Libernovo Omni Review: Gaming Chairs Just Got Electrified

Libernovo has burst onto the office and gaming chair scene with its debut product, the Omni chair, launched via a successful crowdfunding campaign. The standout feature of the Libernovo Omni is its innovative electrically-adjustable lumbar support, heralded by the company as a pioneering step in “dynamic ergonomic” chair design.

This motorized adjustment unquestionably simplifies fine-tuning the chair’s support, a feature unmatched by many other chairs. However, this innovation alone doesn’t secure the Omni a top spot in the competitive gaming chair market. To truly assess its performance, I dedicated several weeks to using the Libernovo Omni as my primary chair for both extensive workday tasks and evening gaming or video consumption, evaluating its resilience under continuous, real-world conditions.

Specs

Assembly, design, and build quality

Arriving in a sturdy but reasonably sized box, especially compared to some larger competitors, the Libernovo Omni does require assembly. Fortunately, the process is no more challenging than for most other chairs. A screwdriver is provided, and only four bolts are needed to put everything together. I managed to unbox and assemble it within about 20 minutes, including time for documentation. If you opted for the matching footrest, it arrives separately but is equally simple to set up.

[Image: Libernovo Omni chair during assembly]

Once assembled, the Libernovo Omni presents a modest, office-focused aesthetic with a straightforward gray color scheme, which the company refers to as Midnight Black (the alternative, Space Gray, is a very light gray). While understated in appearance, its internal mechanics are anything but simple. Turning the chair reveals a complex arrangement of flexible back support levers and wires, all working in concert to power the electrically-operated, adjustable back system. Despite this complexity, the chair maintains a sleek and smart overall look.

[Image: Rear view of the Libernovo Omni showcasing its complex back mechanism]

However, the chair’s build quality doesn’t always make the best first impression. While certainly not the worst I’ve encountered, and with some very well-constructed elements like the sturdy plastic base, wheels, legs, and lumbar support arms, several parts feel a bit loose or lack a sense of robust confidence.

[Image: Close-up of a wobbly armrest on the Libernovo Omni]

For example, both the headrest and armrests exhibit considerable wobble. While it’s perhaps unfair to compare this thousand-dollar chair directly to a two-thousand-dollar premium model, the superior solidity of that alternative becomes striking in contrast. The fit and finish of these parts on the Omni are more akin to chairs priced significantly lower than $500.

[Image: The tilt-adjust control and plastic locking mechanism]

Another area of concern is the tilt-adjust control. It slots into place during assembly and is secured by a rotating plastic piece that engages a locking pin. This mechanism doesn’t offer a particularly firm or reassuring lock, raising questions about its long-term security.

[Image: Armrest showing lack of locking mechanism]

Worst of all, and seemingly a design choice rather than a mere build quality issue, is the lack of a locking mechanism for the armrest width and swivel adjustments. Even a light bump can cause them to shift. Leaning slightly or pushing off with your hands can splay the armrests outwards, while moving the chair towards your desk can cause the tops to spin. This doesn’t completely spoil the chair’s experience, but it’s a frustrating design flaw. On the positive side, the armrest padding is thankfully not as rigid as on some other chairs.

[Image: Libernovo Omni armrest in adjusted position]

Features

Delving deeper into the chair’s offerings, both the back and seat are padded and covered in fabric, distinguishing it from chairs that use mesh suspension or leather/faux leather upholstery. This fabric is noted for being fire and splash-resistant, though spills may not brush off as easily as with mesh or leather.

The chair also includes a headrest, which offers adjustable height and depth, finished with the same padding and fabric as the rest of the chair.

[Image: Libernovo Omni headrest design]

The armrests are permanently attached and feature locking height adjustments, alongside the aforementioned free-moving width and pivot adjustments. On the inner edge of the left armrest, three buttons and an LED indicator are dedicated to controlling the back support system.

[Image: Lumbar support control buttons on left armrest]

These controls include a “forward” button that activates a pneumatic cylinder, pushing the lumbar support arms upwards and towards the user. A “back” button reverses this action, retracting the piston. A third button initiates a continuous outward and inward motion of the piston, creating a gentle lower back-stretching massage effect.

[Image: Internal mechanism of the motorized lumbar support]

Other primary controls manage the chair’s tilt and height. Positioned on the front right edge of the seat, a vertical silver bar allows for up to four distinct levels of maximum backward tilt. Libernovo labels these recline settings as Deep Focus (fully upright), Solo-Work, Soft Recline, and Spine Flow (fully reclined). In the Spine Flow position, the user can recline almost completely flat.

The seat’s height adjustment functions via a standard gas lift. Pulling the lever while seated causes the chair to lower, while pulling it without weight on the seat allows it to rise. A rotating knob on the seat base offers fine-tuning of the tilt system’s resistance.

[Image: Seat base with tilt and height adjustment controls]

To power the motorized lumbar system, the chair uses a rechargeable (via USB-C) battery, neatly housed in a plastic pack that slides in and out of the side of the seat. Notably, despite its onboard power, the chair does not feature any RGB lighting.

