Real Relax Massage Chair Review: Is It Worth It?

If you have been hunting for a budget-friendly massage chair on Amazon or Walmart, you have almost certainly seen the Real Relax brand. It is one of the best-selling entry-level massage chairs on the market, promising luxury features like zero gravity and Bluetooth audio for a fraction of the cost of big brands like Osaki or Human Touch.

I tested the popular Favor-03 ADV model to see if it’s a hidden gem or too good to be true. You should buy this product if you are a first-time massage chair buyer on a strict budget who primarily wants lower back relief and a relaxing zero-gravity recline. However, if you are looking for a deep-tissue neck massage, have a very tall frame (over 6’1″), or expect white-glove customer service, you should save your money and look for a mid-tier option instead.

My Experience With Real Relax Massage Chair

I bought the Real Relax Favor-03 because, frankly, I couldn’t justify spending $4,000 on a chair I wasn’t sure I would use every day. The delivery came in two large boxes, which was my first surprise. Unlike premium chairs that often arrive fully assembled on a pallet, this one required some DIY effort. dragging the boxes inside was a two-person job, but the assembly itself was surprisingly straightforward. It took me about 45 minutes to attach the armrests and connect the air hoses.

Once I sat down and hit the power button, the “Zero Gravity” recline was the first thing to impress me. It tilts you back until your knees are slightly above your heart, and honestly, even without the massage running, this position alone took a massive load off my lower back. The chair uses fixed rollers (S-track) rather than the moving robot hands found in high-end models. This means the rollers spin in place rather than traveling up and down your spine.

For the price, the massage strength was shocking—in a good way. The rollers in the lower back are aggressive. If you have lumbar pain, this chair digs in deep. However, I quickly noticed a downside: the neck rollers. Because they are fixed in place, they didn’t quite hit my neck muscles correctly.

I had to shimmy my body up and down to get them in the right spot. The airbags, which inflate around your shoulders, arms, and calves, provided a nice squeezing sensation that felt great after a gym session, though the foot rollers felt a bit like walking on marbles until I got used to them.

After three months of daily use, the chair is still running smoothly. It’s not the most refined experience—the motors are a bit noisy, and the remote feels cheap—but for an evening wind-down with a podcast playing through the built-in Bluetooth speakers, it gets the job done. It’s not a spa-quality therapist replacement, but it’s a fantastic “better than nothing” tool for daily aches.

Pros Of Real Relax Massage Chair

• Incredible Price-to-Value Ratio: The most obvious advantage is the cost. You are getting a full-body massage chair with heat, Bluetooth, and zero gravity for often less than $900. Competitor chairs with similar feature sets from brands like iRest or Kahuna often start at $1,500 to $2,000. For someone who just wants a “good enough” massage without draining their savings, this is an unbeatable entry point into the world of massage chairs.
• Zero Gravity Functionality: Despite the low price, the zero gravity feature is well-executed. With a single button press, the chair reclines fully, distributing your weight evenly across the backrest. This is not just a gimmick; it genuinely helps decompress the spine and increases the intensity of the back massage by using your own body weight to press you against the rollers. It is rare to find a true zero-gravity recline mechanism that feels this stable in the sub-$1000 category.
• Strong Lower Back Massage: If your primary pain point is your lumbar region, this chair punches above its weight. The fixed 8-point roller system has a dedicated cluster of rollers specifically for the lower back. They rotate vigorously and, when combined with the built-in waist heating element, provide excellent relief for sciatica or general lower back stiffness. It offers a level of intensity that many “gentle” expensive chairs sometimes lack.
• Easy DIY Assembly: While it does come in boxes, the engineering for assembly is user-friendly. The electric connections are color-coded, and the air hoses simply plug in. You don’t need to be a mechanic to put it together. This also makes the chair easier to move into a room with a narrow door frame (under 30 inches) because you can bring it in pieces and assemble it inside, whereas a fully assembled unit wouldn’t fit through the door.
• Full Body Airbag Coverage: The chair is equipped with 50 airbags placed strategically at the shoulders, arms, hips, and calves. These airbags inflate and deflate to simulate a compression massage, which helps improve circulation. The shoulder airbags specifically help pin your body down, preventing you from shifting away from the back rollers, ensuring a consistent massage pressure throughout the session.

