A fresh face has arrived in the world of office and gaming chairs: Libernovo. They’ve burst onto the scene with their inaugural product, the Omni chair, launched via a successful Kickstarter campaign. The headline feature? An innovative electrically-adjustable lumbar support, which Libernovo proudly touts as making the Omni the first “dynamic ergonomic” chair.
While this electric adjustment undoubtedly simplifies finding your perfect support compared to many other chairs, convenience alone won’t secure the Omni a top spot in the competitive market. To truly put it to the test, I dedicated several weeks to using the Libernovo Omni as my primary chair for both demanding eight-hour workdays and relaxing evening gaming and video sessions, assessing its performance under sustained, real-world conditions.
Specifications
| Assembly required | Yes |
| Height range | 5’2″- 6’3″ (158 – 190cm) |
| Weight range | Max 300 lbs (136kg) |
| Warranty | Frame: 5 years, Electronics: 2 years |
| Upholstery options | Fabric-covered foam seat, back, and headrest |
| Color options | Midnight black or Space gray (light gray) |
| Frame Construction | Plastic base and frame |
| Adjustments | Combined tilt/recline, combined back/lumbar support position, seat height, headrest height/depth, armrest height/rotation/width |
Assembly, Design, and Build Quality: A Closer Look
The Libernovo Omni arrives in a surprisingly compact, albeit heavy, box – a refreshing change from some oversized competitors. While assembly is required, it’s no more complex than your typical office chair. With just four bolts and a provided screwdriver, I managed to unbox and fully assemble it in about 20 minutes. Even the optional footrest, which ships separately, proved equally simple to put together.
Once fully assembled, the Libernovo Omni presents itself as a rather unassuming chair, much like many office-centric models we’ve encountered. It features a straightforward gray color scheme, which Libernovo calls “Midnight Black” (a lighter “Space Gray” is also available). Don’t let its understated aesthetics fool you, though.
Turn the chair around, and its true complexity is revealed. You’re met with an intricate array of flexible levers, wires, and mechanisms that contribute to its advanced electrically-operated, adjustable back support system. Despite this hidden sophistication, the Omni remarkably maintains a sleek and intelligent design.
That said, the chair’s build quality doesn’t quite live up to initial expectations. While not the flimsiest I’ve tested, and despite robust structural components like the wheels, legs, and lumbar support arms, several areas feel notably loose or lack a sense of reassuring solidity.
Take, for example, the headrest and armrests, which exhibit a noticeable amount of wobble. While it might seem unfair to compare a $1,000 chair to the $2,000 Herman Miller x Logitech Embody, the latter’s unwavering solidity truly highlights the Omni’s shortcomings. The fit and finish of these components on the Libernovo Omni feel more akin to chairs priced significantly lower, often well under $500.
My attention was also drawn to the tilt-adjust control, a component you slot into place during assembly. It’s secured by a round plastic piece that you twist to engage a plastic locking pin. Unfortunately, this mechanism doesn’t inspire much confidence, feeling less than robust and potentially prone to loosening over time.
Perhaps the most frustrating design choice isn’t a build quality issue, but the decision to make the armrest width and swivel adjustments completely unlocked. A simple nudge is enough to send them sprawling. Whether you lean slightly or push yourself up, the armrests tend to splay outwards. Likewise, nudging the chair towards your desk or leaning against it causes the armrest tops to freely pivot away. While this isn’t a deal-breaker, it’s a constant annoyance and certainly not the most robust system I’ve encountered. On a positive note, the armrest padding is thankfully not as unforgiving as on some other chairs.
Key Features: What Does the Omni Offer?
Diving into the Omni’s features, you’ll find that both the back and seat are generously padded and upholstered in fabric, a departure from typical mesh suspension or leatherette designs. This fabric boasts fire and splash resistance, though it won’t be as easy to wipe clean as mesh or leather materials.
The chair also includes a headrest, offering both height and depth adjustments, and perfectly matching the main chair’s padding and fabric.
The armrests are permanently attached and offer locking height adjustment, though their width and pivot movements remain frustratingly free-moving. On the inner edge of the left armrest, you’ll find three buttons and an LED indicator, dedicated to controlling the chair’s back support.
These intuitive controls allow you to adjust the lumbar support with ease. A “forward” button activates a pneumatic cylinder, pushing the support gently upwards and towards your back. The “back” button reverses this motion, retracting the piston. A third button initiates a continuous forward-and-back motion, offering a subtle, lower back-stretching massage effect.
Other crucial adjustments for tilt and height are found on the front right edge of the seat. A vertical silver bar allows you to set one of four maximum recline positions, thoughtfully named by Libernovo as Deep Focus (upright), Solo-Work, Soft Recline, and Spine Flow (almost fully flat). This extensive recline capability means you can truly kick back.
Standard gas lift technology handles the seat’s height adjustment: pull the lever while seated to lower, or lift it without weight to raise. A rotating knob on the seat base fine-tunes the recline resistance to your preference.
Powering the motorized lumbar system is a rechargeable USB-C battery, cleverly housed in a plastic pack that effortlessly slots in and out from the side of the seat. While it boasts onboard power, enthusiasts of flashy aesthetics will note the absence of any RGB lighting.