Adjustability and comfort

The electronic lumbar adjustment is undoubtedly a highlight of this chair. The ability to fine-tune the support with a simple button press is incredibly convenient. If you start to feel restless in a particular position, a quick adjustment can be made without needing to get up or wrestle with manual knobs and levers.

[Image: User demonstrating electronic lumbar adjustment]

The massage mode, while not a substitute for a professional massage or even a basic massage mat, provides a welcome, subtle way to stretch and move your back without leaving the chair. This feature is particularly useful when you need to focus on work or are deeply engrossed in a gaming session. However, over time, I found myself using it less frequently once I had settled into my preferred lumbar setting.

[Image: Libernovo Omni in a partially reclined position]

My initial impressions of general comfort were mixed. The seat felt somewhat short, the lumbar support didn’t quite align with my usual preference for lower back nesting, and the headrest seemed to push my head forward excessively. The recline positions also felt a little awkward at first.

However, after understanding how to properly adjust the headrest depth and experimenting with different back support positions for various recline angles, the chair became significantly more comfortable.

[Image: Side view of the chair’s seat base and lumbar curve]

For instance, despite the non-adjustable seat base depth feeling a bit short for my 6’2″ frame, its curved design, which slopes downwards at the front, combined with ample padding, surprisingly prevented any pressure points or discomfort often associated with shorter seats. This led to less fidgeting than anticipated.

Similarly, while the lumbar support never felt perfectly “right” in the way I’m accustomed to, it consistently delivered effective and steady support.

That being said, on balance, the chair still feels a touch too small for me. It’s designed for users between 5’2″ and 6’3″ (158-190cm) and up to 300lb (136kg), so I fall within its advertised range, but the headrest height never felt ideal. Conversely, a colleague of 5’2″ found the chair to be an instant fit, despite being at the lower end of its size recommendation.

Regarding the footstool, it’s a decent accessory for elevating your feet and offering a cushioned surface for leg rest. However, its construction is rather plasticky, somewhat bulky, and it would greatly benefit from castors or an easier way to move it around. It doesn’t add significant value to the overall chair experience.

Price

Initial supporters of the Omni’s crowdfunding campaign could pre-order a unit for as low as $650. However, the full retail price stands at $1,099. The company is offering an introductory discount at launch, bringing the price down to $850, but this offer is only available for a limited time.

This positions the Omni as a particularly expensive office or gaming chair, with most premium alternatives typically ranging from $500 to $800, and only a select few exceeding that. The advanced electronics certainly contribute to the cost, justifying a premium, but some of the observable wobbles in its build quality are disappointing at this price point.

Alternatives

Premium Ergonomic Chairs

When considering high-end office chairs with a minimalist design and sophisticated, flexible back support, models like the Herman Miller x Logitech Embody come to mind. While such chairs offer superior build quality with virtually no wobbling, they can be nearly twice as expensive as the Libernovo Omni and typically do not include a headrest or electronic features.

Popular Gaming Chairs

For a widely recommended gaming chair that strikes a balance between comfort, upgradability, and versatility, available in various designs and sizes, the Secretlab Titan Evo is often a top choice. Its lumbar support is more traditional, and it’s generally a larger chair, but its starting price is considerably more affordable than the Omni.

Mid-Range Ergonomic Options

Serving as a middle ground between the compact office chair style of the Omni and the bulkier gaming chairs, a model like the Fractal Refine offers a larger profile with an integrated headrest. It features a slimmer cushion design and a more elegant aesthetic compared to some gaming-centric options. Available in both fabric and mesh, it can be half the price of the Omni while providing comparable comfort, though it lacks the fully flat recline and motorized lumbar system.

Verdict

The Libernovo Omni is a mixed bag: it excels in certain areas while falling short in others. Its innovative back support system is almost revolutionary, providing an exceptionally quick and easy way to adjust lumbar support, complete with a gentle, back-loosening massage function. The chair is also stylish, and though it takes some time to acclimate to, the Omni ultimately proves effective for extended sitting sessions, even if it’s not a complete revelation in comfort.

However, the lumbar support’s positioning isn’t as extensively adjustable as many conventional systems, and it lacks seat length adjustment. Furthermore, its armrests and headrest are notably loose, with the armrests causing constant minor annoyances, and the chair back itself exhibits a fair amount of wobble. I’ve personally experienced gaming chairs costing half as much that offer a much more secure and stable overall feel.

Considering all these factors, we find it difficult to fully recommend the chair at its full retail price of $1,099. For those who secured it during the crowdfunding campaign at $650, it represents good value (assuming the lumbar support suits their needs), as it delivers a fully battery-operated, motorized back support system unique at that price. Yet, at its standard retail cost, the build quality issues, reminiscent of much cheaper chairs, are a significant deterrent, and the electronic features don’t feel entirely essential enough to justify the premium.

If you’ve had an experience with the Libernovo Omni, we invite you to share your thoughts on our community platform. For those looking to further enhance their gaming setup, our guide to the best gaming desks offers excellent recommendations for top-tier workstations.