Read more: My Thoughts on Verpal Electric Wheelchair

Cons Of Real Relax Massage Chair

• Fixed Rollers (No Moving Track): This is the biggest trade-off. Unlike an SL-Track chair where “robot hands” travel from your neck down to your hamstrings, the Real Relax uses fixed rollers that just spin in one spot. If the rollers don’t align perfectly with your body’s anatomy, you can’t move them. This often results in a hit-or-miss experience for the neck and shoulder area, forcing you to adjust your body position manually to feel the massage where you need it.
• Not Suitable for Tall Users: The chair has a relatively compact frame. The footrest extends manually via a spring, but if you are taller than 6’1″, your knees will likely remain bent at an awkward angle, and your head will overshoot the neck rollers. This can make the “head pillow” area feel like it’s pushing your shoulders forward rather than supporting your neck, leading to discomfort during long sessions.
• Aggressive Foot Rollers: The foot massage unit uses hard plastic rollers to target the soles of your feet. For many users, myself included, this can be painful rather than relaxing, especially if you have sensitive feet or plantar fasciitis. There is no way to adjust the intensity of the foot rollers specifically via the remote; you often have to wear thick socks or place a towel in the footwell to dampen the sensation.
• Difficult Return Process: While the company advertises a return policy, actually returning a 200-pound chair is a logistical nightmare. You are typically responsible for repacking the chair into the original three boxes (if you kept them) and may have to pay for return shipping if the unit isn’t technically “defective.” Many users report that customer service is slow to respond to return requests, making it a risky purchase if you aren’t 100% sure you want to keep it.
• Short Warranty Period: The standard warranty is only one year for parts. Given that massage chairs have many moving mechanical parts, this is a short coverage window compared to the 3-to-5-year warranties offered by premium brands. If a motor burns out or the faux leather peels after 13 months, you are largely on your own to fix it, and finding replacement parts can be difficult.

Maintenance Tips For Real Relax Massage Chair

• Clean Faux Leather Gently: The upholstery is synthetic PU leather, which can peel if treated with harsh chemicals. Never use alcohol, bleach, or all-purpose kitchen cleaners on the chair. Instead, mix a small amount of mild dish soap with warm water, dampen a microfiber cloth (do not soak it), and gently wipe down the surface. Follow up immediately with a dry cloth to remove any moisture. Moisture is the enemy of PU leather and can cause it to crack over time.
• Check Air Hose Connections: If you notice the arm or leg airbags aren’t squeezing as hard as they used to, check the air hoses. These small plastic tubes (usually located under the armrests or behind the seat cushion) can sometimes wiggle loose due to the vibration of the chair. A quick check to ensure they are firmly plugged in can often “fix” a broken chair in seconds without needing a technician.
• Use a Surge Protector: This chair contains sensitive electronic boards and motors. A sudden power spike or lightning strike can fry the motherboard, rendering the chair useless. Always plug your massage chair into a high-quality surge protector rather than directly into the wall outlet. This is a cheap insurance policy for your investment.
• Lubricate Moving Parts: If the chair starts squeaking or groaning when reclining, it likely needs lubrication. Once a year, spray a small amount of white lithium grease or silicone lubricant on the metal pivot points of the recline mechanism (usually visible underneath the chair). Avoid using WD-40, as it attracts dust and can gum up the gears over time.
• Cover When Not in Use: If the chair sits in a room with direct sunlight, the UV rays will fade and brittle the leather very quickly. When you aren’t using the chair for extended periods, throw a blanket or a dedicated massage chair cover over it. This also prevents dust and pet hair from settling into the crevices of the mechanical rollers, which can cause jamming.

Read more: My Thoughts on Ausom Leopard Electric Scooter

Comparison with Other Brands

Comparison with iRest

iRest offers a significant upgrade in technology. While Real Relax uses fixed rollers, similarly priced iRest models often feature an SL-Track system. This means the rollers physically travel up and down your back, following the curve of your spine. iRest feels more like human hands, whereas Real Relax feels more like mechanical spinning wheels. Real Relax wins on price and ease of entry. You will typically pay $300-$500 more for an iRest model. If you have the extra budget, the iRest SL-track is a much better experience for neck pain, but if you are strictly budget-capped, Real Relax is the functional alternative.

Comparison with Osaki

Osaki is a premium brand, and the difference is night and day. Comparing a Real Relax to an Osaki (like the OS-4000T) is like comparing a Toyota Corolla to a Lexus. Osaki offers body scanning technology, which maps your back size before the massage starts to ensure the rollers hit the right pressure points. Real Relax is “one size fits all.” Osaki also offers far superior customer service and parts availability in the USA. However, Osaki chairs are heavy and expensive, often costing $2,500+. Unless you have chronic pain requiring medical-grade massage, the Real Relax is 80% of the experience for 30% of the price.

Comparison with BestMassage

BestMassage is the direct budget rival. You will often see these chairs for even cheaper than Real Relax (sometimes $500-$600). Real Relax has better build quality. BestMassage chairs often use thinner metal frames and weaker motors that struggle with heavier users. Real Relax offers better zero gravity angles. While both are “cheap” chairs, Real Relax has established itself as the reliable leader of the budget pack, whereas BestMassage units have a reputation for arriving dead-on-arrival (DOA) more frequently. Real Relax is the safer bet in the “super budget” category.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Conclusion

The Real Relax massage chair is a classic case of “you get what you pay for,” but in the best possible way. It strips away the expensive robotics of luxury chairs to deliver a solid, basic massage experience that is accessible to almost anyone. You should buy this product if you want to turn your living room into a relaxation zone without taking out a loan. While it lacks the finesse of an SL-track system and won’t fit NBA players, it is a fantastic value for the average person looking to soothe a sore lower back after work.