If you want a high-quality gaming chair with lots of ergonomic tricks, expect to spend more than $600 on a model like the Razer Iskur V2 with its floating lumbar support (to say nothing of the $1,850 Anthros Chair’s posture-enhancing pelvic support). The Eureka Python II adds Iskur V2-like adaptive back support to a chair with a $439.99 price—and you can often find it for less. It’s well-made, though as with the Iskur V2, you might find its pivoting lower-back support more annoying than useful, and it can barely recline. It’s also less comfortable than our Editors’ Choice winner for affordable gaming chairs, the Cooler Master Caliber X2.
(Credit: Will Greenwald)
Assembly and WarrantyThe Python II comes in gray-and-blue, gray-and-red, or light-gray-and-gray versions. All versions feature a combination of faux leather and fabric, with cloth covering the surfaces that make contact with you. Leatherette also covers the chair’s sides and back edges.Putting the Python II together is a fairly standard process. You put the casters and gas cylinder in the base, bolt the tilt mechanism to the bottom of the seat, insert the gas cylinder, flip the seat upright, and attach the chair’s back to the metal struts on the seat. The armrests helpfully come attached, though the back lacks a plate or bracket for keeping the struts aligned while you’re screwing them into place. As a result, you’ll wrestle with the chair parts to line everything up. It’s a small nuisance, but a common one that doesn’t detract from using the chair when it’s put together.
Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. See how we test.
Eureka provides a limited two-year warranty for the Python II’s upholstery and padding, and a three-year warranty for the structural parts. This is relatively standard for gaming chairs. However, it’s not quite as good as Razer’s three-year warranty, or Secretlab’s five-year warranty (extended from two if you share a picture of your chair on social media). Anthros’ and Herman Miller’s chairs have 12-year warranties, but their seats carry four-digit prices.
A Quality Build With Free-Floating Lumbar SupportThe Python II’s build quality is excellent for its price. The cloth upholstery is soft and sturdy, with solid stitching. The dense foam padding extends through the entire seat and chair back with no hollows. The seat padding is springy and supportive, but the chair back foam, save the lumbar support, is overly firm. Eureka recommends the Python II if you stand between 5’3” and 6’1”, and weigh 300 pounds or less. I’m within this range and found the chair’s 21.3-inch-wide, 18.2-inch-deep seat accommodating. The chair’s back is 21.5 inches at its widest point. Although it accommodated my shoulders, the aggressive curve didn’t make for a comfortable sitting experience. Most other conventional gaming chairs have flatter contours in that area. Conversely, the headrest section feels too flat and firm; it needs more padding or a separate head cushion like Razer and Secretlab’s offerings.
(Credit: Will Greenwald)
The Python II uses a free-floating lumbar support similar to the Razer Iskur V2. It’s a wide cushion built into the chair that rests against the small of your back, built on hinges that let it tilt and pivot as you move. It’s fairly comfortable, but like with the Iskur V2, it’s not as supportive as a fixed surface that doesn’t enable lateral movement, like on the Secretlab Evo and Evo Lite chairs. The Python II also lacks the knobs for adjusting height and firmness support, unlike the Iskur V2 (the Secretlab Titan Evo has similar knobs for its built-in support).The recline function is limited. You pull the lever on the chair’s right side to recline the back like most conventional gaming chairs, but it only reclines up to 115 degrees. Meanwhile, the Iskur V2 reclines up to 152 degrees, the Titan Evo up to 165, and the Cooler Master Caliber X2 up to 180 degrees. This isn’t a chair for leaning back. The entire chair can tilt, but tilting is different from reclining.
The full extent of the Python II’s recline (Credit: Will Greenwald)
Comfort and ergonomics wildly vary depending on your build, so you might enjoy the Python II’s support. I found it too wiggly for long-term use, much like the Iskur V2. Despite this, the Python II feels a bit better, since its lower-back support pivots less than the Razer chair. The trade-off is that the headrest feels like I’m bumping the back of my head against a wall.Verdict: An Affordable Chair That’s Not for EveryoneThe Eureka Python II is a well-built gaming chair that’s relatively easy to assemble. However, it has a few design choices that may turn off users. It barely reclines, its cushionless headrest feels too firm, and the lumbar support’s adaptive design is a negative if you prefer a firmer, fixed support. The Cooler Master Caliber X2 ($369.99) is still our top pick for budget-friendly chairs, with a lower price, excellent build quality, more conventional lumbar support, a head cushion, and a proper recline. If you can spend more, the Secretlab Titan Evo offers even better materials, many design options, and a clever design with an integrated, adjustable lumbar support mechanism.
The Bottom Line
The Eureka Python II gaming chair offers sturdy build quality and free-floating lumbar support for a fairly low price, but it barely reclines.
Like What You’re Reading?
Sign up for Lab Report to get the latest reviews and top product advice delivered right to your inbox.
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
