APOL has a series of chairs that are really affordable and designed ergonomically which is why I took an interest. I chose the APOL Kraken as the Behemoth seems a little too large for my size. The APOL Kraken retails for S$398 which is much lesser than most of the gaming chairs on the market.
Unboxing
The flatpack delivery comes in a box that is quite big measuring about 37cm (H) * 88cm (L) * 71cm (W). It is also quite heavy, so a tip to move it around your house is to have the delivery guys put the box on a large towel on the floor. That way, you can just pull on the towel to move the box around and the box will not scratch the floor.
Inside the huge box, you will find the following items:
- Wheelbase
- A box containing the Tilt Mechanism and Lever Handles
- A box containing side covers, screws, castor wheels, and hydraulic piston
- Chair seatbase
- Chair backrest
- Headrest and lumbar pillow
Assembly
The assembly manual can be found tucked under the bottom of the chair backrest.
The steps are easy to follow but some installation parts can be quite tricky, like in Step 4 when you are required to align the backrest with the bracket of the seat base. Same goes for Step 8, you have be sure to align the slot in the lever handles to the levers before pushing the handles in to prevent damage to the handles.
Build quality
The PU leather on the APOL Kraken feels good and durable. The stitching and embroidery is all well done. The cushioning on the chair is consistent and nicely padded.
As for the components of the chairs, the wheels are smooth and roll with slight rolling sound on parquet flooring. The levers for height adjustment is quite smooth and the multi-tilt mechanism has wide ranging flexibility of adjustments. Armrest levers go up and and down pretty smoothly, but angle swivelling can feel a tad rigid. Overall, the chair feels sturdy and solid.
A slight improvement that I think would make the chair look better is for the wheelbase to be black in color so that the whole chair is consistent in look.
Features
APOL Sphinx offers standard features found on most gaming chairs such as 4D armrests, low recline angle, and multi-tilt mechanism.
4D armrests
4D armrest means four-directional. This means that you can adjust the armrest in 4 directions: (1) up-down, (2) swivel left-right, (3) push inwards-outwards, and (4) push towards-away from you. You arm position may change when you’re typing or gaming. By having 4D armrests, you are able to quickly adjust them to maintain a comfortable and ergonomic experience.
Reclining and multi-tilt
The APOL Kraken can be reclined to a maximum of 165 degrees using the lever on the right. Reclining is smooth and remain in place after locking it in position. Reclining is smooth and has defined positions for the “teeth” to lock it into place. Multi-tilt allows you to bop back and forth when you lean back against the chair so the chair does not feel too rigid. You can adjust the tension of the mechanism via the knob under the seat.
Comfort and usage
The APOL Kraken is designed in a way that make the chair comfortable a variety of sitting positions. I’m 172cm 62kg for reference.
If you like sitting upright, I feel that it is best to use the lumbar cushion with the chair at a very slight recline. The seat cushion is soft and really comfortable to sit on. The pores on the seat cushion does help a fair bit to prevent your thighs feeling warm. My neck is then well rested on the neck pillow. The way the Kraken is designed allows for the lumbar cushion to be slotted anywhere, making it really flexible for you to shift it anywhere you like it be. And when you occasionally lean forward, the lumbar pillow will still remain in place.
If you’re constantly leaning back on your chair, then I would recommend lowering the recline further and only use the neck cushion. That way, you can be seated further in and feel the side padding cushions on the backrest. Because the side padding are quite substantial, you can slouch to either side and still feel the support from those paddings.
A good design factor of the APOL Kraken is that the neck pillow wrapped round using the two holes at the head of the chair. This makes it very easy to adjust the pillow higher or lower. This feels like a small thing, but as you switch your sitting positions where you neck is rested actually differs.
One slight drawback of the APOL Kraken I feel would be that your shoulders are supported only by sides of the chair. It feels okay but not full enough.
Overall, the APOL Kraken is comfortable and allows me to stay seated for a long time. It is designed with contours that your back can definitely feel it. I really enjoy the softness of the seat cushion and side padding. This chair would be good for the average build guys as the chair has a slim silhouette.
Conclusion
Overall, I find that the APOL Kraken is a comfortable chair in my variety of sitting positions. Small details like pores on the seat cushion, and versatile positioning of the lumbar and neck cushion makes the Kraken “thoughtful” for the user. The build quality of this chair is pretty good as well. With everything combined, it makes the $398 price look worth it, and especially so if you’re getting your first gaming/office chair.
With a lower price compared to their rivals, APOL has made Kraken a competitive choice and is definitely a chair you should consider.
Where to buy
It is always good to try out the product first. Head down to APOL’s showroom at 7030 Ang Mo Kio avenue 5, #06-53 Northstar@AMK Singapore 569880. The staff are very friendly and patient so you won’t feel paiseh taking a long time to choose! Or you can visit their site here.
At $398, APOL Kraken is almost 20% cheaper than its rivals. The comfort you get (depending on individual) may be similar or even better. APOL has designed chairs for different physique and seating styles, so you can be sure that APOL’s chairs has your back covered.