Adjustability & Comfort: A Surprising Experience
Let’s get straight to the point: the electronic lumbar adjustment on this chair is a fantastic feature. The sheer convenience of fine-tuning your back support with a simple button press is remarkable. Should you start to feel restless in a particular position, a quick tap is all it takes to adjust the support – no need to leave the chair, fumble with knobs, or wrestle with levers.
The integrated massage mode, while certainly not a substitute for a professional massage or even a high-quality massage mat, offers a welcome bonus. It provides a gentle way to stretch and move your lower back without interrupting your work or gaming session, even when fully reclined.
Of course, for optimal health, regular breaks to stand and stretch are always recommended. However, for those moments when you absolutely need to power through work or a critical gaming session, this feature is undeniably convenient. Interestingly, over time, I found myself using the massage mode less frequently, eventually settling on a preferred lumbar setting and largely forgetting about it.
My first experiences with the chair’s general comfort were less than ideal. The seat felt surprisingly short, the lumbar support didn’t quite hit the sweet spot I was accustomed to, and the headrest seemed to push my head uncomfortably forward. Even the recline positions felt a touch awkward.
However, after familiarizing myself with the headrest depth adjustment, discovering my preferred back support settings, and understanding the need to recalibrate positions for different reclines, the chair became significantly more comfortable.
Despite the non-adjustable seat base depth, which initially felt a bit short for my 6’2″ frame, the clever curvature and ample padding at the front edge prevented any uncomfortable pressure points or the sensation of restricted circulation. This resulted in surprisingly less fidgeting than anticipated.
Similarly, even though the lumbar support never perfectly matched my personal preference, it nonetheless delivered consistent and effective back support.
Overall, for me, the chair still felt marginally too small. While I fall within its advertised height range of 5’2″ to 6’3″ (158-190cm) and weight limit of 300lb (136kg), the headrest never quite felt optimally positioned. Interestingly, a colleague who is 5’2″ and at the lower end of the size range, found the chair to be an instant favorite.
The optional footstool is a decent addition, offering a raised platform for your feet or a cushioned surface for resting your legs. However, its predominantly plastic construction feels a bit cheap and bulky. It would greatly benefit from castors or a more effortless way to reposition it, as it doesn’t significantly enhance the chair’s overall value.
Pricing and Value: Is it Worth the Cost?
While early Kickstarter supporters could snag the Omni for as little as $650, its full retail price sits at $1,099. Libernovo is offering an introductory discount, bringing the price down to $850, but this offer is only valid until October 2025.
Ultimately, this positions the Omni as a rather expensive office or gaming chair. Most premium alternatives typically fall within the $500-$800 bracket, with only a select few exceeding that. The advanced electronics certainly contribute to the higher cost, and a premium is expected for such innovation. However, the noticeable wobbles in its build quality are a significant letdown at this price point.
Consider These Alternatives
Herman Miller x Logitech Embody
When discussing top-tier office chairs boasting elegant gray aesthetics and sophisticated, flexible back support, the Herman Miller x Logitech Embody immediately comes to mind. It offers vastly superior build quality compared to the Libernovo, with virtually no discernible wobble. However, it’s nearly twice the price and notably lacks a headrest or any electronic features.
Secretlab Titan Evo 2022
The Secretlab Titan Evo remains a top recommendation for most gamers, striking an excellent balance of comfort, upgradability, and versatility, available in a wide array of designs and sizes. While its lumbar support isn’t as technologically advanced, and it’s a larger chair, its starting price of $549 makes it a considerably more budget-friendly option than the Omni.
Fractal Refine
The Fractal Refine offers a compelling middle-ground, blending the compact office-chair aesthetic of the Omni with a larger, integrated headrest, yet maintaining a more streamlined and elegant design than the bulkier Titan Evo. It’s available in both fabric and mesh options and costs about half the price of the Omni, offering comparable comfort without the fully flat recline or motorized lumbar system.
Our Final Verdict
The Libernovo Omni is a chair of mixed blessings, excelling in some areas while falling short in others. Its groundbreaking back support system is truly innovative, offering incredibly quick and effortless adjustments, along with a mild, back-loosening massage mode that borders on revolutionary. The chair itself is quite stylish, and while it requires some time to find your ideal comfort zone, the Omni ultimately provides good support for extended sitting sessions, even if it’s not a complete comfort revelation.
However, its lumbar support isn’t as finely tunable as many traditional systems, and the absence of seat length adjustment is a notable drawback. The armrests and headrest are disappointingly wobbly, with the armrests, in particular, causing consistent irritation due to their unsecured movements. Furthermore, the overall chair back exhibits a fair degree of instability. I’ve encountered gaming chairs at half the price that offer a significantly more solid and dependable feel.
Considering these points, recommending the Omni at its full $1,099 price tag is difficult. For those who secured it through Kickstarter for $650, it represents excellent value – provided you gel with its unique lumbar support. At that price, the innovative battery-operated, motorized back support system, which is unparalleled in that segment, makes its minor flaws more forgivable. But at retail, the persistent wobbles, reminiscent of far more affordable chairs, are a serious deterrent, making the electronic enhancements feel less like a luxury and more like an unjustified premium.
Have you experienced the Libernovo Omni for yourself? Share your thoughts with us! If you’re on the hunt for other upgrades to perfect your gaming space, explore our recommendations for top-tier gaming desks.