LiberNovo Maxis Airflow Ergonomic Chair Review

The LiberNovo Maxis Airflow feels like a chair designed to address my personal issue with the original Omni. I awarded that chair 9/10 and it has remained excellent after nearly seven months of regular use. However, at 6’ 7”, I was outside its intended height range, meaning I was never its intended audience. The Maxis takes aim at bigger and taller users, while also adding some cool new features. After testing it for two weeks, here is my review.

Maxed out

Building the Maxis Airflow is surprisingly quick, despite the finished chair being an absolute unit. It feels reassuringly solid, while still allowing the backrest to flex and follow my movements as intended.

At 6’7” and roughly 200 lbs, I find the 52 cm-deep seat, extended headrest, and wide frame very comfortable. It’s certainly spacious, so those working in smaller offices should check the dimensions, especially if you plan to fully recline, but the size hasn’t caused me any problems.

The armrests are a highlight. They’re large, nicely cushioned, and versatile enough to support my arms when using a keyboard and mouse or gaming with a controller. Happily, they can be moved inward to better suit narrower users.

The electric lumbar support also has plenty of range. There is the slightest delay after pressing a button, but this is a very minor nitpick. Reclining feels smooth and controlled, with the backrest and headrest continuing to support me as I lean back.

The coolest feature

The main attraction of this Airflow model is the cooling fan built into the seat. The fan sounded a tad gimmicky on paper, but its impact was immediately noticeable during the hot and humid UK summer. It genuinely makes long work and gaming sessions more comfortable.

The pressure sensor works wonderfully, automatically stopping the fan when I stand and resuming when I sit back down. Fan noise is reasonable, too. Music at a normal volume easily covers it and it didn’t annoy my wife while she worked nearby.

With generous use of the cooling fan, I needed to charge the removable battery roughly once per week. I’ve settled into charging it on Friday after work and reinstalling it before bed. The powered lumbar support remains in its previous position without the battery, though the cooling is obviously missed.

I’m still not fully convinced by the OmniStretch feature. The moving lumbar support can feel pleasant when reclined, particularly when paired with the optional StepSync footrest, but I wouldn’t especially miss it.

Premium comfort comes at a cost

Obviously, the Maxis Airflow’s $1,859 MSRP is a lot of money for a chair. It’s worth noting that, at the time of writing, LiberNovo has reduced the Airflow to $1,701, the Electric to $1,319, and the Manual to $1,119.

For pricier investments like this, I’m always keen to see a generous warranty. LiberNovo provides six years of coverage for the frame and two years for the electronics. I think that’s reasonable.

One final warning concerns exposed zips on clothing. The rear zip on my sports shorts visibly marked the backrest fabric during testing. The damage appears cosmetic, but I would avoid letting exposed metal repeatedly rub against the material.

Disclosure: Review sample provided by LiberNovo.