iDeal Massage Chair Review (Update 2018) & TESTED [Alternatives]

Finding the right massage chair can be a challenging task, now that there are so many! But if you’ve come here looking for a review of the iDeal Massage Chair, then I’d say you’ve landed at the right place.

You see, my extensive experience has to lead me to believe that “all that glitters is not gold.”

Don’t get me wrong: the product wasn’t bad; just that it didn’t live up to the hype.

I can take the blame upon myself and say “it was my fault for expecting too much,” but the truth is that the sheer amount of overwhelming reviews can get to anyone.

In this review, I’ll talk about my experience with this product and its best features.

That’s not all; I’ll also put the product against its competitors and tell you in what ways they are better.

By the end of the guide, you’ll hopefully know what to choose.

If you want to read which massage chair is the best in the world right now, read my full guide here: https://www.healthnerdy.com/best-massage-chair-reviews-guide/

Standout Features

• The real humanized massage hands with 3-D intelligent detect ensure a long relaxing session.
• The four wheel roller massage system (supposedly for QUIET OPERATION);
• It comes with four automatic massage functions such as kneading (using kneading balls), luxury shiatsu, vibrating massage, and spinal rolling.
• This massage chair also features a manual mode which lets you adjust the back rollers to suit your needs.
• The iDeal Shiatsu Massage Chair’s built-in heat therapy along with therapeutic airbags that are located across the entire body of the chair provides a stronger and deeper massage.
• It gives you the option of three true zero gravity positions with just the touch of a button. Most users will find it simple to choose the ideal zero gravity positioning.

Detailed Look at the Most Important Features

Before I proceed with the detailed look at some of the exceptional features of this product, let me say a few words about my model.

The iDeal chair models are available in three colors – black, brown and beige. And I got mine in the beige color.

Now, in hindsight, I can tell you that it was a terrible mistake. After using the massage chair for a few months, it became really dirty.

And the color only accentuated the issue. Moreover, cleaning the chair was quite a hassle.

In case you are looking to buy this product, I would suggest going for the black or brown color even if it doesn’t fit your decor.

Anyhow, let’s now check out some of its best features.

3D Body Scanning

If you have delved into the world of massage chairs, you must have heard of the 3D intelligent detection or body scan feature.

Usually, it is found in massage chairs which are at least twice as expensive as this.

So, does it perform well? Or is it more of a gimmick? Well, I’ve tested quite a few models in this price range without this feature.

I can tell you that the this chair performed significantly better than them. So, I can only guess it was because of this very feature.

How exactly does it work? The massage chair first performs a scan of the entire body to locate your pressure points.

After which, it adjusts the position of the rollers according to the result of the scan. And that ensures a higher quality massage.

Arm Air Massage & Shoulder Massagers

Can you guess the number of airbags inside?  2, 4, 10 maybe? Well, you can stop guessing now as I believe you won’t come close to the actual number.

It  has 48 airbags in total! Yes, that’s right!

These air bags are built into the seat, foot and calves, shoulder, and arms area. Now, one thing to keep in mind is that it’s a first-generation technology.

But, despite that, it works really well in my opinion. The iDeal Shiatsu Massage Chair is capable of giving decent air massages, and at this price range, I don’t believe it has any competitor.

The air massage mode offers two levels of intensity which can be adjusted through the Control Panel.

Although I would have liked more options, it should suffice for most people.

S-Track Design

The Chair features an S-Track frame which helps in guiding the quad rollers along the natural curvature of your spine.

While it’s hard to test the claims, I can tell you that the spinal rolling worked out quite well for me.

Four Roller Massage System

 The S-track  together with a total of four rollers delivers hand-like massage;

Zero Gravity Recliner Chair

As you might know, the zero-gravity position is not only highly relaxing but also comes with a few health benefits.

It can reduce or even eliminate snoring and improve your heart health.

But, that’s not all; sleeping or resting in this position can provide a higher level of relaxation for sore muscles and can also reduce swelling in a natural and healthy way.

Now, many models come with this functionality. But, there is only a handful which offers multiple zero gravity massage positions.

In fact, the iDeal model doesn’t come with one, two, but, three different settings, making it a truly zero gravity model.

If you ask me, that’s overkill, but, having more options doesn’t hurt, does it?

In the ideal zero gravity setting, your knees are positioned slightly above the heart, and your body weight is spread evenly across the rollers.

And I felt that was perfect for massaging my full body. In fact, I spent most of my time on this chair in my preferred zero-gravity setting.

In my opinion, this is one of the  top zero gravity chairs for the price.

Vibration Massage Mode

Now, it doesn’t come with a whole lot of massage modes, and surely its vibration massage function is less than ideal (no pun intended).

But, it does have some benefit, especially if you like an intense massage session. In my opinion, the vibration is a little too strong for my taste, even in its lowest setting.

Then again, you can place a blanket over the seat to reduce the effect.

