.
The armrests are a no-standard 4D affair too, so there are no ergonomic concerns here as they are easily capable of enough adjustment to cater to those within the 5’9″-6’6″ height range of the chair.
Now we reach the part of the review where we talk about lumbar support and it’s tricky this time as the lumbar bulge has proved quite divisive.
I’m going to switch briefly to first person here, which is as difficult for me to write as it is for my editor to read.
Anyway, I find the lumbar support to be far too intensive, especially at first, as taking a seat and leaning back felt like someone snuck a football in there before I sat down.
However, over the course of a couple of days, it became less intrusive, and it probably is genuinely quite supportive, but I personally find it to be a bit much. Though I feel compelled to note that there were plenty of people in the WePC office who disagreed with me.
That being said, I am the master, the expert, the irrefutable Chairman of chairs, man. So, I’m going to list the lumbar support as a downside, you are free to disagree, but you’ll be wrong. First-person Benny, over and out.
Carrying on with our regularly scheduled programming, we find the ergonomics of the Vertagear PL4800 agreeable, but not outstanding.
Design
There isn’t a lot to say here, as the Vertagear PL4800’s aesthetics are about as standard as it gets for gaming chairs. NOt get us wrong, it looks nice enough, but there’s no flair here.
Our sample is the black & white variant, and we found it to be nice enough to look at, though you won’t be turning many heads at your next LAN, unless you shell out for the RGB upgrade kit.
We do like the wheels, though, as most of our recent gaming chairs have had super boring-looking office-style casters, whereas the Vertagear PL4800 actually has some spokes. Additionally, for those of you fond of rolling brand-neutral, the PL4800 is great as there are no visible logos from the front or back, especially if you don’t use the included neck pillow.
Build quality
For a brand considered on the budget end of the spectrum, the PL4800 feels incredibly solid, with little to no creaking, cracking, or other worrying noises present.
We also see the recline mechanism displaying evidence of sophistication. even some of the most expensive gaming chairs have an almost hair-trigger release on the backrest that sends it flying up into your back.
The PL4800 however, has something internally that stops it from doing that, which is an uncharacteristically nice example of attention to detail.
The armrests are also built very well, so suspiciously well that, after some investigation (actually looking at them), we discovered that they are literally identical to those found on Secretlab chairs, only lacking a logo pressed into the padding and a small badge on the upright sections.
Given that most gaming chairs are manufactured via licensing a pre-existing patent, this isn’t surprising per see, but we’ve never seen it done quite so brazenly.
RGB LED upgrade kit
Of course, one of the biggest selling points here is the optional RGB upgrade back, which can transform the upper section of the chair into an RGB light show worthy in 2024. Furthermore, you can upload a logo or image to their website, and it’ll light up on your chair.
Weirdly enough, we’re actually grateful for the rather long installation process, as it results in the upgrade kit feeling like part of the chair instead of an add-on.
However, actually using the RGB kit is another story, as it’s really buggy to get working. Most of the responsibility lies with the NZXT CAM software, as it really doesn’t integrate well, and that’s if you manage to actually log in.
Once the stars align or hell freezes over and you get it working, the lighting is a lot of fun, and if you got your logo printed into the acrylic inserts, it’ll glow very nicely. The RGB upgrade kit is highly recommended if you’re a streamer too, as it looks fantastic on camera.
Vertagear PL4800: Final verdict
We liked the PL4800 here at WePC. It’s comfy, the ergonomically sound, and the optional RGB LED kits are a fun addition that’s far better integrated than the usual solutions.
Personal issues with the lumbar support aside, most people we asked found it to be a nice enough place to sit, and the build quality is very impressive, though, some might find the upholstery a bit cheap feeling. We’ve been using the Vertagear PL4800 for a few months, however, and it still looks pristine, which is impressive as we are disgusting people.
Vertagear PL4800 gaming chair