Lumbar Heat

If you live in an area with a colder climate, I’m sure you will love this feature. Now, the built-in heating functionality is only limited to the lumbar region.

But, at this price having some form of the heating option is better than none at all.

In the colder months, I’ve tried out this feature quite extensively, and for the most part, it works well.

I just wish they would offer the heating functionality in other parts of the chair. That would make it ideal for heat massage therapy.

Then again, for the money, you can’t really complain.

Calf Massage

Most people think that calf massages are underrated, but, if you regularly go running like me, you will highly appreciate this feature.

And in the iDeal Chair, this particular massage is excellent, to say the least.

In fact, I believe it can compete with much higher priced products when it comes to the calf massage functionality.

Unfortunately, this product doesn’t come with any foot massagers.

Although, there are some massage balls located in the footwell and you can manually move your foot over them for some additional relief.

Honestly, it’s nothing special, but, it’s better than having a flat foot well.

Some Feedback from Customers & Owners

The common theme in the positive user reviews is that most people have raved about the high-end features in this massage chair; features which are otherwise found in products that cost a fair bit more than this.

In addition to that, most people also love the massage techniques.

However, as with every product, there will be complaints. And the most common one with the iDeal Chair is the fact that it’s a tad too noisy.

Some Amazon customers have also complained about the limited massage options.

Warranty

It comes with a 3 Year Warranty. You also get a 10 Day Return Policy with the product in case you’re not satisfied with the performance.

However, the company won’t cover your shipping costs. So, in that case, you can purchase shipping insurance to handle the issue.

Alternatives

Kahuna LM6800

The iDeal is a good chair, but, it just can’t match up to the LM6800 (full review here).

For a long time, this has been my favorite massage chair when you factor in the quality, massage capabilities, and price.

Now, on paper, it goes neck and neck against the LM6800 despite the price difference.

However, real-world performance is a whole different story. After just a single massage session it is easy to understand why the Kahuna chair is the superior of the two.

Each of the massage programs in the Kahuna product easily beats out the limited functionality of the iDeal chair.

In my opinion, the LM6800’s is a full-featured shiatsu massage chair which you must experience to understand why it’s wiser to spend the extra money.

However, that’s not all; the customer support and brand image of Kahuna are far superior to that of iDeal.

In fact, it is one of the leading massage chair brands. And unless you have a limited budget and just can’t spend the extra amount, there is no reason why you shouldn’t go for the LM6800.

Kahuna SM7300

Now, it’s not really fair to compare the SM7300 against the iDeal Chair. Why, you ask? Well, for one it’s almost twice as costly as the iDeal product.

Moreover, its quality, design, and features just can’t be compared with the cheaper massage chair.

So, why would you go for this model over the iDeal Body Shiatsu massage chair or the LM6800? There are quite a few reasons actually.

The SM7300’s design is simply on another level compared to the other products. Moreover, it has 9 automatic massage programs.

In contrast, the iDeal and LM6800 have 4 and 6 respectively. 

The SM7300’s 6 rollers also provide an elevated massage experience. And that’s not all; this chair is suitable for people with large frames.

In fact, you’d be perfectly comfortable if you’re up to 6’5” tall and weigh around 320 lbs.

And if that wasn’t convincing enough, both the Kahuna products are FDA approved. That’s something the iDeal lacks.

In my opinion, if you’re looking for the perfect massage chair, the SM7300 should be on your list. 

Common Questions About This Model

Is it Comfortable for Tall People?

People up to 6’4 should be comfortable in this chair.

What is the Maximum Weight Capacity?

This massage chair should be suitable for people weighing up to 300 lbs.

Is Chair Material Real leather?

No, it isn’t. It’s just a synthetic material which feels like leather.

Does the Chair Come Assemble?

No, it doesn’t, and you don’t have the option of purchasing a service which will do so, but chair is easy to assemble.

Can I Fit a Laptop Stand Inside the Arms and Work While Getting a Massage?

The distance between the arms is 22”. It should be fine for laptop stands which are equal to or smaller than that.

Is it Comfortable Enough for Just Sitting?

Yes, absolutely. It should be more comfortable than most chairs or sofas.

Best Places to Buy

You can buy Ideal Massage Full Featured Shiatsu Chair only on Amazon. The better and quality Kahuna models are available there as well and can provide you with more value for  money, so go ahead and take your pick.

Final Verdict

If you’re looking to buy a top rated massage chair which offers a real relaxing session at an affordable price, then this product is worth taking a look at.

However, it’s not perfect. This featured shiatsu chair is only capable of providing basic massages. In my opinion, since a massage chair is a long-term investment, it’s wiser to spend extra on a high-quality product.

So, if you can stretch your budget, I’d recommend going for the Kahuna massage chairs. Either one of those chairs will offer a far more refined experience.

Shoot me  quick email if you need any additional information.